Chapter Forty-Three: A Daughter’s Thoughts (Second Update)

Zheng Yanqing was ambushed by bandits on Mount Shouyang. He was severely injured, and his life or death remained unknown...

This news spread across the Heluo region as if it had grown wings, and traveled even further at a breathtaking speed.

"Father!"

Dressed in a snow-white ru skirt, Pei Shuying rushed into the study and asked anxiously, "I heard Yanqing was ambushed by bandits, and his life or death is unknown?"

Pei Shuju raised his head, his lean cheeks revealing no trace of emotion.

He nodded silently, then closed the book in his hand. "News just arrived. Four days ago, Zheng Yanqing was ambushed at White Sparrow Temple at the foot of Mount Shouyang. It seems the ferocious bandit leader of Mount Shouyang, Two-Headed Snake, led the assault. During the grueling battle, the young master was severely injured. Fortunately, Xie Hong, a scion of the Yangxia Xie clan and a military lieutenant of Wannian County in Chang'an, happened to be there and rode a fast horse through the night back to Luoyang to bring Chao Yuanfang to Yanshi. According to Chao Yuanfang's report upon his return, his heart meridians were damaged, and his condition is quite grave."

"Mount Shouyang, Two-Headed Snake?"

Pei Shuying flew into a rage. "This Mount Shouyang is the eastern gateway to Luoyang. How can such a ferocious band of robbers exist without anyone knowing? What on earth is Fang Yanqian, the Governor of Henan, being paid for? To think Yanqing even praised him for having no fear of being shattered to pieces... I am going to find him right now."

"Shuying, halt!"

Pei Shuju uttered a deep, stern shout.

Though his voice was not loud, it forced Pei Shuying to stop dead in her tracks.

"You, a mere young woman, on what grounds do you lecture Fang Yanqian? Besides, Fang Yanqian is not even at the administrative office at this moment. Upon receiving the news, he paid a visit to Grand General Zhangsun late yesterday afternoon, and led the official troops from the three prefectures of Shangluo, Gucheng, and Mianchi to Yanshi.

Do you really think he could sit still?

Zheng Yanqing is severely injured, and Fang Yanqian cannot shirk the blame. Today alone, throughout the entire morning, twenty-two literary gentry of Luoyang went to visit Zhangsun Sheng, expressing profound dissatisfaction with Fang Yanqian in their words. Furthermore, Grand General Zhangsun has already issued an order to mobilize all twenty-seven garrisons under his command to completely wipe out the bandits of Mount Shouyang... Just wait and see, the impact of this incident has only just begun. Do not act rashly. If you are not careful, you might well be sucked into the whirlpool and even implicate everyone else."

Pei Shuying bit her lip until it bled, remaining silent.

"Also, Li Dewu will probably be back in the next couple of days. Have you truly made up your decision?"

Pei Shuying's heart trembled slightly. She slowly turned around and said, "Father, please do not mention that heartless man ever again. For eight years, I exhausted my mind and energy for him, only to find him living in ease and pleasure in Lingnan, where he not only took a new wife but also had a son.

Even if that were all, I could have endured it.

Yet now, upon hearing that he is to return, he actually abandons his wife and child... Father, how could I still harbor any attachment to such an unfeeling and ungrateful person? I have already made up my mind: the moment he returns, I will completely sever all ties with him. How hateful it is that I was so blind back then."

As she spoke, tears streamed down Pei Shuying's face.

Dressed entirely in plain white, she appeared all the more delicate and touching, like pear blossoms drenched in rain.

Pei Shuju sighed, stood up, walked over to Pei Shuying, and gently pulled her into his arms. "Silly girl, I told you back then that Li Dewu was by no means a good match, but you wouldn't listen. Now... well, breaking it off is for the best. We can simply find you another good family. After all, you are still young, and finding a considerate partner who will cherish you shouldn't be too difficult."

"I will never marry again!"

Hearing this, Pei Shuying broke free from Pei Shuju's embrace.

"Not marry? How can that be? Could it be that your entire life..."

"Father, your daughter has already made up her mind. I will not marry again in this lifetime. Please do not worry yourself over my affairs anymore."

With that, Pei Shuying turned on her heel and walked away.

Pei Shuju watched her retreating figure, his mouth opening slightly, but he did not call out to stop her.

He knew this daughter of his far too well—she possessed such an unyielding disposition. Back when Li Dewu was exiled to Lingnan, Pei Shuju had tried to persuade Pei Shuying, but the child had fought to the death, forcing Pei Shuju to abandon his plans. Because of this matter, Pei Shuju had endured a great deal of pressure. Yet, unable to persuade her otherwise, he had simply watched helplessly as her youth faded away.

And now, Pei Shuying had finally resolved to part ways with that Li Dewu.

