Feng Yun suspected Pei Jue might be just as drunk as Ao Qi.
He and Hou Zhun seed to hit it off, discussing the situation without any reservations.
Hou Zhun was full of praise, "In Hou’s opinion, this strategy is likely to succeed. Zheng Shoushan is skilled in warfare but is short-sighted, petty, and vengeful. It’s doubtful that he can stay loyal to Yecheng for long."
As they spoke, Feng Yun listened attentively.
She had her own judgnts in mind.
In her past life, Zheng Shoushan turned against Li Zongxun and joined Xiao Cheng within just one or two months because of that shipnt of provisions, feeling deceived by the Central Capital.
In this life, events had changed, but people had not.
Li Zongxun had established the New Dynasty in Yecheng with the Young Emperor, engaging in the sale of offices and honours, involving power and money transactions that would inevitably entangle many people. The struggle for authority among several major families was bound to happen.
The few of them had an engaging conversation. When Feng Yun and Pei Jue left, Hou Zhun’s cheeks were flushed with drink, and he was in high spirits.
"Should I visit the Princess at the estate tomorrow, or where should I settle?"
Previously, they had only discussed seeking asylum, but with so many mouths to feed and drink, it was difficult to manage without prior preparation.
If it weren’t for running out of resources and not wanting to watch his brothers starve, Hou Zhun wouldn’t have agreed to et with Pei Jue for detailed talks, let alone follow-up actions.
Feng Yun knew his predicant.
"General Hou," she said, raising her sleeve in greeting, "may I ask the General, how many people are under your command?"
Hou Zhun glanced at the crowd on the riverbank and sighed.
"The dead are dead, the wounded are wounded. There are three hundred and sixty-six in total, one hundred and twenty with minor injuries, and about twenty with serious injuries..."
Feng Yun’s chin tilted slightly, a hint of surprise in her deanor.
So many casualties were not a small number.
She said, "Huaxi Village currently cannot accommodate so many people, and the sumr heat is heavy, which is not conducive to the recovery of the wounded. In this case, General Hou should lead your n directly to Little Jieqiu tomorrow. I will find a place for you there, and then call for Doctor Yao to have a look."
Fearing Hou Zhun didn’t know who Doctor Yao was, she added,
"Doctor Yao is adept in surgical dicine, and common injuries should pose no problem. For those with severe injuries, we’ll see how to deal with them."
Hou Zhun pondered silently for a mont, "Agreed. The Princess shall make all decisions."
Feng Yun bowed in respect, "Then, let us et at Little Jieqiu tomorrow."
Hou Zhun also returned the gesture, "Your Highness, travel safely."
Pei Jue hadn’t spoken much, leading the horse out with Feng Yun. It wasn’t until they rode away from the riverbank that he asked indifferently:
"Will it cause any trouble?"
Feng Yun was still thinking about how to settle the few hundred people and was taken aback when she heard Pei Jue’s muffled voice and turned around.
"How could it?"
She smiled.
"I’m short of people, their arrival is just in ti..."
Pei Jue humd in acknowledgnt and said, "Hou Zhun is reluctant to surrender to the Beiyong Army. I hesitated to kill him, but couldn’t let him go either. Since he is willing to give up his forr life and seek refuge in Changn, I’ll grant them a way to live."
Feng Yun gave him a sidelong glance.
"Wasn’t it you who persuaded him to co?"
Pei Jue thought about it then replied, "Yes and no."
"Oh?"
"Hou Zhun is the kind of person who won’t be convinced if he doesn’t set his mind to it," Pei Jue said.
Feng Yun believed his words and, struck by a thought, suddenly grasped his arm, touching the spot where he had been injured.
"Now that he has sought refuge with , has he told the General who instigated the ambush on Xiufeng Mountain that attacked you?"
Pei Jue said, "Since he’s coming over to your side, it’s better for Lady Yun to ask in person."
Feng Yun snorted with laughter, "If I had known earlier that you were so lazy, and wouldn’t even ask about such an important matter, I would have questioned him myself. Why would I wait until tomorrow?"
Pei Jue did not say anything.
Feng Yun called out to him, and he finally lowered his head to look at her and said:
"Hou Zhun wasn’t acting on anyone else’s orders."
Setting up the ambush on Xiufeng Mountain was Hou Zhun’s own desire to kill him.
It was to avenge his comrades who had died when Wanning City was breached and the defending general Gua Ping fell.
But the more she heard, the less Feng Yun could believe—
How could such deep hatred and resentnt vanish overnight, and they end up getting along as if they were real brothers?
Not even a smile can dissolve enmity like this...
"General," Feng Yun narrowed her eyes, "how did you persuade Hou Zhun?"
Pei Jue: "It was the lady’s ability that made Hou Zhun submit."
Feng Yun didn’t believe it, "Certainly there’s more to it. How could a re woman like win over a steely man who doesn’t even fear death, leading him to pledge allegiance?"
Pei Jue gathered his arms, pulling her slender waist into his embrace, and let out a calm sigh.
"My lady, do not underestimate yourself, if he wants to submit, just accept it."
Feng Yun pondered for a mont, then nodded slightly.
To ask any more would be to be ungracious after gaining an advantage.
-
The two rode their horses back to the estate.
The weather was hot, and many farming activities were saved for the evening.
As they passed by, they occasionally saw villagers busy at work.
The horses were fast, and the villagers couldn’t see clearly, prompting them to ask one another:
"Who is that?"
"Who just went by?"
"Riding such tall, majestic horses, they must be heading to the Village Chief’s wife’s ho."
"It’s the General, for sure. Of all the horses I’ve seen, none are as tall and grand as the General’s horse."
"The General’s horse, naturally, is the largest."
Feng Yun burst into laughter on horseback, nudging Pei Jue with her elbow, "The General seems like a celestial being in the village."
Pei Jue humd, "What do you an by celestial being?"
Feng Yun said, "Heard the na, but never seen the person."
Pei Jue caught her teasing tone, his lips curled up slightly, and he slowed down the horse.
The village was brightly lit.
The retinue returning with rice sheaves piled the panicles under the Great Pagoda Tree in flat areas, forming little hills.
So were sorting, so were threshing; people were busy with various tasks and talking loudly.
It wasn’t until Ta Xue approached carrying the two of them that the people put down their work and saluted Pei Jue.
Pei Jue leapt down, touched the horse’s head, "Carry on with your work, no need for formalities."
Puyang Zong was hiding behind the crowd, fascinated as he watched the villagers threshing with the lianjia, and when Pei Jue’s voice suddenly rang out, he startled, shrinking back, attempting to silently retreat to the house.
Pei Jue called out to him, "Prince of Danyang."
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