With a loud bang, the cup that Shi Yihong had just picked up suddenly fell. The crisp sound of shattering seemed to strike everyone's heart. Even though Shi Yihong was mentally prepared, his pupils constricted and his voice trembled."…What did you say?”
As if he didn't believe what he heard, he asked again in disbelief. Pei Yuan Shao couldn't bear to reveal this cruel fact." Yuting already had someone before she married me.”
"Who…is it?"
"You already have the answer in your heart, don't you?”Pei Yuan Shao's question was very light. Back then, when he had deduced this answer, he had also felt that it was absurd.
"It's Qi Xiu Zhu, right?" Shi Yihong had already calmed down. It was no wonder that he was so shocked. No one had seen through the relationship between Shi Yuting and Qi Xiuzhu back then.
"…Yes." Spitting out this word, Pei Yuan Shao seemed to have unloaded a heavy burden.
Because it was Qi Xiuzhu, Shi Yuting protected her in every possible way and didn't relent even until death!
At this moment, Pei Ruoqing's faint voice came from behind." So, it was her own idea to not let Mother enter the Pei family's ancestral grave back then, right? Because she doesn't love you, and because she feels sorry for you. Why did you insist on not telling the truth back then?”
If he had told the truth, why would his relationship with the Shi and Pei families become so stiff? Back then, his father had left the capital and was alienated by the Shi and Pei families. The biggest reason was that Pei Yuanshao insisted on not letting Shi Yuting enter the Pei family ancestral grave.
Pei Yuan Shao did not answer his question and threw another bomb." The drug back then was given by Yuting…"
The air suddenly fell silent for a few seconds. An Chengxi couldn't help but take a deep breath. The others also looked at Pei Yuanshao.
"She didn't tell me who she was protecting until she died. What really made me decide to hide it was the audio that Teacher left behind. He repeatedly hinted to me to take Yuting away from the capital because he didn't want her to get involved in all this. I promised Teacher that I would take good care of Yuting. If these things were exposed in front of everyone, Yuting's reputation would be completely ruined.”
After hearing such unbelievable news, Shi Yihong tried his best to maintain his composure. He stood up and walked slowly to Pei Yuanshao. His breathing was a little unstable because he had just been agitated." No…If Yuting drugged herself and you deliberately hid it, why did such rumors appear later?”
What rumors? An Chengxi recalled a matter that had spread like wildfire in Jingdou back then. The eldest son of the Pei family had bewitched his master's orphan daughter and harmed his mother. He was unworthy of being human. Moreover, there was always a voice asking him to get out of the capital. Back then, when he heard this rumor, he was also so shocked that he couldn't recover from it. Pei Yuan Shao didn't even need to mention it. He used a lot of connections to investigate the source of the rumor, but there was no result.
Not long after, Pei Yuan Shao was quietly transferred out of the capital, not responding to the concern and questions of everyone. Shi Yihong was so furious that he almost chased after her to S City.
So now, Martial Uncle, how are you going to answer?
An Chengxi looked at him, and Pei Ruoqing also looked at the figure who was still standing upright in the wind, rain, and snow.
At this moment, Pei Yuan Shao seemed to have recalled something unbearable, and his face gradually turned pale. His five fingers pinched his palm to gather some strength." The rumors…I spread them myself."”
As soon as she finished speaking, Shi Yihong slapped her. Pei Yuan Shao accepted it without even turning his head, but the people behind him lowered their heads in unison. Shi Yunshu and An Chengxi also knelt on the spot.
Pei Ruoqing's heart instantly tensed up. The hands hanging by her side unconsciously tightened. It had been a long time since her teacher had lost her temper.
"Get up." Shi Yihong's eyes were like sharp swords as he looked at them. His eyes were filled with suppressed anger.
An Chengxi and Shi Yunshu naturally would not stoke the fire at this time. They immediately stood up. Pei Ruoqing hesitated for a moment before standing up and retreating to the side.
