Snowy Chang'an Road

Chapter 29 Iron Book of Alchemy
  In the Huainan Marquis Mansion, after Pei Kai read out the imperial edict, he retreated, leaving only him and Qi Zhan.

Qi Zhan handed the tea cup to Pei Kai.

"Your Majesty summoned me to Chang'an, is it just because he misses me?"

Pei Kai smelled the tea, took a sip and said, "The tea from Guangling is indeed very different from Chang'an."

Qi Zhan took out the iron coupon of the alchemy book from behind his back.

The iron certificate of Danshu is made of iron, with an oath engraved in bright red characters: Make the Yellow River like a belt, Mount Tai like a stone, Wei has an ancestral temple, and you will never be unparalleled.

"Pei Kai, when the Kingdom of Wei was first established, Your Majesty made an oath with us eight princes and kings of different surnames that as long as the Kingdom of Wei exists, our kingdoms will never cease to be heirs. The iron book of the Dan Book was divided into two, and Your Majesty and we each held Half of it, this is His Majesty's trust and promise to us, but what about now? I have been demoted to the Marquis of Huainan, Mu Xian has been demoted to the Marquis of Dongping, Fan Hui has been killed, and Gao Jun's whereabouts are unknown, what does Your Majesty want?"

"Your Majesty, I just haven't seen you for a long time and miss you so much."

"Pei Kai, at the beginning I had a heavy army, and Your Majesty only had 20,000 county soldiers. It was you who persuaded me to assist Your Majesty, saying that he would definitely be the monarch of this world. If the world is peaceful, you will treat me as a soldier of the country, and I will repay you as a soldier of the country." , but what about now? Has His Majesty forgotten the promise he once made? "

"Qizhan, His Majesty just summoned you to Chang'an, why should you be like a frightened bird? Fan Hui rebelled, the evidence is conclusive, Gao Jun defected to the Xiongnu, the world knows that you have been demoted to Huainan Marquis, and the Wei Dynasty is equal to you There are hundreds of people who have been granted the title of marquis, and you are just one of them. What threat can you pose to His Majesty? You have already been defeated by His Majesty. Why should he defeat you without force and take your life? I see you waiting in Guangling Kingdom. I have been there for too long, and my brain is no longer what it used to be.”

Hearing what he said, Qi Zhan still didn't let down his guard, but he was not good at hiding his emotions. Pei Kai had already understood his psychology calmly.

"Could it be that your Majesty really misses me?"

"Your Majesty is very old. He has been depressed since he signed the contract with Hunan Chanyu at the foot of the Stirrup Mountain. In addition, he was poisoned some time ago. The real murderer has not yet been identified. Your Majesty is old, and he only hopes that he can See you again, our brothers who conquered the world together. As for demoting you, it is indeed your Majesty’s fault. This time you come with me to Chang’an. I will mention this matter to Your Majesty again. If Your Majesty is willing, you still The King of Huainan who is supported by the people in Guangling Kingdom."

The Pei Kai whom Qi Zhan knew had never been a straight talker, but today he said a lot of arrogant things for the first time, which surprised him.

He is an emotional person. When he is wronged, he has a thorn in his heart. If no one cares about it, it will get deeper and deeper. But once someone stands in his position and speaks a fair word for him, he will be easily moved to soften his heart.

On the third day after this conversation, Qi Zhan and Pei Kai went to Chang'an.

At the same time, Wei Shao and Pei Ying protected them secretly.

During the return trip, Pei Ying and Wei Shao discussed Qi Zhan's affairs, but differences arose between them.

Pei Ying believed that His Majesty was cruel and ruthless, and Qi Zhan's trip to Chang'an would be in danger. They should kidnap Qi Zhan on the way and persuade him to remain anonymous and stay away from Chang'an.

Wei Shao believed that although His Majesty was ruthless in his actions, Qi Zhan was only the Marquis of Huainan, and was summoned to Chang'an by His Majesty, far away from his base camp, so he would not pose a threat to His Majesty, so there was no need for His Majesty to kill him. Although His Majesty was deeply suspicious, he still He would not kill people for no reason, let alone kill one of his own defeated generals.

