The Wei family is already in a prominent enough position right now, so there is no need to talk about some things to avoid unnecessary complications.

If Leng Ziling were still alive, he might have informed the Leng family about this.

But he was not afraid that the Leng family would jump out and accuse him of taking away Wei Xu's armor and relics of the previous dynasty. Not to mention whether the Leng family knew that the things in the box were relics of the previous dynasty, even if they knew, what would it matter?

Do they dare to say it? They took the incomplete map of their father and did not give it to His Majesty, but held it in their own hands, clearly intending to take the treasure for themselves.

Emperor Jingxuan promoted the Leng family because they were obedient. Once the Leng family became disobedient, it would be the next Wei family.

The Leng family didn't have the courage to gamble.

Emperor Jingxuan looked at Wei Ting with a complicated expression and tightened his hands on the dragon throne.

"You said you were going south to look for your father. Have you already determined the whereabouts of General Wei Xu?"

The person asking the questions was Xiao Chonghua.

Wei Ting said calmly, "After my father escaped, Helian Ye followed him all the way and found several items from southern Xinjiang where the clues were cut off."

Xiao Chonghua said: "So you suspect that General Wei Xu was taken to Southern Xinjiang."

Wei Ting said: "That's right."

Xiao Chonghua asked suspiciously, "But... why did the people of Southern Xinjiang capture General Wei Xu?"

Wei Ting said truthfully: "I don't know, so I want to find out the truth."

Xiao Chonghua raised his eyes to look at Emperor Jingxuan who was sitting on the dragon throne, and said solemnly: "Father, there are many doubts about this matter. If General Wei Xu really fell into the hands of the people of Southern Xinjiang, we must be on guard against their intentions."

An old general said disdainfully: "Southern Xinjiang is just a barbarian land. What can they do if they have ulterior motives? How can we be afraid of them?"

There is also a chain of contempt between countries. Western Jin and Wei were big countries, at the top of power. Great Zhou and Northern Yan were not like these two countries, and they had to look up to them. Southern Xinjiang was just a small country composed of dozens of barbarian tribes. In comparison, Great Zhou's sense of superiority came out.

Xiao Chonghua said slowly, "That was the Southern Xinjiang of the past. Today, the Southern Xinjiang has unified all the tribes and small countries in the Southern Commandery, and is a force that cannot be underestimated. Moreover, the mountains of the Southern Xinjiang are the source of miasma, and it has a natural terrain that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It is an excellent place to raise troops. If the Southern Xinjiang has any ambitions, there will be endless troubles!"

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites didn't say anything, but his brows were frowned again and again.

Emperor Jingxuan noticed his abnormality and asked, "Minister of the Honglu Temple, do you have anything to report?"

The Honglu Temple was in charge of diplomatic relations with other countries, and most of the reports that the Honglu Temple Minister had to make were related to news from other countries.

Emperor Jingxuan originally thought that the message of peace request came from Northern Yan, but unexpectedly it came from Southern Xinjiang.

Emperor Jingxuan's face darkened: "What did you say? Propose marriage?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites said awkwardly, "Yes, the King of Southern Xinjiang is begging for a princess of the Great Zhou to marry his son."

It was the old general who spoke again: "Humph, I think the King of Southern Xinjiang is dreaming. How can a princess of the Great Zhou marry into a barbarian land?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites knew there was no hope and had no intention of saying it in the court. He just wanted to submit a memorial, explain what was going on, and wait for Emperor Jingxuan to reject it.

It was because Wei Ting mentioned today that General Wei Xu might be in southern Xinjiang that he hesitated whether to mention it in passing.

Emperor Jingxuan would never agree to marry his daughter to such a hellish place, let alone the daughter of a minister. If the news spread that the princess of the Great Zhou was marrying in a barbarian land, she would probably become a laughing stock among the other nations.

Emperor Jingxuan didn't take the marriage proposal from Southern Xinjiang seriously at all. What really bothered him was Wei Ting's journey south to look for his father.

Wei Ting said: "Your Majesty asked me yesterday in the Imperial Study about my great achievements and wanted to reward me with a large sum of money. He also asked me if I wanted anything. I wanted nothing, but to be able to go back to my father."

