Chapter 152: A Good Show

Knowing that he had arrived a step too late, resulting in the stronghold being massacred, Wei Meng was plunged into deep self-reproach and regret all along the way back. And when he reached the Prince’s estate and learned that Minmin was currently lodging a black report against him right in front of Pei Yuan, Wei Meng felt as though he had been struck by a bolt from the blue, his heart completely shattered.

He practically dashed all the way to the entrance of the study. Catching sight of Minmin’s slender figure from behind, Wei Meng felt a sharp pang in his heart. Forcing himself to endure the rage that made him want to grab her collar and cross-examine her, he bypassed Minmin and pushed open the door to the study.

The moment he stepped inside, a jet-black inkstone came flying right at his face. With a loud clack , it struck the white wall behind him, leaving a large smudge of ink.

Wei Meng lifted his eyes in astonishment. Pei Yuan stood behind the desk with his hands behind his back, his face flushed with fury as he questioned him sternly, “Wei Meng, how dare you! I ask myself, have I ever treated you poorly? We ate together and lived together like blood brothers. I took you for a man of absolute loyalty, a patriotic citizen, and a chivalrous gentleman. Little did I expect that you had long harbored a treacherous heart, secretly colluding with those foreign scoundrels… Has your conscience been blackened? You are utterly shameless and incredibly vicious!”

Upon hearing these words, Wei Meng felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. His anger had already accumulated to its absolute peak, and under Pei Yuan’s interrogation, a desperate courage arose from his wrath. Taking a few strides forward until he was right in front of him, he glared and roared, “Why do you say such things! Whose slanderous words did you listen to, that you would even suspect me?!”

Pei Yuan resentfully hurled a stack of letters he was clutching in his hand right into his face. “Take a good look at it yourself!”

Suppressing his fury, Wei Meng picked them up. Seeing that they were entirely written in foreign characters, he was greatly shocked. “This—what on earth is this?”

“Are you still pretending to be ignorant?” Pei Yuan said in a chilly voice. “If Miss Minmin hadn’t accidentally discovered these and delivered them to me, I truly would have been kept in the dark by you!”

“You actually suspect me?” Wei Meng asked, unable to believe his ears. “Pei Yuan, you and I have known each other for so many years. What kind of person I am, do you not know clearly in your heart? The trust we painstakingly built up over all these years—you suspect me just because of the slander of a petty woman? It turns out I am the one who misjudged you!”

Wei Meng was truly enraged to the absolute limit. Giving no regard to etiquette or hierarchy, and with a chest full of fury desperately needing an outlet, he paced around the room twice. Suddenly lifting his foot, he kicked a round wooden stool a great distance away, sending it smashing against the wall and shattering into pieces.

“How insolent!” Pei Yuan slapped the table and barked, “I knew long ago that you weren’t someone who minded his own business, and my suspicions toward you haven’t just been for a day or two. I have plenty of evidence in my hands. You secretly met with that old fellow from the Xiongnu multiple times this month. Do you truly think I didn’t know? I gave you a chance to repent, but you only doubled down. Even now, you still push all the blame onto Miss Minmin’s head. I see that your heart has been blinded, and you won’t turn back until you hit a dead end!”

The accusations were growing more and more ridiculous. Initially, Wei Meng listened intently, his hands shaking with rage, but when Pei Yuan mentioned his secret meetings with Nazhu, Wei Meng sensed that something was off.

Why would he bring that up? What secret meetings? He had never hidden them from him.

Wei Meng looked back at Pei Yuan in surprise and, as expected, caught a flash of sharp light passing through Pei Yuan’s eyes.

Wei Meng understood immediately. The argument they just had was actually an act Pei Yuan was putting on. He was intentionally turning against him, and the reason for it, Wei Meng guessed, must be for Minmin, who was kneeling at the door, to hear. But why was he doing this?

Meeting Wei Meng’s gaze, Pei Yuan inwardly cursed him for being a blockhead who couldn’t even distinguish truth from falsehood, actually letting himself get genuinely enraged and even daring to kick his stool.

Pei Yuan spoke up once more to give him a hint, shouting loudly in feigned exasperation, “Those who are not of our race are bound to have a different heart. Men, arrest this rebellious traitor for me!”

As soon as his voice fell, a chaotic flurry of footsteps immediately sounded outside. The next moment, the door to the study was burst open, and a dozen guards bearing weapons rushed in, surrounding Wei Meng in a tight circle.

However, they were after all Wei Meng’s former subordinates. Even though they had Pei Yuan’s order, facing their familiar superior, they still didn’t dare to strike rashly and stood there looking at one another.

Wei Meng had completely figured it out by now. Pei Yuan wanted him to beat the enemy at their own game and take this opportunity to return to the Xiongnu royal court in an open and honorable manner.

