42 Chapter 42
◎He returned to Beijing happily, only to find his home had been robbed.◎
"There are so many noble ladies in the capital, why do you choose to fall for her?" Wei Yiqun asked.
Wei Che glanced at his father and replied half-truthfully, "There are two reasons. First, I really fell in love with her when we first met on Shangsi Festival. Second... Father also knows that the princess is from the Nan'an Palace after all. Now that the Southern Border Army is under your command, if I marry the princess from the Nan'an Palace, people will be more obedient, right?"
"You're really good at sharing your father's worries." Wei Yiqun curled his lips, looking at his son with a hint of admiration, but mostly teasing. "I'm afraid sharing your worries is fake, but falling in love at first sight is real, right?"
Wei Che chuckled: "What did my son say? No one knows a son better than his father. Father really understands his son! The princess is to me just like Aunt Jin is to me. I really like her. I hope father will agree!"
The concubine Jin he mentioned was the most favored concubine in Wei Yiqun's backyard.
Wei Yiqun and Lady Zhao Wan, wife of the Duke of Fuguo, had a marriage of convenience. Although they had no feelings for each other before marriage, they treated each other with respect after marriage.
Wei Yiqun gave Zhao Wan the respect she deserved, and Zhao Wan didn't bother with the beauties in his backyard. As long as they kept quiet, she wouldn't treat them too harshly.
And that concubine Jin was none other than the girl Wei Yiqun rescued on the battlefield when he was fighting in the southern border army six years ago. In order to repay the life-saving grace, she pledged herself to Wei Yiqun.
She is obedient and gentle, and is the favorite of Wei Yiqun. Even during the two years when he went on the expedition to the southern border, he always brought her with him.
Now that Wei Che had deliberately mentioned this person, Wei Yiqun's heart was naturally moved, so he said, "Well, if you really like a woman, I will do as you wish."
With his consent, Wei Che became more aggressive. He stood up, lifted his robe, and knelt in front of the table. "Father, please speed up the march and return to the capital as soon as possible!"
Wei Yiqun was at his ease, having probably guessed his plan, but he still asked, "Why?"
Wei Che said, "Father has been away on the expedition for two years and was unaware that the Wei family in the capital had already arranged for Xu Qinghe to be Wei Ming's wife. This time, Wei Ming did not use the family background to enter the government, but instead took the imperial examination.
"The imperial examination results will be announced in just over ten days. I'm afraid that Empress Dowager Wei will use this opportunity to facilitate a marriage, so I ask you to return to the capital as soon as possible to arrange a marriage for me. After all..."
He raised the corner of his mouth and looked at Wei Yiqun meaningfully: "After all, my father has military merits now. It shouldn't be difficult to snatch people from the Wei family, right?"
It's not difficult to hear such flattering words, but it makes Wei Yiqun feel comfortable.
Wei Che added, "Besides, I have heard that the Yuzhou flood incident has already occurred, but the news has not yet reached the capital. Instead, it is Cen Chuan and his son who are trying to show goodwill to the Wei family. It is obvious that they want to rely on the power of the Wei family to suppress this matter.
"If this is true, how can we avenge Uncle Wei? Therefore, father, you might as well return to the capital as soon as possible under the pretext of seeking a marriage for your son, so as to prevent this matter in time."
Wei Yiqun leaned back in his chair, pointing his finger at the table. It was the first time he looked at his son so formally.
His son was smart and handsome since childhood. Five years ago, he was ordered to go from the capital to the southern border to take over the southern border army. His fourteen-year-old son clamored to see the world, so he took him with him out of pity.
Unexpectedly, when he was training in the military camp, his son secretly ran away and was somehow caught in a fire. Although he was lucky enough to survive, his appearance was completely destroyed and his temperament changed drastically.
He searched all over the southern border for a famous doctor and finally found a highly respected monk who could restore his son's appearance. He then sent his son to the temple.
Half a year later, the son returned from the temple. His facial features were slightly different from before, but one could still vaguely see the shadow of the original.
The eminent monk insisted that his son had a connection with Buddhism and wanted to ordain him and take him back to the Zhangzhou Buddhist Temple.
Of course Wei Yiqun refused, so the two had to compromise. Wei Che would not be ordained, but would have to go to Zhangzhou Buddhist Temple as a lay disciple.
He rarely saw his son in the next four and a half years. Every time they met, his son would only cause trouble for him in Beijing, which made him so angry that he sent him back.
But Wei Yiqun knew how smart his son was when he was young, so he just thought that his son was playing around for a while and didn't really think that he had become a fool.
When I saw it today, I couldn't help but think to myself that it was indeed so.
"Wei Che, have you ever thought about entering the government?" He asked this question out of the blue, lowering his eyes to look at Wei Che who was still kneeling on the ground.
Wei Che's eyes lit up immediately, and he knelt down on the ground: "I'll leave it to Father's arrangements!"
Wei Yiqun nodded and said, "I have agreed to this matter. I will hurry back to Beijing at dawn tomorrow. You can go home first. Your father will make arrangements for you after you get married."
"Thank you, father, for your help!" Wei Che bowed down again.
He did not stay in the camp. He said goodbye to his father and mounted his red horse again, whipping it back to Beijing.
This visit to see his father took longer than he had originally planned.
I'm afraid that girl will accuse him of breaking his promise when he gets back.
Originally, it was because he had to take care of Master Wei's health. Now Wei Che was alone with his horse. He traveled day and night for three days before finally returning to the city before the city gate was locked.
After entering the city, he breathed a sigh of relief, as if he had finally accomplished something great, and his whole body felt relaxed.
Now was the time for leisure after dinner. The streets were crowded with people. Wei Che couldn't run fast, so he simply got off his horse and walked slowly.
