21. Worries
The following day Pei, Su and Fei Yuan took their leave from the Marquis and started the long journey back to the capital. The journey was uneventful. Su regularly switched from carriage to horse so she wouldn't sit entire days in the carriage. She liked to keep active. But when they still had at least three days of travel ahead of them an urgent summons from the emperor reached them. Yan was actually worried so he pushed to reach the capital as soon as possible, which meant two long days of traveling. At the end of the second day they rode through the gates of the capital. And again they were directed to the palace immediately at the gates. "Mr. and mrs. Xie will be summoned directly. They'll meet you at the palace." The guard at the gates informed them. Fei Yuan guided the carriage to the palace. As he helped Su down Yan asked Fei Yuan to go to Pei Mansion and Qi Mansion to see if any urgent messages had been delivered. Eunuch Liu announced Yan and Su to the emperor, who was in his usual study. "Your majesty." Both bowed upon entering and the emperor quickly asked them to rise. "I believe Xie and Rushuang will be here shortly, they already expected a summons. Did you learn anything new at the army camp?" the emperor asked looking at his brother. Yan shook his head: "Not much. It was as the Marquis told us, rumors between the two armies resulting in some altercations, but now that a pattern has been seen, both armies are vigilant and these rumors no longer cause any real harm. But also within the ranks whispers surrounding a Ghost Army are heard. This 'Ghost Army' seem to make everyone in the border region nervous." The emperor seemed worried: "I can understand. Nobody I spoke to in court seem to be able to tell the story of the Ghost Army. It seems not to have an origin in Liang."
"That would explain why people are nervous. If they know the origin of the story they can make a guess at what could happen and what could result from it." Su said, thinking back to all the ghosts and monsters she had already encountered. "I just want to find the root of this 'Ghost Army", why is it a problem suddenly? So far we have only heard of it near the border." Yan said, his brother watched him carefully. "Why are you so worried brother? You're the one who always tells me not to believe in ghosts and monsters." Yan looked at the emperor, who saw the worry in his eyes, which actually worried the emperor the most. "There are real people behind this Ghost Army. If the mark we found is connected to the Ghost Army, they have been creating chaos since the Battle of Honggu. Since then this sign has not been seen, they are well hidden and yet they have managed to smuggle weapons, infiltrated in the ranks of the army and killed. Why are they more active now? What is their purpose and who is behind the Ghost Army? We don't know. Was Prince Yun one of them? Is it the same person or group that Prince Yun collaborated with during the wars?" Yan remained silent for a short while and then continued: "I don't like this. We also need to know if there is a connection with Beirong."
"Beirong? Why Beirong?" the emperor inquired.
"The sign was first found by us on a person who had broken into the room of Princess Yunchuan, when she was here for our wedding. Prince Shuomo thought the man was from Beirong, but he committed suicide before we could interrogate him. We know Yu Li got connected with the prince and princess in Beirong, she must have had help in Beirong. She was found, killed, on the border with Beirong. We have to investigate this lead." Su explained, looking up at Yan, who nodded.
"Then it will be good if you went to Beirong. I have received news, which will give you an excuse to visit Beirong." The emperor stated. Surprised Yan looked up at his brother: "You want us to go to Beirong?" Just as the emperor started to speak eunuch Liu walked in to announce the arrival of Xie and Rushuang. "Good, please show them in." the emperor said, after which eunuch Liu stepped aside to let Xie and Rushuang enter. They bowed for the emperor, who quickly told them not to stand on ceremony. Xie and Rushuang turned to their friends: "Brother Pei, Sister Su. It is good to see you safely home." The emperor clearly was in a hurry as he didn't give Yan and Su time to respond to Rushuang: "I have asked you here because I received a request from Beirong. Specifically from Prince Shuomo."
"What is the request?" Yan asked, clearly surprised by this information. This surprise was mirrored in the faces of his wife and friends. The emperor continued: "Prince Shuomo requests the help of Su and Rushuang with a murder case. In order not to raise suspicion concerning your presence in Beirong, Su and Rushuang are going to be presented with a medal for their help in rescuing Princess Yunchuan and solving of the case. You will stay at the mansion of Prince Shuomo, which he shares with Princess Yunchuan, until the ceremony, then you will stay at the palace. The medal ceremony is in three weeks, this gives you two weeks to solve the murder. He included the initial report of the murder and his hesitation in accepting the stated solution." The emperor presented the case file, which Su accepted.
