After Ye Suijin took in He Lian Xiang Yun, she wrote a letter to Pei Ze.
After all, He Lian Xiang Yun leaving Pingyao was not just a simple act of surrendering to another lord, his complicated relationships with Pei Lian, Zhao Jingwen and her were also involved.
"He Lian uncle and nephew originally wanted to go south, passing through Tang Prefecture, but fell ill and couldn't find medicine. He Lian is in danger..."
"Fate works in mysterious ways. You have gotten Zhao's wife, and I have gotten He Lian."
"I hope we can meet again in the future, and be able to greet each other as old friends."
She sent the letter by fast horse to Pei Ze.
Pei Ze read it, and was silent for a long time.
Pei Dingxi asked: "What's the matter?"
Pei Ze sighed: "He Lian... has met Ye Suijin."
Listening to this, Pei Dingxi felt a sense of momentous events happening.
"What happened then?" he asked.
Pei Ze didn't say anything.
Pei Dingxi said: "Did he stay behind?"
Pei Ze said: "I have wronged you in this, my son."
He understood very well that He Lian was the best brother-in-law he could have found for Pei Dingxi.
There would be no other brother-in-law who could exceed He Lian.
But Pei Dingxi's brother-in-law was also Pei Lian's husband. He couldn't disregard his daughter's life and death.
For his daughter's sake, he had sacrificed his son's interests.
Pei Ze also didn't know if he would regret this in the future.
When caught in the circumstances, it was hard to see the big picture, hard to foresee the future.
Pei Dingxi comforted him: "My brother-in-law will be fine too."
Just as Ye Suijin had said, Zhao Jingwen gradually gained a foothold in Fang Prefecture.
In the battle at Bamboo Mountain, he had broken the impression others had of him as someone who "fed off his wife". Yan Xiao and the others at least acknowledged he was a capable commander of the Pei family army.
Since this was the case, and adding that when he returned Pei Lian was with child, which delighted her, along with Pei Lian's gentle pleadings, Pei Ze also stopped isolating Zhao Jingwen, and started giving him responsibilities.
Zhao Jingwen now understood that his circumstances for survival in the Pei family were different than when he was in the Ye family.
When he was in the Ye family, he didn't feel it, but when he truly arrived at the Pei family, he realized that back in Pingyao, he had been silently sharing in Ye Suijin's power all along.
But in the Pei family, Pei Lian had no power that she could let him share in.
The Pei family military was a pure masculine environment. In this environment he couldn't borrow any of Pei Lian's influence at all.
He could only rely on himself, and had to prove his worth. So many eyes were watching him.
Zhao Jingwen had never been someone who got discouraged easily. He adapted to whatever environment he was in.
Since he had no outside help, then he would just steadily demonstrate his own talents.
Soon Pei Ze discovered that while Yan Xiao and the others were fierce generals, top-notch in combat, they were also very capable when it came to military affairs.
But beyond that, they were not as useful as Zhao Jingwen.
Although Zhao Jingwen's combat abilities were not top-notch, they were adequate. But Zhao Jingwen was very skilled at handling complex and trivial affairs.
Simply put, Zhao Jingwen was better at governing land than any of them. And this had always been a weak point among Pei Ze's subordinates.
Zhao Jingwen was not a top military commander, but he was someone who could be counted on wherever he went.
He could make everything look great, and also make people gradually let down their guard against him.
For example, Yan Xiao and the others had always felt that him abandoning Ye Suijin for Pei Lian was muddled thinking.
These military men were not so tolerant, and their mouths could be venomous at times.
At the dinner table they would inevitably mock Zhao Jingwen a few times, intentionally or not, whether truly drunk or pretending.
But Zhao Jingwen would raise his wine cup, and say: "She has no flaws, she is too perfect, she exceeds men in everything."
"She has superior martial arts."
"She has superior military skills."
"She governs better than men."
"She even makes more money than men."
"There are few men who can exceed her."
