Chapter 47: Filial Piety Of The Children
The Emperor agreed, and Princess Pingcheng was like a satisfied child. She didn’t stay any longer and happily took leave.
When walking out of Kunning Palace, she looked back. The palace maids and eunuchs who had originally been waiting outside, including the two servant women of the Old Madam of Marquis Yichun, had all entered the hall.
Letting the attendants go in meant there would be no more arguing and quarreling.
Princess Pingcheng breathed a sigh of relief and walked out slowly.
However, Princess Pingcheng’s brows furrowed slightly again. Father Emperor and Mother Empress had actually quarreled over Duke Ding’an? And it seemed Grandfather and Grandmother were also helpless.
Grandfather Marquis Yichun’s status was no ordinary one.
The title of Marquis Yichun was one bestowed by Father Emperor, but it was also not bestowed by Father Emperor.
In the previous dynasty, the Chai Clan had been Marquis Yichun.
During Emperor Ai’s time, the under heaven was in great chaos. The then Marquis Yichun Chai Yan married his granddaughter Chai Feng to Father, forming a marriage alliance, then mobilized the full strength of Marquis Yichun’s territory to aid Father in his campaigns.
Father was like a tiger with wings added, unstoppable, defeated Zhao Tan, pacified the lands, and secured the under heaven.
At that time, many people wanted to win over Chai Yan, but Chai Yan chose only Father, so Father was very grateful to the Chai Clan. He said he wanted to make the Chai Clan a marquis clan for a hundred years, so he retained the previous dynasty’s enfeoffment as noble.
Whereas Duke Ding’an’s Yang Family could not compare at all to the Chai Clan.
In the previous dynasty, the Yang Family was just a local wealthy household, not counting as a great clan family. They were merely from the same place as Father and had looked after him much in his youth.
Later, when Father went out to campaign and rebelled against Zhao Tan, he had the soldiers contact hometown neighbors, and the Yang Family naturally followed suit in rebelling.
Actually, the Yang Family was no good at fighting, nor did they have outstanding knowledge or schemes. They were just trusted by Father for knowing his roots and guarding the rear, yet after the new dynasty, they were actually enfeoffed as noble.
This surprised and dissatisfied many people at the time.
The Emperor said that the kindness of a single meal must be repaid. Without the Yang Family, he Deng Shan would have died long ago. This shut down others’ doubts, leaving them to only curse the Yang Family’s good luck in private.
However, having good luck and the Emperor’s backing did not mean they could do whatever they wanted, especially when facing a family with true military exploits.
How could such a family seem to put even Grandfather’s family in a difficult position?
Princess Pingcheng thought again of before going to the National Academy to select companion readers, when Father Emperor had mentioned to her to give a bit of face to the young lady of Duke Ding’an’s Mansion.
So that was why she had specially called Yang Hui over to talk then.
But in reality, from when she could remember, Duke Ding’an’s Mansion had not come to the Imperial City much, only during festivals to pay respects. They did not seem to have much face before the Emperor.
But she vaguely remembered that when Duke Ding’an and his wife had their birthdays, Father Emperor had actually bestowed rewards, which was very unusual.
It was truly so strange.
From the earlier quarrel, it seemed to reveal that the three families had some other connection before Father Emperor’s ascension to the Throne.
What connection was it? Mother Empress never mentioned Duke Ding’an’s Family, and Father Emperor seemed close to them but never spoke of the past.
It was all because she was born too late. From birth, she was in the Imperial City where ruler and subject were distinct, unlike Imperial Brother Prince of Donghai. When he was born, Father was still at war, either carrying him in the military or at Grandfather’s family, where he often saw the companions who campaigned with Father and could hear their private words.
Princess Pingcheng nodded thoughtfully. She would find a time to ask Imperial Brother.
A whistle suddenly sounded, interrupting Princess Pingcheng’s thoughts. She was stunned, then smiled. Looking up again, she called out, “Wei Jiao.”
Wei Jiao stood in front of the palace, swaying as he watched her.
“You came to see Father Emperor?” Princess Pingcheng looked around. By now, she had reached near the Emperor’s study room.
The study room that Father Emperor had specially prepared for her was also here. Even Imperial Brother did not have this treatment, and the other princesses had no qualification for it at all, showing his fondness for her as the eldest legitimate daughter.
Wei Jiao bowed in salute.
“So busy early in the morning?” Princess Pingcheng said. “Found another case?”
Wei Jiao raised a brow. “Dare the Princess hear of the cases I handle?” He smiled again. “The Princess has much more courage than Prince of Donghai. Prince of Donghai turns and flees at the sight of me and never dares ask about my cases.”
Princess Pingcheng glanced at him. “Imperial Brother has a grudge with you over the incense ash and doesn’t want to deal with you.”
“The first time we met, I strangled your beloved parrot, yet you didn’t hold it against me or dislike me.” Wei Jiao said, waving a hand to stop Princess Pingcheng from speaking. “Princess, no need to be modest. You are just better than Prince of Donghai. It’s a pity you’re a daughter, otherwise the Crown Prince position would be yours.”
Princess Pingcheng spat. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Wei Jiao spoke without restraint, and others took him for a madman, but she could not respond to some words and hurriedly changed the subject.
