Chapter 210
When Lin Qingyang woke up, he heard voices inside the tent.
“I know it’s not possible for you to help me without conditions. Considering what you did for me last night, I’ll agree to one condition. Once fulfilled, I expect you to keep silent. You can only threaten me once. If you break your word, that’s when things will truly fall apart,” Pei Jin’s voice sounded almost the same as before, as if the setback from last night had passed for her, and she had reverted to her calm and composed self.
“Helping you was my cousin’s idea. I never intended to use this as leverage against you,” Chu Lishu chuckled.
Pei Jin sneered, “Your cousin might not, but you might. If you bring it up, I’ll believe that you won’t use this incident to threaten me in the future. If you pretend with me, it’s not that you don’t want to threaten me, but rather you’re waiting for the right moment to do so. I don’t want to be manipulated at any time. Though we each have our own interests, we’re not in conflict at the moment. So, propose something valuable to both of us, and we can be at ease.”
Chu Lishu chuckled sincerely, “What if the task I ask you to do harms the Pei family?”
Pei Jin paused for a moment, looking thoughtful before responding, “Then it depends on the extent of the harm and which one of us it affects more.”
In the past, Pei Jin would have definitely refused on the spot and offered alternative suggestions; she wouldn’t have done anything detrimental to the Pei family.
But now…
Lin Qingyang didn’t interrupt their conversation. Hearing this, he already understood in his heart that although the Pei family might not necessarily know about last night’s events, a scar had been drawn in Pei Jin’s heart. After all, everything the Pei family did now was for the Third Prince. The Third Prince’s future was already tied to the Pei family’s, so in comparison, Pei Jin’s grievances didn’t count for much.
“Don’t worry, what I’m proposing won’t harm you,” Chu Lishu said slowly. “The Ministry of Revenue and the merchant agency under the Pei family have been embezzling from the salt trade. I need evidence from their account books.”
Pei Jin’s face turned pale. “You want to go against the Ministry of Revenue? Are you dreaming? Do you think I would agree to that?”
The Ministry of Revenue was the Pei family’s biggest support within the court. If there were any issues, it would be like cutting off their own legs. After all, it was because both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works encountered problems simultaneously that the Eldest Prince and his forces were defeated so disastrously in the past.
“I think you will agree. Prime Minister Li just wants to place a few people in the Ministry of Revenue, and the evidence from the account books is merely to bring down a few officials. So, how much evidence to provide and which officials to target can be left to your discretion,” Chu Lishu continued persuasively. “I told you it wouldn’t harm you. You can use this opportunity to eliminate dissent, can’t you? The Pei family… isn’t exactly united. Now even the Third Prince dares to move against you. If you don’t teach him a lesson, how long do you think you can protect yourself?”
Pei Jin shuddered, feeling as if she had just been struck by lightning. She had originally only hoped to reconcile with the Third Prince through the power of her family. If the Third Prince insisted on such actions, then she wouldn’t assist him anymore. Surely, there could be some negotiation. After all, she had sacrificed so much for the Pei family; it wasn’t possible for them to completely disregard her wishes.
But Chu Lishu’s solution could indeed put her in a position of power, ensuring her invincibility. By leveraging one faction against another, making them rely entirely on her father’s faction, the Third Prince and the Pei family would undoubtedly respect and rely on her more. Would they dare to disrespect her then?
Pei Jin took a deep breath. Chu Lishu was indeed formidable. This deal was worth making.
“Alright, I agree. Once things here are settled, I’ll send it to you. And when that time comes, I trust you’ll keep your promise. Let’s seal it with a handshake!”
Chu Lishu casually shook hands with Pei Jin, sealing the deal.
At this moment, Lin Qingyang woke up just in time.
Pei Jin looked at Lin Qingyang with a complex expression, not saying much. She thanked him again and intended to leave.
After much hesitation, Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but speak up. “Are you really going back to continue helping the Third Prince?”
Chu Lishu glanced at Lin Qingyang but didn’t interrupt him.
Pei Jin furrowed her brow slightly. “What, you want to sway me too? I am the legitimate heir of the Pei family, assisting the Third Prince is my destiny.”
“Even if it means going through something like this again?”
Pei Jin lowered her gaze, chuckling bitterly. “Once is enough for making mistakes. I’m not that incompetent. If it happens again, it’s because I’ve already accepted such a fate.”
