Denghuangtai

"If appealing to emotions doesn't work, I can only reason with him." Pei Qingyan curled his lips, a cold smile flashing across his eyes.

She moved the candlestick in her hand forward a little more.

The thin curtains, just touched by the candle flame, burst into flames.

"My soft silk curtains!" Ban Qing cried, heartbroken as she watched the curtains engulfed in flames. "Pei Qingyan, are you going crazy? What are you taking your anger out on with all these precious things?"

He wailed and protested, while the other two people in the room simultaneously picked up the teacups on the table, walked to the fire, and poured the tea over it. Before the fire could spread, two cups of tea were enough to extinguish it.

Seeing Yun Zheng and Feng Lingsu's actions, Pei Qingyan did not stop them, but instead stepped aside and watched calmly.

"Pei Qingyan, you've really gone too far by threatening others with your own safety." Yun Zheng's composure and calmness had vanished, and his anger was almost overflowing from his eyes.

"threaten?"

Ban Qing gleaned something from Yun Zheng's words. He turned to look at Yun Zheng and asked, "Are you saying that this girl set fire to my Soft Silk Robe to threaten me?"

"What else could it be?" Feng Lingsu was furious. Even though Ban Qing had spoken, she couldn't help but rebuke him.

Ban Qing was speechless after being choked by this. He shrank his neck and muttered, "What an unlucky year. I've brought in two living ancestors in a row."

"Gentlemen," Pei Qingyan said, holding a candlestick in hand, the flickering candlelight casting an inverted light on her face. "I have already tried to reason with you and explain the consequences of not cooperating with me. But it seems you are not very concerned about the future consequences, so... I will have to resort to methods that can be effective right now."

"General Pei, given the current situation, my husband and I will not mince words. Let's speak frankly." Feng Lingsu walked up to Pei Qingyan, looking her in the eye. "With the Grand Minister of Works protecting you, General Pei, my husband and I dare not harbor any evil thoughts. But if you were to take your own life, we would certainly be happy to see it. Therefore..."

She paused, then covered her mouth and chuckled softly, "Using this tactic to threaten us is utterly useless."

"Is it useless?"

Pei Qingyan leaned against a pillar in the room, fiddling with the candle flame in his hand. "I'm someone who loves doing good deeds and accumulating merit. Today, I'll help you analyze this."

She raised her eyes, looked at the smug-looking Feng Lingsu, and said calmly, "The Empress Dowager ordered me to cultivate at Xuandu Temple, but I just happened to appear at your residence."

After saying that, she clicked her tongue, looked at Feng Lingsu, and gave a playful smile. "That's not quite accurate. To be precise, I might soon die in your mansion. Have you two considered the consequences?"

"What could be the consequences?" Ban Qing asked.

Pei Qingyan rolled her eyes and scolded, "Ban Erlengzi, you've been the same for ten years, not improving at all." Then, she continued to look at Feng Lingsu with interest, "Madam Feng, although we've only just met, judging from your words and actions, you're not as hopelessly irredeemable as Ban Erlengzi. I've made it so clear, you should understand how serious this matter is, right? Why don't you tell me what consequences you and your husband will face?"

Feng Lingsu stared at the candlestick in Pei Qingyan's hand, her hand clenched into a fist at her side. She stepped forward, her fist aimed at Pei Qingyan's face, while her other hand reached for the candlestick in her hand.

She believed that her actions were swift and unexpected, and that she was certain of victory.

Unexpectedly, Pei Qingyan was even faster. Facing the oncoming attack, he easily dodged it, circled behind Feng Lingsu, and struck her in the back with a palm strike.

Feng Lingsu staggered from the impact and fell headfirst to the ground.

"My dear prince!"

Ban Qing exclaimed in surprise and rushed towards Feng Lingsu. However, he had no martial arts skills, and even though they were only a few steps apart, he couldn't catch Feng Lingsu in time.

Just as Feng Lingsu was about to fall face-first to the ground, Pei Qingyan gently grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her up as easily as if he were pulling a raccoon dog.

