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The Qin and Wei families were sworn enemies!
How could they be together? Besides, wasn't Wei Ting practicing asceticism at the temple?
If what Consort Xian said was true, then Wei Ting's offense was not merely deceiving the emperor.
Secretly courting the Qin and Su families, what was Wei Ting planning?
Rebellion?
Emperor Jingxuan immediately sent someone to the Wei estate to summon Wei Ting to the palace.
Wei Ting was not at the Wei residence, Yuchi Xiu was there.
Seeing that the situation was dire, Yuchi Xiu immediately went to Lihua Lane.
Wei Ting straightened his attire and entered the palace.
Consort Xian did not leave, she waited to confront Wei Ting.
Emperor Jingxuan did not say anything else and got straight to the point:
"You must confess truthfully, before returning to the capital, were you really staying at the temple? I have the authority to send a representative to investigate the temple. However, once I investigate, there will be no room for leniency."
Wei Ting asked calmly, "Why is Your Majesty saying this?"
Emperor Jingxuan said sternly, "Someone has told me that you married in Qingzhou, and your wife is the eldest daughter of the Duke Protector's estate who was lost among the commoners."
Wei Ting pretended not to see Consort Xian nearby and asked with a nonchalant expression, "Might I ask Your Majesty who told you this?"
Consort Xian snorted coldly: "It was me who informed His Majesty! Wei Ting, you wouldn’t dare to deny it, would you?"
Wei Ting replied indifferently, "What does Consort Xian wish me to admit?"
"Stop playing dumb in front of His Majesty and me!"
Noble Consort Xian said coldly, then turned to Emperor Jingxuan.
"Your Majesty, to prove the identities of Su Cheng and the other two to Qin Canglan, the Marquis of Zhenbei’s estate specially brought two witnesses from the village. Whether Wei Ting married someone from their village can be confirmed by summoning them for identification!"
Wei Ting's gaze darkened.
Emperor Jingxuan pondered for a moment: "Summon them!"
......
Ever since Old Mr. Su and Su Dalang arrived in the capital, they had been under house arrest at the Marquis of Zhenbei’s estate.
The two had been living in fear for a long time, terrified that the marquis' household would silence them.
If they had known Su Cheng's background was so powerful, they would never have secretly taken his jade pendant.
But what use did regret serve now?
"You may leave now!"
A servant from the Su residence opened the door and threw their bundles back to them.
Su Dalang asked in disbelief, "C-Can we really... leave?"
The servant sneered, "Are you planning to freeload here for a lifetime?"
Su Dalang hurriedly said, "N-No, we’ll leave right away!"
Su Dalang had been a prominent figure in the village, but coming to the capital made him realize he was nothing but an ant on the ground.
They couldn’t afford to offend even the lowest-ranking servant in the estate.
The grandfather and grandson stumbled out of the residence, planning to ask for directions and see if they could find a cheap merchant caravan to return with.
They hadn’t gone far when a carriage blocked their path.
---
A quarter of an hour later, the two were forcibly taken to a restaurant.
They entered the private room on the left at the end of the corridor.
Inside stood a man wearing a bamboo hat, his face obscured, making his features indistinct, leaving just the curve of his chin visible.
Behind the man was a room divider.
Having never seen much of the world, the two assumed the man in the bamboo hat was the one in charge.
Old Mr. Su asked nervously, "May I ask, sir, why have you brought us here?"
Where was Old Mr. Su's former aloofness?
Life experiences had honed all of his edges.
The man in the bamboo hat was none other than Qin Jiang’s trusted subordinate, Xu Qing.
Xu Qing examined the two carefully and asked, "Are you guys from Xinghua Village in Qingzhou?"
Old Mr. Su bowed slightly: "Yes, yes."
Su Dalang supported his grandfather, both nervous and fearful.
Xu Qing asked coldly, "Was it the people from the Marquis of Zhenbei’s estate who brought you to the capital?"
Su Dalang looked at his grandfather, unsure whether to answer.