“Mission, points, conscience…” These words kept circulating in Lin Qingyang’s mind, and finally, he couldn’t help but speak up. “Pei Jin, you’re a woman.”
Pei Jin’s eyebrows raised. “So what? Are you looking down on me? What men can do, I can do just as well, if not better than you.”
Lin Qingyang shook his head. “There are plenty of powerful women out there. What I mean is, by disguising yourself as a man here, you’ve doomed yourself to face even more difficulties in the future. And these difficulties may all come from your own family. If one day, your family forces you to do something you don’t want to do, just give it all up and leave. With your abilities, escaping and living on your own terms wouldn’t be difficult. From the moment they started forcing you against your will, they’re not worth sacrificing for.”
Pei Jin stared at Lin Qingyang in astonishment for a moment before finally blurting out, “Are you insane? Do you think I’m the kind of person who, after facing a little injustice as a woman, would throw away family honor and betray the entire clan? Let me go? You really know how to think.”
With that, she turned and walked away.
Lin Qingyang: …
He had mentally prepared himself for the possibility that his decision might lead to the failure of certain potential missions later on, but how did he end up being scolded like this?
In the future, he might not be able to convince Chu Lishu to continue saving people!
Lin Qingyang looked at Chu Lishu, his face full of anger and frustration.
Chu Lishu raised an eyebrow, displeased. “You meddled too much and got scolded, didn’t you? To her, you’re just an acquaintance. What right do you have to lecture her? She’s right. She’s the legitimate heir, the successor. How could she possibly break away from the Pei family?”
“Even if she suffers greatly, she won’t leave?”
“You’re trying to say that if her family is willing to let her follow the Third Prince, she’ll go along with it, right? As long as the suffering doesn’t exceed risking her life, just like last night, eventually, she’ll yield.”
Lin Qingyang opened his mouth to respond but couldn’t refute it. Naturally… it’s not that simple.
“You… weren’t you also against her being with the Third Prince?” Lin Qingyang said speechlessly.
“Now, if they were truly together, it would be detrimental to us. Luckily, she still has some means to resist here and there. Once I wipe out the Ministry of Revenue, the Pei family will naturally fall into internal strife. By then, whatever happens to them will have nothing to do with us,” Chu Lishu said calmly, gradually smiling. “I thought dealing with the Ministry of Revenue would be troublesome, but it turned out to be effortless.”
Lin Qingyang’s mouth twitched. He thought to himself that last night you seemed reluctant to save her, and now you’ve figured it out, haven’t you?
Sure enough, Pei Jin was still being deceived. He said he would only deal with a few people, but with what Chu Lishu had in hand, taking down the entire Ministry of Revenue was just a matter of time.
In the original plot, Pei Jin did indeed continue to return to serve the Pei family, but by that time, she and the male lead had already been in a conflicting state of serving different masters while being intimately close. It wasn’t until the male lead used her to clean up the Ministry of Revenue that she realized she had been deceived. She initially wanted to retaliate, but once again, she was sacrificed by her family. Desperate and shattered, she was cared for and protected by the male lead, which gradually eroded Pei Jin’s calmness and wisdom. She was once again manipulated by the male lead, leading to the division of the Pei family. Although Pei Jin resented the Pei family, as she had always borne the heavy responsibilities of the Pei family, she couldn’t accept that the destruction of the Pei family was brought about by her own hands. Furthermore, upon learning that the male lead had never truly loved her, she moved towards the conclusion as described in the original plot.
This time, it’s uncertain whether Pei Jin will encounter the same situation as in the original plot.
On the other hand, after Pei Jin returned, she went directly to see Concubine Pei. Of course, she knew that Lin Qingyang’s intentions were genuine and for her own good, but how could she escape from this?
In Concubine Pei’s residence, the Third Prince was also present. Pei Jin straightforwardly recounted the events of the previous night. The Third Prince’s expression turned furious, but Concubine Pei had actually known about it earlier. She reprimanded the Third Prince for being too hasty and quickly tried to placate him upon hearing Pei Jin’s account.
Pei Jin expressed her determination not to marry in this lifetime, implying that she would assist the Third Prince and uphold the Pei family but would never become anyone’s woman.
Naturally, the Third Prince was infuriated by the direct rejection, but Concubine Pei gave him a stern rebuke, which was a face-saving gesture for Pei Jin.
