She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

But he had not yet received a reply, and while he was nervously pacing back and forth at home, the imperial decree summoning him to the palace from Emperor Jing arrived.

He did not dare to delay, so he hurriedly rushed to the palace in a flurry.

Just as he was about to pay his respects, Emperor Jing coldly spoke: ”Mr. Wei, the commander of the southern gate says that on the night of the incident, your obese nephew left the city through the southern gate with a group of Protectors and headed to Liangzhou. What do you have to say?”

Mr. Wei was struck as if by lightning upon hearing this, and his knees gave way, making him kneel on the ground.

”Your Majesty, please have discernment! This old minister has never sent any nephew to Liangzhou!”

Emperor Jing’s voice turned even colder: ”But he used the Jade Pendant of the Wei Family to leave the city.”

”Your Majesty, Your Majesty. I am innocent. This old minister truly knows nothing of this! There must be someone framing me.”

”Oh? Framing?”

The Empress’ face was full of wrath; she slammed the table and stood up, causing her gold hairpin to shake violently.

”Mr. Liu saw it with his own eyes — your obese nephew was holding the Wei Family’s Jade Pendant, claiming to have been ordered by the Prime Minister to take the Imperial Physician to Liangzhou to treat your family’s patriarch! If he weren’t a member of the Wei Family, how would he know your patriarch resides in Liangzhou?”

”Your Majesty!”

Upon hearing this, Mr. Wei was so scared his soul nearly departed from his body. He kowtowed heavily, his gray-white beard trembling continuously.

”This old minister dares to swear to heaven — no such thing exists! Someone must have framed me! This old minister has sent news via carrier pigeon, to gather all family members in the Capital City. By then, we can confront each other face-to-face.”

Mr. Wei felt as if he was dying from injustice.

It was true that his elder brother, the patriarch, lived in Liangzhou, but he had never sent anyone to Liangzhou, and moreover, knew nothing about any Imperial Physician.

Yet at this moment, his reply had not come. He knew nothing of any of the matters.

Other than crying injustice, he could not find any evidence to prove his innocence.

Actually, what he didn’t know was that Han Lei and Xiao Zhengfei were meeting at Youjia Inn, and after agreeing upon the plan, they went their separate ways.

Han Lei traveled between the Brocade Workshop and Mandarin Pin, busy with her own business.

Meanwhile, the trusted aides and big character team brothers dispersed, secretly inquiring about all kinds of information regarding the Su Family and Wei Family in the marketplace.

Even the clothing of the Wei Family Protectors was made after they staked out, copying them at the tailor shop.

Seeing Mr. Wei only pleading innocence and refusing to admit anything, Emperor Jing suddenly raised his hand, causing the whole Imperial Study Room to fall silent.

Emperor Jing slowly rose, the golden threads on his yellow Dragon Robe gleaming coldly under the candlelight.

He turned to glance at the Empress, still seething with anger, and then glared at the kneeling Mr. Wei, exhaling a deep breath.

He also felt deeply troubled.

These two individuals were his wife and his teacher and minister; such a significant case involved them both, leaving him, the Emperor, unsure of how to handle it.

”Carrier pigeon message?” Emperor Jing spoke with cold helplessness. ”Is it not possible that you used carrier pigeons for collusion? Prime Minister, since this matter involves the Wei Family, I think... you should temporarily step back to avoid suspicion.”

”Your Majesty! It’s unjust!”

Upon hearing this, Mr. Wei suddenly sat upright, tears streaming down his face.

”This old minister used carrier pigeons to summon all family members to the Capital City. If it really was someone from the Wei Family, this old minister... shall personally conclude this disgrace!”

Emperor Jing looked down at him, his gaze sharp as a knife: ”No need. All you have to do is hand over the family register; I will make the decision.”

As he spoke, Emperor Jing looked outside: ”Where is the Commander of the Imperial Army?”

The Commander of the Imperial Army, hand resting on his sword, strode in from outside the hall.

”Your servant is present.”

Emperor Jing fixed his gaze on the Commander of the Imperial Army, ”Take my command and according to the family register and addresses given by Mr. Wei, bring back every member of the Wei Family without missing a single one.”

Emperor Jing emphasized the word ”bring” heavily. This was the only thing he could do for the Empress, who had suffered the grief of losing a loved one.

When the Commander of the Imperial Army took the bright yellow silk cloth and stepped back, Mr. Wei finally could not hold up any longer and collapsed on the ground.

He stared at the intricately carved and painted ceiling of the Imperial Study Room, and in a daze, seemed to recall that summer afternoon ten years ago.

A youth in splendid clothes holding the Analects, asking for his advice, sunlight streaming through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on the face of the Crown Prince.

”Teacher, governing by virtue, like the North Star...” the youthful, clear voice lingered in his ears.

And now, that youth had become a ruler with power over life and death, while he, the former teacher, had inexplicably become a prisoner.

”Your Majesty...”

Mr. Wei’s voice was hoarse as tearing silk, ”Please, Your Majesty, seek justice for this old minister, I am innocent!”

Emperor Jing glanced at the Empress, his voice suddenly turning as sharp as a blade.

”This matter will be handed over to the Ministry of Justice. If the Prime Minister is indeed innocent, I trust the Ministry of Justice will clear your name.”

Mr. Wei was struck as if by lightning; he finally understood why Emperor Jing had stressed the word ”bring.”

It was for the Empress’ dignity, and also for the last piece of respect for the Wei Family.

”This old minister... thanks Your Majesty for your grace.”

Mr. Wei closed his eyes, unable to say anything further, could only bow heavily, his forehead hitting the ground with a dull sound.

Emperor Jing turned his back, looking out at the setting sun. ”Take him away.”

As the guards came forward to prop up Mr. Wei, the former Prime Minister once so powerful suddenly softly hummed a nursery rhyme.

It was a tune he’d composed years ago to help the Crown Prince remember his studies.

Emperor Jing’s back stiffened slightly, but he ultimately did not turn around.