“Father Emperor is with Mother Empress, and Grandmother is here too. He’ll probably come after dinner. Come back later.”
Wei Jiao let out a “ha.” “That’s perfect.”
Why was it perfect again? Although Wei Jiao was one of the very few with whom she could talk happily, Princess Pingcheng was still often left stunned by his words.
“Actually, it’s not me coming to report a case to His Majesty. Sigh—” Wei Jiao explained to her with a long sigh. “His Majesty’s ordered case has made no progress at all. I really don’t want to see His Majesty.”
At this point, he sounded annoyed again.
“But my father sent someone demanding to see His Majesty, so he told me to come ask.”
With that, he gave a full bow.
“Thank you, Princess. This official takes leave.”
His toes ground once, and as he bowed, he had already turned. Rising, he floated away gracefully.
Princess Pingcheng felt as if she had seen a butterfly fly in and then away—both exasperated and amused. Wei Jiao truly acted quite madcap.
But he was good-looking.
She actually could not remember that parrot Wei Jiao had strangled. She only remembered that the youth holding the parrot then was truly so good-looking.
Much better looking than the parrot.
……
…….
Wei Jiao returned to the Embroidered Uniform Guard government office with light steps.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards were either scattered outside investigating or interrogating cases in the prison cells. The office was always quiet, adding to its eerie atmosphere.
But today, seven or eight people were squatting, standing, or leaning against the corridor pillars in the courtyard.
Seeing Wei Jiao enter, several stood up hurriedly. Among them, a young master looked very displeased.
“Wei Jiao, you—” he said.
Before he finished, an older man stopped him.
“Wei Xu, do not be rude to the Third Young Master.” He said, then smiled amiably at Wei Jiao. “A Jiao is back? Did His Majesty grant an audience?”
Wei Jiao shook his head. “Paternal Uncle, you came at a bad time. His Majesty is dining with the Empress and the Old Madam of Marquis Yichun. Can’t see him today. Wait for tomorrow, and I’ll check for you again.”
What dinner could last a whole day? This was too perfunctory.
The several exchanged glances, and another middle-aged man spoke. “We’ll submit an invitation ourselves to request a court audience. No need to trouble the young master running back and forth.”
Wei Jiao raised his brows. “What kind of talk is that!”
The several were stunned by his sudden change of face and stern tone. The next moment, they saw Wei Jiao smile again.
“Father sent people for a court audience. How could I, as his son, not care?” He said. “A son sharing his father’s worries—how is that trouble? That’s only natural and right!”
The middle-aged man smiled bitterly as if to say something, but Wei Xu could not hold back anymore and pushed past them to step forward.
“Wei Jiao, are you deliberately making trouble?” He shouted. “This matter didn’t need you at all. We took the official post station route, but you had the Embroidered Uniform Guards intercept us midway, lock us in your Embroidered Uniform Guard office. What do you want—”
His words cut off as his vision blurred, followed by a slap.
Wei Jiao slapped him across the face.
Wei Xu immediately tumbled to the ground.
The others jumped in fright. “Wei Jiao!” “How can you hit people?” They shouted, surrounding the young man to prevent Wei Jiao from striking again.
Wei Jiao gently stroked his hand.
“What’s strange about me hitting people? It’s just been over five years since I was home, have you all forgotten I have a sickness for liking to hit people?” He said, looking at them and smiling again. “But now my illness is much better. Now when I hit people, I have reasons, unlike before when I just went mad.”
Yes, the Wei Clan all knew that Wei Cui’s youngest son was a madman.
And a madman with great strength.
The man called Paternal Uncle watched the beaten Wei Xu, his own son. At this moment, half his face was swollen from the slap, mouth and nose full of blood.
He suppressed his anger, face taut, and asked, “Then what’s the reason?”
Wei Jiao smiled at him. “Paternal Uncle knows I’m an Embroidered Uniform Guard Captain, right? Knows what we Embroidered Uniform Guards do, right?”
He fiddled with his fingers.
“Supervising officials, noble clans’ luxury, overstepping regulations, lawlessness.”
“His Majesty summoned Father to the capital several times, but he wouldn’t come and sent you, Paternal Uncle, instead. Yet you swagger through government offices saying you’re here for a court audience. That’s not putting His Majesty in your eyes.”
“That’s overstepping regulations and lawlessness.”
Seventh Master Wei, though in Longxi, of course knew the Embroidered Uniform Guards’ reputation.
Overstepping regulations, lawlessness—being beaten by the Embroidered Uniform Guards was the light punishment. Usually, it was confiscation of family property.
Wei Jiao hitting people did indeed have reason.
He gritted his teeth and said, “The Great General not coming was due to unavoidable reasons… which have been reported to His Majesty, so he sent us for a court audience to plead guilty.”
Wei Jiao hummed, squatting down to look at the bloodied Wei Xu on the ground.
“So I hit first, and His Majesty won’t need to.” He said, expression serious. “This is me saving your lives, saving my father’s reputation!”
Seventh Master Wei looked at him, face twitching, and finally lowered his gaze. “Thank you, Third Young Master, for your efforts.”
Wei Jiao’s brows and eyes curved in a smile. “You’re welcome. This is what a son should do.”
