Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 104 Choice
Meng Liulang had been bound for a long time, but once he was untied, he quickly rolled over and landed on the ground. He ripped the rag out of his mouth and sneered, "No need to think, I'm leaving now."

Xiao Mo's scalp tingled again as his young master's sharp gaze swept over him: "Do you want to stay in Pei Family Village as a live-in son-in-law, or come with me?"

Xiao Mo had no choice but to reply, "I will follow you, young master."

Meng Liulang coldly ordered, "What are you all standing there for? Those five who want to become sons-in-law, stay here. Tell the rest of you to come with me."

Xiao Mo bowed and accepted the order.

Meng Liulang walked out expressionlessly. He didn't look at Pei Qinghe even once.

Pei Qinghe also went out, turned around and went back into the house, walking in the opposite direction from Meng Liulang, getting further and further away.

The soldiers followed Meng Liulang away from Peijia Village. The commotion alerted Madam Feng.

Madam Feng quietly entered her daughter's room and whispered comfortingly, "Young Master Meng comes from a military family and is proud and arrogant. He doesn't want to stay in Pei Family Village for long. It's clear that you two are not meant to be."

Pei Qinghe turned her head, her face clean and her expression normal: "I was tired and rested for a while. It has nothing to do with Meng Liulang."

Madam Feng smiled and followed Pei Qinghe's words, saying, "You've been up the mountain for more than half a month this time, you really deserve a good rest. I'll go make you some midnight snacks."

Pei Qinghe did not refuse Madam Feng's kindness and smiled and nodded.

After Madam Feng left, Mao Hongling quietly arrived. She chatted idly for a while, making sure Pei Qinghe was calm before she felt at ease.

Then, Pei Yun and Pei Yan arrived together.

Pei Qinghe chuckled: "Alright, I'm really fine. You're all coming one after another, are you afraid I'll burst into tears?"

Pei Yan was bold and outspoken: "Meng Liulang is so handsome, and he brought five hundred men. Don't you feel any regret at not keeping him?"

Pei Yun glared at Pei Yan, then gently continued, "Qing He, if you're upset, just tell us. Don't keep it bottled up inside."

Pei Qinghe thought for a moment, then sighed: "I do have some regrets."

"However, everyone has their own ambitions, and we cannot force them. Meng Liulang is young and impetuous, and he is unwilling to bow down. I will either remain alone or bring a son-in-law into the family."

If we're not meant to be, then let's part ways amicably.

Honestly, Pei Qinghe did have some feelings for Meng Liulang. However, it was far from the point where she felt she couldn't live without him.

Pei Yan said casually, "One Meng Liulang is gone, but there are better ones to come."

Pei Qinghe smiled and suddenly asked Pei Yun, "Are you still thinking about your cousin from the Hong family?"

Pei Yun was silent for a moment: "I still think about him occasionally. In another year or two, I'll be able to forget him completely."

Pei Qinghe patted Pei Yun on the shoulder, offering silent comfort.

When Madam Feng brought over the steaming hot late-night snack, Pei Qinghe, who rarely showed any affection for his children, put it aside and buried himself in the delicious food.

Three days later, a unique wedding banquet was held in Peijia Village.

The five men who married into the family were all soldiers of the Beiping Army. Moreover, they were genuine members of the Pei family. With Bian Shulan as a precedent, even the most rigid Lu family member did not object. She simply kept a stern face.

After more than a month of rest and training, Pei Qinghe led his men into the mountains again.

This time, Pei Xuan and Pei Feng were able to accompany the bandits as they wished. They were the two youngest in the group, but their skills were by no means weak. Pei Xuan could take on three of the refugees who had only been trained for a few months.

Pei Qinghe specifically instructed, "This is your first time going into the mountains to suppress bandits, so don't run around recklessly. Stay close to me."

Pei Xuan and Pei Feng nodded in agreement with a serious expression.

