Chapter Four: Progress

Prince Zhangwu of the Commandery silently exhaled in relief and, going with the flow, withdrew the token of authority. He ordered someone to bring paper and brush, then wrote a letter on the spot and sealed it with a private stamp.

Minister Pang also breathed easier in his heart. Retrieving the token was the main thing; writing a letter was a simple matter.

With Miss Pei’s remarkable talent for influencing others, she would not be without prospects even in Youzhou.

It was a pity the Pei family had fallen into misfortune, and Miss Pei had become the daughter of a disgraced traitor. Otherwise, she would have been worthy of becoming the Prince Commandery’s consort by marrying into the Eastern Palace. Such a shame!

Miss Pei’s bright eyes turned back to them, and Minister Pang felt a sudden pang in his heart.

Miss Pei solemnly bowed to all the Eastern Palace officials present and expressed her gratitude one by one: “Today, all of you have come to bid farewell. Your compassion for the aged and weak Pei family and your magnanimity are deeply appreciated. Qinghe hereby thanks all of you.”

The officials were silent for a moment.

Well, since His Highness the Prince Commandery had been shaved down a layer, they could not just stand by and watch. The phrase “magnanimity and righteousness” carried considerable weight!

The Crown Prince’s guests immediately offered a gift of one hundred taels of silver as a parting token.

The Crown Prince’s mid-level officials followed suit with another hundred taels.

Even the Commander of the Prince Commandery’s guards generously produced silver coins.

Minister Pang, as head of the Eastern Palace officials, could not appear stingy and thus presented two hundred taels.

Pei Qinghe accepted everything without hesitation and once again expressed her sincere thanks. The officials thought that thanks were unnecessary; it would be enough if Miss Pei refrained from speaking so much.

Madam Lu and Madam Feng had long since dried their tears and now stared at this scene in stunned silence.

What on earth was going on?

Pei Qinghe had a high fever and, upon awakening, seemed like a completely different person.

“His Highness the Prince Commandery is returning to the palace. This is farewell. Miss Pei, take good care of yourself.” Prince Zhangwu gazed at Pei Qinghe and silently added a wish in his heart.

Hopefully, they would meet again someday.

Pei Qinghe cupped her hands in farewell: “Your Highness, please take care.”

This time, keep your eyes open and don’t perish so tragically again.

Prince Zhangwu gave one last long look and mounted his carriage. The officials followed suit, and the Eastern Palace guards led the way.

From within the carriage, Prince Zhangwu could not help but lean out and look back.

Miss Pei stood quietly outside the courier inn, watching them depart.

The carriage grew smaller and smaller in the distance, yet the slender, resilient figure of the young girl grew strangely vivid in his mind, etched like a blade into his heart.

At fourteen, Prince Zhangwu experienced for the first time a subtle, indescribable fluttering in his chest.

Minister Pang, seasoned and discerning, saw through matters but did not speak ill. Instead, he smiled and praised Pei Qinghe: “This Miss Pei is clever and adaptable, with a strong character far exceeding that of an ordinary maiden.”

“Alas, the Pei family committed the grave crime of treason. The female members have been exiled to Youzhou and may never return to the capital. Such a pity!”

The daughter of a traitor was not even qualified to become a concubine in the Eastern Palace. Wishing for more was futile; it was better to forget and move on.

Prince Zhangwu remained silent for a moment before withdrawing his gaze.

…

After Prince Zhangwu and his party finally departed, five Eastern Palace guards remained behind.

Those chosen as Eastern Palace guards were usually from reputable military families. These five had only intended to accompany the prince out of the palace briefly, but unexpectedly, they were assigned this arduous task.

The capital was over a thousand li from Youzhou. The Pei family’s more than three hundred women and children would take who knew how long to travel on foot. Escorting them and then returning to the capital could well take a year or more.

Guarding a traitor’s family was a thankless and exhausting duty, fraught with the risk of future entanglement should the Pei family cause trouble.

The guards were all displeased, their faces somber and expressionless. The sternest among them finally spoke: “Miss Pei, please instruct us on what to do next.”

Madam Lu was anxious, and Madam Feng looked even more uneasy. She tugged at Pei Qinghe’s sleeve, signaling her to lower her stance and be polite and deferential to the guards.

Pei Qinghe’s expression remained unchanged as she said calmly, “You all heard what Minister Pang said. Now, go to the nearest county to make purchases.”

“Buy plenty of rice, grain, and medicinal herbs. Since thick cotton clothes cannot be purchased ready-made, buy a hundred bolts of sturdy cotton cloth and several carts of cotton. We will make the clothes ourselves on the road.”

“Our pace is slow. We will set off first; you can catch up once you have everything.”

The guards were speechless.

Though Miss Pei was young and barely reached their chests in height, her presence was imposing, and her words carried undeniable authority.

The lead guard, a broad-shouldered man with a stern face, shivered inwardly and instinctively clasped his hands in acknowledgment.

Pei Qinghe took several silver notes from her sleeve and handed them to the lead guard: “Please, Sergeant Gao, exchange these notes for cash.”

All the major silver banks were in the capital. In remote regions, these notes would be worthless.

These silver notes were precisely those generously gifted by Minister Pang and the others. Miss Pei was indeed very practical.

Sergeant Gao took the notes with complicated feelings.

The five guards quickly mounted their horses and departed amid the clatter of hooves and rising dust.

“Miss Pei! What on earth happened to you today?”

Madam Lu was deeply upset, her usual withered appearance vanished. She exclaimed angrily, “How could you be so impertinent, making so many demands of His Highness the Prince Commandery?”

Pei Qinghe raised her eyes and replied coldly, “Two hundred ninety-seven lives of the Pei family were lost because of the Eastern Palace. The Eastern Palace even exploited the Pei family’s name for their own gain.”

“All I ask for are some rice, cotton clothes, and medicine, a few guards to accompany us, and some protection.”

“Is that what you call being impertinent?”

“Does Grandmother want to see the old and weak of the Pei family starve, freeze, and fall ill on the road?”

“Youzhou is a cruel place, full of bandits and military brigands. With the Eastern Palace guards escorting us and a letter personally written by the prince, we can at least claim the banner of the Eastern Palace.”

“At this point, there is no room for propriety or shame. I advise Grandmother to open her eyes, see the situation clearly, and abandon the airs of a titled lady. Otherwise, even in Youzhou, we won’t survive.”

Madam Lu was speechless.

Her anger boiled over to the point she nearly fainted.

The Pei family had been a military lineage for generations, steeped in martial tradition. Boys began learning martial arts at age four. While girls were not sent to battle, they were expected to be strong and healthy, with much lower requirements than the boys.

Among the sons, Pei Zhongde was the most outstanding warrior. The grandchildren, mockingly called the “Five Tigers of the Pei Family,” were all skilled fighters.

Only the Pei family knew that the most gifted martial artist among the descendants was not any of the Five Tigers but Pei Zhongde’s youngest daughter, Pei Qinghe. She was an expert horsewoman, proficient in all weapons, and a rare master archer.

Though young, Pei Qinghe was the toughest fighter in the family. With all the male members slaughtered, she stepped forward to negotiate with Prince Zhangwu, securing large supplies of cotton clothes, grain, and medicine, as well as Eastern Palace guards and the prince’s personal letter. This act earned her the deep gratitude and support of all her kin.

Naturally, Pei Qinghe became the pillar of the Pei clan.

Madam Lu’s fury was largely because she had been robbed of her voice.