Her gaze was complex, as if deeply hurt.
She murmured, "Mother-in-law."
Ning Suxuan: ...
Yu Tingwan: "Why didn’t you serve ?"
Ning Suxuan: "I was afraid you might overeat."
Yu Tingwan ignored her.
Her small mouth kept chattering.
"Mother-in-law has hurt ."
"It seems that last ti when you said you treated like a daughter, it was all to fool ."
Ning Suxuan frowned, "When did I say that?"
How co she couldn’t rember?
Yu Tingwan was lancholic.
"Is this the ti to debate authenticity?"
Ning Suxuan: ???
Yu Tingwan sipped her tea and said, "I really envy him; unlike , no one even picks a piece of ginger for ."
Ning Suxuan pointed out, "There’s no ginger in today’s al."
Yu Tingwan beca even more lancholic.
"Do you have to be so nitpicky with ?"
Ning Suxuan stayed silent.
No wonder sages say, only petty people and won are hard to nurture.
Yu Tingwan embodied both.
No wonder Wei Zhao was silent.
Ning Suxuan couldn’t understand why she was ddling. Why did she invite this couple for a al?
Perhaps Yu Tingwan’s eyes were too resentful. Ning Suxuan did feel like she had adopted a daughter and helplessly offered her a spring roll.
"Is it alright now?"
"You’re a grown woman; stop acting spoiled."
Yu Tingwan’s gaze was deep, "No, I want more than him."
Ning Suxuan: ?
Sothing was off, so she looked at Wei Zhao, "Did you upset her?"
Didn’t wait for an answer.
Ning Suxuan put her chopsticks down heavily.
"Gui Zhi."
"This is your fault."
"Between husband and wife..."
She paused slightly.
She truly had no experience in resolving disputes between a couple.
In the past, she followed the rules and regulations strictly; even if Wei Fengxing wanted her to throw a tantrum, it was tough.
Ning Suxuan: "As a husband, you should apologize."
"I did."
Ning Suxuan: "Then what?"
Wei Zhao: "She still says her hand hurts."
??
How did her hand start hurting again?
Ning Suxuan grew serious, "What happened?"
She was about to get up to check Yu Tingwan’s hand. Could it be bruised or bumped?
Wei Zhao: "From pounding , pounding."
Ning Suxuan: ...
Yu Tingwan lifted her little face, sitting upright, looking justified and confident.
Wei Zhao: "Bla my thick skin."
Ning Suxuan: ...
She rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming.
"I don’t care what really happened; you just apologize again."
Otherwise, Ning Suxuan felt she wouldn’t have a peaceful life.
If even serving a dish could be a point of contention for Yu Tingwan.
With them living next door, if Wei Zhao went out again and Yu Tingwan bore a grudge, what would she do?
Ning Suxuan raised her hand and pointed.
"I’ll decide this; you use tea instead of wine to seek your wife’s forgiveness."
Yu Tingwan looked bitter.
Why her?
She still couldn’t escape the word "wine."
"General!"
Rong Di strode in from outside.
"The Holy Emperor has summoned."
The harmonious atmosphere in the room instantly froze.
Wei Zhao composed himself, his eyes indifferent.
He just got up, and his sleeve was grasped by Yu Tingwan.
"Is he..."
Yu Tingwan’s expression was grave, "Suspecting you?"
"Yes."
"If he hadn’t been cautious, he wouldn’t have occupied that position."
Wei Zhao chuckled.
"But does he have any evidence?"
"If you enter the palace and he takes action against you, what then?"
Yu Tingwan: "Don’t forget, you’re supposed to be in poor health outside. Even if sothing happened in the Imperial Palace, he..."
But how could one not show up when summoned by the emperor?
Wei Zhao masked his emotions, reassuring her.
"Don’t worry."
Ning Suxuan furrowed her brows, managing to maintain her composure slightly better than Yu Tingwan, but it was not much of an improvent.
Ultimately, there were lingering fears in her heart.
"General."
At this mont, Shunzi’s voice ca from outside.
After entering, he respectfully greeted everyone.
Only then did he continue.
"Duke Xian, Marquis Yangdu, Duke Yong, and Uncle Xiu Ping are here to visit."
Yu Tingwan slowly released Wei Zhao’s hand.
These people were not strangers.
They were elder statesn who, due to their age, rarely appeared anymore.
Two of them had even left Shangjing early to return to their hotowns and enjoy their late years in peace.
She was aware of this.
These individuals were the most pedantic, and Wei Zhao had once sent Gu Fuju to win them over.
Duke Xian was forrly the Minister of Rites.
