Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 871 Shura Field Pre-Order

A cold wind swirled and tapped against the windowsill of the East Palace. The palace banquet on the 30th of the twelfth lunar month had just ended. Li Zhi had really stolen the show at the banquet with the retired emperor. Although the retired emperor Li Yuan was living a muddled life, he still harbored resentment about being forced to abdicate. But now that he saw his grandson was so smug, he repeatedly told Li Zhi to ascend the throne as soon as possible.

Having dealt with such an imperial grandfather for a long time, Li Zhi rubbed his throbbing temples as he stepped into the study. Before he could even sit down, a eunuch approached him, his voice hushed:

"Your Highness, Miss Pei has submitted a request to see you, saying she has urgent business to discuss and has been waiting in the side hall for half an hour."

Li Zhi's eyebrows twitched slightly. Since returning from Zhongnan Mountain, he had only sent some ornaments to Cui Lin as instructed by his uncle, and had not seen her again.

Pei Wan's arrival in the snow late at night suggests she could no longer contain herself.

"Please ask her to come over."

When Pei Wan stepped into the study, a thin layer of snow had accumulated on her cloak, and her face appeared even thinner than usual, except for her eyes, which shone brightly. She wore no makeup, only a plain brocade dress, which made her seem out of place and desolate on this festive night.

"Your Highness." She bowed gracefully, her voice trembling slightly, "Wan'er's late-night disturbance is truly due to unavoidable circumstances."

"Miss Pei, please rise. What is the matter that requires your urgent attention?"

Li Zhi offered a helping hand and looked Pei Wan up and down. He had to admit that Pei Wan was truly beautiful, especially in her current state without makeup, which made her look just like Tang Erniang. Li Zhi had always wondered why his father was so amorous back then, but now that he saw it... it would take some skill to resist such temptation.

Pei Wan did not get up, but looked up at him directly, her eyes suddenly reddening: "Your Highness, do you know that it seems that the Cui family's younger sister is pregnant?"

These words were like a thunderclap, so loud that a pin drop could be heard in the study. The eunuchs standing nearby held their breath.

Li Zhi steadily put down the teacup he was holding, his face revealing neither joy nor anger: "Miss Pei, where did you hear this news? This concerns a woman's reputation, and you should not speak recklessly."

"How dare Wan'er speak such nonsense!" Pei Wan's voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of desperate resolve: "Imperial physicians have been secretly entering and leaving the Cui family's inner quarters. This matter can be kept secret from outsiders, but how can it be kept from us, who are also in Chang'an? Your Highness! If Cui Lin gives birth to the imperial grandson first, will there still be room for us to serve the Crown Prince? At that time, the Guanzhong aristocratic families will surely follow the Cui family's lead. How will Your Highness then put yourself in that situation?"

She crawled two steps on her knees, grasped Li Zhi's robe, her fingertips turning white from the force, and tears streamed down her face from the humiliation. But for the sake of her family, she was willing to risk everything: "Wan'er knows she is not as good at currying favor as Sister Cui, nor as heroic as Sister Wei. But Wan'er's heart for Your Highness is as clear as day! The entire Pei family is willing to serve Your Highness! As long as Your Highness nods, Wan'er... Wan'er is willing to do anything!"

The candlelight flickered and danced, illuminating her resolute yet pale face—a truly breathtaking beauty.

Li Zhi remained silent, recalling Old Zhang's lazy advice from yesterday: "That girl from the Pei family has been cornered. A cornered dog will jump over the wall, a cornered rabbit will bite. She'll either give up completely or resort to some extreme measures. Nephew, you'd better be careful with this."

At this moment, these "extraordinary measures" were laid bare before him.

He bent down and gently helped Pei Wan up, telling her to place her beside him. He raised his hand and wiped away the tears on her face with his fingers, even letting Pei Wan lean against him.

At this moment, Pei Wan, enduring the pain of having her dignity as a young woman trampled upon, even took the initiative to hug Li Zhi's waist.

"I understand Miss Pei's feelings."

Li Zhi's voice was icy cold, devoid of emotion: "However, this matter is of great importance, and I need to investigate. If it is true, I will take appropriate action. It is late, and the snow is heavy and the roads are slippery. Miss Pei, please return to your residence first. Someone, escort Miss Pei."

The aloofness in his tone was like a bucket of ice water, chilling Pei Wan's courage to the bone. She stared at him blankly, seemingly unable to believe that he could so casually reject her advances.

The eunuch stepped forward and politely urged her to hurry up. Pei Wan stiffly stood up, staggered a step, and ultimately said nothing more. She gave Li Zhi a deep look, her eyes filled with complex emotions, both relaxed and conflicted.

"Wait a moment," Li Zhi suddenly said, "Miss Pei, come here for a moment."

The eunuch immediately withdrew and closed the door. Pei Wan stood there, her face full of confusion, and did not move for a long time.

