Chapter 813 Pei Nanwei: New Generation Color Armor

Xu Zhihu got married quite early.

At that time, Xu Fengnian was only twelve years old. Xu Zhihu naturally could not have imagined that Xu Fengnian and Jiang Ni, two little kids who had been together day and night, had already developed a vague affection for each other.

At this moment, Xu Zhihu also regarded the seventeen or eighteen-year-old Xu Fengnian as an ordinary child, and believed that Xu Fengnian's resentment and complaints were just because he couldn't bear to part with those beautiful maids.

Thinking of this, Xu Zhihu began to advise:
"Fengnian, you don't have to worry. When your second sister and I left Lingzhou City, we told Dad that when you return, Wutong Garden will definitely be filled up for you."

"Thank you, elder sister and second sister."

Xu Fengnian was afraid of his second sister Xu Weixiong, so he didn't dare to say anything. He could only thank her with a sad face.

Afterwards, the three siblings slowly reminisced about the past and chatted until the hour of You.

As the sun was setting, the eunuch serving on the side reminded Xu Fengnian that it was time to leave the harem.

Xu Fengnian was filled with grievances. After returning to Sifang Pavilion dejectedly, he could only continue to look for Zhao Yi to drink and vent his feelings.

In the blink of an eye, it was late May.

On this day, Zhao Yi, the prince of Jiaodong, sent his sister into the palace.

Since she was just the daughter of a prince of the Liyang Dynasty entering the palace to be a concubine, Su Mingzhe did not hold any ceremony.

In the evening, Su Mingzhe simply hosted a dinner party.

Those who attended the dinner mainly included civil and military officials, as well as some envoys and ministers from the Sifang Pavilion.

Su Mingzhe and Xu Fengnian met again after nearly a year, and their impressions of each other had changed.

Last year, Xu Fengnian was still a carefree prince of Beiliang.

This year, Xu Fengnian has become a little scoundrel who knows the fickleness of the world and has experienced the ups and downs of life in the underworld.

Xu Fengnian's impression of Su Mingzhe also changed greatly.

Last year, Su Mingzhe had just traveled through time, his memories had merged, and he put all his passion into the cause of restoring his country.

Xu Fengnian was so frightened by Su Mingzhe's mere glance that he began to tremble all over. If it weren't for the groom Lao Huang, he would have peed himself to death.

This year, although Su Mingzhe's majesty is growing, when he closes his eyes, it seems as if there are wind, rain, thunder and lightning.

When facing the Shu Emperor, everyone else was trembling with fear and treading on thin ice, fearing that they would displease the Shu Emperor and bring disaster upon themselves!

However, Su Mingzhe's eyes were always gentle when he looked at Xu Fengnian.

However, Xu Fengnian did not sense any "hostility" from Su Mingzhe.

The dinner party passed peacefully.

The next day, at dawn.

Su Mingzhe woke up after only sleeping for an hour or two.

He got up from the strange bed and looked back. He saw Zhao Cuili, the second daughter of King Jiaodong, was still sleeping soundly in Haitang. This made him feel emotional.

"Sure enough, being an emperor is the coolest thing!"

Before yesterday, the two had clearly never met each other.

However, Zhao Cuili, who was born into a wealthy family, had to serve Su Mingzhe carefully.

Even though Su Mingzhe made a lot of excessive demands, Zhao Cuili had no choice but to accept them reluctantly.

After getting up, Su Mingzhe instructed several palace maids not to wake up the second daughter of the King of Jiaodong.

When he arrived at the imperial study, he saw that Concubine Xu Weixiong had arrived earlier than him.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!"

Xu Weixiong was still wearing the white palace skirt.

Her appearance is actually not bad, but her thick eyebrows and big eyes make her look not delicate and quiet at all.

In other words, Xu Weixiong's appearance does not conform to the aesthetic standards of that era.

In addition, all of Su Mingzhe's concubines are stunningly beautiful, and Xu Weixiong's appearance can only be considered below average among them.

Knowing that his appearance was average, Xu Weixiong relied on his "ability" to rise to the top after entering Su Mingzhe's harem.

