Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 366 Panic (Part Two)

Emperor Jian'an had thought it through clearly.

In fact, he had already made his choice more than a month ago outside the Zhang residence. Now, he had no choice but to go down this path to the bitter end.

"Uncle," Emperor Jian'an changed to a more intimate form of address, "I have issued an edict ordering Pei Qinghe to withdraw her troops. If she accepts the edict, she will remain a respectful subject of the court. If she refuses to withdraw her troops, it means she intends to use the pretext of attacking the Zhang family to launch a rebellion."

Before a war breaks out, a war of public opinion is also necessary.

With Emperor Jian'an's cooperation, General Zhang's expression softened slightly: "The Emperor trusts and relies on the Zhang family, so I will definitely protect Bohai County and the Emperor's throne."

Emperor Jian'an was so moved that he almost shed tears, and he held his uncle's hand as he had when he was a boy: "In this world, the only one who treats me with true sincerity is my uncle."

General Zhang was moved and his eyes reddened. He generously expressed his loyalty.

Emperor Jian'an personally wrote the imperial edict, which General Zhang took with him when he left the palace. How to deliver the edict to Pei Qinghe was no longer the Emperor's concern; General Zhang handled it all.

Eunuch Shen was somewhat uneasy and stepped forward to whisper, "What if General Zhang uses the imperial edict to stir up trouble? Wouldn't that implicate the Emperor?"

Does he still have a choice?

The Jian'an Emperor, who had become much thinner, looked particularly desolate: "The Prime Minister is gone, and the Meng brothers have both left. Who else can I rely on? I can only depend on the Grand General!"

Shen Gonggong opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Emperor Jian'an sat there blankly for a moment, then went to see Empress Zhang and the Crown Prince.

The crown prince was nearly two years old and was walking more and more nimbly. Empress Zhang, along with several palace maids, patiently played with the crown prince. The young prince was amused and giggled.

When the dejected and listless Emperor Jian'an arrived, everyone dared not joke and laugh with the Crown Prince anymore and immediately fell silent.

"Father!" the crown prince said in a childish voice.

Emperor Jian'an forced a smile and responded.

Zhang Jingwan ordered the palace maids to take the crown prince away, and asked with a worried expression, "Is war really going to break out?"

"The Pei family army has arrived." Emperor Jian'an sighed wearily, "You saw that proclamation. Every word was filled with murderous intent. Unless I hand over my uncle and cousin, this battle is inevitable."

Zhang Jingwan trembled, her face turning pale.

Emperor Jian'an sighed again: "I chose Zhang Shi back then, and I will not change my mind. Today, I have given my uncle an imperial edict, ordering the Pei family army to retreat."

"A single imperial edict can make Pei Qinghe retreat?" Zhang Jingwan's voice trembled, clearly struggling to suppress her fear: "Cousin, if it were you, leading troops to the city walls, how could you possibly retreat?"

Emperor Jian'an looked dejected: "This is all I can do."

Zhang Jingwan felt a chill run through her body and couldn't help but lean closer.

The young emperor and empress embraced, yet felt no warmth. A deep-seated panic, like icy seawater, flooded their bodies.

That night, Emperor Jian'an had a series of nightmares.

In the dream, Pei Qinghe, dressed in soft armor and carrying a long sword, stormed into Bohai County and rushed to the Golden Palace.

He sat on the dragon throne, his face deathly pale, watching Pei Qinghe step forward: "What are you going to do? The Pei family is a family of loyal martyrs, are you going to become a traitor?"

Pei Qinghe sneered: "It's long overdue for a change of dynasty. If you're not satisfied, go to the underworld and find my father and uncles, and ask them to continue being your loyal subjects!"

"Pei Qinghe! You can't kill me!" The bright blade was close at hand, life and death were imminent, and he cried out in horror, "I am the true Son of Heaven! Don't kill me. I'll let your Empress share the throne with you!" "What do you mean, share? Isn't it good enough for you to sit on the dragon throne yourself?" Pei Qinghe fiercely swung her blade.

A chill ran down my neck.

He was horrified to find himself flying high into the air, then crashing to the ground with a thud, like a rotten tomato.

No! Don't kill me!
He sat up abruptly, his chest heaving violently, his breathing rapid, and his forehead wet with cold sweat.

"Your Majesty!" Eunuch Shen's familiar voice rang in his ears: "Did you have a nightmare?"

Emperor Jian'an suddenly grabbed Eunuch Shen's hand, his voice trembling: "I dreamt that Pei Qinghe led his troops into the Golden Palace. Pei Qinghe beheaded me with a single stroke."

With his other hand, Eunuch Shen took a clean handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from the shaken emperor, whispering reassurances him, "Dreams are always the opposite of reality. General Pei is a loyal minister. His expedition was launched because General Zhang and his son killed an elder of the Pei family, not out of rebellion. Your Majesty, don't worry. Even if things come to a head, there's nothing to fear. Once General Zhang and his son are handed over, Your Majesty will be safe and sound."

"When that time comes, the Emperor will rely entirely on General Pei."

These words actually calmed the panicked and frightened Emperor Jian'an.

"You're right," Emperor Jian'an murmured to himself. "Pei Qinghe won't kill me. Without my help back then, the Pei family would have died on the road to exile long ago. I've treated her well these past few years, appointing her as a general and promoting her. She must be grateful for my kindness."

Conferring the title of Imperial Concubine and allowing the Zhang family father and son to commit such a heinous act to go unpunished! Is this considered an act of imperial grace?

While inwardly grumbling, Eunuch Shen outwardly echoed Emperor Jian'an's words: "The worst outcome is just this. Your Majesty need not worry!"

It's not even dawn yet, I should go to sleep!
Emperor Jian'an lay down, closed his eyes, and fell asleep again. Less than half an hour later, he was awakened by a nightmare once more.

This went on and on. Emperor Jian'an certainly couldn't sleep well, and Eunuch Shen was even more pitiful and unlucky. He served Emperor Jian'an all night, and it wasn't until dawn that a palace attendant took over. He even had to hold his nose and drink the medicine for Emperor Jian'an first.

After two months of drug trials, Eunuch Shen showed no outward signs of illness, but his health gradually deteriorated. He used to be able to stand for half a day at a time, but now he frequently felt his legs go weak and he felt dizzy.

Shen Gonggong dragged his weary steps back to the room, climbed onto the bed, and let out a long sigh.

The major affairs of the dynasty, military campaigns, and battles had nothing to do with him, a mere eunuch.

Come to think of it, escaping from the capital back then was a stroke of luck; it gave me seven or eight more years of life!
Just live one day at a time!

……

Two days later, the imperial envoy arrived in An County with an imperial edict.

The one who came to deliver the imperial edict was a civil official, accompanied only by a few guards. Standing on the wide open ground outside the city gate, he looked weak, helpless, and pitiful.

A volley of arrows would kill the imperial envoy.

Pei Qinghe reached out and stopped the restless generals around him: "Invite the imperial envoy into the city."

The Pei family army openly and honestly launched a campaign against the Zhang family, showing no fear of engaging in verbal battles.

The imperial envoy was brought into the city. Under the menacing gazes of the military generals, he forced himself to remain calm and loudly proclaimed the imperial edict.

Pei Qinghe said, "The treacherous minister Zhang has seized control of the court and forced the emperor to issue an edict."

"Go back and tell the Emperor what I have to say. I have brought troops to kill the Zhang family, firstly to avenge my elders, and secondly to purge the court of treacherous officials."

"As long as the Emperor kills the Zhang family, I will immediately withdraw my troops."

(End of this chapter)