Chapter 30: The Distant Gaze
The streets near the Imperial City were much wider than other places, and without the street market noise, Duke Ding’an’s Wife felt much more at ease inside the carriage.
Through the swaying carriage curtains, she could see an ancient courtyard house on the left at the street corner, with a spacious layout and extraordinary grandeur.
This was originally the residence of a king and marquis from the previous dynasty, later occupied by Zhao Tan and renovated to be even more luxurious.
After the New Emperor’s ascension to the throne and bestowing rewards, this residence was granted to the Yang Family.
Meanwhile, other dukes and marquises either chose small courtyard houses inside the city or settled in the outer city.
Over these ten-plus years, although the family’s sons held official positions inferior to others and rarely appeared before His Majesty, the residence alone made others dare not underestimate them.
Duke Ding’an’s Wife sat straight-backed inside the carriage.
The carriage slowly stopped in front of the main gate.
“Is the Duke in the study room?” she asked.
Upon receiving confirmation, Duke Ding’an’s Wife got out directly at the gate, no longer riding the carriage through the second gate.
The accompanying servant women hurried to support her, and people inside, hearing the commotion, came out to greet.
“Mother.”
Yang Hui, surrounded by four maidservants and three servant women, ran out the door. The young girl of marriageable age wore a gorgeous dress adorned with gold, silver, and jade, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.
A smile appeared on Duke Ding’an’s Wife’s face: “Why did you run out?” She then chided, “Don’t go playing everywhere. The National Academy exam is in just a few days.”
Yang Hui linked arms with her mother: “I know. I haven’t been playing. Father called me to teach me how to write essays.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife’s smile deepened: “Good, I’ll go with you.” With that, she stepped inside, then thought of something and looked back.
Yang Hui followed her gaze: “Mother, what are you looking at?”
“I keep feeling like someone is staring at me.” Duke Ding’an’s Wife said with a puzzled expression.
The street was bustling with people coming and going. Perhaps due to the lively scene at the gate, many looked over, their gazes filled with curiosity, respect, or envy.
Yang Hui giggled: “Isn’t it normal for others to look at Mother? Mother is Duke Ding’an’s Wife, after all.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife smiled, but she was not a three-year-old child; she took such words with a grain of salt. Moreover, she could sense something odd in the gazes, which was somewhat unpleasant.
However, Yang Hui’s words reminded her of one thing, which would indeed attract espionage from others.
“Yes.” Duke Ding’an’s Wife smiled and said, pinching her daughter’s tender cheek, “And there’s a daughter who is going to the National Academy for reading.”
Yang Hui looked proud and shook her mother’s arm coquettishly: “I haven’t passed the exam yet. Mother, don’t praise me now.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife smiled and said: “Hui’er is so clever; she will surely pass.”
Mother and daughter chatted and laughed as they headed inside, surrounded by maidservants and servant women. Duke Ding’an’s Mansion’s main gate slowly closed, blocking out the outside gazes.
Wei Jiao, sitting in the teahouse by the street side, kept his gaze fixed on Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, looking past the mansion gate into the interior.
He leaned against the window, one hand propping his chin, his slipped sleeve revealing a bright red inner lining that made his face appear even more fair as jade.
He seemed lost in thought, yet also watching very intently.
“Captain.” An Embroidered Uniform Guard behind him couldn’t help saying, “We’ve been watching for so many days, and there’s nothing unusual at Duke Ding’an’s Mansion. Why not go in and search?”
Wei Jiao shook his head: “No rush. They might be on guard. Let’s keep waiting.”
His gaze remained fixed on that mansion.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards acknowledged and asked no more; let the Captain watch if he wanted.
The door behind opened, and an Embroidered Uniform Guard hurried in: “Captain, His Majesty wants to see you.”
Wei Jiao said “oh” and withdrew his gaze, walking lightly outside: “Keep watching. See if any strangers enter or leave their house.”
The Embroidered Uniform Guards acknowledged.
……
…….
In the grand and massive Imperial City, the young man in black with red flashes fluttered like dancing flowers. The people in the two small carriages on the palace path immediately spotted him.
“It’s Wei Jiao—”
A proper-looking girl of fourteen or fifteen lit up with joy and immediately leaned forward.
Before she could wave, the bright-eyed, white-toothed, exquisitely beautiful girl of similar age in the adjacent carriage already shouted: “A Jiao—”
Wei Jiao looked over, a smile blooming on his face. He raised his hand and waved. The two women in the carriage grew even happier, urging the eunuchs to stop quickly. But before the eunuchs could stop, Wei Jiao flitted away lightly like a flower butterfly.