Taking over a stronghold is an active attack, completely different from passive defense. Pei Qinghe deliberately chose a tall tree and climbed it like a nimble ape. From his vantage point, he fired flaming arrows. The arrows landed in the stronghold, their fletching crackling.

Immediately afterward, Pei Yun and Pei Yan drew their bows and fired arrows. Several fire arrows quickly ignited the mountain stronghold. As the fire raged, the bandits of Menglong Stronghold panicked, shouting that the fire had gone out of control and scrambling to fetch water to put it out. Thick smoke billowed, choking them and causing them to cough incessantly. Amidst the flames, arrows whizzed past, striking and killing men from time to time.

Pei Qinghe's fearsome reputation was so great that the bandits quickly decided to retreat. Some of the more resourceful ones found the back gate of the stronghold and escaped through a side path.

But they were ambushed.

Screams of agony rose and fell.

Feng Chang led a group of men in battle, stealing a moment to glance at Gu Lian, secretly gritting his teeth.

This Gu Lian is even more ferocious than him when it comes to killing bandits.

……

Within a single day, they breached Menglong Village. Over the next few days, Pei Qinghe led his men to search for any remaining bandits, wiping out all the hidden mountain bandits.

However, some managed to escape. With limited manpower and the forest providing excellent hiding places, there was nothing that could be done.

The spoils from Menglong Village were even greater than those from Qingfeng Village.

The group descended the mountain in high spirits.

Just as they reached the foot of the mountain, they encountered Zhou, who had come in a hurry to deliver a message.

With a look of anxiety, Madam Zhou stuffed the letter in her hand into Pei Qinghe's hand: "Qinghe, Young Master Meng has sent someone to deliver a letter."

Pei Qinghe's eyes flashed, and she quickly tore open the letter.

The very first sentence in the letter made Pei Qinghe's right hand tremble slightly.

General Meng died in battle! Meng Erlang and Meng Wulang also perished in the fighting. Meng Dalang was wounded in the leg and was unable to lead troops into battle again. With the Meng family father and sons either dead or wounded, only Meng Liulang remained.

Pei Qinghe looked on with a solemn expression.

"...Of the twelve imperial guards in the capital, two are loyal to His Highness the Crown Prince. After my father and I led our troops to the capital, someone opened the city gates and let us in. The Bohai Army also entered the city together."

"In the chaos of battle, countless soldiers were killed or wounded. The Beiping army was reduced to a remnant of its defeated forces."

"The Emperor decreed that His Highness the Crown Prince be executed with poison. His Highness the Crown Prince is dead, and the Crown Princess was also poisoned to death. Fortunately, Prince Zhangwu of the Eastern Palace was rescued in time by the Bohai Army."

"Sixth Brother is impulsive. Please, Miss Pei, you must keep him here and prevent him from coming to the capital to die in vain."

Unfortunately, the letter arrived too late.

Meng Liulang has been away with his troops for over a month. His whereabouts are currently unknown.

Pei Qinghe read the letter again and sighed silently.

In the end, the King of Wei emerged victorious in this struggle for the throne.

The prince was burned to death in his previous life, and poisoned to death in this life; he has only changed the way he died.

Prince Zhangwu still went to Bohai Commandery.

Of course, King Wei only achieved a pyrrhic victory. The Twelve Imperial Guards suffered heavy losses, and it was uncertain whether they could stop the advance of the rebel army in Jiangnan. With a mess to clean up, King Wei couldn't spare the resources to deal with the Pei family in the short term.

Pei Qinghe tucked the letter into his sleeve and led the group down the mountain.

Pei Qinghe only let Pei Yun see Meng Dalang's letter once. Pei Yun frowned and sighed, "When the court is in chaos, the world will follow suit. We must take precautions in advance."

Pei Qinghe nodded and said in a deep voice, "There's also Eagle Stronghold. We'll wipe them out as well. After that, there will be no more bandits in Yanshan."

(End of this chapter)