As dusk approached, the evening glow reflected in the sky, tinged with a golden halo.
The sun’s shadow slanted as the crows cawed in unison.
Wei Zhao let her sit on his lap, gently stroking the girl’s back with his palm.
Yu Tingwan buried her head in Wei Zhao’s chest. Through the fabric, she could still hear his familiar and steady heartbeat. It was as if it allowed her a montary relief from the overwhelming turmoil that nearly suffocated her.
Not daring to close her eyes, for when she did, all she saw was a sky full of fire.
The flas seed capable of devouring everything, then drowning her.
"I should have died that year."
Her voice was low and hoarse.
It carried an obvious vulnerability, no longer the calm composure she displayed before others.
"If my father had saved my mother first at that ti, and it was who had the accident, they would have lived on in this world, going through life together until old age in tranquility. Just... just as if I hadn’t appeared."
The girl in his arms trembled.
The weather was not actually cold, yet she shivered fiercely.
Wei Zhao’s eyes darkened, holding her even tighter.
"Don’t speak nonsense."
"Death is like the extinguishing of a lamp, it is those alive who often suffer more. Your parents regard you as their own; if they saw you in trouble, they might never recover in this lifeti."
"You are excellent, how could a child raised by them be anything less? Do not belittle yourself."
"Your very presence is a blessing to them, and they cherish you deeply. Back then, when your father sent you out of the fiery sea, it was a relief for him and your mother. Even in their final monts in this world, they would not regret it. Their only worry was that there would be no one to protect their Yaoyao in the future."
Hearing these words, Yu Tingwan couldn’t hold back her tears any longer, they burst forth uncontrollably.
Her hands gripped Wei Zhao’s collar tightly, and she cried out loud.
Wei Zhao lowered his head: "We’ve never been parents, maybe it’s hard for us to truly understand."
Wei Zhao had heard Yu Tingwan ntion before.
Her na was chosen by Yu Jingcheng, who had gone onto the streets to invite a scholar earning a living by selling words, paintings, and writing letters for others.
At the ti, the scholar gave five or six nas at once, but Yu Jingcheng was imdiately drawn to the na Tingwan.
It implied steadfastness and eventual greatness after hard work and perseverance.
Previously, Wei Zhao thought that Yu Jingcheng chose these words because they were poetic and also because of his expectations for Yu Tingwan.
He didn’t want her to be like other girls, confined to marrying and bearing children, trapped in the mundane realities of life, but instead to live a different life.
But now Wei Zhao realized he had thought too much.
The aning of these two words was actually simple.
Yu Jingcheng was a straightforward man from the Escort Agency.
These two words carried great significance for him.
He might not have understood the scholar’s explanation of them.
To Yu Jingcheng.
Listen.
Was to hear the sound of crying.
Evening.
Was to see the child crying endlessly, abandoned, in the mountain forest at night.
Wei Zhao softly said, "But tell , isn’t this their greatness?"
The girl’s tears, crystal clear, flowed like a river breaking its banks.
Wei Zhao sighed softly, kissing her hair.
"Cry."
"If it hurts, let it out."
Wei Zhao: "Your husband is here with you."
The carriage arrived at Duke Shun Mansion. After going around, it entered through the side entrance, directly into Lan Garden. Night had already fallen.
But the people in the carriage had yet to co out.
Shunzi and Tan Jiang wouldn’t rush them.
Qingya wanted to urge them but had its neck tightly gripped by Shunzi.
The two quietly withdrew.
When they’d walked far enough, Shunzi lowered his head and warned the struggling Qingya.
"Be obedient, if you cause trouble the mont you return, just see how the General will deal with you!"
As he spoke and started to walk away, he noticed Tan Jiang was still following him.
"What’s wrong?"
Shunzi saw her hesitate: "Is there sothing you want to say?"
Tan Jiang couldn’t directly inquire if Rong Di had returned.
"Why hasn’t Fu ng been seen?"
Shunzi had no suspicions.
"It probably won’t arrive until tomorrow or the day after."
After all, such a gigantic thing, on the journey back to the Capital, they feared causing panic and chaos for the populace, so they took official roads.
They had to pass through city gates and checkpoints, unlike Qingya, which flew directly back by itself.
Shunzi: "You know Fu ng’s temper, it’s quite arrogant. Fortunately, Rong Di accompanied it this ti, though he couldn’t entirely temper Fu ng’s temper. If it were anyone other than Wei Family Army, who knows how much trouble they might have caused along the way."
Tan Jiang got the answer she was looking for.
After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, Wei Zhao finally carried the girl out of the carriage.
After crying heart-wrenchingly, the girl had fallen asleep. Her eyes were swollen and her face was still moist. But she was evidently unrestful in her sleep, frowning tightly.
Wei Zhao directly carried her back to the house, settled her in bed, wiped her face, and sat at the bedside gently smoothing out the furrow between her brows.
His gaze grew fainter, yet darker. Rising, he walked out, instructing Tan Jiang to keep an eye on the room, before heading to the study to fetch the piled-up docunts he planned to handle.
"General."
A black shadow flitted past outside the study.
The Wei Family Army knelt before him, presenting an item: "This is a letter sent to you by King Yan’s Princely Heir through ."
Wei Zhao looked down.
He had no desire to read it, mostly likely another plea for money.
"He also asked to pass on a ssage."
Heh, Ying Fuyan must have guessed Wei Zhao wouldn’t want to read the letter.
"Speak."
"Regarding those unprofitable businesses under his na, when will General Wei take over and start making a profit?"
Wei Zhao: ...
He didn’t even want to speak, his expression glooming.
The day dimd, and in turn, his voice was particularly cold.
"Does he really think I’m a money tree?"
The funds allocated each month were enough for Ying Fuyan to build his forces.
The Wei Family Army soldier nervously continued: "There’s sothing else, King Yan’s Princely Heir wanted to give this to you last of all."
He produced another rolled-up scroll.
It was sowhat heavy, making it difficult to unfurl while holding.
Wei Zhao carried it into the study, laid it out on the ground, and after seeing its contents...
Ying Fuyan truly trusted him, providing a list of officers he had been gradually gathering in Shangjing over the years, indicating these people could be trusted and were at Wei Zhao’s disposal.
Wei Zhao was surprised to see it even included Fourth Prince Ying Cheng. That Prince whose mother’s status was low and who the emperor hardly noticed.
The nas on this list didn’t take up much space.
The majority was dedicated to Second Prince Ying Zhi and Fifth Prince Ying Yin’s forces, the officials who aligned with them, and the unscrupulous deeds they had committed over the years.
What caught Wei Zhao’s interest most were the detailed records on the dozen or so hidden chambers holding treasures under their nas.
All ticulously docunted.
It’s clear Ying Fuyan had collected this information bit by bit over the years despite his illness, sparing Wei Zhao from having to investigate.
Wei Zhao took one look and morized it all, rubbing his temples: "Allocate an additional hundred taels each month from the accounts to Ying Fuyan."
"General."
At this mont, Shunzi’s respectful voice ca from outside.
"Heir Xiao has arrived."
Wei Zhao leisurely tidied things up.
Shunzi: "He said he ca to invite you for a drink."
Wei Zhao gathered up a large stack of affairs, then headed out. As soon as he stepped out of the study, he saw Xiao Huaian, in the distance, being held back by the Wei Family Army.
Xiao Huaian waved at him.
He had been wanting to see Wei Zhao for so ti. But just as Wei Zhao returned, the Eastern Palace incident occurred.
So neither had the chance for a proper reunion.
He had so much to say.
"Wei Zhao!"
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