Wish You All the Best - Chapter 61
Chapter 61
Before the end of the Yin hour (3:00 AM - 5:00 AM), Minister of War Chen Tingjie, Right Marshall Lu Xiang, Liu Jiushao—who presided over military affairs in the southwestern provinces—Zhou Xing (father of Zhou Jin), and the Crown Prince had all arrived at the palace.
Chen Tingjie and the others, having been roused from their sleep and summoned to the palace, had sprinted from the palace gate to this inner chamber. All of them were panting for breath, especially Lu Xiang and Zhou Xing, who were older and now drenched in sweat, gasping uncontrollably. Upon entering and seeing Xiao Lie’s gloomy expression, they were all perplexed. After prostrating, they didn't hear the command to rise, so they remained kneeling. After a long while, they were finally told to rise and heard the Emperor ask, "Is there any progress regarding Zhou Jin’s mission to pacify the refugees in the Southwest?"
Chen Tingjie felt a weight lift from his heart and quickly said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, just yesterday the Ministry of War received a report from Zhou Jin. He claims that, moved by the Emperor’s grace, a total of 507,000 refugees have voluntarily come down from the mountains to resume their livelihoods. They have captured 30 rebel leaders, beheaded 620 to be displayed as a warning, and sent over 32,000 others into the army as commuted death sentences. They seized 3,250 pieces of rebel equipment and weaponry, and over 5,000 horses, cattle, and mules. It is a complete victory, and the people of the Southwest all praise Your Majesty’s benevolence. I finished writing the report last night and planned to present this victory to Your Majesty at today's morning court..."
As Chen Tingjie delivered his report, Zhou Xing wore a smug expression. Xiao Yiang glanced at the Emperor, whose eyes were growing increasingly dark, and suddenly felt a flicker of ominous foreboding.
The Emperor nodded, his voice dropping deeper: "And those refugees who 'voluntarily' came down to resume their livelihoods—how have they been settled?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Zhou Jin’s report states that some returned to their original homes, while the rest are happily heading to areas like Yunnan and Guizhou to garrison the borders and cultivate land. From now on, they will be registered in the household records, transitioning from refugees to law-abiding citizens. The scourge of refugees that has troubled our Great Wei for decades has been resolved at once..."
"Bullshit!"
Xiao Lie was apparently so enraged that he cursed aloud. Everyone was shocked, and Chen Tingjie was left stunned.
With a violent "whoosh," Xiao Lie grabbed the memorial from his desk and hurled it directly at the chattering Chen Tingjie, shouting sternly, "This is the eight-hundred-li emergency report sent to me by the Sichuan Bureau last night. Everyone, open your eyes and take a good look at what is actually happening in the Southwest!"
The memorial knocked Chen Tingjie’s official cap askew as it fell to the ground. Too flustered to fix his hat, Chen Tingjie hurriedly picked it up and scanned it, his face changing color instantly. Lu Xiang and Liu Jiushao immediately took it and read it as well, then exchanged a glance and handed it to Zhou Xing. Zhou Xing grabbed it, swept his eyes over it, and his hands trembled so violently that the memorial fell with a "clatter."
"A fine 'coming down from the mountains to resume livelihoods'! A fine 'praising the Emperor’s benevolence'!" Xiao Lie stood up.
"I fear the stench of resentment is rising all the way to the heavens!"
These words were spoken with immense gravity. Not only was Chen Tingjie trembling, but the others—including Zhou Xing, who was usually exempt from kneeling—all collapsed to the floor with a "thud," proclaiming their guilt.
Xiao Lie sneered, "What are you afraid of? If anyone is going to be cursed behind their backs, it is I. If there is no heaven’s retribution, there will surely be worldly vengeance!"
Zhou Xing kowtowed repeatedly, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty, Zhou Jin was merely anxious to eradicate the sores of the state for the imperial court, which led to improper conduct. I hope Your Majesty will show mercy, keeping in mind his long-standing loyalty to the monarch and the nation!"
