Chapter 86: What Man Doesn’t Want to Be a Father? Passing the Technique to the Northern Border
Chapter 86: Chapter 86: What Man Doesn’t Want to Be a Father? Passing the Technique to the Northern Border
"My wife... Oh? Lan’Er is here as well."
Pei Shaoqing pushed the door open. He was about to greet Liu Yuheng when he noticed Zhao Zilan was also present.
"Young Master." Having just shared the secrets of the bedroom with her Mistress, Zhao Zilan’s face was a little flushed as she stood to curtsy.
Afraid Pei Shaoqing might notice something, Liu Yuheng quickly asked, "Did you need me for something, Young Master?"
"Actually, yes. I’d like you to accompany me to the Prefecture City tomorrow. We might have to stay there for ten days to half a month," Pei Shaoqing said in a gentle tone.
Liu Yuheng looked puzzled. "To the Prefecture City?"
"Yan Sichen may be captured, but he was raising a ghost there... To prevent it from escaping, I want you and Sister Shuang to stand guard until someone from the Capital City arrives to handle it," Pei Shaoqing explained.
Hearing this, Liu Yuheng’s delicate brows furrowed. She gritted her teeth and said, "Feeding a ghost with living people... That’s monstrous! In my opinion, why not just slay this malevolent spirit directly?"
Ghosts were terrifying to ordinary people.
But to a Martial Artist, they were nothing special.
In an era of depleted Spiritual Qi, even ghosts with clear consciousness could only eke out a meager existence by devouring living souls. They could never amount to much.
"This is ultimately tied to King Shu’s rebellion. It must be handed over to the Court for judgment," Pei Shaoqing said, shaking his head in refusal.
Liu Yuheng sighed helplessly. "As you wish, Young Master. I will go with you tomorrow."
"Thank you, my wife." Pei Shaoqing bowed deeply in gratitude, then straightened up. "Well, I won’t disturb you and your disciple’s chat any longer. I’ll take my leave."
"Young Master, wait," Liu Yuheng said suddenly.
Pei Shaoqing stopped in his tracks.
Liu Yuheng rose and took small, graceful steps to the wall. She took down the hanging Mo Tan Sword, held it with both hands, and presented it to Pei Shaoqing. "Young Master, the sword should be returned to its rightful owner."
"It’s a bit of a waste in my hands. Why don’t you use it?" Pei Shaoqing didn’t reach for it, speaking tentatively.
Liu Yuheng’s pretty face was serious. "Since Senior Brother gave it to you, Young Master, it naturally belongs to you. Besides, a man of your stature is a better match for this peerless divine weapon."
’The future of the Iron Sword Sect is already riding on Pei Shaoqing. This sword should be his for self-defense, to give him a bit more protection. I’d guess that was Senior Brother’s intention as well.’
"In that case, I won’t be polite." Pei Shaoqing reached out, took the precious sword, and hung it at his waist. He cupped his hands and said, "Farewell. Please, don’t see me out."
Watching Pei Shaoqing’s departing figure, Liu Yuheng’s thoughts were a tangled mess. ’Senior Brother first offered him his dignity and loyalty.’
’Now, he’s given him the sect’s most treasured sword.’
’What’s next? What else will we offer to please this lord?’
She turned to Zhao Zilan. "You must conceive the Young Master’s child as soon as possible. Only then will your position be secure."
"Ah! Mistress, I..." Hearing this, Zhao Zilan’s face flushed crimson, and she stammered, at a loss for words.
Liu Yuheng raised a delicate eyebrow. "What is it?"
"The Young Master... made me push... it... out," Zhao Zilan said in a barely audible whisper.
"You fool!" Liu Yuheng chided, poking her on the forehead, frustrated by her passivity. "Why are you so obedient? Couldn’t you have lied to him? Does he actually check?"
"Mhm, mhm." Zhao Zilan’s face was as red as an apple. She nodded vigorously like a chick pecking at grain and said, full of shame and grievance, "He really does check!"
Liu Yuheng was rendered speechless.
She was at a complete loss for words. Then, she frowned and speculated, ’Could it be that he feels your birthright is too low, Lan’Er, and doesn’t want you to bear his firstborn son?’
’He’d already filled you with his seed.’
’But he forced you to empty it all out.’
"The Young Master said he’s still young and doesn’t want to be a father so soon," Zhao Zilan quickly explained.
"You silly girl, you’ll believe anything." Liu Yuheng rolled her eyes with a flirtatious flair, walked over, and plopped down, her plump bottom swallowing half the stool. "What man doesn’t want to be a father early?"
As she spoke, she picked up a teacup, ready for a drink. All that talking had made her throat a bit dry.
"Young Master... Young Master made me call him ’Daddy’ during... and he said... he said having a good daughter like me was enough." The tips of Zhao Zilan’s ears were completely red.
