Without money, what is the point of being a traitor?

Chapter 657 No
Upon hearing this, Commander Han pursed his lips but remained silent.

The two traveled together to the new home that Pei Yuan had carefully prepared for them.

After walking for a while, Commander Han looked at Pei Yuan and said softly, "I will be returning to Nanjing soon."

Pei Yuan calmly hummed in agreement.

He had a premonition of this and was prepared to accept it all.

Han Qianhu was somewhat surprised by Pei Yuan's reaction. Her gaze lingered briefly on Pei Yuan's face before turning to the wine jug in Pei Yuan's hand. "Aren't you going to finish it?"

Pei Yuan picked up the wine pot and drank the wine inside in one gulp.

Han Qianhu shrugged at Pei Yuan.

Pei Yuan was about to throw the wine pot back when he looked at the fair, white hand under the moonlight and couldn't help but hand it over as if possessed.

Han Qianhu's hand was cool and smooth to the touch, making Pei Yuanzhen want to hold it in her palm forever.

Unfortunately, I couldn't hold on to it.

Han Qianhu withdrew his hand, let out a long sigh, as if he had also unloaded something, feeling completely relieved.

She looked at Pei Yuan and said half-jokingly, "I was always worried that you would have your eye on me, wondering what kind of trouble you would cause me. Now I can finally give up."

"Let's go."

Pei Yuan watched Han Qianhu's figure leave, and his forced composure began to crumble.

He stood silently for a moment, without returning to the new house to continue what he was doing.

Pei Yuan wandered aimlessly and unknowingly arrived at the second gate.

Yun Buxian is personally guarding this place today.

Yun Buxian knew a little about the inside story and was afraid that something big might happen tonight, so he didn't dare to relax.

When they saw Pei Yuan wandering around here listlessly, they were surprised and couldn't help but think to themselves, "Judging from his pathetic appearance, could it be that Commander Han kicked him out of bed?"

Yun Buxian quickly shooed away the others and stepped forward to ask in a low voice, "Commander, a moment of spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold, why are you out strolling around?"

Pei Yuan thought for a moment and said to Yun Buxian, "Prepare a horse for me, I'm going to Commander Song's place."

Yun Buxian was alarmed, thinking that his guess had come true.

He quickly suggested, "Today is the wedding day of two commanders, I'm afraid it's inappropriate."

As Yun Buxian spoke, he was still worrying wildly. What if a fight broke out in the garrison tomorrow because of the disharmony in the married life of the two commanders? Would he, as an accomplice, be hung up and beaten?

Pei Yuan said impatiently, "Just go and prepare it."

Yun Buxian inwardly groaned, but could only say, "Riding a horse at night is a serious crime, and now it's late at night and everyone is quiet. I'm afraid it will attract the attention of the imperial censor on patrol."

Pei Yuan heard Yun Buxian mention the Imperial Censor on patrol, but he didn't want to get involved in that trouble.

That seventh-rank official only earns a meager salary, with little real power or perk, and can't even afford a goose. He could simply quit, but if he were to bite the Grand Secretary, it wouldn't be pleasant. Besides, for an imperial censor, reputation is a valuable asset, something that can be converted into cash.

Pei Yuan thought that the two places weren't too far apart, so he said, "I'll go myself."

Seeing that Commander Pei was determined, Yun Buxian secretly lamented his predicament and had no choice but to take two Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) uniforms and put them on the two men.

Without this protective suit, it wouldn't be easy to blend into other markets.

Yun Buxian didn't disturb the other guards and personal soldiers, and went out alone with Pei Yuan.

The two walked for a while in a daze.

Upon arriving at Song Chunniang's residence, Yun Buxian asked in a low voice, "Should we go directly into the inner courtyard to speak with Commander Song, or should we knock on the front door?"

Pei Yuan had no intention of avoiding people and simply said, "Just knock on the door."

Yun Buxian had no choice but to step forward and knock on the door knocker.

After knocking on the door for quite a while, someone finally came to answer impatiently.

Even in the mansion across the street, there seemed to be movement and firelight, with people peering in through the cracks in the door.

Yun Buxian turned his head and shouted at the servants who were spying over there, "The West Depot has something to do, what are you looking at?"

Then he turned to the gatekeeper of the Song family and said, "Commander Pei has important business to discuss with Commander Song. Go and inform him quickly."

Upon hearing that it was Commander Pei, the gatekeeper quickly stepped forward to open the door. After confirming that it was Pei Yuan in the light of the lanterns, he hurriedly said, "Commander Pei, please come in. I will send someone to the back courtyard to inform my master."

Pei Yuan entered the Song family home and, without being greeted, headed towards the back courtyard.

Upon arriving at the inner courtyard, after only a brief delay at the second gate, Song Chunniang, dressed in her robes, came out to greet them.

