Chapter 293: Fury
The chatty personal soldier was ruthlessly chased out.
The door closed, leaving only Meng Dalang alone in the room.
Meng Dalang fell into contemplation.
What the personal soldier said actually made some sense. The Pei Family Army’s momentum was at its peak, Pei Qinghe was showing her edge, and after this battle, bringing the Liaoxi Army under her command, it was only a matter of time before the Fanyang Army bowed their heads. Such a vast territory in Youzhou would all belong to Pei Qinghe in the future.
General Zhang was acting all high and mighty, using the Son of Heaven to command the military generals, but his real sphere of influence was only in Jizhou.
In terms of fame and strength, Pei Qinghe was fully capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with General Zhang. As for morale and popular support, she surpassed him.
If the Pei Family Army and the Bohai Navy were to clash in the future, which side would the Beiping Army stand on? Did it even need more thought? Since their stance was already destined, why not take it further with marriage and alliance?
The shrewd and capable Shi Yan from the Shi Family and Wang Family could marry into the family as a husband, and the young, handsome, and brave Yang Huai could also marry into the family as a husband—why couldn’t he, a nearly thirty-year-old cripple, do the same?
The third figure of the Pei Family Army, Mao Hongling… A few years ago, when he went to Pei Family Village with his father, he had met and interacted with her. She was beautiful in appearance, gentle in temperament, thoughtful and meticulous. He could no longer make a woman pregnant in this lifetime, but if he married Mao Hongling, he would gain a ready-made son.
If he hadn’t entertained this thought, it would be fine. But once the idea took hold, it fit perfectly everywhere.
Adults don’t talk about romance; they look at the practical benefits. If this marriage could come to pass, the benefits it would bring were too numerous!
Unfortunately, he still couldn’t get out of bed right now. Thinking more was useless; he should just lie there obediently and recover from injuries!
Over the next two days, Eunuch Shen came to “visit” Meng Dalang several times. But Meng Dalang was adept at playing tai chi; as soon as Eunuch Shen brought up a topic, Meng Dalang would divert it, or brush it off by saying that recovering from injuries meant he shouldn’t overthink or worry.
Eunuch Shen was full of pent-up frustration and didn’t dare go provoke Pei Qinghe. That letter personally written by the Son of Heaven was brought there and brought back just the same.
Emperor Jian’an waited with eager anticipation for over a month and finally awaited Eunuch Shen’s return.
Emperor Jian’an could hardly restrain his urgency and immediately waved for everyone to withdraw, leaving only Eunuch Shen and Gao Yong in the Imperial Study.
“Did you give my letter to Qinghe?” Both men before him were his confidants, so Emperor Jian’an didn’t need to hide his intention, his tone revealing expectation and eagerness.
Eunuch Shen hemmed and hawed, stammering, casting pleading glances toward Gao Yong.
Gao Yong silently looked away.
They all knew Emperor Jian’an was indulging in wishful thinking. No one wanted to burst the master’s sweet dream. It seemed unavoidable today, so let the eloquent Eunuch Shen be the one to say it!
Emperor Jian’an was somewhat displeased: “I’m asking you—why are you looking at Commander Gao? You went to Liaoxi to proclaim the Imperial Decree; surely you didn’t fail to see General Pei!”
Eunuch Shen inwardly cursed Gao Yong for being disloyal, gritted his teeth, and took out the letter he had carried for over a month from his bosom, presenting it on the imperial desk.
Emperor Jian’an’s smile froze, anger flashing in his eyes: “Why wasn’t my letter delivered to General Pei’s hands?”
Eunuch Shen knelt, not daring to look up at the Son of Heaven’s face: “This servant delivered it, but General Pei didn’t accept it. General Pei even publicly announced she would summon Steward Shi to marry into the family as a husband, and hold the marriage once her injuries healed!”
The Imperial Study suddenly fell silent.
Only the sound of Emperor Jian’an’s heavy breathing could be heard.
Gao Yong quickly glanced at the stiff-faced Son of Heaven, then looked away again, pretending to be a silent wooden post.
