After Rebirth, She Becomes the Revenge Queen
Chapter 128 - 127: Don’t Matchmake Recklessly

Chapter 128: Chapter 127: Don’t Matchmake Recklessly

Pei Zhan originally planned to meet Liang Chen before attending the engagement with Liang Zhi and the others. Unexpectedly, upon inquiry at the Liang Mansion, he learned that Liang Chen had also gone to the other residence.

Since last time when he had a chance encounter with Xu Yin on the street and exchanged a few unpleasant words, Pei Zhan became even less inclined to maintain a superficially harmonious relationship with this person. Although Xu Yin hadn’t done anything overtly objectionable, and Pei Zhan, not being a three-year-old child, had experienced much in the outside world and would not lack basic composure, still, for some reason, he just couldn’t get close to this person.

Thus, he didn’t want to get involved in this engagement, but since he was looking for Liang Chen, he had no choice but to go once.

At the other residence, Liang Zhi, under Fu Zhen’s orders, had to get the "Seven Strategies" from Xu Yin, making it impossible to avoid some play-acting.

Fortunately, after a prior word with Cheng Chili and his recent return from the northwest, the two sides coordinated quickly, getting straight to the point.

He said, "Before I came back, Uncle Du in the northwest garrison had a talk with me about the situation in the camp. He thought of the ’Seven Military Strategies’ that Mr. Xu presented to the emperor earlier, finding it profound. Unfortunately, he didn’t manage to borrow it from the Ministry of War back then to have a look. Now that Mr. Xu is present, I wonder if you could make another copy and give it to me to send to Uncle Du?"

This Military Governance Strategy wasn’t exactly a critical secret. After the emperor received it back then, he even had a Yellow Gate Gentleman read it in the palace.

It’s just that afterward, it was sent to the Ministry of War and not widely disseminated, making it something everyone could have.

Xu Yin laughed, "That’s easy. I can write it for you now. But remember, Shaoyuan used to call me Uncle Xu. Why so formal this time, calling me ’Mr. Xu’?"

Liang Zhi laughed and first had someone bring over a brush and ink, saying afterwards, "Now that you are Prince Consort, naturally, you should be addressed from Prince Rong’s generation. Since Prince Rong and my late father are of the same generation, how could I still call you Uncle? Wouldn’t that be disorderly! — Here are the paper and pen, please go ahead."

Previously, when the Xu family and Liang Ning were betrothed, Liang Chen and Liang Zhi indeed used to call the Xu family member ’Uncle.’ Liang Chen, who didn’t meet Xu Yin often and had succeeded the position of Great General, was exempted from this, while Liang Zhi, being younger and Liang Ning’s attendant, couldn’t escape it and called him Uncle for years.

But now that he knew this was Liang Zhi’s adversary who had killed his aunt, having learned the whole story from Fu Zhen, how could he still acknowledge a thief as uncle? Playing along was fine, but respecting him was out of the question.

Cheng Chili echoed, "Right, call him Uncle again, and Prince Rong’s uncle won’t be happy! Because then we’d have to address him as Grandpa!"

Xu Yin raised his eyebrows upon hearing this but did not insist.

Just as he was picking up the pen, it was announced that Pei Zhan had arrived outside.

After exchanging greetings upon meeting, Pei Zhan sat next to Liang Chen and, seeing the pen in Xu Yin’s hand, remarked, "Vice Minister Xu, are you about to showcase your calligraphy?"

Xu Yin responded leisurely, "Not at all. It’s just that Shaoyuan said he wanted the ’Seven Military Strategies,’ and I am penning it for him now."

Pei Zhan had asked casually, but hearing this, he glanced at Liang Zhi.

Fearing he might disrupt the plan, Liang Zhi quickly interjected, "Where have you been? Why are you so late?"

Pei Zhan withdrew his gaze and lied without changing expression, "Grand Preceptor Gu at the National History Institute is busy with the Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony, and since I was free, he asked me to lend a hand."

Cheng Chili questioned, "With so many people in the palace, why trouble you? If needed, they could have asked us."

Liang Zhi coolly looked at him cast a glance, "You don’t get it? Grandpa Gu’s precious granddaughter was out of mourning last month! And she’s come of age but hasn’t discussed marriage yet!"

Cheng Chili scratched his head and asked, "You mean Sister Ying? What does her coming out of mourning have to do with Brother Wu?"

The two Liang brothers burst out laughing.

