Chapter 311: A Moment Ago
“Qinghe Yatou got married!”
“Yun Yatou and Yan Yatou also married sons-in-law into the family.”
“This is such a huge happy event!”
Old women of the Pei clan were beaming with joy and smiling broadly.
After her happiness, Madam Fang felt some regret: “It’s a pity that for such a big happy event, we couldn’t see it with our own eyes.” Madam Li coughed lightly and quickly gave her a look. Madam Fang then realized she had said the wrong thing and hurt Madam Lu’s heart. The granddaughters got married, yet Madam Lu, their consanguineous grandmother, was the last to know.
Pei Qinghe had done it swiftly like a quick sword cutting through tangles to deal with the Son of Heaven’s imperial decree. To avoid any leaks, she had kept even them in the dark. They all understood the reasoning, but it was inevitable that their hearts felt unwell.
Madam Fang hurriedly smiled to make amends: “For such a happy event, we should also hold a feast to celebrate. Don’t you think so, eldest sister-in-law?”
Madam Lu spoke sourly: “The happy event was a month ago! What’s the point of holding a feast now! They’ve long grown up, their wings are strong, and they no longer care what we old bones think.”
Madam Li considered more practically: “The Emperor is so angry he’s bedridden; it really wouldn’t be appropriate for us to hold a feast to celebrate. Even if we send out invitations, who would dare to come? We might as well just set up a few tables at home and eat and drink ourselves.”
Meng Liulang, who had been silent all along, suddenly said: “When is the feast? I’ll come.”
Madam Li laughed: “The Beiping Army and Pei Family Army have close dealings, and our Pei Family and Meng Family are family friends. Even without General Six saying so, we would still invite you.”
Meng Liulang thought to himself, far more than family friends— in a few months, my brother will become your Pei Family’s son-in-law, and we’ll directly be one family from then on.
The matter wasn’t settled yet, so it was inconvenient to announce it for now.
The next evening, Meng Liulang brought his new wife Pang Wenniang to the feast. Besides the two of them, there were no outsiders, and the feast was lively and merry. After the feast ended, Madam Li, despite her advanced age, insisted on personally seeing off Meng Liulang and his wife.
Meng Liulang couldn’t hold back in the end and hinted roundaboutly in front of Madam Li: “My brother is seriously injured and staying in Liaoxi City to recover from injuries. He might stay in Youzhou from now on.”
It was unclear if Madam Li understood, but she smiled, revealing a single lonely front tooth.
The clever Pang Wenniang discerned some special meaning and, after getting into the carriage, lightly laughed: “Could it be that big brother wants to stay with the Pei Family Army?”
Meng Liulang hummed in affirmation, held Pang Wenniang’s hand, and softly instructed: “You just need to keep this in mind; don’t let it slip when you go back to your family home.”
Pang Wenniang smiled with pursed lips and gently snuggled into her husband’s embrace: “Husband and wife are one; I am now a Meng Family wife and will naturally be of one heart with you in all matters.”
Meng Liulang felt a warmth in his heart, stretched out his arms, and held her tightly: “Wen Niang, you are gentle and beautiful, well-versed in poetry and books. Marrying a crude martial man like me has truly wronged you.”
Pang Wenniang bit her lip and smiled lightly: “How could it be a grievance? Four years ago, I was already looking forward to this day.”
Four years ago?
Meng Liulang was stunned and looked down at her: “You’ve known me for a long time?”
How could she not know him?
She had always been pampered in the inner chambers, living a carefree life as a noblewoman. The capital city suddenly changed hands; the Pang Family was first implicated by the Eastern Palace, then fled in a desperate journey. Those days of war and chaos, where each day might be the last, were like the sky collapsing and the earth splitting for her.
In her panic and fear, she quietly lifted the carriage curtain and saw a handsome and fierce young general wielding his blade to drive away the bandits.
A fleeting glimpse, and that cold and stern handsome face was branded into her heart.
From then on, he was the only one in her girlish dreams.
“Mother told me that General Meng Six had come to propose marriage, and I was so excited I couldn’t sleep for several nights.” Pang Wenniang blushed as she confessed her feelings, her beautiful eyes full of tenderness: “Liulang, I’ve admired you for years and finally married you as my husband; my dream has come true. You don’t know how happy I am.”
Meng Liulang’s face also reddened; even though they had done intimate things, he was more flustered now than when he had lifted his wife’s veil: “You, you really always liked me? But I never knew any of this. When I went to the Pang Family to propose, it was also my brother who strongly urged me…”
No, how could he say such a blunt truth.
Meng Liulang regretted not thinking before speaking and racked his brains to salvage it: “That’s not what I meant. You’re a good girl, and I’m just a crude martial man who only knows how to kill; it’s I who am not worthy of you.”
Pang Wenniang chuckled lightly, tilted her head to kiss Meng Liulang’s chin, snuggled tightly against him, and whispered softly in his ear: “You don’t need to say anything. I know all about your matters.”
“I know that the hero you admire and like is General Pei. Back then, if you hadn’t been so proud and stubborn, you should have stayed in Pei Family Village, stayed by General Pei’s side.”
“Like you, I respect, admire, and look up to General Pei. She protected the Youzhou common people, fought to the death against the Xiongnu barbarians, and was invincible in battle. She is the blazing sun in your heart. I don’t envy it, nor do I hope to replace her. I only hope that in your heart, you can make a little space for me. Being able to stay by your side forever is enough.”
Meng Liulang came back to his senses from the shock and said earnestly: “Since you know, I won’t hide it from you. I do like Pei Qinghe.”
“But she and I have no fate; we already missed our chance. These past few years, I’ve regretted it but not repented. If I could do it over, I would still lead people away from Pei Family Village to find the Beiping Army and save my father and brother.”
“Wen Niang, I will strive to be a good son-in-law and treat you well.”
Pang Wenniang smiled sweetly, her brows and eyes dancing with joy.
Happiness belongs to those who know and cherish their fortune.
He was the young hero of her dreams and is now the good man who will accompany her for life.
……
“Cousin,”
Empress Zhang Jingwan sat by the bed, holding Emperor Jian’an’s hand, sobbing softly and pleading: “Cousin, open your eyes and look at me, talk to me.”
“Don’t be like this; don’t scare me.”
Her mournful cries wrapped around him like vines, leaving him nowhere to hide.
He didn’t want to see anyone, didn’t want to speak, and was unwilling to hear Pei Qinghe’s name.
Yet Zhang Jingwan kept crying and persuading him: “It’s come to this, cousin; don’t miss Pei Qinghe anymore. She is full of ambition and has too much desire for power. Otherwise, she would have long led troops to Bohai Commandery or accepted the decree to enter the palace.”
“She is not a woman content with the inner quarters at all. She led troops to fight the Xiongnu barbarians and took the chance to occupy Liaoxi. Father told me that the Fanyang Army has also surrendered to the Pei Family Army. Now, all of Youzhou is hers. Raising her flag to declare independence is only a matter of time.”
“Cousin, be calm and clear-headed. She will be a major threat to the Imperial Court in the future!”
Emperor Jian’an kept his eyes closed, his body trembling slightly, his right hand clenched into a fist.
The loyal Eunuch Shen could no longer tolerate it and knelt down: “The Emperor is in poor spirits and should rest quietly. Your Majesty the Empress, please return to your chambers first; this servant will serve the Emperor here.”
Empress, hurry up and shut your mouth! Do you want to anger, infuriate, or disgust the Emperor to death?
