Chapter 62 If this happens again, I'll call for help...

Wei Qin tried to step forward, but a small hand pressed against his chest.

"Don't come any closer to me."

Jiang Yinyue hung her head, her voice hoarse, and she looked dejected.

What he thought was a joyous and lively performance turned out to be nothing more than a one-man show. The female lead sang with great emotion, while the male lead remained detached and watched coldly.

"You can leave now."

Where am I going?

Wei Qin stood still, his heart at peace, the person before him was the one he loved. He didn't even know how much he liked her. Where else could he go?

Nowhere else compares to being by her side; he wants to hug her.

Just like that afternoon when Wei Xichen learned the truth, she cried and asked him if he could hug her.

But the hand hanging at her side was stiff and rigid. The person so close to her had become an unattainable moon, hanging alone in the sky, surrounded by dark clouds, helpless and fragile, emitting a faint light.

Outside, the clouds seemed about to fall, and the mist shrouded the Milky Way as rain fell.

When Grand Scholar Wei was expelled from his home, the servants were completely unaware, and Qi Bao wagged her tail and "escorted" him to the back gate.

The scholar, now destitute, walked along the quiet, deserted street, his clothes slightly damp, exuding a sense of utter loneliness.

An oil-paper umbrella was held above him, and the refined civil official and the dignified military general walked side by side.

"Going back to the manor?"

"It's not the right time."

Cui Wei, the commander of the Shenji Battalion, held an umbrella in one hand and the other behind his back as he walked slowly with Wei Qin.

"Jiang Song has left the city."

Judging from his uncle's tone, Wei Qin understood that the negotiations on the other side had also broken down.

As expected.

Cui Wei looked up at the gray sky. His nephew insisted on revealing his identity, but he did not agree. They had already waited for seventeen years, so what was a little longer? Why not wait until the tyrant was seriously ill and the crown prince had usurped power?

At that moment, the return of the eldest prince would be the tyrant's "redemption".

A somber redemption, a somber family bond.

The tyrant who hated the crown prince saw hope because of his eldest son, whom he feared most.

"Actually, we can wait a little longer."

Wei Qin had no regrets. "It's all the same."

Everyone says that my father-in-law is cunning and shrewd, but he has always valued his family the most, especially his daughter.

Cui's plan was methodical, but four years ago she underestimated Jiang Song's true nature.

The raindrops dancing on the umbrella surface compose a melody that can be both chaotic and ethereal to the ear.

Wei Qin had no worries about the future; his father-in-law wouldn't impulsively report to the emperor, and Jiang Yinyue certainly wouldn't. If he didn't even have this much certainty now, he would be betraying all his trusted subordinates and disregarding their lives and fortunes.

Despite his anger, my father-in-law would still weigh the pros and cons after calming down.

In the suburbs, a light rain was falling. Jiang Song sat in front of his wife's grave. Unlike the dashing and debonair Minister in public, he slumped his shoulders and mumbled a lot of things.

"I will regret it if I do not heed my wife's advice."

"It is because I am arrogant and blind."

"May my wife enter my dreams and slap me a few times? No, my wife is too lazy to even acknowledge me."

Jiang Song slapped himself, "I've ruined Niannian, causing her to fall from the tiger's den into the wolf's lair just as she was escaping the tiger's mouth."

“Cui Shengzhi is a real old fox. He has planned such a big scheme without making a sound. He has made a name for himself. I am now trapped.”

Jiang Song pounded his chest and took a swig of strong liquor with the rainwater. He was always the one scheming, and it was never pleasant to be schemed against.

"Bang."

A small pebble was thrown at me.

Jiang Song, who had been hit on the back, turned his head fiercely and saw his eldest son standing quietly by lamplight in the dark.

"Strategy, you smashed it for your mother?"

Jiang Taolue walked to the grave, knelt down, and stroked the inscription on the tombstone, "Niannian asked me to come and find you."

"You found out?"

"I found out from Niannian."

"Don't tell anyone, not even Hongmei."

"Father may be angry, but he has already become biased."

Jiang Song didn't reply, but looked at the tombstone. "Don't worry, Madam. The three of us have been through thick and thin together."

Jiang Taolue glanced at his father indifferently, pulled him up, and hoisted him onto his shoulder. "Back to the manor."

