Mei ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‍Sheng swayed on his feet. “What did you say?!”

Mei Hexuan, who had been silent all this time, had red-rimmed eyes. “Father! Did you not hear clearly? That dog emperor… that dog emperor killed Grandmother, Eldest Sister, and the rest of them!”

Mei Sheng subconsciously replied, “Don’t speak nonsense! His Majesty wouldn’t…”

The messenger took out a bloodstained jade pendant. Mei Sheng only took one look at it before crying out in absolute despair, “Ru’er… my Ru’er!”

It was the birthday gift he had given her when she came of age at fifteen, yet to think it would appear here…

Chu Ruoyan thought of the graceful and poised Mei Fangru, and her heart sank heavily.

At this moment, Mei Hexuan let out a fierce bellow and sprang to his feet. “Tyrant, tyrant! We fight on the front lines, risking our lives for him, yet he turns around and wipes out our entire family! Father, do you still not believe it even now? Back when we were controlled by Princess Mengji, that dog emperor had already arrested Eldest Sister and the others once. If the Chief Minister hadn’t pleaded for mercy, they would have died long ago!”

Mei Sheng’s lips trembled as tears streamed silently down his face.

How could he not know? How could he not know?

Ru’er had even written to them, expressing endless gratitude to the Chief Minister and County Princess Changle, but in the end, she still couldn’t escape this calamity.

Among the others who had been captured together, someone said, “General Mei and Little General Mei, please restrain your grief. His Majesty must have listened to slanderous rumors…”

“Bullshit! How about I kill your entire family and then ask you to restrain your grief?” Mei Hexuan roared, his eyes bloodshot. “Father, your son quits! At your age, you brought me to the battlefield just to accumulate military merits so you could arrange good marriages for Eldest Sister and Second Sister, didn’t you? Now that they are gone, what are we still fighting for? Your son is going to fight his way back to the capital and avenge Eldest Sister, Grandmother, and the others!”

As soon as the words fell, Mei Sheng raised his hand to slap him, but Mei Hexuan stood tall and proud, refusing to dodge.

Looking at his son’s tear-streaked face, Mei Sheng ultimately couldn’t bring himself to strike.

At this moment, Yan Zheng walked in. With a heavy thud, Mei Hexuan dropped to his knees. “Chief Minister—no, My Lord! Mei Hexuan is willing to offer his life in your service!”

In this expeditionary force, he held the highest rank save for Yan Zheng and Mei Sheng.

Therefore, his kneeling sent monstrous shockwaves through the tent.

Prefect Pei instinctively wanted to scold him, but thinking of Empress Pei and the Second Prince, the words caught in his throat.

In all the world, how could anyone slaughter an entire family just because they suspected them of rebelling?

Even when the government judged cases, they required evidence. If the emperor’s actions didn’t make him a tyrant, what did?

Yan Zheng’s gaze met Chu Ruoyan’s. He raised a hand and said gently, “Hexuan, please rise. I can understand how you feel. We are not rebellious subjects; we are truly forced into a corner by the emperor’s paranoia. General Mei and all the generals here, please rest assured. As long as His Majesty is willing to abdicate, no matter which prince ascends the throne, I will do my utmost to support him!”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was deeply moved.

Chu Ruoyan couldn’t help but applaud his brilliance in her heart.

How brilliant! The only one left in the Murong family capable of succeeding the throne was the Second Prince, Murong Rui, but he had been severely stabbed by the emperor, and it was still unknown if he would survive… However, by painting this beautiful illusion, Yan Zheng achieved two things. First, he dispelled everyone’s worries that he intended to usurp the throne. Second, no matter how loyal the Pei clan of Yuzhou was, it was impossible for them not to be tempted!

After all, half of the Second Prince’s blood belonged to the Pei family. Compared to an emperor who constantly suspected them, they were much more willing to support one of their own!

Sure enough, someone asked in a trembling voice, “Chief Minister, do you truly mean what you say?”

Yan Zheng said calmly, “I will not disgrace the prestigious names of my father and brother.”

There were many ways to interpret these words. For instance, it could mean he would not go back on his word, or it could mean he would not let the Yan family fade into obscurity.

However, at this moment, most people understood it as the former. Instantly, a large swath of people dropped to their knees with a rustle. “If that is the case, we are also willing to offer our service!”

