An Cangzhu glared ahead as Yi Sang dismounted and swaggered forward, laughing heartily, "I rushed all the way from Ma Yuan, yet still arrived late. My apologies for keeping everyone waiting!" Striding boldly to the front, he sat down without a care, as if only then noticing Pei You'an. Turning, he cupped his hands and said, "Lord Pei, my apologies for the delay. Please don't take offense."
Pei You'an smiled faintly, offering no comment. Across from them, An Jilong said coldly, "Making all of us wait is one thing, but why bring these troops? Do you think you're the only one with men?"
Yi Sang snorted through his nose. "You're the Grand Chieftain now—what could I possibly do with more men? Forgive my distrust, but if not for Lord Pei's past aid in curing the plague in Mengding Prefecture, why would I even be here to waste words with you?"
Suppressing his anger, An Jilong retorted, "We already swore an oath to cease hostilities. That Lord Ma is clearly sowing discord—how could you fall for it and stir trouble again? Do you really think I fear you?"
Yi Sang sneered. "Fine words! You've taken all the benefits, even annexing my ancestral lands. Do you take me for a dead man?"
An Jilong slammed the table and stood. "Outrageous! You're the one making excuses for conflict! That talk of ceding Anlong Pass to Mengmu Prefecture was just empty words from Lord Ma! After he left, when have you ever seen my people cross the border? Yet your men recently trespassed and injured several of mine! You show no sincerity for peace! I, An Jilong, never seek trouble, but I won't shrink from it either! If you want a fight, then fight!"
Yi Sang sprang to his feet. "You all heard it—the Grand Chieftain's own words! What more is there to discuss? I'm leaving. Farewell!" He turned to go, and the hundreds of warriors behind him erupted in cheers. An Jilong's face darkened, while the assembled chieftains exchanged uneasy glances.
"Yi Sang, you once swore a blood oath to cease hostilities. You know full well Mengmu Prefecture has not breached the agreement, yet you provoke conflict. What is your reasoning?"
A voice came from behind, steady and resonant, somehow cutting through the clamor of Yi Sang's warriors.
Yi Sang halted and turned to see Pei You'an rise and approach him.
Hesitating, Yi Sang forced a smile. "Lord Pei, don't misunderstand. Don't just listen to one side. I mean you no offense. I came today out of respect for you. Since we can't agree, what's left to say? Let things take their course!"
Scanning the crowd, he raised his voice. "This is between me and An Jilong—no outsiders need interfere. Lord Pei, I speak plainly, so forgive my bluntness: you're Han, an outsider. How can our hearts be one? You claim to mediate, yet I heard you entered Mengmu Prefecture long ago—where's the neutrality? You're either bribed by An Jilong or have ulterior motives of your own!"An Jilong flew into a rage, slamming the table as he stood and rebuked, "Yi Sang! You can slander me all you want, but how dare you smear Lord Pei as well? When the plague broke out in your Ma Yuan city, if not for Lord Pei's assistance, would you even be standing here today spouting such nonsense?"
Pei You'an gestured for An Jilong to calm down, then turned to Yi Sang, who wore a look of disdain, and said with a smile, "Pacification Commissioner Yi Sang has indeed seen through me. I, Pei You'an, did come here with some personal motives."
The surrounding chieftains whispered among themselves while Yi Sang's face revealed smug satisfaction.
Pei You'an surveyed the assembled chieftains and declared, "As you all know, the Third Prince holds the late emperor's mandate to govern this frontier, and pacifying the borders and securing the people is his foremost duty. If conflicts were to reignite between Mengmu and Mengding Prefectures due to misunderstandings, the Third Prince would inevitably face censure from the imperial censors for negligence. I have come under the Third Prince's orders. If you would honor me with your cooperation and grant Pei You'an this favor, I can at least give His Highness a proper account upon my return."
