Chapter 26: The Carriage of the Ding'an Duke's Mansion

As the Embroidered Uniform Guards arrived, several prisoner carriages slowly rolled through the city gates.

There were men and women, old and young; each one appeared to have undergone some form of torture, slumped in the carriages like limp mud, as if their very souls had been sucked out.

Only one young child had escaped punishment. At this moment, filled with innocent curiosity, the child gripped the bars of the carriage and peered out, waving and babbling at the passersby.

The crowds gathered along the roadside were a mixture of terror, pity, and helplessness.

Some deserved death and were executed, others were sentenced according to the law, but Wei Jiao specifically enjoyed parading criminals through the streets—parading the living, and exposing the corpses of the dead.

At such a young age, his actions were bizarre and absurd, his words and deeds bordering on madness.

Truly, he was a little madman raised by that lunatic, Zhao Tan.

The gate captain lowered his gaze, only daring to spit inwardly, for Wei Jiao had not yet left. He was still at the city gate, where several carriages were heading toward the residence of the Duchess of Ding'an in a gesture of concern and consolation.

"Three carriages? So many people?"

"Does the House of Ding'an have that many people?"

The House of Ding'an had a fair number of kin, certainly—the Duke had three sons and two daughters—but was three carriages for an outing considered excessive? Even the prominent female servants and maids in the Duke's manor had their own carriages. The gate captain curled his lip again.

"Aren't they usually indifferent to the dead? Why are so many people going to pay their respects?"

A sudden comment drifted by, causing the gate captain to pause. It seemed Wei Jiao knew exactly whom the Duchess of Ding'an was mourning. A moment later, the sound of galloping hooves reached him. He looked up to see Wei Jiao turning his horse, leading a group of Embroidered Guards toward the outskirts of the city, heading straight for Dajue Temple.

Had he pried into something else? Had he found some leverage? Was he planning to move against the Duke of Ding'an? Wei Jiao's intentions were as elusive as his presence; the gate captain frowned as he watched the group depart.

……

…….

Accompanied by the lingering echoes of bells and drums, the West Garden Gate of Dajue Temple—reserved for distinguished guests—opened, and a carriage emerged, flanked by five servants.

A plump, prosperous-looking female servant walked alongside the carriage.

From within came the soft, sobbing cries of a woman, followed by a slender hand lifting the carriage curtain.

"...Mama Wang..."

The woman's voice trembled.

But before she could finish, the curtain was pushed back down by Mama Wang, who had caught her hand.

"Be obedient, Miss," Mama Wang said softly.

The woman's voice choked with emotion from inside: "I beg you, Aunt, please don't send me back. If I go back, there is nothing for me but death..."

Mama Wang interrupted her. "Rest assured, Miss. The Madam has already sent word to your mother, stating that you are not to be blamed, and asking her to reconsider your marriage arrangements."

Having adjusted the curtain, she turned to the surrounding servants with a solemn expression.

"Hold the invitations tightly. Watch over the Miss throughout the journey; do not allow anyone to be negligent."

The servants responded in unison.

Mama Wang signaled to them, and the driver immediately urged the horses forward. Perhaps caught off guard, the woman inside the carriage seemed to stumble, letting out an "Ouch!", followed by the concerned voices of the maids, and then an even more desperate wail.

The crying continued to drift out as the carriage moved, scattering along the small path.

"Miss, don't cry once we reach the main road," the driver advised from outside, his tone carrying a hint of warning. "This is the capital; many people recognize our family's carriages. If we are seen, it will all be in vain after the Madam's kindness."

The woman's crying instantly quieted, as if she were pressing her hands tightly over her mouth.

The driver snapped the whip with satisfaction. As the main road came into view, a group of people suddenly stood in their path.

The driver was startled, about to scold whoever was being so blind, but upon seeing their attire, he fell instantly silent. In his panic, he bit his tongue, letting out a cry of pain as he pulled on the reins.

The horses neighed, and the carriage jerked to a halt. The occupants inside were caught off guard once more, resulting in more stumbling and startled cries.

