"Hmmph." Wen Jiu really couldn't bear to listen to this useless brother's rambling any longer. She let out a soft huff and frowned.
Xuanling pushed the door open. "Old Madam, the estate physician said Miss needs absolute rest. Please take the First Young Master outside to lecture him instead. Miss didn't sleep well at all in the middle of the night."
"Alright, alright. You scoundrel, come back with me to Mosong Courtyard." After saying this, the Old Madam stroked Wen Jiu's face and walked out. Wen Xi followed behind, looking back with a complicated expression at Wen Jiu on the bed. He felt a bit unsettled inside. Looking at her pale little face—a frail young woman who, just last night, had stabbed herself to protect her maid and lost so much blood—this younger sister of his was very brave, yet also a madwoman, all for the sake of a maid.
"Jue'er, it's been a hard journey. Go back and get some proper rest! I'm giving you some time off."
"Your Majesty, why the urgent summons calling this subject back this time?"
"Uh, I'd like to wait until the Defender-General of the State and his party all arrive before discussing it. Go back and rest first. You haven't been back to the Xiao Prince's Mansion in a long time; go back and take a look."
"This subject takes his leave."
After stepping out of the palace gates, Xiao Jue sat on his horse and looked back at the Imperial Palace, couldn't help but chuckle. Wanting to strip him of his power without any reason, arranging a marriage for him to trap him in the Capital—ha.
"Heir Prince, did the Emperor say he has arranged a marriage for you?"
"Him? He wants to swallow two bowls of rice in one gulp, but we'll have to see if someone of his age can actually digest it."
"Then what does the Heir Prince plan to do? Does Qingfeng need to get rid of her?"
"Get rid of her? How innocent she is, just brought back from the deep mountains. Let's wait and see. When the time is right, I'll have a chat with this Second Miss. Let's go, back to the mansion first."
"Yes..."
"Miss, they've all left."
"It seems I've guessed seven or eight parts out of ten."
"What is it, Miss?"
"The reason the Old Madam treated me this way must be out of fear that my maternal family is coming back and will settle accounts later!" The Old Madam probably also felt some sympathy for her, having sent her away at such a young age and sending things for so many years, coupled with the influence of her maternal grandfather's family. Who knows? In this Prime Minister's Estate, one simply cannot invest genuine feelings, and Wen Jiu never intended to invest hers either.
"Miss, I don't like this place. The moment you came back, they targeted you, and you'll have to worry about them from now on. It's not as comforting as being on Nanhua Mountain."
"I didn't want to come back either, but the old man and Uncle Mu died for me. How can I not come back and turn things completely upside down? Otherwise, I wouldn't be doing right by them."
"I'm sorry, Miss. I was narrow-minded."
"Silly girl, the two of us have depended on each other all this time for what? Just to find out who was behind it all back then and avenge them. What does biding our time and enduring humiliation matter? Besides, your miss here is not the kind of gentleman who waits ten years to take revenge."
That's right; her miss usually took revenge on the very same night. At night she would exact her revenge however she pleased, but by day her miss played the part of a delicate, frail young lady who couldn't even care for herself.
"Xuanling, I'm hungry. Bring the midday meal in so I can eat a bit and then sleep for a while. You should get some rest too."
"Yes, Miss."
A few days later, at the city gates, officials and several princes were craning their necks to look ahead. The main street was packed with people, seemingly all waiting for someone...
*Clop, clop, clop*—the sound of horse hooves approached.
"Look, the Defender-General of the State and his people have arrived!"
"A truly patriotic general who serves the country and the people! He hasn't returned in over ten years. It's because they guard the borders that our Dachao can remain stable and prosperous."
"Indeed."
"Speaking of which, the Prime Minister's Estate's Second Miss only just returned a few days ago..."
"What does that have to do with the Defender-General of the State?"
"Ah, you wouldn't know this, but that young lady is the Old General's maternal granddaughter!"
"Oh, so that's how it is. It's been too many years, easy for people to forget..."
All sorts of praising voices rang out. Some cheered, some knelt, creating an atmosphere of great peace.
"Respectfully welcoming the Defender-General of the State."
Voices rose and fell in succession.
"Defender-General of the State, you've had a hard journey. His Majesty has commanded us to come and welcome you. The palace banquet has already been prepared..."
"Your Highness, I dare not accept. It's just that my father is feeling unwell and is temporarily unfit. This junior will accompany Your Highness and the other lords, but my father must return to the estate immediately."
"How is the Old General's health? There are imperial physicians in the palace, let them..."
"This old subject deeply appreciates His Highness the Crown Prince's kind intentions. It's simply that after the long journey, old injuries have flared up, and he is both physically and mentally exhausted. The palace banquet is for you young people; this old subject will not go, and will return to recuperate instead. I will have Shaolin submit a confession of guilt to the Emperor," a deep, hoarse voice rang out from inside the carriage.
"What is the Old General saying? You are a hero who rendered great service—how could there be any talk of confessing guilt? Then please let the Old General return to the estate to recuperate first. Later, His Majesty will certainly send an imperial physician to examine the Old General."
"Is that the Fifth Prince? When this old man left, you were still an infant; now you must be quite the dashing and graceful figure."
"I dare not accept the praise. Please make sure to rest well, Old General."
"Father, you return to the estate first; I am going to the palace banquet."
"Mm."
With that, the two groups of people separated. A window on the second floor of a tavern was open, revealing a handsome and aloof face. One hand held a wine cup, gently rubbing its rim as he spoke, "Speak."
"Heir Prince, you say the Old General hasn't been back in over ten years—what does this sudden betrothal of Miss Wen to you mean?"
"You're asking me?"
"Uh-huh."
"I don't know."
"Could it be that after more than ten years, the Old General doesn't know you are currently in the military as well? With one in the south and the other in the north, could it be that news doesn't travel well?"
"If everyone were as stupid as you, that would be wonderful," Xiao Jue thought to himself. The Old General surely knew that what the Emperor wanted most was the military power of the Su family and the Xiao family; he would never allow them to join forces so powerfully. So why do this? He couldn't figure it out. It seemed he couldn't pay an open, blatant visit to the Old General, which meant he would just have to sneak into the Wen Second Miss's bedchamber by night. Although it lacked etiquette, he had to go investigate. After all, they had no prior acquaintance and had never met. However, her brother Wen Xi was rather interesting...
Always raised to be useless, yet when his own biological younger sister returned and was injured, he showed no reaction whatsoever—no matter how you look at it, that's a bit hard to explain. He believed this Wen Xi might not be as simple as he seemed—a man's intuition—only that wasn't what concerned him right now...
"Jiu'er, your maternal grandfather and the others returned to the Capital today. Your father hasn't come back since going to court, and we only just found out. They've already entered the city, you should hurry and go see them."
"Auntie—oh no, Madam, I won't go today. Grandfather will definitely be very busy today, I'll go tomorrow!"
"But I heard your maternal grandfather came back injured, and it seems he didn't even go to the palace banquet, coming straight back to the estate instead..."
"What did you say? Grandfather is injured? How severe is it?"
"Xuanling, I'm well enough now. Help me go see my maternal grandfather!"
"Oh my, you haven't fully recovered yet, how can Xuanling manage alone? Let your younger sister Ziqi accompany you instead." The Prime Minister's Wife put on an appearance of looking out for her best interests.
"No need, I am already fully recovered." Wen Jiu glanced at Wen Xi and casually asked, "Is Brother coming with me?"
Wen Xi looked at her and asked, "Is Ziqi going along too?"
"You stay home." Leaving those three words behind, Wen Jiu went straight to the Old Madam's courtyard.