Chapter 31: Letter
Eastern Palace.
The Eastern Palace Guard who had rushed back a thousand li to deliver the letter knelt before the Crown Prince and softly recounted the events one by one.
Grand Tutor Pang was astonished.
This Sixth Sister Pei actually possessed such capability. As expected of Pei Zhongde’s daughter! She was simply a natural talent for generalship!
Prince Zhangwu’s eyes shone with delight as he couldn’t restrain himself and asked, “You’re not exaggerating, are you? It was really Sixth Sister Pei who personally commanded and won this battle?”
The weary-faced Guard nodded vigorously: “Absolutely true! I followed Sixth Sister and fought to the death alongside her. I witnessed it all with my own eyes and experienced it personally from start to finish—there isn’t a single false word!”
Prince Zhangwu’s mood surged inexplicably, his blood boiling in his heart.
Sixth Sister Pei being so brave and valiant had nothing to do with him, yet he still felt it brought him face and subconsciously straightened his back.
In the blink of an eye, he saw the Crown Prince expressionless. The words on the tip of his tongue were immediately swallowed back.
The Crown Prince asked, “Where is the letter?”
The Guard took two letters from a hidden pouch and presented them with utmost respect.
One was from Guard Gao.
The other was personally penned by Pei Qinghe.
Guard Gao had specially instructed the messenger Guard to first report the course of the night-long fierce battle. The Crown Prince was indeed piqued with curiosity and would naturally take the opportunity to read Sixth Sister Pei’s personal letter as well.
The Crown Prince first read Guard Gao’s letter. Guard Gao did not say much in the letter, merely recounting the bandits’ assault on the posthouse. Only in the final sentence did he slightly reveal his attitude.
Pei Clan female dependents were brave and valiant; Sixth Sister Pei was no longer someone destined for the pond.
The Crown Prince tugged at the corner of his mouth and said to Grand Tutor Pang, “In just two short months, Guard Gao has been won over by the Pei Clan and is pleading for the Pei Family Members in his letter. This Sixth Sister Pei is indeed no ordinary person.”
The tactful and worldly Grand Tutor Pang couldn’t quite grasp the Crown Prince’s true thoughts for a moment, so he smiled and chimed in, “Your Highness is right. I have never seen such a powerful woman.”
Prince Zhangwu could not restrain himself and requested in a low voice, “Father, this band of bandits was clearly targeting the Eastern Palace. Fortunately, Sixth Sister Pei had them blocked the assault. Otherwise, if the Guards and Pei Family Members were all annihilated, what face would the Eastern Palace have left!”
“Next, we must guard against the master behind the bandits striking again.”
The Crown Prince glanced at his eldest son: “By your logic, should I immediately send several hundred Eastern Palace Guards to protect the Pei Family Members?”
Prince Zhangwu was pricked and sheepishly lowered his head: “Son spoke out of turn; Father, calm your anger.”
The Crown Prince snorted coldly, opened Pei Qinghe’s letter, casually glanced at a few lines, then his expression suddenly grew solemn. His right hand gripping the letter tightened abruptly, and he sat up straight. His relaxed posture vanished completely.
Prince Zhangwu’s heart skipped a beat. It was a pity his gaze couldn’t pierce the paper to see the letter’s contents.
Grand Tutor Pang was secretly astonished in his heart.
The Crown Prince’s thoughts were profound, his emotions never showing on his face. Even he, an old minister who had accompanied him for many years, sometimes couldn’t fathom the Crown Prince’s mind.
What exactly had Sixth Sister Pei written in the letter to make the Crown Prince change expression?
A series of thoughts flashed through Grand Tutor Pang’s mind, but his expression remained steady.
After finishing the letter, the Crown Prince remained silent for a long time.
Prince Zhangwu secretly watched the Crown Prince with the corner of his eye, his heart itching like it was being clawed back and forth by a cat’s paw.
“Grand Tutor Pang,” after a long silence, the Crown Prince finally spoke: “Write a letter on my behalf to General Meng. Have General Meng annihilate the bandits of unknown origin.”
