Chapter 719: Chapter 242: Return to Beijing_2
Lu Tong lagged behind; Pei Yunmeng reined in his horse and dismounted, walking up to her.
"You go back to the Medical Officer Institute to rest first, I will come find you later."
The journey from Su Nan to Shengjing was long, and Lu Tong’s illness had not yet fully healed. The rigors of travel had taken their toll on her.
"There’s no need, I have to head to West Street after I register the documents." Lu Tong looked at him," Are you going to enter the palace?"
"Yes."
Pei Yunmeng had been away from Shengjing for too long; all the affairs of the Palace Front Office had been handed over to Xiao Zhufeng. Upon returning to the capital, he still needed to present himself to The New Emperor and report in detail about the battle at Qi Shui.
"Go ahead." Lu Tong said,"Today must be very busy for you."
"Then I will come find you later."
After he finished speaking, he mounted his horse again and left with the Imperial Guards.
...
Pei Yunmeng entered the palace.
Qinzheng Hall seemed just the same as before, but atop the golden throne sat a different person.
Prince Ning—no, he should be called The New Emperor now—seemed very pleased to see him.
"You’ve finally returned." The Emperor said,"Without you here these past days, the drills of the Dragon Tiger Guard Army went poorly in the eyes of the palace. Without you, the Palace Front Office is not quite the same."
Pei Yunmeng replied with a smile:" It seems His Majesty has been very busy these past months."
The Emperor huffed.
Indeed, very busy.
With the accession of The New Emperor, the old powers were deeply intertwined. Qi Qing had dominated the court for many years, and even though the Qi Family had fallen, remnants of their power remained in the court. During Emperor Liang Ming’s reign, heavy taxes were levied and corruption was rampant in the court; to purge it was not an overnight task. The throne was not as stable as Mount Tai.
"Externally solidifying the borders, internally stabilizing the state. The teachings of the former Emperor are indeed quite difficult." He sighed.
"As the Emperor, you must not speak of difficulty."
The Emperor glanced at him," Do you also think thus of me?"
Pei Yunmeng smiled without speaking.
For years, as Prince Ning acting the role of the "useless prince," he spent his days in Official Lane buying flowers and choosing vegetables. Everyone praised his good nature. Even though he was biding his time, a person grows accustomed to a certain way of living if they do it long enough. Thus, upon taking his place on the throne and abandoning his former ease, he sometimes felt the chill of loneliness at the top.
The Emperor put down the memorial in his hands and shook his head," And you? You wrapped up the battle at Qi Shui neatly; was it to meet the one in your heart? Were you that impatient?"
Pei Yunmeng paused.
The Emperor’s gaze was teasing.
As The New Emperor took the throne, the Third Prince’s uncle, Chen Wei, withdrew all his troops, and Yuan Lang assigned Pei Yunmeng to pacify the chaos at Qi Shui. The unrest ended more rapidly than anyone had anticipated.
Yet, no sooner had the chaos ended than Pei Yunmeng rushed a petition back to Shengjing, requesting to remain in Su Nan to assist the Medical Officer in combating the epidemic.
The Emperor adjusted his sleeves and said," On that day, many in the court accused you of pride in your military exploits, reluctant to return to the capital from Su Nan, harboring thoughts of rebellion. It was I who steadfastly protected you in the face of those old foxes. If not for me, you’d be in serious trouble right now."
"Thank you for Your Majesty’s trust in your subject."
Yuan Lang waved his hand:" They don’t know, but I know, you’re just lovesick."
Pei Yunmeng:"..."
Yuan Lang looked at him with amusement," Truly, Marshal Pei, I never would have thought you to be someone so deeply in love."
Pei Yunmeng handled the turmoil at Qi Shui admirably but then turned around and headed to Su Nan, catching everyone off guard.
His signed petition was righteous and staunch, yet Yuan Lang noticed only two words amidst the righteous text—Lu Tong.
He went to Su Nan for Lu Tong.
The Emperor clicked his tongue twice," Do you need me to arrange a marriage for you? I’ve never married off anyone in my life, might as well start with you."
Pei Yunmeng halted, and said," Your Majesty, I’d prefer to manage my own matrimonial matters."
"Oh?" The Emperor narrowed his eyes, looking at him with a meaningful glance,"After spending months with that Medical Officer in Su Nan, she hasn’t taken a fancy to you?"
"It’s not that..."
"Pei Yunmeng, oh Pei Yunmeng, you were handpicked from among thousands to be the Commander of the Palace Front Office, outstanding in looks, family background, and character, yet so useless in matters of love, much like Minister Yan..."
As soon as the words "Minister Yan" were uttered, both men froze for a moment.
It was as if an unspoken taboo had been broached, and both Yuan Lang and Pei Yunmeng’s gazes turned somber all at once.
After the palace coup, the structure of the Three Bureaux was rewritten.
The Third Prince was confined; the Crown Prince’s faction was completely toppled, and within the court, those who were quick to shift loyalty did so without hesitation, while those who sought to rebel, did rebel. Every day was eventful within the walls of the Imperial City, and new prisoners constantly entered Zhao Prison of the Department of Imperial City.
The women of the harem were also dealt with; the Empress Dowager asked to stay in Wan’en Temple to copy scriptures and worship Buddha. Perhaps it was to avoid suspicion, or because of an internal sense of guild—that the true causes of death of the former Emperor and Crown Prince were something the Empress Dowager might have noticed. But since she was neither their birth mother nor the birth mother of Emperor Liang Ming, if it did not affect her own status, some things were easier to overlook.