Pei Zhan gave Liang Zhi an exasperated look, "If you can’t speak properly, shut up; no one will take you for a mute."

Finishing his words, he lightly tapped the table three times with his fingers, then stood up, "I’m going to wash my hands first."

With that said, he walked out of the passage hall and headed along the verandas toward the small garden behind the moon gate.

Liang Chen also put down his tea, "Everyone’s here, I’ll go to the kitchen to hurry the dishes."

Having said that, he too got up and walked in the direction of the culinary yard.

But at the kitchen door, he took a turn, detoured through the backyard, and ended up in the small garden.

Sure enough, he found Pei Zhan wandering beside the peony bush, and approached, saying, "Did you have something for me?"

Pei Zhan turned his head, "How did you know I was looking for you?"

Liang Chen chuckled, his hands behind his back, "We’ve been comrades for many years, don’t we have even this bit of tacit understanding?

"In the battle for Huixian Pass, didn’t we gain an understanding by tapping the table three times, persuading a whole host of opposing Generals? You don’t think I’d forget, do you!"

Speaking of this table-tapping action, it was actually a habit his little aunt often had. That time, he didn’t know why, but when he saw Pei Zhan tap the table, he just instinctively understood and, across the table full of Generals, began to harmonize with him, and indeed they coordinated! Looking back, it’s still mind-boggling.

"Indeed, there is something." Pei Zhan went straight to the point, "Earlier, I went to the National History Institute and found some clues about the dagger’s origins, but the owner still needs further verification."

He then recounted the information gleaned from Gu Xiu, adding, "We’ve locked onto the person, but we can’t harp on it openly. If it gets out, even these clues might be cut off."

When Liang Chen heard it involved the Dayue Royal Family, his expression grew solemn, "Back then, King Yi, Duan Huai, due to his noble maternal lineage, had many supporters at court. So when he failed to seize power and his clan was exterminated, the casualties were extraordinarily heavy.

"Everything to do with Prince Yi’s Mansion is viewed as inauspicious by them in Dayue. Though the dagger is decently crafted, it isn’t considered a top-notch weapon. People from Dayue wouldn’t carry it unless they’re former retainers of the Prince Manor.

"Who exactly is Shen Yi?"

"The bounty record from the previous dynasty doesn’t explain his origin. We need to question the two historians the Grand Tutor gave us."

Liang Chen pondered, "What are the names of those two people? I haven’t had many tasks lately and have plenty of eclectic engagements, so perhaps I should investigate rather than you appearing."

Pei Zhan handed him the note Gu Xiu left and included another piece of paper, "Moreover, this paper contains all the information I recall about the dagger; take it and deliberate."

Liang Chen furrowed his brows while looking, then tucked it into his bosom, "Unfortunately, the sole witness, Mrs. Ning, only saw them from a distance, so there’s no way to invite her to describe the killer’s appearance."

Hearing this, Pei Zhan’s gaze suddenly fixed on his face.

"Have you seen that person lately?"

Liang Chen was puzzled, "Which person?"

"...Fu Zhen."

Liang Chen was even more bewildered, "I haven’t, I’m a married man, why would I see a young lady from a maiden’s chamber?"

"And didn’t that second one suggest you should meet her?"

"No," Liang Chen was startled, "What have you learned?"

Could it be that something happened between Liang Zhi and Ms. Fu, requiring him, the head of the family, to know about it?

Pei Zhan remained silent. "You’re overthinking."

Liang Chen observed him for a while, then said, "Wu, are you hiding something from me?"

Pei Zhan turned his face away, "No."

His own head was still a mess; how could he hide anything?

Reflecting on this, he gave Liang Chen another glance, "Then, do you want to see her?"

"Bah!" Liang Chen spat, "Wu! Are you trying to destroy me?!

Pei Zhan, however, uncharacteristically tugged his lips into an inscrutable smile, "Didn’t you say last time that she suits your temper? Why don’t we find her for tea and a meal? She can ride and has martial arts skills. If you find tea and dining dull, you might also race her on horseback or simply spar with her..."

"Shut up!" Liang Chen couldn’t remain calm, "Are you mad! I have a wife and children, do you want to tear my family apart? Do you want to see little Xuan finally have his father only to become an orphan again? What’s wrong with your head?"

To suggest he dine, drink, horse race, or engage in martial arts with a young and beautiful woman? Is he intentionally trying to make trouble for him?

If his wife knew, the feather duster would directly ruin him!