Only Pei Yuanshao did not move. Shi Yihong's gaze turned to him and his voice was so deep that it could freeze." Get up. Don't force me to embarrass you in front of the younger generation.”
Pei Yuan Shao's heart trembled and he hurriedly called out," Brother…"
"If you still call me elder brother, then stand up properly. You don't need to endure it now, you don't need to bear it, and you don't need to kneel here to atone for your sins! What did you do wrong to need you to be so humble?”Shi Yihong's every word seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, weighing heavily on Pei Yuan Shao's heart. He opened his mouth, but it was as if someone had grabbed his throat, unable to spit out a word.
Looking at his uneasy expression, Shi Yihong seemed to have suddenly lost all his strength. He laughed self-deprecatingly." How incompetent am I, Shi Yihong, to make my junior brother endure to this extent? Would you rather bear the infamy than tell me, your elder brother?”
"Although you were the last to enter the sect, your tenacity was valued by the teacher, so in the end, the teacher chose you. And I can only live in your protective circle. I think I've seen through the world, but in fact, I'm like an ignorant fool.”
Everyone was silent and did not dare to answer. Pei Yuan Shao's face was pale and his lips were trembling. He didn't expect this matter to cause such a huge shock to his brother. Back then, when he decided to use the rumors as a cover and retreat to S City, his father had told him that he thought that he was doing everything for the greater good, but what did he do to those who cared about him? Weren't they worried? Don't they want to share your burden?
Pei Yuan Shao's eyes drooped, and his voice was so hoarse that it sounded like ice shattering." I'm sorry, brother. It's Yuan Shao…who lacked consideration.”
He had a lot of things to explain, just like when he had left Jingdou not only to divert some people's attention, but also to prevent those disputes from spreading to the family.
At that time, he had already realized that someone had secretly woven a net, and the Pei family was the prey in the net. He discussed the plan with his father and went to S City according to the words left behind by his teacher, Shi Yihong. Both he and his teacher wanted to give the Shi family a pure environment. These schemes should not have fallen on Shi Yihong, who only cared about education.
However, no matter how many reasons he had, they could not cover up the fact that he was lying. He propped himself up on his knees and did not dare to argue with Shi Yihong anymore. No matter how old he was, as long as the Shi family's family law fell on him, he could only obediently endure it.
Shi Yihong ignored his apology. His eyes hid a sense of guilt and deep sorrow that he did not even realize. The guilt was directed at this junior brother who had always protected everyone silently with his own body. As for the sorrow…He turned around and turned his back to the crowd. His voice seemed to come from a distant time and space." The person Yuting is protecting…is Qi Xiuzhu, right?”
There was nothing he didn't understand now. The person who could make Shi Yuting protect him and make Pei Yuanshao hide in front of him was no one else but Qi Xiuzhu. And these few years, from the evidence Pei Yuan Shao and An Chengxi had, it was almost certain that the person behind this was Qi Xiu Zhu. However, there was still something he did not understand. He turned around and asked," With your alertness, how did you fall for it back then? I don't believe that Yuting's little tricks can fool you.”
Pei Yuan Shao seemed to recall the scene at that time, and his expression became dark and gloomy. After a long time, he said in a low voice," Because that cup of drink with medicine was personally handed to me by Second Senior Brother.”
"So, the person Yuting wanted to drug was Qi Xiuzhu? Why?" Shi Yihong could no longer be bothered with his anger. He only wanted to understand the truth of the matter.
"Although Yuting was simple-minded, she was not stupid. At that time, she was already in love with him…Qi Xiuzhu. She must have discovered something about him.”Although Pei Yuan Shao was uncertain, Shi Yihong knew that he was not far off.
"Are you ready to close the net?" When Shi Yihong asked this question, the fingers behind his back involuntarily tightened. He looked at Pei Yuanshao as if he was looking at someone else.
"It's not time yet." The person who answered also sounded strange.
