Chapter 208
During the hunting activity, Lin Qingyang was absent, while others showcased their skills outside. Chu Lishu initially accompanied Xu Wenze, casually testing his abilities in the forest. Later, they split up, with Chu Lishu observing the terrain alone to confirm whether it matched his memories. Lu Yi and Lu Shi appeared, reporting the situation outside to Chu Lishu.
The road back to the capital had been seeded with thunderous traps by the Eldest Prince. It seemed he intended to destroy any chance of escape once the war began, as well as eliminate the possibility of outside military reinforcements, before besieging and annihilating them.
The Eldest Prince did have some skill in warfare, but his lack of experience led to many revealed issues. He hadn’t considered that some military units might not take the main road, such as Huo Luo, who preferred taking their enemies by surprise.
With their current marching speed, if they wanted to approach quietly, they estimated they would arrive in the late hours of the third night. At that time, the quiet of the night would offer the best opportunity for a surprise attack. Otherwise, relying solely on the Eldest Prince’s private army of eight thousand men probably wouldn’t be enough to handle the five thousand elite soldiers led by Zhao Cheng.
The timing of the attack was the Eldest Prince’s best bargaining chip, but unfortunately, it had been discovered ahead of time, making this a battle they were destined to lose.
Chu Lishu said, “Alright, from here on out, it’s up to them. When the battle is nearing its end, seize the chance to visit the stables and find Chi Teng.”
Lu Yi and Lu Shi were both pleasantly surprised. “Chi Teng is still alive?”
Chu Lishu nodded. “When the time comes, we’ll feed it some sedatives, treat it as a warhorse that died in battle. After it’s taken away for transportation, we’ll switch it out.”
Lu Shi immediately exclaimed, “I’ll keep an eye on it the whole time to prevent any mishaps.”
After giving instructions, Chu Lishu didn’t want to linger in the hunting grounds any longer. He turned and went back to find Lin Qingyang.
That evening, Pei Jin arrived at the Third Prince’s tent. The Third Prince was feeling sulky because of his defeat against Yuan Ye on the first day, while Concubine Pei seemed unconcerned, casually sipping her tea with Pei Qianyu by her side.
As Pei Jin entered and mentioned having something to report, Concubine Pei instructed Pei Qianyu to leave. Seeing Pei Qianyu’s departing figure, Pei Jin couldn’t help but frown, but she quickly composed himself and began her report.
“We just need to wait for the scouts’ reports next,” Pei Jin said.
“I hope your speculations are not wrong,” the Third Prince scoffed coldly.
“They’re unlikely to be wrong. Therefore, Your Highness can conserve your strength. There’s little significance in contending with the Crown Prince over the hunting here,” Pei Jin cautioned carefully.
“What do you mean by that?! Do you think I can’t beat him?” The Third Prince immediately became displeased.
“Your Highness, now that you’ve regained the Emperor’s favor, you should maintain it. Pressuring the Crown Prince too aggressively will displease the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. It will also make those in the court who originally intended to support you hesitate. The Emperor has always disliked those with a strong aggressive demeanor, which was the reason he didn’t favor the Eldest Prince before. We should learn from that lesson. The Crown Prince is gradually weakening, and as long as we avoid mistakes and continue to achieve merit, everything will fall into place. So—”
“Enough, Pei Jin! You’re still so verbose and motherly, incessantly nagging. You are my subordinate; I don’t need you to tell me what to do. You only need to do what I want you to do well. That’s your duty as my subordinate!” The Third Prince couldn’t stand Pei Jin’s constant opposition and attempts to restrain her, making her feel inferior.
Pei Jin’s expression stiffened once again, gritting her teeth as she lowered her head. “Your Highness has admonished me, Pei Jin understands.”
“Alright, let’s not talk about it anymore. Pei Jin has a lot on his plate. You should go rest now,” Consort Pei intervened in time.
Pei Jin then left the tent, heading to find Pei Qianyu. Pei Qianyu was already waiting for her, wearing a troubled expression. “Aunt told me. She said she will find an opportunity to talk to the Emperor later, to propose my marriage to the Third Prince.”
