Chapter 86: Which Man Doesn't Want to Be a Father

"Madam... oh? Lan'er is here too."

Pei Shaoqing pushed the door open and entered. Just as he was about to greet Liu Yuheng, he suddenly noticed that Zhao Zhilan was also there.

"Young Master." Having just shared the joys of the boudoir with her master, Zhao Zhilan rose with a flushed face to offer a salute.

Fearing that Pei Shaoqing might notice something, Liu Yuheng quickly said, "Young Master, is there something you need from me?"

"It is like this: I would like you to accompany me to the prefecture city tomorrow. We might have to stay there for ten days or half a month," Pei Shaoqing said in a gentle tone.

Liu Yuheng's eyes showed suspicion. "To the prefecture city?"

"Although Yan Sichen has been captured, he raised a ghost there... To prevent it from escaping, I would like you and Sister Shuang to go and keep watch until the Capital sends someone to handle it," Pei Shaoqing explained the reason to her.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuheng's delicate brows stood up, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "Feeding a ghost with living people is utterly devoid of conscience. In my opinion, why not just execute this evil ghost?"

Ghosts are extremely terrifying to ordinary people.

But to a Martial Artist, they are nothing more than that.

With the depletion of spiritual energy, ghost entities with clear consciousness can only survive by devouring living souls; they cannot amount to much.

"Ultimately, this concerns the Shu Prince's treason, so it must be left to the imperial court to handle," Pei Shaoqing shook his head and vetoed it.

Liu Yuheng sighed helplessly. "Everything shall be as the Young Master wishes. I will accompany you tomorrow."

"Thank you, Madam." Pei Shaoqing bowed solemnly to thank her, then stood up and said, "Then I shall not disturb you two master and disciple as you chat. I will take my leave first."

"Young Master, please stay," Liu Yuheng suddenly said.

Pei Shaoqing stopped in his tracks.

Liu Yuheng rose and moved with light steps, took the Mo Tan Sword hanging on the wall, held it in her hands, walked to Pei Shaoqing, and offered it with both hands. "Young Master, this should be returned to its rightful owner."

"It would be quite a waste for this sword to remain in my hands. Why not let you use it, Madam?" Pei Shaoqing did not reach out to take it, speaking tentatively.

Liu Yuheng's pretty face was serious. "Since it was a gift from Senior Brother to the Young Master, it naturally belongs to the Young Master. Moreover, with your noble status, Young Master, you are even more deserving of this supreme divine weapon."

The future of the Iron Sword Sect was already staked on Pei Shaoqing; it was better for him to keep this sword for self-defense and increase his ability to protect himself. She guessed that this was her Senior Brother's intention as well.

"In that case, I will not stand on ceremony." Pei Shaoqing reached out, grasped the precious sword, took it, and hung it at his waist. He cupped his hands and said, "Farewell, Madam, please do not see me out."

Watching Pei Shaoqing's back, Liu Yuheng felt conflicted. Her Senior Brother had first offered his dignity and loyalty to him.

And now, he had offered the sect's heirloom sword to him as well.

What would they offer next to please this master?

She turned to look at Zhao Zhilan. "You must conceive the Young Master's child as soon as possible to secure your position."

"Ah! Master, I..." Hearing this, Zhao Zhilan's pretty face flushed red, and she stammered, unable to speak.

Liu Yuheng raised her delicate brows. "What is wrong?"

"The Young Master made me force the essence out," Zhao Zhilan said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's.

"Foolish!" Liu Yuheng scolded, tapping her forehead in frustration at her lack of ambition. "Why are you so obedient? Can't you lie to him? Does he even check?"

"Mm-hmm." Zhao Zhilan's face was as red as an apple. She nodded like a chick pecking at rice, saying both shamefully and aggrievedly, "The Young Master really does check!"

Liu Yuheng was instantly speechless: (「▔□▔)~

She was at a complete loss for words, then frowned and speculated, "Could it be that he feels your background is poor, Lan'er, and therefore does not want you to give birth to his eldest son?"

Originally, she had already been filled with his seed.

Yet he had forced her to empty it all out.

"The Young Master said he is still young and does not want to become a father so soon," Zhao Zhilan quickly explained.

"You silly girl, you believe everything." Liu Yuheng rolled her eyes with great charm, walked over, and sat down, her plump buttocks swallowing half the stool. "What man doesn't want to be a father early?"

As she spoke, she picked up a teacup to drink; having said so much, her mouth was a bit dry.

"The Young Master... when the Young Master forces me during our intimate moments, he calls himself 'Daddy', and even says... says that having a good daughter like me is enough." Zhao Zhilan's ears were already bright red.

