eurekapd Chapter 95 The scheming and tug-of-war between mother and son...
Chapter 95 The scheming and tug-of-war between mother and son...
Let's go back in time to ancient times...
As night fell, the Crown Prince's residence was bathed in the bright moonlight.
At this moment, all was quiet, save for the crickets chirping softly in the grass. The moon, like a silver plate, hung in the night sky, casting a soft, clear glow.
The study was quiet, with only the faint candlelight flickering gently.
Pei Huai-ren sat upright in that carved chair, his brows furrowed as he stared at the urgent report in his hand, as if trying to see through the thin paper to understand everything.
A hint of disgust flashed in his eyes from time to time, and he couldn't help but let out a cold snort:
"Hmph, what a Pei Yunjing! Why is Pei Nanxing so biased towards him?"
Before he could finish speaking, a sharp "smack" was heard as he slammed the letter in his hand onto the table in front of him.
The force of the slap was so great that the entire desk trembled violently and emitted a muffled buzzing sound.
The writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the table also jumped a few times, as if startled by the sudden outburst of anger.
The fact that Zhongyuan City had successfully unearthed groundwater should have been a cause for celebration, but for Pei Huai-ren at this moment, it was undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire.
What angered him even more was that along with the groundwater came news of Aruhan and his group being detained.
It is said that the people of the entire city now hold Pei Yunjing in the highest esteem.
"He even managed to capture Aruhan... How could he have had all these good things happen to him!"
Pei Huai-ren said through gritted teeth, his anger growing ever stronger, as if it were about to burst forth.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his agitated emotions, and then shouted orders towards the door:
"Blood Blade! Immediately send a letter to the Mongol Kingdom in Pei Yunjing's voice. The words in the letter must be as provocative as possible, whatever can provoke them!"
"I, the Crown Prince, want to see if Pei Yunjing will be so lucky as to escape this calamity again!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" came the deep, powerful reply from outside the door.
Immediately afterwards, a dark shadow flashed across the paper window like a ghost and disappeared without a trace.
The flickering candlelight cast a long shadow of Pei Huai-ren on the wall, making him appear lonely yet resolute.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, and his chest heaved violently with anger, like a turbulent sea that was difficult to calm down for a long time.
His eyes flashed with resentment and anger, but even more so with a well-thought-out decision.
Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door, followed by a sharp voice that broke the silence of the night.
"Reporting to the Crown Prince—Her Majesty the Empress has ordered you to proceed to Fengyi Palace immediately; there is urgent business to discuss!" The eunuch's voice, carrying an undeniable air of authority, pierced through the doorway.
Pei Huai-ren took a deep breath, trying his best to calm himself down, and said in a calm voice, "I understand! Go and report back. I will be there shortly."
"promise--"
The eunuch acknowledged and withdrew, his footsteps gradually fading into the distance.
With the help of his servants, Pei Huai-ren changed into a brand-new robe, tidied his appearance, and walked with a steady and powerful gait.
He boarded the carriage, and as the wheels rolled, it headed deeper into the palace.
The bright moon hangs high in the sky, its light spilling over the massive Forbidden City, casting a silvery glow over this solemn city.
In the darkness of night, the corner towers and palace walls of the Forbidden City appear even more majestic. With only sentries guarding the city every few steps, it seems exceptionally spacious and tranquil at night.
When the carriage reached the entrance of Shenwu Gate, Pei Huai-ren felt a slight jolt, and then the carriage stopped.
The guard's voice came coldly: "It's curfew; no entry is permitted."
Pei Huai-ren frowned slightly, lifted the carriage curtain to reveal a handsome but serious face, and said in a deep voice:
"I have been urgently summoned by the Empress. The matter is of great importance and I must enter the palace immediately."
The guard looked troubled, but under Pei Huai-ren's imposing gaze, he ultimately chose to give in.
They quickly allowed passage, and the carriage started again, passing through the heavy palace gates and disappearing into the night of the Forbidden City.
A moment later, Pei Huai-ren's carriage stopped in front of Fengyi Palace. He got off the carriage and quickly walked through the palace gate.
As soon as he entered, several palace maids came to greet him. One of them, with a smile, led him into the inner hall and said softly:
"Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress is waiting for you inside!"
Pei Huai-ren nodded slightly in understanding, and followed the palace maid's guidance into the inner hall.
The scene before him made him slow down.
The Empress sat at the tea table, on which lay an unfinished game of Go. Her face was calm, but a hint of sorrow lingered between her brows.
"Ren'er, why are you only arriving now?" The Empress's voice was gentle, yet it revealed a hint of seriousness that was not easily detected.
Pei Huai-ren quickly bowed and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, I am late, please do not blame me!" His attitude was humble, but there was a hint of determination in his eyes.
The Queen gently shook her head, not pursuing the matter further, and instead turned her attention back to the chess game on the table.
She held a black chess piece between her fingers, seemingly deep in thought, and muttered to herself, "Hiss~ This board today leaves me at a loss for how to proceed!"
Upon hearing this, Pei Huai-ren leaned forward, his gaze falling on the chessboard.
White had a superior position with a well-structured layout, while Black was cornered and in a precarious situation. He could see at a glance that Black's paths to survival were completely blocked, leaving them with virtually no way to retreat.
"Mother, this game of chess is indeed tricky."
Pei Huai-ren pondered for a moment, then pointed to an empty space and suggested, "Perhaps we can place a piece here. Although it won't immediately turn the tide, it might give Black a chance to survive."
The Empress followed Pei Huai-ren's finger and nodded slightly, seemingly agreeing with his suggestion.
She gracefully set down the dark black chess piece in her hand, her movements light and precise, and slowly placed it in the spot that Pei Huai-ren had pointed to.
Then, she slightly raised her head, her clear, water-like gaze falling on Pei Huai Ren, a subtle hint of approval flashing in her eyes:
"Ren'er, your insight has become increasingly discerning lately."
Upon hearing this, Pei Huai-ren quickly bowed and humbly replied, "Thank you for your praise, Mother..."
Just then, the Empress suddenly changed the subject, her tone becoming serious: "I wonder if Ren'er has heard of Pei Yunjing's actions in Zhongyuan City?"
Upon hearing this, Pei Huai-ren paused slightly, then shook his head and said:
"Your Majesty, I have been busy studying military strategy lately and have not paid much attention to the outside world..."
The Queen was clearly surprised by the answer and exclaimed softly, "Oh? Is that so?"
Immediately afterwards, she released the black chess pieces she was holding tightly in her hand, letting them scatter across the chessboard with a crisp sound.
After a moment of silence, the Empress spoke again, her voice tinged with urgency and worry: "Ren'er, the situation is now extremely unpredictable. We must not remain inactive any longer!"
After she finished speaking, a fleeting, elusive glint of calculation flashed across her captivating eyes.
It seems that in the end, I'll have to rely on myself to get through this!
……
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Fast forward to the modern era—
Inside the Fu family manor, Old Master Fu emerged from his leisurely study and returned to his bedroom…
Before he even turned on the light, he saw a dark figure sitting beside his bed...