Chapter 72
Chapter 72
At those words, Pei Xianjing’s hand clenched abruptly, crushing the ledger-two fingers thick-into a wad.
“My younger cousin? Which younger cousin?”
He remained seated as he spoke in a low voice.
As though, if only he suppressed his fury and agitation, this terrible news would have nothing to do with Xing Shuwei.
The subordinate dared not raise his head. His voice trembled. “To… to answer you, my lord, it was your cousin of the Xing family who has been staying at your estate.
“The guard who brought word from Princess Jin’an’s residence said that Miss Xing and her brother were descendants of remnants of the Xu clan who escaped thirty years ago.
“After the Empress Dowager recognized them, Princess Jin’an had all three of them put to death by a thousand cuts.”
The words exploded through Pei Xianjing’s mind like a thunderclap.
An image instantly filled his mind: blades descending inch by inch upon Xing Shuwei-
Blood soaking through her until she was reduced to a mangled ruin…
How could someone as delicate as she was, someone so afraid of pain, have suffered death by a thousand cuts?
No. It was not true.
He had already given his father the memorial requesting that his engagement be dissolved, asking Pei Congxian to petition the Emperor for approval in his capacity as Second Grand Secretary.
To ensure that nothing could go wrong, Pei Xianjing had even come to Yucheng himself to settle accounts with the Qi clan.
Once this matter was resolved, Xing Shuwei could remain at his side without another worry.
And now they were telling him she was dead?
How could that be possible?
Pei Xianjing surged to his feet. The chair beneath him split apart with a crack.
“Pei Xianjing.” The former Chief Grand Secretary, Qi Yusheng-the Empress’s own father-chose that moment to call out.
“Princess Jin’an is making an example of her to warn you. She is telling you not to harm me or any member of my family.
“If you know what is good for you, take your dogs and get out of my residence!”
In a flash, Pei Xianjing appeared before Qi Yusheng.
He raised an arm and struck the man’s throat with his palm.
Qi Yusheng’s mouth fell open and his pupils widened, but he could not make a sound.
“Go… die!” Gripping Qi Yusheng’s arm, Pei Xianjing wrenched it from its socket by force.
No longer restraining his thunderous fury, he ordered Chengde, “Kill everyone in the Qi residence!”
Chengde froze for only an instant before hurriedly cupping his hands. “This subordinate obeys.”
Pei Xianjing strode through the door, vaulted onto his horse, and galloped toward the capital.
Behind him, inside the Qi residence-
Chengde issued the order: “Qi Yusheng embezzled military funds and colluded with foreign enemies.
“Twenty-three years ago, he allowed enemy troops across the border, plunging Qizhou’s people into misery and leaving tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians dead or wounded.
“The evidence is conclusive. Not only did he refuse to confess, he also attempted to murder an official of the imperial court.
“All traitors of the Qi clan are hereby executed on the spot.”
* * *
Alone on horseback, Pei Xianjing reached the capital shortly after nine the following morning.
Pei Congxian and the rest of the Pei family were already waiting beside the moat.
“Jing’er.” Pei Congxian hurried forward several steps and blocked Pei Xianjing’s horse.
Pei Xianjing leaped from the saddle and stumbled, nearly pitching to the ground.
Pei Congxian hastily caught him.
Pei Xianjing had been steady by nature since childhood. Never before had Pei Congxian seen him in such a panic.
“Father.” Hope filled Pei Xianjing’s eyes as he looked at him, longing to hear that Xing Shuwei was safe.
Pei Congxian avoided his gaze and uttered only two words. “My condolences.”
Pei Xianjing’s eyes went abruptly cold. He released his father and turned to mount again.
He would not believe Xing Shuwei was dead unless he saw her corpse with his own eyes.
“Jing’er.” Pei Congxian rushed after him and wrapped both arms around his waist, dragging him back.
“Let go of me.”
“I am going into the palace to ask the Empress Dowager where she has hidden my woman.”
“Jing’er, she is already dead.” Pei Congxian clung to him with all his strength and refused to let go.
No one knew his son’s nature better than he did.
Pei Xianjing might ordinarily conduct himself with restraint and propriety, gentle and modest, but in truth there was nothing he would not do.
“Listen to your father. It is not only the Xing siblings who died.
“Noble Consort Zhang and the Eleventh Prince are dead as well. The powers within the palace have already killed until they were blind with bloodlust.
“My son, how could I possibly let you enter the palace now? Besides, you have only just slaughtered the entire Qi clan.”
Beside himself with fear and anxiety, Pei Congxian burst into tears.
When he realized he could not hold Pei Xianjing back alone, he called over the three men of the second branch, and together they surrounded Pei Xianjing.
“I do not believe it.” Pei Xianjing’s eyes were bloodshot.
“Alive, I must see her. Dead, I must see her corpse. I am going into the palace.”
“Who dares stop me?”
At his furious roar, the three men of the second branch instinctively retreated.
Only Pei Congxian still clung to him desperately. “Jing’er, come home with Father first. I will explain everything that happened in detail once we are there, all right?”
Once they returned home, he would have ways to lock Pei Xianjing inside.
He would not release him for a single day until he regained his calm.
Seeing him nearly deranged and utterly stripped of reason, how could Pei Congxian dare tell him that Xing Shuwei’s ashes had already been scattered into the moat?
He dared not say it, but someone else did.
Lady Pei silently approached and spoke without warning. “Xianjing, listen to your father’s advice. Do not enter the palace. There is no corpse for you to claim. She was carved apart with more than three thousand cuts until not a patch of flesh remained whole, then burned in a fire.
“Why do you think we are all here?
“The palace ordered our entire family to scatter her ashes into the moat in your place.”
“Shut your mouth!” Pei Congxian thundered.
“What did you say? Say it again!”
Pei Xianjing’s eyes were engorged with blood, as though he might weep tears of it.
Lady Pei’s brows relaxed and the corners of her eyes lifted. Her expression told him that every word was true.
Suddenly, Pei Xianjing felt a spasm of agony in his chest, as though a blunt, notched blade had plunged into him and torn his flesh out with it.
His lips moved. No longer possessing the strength to struggle, he looked at Pei Congxian with knitted brows, seeking confirmation.
Knowing he could conceal it no longer, Pei Congxian could only nod. “It is true.”
Blood seeped from the corner of Pei Xianjing’s mouth.
Pei Congxian was horrified. Had his son bitten through his own tongue?
Pei Xianjing coughed heavily several times. He raised a hand and curled it into a fist, trying to cover his lips.
But as though he had choked on water, he broke into several violent coughs.
The blood in his mouth sprayed out.
His eyes still open, he crashed to the ground and dragged Pei Congxian down with him.
He lay there, still coughing without cease.
Every cough made his chest heave violently.
And every heave sent blood gushing from his mouth.
“Jing’er!” Kneeling on the ground, Pei Congxian seized his shoulders and shouted.
“A physician! Hurry and fetch a physician!”
The entire Pei family was stunned senseless.
Pei Guofei stood frozen like a block of wood, tears streaming down his face without end.
Lady Pei was equally dumbstruck, too frightened even to breathe loudly-
She had only wanted Pei Xianjing to suffer a little heartache. She had never meant for him to die.
The father was ruled by love, and the son he fathered with that lowly maid was no different.
Furious and frantic, she cursed inwardly, Neither father nor son is worth a thing. Both debase themselves by giving their hearts to shameless sluts.
After silently venting her fury, she urged Pei Guofei, “Are you deaf? Your uncle told you to hurry into the city and fetch a physician!”