allonlinenovel Chapter 230 Where to go?
Chapter 230 Where to go?
“Father, now that the eldest son of the Pei family is gone, it won’t be long before news of General Pei’s passing reaches the capital. Now that the Pei and Chen families have become complete enemies, after the Pei family falls, military power will probably fall back into Xue Huaiyu’s hands.” Zheng Luoqi said with a furrowed brow.
After a brief pause, he continued his analysis: "After Xue Huaiyu regained control of the military, he joined forces with the Chen family. For us, the situation doesn't seem to have changed much. It's just that the military power of the Pei family army has been transferred from the Pei family to Xue Huaiyu!" Zheng Luoqi nodded slightly, pondering the matter carefully.
Looking at the whole incident, the Pei family ultimately became nothing more than a sacrifice in the power struggle between the Prime Minister's Mansion and the Emperor. The only difference was that the military power that was originally in the Pei family's hands had changed hands.
"Indeed, on the surface, military power has returned to Xue Huaiyu's hands, and he has also formed an alliance with the Chen family, which is no different from the situation when the Pei family and the Chen family joined forces in the past."
"However, Xue Huaiyu is the emperor. He is clearly an emperor, but he doesn't have much real power. Once he gets the Pei family's military power this time, he will definitely not be satisfied with the status quo."
"If the Pei family and the Chen family join forces, the Pei family may not necessarily betray the Chen family, but if it is Xue Huaiyu, he will definitely turn around and bite the Chen family."
"As long as Xue Huaiyu senses that the Chen family harbors any improper thoughts, he will definitely take ruthless action. Even if it is an accidental killing, he will never give the Chen family any chance to catch their breath."
"After all, there are precedents set by me, the current prime minister, and Wen Taiwei. He will never allow the Chen family to become the next Wen family."
"This is the difference between military power being in the hands of the Pei family and falling into Xue Huaiyu's pocket!" Zheng Yuxiang explained.
“However, as long as we remain in the court, their relationship won’t collapse so easily, right? After all, their common enemy hasn’t been completely eliminated, so how could they be so easily instigated by outsiders?” Zheng Luoqi said thoughtfully, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
"Hahaha...That's true. But what if we lend a hand and help Xue Huaiyu seize all the power of the Chen family?" Zheng Yuxiang suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter carrying a hint of sinister cunning.
"Father, what do you mean?" Zheng Luoqi narrowed her eyes slightly upon hearing this, staring intently at Zheng Yuxiang, as if trying to glean more information from his expression.
"Hmph, Xue Huaiyu has been a puppet emperor in name only for too long. His thirst for power is ingrained in his very bones. Now, this power is being delivered right to his lips. Do you think he can resist swallowing it?" Zheng Yuxiang said with a cold smile and a sinister gaze.
...............
Pei Mansion
After Pei Wenyu's death, no one investigated Pei Wenxuan's case anymore, and it was hastily concluded. Just then, bad news came from the border: the news of General Pei's death could no longer be kept secret and reached the capital.
The Pei family had originally committed a grave crime punishable by confiscation of property and extermination because of Pei Wenyu's assassination attempt on the Empress. However, Xue Huaiyu, mindful of General Pei's many years of contributions to the court, showed leniency and spared the lives of the Pei family. Instead, he demoted them all to commoners, forbidding them from ever setting foot in the capital again, and decreed that their descendants for three generations would be barred from participating in the imperial examinations.
Faced with such a devastating blow, Pei Wenzhao was filled with grief, indignation, and resentment. He knew that his elder brother could never have assassinated the Empress. There must be someone lurking behind the scenes, plotting to bring the Pei family to utter ruin.
Thinking of this, Pei Wenzhao couldn't help but feel a deep hatred for Chen Xianlin, who had once enjoyed his brother's trust. He never expected that his brother, who had treated her so sincerely, would be betrayed in the end, not only losing his life in vain but also being burdened with this fabricated crime.
At this moment, Pei Wenzhao felt utterly lost, unsure how to clear his brother's name or what the future held...
"Zhao'er!" A call pulled Pei Wenzhao back from his thoughts.
"Mother!" Pei Wenzhao looked up at the sound of her voice and saw his mother standing before him, her eyes filled with tears and her face haggard. Her once bright and lively eyes were now red and swollen from excessive grief, and the radiant light of the past had long since vanished; her once fair and delicate face was now dull and lifeless, showing only exhaustion and sorrow, completely devoid of her former charm and grace.
"Zhao'er, let's go! Don't delay any longer..." Madam Pei seemed to see through Pei Wenzhao's thoughts and urged him softly. However, at this moment, Pei Wenzhao was filled with grief and indignation; how could he leave just like that?
“Mother, don’t you believe your child? My elder brother is definitely not that kind of person! He was clearly framed by a villain and ended up like this. And my younger sister, she was so young and innocent, yet she died tragically and unjustly! All these tragedies are thanks to that heartless woman!”
Before Pei Wenzhao could finish speaking, a sharp "smack" rang out, followed by a burning pain on his cheek. Pei Wenzhao stared wide-eyed in astonishment at his mother, who had always doted on him since childhood—Madam Pei's face was contorted with rage, her right hand raised high.
Pei Wenzhao was completely stunned. He never expected that his mother, who had always doted on him since childhood, would do such a thing. In an instant, a mix of complex emotions welled up in his heart, leaving him standing there dumbfounded, at a loss for what to do.
"Enough! Don't mention these things anymore!" Madam Pei's voice trembled, with a hint of undisguised sobs, clearly indicating her extreme heartache.
"Mother, why is this happening?" Pei Wenzhao asked anxiously, his eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Madam Pei lowered her head slightly, sighed softly, and said slowly, "Child, there's no reason why. I only ask you to promise me one thing: don't think about this matter anymore, and don't even think about seeking justice. I'm begging you!" Her tone was filled with undisguised sorrow.
Upon hearing this, Pei Wenzhao's eyes widened, and he cried out emotionally, "Mother, you know perfectly well that my elder brother and younger sister died unjustly. As a son of the Pei family, how can I turn a blind eye to this? If that is true, how can I have the face to live in this world!"
Faced with her son's questioning, Madam Pei raised her head and looked him straight in the eye, asking in return, "Very well, since you are so determined to seek justice for them, then tell me, what exactly do you plan to do? And what methods do you have to achieve this?"
For a moment, Pei Wenzhao stood frozen in place, as if struck by a magic spell. Yes, the Emperor's decree had already been issued; how easy was it to overturn the verdict and redress the injustice? Even so, his unwavering determination to clear his family's name remained undiminished, but now he truly didn't know where to begin…
Immediately afterwards, a voice trembled with sobs. Madam Pei was walking toward Pei Wenzhao with tears streaming down her face. Her steps were unsteady, as if she might fall to the ground at any moment.
"I've already lost Xuan'er and Yu'er..." Madam Pei sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face like a burst dam. "Are you going to leave me too? You're my only son left!" With that, she lunged forward and grabbed Pei Wenzhao's shoulders tightly, her fingers turning slightly white from the force.
Madam Pei raised her head, her eyes blurry with tears, and looked directly into Pei Wenzhao's eyes, as if she wanted to etch his image deep into her heart.
Her cries grew increasingly piercing, each word a desperate plea: "I'm begging you, my children, please live! Don't take any more risks. I can't bear the pain of losing you all again! Please..."