The corner of Emperor Jingxuan's mouth twitched: You said yesterday that you had nothing else to ask for! Wei Ting had just made great contributions at the border, and now he asked to find his father. In front of all the civil and military officials, could Emperor Jingxuan not agree? Do you still want to be a wise ruler?

Emperor Jingxuan said: "But your injury has not healed yet..."

Wei Ting said sternly: "I am eager to find my father, so what does this little injury mean?"

The court officials nodded one after another. How could they not be moved by their filial piety? "Your Majesty, let Wei Ting find General Wei Xu."

"We implore General Wei Xu to return to the court!"

"Your Highness, we beg General Wei Xu to return to the court!"

…

After leaving the palace, Wei Ting got on the Wei family's carriage.

The old marquis and Su Yuan were also sitting inside.

The two of them deliberately asked for leave and did not go to court today. Others could plead for Wei Ting, but the Qin and Su families had to stay out of the spotlight for the time being.

"Has His Majesty agreed to let you go to Southern Xinjiang?" Su Yuan asked.

"I agree." Wei Ting said, "Thank you, uncle and great-uncle."

Although the old marquis and Su Yuanming did not attend the court, they had secretly made arrangements. Those who were the first to come forward to plead for Wei Ting were all people they had informed.

The old marquis sighed, "I can only help you so far. Any more would be counterproductive."

Wei Ting nodded: "I understand."

"Even if we face off against His Majesty today, there is no turning back once the arrow has been shot." The old marquis looked at Wei Ting and said, "I hope your inference is correct. Your father is still alive in southern Xinjiang."

Su Yuan said: "Whether Wei Xu is in Southern Xinjiang or not, we must go for Wei Qing."

"Well." The old marquis said to Wei Ting, "Where are you going to go?"

Wei Ting thought for a moment and said, "Let's go south from Qingzhou and take Xiaoxiao back to pay respect to our ancestors and burn incense for our mother."

Su Ergou and Su Xiaoxiao's biological mother, Chen, was buried in the countryside of Qingzhou. Su Cheng's identity was uncertain at first, but now that Su Cheng has returned to his ancestral home, it is time for Chen to move her grave.

They planned to move Chen's coffin back to the capital after returning from southern Xinjiang, erect a stone tablet for the wife of the Duke of Protectorate and bury her in the Qin family's Feng Shui treasure land.

The old marquis sighed: "It should be so. Alas, that child is also a pitiful person."

Although Chen was born in the countryside, she had parents and an older brother, so her life should have been pretty good. However, she was not treated as a human being since she was young. She finally got married, but she passed away after just a few years of living a peaceful life.

The old marquis patted Wei Ting on the shoulder and said, "Go see your mother, that's good."

…

It was decided that Wei Ting would go to southern Xinjiang.

Wei Qing also went along with them. He was a counselor of the Western Jin Dynasty and Emperor Jingxuan had no control over his whereabouts.

Li Wan was reluctant to leave him, fearing that this farewell would be forever.

Wei Qing looked at her gently: "Don't worry, I will come back."

Wei Xiyue also couldn't bear to leave her father, so she sat on Wei Qing's lap and hugged his neck tightly with her little hands.

Wei Qing caressed her little head lovingly: "Daddy will miss Xiyue too."

Old Lady Wei sat in her room, feeling distressed when she thought about her children leaving again: "They have to leave Beijing again after only a few days of coming back. I am an old lonely woman and I am always lonely."

Wei Ting squeezed his grandmother's hand and said, "Don't worry about me. This minor injury of mine is nothing serious."

Old Lady Wei glared at him and took his hand away in disgust: "Who is worried about you? I am worried about my granddaughter-in-law and little great-grandson!"

Wei Ting looked hurt: Grandma, you have changed, you don’t love Xiaoqi anymore.

In the evening, the imperial edict from Emperor Jingxuan arrived, ordering Wei Ting to find General Wei Xu. In addition, Emperor Jingxuan also arranged for a prince to accompany him.

Su Xiaoxiao asked, "Is it Xiao Duye?"

Wei Ting stared at the imperial edict and said, "Xiao Shunyang."

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(End of this chapter)