"Who was murdered?" She asked, not yet opening the case file. "The trade minister." The emperor answered, Yan then quickly turned back to his brother: "The trade minister?"
"Yes, and both the emperor of Beirong and I have received troubling accounts that the trade agreement is not being honored. I even received reports of possible smuggling along the border. The minister who was murdered worked hard with our minister to make sure the trade agreement would be successful. To lose him now is indeed disastrous. Please find out as much as you can." The emperor handed his brother the actual request. "Oh and one more thing. Commander Fu has asked to join you to Beirong. I see no reason to deny this request. He has developed a friendship with the prince and princess, this could help in winning some more trust." Yan nodded and replied: "Can Zihou be ready to depart in two days?"
"You have to leave immediately, tomorrow. Prince Shuomo asks you to come as soon as possible."
"Alright." Yan said, clearly not enthusiastic about having to leave so soon.
"That's all. Yan, Bai, mother asked to see you, please stay for a personal visit." The emperor concluded the meeting. Yan and Su quickly spoke to Xie and Rushuang, they decided to stay at Pei Mansion so they could leave the following morning, directly after training and breakfast. "I'll speak to Zihou." Xie said to Yan. "If you see Fei Yuan before us, please inform him about the plans and ask him to prepare fresh clothing for the stay in Beirong." Su said to Rushuang. After these agreements Xie and Rushuang took their leave and Yan and Su walked with the emperor to the dowager empress' favorite pavilion. "Your Highness." "Mother." the three greeted the dowager empress. After receiving their tea they talked about their traveling with the dowager empress, talking with her about all those things that are discussed in any family. After a while Yan and the emperor excused themselves and took a stroll together. The dowager empress followed their progress closely. "It is so good to see them be so friendly and supportive to each other." Su smiled. "Yan values his brother and their friendship greatly."
"Even when they were young those two were closest amongst their siblings. They challenged each other on the training ground and in the classroom and defended each other when they got themselves in trouble."
"Did they often get in trouble?" Su remembered reading some daily logs in the archives once, but no real adventures or trouble were reported in those that she had briefly seen. She would love to hear more about the mischievous antics of the two princes. The dowager empress laughed: "I could tell you so many stories and yet you can only truly understand if you have two boys of yourself." Suppressing a yawn, not out of boredom, but because she was tired after so many days of endless hard travel, Su encouraged the dowager empress to tell her some stories of the two brothers.
The two brothers were standing ion the edge of one of the many lakes in the palace. They had talked about court affairs, governmental affairs and military affairs and now they enjoyed each other's company in silence, looking out of the glistening lake. "Thank you for taking me to the border, I know you would rather not have taken me, but it was enlightening to be there as the younger brother of Pei Zhao." Yan shrugged a little bit: "It was perhaps not the wisest choice, but I am glad you have enjoyed it." Thinking back to their traveling the emperor saw the face of Xin again, as he had so many times since they had returned her to her home. "Brother, tell me, what is it like to be married?" Surprised Yan looked at his brother, he saw a genuine interest. Yan considered what his brother would like to know. "It is better than I imagined. To be with Su without bounds, to share my live and thoughts with her is the best thing that has ever happened to me. We knew each other well, but we know each other better now. I can talk about everything with her. I fall asleep next to her and wake up next to her, it is bliss." Silence reigned once again while the emperor considered what his brother had said. Then he thoughtfully took in his brother, who was looking out over the lake. He seemed to have lost some of his carefree manner. "Brother, are you worried?" the emperor asked. It was telling that his brother did not turn to look at him. "Yes I am concerned over these troubling signs you have received, the mark we have found and the stories about a Ghost Army." The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, once again closely observing his brother. "No, there is something else that is troubling you." To his surprise and not reassuringly, Yan sighed and still would not look into his eyes. Knowing his brother well enough the emperor waited for him to talk first. Eventually Yan did: "Actually. I am worried about Bai."
