The Duke of Wei's certainty stemmed from everything being meticulously arranged. Granaries in the Eastern Capital were overflowing, making provisions no longer a significant concern; only diligent preparation was needed in the coming days.
Most importantly, while the First Prince's faction reveled in feasting visiting envoys, the Ninth Prince was off defending the nation's borders. The right and wrong of it were starkly clear.
This campaign not only suppressed the First Prince's arrogance but also allowed them to win the Emperor's favor. It was a gift from heaven.
The Duke of Wei chuckled coldly, "This news must be kept under wraps for another two days. Ideally, it should be when General Xiao Ji is at his limit, and Liangzhou City is on the verge of falling. Only then should His Highness appear like a celestial being. That will be the true moment of popular support."
To them, the lives of border soldiers and the peace of the common people were trivial matters. The greatest reward from this campaign was paramount.
"Grandfather's plan is excellent. In the face of military achievements, the merits of entertaining envoys become insignificant. If my elder brother knew that all his painstaking efforts were merely paving the way for me, I wonder if he would faint on the spot."
Both men's eyes were filled with a craving for immense power, devoid of any compassion.
Master Du, seeing this, immediately reminded them, "Your Grace, Your Highness, do not forget that the Second Young Master of the Xiao family, whom General Xiao Ji treats like his own son, is still in the capital. If he were here, he would undoubtedly lead the army with all his might to reinforce Liangzhou."
"Rest assured, I have my own arrangements for him. I will ensure his reputation and his spirit are ruined."
The Duke of Wei's aged eyes gleamed with mockery. People, he mused, should have no weaknesses, lest they be grasped by the throat and manipulated like puppets.
"Your Grace's consideration is thorough. I am impressed."
"Master Du, no need for such formality. I have another matter to discuss with you."
"Please speak, Your Grace. I would gladly die to serve!"
"As the ancients said, 'When the army marches, provisions must go first.' Although the capital has enough grain to deal with the northwest conflict, there are losses along the way, and what if enemy forces launch a surprise attack and we lose provisions..."
Before he could finish, Master Du understood the Duke of Wei's intention and bowed, "Your Grace, rest assured. My nephew is a steward in the army. The grain account books he handles have never shown any errors. As for the losses, they will naturally go where they are meant to. His Highness fights bravely on the front lines, and we will do our utmost to support him." A smart person grasps things instantly.
This year, due to the unexpected death of Supervisor Cao, the "tribute collection" from the Grand Canal administration would undoubtedly be inconvenient. Instead of focusing on that heavily scrutinized source of wealth, it was more reliable to use the chaos of war to legitimately incur some losses to supplement their own needs.
After discussing troop deployments for a while longer, the Ninth Prince left with Master Du, his expression one of triumphant ambition.
The Duke of Wei coughed twice, and a middle-aged man entered from outside.
"Have you found him?"
"Not yet. The enemy was ruthless. All the brothers escorting Lord Sun are dead. By the time our reinforcements arrived that night, the trail was completely wiped clean. However, I have made extensive inquiries, and there are still reports that Lord Sun was captured, suggesting he might have escaped."
"Hmph, how many days has it been and you still haven't found him? What use are you all!" The Duke of Wei was furious, his reprimand like a death knell, causing the man to fall to his knees in terror.
"The item he holds is extremely important. With Feng Hai currently recuperating at home after being injured, we cannot frame him for the time being. Therefore, I will only feel at ease once that item is retrieved. As for that fool Sun Zhong, whether he lives or dies is of no consequence."
The Duke of Wei's anger flared remembering the fire in Xuzhou. How dare someone attack his official vessel! What was most infuriating was not knowing who was behind it afterward. He hadn't experienced this kind of situation, where the enemy was hidden and he was exposed, for a long time.
Suppressing his rage, he continued his orders, "One Imperial Censor has escaped, and there are twelve others. Make sure they all keep their mouths shut. We will make plans after Liang Quanbin takes office."
"Your Grace, rest assured. Their lives are in your hands. Every time items are delivered to the capital, they are handled with utmost care, ensuring no oversight can be discovered."
He glanced at the black-clothed man who had served him for many years. After a moment, he spoke, "I recall your son is over twenty, and he has practiced martial arts, hasn't he?"
The black-clothed man's muscles tensed instantly. He was terrified but had to brace himself and reply, "Yes." "Then assign him to be a personal guard behind His Highness. He will have a reliance for the future. When His Highness achieves his great ambition, your Cheng family will also attain unparalleled glory."
The black-clothed man gritted his teeth, his reply delayed.
To outsiders, this was a great fortune. But in his eyes, it was tantamount to handing his son over as another pawn. If he had any choice, he would never agree, but now, he could not refuse. He could only accept with profuse thanks.
Seeing his reaction, the Duke of Wei eased his oppressive demeanor, returning to his usual calm and gentle manner.
"Very well, you may rise. Go and arrange that person's affairs. It must be within these few days. I want this scandal to be known throughout the capital!"
"Yes!"
After the man left, the Duke of Wei's mansion returned to its peaceful state, filled with festive preparations. In less than ten days, it would be Liang Wei's wedding day. Yet, in Wei Lanxuan's courtyard, an absurd incident had occurred.
Yue Jian, who had served her for many years, and the steward's son, had secretly become involved and were now two months pregnant.
Wei Lanxuan looked at the two kneeling before her with disappointment, one trembling and begging for mercy, the other with a defiant expression.
"Yue Jian, do you know that by having an illicit affair with this man, you have damaged the reputation of my Wei family? If I were to have you beaten to death now, no one would dare to object."
Upon hearing the words "beaten to death," Yue Jian visibly trembled with fear, yet her face held an expression of resignation. Tears streamed from her eyes as she looked at Wei Lanxuan. "Miss, I know I have made a mistake and dare not argue. I have wronged you, Miss, and the Wei family. If you wish to execute me, then do so. I will have no regrets."
She then kowtowed repeatedly. Her resolute attitude starkly contrasted with the irresponsible demeanor of Ali, who knelt beside her.
"And you? You seduced a first-class maid in my household. Have you considered the consequences?"
"I... I didn't do it intentionally. I was drunk... Please show mercy, Miss. Although Yue Jian and I share some affection, I... never thought we would act so disgracefully before your wedding. Miss, please show mercy, please show mercy."