Chapter 30: A Gaze from Afar

The streets approaching the Imperial City were much wider than in other areas and lacked the clamor of the marketplaces. As the carriage traveled along, the Madam of Duke Ding'an felt her mind grow significantly more at ease.

Through the swaying curtain of the carriage, one could see an ancient and simple courtyard to the left of the street intersection; its layout was expansive and its presence extraordinary.

This had originally been the manor of a marquis from the previous dynasty, which was later seized by Zhao Tan and renovated with even greater luxury.

Upon the ascension of the new Emperor, as part of his rewards and enfeoffments, he bestowed this residence upon the Yang family.

As for the other dukes and marquises, they either chose smaller residences within the city or settled in the outer suburbs.

Over the past ten years, although the family's younger generation held official positions inferior to others and rarely appeared before His Majesty, the mere prestige of this residence ensured that no one dared to look down upon them.

Sitting inside the carriage, the Madam of Duke Ding'an straightened her back.

The carriage came to a slow halt before the main gates.

"Is the Duke in his study?" she asked.

Having received a confirming answer, the Madam of Duke Ding'an stepped directly out of the carriage at the gate rather than riding through the inner gates.

The female servants accompanying the carriage hurried to support her, and upon hearing the commotion, people from within came out to greet them.

"Mother."

Yang Hui, surrounded by four maidservants and three elderly female servants, ran out of the house. The young lady was dressed in magnificent silks and adorned with gold, silver, and jade, shimmering brilliantly under the sunlight.

A smile appeared on the Madam's face. "Why have you run out?" she added with a playful scold, "You aren't allowed to wander about playing. In a few days, you must take the examinations at the Imperial Academy."

Yang Hui took her mother's arm. "I know. I wasn't playing; Father called me to teach me how to write essays."

The Madam's smile deepened. "Very well, very well. I shall go with you." Having said that, she stepped through the gate, but thinking of something, she turned back to look.

Yang Hui followed her gaze. "Mother, what are you looking at?"

"I feel as though someone is staring at me," the Madam said with a puzzled expression.

People were coming and going on the main street. Perhaps because of the commotion at the gates, many were looking over, their gazes filled with curiosity, awe, or envy.

Yang Hui giggled. "Isn't it normal for people to look at you, Mother? You are the Madam of Duke Ding'an, after all."

The Madam smiled, but she was no three-year-old child; she took the words as mere pleasantries. Moreover, she could sense that the gaze was somewhat strange and somewhat unpleasant.

However, Yang Hui's words reminded her of something—something that would indeed attract the scrutiny of others.

"True," the Madam said with a smile, pinching her daughter's tender cheek. "And there is also a daughter who is going to study at the Imperial Academy."

Yang Hui looked proud, swaying her mother's arm coquettishly. "I haven't passed the exams yet; Mother, don't praise me so soon."

The Madam smiled. "Hui'er is so intelligent; you will surely pass."

The mother and daughter chatted and laughed as they moved inward, surrounded by their attendants. The gates of the Duke Ding'an manor slowly closed, cutting off the eyes of the outside world.

Sitting in a teahouse by the roadside, Wei Jiao's gaze remained fixed on the Duke Ding'an manor, looking past the gates into the interior.

He leaned against the window, one hand supporting his chin. His sliding sleeve revealed a crimson lining, which made his face appear even whiter and more like jade.

He seemed to be lost in thought, yet he also seemed to be watching very intently.

"Commander," an Embroidered Guard behind him couldn't help but say, "We have watched for so many days and nothing unusual has happened at the Duke Ding'an manor. Why don't we go in and conduct a search?"

Wei Jiao shook his head. "No rush. Perhaps the other party is on guard. Let's keep waiting."

His gaze remained fixed on that manor.

The guard complied without further questioning; if the Commander wanted to watch, he would watch.

The door behind them was pushed open, and an Embroidered Guard hurried in. "Commander, His Majesty wishes to see you."

Wei Jiao gave an "oh," withdrew his gaze, and walked out with light steps. "Keep watching. See if any strangers enter or leave their house."

The guards responded in unison.

...

...

Within the magnificent and vast Imperial City, a young man in black clothing with red accents fluttered like a whirlwind of flowers. The people sitting in two small carriages on the palace road saw him immediately.

"It's Wei Jiao—"

A fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl with a dignified countenance cried out in joy, leaning forward instantly.

Before she could even wave, a girl of similar age in the adjacent carriage, possessing bright eyes, white teeth, and exquisite features, shouted, "A-Jiao—"

Wei Jiao looked over, a smile breaking across his face, and raised his hand to wave. The two women in the carriages became even more delighted, urging the eunuchs to stop the carriages quickly. But before the eunuchs could even halt, Wei Jiao had already flown away with steps as light as a butterfly.