“If you’re unwilling, I’ll find a way to handle it,” Pei Jin frowned. Having someone else control a woman’s marriage was truly the most pitiful thing.
Pei Qianyu gritted her teeth. “I… don’t really like it, but I know it’s inevitable. Even Big Brother can’t defy the entire Pei family. If you truly care for me, then assist the Third Prince diligently. That way, at least my future will still hold some honor.”
Pei Jin gently patted Pei Qianyu’s head. “The Third Prince isn’t easy to get along with. He doesn’t like me very much, and it’s possible that when he ascends the throne, he’ll turn on those who’ve served him. By then, I might not be able to protect you, so I don’t want you to marry him. Let me think about it some more.”
Pei Qianyu hesitated for a moment but nodded. “Big Brother doesn’t need to force himself too much. I’ve prepared myself mentally.” In truth, the position of future empress did appeal to her, but right now, she longed for a marriage based on mutual love. Fortunately, she had Big Brother willing to plan for her.
“Hmph, what a nuisance! If I ascend the throne in the future, he might even climb onto my head and meddle in government affairs. He doesn’t seem to know his place. If he didn’t have some ability, I wouldn’t want to see him at all!” The Third Prince huffed coldly.
Concubine Pei chuckled. “He won’t.”
“The reason is simple. How could it not be? You’re still urging me to marry Pei Qianyu. Yes, she’s beautiful, and I’m willing to marry her. But, Mother, with a prime minister’s position and an empress’s position, and both from another branch, it would be too easy for them to control us then.”
In fact, Pei Jin and Pei Qianyu were not the children of Concubine Pei’s own brother but rather of her eldest cousin. The Pei family had been divided into two factions since the grandfather’s generation. Currently, the head of the Pei family was Pei Jin’s father, who belonged to the main line of descent. His father was the eldest legitimate son, and he was the eldest legitimate grandson, continuing down to Pei Jin’s generation. So, Pei Jin was naturally expected to be the next successor.
Concubine Pei’s own brother naturally had children as well, but they were all mediocre in talent and not presentable. Moreover, the elders of the family hoped for harmony within the Pei family, so they naturally intermingled the branches. They had always relied on Pei Jin for assistance.
However, there were still some barriers between those who were not blood relatives. Previously, when the Third Prince changed his assistant to his own cousin, it resulted in many troubles. In the end, they had to rely on Pei Jin to salvage the situation.
This not only failed to make them grateful but also made the Third Prince dislike Pei Jin even more. After all, his own cousin had always been whispering in his ear, saying that if Pei Jin continued like this, he would surely become too powerful and dominate the court. By then, the court would probably be surname Pei. Pei Jin was not as loyal to the Third Prince as they were, and so on, with various tempting words.
Listening to such flattery from his less capable brother naturally made the Third Prince favor his own brother even more. He was unwilling to be assisted by Pei Jin, and the conflicts within the Pei family intensified as a result. However, these were just conflicts among the younger generation, and the elders still maintained stability.
When the Third Prince felt that Pei Jin was disrespecting him, naturally, he would have such worries and suspicions. Although he didn’t admit it openly, he inwardly knew that he was not as intelligent as Pei Jin. He worried about raising a tiger by his side, fearing that in the future, power would be controlled by the influential families.
But Concubine Pei didn’t take his worries seriously. Seeing her son like this, she smiled and said, “Don’t worry, she will be loyal to you all her life. She will never turn against you.”
“Why do you say that, Mother? If he achieves another great deed this time, the Pei family will surely support him even more in controlling everything about me,” the Third Prince frowned.
Concubine Pei shook her head with a gentle smile. “Forget it. I originally planned to tell you after your wedding, but with the increasing conflicts between you lately, I felt it wouldn’t be appropriate.”
The Third Prince looked at Concubine Pei in confusion.
“Don’t you think, my son, that Pei Jin is becoming more and more handsome?”
The Third Prince instantly recoiled in disgust. “Mother, I don’t have that preference.”
Concubine Pei smiled and said, “What if Pei Jin were a girl?”
The Third Prince suddenly gasped, unable to believe it. “Is that true?”