Song Chunniang dismissed the night watchwoman and looked at Pei Yuan speechlessly, "Isn't today your wedding day? Why are you here?"

Pei Yuan had so much to say, but after thinking it over, he didn't know who to let know about his weakness.

Pei Yuan said listlessly, "I came to have a drink with you."

Song Chunniang said irritably, "Are you sick in the head?"

Pei Yuan was somewhat sullen. "Just pretend I'm sick."

Seeing this, Song Chunniang didn't say anything more, and shook her head, saying, "Let's go."

After saying that, she led the way, guiding Pei Yuan inside.

Song Chunniang didn't have many female relatives who could move around in the capital, and there was only one guest room in the back of the house.

Upon reaching the door, Song Chunniang stopped and gestured, "Go in."

Pei Yuan arrived at the door listlessly.

Just as he was thinking about how to confide his troubles to his best friend without losing face,

I felt a kick in my lower back.

"You?!" Pei Yuan staggered.

With his thick waist, such a sneak attack was nothing.

However, Pei Yuan was preoccupied and slightly intoxicated, and almost fell over after being kicked.

Just as he was about to turn around and glare angrily at Song Chunniang, the door slammed shut behind him.

Song Chunniang came in with her hair up.

Pei Yuan quickly realized what she was about to do, and he hurriedly explained, "No..."

As she turned halfway, Song Chunniang pushed her again, and she was nimbly knocked down onto the bed.

After a while, in the dark room, Song Chunniang's excited voice, "Is it hers?" could be heard.

Pei Yuan hesitated for a moment before saying, "No..."

"What?! You bastard!"

Song Chunniang was furious.

Pei Yuan immediately cried out in pain.

When Pei Yuan woke up the next morning, it felt like he had just experienced a dream.

A sudden realization, like seeing through a dream within a dream, made his mind exceptionally clear.

He lay lazily on the bed for a while, when a maid whispered from outside, "Commander, your subordinate is urging you. Should you reply to him?"

Pei Yuan also realized his situation at this moment.

In any case, he should be lying in his bridal chamber right now. Pei Yuan coveted Han Qianhu not only because of his affection for him, but also largely because he wanted to consolidate his control over the Qianhu garrison and become the person that Yunyang Prefecture and Yunyang Guard wanted to see.

With reason prevailing, Pei Yuan decisively said, "Have me wash and dress, and have a horse prepared."

After Pei Yuan hurriedly finished washing up and left the inner courtyard, Yun Buxian, who was pacing around in the courtyard, urged, "Commander, over here, over here."

Yun Buxian had already prepared two horses.

At this moment, they no longer cared about the rule that horses could not be ridden freely in the city.

Pei Yuan and Yun Buxian rode their horses together toward Chengqingfang. On the way, Yun Buxian instructed, "Commander, I went to Chengqingfang early this morning to give them a heads-up. When you enter from the side gate, there will be people waiting to meet you there."

"Dealing with outsiders is fine, but with Commander Han, you'll have to have a good talk with him."

Yun Buxian was unaware that Han Qianhu had found a replacement and assumed that the two had quarreled, which was why Pei Yuan had left Han Qianhu alone in the bridal chamber and went out to fool around on his own.

Pei Yuan didn't say anything.

There's nothing to say, it's just embarrassing for no reason.

When the two arrived at the side gate of the residence in Chengqingfang, there were indeed servants waiting for them.

The servant quickly opened the door and changed Pei Yuan's outer clothes, dressing him up as if he were taking an early morning stroll in the garden.

Pei Yuan found it somewhat amusing, but also felt that such an exercise might come in handy in the future.

Pei Yuan let the servant help him tidy up, and said to Yun Buxian, "Today is a day off, so I'll take this opportunity to arrange things. Go and call my good brothers over; I have something to say to them."

Yun Buxian understood and added, "They said they wanted to come and offer their congratulations yesterday, but we had to go and reply to them, asking them to change it to today. I reckon they would have come much earlier if we weren't worried about disturbing the commander's rest."

Pei Yuan smiled and said, "Really? Then I'll send someone to urge them."

Yang Tinghe will soon begin to win over these scholars. Although Pei Yuan is very confident, such a matter cannot be shaken in the slightest.

Pei Yuan thought that Bai Yujing should also give an explanation.

Then he strolled back to the new house.

When the door was opened, the bed was found to be clean and tidy, but the beauty was no longer there.

Pei Yuan's gaze swept around, but he didn't see Bai Yujing's clothes. He thought to himself, "Could it be that she also went back to Nanjing with Commander Han?"
Thinking of this, Pei Yuan suddenly felt a little regretful.

Oh shit.

If I had known it was Commander Han who gave me this limited-time experience, I should have come back to find Bai Yujing last night.

Pei Yuan changed his clothes again and had someone prepare breakfast.

Unexpectedly, while Pei Yuan was eating breakfast and his younger brothers had not yet arrived, Li Shishi came over in person.

