Chapter 319: Meeting in Disguise, a Rare Visitor Arrives
Ji Qingwu changed her face into that of a complete stranger.
Wei Tongyou jumped back in fright, pointing a trembling finger at her face. "You... how did you do that?"
Ji Qingwu’s current features were nearly indistinguishable from the face of the taller maidservant lying in the corner.
"Come here."
Ji Qingwu beckoned to her.
Wei Tongyou hesitated for a moment before cautiously approaching, a hint of expectation in her eyes.
Two soft hands began to knead her cheeks. This time, the process took longer than when Ji Qingwu had disguised herself.
Ji Qingwu tapped her on the cheek. "There."
Wei Tongyou peered at her reflection in a nearby water vat. Her face was now identical to that of the shorter maidservant.
She checked her reflection again and again, then stared, dumbfounded, at Ji Qingwu’s elegant, fair hands.
"There was nothing in your hands. You just... molded my face, and that was it?"
Ji Qingwu gave her a mysterious look.
’She wouldn’t tell Wei Tongyou that, in truth, she didn’t even need to touch her face. A simple hand gesture would have sufficed.’
’But it was better to say less and maintain an air of mystery. That was the best way to avoid exposing herself.’
Ji Qingwu pointed to the soup simmering on the stove. "Nong Ying, carry the pot. We’re going back to the master’s courtyard."
’Who was Nong Ying?’ Wei Tongyou hadn’t yet adjusted to her new identity. It took her a moment to realize Ji Qingwu was talking to her.
She voiced her confusion. "Shouldn’t we go to the residence of Su Daiyue’s mother first?" The whole point of their visit was to return the memento to Su Daiyue’s birth mother.
Ji Qingwu raised an eyebrow. "Do you know where that is?"
Wei Tongyou shook her head.
"If you don’t know, then follow me."
Ji Qingwu pushed open the kitchen door, then carefully locked it behind them to prevent anyone from discovering the two maidservants inside.
’She still had the crescent-shaped key in her sleeve. She hoped it would prove useful tonight.’
「Late at night.」
The Su Mansion was silent, the only sounds being the rustle of leaves in the wind, the chirping of insects, and the occasional flutter of a bird’s wings.
The layout of the Prime Minister’s Mansion was unlike that of an ordinary home; the front and rear courtyards were set far apart.
Only Su Fengyue’s personal courtyard was located in the front, while the women’s quarters and servants’ residences were all in the rear.
Ji Qingwu and Wei Tongyou encountered no one on their way, reaching the front courtyard with surprising ease.
The shadows of the trees were deep in the night. By a wall separating the rear courtyard from the front hall, two figures floated down from a tree, landing lightly before a man.
Sanchuan and Si Hai knelt respectfully. "Your Majesty," they whispered.
The man was dressed in the coarse, gray clothes of a manor handyman. His face was transformed—thick eyebrows, small eyes, and a wide, flat face, giving him the look of a simple, honest commoner.
His voice, however, retained its usual cold edge.
"When did you arrive?"
Sanchuan and Si Hai knew it was a specially crafted human-skin mask; they often wore such items themselves when operating in broad daylight.
In response to the Emperor’s question, Si Hai dared not speak. Sanchuan answered, "Around 9:45 p.m. Miss Ji arrived with the fourteenth young lady of the Wei Family."
’Around 9:45 p.m. Not long after he arrived, then.’
Zhao Mingyan asked, "What is she doing here?"
"Mr. Su’s daughter passed away. Before her death, she entrusted a hairpin to Miss Ji, asking her to give it to her birth mother, who is a concubine. But in reality..."
Sanchuan, for once, hesitated.
Si Hai said, his face tense, "The real purpose was to deliver Miss Ji to Prime Minister Su."
The moment he finished speaking, the man before them cracked his knuckles. The sharp sound made the two Hidden Guards’ throats go dry.
After a long silence, Zhao Mingyan asked, "Where is she now?"
