The Slender Waist

The heavy snow swirled through the night, as the guard, holding an oiled paper umbrella, pushed Pei Chong towards the back courtyard.

Wheelchair tracks etched twin lines in the snow, the crunch of boots in the icy silence chilled the snowy night.

This winter was especially cold.

The guards had already set out wine and dishes on the stone table in the pavilion of the rear courtyard.

For warmth, they had also prepared two charcoal stoves.

Just as they were about to hang the wind curtains around the pavilion, Pei Chong raised his hand to stop them.

"You all may leave," he said.

The guard complied and silently departed.

Pei Chong sat alone in the pavilion amidst the wind and snow, gazing at the frozen lake surface, before he finally managed a bitter smile.

"Aruo, join me for a drink," he said.

He poured wine into a cup, placing one in front of the empty seat across from him and holding the other in his palm, smiling as he tilted his head back to drain it.

Pei Chong normally didn’t drink alcohol, maintaining composure even if Mount Tai were to crumble before him, but tonight, his face seemed burdened with sorrow.

"Leaving me behind, you found your peace. I’ve struggled on alone, raising a son and a daughter... That’s enough, I have no regrets..." he said, before pouring another full cup, his eyes turning red.

At a certain age, one comes to terms with many things.

If he could trade all his fame and fortune for the return of his beloved wife, even if just for another year, a month, or even a day, he’d be willing.

Without the one who could stand beside him, who could share in riches and honor, even a world full of splendor seemed bleak.

He had already spent many years in such bleakness and no longer feared not reaching spring’s warmth.

"I awoke from a nightmare last night. Aruo, it’s been so many years since I dreamed of you. To think you would frighten me in my dreams..." Pei Chong’s voice carried a note of laughter, calm as a still sea.

"It’s about time, isn’t it? Are you coming to fetch me?"

He lowered his gaze and shook his head before pouring another drink.

"Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings; it’s out of my hands, and I don’t wish to meddle. From now on, I’ll simply be with you, tending to the vegetables if you wish, or to the flowers, and if you desire nothing, then I’ll accompany you to listen to the rain and drink tea..."

The snow fell relentlessly.

The air seemed to carry the faint scent of firecrackers from the festival season.

In the streets, the intermittent "crack" and "pop" sounds carried on the merriment of the New Year.

Pei Chong glanced in the direction of the noise and sighed, "Your birthday is doomed not to be peacefully celebrated."

The clatter of footsteps outside the wall came through the chaos.

The outer door of the Pei Residence was knocked on forcefully.

"The Empress Dowager decrees, Pei Chong is to receive the imperial order."

Pei Chong’s brow furrowed as he looked at a nearby guard.

"No one is to approach Tinglan Academy," he instructed.

The guard, from a distance, acknowledged but did not come closer.

Pei Chong heard the sound of swords being drawn, glanced at the snow flying into the corner of the pavilion and resting on the lantern, and chuckled softly as the fierceness in his eyes dissipated.

"Never mind them, let’s continue our drink," he said.

From the day the Pei Family Army was restructured and renamed the Beiyong Army, Pei Chong had anticipated that one day the Pei Family would be accused by the Imperial Court for wielding too much military power.

The manner and the charge were insignificant; what mattered was the timing...

Such is the ebb and flow of the world’s affairs.

He was prepared mentally, yet it still displeased him greatly.

Today was his deceased wife’s birthday, and they had chosen an inopportune moment to arrive.

A moment later, the sound of the door being battered echoed.

"Pei Chong colludes with the enemy, harbors the remnants of enemy forces, and recognizes a thief as his son. By law, he should be executed. The Empress Dowager, in consideration of his past contributions, is willing to spare his life but not his liberty. Pei Chong, come forth and admit your guilt," came the proclamation.

The guards, shocked by the news, hurried to Tinglan Academy to report.

"My lord, there’s trouble. The Empress Dowager has ordered, she said—" The guard hesitated, too afraid to continue, yet heard the old general let out a cold laugh.

"I’ve heard it all. Let them rant. The rest of you, take the remaining men and leave through the back. There’s no need for a confrontation," he said.

The guards were startled, "My lord... what about you?"

"Me?" Pei Chong’s eyes narrowed slightly, "I’m enjoying a drink with my wife."

He spoke calmly and with his usual lightness, pouring himself another cup of wine, then gently touching the filled glass as he said softly, "As for them, even when committing murder, they refuse to speak the truth, finding endless excuses as if they truly care about the state and the lives of its people. It’s utterly laughable."

Gazing into the endless void of the dark night, he spoke gently, "When I brought Ajue home, you took a liking to him at once, right? Such a sensible child; who could abandon him?"

Gratitude for his wife filled his tone.

"No matter. Ajue has grown up, his wings fully spread, and Ayao is currently out of harm’s way, not needing our care. We can live our own lives without worry."

Swords gleamed and blades were drawn.

The guards declared in unison, "We vow to follow our lord to the death. We won’t leave."

Loud shouts thundered outside the door, while inside Tinglan Academy, a profound silence prevailed.

-

"Quick! Follow up, everyone follow up!"

In the dark of night, a group of Imperial Guards carrying torches, trampling through disordered steps, surrounded the Grand General Residence, and General Lu Zuo, leading the troops, was even raising his arm and shouting at the top of his lungs.

