Chapter 81: Returning Property to the Original Owner, Breaking Defenses, The Heaven-Defying Little County Magistrate (Seeking Monthl

"Is it you?"

Yan Sichen looked at Ye Yu, then his gaze fell upon Pei Shaoqing, "Brother Pei knows this person?"

Seeing the other party recognize him at a glance and naturally address him as "Brother Pei," Pei Shaoqing immediately understood that he and this person must have known each other in the past.

But they certainly weren't very close; otherwise, he had been in Tongzhou for so many days, there was no reason for him not to come see him.

Not close, then he didn't have so many scruples.

He immediately said with an expressionless face: "Let Brother Yan know, this person's surname is Ye, given name Yu, and he came to present a sword to me on the orders of Iron Sword Sect Sect Leader Gongsun Yi. However, he was wounded by someone on the way, and the sword was snatched away."

Ye Yu gritted his teeth and stared fixedly at Yan Sichen.

"What a coincidence. I met him by chance and we have no grudges, but he spoke rudely to me, so I taught him a lesson." Yan Sichen revealed a look of sudden realization, unbuckled the sword at his waist, looked at Pei Shaoqing, and said sincerely: "I am very fond of this sword, Brother Pei. Could you part with it? I am willing to offer other heavy gifts in exchange."

"It is nothing more than a sword; this Young Master does not take it to heart. But since this was a gift from a good friend, that is a different matter. I ask Brother Yan to return it to its original owner." Pei Shaoqing stretched out a hand and said.

Even Yan Sichen, the Shu Prince Heir, liked this sword so much; it seemed it really was a precious sword.

Such a good thing, he naturally had to take it back.

Yan Sichen's face twitched. Although he was ten thousand times reluctant, he still had a favor to ask of him, so he could only suppress his heartache and sigh: "Then I shall return it to Brother Pei."

After speaking, he personally stepped forward and handed it to Pei Shaoqing.

"Many thanks, Brother Yan." Pei Shaoqing grabbed it.

The cold touch made his spirit stir. He tried to lift the sword, but the sword body did not budge at all.

Pei Shaoqing looked up at Yan Sichen.

"Brother Pei, is it really not possible? I am willing to trade ten thousand gold for this sword." Yan Sichen gripped the sword body, refusing to let go for a long time, his face full of sincerity.

He really loved this sword!

He didn't expect it to fly away before he had even warmed it up.

Hand it over! Pei Shaoqing gave a hard tug and snatched the sword away, "Apologies, Brother Yan. Though a thousand gold is good, it is hard to buy the friendship of Sect Leader Gongsun."

Hearing this, Liu Yuheng's resistance toward her Senior Brother presenting the sword decreased significantly. Young Master Pei was truly a person who valued friendship and loyalty, viewing money as mere dirt.

Mo Tan was not being disgraced in his hands.

Damn it! Yan Sichen watched helplessly as the other party hung the sword at his waist, secretly thinking that the day he ascended the throne, he would definitely have this bastard torn apart by five horses!

Pei Shaoqing held the sword hilt and turned a circle in front of Yan Sichen, "Brother Yan, does this sword suit me?"

The corners of Yan Sichen's mouth twitched slightly twice.

He felt the humiliation and anger of someone who had given his wife away, only for the other party to embrace her and ask if she suited him.

And he still had to force a smile, "It suits, it truly suits perfectly. This sword should be hung at Brother Pei's waist."

Bastard! You will pay the price for today.

"Hahahaha! Hahahaha! I think so too." Pei Shaoqing laughed twice, looked at Ye Yu and said: "After you go back, thank Sect Leader Gongsun for me, and tell him I like this gift very much."

"Yes." Ye Yu nodded and replied.

Pei Shaoqing looked at Zhao Zhilan again, "Send Young Hero Ye down to rest, and ask a doctor to take a look at him."

"Yes, Young Master." Zhao Zhilan responded and walked over to support Ye Yu, "Second Senior Brother, let's go."

Ye Yu limped as he walked out. When he passed by Yan Sichen, he pursed his lips and glared at him hatefully.

And Yan Sichen gave him a slight smile.

A mere Jiang Hu person dared to glare at him; if not for the sake of Pei Shaoqing, he would have killed him with a single palm strike.

"By the way, Brother Yan, I wonder what brings you here from thousands of miles away?" Pei Shaoqing asked about the serious business.

Yan Sichen restrained his smile and waved his hand.

The six guards behind him retreated one after another.

Seeing Pei Shaoqing still unmoved, he said somewhat speechlessly: "I ask Brother Pei to dismiss those around us first."

"Madam, go outside and wait for me." Pei Shaoqing looked at Liu Yuheng and said, not daring to let her go too far.