“Alright, my son,” Concubine Pei intervened, “Didn’t we receive a secret report this morning? It proves that Pei Jin’s suspicions were correct. She has made a great contribution this time. Why don’t you hurry up and seek advice from Pei Jin on what to do next?”
The Third Prince suppressed his anger. It was true that Pei Jin had made a contribution today. “No need for her to speak. I’ve already made arrangements.”
Pei Jin furrowed her brow but prioritized important matters. “I wonder what arrangements Your Highness has made?”
…
The third day of the autumn hunting should have been the liveliest day in terms of atmosphere, but whether it was because Lin Qingyang had preconceived notions or not, it felt like there was tension lingering in the air.
Just after nightfall, Chu Lishu bid Lin Qingyang farewell and left. Their camp was the safest place, but Chu Lishu needed to move ahead to follow Zhao Cheng. While Lin Qingyang wanted to accompany him, Chu Lishu didn’t agree. Arrows and stones had no eyes, and who knew what dangers they might encounter. He insisted that Lin Qingyang stay with Yue Chen.
Yue Chen came to the tent and accompanied Lin Qingyang, smiling. “You shouldn’t go. If you do, your cousin will be distracted. Leave the upcoming matters to him and Huo Luo. Trust them; everything will be fine.”
Lin Qingyang pondered for a moment and agreed. After all, the storyline remained exactly the same, without any unexpected twists. So, Chu Lishu was certainly not in danger.
So the two of them relaxed and chatted to pass the time. Before long, the noise from outside grew louder.
Lin Qingyang and Yue Chen stood at the entrance of the tent, watching soldiers running in the distance and torches flickering far away, indicating that the battle had begun.
Inside the camp, chaos ensued as everyone tried to figure out what was happening. Eunuchs and guards kept passing on messages, trying to reassure everyone.
Xu Wenze suddenly ran over. “There you are! That’s great. Where’s Chu Lishu?”
“He should be with General Zhao right now,” Lin Qingyang replied.
“Well, it shouldn’t be too dangerous then. I just accompanied my sister to see the Emperor, and we heard that the Eldest Prince has rebelled! He actually led soldiers and stormed in from the forest. General Zhao has already taken the guards to resist; they shouldn’t be able to break through,” Xu Wenze said.
“How did the Emperor react?” Yue Chen asked.
“The Emperor was so angry he almost fainted. It seems like his health isn’t as good as it used to be. When he came to, he said he wanted to capture the Eldest Prince alive. He probably wants to personally convict him. Judging by the military strength, General Zhao should have a chance of winning. The Eldest Prince is doomed this time,” Xu Wenze said solemnly.
“But how can we be sure before the battle is over?” Yue Chen remarked.
“When I arrived, the briefing had already ended, so I’m not sure about the situation on the front lines. But I saw the Third Prince volunteering for battle…” Xu Wenze said.
“What? The Third Prince?” Yue Chen and Lin Qingyang asked simultaneously.
Xu Wenze nodded. “I think if the Third Prince dares to join the fight, the situation ahead must not be too dire. Otherwise, how could he dare?”
“What about the Crown Prince’s reaction?” Yue Chen immediately inquired.
“The Crown Prince didn’t say anything. It was rather unexpected that the Third Prince would volunteer for battle,” Xu Wenze said before leaving.
Yue Chen felt something was off, and as soon as Xu Wenze finished speaking, he departed.
Turning to Lin Qingyang, Yue Chen noticed that Lin Qingyang’s expression was also troubled.
“What’s wrong?” Yue Chen asked.
“The Third Prince… shouldn’t be taking action,” Lin Qingyang exclaimed in astonishment. In the original plot, the Third Prince never appeared; he was too scared and stayed by the Emperor’s side. How could he possibly join the battle?
“You find it strange too?” Yue Chen frowned. Logically, Yuan Ye should be more eager than the Third Prince to demonstrate his capabilities and clear his name from previous accusations. But since he hasn’t acted, it indicates that he’s afraid. Both Yuan Ye and the Third Prince value their lives, so if Yuan Ye doesn’t dare to act, the Third Prince definitely wouldn’t in this situation.
Unless… he knows something from another source and knows that this battle will be safe.
“It’s fine. One more person won’t disrupt our plans. At most, he’ll get some credit for it,” Lin Qingyang reassured.
As the commotion outside seemed to be getting closer, the people in the camp became even more restless. The guards came to inform them to gather together for safety.
So Yue Chen and Lin Qingyang followed the others as they moved. Along the way, they ran into Pei Jin.
