QYT - 2

The rain lashed down on the official road, a corporal brought Qing Wei and Cui Zhiyue to the road.

Wei Jue sat high on his horse, glanced at them indifferently, and slowly said:

“Only these two?”

“Reporting to Your Excellency, this humble officer searched all over the mountain and only found these two women.” The corporal cupped his hands and said, “They seemed to be sheltering from the rain in a small cave in the mountain. This humble officer found their movements suspicious and brought them here.”

Suspicious?

Wei Jue’s hawk-like eyes slightly rippled. There was an inn five li ahead and a guest house ten li behind. In the middle of the night, two weak women, instead of walking on the main road, chose to shelter from the rain in this mountain. This was more than suspicious; it was extremely strange.

He lowered his gaze and carefully looked at the two.

The rain was slightly lighter than before, illuminated by the firelight, it looked like a rosy mist.

This layer of mist enveloped Cui Zhiyue, making her appear bright and delicate. Wei Jue’s gaze swept over her and lingered on the other person.

She was wearing a loose black cloak, her hood covering most of her face. Even so, she had a veiled hat on her back, as if her face absolutely could not be seen by anyone.

“Why were you two hiding in the mountains in the middle of the night?”

“Reporting to Your Excellency,” Qing Wei said, “My uncle was found guilty, and I brought my sister to the capital to seek refuge with relatives. We suddenly encountered heavy rain at night, so we took shelter in a small cave in the mountain.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Jue looked in the direction from which they had come.

Coming from the south, found guilty?

“Are you two surnamed Cui?”

“...Yes.”

Wei Jue tugged on the reins, urging his horse beside her, his tone turning cold: “Cui Hongyi committed a serious crime. The imperial court has ordered a thorough investigation, and no one in his family can escape. Since you are his relative, it’s one thing not to surrender, but you’re also helping a criminal’s daughter escape. Do you know your crime?”

“Your Excellency, please investigate. My cousin and I are not escaping.”

“Not escaping?”

“It’s only because my sister has a marriage engagement with the Jiang family in the capital that the imperial envoy handling the case allowed us sisters to go to the capital.”

Wei Jue stared intently at the half of Qing Wei’s face hidden under the cloak, then suddenly reached out to the side, “Sword.”

A Black Eagle Guard responded “Yes” and presented a three-foot-long sword with dark patterns of soaring black eagles carved on its cloud-shaped hilt.

Wei Jue weighed the sword slightly in his hand and slowly asked, “Have you two heard about a major case that recently occurred in the capital?”

“The major case Your Excellency is referring to,” Qing Wei’s voice under the cloak hesitated slightly, “is it my uncle’s case?”

“Clever sophistry.” Wei Jue snorted coldly.

He stared at Qing Wei, and the wrist holding the sword suddenly vibrated.

The blade unsheathed, its cold gleam like water, flashed in the rainy night, and struck directly at Qing Wei.

Cui Zhiyue screamed in fright at the sudden change and fell onto the muddy ground.

The sword’s edge roared as it came, stopping precisely a hair’s breadth from Qing Wei’s skull. The hood was cut in half, and along with several broken strands of hair, slid to both sides, revealing a face.

“This...”

The nearest corporal suddenly took a step back.

Even the other Black Eagle Guards, despite their disciplined training, couldn’t help but show surprise when they saw Qing Wei’s appearance.

From her left eye to above her brow bone, a red patch covered her skin, which was extremely thin, revealing light blue blood vessels underneath.

She stood with downcast eyes in the rain. Whether it was the horrifying red patch or the deep night that concealed the embarrassment in her eyes, at first glance, she looked like a demon who could remain unmoving even when subjected to swords and axes.

Wei Jue’s brows furrowed. His gaze moved from her face, down the collar of her cloak, and rested on her hand hanging at her side.

Her fingers were trembling slightly.

Upon seeing these fingers, Wei Jue’s tightly pursed lips finally relaxed.

In the middle of the night, a woman encountering such a large group of imperial guards, not only unafraid but also able to answer questions fluently, was originally thought to be an extraordinary person. Only after a slight test did he realize she was merely feigning composure.

This was a tumultuous period. The Zhang and He factions in the imperial court were at loggerheads. An old case implicated a large number of people, and yesterday, a major criminal held in the dark prison was abducted. He had received an imperial decree to thoroughly investigate the prison break and had followed the traces all the way here. Unfortunately, apart from these two women, no other suspicious persons were found.