An expression of anger appeared on Princess Wuyang's composed face. She grabbed a cushion from the carriage and threw it at the eunuch. "You fools! Why are you so slow?"

The eunuch fell to his knees, repeatedly pleading for mercy.

Beside her, Princess Nangong smiled, her features becoming even more soft and beautiful. "Sister, stop scolding them. Even if this servant pulled you into the sky, you wouldn't catch up to A-Jiao." At this, she sighed, looking at the striking figure of the young man on the distant palace road. "A-Jiao won't pay any attention to us; he only speaks to the Eldest Princess."

Princess Wuyang glared at her and sneered, "Since you know he is liked by Chengping, how dare you call him 'A-Jiao' so casually? Is 'A-Jiao' a name for you to use? Be careful, if Chengping finds out, he'll slap your mouth senseless."

Princess Nangong's eyes instantly reddened. "Yes, if I anger the Eldest Princess, I deserve bad luck. Who told me not to be like you? Your biological mother is a Noble Consort, while my mother was merely a minor Noble Lady..."

As she spoke, she covered her face and sobbed, appearing incredibly fragile.

Princess Wuyang spat. "I am not Father. Stop using those tactics in front of me."

The palace matrons standing by were clearly accustomed to this. Hearing this, they all spoke up to mediate. "Princesses, please do not argue." "Hurry to the study; if you delay your lessons, His Majesty will punish you."

At the mention of "lessons," both princesses sighed simultaneously, their brows filled with anxiety.

"It's so annoying. Why must Father insist we study?" Princess Wuyang said irritably. "We aren't the Crown Prince, who needs to inherit the empire, nor are we princes who need to be enfeoffed to govern a territory."

Princess Nangong curled her lip. "I heard that someone mocked Father for being a rustic who was illiterate, so that is why Father insists our children be proficient in both civil and martial arts."

Princess Wuyang snorted. "Father is something else. If anyone says such nonsense, he should just cut off their head. Why must he make it our problem?"

Princess Nangong sighed. "I don't mind studying, but with the Eldest Princess around, we are nothing more than mere foils."

Princess Wuyang raised her eyebrows and glared at her. "I advise you to stop spending all your energy on acting fragile. Put some effort into your studies. If you score better than her, you'll finally get your revenge."

Princess Nangong smiled. "Even if I try harder, I can't compare to you, Wuyang. I'll just stick to cheering you on."

The matrons urged them again. The two princesses said no more, sitting properly in their carriages as they headed toward the study within the Imperial City designated for the princes and princesses.

...

...

While the princesses studied bitterly in the study against their will, Wei Jiao sat slumped in the Emperor's hall, drinking tea and eating snacks.

"Your servant failed to complete his task and is truly fearful. Thus, I brought up a minor case of corruption involving the Prefect of Fuyang to appease His Majesty. Knowing I could not hide it from Your Majesty's keen eyes, I chose to avoid meeting you."

As Wei Jiao spoke, showing not a hint of fear, he pointed to the tea beside him to the eunuch standing nearby.

"Another cup."

The eunuch was clearly used to this and proactively poured the tea without waiting for the Emperor's permission.

The Emperor, Deng Shan, was forty-seven years old this year. Due to the hardships of military campaigns in his youth and the exhaustion of state affairs, white hairs had appeared at his temples, but his posture remained upright and vigorous. Sitting behind the desk, he looked down at the memorials and let out a light snort upon hearing the words.

"Corruption is not a minor case," he said. "The empire has only been stable for a dozen years, yet these people are already becoming restless. Do they think they are back in the days of the late Emperor Zhao Tan?"

He looked up at Wei Jiao.

"Next time, you may use even more ruthless methods for such minor cases."

Wei Jiao nodded. "Wonderful, wonderful. I have been reading many books lately and have learned a few new methods involving skinning and stuffing with straw. I shall let everyone witness them when the time comes."

The Emperor laughed, not bothering to ask what kind of books he was reading. Looking at the young man, he said softly, "It seems you have been forced to shoulder a bad reputation."

Wei Jiao smiled. "Your Majesty shoulders the peace of the people and the stability of the world; your servant is merely being cursed by a few people."

The Emperor sighed. "Your father sent you to the capital at thirteen so that you could follow Wang Zaitian to study the teachings of Huang-Lao. Now, six years have passed, and instead of becoming Wang Zaitian's final disciple and achieving academic success, you have become an Embroidered Guard that everyone fears. I have failed your father."

Wei Jiao's eyes were full of smiles. "But my illness has been cured."

He stood up and spread his arms, presenting himself.

"In those first few years after arriving, I often suffered from bouts of illness. Since I took on the task given by Your Majesty, has any Imperial Physician ever reported that I had gone mad?"

(End of Chapter)