Transmigrating to the Qi Family - Chapter 200

“What… what?”

Zhao Wei is utterly shocked. He can’t believe there’s such a hidden matter.

“Did you never consider that it might not have been an accident?” Pei Che asks.

Zhao Wei shakes his head. “The incident back then happened too suddenly. We simply thought the heavy rain caused the trees on the mountain to collapse. By the time I discovered my cousin’s schemes, more than a year had passed. How could I have suspected anything else?”

Pei Che thinks Zhao Wei’s trust in his cousin is excessive. What if it has been her doing all along, with her people carrying out the deed but pretending it didn’t succeed? That woman has a venomous heart. Not long ago, she even colluded with his second aunt to make him subject to the royal family. Isn’t it natural for such a person to lie? After all, she has already deceived Zhao Wei once before.

Perhaps noticing Pei Che’s skepticism, Zhao Wei explains, “I overheard my cousin and uncle’s plot. At that time, I was staying at the Li estate. After drinking a bit too much, I wandered into a crevice in the rock garden and dozed off. Unexpectedly, I overheard their conversation.”

At that time, the Fourth Prince’s power had waned significantly, while the Third Prince’s position seemed stable, just one step away from the throne. As the family of the Third Prince’s concubine, the Li family’s status naturally rose day by day.

But unfortunately, Li Huanyan was only a concubine. Even if the Third Prince ascended to the throne in the future, she would remain a mere consort, beneath the main wife. This constant suppression gnawed at Li Huanyan, who had always been competitive and ambitious.

That day, after returning to the Li estate, Li Huanyan directly rebuked her father for his lack of influence in court, saying his failure to gain the Third Prince’s favor had left her and her child neglected. Then she lamented, saying that if she had successfully persuaded Pei Shijie back then, the Third Prince would surely value her highly. Unfortunately, Pei Shijie hadn’t cooperated. Otherwise, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

Lord Li nervously glanced around, terrified that her words might be overheard. The crime of plotting against the heir of the Duke’s family was something even a prince’s concubine couldn’t bear.

But Li Huanyan scoffed dismissively. “What’s there to fear? I wasn’t the one who harmed him. My people didn’t even get the chance to act before misfortune struck him. He can only blame fate.”

After saying this, her tone turned bitter and hateful. “If he hadn’t married that wretched woman and had chosen me instead, he wouldn’t have met such a fate. He only has his own blindness to blame!” She even seemed to display a hint of resentment born from unfulfilled love.

Lord Li hurriedly said, “Now that you are the Third Prince’s concubine, you mustn’t say such things anymore. The Third Prince already resents Pei Shijie because of the Feng family’s daughter. If he learns that you had similar thoughts, he will surely banish you and your son to the cold palace. In hindsight, failing to bring him in back then might have been a blessing. If the Third Prince finds out you secretly tried to persuade your cousin to act as an intermediary, who knows what he would do.”

Li Huanyan let out a soft snort. “And what could he do? Pei Shijie is exceptionally talented. If the Third Prince dares to push him away, even his subordinates wouldn’t agree. Enough, let’s not talk about this. Father, have you reached an agreement with my cousin to use his business funds for our plans?”

Lord Li replied, “Don’t rush. Your cousin is a filial man. Now that his mother has passed away and his paternal family has declined, we are his only remaining relatives. If we appeal to him kindly, he will surely agree. It’s a pity he didn’t marry Yijia back then; it would’ve made things much simpler.”

Li Huanyan sneered. “My half-sister has always been ambitious. How could she ever fancy a mere merchant? The moment she saw me enter the Third Prince’s household, she turned around and latched onto the illegitimate son of the Duke of Zhongguo’s Mansion in a blink of an eye. Luck was on her side, though. If not for Pei Shijie’s misfortune, she’d never have risen to prominence in her lifetime. And now, she’s the Duke’s wife.”

Lord Li advised, “You should stop provoking her now. The Third Prince’s ambitions are not yet fulfilled, and while the Duke of Zhongguo’s household may not hold the power or reputation it once did, having their support still makes a difference.”