Princess Wuyang’s proper face showed anger as she grabbed the pillow in the carriage and threw it at the eunuch: “You fool, why are you so slow?”
The eunuch knelt on the ground, repeatedly apologizing.
Princess Nangong, on the side, laughed instead, her brows and eyes becoming even more delicate: “Sister, don’t scold him. Even if this slave pulled you flying, we couldn’t catch up to A Jiao.” Sighing here, she looked at the striking young man’s receding figure on the distant palace path. “A Jiao wouldn’t pay attention to us anyway; he only talks to the eldest princess.”
Princess Wuyang glared at her and sneered: “Since you know he likes Pingcheng, why do you keep calling him A Jiao? Is A Jiao something you can call? Be careful if Pingcheng finds out; she’ll smash your mouth.”
Princess Nangong’s eyes immediately reddened: “Yes, if I anger the eldest princess, I’ll be the one in trouble. Who asked me not to be like you, with your mother an Imperial Consort, while my mother consort is just a minor Imperial Concubine…”
She covered her face and sobbed, appearing fragile and delicate.
Princess Wuyang spat: “I’m not Father Emperor; don’t put on these tricks in front of me.”
The palace maids standing by were clearly used to it. Hearing this, they all spoke up to persuade “Your Highnesses, please stop arguing” “Hurry to the study room. If you delay your homework, His Majesty will punish you.”
Hearing the word “homework,” both princesses sighed at the same time, their brows and eyes full of worry.
“It’s so annoying. Why does Father Emperor insist on making us read?” Princess Wuyang said irritably. “We’re not the Crown Prince, we don’t need to inherit the rivers and mountains, nor are we princes who need to be enfeoffed and sent out to govern a place.”
Princess Nangong pouted: “I heard that someone mocked Father Emperor for coming from the countryside and being illiterate, so Father Emperor wants us children to be accomplished in both civil and martial arts.”
Princess Wuyang snorted coldly: “Father Emperor too. Whoever spouts that nonsense, just chop off his head. Why bother tormenting us?”
Princess Nangong sighed: “I’m not against reading, but with the eldest princess here, we’re just foils.”
Princess Wuyang raised her brows and glared at her: “I advise you not to always waste your talents on pretending to be weak. Put some effort into reading too, score better than her, and you’ll feel better.”
Princess Nangong smiled: “No matter how much effort I put in, I can’t compare to you, Wuyang. I’ll just cheer for you instead.”
The palace maids urged again. The two princesses said no more, sat properly in the carriage, and headed to the study room set up inside the Imperial City for the princes and princesses.
……
……
The princesses unwillingly studied hard in the study room, while Wei Jiao lounged in the emperor’s hall, drinking tea and eating pastries.
“This minister failed to handle the task well and is truly apprehensive, so he pulled out this minor case of the Fuyang Prefect’s corruption to fob off His Majesty. Thinking it wouldn’t escape His Majesty’s discerning eyes, he hid away and didn’t come to see you.”
As Wei Jiao spoke, without a hint of apprehension, he pointed at the tea beside him to the eunuch standing by.
“Another cup.”
The eunuch was clearly used to it and poured tea for him proactively without the emperor’s permission.
Emperor Deng Shan was forty-seven this year. Due to the hardships of early campaigns and the heavy burden of state affairs, white hairs had appeared at his temples, but his posture remained upright and vigorous. Sitting behind the desk, he lowered his head to read the memorial and lightly hummed in response.
“Corruption isn’t a minor case,” he said. “The realm has only been stable for a little over ten years, and these people are already restless. Do they still think it’s the days of Emperor Ai Zhao Tan?”
As he spoke, he raised his eyes to look at Wei Jiao.
“Next time, you can use even harsher methods on such minor
Wei Jiao nodded: “Sure, sure. I’ve read a lot of books lately and learned a few new techniques for skinning and stuffing. I’ll show them off to everyone when the time comes.”
The Emperor chuckled, not asking what book he was reading, and looking at the young man, said softly: “It is I who have made you bear a bad reputation.”
Wei Jiao smiled: “His Majesty bears the peace of millions of people. Under Heaven is at peace, and I am merely cursed by a few.”
The Emperor sighed. “Your father sent you, at the age of thirteen, to the Capital City to study Huang-Lao under Wang Zaitian. Now six years have passed. You have not become Wang Zaitian’s last disciple, nor achieved scholarly success. Instead, you have become an Embroidered Uniform Guard whom everyone fears. I have let down your father.”
Wei Jiao’s eyes and brows were full of smiles: “But my illness has been cured.”
He stood up, spread his arms, and displayed himself.
“In the first few years after I arrived, I still often had episodes, but ever since I took on the assignment from His Majesty, have you ever heard the imperial physician say that I go mad?”
