Though the city was secure, Wei Wujun was meticulous. After returning to the residence, he personally patrolled outside with Wuliang, Mao, Yu and several others. About half an hour later, a carriage arrived urgently. Lights blazed all around. Mao Hui was about to step forward to investigate when Wei Wujun saw clearly and spoke first, “Master Mao, don’t worry. It’s our soldiers—should be my sister’s carriage, no mistake.”

Indeed, the carriage soon stopped. Two soldiers dismounted and greeted Wei Wujun. The rear curtain was lifted, revealing Wei Wuxia. Wei Wujun smiled and was about to step forward to help her, but Wei Wuxia didn’t wait for the soldiers to bend down as a step—she jumped down first. But she didn’t look well, her hair slightly disheveled, her face very pale, lacking any of her usual composure.

“Sister, are you well? Why are you so alarmed?” Wei Wujun’s heart chilled, and he hastily asked.

Wuliang and the others also looked over with considerable concern. Wei Wuxia groped around her waist while speaking hurriedly, “Wujun, Father has ordered you and Master to immediately lead troops to the city tower for reinforcements. This is Father’s command token…”

“No, that’s wrong,” she suddenly cried out, “My command token—”

“Sister!” Wei Wujun frowned, “What exactly is the situation at the city tower?”

Wei Wuxia smiled bitterly and only shook her head, “I don’t know either. It was very chaotic then. I only heard Father say ‘Why do they actually have more than a hundred thousand soldiers?’ Then he sent me back, saying the troops outside the residence are elite soldiers who can provide emergency relief. Just wait for the young master to return—he received the young master’s secret letter previously and estimated by the dates that they should arrive soon. He also told me to inform Master to bring all the martial arts experts too—they’re all good fighters who can face a hundred enemies each.”

“Damn it, my command token! Probably fell when getting in the carriage. I was too rushed then—Father gave it to me and I just stuffed it at my waist… Wujun, I’ll go back to find the token. You and Master wait!”

Wei Wujun couldn’t help but lower his voice, “My dear sister, in this urgent moment, don’t worry about any token. Your verbal transmission of Father’s orders is the same. I’ll immediately gather troops with Master and go over! You go back to the residence first. This city can definitely be held—don’t panic.”

“Master,” he said, no longer caring about Wei Wuxia and immediately calling to Wuliang. Wuliang glanced at Wei Wuxia but didn’t say much, only speaking a few words to his two disciples. Mao and Yu went inside, and before long, brought out all the martial arts practitioners who had previously attacked the city.

The residence still had over a hundred guards, enough to protect everyone’s safety. Wei Wujun ordered horses brought from the stables and took away all the soldiers from the front and rear gates, not leaving any troops behind.

Wei Wuxia also quickly went inside.

The atmosphere in the residence was still peaceful. The life-and-death fighting outside hadn’t reached here, after all, there was considerable distance from here to the city tower.

It was nearly summer now. Wei Wujun’s birth mother, Third Lady, his sister Wulei, and several concubines with their children were currently in the Wei residence’s large garden enjoying the cool air, whispering about Wuxia and Chao Huang’s affair. Third Lady was quite pleased—first Wuyan, now Wuxia. From now on, she needn’t look at the main wife’s face anymore.

The other households also knew that Wei Chenghui increasingly relied on Wei Wujun, so they all praised Wujun’s abilities and said that Wulei would surely be extremely noble in the future. Wulei just smiled without speaking. When Wuxia passed by, Wulei even tugged her mother’s sleeve and said quietly, “Mother, you needn’t say so much about these trivial matters.”

Wei Wuxia needn’t listen carefully to know what they were discussing. She didn’t interrupt, just glanced over. The various households still somewhat feared her, and startled, they all fell silent. Only Third Lady said loudly, “Wuxia, though Chao Huang has passed away, don’t be too sorrowful. In the future, Wujun and Wulei will definitely ask the master to find you another good marriage.”

Wei Wuxia didn’t argue with her, just sneered and returned to the inner courtyard.

Seeing her leave, everyone continued their previous topic, mostly flattering Third Lady. After about the time it takes to drink tea, Wei Chenghui’s youngest son suddenly pointed somewhere and said, “Mother, is that fireworks?”

Everyone looked and immediately got a fright. In one corner of the Wei residence, flames shot up to the sky with black smoke and dust—this wasn’t fireworks at all, but clearly a fire!

“Oh no, this is terrible! Master’s study is right inside that pavilion!” Among them, one concubine cried out in alarm.

Wei Wulei, usually overshadowed by Wuyan and Wuxia’s looks and status, had now grown up and developed careful thinking, remaining quite composed. She immediately said, “The residence has many guards—this fire won’t burn for long.”

As she spoke, she directed several concubines to take the younger siblings to the front courtyard for safety, ordered several older brothers to go with the garden guards to find guards from various places to help fight the fire.

While everyone was talking, flames rose again from the rear courtyard. She couldn’t help but frown and said sternly, “Perhaps thieves have entered and someone is deliberately setting fires. Brothers, immediately bring people to seal off the front and rear courtyards. Also send someone to notify Father. The rest continue fighting the fire.” She called over five guards, “You few come with me—I want to root out this villain.”

