Song of the Bright Moon Chapter 118

This conversation was bound to end in discord.

On the way home, Pei Xia kept thinking about Xie Wuling’s words.

Once home, he splashed cold water on his face, changed into clean robes, and put aside all his worldly worries, approaching his wife and child with lightness and calm.

Still a kind father, still a virtuous husband.

Yet no matter how well he concealed his emotions, he could not escape the gaze of the person beside him.

Late at night, when all was silent, Shen Yujiao took the scroll from his hands and sat beside him: “His Majesty entrusted you with comforting the Yanbei army?”

Her words hit the mark, and the calm on Pei Xia’s brow faded.

After a brief pause, he uttered a quiet, “Mm.”

The more silent he remained, the more certain Shen Yujiao became that he had encountered difficulties.

And nine times out of ten, those difficulties were Xie Wuling.

“You… met him?” Shen Yujiao asked.

Her tone was calm, her face betraying no emotion, as if speaking only of a routine matter of state.

Pei Xia did not hide it: “I met him this afternoon.”

Shen Yujiao: “Did he make things difficult for you?”

From last night’s brief encounter, she had clearly sensed Xie Wuling’s obsession and the heightened tension between the two men.

In the past, he was powerless, yet fearless. Now, with power and influence, with his temper, it wouldn’t be surprising if he stirred chaos across the sky.

“Not exactly difficult,” Pei Xia answered truthfully. “At most, he spared no courtesy, handled business formally.”

He had never expected Xie Wuling to show him kindness. If Yan Wang’s envoy had been anyone else, he might have played to their preferences, gaining some leeway in negotiations.

But what Xie Wuling demanded, even speaking another word risked his anger, a fist ready to strike that face.

No negotiation was possible.

Hearing this, Shen Yujiao guessed the negotiation had been far from pleasant.

That man, Xie Wuling… sigh.

“Or… should I speak to him?”

She looked at Pei Xia, her black eyes clear and calm: “I will speak only of the army funds, nothing else.”

Pei Xia looked back at her.

At least in this moment, her confident tone and composed gaze convinced him she acted solely for him.

Yet he still held her hand, shaking his head: “Don’t go.”

Shen Yujiao’s eyelashes fluttered. “I just wanted to help you…”

“I know.”

Pei Xia stopped her from explaining, holding her hand firmly. “But this is a matter of state; a woman of the inner residence should not be drawn into it.”

He paused, then added, “I’ll find a way to negotiate with him. If it really doesn’t work out, at worst, I’ll give up the chancellorship. I will resign and return to the countryside, and you and I will live quietly among the fields and mulberry trees.”

Shen Yujiao fell silent.

She had wanted to ask, can you really be content to resign and live in seclusion? But the words never left her lips.

The emperor had begun to distrust him; a timely retreat might actually be wise.

“Very well. Then I won’t interfere.”

She lowered her lashes, looking at his tightly clasped hand. “Do as you see fit. Whether in office or retired, Di Ge’er and I will be with you.”

Husband and wife, sharing joy and hardship.

She, as Pei Xia’s wife, would accompany him through wealth or poverty, honor or hardship.

Yet neither of them had anticipated how ruthless the emperor could be.

In the blink of an eye, the five-day deadline approached.

Pei Xia and General Hu combined firmness with persuasion. General Hu wanted to help, but could not sway Xie Wuling, who stubbornly refused to give up the twenty percent profit.

General Hu was baffled: “I don’t know what’s gotten into my capable nephew. Usually, he is so reasonable, but now he’s as stubborn as a mule. Ah, he is the adopted son of Yan Wang, highly trusted. Perhaps Yan Wang gave him instructions before he left. Chancellor Pei, reasoning with him is useless. Our entire party listens only to him. Maybe you should try to persuade him yourself?”

Persuade Xie Wuling? If that were possible, he wouldn’t have been coveting another man’s wife for so long!

On the last day of the five-day deadline, Xie Wuling again entered the palace to “take leave” from Emperor Chunqing.

The emperor, exhausted and exasperated, turned and summoned Pei Xia, venting all the anger he had stored up over Xie Wuling: “What have you been doing these past few days? You used to be so capable, yet now you can’t even handle a petty rogue!”