Shi Yihong pursed his lips tightly. His gaze fell on the withered branch of the crabapple tree in the distance, and his voice seemed as if it would dissipate at any moment." Sixteen years. I owe him a great debt of gratitude. How can he…live up to himself?”
Hearing his sigh, Pei Yuan Shao felt as if his heart was being cut into pieces. He had grown up with Qi Xiu Zhu since he was young, and if they weren't blood brothers, they were even more so than blood brothers. However, in the end, it was this person he respected who stabbed him in the back. Back then, he was unwilling to believe it after he found out the clues, but the evidence that gradually appeared slapped him hard.
The word that he hadn't called out for more than ten years lingered in his heart, but it couldn't get through his throat. All his feelings turned into bitterness.
Brother, is this really the truth?
This turbulent conversation came to an end, but the hearts of the few people present were extremely uneasy. The atmosphere was very low until dinner. Even the two little fellows were quiet and did not dare to make too much noise.
After dinner, Pei Yuan Shao brought Song Yuyan and the Pei brothers back to the Pei family. The purpose of coming over today was firstly to bring Song Yuyan over to clear the way, and secondly, to explain what happened back then.
At this moment, in the Pei family's living room. The warm yellow light was hazy. Pei Ruoqing sat quietly at the side and played chess with the old man. The sound of the chess pieces colliding with the chessboard was particularly abrupt.
"Have you decided?" Pei Yansong moved a piece and asked casually.
Pei Ruoqing's hand that was holding the chess piece paused for a moment before she put it down without hesitation." I've decided.”
If he had hesitated before today, he was willing to do so after today. In the past, he did not understand responsibility. He did not understand why someone could bear so much without complaining. He did not understand why he could smile and comfort others when he was so tired. Today, his father had taught him a very memorable lesson. For a belief and persistence, he could do boring things for ten years.
His father had spent nearly sixteen years searching for the truth. Other than because of Ye Xiu Zhu, it was mostly to protect the Pei family and the people around them.
Only today did he realize that everything his father did was for the Pei family. For the first time, he realized the significance of a family. In his previous life, he had been protected by his father for his entire life. In this life, he wanted to try to protect others!
Pei Yuan Shao came down from upstairs. The red swelling on his face from Shi Yihong's slap had dissipated quite a bit. He must have used an ice pack.
Pei Yansong glanced at him." Lil 'Yi is asleep?”
"Yes, he's already asleep. Yuyan is accompanying him.”Pei Yuan Shao replied as he walked towards Pei Ruoqing's seat.
Pei Ruoqing stood up and gave up her seat to her father while she stood to the side.
Pei Yuan Shao took over Pei Ruoqing's chessboard and started fighting with the old man without saying a word. Then, under Pei Ruoqing's dumbstruck gaze, the chess pieces on her side were wiped out at the fastest speed. Pei Ruoqing looked at her father speechlessly. How did his father manage to play such a good game of chess? Although her grandfather had gone easy on her, he had laid out so many good chess pieces, but her father had avoided every single one of them.
Pei Yuan Shao rubbed the space between his eyebrows and smiled bitterly." When can you be gentler to me?”
The old man and the little brat had been playing for almost half an hour, but the chessboard was still in a lukewarm state. He knew that the old man was deliberately going easy on them. It seemed that the little cub was not the only one hesitating. The old master had not thought about whether to tie the little cub to the family.
Since he wasn't sure, he would add fuel to the fire.
"Who's to blame?" Pei Yansong glanced at him coldly.
"It's not that I'm looking for abuse, but you can't bear to abuse this little brat, right? Are you asking him again and again to confirm it with him, or do you need to confirm it yourself?”Pei Yuan Shao skillfully kept the chess pieces while exposing the old man's thoughts without hesitation.
Pei Yansong did not look at him. He placed his hands on his knees and leaned back on the sofa." No one should be burdened by something else for the rest of their life. If he is unwilling, I will not force him." If you don't want this family business, so what if you give it to someone else? This life can't be short of my food and clothing.”At this point, he looked at the two of them." As for the two of you, if you have the ability, go and earn it yourself. Instead of continuing the family's inheritance and letting it continue to decay, it was better to maintain the infusion of fresh blood. Perhaps it could exist longer.”
