Chapter Six: The Clan Leader (Part Two)

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Mrs. Li coughed heavily and declared, “It’s settled then. From now on, Miss Qinghe shall be the head of the Pei family. All matters concerning the Pei clan will be decided by her.”

“Madam Lu, don’t stir up trouble for Miss Qinghe just because you’re older. Whether big or small, everyone must obey her.”

All eyes turned to Madam Lu.

Under their gaze, Madam Lu reluctantly conceded, “Qinghe is my own granddaughter, and I love her dearly. Since everyone agrees, how could I, as her grandmother, oppose it?”

“That’s not so certain,” said Mrs. Chen sharply, striking at Madam Lu’s weak spot. “Who doesn’t know you’re biased? You’ve always favored Feng and Yue the most.”

“You don’t want Qinghe to be clan leader because you fear she won’t hand the position over to Feng or Yue later.”

“The Pei family is in such dire straits now, who knows how many will survive? Don’t waste time on such useless thoughts.”

Madam Lu was infuriated but unwilling to argue with the fiercely outspoken Mrs. Chen—mainly because she felt guilty and knew she couldn’t win. So she simply turned her head away.

With little effort, Pei Qinghe was made head of the Pei clan.

No home, no property, no money, no food.

Only over three hundred elderly, weak, and women and children were left to support.

Otherwise, why would no one be vying for the position?

It was only then that Mrs. Feng finally realized the gravity of the situation and nervously tugged at her daughter’s sleeve, whispering, “Qinghe, can you really handle this? You’re only thirteen; the responsibility is too great. Perhaps we should ask an elder to be clan leader instead…”

“Mother!” Pei Qinghe met Mrs. Feng’s gaze, her eyes bright and voice steady. “I can.”

Mrs. Feng’s anxious heart suddenly steadied.

She nodded softly, “Mother trusts you.”

On the exile road, with family shattered and people lost, the selection of a clan leader was nothing more than a hurried formality.

The Pei women were still immersed in the overwhelming grief of losing fathers, husbands, and sons. They hadn’t even had time to mourn their impending bleak fate, and no one cared who became clan leader.

Impatient, the escort officer Sun Cheng approached, sneering and casting a disdainful glance at the newly appointed clan leader of the Pei family. “Are you ready to set off?”

Sun Cheng came from an ordinary background, holding a lowly rank of eighth-grade military officer. Escorting the families of condemned criminals was a thankless task no one wanted, so it fell to him.

Out of respect for Prince Zhangwu’s farewell, he waited only half a day. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so polite to these families. Insults, bullying, and beatings were commonplace. Even if someone died, no one cared. Deaths during exile were routine.

Pei Qinghe lifted her eyes. “We’re ready to depart. Thank you, Officer Sun.”

Her cold black eyes were like drawn swords, sharp and piercing.

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They radiated the fierce killing aura of a seasoned warrior who had crossed mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Miss Pei Liu was no ordinary girl.

Sun Cheng felt a chill run down his neck. The curse on his tongue vanished instinctively, and he spoke more politely: “I’ve been ordered to escort the Pei family to Yanzhou in You Prefecture. Chief Official Pang specially instructed me to take care of you. If Miss Pei Liu has any requests, just say the word.”

Pei Qinghe wasted no courtesy. “Among us are the old and the young, and our pace is slow. I want them to take turns riding in the prison carts.”

The prison carts sat empty and unused; better to let the Pei women use them and earn some goodwill.

Sun Cheng readily nodded in agreement.

This was the advantage of carrying the Eastern Palace’s banner. In her previous life, this Sun Cheng had been harsh and difficult to the Pei women during exile.

These two prison carts had carried countless condemned criminals, stained with old blood and exuding a rotting stench.

Riding inside was unpleasant, but far better than walking all the way to You Prefecture.

Nine elderly women over seventy, and more than ten children under three. Among them was a two-month-old baby boy, not yet named, nicknamed Puppy.

Puppy’s mother, Mrs. Mao, was only twenty-one this year, pale and bloodless, her gaze vacant and dazed.

Pei sons were enlisted young and married after twenty; among Pei Qinghe’s five brothers, only the eldest two were married. Mrs. Mao was Qinghe’s second sister-in-law, and Puppy her legitimate nephew.

In her past life, Mrs. Mao strangled herself with a belt one night. Without a mother’s care, Puppy died within days.

After Mrs. Mao’s death, the Pei women took their lives one after another. More than a hundred died during exile, most by their own hand.

Pei Qinghe said, “Second sister-in-law, take Puppy up.”

Mrs. Mao shook her pale face blankly. “I can still walk.” She had already thought of death.

Pei Qinghe glanced at her and suddenly reached out.

Mrs. Mao instinctively clutched her child tighter, but Pei Qinghe’s swift strength surprised her. The world blurred, and the baby was in Qinghe’s hands.

Qinghe had never given birth nor held such a tiny infant before; her grip was inevitably a bit too strong.

Puppy cried out sharply, his tiny voice piercing the ears.

Mrs. Mao panicked, “Sixth sister, give me back the child!”

Pei Qinghe met her eyes, her gaze sharp as an arrow piercing deep: “If you still care for Puppy, then live well. If anything happens to you, Puppy won’t survive either.”

Mrs. Mao’s heart was torn, tears streaming down in heavy drops, but no sound came from her lips.

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She had married into the Pei family at sixteen and loved her husband dearly. Four years after marriage, she became pregnant and gave birth earlier this year.

Her bright hopes for the future were shattered yesterday.

Her husband’s head had been severed.

She had lost her spouse.

Her child had lost a father.

Her world had collapsed.

She could not go on living.

“Look up. The sky hasn’t fallen,” Pei Qinghe’s clear voice reached her ears. “Even if it falls, I, as clan leader of the Pei family, will bear it for you.”

“No matter how bitter or hard, we will endure.”

“You must live. Live with Puppy.”

“Only by living is there hope, and a future.”

Pei Qinghe pulled Mrs. Mao up and helped her onto the prison cart, then placed the child back into her arms.

The confused infant quieted in his mother’s familiar embrace. Mrs. Mao dared not let him cry, tears flowing silently as she wept like a fish out of water.

The young wives, witnessing this, were moved to tears, their eyes reddened.

“Set off!”

At the order, Sun Cheng nearly blurted out but caught himself just in time. He shouted to the soldiers, “Everyone, move out immediately!”

Fifty soldiers marched: ten led the way, ten guarded the rear, and about thirty rode on horseback, brandishing gleaming weapons, patrolling vigilantly.

Over three hundred members of the Pei family embarked on their exile journey.

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