Chapter 231 Part 10 - Return Of An Old Friend (Part 10) (1/2)
Chapter 231: Return Of An Old Friend (Part 10)
In the next few days, the rumours in Long Ye had calmed down. Even when those people tried to provoke dissent, the commoners would immediately refute it. After all that day Shen Miao had personally went up to the Palace tower even in such a dangerous situation and spoke those inspiring words. As long as the commoners were settled, the human heart could be revealed.
However the Lu and Ye forces outside the city had intensified its offensive attacks, as if they had gone crazy.
As Shen Miao read the memorandums normally, she had made arrangements for the guards to reinforce the forces at the city, making herself very busy. She was pregnant and felt a little less capable than she desired to be.
On this day, she just woke up early in the morning when she saw Luo Tan running in. Upon seeing her, she said, “Youngest Biao Sister, someone is here to see you.”
Shen Miao frowned, “Who?” She was in the Palace and now other than speaking to those court officials during court, no one would specifically come to to see her. She had no good friends in Long Ye and those with the best relations were all in the Palace.
“I will help you out to take a look.” Luo Tan said.
Luo Tan supported Shen Miao out and upon arriving at the main hall, she saw a person sitting in front of the table as Jing Zhe poured tea for the person. The person was wearing a green simple robe, just as pure and unyielding as her memories.
Shen Miao called out, “Gentleman Pei?”
Pei Lang turned his head.
There were just too many things that happened in the past year. At the beginning Pei Lang chose to leave and from some ways, it was considered the best choice. Afterall the memories of one’s past life still exsist and no one knew what kind of emtions they should use when facing one another.
When he saw Shen Miao, he smiled gently, “One heard that Long Ye is facing some difficulties and the Palace is in a dangerous situation. Even though I do not have any special skills, at ,ease I can share some burden.”
Shen Miao frowned and did not speak for some time.
Pei Lang smiled, “No need to think too much. I am from Ming Qi and in Great Liang can be considered as a fellow countryman. Moreover at the beginning there was a teacher and student relationship thus it is not that there is completely no relations. This time just treat me like I am helping a friend from hometown.”
He smiled gently, as if everything had not happened. Shen Miao looked at him carefully and saw his calm expression, as if he had let go of the past and her heart relaxed.
For Shen Miao, the past seemed to be something very long ago. She was more concern of the future and Pei Lang’s appearance could indeed help her offload many problems.
She said, “I have to owe you a favour again.” The last time it was Pei Lang that took a knife for her.
Pei Lang said softly, “Owe?” Then he smiled again, “It is good to think it like this.” After looking up at Shen Miao, he continued, “There is no time to waste. Now let’s deal with the most pressing matter in Long Ye.”
*****
What was the most pressing matter in Long Ye at this moment? It was naturally cleaning up the rebels and ensuring the safety of the people in the city. Because of the war and many other court affairs, there were numerous memorandums. They all depended on pregnant Shen Miao to settle and this was just too much. Moreover her delivery date was around the corner and she could not afford to make big movements.
After Pei Lang arrived, the burden on Shen Miao’s shoulder was a little lighter.
Pei Lang was originally Fu Xiu Yi’s aide and naturally had an understanding of these court matters. Moreover he had a natural born talent in this area that even if entering Great Liang’s court first time, he was able to handle it well.
However there was a problem, which was the manpower in Long Ye. It was possible to protect the people in Long Ye but one would not be able to cover one’s tail if some resources were moved to clean up the rebels. No one dared to take this risk and it was not a good thing to stay on such a stalemate.
“Just delay it by a month. When Xie Jing Xing returns, these rebels would be cleared.” Shen Miao said to Pei Lang, “As long as one persist for these days.”
Pei Lang was helping on the memorandums. They did not mention any related matters of the past lifetime, as if boh of them had an unspoken past. There was no advantage of bringing it up and sometimes, being stupid was the best way of getting along.
Pei Lang was also stunned for a long time upon seeing the foolish Ye Hong Guang. Most likely because Ye Hong Guang and Fu Ming were just too similar in appearance. Thus he treated Ye Hong Guang particularly warm and Ye Hong Guang liked to play with Pei Lang.
“Even so,” Pei Lang was somewhat worried, “But the Lu family rebels also know of this logic. In previous days, the soldiers guarding the city had reported that the Lu family rebels had not move till now. When things are not moving as expected, it is not normal. One felt that they are preparing for something.”
“No matter what they are preparing, there would be no change in our current situation.” Shen Miao sighed, “At the beginning one had thought about the strong Great Liang border. Long Ye is the golden throne and thought that even if there were movements it would all be due to the mutal suspicions in the Imperial courts. Who knew that the Lu family had retained this method.”
“The Lu family hates the Imperial family to the bones and knkowing that there was no more opportunities of winning, they actually hid this move at such a critical time.”
“It is not enough for the old thief to die like that.” Shen Miao had a memorandum in her hands but her gaze was outside the windows, “Long Ye cannot be lost. Not even one step can be given in.”
Luo Tan walked over with a food basket and smiled, “Both of you had read the memorandums for so long and need to eat. This is especially so for Youngest Biao Sister. You are no longer one person and you have a child. You being hungry means my unknown little niece or little nephew have to be hungry too. What kind of mother is this?” She took out the snacks and soup from the basket and said, “Gentleman Pei should also eat a little. I watched as the kitchens prepare these things. It is guaranteed very safe!”
Luo Tan was in the Palace all day and seemed to be somewhat doing nothing. Shen Miao and Pei Lang read memorandums and she could not help, thus all her efforts and thoughts were placed on Shen Miao’s child. There are many people in the Palace and more hands equates to more complication thus meals would require a lot of attention as lots of childen were lost just because of food. Luo Tan would move a small tool everyday to the Imperial Kitchens to guard that even Tao GuGu, Jing Zhe, Gu Yu would not pass, watching all the food prepared personally.
Shen Miao smiled gently, “Have troubled you.”
Pei Lang’s gaze fell onto Shen Miao protruding abdomen and hesitated for a bit before asking, “It is estimated… To be in these few days?”
“It is not easy to predict.” Shen Miao said, “But I felt that it should be soon.” She caressed her lower abdomen and there was a flash of gentleness in her eyes, “To be born in such a chaotic time, it is tough for him.”
“What chaos?” Luo Tan said, “Youngest Biao Sister words are wrong. One had to know that the land under Heavens are not peaceful today and when the chaos are settled and world is stablised, it would be a time of prosperity. When MeiFu returns, then that little fellow would have a victorious Father and everyone under Heavens would cheer of his birth. Such a fortunate thing is not something that anyone could encounter. Why does such a good thing become a bad thing from your lips?”
Shen Miao laughed, “You are so good with your words so why don’t you go be a storyteller?”
Luo Tan said proudly, “If I am a storyteller, then one would be able to be the best in the world.”
Pei Lang saw both of them speaking with excitement and shook his head with a smile, “It is good after these days past. One only hope that the rebels would not create any issues at this time.”