Chapter 150

Chapter 150

Pei Baozhen went to the Dali Temple with great joy, but when she saw Pei Xiao, her expression had completely changed.

Pei Xiao had been imprisoned in the Dali Temple for six months. At first, he didn't think he had done anything wrong. Later, he felt that even if he had made a mistake, it was only a minor one, and the emperor wouldn't abandon him so easily. As time went on, he grew increasingly anxious. He thought that even if the emperor were to sentence him, he would at least come to see him once.

As long as the emperor came to see him, he would have a chance to explain himself.

However, it was as if the emperor had forgotten about him. He watched the small patch of light on the ceiling of his cell grow bright and then dark, day after day, but Su Yu never came to see him.

He heard from the jailers that the Pei family was working hard for him on the outside, and then he heard that the Pei family had given up on him. The Hedong military governor had been replaced by someone new, Pei Jin, who had a longstanding grudge against his father.

Pei Xiao was filled with despair. What was worse than death was being trapped in this tiny cell, with no one caring about him.

For the past six months, apart from the jailers who brought him food, he hadn't seen anyone else. So when he saw Pei Baozhen, tears streamed down his face.

Pei Baozhen had initially been quite happy. Su Yu's intention was for her to take Pei Xiao out to celebrate the New Year. But when the Dali Temple handed her a bill for the meals Pei Xiao and his son had consumed over the past six months, her joy quickly faded.

The Dali Temple was truly heartless. Not only did they charge her for the meals, but they also charged her for the "room and board."

The Dali Temple Minister said awkwardly, "This is the emperor's intention. The emperor said that if Lady Shanggong Pei's brother is innocent, then it would be considered as staying in the Dali Temple as a guest, and food, clothing, and lodging should be self-provided. If the Dali Temple were to provide these, then he would have to be a serious criminal of the Dali Temple..."

The Dali Temple Minister didn't finish his sentence, but Pei Baozhen understood the implication. A serious criminal would naturally face severe punishment, ranging from property confiscation to execution.

Pei Baozhen: "..." She had once been infatuated with Su Yu. She must have been out of her mind!

Pei Baozhen gritted her teeth and took out all her savings, treating it as a ransom for her brother's freedom.

But when she saw Pei Xiao, she was still furious. She wanted to rush up and give him a good thrashing for repeatedly ignoring her warnings, which not only landed him in prison for half a year but also left her penniless!

Pei Xiao cried for a long time before realizing that Pei Baozhen didn't seem as moved as he was. He cautiously looked at her, unsure whether her expressionless face meant he was safe or doomed.

"Little sister..."

Pei Baozhen impatiently waved her hand, "Hurry up and change your clothes. We need to get going."

Pei Xiao was stunned for a moment, then cautiously asked, "Out of prison, or to the afterlife?"

Pei Baozhen choked for a moment before forcing a smile, "The emperor is merciful and has decided to let it go. He has allowed me to take you home to celebrate the New Year."

Pei Xiao was first stunned, then ecstatic. He quickly changed his clothes and sheepishly asked, "What about your nephew..."

Pei Baozhen sneered, "Of course, he'll be coming too."

After all, she had already paid the Dali Temple for both Pei Xiao and his son.

Pei Xiao nodded, "Then I'll stay with you for a few days before heading back to Hedong."

Pei Baozhen continued to sneer, "The head of the Pei family has been replaced, and so has the Hedong military governor. What are you going to Hedong for anyway?"

This time, Pei Xiao was a bit smarter. He said, "The Hedong military governor is appointed by the emperor, after all. Whoever the emperor appoints is the governor. But the position of the head of the Pei family is something I need to reclaim."

Pei Baozhen looked at Pei Xiao with some disappointment, "The emperor has had you locked up for half a year, yet you haven't learned much."

"Then... what should I do now?" After being imprisoned for half a year, Pei Xiao finally set aside his arrogance and earnestly waited for Pei Baozhen to give him advice.

Pei Baozhen sighed and said, "The emperor wants you to stay in the capital for now and serve as a regular soldier under General Yu."

Pei Xiao said with difficulty, "A scholar can be killed but not humiliated..."

"Humiliate my foot!" Pei Baozhen couldn't hold back and swung her fist hard at Pei Xiao. However, being delicate herself and her brother a tough military man, she ended up hurting her own hand.

She pulled back her fist, feeling numb, "If you're not willing, the prison door is right behind you."

She could also go to the Dali Temple Minister to get a refund for the bribe she paid.

