Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 098

Chapter 98: Matters Done

Pei Yu sighed and shook his head: “She still can’t let go.”

Prime Minister Pei was not surprised by this result. “It’s normal for her to be unable to let go. You’ve wasted her life. This is what you owe her forever, and this is what the Pei family owes her.”

He poured Pei Yu a cup of tea. “But a real man has ambitions for the world. You have a promise to An Zhi, but it depends on when it will be fulfilled. I tell you the truth, now that the Crown Prince has passed away, the Emperor will soon begin to rectify the Pei family. Even with your Fourth Uncle and me supporting us, we can’t resist the false accusation.”

Hearing this, Pei Yu’s pupils suddenly widened. “Grandfather, why do you say that? Doesn’t the Emperor trust you and Fourth Uncle the most?”

Prime Minister Pei smiled. “Look, even you think the Emperor trusts the Pei family. But have you ever thought, if the Emperor truly trusts the Pei family, why would he summon your Fourth Uncle and me last? You’re still too young. Some things require deeper reflection.”

Prime Minister Pei was over sixty years old and had experienced three dynasties. He had seen all kinds of storms. When he was seven, he had witnessed the Pei family’s precarious situation. Since then, countless times have passed since the Pei family nearly perished, yet they have persevered.

He had confidence in his descendants, but he also knew that the road ahead was fraught with danger. “Your Fourth Uncle and I agreed to let you leave the Pei family. Firstly, it was to temper your disposition, and secondly, it was to allow you to break away from the Pei family and establish your own power. Now that the Pei family is in the open, I want you to gather another force.”

Only then did Pei Yu realize that he could never match the foresight of his grandfather and Fourth Uncle.

He clenched his fists slightly under the table.

“Then Grandfather, where do you want me to go this time?” he asked.

“Go to the northwest and find Bai Cheng,” said Prime Minister Pei. “Don’t be surprised. Everyone knows what happened to you in the capital. Continuing your scholarly career is definitely not an option, so you have to find another way. Bai Cheng is upright and loyal. He owes me a favor, so he will definitely keep you, but he will also definitely make things difficult for you. But you have to endure and make a name for yourself in the northwest. Your Fourth Uncle and I will wait for you to come back and support us.”

Pei Yu: “Two more days, I’ll wait for two more days.” He didn’t want to leave like this and make An Zhi hate him again.

“Just one day.” Prime Minister Pei raised a finger and said without hesitation, “I’ll send someone to wait for you here tomorrow night. If you don’t come, then we in the Pei family don’t want you anymore.”

After saying that, Prime Minister Pei waved to him, indicating that he could go back.

When Pei Yu walked out of the courtyard, he felt as if his feet were filled with molten iron, and he stood there in a daze for a long time.

After listening to his grandfather’s words, he seemed to understand a little more, but also seemed to see things even more unclearly.

He did owe An Zhi a favor. He was young and frivolous and could not see through people’s hearts. This was the consequence he deserved.

“Ah.” He sighed, his eyes gradually became firm, and his back straightened a lot as he walked back.

~

It was the next morning when An Zhi learned that Pei Yu had left. Fusheng came over with a letter from Pei Yu.

She threw it away without even looking at it.

Binglu and Fusheng, who were standing by, didn’t dare to make a sound, and no one dared to move at all.

An Zhi’s fists clenched painfully in her sleeves. After a long pause, she finally spoke, “Throw away the bedding he slept on, everything he used, and this letter too. He’s gone, so what’s with all the talk of deep affection? I don’t need his favor!”

Binglu replied with a “yes” and then squatted down to pick up Pei Yu’s letter. “Miss, please calm down. Pei Yu is gone. There’s no point in being angry with him. Let’s just pretend he never existed.”

An Zhi also wanted to calm down, but while she understood the principle, doing it was another matter.

She waved her hand and said, “Forget it, all of you go out and leave me alone.”

When An Zhi was the only one left in the room, she slid down silently and lay on the couch. She stayed there for a long time until Binglu knocked on the door and said it was time for lunch, and then she got up.

In the days that followed, An Zhi’s mood gradually recovered. She was just angry about Pei Yu’s leaving without saying goodbye, but later she thought that Pei Yu was not worth it, so she was no longer angry.

The Crown Prince’s funeral was tedious and complicated, and it lasted for more than half a month before the burial. When An Chengye returned home on the last day, he had lost a lot of weight.

Still in official robes, he gathered his wives, concubines, and children. “During the period of national mourning, please stay indoors if possible. Keep your servants in your own courtyards. If you get into trouble by saying anything and end up implicating the entire family, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

He then looked at An Zhi and said, “Zhi’er, the madam is pregnant now and needs to rest. Father believes in your ability to manage the household, so you can help manage it for a while. But your marriage will have to be postponed for a while. In three months, your uncle and brother should be back, and we can talk about it then.”

An Zhi was happy to postpone the marriage, but regarding the household management position, she still had to see what the madam thought.

Seeing An Zhi’s inquiring gaze, Meng Jie nodded and said, “I was going to say that too, but the master beat me to it. I’m pregnant now, and my spirits are indeed much worse. I’ll have to trouble Zhi’er from now on.”

An Zhi smiled faintly. “You’re so kind, Madam. I’ll temporarily help you manage the household for a while. After you give birth, you’ll still be needed to take care of the An family.”

Managing the household was troublesome and tedious. An Zhi had never expected to make money from this, so she was really reluctant to do it. However, Meng Jie was already five months pregnant, and her health was not good. This was the most critical time. If she didn’t pay attention and something went wrong, the whole family would suffer.

“Alright, then everyone should go back and rest.” An Chengye was tired, so he got up and left first.

An Zhi waited until Meng Jie left before she left with her two concubines.

Concubine Zhang, supported by her maid, walked side by side with An Zhi. She sighed softly, “It’s really hard to feel at ease these days.”

Concubine Cheng, who had always been timid, couldn’t help but say yes, “Miss, our family has always been cautious, and the master doesn’t hold an important position, so nothing should happen, right?” She asked this just to seek reassurance from An Zhi.

An Zhi couldn’t guarantee: “No one of us can say for sure whether it’s okay or not, but if we pay attention, we can reduce some risks. Aunt, don’t worry too much. There are many people who are in more trouble than us.”

Just as An Zhi said, after Pei Que and Li Da returned from the Imperial Mausoleum, they went to Li Da’s villa.

“You said the Empress wants to support the Twelfth Prince as the Crown Prince?” Pei Que wasn’t surprised. From the Empress’s selfish point of view, it would be best for her own son to be the Crown Prince. He asked this because Li Da mentioned something else: “She actually wants to choose my niece for the Twelfth Prince at this time?”