"Come forward." Li Zhi's voice brooked no argument.

Pei Wan slowly stepped forward, but Li Zhi did not get up. Instead, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to his side, his hand reaching up into the gap at the waist of her fur robe.

Pei Wan trembled, her first reaction being to shrink back and escape from that area.

"Hahahaha." Li Zhi waved his hand: "Miss Pei, please go back."

That night, the Pei family was destined to be sleepless.

"He actually dismissed you like this?" Pei Situ paced back and forth in his study, his face ashen. "What a Crown Prince! What a master of playing hard to get!"

Pei Wan knelt on the prayer mat, her fingertips digging deeply into her palms. She didn't dare tell her family the last part of the story, otherwise she would be beaten to death. Every time she thought of that part, she felt that she had done something wrong: "Father, your daughter has already risked her last bit of dignity. His Highness... he is completely unmoved."

"Unmoved?" Pei Situ sneered. "If he were truly unmoved, he wouldn't have said anything about needing to investigate! He's observing, seeing how many more bargaining chips our Pei family can offer! Wan'er, remember this: at this point, we have no way out. If the Cui family really gets there first, our Pei family's century-old foundation may be destroyed in an instant!"

He abruptly stopped, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Since gentle methods don't work, then don't blame your father for being heartless. I'll make arrangements for the Lantern Festival banquet..."

Once news of the Lantern Festival banquet spread, the scene inside the Cui residence was quite different.

Cui Lin looked at herself in the mirror, gently stroking her flat stomach, a hint of smugness playing on her lips. Her personal maid combed her long hair while whispering, "Miss, the Pei family... seems to have made some moves. Miss Pei entered the East Palace late tonight and stayed for a full quarter of an hour before coming out."

"Hmph, what can she possibly do? She's just desperate." Cui Lin sneered, picking up a gold hairpin from the table and twirling it behind her ear.

“Isn’t it clear enough who Your Highness has in your heart now? That day at Zhongnan Mountain…” Her face flushed, and her tone became more and more spoiled: “Go, find the brocade that Your Highness bestowed upon me a few days ago. I want to wear it at the Lantern Festival banquet.”

“But Miss,” the maid hesitated, “the imperial physician said that your delayed menstruation is just caused by a weak spleen and stomach. If the Pei family seizes this opportunity to make a big fuss…”

“What’s there to be afraid of?” Cui Lin raised an eyebrow. “Father has already taken care of everything. Besides, this misunderstanding has come at just the right time. I want to see whether His Highness will rush to ask me about this or pay attention to that pretentious Pei Wan!”

She put down the hairpin, her eyes gradually turning cold: "Go and send a message to the palace, saying that I am not feeling well and would like to ask Granny Sun from the Empress Dowager's side to come and take a look. Remember, go quietly." Meanwhile, at the Wei family's martial arts training ground, Wei Tong was wielding a long spear with great skill, the tip of the spear piercing through the swirling snowflakes with a sharp, whistling sound.

"Enough!" Madam Wei stood under the eaves and couldn't help but shout, "Tong'er, what time is it? You still have the mind to practice your martial arts here!"

Wei Tong stopped, beads of sweat appearing on her forehead, her tone still nonchalant: "When? Isn't it just their petty squabble? What does it have to do with me?"

"What's it to you?" Madam Wei strode up to her and lowered her voice. "Your father just received news that Pei Wan braved the snow to enter the East Palace last night, and today Cui Lin is claiming illness to request the help of the palace matrons! This is clearly an attempt to confirm the rumors of her pregnancy! If either of them succeeds, where will you find your place in the East Palace?"

Wei Tong paused in wiping her sweat, her brows furrowing tightly: "Mother, must it be like this? I, Wei Tong, act with integrity and uprightness; why should I learn the despicable methods of those women in the inner quarters!"

"Upright and honest?" Madam Wei stamped her foot angrily: "My foolish daughter! Every marriage in Chang'an is fraught with infighting! Although your father has great influence in the army, if he falls behind in the matter of choosing an heir, my Wei family will be the first to be purged when the new emperor ascends the throne! Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about the family!"

Xiao Hei Pi's fingers tightened around the spear. She gazed towards the East Palace, her expression complex. That day at the training ground, the Crown Prince's focused expression as he observed archery and horsemanship, and his occasional insights into military strategy when discussing them with her, had indeed won her favor. But to ask her to use every means to win his favor like Pei Wan and Cui Lin…

She slammed her spear into the snow with a clang.

"I understand." Her voice was low. "I will attend the Lantern Festival banquet."

The next morning, just after Li Zhi had breakfast, his trusted eunuch quietly reported: "Your Highness, it has been investigated. Miss Cui did indeed consult the imperial physician a month ago, and the medical record showed that she had a weak spleen and stomach, and the medicine prescribed was also for regulating the spleen and stomach. However... yesterday evening, Granny Sun, who served the Dowager Consort, did go to the Cui residence and stayed for about an hour."

