“Run!”
The night grew darker.
A group of youths of varying heights but all agile and nimble charged out of the inner courtyard of Wei Mansion and dashed toward the back gate.
The tallest youth reached out to pull the back gate open but found it wouldn’t budge.
“Brother Hu, open the gate!”
“Why won’t it open?”
“It sounds like someone’s coming from behind.”
“Oh no, the back gate is locked.” The youth’s face instantly paled. He tugged heavily at the gate a few more times, but it still wouldn’t open. Looking back into the courtyard, he saw candlelight approaching from the distance. Abandoning the idea of escaping through the gate, he said to his companions behind him, “Over the wall! Climb over the wall, quick!”
The twenty-five youths swiftly rushed toward the walls on either side.
They formed human pyramids, hoisting the smallest child onto the wall first, then the second child followed suit. One after another, they moved like monkeys—nimble, swift, and seamless, their coordination flawless.
All of this was witnessed by Zhu Changsheng.
These were all promising seedlings carefully selected by Lady Xiang from the beggars’ dens.
Unfortunately, they all perished on the battlefield in the end. The merits they earned became medals adorning Lady Xiang, laying “half the foundation” for her future status in Shengjing. This turned Lady Xiang into the great saintly mother praised by generations to come, with the world holding her up as a model, expecting women in the inner quarters to support their husbands, raise their children, and shoulder the responsibilities of virtuous wives and loving mothers.
“Capture them,” Zhu Changsheng ordered.
Guards from the Zhu residence swiftly cast fishing nets over the wall.
The group of youths attempting to escape, before they could leap down from the wall, were enveloped by the vast net and tumbled harshly to the ground.
Cries of “Wah wah!” filled the air.
Meanwhile, Steward Feng led another group of guards to apprehend the few youths who had managed to jump down from the wall.
But…
There was one who slipped through the net!
“Young Mistress, there are only twenty-four,” Steward Feng reported as he approached Zhu Changsheng.
Zhu Changsheng walked up to the child king, Wei Hu. “Let him escape. Having these children is enough.”
“You wicked woman, let us go!” Wei Hu shouted, straining against the net with both hands.
Zhu Changsheng crouched down, looking at Wei Hu, whose features were contorted from struggling. “What’s your name?”
Wei Hu snorted coldly. “Why should I tell you, you wicked woman?”
“Wei Hu, she is the Young Mistress of our Wei Mansion, the wife of the Young Master,” reprimanded Su Ji, the Wei Mansion’s account steward.
Wei Hu widened his eyes and looked at Zhu Changsheng. “Then why did she drive my foster mother out of the Wei residence? My foster mother worked tirelessly to manage the Wei Mansion. Not only is she ungrateful, but she also drove both my foster father and foster mother out of the Wei Mansion. I heard that Young General Wei’s birth mother is my foster mother’s own elder sister. That means she should respect my foster mother as her aunt. She shows no respect for her elders and is unworthy to be Young General Wei’s wife.”
Su Ji was furious. “You—”
“Steward Su,” Zhu Changsheng raised a hand to stop him.
She knew of Wei Hu.
He was righteous, honest, and knew how to repay kindness. Even when Lady Xiang beat or scolded him, he remained filial to her. In his eyes, having clothes to wear and food to eat was all due to Lady Xiang’s care.
This fully demonstrated that Wei Hu was brave but lacked strategy, blindly loyal, and too straightforward in character, making it easy for him to offend others. His eventual sacrifice came as no surprise.
In her previous life, he had earned his own merits through sheer martial prowess, but he had also offended many generals in the army, sowing the seeds of future disaster.Lady Xiang provided him with food, drink, and clothing but never taught him the ways of being a proper person. To put it plainly, Wei Hu was the brute she raised.
Yet one had to acknowledge Wei Hu’s strengths—he was naturally strong, agile, and well-suited for martial training, though he lacked discipline.