This old man, coming to ambush people so early in the morning, doesn't he know how presumptuous he is?

Fortunately, Pei Yuan did not actually "neglect his duties on his wedding night," so he had someone invite him directly over.

Pei Yuan ate his breakfast slowly and invited Li Shishi to sit down with him.

Upon seeing this, Li Shishi couldn't help but exclaim, "I never expected that my virtuous brother would have such composure, remaining unmoved even when Mount Tai collapses before him."

After saying that, Li Shishi immediately instructed his men, "You all go out first. I have something to discuss with your master."

Those servants were all recruited by Dou Yu when he first started managing the Chengqingfang residence. Pei Yuan had already had them carefully sorted out; they were all honest and law-abiding, and their indentures were all in Pei Yuan's hands.

But there are some things that really cannot be revealed casually.

Pei Yuan put down his chopsticks and scolded the servants, "The Grand Commandant is like my own brother. From now on, whatever he instructs you to do here, do as I instruct you."

Before the servants could respond, Li Shishi became agitated, "Don't talk nonsense! We're just friends despite our age difference, not blood brothers."

The servants looked at each other in bewilderment at the turn of events, but they all responded and withdrew as Li Shishi had instructed.

Pei Yuan looked at Li Shishi in surprise, "Why is my brother being so distant?"

Li Shishi didn't answer. He kept turning his head to watch the servants walk away before banging on the table in anguish and saying, "Look what you've done!"

Pei Yuan had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on.

It's highly likely that Li Shishi, following his usual style, guessed that the events in the south were related to him.

Pei Yuan, however, feigned ignorance and asked, "What do you mean, brother?"

Li Shishi said somewhat displeased, "Do we need to play these riddles about our relationship? I'll just ask you one question: Did you do what happened in the south?"

After saying that, Li Shishi tucked his sleeves in and stared intently at Pei Yuan. "If you say it's true, I'll believe you. If you say it's not, I'll still believe you. But if you've lied to me, then I'll believe you this once."

Since Li Shishi had already said all that, Pei Yuan certainly couldn't risk their friendship because of it.

Others might be confused by this "Censor's Attack Case," but those involved were different; they could almost immediately pinpoint Pei Yuan as the suspect.

Once you have a conclusion in mind, looking back at the clues will make it easy to make an accurate judgment.

Pei Yuan could only say, "Look at what you're saying, brother. Even if I'm hiding something from someone else, I can't hide it from you."

What kind of relationship do we have?

"Let me put it this way: anyone in the entire capital might betray me, but my brother is the only one who would never do so."

"This is the bond between us, like that of brothers!"

"So it really was you who did it?" Li Shishi slumped down, feeling somewhat powerless.

Then, Li Shishi looked at Pei Yuan as if he were a madman, and he was somewhat devastated. "No, I only said before that it was difficult to arrange for more than ten censors, not that it was impossible to arrange for them."

"Let's discuss it again, let's talk it over calmly."

"Why do you have to be so radical?"

After more than ten censors from the southward-bound censorate died, Li Shishi immediately thought of Pei Yuan's previous request to him and quickly connected the two events.

It's not that Li Shishi was particularly quick-witted.

The main reason is that Li Shishi is well aware of Pei Yuan's destructive power. Although Pei Yuan hasn't spoken these days, Li Shishi has been thinking about how Pei Yuan will achieve his goals.

Therefore, after the censorate was assassinated, Li Shishi immediately realized that Pei Yuan's problem was solved.

There are now more than ten vacant positions for censors.

Now it's up to Pei Yuan to make arrangements.

Li Shishi wasn't too concerned about how the dozen or so censors in the previous censorate group had disappeared; he was only concerned about how Pei Yuan's underlings had risen to power.

If I don't have a role to play in what happens next.

Doesn't that mean he's also become a stumbling block in Pei Yuan's plan?
Li Shishi quickly appealed to Pei Yuan's emotions, saying, "We brothers can talk things over. I will help you get things done as soon as possible, as you mentioned before. Please don't take any more risks. If anything happens to you, I will be heartbroken."

Pei Yuan's heart skipped a beat; he hadn't expected this old codger to be so cooperative.

So he tentatively asked, "Can my people be arranged now?"

Li Shishi, with a slight toothache, said, "Alright, I'll think of a way."

Then, in a serious tone, he advised, "Bringing so many Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) from the same hometown into the Censorate is already somewhat against common sense. You mustn't let them do anything that violates the rules or regulations."

Pei Yuan stared at Li Shishi in astonishment and said, "Are you kidding me? I put people in the Censorate to enforce the law, not to break it. What nonsense are you talking about?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shishi felt his head buzzing and his blood rushing to his head.

That's fucking ridiculous.

Even I, an old man who's been plotting a rebellion, can't stand it anymore!
(End of this chapter)