"As a father, I am ashamed to face my beloved."

"We stand together through thick and thin, sharing joys and sorrows."

**

At dawn, the sky cleared instantly, the oily streets and alleys were full of potholes, and mud splashed onto pedestrians' shoes and socks.

Upon arriving at his doorstep, Jiang Song rubbed off the dried mud from his body, shook off his damp sleeves, and walked into the mansion with a normal expression, smiling and greeting the servants who came to greet him.

Jiang Yinyue pushed open the door at a gentle call, a touch of color returning to her pale face amidst a wave of bittersweetness. She ran down the wooden stairs and buried her face in her father's arms.

Father and daughter embraced silently.

Jiang Taolue, who was leaning against the moon gate, stepped forward, opened his arms, and hugged his sister's back.

Squeezed in the middle, Xiao Niannian could no longer hold back her tears, which fell onto her father's clothes.

She felt she hadn't lost love and trust; it was her family who had always taught her love and trust.

Jiang Song looked up, his throat choked with emotion, "It's my fault, Father."

"It's not Father's fault."

"How come our Niannian is so understanding?"

Jiang Taolue reached out his arm, pulled the father and daughter apart, grabbed his sister's shoulder and turned her towards him, and used his fingertips to wipe away her tears.

“Niannian’s tears are so precious, your brother is going to be rich.”

"Let your father make a fortune too."

Jiang Yinyue cried even louder after her brother pinched her cheeks and then her father pinched and rubbed them.

It hurts so much.

During the morning court session, Jiang Song glanced at the newly appointed Grand Secretary Zhou Yujin, who walked past him with his head held high, his upturned peach blossom eyes revealing a sharp edge.

With a beaming smile, Chief Minister Zhou stood at the head of the assembled officials, while the Second Chief Minister and Jiang Song bowed respectfully, saying, "You flatter me."

The second-in-command's shrug was practically a testament to his smugness.

Jiang Song chuckled softly and returned the greeting, "Congratulations, elder brother."

Premier Zhou nodded in approval from afar, then leaned closer and whispered, "Brother is getting on in years, so the next premier will have to be you, younger brother."

Jiang Song raised the corner of his lips slightly.

I don't know what I cursed under my breath.

With the Minister of Personnel promoted to Grand Secretary, the vacant position of Minister of Personnel urgently needed to be filled. Emperor Shunren, whose illness had not yet manifested, listened to the opinions of his ministers, rested his chin on his forehead, and tapped his fingers repeatedly, directly appointing the Left Vice Minister of Personnel to succeed him as Minister of Personnel.

The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel has worked diligently for decades, earning the respect and admiration of all officials.

"The position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel should not be left vacant; it should be concurrently held by Wei Qin, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet."

The audience erupted in uproar.

In the Great An Dynasty, no official under the age of thirty had ever served as a third-rank vice minister. Wei Qin's hard work had finally paid off, and he had risen rapidly through the ranks.

Grand Tutor Cui stroked his beard, smiling but saying nothing.

Jiang Song wanted to laugh but couldn't; his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Wei Xichen turned his gaze, just as light shone on the man in the blue robe, coating him with a halo.

When a person is in power, everyone favors him.

Wei Qin stepped forward in full view of everyone to receive Emperor Shunren's approval.

"If you're going to have a son, you should have Wei Yulang."

The words of praise had barely left his lips when Emperor Shunren suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. He gripped the armrests of his dragon throne tightly, still smiling.

After the court session ended, Wei Qin approached Jiang Song, who was striding forward, amidst a chorus of congratulations.

Jiang Song, with his tall stature and long legs, often had an advantage in agility contests, but now he had no advantage at all, as his son-in-law's legs were even better.

"Father."

"I can't accept that."

"May I discuss this further with my son-in-law?"

"Listen to your sophistry? I am the Minister of Justice, and I hate prisoners' sophistry the most!" Jiang Song calmly surveyed his surroundings, then chuckled, "The Grand Tutor explained a lot yesterday, so there's no need for further explanation. Ah, I wonder if the Cui family has informed you? I was a bit ungrateful and didn't accept the toast, so I threw a punch, hitting Governor Cui on the cheekbone."

Jiang Song twisted his wrist. "I originally wanted to smash the Grand Tutor, but that would be disrespectful to an elder."