Liu Yuheng bowed and drifted away.

"Brother Yan, please." Pei Shaoqing gestured for him to sit, and walked to the seat of honor at the very top to sit down.

He kept a safe distance without leaving a trace.

Yan Sichen found a chair at random and sat down, getting straight to the point: "I came to ask Brother Pei for a person."

"Oh?" Pei Shaoqing's heart stirred; he already had a guess, but his face showed a look of confusion.

Yan Sichen couldn't tell if he was playing dumb, so he said directly: "I had a few attendants who stole a treasure of mine and fled. I sent people to chase them all the way to Tongzhou. They reported back to me that several of them were killed by Brother Pei, and only one named Wang Wu is left, locked in the Jing'an Guard prison. I ask Brother Pei to hand him over to me."

"What? So those people were actually your attendants, Brother Yan." Pei Shaoqing looked surprised, then said with a solemn face: "Does Brother Yan know what they did in Tongzhou? Breaking into homes in broad daylight to forcibly abduct women—it is shocking and has caused public grievances to boil over. So, please forgive me for being unable to comply."

When we were in the Capital, how come I didn't see that you were so righteous? Yan Sichen sneered inwardly.

On the surface, his smile remained, "Brother Pei, how hard is it to quell public grievances? Just drag someone over and say it was Wang Wu who did the cutting; how would the common people tell the difference between true and false?"

"Brother Yan, are you not inciting this official to commit the crime of taking human life like grass? Absolutely not. This official is by no means a person who kills indiscriminately." Pei Shaoqing said with a straight face.

Yan Sichen was no fool; his expression instantly turned cold, and he said in an unfriendly tone: "Why does Brother Pei keep refusing? If you don't want to help, just say so."

"Mm, I don't want to." Pei Shaoqing nodded.

"Clap!" Yan Sichen did not expect him to show so little respect, slapped the table and stood up, pointing at Pei Shaoqing with an angry face and shouting: "Pei Shaoqing, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! This is Shuzhou, not the Capital!"

"Look, Brother Yan, I said it straight and you're unhappy again." Pei Shaoqing spread his hands with a helpless look.

Looking at his innocent face, Yan Sichen was choked with anger. He took a deep breath and said with a suspicious and uncertain gaze: "Pei Shaoqing, did you listen to some of Wang Wu's nonsense? I advise you to hand the person over to me. Playing with fire is an easy way to burn yourself to death."

"Are you threatening me?" Pei Shaoqing narrowed his eyes.

Yan Sichen held his head high, "Just a reminder."

"He didn't actually say anything, but seeing how nervous you are, I really must put in the effort to dig out what's in his belly." Pei Shaoqing smiled harmlessly.

Yan Sichen was furious, his eyes as cold as knives, "What if I insist on taking the person away today?"

"I work for the Emperor. Whoever stops me from doing the Emperor's business, I kill." Pei Shaoqing said calmly.

"Arrogant!" Yan Sichen was directly laughed to anger by Pei Shaoqing, and said coldly: "You've only been an official for a few days and you've already lost track of your own worth? A mere Young Master of a Marquis Mansion, not even qualified to inherit the title, yet you dare to put on airs in front of me. Do you have the qualifications?"

"Young Master!" Liu Yuheng suddenly walked in.

Her steps were hurried, her chest heaving.

She first glanced at Yan Sichen, then said to Pei Shaoqing: "The Messenger has arrived, he asks you to come out to receive the Imperial Decree."

Yan Sichen was stunned upon hearing this.

Pei Shaoqing cupped his hands at Yan Sichen, "Excuse me for a moment, Brother Yan, please organize your words and continue mocking me later; in any case, the person will not be given to you."

After speaking, he stood up and walked straight outside.

Watching his calm and indifferent demeanor, Yan Sichen felt a sense of powerlessness, like punching a cotton ball.

At the same time, he was somewhat curious about the contents of the Imperial Decree.

So he followed from a distance.

When he arrived at the front courtyard of the Pei Mansion, he saw that Pei Shaoqing was already kneeling behind the incense table, and a eunuch was proclaiming the decree.

"By the order of the Emperor, the edict says: I have received the mandate of Heaven... Now, Jing'an Guard Flag Captain Pei Shaoqing, loyal, brave, and valiant, has killed the rebel of the Xuanhuang Sect, the Yang-Opening Holy Son...

Specially promoted to Jing'an Guard Trial Centurion, rewarded with one thousand gold, ten bolts of Ice Silkworm Silk, additionally enfeoffed as Pingyang County Baron, with a fief of three hundred households, to be inherited perpetually, enjoying the grace of the state forever..."

