Chapter 292: Endgame
When fighting a war, just think about how to win.
After the battle is over, you have to deal with all sorts of demons and ghouls from every direction. The situations you have to handle are even more complex than during wartime. Emperor Jian’an is the biggest trouble among them.
Pei Qinghe stared at Eunuch Shen.
Sweat beaded on Eunuch Shen’s forehead. Unable to withstand the immense pressure, he bowed even lower: “This servant also brought a letter personally penned by the Emperor. Please have a look, General.”
Eunuch Shen carefully took out a letter from his bosom.
Pei Qinghe had no intention of reaching out to take the letter: “Shi Yan, come here.”
Shi Yan, who had been standing in the corner, stepped forward without hesitation, becoming the focus of everyone’s attention.
Pei Qinghe smiled faintly and said to Eunuch Shen: “This is my fiancé Shi Yan. Once my injury is healed, I will take him as a son-in-law into the Pei family. Please convey this good news to the Emperor, Eunuch Shen.”
Eunuch Shen: “…”
The usually slick and clever Eunuch Shen encountered an unprecedented embarrassment in his life. He couldn’t retract the hand holding the imperial letter, nor extend it further; it was frozen in place.
Shi Yan smiled warmly and cupped his hands: “Shi Yan pays respects to Eunuch Shen.”
Eunuch Shen finally reacted, stuffing the letter back into his bosom and forcing a dry laugh: “Young Master Shi is too polite. Please rise quickly.”
“Shi Yan is the manager of my Pei Family Army, in charge of the money and grain treasury accounts.” Pei Qinghe smiled and said: “In this great battle against the Xiongnu barbarians, Shi Yan raised grain and fodder, earning great merit. After returning to the palace, Eunuch Shen, why not put in a good word for him before the Emperor? Also let the Emperor know that Shi Yan is the husband I personally selected, so the Emperor need not worry about my lifelong affair anymore.”
What more could Eunuch Shen say? He could only continue to smile obsequiously and, in front of everyone, praise Steward Shi for being shrewd and capable, and General Pei for having a keen eye.
Pei Qinghe publicly took hold of Shi Yan’s hand and smiled at Eunuch Shen: “Eunuch Shen has come from afar to convey the decree, which must have been very hard. Why not rest in Liaoxi City for a few days?”
Eunuch Shen smiled and agreed.
Pei Yun stepped forward and politely arranged accommodations for Eunuch Shen.
“Your hand has been sweating nonstop.” Pei Qinghe chuckled softly.
Far from just sweating, it had been trembling nonstop. If Pei Qinghe hadn’t gripped his hand tightly, he would have made a fool of himself in public.
Shi Yan gripped Pei Qinghe’s hand in return, his voice extremely low: “I’ve waited years for this day. I’m so excited right now that I can hardly breathe. You have to keep holding my hand; if you let go, I’m afraid I’ll faint.”
Pei Qinghe was amused into light laughter: “I never imagined that Steward Shi, who is used to big occasions, would also have moments of weakness.”
Shi Yan grinned: “My mind is completely blank right now. Give me a moment to recover, then I’ll think about what to say to you.”
Unable to restrain herself, Pei Yan darted over, habitually trying to shove Shi Yan aside. Yang Huai was quick-eyed and nimble-handed, grabbing Pei Yan’s hand first: “It’s a bit hot in here; let’s go out for a stroll.”
Pei Yan pouted, dragged out unwillingly: “Why are you dragging me?”
Yang Huai held her hand and walked a distance before chuckling softly: “Steward Shi waited years for this day. Don’t be so overbearing.”
“Besides, you said that after the battle, we’d get married. Once I enter the family as a Pei son-in-law, we’ll have to live together. You can’t just abandon me and keep clinging to the general all day.”
Pei Yan considered it seriously: “That’s not impossible.”
Yang Huai was both exasperated and amused: “No, that won’t do. Once I’m your son-in-law, I’m yours. Don’t think you can just toss me aside.”