"Pfft—" The tea Liu Yuheng had just taken into her mouth sprayed out violently. Choked, she bent over, her face flushed red, and coughed incessantly. "Cough, cough, cough! Cough, cough, cough!"

"Master, Master, are you alright?" Zhao Zhilan was startled and quickly went over to pat her back gently.

"I am fine." Liu Yuheng waved her hand after recovering slightly, looking at the beloved disciple she had raised herself with complex eyes. "You go out; Master wants to be alone."

She had received a bit too much shock today.

"Oh, oh, then I'll go first, Master." Zhao Zhilan nodded blankly, then turned and walked out.

On the other side, Pei Shaoqing had already arrived at the dungeon.

The Yao Nu subconsciously revealed a fawning smile and took the initiative to greet him. "This servant greets the Young Master."

"You really are getting more and more obedient." Pei Shaoqing walked into the cell, stroked her head, and said in a soft, gentle voice, "How about I untie the ropes for Yao Nu?"

"Thank you, Young Master!" The Yao Nu's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and her heart was filled with wild joy. After all, being bound by ropes was not only shameful but also left her unable to move, which was very uncomfortable.

At the same time, she was even more convinced that as long as she behaved obediently, life would be easier.

Pei Shaoqing's lips curled slightly as he gently patted her cheek. "Is 'thank you' all you have to say?"

"Whatever the Young Master wants this servant to do, this servant will do." Like a little dog, the Yao Nu took the initiative to rub her cheek against his palm, her eyes full of expectation. "As long as you don't keep me tied up."

Pei Shaoqing was very satisfied with her attitude. Then, with a *clang*, he drew his sword and severed the ropes on her body.

Feeling her body lose its restraints, the Yao Nu nearly wept with joy, but she did not stand up immediately. Maintaining a kneeling posture, she thanked him repeatedly. "Thank you, Young Master, for granting this servant freedom. This servant is eternally grateful."

At this very moment, she only remembered that Pei Shaoqing had untied the ropes on her body and felt grateful for it.

She had forgotten that it was Pei Shaoqing who had tied her up in the first place.

Or perhaps it was that she had found her survival strategy under Pei Shaoqing, and thus chose to selectively forget.

"I am going out for a while. Starting tomorrow, Zhao Zhilan will bring you your meals. Behave and listen, and I will bring you a gift when I return," Pei Shaoqing said indifferently.

The Yao Nu knelt on the ground, raised her head, and replied earnestly, "This servant will definitely wait obediently for the Young Master to return."

"Wag your tail for me to see," Pei Shaoqing said.

The Yao Nu blushed, lowered her head, and endured the shame as she gently twisted her full hips. The rounded curves drew circles in the air, and the swaying skirt really looked like a wagging tail.

If the people of the Xuanhuang Sect were to see this scene.

Who would dare believe this is their pure and unsullied Saintess of the Light-Shaking, who can only be viewed from afar and never profaned?

Pei Shaoqing chuckled and turned to leave.

Soon, only Xie Qingwu's poison pill is missing.

Very soon, he will have one more capable thug.

"This servant respectfully sees off the Young Master."

The Saintess of the Light-Shaking hurriedly prostrated herself to see him off.

Not until the sound of Pei Shaoqing's footsteps vanished.

Did she slowly straighten her body and lift her head.

First, she felt happy that she hadn't been humiliated or beaten today, then she couldn't wait to stand up and stretch her limbs, excited to finally be free from her bindings.

But as she laughed, she suddenly couldn't laugh anymore.

Emotions like shame, resentment, and bewilderment appeared in her eyes, and she stood frozen in place, motionless.

………………………

The eunuchs from the Capital finally arrived at the Northern Frontier.

And at this moment, Pei Shiqing was inspecting the camp.

Following behind him were a group of generals, including Pei Shaotang; he could even call many of the veteran rank-and-file soldiers by name, and without any airs, he would take the dry biscuits they handed him to chew on, stepping forward to chat familiarly for a few sentences.

Prestige is built through victory after victory, and through one unremarkable little matter after another like this.

Pei Shaotang earnestly mimicked his father's every move.

"Marquis! Marquis!"

Accompanied by repeated shouts, a servant from the Marquis Mansion ran over hurriedly and said urgently, "The Messenger from the Capital has come to read the Imperial Decree, urging the Marquis to return to the mansion immediately to receive it."

Hearing this, the expressions of both Pei Shiqing and Pei Shaotang changed simultaneously; they both guessed it must be regarding Pei Shaoqing's previous act of deceiving the Emperor, and that the Emperor's punishment had arrived.

Although both father and son knew the Emperor couldn't possibly be furious over this, even if it were just a superficial, light reprimand, it still wouldn't look good on their faces.