“Don’t worry, Father. I won’t act impulsively…”

After Zhao Wei finishes speaking, he sighs. “There are countless hidden secrets in this matter. I don’t think they were saying those things for me to hear deliberately. That’s why I conclude that they weren’t lying back then. Your parents’ deaths weren’t caused by their hands.”

Pei Che falls silent. No wonder Zhao Wei has severed ties with the Li family. What he overheard must be true. This means that someone else felled the tree and pushed it down the mountain. But who else could it have been besides them?

“Master Zhao, at Ciji Temple back then, besides your group, was anyone else present?”

Zhao Wei shakes his head without hesitation. “There was no one else. At that time, the Ciji Temple had just been built. How could pilgrims have arrived so quickly? And it’s a small temple—if we hadn’t happened to pass by, we wouldn’t have specifically gone there. So aside from us, only the monks were there.”

“Thank you. Since you’ve told me everything you know, I’ll take my leave now,” Pei Che says, cupping his hands respectfully. Although Zhao Wei might have acted recklessly by inviting trouble into his house, he isn’t the one responsible for Pei Che’s parents’ deaths.

Zhao Wei returns the courtesy with guilt. “You’re too kind, Young Master Pei. If I’d known there were hidden truths behind the matter, I should have visited you earlier to help clear your family’s name. Back then, I thought it was merely an accident. Since the situation involved so many connections, including the royal family, I decided it was better to let it rest. I buried the truth deep inside and never spoke of it. If you hadn’t sought me out multiple times, I might not have revealed it so easily.”

Pei Che sinks into confusion once again. Everyone he suspects seems to be innocent, yet the events of that year are undoubtedly suspicious. What should he do next?

…

“Why hasn’t your young master returned yet?”

Today is a rest day for the government office, and Pei Che has said he will visit Zhao Wei’s house again to ask more questions. Jiang Miao initially plans to go with him, but since the two children also have a rare day off, he decides to spend time with them instead.

Thinking it has been a while since he’s taken them out, Jiang Miao and Pei Che go their separate ways. But now, as the evening wears on and Pei Che still hasn’t returned, a wave of unease begins to creep over Jiang Miao.

Some dark thoughts flash through his mind—what if Zhao Wei has been exposed, lost his temper, and decided to silence Pei Che for good?

“Bah, bah, bah!!” Jiang Miao quickly shakes his head and spits a few times, trying to rid himself of such terrible thoughts. Pei Che has people to protect him, and he himself is skilled in martial arts. How could anything happen to him so easily? He must have been delayed by something.

Jiang Miao tries to comfort himself, but no matter how much he rationalizes, the unease lingers. Finally, he yanks off the apron he is wearing and heads outside. He needs to check for himself.

Just as he steps out of the courtyard and calls for someone to prepare the carriage, a voice suddenly sounds behind him.

“Ah Miao, it’s so late. Are you heading out?”

Jiang Miao turns to see the culprit behind his worry—Pei Che—standing there perfectly fine, looking at him with a puzzled face.

Walking over, Jiang Miao punches him lightly on the arm. “Why would I be going out for no reason? You’re late coming back, and I was worried someone had chopped you up. So, did Zhao Wei confess? Did you throw him in jail?”

At the mention of Zhao Wei, Pei Che’s expression becomes complicated.

“It’s a long story,” he says. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Go eat first, and I’ll explain everything to you tonight.” Pei Che knows Jiang Miao must have been too worried to eat.

“You haven’t eaten either, have you? Let’s eat together. The kids are still hungry, and it’s been so long since we’ve all sat down together for a meal. You can tell me about it later tonight. It’s rare for everyone to be home at the same time, and I’ve cooked plenty of dishes…”

The voice ringing in his ears and the warmth in his palms gradually ease Pei Che’s confusion. No matter what lies ahead, he doesn’t have to face it alone. There will always be someone by his side, thinking of him and loving him.