Su Mingzhe and Xu Weixiong entered the imperial study, and soon the chief eunuch Wang Chengen began to serve the meal.

After Xu Weixiong served the man breakfast, they both started to work.

The Kingdom of Shu was newly established, and most of its rules and regulations were still a continuation of the Liyang Dynasty.

Su Mingzhe has ordered Prime Minister Zhao Dingxiu to formulate the "Shu Law" as soon as possible.

Because of this incident, Zhao Dingxiu's hair has almost turned completely white recently.

On this day, after Zhao Dingxiu finished his government affairs, he summoned his Hanlin scholar Pei Jicheng to inquire about the progress of the survey of the "Shu Law".

(Su Mingzhe handed the work over to Zhao Dingxiu, who in turn assigned it to a dozen well-informed Hanlin scholars.)
Hanlin scholar Pei Jicheng had a family background in academic studies and was considered the person who was actually responsible for formulating the "Shu Law".

As usual, Pei Jichen reported the progress and then said goodbye and left.

Zhao Dingxiu stopped him:

"Jicheng, there have been a lot of rumors spreading in the capital recently. Do you know what they are?"

When Imperial Academy Scholar Pei Jicheng heard the Prime Minister's question, his face straightened and he said respectfully:
"Your Excellency, I have been busy revising the Shu Law and have not heard any rumors!"

"Really? Then go and listen after you get off duty today!"

Zhao Dingxiu didn't care whether Pei Jicheng really hadn't heard it or was pretending to be confused. He just gave him an unclear order and asked him to leave.

The Zhao family and the Pei family are both powerful and prominent families in Shu.

Twenty years ago, Zhao Changling, who led the Northern Liang army to break through the pass, was a member of the Zhao family in Shu.

At that time, when the King of Shu learned that Zhao Changling had defected to Xu Xiao, he was so angry that he killed all of Zhao Changling's clan, more than 200 people.

However, the Zhao family was a powerful and influential family, and they destroyed both Zhao Changling's branch and Zhao Dingxiu's branch.

The same is true for the Pei family.

That year, Western Shu was destroyed, and Pei Kai, the head of the Pei family, and his fellow Pei family members died heroically for their country.

The Pei Kai lineage was also liquidated by the Liyang Dynasty. At that time, a new branch of the Pei family stood up again and chose to join the Liyang Dynasty.

Now, the Shu Kingdom has been restored, the branch of the Pei family that defected to the Liyang Dynasty has fallen, and Pei Jicheng's branch has risen again.

It has to be said that these wealthy families have so many branches that it is extremely difficult to destroy them all in one go.

After hearing what Zhao Dingxiu said, Pei Jicheng finished his shift and returned home. He then called over his butler Lai Fu and asked him about the recent rumors in Jinguan City.

Butler Lai Fu was hesitant at first and didn't dare to say anything.

But after being glared at fiercely by Pei Jicheng, Lai Fu had no choice but to say:

"Master, a few days ago, a new list of rouge was released in Jianghu. Seven concubines from the harem of our Emperor Shu were on the list!"

"Ok?"

When Pei Jichen heard that the Shu emperor's concubines were related to the "Rouge List", he immediately frowned.

Being able to become a Hanlin scholar of Shu Kingdom, Pei Jicheng is not a "corrupt scholar" and he also understands the world.

The so-called Jianghu Martial Arts Ranking and Jianghu Rouge Ranking would not easily touch the royal families of various countries.

Once you get involved with these underworld forces, it will mean countless troubles.

Seeing that his master had no instructions, the butler Lai Fu plucked up his courage and continued to preach:
"Among them, Concubine Yi Chen Yu continues to rank second on the Rouge List!"

"The Fragrant Concubine Sweet Potato has also made it onto the Rouge List, ranking third!"

"Pure Concubine Murong Wuzhu, ranked fifth!"

"Snow Concubine Xu Zhihu, ranked seventh!"

"Zhaoyi Wang Chudong, ranked tenth!"

"In addition to the main list of the Rouge Ranking, there is also a sub-list. Jade Concubine Xu Weixiong is at the top of the sub-list!"

