Her guards

Chapter 25 The Humiliation of the Father
Not Wei Cui's son?
These words drew everyone's attention. Some were shocked, some were puzzled, but others seemed to understand, clearly having heard similar rumors before.

"There are rumors that he is Zhao Tan..." the official continued.

The prefect coughed lightly: "Don't talk nonsense."

“My lord, it’s not necessarily nonsense.” The official said in a low voice, “Back when Zhao Tan controlled the government, the three Wei and Cui brothers all served under him.”

"Yes, later the two Wei brothers died at Zhao Tan's hands, but Wei Cui luckily escaped and returned to Longxi, whereupon he immediately rebelled against Zhao Tan." The prefect said irritably, "Isn't that the kind of relationship between the two?"

"My lord, Wei Cui escaped alone back then, but his wife is still in the capital," the official whispered.

Wei Cui fled and rebelled again. How could Zhao Tan not be furious? He was bound to bring disaster upon his wife and children, but...
"Later, Zhao Tan died, and His Majesty went to the capital and found that Wei Cui's wife was still alive and had a young son with her. So he sent Wei Cui's wife and son back to Longxi..." the official continued, winking as he spoke, "The Wei family didn't even let the wife and son into their home, but raised them in a separate courtyard."

"It is said that Wei Cui's wife only saved her life by submitting to Zhao Tan," another official quickly added.

So it's really hard to say whose child Wei Cui's youngest son is.

The chaotic era of the previous dynasty seems as distant as a past life, but in reality, it has only been less than twenty years. Many things and many people can be remembered instantly when one thinks back on them.

The prefect coughed heavily again: "Alright, that's enough, you guys are really..."

He looked at the doors and windows with a hint of unease.

"It's fine to discuss it privately at other times."

"Wei Jiao is here."

Although this was his living quarters and his trusted confidants were stationed outside, Xiu Yi was elusive and unpredictable.

The room fell silent instantly.

The night wind rustled, and the branches and leaves swayed wildly.

In the brightly lit main hall of the government office, Wei Jiao leaned lazily against the table, scribbling something on a piece of paper with a pen in his hand.

“Oh, they’re talking about my background,” he said.

One of the men in embroidered robes looked grim and annoyed: "Captain, 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 am really my father's son. When my father fled from the capital, I was almost two years old. My first birthday celebration was held by my father himself."

Was this an explanation to him? The embroidered guard was both agitated and angry: "Captain, I know, we all know, those people are deliberately slandering you, Captain."

After saying that, he turned and left.

"I'll go cut out their tongues right now!"

“No need,” Wei Jiao stopped him. “Let them talk.”

Embroidered Robe asked, somewhat puzzled, "But they humiliated the Commandant..."

Wei Jiao waved his hand at him: "Saying that I am not my father's son is not an insult to me, but an insult to my father."

Humiliating his father, the son couldn't tolerate it any longer and had to stand up for his father. Xiuyi couldn't help but speak up again.

Wei Jiao sat up straight and spoke first.

“And these humiliations are what my father deserved.”

He finished speaking and smiled, looking pleased.

The Embroidered-Clad Guards swallowed back what they were about to say. Everyone said that the Embroidered-Clad Guards were cold and unapproachable. Captain Wei Jiao was different from them; he always had a smile in his eyes. However, they dared not look directly at such a captain.

The smiling Wei Jiao had no soul; he was like an empty shell.

"Captain, will the investigation continue tomorrow..." Xiu Yi couldn't help but change the subject.

Wei Jiao stopped laughing: "We've already alerted them. Those who were going to run have already run. There's no need to chase them for now. Let's go back."

He sighed again as he said this.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, we failed to catch them."

"Then let's pick a case and confiscate its contents to please His Majesty."

……

……

In late autumn, the capital city felt chilly after several rain showers.

As the morning mist dissipated, more people and vehicles entered and exited the city gates.

Suddenly, the usually orderly city gate became crowded.

The city gate guards dispersed, driving people and vehicles to the sides to clear the main road.

"What's going on?" "Who wants to pass by?"

"It's an embroidered garment."

