Chapter 66: The Arrangements of the Marquis of Yichun

Sitting on the steps inside the gates of the Marquis of Yichun's manor, he did not receive the same kind of treatment as he had at the Duke of Ding'an's residence.

No one served him tea, and there was no lively commotion to listen to.

The Third Master of the Chai family had already gone inside, not even deigning to spare him a second glance.

Only a group of tall, imposing servants stood there, watching him with predatory eyes.

Wei Jiao ignored them, leaning lazily against the steps while playing with the sleeve sword in his hand.

However, the Marquis of Yichun's manor handled matters much faster than the Duke of Ding'an's. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the Duke of Ding'an emerged from within.

Unlike before he entered, the anxiety on the Duke's face had been smoothed away, and his tense shoulders had relaxed. He even offered Wei Jiao a smile upon seeing him.

"Is the matter resolved?" Wei Jiao asked with a raised eyebrow, standing up to approach the Duke. "So, where are we going next? Are we going to escort those little ladies of yours with their messy identities to the Imperial City?"

*Why "we"?* What did this have to do with him? To think he actually wanted to follow him—the Duke of Ding'an raised a hand to stop him. "Commander Wei, please stay your step. The Marquis still wishes to see you."

Wei Jiao gave an "oh" and turned around, only to see that the servant who had escorted the Duke out was indeed still standing in place.

"Commander Wei, please come," the servant said. "The Marquis is waiting to see you."

When Wei Jiao turned back again, he saw that the Duke of Ding'an had already taken the opportunity to depart without pause.

The Duke had not only asked the Marquis of Yichun to help resolve the matter of the fraudulent young ladies who had mysteriously appeared in his household, but he had also tasked the Marquis with dealing with the nuisance that was Wei Jiao.

Wei Jiao did not bother to chase after the Duke. If he wanted to keep an eye on someone, it wasn't strictly necessary to do it in person.

Inside the Marquis of Yichun's study, the lights remained dim.

The Marquis raised a hand to rub his eyes. "My old eyes are failing; I cannot bear the light."

Wei Jiao said indignantly, "The Duke of Ding'an is truly useless. To disturb the Marquis in the middle of the night over his own family matters... knowing I am difficult to deal with, he simply wants the Marquis to deal with me instead."

It was a sharp, biting way to speak, but the Marquis of Yichun did not find it strange.

"It matters not. As I grow older, I sleep less. Even if the Duke of Ding'an did not come to disturb me," he said, "I would still be sitting here in solitude."

Having said that, he looked at Wei Jiao.

"While I do not know why you have set your sights on this young lady from the Duke of Ding'an's household, I can tell you her true identity."

"The Duke of Ding'an did indeed lie to you. This young lady is not the daughter of his cousin's family, but the daughter of his own younger sister."

"I expect this will clear up your confusion as to why they were encountered in Zhao County near Lu County."

Wei Jiao showed an expression of sudden realization. "I knew it. It's impossible for this lady to have only faked her identity twice. If there is a second, there will be a third." He then curled his lip. "It's not as if she has something to hide; why be so secretive?"

"This young lady is being secretive for her own protection," the Marquis of Yichun said, his fingers lightly stroking the tabletop. "You have been to White Horse Town; you should know that the deaths in that town were quite bizarre."

He smiled at that.

"Jiying used death row prisoners to pose as mountain bandits. I hope the Grand Commander did not find it laughable."

He shook his head.

"Though the intention was to appease the people, the execution was too perfunctory. It will surely be noted in his future performance evaluations."

Wei Jiao said nonchalantly, "With the Marquis as his backer, a small note in an evaluation won't affect his career."

The Marquis of Yichun was unbothered by the sarcasm and continued, "Therefore, this young lady suspected that someone intended to exterminate her entire clan. After escaping, seeing how perfunctory the officials were, she believed the government was in collusion with the bandits. Thus, she hid her tracks and changed her name to ensure she could reach the capital safely."

Wei Jiao gave an "oh," but he did not press further into the lady's actions. Instead, he asked curiously, "Who wants to exterminate her family? Is it directed at the Duke of Ding'an's house?"

The Marquis glanced at him, but this time he did not answer. "This is the private matter of the Duke of Ding'an's household. Whether they report it to the authorities or send people privately to seek vengeance, it has nothing to do with us." He returned to his previous point. "As for why the Duke of Ding'an hid the truth by inventing the identity of a cousin's daughter, it is because of a family scandal."

*A family scandal?* Wei Jiao raised an eyebrow.

"This younger sister entered into an unsuitable marriage and fell out with the family. The old Duke of Ding'an passed away from illness due to the distress," the Marquis continued. "More than ten years have passed. The Duke of Ding'an does not wish for the old matters to be brought up again or for people to gossip and affect the family's reputation, which is why he fabricated this identity for the lady."