"You're right, but you also know that the hearts of the people are not enough. If you think like this now, what about the next generation? If you let outsiders control this wealth, it is inevitable that they will be greedy and want to take it for themselves.”
"Heh, it's already good enough that you've done well for the third generation. Do you still want to live for thousands of generations?”The old man glanced at him and retorted rudely.
Pei Yuan Shao rubbed the space between his eyebrows." You know that's not what I meant. You worked so hard to earn your family business, and you're just going to watch it change its name?”
Pei Yansong closed his eyes." I have seen mountains and rivers in my life, and I have also seen hell on earth. I have friends who have made friends through life and death, and brothers who have seen each other. I have no regrets when I look back on my life. If you care about the family business, do whatever you want.”
Pei Yuan Shao did not know what to say for a moment. It seemed that he was too narrow-minded. He felt that he could never compare to his father's magnanimity. How many people could be so thorough and calm in the face of shocking fame and fortune? I'm afraid not many people can do it!
Pei Yuan Shao lowered his head in shame.”
"Our experiences and perspectives are different. I focus on the present while you focus on the long term. There's nothing wrong with that.”Pei Yansong shook his head and slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Pei Ruoqing," Little Ruo, you have to understand that once you take on some things, you have to bear the corresponding responsibility. Back then, I wanted you to take over the Pei family because you relied too much on one person to live. The responsibility is also a kind of bond."
"Grandpa, I'm willing!" It was a very light sentence, but it was like a thousand pounds of force was poured into it, and it could not be ignored.
Pei Ruoqing lowered her eyes and the last bit of hesitation disappeared. Not for anything else, but for the people he wanted to protect today!
When Pei Ruoqing finished speaking, not only did Pei Yansong look at him, Pei Yuan Shao also turned his eyes to look at him.
"I don't like to be bound, but I can't enjoy the gifts of my family like a parasite.”Pei Ruoqing's voice was faint." I don't have any grand aspirations in my life. I only want to protect my family for a long time.”
The moment these words were spoken, the two people present were stunned. Pei Yuan Shao, who was familiar with Pei Ruoqing's background, was also speechless. If the Pei Ruoqing of the past was like a pot that was only one-third filled with water, other than the one-third of the world that was filled with water, the rest was like air, dispensable. Now, the water had risen to 80%, and there were more plants, fish, and other living things in the water. The world in the water had become colorful.
Pei Yansong pondered for a moment and said," The Pei family's industries include pharmaceutics, real estate development, and software. Little Ruo, taking over the Pei family's responsibilities cannot only be based on the interests of a businessman. It also requires the conscience of an entrepreneur. In the future, during the holidays, go to the grassroots for an internship and see the faces that are different from your circle.”
"Yes, I understand." Pei Ruoqing replied respectfully. This meant that he would not have any free time in the future.
Pei Yansong and Pei Ruoqing said," Come and sit.”
Pei Ruoqing responded and sat on the small sofa opposite the old man. She quietly listened as the two of them changed the topic and discussed other things. The two of them seemed to have the intention of letting him participate, not avoiding him at all.
Until his father asked," Why did you choose to retire at that time?”
Pei Ruoqing could clearly see his grandfather's eyes turn sharp for a moment before quickly disappearing into the whirlpool. He had also heard a rumor that his grandfather had a chance to advance 16 years ago, but he suddenly resigned from all his positions overnight and missed out on the opportunity to become a member of the Ninth Standing Committee. Now, from his father's tone, it seemed like there was something hidden?
Pei Yansong picked up the cold water on the coffee table and took a sip before saying slowly," Because of your Uncle Qi's death.”
Pei Yuan Shao was suddenly stunned, as if something had flashed through his mind, but it was so fast that he could not grasp it. He said somewhat awkwardly," What does it have to do with…Uncle Qi?”
