Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 167 Letter
"Cousin Qinghe, what did Great-Grandma write in her letter?"

Pei Yan leaned closer.

Pei Qinghe then called Mao Hongling over as well, so they could read the letter together.

A month ago, Li wrote her first letter, describing how the Pei family elders had surrendered to Emperor Jian'an and received preferential treatment. The die was cast, and Pei Qinghe reluctantly accepted it. In her reply, she instructed Li and the others to live discreetly in Bohai County and avoid conflict with the powerful and arrogant Zhang family.

What important news might be in this letter?

Meng Liulang and Prime Minister Pang's daughter are engaged.

Pei Qinghe glanced over, her brows furrowing slightly.

Pei Yan clicked her tongue: "This Meng Liulang has certainly found a good marriage."

"Prime Minister Pang is a veteran official of the Eastern Palace, deeply trusted and valued by the Emperor. He is now the Prime Minister of the new court, the head of the civil officials," Pei Qinghe said calmly. "The Meng family is loyal and devoted. The Beiping army was the first to go to the capital to rescue the Crown Prince. General Meng died on the battlefield, and the current Beiping army has recruited a large number of new soldiers, so its combat strength is not as good as before. The Meng brothers are also being ostracized by the Zhang family, and their situation is quite difficult."

"Meng Liulang was the commander of the Beiping army, yet he was sent to guard the city gate."

"Now that the Meng family and the Pang family have formed a marriage alliance, with one being a civil official and the other a military officer, they can rely on each other and form an alliance. Perhaps this can barely suppress General Zhang's arrogance."

Pei Yan was puzzled: "What does this have to do with us?"

Pei Qinghe couldn't help but slap Pei Yan on the back of the head: "Can't you use your brain? How can it not be related? The elders of the Pei family are all in Bohai County. Our Pei family army has at least outwardly surrendered to the emperor. The power struggle in the new dynasty will inevitably affect us."

Pei Yan winced as she was slapped, rubbing the back of her head and complaining of the pain: "I'm not very bright to begin with, and you keep slapping my head. What if I get even dumber the more you hit me?"

Pei Qinghe was amused and annoyed, then slapped Pei Yan on the forehead: "You hopeless blockhead. All the effort I've put into you has been wasted. When will you ever truly mature and be able to stand on your own?"

Seeing that Pei Qinghe was really angry, Pei Yan didn't dare to say a word and shrank her neck to hide behind Mao Hongling.

She was tall and strong, and her slender red lotus could hardly be hidden.

Mao Hongling suppressed a laugh and came to Pei Yan's rescue: "She is still young and her temperament is unstable. She will be fine after a few more years of training."

Pei Yan nodded silently in agreement.

Pei Qinghe snorted: "She only uses her hands and not her brain. When will she ever grow up? It's one thing if she's not as good as my second sister-in-law and cousin Yun. Pei Xuan and Pei Feng are much smarter than her."

Mao Hongling chuckled softly, “Everyone has their own strengths. Pei Yan is a fierce warrior charging into battle, but you insist on having her as both intelligent and brave, capable of handling things independently. Actually, it would be quite suitable for her to just stay by your side all along.”

“The Pei family army’s territory is getting bigger and bigger, and you’ve sent out your trusted and capable people one by one. Pei Yun is in Changping County, Gu Lian is in Quanzhou County, Feng Chang went to Yongnu County, Pei Jia went to Bohai Prefecture, and Pei Yifang Datou went to the border. You have to leave a loyal and reliable person behind to be the leader of your personal guard.”

These words struck a chord with Pei Yan.

Pei Yan poked her head out and nodded frantically.

Seeing her like that, Pei Qinghe felt an itch to hit her again, and then tapped Pei Yan on the forehead before saying, "I've thought about what Second Sister-in-law said. Pei Yan is too reckless and impulsive, and is really not suitable to lead troops alone. She can only stay by my side. As for the matter of the Imperial Guard, there's no rush. The three of us can keep it in mind."

Pei Yan was overjoyed and grinned from ear to ear.

Pei Qinghe returned to his room, picked up his pen, and wrote a reply to Li. In the letter, Pei Qinghe once again urged Li to be careful in her words and actions, and not to make enemies with the Zhang family. She could associate with the Meng brothers, but not too closely or frequently.

Half a day later, the good news of Meng Liulang and Miss Pang's engagement reached Steward Shi's ears. Shi Yan was overjoyed, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

Dong Dalang and Dong Erlang exchanged a glance, both secretly pleased for their master.

Meng Liulang wasn't really a rival in love. The day Meng Liulang led five hundred soldiers away from Pei Family Village, he never looked back. Now that the Meng and Pang families were united by marriage, his master felt even more at ease.

"Prepare a pot of wine; I'm going to have a couple of drinks tonight."

okay!

Dong Dalang hurried off to the storeroom. Zhou Shi made a note in the register and casually remarked with a smile, "What a wonderful day it is today. Why does Steward Shi suddenly want wine?"

Dong Dalang kept his mouth shut: "How would I know anything about my master's affairs?"

When Zhou returned to her room that evening, she jokingly mentioned the matter to her husband, Tao Feng.

Tao Feng had once served as Meng Liulang's personal guard. When Meng Liulang insisted on leaving, Tao Feng and four other soldiers from Beiping stayed behind and became Pei's sons-in-law. Now they are all battalion commanders.

Tao Feng, who was also well-informed, chuckled softly, "Our sixth young master is engaged to Prime Minister Pang's granddaughter. Steward Shi is overjoyed and must have a couple of drinks."

Madam Zhou chuckled: "According to you, wouldn't Steward Shi be even happier when Young Master Ji gets engaged in the future?"

With the rise of the Pei family army, the Sixth Miss Pei was at the height of her power in Yan County. Several men were eyeing the position of her son-in-law. For example, Prefect Tang sent his nephews to deliver a message from the Pei family army; General Yang of the Guangning Army had also expressed interest in marriage; and other prominent families, such as the Lu family, with their numerous offspring, were all happy to send a descendant to the Sixth Miss Pei's side.

Among them, the most handsome and talented was Ji Junze, the eldest son of Magistrate Ji of Quanzhou County.

Tao Feng chuckled, "Who among them can compete with our Chief Steward Shi?"

After chatting and laughing for a while, Tao Feng gently stroked Zhou's swollen belly and sighed contentedly, "I used to be a lousy soldier, living day to day, just waiting for my next meal. Now I have a hundred men under my command, a good wife like you, and I'll be a father in a few months. This is a life I never dared to dream of."

Zhou rested her head on her husband's strong chest and said softly, "Four years ago, when I was exiled, I almost hanged myself with a rope."

"It was Qinghe who encouraged us, allowing us Pei family wives to survive. It was Qinghe who supported us, so we didn't have to endure the hardship of being widows forever, and we were able to bring husbands into our families. All the children born in the past few years have the surname Pei. Even Xiaowang, the child born to Sister Shulan, was named by Qinghe."

“Qinghe’s words are all true.”

"My life belongs to Qinghe. I wouldn't flinch even if it meant going through fire and water at her command."

Women held a very high status in the Pei family army. Zhou was Pei Qinghe's cousin-in-law. She was of average skill and could not lead troops, so she was put in charge of the storeroom.

Where else can one find such good days after leaving Pei's army?

Therefore, Zhou and the other wives of Pei were Pei Qinghe's most loyal followers and supporters.

This is the truest form of human nature.

Tangible benefits are far better than empty slogans.

……

(End of this chapter)