“If the young miss is inconvenient to meet, please Grand Master convey this on her behalf. He said following Quan Feitong all his life brought no regrets – his only regret was failing to fulfill his original promise to grow old together with his wife. After his death, if his wife meets a suitable gentleman, she must remarry and not think of him.”

After Ming Yanchu finished speaking, he added: “Please Grand Master convey this. This servant takes his leave first.”

Seeing he didn’t insist on delivering the message personally, Wei Chenghui’s suspicions faded. He frowned but finally ordered servants to summon Wei Wuxia to the main hall – since Chao Huang had followed Quan Feitong in fighting Lian Yu and Chao Manor was empty, Wei Wuxia had moved back home some days ago.

Wei Chenghui still had some affection for this daughter. Though willful since childhood, she was quite filial to him and obedient, unlike that rebellious Wei Wuyan. He had originally planned to marry this daughter to Li Zhaoting, but at that time hoped to utilize Chao Huang’s military strength through marriage alliance. Of course, Chao Huang refused – that’s another story. At that time Wuyan was well-matched with Huo Chang’an, his other daughters were still too young, so only Wuxia and Wulei were suitable ages. But Wulei was still two or three years younger than Wuxia and not as articulate, so ultimately Wuxia married into this arrangement while Wulei was kept to marry Li Zhaoting later.

This successful imperial palace capture also owed something to Wuxia’s contributions. If he concealed Chao Huang’s death and she learned of it later, she’d inevitably bear grudges. Very well, he had Wei Wuxia summoned.

Upon hearing his account, Wei Wuxia nearly fainted. Though she’d admired Huo Chang’an in her youth, after several years of marriage with Chao Huang – he being her first man – they had developed quite deep affection. She couldn’t help crying: “Father, why didn’t you notify me earlier so I could personally hear what they said and see if Chao Huang had anything else to tell me…”

Wei Chenghui consoled: “Enough, don’t be sad. They only brought that one message out of respect for your father’s face – what else would there be to tell you! Later Father will certainly find you a good match. Once Father’s great enterprise succeeds, what suitable gentlemen won’t you find?”

“Go, take her away!” Though Wei Chenghui cherished this daughter, seeing her tearful appearance was truly irritating. He instructed the accompanying Wei Madam and pointed to two young maids.

Wei Wuxia seemed soul-lost as her mother and maids helped her walk. Reaching the manor’s courtyard, Wei Madam couldn’t help stopping to wipe her own tears: “My child, born to wealth and status, how can your fate be so troubled? Don’t blame your father anymore. Now isn’t like before – you’re a new widow. In Mother’s view, isn’t your father helping that Prince Jin’s heir conquer the world? Once successful, he’ll be the greatest contributor. Your sister Wulei will certainly marry that heir as consort, but you can’t reach such good fortune, alas.”

Hearing this, Wei Wuxia’s expression changed completely. With reddened eyes she said loudly: “He only knows how to use me! Hah, reaching the heir’s good marriage – I don’t care for it. Whether this heir is round or flat, what he looks like – who knows? I’d like to see what that little slut Wulei can help him with!”

She spoke through gritted teeth, her beautiful face appearing somewhat ferocious. With a cold laugh she led the two maids back to her room. Wei Madam sighed deeply – this daughter was still young, but as a mother she couldn’t be confused. She changed direction to the kitchen to order some nourishing soup prepared. After all, Wuxia’s future marriage still depended on her father.

…

Wei Wuxia returned to her side room, covering her face in tears. At this time, her senior maid remembered something and hesitantly said: “Miss, this servant has something to say but doesn’t know if it’s appropriate?”

The junior maid wasn’t as articulate as the senior one, only watching and nodding repeatedly. Wei Wuxia was in grief and had no mind for what she said, immediately scolding harshly: “I don’t want to hear anything. Get out!”

Both maids were frightened, trembling all over, but the senior maid still persisted: “But that person said it concerned General Chao…”

Wei Wuxia was startled and grabbed her arm: “What are you saying? Speak clearly!”

The senior maid, seeing there was hope, quickly related that day’s strange encounter completely. Wuxia’s heart pounded as she carefully questioned the appearance of those three men and women, then murmured: “I heard before that Lian Yu sent people over. Though I don’t know the purpose, if you describe them, they must be his personal guards – Xuanwu, Bai Hu, and Qinglong.”

“Chao Huang… Chao Huang is Lian Yu’s prisoner. What do these words mean…” She furrowed her brow, thinking hard, then grabbed the maid: “Come, immediately take me to see the artificial rocks.”

The three quickly reached where Lian Yu had intercepted them that day. Wei Wuxia’s heart immediately jumped – this was the side courtyard where Wuyan had lived before marriage. Why had these people come here?

She was also clever. After brief thought, she entered the small cave behind the artificial rocks – a cavity barely large enough for one person to crawl through, filled with strange jagged stones.

Without relying on her maids, she explored the stone crevices herself, knocking here and feeling there. The two maids watched in amazement. Suddenly, her breathing grew heavy as her fingers extracted a piece of torn cloth from between two stones.

