Chapter 180: Old Acquaintance

Chapter 180: Old Acquaintance

Taking advantage of the few days the brothers spent in Tongzhou, Le Wuya sent word to Qi Hongzhuang, asking her to hurriedly tailor two sets of clothes according to the brothers' builds.

When the two departed, along with the two garments, Le Wuya also presented sixteen bolts in four colors of the finest dyed cloth, asking them to offer it to the Emperor, claiming it was personally made by Qi Hongzhuang to give full expression to her filial devotion.

Xiang Zhi scoffed at this: "Personally made? Did she personally cut the fabric, or personally weave the cloth?"

Le Wuya said frankly, "Either way, it's a token of sincerity."

As for the question of whether it was truly handmade—handing it to me personally also counts as handmade. Don't worry about it.

In this way, all the connections, high and low, were now in place.

Le Wuya had earned considerable favor with the Emperor precisely because he excelled at thinking on the Emperor's behalf.

Back then, the old Emperor had spared Qi Hongzhuang's life and instead exiled her to Tonglu County, famed for Lady Jin, a paragon of chastity and virtue, because he didn't want to lose face—he hoped this "Princess Xiaoshu" would finally act virtuous and dutifully kill herself to preserve her chastity.

But perhaps due to the saying "what's near ink turns black," Qi Hongzhuang had an extraordinarily thick skin and absolutely refused to die, no matter what.

At the same time, she was extremely tight-lipped, never uttering a word about the events of that year, with no intention of pleading Le Wuya's case or crying injustice.

Yet she was clever—she didn't shut herself in at home, faithfully observing widowhood. Instead, she won over a group of embroiderers and dyers, established connections with local officials and their wives, and, banking on her brand-new status as County Princess, held flower-viewing parties and tea gatherings, socializing with the ladies and gifting them her newly woven fabrics, making them her walking billboards and carving out a niche for her business.

In this way, she became a woman who showed her face in public, making her even more difficult to dispose of.

Faced with such a shrewd and astute person, the Emperor could hardly issue another decree ordering her to stop living and die already.

Besides, Le Wuya was already dead, and the case had long been closed. Even his wife, who was so devoted to loyalty, filial piety, chastity, and righteousness, wouldn't even die for him—showing just how little support he commanded. Keeping her alive was perfect for sullying Le Wuya's name.

Out of sight, out of mind—letting her live somewhere out of his sight was fine too.

As times changed, the Emperor's urge to do away with her had waned.

In the Emperor's eyes, she was someone who was "no great loss if dead, and tolerable if alive."

It was then that Le Wuya appeared out of nowhere, promoted by the Emperor to this Tongzhou where he knew no one and nothing.

Upon arriving in Tongzhou, Le Wuya immediately lanced the hidden abscess that was Wei Yixian, a victory in his first battle.

Next, he had to accomplish the task the Emperor had entrusted him with: wiping out the local wokou pirates and restoring Tongzhou's prosperity.

The pirates were a motley crew, not easy to eradicate. Le Wuya needed to adopt a soft-handed approach, partnering with local merchants to gradually get to the bottom of Tongzhou's murky waters.

In this regard, Qi Hongzhuang—once the Emperor's adopted daughter, related to the imperial clan, and now a businesswoman—was the ideal choice.

By presenting the cloth to the Emperor on Qi Hongzhuang's behalf, as long as the Emperor accepted it, it would count as official sanction.

In the future, if anyone submitted a memorial accusing him of "collusion between officials and merchants," he wouldn't fear defending himself even in front of the Emperor.

—If the Emperor himself accepted County Princess Qi's tribute, who the hell are you?

Xiang Zhijie pressed down on his seventh brother's head and said gently, "Prefect Wenren, your kind intentions will surely be passed along."

Le Wuya looked them over and broke into a radiant smile.

Both were broad-shouldered, slim-waisted clotheshorses. In their lake-blue robes with black leather waist belts buckled around their waists, they were two tall, handsome, exceptionally elegant young men.

In a moment of delight, he laughed and said, "She really couldn't make clothes this good—she even sews buttons on crooked."

His tone was almost coquettish, like a little brother bragging about his sister.

Hearing this, even Wen Ren, who stood nearby seeing them off, couldn't help glancing at him.

Xiang Zhijie and Xiang Zhi were even more shaken—they had not only attended their teacher's wedding but had also seen his crooked buttons with their own eyes.

Xiang Zhi directly turned his face away and ducked into the carriage.

Xiang Zhijie smiled until his cheeks ached: "The autumn wind is chilly. Please, go back inside."

Le Wuya had no idea his casual remark carried such force, managing to drive off two princes in a huff.

Watching their carriages recede into the distance, Le Wuya turned around to find Wen Ren looking equally exasperated, and felt thoroughly confused.

He thought for a moment, guessed what Wen Ren was sulking about, and cheerfully clapped him on the shoulder: "You have new clothes too! I saved a special one just for you!"

