Chapter 25: Humiliation Of Father
Not Wei Cui’s son?
These words made everyone indoors look over, some shocked, some puzzled, but some meaningful, clearly having heard such a rumor.
“There is a rumor that he is Zhao Tan’s…” that official continued.
The prefect coughed lightly: “Don’t talk nonsense.”
“My lord, it may not be nonsense.” The official who looked meaningful said softly, “Back then Zhao Tan controlled court politics, and Wei Cui’s three brothers were all officials under him.”
“Yes, later two brothers of the Wei family died at Zhao Tan’s hands, Wei Cui luckily escaped, returned to Longxi, and immediately rebelled against Zhao Tan.” The prefect said irritably, “Isn’t the relationship between the two just like that?”
“My lord, back then Wei Cui escaped alone, his wife was still in the capital city.” The previous official said softly.
Wei Cui ran away and rebelled, how could Zhao Tan not be furious, he must have brought disaster to his wife and children, but….
“Later Zhao Tan died, His Majesty entered the capital city, discovered that Wei Cui’s wife was still alive, and she was even bringing a young son, so he sent Wei Cui’s wife and son back to Longxi…” That official continued, winking here, “The Wei family didn’t let this wife and son enter the house, directly keeping them in a villa separately.”
“It is said that back then Wei Cui’s wife preserved her life by submitting herself to Zhao Tan.” Another official hurriedly added.
So whose son is Wei Cui’s young son, really uncertain.
The chaotic times of the previous dynasty seem as distant as a previous life, but in fact less than twenty years have passed, many things and many people can instantly recall upon thinking back.
The prefect coughed heavily again: “Alright, stop it, you all really are…”
He looked uneasily at the doors and windows.
“Other times it’s fine to discuss privately.”
“Wei Jiao is here.”
Although this is his living room, with his confidant guarding outside, but the Embroidered Uniform Guard are elusive.
The room instantly fell silent.
The night wind swayed, branches and leaves shaking wildly.
In the brightly lit prefectural yamen main hall, Wei Jiao leaned lazily against the desk, holding a pen and writing something on the paper sporadically.
“Oh, they are discussing my background.” He said.
An Embroidered Uniform Guard with a gloomy expression, annoyed: “Captain, your subordinate will arrest them.”
Wei Jiao didn’t answer, but looked at him and said: “Although I was indeed raised by Zhao Tan for five years, I really am my father’s son, when my father escaped from the capital city, I was almost two years old, my grabbing-the-objects ceremony was personally held for me by my father.”
Is this explaining to him? The Embroidered Uniform Guard was somewhat excited and somewhat angry: “Captain, I know, we all know, those people are deliberately slandering you.”
With that, he turned to leave.
“I’ll go cut off their tongues right now!”
“No need.” Wei Jiao stopped him, “Let them talk.”
The Embroidered Uniform Guard was puzzled: “But they are humiliating the captain…”
Wei Jiao waved his hand at him: “Saying I’m not my father’s son is not humiliating me, it’s humiliating my father.”
Humiliating the father, as the son one should be even less able to tolerate it, even more needing to vent for the father, the Embroidered Uniform Guard couldn’t help but want to speak again.
Wei Jiao sat up straight and spoke first.
“And this humiliation is what my father deserves.”
After saying that, the corners of his mouth curved into a smile, his expression pleased.
The words the Embroidered Uniform Guard wanted to say were swallowed back, it is said that they Embroidered Uniform Guard are cold and forbidding, Captain Wei Jiao is different from them, always with a smile in his eyes and brows, but such a captain they dare not look directly at.
The smiling Wei Jiao has no soul, like an empty shell.
“Captain, tomorrow we continue the investigation…” The Embroidered Uniform Guard couldn’t help changing the topic.
Wei Jiao put away his smile: “We’ve already startled the snake, those who should run have run, no need to chase for now, let’s go back.”
At this point he sighed again.
“Didn’t catch anyone, sorry to His Majesty.”
“Then pick a case and raid a house, to make His Majesty happy.”
……
……
In the deep autumn capital city, after several rains, it added chill.
As the morning mist dispersed, more people, carriages and horses entered and exited the city gate.
Suddenly the usually orderly city gate became crowded.
The gate guards spread out inside and outside, driving the entering and exiting people, carriages and horses to the sides, clearing the main road.