"PFFFT—" The tea Liu Yuheng had just taken a sip of sprayed from her mouth. She choked, her face flushing red as she bent over, coughing violently. "COUGH! COUGH! COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!"
"Mistress, Mistress, are you alright?" Zhao Zilan was startled and hurried over to pat her back gently.
"I’m fine." Liu Yuheng waved her hand after catching her breath, her gaze complicated as she looked at the beloved disciple she had raised. "You can go. Your Mistress needs some quiet time."
’She’d had a few too many shocks today.’
"Oh, oh, then I’ll be going, Mistress." Zhao Zilan nodded dumbly and turned to leave.
「Meanwhile, Pei Shaoqing had arrived at the dungeons.」
The Shaking Light Saintess reflexively put on an eager-to-please smile and took the initiative to greet him. "This servant pays her respects to the Young Master."
"Getting more and more obedient." Pei Shaoqing walked into the cell and patted her head, speaking in a soft voice. "How about I untie Yao Nu’s ropes?"
"Thank you, Young Master!" The Shaking Light Saintess’s eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she was ecstatic. After all, being bound by ropes was not only humiliating but also immobilizing and deeply uncomfortable.
At the same time, she became even more convinced that as long as she acted meek and obedient, her life would become easier.
A slight smile touched Pei Shaoqing’s lips as he gently patted her cheek. "Is ’thank you’ something you only say with your mouth?"
"Whatever the Young Master wants of this servant, this servant will do." Like a puppy, the Shaking Light Saintess rubbed her cheek against his palm, her eyes full of expectation. "As long as you don’t tie this servant up anymore."
Pei Shaoqing was very pleased with her attitude. Then, with a SHIING, he drew his sword and sliced through the ropes binding her.
Feeling the restraints fall away, the Shaking Light Saintess nearly wept with joy. But she didn’t get up immediately, remaining in a kneeling position as she thanked him profusely. "Thank you, Young Master, for granting this servant her freedom. This servant is endlessly grateful."
In that moment, she only remembered that Pei Shaoqing had untied her ropes, and for that, she felt grateful.
She had forgotten that it was also Pei Shaoqing who had tied her up in the first place.
Or perhaps, she had discovered the rules of survival under Pei Shaoqing and had chosen to selectively forget.
"I am going out for a while. Starting tomorrow, Zhao Zilan will bring you your meals. Be good, and I’ll bring you a gift when I return," Pei Shaoqing said calmly.
Kneeling on the ground, the Shaking Light Saintess looked up and answered earnestly, "This servant will be good and wait for the Young Master’s return."
"Wag your tail for me," Pei Shaoqing said.
The Shaking Light Saintess blushed, lowering her head to hide her shame. She gently swayed her hips, her rounded bottom tracing circles in the air. The hem of her swaying skirt truly looked like a wagging tail.
If anyone from the Profound Yellow Sect were to see this...
Who would dare believe this was their pure and noble Shaking Light Saintess, a figure to be admired from afar but never defiled?
Pei Shaoqing chuckled softly and turned to leave.
’Soon. All that’s missing is Xie Qingwu’s Poison Pill.’
’He would soon have another capable fighter under his command.’
"This servant respectfully sees the Young Master off."
The Shaking Light Saintess quickly prostrated herself, kowtowing as he left.
Not until the sound of Pei Shaoqing’s footsteps faded away...
...did she slowly straighten up and lift her head.
First, she felt happy that she hadn’t been humiliated or beaten today. Then, she eagerly stood up to stretch her limbs, thrilled to finally be free from her bonds.
But as she smiled, her smile suddenly froze.
Shame, resentment, confusion, and a myriad of other emotions appeared in her eyes. She stood there, stunned and motionless.
... ... ...
「The eunuchs from the Capital City finally reached the Northern Border.」
At that moment, Pei Shiqing was inspecting the barracks.
A group of generals, including Pei Shaotang, followed behind him. He could even call many of the rank-and-file veterans by name, and without any airs, he would accept a piece of hardtack from them, chew on it, and strike up a familiar conversation.
This was how prestige was built: through repeated victories and countless small, unassuming acts like these.
Pei Shaotang carefully studied his father’s every move.
"Marquis! Marquis!"
Amidst the shouts, a servant from the Marquis’s Mansion came running, saying urgently, "An imperial envoy has arrived from the Capital City to announce a decree! He urges the Marquis to return to the mansion at once to receive it."
Hearing this, both Pei Shiqing and Pei Shaotang’s expressions changed. They guessed it must be the Emperor’s decision regarding Pei Shaoqing’s previous act of deceiving the monarch.
Although father and son both knew the Emperor wouldn’t fly into a rage over it, even a seemingly light reprimand would be a loss of face.
