Chapter 93 Part 1

 

He shi was pleasantly surprised and sighed with emotion. She was just about to say that although the marriage negotiation between the young master and the princess in Ganliang was not successful, fate had ultimately brought them together as a couple. But as she recalled certain unspoken details, she glanced at Pei Ji, noticing his mixed expression of both joy and worry, as though burdened by some inner thoughts. Choosing not to say more, she lowered her head, pinched her fingers slightly, made a quick calculation of the dates, and then raised her eyes with a smile, “It is a great joy for the princess to marry the young master. When young master went to Chang’an, his journey was so hasty and no one could have foreseen such a joyous event. Now there is only one Qingtou to manage over there.

“He was reckless, and I used to worry that he might cause trouble. Fortunately, everything has gone smoothly and without incident. Now that a big wedding is coming, although the Cui family will certainly do their best, on our side, it’s not enough to have only Qingtou. Today is the 23th of Ninth Month, and there is only half a month left before the wedding. Time is a bit tight, but fortunately this place is not far from Chang’an. If I leave immediately and travel quickly, I can arrive in a few days, and I should be able to lend a hand when I get there.”

Pei Ji called her over with precisely this plan in mind. He further instructed her not to rush back, as there was no need for her to look after things on his end. He shi naturally understood his intentions, and smiled and nodded: “That’s what I was thinking too. It’s just that you, my lord, are not as young as you used to be—”

“I’m fine here, you can go without worry. Taking good care of things over there is the most important, only then I can rest assured.” Pei Ji said this before she finished speaking.

He shi agreed, and the two discussed some matters related to the wedding. He shi then took her leave and left. After some preparations, she took Zhu’er, who had followed her from Ganliang, and got on a carriage and hurried off to Chang’an.

After He shi left, Pei Ji read the letter from Chang’an several times and recalled the scene of meeting his nephew before leaving Cangshan. In Pei Ji’s understanding, the emperor was obstinate—an aspect that had become increasingly pronounced in recent years. As for his nephew, while outwardly refined and composed, he was similarly stubborn to the bone. In this regard, the two were evenly matched. The emperor was obviously very dissatisfied with his nephew, and his nephew seemed to resist Pei Ji’s proposal for him that day. He truly could not fathom what might have transpired afterward to prompt both the emperor and his nephew to undergo such a dramatic change of heart.

When Prince Ning announced the good news, he mentioned the grand archery ceremony. But from the tone of his letter, he seemed to have not fully understood the whole thing either.

Pei Ji was pondering over it when a servant suddenly brought him a visiting card, saying that it was sent by someone just now and asked him to pass it to the resident regent. Pei Ji took it and asked who sent it. The servant shook his head and said that the other person did not mention it.

Pei Ji opened the visiting card, glanced at it, and froze.

Towards evening, he left the Resident Regent Mansion and appeared in an ancient temple located in Mang Mountain north of the city.

The official position of the resident regent was an esteemed yet ceremonial post, with no involvement in day-to-day governance. Due to his unique status, most people kept a respectful distance, avoiding unnecessary interaction with him. As a result, he often had ample free time. The old monk in this ancient temple was an old friend of his and a skilled chess player, so he frequently visited the temple to pass the time. His visit today, to onlookers, seemed no different from his usual routine.

At the third watch, under the deep and resonant tolling of the night bell from the ancient temple, Pei Ji walked alone under the moonlight. Exiting through the rear gate of the mountain temple, he quietly waited beneath a dilapidated pavilion. Moments later, a figure emerged from the shadows of the nearby forest—a handsome young man. As he approached, his pace quickened until, almost running, he came before Pei Ji, dropping to his knees in a deep bow just outside the pavilion.

“Master, please accept this student’s greetings!”

Li Yan kowtowed.

Pei Ji hurried down the pavilion, called him “Your Highness” in a low voice, bent down and stretched out his hand to help him up from the ground. Li Yan refused and insisted on completing the three bows. While still kneeling on the ground, he looked up at Pei Ji, and asked with a choked voice: “After my father’s accident, I haven’t seen Master again. Has Master in good health these years?”

Pei Ji’s eyes were already slightly moist, and he nodded and said yes. He finally helped Li Yan up from the ground, brought him into the pavilion, and asked in a low voice: “Your Highness, how have you been all these years?”

Li Yan’s emotions gradually calmed down, and he smiled bitterly: “Master, please don’t call me Your Highness anymore. I am no longer the Imperial Grandson. Over the years, I have been hiding from place to place, like a lonely ghost unable to see the light of day. I never expected that I could see Master again today.”

Pei Ji was silent for a moment, and said: “When Crown Prince Jingsheng got into trouble, you were still a teenager. I was in the south and failed to get back in time. Later I heard that you were missing. Over the years, every time I think of you, I feel guilty. It’s my fault that I was useless. I accepted your gift of apprenticeship, but when you were in trouble, I was unable to help you at all…”

“Master, please don’t say that!” Li Yan rushed forward and came to Pei Ji’s side.

