Chapter 98: Chapter 98: The Emperor Is a Real Piece of Work, Joyfully Acquiring a Treasured Steed

After having a meal with Wei Yue, Pei Shaoqing got off duty early and rushed straight to the inner residence to find Xie Qingwu as soon as he got home.

"Why are you back so early today?"

Xie Qingwu, who was sitting on a swing and reading a book, was a little surprised to see Pei Shaoqing.

Pei Shaoqing waved his hand, signaling for Qiu Ye to leave.

Qiu Ye bowed and quickly exited the small courtyard.

"Wei Yue is here," Pei Shaoqing finally said.

Hearing this, Xie Qingwu’s lovely face turned serious. She leaped lightly off the swing. "Is it about King Shu’s rebellion? You didn’t give yourself away, did you? Wei Yue and Marquis Weiyuan were old acquaintances, so he should be quite familiar with Pei Shaoqing."

"I don’t think so." Pei Shaoqing shook his head after a moment of recollection, then asked, "How strong is he?"

"A Transformation Stage Grandmaster," Xie Qingwu said succinctly.

Pei Shaoqing sat down on a stone bench. "I’ll have to be around him for the next few days. Tell me about him in detail."

"Alright." Xie Qingwu walked over, poured Pei Shaoqing a cup of tea, and sat down opposite him. Her red lips parted as she began her story slowly. "Back when His Majesty was still the King of Qi, Wei Yue’s father was his personal Guard. Later, when His Majesty raised an army to ’cleanse the sovereign’s side,’ the late Emperor was being beaten back on the main battlefield and sent imperial experts to assassinate His Majesty.

"They nearly succeeded, but Wei Yue’s father took a fatal sword blow for His Majesty and died. From then on, His Majesty kept the young Wei Yue by his side. Although they don’t have the official title of father and son, he is, for all intents and purposes, His Majesty’s adopted son."

Pei Shaoqing sucked in a sharp breath.

’Even some of Emperor Jingtai’s own biological sons probably don’t share a bond as deep as the one he has with Wei Yue.’

Seeing that Pei Shaoqing hadn’t touched his tea, Xie Qingwu picked it up herself and took a sip, leaving a faint red lipstick mark on the rim. She continued, "Wei Yue is exceptionally talented. With His Majesty pouring all sorts of resources into his training, he broke through to the Transformation stage by the age of thirty.

"And even before that, he was already the Commander of the Jing’an Guard when His Majesty first ascended the throne. Ten years ago, the Jing’an Guard became too powerful and lacked oversight, causing widespread public resentment. After His Majesty broke it up, Wei Yue remained as the Northern Governor."

Although a Governor was only a Fourth Grade official, not even a Second Grade minister at court would dare to look down on him.

That position was reserved for the Emperor’s most trusted confidants.

"Furthermore, Wei Yue is a deeply devoted man. After his first wife died of illness, he never remarried and has no children. He’s been alone ever since. He lives an extremely simple life, is highly principled, but by no means rigid..."

Everything Xie Qingwu said was public knowledge among the bureaucratic class of the Great Zhou. After listening, Pei Shaoqing’s assessment of Wei Yue was simple: he was the Emperor’s sword.

’He probably didn’t remarry not because he was so devoted, but because he was afraid of implicating his family in the future. After the Emperor dies, he’s certain to face retaliation.’

’At the same time, Pei Shaoqing gained a deeper understanding of Emperor Jingtai: seemingly generous, but in reality, cruel and ungrateful!’

’He appears loyal and righteous, treating Wei Yue very well.’

’But if he truly had Wei Yue’s best interests at heart, he wouldn’t have let him stay in the Jing’an Guard. He should have used the reorganization ten years ago as an opportunity to transfer him to another post.’

’No wonder Wei Yue killed Yan Sichen as easily as killing a dog. He shows no hesitation or concern, even when faced with the imperial bloodline.’

’One, because he’s utterly loyal to the Emperor.’

’Two, because he understands his role perfectly.’

’And three, because he’s all alone in the world.’

"The Emperor is a real bastard," Pei Shaoqing let out a slow breath, sighing with genuine feeling.

’The man’s father traded his life to save your worthless hide.’

’Otherwise, forget the throne.’

’You might not even have a memorial tablet.’

’And this is how you repay him?’

’Thankfully, he had never wanted to be anyone’s loyal subject. One’s fate should be in one’s own hands. Even if death were certain, he would rather fall on his own sword.’

