Denghuangtai

Pei Qingyan looked at Yun Zheng and smiled slightly. "I don't quite understand what the Grand Minister of Works is saying."

"Don't you understand?"

Yun Zheng sneered, his sinister eyes flashing with coldness. "Although there are rumors in the capital about Pei Xuan's defeat, his past achievements were too numerous, and he has already died on the battlefield. Therefore, the people's hatred for your Pei clan is not very strong. But today, there are countless people in the crowd who harbor deep resentment towards your Pei clan. And what a coincidence that someone found so many rotten eggs to throw at you. General Pei, do you think everyone is a fool who can't see through this trick?"

"Grand Marshal, do you think I'm a fool?"

Pei Qingyan mimicked Yun Zheng's tone, his voice laced with sarcasm, "What did I, the Marquis, go to all this trouble to have someone throw rotten eggs at me? Just to humiliate myself and give you and your aunt some pleasure? Grand Minister, I'm not that despicable."

"General Pei is very stubborn!" Yun Zheng raised his hand and grabbed Pei Qingyan's chin. No matter how she struggled, Yun Zheng's grip did not loosen in the slightest. His fingers left several clear white marks on Pei Qingyan's already pale face.

"If you won't speak, I'll speak for you." His breath was on her face, carrying a chilling coldness. "Today you appear to be humiliated, but in reality you are showing weakness. You deliberately let the people of Chang'an see how the last remaining bloodline of the Pei family, who once guarded the territory, has been persecuted and humiliated by villains."

He paused, his fingertips tracing the curve of her chin, his tone growing increasingly cold: "The common people are ignorant, easily swayed by their emotions. They cannot bear to see heroes humiliated, nor can they bear to see injustice in the world. With just a little manipulation, they can easily gather into a force. And you…"

Yun Zheng drew out his words, his fingers gently stroking Pei Qingyan's cheek, smoothing the stray hairs at her temples. His movements carried an eerie tenderness. "General Pei, with your strategic brilliance, must understand this principle well. That's why you deliberately arranged for someone to humiliate you, putting on a show of a general being persecuted for the unsuspecting people. Then you arranged for someone to feign a rescue, taking the opportunity to let the entire city of Chang'an hear your moving words of loyalty to the emperor."

He traced his thumb across Pei Qingyan's red lips, his smile enigmatic. "General Pei's words are eloquent and persuasive, every sentence resonating deeply with people. Even I am moved by them. How much more so the common folk?"

He leaned down, his nose touching hers, his voice low and menacing, like a viper's hiss, "They will only pity your plight, admire your loyalty and bravery, and doubt the 'treason' charge against you, Pei. Even if you are convicted later, rumors of your injustice will circulate among the people. Pei Qingyan, you've played this move brilliantly."

"It's a real waste of talent for the Grand Minister of Works not to be a storyteller," Pei Qingyan sneered.

"It is General Pei's cunning that has manipulated everyone." Yun Zheng straightened up and looked coldly at Pei Qingyan. "Didn't you see what those people did? They followed the prison cart, crying and wailing, pleading for your innocence. If the Imperial Prison weren't infamous, they would probably have smashed down the gates of the Court of Judicial Review by now and begged for your life."

"That is the achievement accumulated by our Pei family through generations of fighting on the battlefield, defending our territory and expanding our borders." Pei Qingyan met his gaze, his voice neither humble nor arrogant. "The treacherous officials in the court are blind, but the people know very well. They will naturally repay the favor and speak a fair word for our Pei family."

"Pei Qingyan!" Yun Zheng raised his voice slightly, "Even now, you still won't tell me the truth?"

Yun Zheng stared intently into Pei Qingyan's eyes, a burning flame raging within them. A voice inside him screamed, "Pei Qingyan, just tell me one truth, just one! I'll find a way to get you out of this predicament!"

"Grand Minister of Works." Pei Qingyan didn't have the ability to read minds, so she couldn't see the expectations Yun Zheng was hiding. Her eyes were calm, like a still pond, without the slightest ripple, and the corners of her mouth still held a smile.

"Everything I have said is true. Whether you believe it or not, what happened today, whether it is the common people or the prisoners, has nothing to do with me."

This was, of course, a lieutenant. As Yun Zheng said, apart from the Imperial Guard's lieutenant general and the keys that were suddenly delivered, everything else today was arranged by Pei Qingyan beforehand.

As for the reason... it's the same as what Yun Zheng said.

Empress Dowager Yun harbored deep hatred for Pei and sought every means to embarrass Pei Qingyan in the capital. Pei Qingyan, of course, could also use this opportunity to his advantage, leveraging the situation to build her own influence and gain the support of the people in the capital.

Not only that, she also secretly bribed storytellers in Chang'an and the surrounding counties to fabricate stories about how a great general who bravely defended the frontier was framed by treacherous officials, was seriously injured, and was escorted back to the capital, where he died with resentment.

From today onward, these stories, though different in version, share the same core message and will spread throughout the streets and alleys, stirring up even stronger emotions among the people.

Although the common people are of lowly status, once they are of one mind, the clamor they utter is enough to make the Weiyang Palace and even the entire city of Chang'an tremble.

Everything was proceeding according to her plan, except for those soldiers who were truly determined to fight to the death. If she hadn't stopped them with her military orders, they probably would have risked their lives to break into the prison.

"Pei Qingyan," Yun Zheng gritted his teeth, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes, "you're really something!"

He suddenly turned around, grabbed the whip that Li Ji had just put down, and when he lashed it, the copper coins immediately tore through the skin, blood and flesh flying everywhere, a gruesome sight. It was one of the most brutal instruments of torture in the imperial prison.

"Since you won't listen to reason, then you'll have to accept the punishment!"

After saying that, he took out a handkerchief and roughly stuffed it into Pei Qingyan's mouth. He raised his arm, and the vicious whip whistled through the air as it lashed out at Pei Qingyan.

Pei Qingyan refused to be outdone, his eyes fixed on the descending whip, showing no fear, only defiance.