“What happened back then has nothing to do with you, Master. You don’t need to blame yourself. How could I not know that Master was deliberately detained outside so that you could not get away and return to the capital to protect my father? Moreover, if Master hadn’t been there, it would be hard to know what the Holy Dynasty would be like now. Master’s contribution is enough to be recorded in the annal of history. Even putting these things aside, the fact that you once served as grand tutor to both my father and me is enough for me to feel nothing but gratitude. Only gratitude. These years, though I have wandered and been without support, my feelings of respect and appreciation for you have not diminished in the slightest.”

Pei Ji shook his head and sighed softly: “The past is all in the past. What I did back then was just fulfilling my duty. How could I dare to accept such praise from Your Highness.”

“If even you, Master, claim no merit, who else would dare claim they’ve achieved anything?”

Pei Ji waved his hand dismissively, then fell silent again. His gaze turning toward Li Yan with a thoughtful expression, as if words were caught in his throat. Sensing this, Li Yan immediately said, “Master, if there is something on your mind, please feel free to speak.”

Pei Ji asked after some hesitation, “Have you came to Ganliang at the beginning of the year?

“I once heard my nephew mention that he was followed by an unidentified person when he went out.” As he spoke, his eyes looked at the scar on Li Yan’s face.

Li Yan said, “I was just about to tell Master. I have missed Master very much these years. I indeed went to Ganliang at the beginning of the year to pay a visit. However, after I arrived, I thought about my current status and was worried that my visit would cause trouble or cause inconvenience to Master. After hesitating again and again, I finally did not dare to disturb Master’s peace and retreated. But then I happened to see Master Pei Er. Because I had admired him for a long time, I followed him. I originally wanted to make friends with him. It’s all my fault. Because I acted inappropriately, Master Pei Er misunderstood me, which must have made Master worried.”

When Pei Ji heard Pei Xiaoyuan describe the man’s appearance and behavior, he had already guessed in his heart that it might be Li Yan.

“My nephew was too reckless! He hurt Your Highness to such an extent! I will apologize to Your Highness on his behalf!” Pei Ji bowed immediately.

Li Yan stopped him, saying it was him who done something wrong first. Pei Ji could only give up and said, “Your Highness, I am very grateful for your concern. Seeing Your Highness again today, I feel relieved. Your Highness often came to the East Capital when you were young. If you have time, why not stay for a few more days? I have a lot of free time, so I can accompany Your Highness.”

Although Li Yan was listed as a secretly wanted figure by the court, he had left as a youth, and nearly twenty years had passed since then. His appearance had changed so much that even if someone saw him face-to-face, they would not recognize him. If he were willing to stay for a few days, it would not be a major issue. Thus, Pei Ji’s words were spoken with genuine sincerity.

Li Yan smiled and said, “I am a wanted man. For Master to meet me here tonight is already a great risk. How could I dare hope to receive your teachings as I once did?” After saying this, he fixed his gaze on Pei Ji, lowering his voice as he continued, “To be honest, my daring to come here to see you tonight is not only to pay my respects to Master, but also for another matter. I humbly ask Master to give me some advice.”

Pei Ji immediately cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness, please speak freely. Such words, I dare not bear.”

Li Yan said, “Back then, my father, as the legitimate crown prince, was persecuted by the current emperor. Not only did he lose his position and his life, but he was also accused of forcing the previous emperor to abdicate, forever condemned as a criminal, beyond redemption. And what virtue and ability does that man possess? He merely relied on the merits of you, Shenhu General, and others, exploiting your loyalty to consolidate his power, eliminate dissent, and murder the innocent to seize the throne. Such shamelessness, there is no one in the world who can surpasses him! And that’s without even mentioning the heinous crimes he committed against Shenhu General. To prevent him from returning to the capital to protect my father, he colluded with foreign enemies, used their hands to kill, and orchestrated the deaths of the General and eight hundred heroic souls! Every time I think of the injustice of the general and the eldest son of the Pei family, I feel indignant and sorrow for them. Heaven shines bright—yet where is its justice?

“Yan is untalented man. During the years I have lived in exile, I have been fortunate enough to receive the sympathy and assistance of some like-minded people. When the time is right, we will work together to achieve great things. If I am lucky enough to realize my wish and bring the court back to the right lineage, the first thing I will do is to clear the name of the Great General!

“Li Yan doesn’t dare to claim to be talented, but I have been taught by Master and many great scholars since I was a child, and I also know a little about the way of the monarch. If I can realize my wish, I will work hard to govern, appoint talented people to reform, reduce punishments and taxes, and maintain peace with neighbors, so that the world will be peaceful and everyone can live and work in peace!”

His face revealed an extremely suppressed excitement and solemnity. After pausing briefly, he closed his eyes for a moment, then reopened them, fixing his gaze on Pei Ji before continuing: ” Master, please do not misunderstand. I have come to see you today and said what I just did without any ulterior motive. I also know that you have suffered a lot in the border areas over the years, and now you’ve finally found some measure of peace. How could I dare to disturb like that? I only wish that, when my aspirations are realized, you return to court with your virtuous nephew. I hope you will once again serve as my Grand Tutor, stand at the head of all officials, and help me achieve a legacy for the ages!”