“Don’t make trouble here!” Just as everyone was following her directions, suddenly came a sharp rebuke. Wei Wuxia and Madam Wei emerged from behind. Wei Wuxia coldly stared her down, “Wei Wulei, what do you understand? The battle just erupted—Father is currently fighting the Murong army at the city tower and simply cannot spare the time. Even Wujun went to provide support. Must such a small matter still trouble the old master?”

“Mother, you and the aunts go to the front courtyard first. Wulei, you go together too. Brothers, lead the guards to fight the fire. I’ll handle catching the thief.”

She was accustomed to giving orders. Though she had lost some power recently, her cold eyebrows and frosty gaze still carried authority. For a moment, the various households dared not defy her. Third Lady was about to retort when Wulei’s eyes flashed with cold intent, but then she just smiled and pulled her mother aside, saying quietly, “Father doesn’t like people causing trouble. Let’s yield to her for now.”

Madam Wei said, “Wuxia, you must be careful.”

Wei Wuxia nodded, then suddenly looked at Madam Wei with a complex expression, but didn’t linger. Soon, she took two guards and went in another direction.

At the turning point, two hands suddenly shot out from the corner of the wall. Before the two guards could see clearly what was happening, they were struck in the face and collapsed unconscious.

A black shadow slowly emerged from ahead, also dressed as a Wei residence guard, with a mighty bearing and short mustache on his lips.

As soon as he appeared, he quickly lowered his head. The iron helmet of the guard made his features somewhat blurry and unclear.

“Go.”

Wei Wuxia quickly spoke, and the two immediately headed toward the side courtyard.

That was the courtyard where Wuyan had previously lived. Even with roaring fires elsewhere in the Wei residence, it couldn’t disturb the guards here. The courtyard had over sixty or seventy guards.

Wei Wuxia had just reached the artificial mountain area in front of the courtyard when she was stopped by the guards. The leader said, “This place holds an important prisoner and is forbidden territory. Please return, Miss.”

Wei Wuxia struck out with her palm and shouted, “Such audacity! There’s a fire in the residence, yet you remain unmoved—why aren’t you quickly going to fight the fire and save people!”

Though the leader was rebuked, he still wouldn’t yield, “Miss, the Grand Preceptor instructed that no matter what situation arises, unless he provides a personal written order, we absolutely cannot abandon our posts.”

His gaze was serious, and Wei Wuxia was momentarily speechless! At this moment, the short-mustached guard behind her suddenly stepped forward. The courtyard guards only saw a flash of blade light—the leader’s eyes widened as blood spurted from his neck, his head and body already separated!

“What are you doing?!” Before one person could draw his sword, he was punched away by the short-mustached man. Wei Wuxia caught his meaningful glance and immediately faced the surroundings coldly, saying sternly, “The enemy has invaded! The Grand Preceptor went to defend the city. Now there’s fire in the residence and everyone is in danger. With insufficient manpower, you still rigidly follow rules—are you waiting for this fire to burn right under your noses before you’ll fight it?!”

“Whoever hesitates again needn’t wait for the Grand Preceptor’s punishment—I’ll finish him off first for the Grand Preceptor, with the same fate as him.” The short-mustached man glanced coldly at the corpse on the ground and spoke deeply, naturally imposing without anger.

The guards looked at each other. The fire outside was indeed quite large. This time, no one opposed anymore. They left four people on guard and all the rest went out to fight the fire.

After everyone left, the short-mustached man suddenly walked before the four remaining guards. Before one could open his mouth, several drops of blood appeared on his neck, and he fell silently. As the other few were drawing their swords, they too collapsed. Only the last one managed to let out a scream.

From the inner room’s entrance, two men immediately rushed out in panic.

These were the last two guards in front of the prisoner’s room. The short-mustached man smiled slightly.

In a moment, Wei Wuxia entered the inner room.

The woman bound in the room raised her head and also smiled slightly, “Madam Chao, thank you.”

“They’ve already notified you?” Wei Wuxia asked.

The other replied, “Xuanwu came here previously and already told me. Thank you.”

Wei Wuxia nodded, “You’re welcome. We each take what we need. I only hope Minister Li will speak well of me before His Majesty in the future and give my husband and me a way to live.”

“Stop talking—time is precious. Let’s go!” Outside the room, the short-mustached man poked his head in.

A moment later, while the front and rear courtyards of the Wei residence were in complete chaos, a carriage quietly departed from the rear gate, heading directly toward… the direction of the imperial city.

In the front courtyard of the Wei residence, the fire hadn’t spread there, but Madam Wei remained worried about Wei Wuxia and after thinking it over, turned back. Third Lady nudged Wulei and whispered in her ear, “Follow her. Don’t let that little bitch take all the credit. This fire was clearly you who first organized the firefighting. Let your father see your abilities too.”

The next two sections are quite weighty chapters of this volume, with major turning points, though all are within everyone’s expectations.