Chapter Sixty-Seven

Pei Khan held the hairpin.

Pei Khan listened to his mothers advice before she died.

Xiao Khan, after I die you need to find ninth brother and ninth sister, Consort Mu said. If they accept this hairpin then you need to be good and listen to them. If they dont accept it you need to be careful in the palace. You cant trust anyone. You have to use a silver needle to test all your food and drinks before you eat and drink Xiao Khan, I cant take care of you anymore.

Pei Khan was scared if he blinked he would have no one left. His mother was gone and if Pei Jin and Yan Shi Ning didnt accept his mothers hairpin then he would lose everything.

Pei Jin and Yan Shi Nings hearts were teared, Consort La used her life to protect Pei Khan and find a good place for Pei Khan before she died.

Consort La gambled everything on Pei Jins brotherly love toward Pei Khan and Yan Shi Nings maternal traits. She believed they wouldnt refuse a mothers last request.

Yan Shi Ning wiped her tears. Thirteenth brother, this is a beautiful hairpin. Hurry and put it on my head.

Pei Khans eyes shone and he listened to Yan Shi Ning.

Pei Khan rubbed Yan Shi Nings big stomach. Little brother.

Thirteenth brother, this is your nephew, Yan Shi Ning said.

Pei Khan looked at Pei Jin for help.

Thirteenth brother, are you saying the child is a boy? Pei Jin asked.

Pei Khan nodded his head.

Thirteenth brother, how do you know the child is a boy? Yan Shi Ning asked.

Pei Khan pouted his lips. He hated girls like Pei Wen Cai.

Pei Jin led Yan Shi Ning and Pei Khan to the emperors chamber.

Consort Mu, Pei Zhang and Chu Thi were waiting for their arrival. Yan Shi Ning saw the way they looked at her big stomach with bad intentions and she held onto her big stomach.

The emperors hair had greyed. Although he didnt love Consort La, she still faithfully followed him for years. He looked at Yan Shi Nings big stomach and he thought Consort La died too young.

Seventh son, next time bring your second wife with you to visit me, the emperor said.

The emperor only wanted to see all his daughter-in-laws at the same time. But Chu Thi misunderstood the emperor planned to elevate the scums position. Chu Thi regretted Dian This body hadnt recovered fast enough otherwise Consort Mus plan would have worked that day. Chu Thi fisted her hands, she couldnt wait for the emperors birthday banquet to see Dian Thi die a gruesome death.

Imperial father, I want to make a request, Pei Jin said.

What is it? the emperor asked.

Imperial father, thirteenth brother is grieving, Pei Jin said. I want to bring thirteenth brother to my manor for a few days to console him.

Consort Mu and Pei Zhang didnt approve. They were worried Pei Jin wanted the world to see how much brotherly love Pei Jin had toward his brothers. Also, they didnt want Pei Jin and Pei Khans bond to grow deeper.

Ninth brother is right, Pei Zhang said. But perhaps its better if I bring thirteenth brother to my manor. Hell have Wen Cai to play with. Wen Cai misses thirteenth brother and there are many delicious food too.

Pei Khan shook his head. In the past Pei Wen Cai tricked him with delicious food and hit him too often. He wasnt fooled by Pei Zhangs words.

Thirteenth son, you dont want to go with your seventh brother? the emperor asked.

Pei Khan nodded his head.

Why? the emperor asked.

Hit! Pei Khan said.

The emperor remembered how Pei Wen Cai hit Pei Khan and he understood. He was displeased to have such a bad granddaughter. Thirteenth son, do you want to go with your ninth brother?

Pei Khan heard his fathers strange tone so he waited a while before he nodded his head reluctantly.

The emperor was satisfied Pei Khan didnt agree immediately otherwise it meant Pei Khan was cooperating with Pei Jin. Ninth son, take your thirteenth brother to your manor for a few days.

The emperor agreed because he knew Pei Jin would take care of Pei Khan but most importantly he could use Pei Khan to spy on Pei Jin.

Yan Shi Ning was overjoyed the emperor consented to let Pei Khan stay with her and Pei Jin. While Consort Mu and Pei Zhang werent pleased.

That evening Yan Shi Ning prepared a chamber for Pei Khan and stayed with him until he fell asleep.

Yan Shi Ning returned to her chamber and laid next to Pei Jin on the bed.

Pei Jin, are you upset with me for accepting Consort Las request before discussing it with you? Yan Shi Ning asked. But I didnt want us to leave Pei Khan in the palace.

Shi Ning, Pei Khan staying with us too soon will be a little more dangerous for us and Pei Khan, Pei Jin said. But dont worry, Ill find a way to protect all of us. Besides, you made your decision in front of me.

Yan Shi Ning was relieved Pei Jin wasnt upset with her decision.

I want you and our child to be safe, Pei Jin said. I want Pei Khan to be safe too. In the future all of us need to be more cautious.

Pei Jins intuition warned him that he couldnt hide his real strengths for much longer.

Although Pei Jin and the emperor agreed Pei Khan could stay for a few days with Pei Jin, their unspoken agreement implied Pei Khan could stay with Pei Jin for a long period.

Several days past, Pei Khan adapted well to life at Pei Jins manor. The guards, maids and servants looked after Pei Khan well and played with him. It eased a little of Pei Khans pain of losing his mother.

Pei Zhang was frustrated Pei Jin surrounded Pei Jins manor with more guards and made it harder for Pei Zhang to spy on Pei Jin.

Pei Zhang also discovered Pei Jins guards looked ordinary but the guards were strong enough to kill intruders without a trace and they fiercely protected everyone in Pei Jins manor. Because one of Pei Zhangs guards hid at a shop nearby Pei Jins manor and at night the guard was attacked by a silent sword. If the guard didnt play dead and crawled back to Pei Zhangs manor to show the deep chest wound from one strike then Pei Zhang wouldnt have known how strong Pei Jins guards were.

Pei Zhang wondered how Pei Jin could afford to raise strong guards. Pei Zhang slitted his eyes, he was anticipating their fathers birthday banquet in three days it would be a memorable amusing day.

***

End of Chapter Sixty-Seven