In the original story, the rise and fall of the Pei Family were related to the Xiao Family.
The two families were thus incompatible like water and fire.
At this stage in the novel, Prince Xiao had already agreed to help Heir Pei complete his task, without taking over the affairs of the Training Camp, so only Heir Pei was in charge of the camp’s matters.
Now the situation was different, both were involved in the Training Camp’s affairs.
What consequences these changes would bring, she did not know.
But what did it matter to her?
She was thrown here for no reason, she only wanted a life of her own, with no obligation to maintain the original plot.
Lion Mountain, Training Camp.
An Ruchang, dressed in red, holding a folding fan, swaying his head with a completely unrestrained look, was flamboyantly following beside Pei Ji’an, pointing his fan in a direction, full of emotion.
"If my father agrees and requests the emperor’s permission, allowing me to join the army and lead a troop, I could surely add a fierce general to your ranks!"
Pei Ji’an walked forward with calm and composed steps, without looking sideways, handsome and refined in appearance, wearing armor, creating quite a sense of splendour in the arduous training grounds.
"Look at those people, barely running a few steps and they’re already panting, they’re just not capable, not capable."
"Why don’t you try running?" Answered him in a cool tone.
"How can I train with those people? Isn’t that a waste of my talent, like using a pearl to shoot a bird, a sledgehammer to crack a nut..." He wanted to continue boasting, but someone approached from the front.
The approaching person was Instructor Du, who stopped in front of them, raising his hand in salute, "Left Governor."
"How are the training results?" Pei Ji’an asked.
"Overall it’s good, at present no one has been found lagging behind."
"And how does it compare to next door?" An Ruchang couldn’t help but ask.
Next door was where Right Governor Xiao Shiqing led the new soldiers.
Instructor Du paused, his eyes flickering, "This hasn’t been compared, I’m not sure."
In fact, privately there must have been secret investigations, with frequent comparisons between instructors.
But they dared not speak of sensitive topics between the Left Governor and the Right Governor.
"Not compared?" Pei Ji’an’s tone was obviously mocking, clearly not believing it.
Instructor Du felt a bit awkward, having to speak truthfully, "Actually it’s been compared in private."
"How, how?" Before Pei Ji’an could speak, An Ruchang eagerly asked, "Who has the upper hand?"
Currently, there were only three methods of military camp training.
First, orders, those disobedient, killed.
Second, formations and reforms of different military units.
Third, actual battle practice.
The process is the process, but each carries it out differently, so the achieved effect varies.
Heir Pei and Prince Xiao were respectively appointed by the Emperor as Left and Right Governors, sent to Lion Mountain to train new soldiers, with many in the court eagerly watching the show, and even some betting on who would have the upper hand.
"The result is that, that..." Instructor Du spoke while cautiously watching the governor’s expression, only daring to continue upon seeing no change, "The result is that it’s neck and neck."
Thus, the results of both sides’ training were about the same, with no clear winner.
This result obviously didn’t satisfy An Ruchang, "How can it be almost the same? It should be much superior, clearly lacking a talent like me, I’ll just go back and beg Father to let me lead troops!"
Neither of them responded to him.
This group of recruits had already achieved results, Heir Pei no longer needed to stay in the barracks every day as before.
The Pei Family’s stewarded servants left from the side door every day, passing through an alley to a bustling small street, where, typically not needing many supplies, they could purchase a few items, but if they required more, they would need to enter the main thoroughfare’s bustling street.
This small street mainly features vegetable sellers, with many women frequently going out to buy vegetables on the street.
These housewives gathered to gossip, needing to discuss what they saw and heard in various other households to feel contented.
A few housewives were deeply engrossed in conversation when a silent figure slipped among them.
"Our mansion’s situation is much more serious than yours."
This remark immediately caught the attention of the others.
"How serious? Tell us."
The woman began to speak eloquently, like telling a story full of ups and downs, completely captivating her listeners, ending with, "It’s evident the house cannot indiscriminately hire, lest they invite calamity."
The woman was recounting a story about a maid who mischievously tried to climb into the master’s bed, was punished by the legitimate wife, and since then the mistress frequently faced misfortunes, with unusual occurrences happening in the house until a Daoist was called to perform exorcisms.
The Daoist even claimed the maid was a reincarnated demon, intent on causing harm and misfortune, fortunately discovered early, or else the entire family would have been doomed.
"Our mansion doesn’t have such situations, everyone is quite well-behaved." A servant from Pei Mansion said.
"You’re from Pei Mansion? Then I don’t believe you at all."
"Why do you say that?"
"I’ve heard that Old Master Zhao took a fancy to a maid in your Pei Mansion, Old Master Zhao only likes women with seductive looks, how could such a plain maid catch his eye?"
"That’s absolute nonsense, why haven’t I heard of such a thing?"
"Let me ask you, is there a maid named Haitang in your mansion?"
"There is such a maid, serving the old lady, I’ve seen her from a distance, she’s very pretty."
"That’s it, I saw with my own eyes at the Zheng Mansion banquet, she didn’t seem very proper. Tell me, where did you get such a troublesome girl from? How long has she been in the mansion?"
"Where else would this maid come from? All from the slave market, she’s only been in the mansion for half a year, nothing bad has happened."
"Where was she originally from, do you know her background?"
"She came with a death contract, wandered from place to place, how could she have any original place?"
"That means you don’t know her background, in our mansion it took a year before the maid started causing trouble, you better be careful." Follow current novels on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝕟𝕖𝕥
Finishing, the person left, and the others slowly dispersed too.
That person passed through the small street, turned left and right, and approached a carriage, looking around and seeing no one paying attention, finally boarded the carriage.
This maidservant thought she had successfully concealed her movements well, not knowing she had been watched since her suspicious appearance.
"Miss, it’s confirmed, there is indeed a maid named Haitang bought from the slave market, her origin is unknown, but..."
Qu Fulan was giving the old lady a massage when the tall and slender Heir Pei walked in from outside.
Tonight, Heir Pei was dressed in blue cloud soaring bat patterned strong clothing, with a rhinoceros horn belt at the waist, adorned with only a white jade pendant, appearing more dashing than usual, an air of arrogance about him.
A typical young general type.
Qu Fulan quickly stood up to salute, about to leave to give the grandparent and grandchild some space.
Pei Ji’an’s gaze, cool like water yet sharp as a knife, landed straight on her.