In the end, Pei Xiao didn't turn back; he decided to go and be a soldier under Yu Chiyi.

After personally delivering Pei Xiao and his father to the military camp, Pei Baozhen returned to the palace to report.

Su Yu managed to snatch half a day of leisure, sitting on a rocking chair basking in the sun. Pei Baozhen couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy at her relaxed demeanor, and she couldn't help but say, "Why does Your Majesty seem so relaxed as the year comes to an end?"

"Haven't those officials been insisting I should enjoy my leisure?" Su Yu leisurely flipped through a book.

Pei Baozhen: "?" The emperor calls this leisure? What did the previous emperor consider leisure then?

She sneaked a glance at the book cover, which was "Weizhou Local Chronicles." She remembered Su Yu was reading "Qizhou Local Chronicles" a couple of days ago. "Is Your Majesty planning to read through the local chronicles of all 360 prefectures?"

"Pretty much," Su Yu replied nonchalantly.

Pei Baozhen said, "The prefecture commands mountains and rivers, holding the strategic backbone of the empire..."

Su Yu casually continued, "It is the cornerstone of Hedong, a place of contention throughout history."

Pei Baozhen: "..." She was reciting from "Taiyuan Prefecture Local Chronicles," and the emperor could actually follow.

"When did Your Majesty manage to read this?" she asked curiously.

Su Yu said, "I casually flipped through it on my way to Taiyuan."

Pei Baozhen sighed, "With Your Majesty's photographic memory, why not apply it to moral and literary improvement?"

"I believe my morals are impeccable; no need for further refinement," Su Yu turned another page.

Pei Baozhen: "..." She was clearly hinting that the emperor should enhance his cultural knowledge, but the emperor twisted her words.

Despite this, the emperor wasn't angered; instead, she gave her a faint smile. Pei Baozhen felt herself once again succumbing to the emperor's charm...

Suddenly, the thought of her empty purse crossed her mind, and the sparkle in her eyes faded, leaving only a numb expression as she looked at Su Yu.

Su Yu had only this half-day of leisure. Following the Ministry of Personnel's official assessments, the year-end festivities officially commenced.

On New Year's Eve, clad in ceremonial robes, Su Yu performed the rituals of heaven and earth worship, and as usual, held the New Year's banquet in the Linde Hall.

However, a few new faces appeared at the banquet.

The most notable among them was Liu Wushi. Although he sat at the end, everyone knew he was the first Minister of Revenue in Great Qi. Officials passing by couldn't resist glancing at him twice.

Liu Wushi felt like a caged panda, with everyone stopping to gawk at him.

He turned to look at Su Yu. The emperor, dressed in ceremonial robes and wearing the imperial crown, exuded an aloof, unapproachable aura.

Beside her were Cui Xuan, Yao Feiming, Xie Yiguan, and Yu Chiyi, but not him.

Liu Wushi inexplicably felt a wave of sadness and lowered his head to take a sip of wine.

After three rounds of drinks, Su Yu, as she did last year, did not keep the ministers to stay with her for New Year's Eve, allowing them to return to their homes.

Liu Wushi was carried along by the flow of the crowd, and he tilted his head back to gaze at the moonless, pitch-black sky.

Suddenly, a sudden idea hit him, and he turned around.

From the palace gate to Linde Hall, the lights were sparse, but the flickering dots of light in the night wind seemed to form a line before his eyes, guiding him toward the brightly lit Linde Hall.

He stood resolute, pushing against the crowd as he headed toward Linde Hall.

The palace registrar at the gate smiled and said, "Minister Liu, you've finally returned? The Emperor is waiting for you."

Liu Wushi's eyes lit up with joy. He eagerly strode into the palace, and there was Su Yu, waiting for him exactly where she stood—

"Your Majesty—" His voice quivered with emotion.

Su Yu raised her eyes, but what Liu Wushi heard was Xie Yiguan's voice: "Minister Liu, you've finally returned."

Liu Wushi was startled. When he came back to his senses, he realized that Cui Xuan, Wei Chi Yi, and Xie Yiguan, who had been by Su Yu's side earlier, were still surrounding her.

Su Yu casually took off her crown.

Cui Xuan quickly spoke up to stop her: "Your Majesty..."

He glanced at the crown in Su Yu's hand, then met her slightly accusatory gaze, which seemed to say that she had been wearing it all day and her neck was sore.

Cui Xuan pursed his lips and said softly, "Your Majesty, your hair is a mess. Let me tidy it up for you."

Though his expression stayed stern, his hands were surprisingly gentle as he fixed Su Yu's hair.