Seeing that Feng Lingsu had regained her footing, Pei Qingyan immediately released his grip, smiled and waved at Feng Lingsu, "You're welcome."

"Pei Qingyan, you hurt my wife!" Ban Qing stormed up to the two of them, rolled up his sleeves, and looked ready to fight Pei Qingyan.

"If you're not as skilled, who can you blame?" Upon seeing Ban Qing, Pei Qingyan's smile vanished. She scoffed, "Ban, you idiot, I advise you to behave yourself. In this room, let alone you and your wife teaming up, even if you add that guy in the corner..."

Pei Qingyan gestured towards Yun Zheng, who had somehow returned to his seat, and said, "Even if the three of you were tied together, you wouldn't be a match for me."

"General Pei, you flatter me. I don't have the habit of standing up for what's right. Go ahead and do it. I'll be happy to watch the show."

Yun Zheng poured himself a fresh cup of tea and slowly savored it. Just now, when Pei Qingyan lit the curtains, he had indeed been somewhat blinded by concern and lost all reason. Therefore, like everyone else, he had fallen into Pei Qingyan's trap.

However, through the back-and-forth confrontation between Pei Qingyan and Feng Lingsu, Yun Zheng gradually saw through Pei Qingyan's purpose and became certain that Pei Qingyan would not really seek death, so he resumed his previous attitude of watching from the sidelines.

"Pei Qingyan, do you think all those servants and lackeys outside are pushovers?"

Unlike Yun Zheng's nonchalant attitude, Ban Qing, faced with Pei Qingyan's provocation, became enraged and uttered a harsh threat, "Do you believe me or not...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Pei Qingyan gave a meaningful smile and called out loudly, "Is Wu Da Ge ready?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the door was flung open, and a burly man strode in.

"My lord, these people are too fragile; they fall over at the slightest touch," Wu Yong complained in a rough voice.

"What?"

Ban Qing screamed and rushed to the door to check. He saw twenty or thirty people lying haphazardly in the courtyard. Ever since Yun Zheng led his men to attack the door last time, Ban Qing was still fearful. Even at the risk of being discovered by Empress Dowager Yun, he chose more than a dozen of his subordinates who were skilled in martial arts to act as servants.

Unexpectedly, they were all defeated once again.

Last time, when the entire army was wiped out, one could say that they were outnumbered. But this time, Pei Qingyan only sent one person!

"Are you two planning to make your fortune by robbing and plundering?" Ban Qing was so angry that he started talking nonsense.

Pei Qingyan was too lazy to argue with him, so he turned his head to look at Feng Lingsu. When it comes to serious matters, it's best to talk to smart people.

"Madam Feng, that's some crooked and unorthodox approach. I advise you to give up on it. Let me analyze the current situation for you. In terms of strength, you can't beat me, and in terms of manpower..."

She pointed at Wu Yong, "This simpleton under my command has already taken down all of you in the open. As for your men in the shadows, if you're not afraid of being taken down too, you can hand them over and have a go with him. But let me make it clear beforehand, he's known as the Invincible General in the North, possessing immense strength and capable of taking on ten men at once."

"General Pei is a strong general with no weak soldiers under his command," Feng Lingsu said through gritted teeth, her voice filled with resentment.

"How dare you trespass into your esteemed residence without some skill?" Pei Qingyan smiled at Feng Lingsu. "Since you can't beat me, you should think carefully about what to do next. I'm not a patient person; I'll stop here in the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea. I'll count to fifty in my mind. If you agree to cooperate, then sit down and discuss it properly. If you're determined to die rather than surrender, then I'm sorry, but I, Pei, will perish in this fire along with your entire residence today."

"Pei Qingyan, do you think you can threaten people like that?" Ban Qing stormed back, shielding Feng Lingsu behind him. "Today, I'm willing to give up this house. Go ahead and die here if you dare!"

"Okay." Pei Qingyan tilted her head and smiled at him, then reached out and placed the candlestick against the curtain.