Chapter 302: Dispute at the Gate, Demanding Repayment for a Favor
When the surrounding commoners saw who it was, they immediately cleared a path, their gazes filled with reverence.
Dressed in a crimson-purple official’s robe, he stood at the foot of the steps, exuding the imperious, arrogant air of a man long accustomed to a high position.
Hearing this voice, Madam Wei paused in her departure. Nanny Cao was the first to turn around, and her expression grew heavy when she saw who had arrived.
"Madam, it is Prime Minister Su."
Madam Wei’s face grew even more serious.
With the Emperor in a coma and Wei Ting far away on the Northern Border, the Empress Dowager was in control of the inner palace, while all matters of the imperial court were decided by Su Fengyue and Lu Juan.
The court officials had promoted Lu Juan, the Princely Heir of Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion, but he was still young and no match for the influence of Su Fengyue, a First-Grade Prime Minister with a vast network of allies.
In less than seven days, the political landscape of the Beili court had shifted several times.
The Emperor had not yet passed, still lying in his bedchamber, yet half the court officials had already flocked to Prime Minister Su’s side.
Madam Wei’s shoulders slumped. She removed her hand from Nanny Cao’s arm and steadily turned back towards the entrance.
"Lord Su."
Su Fengyue’s temples were gray, and his eyes were clouded with the world-weariness of a long life.
He clasped his hands in a gesture of humility. "Old Madam, it has been many years."
Madam Wei said, "Prime Minister Su, I doubt you came looking for me just to exchange pleasantries."
Ma Pozi scurried to Su Fengyue’s side and said with downcast eyes, "My Lord, the Wei Family refuses to release Ji Wu, the one who harmed our lady’s son."
Su Fengyue saw the treasure box Ma Pozi was holding, and his face darkened, but he said nothing.
Having been steeped in the politics of the court for decades, the slightest hint of anger on his face was enough to terrify the surrounding commoners.
Madam Wei, standing opposite him, remained calm and composed, completely unaffected by his change in expression.
After glancing around at the crowd of commoners, Su Fengyue’s gaze landed on the old woman before him.
To everyone’s surprise, he loudly reprimanded Ma Pozi.
"Who told you to come stir up trouble at the Wei Mansion’s gates? Are you not aware that the Great General is fighting for our nation in the bitter cold of the frontier? For you fools to come here and cause a scene... this will surely break General Zhenbei’s heart."
Regardless of his motives, he first elevated the Wei Family’s status.
A weary look appeared on Su Fengyue’s face, and his voice was somewhat hoarse.
"I was at the Central Secretariat all last night handling official documents. I only just found a moment to leave the palace at this hour, hoping to return home for a quick rest. But I saw this place was surrounded, and my carriage couldn’t get through. It was only when I stepped out that I learned it was you, you insolent servant, who brought people here to cause trouble at the Wei Mansion!"
Ma Pozi was so frightened by the fierce look in his eyes that she lowered her head in terror.
"But... but... My Lord said..."
Su Fengyue cut in, "What did I say? I told you to take good care of Little Yue now that she’s lost her child. I told you not to let her become so grief-stricken that she tries to take her own life. And you, you insolent servant, instead of looking after your mistress, you come here to act all high and mighty!"
His words revealed that Madam Song was inconsolable after her miscarriage and was not in a good state.
Just then, a woman in the crowd, holding a child in her arms, boldly stepped forward to speak up for Ma Pozi.
"My Lord, please don’t blame this woman. General Wei may have great accomplishments, but that’s no reason for the Wei Family to bully others. Every child is a treasure to their family, and what’s more, Madam Song is the apple of your eye—she is just as precious."
"If I may speak frankly, My Lord, you are simply too kind and too reasonable."
"Yes, yes."
...
Many of the onlookers began to chime in.
Su Fengyue’s words, while appearing to favor the Wei Family, had actually painted them as unjust and cruel.
The wrinkles at the corners of Madam Wei’s eyes deepened considerably.
’They aren’t just after Ji Qingwu. They’re after the Wei Family. After Wei Ting.’
Su Fengyue said, "I know you, Old Madam, have always valued propriety above all else. What Ji Wu has done is, in truth, unrelated to the Wei Family. It is a failing of the Ji Family."
Madam Wei asked, "Prime Minister Su, are you saying that for this matter with Ji Wu, you will not hold the Wei Family responsible?"
Su Fengyue nodded. "That is not my intention. However, since things have escalated to this point, perhaps we should ask Ji Wu to show her face and offer an explanation to everyone."
From wailing and demanding Ji Qingwu take responsibility, to now just asking her to make an appearance.
Madam Wei looked deeply at Su Fengyue.
"Prime Minister Su, this ’Ji Wu’ you keep mentioning is the wife my grandson, Wei Ting, married. By rank, Wei Ting is not beneath you. Shouldn’t you also address her as Lady Wei?"
The peaceful smile on Su Fengyue’s lips vanished.
Madam Wei said, "Lord Su, you and I are old acquaintances. Though there’s no need to bring up the past, Wei Zhengze once saved your life. I wonder if that life debt can offset the life of that unborn child."
Nanny Cao added, "And if there were no Lord Su, there would be no Madam Song, to say nothing of the child in her womb."
Wei Zhengze was Wei Ting’s grandfather. He once served in the same court as Prime Minister Su. While suppressing bandits, Grandfather Wei rescued Su Fengyue, who had been abducted by bandits on his way to the capital for the imperial examinations.
The two became good brothers due to this twist of fate, but later parted ways due to different political views. Grandfather Wei passed away in his forties due to the recurrence of old injuries.
The Wei Family had never used this life-saving favor to demand repayment. All the older residents of Lin’an City knew of this matter.
Su Fengyue sighed. "Since the Old Madam has put it that way, how could I possibly refuse?"
He said in a deep voice to the group from the Song family, "All of you, go back!"
"If you stir up trouble again, I will hold you personally responsible."
Ma Pozi bowed her head and waist, murmuring her assent.
Su Fengyue stared at the Wei Mansion’s plaque, a flash of resentment in his eyes. His gaze then shifted to the straight-backed Old Mrs. Wei before him.
"Old Madam, everyone has their limits. The next time a member of the Wei Family commits an offense that falls into my hands, I will show no mercy."
"What mercy? Forgiving whom?"
From within the main gate, a figure in green slowly appeared before the crowd. Her soft skirt swayed, exuding an air of leisure.
The woman also had a serene smile on her face.
She covered her lips in surprise, as if shocked to see so many people gathered.
Ji Qingwu stood at the entrance, looking all around.
"I just heard from my maid that someone was looking for me. I wonder which one of you it is?"
’She had been listening from inside the doorway for a while. She hadn’t expected Old Mrs. Wei to use the favor owed to the late Old Master to help her.’
’But this matter had nothing to do with her in the first place.’
’She had no intention of taking the blame for this.’
Ma Pozi, who was standing behind Su Fengyue, immediately rushed forward, pointed at her, and said, "Ji Qingwu, you’re finally out! Our lady cannot have suffered the pain of losing her son for nothing! My poor little young master!"
Ji Qingwu said, "What does this have to do with me? Wasn’t I clear enough in front of the clinic that day?"
Ma Pozi said, "That was all just you being deceptive! Doesn’t your conscience bother you at night? Don’t you have nightmares?"
The truth was, Ji Qingwu had slept like a log, and her spirits were finally restored.
Her nose caught the scent of blood. She looked at the treasure box Ma Pozi was holding.
An eyebrow arched in surprise.