"You..."
Pei Hong instinctively wanted to retort, but the words died on his lips as he suddenly froze.
He knitted his brows tightly, stared fixedly at Zhao Yi, and asked in a low voice, "What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Do you still not understand!"
Zhao Yi sighed, looking at him with exasperation. "The Emperor specifically sent you here to test your Pei family!"
"If your Pei family has any sense, you should rush to the palace immediately and stop the Emperor from executing me!"
"Otherwise, if I die, your Pei family can just wait to be charged with the crime of driving a prince to his death!"
Upon hearing Zhao Yi’s words, Pei Hong shuddered, a bone-chilling coldness instantly washing over his entire body.
Pei Hong did not know if this speculation of Zhao Yi's was true or false.
But even if there were only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, it was enough to lead the Pei family to total ruin.
In that moment, a phrase suddenly popped into Pei Hong’s mind: *Great merit overshadows the master!*
He had heard his grandfather and father warn him before. Since ancient times, those in service who attained merit that overshadowed their sovereign would inevitably be met with suspicion.
One step.
Two steps.
Pei Hong suddenly felt his legs turn to jelly and instinctively retreated two steps before steadying himself.
Beads of sweat the size of soybeans broke out on Pei Hong's forehead; his pale complexion and terror-stricken eyes made Zhao Yi realize that Pei Hong had finally caught on.
The next moment, Pei Hong turned abruptly and dashed toward the door.
***
Duke Xiang's Estate.
The Pei family held two dukedoms, but the family members all resided in the estate of the patriarch, Pei Tianlin, the Duke of Dingguo.
At this moment, in the main hall, several people were gathered around a young girl of sixteen.
The girl sat in the first official chair on the left, her right elbow propped up on a small side table, the thumb and index finger of her right hand gently rubbing her temple.
The girl’s eyes were filled with disbelief.
She came from another world and had been a secret agent.
Not long ago, they were preparing to capture a "big fish," but who could have known that after a deafening blast, she would be swallowed by flames?
When she opened her eyes again, she had transmigrated to Dayong, becoming Pei Yiqiu, the youngest daughter of the powerful official, the Duke of Dingguo.
"Miss, how... how are you feeling?"
Her personal maid, Xiangyue, who wore her hair in two buns, bent down and stared at Pei Yiqiu with round, worried eyes.
"I..." Pei Yiqiu pulled back her hand, her fine brows slightly furrowed, and shook her head. "My head feels heavy. I can't remember anything from recently."
Having just received the original owner's memories, Pei Yiqiu was indeed a bit disoriented. The memories of recent days were a total blank.
At this time, a young man of about twenty-something, dressed in fine silk, coughed lightly to draw everyone's attention.
This young man was Pei Lian, the son of Pei Yiqiu's eldest uncle—her cousin.
Seeing everyone look over, Pei Lian said with slight indignation, "Yiqiu, the state you're in today is all because of that Prince Qing Zhao Yi!"
"Prince Qing Zhao Yi?" Pei Yiqiu struggled to find clues in the ocean of memories.
Soon, she had a general impression of this Prince Qing Zhao Yi.
"That's right!"
Before Pei Yiqiu could ask, Pei Lian chimed in impatiently, "That day at the palace banquet, that Prince Qing Zhao Yi used his drunkenness to harass you. You couldn't bear the shame, so you threw yourself into the lake."
"You've been in a coma for several days; you've finally woken up today."
"Threw myself into the lake." Pei Yiqiu’s eyelids twitched.
To seek death just because of a bit of harassment—the ancients really did value reputation too highly.
Thinking this, Pei Yiqiu sighed unconsciously, but to the little maid Xiangyue, this sigh made her heart tighten.
Her eyes instantly welled up with tears as she grabbed Pei Yiqiu’s arm and said with a sobbing voice, "Miss, you must never do such a foolish thing again."
"Xiangyue is right!" Pei Lian interjected. "Seeking death for that Zhao Yi is simply not worth it!"
As he spoke, Pei Lian suddenly remembered news he had received not long ago. His eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "Yiqiu, I have some good news to tell you."
"What good news?" Pei Yiqiu looked confused.
Thinking of the news he had just received, Pei Lian smiled triumphantly. "Your second brother just sent word that the Emperor has issued an edict to execute Zhao Yi."
"You can rest easy from now on!"
If someone offends the Pei family, even a prince has to lose his head. Looking across the entire imperial court, only the Pei family enjoyed such favor!
Thinking of this, a sense of pride rose in Pei Lian’s heart, and he puffed out his chest unconsciously. The surrounding servants, buoyed by this shared glory, also felt a sense of pride.
Just as Pei Lian was thinking about calling his friends tomorrow to show off, Pei Yiqiu’s brows knit together.
She possessed knowledge far beyond this era.
She absolutely did not believe the Emperor would execute his own son just for the daughter of a subject!
There was something fishy about this!
*Clip-clop... clip-clop... clip-clop...*
Just then, the sound of hoofbeats approached from outside the main hall, rapid and urgent.
Everyone looked up, their faces filled with shock and doubt.
Who would dare to gallop a horse inside the Duke Xiang's Estate? Did they have a death wish?
Before long, a general in armor rode a jujube-red stallion directly to the entrance of the main hall.
"Whoa..."
The general pulled on the reins, and the steed reared up, its head held high, before coming to a stop.
Pei Hong leaped off the horse and charged straight into the main hall.
"Pei Hong, have you lost your mind? How dare you gallop in the estate!" Seeing that it was Pei Hong, Pei Lian scolded him sharply.
"I can't worry about that now!" Drenched in sweat, Pei Hong walked up to Pei Lian, gasping for air as he looked around, and then dropped a bombshell: "Where is Grandfather? Quick, call Grandfather out! Our Pei family is facing a catastrophe!"
Hearing this, the faces of everyone in the hall changed drastically.
Pei Lian frowned, stepped up, and grabbed Pei Hong by the collar, glaring as he asked, "Explain yourself! How could our Pei family be facing a catastrophe?"
Pei Hong shoved Pei Lian’s hand away, stared at him, and panted, "The Emperor ordering Zhao Yi’s execution is a test for our Pei family!"
"Zhao Yi cannot die! If Zhao Yi dies, our Pei family is finished!"
Once the words were out, Pei Lian stood stunned like a wooden chicken, frozen in place.
Pei Hong immediately looked at a servant and shouted, "Go and invite the old master out at once!"
"Yes... yes..." The servant nodded like a pounding mortar and flew out of the main hall.
After a brief moment of shock, Pei Lian glared and asked, "Pei Hong, explain yourself! How do you know the Emperor is testing our Pei family?"
"Zhao Yi said so!" After catching his breath, Pei Hong briefly recounted what had happened at Prince Qing's Estate.
"You idiot!" After hearing this, Pei Lian spat the words at him.
He then said with disdain, "Pei Hong, can you really believe the words of a cornered dog like Zhao Yi?"
"Our Pei family is loyal to the Emperor; how could the Emperor suspect us without reason?"
"Zhao Yi said that just to use our Pei family to plead for his life!"
"You actually fell for his manipulation like a fool—you really are stupid to the core!"
Pei Lian had always liked to put on the airs of an elder brother and lecture him since they were young, and Pei Hong felt very resentful.
Being scolded by Pei Lian in public like this, Pei Hong’s anger flared up, and he retorted immediately, "If the Emperor doesn't suspect our Pei family, how do you explain the Emperor ordering Zhao Yi’s execution?"
"And specifically sending me to accompany the delivery of the decree?"