"By the order of the Empress Dowager, execute the traitors of the Yonghuai Prince."

The crowd roared as they rammed the door.

Torching arrows, soaked in tung oil, flew into the high walls like raindrops.

In an instant, flames surged sky-high within the residence. The stately Grand General Residence, set against a backdrop of moonlight, was engulfed in flames, accompanied by billowing smoke that seemed to shake the entire heavens and earth.

Upon seeing the event had taken its course, Lu Zuo yanked his waist sword fiercely, lifting his arm strenuously.

"Ram the door! Execute the traitors of the Yonghuai Prince."

With a clang, the heavy gate burst open with a bang.

Lu Zuo shouted sternly, "All soldiers heed my command: the Yonghuai Prince has taken the prince hostage and plotted a rebellion. By law, he should be executed. All within the residence shall be put to death; spare no one."

All the soldiers, with one voice, responded, "Yes, sir!"

Lu Zuo was Li Zongxun’s man, and at this moment, he was extremely excited.

This was indeed the most insane and thrilling act he had ever undertaken in his life.

It was also a tense, thrilling, and brilliant plot of murder orchestrated by the Prime Minister.

First set the fire, then kill the people. As long as Pei Jue was trapped and killed in his residence, the accusation of "being executed for rebellion" would be set in stone. Even though there were still some lords and ministers standing by Pei Jue’s side speaking for him, once a person died, the tea would cool. By tomorrow morning, in the Imperial Court, there would only be one voice—

"Welcome the new king to the throne."

What would the grievances of the Pei Family matter then?

Go plead your case before the King of Hell in his court.

"Kill!" The group, fierce as wolves and tigers, charged into the Grand General Residence, only to quickly find that there was nobody in the courtyard; no one came running out from the burning rooms or the quarters.

Lu Zuo sensed something was wrong.

"Not good. Retreat!"

His instinctual reaction was already quite swift.

Unfortunately, it was still a step too late.

Blood spattered out, a great gush of it aiming straight for his eyes.

The archers who had lain in ambush within the Grand General Residence had already drawn their bows taut, just waiting for them to rush in, shooting silently and indiscriminately.

In the courtyard, lit ablaze by the flames, the bodies that thought they had victory in their grasp couldn’t dodge in time and fell to the ground, one after another, pierced by arrows.

Lu Zuo, pale with fright, clutched his helmet and ran.

"Quick! Charge and execute the traitors of the Grand General Residence..."

While shouting to kill the traitors, he was also waving his waist sword, trying to break out of the crowd.

He was trying to escape amidst the chaos of arrows.

Unfortunately...

A feathered arrow, as if it had eyes, flew past the Imperial Soldiers and shot directly towards him...

Thud! Lu Zuo’s eyes bulged suddenly, and his scream was stifled before it could escape his lips. He fell to his knees with a groan, as blood streamed from the corner of his mouth.

"Pei Jue... rebelled."

His murmuring voice just before death went unheard.

In the snowy night, one scream after another echoed through the General Residence, shaking the heavens and earth, deafening, as if in an instant piercing through the snowstorm to reach the entirety of Central Capital City, accompanied by the heavy scent of blood, straight into the inner city...

"The Yonghuai Prince has rebelled!"

"It’s bad, Pei Jue has led troops to the Imperial Garden!"

Thud!

Before the cry could fade, a flash of sword light swept across a throat, and the spurting blood stained everything.

The man fell dead on the spot, eyes wide open.

A bit further away, Imperial Guards leading their horses and men to the scene saw Pei Jue amidst the bloodshed on horseback, hesitated for a moment, and then let out a shrill scream as they backed away.

"Quick! Report to the Empress Dowager, the Prime Minister; the Yonghuai Prince has rebelled!"

The cold wind howled past, carrying with it snowflakes and dead leaves, and poured into the gate of the Imperial Garden.

A servant, with hurried steps and panic-stricken, rushed into the inner chamber. Hardly managing to speak, he knelt on the ground, face pale and gasping for air.

"Report, report..."

"To report to the Prime Minister, the Empress Dowager... the Yonghuai Prince has rebelled... he’s brought the army to the Imperial Garden..."

Li Sangruo’s eyes widened, and he sat up straight with a start, opening his mouth as if to say something, then slowly leaned back, slumping down with a stretched face and coldly laughing, looking towards Li Zongxun.

"Satisfied now, Father?"

Li Zongxun huffed coldly, his eyes filled with raging anger, "Where did he get the chance to rebel?"

His voice had barely faded when he sharply turned to Tang Shaogong, his eyes somber to the extreme.

"The Beiyong Army of one hundred thousand is stationed outside, and the fifteen thousand that accompanied Pei Jue back to the capital are all in the large camp fifty miles outside the city. With just over a hundred of his personal guard camp, how could he possibly withstand an attack by three thousand Imperial Guards? Moreover, with our thorough preparations, setting the fire and encircling them for the kill, every single one of them should have been unable to escape..."

He stared with furiously bulging eyes, fixated on Tang Shaogong.

"Shaogong, explain. How did Pei Jue escape the residence and lead troops to the Imperial Garden? Could it be that he has three heads and six arms?"