"Good! You're ambitious!" Pei Xuan nodded approvingly. "My mission for you is to infiltrate the main residence of the Duan family, one of the eight great families of Daliang, and find out the status of the family head, Duan Zhengqing. Can you do it?"
"Of course!" Ophelia said with a firm look, "As long as it's the master's order, I will definitely be able to do it!"
Ophelia had naturally done things like lurking when she was on missions in the past, but at that time she had plenty of time to prepare, but now Pei Xuan only gave her a few hours.
The time was so tight and the task was so difficult. Pei Xuan was not a blind person, so he gave Ophelia an invisibility cloak.
An item like the invisibility cloak can be said to be a magical tool that can reduce the difficulty of stealth missions by 90%.
Even so, until five o'clock in the afternoon, Ophelia had not brought back the news that Pei Xuan wanted.
Pei Xuan, who had been waiting patiently, was not idle either. He fucked the little female cat Pei Taotao until she was dizzy, and finally threw her on the bed like a used rag, put on his clothes and left the dormitory.
After meeting Duan Miaomiao at the designated location, Pei Xuan took the Duan family's special car and headed all the way to the Duan family's main residence.
There was a driver and the Duan family's housekeeper in the car. Pei Xuan didn't want to be too intimate with Duan Miaomiao, so he could only hold the tender hand of this intellectual and beautiful girl, and they walked in silence all the way.
Just when he was about to arrive, Pei Xuan's phone vibrated and Ophelia finally sent a message.
"I'm sorry, Master. I finished it too late! Duan Zhengqing is angry with you because you didn't go to the General's Mansion to serve as a Tiger Guard, but went to the Ministry of Rites instead."
So that's how it is. Is such a small matter worth making such a fuss? Pei Xuan couldn't help but shake his head, and then wrote back to Ophelia: "Got it, mission accomplished, you can retreat."
After getting off the car and entering the Duan family's main residence, everyone in the Duan family had been waiting in the living room for a long time.
In addition to the angry Duan Zhengqing, the worried Chen Yanwan, the hypocritical second son Duan Shuming, and the eldest son Duan Shuyuan whom he had never met before.
Duan Miaomiao entered the living room, walked quickly to Chen Yanwan's side, and hid behind her mother.
Pei Xuan sat down in front of Duan Zhengqing and said calmly, "Father-in-law, long time no see. How are you?"
"Pei boy, stop pretending!" Duan Zheng said angrily, his voice hoarse. "Tell me, why did you end up working as a halberd bearer in the Ministry of Rites?"
"Why?" Pei Xuan smiled slightly. "Of course, it's because I'm quite interested in diplomatic affairs. I want to learn a lot and contribute to the diplomatic cause of the Daliang Empire in the future."
"Hmph! What nonsense are you talking about!" Duan Zhengqing slammed the armrest fiercely, the flesh on his face twitching. "I don't believe you don't know that the Ministry of Rites is the territory of the Yu family. What exactly do you want to do by going there?"
"The current positions of Minister and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites are indeed held by the Yu couple. I am naturally aware of this." Pei Xuan pretended to be confused. "But what does this have to do with my internship? I really don't know what my father-in-law is angry about. Please explain in detail."
"You---!" Duan Zhengqing was so angry that he couldn't speak for a moment. He could only grab the cup on the coffee table beside him and gulp down a big gulp of tea.
"Master Pei, this is what's going on." Duan Zhengqing's second son, Duan Shuming, stepped forward and spoke gently. "Each department in the court has always operated independently, like an ironclad entity, making it difficult for outsiders to interfere. Your appointment to the Ministry of Rites indicates a connection between you and the Yu family, who are the backbone of the Princess Party. Naturally, my father would like to know if you have already sided with the Princess Party. If not, why did the Yu family allow you into the Ministry of Rites? If so, does the promise you made here that day still stand? Is your engagement with my sister still valid?"
"I see. Now that Brother Shuming puts it that way, I understand."
Pei Xuan acted as if he had suddenly realized something. "Since my father-in-law is talking about this, then I will answer him clearly." He stood up and made an impassioned speech. "Today, my Daliang Empire is plagued by factional struggles and powerful families. The political situation has reached a point where it must be cleaned up. At this moment, the most important thing is to bridge the contradictions and seek common development. We must not attack each other or kill each other. As the son of the Pei family and the son-in-law of the Duan family, I am going to the Ministry of Rites, which is under the jurisdiction of the Yu family, to resolve hatred and eliminate factional struggles. No matter who His Majesty the Emperor of Heaven passes the throne to in the future, we should not have any objections." Then Pei Xuan looked at Duan Zhengqing with a sincere look and said earnestly, "My father-in-law, please consider the overall situation and stop fighting!"
"Shut up!" Duan Zhengqing's veins popped up when he heard Pei Xuan's words. He stood up suddenly and slapped Pei Xuan hard with lightning speed. Although he did not use his true energy, the strength of his hand alone knocked Pei Xuan back to his original position, and his face was burning with pain.
"I don't have you as my son-in-law! Your engagement with Miaomiao is now invalid! You two-faced traitor, I will beat you to death today!" Duan Zhengqing cursed angrily, "And then... and then..."
Before he could finish his words, Duan Zhengqing suddenly rolled his eyes, twitched his body, and fell to the ground unconscious.
"He's had a stroke! Master Duan has had a stroke!" Pei Xuan shouted, "Call your family doctor!"
Duan Zhengqing suddenly fainted, and everyone in the Duan family was at a loss for a moment. However, under Pei Xuan's command, his two sons carried Duan Zhengqing into the bedroom and put him on the bed, and then called the family doctor to diagnose the unconscious Duan Zhengqing.
The family doctor examined him carefully and came to the same conclusion as Pei Xuan: "Master Duan has had a stroke. It will be difficult for him to wake up in the short term..."
After hearing the doctor's words, Duan Zhengqing's eldest son, Duan Shuyuan, glared at Pei Xuan. "It's all your fault! What are you still doing here? Get out!" Even his second son, Duan Shuming, who had always played the good cop, lost his temper. He said coldly, "Mr. Pei, we'll discuss today's matter another day. Please leave now."
Pei Xuan didn't say anything, but turned his gaze to Chen Yanwan beside him.
Chen Yanwan knew Pei Xuan's abilities, so she naturally understood that Duan Zhengqing's coma was Pei Xuan's doing.
Looking at Pei Xuan's encouraging eyes, Chen Yanwan knew what she had to do. She cleared her throat and said in a deep voice, "Master Pei, stay and accompany Miaomiao. It's you two who should leave now. Shuyuan, you will immediately go to the General's Mansion and inform his subordinates of your father's coma. You will handle daily military affairs on your father's behalf. Shuming, you will assist your brother. I will submit a letter to the court to report this matter to the Emperor and Empress of Heaven, and then assume the duties of the Duan family's Patriarch and the General."