In response to him, Pei Ji was silent for a while.

Li Yan suddenly knelt in front of him again: “Master, if you think what I said is treasonous, you can tie me up immediately and hand me over to the court. I will not harbor even a trace of resentment!”

Pei Ji walked slowly to the edge of the pavilion, turned his back to Li Yan, and looked at the vast wilderness below the mountain, which was dotted with ancient tombs of countless kings and heroes. After a moment, he said, “Your Highness, please stand up. Both by reason and sentiment, I cannot do such a thing. But if I may speak frankly—”

He turned around and looked at Li Yan behind him.

“Even if one day, Your Highness really realizes your wish and enters Chang’an, I am afraid I will not be able to obey you.”

Li Yan paused for a moment and slowly raised his head.

A cold silver column of moonlight shone in from a missing corner of the pavilion and fell on his upturned face. His face was as pale as paper.

“Master, you are unwilling to be my Grand Tutor again because I am no longer your Imperial Grandson, is that it?”

He smiled sadly and asked tremblingly.

“Master, you and the Pei family were the ones my father relied and trusted the most. you endured humiliation and bore heavy burdens for the sake of the court’s grand plans, serving the current Emperor as your master. You even arranged for your nephew to marry the princess. Yet, in the end, you have grown disappointed in me, distanced yourself from me, and no longer wish to guide me. Isn’t that so?”

Pei Ji turned around slowly.

“Your Highness, I believe that if you achieve your ambitions, you will strive with all your might to become the best ruler you can be. However, unless the current emperor willingly returns the throne to you and ensures a smooth transition of power—which is impossible—the only path for you to return to Chang’an is through turmoil and bloodshed, perhaps even a war. But, Your Highness, the current emperor is not someone you can easily overthrow. Therefore, if you get what you want, the court order that has been finally established in the past twenty years will collapse again, even more thoroughly than before.

“Your Highness, if there hadn’t been the previous Jingsheng rebellion, you could have become a ruler who governed the world, but that would be all.

“Once you take back Chang’an by bloodshed, even if only a drop of blood is shed, the many dormant ambitious people in the world will jump out at the smell of blood and follow suit. By then, you will not be able to control the situation. And the Holy Dynasty really can’t stand another turmoil like the end of Jingsheng!”

Li Yan slowly stood up from the ground. Pei Ji continued:

“Your Highness, your question just now is not wrong. Crown Prince Jingsheng has been very kind to my Pei family. The Pei family should be grateful and repay the favor. We should regard the crown prince’s lineage as the orthodox and respect Your Highness as the monarch. However, I was willing to be a minister of Prince Ding in the past, and today I dare to reject Your Highness’ kindness and refuse to serve you anymore. Why?

“The rebellion back then was not caused by Prince Ding. It was he who led the troops and won the hearts of the people, and then put down the rebellion. Although his various actions afterwards made people scorn, he was not the culprit in the incident.

“It’s different now. The world has settled, and the four directions enjoy peace. Your Highness, you are carrying hatred, and it’s normal for you to hold on to it. I cannot stop you from pursuing what you wish, but what you seek stems only from the grievances of one family. The Pei family, however, has always been loyal not to a single ruler or dynasty, but to the court and the world itself.

“The common people sacrifice their sweat, blood, and very lives to sustain the imperial family and the entire court of ministers adorned in their silks and finery. Why? Because those who labor with their minds govern, and those who labor with their hands are governed! But in return, they hope for a just and benevolent court. And what is benevolence in governance? As Mencius said: ‘To take the worries of the people upon oneself before they suffer them, and to rejoice only after they have found joy.’ To rule for the happiness of the people—that is all.”

Pei Ji looked at the young man in front of him, whose face was deathly pale and stood there like a solid pillar. He bowed respectfully to him and kowtowed solemnly.

“It’s the time and the situation.

“Your Highness, this old minister dares to implore Your Highness to think twice before you act.”

After a long while, Li Yan raised his sleeve to wipe away a tear from his face, and returned the salute to Pei Ji who was still kneeling on the ground. With a faint smile on his face, he said respectfully: “Sorry for disturbing you, Master. Li Yan has received you teaching.”

After he finished speaking, he walked down the pavilion and left, his figure entering the forest.

Li Meng walked out from the darkness and followed closely.

Li Yan initially strode forward at a rapid pace, his steps resolute and unyielding. He kept walking, and the moonlight filtered through the alternating thick and sparse canopy of leaves above, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on his face. It illuminated the faint smile lingering at the corner of his lips—sometimes bright, sometimes faint, but never entirely fading. Not until he walked out of the forest and left the ruined pavilion far behind that he abruptly stopped and stood in the mottled night shadows. His lips pressed tightly together, and only then did that faint smile finally vanish completely, leaving no trace.

He looked up and closed his eyes.

“Kill him.”

After a moment, he opened his eyes and ordered calmly.

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