Baozhu - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

After no small amount of trouble, I finally managed to take my seat at the banquet.

Around me, the noble young ladies were whispering among themselves.

“Have you heard? Young General Pei has returned.”

“Indeed. I heard he sent a memorial by eight-hundred-li express a few days ago, requesting permission to return to the capital.”

“He’s been stationed at Changyang Pass for seven years, fighting like a madman. Why would he suddenly want to come back?”

“Who knows? Surely not to get married, right?”

Pei… His surname was Pei?

For a moment, my heart leapt.

But when I lifted my eyes, my gaze met Cui Heng’s from not far away.

There was surprise in his eyes.

As if he had not expected me to find my way here so quickly.

Unhappy, I lowered my head.

I hated him.

After we entered the palace earlier, Cui Heng had walked very quickly and refused to wait for me.

I had jogged after him the whole way.

I was so anxious I almost cried.

But I still lost him.

The sky was already growing dark.

I had lost my way, and I was so frightened that tears began to fall.

I did not know how much time passed.

Then, before my eyes, a pool of warm light bloomed.

It was a young man carrying a lantern.

He asked where I was going.

I said I was going to a banquet.

He said, what a coincidence, so was he.

He was tall, but he walked very slowly.

I was able to keep up with him with ease.

When we reached the hall where the banquet was being held, he suddenly asked me, “What’s your name?”

I said, “Baozhu.”

“Baozhu, Baozhu.” He smiled. “What a lovely name.”

Strange. Those words sounded so familiar.

But I could not remember where I had heard them before.

While I was lost in thought, someone in the hall suddenly cried out in surprise.

“Young General Pei is here!”

I looked toward the voice.

Red robes, a high ponytail, peach-blossom eyes.

It was the young man who had just shown me the way.

He walked straight before the emperor, swept up his robes, and knelt.

“Your subject, Pei Su, pays respects to Your Majesty.”

The emperor smiled and raised a hand.

“Rise, beloved official. Today is a welcome banquet. There is no need for such formality.”

But Pei Su did not rise.

He remained kneeling, his back perfectly straight.

“This time, in returning to the capital, your subject has only one wish. I humbly beg Your Majesty to grant it.”

The young general bowed again.

“Your subject is bold enough to ask for the hand of Ning Baozhu, beloved daughter of the late General Zhenbei, Meng Changhuan, and the late Consultant Canjun, Ning Yi.”

The entire hall fell deathly silent.

Someone sucked in a sharp breath.

A young general with illustrious military achievements.

Such a brilliant future lay before him, yet he did not want it.

Instead, he wanted to marry an orphaned fool?

My eyes widened too.

I stared blankly at the red-robed youth kneeling in the hall.

Heaven bless me!

That nameless letter had reached him.

He really had come to marry me.

The emperor pondered for a moment.

Perhaps something came to mind.

A hint of emotion seemed to cross his face.

“We remember Baozhu. She is a poor child with a hard fate.”

The emperor sighed.

“It is rare that you still remember. In that case, We shall-”

Cui Heng’s wine cup struck the table.

A crisp sound rang out.

He suddenly rose to his feet.

He looked coldly at Pei Su.

“Your Majesty, I fear this matter is inappropriate.”

My breath caught.

Then I heard him say slowly, “Baozhu is still young. She has not yet reached her hairpin ceremony.”

“Young General Pei, did you not know?”

As soon as he said this, Pei Su, who was kneeling in the hall, froze.

Seeing this, the emperor could no longer make the decision.

He only said that since that was the case, there was no need to rush the matter, and it could be discussed another day.

I was so anxious I almost burst into tears.

It was true that I had not yet reached my hairpin ceremony.

But it was only half a month away.

Cui Heng had done it on purpose.

That rotten thing!