"Zhao Rong Qingniao, second on the vice list."

Pei Jicheng listened to the housekeeper silently, then he began to stroke his beard vigorously with both hands and said depressedly:

"These imperial concubines were included in the Rouge List. Either the Jinyiwei or the Yipintang did it. Why did the Prime Minister ask me to find out about this?"

Jinyiwei was the secret service agency of Shu Kingdom.

Yipintang is a martial arts prodigy carefully selected from the Shu Kingdom's Yulin Guards, and is mainly responsible for the affairs of the martial arts world.

The martial arts of every Yulin Guard who is able to enter Yipintang has reached the true Zhixuan realm!

After hearing his master mumbling to himself, the butler Lai Fu's eyes flashed with hesitation, and he spoke again:

"Master, there is a young lady in our house who has also made it to the Rouge List."

"Huh? Who?"

Pei Jicheng was shocked by the housekeeper's words. He quickly scanned the appearance of his daughters or his brothers' daughters in his mind, but didn't find any that stood out. He scolded:
"Nonsense, how can there be a young lady in our house who is qualified to be on this Rouge List?"

Seeing that his master had a bad memory, the butler Lai Fu reminded him:

"Master, she is the daughter of the previous clan leader, Master Kai. She is ranked...number one on the Rouge List!"

"The daughter of the previous clan leader, Master Kai...you said it was Nan Wei's child?"

Pei Jicheng took a deep breath and started to panic.

It is said that people are afraid of becoming famous just like pigs are afraid of getting fat!

Young Miss Pei has become number one on the Rouge List, surpassing all the emperor's concubines. Isn't this going to cause trouble?
"Lai Fu dare not hide it from the master, this is absolutely true!"

Lai Fu said, and told another story:

"It's been rumored recently that Miss Nan Wei is extremely beautiful and has been named the new generation of 'Sejia'. The Emperor of Shu is planning to marry her as his empress..."

"Prepare the sedan chair! Go to the Prime Minister's Mansion!"

Pei Jicheng is so tired!

He had just inherited the position of patriarch of the Pei family, and within less than a year, such a big thing happened in the clan.

What if these rumors spread into the palace and were known by the jealous concubines in the harem? Wouldn’t that be a disaster for the Pei family?
You know, twenty years ago, the "traitor" Zhao Changling invaded Shu and defected to Xu Xiao because his daughter was killed in a fight in the harem!
Thinking of this, Pei Jichen wanted to kick Pei Nanwei out of the Pei family immediately.

However, this idea is just a thought.

Pei Kai was a hero who died for his country.

His daughter Pei Nanwei is the most beautiful woman ranked first on the Rouge List.

If Pei Jichen drove her out of the Pei family, that would be a real disaster!
Feeling anxious, Pei Jichen rushed to the Prime Minister's residence.

As soon as he informed the doorman of his name, the doorman asked someone to take Pei Jicheng to Zhao Dingxiu's study.

"Jicheng is here."

Zhao Dingxiu had been waiting for a long time. When he saw Pei Jichen appear in a panic, he smiled instead.

"Look at the tea!"

"Thank you, Mr. Xiang!"

Pei Jicheng thanked him sincerely, sat down again, and told him the news he had heard. Then he pleaded with a bitter and embarrassed look:

"Prime Minister, this Jianghu Rouge List has caused great harm to our Pei family! You must lend a hand!"

Seeing Pei Jicheng was so frightened, Zhao Dingxiu was too lazy to beat around the bush with him, so he just said directly:

"Sincerity is the root of fortune and disaster, and disaster is the root of fortune."

"Your Majesty often says that everything has two sides."

"Your Miss Pei Nanwei was ranked first on the Rouge Ranking. She must be extremely beautiful! In my opinion, this is a blessing for your Pei family and for the country of Shu!"

Pei Jicheng felt relieved when he heard what Zhao Dingxiu said, but he still asked in confusion:

"Prime Minister, I am a confused person. Please explain it to me in detail."

Zhao Dingxiu didn't mind the trouble. He took a sip of tea and began to talk slowly:
"This is a long story..."

(End of this chapter)