Only to develop the notion of remaining single for the rest of her life. Pei Shuju truly dared not press her too hard; if he pushed her too far, the girl might actually run off and become a Daoist nun. If such a thing were to happen, Pei Shuju's face and dignity would truly be wiped away entirely.

He would just have to take it slow... Once the matter settled down, he would try to persuade her gradually.

However, Pei Shuju could not help but feel a strange sensation in his heart: aside from matters concerning Li Dewu, Shuying had rarely paid much attention to anything else in the past. What had gotten into her this time? Why would a mere Zheng family boy prompt her to come personally and inquire about him? This affair seemed somewhat abnormal. Moreover, she had previously gone to Xingyang under the identity of a daughter of the Pei family. Although she stayed for only a single day, rushing to Xingyang at that time was rather reckless.

Zheng Yanqing was ambushed by bandits on Mount Shouyang...

This was simply not Pei Shuying's style...

The strangest thing of all was that she had actually left Pei Zi behind in Xingyang.

Pei Zi was considered an old retainer who had followed Pei Shuju for years, and Pei Shuying usually valued him greatly. Why on earth did she...

When Pei Shuju returned to Luoyang, he had already gained a general understanding of these matters.

He simply hadn't thought too much about it at the time, but Pei Shuying's abnormal behavior today made Pei Shuju feel somewhat suspicious.

"Steward!"

"What are your instructions, Master?"

"When the young miss went out last time, who did she take with her? How did she react upon her return?"

The old steward was also a trusted confidant of Pei Shuju. After pondering for a moment, he said, "When the young miss left Luoyang last time, she claimed she was returning to Hedong.

I remember she didn't take many people. Aside from Pei Zi, there were also Pei Yi and a few others.

However, when Pei Yi returned, I heard he had sustained injuries. But I didn't dare ask too many specifics about the situation. As you know, Master, eldest miss has that temperament; she despises nothing more than others prying into her affairs. If she found out, she would likely fall out with me...

Well, now that I think about it, I found it somewhat strange when eldest miss returned.

When eldest miss's temper flares up, you couldn't pull her back with nine oxen. When she left Luoyang, she declared with bitter resentment that she was returning to Hedong. Yet within two days, she was back... And her mood seemed quite pleasant, to boot."

"Send Pei Yi here."

The steward acknowledged the order and hurried away.

Left sitting in his study, the more Pei Shuju thought about it, the more he felt his daughter was acting abnormal.

Pei Yi arrived quickly, though his legs were still somewhat inconvenient due to his injury. He stepped into the study and paid his respects to Pei Shuju.

"Pei Yi, let me ask you... on your recent journey back to Hedong with the eldest miss, did you encounter any incidents? Tell me everything from beginning to end, without leaving out the slightest detail."

Pei Yi hastily complied and recounted their journey to Xingyang in detail.

"You just said that you crossed paths with the Zheng family's young master along the way?"

"Yes, right there in the sparse woodland cabin at the foot of Shilin Mountain. The injury on my leg was actually sustained from a misunderstanding with that young master at the time."

An intriguing expression crossed Pei Shuju's face.

It seemed a mix of laughter and tears. After a moment, he softly asked, "You mean to say the eldest miss and Ban Yuanjun spent the entire night together in that wooden cabin?"

"Yes... Early the next morning, the eldest miss even sent someone to a nearby village to buy steamed cakes and shared them with the young master."

"Very well, you may withdraw."

Pei Shuju grew even more bewildered!

He truly hadn't thought in any depraved directions, after all, there was an age gap of more than a decade between Yanqing and Pei Shuying. He was simply curious as to what on earth had happened in between to make the notoriously stubborn Pei Shuying suddenly change her mind.

No, he still needed to probe her intentions.

Thinking of this, Pei Shuju rose, intending to go find Pei Shuying for a chat.

At that moment, however, the steward hurried over with a flustered expression and reported, "Master, something terrible has happened."

"What is it?"

"This afternoon, eldest miss suddenly went to the West Prefecture training ground, took over a hundred men from the estate, and headed straight out of the city."

Pei Shuju frowned. "What is so strange about that? I suppose she was feeling out of sorts and went out for a stroll."

"No, I sent someone to inquire. When the young miss left the city, she obtained travel passes and clearance documents. Word is that she took her men and headed toward Yanshi."

"She went to Yanshi?"

A ripple of realization stirred in Pei Shuju's heart, and he frowned slightly.

"This girl, running off to Yanshi at a time like this, isn't she just adding to the chaos?

By the way, is there any movement in Renji's household? I mean, isn't his daughter close with Zheng Yanqing... Why haven't they taken any action?"

"As to that, I am not entirely certain."

"Go and make inquiries, or tell Renji to send Yuanqing's siblings to Yanshi to investigate what is truly going on."