In recent years, the Embroidered Guards had become so feared in Great Xia that they were akin to a sudden noise that could make even a child stop crying.

Seeing them appear suddenly in broad daylight was enough to make anyone jump as if they had seen a ghost.

Of course, the House of Ding'an was not so easily frightened; otherwise, they wouldn't have insisted on passing through just now, knowing the Guards had blocked the road.

But because of previous encounters, the servants were feeling quite uneasy.

Especially upon seeing that particular young man.

It was Wei Jiao.

Wei Jiao had actually come in person.

Could it be that he had seen them forcing their way through earlier and was now seeking revenge?

It was entirely possible for Wei Jiao to do such a thing.

The lead servant hurried off his horse, bowed respectfully, and asked urgently, "Are the Lords on official business?" He waved at the driver, "Quickly, make way!"

Just as the driver was about to lead the horses aside, Wei Jiao raised a hand to signal him to stop.

Though he said nothing, the driver dared not move, freezing in place as he watched Wei Jiao ride closer.

Wei Jiao let out a short, dry laugh.

"Arriving in the capital, and yet you cry so heavily," he said.

Was... was he speaking to the person inside the carriage? The servants looked toward the interior with expressions of shock and disbelief.

This young lady had only recently entered the capital; how could she know an Embroidered Guard? It was impossible.

The person inside seemed also to be terrified; there was no more crying, and even the sound of breathing seemed to have vanished.

Wei Jiao's gaze swept the surroundings, passing over the servants. "Where is that dog?"

A dog? What dog? The servants of the House of Ding'an were even more bewildered.

"Was he disposed of?" Wei Jiao raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "Makes sense. A dog, after all—he would risk his life for his master against outsiders, but if the master demands his life, he can only obediently surrender it."

The lead servant could no longer restrain himself and stepped forward to ask cautiously, "Is the Lord looking for someone?"

Although the Madam had instructed that this young lady's identity must not be revealed—which was why she had been placed in a temple and sent away quietly—there was no need to hide anything from the Embroidered Guards.

"This is Miss Yuan, the daughter of our Madam's elder sister. She has come to visit family and is now returning home."

"There is only the Miss and her maid inside the carriage."

Wei Jiao had been listening with a raised eyebrow, but upon hearing the word "maid," his expression shifted slightly. He suddenly raised his hand, drew his long sword, and swung.

The servant's voice was still on his lips when a flash of cold light appeared before his eyes. The long sword sliced toward the carriage...

The servant let out a scream.

Accompanied by the screams of the women, the sword slashed through the carriage curtain, revealing two women huddled together in terror.

Both women appeared to be sixteen or seventeen years old. Their beautiful faces had paled due to fright, but their features had not changed.

They had not transformed into people they had never seen before.

Looking at their faces, Wei Jiao let out a laugh.

The records of the local personnel from Zhao County taken during the search had been sent to various regions to be verified by local Embroidered Guard shadows.

The master and servant duo who had caused such a scene were naturally among them.

The Embroidered Guards there had gone to the Yuan family to confirm, and indeed, a young lady had gone missing and they were searching everywhere.

Of course, the Guards had not informed the Yuan family; they were merely verifying identities and did not concern themselves with family matters.

After learning of this, Wei Jiao had dropped the matter.

Seeing the Duchess of Ding'an's carriage just now had suddenly reminded him of this. Calculating the days, that young lady and her guard should have already arrived at the House of Ding'an.

He had suddenly wanted to take a look. Though he didn't know why, he had turned around and followed.

Sure enough, he had seen a carriage from the House of Ding'an sneaking out of the back gate.

Had that young lady with the fierce guard been kicked out of the house? How hilarious. Wei Jiao had naturally come to mock them.

He had not expected to see this.

This Miss Yuan was not *that* Miss Yuan, and there was no such thing as a dog-like guard.

It turned out that the one who should have been mocked was not Miss Yuan, but him—Wei Jiao.

"Good, very good." His dark eyes were filled with gloom. "Truly impressive."

(End of Chapter)