“The Jiang family in the capital.” Wei Jue savored these four words, his tone calm and unruffled, as if the scene of him slicing off Qing Wei’s hair with his sword had not happened.

He looked at Cui Zhiyue, “Is the person you’re betrothed to Jiang Cizhou?”

“Yes...”

“Then your destination is the Jiang family.”

“No, no...” Cui Zhiyue was still afraid, almost muttering, “First...first go to the Gao family.”

Wei Jue did not ask further. The Black Eagle Division was well-informed, and he knew the reason behind this.

The Gao family was the residence of Gao Yucang, Minister of Justice. His wife, Lady Luo, and Cui Zhiyue’s mother were biological sisters. After they each married, their families lived door-to-door and courtyard-to-courtyard in Lingchuan for several years, almost as close as one family.

In contrast, the Jiang family’s patriarch, Jiang Zhunian, had grown increasingly eccentric in his old age, and their family had been plagued by misfortunes for years. His son, Jiang Cizhou, was even more notoriously known as a dissolute fop. If not for the Empress Dowager’s protection, their family’s prestige would have long since declined.

Cui Zhiyue’s journey to the capital should be for her father’s case, and going to the Gao family was the correct path.

Wei Jue reined in his horse: “Let’s go.”

As the rain paused, Qing Wei helped Cui Zhiyue up from the mud. Seeing her splashed with mud, she took off her cloak and gave it to her.

Before she could put on her veiled hat, a Black Eagle Guard came over with copper cuffs – the Black Eagle Division was out late at night to apprehend criminals, and these two women, with their suspicious movements, were treated as suspects.

The location was more than ten li from the capital. By the time they reached the city gate, it was already dawn. The Great Zhou was founded on literature, and its customs were enlightened. Although there was a curfew in the city, it was not strictly enforced. If citizens stayed out late for drinking, the patrolling guards would at most reprimand them a few times. Especially in the area of Liushui Alley, some establishments were open all night with lights on, and the inspection office merely turned a blind eye.

However, for some reason, even though the morning light was still faint today, people waiting to enter the city had formed a long queue outside the city gate. Barriers had been set up at the gate, and the Wude Division had deployed additional personnel, checking everyone one by one.

The Gate Keeper saw Wei Jue from afar, pulled up his robes, and came forward with cupped hands: “Your Excellency Wei, you’ve worked hard on your late-night case.”

Wei Jue asked, “Have you found any suspicious persons?”

“We’ve caught a few, but haven’t interrogated them in detail yet.”

Wei Jue ordered the corporal beside him: “Go and see.”

After a night of rain, though the morning light was sparse, it had the brightness of an early clear day. The citizens queuing at the city gate were bored waiting and looked over when they saw a majestic line of imperial guards.

The most noticeable were the two women, their hands cuffed with copper locks. One was delicate and beautiful, while the other had a red patch over her left eye, looking very strange.

The gazes of these commoners lingered on Qing Wei’s face for a moment, and they began to whisper among themselves.

“Your Excellency,” Qing Wei stood with downcast eyes behind Wei Jue’s horse. After he finished speaking with the Gate Keeper, she called out, “Your Excellency, may this humble commoner put on her veiled hat?”

Upon hearing this, Wei Jue reined in his horse and glanced at Qing Wei.

Her cloak had long since been given to her younger sister, and she was only wrapped in plain clothes, appearing very thin. After asking the question, she herself was embarrassed, her lips tightly pursed, her head lowered, especially those hands cuffed in front of her, which seemed to curl slightly as if sensing his gaze.

But that red patch was still jarring, truly ugly, it was hard not to notice.

Wei Jue withdrew his gaze and ignored her.

After a while, the corporal who had gone to inquire at the city gate returned, stating that all suspects had been sent to the Black Eagle Division, and added, “Madam Gao of the Gao residence also arrived, and what she said matched the statements of the two Cui women. She claimed that before the Cui women came to the capital, they had sent a letter to the Gao residence. This humble officer has checked the letter, and there is nothing suspicious. The two Cui women should have nothing to do with the prison break case.”

Wei Jue nodded: “Release them.”

As soon as the copper cuffs were removed, Qing Wei quickly put on her veiled hat. Wei Jue, considering the relationship between the Cui family and the Gao family, followed them.