But that Xie Wuling was no longer a petty rogue.

Pei Xia lowered his head, thinking:

He is the adopted son of Yan Wang, backed by three hundred thousand Yanbei troops—he cannot be moved, much less killed.

The only way is through incentives.

But the reward he seeks, Pei Xia can never grant.

Facing the emperor’s overwhelming anger, Pei Xia lifted his robe and knelt: “Your servant is incompetent and has deeply failed the emperor’s trust. I no longer have the face to hold the chancellorship. I now request to resign; Your Majesty can find a worthy man to share the burdens of governance.”

Emperor Chunqing’s anger was immediately stunned into silence.

Once he recovered, it turned into even stronger resentment.

“Pei Shouzhen, this Xie Wuling is the trouble you left behind. Now that you cannot deal with him, you throw this hot potato onto me?”

Pei Xia could not help frowning.

He had held back for a long time, but finally looked up at the young emperor: “At this point, Your Majesty still considers this merely a personal grievance between me and Xie Wuling?”

The emperor was speechless.

Meeting Pei Xia’s calm, sharp gaze, a chill ran through him, and his heart wavered.

Indeed, tracing back, this trouble arose from his own momentary negligence.

The reason he could vent his anger on Pei Xia was simply that Yan Wang’s envoy happened to be Xie Wuling, giving him an excuse.

But if the envoy were anyone else, it would not have been so difficult!

With this in mind, Emperor Chunqing regained some composure and looked down at Pei Xia: “I will send someone else to meet this Xie Wuling. As for your resignation…”

He considered briefly, then said in a deep voice: “Later, hand the chancellor’s seal to me. Once your duties are transferred to other ministers in the Secretariat, you may retire to your residence and rest.”

The seal, carved from white jade, was elegant and refined.

Three years ago, Emperor Chunqing had personally handed it to Pei Xia.

Pei Xia still remembered that day vividly. The emperor had held his hand firmly, eyes full of trust and esteem: “Shouzhen, from now on, we as sovereign and minister will work together to bring prosperity and peace.”

But only three years had passed.

Was it that people’s hearts changed easily, or that power corrupted hearts faster?

Pei Xia could not tell. He simply bowed again to the emperor: “Your servant obeys.”

—

That night, Emperor Chunqing had his maternal uncle, the empress’s little brother Lu Ziyang, host a banquet for the Yanbei envoys Xie Wuling and Hu Hongyu.

Along with fine wine and food, there was a rare red coral piece inlaid with pearls, and two exquisitely beautiful women.

The two women, draped in sheer silk, appeared gracefully. General Hu’s eyes widened in astonishment.

It was only after Xie Wuling cleared his throat that General Hu, blushing, regained composure but his eyes still darted uncontrollably toward the women.

Goodness gracious, old Hu had fought all his life and never seen such beautiful young ladies.

If he could have a night with one, it would be worth dying for.

Xie Wuling, however, only glanced briefly, then looked at the host, Lu Ziyang, smiling: “I didn’t expect your residence to have such beauties.”

Lu Ziyang laughed: “These two beauties were specially sought by His Majesty to present to the two generals. Choose whichever pleases you.”

Xie Wuling said: “I’ll pass.”

Then he looked at General Hu, raising an eyebrow: “Uncle Hu, if you like, you may take both.”

General Hu was truly tempted.

In the harsh winds of Yanbei, how could such fair, delicate beauties survive?

But Xie Wuling refused them all. General Hu, nervous, dared not take them, rubbing his hands anxiously: “If I take them, your aunt will definitely make a fuss when we return.”

Madam Hu was a general’s daughter, skilled with a long spear that moved with fierce energy. General Hu feared that if he accepted the two beauties, his wife would skewer him through the gut when he returned.

Seeing this, Lu Ziyang at the head seat smiled at Xie Wuling: “General Xie is unmarried, with no one to restrain him. You may indulge as you wish.”

Xie Wuling replied, “No, I already have a wife.”

Lu Ziyang raised an eyebrow, but Xie Wuling didn’t pursue it, merely lifting his wine cup: “Come, come, don’t just talk. Drink.”