…
Eunuch Shen’s smile barely held until he was inside the house.
As soon as the door closed, Eunuch Shen collapsed as if the sky had fallen: “It’s over! It’s all over! How am I supposed to explain this to the Emperor when I go back!”
Pei Qinghe had won successive victories, straightening Emperor Jian’an’s backbone. He even ignored General Zhang’s obstruction and insisted on issuing a decree to reward Pei Qinghe.
That letter was filled with lingering thoughts and longing. Before departure, Emperor Jian’an had specially instructed Eunuch Shen to deliver the letter into Pei Qinghe’s hands; the intention contained within was self-evident.
Who could have imagined that Pei Qinghe not only refused the letter but also publicly announced she would take Shi Yan as a son-in-law.
This was no different from slapping Emperor Jian’an in the face in public.
“It’s over! What am I to do!” Eunuch Shen paced like an ant on a hot pan, feeling the letter in his bosom burning hotter and hotter, nearly roasting him alive.
In his desperation, Eunuch Shen thought of Meng Dalang, who was recovering from injuries.
Meng Dalang’s recovery spot was just a few rooms away. Eunuch Shen wiped his sweat and headed straight to Meng Dalang’s house.
A guard was just coming out the door. Eunuch Shen didn’t even need to knock and went straight inside.
Meng Dalang’s injury was much heavier than Pei Qinghe’s. He couldn’t get up or off the bed and was being supported to sit on the bed propped against thick bedding, drenched in cold sweat.
“General Meng must give this household some advice.” Eunuch Shen sighed with a bitter face: “The Emperor is eagerly awaiting General Pei’s reply. Who would have thought General Pei already has a son-in-law candidate. This…”
Meng Dalang groaned in pain. The personal soldier outside the door rushed in immediately and helped Meng Dalang lie down.
After all this fussing, Meng Dalang had no strength left to speak.
Eunuch Shen left with a bitter face.
The frail Meng Dalang, looking like he might breathe his last at any moment, opened his eyes and let out a light hum.
The personal soldier said softly: “General doesn’t want to deal with Eunuch Shen?”
Meng Dalang sneered: “How to deal? Should I go advise General Pei to abandon the capable Steward Shi, take the invincible Pei Family Army to Bohai Commandery, enter the palace, and become an Imperial Consort?”
“This is too absurd and ridiculous. A fierce general like General Pei, unmatched in the world, still has to deal with the Son of Heaven’s amorous excesses! Not to mention Zhang Kou—even having such a thought is an insult to General Pei!”
The personal soldier nodded repeatedly: “General is right.”
Emperor Jian’an was simply delusional.
Meng Dalang coughed a few times, his brows and eyes revealing deep regret: “If the sixth young master had stayed in Pei Family Village back then, the position of son-in-law by General Pei’s side wouldn’t have gone to Shi Yan.”
The personal soldier grinned: “That’s all ancient history; no need to bring it up. Actually, even getting married now wouldn’t be too late.”
Meng Dalang frowned: “Don’t talk nonsense. Little Sixth Brother has already set a wedding date with Miss Pang and will soon welcome her through the door. How could he break off the engagement?”
The personal soldier looked sneaky, baring his teeth in a low laugh: “I’m not talking about the young general. The General has always been single too! The General could marry a Pei family woman as his wife, or grit his teeth and go to the Pei family as a son-in-law. Then our Beiping Army and Pei Family Army would form an alliance, working from inside and out. The Bohai Navy wouldn’t be our match…”
Meng Dalang was both annoyed and amused, telling the loose-tongued personal soldier to get lost.
The personal soldier had lived and died with Meng Dalang on the battlefield for over a decade, sharing a deep bond privately, and wasn’t afraid at all. He continued chuckling softly: “I’ve privately inquired for the General. The third figure of the Pei Family Army is General Pei’s consanguineous second sister-in-law, who has never taken a son-in-law. The General must seize the opportunity.”