A temporary tea stall had been set up inside the city gate. Lady Luo was waiting inside, constantly looking out. When she finally saw Cui Zhiyue’s haggard appearance, her eyes instantly filled with tears: “How... how did you end up like this?”

She and Cui Zhiyue’s mother had a deep sisterly bond. In Lingchuan back then, she treated Cui Zhiyue like her own daughter.

The Black Eagle Division’s late-night departure from the city was unexpectedly not for Yuan Wenguang’s murder case.

Upon realizing this, Cui Zhiyue, seeing Lady Luo, instantly cast aside all the hardships and difficulties of her journey, her father’s case, her family’s misfortune, and even Yuan Wenguang’s death. Her tears also rolled down: “Aunt, Zhiyun has finally seen you.”

“With Aunt here, everything will be fine.” Lady Luo gently patted Cui Zhiyue’s back. She knew her purpose in coming to the capital, but with Wei Jue nearby, it was not good to say too much. So she gently advised: “You and your niece have been separated for many years. Now that we are reunited, this is a good thing; you should be happy.”

She then smiled and said: “Your cousin heard you were coming to the capital and has been coming to the city gate with me every day to wait for you. It’s just unfortunate that he has a case at the yamen today and couldn’t leave.”

Upon hearing this, Cui Zhiyue’s eyes revealed a hint of sorrow.

She lowered her gaze and whispered, “After returning home, we will... we will eventually meet.”

Lady Luo’s gaze shifted to Qing Wei beside her: “Are you Qing Wei?”

Qing Wei bowed slightly and followed Cui Zhiyue in calling out, “Aunt.”

Lady Luo scrutinized her from head to toe. Her stature was graceful. “In earlier years, Uncle Cui was busy with work and traveled all over the country with you. We’re both from Lingchuan, yet I’ve never seen you. Why are you still covering your face? Let Aunt see.”

As Lady Luo spoke, she reached out to lift the veil from under Qing Wei’s hat brim.

Qing Wei suddenly took a step back.

She knew her action was impolite. After steadying herself slightly, she apologized, “This junior suffers from a facial illness, and I’m afraid it might startle Aunt.”

The Wude Division at the city gate was still conducting inspections, so it was inconvenient for the group to linger and chat. Just then, the family servants brought a carriage. Seeing Lady Luo about to leave, Wei Jue apologized, “Just now in the wilderness, I found the two young ladies of your residence suspicious and caused some offense. I hope Madam Luo will not mind.”

“Your Excellency is too kind,” Lady Luo said gently, “They were stranded in the wilderness, and I should be thanking Your Excellency for bringing them back.”

The Gao family’s carriage drove towards the street entrance. Wei Jue stood outside the tea stall, watching the carriage until it disappeared.

“Your Excellency,” a Black Eagle Guard came to ask for instructions, “Are we to return to the palace to report?”

“Has that corporal left?” Wei Jue asked.

“He’s gone,” said the Black Eagle Guard named Zhang Luzhi, a cavalry commander of the Owl Division of the Black Eagle Division. He was highly capable and acted decisively, but his temper was somewhat impetuous.

The corporal Wei Jue asked about was a subordinate from the Inspection Office who had followed them all night to search for people and apprehend suspects.

Zhang Luzhi was indignant when he mentioned this person, blurting out, “A case handed over to the Black Eagle Division by His Majesty, and a mere subordinate from the Inspection Office dares to meddle in it. He was even forced in by the eunuch surnamed Cao. Do they think others are blind and don’t know they are raised by the Xi Kun Palace—”

The word “dog” was not uttered. Wei Jue’s glare swept over, and Zhang Luzhi immediately fell silent, cupping his hands in apology: “This humble officer misspoke. I beg Your Excellency to punish me.”

Wei Jue didn’t say much, only: “Send some men to keep an eye on the Gao family for the next few days, and also investigate along the path the two Cui women took to the capital to see if you can find any clues.”

“Does Your Excellency still suspect that the prison break case is related to them?” Zhang Luzhi asked in surprise.

They had followed the escaped criminal’s tracks all the way, only to find these two women. But the dark prison was heavily guarded; how could such weak women abduct a major criminal?

Wei Jue did not answer.

“Let’s return to the palace,” he merely said.