Xie Qingwu was unfazed by his treasonous words, even nodding in agreement. "Emperors throughout history have always been this way. Why do you think, despite owning the world and having countless descendants, they still refer to themselves as ’the Solitary One’? Because they don’t see other people as their own kind. An emperor merely looks human."

"Heh, a brilliant insight, my dear wife." Pei Shaoqing said with a slight smile. "It seems intelligence can be sexually transmitted, just like power. You’ve clearly grown much more clever since we began performing our husbandly and wifely duties. You should eat more things to nourish the brain. Like cures like, after all. The small head is also a head."

"My lord, please show some decorum." Xie Qingwu’s face flushed slightly as she glared at him. She might be wild in bed, but she couldn’t stand such crude language outside of it.

As a standard young lady from a noble official’s family, the fact that she could let loose in bed was already the result of Pei Shaoqing’s "training" in their early days. Expecting her to be just as wanton outside of bed was impossible.

But the more she was like this, the more Pei Shaoqing loved to tease her in all sorts of proper settings outside the bedroom. He grinned and said, "I’ll provide the follow-up line. My lady, please proceed on your own."

"My lord!" Xie Qingwu was getting angry, biting her red lip, her shapely eyebrows shooting up. The full curve of her chest rose and fell erratically. "If you keep this up, I’ll get truly angry! There are things a husband and wife can say behind closed doors. You can do whatever you want then. But if you don’t care about the time or place, where is your sense of shame?"

She wouldn’t care if Pei Shaoqing acted this way toward a concubine, or toward some woman of no official standing outside the manor. But she couldn’t accept him showing such a lack of respect for her, his legitimate wife.

"Alright, alright, calm down, my lady." Pei Shaoqing quickly soothed her and changed the subject. "Tell me about the Dragon Blood Steeds. Wei Yue said the Emperor has granted me a Lower Grade Dragon Blood Steed, and it should arrive tomorrow."

"A Dragon Blood Steed!" Xie Qingwu’s attention was instantly diverted. Her mouth fell slightly open, and she frowned in confusion. "His Majesty seems to be favoring you excessively."

’First the ennoblement, and now a Dragon Blood Steed.’

’Looking back, both of these are rewards that only someone who has fought countless battles and achieved great merit could receive.’

’Bestowing a Dragon Blood Steed after the annihilation of the Shu Royal Mansion would make sense. But to grant it now means there must be another reward coming later. This achievement simply doesn’t warrant such a prize.’

’And about the ennoblement—promoting Pei Shaoqing to Vice Households Commander for killing the Kaiyang Saint Heir wouldn’t have been excessive. But to ennoble him directly? That is definitely an unusually heavy reward.’

"With such generous treatment, you might have to pay a great price in return in the future, my lord. Perhaps even your life," Xie Qingwu said worriedly.

Pei Shaoqing was unconcerned. "I don’t care what the Emperor is thinking. All that matters is that I’m the one benefiting."

’Even if the Emperor wants to use him for something, he first has to raise his status and position to a point where he *can* be used.’

’As for whether he’ll actually do it when the time comes, isn’t that his decision to make? He’s not so blindly loyal that he’d feel compelled to repay the Emperor’s great favor with his life.’

"You’re right. It’s useless to think about this now." Xie Qingwu shook her head and then began to talk about the Dragon Blood Steeds.

The breeding stock was left over from the previous Great Yu dynasty, but it was the Imperial Stables of the Great Zhou that truly began breeding them on a large scale.

Every Dragon Blood Steed was registered.

Even after more than two hundred years, there were fewer than three thousand of them in the entire country. They were generally only bestowed upon high-ranking ministers and those who had performed great deeds. Most of the steeds were kept and raised by the Imperial Stables and were only temporarily requisitioned for emergencies.

For example, for Wei Yue’s trip to Tongzhou this time, the Imperial Palace requisitioned over a hundred Lower Grade steeds for the Jing’an Guard’s use.

Also, whenever the palace bestowed a steed, a groom from the Imperial Stables was sent along with it, because caring for a Dragon Blood Steed was a very complex matter.

Furthermore, a steed’s grade was not fixed. The Imperial Palace had Dragon Blood Pills, which could raise a steed’s grade after consumption.

However, Dragon Blood Pills were also extremely precious.

So, for those who were granted a Dragon Blood Steed, Dragon Blood Pills could also serve as a reward for future accomplishments.

As someone skilled in horsemanship and archery, Pei Shaoqing couldn’t wait to see his new mount.

’Though it probably won’t be as thrilling as riding Xie Qingwu.’

’But it will definitely be more impressive than riding Xie Qingwu.’

’After all, he can’t exactly ride Xie Qingwu out in public.’