"Return to the mansion," Pei Shiqing said, taking a deep breath.
By the time the father and son returned to the Marquis’s Mansion, the servants had already set up an incense table. The eunuch delivering the decree had been waiting for some time.
"I was just inspecting the barracks. My apologies for keeping you sirs waiting," Pei Shiqing said, cupping his fist in apology.
"Oh, we wouldn’t dare, we wouldn’t dare! Your Lordship is too kind to this humble servant!" the lead eunuch quickly sidestepped, not daring to accept the gesture. He spoke with a subservient bow, "Marquis, shall I announce the decree now?"
"Yes!" Though Pei Shiqing, clad in armor, was not required to kneel to receive a decree, he still went down on one knee.
The eunuch cleared his throat, unfurled the imperial edict, and recited in a high-pitched voice, "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims..."
’They had only heard the beginning, but the father and son already felt something was off. Why does this sound like a decree for rewarding merit?’
When they heard the reward bestowed upon Pei Shaoqing, both Pei Shiqing and Pei Shaotang looked up, their faces etched with disbelief.
’Wait, are you talking about my son?’
’Wait, are you talking about my brother?’
Even after hearing that the Emperor was bestowing a plaque, the two of them were still dazed, unable to recover from their shock.
"Marquis, please accept the decree. This servant congratulates you, Your Lordship! Two nobles in one family—you are the only one in all of Great Zhou!" the eunuch said with a beaming smile.
"This subject accepts the decree and gives thanks for His Majesty’s grace." Pei Shiqing snapped back to reality and gave his thanks. After accepting the edict, he rose and couldn’t help but ask the eunuch, "Sir, what is all this about?"
"The decree is quite clear. Baron Pingyang dealt a heavy blow to the Profound Yellow Sect’s Tongzhou Branch and slew the Kaiyang Saint Heir. His merits are genuine. His Majesty was greatly pleased and thus decided to reward him generously," the eunuch replied with utmost respect.
Pei Shaotang opened his mouth several times, but no words came out.
Pei Shiqing instructed his steward, "Take these sirs to rest. See that they are well taken care of. There must be no negligence."
"Yes, my lord." The steward acknowledged and stepped forward. "Sirs, please follow me."
"Father, how is this possible?" Pei Shaotang finally blurted out after the eunuchs had left.
As much as he didn’t want to believe it, the imperial decree had been issued, proving that Pei Shaoqing’s merits were real.
His good-for-nothing brother had been ennobled!
He himself didn’t even have a title yet; he would have to wait until his father passed away to inherit the Marquisate.
Moreover, compared to an inherited title, a title earned by oneself like Pei Shaoqing’s was undoubtedly more prestigious.
Pei Shaoqing was undoubtedly a scoundrel and a bastard.
But as brothers who had grown up together, despite his deep resentment, he still had some affection for him.
His feelings now were very complicated.
’He was caught in that classic dilemma: afraid to see his brother suffer, but also jealous to see him driving a luxury car.’
Pei Shiqing took a deep breath. "It seems that rebellious son of mine somehow struck it rich and performed a great service. As for His Majesty’s excessive reward... this is to put pressure on me. It seems I have no choice but to annihilate the Northern Barbarians."
’The Emperor has been so good to your family, yet you refuse to obey him and march your troops north. What are you planning? Are you trying to leverage the enemy threat to increase your own importance? Or are you planning to ally with the outsiders and rebel?’
’If even a whisper of such rumors were to spread, he would face the condemnation of the entire populace.’
’So, the Northern Barbarians must be fought.’
’But the war could be fought slowly, in stages.’
’The Emperor was injured in his youth. To prove himself to the world, he has toiled over his documents for years, leaving his body weak. He knows his own condition best. His urgency suggests he probably won’t last more than a few years.’
’However, a Crown Prince has not yet been named. Pei Shiqing had no desire to return to the Capital City now and get caught up in a succession struggle.’
’How many people died in the rebellion of the deposed Crown Prince?’
’As long as he had troops under his command, no matter who became Crown Prince or Emperor, they wouldn’t dare mistreat him. He could sit back and reap the benefits.’
’It would be best to control the pace of this war so that it ends after the Emperor’s death. This would avoid having his military power curtailed by a living emperor, which could lead to mutual suspicion between ruler and subject, or even open conflict.’
’It would also serve as a gift of territorial expansion for the new emperor’s ascension, giving the new ruler an opportunity to show him favor.’
’Pei Shiqing never had any intention of rebelling. He wanted to be a loyal subject—loyal to whoever sat on the throne.’
"Father, are you still going to remove my second brother from the family registry?" Pei Shaotang asked with mixed feelings.
Pei Shiqing shot him an exasperated glare.
"What do you think?"