Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 303 Imperial Envoy (Part 1)

Pei Yan was clearly not used to the fact that she had another husband, and casually shook off Yang Huai: "You go back first, I want to spend some time with my cousin Qinghe."

Everyone chuckled to themselves.

Yang Huai, no longer caring about losing face, grabbed Pei Yan's wrist again and looked at Pei Qinghe with pleading eyes.

Pei Qinghe suppressed a laugh and said to Pei Yan, "You're newlyweds, you and your brother-in-law should get closer, don't always follow me around."

Pei Yan was not happy: "How long should the wedding be counted?"

"One or two months, maybe!" Pei Qinghe said casually with a smile. "Maybe by then you'll want to stay with your husband and won't want to be with me anymore."

“How could that be!” Pei Yan blurted out, “I’ll follow you for the rest of my life.”

Pei Qinghe's heart softened, and she coaxed with a smile, "We'll talk about the future later. You go back with Yang Huai first."

Pei Yan had no choice but to nod in agreement, watching Pei Qinghe and Shi Yan leave with longing eyes, like an abandoned puppy.

"I feel like my back is about to catch fire from your stare," Shi Yan said with a low laugh.

Pei Qinghe chuckled softly, "Pei Yan has loved following me since she was little. After we were exiled, she's been with me day and night. She'll have to get used to it eventually."

In fact, she was used to seeing Pei Yan's figure every time she turned her head.

Pei Yan wasn't the only one who needed to adjust after the sudden separation.

Shi Yan smiled and sighed, "I only now realize that my real rival in love is not the Emperor, but Pei Yan."

Pei Qinghe chuckled softly, then entered the bridal chamber and closed the door, their figures quickly merging into one.

Meanwhile, Pei Yan returned to her new room in a sullen mood.

Having grown accustomed to Pei Yan's energetic and fierce demeanor, Yang Huai couldn't help but feel sorry for her when he suddenly saw her looking so listless.

He stretched out his arms and pulled Pei Yan into his embrace.

When Pei Yan is drunk, he doesn't recognize anyone, and last night he kicked and shoved him if he got too close. Now that he's sober, he's willing to let him get close and hug him.

Pei Yan was tall and strong, lacking the softness of a young woman, and was as solid and powerful as a fierce female leopard.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Yang Huai's heart was burning, his mind was wandering, and he moved his hand.

Pei Yan instinctively grabbed Yang Huai's hand, her eyes full of vigilance: "What are you doing?"

Yang Huai felt extremely wronged: "Pei Yan, have you forgotten that we got married yesterday and are now husband and wife? What else can a husband and wife do together?"

Yes!

It seems like I forgot something important last night.

Pei Yan suddenly realized, "I was drunk last night and couldn't consummate our marriage. Now it's time to make up for it." As she spoke, she reached out and tugged at Yang Huai's belt, pushing him rather roughly onto the bed.

Yang Huai's face was flushed and his body was burning hot.

……

It was dark when Yang Huai opened the door and brought in dinner from outside.

"Don't move, just lie still, I'll feed you."

Pei Yan was neither polite nor shy, and waited contentedly for her new husband to feed her. Yang Huai, full of tenderness and affection, finally couldn't help but ask after Pei Yan had eaten most of her dinner: "Aren't you full yet? This is dinner for two."

Pei Yan grinned smugly: "Where do you get the strength if you don't eat your fill?"

He is very strong.

Yang Huai chuckled foolishly for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. After they had both filled their stomachs, they rolled back onto the bed.

……

The sweet days of their honeymoon lasted for three days.

On the fourth day, the imperial envoy, Prime Minister Pang, finally arrived in Liaoxi City.

General Pei, with a ruddy complexion, led the leaders of the Pei family army to greet the imperial envoy outside the city. Yang Hu, Li Chi, and others also went to welcome the imperial envoy.

After a long and arduous journey, the aging Prime Minister Pang was nearly shaken to pieces from the twenty-day carriage ride. Forcing himself to get off, he chuckled and bowed to Pei Qinghe, saying, "It's been several months since we last met; General, your bearing is even more impressive than before."

Pei Qinghe smiled and returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "I didn't expect that Prime Minister Pang would come to Liaoxi City in person. It's a pity that you're a few days late, otherwise you could have arrived just in time for my wedding and had a drink with me."

Prime Minister Pang was startled, his face contorted with shock and anxiety, so convincing it seemed unreal: "What? The General is already married?"

Commander Gao, standing to the side, was also utterly shocked. It was as if he wasn't the one who had deliberately slowed his pace: "The General really got married?"

"Your Excellency, what should we do now? Should we read the imperial edict?"

Pei Qinghe's acting skills were equally impressive. She raised an eyebrow in surprise: "What imperial decree? The Emperor has already bestowed upon me the title of First-Rank General. Is there some other reward?"

Even though Prime Minister Pang had a thick skin, he couldn't bring himself to say in public that the Emperor wanted to bestow the title of Imperial Concubine upon the General.

Prime Minister Pang coughed a few times and lowered his voice, saying, "Let's go into Liaoxi City first, and discuss this matter privately."

Pei Qinghe readily agreed and waved her hand, and the crowd immediately made way.

Prime Minister Pang, being a civil official, wasn't quite aware of the intricacies of the situation. Gao Yong felt a chill run down his spine and gave Pei Qinghe a deep look. After this battle, Pei Qinghe's prestige in the army had reached its peak. Even the most unruly generals were now sincerely convinced of Pei Qinghe's authority and obeyed his orders.

As long as Pei Qinghe is there, the Pei family army will remain.

Although the Pei family army suffered heavy casualties, they could recruit new soldiers and quickly replenish their strength. An army with an invincible and indomitable spirit is enough to dominate the battlefield.

In the entire northern lands, who can rival Pei Qinghe?

General Xie is unworthy, and the Meng brothers are unwilling and unable to fight Pei Qinghe. General Zhang is showing off his power in Bohai County, but if a real fight breaks out, who knows how long he can hold out against Pei Qinghe.

Emperor Jian'an was indeed blinded by jealousy, unable to see the situation clearly, and repeatedly made foolish moves.

They could only hope that Pei Qinghe would remember their past friendship and not turn against them. Otherwise, the precarious Northern court would soon be engulfed in civil war, and its disintegration would be imminent.

After entering Liaoxi City, the five hundred elite soldiers were settled in the military camp to rest.

Prime Minister Pang and General Pei sat facing each other, with Commander Gao also on the side.

Apart from them, there was no one else in the military tent.

Prime Minister Pang rose shakily, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply in apology: "His Majesty seems to have lost his mind lately, doing things that are utterly incomprehensible. I implore the General to forgive His Majesty this once. I apologize to the General on behalf of His Majesty."

Pei Qinghe stared intently at Prime Minister Pang and slowly said, "I am already married. It is absolutely impossible for me to accept an imperial decree to enter the harem, let alone become a concubine."

"Prime Minister, are you going back to report like this? Aren't you afraid that the Emperor will be furious and chop off your head?"

Prime Minister Pang smiled, a smile full of bitterness and helplessness: "If the emperor commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die. If my head can quell the anger and bring the emperor to his senses, then I will have died a worthy death."

That's when they started playing the victim.

A knowing sneer flashed in Pei Qinghe's eyes.

Prime Minister Pang maintained his bowing posture and continued, "The General cares deeply for the people, has the world in his heart, and is loyal to the emperor and loves his country. He would certainly not do anything that would cause pain to his loved ones and joy to his enemies."

(End of this chapter)