Le Wuya strode toward the inner courtyard, planning to change and head to the office.

Along the way, he chattered on to Wen Ren: "The County Princess also sent a few bolts of floral cloth for Auntie Ming. The patterns are bright—though the weave is a bit sheer, the local grandmothers love wearing it in summer, saying it's wonderfully cool. Send it back in your name, have her make herself some clothes and trousers. Take her time—they'll be just in time for you to wear when you pass the imperial exams next summer. How auspicious!"

Wen Ren gazed at his profile.

When Le Wuya spoke, the small pale mole on his lip moved with each word, utterly charming.

Thanks to Brother Gu, he had truly broadened his horizons and seen the world.

Yet even that man who called himself his teacher—the retired Grand Scholar Xu Ji, Old Master Xu—still maintained an air of officialdom before him.

Only Le Wuya could so effortlessly step down from the pedestal of "Imperial Tutor" and seamlessly become his Brother Gu.

Both distant and close.

A surge of intense emotion suddenly welled up in Wen Ren's chest.

He stopped in his tracks and abruptly called out, "Brother Gu, steady yourself."

Le Wuya halted and turned back: "Hmm?"

Before the syllable faded, Wen Ren stepped forward, scooped him directly into his arms, and strode swiftly toward the back courtyard.

—He had told him to steady himself because he feared that if he moved suddenly, he might make him stumble.

Wen Ren walked with single-minded haste, thinking only of hiding away this best Brother Gu in all the world, showing him to no one.

Unfortunately, heaven did not comply.

No sooner had Le Wuya been carried through a doorway than he saw Mu Jiazhi standing in his courtyard like a pine tree, holding an official document, ramrod straight.

These days, Le Wuya accompanied the Sixth and Seventh Princes on inspections of Tongzhou. When urgent matters arose at the office, Mu Jiazhi would send someone through the back gate with documents, wait in the back courtyard for his approval, then take them back to the yamen.

Today, Mu Jiazhi had come in person, a rarity—and he happened to witness this scene. He stiffened for a moment, then silently turned and walked away.

Le Wuya, knowing that Mu Jiazhi's personal visit meant something important, patted Wen Ren's shoulder and leapt down from his arms: "Liang Xian, what is it?"

Mu Jiazhi, back still turned, steadied himself and handed him a document.

"The Ministry of Personnel has sent word. The new Assistant Prefect arrives in ten days."

Le Wuya raised an eyebrow with interest: "Who?"

“He was a third-class jinshi in the nineteenth year of the Tianding reign, surnamed Zong, given name Yao, style name Wenzhi. After a six-month probationary period, he passed the exam to become a shujishi, served as a Hanlin Academy compiler, and has been an official in the Hanlin Academy ever since.”

Le Wuya raised an eyebrow: “First time serving outside the capital?”

“Yes,” Mu Jiazhi said. “A real man of letters.”

“Zong Yao, oh, that Zong Yao... his elder brother is Zong Kun.” Le Wuya rifled through his memory, piecing together his background like following a thread. “He’s the second nephew of Zong Hongbin, the former Minister of Revenue.”

After sorting out his origins, Le Wuya waved lightly at Mu Jiazhi. “Go on. I’ll check on my garrison soldiers and head to the yamen shortly.”

Mu Jiazhi didn’t even want to ask how Le Wuya knew about Zong Yao’s family background.

Given how familiar Le Wuya was with the two princes, it wouldn’t be a stretch if he knew what color the emperor’s underwear was.

Once Mu Jiazhi took his leave, Le Wuya gently stroked the small mole below his lip, lost in thought.

Wen Ren Yue knew that look—whenever Le Wuya wore it, he was facing trouble.

Le Wuya mulled over the information Mu Jiazhi had provided, then immediately sensed something amiss.

That Zong Yao was a jinshi from the nineteenth year of Tianding.

At that time... Brother Gu was still serving at court.

Wen Ren Yue chose his words carefully, trying to reassure Le Wuya: “Brother Gu, don’t get worked up. There are many in this world who look alike.”

Le Wuya settled onto the swing, wrapping his arms around the ropes, and swayed gently twice. “That’s not the big deal here.”

Wen Ren Yue was puzzled: “How is that not a big deal?”

Le Wuya cast him a glance, with a look of someone holding back words.

In the end, he chose to speak plainly.

“His elder brother... and his uncle, they both misappropriated public funds from the Ministry of Revenue, selling offices and titles for profit, and secretly tapped the public treasury to lend money and pocket the interest.” Le Wuya swayed the swing in small arcs. “I knew about this. Later, when I was thrown into prison, I casually named them as my accomplices and dragged them down with me.”

He licked the small mole. “They had solid evidence against them and were executed after autumn. They got reborn quicker than I did—by now, the uncle and nephew should both be five years old.”

Wen Ren Yue: “...Ah.”

Indeed.

This was more serious than “Zong Yao recognizes his face.”