Chapter 303: Coercion and Enticement

Linghu Qiu was the first to enter through the moon gate. Then he stepped aside and extended a hand toward the person outside in an inviting gesture.

The two people in the courtyard looked over at the sound. A figure was approaching beneath the moonlight. It was Third Madam Pei.

Linghu Qiu could hardly have been more respectful toward her. The last time they had met, he had not been nearly this deferential. Clearly, persuading her to come had not been easy.

And it truly had not been easy, considering how late it was by the time he finally brought her here. He could not contact anyone inside the imperial palace directly, nor could he enter the palace himself. He had first gone to Daqiu Sect, found one of Third Madam Pei's fellow disciples, and asked that person to contact her. Only after she was called out of the imperial palace had Linghu Qiu managed to meet her.

"Serve tea!" Niu Youdao called with a turn of his head.

He relaxed slightly inside. If Third Madam Pei was willing to come, the matter was already half successful.

"Yes!" Black Peony's skirt swayed as she hurried back to prepare tea.

Niu Youdao, meanwhile, strode forward to receive the guest and cupped his hands.

"Disturbing Elder Sister this late at night is my fault."

Third Madam Pei said expressionlessly, "If you have something to say, say it quickly."

"How could I make an honored guest stand out here to talk? Please, inside." Niu Youdao stepped aside and gestured invitingly.

Third Madam Pei gave him a sidelong glance, then marched straight into the room without ceremony. Niu Youdao, following behind, looked at Linghu Qiu and cupped his hands in thanks.

Linghu Qiu shook his head with a bitter smile. Begging favors was never pleasant. He had even endured a round of sarcasm. Someone had asked him whether he truly thought himself such an important man. Fortunately, after swallowing his pride, he had at least succeeded in bringing her here. The three entered one after another. Black Peony served tea.

Third Madam Pei sat upright but showed no intention of drinking. She asked again, "Say what you have to say. I still have matters to attend to. If you want me to persuade His Majesty to show mercy, you've found the wrong person. I don't have that much influence."

That suited Niu Youdao perfectly. He stopped wasting words, took a sheet of paper from his sleeve, and pushed it across the table.

"Elder Sister Pei might as well read this first."

"What is it?" Third Madam Pei asked.

Niu Youdao said, "The thing that has driven me into a dead end."

A single sheet of paper had driven him into a dead end? Puzzled, Third Madam Pei picked it up and began reading. Linghu Qiu craned his neck curiously for a glance and roughly recognized what it was. It was the secret letter Tianyu Sect had sent, the very one Feng Entai had shown Niu Youdao. Linghu Qiu did not understand why Niu Youdao was showing it to Third Madam Pei.

After reading the contents, Third Madam Pei more or less understood Niu Youdao's predicament. She had personally witnessed what happened that night and heard the conversation with her own ears. She knew Niu Youdao had accepted the permits because of Feng Entai. She had said as much when reporting upward afterward. His Majesty, however, was plainly displeased that Niu Youdao had made sport of the Grand Princess. When the news was deliberately spread outside, Tianyu Sect had not been mentioned at all.

During the journey to the Great Snow Mountain, Niu Youdao had at least shown her some respect, and the two could be said to have a little friendship. But an imperial command was difficult to defy. There were matters she could not decide. She could only feel some private sympathy for him. After all, the affair did not concern her personally, and there was no profound bond between her and Niu Youdao. She could hardly risk her life to fight for him. She also knew her own influence was too slight to change the emperor's attitude. More importantly, the stance of her own sect was entangled in this affair as well. There was truly nothing she could do.

"Does this have anything to do with me?" Third Madam Pei put the letter down and pushed it back.

Niu Youdao said, "I contacted your esteemed sect..."

Third Madam Pei cut him off. "I've heard. You should know my sect's position as well. My sect has already made its decision. What use is there in coming to me?"

Niu Youdao said, "Elder Sister Pei, your sect leaves me no road to live. Tianyu Sect leaves me no road to live. His Majesty the emperor leaves me no road to live. Naturally the people outside won't leave me one either. I've already been driven into a dead end. Tell me, what am I supposed to do?"

Third Madam Pei fell briefly silent, then finally sighed. "Brother Niu, we know one another, and I do owe you a favor. It isn't that I would stand by and watch you die. If I could help, I wouldn't hesitate. But you know perfectly well that in this matter, I truly cannot help you."

Niu Youdao said, "I only invited Elder Sister Pei here because I hope you can pass a message to His Majesty on my behalf."

Third Madam Pei asked, "Is there any point? Don't be angry at what I'm about to say, but His Majesty simply does not put you in his eyes! His Majesty is a powerful sovereign who decides matters by his own authority. By now, you should understand what he intends to do. He won't listen to your words, and he won't casually change a decision already made because of something a random person says. An emperor does not speak in jest. He cannot issue an order in the morning and reverse it in the evening. He will not lightly withdraw a command once given."

Niu Youdao said, "Elder Sister Pei can hear me out before refusing. It won't be too late afterward."

Third Madam Pei reached for her tea. "Since I've already come, I might as well hear what you have to say."

"Elder Sister Pei is magnanimous." Niu Youdao first cupped his hands in thanks, then grew solemn. "Elder Sister, you know my situation. The message I want you to pass is very simple. Tell His Majesty that I am willing to cooperate with his intentions and help him stir up this storm of blood. All I ask is that he raise his hand and spare me. I only want to stay alive!"

Third Madam Pei took several sips of tea, set down the cup, and asked, "How exactly do you want His Majesty to spare you?"

