This put Pei Ji in a dilemma.
The King was also curious, "Pei Ji, how will you choose?"
Would he choose his elder brother, or the life-saving benefactor who had once treated him?
Pei Ji gritted his teeth fiercely. "Father, why are you making me choose? Can't I save both?"
"No," the King's voice was cold. "Life is a process of making choices. If you agonize over every choice, you will never achieve anything great."
Pei Xi suddenly looked up at him and smiled playfully.
This old man was actually lecturing Pei Ji.
Unfortunately, at this moment, Pei Ji couldn't hear anything. His mind was filled with the need to save his eldest brother, to save Shen Qingqing, he couldn't let either of them go!
"Father, my eldest brother is my blood relative. I cannot not choose."
Satisfaction flickered in the King's eyes.
Unexpectedly, Pei Ji continued, "As for Miss Shen, she saved me from danger several times on the island, and even after leaving the island, she was still detoxifying me. She is my savior. If I don't repay kindness, I am ungrateful. I cannot be that kind of person."
The smile on the King's face froze. "I said there is no perfect solution."
"If tonight, you must kill one person," Pei Ji's face was calm, and his voice was without emotion, "then kill me."
The King's eyes widened slightly. "What did you say?"
"Originally, I was poisoned. By normal standards, I was a dying man." Pei Ji glanced at Pei Xi, his gaze indifferent towards this 'savior' who had given him the antidote. "But since I survived, it means heaven must have intended for me to do something."
The King stepped forward and grabbed his collar. "Do you know what you're saying?!"
"I do." The King's grip was strong, making it difficult for Pei Ji to breathe. He spoke with some difficulty. "But I also know that some people cannot die."
"Nothing is impossible to die."
The King suddenly released his grip. Pei Ji stumbled back, coughing and clutching his chest. Before he could fully recover, he looked up at his father.
"Father, why must you do this? If you continue to insist, you will lose a son. Is that what you want to see?"
"Or, do you already have your most desired son, and you don't care about the others?"
The last sentence was like a dagger, piercing the King's heart. Blood gushed out, and the words of execution that were at the tip of his tongue could not be spoken.
Pei Xi, standing nearby, sighed softly.
He knew that he could not get rid of Pei Lie on this occasion, but while his life could be spared, he had to pay a much heavier price.
"Father, listen to Third Brother. Eldest Brother's crime does not warrant death."
The King was now too exhausted to argue. He simply waved his hand, implicitly agreeing.
Pei Ji let out a sigh of relief.
But Shen Qingqing and the others were not so optimistic. How could Pei Xi be so kind as to plead for them? There must be a trick to this.
Pei Xi slowly said, "However, while the death penalty may be waived, the punishment for the crime cannot be avoided."
The King looked at him.
Pei Xi sighed and lowered his voice. "Father, so many people have witnessed this today. If there is no punishment at all, it will be difficult to justify."
A struggle flickered in the King's eyes.
"But don't worry, it will only be a minor disciplinary action, just to silence everyone's tongues."
"...Then tell me, how should he be punished?"
Exhausted and mentally drained by the "rebellion" of his two sons, Pei Lie and Pei Ji, that night, the King even asked for Pei Xi's opinion.
Pei Xi thought seriously for a moment. "How about we punish Eldest Brother with reflection?"
He glanced at Pei Lie, who stood not far away. His gaze was indifferent, as if he didn't see Pei Xi at all. That arrogant demeanor was truly loathsome.
Pei Xi smiled slightly, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes. "However, Eldest Brother must hand over the token in his hand. Otherwise, with Eldest Brother's abilities, we won't be able to contain him."
That token could command all of Pei Lie's subordinates.
It was something many people dreamed of obtaining.
Although the King had never thought of taking it back, after considering it, it seemed to be the only way now. "Alright, you issue the order."
"Yes."
Pei Xi was very pleased. He turned around and, facing Pei Lie and the others, did not hide his malice. "Father is merciful and has spared your lives, but you have violated the law. While the death penalty may be waived, the punishment for the crime cannot be avoided. Eldest Brother, hand over the token in your hand and return to confinement for reflection. You may only come out when Father gives the order."
As he spoke, his eyes gleamed as he stared at Pei Lie.
He wished to see Pei Lie's shocked and flustered expression.
But Pei Lie remained expressionless from beginning to end, his face only showing a hint of mockery.
He was a little disappointed and then turned to Shen Qingqing. "As for you..."
He had had a good harvest today, and he was in a good mood. He deliberately drew out his words to tease them, but unfortunately, the people in front of him were as calm as if Mount Tai had collapsed before them.
Since no one cooperated with his performance, Pei Xi sighed in disappointment and lost interest in toying with them. He quickly said, "You will be thrown back into the dungeon."
He waved his hand, and the guards immediately stepped forward to drag everyone away.
Before leaving, Pei Xi approached Shen Qingqing and lowered his voice. "Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to tell you, the King had actually planned to release you all in three days."
He glanced at Pei Lie, whose expression had finally changed, and smiled smugly.
"Unfortunately, your escape angered the King, so you have to endure being in prison a little longer. But that's for the best. After all, if you had left, there would be no audience for the upcoming Crown Prince Assembly."
He chuckled after speaking and turned to leave, his retreating figure exuding an aura of intense pleasure.
Shen Qingqing spat, "Hmph, what a thing!"
As soon as the words left her lips, a large hand landed on her head and gently stroked it. "Don't stoop to his level. He can't keep us for too long."
Shen Qingqing removed his hand and held it with both of hers. "I'm just a little anxious. After all, we've already been delayed for quite some time."
Calculating, it had been nearly ten days.
The deadline given was one month. If they continued to be delayed like this...
She turned to look at Pei Lie and couldn't help but ask, "Are you really confident?"
A sharp glint, utterly incompatible with his refined appearance, flashed in Pei Lie's eyes. "Before, it was only 50 percent. Now... 80 percent."
"Eighty percent... that's not bad."
Shen Qingqing murmured.
Pei Ji had no idea what they were talking about. Seeing that his father was also leaving, he wanted to go and say a few words to his elder brother, but his father beckoned him.
He gritted his teeth, made a gesture for a phone call to Pei Lie, and left with his father.
Shen Qingqing and Fu Jingshu, along with the others, were escorted away, but this time they were not taken to the dungeon, but to several luxurious rooms.
Everyone found it inexplicable.
Was this Pei Ji's arrangement?
The guards led them into the rooms and locked the doors, giving them no opportunity to ask questions.
The lights in the rooms were on, as bright as day. Shen Qingqing looked around. The windows were sealed, and the only entrance and exit was the door.
Just then, the door opened.