Side Story 3: The Parents' "Conspiracy"

Side Story 3: The Parents' "Conspiracy"

The Regent's Palace, main hall.

The night was deep, and the hall was brightly lit by candlelight.

Pei Niannian and Pei An knelt side by side on the ground.

The older sister looked dejected, her red dress still stained with dust from the gambling den.

The younger brother stood up straight, his face expressionless, but his grip on the wooden sword tightened slightly.

"You're back?"

At the head of the table, Pei Yunjing held a teacup, gently skimming off the foam, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Father, Mother..."

Pei Niannian shrank her neck, deciding to strike first, squeezing out two tears with her large, pear-shaped eyes:

"We were wrong! We shouldn't have left the residence without permission! We shouldn't have caused trouble at their place! We shouldn't have..."

"Shouldn't what?"

Pei Yunjing put down his teacup and glanced at the two children.

Pei Niannian closed her eyes, steeling her resolve: "We shouldn't have made such a big fuss. Father has to send people to clean up this mess!"

She thought she would be punished by family discipline or forced to copy the "Admonitions for Women" a hundred times.

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

A burst of crisp applause suddenly came from the side.

Tang Li sat down next to Pei Yunjing, not angry at all, but clapping her hands with an appreciative look on her face, and said with a smile:

"Good job smashing it!"

"What's the point of keeping those heartless gambling dens around, the ones that even swindle veterans out of their resettlement allowances? If I were there, I wouldn't just smash up the place, I'd knock the dealer's teeth out!"

"Why?"

Pei Niannian looked up abruptly, completely bewildered.

You...you weren't scolded?

Pei Yunjing looked at his daughter's silly expression and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.

He stood up, walked over to the two children, and reached out to pat each of their heads.

"Get up."

There was no blame in his voice, only the joy of seeing my son grow up:

"Well done."

"The Pei family doesn't cause trouble, but they are absolutely not afraid of trouble. They are the kind of people who will help those in need when they see injustice. That's what makes them my kind."

The two children looked at each other, their eyes filled with surprise.

"but……"

Pei Yunjing changed the subject, his gaze becoming deep and thoughtful:

"Now that you've grown up, it's time to pass on some things to you."

He glanced at Tang Li, and the two exchanged a look that only they understood—it was a "conspiracy" they had already planned.

...

[Father and Son's Night Talk in the Secret Room]

In the secret passage behind the study, the candlelight was dim.

Pei Yunjing led Pei An into a secret room that had never been opened to outsiders.

The walls were covered with maps of the Great Sheng Dynasty, and various military tallies and tokens were displayed on the table.

"An'er".

Pei Yunjing turned around and looked at his son, who was only nine years old but had a composure beyond that of ordinary people.

"Your ears can hear sounds that ordinary people cannot hear."

“When you were little, you thought it was a curse, it was pain. But now…”

Pei Yunjing took out a black iron token from a hidden compartment. The token was completely black and exuded a cold aura.

That was the symbol of the Regent's Palace's highest power, and also the token that commanded the Black Armor Guards and the Dark Web.

"You can hear people's hearts, you can distinguish lies, and you can sense crises."

Pei Yunjing solemnly placed the token in Pei An's tender palm: "This is the sharpest weapon for a person in a position of power."

"Father?" Pei An held the token, feeling its heavy weight.

"This location..."

Pei Yunjing pointed to the chair that symbolized the Regent's authority, his eyes filled with expectation and entrustment:

"From now on, you can sit here."

"Your sister is wild and can't stand the constraints of the court. Your elder brother (the young Emperor Zhao An) is obedient, but he is more capable of maintaining the status quo than of making progress."

"The future of the Great Sheng Dynasty and the Pei family's legacy... will all depend on you secretly supporting it."

Pei An looked into his father's trusting eyes.

He did not back down, nor was he afraid.

He simply gripped the token tightly, a resolute look appearing on his icy face, and nodded heavily: "Son... I understand."

...

[Mother and Daughter Heart-to-Heart Talk - Bedroom]

On the other side, in the warm bedroom.

Tang Li is combing Pei Niannian's hair.

Looking at the spirited young woman in the mirror, she seemed to see herself from back then, but even more unrestrained and free.

"Nian Nian".

Tang Li put down the comb and took out the tiger bone whistle, which was already a little yellowed but still smooth and warm, from the bottom of the jewelry box.

This is the whistle she used to summon all the beasts and save Pei Yunjing's life in the Valley of Broken Souls.

"Mother?" Pei Niannian looked at it curiously. "Isn't that Big White's teeth?"

"Yes." Tang Li hung the whistle around her daughter's neck and straightened her collar.

"You little rascal, you've never been able to stay still since you were a child. The capital city is too small to contain you."

"Here, take this whistle."

Tang Li looked at her daughter, her eyes filled with tenderness and reluctance, but even more so with encouragement:

"The world is vast, and the world is far-reaching."

"Now that you've inherited your mother's skills, go out and see the world."

"Bring along Big White's son, and Lightning's grandson."

"Go to the grasslands, go to the desert, go to Jiangnan."

"Do what you want to do, be the hero you want to be."

"Really?!"

Pei Niannian jumped up excitedly, hugged Tangli tightly, and rubbed against her: "Long live Mother! I've wanted to roam the martial world for so long! I want to be the number one female knight-errant in the world!"

"But I remembered it."

Tangli pinched her nose:

"Go home if you're tired. No matter how much trouble you've caused outside..."

She pointed in the direction of the study:

"Your dad and your brother will always be there to protect you."

...

When Pei Yunjing returned to his bedroom, Tang Li was leaning against the window looking at the moon.

"Have you explained everything?" Pei Yunjing hugged her from behind.

"Yeah, that girl Nian Nian can't wait to fly away tomorrow."

Tang Li smiled and sighed, leaning against him:

Where is An'er?

“He’s more composed than I imagined.” Pei Yunjing kissed the top of her head. “He’s someone who can handle things.”

"And what about us?" Tang Li asked.

Pei Yunjing tightened his arms, gazing at the bright moon outside the window, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"When they can stand on their own..."

"Let's really retire."

"Let's go to that 'Demon-Sealing Tower' where it's just the two of us and live our little life."