There was a ti during Emperor Qian’s sacrificial rites to heaven when the emperor wanted to use the azure jade and he believed the yellow jade should be used instead.
Ignoring the emperor’s displeasure, he insisted, citing classical texts, and argued fervently in the Imperial Study Room for most of the night.
Marquis Yangdu once tutored Emperor Ying when he was a young prince, and because Emperor Ying yawned, he imdiately reported to the forr emperor about the "lack of dedication to sacred learning."
Duke Yong was a forr Imperial Censor, a figure admired by He Xuran.
He once filed ten morials in succession because Zhou Yurou’s grandfather had his belt askew during court audience.
Each and every one of them was truly intimidating.
Yu Tingwan watched as Wei Zhao sat in a wheelchair, being pushed out by Rong Di, to et the four elderly n with white hair, each of whom needed assistance to walk even more than Ying Fuyan did.
Duke Xian, tired from walking, paused to catch his breath. He decided to wait for Wei Zhao to be pushed closer.
He glanced at Wei Zhao a few tis.
Shaking his head.
"If your grandfather were still alive to see you like this, he’d be heartbroken, I’m afraid."
Duke Xian: "But your grandfather was despicable, he owed a piece of calligraphy, and died before finishing it."
He can’t very well make Old Master Wei crawl out of his grave to fulfill his promise.
Duke Xian: "I, in my life, despise the untrustworthy the most! He was reckless in his promises, neither scolded by The Analects, nor having faith in his words, how could that be acceptable?"
Indeed.
Even more justified than Yu Tingwan.
The older n behind him nodded in agreent.
Uncle Xiu Ping got to the point: "These days there have been constant floods, both my and Duke Yong’s hotowns have suffered disasters, thinking that the Court is short of manpower, we hurried back to Shangjing as soon as we communicated with each other."
"We should have t with the Holy Emperor, but those two old codgers went to the outskirts to greet us. ntioning your new wife helped distribute supplies, we ca uninvited."
They didn’t have much money, being incorruptible, but they managed to scrape a little together.
Wei Zhao, supported by Rong Di, gave the elders a respectful bow as a junior.
"But unfortunately, the Holy Emperor has summoned ."
"Perhaps worrying about the border, or maybe another disaster area has had problems."
"I am uneasy, fearing I cannot entertain you."
Upon hearing this, the four elders were displeased.
They couldn’t bother with anything else anymore.
Uncle Xiu Ping and Duke Yong exchanged glances: "According to protocol, upon returning to the Capital, we must also pay our respects to the Holy Emperor, we shall join you."
The other two, having co this far, also expressed their intention to enter the palace together.
"General."
A woman from the gatehouse ran over.
"Mr. He is leading several officials from the Imperial Censorate, several chief officers from the Ministry of Rites, a proofreader from the Hanlin Academy, and a scholar from the Imperial Sacrificial Worship Temple, all rushing here."
Impressive, these were all officials that maintained neutrality, not dispatched by Emperor Ying for disaster relief, yet each was as stubborn as the next.
Why would they co around?
No more than seeking out the four elders.
They were considered their protégés.
Thus, Emperor Ying waited grimly, left and right.
Wei Zhao was an untad stallion, unyielding to his influence.
Too much had happened during this period.
All since Wei Zhao’s return.
Ying Zhi and Ying Yin had made several moves, and he had to be cautious.
Did Wei Zhao not want to put him to death?
Yet, all this ti, he couldn’t uncover a single flaw in Wei Zhao.
Ying Zhi had been confined, Ying Yin had left the Capital.
The anxiety he had suppressed grew heavier.
Emperor Ying’s gaze deepened.
He thought, no matter if Wei Zhao was truly weak. He should ensure he never returns, to eliminate future troubles.
Otherwise, how could he be at ease?
How could he sleep peacefully?
He finally awaited Wei Zhao.
Also awaited the four white-haired elders. And behind them, a massive throng of people.
Leaning against the dragon throne, elbow resting on his knee due to his skin itching and recent ointnt application, which left the Dragon Robe slightly creased, Emperor Ying’s eyelids twitched.
He had no opportunity to act against Wei Zhao.
Marquis Yangdu abruptly stood out.
"Holy Emperor!"
A deep, resonant call.
"As it is said in ’Ritual Records·Jade’: When the Son of Heaven sits, he must sit stably, yet now Your Majesty dangles your feet and bends your knees, losing the majesty of the Son of Heaven, furthermore defying the teachings of the sages!"
Duke Xian continued to step forward.
He was aged, but his voice was loud.
"Please, Holy Emperor—"
"Straighten your attire!"
"Correct your posture!"
"Restrain your frivolous deanor!"
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