Beside Pei Zhuo, an old man with pure white hair and beard, who had been resting with his eyes closed this entire time, suddenly opened his eyes. “Lord Yan, may this old man have a private word with you?”

Chu Ruoyan was startled. Then she heard a foot soldier beside her whisper, “That’s the head of the Pei family, Old Master Pei… He’s been locked up for so long, yet this is the first time I’ve heard him speak!”

Yan Zheng’s expression grew slightly solemn. “Please.”

Yan Zheng and Old Master Pei held a secret discussion for over two hours. Unable to wait, Chu Ruoyan returned to the main tent first.

The military camp was spartan. She drank the goat milk soup prepared by Nanny Zhou while waiting for Yan Zheng to return.

Nanny Zhou suddenly blurted out, “My Lady, do not blame this old servant for speaking out of turn, but that Miss Pei… it would be best if you kept your guard up against her!”

Chu Ruoyan asked, “What has Nanny noticed this time?”

Nanny Zhou furrowed her brows. “Just now in the tent, that Miss Pei’s eyes were practically glued to the Master. Did you not notice?”

Chu Ruoyan truly hadn’t noticed. Her mind had been entirely focused on whether Yan Zheng could win over those men; how could she have the spare attention to care about such things!

“My Lady, this old servant can tell that the Master treats this Miss Pei differently. Look at this military camp, it’s full of rough men. Besides you and this Miss Pei, where else are there any female family members?”

Chu Ruoyan paused. Suddenly, a voice drifted in from outside the tent. “Indeed, the Lord’s treatment of Miss Pei is truly out of the ordinary.”

Chu Ruoyan looked up and saw a general walking in. She had seen him before; his name seemed to be Qu Jiang?

She raised an eyebrow. Qu Jiang did not even bow, merely saying, “Madam is currently pregnant, and the Lord lacks someone to serve by his side. If you understand the bigger picture, you should take the initiative to welcome this noble concubine for the Lord.”

Chu Ruoyan found it laughable. This Qu Jiang had looked down on her from the very first time they met, and now his hostility was even deeper.

Nanny Zhou scolded, “Where did this insolent bastard come from, daring to order our Lady around? The Master is your lord, which makes our Lady your mistress. Do you have no sense of respect and hierarchy?”

Qu Jiang sneered. “Truly an ignorant woman of the inner courtyard, so shallow in her views! The Lord’s ambition lies in the world; how could he be trapped by petty romantic feelings? Moreover, unlike Madam, this Miss Pei can offer the Lord a great deal of assistance…”

Before he could finish, Chu Ruoyan cut him off. “If that is the case, then why doesn’t Vanguard Qu marry her?”

Qu Jiang choked on his words. “Miss Pei is the eldest legitimate granddaughter of the Yuzhou Pei clan. How could someone like me aim so high?”

Chu Ruoyan feigned great surprise. “The Yuzhou Pei clan are all prisoners now. How could Vanguard Qu have so little confidence in himself?”

Qu Jiang was so stifled he couldn’t speak. If he admitted it, wouldn’t he be slapping his own face?

He could only say angrily, “The narrow view of a woman! The Pei family has deep roots and a massive presence, with their forces spread all over the world. If we can gain their help, it will inevitably—”

Before he could finish, the tent flap was thrown open, and Yan Zheng strode in with a frosty expression. “Get out!”

Qu Jiang still wanted to say something, but Yan Zheng kicked him to the ground. “If even a single word of this nonsense reaches Madam’s ears again, I will cut out your tongue and sever your ears. There will be no leniency!”

Seeing that he was truly enraged, Qu Jiang didn’t dare say another word. He scrambled to his feet and retreated resentfully.

Chu Ruoyan shook her head. Dismissing Nanny Zhou, she walked forward. “Alright, such a big temper. Did negotiations with Old Master Pei fall through?”

Yan Zheng looked at her for a moment and smiled bitterly. “A-Yan, I truly have no secrets in front of you… Yes. That old man Pei is sharp-eyed; he saw through my lack of intention to support the Second Prince’s ascension to the throne. But he doesn’t oppose my raising an army. He is even willing to pour all the Pei clan’s strength into helping me. The only condition is!”

Chu Ruoyan reached out a finger to press against his lips. “The only condition is that you marry Pei Bingqing, and after ascending the throne, crown her as your empress, right?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep