Thousand Verdant Mountains – Chapter 103 Part 2
Chapter 103 Part 2
Pei Xiaoyuan rode his horse to the county magistrate office in Guangde Lane next to the West Market. The magistrate of Chang’an was pacing back and forth in front of the public hall nervously. When he saw Pei Xiaoyuan coming, he rushed out to greet and saluted him. Pei Xiaoyuan strode to the prison and asked about Chengping’s and Qingtou’s injuries. He learned that Chengping was fine and Qingtou and others had some flesh wounds, but it was not serious. He nodded and asked about the injury of the grandson of the Liu family. The magistrate replied that Ashina had hit him hard, and the grandson of the Grand Chancellor’s mansion was seriously injured. Not only did he have a big cut on his head and several teeth fell out, but he also fainted and was sent to the nearest clinic for treatment.
Pei Xiaoyuan asked the reason why the two sides clashed. When the county magistrate heard him ask this, he was not as clear as before. He looked at him and stammered: “This… It was too chaotic just now, and the Liu family’s grandson was seriously injured. I was only concerned with saving people and didn’t have time to interrogate him…”
Pei Xiaoyuan glanced at him, and seeing him smile apologetically, he stopped asking questions and went to the cell where Qingtou and the others were being held. The county magistrate ordered someone to open the door.
Qingtou’s nose and face were bruised and swollen, and the new clothes he had changed into before leaving this morning now had a large tear across the chest. At this moment, he sat in a corner of the cell, staring blankly. The other servants from the Prince Consort’s residence were in similar states, all looking dejected with their heads hung low. Suddenly, they saw Pei Xiaoyuan coming in, and they knelt down in a hurry. Qingtou, however, sprang up in a mix of excitement and fear, scrambling over to his master. Stumbling and crawling, he finally reached Pei Xiaoyuan and clutched his leg tightly. His lips quivered, and tears seemed ready to fall as he looked up at his master with a mix of trepidation and regret: “Master, have I caused you trouble again? Will the Princess be angry with me?”
Pei Xiaoyuan had no idea what to do with this servant who had been with him since childhood. He suppressed his displeasure and asked him why he was fighting with others in the street.
Talking of this, Qingtou’s anger rose again, and he said bitterly: “Master, you don’t know, they were the ones who speak evil words and bully us too much!”
According to Qingtou, he and several falconers were watching falcons at the time, and wanted to buy two to fill the falconry in the mansion. Otherwise, the falconers assigned to the mansion by the palace would have no work to do. However, they happened to encounter Liu Yue and his entourage, who were also there to inspect some falcons. Liu Yue’s group tried to seize a Tuhu falcon that Qingtou’s group had already set their sights on. Naturally, Qingtou recognized Liu Yue as one of Chang’an’s notorious ruffians and didn’t want to cause trouble for his master. Suppressing his temper, he opted to step aside. Yet Liu Yue’s party only grew bolder. Just as Qingtou was about to leave, some of Liu Yue’s servants began hurling insults, saying things like “the master clings to the nobility, rises to favor, and perches on a high branch, that’s fine. But now even a vulgar and lowly servant dares to parade around as if they’re someone important. Truly, the dogs and chickens are elevated along with him!”
“It’s fine if they just scolded me, but isn’t it obvious that they were scolding you, Master? I was so angry that I rushed over and started fighting with them! They had the numbers, and it looked like we were going to lose when Prince Ashina arrived. I told him what happened, and he kicked that guy surnamed Liu off his horse, and then…”
Qingtou also knew that Prince Ashina was heavy-handed, and was afraid that he had finished him. If someone really died, even with the princess’s support, it would still be a troublesome matter. Thinking of this, he secretly glanced at his master, and saw that he had no expression on his face. He didn’t know what he was thinking at the moment, and felt a little uneasy in his heart, then reluctantly said: “If something serious really happens, you can send me out to pay with my life… At least I can’t let people underestimate the courage of us Ganliang man…”
Pei Xiaoyuan said nothing, pulled one of his legs out of Qingtou’s arm, turned around and left the cell. He ordered the county magistrate to take him to see Ashina, then added, “Ask the doctor to apply some medicine to them and see if they have any sprains.”
After the emperor returned from Cangshan and the news of the princess’s marriage spread, the streets began buzzing with idle chatter about the prince consort. It was said that the son of the Pei family was “clinging to dragons and phoenixes” like ants drawn to meat. After coming to Chang’an, outwardly, he was said to resembled a pine tree on a cliff’s edge or a rare flower blooming on a snowy peak—aloof and exceptional. In truth, however, he leveraged his father’s reputation to seek personal gain. Others pursue enlightenment with their lives, but he seeks glory with his body. Just the dowry the princess is bringing alone would last him a lifetime, and so on.
The Chang’an County Magistrate had naturally heard about this, so even though he knew the cause of today’s conflict, he did not dare to mention it in front of the prince consort. Now he heard his servant say this himself. When prince consort come out and gave this order, he promised repeatedly.
Pei Xiaoyuan was just about to go to the cell where Chengping was being held alone, when the county lieutenant came quickly and said that the people over there had also arrived.
The Liu family did not just send anyone, but the Crown Princess’ brother Wei Juren. He had just brought the imperial physician to see Liu’s grandson, and when he knew Pei Xiaoyuan was here, he rushed over. When they met, he said that the person had woken up and was fine. He also said that he had found out the cause of the fight and that it was their fault. When he was done, he would go back and inform Grand Chancellor Liu, and then he would beat to death those servants who dared to speak nonsense, and asked Pei Xiaoyuan to please not to blame.