“If Father is still not satisfied, he can take it out on his son-in-law.”

"I wouldn't dare, how could I dare take my anger out on the First Prince?"

Wei Qin watched Jiang Song leave quickly, then slowed down, turned around, and headed to the Ministry of Personnel to report for duty, brushing past the young man who was coming towards him.

"Hey, Minister Wei, wait!" Wei Yangwan, who had been ignored, backed up to catch up with Wei Qin. "I heard that someone met you at the inn. Did you break any of the Jiang family rules and get expelled? Being a live-in son-in-law is tough! I have a private residence outside the palace that you can stay at temporarily, for as long as you like."

Wei Qin did not stop walking, saying, "I am ashamed to accept this."

The boy stumbled backward, feeling a little dizzy. He turned around and jogged after him, asking, "Why should I feel ashamed to accept this?"

"Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together."

It meant that no matter how much he tried to curry favor, Wei Qin would not submit to him... The boy poked at Wei Qin's back, venting his displeasure.

"snort."

As dusk fell, crimson clouds gathered, and the rustling of fallen leaves echoed through the woods. Jiang Yinyue strolled through the twilight, her feet crunching on the fallen leaves, taking a leisurely walk to clear her mind, with the Jiang family's coachman and Hong Mei following far behind.

Looking at her young mistress, Hongmei felt that she was about to shatter in this gloomy late autumn.

On the way back, Jiang Yinyue bought a lot of snacks. Her little mouth was never still, her snowy cheeks were bulging. When she got off the carriage, she was still discussing with Hong Mei which store's candied hawthorns were better.

Abnormally excited.

Hong Mei paused, "Young Master..."

Jiang Yinyue stopped smiling, took Hong Mei's arm, and walked towards Wei Qin's side.

Wei Qin stepped forward, blocking her path.

She walked to the other side, only to be intercepted again.

"Let's talk in private."

Hong Mei withdrew her arm and, under Jiang Yinyue's incredulous gaze, slipped into the backyard. The coachman, quick-witted as ever, drove away from the other end of the alley.

In the alleyway, where lanterns flickered, a man and a woman stood frozen in the cold wind.

Jiang Yinyue, who had not yet heard about Wei Qin's promotion, glanced at the crimson official robe and peacock insignia, and walked past it again with a cold face. Her wrist was grabbed by an overly pale hand.

"Don't touch me."

Even though Wei Qin hadn't used much force, Jiang Yinyue couldn't break free. She raised her wrist, opened her mouth, and bit Wei Qin's index finger.

It tasted like blood and rust.

Wei Qin didn't flinch, pulled the person into his arms, and pressed him against the wall covered with wisteria.

To avoid hitting the woman's back, he braced himself firmly against the wall with his other hand.

"I want to see Miss."

He put one arm around Jiang Yinyue and leaned his back against her shoulder.

The blood on Jiang Yinyue's lips stained her brand-new official robe.

A touch of crimson.

Jiang Yinyue tried to knee him and punch him, but to no avail.

"Grand Tutor".

Wei Qin subconsciously turned his head, but Jiang Yinyue took the opportunity to push him away with all her might.

There was no Grand Tutor in the alley, only Jiang Yinyue's lies. She walked towards the back gate, leaving behind a warning that was neither too strong nor too weak.

"If this happens again, I'll call for help."

The woman pushed open the door and entered without turning her head, unaware that the deep night had swallowed up the man in the alley.

After taking a bath late at night, Jiang Yinyue sat in front of her dressing table and applied white jade cream.

The pretty face in the mirror was as cold as ice.

Suddenly remembering something, she opened the dressing table drawer, took out a small box of makeup powder, and felt its delicate texture. She then sent someone that very night to invite a familiar makeup artist.

"This is face powder made from pearls, and it costs over a hundred taels of silver."

Jiang Yinyue took out another box of rouge. "What about this one?"

The makeup artist carefully examined the recipe, marveling, "It'll cost at least a hundred taels."

Jiang Yinyue opened her tiger's mouth and pinched the swollen temporal region.

Wei Yihe deceived her so badly.

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Author's Note: In the previous chapter, I mixed up the names of Empress Yide and Empress Dong. They are Cui Yinghan and Dong Qiaowen, respectively.

50 small red envelopes