A wave of laughter rose among the chieftains, with one shouting, "Lord Pei, we've always held you in high esteem! Today's matters shall proceed as you direct!"
Pei You'an cupped his hands toward the assembly. "In terms of seniority, I, Pei You'an, am far inferior to all the chieftains present here. I am deeply grateful for your regard. To you all, I have but one thing to say: In war, none are spared; in chaos, none remain untouched. Though Lord Ma's mission as Pacification Commissioner may seem unrelated to you, in truth, every person here will be affected. Mengmu and Mengding Prefectures hold pivotal positions in the southwest. Should war break out again, how could any of you remain aloof and uninvolved? Whether coerced or acting in self-preservation, a single move could unsettle the entire situation. With external enemies watching like tigers eyeing their prey, the fragile peace in the southwest would be shattered beyond recovery."
The smiles gradually faded from the chieftains' faces, replaced by grave expressions.
Pei You'an turned to Yi Sang. "Pacification Commissioner Yi Sang, if you were to go to war with the Mengmu chieftain again, ask yourself honestly—what are your chances of victory?"
Yi Sang sneered. "Even if it costs me my life, I won't let outsiders take even an inch of my ancestors' land!"
Pei You'an smiled faintly. "Well said! But let me ask you this: Lord Ma merely suggested verbally that Anlong Pass be allocated to Mengmu Prefecture, yet you reacted with such outrage that you brazenly tore up the agreement, ignoring all facts. Meanwhile, while all these chieftains are gathered here today, you secretly sent men to seize Mubang. What is the meaning of this?"
At these words, Yi Sang's face changed, and the assembly erupted in uproar.
Mubang was An Jilong's ancestral land. Shocked, An Jilong stepped forward and roared, "Yi Sang! How dare you commit such a shameless act! Do you truly think I fear you?"
An Cangzhu had already drawn his saber, leading twenty guards forward as he shouted furiously, "You treacherous snake! I'll kill you where you stand!"
Yi Sang let out a sharp cry, and hundreds of warriors behind him surged forward, surrounding the meeting hall in an instant. Swords were drawn, arrows nocked—the tension was palpable, and violence seemed imminent.
The chieftains paled, rising to their feet as they berated, "Yi Sang! What do you think you're doing?"Yi Sang glanced around with a cold laugh. "Every one of you shares the same breath as An Jilong. Lord Pei, since you've discovered my plans, there's no point in hiding anything. I've already dispatched a large force to Mubang—there's no chance for them to escape. Let me make this clear: Anlong Pass has belonged to our Mengding Prefecture for generations. If An Jilong doesn't agree to surrender all of Anlong Pass today, not only will Mubang be lost, but none of you will leave here alive!"
Amid the uproar of curses, Yi Sang remained unshaken, standing arrogantly under the protection of his trusted guards.
Pei You'an watched him, his expression gradually turning icy. Suddenly, he clapped his hands, and a guard behind him released a fire signal into the sky. With a sharp crack, the signal exploded, and moments later, a group of riders appeared in the distance, swiftly closing in. Yi Sang turned to look, his face paling instantly.
Yang Yun galloped forward, drawing his blade and pointing it at a bound man slung over the side of his horse. He shouted fiercely, "Yi Sang, recognize this man? If you don't beg Lord Pei for mercy now, my sword won't spare your son!"
The bound man was none other than Yi Nu, Yi Sang's beloved eldest son, a skilled warrior and his right-hand man, regarded as his successor.
For this covert operation, Yi Sang had sent Yi Nu with two thousand elite soldiers to raid the undefended Mubang, expecting an easy victory. Never had he imagined such a turn of events. Steadying himself, he turned to Pei You'an. "What do you want? If you dare harm my son, I swear I won't rest until you pay!"
Pei You'an replied coldly, "Yi Sang, your son is at sword's point, yet unharmed, and already you're frantic, threatening mutual destruction. Had I not stopped your scheme in time, would you have shown even a shred of mercy to the unarmed people of Mubang? Your son is of your flesh and blood—do others not feel the pain of losing theirs?"
