Chapter 81: Returning to its Rightful Owner, Defenses Shattered, Heaven-Defying Young County Marquis
Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Returning to its Rightful Owner, Defenses Shattered, Heaven-Defying Young County Marquis
"It’s you?"
Yan Sichen looked at Ye Yu, then his gaze fell upon Pei Shaoqing. "Brother Pei, you know this man?"
Seeing that the other man recognized him at a glance and casually called him "Brother Pei," Pei Shaoqing instantly understood they must have known each other before.
’But we can’t be very close,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, having been in Tongzhou for so many days, there’s no reason he wouldn’t have come to see me.’
Not being close meant he didn’t have to be so reserved.
He immediately said with a blank expression, "To answer your question, Brother Yan, this man’s name is Ye Yu. He was sent by Sect Leader Gongsun Yi of the Iron Sword Sect to present me with a sword. However, he was ambushed and injured on the way, and the sword was stolen."
Ye Yu gritted his teeth, glaring daggers at Yan Sichen.
"What a coincidence. I met him by chance; we had no prior quarrel, yet he was insolent towards me, so I taught him a little lesson." Yan Sichen feigned a look of sudden realization. He unfastened the sword from his waist and looked at Pei Shaoqing sincerely. "I have taken a great liking to this sword, Brother Pei. Would you be willing to part with it? I am prepared to offer a handsome gift in exchange."
"It is just a sword, something this young master doesn’t much care for," Pei Shaoqing said, holding out a hand. "However, it was given to me as a gift from a good friend, which makes it different. I must ask Brother Yan to return it to its rightful owner."
’Even Yan Sichen, the Heir of King Shu, likes this sword so much. It seems it really is a treasured blade.’
Of course he had to get something so good back.
Yan Sichen’s face twitched. Though he was extremely reluctant, he still needed a favor. He could only suppress the ache in his heart and sigh, "In that case, I will return it to you, Brother Pei."
With that, he personally stepped forward and handed it to Pei Shaoqing.
"My thanks, Brother Yan." Pei Shaoqing grabbed it.
The icy touch sent a jolt through him. He tried to take the sword, but its body didn’t move an inch.
Pei Shaoqing looked up at Yan Sichen.
"Brother Pei, is it really not possible? I am willing to trade ten thousand gold for this sword," Yan Sichen said, his face a picture of sincerity as he held onto the blade, refusing to let go.
He really did love this sword!
To think it would be gone before he even had a chance to warm it up.
’Gimme that!’ With a hard tug, Pei Shaoqing snatched the sword away. "My apologies, Brother Yan. Ten thousand gold is nice, but it can’t buy the friendship of Sect Leader Gongsun."
When Liu Yuheng heard this, her resistance to her senior brother’s act of presenting the sword lessened considerably. ’Young Master Pei is truly a man of loyalty and honor, who treats wealth as mere dirt.’
’Mo Tan will not be dishonored in his hands.’
’Damn it!’ Yan Sichen watched as the other man hung the sword at his waist. ’The day I ascend to the throne,’ he vowed internally, ’I will have this bastard drawn and quartered!’
Pei Shaoqing rested a hand on the hilt and spun around in front of Yan Sichen. "Brother Yan, does this sword suit me or not?"
The corners of Yan Sichen’s mouth twitched twice.
He felt the same humiliation and rage as if he had given away his own wife, only to have the recipient embrace her and ask if they were a good match.
And yet, he had to force a smile. "It does. It suits you perfectly. That sword belongs at your waist, Brother Pei."
’Bastard! You will pay for this today.’
"HAHAHA! HAHAHA! I think so too." Pei Shaoqing laughed heartily, then looked at Ye Yu and said, "When you return, thank Sect Leader Gongsun for me. Tell him I like this gift very much."
"Yes," Ye Yu replied with a nod.
Pei Shaoqing then turned to Zhao Zilan. "Escort Young Master Ye out to rest. Have a physician take a look at him."
"Yes, Young Master." Zhao Zilan acknowledged the order and went to support Ye Yu. "Second Senior Brother, let’s go."
Ye Yu limped out, pursing his lips and shooting a hateful glance at Yan Sichen as he passed.
Yan Sichen, however, simply gave him a slight smile.
’A mere Jianghu vagrant dares to glare at me? If not for giving face to Pei Shaoqing, I would have killed him with a single palm strike.’
"By the way, Brother Yan, I wonder what brings you all the way here from so far away?" Pei Shaoqing got down to business.
Yan Sichen’s smile vanished. He waved his hand.
The six guards behind him all withdrew.
Seeing Pei Shaoqing remain motionless, he said with some exasperation, "Brother Pei, perhaps you could dismiss your attendants as well."
"My lady, please wait for me outside," Pei Shaoqing said to Liu Yuheng, not wanting her to go too far.
After a curtsy, Liu Yuheng gracefully departed.
