Fu Mansion
"Boom!" All of a sudden, the sound of thunder could be heard as a bolt of lightning tore through the sky. It was rare to see lightning and thunder in the middle of winter. Pei Zi Yun was lying on his bed when he saw a shadow pushing open the door and entering the room. Without hesitation, he grabbed his sword and stood up, "Who's there?"
He placed his thumb on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it at any moment and slash the person in front of him. The person in the dark was shocked by Pei Zi Yun's actions. He raised his head and saw Pei Zi Yun's eyes filled with killing intent. He then shouted, "Ah!"
Hearing this, Pei Zi Yun regained his senses and hurriedly placed his sword aside. He then used a flint to light a lamp. When the lamp was lit up, he saw his senior sister Xia crying her heart out. She was frightened.
Pei Zi Yun hurriedly stepped forward to comfort her, but the little girl turned around and ran away crying, "Wah, bad guy, bad junior brother."
Pei Zi Yun slapped his forehead helplessly. He had just had a nightmare and was woken up by the lightning. He then realized that someone was sneaking into the room. That was why he drew his sword. He didn't expect it to be Chu Xia.
After some time, Yu Yun Jun's voice could be heard from outside the door, "What did you do? Little Xia was frightened and cried all the way home. I asked her what happened, but she refused to tell me."
Pei Zi Yun hurriedly stood up and smiled bitterly, "Master, I had a nightmare and was woken up by the lightning. When I got up, I saw someone sneaking into the room and drew my sword. I'm afraid I scared my senior sister."
Pei Zi Yun spoke the truth. When Yu Yun Jun heard this, she waved her hands, "Your senior sister is very mischievous. It's good to scare her a little."
As she spoke, Yu Yun Jun stopped smiling and took several steps forward, "I've already reported your plan to exterminate the pirates. Your plan is indeed brilliant. You've also requested the Governor to confer the title of True Sovereign upon our Patriarch. This is a sign of your loyalty. The sect has already given their orders. Asking for the title of True Sovereign is only the first step. I hope you can plan ahead and do your best to ensure that this is carried out."
When Pei Zi Yun heard these words, he was elated. He knew that what he had done had caught the attention of the upper echelons of Free Cloud Sect.
Yu Yun Jun then continued, "The Governor has already requested for Liao Ge to be conferred the title of Governor. The sect is aware of this. According to tradition, the Governor will send Liao Ge over. This is a simple matter. It's just that some people within the sect had the idea of sending Song Zhi to escort Liao Ge over. I rejected them. This time, you've done a great deed. If anyone were to say something else to you, just ignore them and speak to me directly."
When Pei Zi Yun heard this, he understood the concern his master had for him. Song Zhi was probably coveting the merit points as well. Seeing that his master had rejected him, he hurriedly replied, "Thank you master for your concern. I understand, and will not be deceived."
"You've always been smart, so of course I'm not worried. It's just that you're young and inexperienced, so it's easy for you to be at a disadvantage." Yu Yunjun laughed.
"Thank you master for your concern." Pei Zi Yun said, feeling a warm feeling in his heart.
Yu Yunjun waved her hands, "Oh right, this time you'll be escorting an official to the capital city. This isn't a big matter, but the journey is long, and there might be many troubles and risks. I've already arranged for someone to deliver a magical weapon from Green Cloud Monastery. When the time comes, bring it along with you. It'll be a form of training, and you'll gain some experience."
Pei Zi Yun stepped forward and bowed deeply, "Many thanks, master!"
Governor's Mansion
The Governor sat high up on the throne as Liao Ge bowed and presented a memorial, "Your excellency, the memorial to the conferment has been completed. Please take a look."
The Governor took it and read it before smiling and nodding his head, "You've done a good job. This matter still needs to be done. When the time comes, you'll go to the capital city on my behalf, and talk to my old friends about it."