"Back then, I suspected that there was something fishy about your Uncle Qi's death. I didn't want the organization to conclude the case so quickly, so I had a dispute with the higher-ups. Some of them were no longer as hot-blooded as they were when they fought for power. After the peace, they only thought of scheming. At that time, someone deliberately framed them. I was also disappointed in some people, so I took the opportunity to retreat.”Pei Yuan Shao spoke calmly, not feeling the slightest bit that the information in his words was shocking.
"Then…did you find out the cause of Uncle Qi's death?”Pei Yuan Shao asked in an extremely sorrowful manner because he thought of some things, some things that he could not figure out.
Pei Yansong laughed mockingly," It's better not to find out. A person's will can be reversed, but the will of a faction or even a country cannot be reversed.”
"Uncle Qi…did you block someone's path?”Pei Yuan Shao heard his voice become hoarse and even difficult to accept, as if he had an answer.
Pei Yansong looked at his son, who had always been calm and collected, with a pale face." Sixteen years ago, the organization made a decision to reduce the military and develop the economy. And your Uncle Qi is the first to bear the brunt. He is a war maniac and cherishes his soldiers like his own children. Therefore, when he heard this decision, he went to make a fuss. His attitude was very firm. Even if he wanted to be fired, he could not. However, your Uncle Qi's personality is only that of a bad person. When it comes to compromising, he will still compromise. Moreover, developing the economy is beneficial to the country. No matter how reluctant he is to part with his soldiers, he will not do anything reckless.”
"However, someone with ulterior motives made a fuss about this matter. During a military exercise, they tampered with your Uncle Qi's fighter jet, and in the end, the fighter jet crashed and people died.”
The question he had been wondering about had been solved. Pei Yuan Shao felt his entire body go cold, as if his body had fallen into ice. A chill rose from the bottom of his heart. He had never understood why the net behind this would target the Pei family. Whether it was Pei Ruoqing's death in his previous life or his father's death, it seemed to have been deliberately arranged.
Also, the purpose of Qi Xiu Zhu's actions seemed to have been answered!
Qi Xiu Zhu wanted revenge for his father, but he did not understand why he was targeting the Pei family.
Pei Yansong saw the change in his expression and knew that he had understood something. Since he had already started, there was no need to hide it anymore." Everyone knows that your Uncle Qi and I are sworn brothers. It's impossible for me to sit idly by and watch his death. So someone made up a lie to kick me out of office, saying that I killed your Uncle Qi.”
With a loud boom, it was as if thunder had split the dark clouds. The dark clouds dispersed, and the ray of light hidden behind the clouds finally shone on the ground.
Is this…the reason you want to deal with the Pei family, Qi Xiuzhu? For this, he did not hesitate to sacrifice his teacher's life and Yuting's feelings. Pei Yuan Shao closed his eyes. He had never felt his heart so cold before.
Pei Ruoqing was also extremely shocked. When he connected it to what he had heard at the Shi family today, he instantly understood the cause and effect. However, after understanding it, he felt even more sorrowful.
"You've long guessed…that Teacher's death is related to brother…him, right?”Pei Yuan Shao suppressed the sweetness in his throat and asked in a trembling voice.
"I warned you three years ago.”Pei Yansong sighed." Some things are just you deceiving yourself. You don't believe that Qi Xiuzhu would do these things, and neither do I. But this is the truth.”
Pei Yansong's extremely calm words left Pei Yuan Shao speechless. Pei Yuan Shao smiled bitterly. Although he knew that this was the truth, how could he accept it emotionally? That was the person he had grown up with and the person who had brought him into the sect later on. However, he had indirectly caused the death of his teacher.
No matter what Pei Yuan Shao thought, time still quietly passed. Pei Yuanshao and Song Yuyan stayed until the fifth day of the new year before returning to S City.
This year, both the Shi family and the Pei family did not have a good time. Everyone knew why, but they all tacitly kept their mouths shut.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]