Denghuangtai

"General, if those two hadn't agreed to your demands, were you really planning to set the place on fire and die here?"

"You go first, I'll explain later." Now was not the time for idle chatter, and she intended to send Wu Yong away. Unexpectedly, this simpleton became stubborn, standing still and refusing to move, as if he wouldn't leave until Pei Qingyan explained things clearly.

Pei Qingyan had just used this tactic to wear down the people in the room and get them to compromise one after another when, as soon as he turned around, his subordinates followed suit and used the same tactic to coerce him.

It's true, fortunes change.

"Come closer," Pei Qingyan said irritably.

Wu Yong did as he was told, leaning down to listen.

Pei Qingyan leaned closer and whispered, "Remember, your lord still has important matters to accomplish, and he won't resort to desperate measures unless absolutely necessary. Those two idiots in the room are even less worthy of my risking my life; I was just scaring them."

Wu Yong suddenly realized, gave Pei Qingyan a thumbs up, and said, "General, you're amazing!"

Pei Qingyan sighed helplessly and coaxed gently, "You already know the answer, so hurry up and get to work."

Wu Yong nodded, leaped over the wall in a few steps, and turned to leave.

Pei Qingyan watched his retreating figure and shook her head. Only Wu Yong would consider this a clever tactic. As for the others in the room, Yun Zheng probably saw through her intentions long ago, otherwise he wouldn't have remained so calm afterward.

As for Feng Lingsu and Ban Qing, they are currently caught up in the situation and may be confused for a moment, but they will definitely come to their senses later.

However, regardless of whether they figured out Pei Qingyan's scheme beforehand or afterward, they had no way to break it.

This situation may seem simple, but it is actually a game of human nature.

Pei Qingyan was free of worries and dared to risk everything, but Feng and Ban did not. People with worries and concerns dare not gamble or fight with their entire fortune.

"I believe that General Pei has already fled in panic."

Pei Qingyan was lost in thought when Yun Zheng's voice suddenly rang in her ears, instantly pulling her back to reality.

"Grand Minister, the journey is long, may I borrow your carriage for a ride?"

Looking at Pei Qingyan's smiling face, Yun Zheng suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu, as if he were seeing the spirited and quirky Pei Qingyan of the past.

Back then, when Pei Qingyan shoved all the lessons left by the teacher into Yun Zheng's hands, she looked at him like this. Those dark, bright eyes would sometimes blink incessantly at him, and sometimes curve into crescent moons, gazing at him with a smile.

His tone of voice was the same as it was now, three parts cheerful and seven parts self-righteous.

Every time this happened, Yun Zheng would inevitably give in and dutifully copy her handwriting to finish her homework.

Occasionally, when Yun Zheng was worried that Pei Qingyan would neglect his studies due to laziness, he had to harden his heart and refuse Pei Qingyan's "requests". Pei Qingyan did not make a fuss, but simply held his hands, palms up, revealing the blood blisters from practicing martial arts.

Without Pei Qingyan needing to say anything more, nor needing to frown or shed tears, just looking at the hideous blood blisters, Yun Zheng's hard-won resolve had already surrendered.

This trick always works.

Even later, when Pei Qingyan's fingers had developed calluses and she was no longer afraid of getting blisters, Yun Zheng still couldn't help but give in whenever she held his palm.

Later, Yun Zheng gradually realized that even if he were to be provoked into becoming a ruthless and heartless person who disregarded even his own family, he would still be unable to be cruel to Pei Qingyan or ignore Pei Qingyan's request.

From the age of five, on that cold, snowy day, he began a life where he could not live without Pei Qingyan.

Even now, though he understands that Pei Qingyan has ulterior motives, he cannot refuse.

The journey from Chang'an to Xuandu Temple in the suburbs was long and the weather was bitterly cold. How could he just stand by and watch Pei Qingyan walk forward in the cold wind?

"Get in the car."

After a long pause, Yun Zheng slowly spoke.

"Thank you, Grand Minister." Pei Qingyan's attitude softened as he achieved his goal.

She left Yun Zheng behind and walked towards the carriage at the door. Feng Xing, who had been waiting outside, saw Pei Qingyan, who was covered up by a hood, and even Feng Xing, who had met her once before, did not recognize her. Feng Xing stepped forward, about to stop this unknown person, when he saw Yun Zheng, who was following closely behind, wink at him, signaling him to move aside.

Although Feng Xing didn't understand, he still made way as Yun Zheng had instructed, allowing Pei Qingyan to swagger into the carriage.

As soon as he boarded the carriage, Pei Qingyan took over the spacious rosewood couch like a cuckoo in a magpie's nest, leaning against the armrest behind him.

By the time Yun Zheng got into the car, she had already propped her head up and closed her eyes to rest. Hearing him get into the car, Pei Qingyan opened his eyes.

"It's been many years since I've seen the splendor of Chang'an, Grand Minister of Works. May I have your carriage tour the four main streets and eight alleys?"

Yun Zheng, sitting to the side, glanced at Pei Qingyan and asked, "Have you forgotten about the parade a couple of days ago?"

"How can that be the same?"

"Isn't it the same?" Yun Zheng asked knowingly.

Pei Qingyan snorted, mindful that he still needed Pei's help, and didn't say anything unpleasant. "If you think they're the same, why don't you have someone lock you up in a prison cart and take a ride another day, so you can see for yourself if there's any difference?"

Yun Zheng smiled but didn't reply. He turned and opened the window, saying to Feng Xing beside the carriage, "Let's take a detour around the city."

"Lord?"

Feng Xing was stunned for a moment, not understanding the meaning behind Yun Zheng's sudden action.

"Do as instructed," Yun Zheng said.

"Yes." Feng Xing responded, leaping onto the carriage shaft. The driver flicked the reins, and the wheels rolled along the streets of Chang'an.

The four main streets and eight alleys of Chang'an City are crisscrossed, and it would take one or two hours to walk through them all.

The two inside the car remained silent, each occupying a corner. Pei Qingyan propped his head up with his eyes half-closed, and just as he was drifting off to sleep, Yun Zheng's voice suddenly rang in his ears again.

"Weren't we supposed to be touring Chang'an? Why have your eyes closed the whole time?"

Pei Qingyan opened her eyes and looked at Yun Zheng. After a while, she clicked her tongue and said, "Yun Zheng, I don't quite understand you."

Yun Zheng was slightly taken aback. He didn't understand why Pei Qingyan suddenly had such feelings. Just as he was lost in thought, he heard Pei Qingyan continue, "You clearly saw that I was delaying you, but instead of stopping me, you went along with it. Just like that day when you sent me on my way on behalf of Empress Dowager Yun."

Yun Zheng opened his mouth, but the usually quick-witted and adaptable man could not find an excuse at this moment. He spoke against his will and finally revealed his true feelings of wanting to hold on to the bitter truth.

"Because I don't want you to die."

Pei Qingyan scoffed. She sat up straight, leaned slightly forward towards Yun Zheng, and stared intently into his eyes. "Yun Zheng, you are quite an interesting person. You used to hate me to the bone, and even sent people to infiltrate the North and take advantage of my injuries on the battlefield to hurt me. If I hadn't been lucky enough to survive, I wouldn't have heard such hypocritical words from you."