Wei Jiao looked at the Marquis and chuckled. "He is quite candid with you, Marquis."

The Marquis of Yichun wiped the corners of his eyes with a silk handkerchief. "I was of the same generation as his father, and we both followed His Majesty from the very beginning. Our relationship is naturally special. I know everything regarding his family; there is no need to hide it from me."

He then looked at Wei Jiao.

"I am telling you the whole story so that I may also tell you, Commander Wei: regarding the future private matters of the Duke of Ding'an's household, do not keep staring at them."

Wei Jiao rubbed his chin and gave an "oh." "The Duke of Ding'an is relying on his long-standing relationship to ask for the Marquis's help. Fine, I will listen to the Marquis. But if I help the Marquis, what benefit will I receive?"

He shook his head and clicked his tongue.

"Regardless, for a lady of the Duke of Ding'an's house to impersonate another to apply as a princess's study companion is a crime of deceiving the Emperor. Even if the Duke of Ding'an's head isn't taken, that young lady's head will certainly be severed."

The Marquis of Yichun set down the handkerchief, pulled a booklet from the desk, and handed it over. "Ma Qing, the Governor of Qin'an City, has been secretly harboring the family of Sun Shu, who rebelled in Yuzhou previously. This is the location where Sun Shu's family is hiding."

Upon hearing this, Wei Jiao's eyes brightened.

After the Emperor ascended the throne, the world had not been entirely stable. Five years ago, the Governor of Yuzhou, Sun Shu, claimed to have received a secret decree from the late Emperor to serve as the Grand General assisting the court, and he rebelled against the new dynasty. However, he was quickly crushed by Grand Marshal Wu Jiang, sent by the Emperor, and Sun Shu was slain in his own manor. Yet, Sun Shu had a son who escaped and had never been captured.

This was a significant achievement.

"Furthermore, Ma Qing is one of your father's men," the Marquis of Yichun looked at him with a half-smile. "Go there and clean it up. By doing so, you will preserve your father's reputation and avoid being implicated, while also relieving His Majesty of his worries and earning greater trust. You would be fulfilling both loyalty and filial piety. Is this benefit acceptable, Commander Wei?"

Wei Jiao smiled, his eyes curving into crescents, his white teeth gleaming in the dim room. He reached out his long arm to take the booklet, turned, and bowed to the Marquis. "Thank you, Marquis, for your assistance."

He then straightened up and patted his chest.

"Since the Marquis has entrusted me with such a major matter, the Duke of Ding'an's family affairs are truly trivial. I shall not spare them another glance."

The Marquis smiled and picked up his tea, saying no more.

Wei Jiao took his leave tactfully. Just as he turned around, the Marquis's voice drifted toward him again.

"I am heading to the palace to see His Majesty now. Wei Jiao, regarding this matter, there is no need for you to mention it in front of His Majesty."

Wei Jiao shook the booklet in his hand and turned back to give the Marquis a brilliant smile.

"Understood. I will listen to you, Marquis."

...

...

The night was deep, and the torches held by the Embroidered Uniform Guards seemed to dim slightly.

However, at the edge of the heavy darkness, a faint blue light could be seen.

This night had passed both quickly and boisterously.

Wei Jiao did not leave immediately upon mounting his horse; instead, he stood at the street corner, watching the gates of the Marquis of Yichun's manor until he saw the Marquis's carriage emerge.

"Heh, he actually went," he remarked.

"The Marquis of Yichun has rarely ventured out these past few years," one of the guards said, looking at the magnificent carriage decorated with black and gold patterns bestowed by the Emperor. "He doesn't attend court assemblies, nor does he appear at the birthdays of the Emperor and Empress. I didn't expect that for the sake of the Duke of Ding'an, he would petition the palace gates at night. I didn't realize the Duke of Ding'an had such influence."

Wei Jiao watched the Marquis's carriage head toward the Imperial City, then looked past the carriage toward the Duke of Ding'an's residence, which lay in the same direction.

It wasn't that the Duke of Ding'an had great influence; it should be said that the young lady of the Yang family had great influence.

He believed the Marquis's words were true, but he also believed that the Miss Yang was still quite peculiar.

That person was far too strange.

She actually dared to flirt with him to his face!

Dying at her hands would be well worth it...

What? To die under a peony flower is to be a romantic even in death?

As the thought flashed through his mind, Wei Jiao couldn't help but spit.

Even if the "loyal dog" was originally the master, this master was still very much a dog!

"That damn thing... just what is her background?"

(End of Chapter)