Bang!
A brush washer was thrown at Eunuch Shen’s forehead, immediately splitting his skin and flesh, blood flowing down his face.
Eunuch Shen endured the intense pain without wiping the blood, kowtowing nonstop and begging for mercy: “This servant is useless; it’s all this servant’s fault. Please, Your Majesty, calm your anger—don’t let it harm the Dragon Body.”
Smack!
A hard memorial smashed into Eunuch Shen’s chest and fell to the ground.
Eunuch Shen didn’t dare to dodge or evade, continuing to kowtow and plead guilty.
Emperor Jian’an went mad, throwing all the memorials at hand.
When Emperor Jian’an picked up the heavy inkstone to throw it, Gao Yong finally couldn’t hold back and moved, using his scabbard to knock the inkstone away: “Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Eunuch Shen has served Your Majesty for over a decade, with both merit and hard work. Does Your Majesty intend to kill Eunuch Shen today just to vent your rage?”
In his towering fury, Emperor Jian’an couldn’t hear the loyal minister’s admonition and vented his anger directly at him: “Gao Yong! What great courage you have! Does what I do require your input?!”
Gao Yong pressed his lips tight, suppressing his inner anger, and knelt expressionlessly to plead guilty: “Your subordinate spoke out of turn; please, Your Majesty, mete out punishment!”
What wrong had Eunuch Shen committed?
What wrong had Gao Yong committed?
He, this weak and useless Son of Heaven, was gripped in the hands of Zhang Father and Son, with few reliable and usable people around him. The girl he had admired for years was taking another man as her husband, and as the Son of Heaven, he was utterly powerless—nothing but impotent rage.
Emperor Jian’an roared with red eyes: “All of you, get out! Without my instruction, no one is to enter.”
Eunuch Shen was worried about his master and wanted to speak, but Gao Yong tugged his arm, causing him to stumble out uncontrollably, all the way to an empty side room.
“Let go of me.” Eunuch Shen felt dizzy, muttering softly: “I need to go back, let the master vent his frustration—don’t let it harm the Dragon Body.”
Gao Yong found him noisy and sealed his mute acupoint. He also ordered someone to fetch the imperial physician.
The imperial physician was startled too, and seeing Commander Gao’s face as black as the bottom of a pot, he didn’t dare ask more, silently cleaning, applying medicine, and bandaging Eunuch Shen.
After the imperial physician left, Gao Yong tapped a few points: “If you want to stay alive, don’t think about seeing the Emperor today. Lie here obediently.”
Eunuch Shen stopped making trouble, lying there pitifully with two streams of tears falling from his eyes: “His Majesty is too pitiable, his pure affection wasted in vain. General Pei is too cold and heartless. For her sake, His Majesty has maneuvered against General Zhang and his son, insisting on enfeoffing her as a First-rank Great General. Such favor is unmatched under heaven. How could she turn a blind eye and take that Shi Yan as her husband…”
“And then what? Should General Pei fight battles desperately on one side and enter the palace to be the Son of Heaven’s Imperial Consort on the other?”
Gao Yong couldn’t listen anymore, his tone sharp: “General Pei is a peerless fierce general. His Majesty admires her bravery, valiance, and ferocity in battle, yet wants to pluck her and make her a flower in a vase. Isn’t that a fool’s dream?”
“If His Majesty could marry General Pei as Empress, that might be barely conceivable. But the palace already has Empress Zhang and the legitimate eldest imperial son. On what grounds does he still dare to covet General Pei? An Imperial Consort is nothing but a noble concubine. If I were General Pei, I wouldn’t have endured until today—I’d have given His Majesty a blow to the head long ago!”
Only a military general could truly understand how powerful Pei Qinghe was.
A figure like her should be cherished, respected, and co-opted. For the Son of Heaven to fantasize about taking her into the Imperial Harem was simply absurd!
Gao Yong gave his final verdict: “His Majesty had best come to see reason, or it will surely stir up big trouble.”
