Chapter 78
Chapter Seventy-Eight
The emperors army slaughtered their enemies.
The imperial guards secured Pei Jins manor while the emperors army fought Pei Zhangs men outside.
Your majesty, assassins are found hidden inside seventh princes manor, the imperial guard reported.
The emperor slapped Pei Zhangs cheek.
You dare to say youre innocent? the emperor asked.
Pei Zhang didnt expect ambushing Pei Jin would lead to him being framed. He lost a chess piece, the battle and everything. All his schemes failed. He couldnt kill Pei Jin and Pei Jins family. His father didnt trust him and he was at a disadvantage because he had no heir. Framing Pei Jin of treason was his last chess piece but it backfired and he lost pitifully.
Everyone believed Pei Zhang had planned to lure the emperor to Pei Jins manor. Afterward Pei Zhangs men would kill the emperor, Pei Jin and Pei Jins family. Pei Zhang would have deceived the citizens of Dian Kingdom to believe Pei Jin committed treason and killed the emperor. So the citizens and court officials would have easily accepted Pei Zhang as their ruler.
The emperor didnt want to believe Pei Zhang wanted to kill him and Pei Jin, Pei Zhangs flesh and blood. But the battle outside was enough to prove Pei Zhangs guilt.
Pei Jin appeared weak and saddened that Pei Zhang betrayed him and their father. But the truth was Pei Jin had planned to use a crucial chess piece that night long ago.
Pei Jins plan started after Consort Las death. Consort La requested him and Yan Shi Ning to protect Pei Khan. If he wanted to protect his family and Pei Khan then he would need more guards at his manor. If he couldnt hide how strong he was anymore then it was better for him to accidently expose his real strength to Pei Zhang.
Pei Jin knew Pei Zhangs guards spied on his manor in four directions. He asked one of his guards to strike one of Pei Zhangs guards in the middle of the night so Pei Zhangs injured guard could report to Pei Zhang what happened.
Pei Jin was amused at Pei Zhangs smugness. It was amusing for a hunter to mislead a prey to think it outwitted the hunter.
Pei Jins next step was to let Pei Zhangs guards see him sneak men and weapons into the manor so Pei Zhang would confidently report to their father in the palace. Their father had been suspicious of him long ago and he was certain their father would bring Pei Zhang to his manor to investigate. Of course he would let their father investigate and see Pei Zhangs treason.
If Pei Zhang didnt use Dian This son to try to kill Pei Jins wife and son then Pei Jin wouldnt have accepted Elder Mas offer. Of course Pei Jin wouldnt spare anyone who dared to harm his wife and son.
Elder Ma had sent Pei Jin a letter, the salty fishes you raised have bred. Theyre delicious, Ill send you five hundred salty fishes first for you to savor.
Salty fish was the Southern Jiangs generals code name. Elder Ma sent five hundred salty fishes to Pei Jins manor while five hundred of the Southern Jiangs generals men secretly sneaked into the imperial city. Elder Ma refused to stand idly after Elder Ma received news someone attempted to frame Pei Jin and kill Pei Jins family. The five hundred men were a precaution to protect Pei Jin and Pei Jins family.
Pei Jin hid Elder Mas letter and knew five hundred men were excessive to protect him and his family. Elder Ma had intended for the five hundred men to eliminate his enemys army.
Pei Jins plan was disrupted by his fathers plan to act like his father was dying and the edict to make him crown prince. If his son didnt remind him what was important, he would have acted recklessly and used the five hundred men to seize the throne.
Luckily Pei Jin let go of his thought to seize the throne. So he waited for his father to die and if Pei Zhang sat on the throne then he would use the five hundred men to escort him and his family safely back to Southern Jiang.
After Wang Fu Mu sent news to Pei Jin about his fathers plan, Pei Jin realised he had evaded a deadly storm. His fathers plan also gave Pei Jin an opportunity to make Pei Zhang suffer for harming his wife and son.
Pei Jin and the five hundred men waited for Pei Zhang to take the bait.
Pei Jin understood Pei Zhang well. Pei Zhang would have died long ago if Pei Zhang wasnt Consort Mus son. Pei Zhang would never be as intelligent as Pei Lam. Without Consort Mus guidance, Pei Zhang was useless. So Pei Jin wanted to lure Pei Zhang at night. Pei Zhang couldnt seek Consort Mus guidance at night.
Pei Jin was amused how fast Pei Zhang ran to the palace to report to their father about men and weapons hidden in his manor.
While Pei Zhangs guards were running to Pei Jins manor, the five hundred men were sent to hide in Pei Zhangs vulnerable manor.
Xiao Zai was exceptional at mimicking other peoples voices. The general who ordered the emperors soldiers to protect the emperor and kill the traitors wasnt the real general, it was Xiao Zai mimicking the generals voice. The real general was killed by one of the five hundred men long ago.
Pei Zhangs guards would want to protect their master. So it didnt matter whether Pei Zhangs army was approaching Pei Jins manor to attack the emperor or not, the guards would attack the emperors army to protect Pei Zhang.
Pei Jin expected the battle between Pei Zhangs men and the emperors men. But he didnt order the five hundred men to attack. So the loud battle cries Pei Jin heard meant news of the battle was spread to Huang Guo and Huang Guos army joined the chaos outside Pei Jins manor.
Everyone inside Pei Jins manor were focused on what was happening outside and lowered their guard against Pei Zhang.
Pei Zhang grabbed an imperial guards sword, killed the imperial guard and held his father hostage.
Seventh son, what do you want to do? the emperor asked coldly.
Imperial father, you forced me to do this, Pei Zhang said. He held the sword closer to his fathers throat. Everyone stand back!
Pei Jin signalled for everyone not to make any sudden moves.
Seventh brother, let go of imperial father, Pei Jin said.
Ninth brother, I underestimated you! Pei Zhang said resentfully. You hid your real capabilities well for many years!
Seventh brother, even now youre still stubborn, Pei Jin said.
Imperial father, you betrayed me first so you cant blame me for betraying you, Pei Zhang said. Imperial father, you loved tenth brother. Tenth brother is dead but you still treat me unfairly. You forced me to do this.
Pei Zhang in his state of fury and resentment didnt notice how close the sword was to his fathers throat.
Pei Jin saw drops of blood dripped down his fathers throat. Seventh brother, let go of imperial father!
Pei Zhang looked down at his fathers throat, he was startled to see blood and loosened his hold on the sword.
The emperor elbowed Pei Zhangs chest while Pei Zhang was distracted and freed himself. He stabbed a sword through Pei Zhangs stomach.
Pei Zhang didnt know what happened. He felt pain in his stomach, vomited blood and died with his eyes wide opened.
Everyone gasped except the emperor who held a blood stained sword in his right hand.
Pei Jins heart farewell Pei Zhang, seventh brother you finally know what happens if you oppose father.
Suddenly Pei Jin remembered his imperial uncles memories of his father, Xiao Jin, your imperial father was a general when he was young too. When an enemy general held him hostage, he freed himself and killed the enemy general.
Pei Jin didnt know how he felt about Pei Zhangs death. If Pei Zhang truly wanted to kill their father then Pei Zhang wouldnt have been unguarded toward their father and given their father an opportunity to kill. But if Pei Zhang wanted to convince their father to believe in their innocence then Pei Zhang shouldnt have threatened their father. Pei Jin looked curiously at Pei Zhangs eyes, he wondered what the last thought of people who dared to threaten their father was.
***
End of Chapter Seventy-Eight