Nazhu had ignored him for over a decade, yet suddenly tracked him down now and earnestly begged him to return. It certainly wasn’t out of familial affection as he claimed. But what exactly he intended to do, or what tactics he would deploy in the future, remained unknown. Today it was a Minmin; who knew if a Zhenzhen or a Lianlian would come tomorrow?

If Wei Meng kept refusing, Nazhu would never let the matter rest. In that scenario, the enemy would be in the dark while they were in the light, which gave them no advantage. It would be better to play along with his plot. When the time was ripe in the future, they could coordinate from the inside and outside to win a decisive victory.

Wei Meng’s hand slowly shifted toward the hilt of the blade at his waist. Since Pei Yuan wanted to keep acting, he could only accompany him to the end.

It was just that he hadn’t given him any advance notice at all! To expect him to react instantly to such a sudden move was asking for a miracle.

Pei Yuan said sternly, “Still not moving? Could it be that you are accomplices of this traitor and wish to defect to the enemy as well?!”

The guards could only grit their teeth and lunge forward. Wei Meng swung his blade to parry, while feigning a resentful tone to retort, “Pei Yuan, you brat! You fail to distinguish right from wrong, or loyalty from treason. Sooner or later, you will reach the end of your rope! Since you dare to try and kill me today, don’t blame me for being ruthless in the future. From this moment on, all kindness and righteousness between us are severed. The day we meet again will be the day our blades clash!”

Saying this, he resolutely unleashed a lethal strike. The guards blocking him dodged in a flurry, and Wei Meng instantly slipped through the gap and fled.

There was still resistance ahead, but Wei Meng slashed a man’s arm, seized a horse, and galloped out.

Pei Yuan’s face was completely ashen as he watched Wei Meng’s departing figure. After a long silence, he suddenly drew his blade and slashed his sleeve apart. Turning around to survey the crowd, he announced loudly, “From this day forth, I cut ties with Wei Meng. If we cross paths again, he shall be executed without mercy!”

……

That very afternoon, Minmin fled.

After Wei Meng left, Pei Yuan ordered people to escort her back to her room, deliberately leaving few guards. Taking advantage of the nap hour, Minmin slipped out through the back gate.

Her departure was actually a good thing. Having her recount this matter to Nazhu would only increase Nazhu’s trust in Wei Meng.

Everyone believed that Wei Meng and Pei Yuan had broken off their relationship. Rumors also circulated that Pei Yuan had stayed alone in his study for nearly half the day, during which he had scolded several lieutenants who went in to report matters, appearing to be in an exceptionally foul mood.

For a time, anxiety permeated the Prince’s estate.

Inside the room, Bao Ning and Nanny Liu were simmering sweet potato porridge together over the stove. The entire room was filled with the sweet aroma of sweet potatoes.

Bao Ning took a spoonful to taste and commented, “It’s a bit too sweet. The Prince definitely won’t like it. What should we do?”

Nanny Liu suggested tentatively, “Add a bit more water?”

“Then it will be too thin, and the texture won’t be good.” Bao Ning shook her head. “Let’s prepare something else for him to eat. Yesterday he mentioned wanting to eat noodles. It just so happens there’s half a pot of chicken broth left from this morning, which is perfect for boiling noodles. We can drop two eggs in, and that should be enough for him. If that still won’t do, the buns from lunch weren’t finished either; I can reheat a few for him.”

Listening to her chatter, Nanny Liu couldn’t help but sigh, “Your Highness, the Prince and the General have clashed to such an extent, are you not worried at all?”

“Worried about what?” Bao Ning slowly stirred the porridge in the pot. Some of the sweet potato chunks were cut a bit too large, so she pressed them down with the spoon to crush them into a sticky paste, adding, “They are not children anymore; they know exactly what they are doing. Besides, what’s done is done. What use is there for me to be trembling with fear here?”

“That may be true, but…” Nanny Liu leaned closer to Bao Ning’s ear and whispered, “Right now, rumors are flying thick and fast outside. They say General Wei was ordered by the Prince to fetch the First Prince back from Qilian Mountain, but he colluded with the Xiongnu beforehand, allowing them to beat him to it and massacre the mountain…”

Bao Ning interrupted her, “The First Prince isn’t dead. Didn’t the people who returned say that they didn’t see the corpses of the First Prince and Miss A’Chou?”

“But General Wei—the direction he took when he left really seems to be toward the north, to defect to the Xiongnu.” Nanny Liu was filled with deep worry. “General Wei and the Prince used to have such a wonderful relationship. How could it fall apart in a single day? If they truly clash on the battlefield in the future, what are we to do?”

Bao Ning teased her, “Thinking so much, aren’t you tired?”

“We must trust the Prince. He will do what he needs to do, and we just need to do what we ought to do. That is enough. Everyone performing their own duties without overstepping or exceeding bounds—that is the best state of affairs.” Bao Ning spoke softly. Setting the spoon aside, she wiped her hands, then suddenly remembered something. “Speaking of performing our duties, I haven’t done enough for today’s matters.”