He was respectful and took all the accountability. Pei Xiaoyuan said that he was willing to pay for Liu family’ grandson’s medical treatment. Wei Juren laughed and declined politely, saying that today’s matter was over and he was lucky that the prince consort didn’t blame him.
The matter was resolved like this. Wei Juren left in a hurry, and the county magistrate quickly released the people who were still in custody.
Pei Xiaoyuan personally took Chengping, who was sleeping in the prison, out and brought him to a nearby riverside where there were few people. He stopped and asked him if he was injured.
Chengping kicked a stone from the riverbank with his boot and threw it at a pair of mallard ducks that were embracing each other on the river surface. Startled, the male and female birds flapped their wings in panic and scattered in opposite directions. He chuckled.
“Pei Er, do you look down on me? Those few piece of wastes, no better than a sissy. If I hadn’t been so annoyed, I wouldn’t have even bothered lifting a hand.”
There was still a blue bruise on his forehead that had not yet disappeared, but it should be caused by the beating caused by the grand princess and others on the wedding night. Other than that, except for his hair crown being a little crooked, the rest of his body was intact.
Pei Xiaoyuan raised his hand and carefully straightened his crown, then smiled and thanked him: “Luckily you passed by at that time. Otherwise, my stupid servant, who only cared about standing up for me but didn’t know his own weight, would have suffered a great loss today.”
Chengping spent all day hanging out in taverns and banquets, so naturally he heard some jokes about him marrying a princess. He also knew that he was different from himself, a son of a noble family who attached great importance to integrity and reputation. Now, he was being talked about like this behind his back. Chengping was a little worried. However, seeing Pei Xiaoyuan’s calm demeanor at this moment, he scrutinized him briefly, then nodded and said: “The rumors were probably spread by someone with ulterior motives. But as long as you don’t care, then it’s fine. I worried for nothing. Honestly, life is meant to be lived freely—just do whatever brings you joy. If you’re constantly worrying about this and holding back about that, what’s the point of living? Where’s the fun in it?”
Pei Xiaoyuan stood on the riverbank, smiling without responding, and only cast his eyes on the two water birds that were gradually gathering back together.
“Oh, right!” Chengping suddenly remembered and glanced back and forth at him several times.
“Why I heard that you were attacked and injured before your wedding? The assassin wanted to take your life? Is it true or false?”
Pei Xiaoyuan nodded.
Chengping froze for a moment, then his expression darkened with anger. Lowering his voice, he said: “Could it really be as the rumors say, that it’s the Crown Prince—” He stopped abruptly, noticing that Pei Xiaoyuan showed no reaction. Slowly, he fell silent as well. After standing still for another moment, he said, “Forget it. Let’s leave it at that for today. I’m fine, and I appreciate you coming to get me. We haven’t met properly since we came back from Cangshan. I gambled a few days ago and won a jar of the best deer wine from the son of Prince Fanyang. It is said to strengthen the body and has an amazing effect. I couldn’t bear to drink it alone, so I kept it in Chen’s tavern, waiting for you to taste it together. But I know you’re newly married, still nursing an injury, and probably won’t have the chance to join me anytime soon. I’ll save it for another day. It’s inconvenient for you to be out for too long, so hurry back. I’m leaving too!”
He turned around and was about to leave, but suddenly heard Pei Xiaoyuan calling him, so he stopped.
Pei Xiaoyuan carefully considered his words and told him what the grand princess had asked him to tell Chengping the day before. Although he was very tactful, before he finished speaking, Chengping suddenly changed his expression and interrupted him with a sneer.
“It was her own daughter who was pestering me. I have no interest in these clueless noblewomen and didn’t even pay her any attention. How is it all suddenly my fault? Do they think I don’t know? That shrew has always looked down on me. Why is it that we people from Wolf Court are naturally seen as inferior? Since she’s brought it up, I might as well take her daughter for myself—let’s see if she’s really so different from other women, and why she’s supposedly so precious?”
“A Suan’er! Lu Wenjun is not like the women you usually toy with! Don’t act recklessly!” Pei Xiaoyuan warned him sharply.
Chengping’s eyes, full of wicked light, widened as he glared at him. Seeing Pei Xiaoyuan’s stern gaze, the two stood locked in a silent standoff. After a moment, the evil light in his eyes slowly faded, and suddenly, he nodded.
“Forget it! I don’t want to embarrass you. It’s fine to be humble! It’s not like I’ve never experienced it before. Anyway, although we have learned to speak the same language as you and wear the same clothes as you since we were young, in the eyes of you people of the Holy Dynasty who are born superior, a Hu is a Hu and should be obedient to you! We will never become the same as you!”
“A Suan’er…” Pei Xiaoyuan was slightly felt guilty and took a step towards him, but saw Chengping return to his usual grinning appearance and winked at him: “It’s fine, I understand. I’m leaving, you go and accompany your princess!”
He whistled to call his mount, jumped up, and grasped the reins. After sitting firmly and when he was about to leave, he suddenly seemed to remember something else and turned around.
“Brother Junyan, people outside say that Lantai is still obsessed with the Princess. You should keep a close eye on him. If it were me, I wouldn’t be at ease either. But if you can get away from the Princess, remember to come find me. I still have my wine!”
Pei Xiaoyuan was stunned.
Chengping rode away with a mischievous laugh.
TN: Happy Lunar New Year 🥳🥳🥳