“Your eldest cousin’s line has always held power in the Pei family. Unfortunately, he only had two daughters. Your eldest cousin’s health was never good, so in order to maintain control over the Pei family, they raised Pei Jin as a boy from a young age. This was a secret of their lineage. It wasn’t until the Emperor ascended the throne, and I became Concubine Pei, and you became the prince, that the goals of the Pei family changed. Now, their aim is to assist you. Pei Jin was sent to your side for this purpose. Her secret couldn’t be kept from us. Although the Pei family caused a stir over this matter, Pei Jin is indeed the most talented member of the Pei family. Therefore, the elders in the family hope that until a suitable heir for the Pei family emerges, she will continue to disguise herself as a man, remain unmarried, and dedicate herself to the Pei family for life.”
“So, her cross-dressing is her greatest weakness. She cannot escape from the Pei family, and it’s even less likely that she’ll surpass you in wielding power. So, what do you have to worry about?”
The Third Prince was shocked beyond measure, carefully recalling every interaction he had with Pei Jin. Suddenly, he grinned wickedly. “So, she’s a woman. So, that’s how it is… Wait a minute, Mother, when you asked me if Pei Jin was good-looking just now…”
“The two sisters, equally beautiful and talented, should both belong to my son. My son, no matter how capable a woman is, she will never escape the control of her man. I have always believed that she should belong to you. Although the Pei family has not fully agreed yet, it’s only a matter of time. It’s better to prevent her from being abducted by other men. Once a woman’s heart is moved, her elbows will turn outward. Only by being yours can she be truly loyal to you, rather than just to their family and to the Pei family’s cause. As long as you hold onto these sisters, you won’t have to worry about the palace intrigues of the past or the intentions of our family.”
Concubine Pei smiled and patted the Third Prince’s hand. “You don’t like her attitude when she talks to you, do you? If we can make Pei Jin fall in love with you and become your woman, do you think she would dare to treat you with such an attitude? Naturally, she would obediently serve you. The position of consort cannot be given to her, after all. She still needs to continue masquerading as a man to control the Pei family for you, and to clear obstacles for you in the court. Just treat her as someone who can advise you and warm your bed. Then, when she gives birth, we can hand the child over to her sister to raise. She wouldn’t dare to complain, would she? Isn’t that good?”
Pei Jin… arrogant and disdainful Pei Jin, if she could become submissive, lie beneath him, be harshly disciplined by him, and bear his children… The more the Third Prince thought about it, the more excited he became. This was truly the best news he had heard recently.
Starting from the second day, Pei Jin noticed that the Third Prince’s attitude towards her had changed. Not only did he greet her with a smile, but he also cared for her constantly. Even nearby observers like Chu Lishu and Yue Chen felt that something was amiss.
When Chu Lishu returned, he casually mentioned it to Lin Qingyang to alleviate boredom. Lin Qingyang’s expression immediately changed, knowing that certain developments were about to unfold.
“Why are you so concerned?” Chu Lishu raised an eyebrow. “Given their closeness, if the Third Prince were inclined towards men, it would be quite normal for him to be with Pei Jin.”
“But Pei Jin doesn’t want to!” Lin Qingyang immediately interjected.
Chu Lishu squinted his eyes, a sly smile playing on his lips. “How do you know he doesn’t want to? Oh… could it be that you know there’s someone in Pei Jin’s heart? Who could it be?”
Lin Qingyang looked at Chu Lishu, momentarily stunned and embarrassed. Pei Jin was supposed to like you, but now it seems she dislikes you almost as much as anyone.
“I have no idea!” Lin Qingyang quickly deflected, thinking about how to handle the situation.
On the other side, Pei Jin always felt something was off, but there were more pressing matters at hand. So, that evening, when the Third Prince arrived at Pei Jin’s tent under the pretext of discussing something, Pei Jin wasn’t suspicious.
Being a woman, she naturally wouldn’t share a tent with others, and the Third Prince had already dismissed anyone nearby before he came.
As Pei Jin bowed to him, the Third Prince observed her carefully. She seemed to have deliberately applied some masculine makeup to conceal her inherent beauty, but upon closer inspection, her clear eyes, white teeth, and delicate features hinted at a beauty that might even surpass her sister’s. His excitement grew inside him. Without waiting for Pei Jin to speak, he reached out and pulled her closer.