When Liao Ge heard this, he was overjoyed. This was a good job, to be able to go to the capital city and help the Governor with this matter. Not only would he have to interact with the officials in the capital city, but he would also be familiar with them. In the future, his career would be much smoother. This was a form of nurturing. Liao Ge then knelt down and bowed, "Your excellency is benevolent, and I will do anything for you."
When the Governor heard this, he smiled and took a sip of tea, "Your excellency Liao, please wait in the side hall. I have someone to see. I'll see you later."
"Yes, your excellency." Liao Ge then retreated happily.
"Mister Pei requests an audience!" Before long, someone reported. The Governor nodded his head and said, "Please enter!"
The sound of footsteps could be heard as the snow outside fell. The sound of the kettle on the stove could be heard clearly. Before long, someone walked in.
Pei Zi Yun was dressed in a grey robe, with a crimson belt around his waist. His boots squeaked loudly as he walked in. He then stepped forward and bowed, "Greetings, your excellency the Governor."
"Top Scorer Pei, please rise!" Since Pei Zi Yun wasn't willing to pledge allegiance to him, the Governor didn't address him as mister. He smiled and said, "You've come at the right time. Have a seat. I've already written the petition, and I'm preparing to hand it over to the imperial court. As you know, whether or not it's successful depends on the Emperor and the imperial court."
"However, according to tradition, as long as there's a valid reason, the imperial court will not reject such a petition. I will send Liao Ge to retrieve the records of your sect's Patriarchs and confirm that they're doing the honors. He will then present the petition to the imperial court. When that happens, all you have to do is wait for the good news."
"Many thanks your excellency. Your excellency has sent Liao Ge to the imperial court. I wish to follow you to the capital city, to broaden my horizons. At the same time, I can protect your excellency's safety."
When the Governor heard Pei Zi Yun's words, he couldn't help but laugh, "You're worried about me. But it's a good thing that I'm going. Young people should travel more. Reading ten thousand books is equivalent to walking ten thousand miles.
The Governor thought for sometime before saying, "I have many friends in the capital city. I shall write a recommendation letter for you. When you have any difficulties, just bring it to them."
When Pei Zi Yun heard these words, he laughed, "Many thanks your excellency."
After exchanging a few more words, Pei Zi Yun bade farewell and left. The Governor walked him to the corridor and watched him leave. A gust of wind blew the snow away. He adjusted his robes and turned around to leave.
Hou Mansion
Snowflakes fluttered in the air, and a loud roar could be heard. The guards outside trembled, but didn't dare to make a sound.
"Father, you know what I want. Why must you force me? Big brother will take care of the matters of Hou Mansion. Second brother will take care of the matters of the imperial court. Why must you force me to participate in the affairs of Hou Mansion? My heart isn't here, and you can't force me. "Wei Ang was speaking loudly in the study room.
Everyone inside and outside the study room acted as if they were deaf, as if they hadn't heard anything. They stood guard around the study room, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving.
"Since you're not willing to contribute to the affairs of Hou Mansion, then you don't have to go to Free Cloud Sect. Also, Pei Zi Yun, you better cut all ties with him." Ji Bei Hou's face was ashen as he paced back and forth in the study room.
When Wei Ang heard Ji Bei Hou's words, he paused, "Father, I'm not willing to participate in the affairs of Hou Mansion. What does this have to do with Free Cloud Sect and Zi Yun?"
Ji Bei Hou was enraged, as he threw the scroll in his hands at Wei Ang. Wei Ang caught the scroll and looked at it. It was the latest plan to exterminate the pirates that Pei Zi Yun had come up with for the Governor. He paused, "Father, did this plan really come up with by Pei Zi Yun? He's really a genius and has done great deeds for the people of Ying Prefecture. "
When Ji Bei Hou heard this, he scolded out, "Third brother, you love to be free and unfettered. I've sent you to Free Cloud Sect and allowed you to do everything you want. I didn't want you to be unable to see the severity of the situation. The pirates have been wiped out, and my military power has been taken away. What use do I have as a Hou Mansion now? Wouldn't I become someone who can be easily manipulated? You see that it's beneficial to the people, and the foundation of Hou Mansion has been taken away? Without Hou Mansion, how can you be free and unfettered? "
When Wei Ang heard this, he fell silent. After some time, he then said, "Father, please forgive me. Forgive me for not being able to contribute to Hou Mansion, especially regarding this matter."