Nanny Liu asked in confusion, “What do you mean, Your Highness?”

“Let’s do this. Before dinner is served, instruct the cooks in the military camp to add a nice dish. Hmm, let’s add quick-boiled pork slices. Tell them to buy as much meat as they can so that everyone can eat their fill, and I will cover the expenses.” Bao Ning smiled. “Once the soldiers are well-fed, their minds will be at ease, and they won’t be overthinking things like you are.”

Looking at Bao Ning’s calm demeanor, a sense of shame suddenly welled up in Nanny Liu’s heart.

She was still not mature enough. Encountering such an event, not only did she fail to offer Bao Ning any advice, but she even required Bao Ning to comfort her instead.

Nanny Liu opened her mouth, intending to say something more, when she heard the door creak behind her. Turning her head, she saw Pei Yuan walk in, standing at the doorway unbuttoning his coat.

Nanny Liu sensibly withdrew to carry out what Bao Ning had ordered.

Pei Yuan hung his coat on a hook nailed to the wall, stamped the snow off his boots, and then walked into the inner chamber.

“Come over and warm yourself by the fire.” Bao Ning shifted her seat to the side, making room for him. “You’re covered in a chill.”

Pei Yuan sat down, naturally placing his arm over Bao Ning’s shoulder. He tilted his head to rub his dry lips against her cheek. “We haven’t seen each other all day. Did you miss me?”

Bao Ning glanced at him. Today, the light in Pei Yuan’s eyes was missing, quiet like a pool of stagnant water; his mood was indeed quite foul.

Bao Ning picked up the fire poker, stoked the flames inside the stove, and asked, “Is it snowing outside again? I see snow on your boots.”

“Mm.” Pei Yuan gave a brief response, then rubbed against her again, asking in a low voice, “You haven’t answered yet. Did you miss me?”

“If I don’t miss you, who else can I miss?” Bao Ning tossed down the item in her hand, turned around, and snuggled into Pei Yuan’s embrace, saying half-soothingly and half-complainingly, “Back when I was in the capital, I at least had account books to look at and shops to manage. Now that I’ve come here, it’s just wonderful—I revolve around you all day long, and once the child is born, I’ll be revolving around the two of you. You’ve got the better end of the deal yet you’re still acting spoiled, insisting on asking if I miss you. Aren’t you annoying?”

Pei Yuan loved hearing Bao Ning speak this way. He let out a soft laugh and held her even tighter. “Our Ningning truly knows how to make herself loved.”

With her back against Pei Yuan’s chest, leaning halfway in his embrace, Bao Ning stared at the bubbling pot. After a moment of silence, she suddenly remembered something and got up to head outside. “No, I need to go remind Yuanzi. He shouldn’t run outside the moment it snows, he’s far too mischievous! He’s picked up bad habits now, always running out to play with the neighborhood children, coming home covered in mud splatters every single time, and he won’t listen when scolded.”

“He’s a boy. If he loves to play, let him play. Freezing for a bit won’t kill him.” Pei Yuan pulled her back. “Why manage so much? When you were a child playing outside, did you like being managed?”

Bao Ning hesitated for a moment and slowly sat back down. “I suppose that’s true.”

She asked tentatively, “A’Yuan, have you dispatched men to search for the First Prince’s whereabouts?”

“I have,” Pei Yuan said solemnly. “But Qilian Mountain is simply too vast. If they are hiding, it will be incredibly difficult to locate them. What’s more, it is snowing now. If heavy snow seals the mountain, finding them will be even harder.” There was one sentence he left unsaid: if heavy snow sealed the mountain, whether they could even survive would be up in the air.

Bao Ning caressed his face and stopped bringing up the matter, changing the topic instead. “A’Yuan, your skin has grown rougher, not as smooth as it used to be.”

Pei Yuan said, “Even if it turns as rough as a stone, I still won’t apply that fragrant cream of yours, so give up on that idea.”

Bao Ning gave him a shove and said displeasedly, “My things are precious. Who do you think you are, that I would just apply it for you whenever you want?”

Pei Yuan burst into laughter.

Not long after, dinner was ready. They enjoyed a proper meal together, washed up, and went to bed, falling fast asleep in each other’s arms. While deep in slumber, they were suddenly jolted awake by a hurried knocking on the door.

Frowning, Pei Yuan dressed himself and stepped out. Opening the door, he met Chen Jia’s anxious gaze. “Your Highness, a battle report has arrived from Dai County! It says a massive Xiongnu army is making a forced march under the cover of the blizzard and the night, intending to surround Dai County. They are currently less than a hundred Li away from Dai County!”

Pei Yuan’s expression altered drastically.

……

At that very moment, upon the desk of Su Wei, the defending general of Dai County, a “secret report” delivered by a covert border agent had just appeared.

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