Chapter 28: Parting Ways
It was Xu Shi, whom she had saved two hours earlier.
Xu Shi’s face was pale as she knelt down, kowtowing three times to Pei Qinghe. When she raised her head, tears streamed down her face: “I heard everything you said to Captain Sun. So many people died at night, and if I sneak away now, no one will know.”
“I’ve been married into the Pei Clan for ten years, borne sons and daughters, shown filial piety to my in-laws, and gotten along harmoniously with sisters-in-law and cousins-in-law. But now, the Pei Clan is gone, my husband and son are both dead. The road is arduous, and we still have to kill bandits. I really can’t hold on anymore…”
“Qinghe, please have mercy and let me go! I’ll kowtow to you! In my next life, I’ll be your ox or horse to repay this kindness!”
The soil in the mountain forest was not hard, covered with dew and somewhat damp.
Xu Shi kowtowed frantically with all her strength. Her forehead showed no swelling, but it was covered in dirt, making her look utterly wretched.
Mao Hongling was both shocked and angry: “Cousin-in-law! What nonsense are you saying! Where do you think you can go alone? You have no husband or son, but you still have a daughter. If you leave, what will happen to Little Yu’er!”
Xu Shi’s nine-year-old son had been beheaded, and she had a two-year-old daughter, Pei Yu.
Xu Shi trembled all over from crying, her eyes bloodshot. She said nothing, just kept kowtowing.
She was determined to leave, even abandoning her daughter.
The other Pei Clan women were also filled with anger and took turns criticizing Xu Shi for being heartless, ruthless, and cold-blooded.
“Everyone, stop talking.” Pei Qinghe finally spoke, and the women immediately fell silent: “As I said before, once we reach Youzhou, anyone who wants to leave can fake their death and slip away. I won’t force anyone to stay.”
“Cousin-in-law is right. This is a rare chance to escape. Since you’ve made up your mind to go, then go!”
Xu Shi suddenly raised her head, her swollen eyes full of surprise: “You’re really letting me go?”
Mao Hongling wanted to speak, but as she looked up, Pei Qinghe’s calm profile came into view. The anger in Mao Hongling’s heart was suddenly extinguished.
“I’ll give you a fine horse and a weapon,” Pei Qinghe said. “Leave now. Remember to change your name and surname. No matter where you settle, never mention the Pei Clan again.”
“If one day you truly can’t hold on anymore, you can come find me in Changping County, Youzhou.”
Xu Shi never expected Pei Qinghe to agree so readily.
She trembled as she kowtowed three more times, clumsily climbed onto the horse, turned around and left, disappearing into the mountain forest without looking back.
A profound silence fell.
Only the rustling of wind through the branches. Perhaps also some rapid, erratic heartbeats.
Pei Qinghe’s gaze swept over the crowd’s complex expressions: “Anyone else who wants to leave, step forward now.”
The path of exile was indeed grueling. Changing name and surname to hide one’s tracks and survive alone was equally difficult. In this chaotic world, it was not uncommon for men to become refugees. For women who fell into hardship, their fate would only be more tragic.
Most importantly, Pei Qinghe had given them hope of survival.
The Pei Clan’s young ladies did not want to leave, nor did the Pei Clan’s wives. The only one who ruthlessly abandoned her daughter and fled far away was Xu Shi.
They waited a long time, but no one else stepped forward.
A gratified smile flashed in Pei Qinghe’s eyes, and her voice softened: “We now have weapons and warhorses.”
“If we all work together, we’ll surely live good lives in the future.”
Mao Hongling loudly agreed: “We’re all following you. Wherever you go, we’ll go.”
The crowd responded loudly in agreement.
Pei Qinghe raised her brows and smiled: “Let’s first lead the warhorses out.”
The two refugees looked ashen-faced and trembling, awaiting the fate of being silenced. Unexpectedly, they heard two unforeseen words: “You two have nowhere left to go. Are you willing to come with us to Youzhou?”
Having escaped death, the two were overjoyed and nodded repeatedly.
As long as they could survive, let alone Youzhou, they would go anywhere farther.
Mao Hongling asked in a low voice: “Not silencing them?”
Pei Qinghe said: “Not a single vicious thug will be spared. These two are ordinary refugees. They knew nothing and were captured by evildoers to serve as meat shields. They’re pitiable people too. Why kill them? Take them to Youzhou; perhaps they can beg for a meal.”
The two refugees burst into tears upon hearing this, kneeling and kowtowing: “Thank you, Lady Chief.”
Comforting and rallying refugees was something Pei Qinghe was accustomed to doing. In just a few words, she left the two weeping with gratitude. A few full meals later, and they would be truly won over.
Pei Qinghe said: “I’m not Lady Chief. My surname is Pei. You can call me Sixth Sister from now on.”
The two refugees quickly changed their address: “Yes, we’ll listen to Sixth Sister from now on.”
The well-trained excellent warhorses were led out of the mountain forest, onto the official road, following the fine horse ahead as they galloped forward.
Only after passing ten li beyond the posthouse did Pei Qinghe stop and hide the warhorses again. She left Mao Hongling and five others to guard them, then rode back to the posthouse herself.
The sun blazed overhead; it was nearly noon.
Captain Sun led the big soldiers who could still move, digging a large pit in the open space behind the posthouse, carrying their fallen comrades one by one into the pit.
Guard Gao’s eyes were also red as he buried two fallen Eastern Palace Guards.
The Pei Clan had also lost nine people.
Madam Li, over eighty years old, found a knife and tremulously dug at the soil to make a pit. Grandmother Lu wailed bitterly over Madam Chen’s corpse.
Pei Qinghe’s heart felt heavy, and she silently joined in digging the soil.
In her previous life, Madam Chen had lived a long life until her natural end. Her rebirth had saved the early-deceased Grandmother Lu and Mao Hongling. Yet Madam Chen had gone early.
The ways of the world are unpredictable; fate is fickle.
The clip-clop of horse hooves approached from afar, heading toward the posthouse.
“Sixth Sister!” A big soldier came running and reported to Pei Qinghe: “County Magistrate Song has arrived with government office runners.”
Pei Qinghe acknowledged with a hum and turned to say: “Captain Sun, Guard Gao, you go meet County Magistrate Song. I won’t show my face. The memorial to the Imperial Court doesn’t need to mention the Pei Clan women.”
This was all a prearranged understanding. The military merit would go to Captain Sun and Guard Gao; Pei Qinghe, the true contributor, wanted weapons and warhorses.
Captain Sun and Guard Gao each nodded and went out to greet County Magistrate Song.
“Our Pei Clan lost ten people.” Pei Qinghe’s voice reached Captain Sun’s ears.
Captain Sun thought the one who left was truly foolish. Not following a leader like Sixth Sister Pei, but choosing to flee alone. In this man-eating world, what chance did a weak woman have to survive?
“Qinghe!” Madam Lu came to her senses from her grief: “Who left?”
Pei Qinghe glanced at her angry grandmother: “It was the cousin-in-law from the fourth branch, Little Yu’er’s mother.”
Before Madam Lu could curse, Pei Qinghe added: “Someone determined to leave can’t be kept. If she wants to go, I let her. From now on, Little Yu’er will be raised by the Pei Clan.”
The crowd turned to look at Little Yu’er.
The two-year-old Little Yu’er had fair skin and delicate features, snuggling obediently beside her grandmother.
Little Yu’er didn’t understand what the adults were saying. Seeing everyone looking at her, she gave a sweet smile.
……
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