Chapter 319 Disguised as a Guest, a Rare Arrival
Ji Qingwu immediately changed to an unfamiliar face.
Wei Tongyou was so frightened that she took a step back, pointed at her face, and stammered, "You, how did you do that?"
Ji Qingwu's face now looks almost identical to that of the tall maid lying in the corner.
"Come here."
Ji Qingwu waved to her.
Wei Tongyou paused for a moment, then cautiously leaned closer with anticipation.
Two soft hands kneaded her cheeks back and forth, taking longer than Ji Qingwu had spent disguising herself.
Ji Qingwu tapped her cheek with his finger: "Alright."
Wei Tongyou looked at her reflection in the water vat beside her, and found that her appearance had become the same as that of the short maid.
She checked it several times, staring in astonishment at Ji Qingwu's fair and delicate hands.
"You have nothing in your hands, so you just want to squeeze it like this?"
Ji Qingwu revealed a profound and inscrutable expression.
She wouldn't tell Wei Tongyou that there was actually no need to pinch; a simple gesture would suffice.
But saying less and maintaining mystery is the best way to avoid revealing yourself.
Ji Qingwu pointed to the soup simmering on the stove and said, "Nongying, you take the soup pot, let's go back to the master's courtyard."
Who is Nongying? Wei Tongyou hadn't gotten used to her new identity yet, and it took her a while to realize that they were calling her.
She questioned, "Shouldn't we go to Madam Song's residence first? They came here precisely to return the belongings to Su Daiyue's birth mother."
Ji Qingwu raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you know where it is?"
Wei Tongyou shook her head.
"If you don't know, come with me."
Ji Qingwu pushed open the kitchen door and carefully locked it to prevent anyone from discovering the two maids in the kitchen.
She still had the crescent-shaped key in her sleeve pocket, hoping it would come in handy tonight.
Late at night.
The Su residence was completely silent, with only the sound of the wind rustling the leaves, the chirping of insects in the grass, and the occasional flapping of birds' wings.
The layout of the Prime Minister's residence is different from that of ordinary people, with the front and back courtyards separated by a great distance.
Only Su Fengyue's courtyard was in the front; the women and servants all lived in the back courtyard.
Ji Qingwu and her companions encountered no one along the way and arrived at the front yard without any trouble.
Under the thick shadows of the trees at night, two figures floated down from the trees to one person beneath the wall separating the backyard from the front hall.
Sanchuan and Sihai knelt respectfully and whispered, "Master."
The man was dressed in the coarse gray clothes of a farmhand, and his appearance had changed. He had thick eyebrows, small eyes, and a flat face, looking exactly like an honest, simple passerby.
But the voice still carried its usual coldness.
When did you arrive?
Sanchuan Sihai knew that this was a specially made human skin mask, and they would wear it when they worked in the daytime.
Faced with the emperor's question, Sihai dared not utter a word, while Sanchuan said, "At three quarters past Hai hour, Miss Ji arrived with the fourteenth daughter of the Wei family."
It was 3:45 PM, not much later than him.
Zhao Mingyan asked, "What is she doing here?"
"Lord Su's daughter passed away, and before her death, she entrusted Miss Ji with a hairpin, intending to pass it on to her aunt, but in reality..."
San Chuan rarely hesitated or stammered.
Si Hai said with a tense expression, "We want to send Miss Ji to Prime Minister Su."
As soon as he finished speaking, the man's fingers snapped, making the two guards' throats tighten.
After a long silence, Zhao Mingyan asked, "Where is she?"
Sanchuan said, "They went to Lord Su's courtyard."
Su Fengyue's youngest daughter passed away. In the afternoon, Song Wei delivered the news to the palace to inform his father-in-law. However, in order to demonstrate his loyalty to the country at the expense of his family, Prime Minister Su finished his political affairs with tears in his eyes and sighs.
Lu Juan, who was also in the room, felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze, and even clenched his fists as he passed behind Su Fengyue.
After being persuaded by the ministers, Su Fengyue went to the Song family in the evening and has not yet returned to his residence.
This also conveniently facilitated the emperor's nighttime scouting.
Just now, Zhao Mingyan had searched Su Fengyue's house and study, but found nothing suspicious.
The old fox Su Fengyue has hidden the evidence of his collusion with the Xijin army somewhere.
Just as Zhao Mingyan was about to go to the backyard to investigate, he unexpectedly discovered two hidden guards in the trees.
Upon seeing them, he naturally knew that Ji Qingwu was also there.
"We can't waste any more time," Zhao Mingyan instructed. "You two go and check the backyard for any suspicious letters."
Si Hai didn't quite understand: "Then, then Miss Ji..." Their primary duty was to protect Ji Qingwu.
"Your subordinate takes his leave."
Sanchuan grabbed Sihai's arm and pulled him away. The two of them flew onto the roof and walked lightly on the tiles.
“Miss Ji is naturally protected by her master, so you don’t need to worry about her.”
Sihai whispered, "How can we let Master protect her? Master is of inestimable value."
San Chuan kept walking and said, "Haven't you figured it out yet? You should refrain from interfering with the master's decisions in the future, and don't gossip about them behind his back."
Si Hai pressed, "What did you understand?"
Sanchuan sighed and said, "Never mind, you're too young to explain it to you."
Sihai said, "Now you know. Tell me, has something been going on with you lately...?"
*
Song Mansion.
Song Wei knelt in the mourning hall like a walking corpse, with a heavy solid wood coffin beside him.
Before Su Fengyue arrived, the steward was in charge.
Su Fengyue stood at the entrance of the mourning hall, his eyes lowered, surrounded by many officials.
He offered words of comfort: "Please accept my condolences, Prime Minister Su."
An official with a white beard, his eyes brimming with tears, said, "Prime Minister Su, please accept my condolences. I still remember that Daiyue was your most beloved daughter. I never imagined that things would change so drastically, and that you, an old man, would have to bury your daughter."
Su Fengyue's lips trembled slightly as he said, "Thank you for remembering my daughter, Lord Liu."
"Lord Su, you should take care of your health and not be too sad."
Many people came to pay their respects.
Many people came because of Su Fengyue's influence. The atmosphere at the scene was not as somber as expected. Instead, it became a place for some officials to network and build relationships.
Several people gathered together, discussing something.
But there are also rare visitors.
For example, Prince Yong, after learning that Emperor Wusu was seriously injured and unconscious, closed his doors to visitors in his mansion.
When everyone saw Zhao Minghong leading someone in, they all fell silent.
Zhao Minghong entered the mourning hall, while Song Wei was still sitting blankly beside the coffin.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Su Fengyue's eyes flashed with surprise. He cupped his hands in greeting and said, "This old minister greets Your Highness."
Zhao Minghong said, "Gentlemen, please rise. I have come with my queen to offer my condolences for the beloved daughter of Prime Minister Su."
Prince Yong and Su Fengyue had never had any contact.
Princess Consort Tao Wanyin was the daughter of Tao Changhai. In the court, Grand Secretary Tao and Prime Minister Su held opposing political views, and everyone knew that the two were not on good terms.
Everyone was speculating about the purpose of Prince Yong and his wife's visit today...
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