Niu Youdao said, "I cannot change the decisions of Daqiu Sect, Xuanbing Sect, or Tianhuo Sect. But His Majesty can. All His Majesty needs to do is send word to the three sects. It is no great matter, and they will certainly give him face. Have any one of the three sects come forward and help me organize an auction so I can sell what I have. Afterward, every coin from the sale can be given to whichever sect cooperates with me. I won't take a single coin."

"An auction?" Third Madam Pei shook her head. "Who do you think would dare openly buy those things?"

Niu Youdao said, "That's precisely why I need the cooperation of one of the three sects. Choose a suitable location—somewhere that allows the buyer to leave quietly after the purchase. As long as the conditions are right, someone will inevitably conceal his true identity and bid. Once the things leave my hands, I naturally escape the danger and save my life."

Third Madam Pei said, "Do you really think you carry enough weight for His Majesty to go through all this trouble for you? He already has a perfectly usable method in place. Why would he abandon it and create more trouble for himself? Why would His Majesty go out of his way to make this extra arrangement for you?"

Niu Youdao enunciated each word.

"I have no road left."

Third Madam Pei said, "Whether you have a road left is not something His Majesty cares about. You should understand that. If he cared whether you had a road to live, things would never have reached this point."

Niu Youdao picked up the secret letter from the table and shook it lightly. "Then please tell His Majesty this. If every direction available to me is a road to death, I will have no choice but to make His Majesty lose face!"

"With just you?" Third Madam Pei gave a cold laugh. "Brother Niu, aren't you thinking a little too highly of yourself?"

Niu Youdao's voice rang hard and forceful.

"What if I publicly destroy all the exit permits for those one hundred thousand warhorses?"

Third Madam Pei said, "Then you'd be courting death!"

Niu Youdao spread both hands. "I have no road of retreat. If death lies on every side, do I still have a choice? Surely you don't expect me to cooperate with His Majesty in killing myself? Surely if the emperor drives me to death, I'm still supposed to sing his praises? Am I not even allowed to bite him once before I die? Yes, I cannot actually hurt him. But surely I can at least make the methods he was so pleased with become a joke! If the emperor of the State of Qi creates a public farce, it won't look good for him, will it?"

Third Madam Pei frowned. Linghu Qiu suddenly understood. His gaze settled on the secret letter. At last he understood why Niu Youdao had brought it out. He clicked his tongue inwardly. This younger brother of his truly was no simple man. Even after being driven into an absolute dead end, he had managed to find a thread of survival. This really was finding life from within death!

Third Madam Pei picked up her tea again and slowly drank several sips. After considering the matter, she said, "You understand His Majesty's intention. If one of the three sects arranges an appropriate auction site and gives the buyer a chance to escape with the permits, then His Majesty's goal will fail. Wouldn't he lose face all the same? Do you expect His Majesty to stand before all beneath Heaven and reverse himself by announcing that those exit permits are invalid? If that is the result, why would he have any reason to spare you?"

Niu Youdao said, "Since I dare propose this inferior plan, naturally I've already considered a way for His Majesty to answer the problem."

Third Madam Pei said, "Let's hear it."

Niu Youdao said, "When I was in Star-Plucking City, I was once hunted all the way along the road. Later I discovered there is something called a Scent-Seeker. All that is needed is a little scent bait worked onto those permits... Then the target can always be found. It may even be more reliable than letting people seize the permits directly from my hands. In this way, I can escape with my life, His Majesty can still achieve his purpose, and the permits for one hundred thousand warhorses can even be exchanged for a large sum of money. One move, three gains. Why not do it? Elder Sister Pei, this is the great capital of Qi. Surely it can't be impossible to obtain the little things needed to make such an arrangement?"

A trace of a smile appeared on Linghu Qiu's face. Now this truly was coercion and enticement. Hao Yuntu seemed to have no reason to refuse. No wonder Niu Youdao had said earlier that as long as he could meet Third Madam Pei, he had a way to make the emperor change his decision. It really was a good method. A way to find life in desperate circumstances.

Third Madam Pei put down her teacup and stood. "Anything else? If not, I'm going back."

Niu Youdao rose as well and cupped his hands. "Elder Sister Pei, whether this brother of yours survives this calamity now depends entirely on you! If I can get through this, I will repay you generously one day!"

"I understand what you mean, but I can't pass the message for you tonight."

"Why?"

"At this hour, His Majesty should already be resting. It would be inappropriate to disturb him. Tomorrow morning, I'll pass along your words. As for whether His Majesty agrees, I cannot guarantee it."

"As long as Elder Sister Pei delivers the message, I'll already be endlessly grateful. I wouldn't dare ask for more. I imagine His Majesty isn't in such a hurry that he needs to kill me in the middle of the night."

"Tomorrow morning, if there is news, I'll naturally come tell you. If I don't come... then I will already have done everything friendship requires. Brother Niu, you'll have to pray for your own good fortune."

Leaving those words behind, Third Madam Pei strode away without any intention of lingering. Niu Youdao escorted her all the way out.

When he returned to the room, Linghu Qiu clapped him on the shoulder and burst into laughter. "Little Brother, excellent methods! Brilliant! To be driven into a dead end and still find a path to survival—now that's skill! You threaten Hao Yuntu with your own death and promise to make him lose face. Third Madam Pei definitely won't dare conceal that from him. I doubt Hao Yuntu will have much reason to refuse once he hears it. Little Brother should be able to survive this calamity smoothly. Looks like I no longer need to keep thinking about running for my life either!"

Black Peony pressed her lips together, smiling. Her bright eyes shone as she looked at Niu Youdao, carrying a faint trace of admiration.

"Let's hope so." Niu Youdao remained modest, shaking his head and waving a hand with a bitter smile, as though the whole thing had merely been forced upon him.

[End of Chapter 303]