After they get married, he also wants to stroll here with Xu Qinghe, watching the fireworks of the world and enjoying the prosperous scenery of the world.
The girl had been trapped in the palace for five years. She didn't know how much she missed the sky outside, the scenery outside, and the life outside without intrigue and deception.
When he married her, she would just need to be a carefree girl, go horseback riding in the suburbs of Beijing, paint in the woods, wander through the alleys of the world, or explore various places to explore the wonders.
In short, as long as she wants to, she can do it.
Let him bear all the so-called truth and hatred.
When Wei Che thought of this, his heart seemed to be filled, and his steps were no longer as heavy as when he left the city before. He finally relaxed and let himself blend into the fireworks of this world.
As I walked, I could hear the discussions of people around me.
"Hey, have you heard? Princess Qinghe, who was raised by the Queen Mother, is finally getting married to the eldest son of Wei!"
Wei Che's feet seemed to be frozen in place, and he immediately looked towards the source of the sound.
A few unmarried girls were sitting around a small table in front of the wonton shop, chattering and laughing.
One of them beamed with joy, "Of course I've heard! Princess Qinghe and Young Master Wei are a couple everyone in the capital envied, and now it's finally happening. I heard they'll be getting married as soon as the results of the imperial examination are announced. They're really eager."
"Not only that, the Wei family originally planned to hold a simple wedding a few days ago, but the people from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau reported that it was not appropriate to hold a wedding for the eldest son of the Wei family before the results were announced, otherwise it would be detrimental to his future career. The Empress Dowager therefore put the matter on hold."
...She and Wei Ming are getting married?
Did she regret it?
The fatigue brought by days of traveling washed over Wei Che after he heard the news. His eyes went dark and he could hardly stand, swaying on the ground.
Fortunately, a scholar passed by and helped him up.
"Is the young master all right?"
Wei Che shook his head and paused for a moment before the light finally returned to his eyes.
He waved to the scholar, his throat so dry that he couldn't even speak.
Before leaving, she swore that she and Wei Ming had never had, and would never have, any relationship. He had only been out of town for a few days, and she had already accepted someone else's proposal?!
Whether in the past or now, she has always been the one who broke her promise!
He should have known that he couldn't trust everything this woman said. When he was still Xie Qi, she was very affectionate to him, but didn't she turn around and break off the engagement with him?
Now, facing Wei Che, the prince of Fuguo, on the one hand, she promised him to work for her, but on the other hand, she turned around and wanted to marry someone else while she was not in the capital.
From the beginning to the end, he was the only one deceived.
In the past, Xie Qi could only watch her get on the carriage and go to Kyoto. Now, does Wei Che have to watch her marry someone else?
No, it's impossible.
Wei Che narrowed his eyes, handed the reins to the scholar, turned around and went to the Imperial Guard's office.
Qi Sheng was still on duty at that time, but it was not yet time for the imperial guards to change shifts.
He glanced at Wei Che, turned his head away, quickly looked back, opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it.
Wei Che was feeling very annoyed right now. He wanted to rush into the palace with a gun and snatch Xu Qinghe out. However, the man in front of him seemed to be hesitant to speak, which was annoying.
"If you have something to say, say it now!"
Qi Sheng glanced at him again, and this time he spoke directly: "Since you are so anxious, why don't you freshen up first."
Wei Che had been on the road for eight days. He kept everything simple. He touched his face and found that he had already grown stubble on his chin.
I raised my arm and sniffed, and sure enough, there was a sour and stinky smell.
He looked up at Qi Sheng. They were several feet apart. No wonder he was so far away from him.
There was naturally a place for the imperial guards to wash in the government office. Wei Che simply took the clothes of the imperial guards, tidied himself up and put them on, waiting for the shift change to sneak into the palace.
But after entering the palace, Wei Che still had to wait.
Only when the entire palace falls into silence can he sneak into Empress Dowager Wei's palace without any risk and not cause any trouble for Xu Qinghe.
He followed a team of imperial guards on a patrol of the palace, waiting anxiously while rehearsing the moves over and over in his mind.
After meeting the girl, he would know what kind of accusation he should make and how he should ask her to reject Wei Ming's marriage proposal.
She should know that he is the only one in the whole capital who can give her the life she wants. Only he can make her be the free and unrestrained girl she used to be, rather than the dignified princess praised by everyone in the capital today.
She should have known that she should have chosen him instead of Wei Ming who couldn't protect her at all.
Finally, the third watch bell rang. It was the time for the imperial guards to take a short rotation, and Wei Che left the team and headed towards the Empress Dowager's palace.
He came to Xu Qinghe's courtyard with ease, but found that there were many more palace servants on duty here.
It was like she was trapped here.
He had no choice but to take out the incense he had prepared long ago.
That incense is unique to the underworld, and is countless times stronger than ordinary incense. Even outdoors, ordinary people will easily fall down after smelling it. It is colorless and odorless, and there is no way to guard against it.
After the palace guards in front and behind finally fell down one after another, Wei Che climbed in through the back window again.
The girl hasn't slept yet.
There were lights on in the room at this time. She was sitting alone at the desk in the side room, painting silently under the light of several lanterns on the table.
Her eyelashes drooped, casting a shadow beneath her eyes, making it difficult to discern her emotions.
As if she heard his footsteps, she looked up, and the moment she saw him, her pupils suddenly shrank, and she quickly blew out the candles on the table.
The room suddenly fell into darkness.
"Are you crazy? There's someone guarding the door!"
At this time, she was still blaming him.
Blame him for coming uninvited?
Or did she blame him for ruining her marriage with Wei Ming?
In the darkness where no one's face could be seen, Wei Che smiled self-deprecatingly.
But he won't give up this time.
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