Wei Chi Yi laughed and said, "Why should a man fuss over such small details? Your Majesty, don't mind him. Let's head outside and grill some meat over a bonfire."

Xie Yiguan chuckled along: "General Wei, you have such refined tastes, but I'm afraid we're not as tough as General Wei."

He turned to Su Yu and said, "It's no big deal if I catch a cold, but Your Majesty's health is tied to the fate of Great Qi. We can't just let General Wei do as he pleases."

Wei Chi Yi: "..." Suddenly, he understood why Cui Xuan disliked Xie Yiguan.

Su Yu laughed heartily: "Hot pot is more to my liking. I've already had it prepared. Let's have hot pot!"

The banquet tables were cleared away and replaced with long tables set with hot pots. Su Yu sat down and called for the others to join her. "It's much more fun when we all gather around the hot pot."

"Your Majesty, let's have a drink!" Wei Chi Yi stood up beside Su Yu and poured her a drink.

Cui Xuan and Xie Yiguan vied to cook the meat, then placed the cooked pieces into Su Yu's bowl.

Su Yu drank a cup with Wei Chi Yi, then turned to Liu Wushi and asked with a smile, "Why has Buyi been so silent?"

Liu Wushi was momentarily stunned, then suddenly smiled: "I just didn't expect Your Majesty's New Year's Eve to be so warm and lively."

He stood up, holding his cup, and toasted Su Yu. Su Yu drained her cup in one go, and he followed suit.

The strong liquor and hot pot made the chilly New Year's Eve night feel exceptionally cozy.

Having drunk a bit too much, Su Yu ran back to her chambers to relieve herself. On her way back, she encountered the four men who had come out to look for her.

Wei Chi Yi said bluntly, "There's a bathroom right here. I could have accompanied you. Why did Your Majesty go so far?"

Cui Xuan glanced at Wei Chi Yi and said coldly, "Your Majesty went to avoid you."

Wei Chi Yi: "?"

Xie Yiguan glanced at Su Yu thoughtfully.

Su Yu smiled and shifted the topic, "What are you looking at, Buyi?"

"Your Majesty, I am admiring the red lanterns," Liu Wushi replied.

The corridor was festooned with bright red lanterns, and Su Yu stood beneath them, radiant as a peony in full bloom under the blazing sun.

Liu Wushi suddenly felt that such a New Year's Eve was too simple, unworthy of his majestic and noble Empress. With a slight slur in his voice, he said, "Next year, I'll light up the whole city with fireworks for Your Majesty, how about that?"

Su Yu suddenly turned her gaze to him, and even though the other three were present, Liu Wushi felt that, at this moment, Su Yu's eyes were solely on him. He heard her quip, "Why not just hand over the silver for the fireworks directly?"

Liu Wushi: '...' His tipsiness vanished in an instant.

The group stayed up until dawn. Earlier, Su Yu had prepared rooms for them to rest, so they opted to stay in the palace and rest.

By noon, Su Yu finally stirred awake.

As soon as she awoke, she summoned Cui Xuan and Yu Chiyi to discuss the trip to Yuanzhou.

Cui Xuan, noticing the faint shadows under Su Yu's eyes, said, "Your Majesty, perhaps you should take another day to rest?"

Su Yu shook her head, "If we leave now, we can return before the spring holiday ends."

Yu Chiyi frowned slightly but kept his objections to himself. Instead, he silently pondered who to bring along to protect Su Yu. "We can have the same three thousand cavalry escort Your Majesty to Yuanzhou."

"Three thousand would be too noticeable. A hundred should do," Su Yu said.

By the time Xie Yiguan arrived, Su Yu, Cui Xuan, and Yu Chiyi had already largely finalized their plans.

Seeing him, Su Yu waved him over and informed him upfront, "I plan to go to Yuanzhou."

"Then I..." Xie Yiguan was about to say he would make preparations.

Su Yu smiled at him, "This time, I'll take Xing Jian with me. I'll leave Zhi Wei to guard the capital. I should be back before the spring holiday ends. If anything urgent comes up, you can handle it for me."

A pang of disappointment struck Xie Yiguan. He bowed his head and said, "As Your Majesty commands."

Cui Xuan glanced faintly at Xie Yiguan. He seemed to understand Xie Yiguan's feelings at that moment. He subtly twitched the corner of his mouth, thinking that if in the future, the Empress could always take him on her travels and leave Xie Yiguan to guard the capital, he could accept it. After all, the Empress had promoted Xie Yiguan to the position of Prime Minister.