Jiang Pengji asked Wei Ci to help her dry her hair. She took out a green hair tie and tied her long, smooth hair behind her back.
The attire greatly reduced her original sharpness, but instead added a touch of gentleness. She had the charm of a girl for the first time.
"Zixiao, are you curious about the method I used to solve Bogao's problem?"
Wei Ci nodded honestly. He was indeed curious, but there were some things he couldn't ask too deeply. He could only bury his doubts in his heart.
"Zixiao, why don't you come with me?" Jiang Pengji stood up and tidied the clothes draped over her shoulders. She said with a smile, "If I go to see Bogao like this and no one follows me, who knows what kind of scandals will happen outside."
They did have scandals in the past, but no one took it seriously.
Wei Ci lowered his eyes and didn't comment, but the curvature of his lips revealed his inner thoughts.
"Oh yes, remember to bring a set of brush, ink, and paper. Bring a few more sets of paper."
Jiang Pengji leisurely walked in her wooden clogs to see Huang Song. Wei Ci followed closely. The patrolling soldiers stood and saluted when they saw the two of them.
"Bogao shouldn't be asleep yet, right?"
Wei Ci said with a smile, "Once he becomes my lord's captive, I'm afraid he won't be able to sleep even if he has a big heart."
Huang Song indeed hadn't fallen asleep. He tossed and turned over Jiang Pengji's words, "How will you know if it's a difficult or easy question if you don't try?"
He wasn't sure what Jiang Pengji meant. It wasn't that he was stupid, he just didn't dare to believe it.
What was the reason for letting him go?
Was it because of the so-called "youthful friendship?"
Such an excuse could only deceive ignorant people. In the face of conflicts of interest, all emotions had to give way to conflicts of interest.
If Jiang Pengji was an emotional person, perhaps it would be somewhat believable. However, he was a rational person and wouldn't easily be swayed by his emotions.
He thought about it and still felt that it was better to commit suicide. As long as he died, Jiang Pengji wouldn't be ruthless toward his former officials. At the same time, she would treat his family well. The wife and children shouldn't be implicated. A dignified lord wouldn't treat orphans and widows harshly for the sake of his reputation!
Xu Pei's family was the best example.
Han Yu had also joined Jiang Pengji's camp. He would more or less take care of his former master's family and children. It might not be very glamorous, but at least they would be safe.
Huang Song's current mood was somewhat similar to Jiang Pengji's in the past.
Back then, she had been betrayed and slandered by her companions, and the Federation had secretly arrested her. Her first reaction was to resist arrest by force and chase after the real culprit single-handedly.
As a soldier of the Federation, she naturally trusted it, but because of the conflict of interests, this trust had to be marked with a question mark.
"I knew you hadn't slept —"
After Jiang Pengji entered the tent, she happened to see Huang Song staring blankly at the saber on the table. She smiled without changing her expression.
Behind her were Wei Ci and a few cooks from the logistics department. The cooks were carrying utensils for roasting meat and hotpot, as well as many ingredients.
Huang Song looked up and was dumbfounded.
What kind of stance is this?
Jiang Pengji said, "I'm looking for you for supper. I'm hungry."
Huang Song: "…"
Jiang Pengji raised her hand and threw the sword to Wei Ci. She asked casually, "Bogao, is this sword expensive?"
"This sword was given to me by my grandfather when he was crowned Emperor Song. Although it isn't precious, it holds great significance."
Jiang Pengji said, "So it was a gift from an elder? If the elder knew that the sword he gave you ended your life, he wouldn't feel good. "
As she spoke, the cooks tidied up the table and set up the roasting pan and cauldron.
The ingredients were placed on a separate rack. Another person lit the cauldron and poured the seasoning that had been seasoned with good flavor.
"It's a pity that alcohol is forbidden in the army. Otherwise, we can have supper and drink at the same time."
Jiang Pengji sat opposite Huang Song, while Wei Ci sat beside her and behind her.
"Lanting, why are you here?" Huang Song didn't have the appetite to eat. He said directly, "What's the matter? Why don't you tell me?"
Jiang Pengji moved her chopsticks and put the ingredients into the boiling pot. She smiled and said, "When we're 60 years old, I wonder if we'll have the opportunity to have a meal together."
Huang Song's expression changed. "Lanting, what do you mean?"
"I don't like to force things. You know my temperament," Jiang Pengji said. "If you've made up your mind to die, I'll take care of your funeral properly based on our past friendship. If you still have the thought of living, I'm not a narrow-minded person who can't tolerate others. "
Huang Song knew her true attitude when she spoke so clearly.
After a long time …
"For hidden dangers, it's best to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots. You keep such a hidden danger … When did you become soft-hearted?"
"Soft-hearted and reckless. When did you see me with such a thing?" Jiang Pengji said, "I'm willing to keep you. Naturally, I'm prepared. Let's make a pact. If you can agree to it, I'll naturally have the magnanimity to tolerate you. "
Jiang Pengji's solution was to make a pact with Huang Song. If he wanted his life, he would have to give up a certain amount of freedom and rights as the price.
Huang Song was silent.
"I'm willing to swear an oath of blood with you. You don't have to worry that I'll betray you before the blood in my mouth dries!"
Huang Song's expression changed. He looked at Jiang Pengji with a complicated gaze.
She was serious!
It was the first time Huang Song recognized this point so clearly.
In this era, everything was bad except for the high moral bottom line. They valued the spirit of the contract very much. After the oath was made, both parties would be bound.
If one party took the lead in betraying the covenant, the moral level would be untenable. The other party could be ruthless and not be condemned by public opinion.
To put it more clearly, both parties would sign a contract and abide by it.
The contents of the contract would definitely favor Jiang Pengji. Huang Song would be the bound party.
It was not enough to just have the oath. Jiang Pengji wanted everyone to know about the oath. Not only would it bind Huang Song, but it would also bind his former officials! It was not a big deal to let Huang Song live. She wanted Huang Song to live well so that his former officials would not dare to have a trace of disloyalty!
Jiang Pengji smiled and said, "If Bogao is willing, we can discuss the contents of the oath while eating."
Huang Song laughed bitterly and said, "Lanting's thoughts are really … very meticulous."
Jiang Pengji turned her head and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Zixiao to help me write."
Wei Ci agreed.
The contents of the contract favored Jiang Pengji, but it was not unacceptable to Huang Song. It was even more lenient than expected. Huang Song's third generation would not be able to control real power, but his great-grandchildren could enter officialdom through normal channels. Huang Song himself would be conferred a title in the future, and his title would be inherited for three generations. Losing power and a certain amount of freedom in exchange for peace and wealth for the rest of his life.
For the defeated, this was a good ending.
It was much better than Xu Pei's family, who had lost the protection of the head of the family and lived in fear.
Huang Song carefully looked at the dozen pages of the "contract" that Wei Ci had drafted and asked a question.
"Children and grandchildren can't enter officialdom. What about daughters?"
Jiang Pengji said, "If your daughter is capable, she can."
Based on the current trend, men had far more political rights than women. Therefore, Jiang Pengji restricted Huang Song and his third generation.
After all, they were old friends. She did not want Huang Song's family, who had no real power, to be looked down upon. Therefore, she left some leeway.
As long as Huang Song's daughter and granddaughter entered officialdom, his former officials who did not believe in him would not support them on account of their past relationship.
Therefore, this group of people could not say anything about women entering officialdom.
Wei Ci was speechless.
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