"Your Majesty, my grandson only acted to defend himself because the Zhao boy was bullying and trying to abduct a girl!" General Ling Feng argued, his seventy-year-old frame still robust and his voice commanding.
But Lord Wen Jingbo, protective of his precious son, wouldn't back down.
"Abduction? That maid belongs to our family! Her parents sold her to us. My son was merely bringing her home when she jumped out of the carriage. He had to retrieve her. Here's her indenture contract, Your Majesty," he said, presenting a document.
Pei Yao, seeing the valid contract, frowned.
Lord Wen Jingbo continued, "Your Majesty, I only have this one son. Liang He attacked him without reason, and now my son is injured and imprisoned."
"Lies!" General Ling Feng shouted, stepping forward angrily. "My grandson was only trying to reason, but your son insulted our family, provoking him to act. The maid may belong to you, but she was forced into it by your son!"
"Even if that's true, the contract is clear. If her family was unhappy, they could have taken it to court. Disciplining our maid is our business, not an outsider's, and certainly not grounds for injuring my son!" Lord Wen Jingbo retorted.
The heated argument gave Pei Yao a headache.
He turned to Hong Zheng. "Bring Hu Daixu in."
Hong Zheng nodded and left quickly.
Shortly after, Hu Daixu followed him in.
"Your Majesty," Hu Daixu greeted.
"Dispense with formalities," Pei Yao waved, surveying those present. "Hu Daixu, explain this situation with the two young nobles."
With Pei Yao's command, both General Ling Feng and Lord Wen Jingbo's gazes fixated on Hu Daixu.
Hu Daixu felt the weight of their stares. Given his recent reprimand by the Emperor, he knew honesty was his safest course.
After collecting his thoughts, Hu Daixu explained the incident as he understood it.
His account closely matched General Ling Feng's, though it acknowledged that Liang He had acted rashly, not purely in self-defense but out of frustration.
Both sides were dissatisfied with Hu Daixu's explanation.
General Ling Feng insisted his grandson acted righteously, while Lord Wen Jingbo argued Liang He unjustly intervened in family matters and injured his son.
Just then, loud knocking was heard at the door.
Hong Zheng opened it to find Fuxi, looking distressed.
"Your Majesty, news from the Capital Guard Prison—Lord Wen Jingbo's son, Zhao Ruining, has..."
"What happened to my son?!" Lord Wen Jingbo interrupted, panic-stricken, grabbing Fuxi.
"Speak, what about my son?"
"Zhao Ruining succumbed to his internal injuries and has died," Fuxi reported.
Lord Wen Jingbo's face turned red, as if choking, and he staggered back, collapsing.
"Lord Wen! Lord Wen!" Fuxi hurried to check on him, with Hu Daixu following quickly.
Pei Yao sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Send Lord Wen back home. Release the other two."
The case ended unexpectedly.
What seemed a minor brawl had escalated tragically.
Pei Yao, disinterested in further involvement, was even less inclined to address it now that someone had died.
But Lord Wen Jingbo, having lost his only son, harbored a deep grudge against Hu Daixu.
In his mind, it was Hu Daixu's refusal to release his son, fearing General Ling Feng, that led to his son's death.
The court debated which generals to send to the northern frontier, replacing Huo Mingyi.
In his grief, Lord Wen Jingbo rallied allies to vehemently oppose Hu Daixu's appointment, advocating for others.
This led to numerous trivial accusations against the Hu family, causing constant headaches.
Despite Hu Daixu's merits, Pei Yao, wishing to placate Lord Wen Jingbo and quell court discord, decided to forgo Hu Daixu's appointment.
Though Hu Daixu's position in the capital remained secure, young generals like him aspired to make their mark on the battlefield.
He recalled a recent letter from his sister in the palace and quickly replied, asking Wan Liangyuan to speak to the Emperor on his behalf.
Unaware of how Wan Liangyuan would respond, Fang Yun, hearing the court's commotion, brought some homemade pastries to Jingqian Palace.
Timing her visit well, she arrived just as Pei Yao took a break from reviewing memorials.
Hearing of Zhao Fei's arrival with pastries, Pei Yao invited her in.
"Your Majesty," Fang Yun greeted softly, bowing.
"Dispense with formalities," Pei Yao said, glancing at her.
Today, Fang Yun wore a light green, waist-cinched gown, fresh and clean like new lotus leaves in early summer, bringing a breath of fresh air into the somber study.
Her hair was elegantly styled in a gentle lotus bun, adorned with ice-blue jade hairpins and a pearl tassel, shimmering as she moved.
The previously dull study seemed to brighten with her presence.
Pei Yao felt his frustration ease.
"Why have you come now? You already work hard caring for two children. Don't exhaust yourself," he said, standing.
"I'm not that delicate," Fang Yun smiled warmly. "The physicians say the Second Princess is improving. Her pustules are healing and will soon scab over. I came to share the good news."
Pei Yao's eyes brightened. "Really?"
Fang Yun nodded.
Pei Yao sighed in relief. "Good, good. She's so young; I was worried."
"You can relax a bit now," Fang Yun said, smiling softly, arranging the pastries.
"Though I reside in the harem, I hear bits of court news. I worry about Your Majesty being stressed and neglecting meals, so I hurried over whenever I had time."
YOU ARE READING
The Beloved Concubine of the Eastern Palace (book 2)
RomanceAuthor: Huatang Xiuge Translator: Me (Xiaobai) 东宫掌娇 Upon entering the Eastern Palace, Fang Yun lived cautiously, burdened by the label of a substitute bride and daughter of a traitor. She knew well that, as a daughter of low birth, she had been cas...