Yi Sang glanced at his son, gagged and struggling, his expression darkening.
"Call off your men—now!" Pei You'an commanded sharply.
Yi Sang shuddered, involuntarily stepping back, his face alternating between red and white. Reluctantly, he signaled his men to retreat.
Soon, the hundreds of warriors withdrew like a receding tide, vanishing into the distance.
The tense atmosphere finally eased, and the gathered chieftains exhaled in relief, glaring at Yi Sang with undisguised fury.
Pei You'an ordered Yang Yun to bring Yi Nu forward. As Yang Yun pushed him, Yi Nu resisted stubbornly, refusing to kneel. A swift kick to the back of his knees sent him sprawling to the ground, where he glared at Pei You'an, muffled protests escaping his gag.
Yi Sang forced himself to steady his voice. "Lord Pei, I admit defeat today. What do you intend to do with my son?""Yi Sang, although your Yi family has passed down the chieftain title for generations, in the past you were merely a minor chieftain's household, obscure and unknown. It wasn't until your great-grandfather's time that the Yi family began to rise in power. I've heard that when the old chieftain was alive, Menglian Commandery once attacked your Ma Yuan City. The city was in imminent danger, and the old chieftain himself was in peril. Fortunately, the people of Ma Yuan City rallied to his aid, turning defeat into victory. From then on, the old chieftain regarded Ma Yuan City as a land of fortune and moved his chieftain's residence there. It was also from that time onward that your Yi family began to prosper. Why did the people of Ma Yuan City help the old chieftain back then? I've heard it was because he was benevolent and loved his people, a man of his word, a true hero. Why did Menglian Commandery lose the people's support? Because they militarized excessively, bringing unbearable suffering to the populace. Now that your Yi family is powerful, where is Menglian Commandery? Long reduced to a handful of yellow earth."
"A man without trustworthiness cannot stand firm. I know you're eager for the court to confer upon you the title of Grand Chieftain. But someone like you, who becomes discontent merely because you didn't gain the benefits you expected, whose vision extends no further than three inches before you, who treats oaths as nothing, who breaks agreements and fails to keep promises—even if you obtain the title of Grand Chieftain, how will you establish yourself? How will you command respect?"
As Pei You'an's words fell, silence enveloped the surroundings.
Yi Sang flushed crimson. Seeing Pei You'an standing with his hands behind his back, majestic as a deep pool and towering mountain, exuding authority without anger, he dared not speak. He could only watch helplessly as Pei You'an turned to An Cangzhu and gestured for his waist knife.
An Cangzhu immediately drew the waist knife and presented it with both hands.
Pei You'an took it and lightly touched the cold blade with a finger. The knife gleamed like frost, reflecting a chilling aura in his pupils.
He stepped forward, approaching Yi Nu on the ground. Bending down, he removed the wooden gag from Yi Nu's mouth.
Yi Nu immediately shouted, "Father, don't mind me! Let him kill me if he wants! This Han man is full of tricks—don't fall for them!"
Pei You'an pressed the flat of the blade against one side of Yi Nu's face and exerted his wrist. Yi Nu's head and face were instantly immobilized, his eyes wide with rage as he glared at Pei You'an.
The atmosphere grew abruptly tense. Everyone held their breath. Yi Sang's face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "If you kill him, I swear I'll never rest until you're dead!"
Pei You'an's expression remained impassive as water. He raised the knife and brought it down, the blade slicing across Yi Nu's arm.
Yi Sang froze, not yet comprehending, when he saw Pei You'an repeat the motion—this time cutting his own arm. A streak of bright red blood immediately trickled down his sleeve.
The crowd was stunned and bewildered. Even Yi Nu on the ground looked at Pei You'an in shock, ceasing his struggles.