"But I... am after all a man."
After he spoke, he would not say another word, just silently drink his wine.
The men would suddenly go from ridiculing him, to sympathizing with him.
They seemed to immediately understand his repression and grievances.
Although Ye Suijin was beautiful and outstanding, she really was too capable. Imagine for a moment that your wife was Ye Suijin...
It was unimaginable.
Looking now, although the Eldest Lady caused some headaches for her family before she married, you see, after marrying she still cared for her husband, warming his bed and tending to him.
At least she fit men's imagination of what a "wife" should be like.
After that dinner, the crowd's rejection and prejudice towards Zhao Jingwen gradually disappeared.
Pei Ze saw all this.
Now Pei Lian carried a child in her belly, and this child had both Zhao Jingwen and Pei family blood. In the future, this child would be a link connecting Zhao Jingwen and Pei Dingxi's uncle and nephew.
Therefore, let it be so.
Ye Suijin received Pei Ze's reply letter.
She gave the letter to He Lian Xiang Yun, and laughed: "Lord Pei is very concerned about you."
Pei Ze had good handwriting, and used refined language. After all, he was born as an authentic young master.
In the letter he only praised He Lian.
One could feel his sincerity in between the lines.
He asked after He Lian's health, worried that his medical expenses on the road were too high, and included some silver to give to him.
At the end, he wrote: "There is much in life that is beyond our control. Although often regretful, it cannot be helped."
He told Ye Suijin that He Lian's fate did not fall onto me, but unexpectedly fell onto you.
Fortunately, you and I are friends, not enemies. We may still meet again in the future.
"I hope to join hands with him again someday, chatting late into the night about life's twists and turns."
He Lian Xiang Yun asked: "Is there still a chance to meet him?"
Ye Suijin guaranteed: "Between him and I, how could it be just a single transaction? It will certainly be an enduring relationship."
She asked him: "How is your health now?"
He Lian Xiang Yun said: "Much improved."
Ye Suijin said: "No rush, focus on recuperating."
Ye Fourth Uncle came asking Ye Suijin when Yuan Ling would be coming back.
Because Eleventh Sister said Yuan Ling went to Pingyao with her mentor's staff, and now it was already early September, but she had been gone half a month and still wasn't back, so Fourth Uncle and Aunt were starting to miss her.
Everyone looked down on the unfavored Eleventh Sister.
Who could have guessed this unfavored girl's mouth was shut up tight as a clam shell. She didn't reveal even a hint of news to her own father, mother, or brothers.
Some girls get drowned out among the crowds, looking ordinary and mediocre.
But if you give them a foothold, who knows what they might achieve.
Ye Suijin fended off Ye Fourth Uncle.
Third Son asked casually where Yuan Ling had gone, and Ye Suijin fended that off as well.
She and Mr. Yang were consulting about something.
Mr. Yang sighed: "I had thought to just watch for a while, then remind you when needed. I didn't expect you would think of it yourself."
"You're too sly, Sir," Ye Suijin said. "Why wait until things have fallen apart and feelings are hurt before you advise? Why not prevent problems early on?"
Mr. Yang tutted: "It's human nature - until they've bloodied their heads smashing into that southern wall, they're often deaf to dissuasion. Moreover... it's hard to intervene in family matters."
Ye Suijin sighed: "Too true."
If not for a lifetime of experience from her previous life, going through the military, the court, the harem, seeing and experiencing it all, how could she know which pitfalls to avoid?
Just as Pei Ze said, much of life was beyond control. When caught in the circumstances, there was truly nothing one could do.
After some more days, He Lian Xiang Yun came before Ye Suijin: "I've recovered."
"Truly? No need to rush. Disease recedes gradually." Ye Suijin said, "Rest well a while longer?"
He Lian Xiang Yun stated firmly: "I'm well now."
After he spoke, his gaze shifted, looking towards Duan Jin: "Instructor Duan, any pointers?"
With those words, the air in the room immediately grew tense.