Youzhou was located in the north and was often invaded by nomadic tribes from outside the passes. Youzhou had the most garrisons, totaling four: Fanyang Army, Beiping Army, Guangning Army, and Liaoxi Army.
The Beiping Army under General Meng’s command had three thousand cavalry and two thousand infantry, with strong soldiers and sturdy horses.
General Meng was forty-five this year, promoted and heavily employed by the Crown Prince, and was one of the renowned military generals under the Eastern Palace. The Pei Clan female dependents being exiled to Youzhou’s Changping was actually the best outcome after the Crown Prince’s maneuvering.
However, the Crown Prince had not intended to continually look after the Pei Clan female dependents before. It was only after reading Sixth Sister Pei’s letter that he made this decision.
The Beiping Army was garrisoned in Beiping Commandery, three or four hundred li away from the Pei Clan’s place of exile. Fast horses could arrive in two days. With General Meng taking action, the Pei Clan female dependents could stand firm stably in Youzhou. Unless someone was audacious enough to mobilize several thousand troops to annihilate the Pei Family Members… Prince Wei was merely arrogant, not insane.
Grand Tutor Pang cupped his hands and accepted the order.
A flash of joy passed through Prince Zhangwu’s eyes, and he boldly asked, “Father, what did Sixth Sister Pei write in the letter?”
The Crown Prince’s face showed no expression: “When it’s time for you to know, I will naturally tell you.”
Don’t ask too many questions now.
Prince Zhangwu obediently shut his mouth, though his eyes were full of delight.
The Crown Prince waved his hand, signaling Grand Tutor Pang and Prince Zhangwu to withdraw, then summoned Commander He forward.
Commander He commanded one thousand Eastern Palace Guards and was around forty years old. Tall and robust, with sharp eyes and exceptional martial skills. He was usually silent and low-key but was truly the Crown Prince’s confidant, deeply trusted by the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince gave a few low instructions.
A trace of astonishment flashed in Commander He’s eyes, but he did not hesitate, nodded in agreement, and quickly withdrew.
The Crown Prince reread the letter in his hand, his thin lips pressed tightly. Once he was sure every word was etched in his mind, he held the letter to the candle flame.
The red flames greedily devoured the letter paper, turning it to ashes in an instant.
The Crown Prince’s face was gloomy, his eyes cold.
“Greetings to Crown Princess.”
Footsteps and greeting voices sounded outside the hall. Moments later, a magnificently dressed, beautiful, and dignified woman around thirty years old entered.
This was the Eastern Palace Crown Princess, also the Crown Prince’s consanguineous cousin.
Before Empress Zhang passed away, she had arranged the marriage for the Crown Prince. After observing mourning for three years, he married a woman of the Zhang Clan of Bohai as Crown Princess. Madam Zhang proved fertile, giving birth to the eldest legitimate son within two years of marriage. The two were cousins and a young couple, always harmonious and loving.
The Crown Princess approached with a smiling face: “Your Highness has been busy all day and must be tired. I have had evening meal prepared; Your Highness, please dine first!”
The Crown Prince’s expression returned to normal, and he nodded gladly.
The Crown Princess missed her son and casually said, “I will send someone to call A Li over.”
The Crown Prince had four sons and two daughters under his knee, but only Prince Zhangwu Xie Li came from the Crown Princess’s womb. The one the Crown Prince valued and favored most on ordinary days was also his eldest son Xie Li.
The Crown Prince said indifferently, “No need.”
Seeing Prince Zhangwu would make him think of Sixth Sister Pei, and then of that fateful letter… If the contents of the letter were proven true, the Eastern Palace would soon be drawn into a earth-shattering conspiracy.
The Crown Princess had a gentle temperament and, though puzzled, did not press.
Before the steaming meal could be touched, a Guard hurriedly came to report: “Your Highness, word from Fulin Hall—the Emperor has suddenly fainted and is unconscious.”
……