“What’s going on?”
“Who is passing through.”
“It’s the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”
Soon the civilians learned the reason, it turned out to be Embroidered Uniform Guard Wei Jiao returning from investigating a case.
“Which unlucky bastard is it this time?”
“We’ll know in a bit. It’s Wei Jiao’s habit—he insists on a public display.”
The civilians stopped hurrying on their way and discussed while looking around, waiting to see the prisoner being escorted back.
But there were also people who didn’t want to watch the spectacle and were eager to leave the city.
Three carriages inside the city had just turned out of the alley when they were blocked by people on the street side.
“Why have we stopped and aren’t moving?”
A servant woman lifted the carriage curtain, frowning unpleasantly.
The servant hurriedly said, “The road is blocked. They say they’re waiting for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to bring the prisoner into the city.”
The servant woman also saw the soldiers blocking the road in front of the city gate. She lowered the curtain and relayed it inside, then lifted it again and handed out a calling card.
“Go tell the city gate colonel that we’re going to Great Awakening Temple today to pay respects to the deceased. The time slot is already set—we can’t be delayed.”
The servant acknowledged and took the calling card, squeezing to the front. He said a few words to the soldiers blocking the road, then was led to a military officer. The officer took the invitation and looked at it, then waved his hand to signal the soldiers.
Soon the soldiers dispersed the crowd to clear a path. Here, the servants urged their horses toward the city gate.
“Who is this?”
The passersby discussed curiously.
There were many nobility in the Capital City, and it was common for soldiers to make way for them, but few dared to cut ahead knowing it was the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s path.
After all, the Embroidered Uniform Guard showed no mercy to anyone and acted with mad recklessness as if today was all that mattered—nobody among the nobility wanted to provoke them.
The carriage soon reached the city gate. The vehicles stopped, and the servant woman lifted the curtain, revealing the madam seated primly inside.
The madam was over forty years old. Though her appearance was ordinary, her attire and adornments were splendid.
“Thank you for the trouble, city gate colonel.” The madam said with a kindly expression.
The city gate colonel hurriedly paid respects: “Madam, you’re too polite.” With that, he gestured with his hand. “Please, madam. The Embroidered Uniform Guard are almost here.”
The madam was no longer polite and lowered the curtain.
Over a dozen servants escorted the three carriages through the city gate. They had just exited when they saw a dark mass of men and horses approaching steadily ahead.
But this was enough.
The servants did not retreat but urged their horses to speed up. Just as the two parties were about to meet, they turned left onto a small road.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard ahead had already seen them. When they reached the city gate, one coldly said to the city gate colonel standing to the side, “Was that your relative just now? Daring to cut off the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s path?”
One who could become city gate colonel was not someone of lowly birth to be casually bullied—his family’s elders must have been trusted loyal ministers and generals who campaigned with the Emperor.
The city gate colonel showed no fear and coldly replied, “My relatives wouldn’t have the privilege to take your Embroidered Uniform Guard’s path. That was Duke Ding’an’s Wife.”
This Embroidered Uniform Guard snorted coldly, about to say something, when a voice spoke from behind.
“Duke Ding’an’s Mansion?”
Hearing this voice, the city gate colonel put away his disdain, lowered his eyes. He wasn’t afraid, but some people could not be provoked.
He heard the clip-clop of hooves, then saw a corner of robe fluttering, revealing a patch of bright red. Wei Jiao stopped in front of him.
“Duke Ding’an’s Mansion’s madam?” Wei Jiao asked again.
The city gate colonel kept his head lowered and replied, “Duke Ding’an’s Wife is hurrying to pay respects to the deceased. She has a set time slot at Great Awakening Temple.”
An Embroidered Uniform Guard beside him quietly asked, “Should we check if it’s true?”
In the past, if someone made up a lie to avoid them, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would make it real by giving them a funeral rite.
Wei Jiao waved his hand: “No need. I know roughly who she’s paying respects to.” He reminded the Embroidered Uniform Guard, “Lu County, White Horse Town.”
The Embroidered Uniform Guard remembered, nodded, and signaled for Wei Jiao to go ahead.
Wei Jiao urged his horse forward, but suddenly stopped again and looked in the direction Duke Ding’an’s Wife’s carriage and horses had gone: “How many carriages from Duke Ding’an’s Mansion just passed?”