Ye Suijin turned her head to look.
What Duan Jin was thinking was obvious at a glance.
"I wouldn't dare instruct," Duan Jin smiled. "Tenth Son has been looking forward to exchanging moves with Sir He Lian for a while now."
Tenth Son and He Lian Feiyu often competed, quite evenly matched, with no clear winner.
But He Lian Feiyu bragged: "My uncle will beat you down."
Tenth Son: "Really?"
He Lian Feiyu: "True as gold."
Getting Tenth Son all fired up, eagerly awaiting the day his Uncle He Lian would recover so they could all compare skills.
The others were waiting too.
With He Lian Feiyu already like this, who didn't want to see his uncle's abilities?
He Lian Xiang Yun thoroughly understood survival in the military.
In this environment of pure masculinity, you couldn't be modest. Modesty was admitting weakness, and admitting weakness meant you could be bullied.
The world of pure masculinity was a bit like the world of undomesticated beasts. If you had horns you brandished your horns, if you had fangs you bared your fangs.
He cracked his knuckles: "Then today it is."
The weather was nice, and Duan Jin promised Tenth Son, "Okay."
Ye Suijin propped her elbow on the table and looked at these uncivilized, high-spirited barbarians with a smile.
When Tenth Son got the news, he rolled up his sleeves and came over immediately.
Everyone came, even Fourth Uncle and Fifth Uncle came.
Because now everyone already knew He Lian Xiang Yun's background.
This was equivalent to exchanged with Zhao Jingwen.
Everyone wanted to see if the exchange was worthwhile.
"Nephew, take it easy," He Lian Feiyu advised.
He Lian Xiang Yun glanced at him.
He Lian Feiyu said, "I get along well with Tenth Son."
Now he and Tenth Son were almost like brothers who wore the same pants. It was not easy for one to find a playmate of similar age, temperament and martial arts skills.
Otherwise, you would have to make do with those little brats who chattered on and on.
Someone called from the other side. He Lian Xiang Yun stretched out his big hand, pushed away his silly nephew's head, and stood up.
When they got to the middle of the drill grounds, there were really a lot of onlookers.
Young masters, old masters, as well as military generals and guards. This kind of liveliness was the most popular in the army.
As soon as the two of them came out, shouts rose up. They hadn't started fighting yet, but the atmosphere was already fiery.
Tenth Son was still a teenager, slender and delicate.
Dressed up in nice clothes, he looked like an elegant young master.
He Lian Xiang Yun was very sturdy.
Standing face to face, the contrast in their physiques was quite obvious.
He Lian Xiang Yun asked, "Compete in what?"
Tenth Son said, "Fists and feet."
Among the brothers who could go into battle, Tenth Son was the youngest in age. He was not as strong as his older brothers. But he was very agile with his fists and feet, and his martial arts skills were quite good among the brothers.
Of course he would take advantage of his own strengths and attack the other's weaknesses. Sixth sister said, reversing things is foolish.
The two saluted each other with fists, and took their stances.
With a drumbeat, the match began.
Fists flew towards each other like lightning.
Bang bang bang, fist against flesh.
Fist against fist, elbow against elbow, knee against knee, they clashed hard.
It looked painful just watching.
Seventh Son sucked in a breath and turned to Ninth Son, "It looks like Tenth Son is more agile..."
Before he could finish, he saw Ninth Son's facial expression change dramatically.
Ninth Son stared at the drill grounds, mouth wide open.
A huge "bang" was heard, seeming to reverberate.
Seventh Son turned his head back.
The hard-packed earth of the drill grounds was smashed, sending dirt flying.
He Lian Xiang Yun was down on one knee.
He had fiercely slammed Tenth Son onto the dirt ground.
Tenth Son lay there with his mouth open, in too much pain to move.
He Lian Xiang Yun's back muscles bulged, straining his clothes.
In the swirling dust, he stood up.
Silence fell over the drill grounds.