Chen Tingjie added, "Your Majesty, while Zhou Jin’s report may have exaggerated his merits, the report from the Sichuan Bureau may also be one-sided. I humbly ask Your Majesty to investigate clearly and not listen only to one side."
Xiao Lie retorted, "When I listen to you, it is considered 'listening to both sides,' but when I listen to others, it becomes 'listening to one side,' is that it?"
Sweat beaded on Chen Tingjie’s forehead as he hurriedly kowtowed to plead for mercy.
Xiao Lie turned his gaze toward Xiao Yiang, who had remained silent throughout, and said coldly, "Crown Prince, if I recall correctly, you were the one who recommended Zhou Jin, and you even signed a military pledge. Now that the task is unfinished and has instead incited a civilian revolt, why are you not saying anything?"
Xiao Yiang prostrated and said, word by word, "Father, Zhou Jin was greedy for credit and acted recklessly, leading to a civil uprising. I have nothing to say. Since I recommended him and signed the military pledge, I am willing to bear the same punishment! However, before Your Majesty passes judgment, I implore you to allow me to atone for my crimes through service. I am willing to depart for the Southwest immediately to quell the chaos!"
Xiao Lie responded coldly, "Do you want to create more floating corpses in the rivers and make the world stare in horror?"
Xiao Yiang’s face flushed red. The imperial study fell into a deathly silence.
Xiao Lie turned to Lu Xiang: "Right Marshall, what are your thoughts?"
Lu Xiang, having served four emperors and being an elder of the court, coughed and said with a tremor, "Reporting to the Emperor, peasant rebellions have occurred in every dynasty. Previous dynasties have attempted to suppress them, but all were only temporary fixes. Even if they were dispersed at the time, once natural disasters or man-made calamities struck, they would gather and grow again, their roots too deep to be pulled. Moreover, this current revolt is of unprecedented scale, and the Southwest was the place where Your Majesty laid the foundation for your dragon ascension; we must not take this lightly. In my opinion, the top priority is to immediately appoint a new official to go and suppress the rebellion. The Crown Prince has volunteered, but as the heir apparent of the nation, he should only hold the intent to serve the court; he must never put himself in danger. In my view, there is perhaps one person capable of the task."
Before he even said the name, everyone knew who it was.
Xiao Lie asked, "Who?"
Lu Xiang replied, "The person in charge must have thunderous means, yet also possess the ability to soothe and pacify from afar. In my view, there is no one more suitable than the Right Vice Minister of the Secretariat, Lord Pei."
Liu Jiushao said, "I second that."
……
Day broke, and Pei Youan did not return. After Jiafu got up and washed, she had no choice but to head to Ci'en Temple first.
By the afternoon, news had arrived.
Because the Crown Prince’s uncle, Zhou Jin, had used improper methods that incited a refugee revolt in the Southwest, the Emperor had appointed Pei Youan to the critical position of Governor-General of the Southwest Pacification. Because the situation was urgent, he was to depart from the capital for Jingxiang to quell the chaos within days.
The news came too suddenly. Old Madam Pei immediately had Jiafu return home. That night, she entrusted the temple affairs to the monks and brought her people back to see off her eldest grandson.
It was the end of summer now. Who knew when he would be able to return after leaving?
He was leaving tomorrow, but he had spent the entire day in the palace.
Jiafu led the maids and servants to pack his luggage, feeling like crying—a sense of intense reluctance. But in front of the Pei family and the servants, she dared not show it at all.
By nightfall, Pei Youan finally returned from the palace.
The Old Madam held a farewell family dinner for him. Both households sat at the same table.
The atmosphere during the meal was strange.
On Second Madam Meng's side, they kept chatting and laughing from start to finish, doing nothing but praising how much the Emperor favored Pei Youan. On Madam Xin's side, although she wore a smile, it was clearly not from the heart.
