The young lady is delicate and soft, yet she criticizes the powerful minister for bowing and scrapin

The news of Zhou Wenbin's impeachment and retirement and the imperial decree promoting Wei Jun to Vice Minister of Revenue arrived at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence almost one after the other.

For the second master, Wei Zhongde, this was undoubtedly a double blow.

By arranging a marriage between the two families, Wei Jun was able to gain access to a powerful force, a force that was extremely large.

In the future, it will be even more difficult than climbing to heaven to take back power in the mansion from him.

He was furious and could only vent his anger on his wife.

He punched and kicked her, giving his wife, who had been unable to leave the house for six months, a good beating.

The second wife was beaten until she cried bitterly. After crying, she could only repeatedly instruct her servants not to reveal anything.

If her wailing and screaming were to get out and the old lady heard about it, she would lose all face in the Marquis's mansion.

Although she was beaten almost unconscious, the second wife, with her face bruised and swollen, still softly comforted her husband:

"Although Wei Jun has formed a marriage alliance with the Duke of Qi, this has also offended Prince Rong. My lord, I have heard that in order to balance the relationship with Prince Rong, the old lady intends to select a daughter from the manor to be betrothed to the sons of the other two princes... Perhaps our Ruolan is an opportunity."

Wei Zhongde hadn't wanted to listen to this woman's nagging, but upon hearing her words, his anger vanished instantly, replaced by ecstatic joy: "Is this really true?"

The second madam hurriedly replied, "Of course it's true. I'll just wait for an excuse like a banquet, then I'll go and beg the old madam to grant Ruolan a shorter period of confinement. That way, she'll have a chance to interact with the sons of the two princes."

-

The emperor, citing Wei Jun's meritorious service in escorting military supplies, promoted him to Vice Minister of Revenue. This achievement of escorting the reward was finally secured.

Although the officials and civil servants were jealous, they admired him even more.

After all, who can deliver military pay intact within two months?

Everyone was fooled by the new vice minister's good looks. He was tall and refined, yet decisive and meticulous in his actions, and adept at coordination. Without skill, it would have been impossible to escort the grain supplies so safely.

Everyone could see that the emperor on the dragon throne in the Golden Palace looked at him with piercing eyes, as if he was growing increasingly fond of Wei Jun.

The matter of withholding military pay had far-reaching implications; otherwise, the emperor wouldn't have been in such a predicament and would have ultimately dispatched Wei Jun to escort it.

Nowadays, not only high-ranking officials and nobles, but even some minor officials want to establish connections with the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion.

The two words "interests" are deeply intertwined. If a thorough investigation into the embezzlement of military pay were to affect them, everyone would be hoping to have someone to rely on.

After the court session, Fu Chong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, glared at Wei Jun with a displeased expression.

All the officials knew that the commander and Wei Jun were at odds, so several peacemakers quickly pulled the two apart and advised Fu Chong, "Let it go, let it go."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's duty is to protect the emperor and monitor all officials, but the emperor's mind is clearly on this newly appointed vice minister.

The crowd was puzzled as to why the commander didn't know how to be flexible and instead tried to make friends with this "Purple Star".

Two hours later, after the officials were puzzled, the two mortal enemies in everyone's eyes had quietly gathered in a private room at the Ruyue Restaurant.

Fu Chong looked up to the sky and sighed, "Every time you finish whipping the soldiers, you always make me go and comfort them. So you're the one who talks about military law, and I'm the one who talks about feelings."

Wei Jun personally poured him wine: "The army always needs someone with loyalty and righteousness, and that can only be you. Otherwise, how could Xie possibly shoulder such an important responsibility?"

Xie Dongpo, who was inexplicably called out, was gnawing on a pork knuckle and mumbled, "Nian'an, you're disloyal! A few days ago you were drowning your sorrows in alcohol here because you were heartbroken, but I was the one who stayed by your side."

"Troubled by love?" Fu Chong asked curiously.

"Don't listen to his nonsense." Wei Jun poured him wine, but drank tea himself.

Fu Chong shook his head: "Shi Qing, that's where you're wrong. Nian An is already engaged, how can you say he's troubled by love? This kind of thing shouldn't be spread around."

"Yes, yes, Commander, you are truly wise!" Xie Dongpo clasped his hands in a fist salute, then his eyes darted around as he asked, "Speaking of your fiancée, I heard that the Duke of Qi's mansion is holding a spring hunting banquet in half a month. Does Nian'an wish to attend?"

"Not interested," Wei Jun said indifferently.

Fu Chong understood: "That's true. Based on my understanding of you, you don't easily show your martial arts skills in front of others. If we hadn't formed an alliance halfway through, I wouldn't have known you knew martial arts."

Xie Dongpo's mind raced: "It's alright if Nian'an doesn't go... But do you know if your third sister is going?"

"Third sister?" Wei Jun glanced at him sideways. "I treat you like a brother, but you want to be my brother-in-law? With your flirtatious ways, my third sister probably wouldn't even look at you."

"I was just asking casually! Besides, a prodigal son who returns is more precious than gold, so don't underestimate him." Xie Dongpo waved his fan, looking arrogant.

He once wanted to exchange a hundred taels of silver for one of her rings, but it didn't work out.

This girl has a fiery temper and a quirky personality. It's quite amusing that a daughter from the third wife would dare to speak to him like that.

This inexplicably piqued his curiosity. But he knew that his interest in women always came in waves.

"The quickest way to dispel the mystery of someone you're curious about is to get close to them, understand them, and become friends. Once you're friends, the mystery disappears. Nian'an, if you don't want to acknowledge me as your brother-in-law, then let's make sure we become friends," Xie Dongpo said.

The Marquis of Dingyuan's residence received an invitation from the Duke of Qi's residence, inviting all the unmarried young ladies to go together.

Hunting is a men's activity, but it is also a good thing to meet skilled young men in the process.

Since the Duke of Qi's mansion and the Marquis's mansion were engaged, the Marquis's family would definitely attend the banquet. Therefore, wherever the invitation was sent, everyone would give it face and come.

The old lady granted Wei Ruolan the permission to lift her confinement and called Wei Ruowei to her side, giving her some detailed instructions.

After giving her instructions, the old lady felt somewhat relieved. She had done everything she needed to. Unexpectedly, new news soon arrived from the manor.

The maids who clean Jingchen Courtyard every day spread the word that the ink painting on the wall inside the eldest young master's room had recently been modified with a few strokes.

Originally, the blank spaces were only lightly sketched with a few strokes, seemingly there but not there, like an unintentional dab of ink. Now, however, they outline the profile of a woman. Although the eyebrows and eyes are not drawn, only the outline of the nose is depicted, anyone who looks at it can tell that she is a lifelike beauty.

Before the fiancée was even married into the family, a painting of a man and woman drinking together under the moon hung on the wall, inevitably sparking speculation. Moreover, the fiancée was from the prestigious Duke of Qi's mansion; what would the Duke think if he found out?

"Find a way to remove it." The old lady's face was grim.

Somehow, the news got back to the rest of the household, but no one in Wei Junjingchen Courtyard could easily get close; everyone was just speculating.

I'm just guessing that the young master went out alone that night and didn't return. He went to a restaurant to drink and had a one-night stand with a girl from outside. That's why the portrait of the woman appeared when he came back.