Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1026: Chapter 98: The Southern Wei People Find Pei Dingyuan (3)

"No worries, you came to find me at this time, you must have something important." Zhao Yao said warmly, "What happened that made you come to me in such a hurry? Did something happen at the Ministry of Personnel?"

Pei Dingyuan didn’t hesitate and asked directly, "Your Highness, are you aware of the Southern Wei people?"

Upon hearing Pei Dingyuan’s question, a look of surprise appeared on Zhao Yao’s face.

Seeing Zhao Yao’s expression, Pei Dingyuan knew that he was aware.

"Your Highness, you do know about the Southern Wei people."

Zhao Yao nodded slightly and said, "I’ve always known, but how did you find out about the Southern Wei people?" As he spoke, he squinted slightly, "Have you met a Southern Wei person?"

"I won’t hide it from Your Highness. Someone approached me a while ago, claiming to be connected to the Pei Family and said he knows the truth about the Pei Family’s demise back then." Over the years, Pei Dingyuan has gradually recalled the memories he had forgotten as a child, but he hasn’t fully remembered. In those memories, there wasn’t anything related to the Pei Family’s extermination. He only remembered that he was indeed a member of the Pei Family and knew that his grandfather had narrowly escaped the Pei Family’s downfall back then.

When Zhao Yao heard this, he sat up straight and asked, "What did he tell you?"

"He said that the Pei Family was wronged back then, and the Yuan Family was the one who caused the Pei Family to be annihilated, just like you told me before." Pei Dingyuan had already learned from Zhao Yao a few years ago that the Yuan Family was the mastermind behind the Pei Family’s demise. "He also said the old lady of the Pei Family, who was Noble Consort Pei’s grandmother, was a Southern Wei person. The Yuan Family framed the Pei Family for a particular item, which only the Pei Family knew the whereabouts of."

Hearing this, Zhao Yao showed no sign of surprise on his face because he had been aware of it long ago.

Pei Dingyuan saw Zhao Yao’s calm expression, as if he had known about this all along, and couldn’t help but show a look of shock: "Your Highness, you knew?!"

"I know more than you do." Zhao Yao didn’t say much but shifted the topic back, "What else did he tell you?"

"He also said that the Pei Family was just an ordinary family in the past and not an aristocratic family. It was with the help of the Southern Wei people that the Pei Family gradually became a prominent family in the previous dynasty, and Pei family members could hold key positions in the court. At that time, for Noble Consort Pei to enter the palace and receive favor was also their handiwork." Pei Dingyuan continued, "He also said that if the Pei Family had not fallen into disgrace, Noble Consort Pei’s son would have ascended to the throne. Unfortunately, Emperor Xia Ling believed in slander and sent Noble Consort Pei and her prince into the Cold Palace. Shortly after being imprisoned in the Cold Palace, the Pei Family was accused of treason and executed. Subsequently, Noble Consort Pei’s son died of illness, but Noble Consort Pei herself survived. The Southern Wei people had been trying to rescue her but were unsuccessful."

Zhao Yao thought of the secret passage in the Cold Palace where Noble Consort Pei was located. It was most likely dug by the Southern Wei people. The tunnel was completed and led directly to Noble Consort Pei’s Cold Palace. Why didn’t the Southern Wei people manage to take Noble Consort Pei away? Could it be that Noble Consort Pei herself was unwilling to escape?

"Did he tell you the location of the Pei Family’s treasure?"

"No, he doesn’t know where the treasure is, but he said the Pei family members surely know." Over the years, Pei Dingyuan has never recalled anything about the Pei Family’s treasure. "He thought I should know, but I told him that I suffered brain damage due to a fever when I was little and don’t remember anything from my childhood, so I have no idea where the Pei Family’s treasure is."

"Did he believe you?"

"I think he probably did. He said he would find a way to help me remember my childhood memories." Pei Dingyuan didn’t believe the Southern Wei people could restore his childhood memories. "He also said that the Pei Family’s treasure belonged to the Southern Wei people, and he must find it. Moreover, there is something very important in the treasure related to the Southern Wei people’s fate, so he urged me to make every effort to remember my childhood."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao said calmly, "It’s pretty much what I guessed."

"I asked him what that thing was, but he wouldn’t tell me. Your Highness, do you know what it is?"

Zhao Yao shook his head lightly and said, "I’m not sure." However, he did have a few guesses.

"Honestly, I think even if I remember my childhood memories, it would be useless." Pei Dingyuan said, "If I’m right, my grandfather was probably an insignificant, frail illegitimate child sent to a Taoist temple by the Pei Family. How could they have possibly told him about something as important as the Pei Family’s treasure?" It was precisely because his grandfather was sent to the temple from a young age that few knew about his existence within the Pei Family. Back then, when the Pei Family was exterminated, his grandfather was overlooked.

"If the Southern Wei people find out that you don’t know the location of the Pei Family’s treasure, then you’d be in danger." Over the years, Zhao Yao had been secretly investigating the Southern Wei people and had a bit of understanding of their nature. "The Southern Wei people won’t expose themselves easily. They came to you primarily to find the Pei Family’s treasure through you. If you don’t know, then they’d consider you useless. Moreover, now that you know of their existence, they can’t afford to let you remain alive."

Pei Dingyuan looked horrified: "They would kill me?"

"They would, but they might not either, after all, your blood also flows with the blood of the Southern Wei people."

"Your Highness, what kind of people are the Southern Wei people exactly?" Pei Dingyuan had an intuition that the Southern Wei people were no good.

"No good people," Zhao Yao said with disdain, "a group of madmen trying to restore the Southern Wei. They are unscrupulous, capable of anything."

"It turns out to be like this." Pei Dingyuan, being clever, deduced many things from the words of the Southern Wei people, "Your Highness, the Southern Wei people are urgently looking for the Pei Family’s treasure mainly for that item. Is that item related to the revival of the Southern Wei?"