Li Zhi tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his posture momentarily resembling that of his fox-demon father. As for the weak spleen and stomach, and Granny Sun, Cui Lin certainly knew how to go with the flow.

"What about the Pei family?"

"After Miss Pei returned to the manor, the lights in Pei Situ's study remained on all night. This morning, the Pei family sent a generous gift to the palace, specifically addressed to the Grand Madam of Lu."

Li Zhi nodded slightly. The Grand Lady of Lu? That elder of the royal family who valued etiquette the most and disapproved of women's frivolity? The Pei family's move was indeed cunning.

Old Zhang wandered in again at some point, grabbed a tangerine from the table and started peeling it: "How about it, nephew? This blessing of having two women isn't so easy to enjoy, is it?"

Li Zhi sighed: "Uncle, please don't make fun of us. The current situation is probably not going to end well."

"A peaceful resolution?" Old Zhang scoffed. "From the moment you stepped into Zhongnan Mountain, you never intended for a peaceful resolution. Now you're feeling the headache? But then again..."

He leaned closer: "The timing is about right. The Pei family has been forced to use their elders in the imperial clan to intimidate others, the Cui family is playing the trick of faking pregnancy to win favor, and that girl from the Wei family, who seems upright, is probably about to lose her composure. Next, it's your turn to step in and add some spice to this boiling soup."

"What does Uncle mean?"

“The Lantern Festival banquet is a good opportunity.” Old Zhang squinted, like a cunning old fox. “Aren’t they all going? Then at the banquet, give each of them a special honor.”

"An honor?"

"For Pei Wan, you should publicly praise her filial piety and bestow upon her palace satin. For Cui Lin, you should specifically ask her, 'Are you feeling better?' and then bestow upon her tonics. As for Wei Tong..." Old Zhang chuckled, "Invite her to the training ground after the palace banquet to see the fine horses from the Western Regions sent by the Northern Army. That night, tell her not to go home. If she can eat, great; if not, it's alright. What was Pei's daughter's reaction when you tested her that day?"

"She shrank back."

"Alright." Old Zhang nodded, then pointed to the eunuch at the door: "Xiao Chunzi, come here."

"This servant is here..."

Old Zhang patted his hand with a smile: "I know you are most loyal to His Highness. I have something for you to do. Aren't you usually very familiar with the purchasing agents of various families?"

"Yes...yes...Your Highness, Your Excellency, I was just..."

"Alright." Old Zhang interrupted him, "Little Dingding is already dead, so let him be greedy. There's not much profit to be made by following my nephew these days. When you're shopping these next few days, you should casually let slip that His Highness the Crown Prince had already fallen for her, but Pei Wan refused his invitation. His Highness, being a gentleman, didn't blame her and instead asked you to send Miss Pei back."

“Uncle’s plan… is extremely vicious.” Li Zhi sat up straight: “This is going to drive Pei Wan to her death.”

“She’s clearly taking advantage of your kindness, so why are you still worried? Struggles are extremely cruel; sometimes a single word or action can be fatal.” Old Zhang patted his shoulder: “Remember, you’re not Li Zhi now, you’re the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince’s favor should be distributed evenly, with just a little less or a little more. Let them fight, let them struggle, that’s how you secure your position.”

Outside the window, the snow gradually stopped, and sunlight shone through the clouds, illuminating the snow-covered glazed tiles. Li Zhi straightened his clothes and looked in the direction of Taiji Palace.

"Then... we'll do as Uncle says."

The Lantern Festival banquet at the palace is sure to be a lively affair. He eagerly anticipates seeing the fascinating expressions on the faces of those three noble ladies, each harboring their own thoughts, when they receive this honor from him.

This game of chess, which he himself had stirred up, has finally reached its most crucial moment. And the person who can truly settle the matter will arrive in about ten days.

When his father finds out he's used his abilities to conquer three parts of the empire on these few young girls, he'll probably be cursing the "little rascals" while simultaneously clapping his hands in admiration. However, Li Zhi himself doesn't know what his father's final decision will be, but he hopes this performance will at least earn him some of his father's approval and praise.

After all, this vindictive and shrewish nature is a natural trait.

"Oh, right," Old Zhang said with a smile, "I'm setting off back to Fuliang tomorrow. There's still a lot to do after the New Year, and I've been away from my post as regent for far too long."

"Uncle is leaving?" Li Zhi exclaimed in surprise, standing up with a hint of panic: "Leaving me here alone..."

"What are you afraid of? Your father will be here in no time. Once he's here, everything will be fine." Old Zhang patted Li Zhi and sighed, "Child, whether it's your parents or me, we can only accompany you for a part of the journey. You still have to walk the majority of the road ahead by yourself. I've taught you the first two lessons; the third lesson is up to your father."

(End of this chapter)