The Emperor had already issued a decree, not only stripping Zhou Jin of his post as Governor of the three provinces' military affairs but also removing his title as Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, ordering him to return to the capital immediately to face trial by the Ministry of War and the Court of Judicial Review.
It was said that when the Empress pleaded for him, she was also rebuffed by the Emperor.
The last incident involved the Zhang family, and its aftermath had not yet fully dissipated. Now, because of Zhou Jin, the Zhou family had once again become the center of attention.
She had married her son to Zhou Jiao’e. After the marriage, she discovered the daughter-in-law was not quite right, but she had endured it, treating it as swallowing a bitter pill. Originally, the marriage had been for the sake of the Zhou family's influence, but now, not long after the wedding, the Zhou family had been humiliated like this.
Madam Xin naturally could not bring herself to smile.
After the meal, Pei Youan personally escorted Old Madam Pei back to her room. After the Old Madam gave him several instructions, she saw that Pei Youan seemed to have something to say, so she said, "Don't worry. Your wife—I will look after her for you. I only hope you will fulfill the Emperor's mandate and return soon."
Pei Youan knelt and kowtowed, then rose to leave. After taking two steps, he turned back to see his grandmother sitting there, gazing at his back with a gentle smile. Her posture was slightly hunched, and she looked incredibly old. He hesitated, then returned and said, "Grandmother, I’ve noticed your spirit has been poor lately. While I am away, you must take care of yourself. When I get back, I will instruct Afu to look after you more. If you ever feel unwell, remember to ask Physician Hu to come to the manor for treatment. I have specifically instructed the physician today."
The Old Madam smiled, "Grandmother knows."
Pei Youan looked at her once more before finally leaving. As he reached the door, he heard the Old Madam call him again, so he stopped and turned back.
The Old Madam had called him, but for a moment, she didn't speak, only gazing at her grandson. After a long while, she lowered her voice: "Youan, do you still remember the time you were sixteen, before you left the capital, when I had you beaten?"
Pei Youan remained silent.
The Old Madam sighed: "At that time, you came to question me: who was your biological mother? If you were not the legitimate eldest son, why let you occupy the nest of the dove, making mistake after mistake? Even now, if you were to question me again, I still wouldn't be able to answer you. You won't blame your grandmother, will you?"
Pei Youan smiled slightly: "Grandmother, I was ignorant back then and caused you grief. You need not hold it in your heart; I have long forgotten those events and will never ask again."
Tears shimmered in the Old Madam’s eyes as she nodded: "To hear you think this way is a great comfort to me. Now, I have one more thing I want you to remember. One cannot choose their birth. As long as you walk through this life with integrity, you will have nothing to be ashamed of before heaven, earth, or your own heart. I know you will certainly put my mind at ease."
Pei Youan was slightly stunned. He stood there for a moment, then knelt before her once more and kowtowed solemnly: "Rest assured, Grandmother. I will take your teachings to heart."
The Old Madam smiled: "Before, when you were alone, I always felt that you were untethered, and I worried constantly. Now that you have a wife, I am at ease. Very well, I have nothing more to say. You may go. You depart tomorrow; surely you two have words to exchange."
Pei Youan rose, looked at his grandmother once more, and saw her sitting there, smiling and waving her hand at him.
……
Pei Youan quickened his pace as he entered the room. Without needing to be told, Tanxiang, Nanny Liu, and the others exited the room one after another, pulling the door shut behind them.
Jiafu threw herself into his arms, and he carried her to the bed.
The night was tender and lingering.
Jiafu managed to hold back her tears at first, but when she rose at dawn to help him put on his clothes piece by piece, and finally fastened his belt, she could not hold them back any longer. A single tear fell, but she wiped it away instantly and smiled, "Big Cousin, don't worry. I will remember your words; I will take good care of myself and I will take good care of Grandmother. Grandmother and I will wait together for your return."
Pei Youan pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.
Day had broken. Jiafu, Old Madam Pei, and the others saw him to the gate together.
She stood inside the gate, watching his silhouette as it gradually disappeared into the morning mist.