Yi Sang's heart had been in his throat, but upon seeing Pei You'an's actions, he hesitated and asked, "Lord Pei... what do you mean by this?"Pei You'an gazed at him and said, "Yi Sang, you just said that since we are of different races, how can we be of one heart? Have you not seen that between me and your eldest son, though we are not of the same race and our attire differs, beneath our skin, our blood is the same color? If we cast aside prejudice, why can we not unite in purpose? You and An Jilong are known as the Twin Tigers of the Southwest, with many eyes watching, eager to take your place. Have you not heard the saying, 'When two tigers fight, neither survives, and the mangy dog benefits'? Before I set out on this journey, the Third Prince remarked that you are a man of valor, but your narrow-mindedness led you to fall into a trap, manipulated without realizing it, hence the current strife. Chieftain An never intended to oppose you, and the Third Prince hopes you will stop before it's too late. Whether we fight or make peace today, I need not say more—the choice is yours!"
Yi Sang stood stunned for a long moment before suddenly rushing forward and prostrating himself before Pei You'an, saying, "Lord Pei, in my life, I have never admitted defeat, but today I concede wholeheartedly! I was wrong! Whether to kill or spare me, I leave entirely to your judgment!"
Pei You'an replied, "To err is human. If Chieftain Yi Sang is willing to turn hostility into friendship, that is already a great virtue. Rise." He stepped forward to help him up, then turned to An Jilong and asked, "Chieftain An, Yi Sang sent men to attack your Mubang. How do you wish to resolve this?"
An Jilong had initially been filled with rage and lingering fear. Fortunately, Yi Nu had been intercepted by Pei You'an, averting disaster, and he breathed a long sigh of relief. Seeing Yi Sang admit his mistake, and out of respect for Pei You'an, he could only let it go. He said, "Yi Sang, today's events fortunately did not lead to dire consequences. For Lord Pei's sake, I will not hold it against you. But let me make this clear—if you ever trespass into my Mengmu Prefecture again, I will not let it slide!"
Yi Sang, his face flushed with shame, said, "Lord Pei spared my son's life, and so I owe him a debt. I will keep this life for now, ready to serve Lord Pei whenever needed. As for you, let us restore our former alliance as it was. I will host a feast with offerings, and according to custom, I will publicly apologize to you before all present here as witnesses!"
An Jilong had secretly hoped that in his shame, Yi Sang might offer to cede Anlong Pass entirely to him. But the man remained shrewd, unwilling to concede even the slightest advantage. An Jilong cursed him inwardly as an old fox. Being naturally magnanimous, and again out of respect for Pei You'an, he let it go. Turning to the crowd, he laughed and said, "I will partake of Yi Sang's feast another day. Today, you have all worked hard. Come to my residence—I will host a banquet, with Lord Pei seated at the head, and we shall not part until we are drunk!"
...
Jiafu knew the gravity of today's events and waited anxiously in the chieftain's residence. As night fell, she faintly heard the sounds of feasting and music from the front and guessed that Pei You'an must have returned safely. Soon after, a guard arrived, saying that the lord had sent him to relay a message—all was well, and she need not worry.
Jiafu finally relaxed and began eagerly awaiting his return. She waited until the hour of Hai (9–11 PM), stepping out countless times to look for him, until at last she heard footsteps outside. She rushed out and saw Pei You'an being supported by a guard, his steps slightly unsteady.
Having been by his side for some time, even here where banquets were frequent, Jiafu had never seen him drink. Tonight was an exception. She hurried forward and steadied him.Pei You'an dismissed the guards to rest, then withdrew the arm Jiafu had been holding and walked inside by himself.
Jiafu hurried after him, taking his arm once more as she said, "You're drunk—you can barely walk straight. Let me help you."
He paused for a moment, glancing down at her. Seeing the worry in her expression, he hesitated briefly but ultimately didn’t pull away again, allowing her to support him as they entered the room.
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