After a long discussion, Pei Ying gave up the persuasion. Wei Shao did listen to persuasion many times, but sometimes he was stubborn.

The difference in their thinking is that when Pei Ying thinks about anything, he will think about the worst outcome, while Wei Shao will think about the bad outcome, but not the worst outcome.

Wei Shao's heart was hot, not as cold as his appearance showed.

Pei Ying's heart is cold, not as enthusiastic as her appearance shows.

Four days before the Great Summer Festival, Qi Zhan arrived in Chang'an, and Wei Yuan hosted a banquet in Weiyang Palace. Seeing Wei Yuan's white hair and stooped body, Qi Zhan couldn't help but feel sad, and blamed himself in his heart for wrongly blaming His Majesty.

Such a scene is inevitably touching, but it has been several years since I last saw my former comrade-in-arms, who has been tortured by time and illness into this state. All the unhappy things in the past have been let go at this moment.

Compared with an emperor, Wei Yuan now looks more like an old man in his twilight years. He holds on to his body and fights with death every day. Under such circumstances, it is difficult for Qi Zhan to hate him anymore and bring him from thousands of miles away. He came and wanted to question His Majesty's iron book of alchemy, but he also pressed it into the deepest part of the wooden box.

In the next few days, he stayed with Wei Yuan all the time, playing chess, visiting gardens, and discussing state affairs with him. Wei Yuan wanted to drink with him, but his body did not allow it, so he could only watch him drink. At this time, Qi Zhan Always turning away to hide his tears.

Five days after the Great Heat, the weather in Chang'an became increasingly hot. Wei Yuan decided to take Mrs. Deng and his party south to Shanglinyuan to escape the summer heat.

Shanglin Garden was originally a garden of the former dynasty. The year after Wei Yuan came to the throne, he issued an edict: the garden of the former dynasty was enclosed so that the people could have farmland there. Some of the abandoned land around Shanglin Garden was distributed to the people for farming, leaving only a few hundred acres as a royal garden, which was also his summer palace.

This time when I went to the summer palace, the prince was still in charge of the country, assisted by the Marquis of Huainan and Duke Pei.

After Wei Shao brought the news back to the Peking Palace, Pei Ying only felt strange.

"There is no objection to my father assisting the crown prince, but it is a bit far-fetched for the Marquis of Huainan to assist the crown prince."

"Your Majesty feels guilty towards the Marquis of Huainan, and may be taking this opportunity to make up for him."

Listening to Wei Shao's words, Pei Ying still felt uneasy in her heart.

Outside the gate of Luo City, Wei Yuan and his party left Chang'an City in a mighty manner and headed south to Shanglin Garden.

Wei Shao and Pei Ying were also on the way. After Wei Yuan's carriage and horses had gone away, Wei Shao walked to Qi Zhan's side.

"Uncle, since you entered Chang'an, you have been by your father's side. Now that your father has gone to Shanglin Garden, you can rest for a while. The weather is hot today, so Pei Ying ordered people to cook a lot of food to relieve the heat at home. I would like to invite you to my house to taste it. I wonder if you are free?"

Looking at the invitation from the couple, Qi Zhan said, "If I remember correctly, Princess Peking is the daughter of Pei Kai?"

"Exactly."

"Then call Pei Kai and come to your house to have a fun time together."

Pei Ying originally wanted to stop him, but seeing that he was very enthusiastic, she couldn't say anything.

Qi Zhan walked to Pei Kai, talked to him for a few words and then came back again. He asked with a puzzled face: "Princess, your father seems reluctant to go to your house. Why is that?"

"Uncle, my sister has had a miscarriage and my father is feeling sad. We should not disturb him."

She couldn't tell her uncle that her father didn't like her, and there was no contact between father and daughter.

　Happy Thursday, princess and prince, please read.

　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)