Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 29 Countermeasures
That innocent and naive smile was like a flower blooming amidst bloodshed and devastation.

Pei Qinghe stepped forward, picked up Xiaoyuer, and kissed her tender cheek: "Xiaoyuer, from now on, you will stay with your aunt. Your aunt will take care of you."

Xiao Yu'er stretched out her arms, hugged Pei Qinghe's neck, and pressed her face against him.

His tender cheeks were pressed tightly against her face, and they were a little damp.

Did Xiaoyu cry?

Pei Qinghe reached out and touched a small, clean face. A delicate little hand touched her cheek, wiping away her tears, and a childish voice sounded in her ear: "Auntie, don't cry."

It turned out that she was crying.

Betrayed by her trusted confidant, she died from a hidden arrow. Opening her eyes, she faced the plight of her entire clan being exiled. Without a moment's hesitation, she stepped forward, supporting the Pei family and becoming their pillar of strength. She bribed Commander Sun, ingratiated herself with Guard Gao, did everything she could to ensure her clansmen were well-fed, boosted their morale, and meticulously trained them. Last night, a fierce battle raged, wiping out all the villains…

She is also a human being, made of flesh and blood, and can get hurt, bleed, get tired, and feel sad.

Holding his young niece, it was as if he were holding himself again, the one who had lost his mother and cried in despair. Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

"Auntie," Xiaoyuer kissed her, "Don't cry."

Pei Qinghe took a deep breath and smiled at her family members, whose faces were full of worry and whose eyes were red: "I'm fine, don't worry."

Madam Feng came over without saying a word and hugged Pei Qinghe tightly.

Pei Qinghe wanted to say something to comfort her mother, but she couldn't utter a single word. It was as if something was blocking her throat, and tears streamed down her face.

Madam Feng cried, trembling, "Qinghe, if you want to cry, just cry."

Throughout the arduous journey, Pei Qinghe had put in the most effort and worry, enduring the most exhaustion and hardship. Gradually, everyone became accustomed to obeying her orders, relying on her for everything, and making all the decisions. Even when encountering thugs and villains, she was always the one charging ahead.

Everyone forgot that she was just a thirteen-year-old girl who had not yet reached adulthood.

Pei Qinghe rested her head on her mother Feng's shoulder and cried silently and freely.

Exhausted from crying, she drifted off to sleep. Someone picked her up and placed her on the bed. Her mother's slender, warm hand held hers the whole time. Even in her sleep, she felt safe and secure.

I don't know how long I slept.

I opened my eyes to find the soft morning light streaming into the room. Several familiar faces were there, their eyes filled with concern and worry.

Pei Qinghe narrowed her eyes, stretched, got off the bed, and asked energetically, "How long have I been asleep?"

“Half a day and a night,” Pei Yan answered quickly.

Pei Yun, whose shoulder was bandaged and injured, continued, "Magistrate Song and his men were sent away last night. Commandant Sun wrote a memorial and had Magistrate Song submit it to the court."

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly.

Wu Xiuniang said softly, "The dead clansmen have all been buried. The injured have all been treated and bandaged. What should we do now?"

Knock knock knock!
There was a knock on the door. Captain Sun and Imperial Guard Gao came in together.

The once somewhat arrogant and reserved Captain Sun was completely demoralized by this heavy blow. Killing more than a hundred bandits was indeed a great achievement, and normally, he should have been promoted after returning to the capital.

But everyone knew where this band of "bandits" came from. He had completely offended their master, and now he didn't even know where he would die. How could he possibly be happy?

The guard was in no better shape, his brows furrowed, clearly worried about the journey ahead.

Pei Qinghe first gestured with her eyes, and Pei Yan and the others withdrew. Only Pei Qinghe, Captain Sun, and Guard Gao remained in the room.

Pei Qinghe's words were astounding: "We must set off immediately and get to Youzhou as quickly as possible." Commander Sun's heart tightened, and he looked up at her: "Why do you say this, Sixth Miss?"

Pei Qinghe looked at Captain Sun: "This place is over a thousand miles from the capital. The news of the bandits being slaughtered will reach the capital in seven or eight days at most."

"The mastermind behind this has suffered a great loss and will not just stand by and do nothing. He may send someone else to come."

"We have suffered heavy casualties and cannot withstand a second fierce battle. We must reach Youzhou as soon as possible to settle down."

"We have captured more than a hundred horses, and we have prison carts and grain carts. We will now travel at full speed and try to reach Youzhou within ten days."

Captain Sun's face darkened, and he nodded: "Let's do as Sixth Miss wishes."

As for how the Pei family will avoid open and covert attacks once they arrive in Youzhou, that's beyond the control of a mere captain like him.

Pei Qinghe then looked at Guard Gao and said, "I will write a letter and ask Guard Gao to immediately send someone back to the East Palace to deliver it."

Such an incident will surely alarm the Crown Prince.

The guard whispered, "I was just about to send someone back to the capital to deliver a message to His Highness the Prince."

Pei Qinghe replied, "This letter of mine is to be delivered to His Highness the Crown Prince."

Guard Gao: "..."

Miss Pei always does things in such an unpredictable way.

He was a guard by the Prince of Zhangwu's side, so delivering a message back to the Eastern Palace was not difficult, but getting it to the Crown Prince was no easy task. Furthermore, the Crown Prince was busy with court affairs; how could he have the leisure to care about the lives of the Pei family women?

The guard inwardly scoffed, but spoke rather tactfully: "Let's present it to His Highness the Prince! If the letter contains anything important, His Highness will surely report it to His Highness the Crown Prince."

Pei Qinghe took in the subtle changes in Gao's expression: "The contents of this letter are very important. Just present it to me, Gao. I will take responsibility for any mistakes that may occur."

A month ago, upon hearing such boastful words, Guard Gao would have simply scoffed.

By now, Guard Gao had been completely won over by Pei Qinghe. After a moment's hesitation, he agreed.

Pei Qinghe went into the room alone, picked up a pen and wrote a letter. She finished it in a moment, and no one knew what was written in the letter.

Two of the Eastern Palace guards were dead, leaving only three. Guard Gao called one over, whispered a few instructions, and the Eastern Palace guard solemnly stuffed the letter into his sleeve and rode off at full speed.

Half an hour later, the group set off again.

Those seriously injured were moved onto prison carts or grain wagons. Those with minor injuries rode on docile warhorses. Two hours later, they met up with Mao Hongling and her group, who had been waiting for a day and a night.

Even the preoccupied Captain Sun was immediately struck by the sight of over a hundred magnificent warhorses.

Pei Qinghe first said to the guard Gao, "These are fine horses that have been captured. Guard Gao, please choose one first."

No man doesn't love horses. A fine warhorse can fetch a price of several hundred taels of silver.

Without any hesitation, the guard stepped forward and picked out a black horse.

Pei Qinghe turned her head: "With so many good horses, Captain Sun, you should also pick one. It might come in handy when we're escaping in the future."

Captain Sun: "..."

(End of this chapter)