"Brother Yan, please, make yourself comfortable." Pei Shaoqing gestured for him to sit, then walked to the head seat at the top of the hall and sat down himself.
He subtly put a safe distance between them.
Yan Sichen found a random chair and sat down, getting straight to the point. "I’ve come to ask you for someone, Brother Pei."
"Oh?" Pei Shaoqing’s heart skipped a beat. He already had a good idea, but his face showed only confusion.
Yan Sichen couldn’t tell if he was feigning ignorance, so he just said it plainly, "A few of my attendants stole a treasure of mine and fled. I sent men to pursue them all the way to Tongzhou. They returned and told me that several of them were killed by you, Brother Pei, and that only one, a man named Wang Wu, remains, locked up in the Jing’an Guard’s prison. I must ask you to hand him over to me."
"What? So those men were your attendants, Brother Yan." Pei Shaoqing looked shocked, then his expression turned grave. "Do you know what they did in Tongzhou? They broke into a home in broad daylight to abduct a young woman. It’s a horrifying story that has caused a massive public outcry. For that reason, please forgive me, but I cannot comply with your request."
’I don’t recall you being such a champion of justice back in the Capital City,’ Yan Sichen snorted inwardly.
Outwardly, his smile remained. "Brother Pei, calming public resentment is easy, isn’t it? Just grab anyone, claim they’re Wang Wu, and execute them. How would the common folk know the difference?"
"Brother Yan, are you encouraging me, an official of the court, to treat human life as worthless? Absolutely not. I am by no means a man who kills wantonly," Pei Shaoqing said with a straight face.
Yan Sichen wasn’t a fool. His face instantly turned cold, and he said in a hostile tone, "Why do you keep refusing, Brother Pei? If you don’t want to help, just say so."
"Alright. I don’t want to," Pei Shaoqing said with a nod.
SMACK! Yan Sichen, not expecting such a blatant show of disrespect, slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. Pointing at Pei Shaoqing with a face full of fury, he roared, "Pei Shaoqing, don’t you test my patience! This is Shu State, not the Capital City!"
"You see, Brother Yan? I told you the truth, and now you’re unhappy," Pei Shaoqing said, spreading his hands with a helpless look.
Looking at that innocent face, Yan Sichen was so angry he was choking. He took a deep breath, his gaze turning suspicious. "Pei Shaoqing, have you been listening to some nonsense from Wang Wu? I advise you to hand him over. It’s easy to get burned when you play with fire."
"Are you threatening me?" Pei Shaoqing’s eyes narrowed.
Yan Sichen held his head high. "Just a reminder."
"He hasn’t said anything, actually. But seeing how nervous you are, I really must put in some effort and see what I can dig out of him," Pei Shaoqing said with a perfectly harmless smile.
Yan Sichen was furious, his gaze as sharp as a knife. "And what if I insist on taking him today?"
"I serve His Majesty. Whoever tries to stop me from serving His Majesty, I will kill," Pei Shaoqing stated calmly.
"Arrogant!" Pei Shaoqing’s words made Yan Sichen laugh with rage. He sneered, "You’ve been an official for a few days and you’ve already forgotten your place. A mere Young Master of the Marquis’s Mansion, not even fit to inherit the title, dares to put on airs in front of me? Do you even have the right?"
"Young Master!" Liu Yuheng suddenly walked in.
She was walking briskly, her chest heaving.
She glanced at Yan Sichen first, then said to Pei Shaoqing, "The Imperial Messenger has arrived. You are summoned to receive a decree."
Yan Sichen froze upon hearing this.
Pei Shaoqing cupped his hands towards Yan Sichen. "You’ll have to excuse me. Brother Yan, please organize your thoughts and you can resume mocking me later. In any case, you’re not getting the man."
With that, he rose and walked straight out.
Watching his nonchalant departure, Yan Sichen felt the powerlessness of punching a fist into cotton.
At the same time, he was curious about the contents of the imperial decree.
So, he followed from a distance.
When he reached the front courtyard of the Pei Mansion, he saw Pei Shaoqing already kneeling behind an incense table while a eunuch was reading the decree aloud.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: We, who have received the heavenly mandate... hereby recognize Jing’an Guard Standard-Bearer Pei Shaoqing, for his loyalty, bravery, and martial valor in slaying the Profound Yellow Sect rebel, the Kaiyang Saint Heir...
He is hereby promoted to probationary Hundred Households Commander of the Jing’an Guard, awarded a thousand gold and ten bolts of Ice Silk, and is additionally ennobled as the Pingyang County Marquis, with a fief of three hundred households, a hereditary title to be passed down without demotion, to forever enjoy the grace of the nation..."
Hearing this, Yan Sichen felt as if he’d been struck by lightning.
Pei Shaoqing had been ennobled!
Although he himself would one day inherit a king’s title, right now he held no official post or noble rank.
But Pei Shaoqing now had both an official post and a noble rank.
