inspire-indiana Chapter 224 Sudden Departure from Beijing
Chapter 224 Sudden Departure from Beijing
Seeing that he couldn't say anything, Chu Tianheng stood up and turned to leave.
"I hosted this banquet at Qinlou to congratulate the general on the exoneration of his grievances, but I never expected that General Chu would be so intolerant of me. This has truly saddened me."
"Can you be accommodated?"
Chu Tianheng stopped in his tracks, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. He sneered, "You know what you're planning. I don't want to argue with you, and I certainly don't want to risk the safety of the entire Chu family to conspire with you again."
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhiheng gently swirled his wine glass, his tone indifferent, "General Chu remains the same as before, unchanged in his original intentions. But now that he's out of prison, the Duke's mansion has fallen apart, and his clansmen have suffered greatly. General Chu, instead of learning from this experience, you still want to offer your unwavering loyalty to that person?"
“My parents and teachers taught me the principles of being a person and the foundation of being a subject, which are loyalty and righteousness. From the very beginning, I have not wanted to conspire with Lord Lu, and I will not in the future. Lord Lu does not need to test me again and again, nor does he need to look for me.”
Chu Tianheng looked at the food and wine on the table and poured himself a full glass of wine.
"Today, I, Chu, swear by this cup of wine that I will never conspire with you, much less walk the same path with you. I hope that Lord Lu will reflect on his own conduct in the future, and not disturb my peace again, nor should he use this matter to bother Consort Liang or implicate innocent people."
Seeing Chu Tianheng drink a glass of wine by himself, Lu Zhiheng's eyes flickered slightly.
After a moment, he also raised his glass, "Since it is the path that the general has chosen, I will not force him to do anything. I just believe that the general is a smart man and will eventually abandon the darkness and embrace the light. I, Lu, will wait here for the general's good news."
The banquet ended badly for the two of them.
After returning to the Duke's mansion, Chu Tianheng thought about it several times and still felt that Lu Zhiheng was too cunning and probably wouldn't let it go easily.
If he stayed in the capital, there might be more trouble, so that night he ordered his servants to pack his luggage.
After everything was settled, he summoned the servants of the manor, distributed their indentures to several people, and also gave them some money.
“This money is your wages. From today onwards, you no longer need to come to the mansion to serve.”
Looking at the indenture and the gold and silver, the servants were all filled with trepidation. "General, you are too kind. It is our good fortune to be able to work in the Duke's mansion. We should be the ones thanking you."
Chu Tianheng had urgent business to attend to and didn't have time to say much. After distributing the money in his hand, he sent them away.
Looking at the layers of courtyards, this place holds endless memories, but now it all comes to an end.
One last look at the familiar Duke's mansion, wondering how long it would be before we could meet again after this parting.
Chu Tianheng stood outside the door, bowed three times towards the courtyard again, and then turned and left.
The informant who had been monitoring Chu Tianheng in the alley outside the Duke's mansion immediately reported back to his master.
Among them were Lu Zhiheng's subordinates.
"You mean Lord Chu is leaving the capital?"
"Yes, all the servants guarding the Duke's mansion have been dismissed, and General Chu has also packed up his belongings. Before I reported back, I even went into the courtyard to take a look, and it looked like he was planning to leave for a long time and not return."
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhiheng narrowed his dark eyes slightly.
After a long silence, he said in a deep voice, "Take a few men and follow General Chu at a distance that is neither too close nor too far. He has practiced martial arts since childhood and is always more cautious than ordinary people. You must be careful when following behind him."
"Yes."
……
At the same time, news of Chu Tianheng's secret departure from home quickly spread throughout the palace.
When Pei Yuanling learned of this, it was like a warning bell ringing in his heart.
Combined with Chu Qingyin's earlier mention of leaving, he couldn't sit still any longer.
He immediately set off for Feixue Palace.
Chu Qingyin sensed something was amiss when she saw him arrive in such a hurry.
However, after Pei Yuanling sat down, he did not tell Chu Qingyin his purpose, but instead talked to her about some unimportant things.
"When did Your Majesty and I become so distant? Ever since you arrived, I've noticed you seem preoccupied. Has something happened in the previous dynasty? Or has the royal family stirred up some trouble again?"
Pei Yuanling remained silent for a moment, then finally lowered his eyes to look at her and said seriously, "Yinyin, why did you say those things to me the other day? Do you intend to leave me?"
Chu Qingyin was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty is joking. I am your concubine. As a consort, I am not allowed to leave the palace unless I die. Where else can I go?"
"But……"
Pei Yuanling hesitated for a moment, but still couldn't feel at ease, so he simply spoke his mind.
"Just now, one of my men reported that your brother packed his bags overnight and left the capital. Judging from the direction he was heading, he should be heading towards Jiangnan. Do you know why your brother suddenly left the capital?"
Has my elder brother left the capital?
A look of surprise flashed across Chu Qingyin's eyes.
But siblings are of one mind, and she quickly understood her brother's intentions.
Concealing the surprise in her eyes, she forced a lighthearted smile and said, "So that's why Your Majesty is worried. It seems it was indeed my fault. I failed to inform Your Majesty of this matter beforehand, causing you to worry."
"You know about this?" Pei Yuanling frowned slightly.
Chu Qingyin nodded, then took the man's hands in a seemingly intimate gesture, inviting him to sit on the couch beside her, and carefully poured him a cup of hot tea.
"My brother has been away from home for many years, fighting on all sides. He has just returned to the capital but has been burdened with a false charge. Now that he has some free time, he has discussed it with me and we have decided to return to our hometown in Jiangnan to pay respects to our ancestors. We can also meet up with the exiled people on the way."
Pei Yuanling's expression turned slightly cold. "Why has your brother never told me about this plan? Doesn't he trust me?"
It is incredibly audacious of court officials to openly leave the capital without reporting it.
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin's face showed a hint of grievance. "Your Majesty is overthinking it. How could I not trust you?"
"Your Majesty asks this because you suspect me? Or because you suspect my brother? Has Your Majesty forgotten that you told me before that no matter what happens, you will stand before me and protect me? But now..."
However, a few rhetorical questions left Pei Yuanling speechless for a moment.
After calming his expression, he reassured him, "That's not what I meant. I was just afraid... you would leave."
At this point, Pei Yuanling raised his hand and pulled the person in front of him into his arms, burying his head in her soft neck, and said in a muffled voice, "I have already lost you once, and I cannot bear the pain of losing you a second time."
"Yinyin, I am indeed suspicious, but I also truly love you."
People often use love as a reason for possession, but they don't realize that every cause has an effect.
To ensure her brother's safe departure, Chu Qingyin dared not openly confront Pei Yuanling, so she explained again in a gentle and courteous manner.
"Your Majesty, I told you long ago that I would never leave you, so please rest assured. Besides, Your Majesty is planning to reinstate my brother, isn't he? He risked his life fighting abroad, not only to protect our country but also to earn merit. Now that he has gained Your Majesty's favor, how could he possibly give up such a golden opportunity?"
She spoke with reason and evidence, but Pei Yuanling didn't know whether he truly believed her or not. He simply nodded slightly and said, "Yinyin is right. When your brother returns to the capital, I will definitely restore his official position and let him return to the ranks. In the future, the glory of your Chu State Duke's Mansion will only increase."