"Return to the mansion," Pei Shiqing said with a deep breath.

By the time the father and son returned to the Marquis Mansion, the servants had already set up the incense table, and the eunuch delivering the decree had been waiting for a long time.

"Pei was just inspecting the camp; sorry to have kept you gentlemen waiting for so long," Pei Shiqing took the initiative to cup his hands in apology.

"Oh, I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare! Marquis, you are killing this servant!" The leading eunuch hurriedly dodged, not daring to accept the gesture, and instead said somewhat obsequiously, "Marquis, shall this one read the Imperial Decree now?"

"Very well!" Clad in armor, Pei Shiqing was not required to kneel to hear the decree, but he still knelt on one knee.

The eunuch cleared his throat, unfolded the Imperial Decree, and read in a shrill voice: "By the grace of the Emperor, the mandate is received..."

Having only heard the beginning, the father and son felt something was wrong; why did it sound like a decree for rewarding merit?

Upon hearing the reward for Pei Shaoqing, Pei Shiqing and Pei Shaotang both looked up, their faces full of disbelief.

No, are you talking about my son?

No, are you talking about my younger brother?

Even until they heard the Emperor bestowing a plaque, both were still dizzy, unable to recover from the shock.

"Marquis, hurry and receive the decree. This servant congratulates the Marquis, celebrates for the Marquis; to have two titles in one family is truly unique in all of Great Zhou!" the eunuch said with a smile.

"Your subject receives the decree and thanks you for your grace," Pei Shiqing reacted and thanked him first; after taking the Imperial Decree, he couldn't help but ask the eunuch: "Eunuch, what is this all about?"

"The Imperial Decree states it very clearly. The Baron of Pingyang heavily damaged the Tongzhou Branch of the Xuanhuang Sect and beheaded the Saint Son of the Opening Sun; the merit is verified, and His Majesty is greatly pleased, thus he has bestowed an extraordinary reward upon him," the eunuch replied respectfully.

Pei Shaotang opened his mouth, wanting to speak several times but stopping himself.

Pei Shiqing instructed the Butler, "Take these gentlemen to rest, treat them well, and do not be negligent."

"Yes," the Butler responded, walked forward, and greeted, "Gentlemen, please follow me."

"Father, how is this possible?" Not until the eunuchs had left did Pei Shaotang finally manage to speak.

Although he was unwilling to believe it, the Imperial Decree had already been issued, proving that Pei Shaoqing's merit could not be fake.

That good-for-nothing younger brother had been granted a title!

He himself did not even have a title yet, and would have to wait until his father passed away to inherit his Marquis title.

And compared to an inherited title, a title earned by oneself like Pei Shaoqing's was undoubtedly more valuable.

Pei Shaoqing was undoubtedly a bastard.

But as brothers who grew up together, although he detested him deeply, there was still some affection.

His mood was very complicated now.

He feared his brother would suffer, yet he feared his brother would get ahead.

Pei Shiqing took a deep breath and said: "It seems that rebellious son really had some stroke of luck and performed a great service. As for the Emperor's excessive reward, this is putting pressure on me; it seems the Northern Barbarians must be destroyed."

The Emperor treats your family so well, yet you still won't follow his orders to march north—what are you trying to do? Are you planning to harbor bandits to increase your own importance, or do you want to collude with foreign tribes to rebel?

As long as even a hint of such rumors leaked out, he would surely face the condemnation of the common people.

Therefore, the Northern Barbarians must be fought.

However, it could be fought slowly in stages.

The Emperor was injured in his youth, and in order to prove himself to the world, he has worked himself to the bone for years; his body is already weak, and he knows his own health best. That he is so anxious shows he likely cannot hold on for more than a few years.

Yet, the Crown Prince has not been established, and Pei Shiqing did not want to return to the Capital at this time to get involved in the struggle for the succession.

How many people died in the case of the deposed Crown Prince's treason?

As long as he has troops in his hands, no matter who becomes the Crown Prince or the Emperor, they will not treat him poorly; he can sit securely on the fishing platform.

It would be best if this war could be controlled to end after the Emperor passes away, which would avoid the living Emperor stripping his military power and causing mutual suspicion between monarch and subject, or even leading to armed conflict.

It would also allow him to present the merit of expanding territory to the new Emperor upon his ascension, which would also be an opportunity for the new Emperor to show grace to him.

Pei Shiqing never had any intention of treason; he wanted to be a loyal subject, only he would be loyal to whoever was the Emperor.

"Father, then are you still going to remove Second Brother from the family genealogy?" Pei Shaotang asked with mixed feelings.

Pei Shiqing glared at him with annoyance.

"What do you think?"

(End of chapter)