Soon the people learned the reason: it turned out that the Embroidered Robe Envoy Wei Jiao had returned from investigating the case.

"Which unlucky guy is it this time?"

"You'll find out soon enough. It's Wei Jiao's habit to parade him through the streets in public."

The people were no longer in a hurry to get on their way; they talked and looked around, waiting to see the prisoners being escorted back.

But there were also people who didn't want to watch the excitement and were in a hurry to leave the city.

The three cars inside the city were blocked by people on the street as soon as they turned out of the alley.

Why did it stop moving?

A maid lifted the carriage curtain, frowning in displeasure.

The servant hurriedly said, "The road is blocked. They say they're waiting for the Embroidered-Robe to bring prisoners into the city."

The maid also saw the soldiers blocking the way at the city gate ahead. She lowered the curtain and relayed the message to those inside, then immediately lifted the curtain again and handed out a name card.

"Go tell the city gate captain that we are going to Dajue Temple to pay respects today. The time has been set and we can't delay it."

The servant immediately took the name card and squeezed to the front. He said a few words to the soldiers blocking the way and was then led to a military officer. The officer took the card, looked at it, and waved to the soldiers.

Soon the soldiers pushed through the crowd to make way, and the servants urged their horses toward the city gate.

"who is this?"

Passersby discussed it curiously.

There are many powerful and wealthy people in the capital, and it is common for them to make way for officials and soldiers. However, it is not common for them to knowingly rush through the path of the Embroidered-Robed Official.

After all, the powerful and wealthy didn't want to provoke Xiu Yi, who was ruthless and didn't care about the future.

The carriage soon arrived at the city gate. The carriage stopped, and the servant lifted the curtain to reveal a woman sitting inside.

The woman was in her forties. Although she was plain-looking, she was dressed in gorgeous clothes.

"Thank you for your trouble, Captain Che," the woman said kindly.

The city gate captain hurriedly bowed and said, "Madam, you are too kind." He then gestured, "Please come in, Madam. The embroiderers will be here soon."

The woman no longer stood on ceremony and lowered the carriage curtain.

A dozen servants escorted three carriages through the city gate. As soon as they stepped out of the gate, they saw a dark cloud of people and horses galloping towards them.

But this is enough.

The servants did not retreat, but urged their horses to speed up, and just as the two sides were about to meet, they turned left onto a side road.

The embroidered-clothed woman had already been spotted ahead. As she reached the city gate, she coldly said to the gatekeeper standing to the side, "Was that your relative? How dare you block our embroidered-clothed woman's way?"

Those who could become city gate captains were not from humble backgrounds; their elders must have been trustworthy and loyal ministers and generals who had fought alongside the emperor.

The city gate captain showed no fear and coldly replied, "My relative is not fortunate enough to follow in your footsteps; she is the wife of the Duke of Ding'an."

The woman in embroidered clothes snorted coldly, about to say something, when voices came from behind her.

"The Duke of Ding'an's residence?"

Upon hearing this voice, the city gate captain put away his disdain, lowered his eyes, and showed fear, but there were some people he could not provoke.

He heard the clatter of hooves, then saw a corner of a robe fluttering, revealing a patch of bright red, and Wei Jiao stopped in front of him.

"The Lady of the Duke of Ding'an's Mansion?" Wei Jiao asked again.

The city gate captain bowed his head and replied, "The Lady of Ding'an is rushing to pay respects to the deceased and has chosen an auspicious time at Dajue Temple."

The woman in embroidery beside her asked in a low voice, "Should we check if it's true or not?"

In the past, if someone fabricated a lie and didn't keep it from them, Xiuyi could make them actually come to pay their respects to the deceased.

Wei Jiao waved his hand: "No need, I know roughly who we are mourning." He reminded Xiu Yi, "Baima Town, Lu County."

Xiuyi remembered, nodded, and gestured for Wei Jiao to go first.

Wei Jiao urged his horse on, then suddenly stopped, looking in the direction where the Lady of Ding'an's carriage had gone: "How many carriages just passed by the Ding'an Duke's residence?"

(End of this chapter)