Pei Jin was shocked. “Third Prince!”
But the Third Prince simply pinned the struggling Pei Jin beneath him and sneered, “If you scream too loudly, everyone will come in and see, see… how dare a girl like you, shamelessly dressed as a man, consort with a group of men.”
Pei Jin’s pupils contracted. Enraged, she tried to push the Third Prince away, but suddenly felt a cold sensation on her back. A chill ran down her spine as she realized that her clothes had been pulled down by the Third Prince.
The Third Prince looked at the white skin on Pei Jin’s back and neck, and immediately thought of the phrase “ice-cold beauty”. He had seen many beautiful women before, but none had excited him as much as Pei Jin did now. He had already had a reaction.
Pressing even harder on Pei Jin, he ignored her increasingly frantic struggles and directly tore off the bandages binding her chest. With disdain in his voice, he said, “You’re truly shameless. Were you planning to seduce me from the beginning, not even bothering to wear proper undergarments?”
“Get off! If you dare touch me, if you dare…” Pei Jin’s eyes were bloodshot, overwhelmed by the shame of being a woman. She wished she could stab the Third Prince to protect her dignity, but she was no match for him in strength. All she could do was struggle desperately, but the more she struggled, the more excited the person pressing her down became.
“Don’t you know? The Pei family has long planned for you to become my woman. It’s just a matter of time, so you better obediently lie down for me!” The Third Prince’s expression was excited and sinister. What did he care if Pei Jin loved him or not? As a prince, he only needed to have his way with her, and then she would have no power to resist.
Pei Jin couldn’t believe it. For a moment, she forgot to struggle, until the Third Prince tore off the bandages behind her and started to pull down her trousers. Suddenly, she snapped back to reality and opened her mouth, ready to scream for help.
But the Third Prince quickly covered Pei Jin’s mouth. “Pei Jin… I advise you to behave. If anyone finds out you’re a woman, your reputation will be ruined. Your father, your grandfather, they will all be implicated. The Pei family will be punished by the emperor because of your recklessness. You are still a study companion in the palace. Do you think treason against the emperor won’t cost you your life?”
Pei Jin’s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn’t believe the Third Prince was using this to threaten her. Tears began to stream down her face. The Third Prince smiled and released her mouth, confident that Pei Jin wouldn’t dare to scream.
Pei Jin dared not scream, her gaze full of hatred as she looked back at the Third Prince. “Third Prince… I have been assisting you faithfully, giving my all for your cause. Must you humiliate me like this? If you let me go, we can pretend tonight never happened. Otherwise, I will…”
The Third Prince sneered and reached out to touch Pei Jin’s face. “What will you do? Accuse me of forcing myself on you? Do you think the Pei family will stand up for you? Once you become my woman, they will accept it. In the future, to gain my favor, you will do anything for me, even walk through fire and water.” Didn’t the women in the palace all treat his father like this? Without exception, Pei Jin’s refusal was only temporary; sooner or later, she would kneel and beg for his favor.
“Come, let me savor the taste of the brilliant and talented Pei Jin.”
The Third Prince reached down, and Pei Jin gritted her teeth, her body devoid of any strength. She could only accept everything in despair and humiliation. In her mind flashed the image of Lin Qingyang saving her underwater. If only she had died in the water back then.
Suddenly, shouts from outside interrupted them. “Fire! There’s a fire in the camp!”
The Third Prince was startled and quickly got up, his interrupted anger evident as he cursed. Turning back, he said, “I’ll go check. You stay put. When I come back, you’ll know you can’t escape.”
Pei Jin felt her whole body freezing, trembling. The Third Prince had left, but she remained motionless in despair, as if trapped in a painting, unable to escape.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind her, “How long do you plan to stay like this? Are you really going to wait for the Third Prince to come back?”
Pei Jin was startled, reflexively pulling up the clothes behind her to cover herself. She turned around and saw someone standing at the entrance of the tent, backlit.
“Such a hassle. Get up quickly and follow me, or else my cousin’s fire will be in vain.”
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