When Ji Bei Hou heard Wei Ang's words, he was enraged. However, he seemed to have thought of something and suppressed his anger, "Since you're not willing to contribute to me, then you don't have to go to Free Cloud Sect. Now that Pei Zi Yun has helped the Governor, he's my enemy. I have to kill him. Free Cloud Sect, I shall stop paying tribute to them."
"Father, since you've made your decision, I shall follow it. There's no need to say anything else." Wei Ang gritted his teeth as he spoke.
"Good, good. You've got guts. Since that's the case, I shall ground you within the courtyard. You're not allowed to go anywhere." Ji Bei Hou's face was ashen as he spoke.
"Yes, thank you father for your arrangements." Wei Ang bowed before he turned around and left. Ji Bei Hou watched as Wei Ang left and couldn't control himself any longer. He smashed his teacup onto the ground, "Bastard."
Shen Zhi was waiting outside when he heard the sound of the teacup shattering. He knew that something was wrong. Master Hou and his son must have had a falling out. Shen Zhi was waiting anxiously outside when Wei Ang walked out from his room. He hurriedly walked up to him, "Third young master, why did you have to do this? Wouldn't it have been better to agree to Master Hou's request? Why did you have to go against Master Hou?"
When Wei Ang heard Shen Zhi's words, he waved his hands and walked away. After some time, he said, "Mister Shen, you've watched me grow up. You know what I'm interested in. There's big brother and second brother at home, and father to support me. Why do I have to get involved?"
"Furthermore, this is a matter like this. Riches and honor make me feel bloodthirsty."
Shen Zhi knew that Ji Bei Hou was going to talk about this, and was waiting for Wei Ang to speak. He then advised, "Third young master, I know that you're intelligent. You don't want to fight. It's just that some things are hard to do. You have to choose one. No matter what, you and Master Hou are father and son.
"Ai!" Wei Ang sighed deeply and interrupted Shen Zhi, "But I don't want to choose. I just want to be free and unfettered. Don't you think that I'm an unfilial and unjust person?"
Shen Zhi looked at Wei Ang and asked curiously, "Young master, why do you think that?"
"Father, sect, friends, I can only choose one. Haha!" Wei Ang walked slowly across the snow and laughed, "To my father, I can't share his burdens. To my sect and friends, I just want to be independent. Isn't that unfilial and unjust?"
"Young master." Shen Zhi called out, his expression was solemn, "How can there be two things in this world. Young master has always been free and unfettered. You have your own Hou Mansion. Now that Hou Mansion is in danger, shouldn't young master reconsider your position? Sect and friends are outsiders. This Hou Mansion is your foundation. It's where you can live your life. "
Hearing Shen Zhi's words, Wei Ang didn't speak for a long time.
Looking at Wei Ang, Shen Zhi could tell that Wei Ang's heart was in pain. He then said, "Yes, Pei Zi Yun is talented, but talent is like a sharp knife. Now that he's pierced into Hou Mansion, the more talented he is, the more dangerous it will be. Young master, have you thought of this?"
Shen Zhi's words were like a sharp sword, piercing into Wei Ang's heart, "In the world of politics, one can only advance and never retreat. Don't tell me you wish to see your father and brother, your mother and your entire family executed?"
As he spoke up to this point, Shen Zhi asked, "Some of my methods are vicious. But what about High Duke Ji?"
"High Duke Ji fought many battles for the Emperor. He was wounded eleven times, and his entire clan was exterminated. His entire family was executed. He was honest and upright, loyal and devoted. What happened to him?"
"You think of Pei Zi Yun, but does he think of you?"
Wei Ang took a step back, as he felt a sharp pain in his chest. A mouthful of blood rushed to his throat. He gritted his teeth and turned around, swallowing the blood.
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