"She headed for Mr. Su’s courtyard," Sanchuan replied.
When Su Fengyue’s youngest daughter passed away, Song Wei had sent word to the palace in the afternoon to inform his father-in-law. However, to display his loyalty as a minister who put the nation before his family, Prime Minister Su finished handling his state affairs with tears welling in his old eyes and heavy sighs.
The display made Lu Juan, who was in the same room, so uncomfortable that he had to clench his fists as he walked past Su Fengyue’s back.
Only at the urging of the other ministers did Su Fengyue finally leave for the Song family estate in the evening. He had yet to return to his own mansion.
This happened to create the perfect opportunity for the Emperor’s nightly investigation.
Just moments before, Zhao Mingyan had already searched Su Fengyue’s personal quarters and study but had found nothing suspicious.
’That old fox Su Fengyue... who knows where he’s hidden the evidence of his treasonous collusion with Xijin.’
Zhao Mingyan had been on his way to investigate the rear courtyard when he stumbled upon his two Hidden Guards concealed in the trees.
The moment he saw them, he knew that Ji Qingwu must be here as well.
There was no time to waste. Zhao Mingyan commanded, "You two, go to the rear courtyard. See if you can find any suspicious correspondence."
Si Hai was confused. "But... what about Miss Ji?" Their primary mission was to protect Ji Qingwu.
"We will take our leave."
Sanchuan grabbed Si Hai’s arm and dragged him away. The two of them leaped onto the roof, moving silently across the tiles.
"His Majesty will naturally protect Miss Ji. You don’t need to worry about it."
Si Hai whispered, "But how can we let His Majesty protect her? His life is invaluable."
Sanchuan kept moving. "Still don’t get it? From now on, don’t question His Majesty’s decisions, and don’t gossip about them behind his back."
"Get what?" Si Hai pressed.
Sanchuan sighed. "Never mind. You’re still young. You wouldn’t understand."
Si Hai retorted, "Oh, so you understand everything? Tell me, is there something going on with *you* lately...?"
*
「Song Mansion.」
Song Wei knelt in the mourning hall like a soulless corpse, a heavy, solid-wood coffin beside him.
Before Su Fengyue’s arrival, the butler had been managing the affairs.
Su Fengyue stood at the entrance to the hall, eyes downcast, surrounded by a crowd of officials.
"Prime Minister Su, our deepest condolences," they offered.
A white-bearded official said, his eyes misty with tears, "Prime Minister Su, please accept our condolences. I still remember how Dai Yue was your most beloved daughter. I never imagined things would turn out this way... that you would have to mourn one so young."
Su Fengyue’s lips trembled. "Thank you, Lord Liu, for remembering my daughter."
"Mr. Su, you must take care of yourself. Don’t let grief overwhelm you."
Many people had come to pay their respects.
Many were there simply to show deference to Su Fengyue, so the atmosphere wasn’t as somber as one might expect. Instead, it had become a venue for some officials to network and strengthen ties.
Small groups clustered together, deep in discussion.
But there were also unexpected guests.
For example, Prince Yong, who had secluded himself in his residence and refused all visitors ever since learning that Emperor Wu Su was gravely injured and in a coma.
When the crowd saw Zhao Minghong stride in, hand in hand with another person, all conversation ceased.
Zhao Minghong entered the mourning hall. Song Wei remained seated numbly beside the coffin.
Seeing the arrival, surprise flickered in Su Fengyue’s eyes. He cupped his hands in a salute. "This old minister greets Your Highness."
Zhao Minghong said, "My lords, please rise. I have come with my princess consort to offer condolences for Prime Minister Su’s beloved daughter."
Prince Yong and Su Fengyue had never had much interaction.
Furthermore, Princess Yong, Tao Wanxin, was the daughter of Tao Changhai. At court, Mr. Tao and Prime Minister Su held opposing political views, and it was common knowledge that the two men did not get along.
Everyone began to wonder what Prince Yong and his wife’s intentions were in coming here today....