’Idiot Emperor! Jingtai, that fatuous ruler who hands out titles like candy!’
Yan Sichen trembled with rage, his face twisted with jealousy. ’With such a muddle-headed emperor, how can the nation prosper? It is my destiny to replace him!’
"This subject accepts the decree. Long live the Emperor, for ten thousand years, for ten thousand times ten thousand years."
Pei Shaoqing accepted the decree, gave the eunuch a generous reward, and instructed his servants to entertain the envoy’s retinue.
Then, holding the imperial decree, he walked up to Yan Sichen and asked with a broad smile, "Brother Yan, does this County Marquis now have the right to put on airs in front of you?"
To be honest, he hadn’t expected the Emperor to grant him a noble title. This was a tremendous honor.
From now on, he would automatically be a cut above the rest wherever he went.
’This old Emperor... he’s not half bad.’
"A mere County Marquis, the lowest of noble ranks. What’s there to be proud of?" Yan Sichen struggled to keep his expression flat, his words tougher than they had any right to be.
"A County Marquis is still a marquis. Come back and show off in front of me when you’ve inherited your father’s throne, Brother Yan." Pei Shaoqing then added, "This County Marquis does not speak to those without a title. Brother Yan, I won’t see you out."
"Oh, that’s right. This County Marquis has heard that Prince Shu seems to prefer his second son. If you don’t end up inheriting the throne, Brother Yan, then don’t come looking for me in the future. After all, this County Marquis has no desire to lower himself by associating with commoners."
Struck where it hurt most, Yan Sichen flew into a rage. His eyes turned red as he roared at the top of his lungs, "Pei Shaoqing!"
"That’s Pingyang County Marquis to you!" Pei Shaoqing corrected.
"You!" Yan Sichen was beside himself with fury. He pointed with a trembling finger, then gritted his teeth and said, "You’d best watch yourself. Just make sure you don’t regret what happened today."
As his words fell, he turned and stormed away with a flick of his sleeves.
Pei Shaoqing’s expression grew solemn as he watched his retreating back. ’Having failed to get the man from me, Yan Sichen will surely try to silence Wang Wu next.’
"Congratulations, Young Master, on being named the Marquis of Pingyang."
Liu Yuheng came forward to congratulate him, her face blooming with a smile.
Her heart was racing with excitement. ’Throughout the entire Great Zhou, how many people have been ennobled for their merits at such a young age? This shows how much favor the Emperor has for Marquis Wei Yuan’s Mansion, and for Pei Shaoqing himself.’
’The Young Master’s future is unimaginable.’
’Senior Brother was truly prescient to have offered him the sword!’
"My lady, I couldn’t have achieved this title without your contribution," Pei Shaoqing laughed, handing the imperial decree to Liu Yuheng. "Take this and put it on display."
Liu Yuheng received it with both hands. "As you command, my lord."
With that, she swayed her hips and walked back inside.
"Congratulations on your ennoblement, Big Brother." Ye Hanshuang finally stepped forward to offer her congratulations, looking down at Pei Shaoqing. Her beautiful eyes shimmered, genuinely happy for her brother.
"You get some of the credit too," Pei Shaoqing said with a small smile. Then he added, "Have Standard-Bearer Chen come see me."
"Mm," Ye Hanshuang nodded. She started to turn away, but then looked back. "Big Brother, that book you gave me... I’ve been studying it diligently."
With that, she held her head high and strode quickly away.
Pei Shaoqing stood there, completely dumbfounded.
’Wait, I gave you that book to teach you some... general knowledge, not for you to practice the positions!’
’Still, the thought of my Amazonian sworn sister actually mastering all the advanced techniques from it... the image...’
He drew in a sharp breath of cold air.
’Handling a big rig is already thrilling enough.’
’Wouldn’t a big rig with a self-driving package be even more thrilling?’
’That really got my engine running. Can’t think about this anymore.’
’Tonight, I’ll go find Zhao Zilan and make up for the regrets of our wedding night. I’m going to wear her out so completely she won’t be able to close her doors!’
The main gates were wide open when he received the decree, attracting a crowd of onlookers from the city. Thus, the news of Pei Shaoqing’s promotion and ennoblement quickly spread like wildfire throughout the city.
"Pei Qingtian has been named the Pingyang County Marquis!"
"His Majesty, in his infinite wisdom, has granted Lord Pei a noble title!"
"It’s what Lord Pei deserves! Forget just a County Marquis, I say even a full Marquis wouldn’t be too much."
County Magistrate Wang also heard the news. He wasn’t exactly envious—he was a rebel, after all—but he couldn’t help but be amazed that Pei Shaoqing had been ennobled for his merits at such a young age.
However, when he thought about how the official reason for Pei Shaoqing’s ennoblement was for striking a heavy blow against the Holy Sect—a situation he himself had helped stir up—he felt a little strange inside.