Hearing this, Yan Sichen felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

Pei Shaoqing had actually been granted a title!

Although he could inherit the throne in the future, he currently did not have any official position or title.

Yet Pei Shaoqing had both an official position and a title.

Dim-witted ruler! Jingtai, this dim-witted ruler who hands out titles indiscriminately!

Yan Sichen was trembling with rage, jealousy making his face distorted; with such a dim-witted ruler, could the country still be good? Replacing him was the true mandate of Heaven.

"Your subject accepts the decree, long live the Emperor, long live, long live."

Pei Shaoqing accepted the decree, gave the eunuch a generous reward, and instructed the servants to entertain the decree-proclaiming party.

Then, holding the Imperial Decree, he walked up to Yan Sichen and asked with a smile: "Brother Yan, is this County Baron now qualified to put on airs in front of you?"

To be honest, he had not expected the Emperor to grant him a title; this was a tremendous honor.

From now on, wherever he went, he would automatically be a cut above others.

This old Emperor, not bad.

"A mere County Baron, the lowest rank of nobility, what is there to be proud of." Yan Sichen said with a stiff face and no expression, his mouth harder than anything.

"A County Baron is still a title; wait until Brother Yan inherits the throne before coming to show off in front of me." Pei Shaoqing added after speaking, "This County Baron does not speak to people without titles, Brother Yan, please leave, I won't see you out."

"Oh right, this County Baron heard that His Highness the Shu Prince seems to prefer the Second Young Master; if Brother Yan cannot inherit the throne, then don't come looking for me in the future, after all, this County Baron does not want to lower his status to associate with commoners."

Stung in his sore spot, Yan Sichen was furious, his eyes turning red, and he roared hoarsely: "Pei Shaoqing!"

"Call me Pingyang County Baron!" Pei Shaoqing said.

"You!" Yan Sichen was exasperated, his finger pointing at him trembling uncontrollably, and he gritted his teeth and said: "You had better behave yourself, don't regret today's events."

As his voice fell, he turned around and flicked his sleeves, leaving.

Pei Shaoqing stared at his back, his expression turning grave; having failed to get the person he wanted, Yan Sichen would inevitably plot to silence Wang Wu upon returning.

"Congratulations to the Young Master on being enfeoffed as Pingyang Baron."

Liu Yuheng stepped forward to congratulate him with a radiant smile.

Her mood was surging; looking across the Great Zhou, how many people could be enfeoffed for merit at such an age? It showed how deeply the Emperor favored the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion and Pei Shaoqing.

The Young Master's future was unimaginable.

Senior Brother offering the sword was truly farsighted!

"My title, you also played a part in this, Madam." Pei Shaoqing laughed and handed the Imperial Decree to Liu Yuheng, "Madam, take it and have it enshrined."

Liu Yuheng took it with both hands, "This concubine obeys."

After speaking, she swayed her waist and walked inside.

"Congratulations to Big Brother on being enfeoffed." Ye Hanshuang then stepped forward to congratulate him, looking down at Pei Shaoqing, light flickering in her beautiful eyes, genuinely happy for her elder brother.

"You also have a share of the credit." Pei Shaoqing smiled slightly and said again: "Call Flag Captain Chen to come over."

"Mm." Ye Hanshuang nodded, and just as she turned to leave, she looked back and said: "Big Brother, I am already diligently studying the book you gave me."

After speaking, she held her head high and walked away hurriedly.

Pei Shaoqing stood frozen in place, completely bewildered.

No, the book I gave you was to teach you knowledge, not for you to learn positions from it!

However, thinking that if his righteous younger sister really mastered the many profound arts in it, that scene...

He suddenly gasped.

Driving a big vehicle was already very satisfying.

Wouldn't a big vehicle with an intelligent driving package be even more satisfying?

My gear is moving, I can't think about this anymore.

Tonight I'll go find Zhao Zhilan to make up for the regrets of our wedding night, I must make sure she doesn't close her doors at night!

When the decree was received, the main gate was wide open, attracting many commoners to watch, so the news of Pei Shaoqing's promotion and enfeoffment quickly spread throughout the entire city.

"Pei the Just has been enfeoffed as Pingyang County Baron!"

"The Emperor is wise to grant Lord Pei a title!"

"This is all what Lord Pei deserves; let alone just a Baron, I think being enfeoffed as a Marquis wouldn't be excessive."

County Magistrate Wang also learned of this; he wasn't envious, after all, he was a rebel, but he couldn't help but marvel at Pei Shaoqing being enfeoffed for merit at such a young age.

However, thinking that Pei Shaoqing's public reason for the title was because he had severely damaged the Holy Sect, and that he himself had pushed it along, he felt a bit strange inside.

(End of chapter)