After three rounds of wine, the guests were warm and merry. Seizing the moment, Lu Ziyang turned to Xie Wuling: “His Majesty greatly admires your courage and strategy, and intends to use you fully. May I ask, General, what are your thoughts?”

Xie Wuling’s cheeks flushed slightly, but his eyes were exceptionally clear.

Tomorrow was the day he had agreed to leave the capital.

For the past five days, he had waited for Pei Xia or Shen Yujiao to seek him out.

But no one came.

Pei Xia’s stance was resolute, and as for Jiaojiao…

Xie Wuling couldn’t tell whether Pei Xia was keeping her in the dark, or if she had already decided to draw boundaries with him.

Yet she had once clearly promised to marry him.

He could only blame his own lack of power back then, which forced Pei Xia to confine her.

Now, with his power and influence, she could completely divorce Pei Xia.

Anyone who dared interfere, he would slash their tongue with a blade!

“To be valued by His Majesty is indeed an honor. What I seek has also been communicated to your Chancellor, but unfortunately, your Chancellor refused.”

Xie Wuling swirled the wine in his palm, stared at the clear liquid, and drank it in one gulp before saying to Lu Ziyang: “What I seek is merely a divorce document, so my wife and I may be reunited. That hardly seems a difficult matter, does it?”

…

“If His Majesty can fulfill his wish, he will surely speak well of me to Yan Wang, and the owed twenty percent profit can be delivered when the treasury is replenished next year.”

“That is what Xie Wuling said.”

Late at night in the Purple Palace, Lu Ziyang, still tipsy, hurried to report to Emperor Chunqing.

The emperor stood amid the dim lamplight in the sleeping hall, face complicated.

Consort Chen had indeed predicted correctly.

One minister’s wife, and twenty percent profit…

In the past, Emperor Chunqing would have refused without hesitation. After all, she was Pei Shouzhen’s legitimate wife. As emperor, how could he act to separate a minister’s marriage?

But now, thinking that Pei Xia would resign and retire, no longer at his service, and that squeezing the treasury to get the twenty percent profit would be necessary…

It was just one woman.

If he granted her to Pei Xia, he would gain nothing but a reputation for generosity. If he granted her to Xie Wuling, perhaps he could even save that twenty percent profit.

Emperor Chunqing wrestled with this all night.

At dawn, eyes bloodshot, he summoned Pei Xia and cautiously brought up Xie Wuling’s request for a divorce document.

Pei Xia’s face darkened instantly, voice cold and firm: “Unless I die, in this lifetime it is impossible for me to be separated from my wife.”

Though he had anticipated this outcome, the emperor was still unwilling to relent: “I could find you another wife of high status…”

Before he could finish, Pei Xia cut him off sharply: “Is there any woman in this world with higher status than Your Majesty’s own sister?”

His tone was icy and scornful, like two sharp slaps, burning hot against the emperor’s face.

He should have felt ashamed; in truth, his heart felt more indignation than anything.

How dare a minister speak so to his sovereign?

It was only because the emperor was lenient that Pei Xia could even discuss matters. If it were another emperor, one imperial edict would exile him, and his wife and children would be at the emperor’s mercy.

Pei Shouzhen, when would he understand that a hard spine can confront anyone, except the sovereign?

Having been rebuffed by Pei Xia, Emperor Chunqing went to his beloved concubine’s palace, full of grievance.

Consort Chen massaged the emperor while listening to his complaints. Her eyes sparkled as she said: “Since Chancellor Pei is resigning, there is no need to bother with him. Why does Your Majesty still endure his arrogance?”

“You are too merciful, that’s why he’s so brazen. In my opinion, this Xie Wuling is the trouble he brought upon himself; he should deal with it. Your Majesty gave him the chancellorship, high rank and salary, and even his wife’s title and wealth. He could not relieve your burden, fine; now that trouble has come, he wants to walk away unscathed? There is no such good fortune in the world.”

Emperor Chunqing felt his beloved concubine understood him perfectly.

But he said, “I am the emperor. It is not proper to forcibly separate people’s marriages…”

Consort Chen considered this, then smiled lightly: “That’s easy.”

The emperor looked up at her.

Consort Chen blinked her long lashes, leaned down, and whispered in his ear.