Lin Qingyang had been troubled by the changes in the plot, and a small voice in his head kept saying that something was wrong. As soon as he saw Pei Jin, he rushed up to her and grabbed her arm. “I have something to ask you.”
Pei Jin felt a bit awkward after scolding Lin Qingyang earlier. She had come here to check if Lin Qingyang was safe in the camp, but she didn’t expect to be grabbed by him.
“What is it?”
“Why did the Third Prince go to battle? Do you know something?” Lin Qingyang asked directly.
Pei Jin narrowed her eyes at Lin Qingyang. “Just because you saved me doesn’t mean we’re in a cooperative relationship. Are you sure you’re asking the right person?”
Lin Qingyang’s expression was anxious. “I have to ask! Chu Lishu… My cousin, he unexpectedly stayed with General Zhao and can’t come back now. If you have any extra information, please, tell me.”
Pei Jin was taken aback for a moment. Lin Qingyang’s reason was reasonable. She glanced at Yue Chen, who had followed behind but stopped a distance away, watching.
Pei Jin then spoke up. “If you’re worried about that, then there’s no need to fret. As long as he’s with General Zhao, he’ll be safe. After all, General Zhao is facing off against the large army from the forest.”
If Lin Qingyang didn’t know the entire battlefield arrangement, he might have let that statement go. However, he remembered that the Eldest Prince’s private troops were divided into two groups, with the main force concentrated in the forest to confront Zhao Cheng and divert attention. Meanwhile, the Eldest Prince led a smaller force to circle around through the mountain path, aiming to directly attack the camp and capture the leader first.
After Chu Lishu discerned his layout, he had already instructed Huo Luo to come from the mountain path, ready to save the camp at a critical moment. After all, it would be quite chaotic when General Zhao returned to pursue them. This way, Huo Luo could seize the credit.
So besides the forest, both the Eldest Prince’s troops and Huo Luo’s troops would pass through the mountain path at different times.
However, Pei Jin suddenly only mentioned the forest…
Lin Qingyang cautiously said, “The Third Prince… won’t go to the mountain path, will he?”
Pei Jin’s expression suddenly changed. “How… How did you think of the mountain path? Is the information spreading so quickly?”
Lin Qingyang’s expression changed a few times. He knew Pei Jin wouldn’t easily reveal crucial information, so he tried to probe, “Wait, the Third Prince wouldn’t be able to defeat the Eldest Prince either.”
Pei Jin immediately thought the information had already spread and directly responded, “Of course, he wouldn’t fight. In fact, I discovered the Eldest Prince’s unusual behavior in advance. By closely monitoring him, I learned about the rebellion and the division of forces. The Third Prince had already sent someone to the other end of the mountain path to plant explosives in the mountain and tunnels inside the camp. Once the Eldest Prince’s troops pass by, the mountain will be blasted, causing chaos and casualties. Then, the Third Prince can easily capture them without much effort.”
“The explosion on the mountain… won’t it put everyone inside the mountain at risk?” Lin Qingyang muttered, his face turning pale.
“Yeah, that’s why the Third Prince will enter only after the explosion,” Pei Jin said.
Lin Qingyang was speechless, staring at Pei Jin in shock. This variable turned out to be brought by Pei Jin. Why? Was it because she wasn’t distracted by Chu Lishu? So she was so formidable that she even discovered the Eldest Prince’s plan? A woman who focused on her career rather than love was too powerful.
Seeing Lin Qingyang’s pale face, Pei Jin said, “You don’t need to worry. Even if Zhao Cheng knows about the mountain path, he won’t send Chu Lishu there. Besides, the Third Prince is at the entrance, and he won’t let anyone steal his credit.”
Lin Qingyang glanced at Pei Jin. “Thank you for the reminder, but I still don’t feel at ease.” With that, he turned around and ran outside, dragging Yue Chen along.
Pei Jin wanted to call out to Lin Qingyang, but he didn’t even look back. Feeling frustrated, she sighed. However, knowing that there wasn’t much danger outside, she didn’t try to stop them.
“What’s wrong?” Yue Chen asked, surprised.
Lin Qingyang quickly explained the situation, and the color drained from Yue Chen’s face. “We have to stop the Third Prince, or else Huo Luo will also die on the mountain.”
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Eyy what a cliffhanger. Thank you ciacia for ur hard work!
Yes! Thank you for your hard work!