The junior maid exclaimed: “Miss, what is this?”

Wei Wuxia glared at her: “Don’t make noise.”

Her heart was also tense. Though not fully understanding the mystery, she vaguely knew that what she was doing absolutely couldn’t be seen by others!

She almost immediately opened the cloth. Several lines of red characters quickly appeared before her eyes. The situation must have been urgent then, with no writing materials available – this was clearly a letter torn from clothing and written in blood:

“If you wish to see Chao Huang again, tomorrow at the fourth hour meet at Qufeng Slope’s Jima Pavilion in the capital outskirts. If your father learns of this, Chao Huang will certainly meet the fate of having his bones ground to dust. You need not keep the appointment. Also rewarding your senior and junior maids – if you can see this letter, it’s due to their merit.”

Wei Wuxia gripped the “letter” tightly, her whole body still trembling, but she was after all a noble family’s daughter who knew discretion. She didn’t linger long and immediately returned to her own courtyard, taking two pieces of jewelry to reward the maids and sternly instructing that this matter must never be leaked – not half a word, or she’d certainly kill any gossiper. The maids were delighted with their rewards and agreed repeatedly before withdrawing.

The side room was completely quiet, but Wei Wuxia’s heart was turbulent.

What did Xuanwu’s words mean?

No, Xuanwu’s master was Lian Yu – these words must be what he conveyed for his master!

What did that emperor mean? Allowing her to leave the city to mourn Chao Huang? The senior maid had said if she wanted Chao Huang to return from the dead… could Chao Huang still be alive? But why would Lian Yu sell her such a tremendous favor?

She thought left and right but couldn’t understand, yet made her decision. Whether Chao Huang was alive or dead, she had to make this trip and see for herself. These years he’d treated her well – she couldn’t let him go!

After dinner, without Wei Madam’s urging, she personally took chicken soup to Wei Chenghui. At that time, Wei Chenghui was discussing matters with Wujun and several martial artists in his study.

Her timing was perfect.

Wei’s army occupied the capital while Murong’s army still camped in the imperial mausoleum’s mountain forests outside the capital. Wei’s provisions had arrived in the capital that afternoon from regional areas but were intercepted by Lian Jie and Murong Ding leading troops. Fortunately Wei Chenghui was prepared and personally led reinforcements, finally protecting the provisions. Lian Yu seemed unaware of this matter – he later hurriedly brought troops but called off Lian Jie and the others.

With provisions safe, Wei Chenghui also breathed easier. Seeing his daughter arrive, he temporarily set aside military affairs, took the soup, and was quite pleasant.

Wei Wuxia begged to leave the city to pay respects to Chao Huang. Now the city gates were heavily guarded by Wei’s army – without Wei Chenghui’s orders, no one could freely enter or exit the capital.

Upon hearing this, Wei Chenghui’s expression darkened: “Are you mad? Going to Lian Yu’s army – wouldn’t he capture you as a hostage to threaten me!”

“So this old man wondered why Lian Yu was so kind as to send people to notify me of Chao Huang’s death. Now I understand! Excellent!”

Wei Wuxia quickly knelt and explained: “Father, you misunderstand. Your daughter absolutely doesn’t want to go to Lian Yu’s army to pay respects. Your daughter only wants to go to a place in the capital outskirts where Chao Huang and I often played, to burn some paper money. From that direction one can see the imperial mausoleum valley – consider it distant mourning.”

“Father, please agree. Though your daughter’s heart remembers her husband, she knows the departed are gone. How could she go to enemy camps seeking audience and cause Father trouble? Moreover, Father has ambitions for great achievement – even if your daughter were captured, Father couldn’t be threatened by this, right? Your daughter still has self-awareness.” She spoke while crying softly.

Wei Chenghui’s angry expression softened slightly, knowing she and Chao Huang had been married with genuine affection. Beside him, though Wujun and Wuxia weren’t born of the same mother, Wuxia’s mother had no sons. Though legitimate-born, she was still inferior to a son, so from childhood she’d deliberately befriended Wujun, who had often relied on Wuxia. Therefore he also helped with a few words. Wei Chenghui now valued this son whose temperament resembled his own, having great intentions of passing on his legacy. Finally, he agreed to Wei Wuxia’s request.

Early the next morning, Wei Wuxia took Wei Chenghui’s written order and left the city. She had deceived Wei Chenghui – she wasn’t going to some pleasant spot, but to the capital’s famous mass burial ground – Qufeng Slope.

That day, Suzhen had been secretly captured there by Feng Shaoying and Wuliang and others working together.

She dismounted from her carriage from afar, not letting servants and maids follow, carrying a basket full of paper money as she walked in.

Fortunately it was broad daylight – otherwise with wild grass growing everywhere, no human traces, and sunlight seemingly unable to penetrate, it would be truly sinister and terrifying.

After walking for nearly half an hour, just as she neared Jima Pavilion, rustling sounds came from the weeds ahead. Her heart jumped and she couldn’t help crying out. Behind her, a pair of hands reached out – her neck felt cold as she was tightly grabbed!