Xie Qingwu felt that Pei Shaoqing was looking at her strangely.

"My lord, why are you looking at me like that?"

"It’d be great if I could ride you out of the house too, my lady," Pei Shaoqing couldn’t resist teasing her again.

"You..." Seeing he was incorrigible, Xie Qingwu was both angry and helpless. But then, her eyes darted, and she said with a smile, "If you have no shame, my lord, you could definitely ride the Shaking Light Saintess out in public. Do you dare to try?"

"Forget it. I don’t have such strange fetishes," said Pei Shaoqing, who was all talk, shaking his head.

’Of course, if no one was around...’

’...he wouldn’t mind doing it in broad daylight.’

Xie Qingwu snorted, pouted, and stood up to walk into the house. "Go to Lan’Er’s room tonight, my lord."

After days of intense ’battle,’ she didn’t dare beg for more tonight.

However, she still added a reminder, "She cannot get pregnant before I do. You’d best be mindful of that, my lord."

"Don’t worry."

’A tiger, however vicious, won’t eat its own cubs. But a tigress is another story.’

.........

The next morning, the men Wei Yue had brought from the Capital City arrived in Tongzhou. Over a hundred Jing’an Guards, each riding a Dragon Blood Steed—the sight was truly breathtaking.

Fearing they would cause a commotion, they did not enter the city.

Meanwhile, Sun Youliang was still miserably riding a common steed, traveling day and night on his way back.

"Greetings, Lord Governor!"

Over a hundred men dismounted in unison and bowed.

"At ease," Wei Yue said calmly, then looked at Pei Shaoqing. "Yunzhi, go and see your horse."

"Lord Pei, your horse is here." A youth of fifteen or sixteen led a black horse forward.

It was glossy black all over, with bright, spirited eyes. Although it was a size smaller than Wei Yue’s steed, it was still magnificent compared to an ordinary warhorse. There were no scales on its neck, only a few on its forehead.

A fine saddle was already fitted on its back.

Everyone looked at Pei Shaoqing with a mixture of envy and jealousy. Their horses had to be returned to the Imperial Stables when they got back to the Capital City, but Pei Shaoqing’s was his to keep forever.

’Promoted and ennobled at such a young age, married to the famously talented daughter of Uncle Anning, favored by the Emperor, and now gifted a Dragon Blood Steed that everyone covets.’

’What kind of fucking life-winner is this guy? Damn him!’

The moment Pei Shaoqing saw the horse, he fell in love. He was thrilled. ’I have a horse now!’

He immediately strode forward.

The youth said in a low voice, "My lord, Eunuch Liu personally handpicked this one for you. It’s the offspring of two Top Grade Dragon Blood Steeds."

"I’ll remember this," Pei Shaoqing nodded.

’So Xiaoliuzi works at the Imperial Stables. Makes sense.’

There was no wild unruliness; all the horses were well-trained. The black steed seemed to already know that Pei Shaoqing was its future master, lowering its head to nuzzle against him.

The youth said, "Please bestow a name upon it, Lord Pei."

"It’s so black... from now on, you’ll be called Coal Ball," Pei Shaoqing said softly, stroking the horse’s head with an affectionate expression.

Everyone: "..."

Even Wei Yue couldn’t keep a straight face. "Give it a proper name."

"You don’t like it? Then let’s call him General Hei," Pei Shaoqing said offhandedly, suddenly thinking of General Li.

General Hei raised his head and neighed.

He seemed quite pleased with this name.

The youth also introduced himself. "This humble one is called Xiaodouzi. From now on, I will be in charge of caring for General Hei."

"Mm, I feel at ease leaving General Hei in your care," Pei Shaoqing nodded. He turned and pointed to a subordinate. "You, take Xiaodouzi back to the manor. Have my wife give him her full cooperation in preparing everything General Hei needs."

"As you command!" the subordinate answered respectfully.

Wei Yue said, "Alright, let’s move out."

"Yes, sir!" Everyone immediately mounted their horses.

Pei Shaoqing also leaped up and landed on General Hei’s back. He squeezed his legs against the horse’s belly and shouted, "Giddy-up!"

WHOOSH! General Hei, seemingly eager to show off for his new master, shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.

"Holy shit!"

Caught off guard, Pei Shaoqing nearly fell off.

But after adjusting to the speed and feeling the wind whistle past his ears, the exhilarating feeling was indescribable.

’This starting speed, this acceleration...’

’It’s practically the electric car of the horse world.’

’Goes from zero to sixty on three bundles of hay.’

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