“Whether I am fit to be Young General Wei’s wife is not for you to decide. After all, Young General Wei likes women like me. As for you…”
Zhu Changsheng reached out and patted his face a few times.
The other young men, seeing this, shouted, “Don’t hit my Brother Hu! Hit me instead!”
“Hit?” Zhu Changsheng swept her gaze over the youths in the other net, pacing back and forth before them, her voice icy. “You released a hundred rats into the Wei family’s spirit hall. If the bodies resting there suffer even the slightest damage, this will not be a matter that can be settled with a mere beating.”
“You… you’re trying to scare us.” That wasn’t what Lady Xiang had told them.
Lady Xiang had said they were only to frighten the wicked woman, to let her know that disrespecting elders would bring punishment from heaven. She never mentioned the rats were meant to damage the corpses.
They thought they were just catching rats to scare the new bride.
“The Wei family defended against foreign invaders. Their men, women, and children fought with their lives to hold the city gates until reinforcements arrived, saving an entire city of commoners. Both the Emperor and his ministers grieve and lament the sacrifices of the Wei family’s sons. Wherever the coffin passed, the people filled the streets and alleys, kneeling and weeping to the heavens. This shows the importance the Emperor and his subjects place on this. Yet you ignorant brats show no remorse. Instead, you hurl insults at the widows of loyal martyrs. Your character is depraved, and your crimes are unforgivable. These charges alone are enough to have you executed as a warning to others. Steward Feng, tie them all up. When the Emperor comes to Wei Mansion to offer incense, present them before him.”
After speaking, Zhu Changsheng stood up and stepped back.
The young men in the net all paled at her words.
“No, I don’t want to die!”
“Ah, I… I still want to go to the battlefield and kill enemies. I don’t want to be beheaded.”
“Still dreaming of going to the battlefield to kill enemies? With your behavior, even if you don’t want to die, it’s useless. Tie them up and lock them in the woodshed. Wait for the Emperor to sentence them to death,” Steward Feng shouted loudly.
The seven-year-old child who had escaped hid in the shadows.
After hearing Zhu Changsheng and Steward Feng’s words, he turned and ran back to the ancestral residence to find Lady Xiang.
At that moment, Steward Feng’s son, Feng Qing, entered from outside and reported to Zhu Changsheng, “That child ran back to the Wei family’s ancestral residence.”
Zhu Changsheng gazed toward the back door, her eyes narrowing slightly.
The escaped child was Wei Jiangbai. He couldn’t lift heavy objects or carry burdens on his shoulders, but he possessed a photographic memory, a quick mind, and sharp wits—a stark contrast to Wei Hu.
Lady Xiang wanted someone who could achieve merit on the battlefield. Wei Jiangbai lacked the aptitude for martial arts, yet Lady Xiang forced him into it. In fierce battles, he relied on his intellect to win, excelling in unconventional tactics and stratagems. However, he never found a position suited to his talents. He died at Linshui Pass less than three years after joining the army.
He was a talent!
“Young Madam, all one hundred and sixty-two rats that entered the spirit hall have been captured. The bodies of the masters were not gnawed by rodents or insects. I have fulfilled your task without failing my mission,” Ling Su quickly found Zhu Changsheng and reported with a bow.
Zhu Changsheng turned to look at the man before her and said, “Ling Su.”
“Yes, Young Madam.””According to my husband, there were originally twenty-three guards in his courtyard. Where are they now?” Zhu Changsheng asked.
Ling Su was momentarily taken aback, then replied, “They, like me, were all dismissed from the estate. If you wish to recall them, I can go and find them.”
“I am in need of manpower. It would be best if we could bring them all back, but for now, let’s deal with tonight’s matters first.” Zhu Changsheng walked over to Ling Su and whispered a few words in his ear.
After listening, Ling Su cupped his hands in a respectful bow and said, “Understood. I will handle it immediately.”
Ancestral Residence, West Wing.
“Squeak, squeak…” Several large rats jumped onto Lady Xiang’s body.