Chapter 29: Countermeasures
This pure and innocent smile was like a flower blooming amid bloody wounds.
Pei Qinghe stepped forward, picked up Little Yu’er, and kissed her tender cheek: “Little Yu’er, follow Aunt from now on. Aunt will raise you.”
Little Yu’er stretched out her arms, hugged Pei Qinghe’s neck, and pressed her face close.
Her tender cheek pressed tightly against her face, somewhat wet.
Was Little Yu’er crying?
Pei Qinghe reached out and felt the clean face of the little face. A delicate little hand touched her face, wiping away her tears, and a childish voice rang in her ear: “Aunt, don’t cry.”
It turned out that she was the one shedding tears.
Betrayed by a trusted confidant, dying under a hidden arrow. Opening her eyes, she faced the plight of her entire clan being exiled. Without a moment’s hesitation, she stepped forward, shouldered the Pei Clan, becoming everyone’s backbone. She bribed Captain Sun, curried favor with Guard Gao, did everything possible to ensure the clan members had enough to eat, encouraged their morale, and trained them carefully. Last night, a night of fighting to the death, killing all the vicious thugs…
She was human too, flesh and blood, and could get injured, bleed, tire, and feel sad just like anyone.
Holding her young niece felt like holding her former self, who had cried bitterly in despair after losing her mother; the tears in her body flowed out uncontrollably.
“Aunt,” Little Yu’er kissed her: “Don’t cry.”
Pei Qinghe let out a deep breath and smiled at her family, who were full of worry with red eyes: “I’m fine, don’t worry about me.”
Madam Feng came over silently and hugged Pei Qinghe tightly.
Pei Qinghe wanted to speak to comfort her mother, but not a single word came out. Her throat felt blocked by something, and tears rushed out of her eyes.
Madam Feng cried tremblingly: “Qinghe, if you want to cry, just cry it out.”
On this bumpy journey, Pei Qinghe had worried and exerted herself the most, being the most tired and hardworking. Everyone gradually got used to following her orders, relying on her for everything, with all decisions made by her. Even when encountering thugs and villains, she charged ahead.
Everyone had forgotten that she was still just a thirteen-year-old girl who hadn’t come of age.
Pei Qinghe rested her head on her mother Madam Feng’s shoulder and cried silently yet happily once more.
Exhausted from crying, she fell asleep in a daze just like that. Someone picked her up and placed her on the bed. Her mother’s slender, warm hand held hers the whole time. Even in her sleep, she felt secure and at ease.
She didn’t know how long she slept.
Opening her eyes, soft morning light spilled into the house. Several familiar faces were there, all with eyes full of concern and worry.
Pei Qinghe squinted, stretched lazily, rolled off the bed, and asked energetically: “How long did I sleep?”
“Half a day and a night.” Pei Yan answered quickly.
Pei Yun, with an injury on her shoulder wrapped in gauze, continued: “County Magistrate Song and the others were sent away last night. Captain Sun wrote a memorial and had County Magistrate Song present it to the Imperial Court together.”
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly.
Wu Xiuniang said softly: “The deceased clan members have all been buried. Those injured have been properly treated with medicine packets. What should we do now?”
Knock knock knock!
The door was knocked on. Captain Sun and Guard Gao arrived together.
Captain Sun, who had originally been somewhat arrogant and reserved, was completely demoralized after this heavy blow. Killing over a hundred bandits was indeed meritorious deeds; by normal standards, he, as a captain, should be promoted after returning to the capital.
But everyone knew the origins of this group of “bandits.” He had thoroughly offended the master behind the “bandits,” and he wouldn’t even know where he might die next. How could he be happy?
Guard Gao wasn’t much better off, his brows tightly furrowed, clearly worried about the road ahead.
Pei Qinghe first signaled with her eyes, and Pei Yan and the others withdrew. Only Pei Qinghe, Captain Sun, and Guard Gao remained in the house.
Pei Qinghe spoke astonishingly: “We must set off immediately and rush to Youzhou quickly.”
Captain Sun’s heart tightened, and he looked up: “Why does Sixth Sister Pei say that?”
Pei Qinghe looked at Captain Sun: “We’re over a thousand li from the Capital City. The news of the bandits being slaughtered clean will reach the Capital City in at most seven or eight days.”
“This mastermind behind the scenes has suffered a big loss and won’t sit idly by; they might send more people.”
“We’ve suffered many casualties and can’t withstand a second hard battle. We must reach Youzhou quickly and settle down.”
“We’ve captured over a hundred horses, prison carts, and grain transport carts. If we travel at full speed next, we can reach Youzhou within ten days.”
Captain Sun’s face darkened, and he nodded: “We’ll do as Sixth Sister Pei says.”
As for how the Pei Clan would dodge open and covert attacks in Youzhou, that wasn’t something a mere captain like him could decide.
Pei Qinghe then looked at Guard Gao: “I’ll write a letter and ask Guard Gao to immediately send someone back to the Eastern Palace.”
After such an incident, it would surely alarm the Eastern Palace.
Guard Gao said lowly: “I was just planning to send someone back to the capital to report to His Highness the Prince.”
But Pei Qinghe said: “This letter of mine must be delivered to the Crown Prince.”
Guard Gao: “…”
Sixth Sister Pei always acted so unexpectedly.
He was a guard for the Prince Zhangwu; delivering a letter to the Eastern Palace wasn’t difficult, but getting it to the Crown Prince wasn’t easy. Moreover, the Crown Prince was busy with Imperial Court affairs; how would he have the leisure to care about the life and death of the Pei Family Womenfolk?
Guard Gao grumbled inwardly but spoke somewhat tactfully: “Better to present it to His Highness the Prince! If the letter contains important matters, His Highness the Prince will surely report it to the Crown Prince.”
Pei Qinghe took in Guard Gao’s subtle expression changes: “The contents of this letter are extremely important. Guard Gao, just present it. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take responsibility.”
A month ago, hearing such bold words, Guard Gao would have only sneered.
But today, Guard Gao was completely convinced by Pei Qinghe. After hesitating for a moment upon hearing this, he agreed.
Pei Qinghe went into the house alone, penned the letter, and finished in moments. No one knew what was written in it.
Two Eastern Palace Guards had died, leaving only three. Guard Gao called one over, gave low instructions, and that Eastern Palace Guard solemnly tucked the letter into his sleeve and galloped away on a fast horse.
Half a shichen later, everyone set off again.
Those too severely injured to travel were moved onto prison carts or grain transport carts. Those with lighter injuries rode docile warhorses forward. Two shichen later, they rendezvoused with Mao Hongling and her group, who had waited a day and a night.
Even Captain Sun, weighed down with worries, brightened up at the sight of over a hundred excellent warhorses.
Pei Qinghe first said to Guard Gao: “These are captured good horses. Guard Gao, pick one first.”
No man doesn’t love horses. A top-quality warhorse could sell for several hundred taels of silver.
Guard Gao wasn’t polite and stepped forward to pick a black horse.
Pei Qinghe turned: “With so many good horses, Captain Sun, pick one too. It might come in handy for escaping someday.”
Captain Sun: “…”