“Indecent, third of the seven grounds for divorce.”

“Chancellor Pei refuses to divorce, so the lady who lost her chastity—he would not want her anyway, correct?”

—

That afternoon, a decree from the Empress Dowager arrived at Pei Xia’s residence in Yongning Lane.

Learning from previous experience, Shen Yujiao was careful. She sent someone to the Secretariat to inform Pei Xia, then delayed with the pretext of dressing, wasting considerable time.

Only when delay was no longer possible did she board the carriage with the eunuch to enter the palace.

Inside the carriage, she sat quietly, pondering why the Empress Dowager or the emperor would summon her.

Before she could think it through, a sudden dizziness overcame her, her body weakened, mouth dry, throat parched.

She raised her hand to press her forehead, lifting her eyelids to focus her vision on the swaying gilt floral-and-bird grape-pattern incense ball hanging in the corner of the carriage.

The rich, heady scent carried a faint, almost imperceptible sweet and alluring note.

A woman raised in the inner chambers of the rear palace had never encountered such a filthy, obscene thing, and it was even harder to believe that someone in the palace of high rank would resort to such a low, despicable trick.

Shen Yujiao tried to push open the carriage window, but her limbs were limp, lacking even the strength to move.

“Bai Ping…”

She called weakly.

Before anyone outside could respond, her vision went black, and her body collapsed limply to the side.

When she woke again, she was in a completely unfamiliar room.

The air was filled with a warm, intoxicating fragrance. Before her eyes were crimson embroidered curtains depicting mandarin ducks playing in water. Off to one side, a desk still held dragon-and-phoenix wedding candles as thick as a child’s arm, burning brightly.

Everywhere was draped in red, decorated for a wedding chamber.

For a moment, Shen Yujiao was dazed. When she remembered that she had fainted in the palace carriage, her eyelids twitched, and she tried to get up.

But her strength seemed completely drained; her limbs were so weak she could not even perform the simplest action of rising.

She gritted her teeth and tried several times; her delicate back lifted only an inch from the bed before collapsing with a dull thud.

All that resulted was a head drenched in fine sweat.

Shen Yujiao’s anger surged, especially when she noticed her clothing had been changed—

She had been wearing a pale blue rose-and-butterfly long-sleeved jacket, but now it was gone. Even the inner garment was gone, leaving only a goose-yellow silk vest embroidered with a jade rabbit embracing the moon, over which a sheer gauze of faint sunset color barely covered her.

Her hair had been let down, cascading black and full along her sides, accentuating her long, graceful neck and pale, flawless skin.

Shen Yujiao was no naive young girl. Having been drugged and left in this state, she could guess with her toes alone the malicious intent behind it!

Was it arranged by the Empress Dowager? No, she wasn’t that type.

The emperor? Even though he had a grudge against Pei Xia, he would not stoop to such a vile trick to humiliate her.

Then who else would dare fake an imperial decree?

Frowning, Shen Yujiao gathered what strength she could and prayed that Pei Xia would return home soon to find her.

“Creak—”

Suddenly, the outer door opened, followed by muffled voices.

Shen Yujiao’s breath froze, her heartbeat quickened.

Thump, thump, thump…

She forced herself to calm down and consider a plan.

Now, weak and powerless, she could not fight. She didn’t know who had come, but if she could deceive and stall them for a while…

Her gaze swept the candle-lit wedding chamber.

There was a candlestick, but the candle would burn out too slowly.

A vase, could be broken, but the noise would be too loud. Suicide might be possible, harming someone, unlikely.

Red silk, maybe she could strangle the shameless villain under cover of night?

The measured footsteps grew closer. Shen Yujiao’s fingers tightened at her side. She decided she could not die.

Even if she lost her chastity, at worst Pei Xia could divorce her, but she would not seek death for it.

What she could do next was to find a way to kill this villain—or at least maim him, ensuring he could have no heirs.

With that resolve, she turned her face toward the bed.

On the embroidered screen of phoenixes among peonies not far away, a tall shadow gradually grew larger.

In the next instant, a vivid red figure entered her view.

Shen Yujiao’s pupils widened sharply.

How could it be him?!