"Bai? Why?" the fact that his brother referred to his wife with her real name spoke volumes. Normally he would refer to her as his wife or Xiao Su still. Only in court her birth name was used when they spoke about his wife. She was still Su in court whenever the topic concerned the Mingjing Office. Yan looked out over the water, but the emperor wondered whether he saw the surroundings. "She seems more tired lately, she ensures me it is because of the traveling we have been doing lately. And I did push our traveling these last two days as far as I could push it… and yet… sometimes I think it's something else. She never had any problem with long hard travel before we married."
"Why don't you ask the royal physician to do a check with her?" the emperor suggested.
"No, Rushuang is her physician. Bai doesn't want anyone else. And Bai says there is nothing that she feels Rushuang needs to check. There is nothing else wrong with her and she doesn't want others to worry about her when there is nothing wrong." Yan responded, shaking his head slightly.
"Do you think it is unwise to go to Beirong at this time, it is a long trip of several days to get to the capital of Beirong. Do you want me to cancel it?"
"No, this is too important. But after we return I would appreciate it I f we could have some weeks of rest" The emperor nodded: "I will surely try to give you the time you need." Then they were interrupted by Fei Yuan who had walked up to the two men: "Your Majesty, Your Highness."
"You may rise." The emperor said after which Fei Yuan rose and turned to Yan: "I came just now from Pei mansion. There were several messages waiting, but this one was urgent." Fei Yuan handed one envelope to Yan. "And this one is for Pei Zhu." Fei Yuan handed the second envelope to the emperor. Yan eyed the envelop, already guessing who might have written the letter. "I told miss Xin she could write me at Pei Mansion in the capital. I hope you don't mind." The emperor, a little redder then usually, said to Yan, who shook his head. This admission of his brother did cause Yan to more closely consider a possible relationship between Xin and the emperor. He concluded he needed more time and a conversation with Su on this. "I'll make sure letters to Pei Zhu are send on to the palace." Yan said, for now not commenting on the fact that Xin and Zhu were apparently now exchanging letters. He turned his attention to the letter in his own hand. "It's from Prince Shuomo." He remarked, quickly opening the letter and reading it. "He forewarns me of the summons to go to Beirong. And he gives more practical information on his plans. He also asks that Zihou accompanies us." The emperor nodded and then wordlessly turned to walk back to the pavilion where the dowager empress and Su would be. Halfway there a maid hurriedly walked up to them.
"Your majesty, your highness. The dowager empress has already returned to her chambers to change for the dinner party. The princess consort Qi stayed in the pavilion to read something. Only now.." the maid hesitated, Yan urged her to speak, looking ahead to the pavilion. Apparently he and his brother had taken more time then what he had expected. "Well she…she was just reading and we served her tea. But she seems a bit tired, so we were wondering whether we should prepare a room where she can rest." Sighing, his mind had already conjured up much worse circumstances, Yan said: "No, we will leave for Qi Mansion. Fei Yuan please arrange for the carriage to be made ready. It's time to return home." Fei Yuan nodded and went the other way to the gates. Yan and the emperor hastened to the pavilion, where they found Su laying on the table, asleep. Another maid was standing next to her, clearly waiting for the other maid to return. When she saw the two men step up to the pavilion, she curtsied. With three big strides, Yan was besides his wife. One of her hands she was using as a pillow to rest her head on. The other was one the open case file they had just received from the emperor. Even though this was yet another case of Su's tiredness lately, Yan could not stop the smile forming on his face. He loved seeing Su sleep, to him it was endearing. She was at ease and resting, something she should do more often. Yan kneeled beside her, placing his hand over hers and with his other hand stroking her face, putting some stray strands behind her ear. Su responded a little to his touches, but not enough to wake up. "Xiao Su, my wife, it's time to go home." Yan softly said, but he saw she was to deep in her sleep, he wouldn't be able to rouse her easily, so he carefully turned her so he could carry her. He felt her tighten her arms around his neck. "Come, let me take you home."