Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 166 Loyalty (Part Two)

Several days later, the imperial robes and the imperial edict arrived at Pei's residence.

After receiving the imperial decree, Madam Lu was in a very good mood. She was able to eat and sleep well. Her overall mental state visibly improved.

Fang followed Lu around all day, but Lu found her nagging and annoying: "Stop following me around all the time. I won't go out and wander around, and I won't say anything out of line."

Fang didn't care what Lu said and followed her around. Lu was shouting loudly, but she was actually used to Fang's presence.

On this day, the brothers Meng Dalang and Meng Liulang came to visit the Pei residence.

Meng Dalang's leg was severely lame, so Meng Liulang helped his elder brother into the main hall. Together they greeted Li, Lu, and their luggage. Li smiled and said, "Generals Meng, you are too polite. A few years ago, when we arrived in Changping County, we were able to gradually establish ourselves thanks to the help of the Beiping Army. Now that the Beiping Army is protecting the Emperor, and our Pei family army is stationed in Yan County, we are both loyal to the Emperor. We should look after each other."

Meng Dalang laughed and said, "The old lady has spoken exactly what we brothers are thinking. There are only two of us left in the Meng family, Liulang and I, and no elders in the family. From now on, we brothers will come to pay our respects to the old lady often."

Li smiled and said, "I must write to Qinghe and tell her about this. With you brothers taking care of us here in Bohai County, Qinghe can feel a little more at ease."

Meng Dalang and Li Shi were talking, but Meng Liulang didn't interrupt. His eyes darted around, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Madam Li looked at Meng Liulang and said gently with a smile, "If I remember correctly, the sixth young master is two years older than Qinghe girl, so he should be nineteen this year!"

Meng Liulang nodded in agreement.

Then, like all kind-hearted old women in the world, Li asked Meng Liulang if he had a girl he liked and when he would get married and have children.

Fearing that his sixth brother might be talking nonsense, Meng Dalang smiled and continued, "Right now, we brothers are leading troops, and we might have to fight at any time. Sixth brother doesn't have any intention of getting married and starting a family yet."

Madam Li smiled and sighed, "Qinghe is the same. She's already seventeen, and there's no rush for her to get married. Shi Yan left his family and home to come to Pei Family Village to manage the money and grain warehouse for the Pei Family Army, working tirelessly from morning till night. We elders have all seen his deep affection. In the future, she must not let Steward Shi down."

Meng Dalang was quite interested in the part about Shi Yan abandoning his family and property: "We brothers are in Bohai County, and our news isn't very good. We've only heard that Shi Yan went to Pei's army. What exactly happened? Madam, could you tell us?"

Although Li was old, she was very clear-headed. She kept quiet about the internal discord and the family division that had taken place in the Pei family, and only told them about Shi Yan's journey to Pei Family Village.

Meng Dalang praised the head steward for his keen insight.

Madam Li smiled and said, "Qinghe has never mistreated Steward Shi. She trusts and values ​​him, and has entrusted him with all the money and provisions. Now, several armies in Youzhou are fighting for territory, and many wealthy families are suffering. The Shi and Wang families, backed by the Pei family army, are very safe."

The Meng brothers had lunch at the Pei residence before taking their leave.

After returning to the Meng residence, Meng Dalang said to Meng Liulang, "We went to the Pei residence today, and you know what you need to know."

"You refused to become a live-in son-in-law and resolutely left Pei Family Village that day. Shi Yan, on the other hand, was willing to give up his family business and be expelled from his home, just to go to Pei Family Village."

"Since you've made your choice, there's nothing to regret. Stop thinking about Miss Pei. Get married and have children as soon as possible to continue the Meng family line."

Meng Liulang seemed to have been stung by one of those words; his handsome face was tense and his expression was unpleasant as he replied stiffly, "I don't want to get married right now."

Meng Dalang sighed, "I injured my leg, and the doctor said I will never be able to have children. If you don't marry, the Meng family line will end with us. How will we brothers face our father in the afterlife?"

Meng Liulang turned his head to the side.

Meng Dalang spun around halfway, then faced Meng Liulang again: "Prime Minister Pang is an elder of the Eastern Palace and the Emperor's most trusted and trusted civil official. His granddaughter is of marriageable age this year and is exceptionally beautiful."

"Prime Minister Pang hinted to me privately that as long as you go to propose marriage, the marriage will be settled."

“Marriage is the safest political alliance. Prime Minister Pang wants to win us over, and we also need his support in court. Meng Ling, you are no longer an innocent young man; you must shoulder the responsibilities that come with it.” Meng Liulang suddenly looked up and met his brother’s gaze: “Our Beiping Army relies on military merit to establish itself; we do not need marriage alliances.”

Meng Dalang said calmly, "With military merits and the help of relatives by marriage, wouldn't that be even better?"

Frustrated and irritable, Meng Liulang turned his head to the other side: "In short, I don't want to get married right now."

Meng Dalang said, "I'm not asking you to get married immediately. You can go to the Pang family to propose first, get engaged, and then get married a few years later after the war is over. If you die on the battlefield, the engagement will be automatically dissolved, and Miss Pang can remarry."

Meng Liulang: "..."

Meng Liulang was amused by his anger and turned his head back: "You've already made up your mind, why are you still discussing it with me?"

"This is a major life event for you, and we must get your consent," Meng Dalang said calmly. "If you are unwilling to come to our door, it is only reasonable for me, your elder brother, to go and propose marriage on your behalf."

Meng Liulang pursed his thin lips, stared at Meng Dalang for a long time, and then sighed in despair.

This is considered a concession.

Meng Dalang also sighed: "Sixth brother, it's not that I don't care about you. Right now, we brothers are being ostracized by the Zhang family, and we're getting less military funding. In the past year or so, we've only recruited a little over two thousand new soldiers, and our total strength is only four thousand, which is less than before."

“We must avenge our fathers, brothers, and the fallen soldiers of the Beiping Army, and revitalize the Beiping Army. A marriage alliance with the Pang family would be entirely beneficial to us. Miss Pang is a lady from a distinguished family, intelligent and beautiful, and it would not be an insult to you.”

Meng Liulang felt a dull ache in his heart.

Yes! He chose to leave Peijia Village on his own, giving up the girl he liked for the sake of his pride and self-esteem.

Now, what face does he have to regret it?

He has to keep going down this path.

“In a couple of days, I will go with you to the Pang family to propose marriage,” Meng Liulang said with difficulty.

Meng Dalang nodded with satisfaction: "Good, your going will show your sincerity in proposing marriage."

……

A month later, news of the engagement between the Pang and Meng families spread.

The elderly women, including Li, did not leave their homes; it was Pei Jia who learned of this joyous news while he was away.

Madam Li smiled and said, "I'll write a letter to tell Qinghe about this happy news."

Madam Lu still couldn't stand the name Pei Qinghe. Upon hearing this, she sneered, "Sixth Miss Pei is full of ambition and would never care about such a trivial matter..."

Fang quickly pulled Lu aside, sparing everyone from the deafening noise.

Pei Jia sent this letter back to Pei Family Village by fast horse.

Eight days later, the letter reached Pei Qinghe's hands.

(End of this chapter)