Chapter 25- The Disdained Concubine’s Son of the Marquis’s Family(9)

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Chapter 25

.Kuai Ninghua’s heart raced as she found Wen Gaozhe’s handsome face even more captivating in the candlelight.

“W-Wen Gongzi…”

Before she could say anything more, her face was already flushed with embarrassment.

Wen Gaozhe was no ordinary man. Since his teenage years, he had earned Emperor Zhangwu’s favor due to his ability to read people’s minds. He was excellent at interpreting expressions and discerning motives, and Kuai Ninghua’s little infatuation was all too obvious to him.

He was initially puzzled—after all these years, the once arrogant Kuai Ninghua now seemed to harbor feelings for him. Recalling the thick stack of reports on her activities on his desk, Wen Gaozhe’s expression softened, and he withdrew the blade from her neck.

“Miss Ninghua, I am here at the emperor’s command to search for rebels in Fayan Temple. I never expected to encounter you here. Given your distinguished status, if anyone were to notice you, it might attract unwanted attention from His Majesty.”

Kuai Ninghua’s face turned pale in an instant. She almost forgot—wasn’t she the daughter of a rebel? Wen Gaozhe, as Emperor Zhangwu’s confidant, was tasked with capturing her. What if he decided to arrest her and present her to the emperor to earn favor?

The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. Her tearful eyes gazed longingly at Wen Gaozhe, filled with unspoken emotion.

If Wen Gaozhe hadn’t remembered every detail of his life clearly, he might have thought he had wronged Kuai Ninghua.

His grip on the sword nearly slipped, but he quickly refocused on the task at hand. In a gentle tone, he said, “Miss Ninghua, Fayan Temple is not safe. After tonight, your whereabouts may be exposed. It would be better for you to leave with me to a safer place.”

At that moment, Kuai Ninghua was consumed by thoughts of her glittering future as the wife of the Regent. No matter what Wen Gaozhe said, she would simply nod in agreement.

Meanwhile, in the rear courtyard of the Yongxin Marquis household, Madam Zou had been feeling mentally exhausted after failing to have Wen Kai assassinated. Unable to sleep, she summoned her trusted servant, Song Mama, for a conversation.

The room was quiet, with the scent of calming incense wafting from a gilded incense burner. Song Mama stood silently beside Madam Zou, listening intently to her instructions.

“Song, it’s been nearly half a year now. Where could that bastard have escaped to, that even the Marquis’s guards couldn’t find him?”

Song Mama found it difficult to answer. She and Madam Zou had initially believed that Wen Kai had been taken by members of the Wen family’s collateral branch, who coveted the marquisate. They had exaggerated the situation when reporting it to the Marquis, and he had been furious, cutting off the monthly stipends and provisions to the collateral family.

But later, the guards Madam Zou had secretly sent to eliminate Wen Kai hadn’t found him. Song Mama had suspected Wen Kai might have escaped on his own, but how could a child who had been raised in seclusion and ruined by neglect manage such a feat?

Could it be that the Marquis had secretly protected him?

This thought sent a cold sweat down Song Mama’s back, but she didn’t dare voice it to Madam Zou. Carefully composing her thoughts, she was just about to give a vague response when a young maid, dressed in a pine-green skirt and with her hair styled in twin buns, rushed in, panting.

“Madam, the young master has brought a beautiful young lady back to the household.”

This news struck Madam Zou like a bolt from the blue.

Wen Gaozhe was two or three years older than Wen Kai, already eighteen. His marriage had been delayed because of his work under Emperor Zhangwu, where he was often tied up with official duties.

Previously, Madam Zou had hoped that once Wen Gaozhe rose to a higher rank, he would marry a noblewoman of even greater status, whose family could serve as a strong ally. For this reason, she hadn’t pushed him about marriage but had quietly scouted potential brides from families interested in an alliance with the Marquis household.

Two months ago, Wen Gaozhe had told her he was interested in Feng Zixuan, the cherished daughter of Grand Tutor Feng.

Madam Zou was both pleased and anxious. Pleased because the Feng family was highly respected among the virtuous faction in the court, and a marriage alliance with them would greatly benefit her grandson. But she was anxious because the Feng family was very particular about reputation, and they might not approve of her grandson, who was seen by the court as a sycophantic official.

Wen Gaozhe had reassured her not to worry—he had his own ways of handling it.

For the past two months, there had been no news from the Feng family, and Madam Zou had secretly been on edge, worrying that her grandson might lose heart if his marriage proposal failed. Yet, today he had unexpectedly brought back a beautiful young lady, and she was sure it wasn’t Feng Zixuan.

“Grandmother, do you remember who this is?”

As Madam Zou’s face shifted between different emotions, Wen Gaozhe led Kuai Ninghua into the main hall. Upon entering, he dismissed all the servants, including Song Mama, and pushed the nervous Kuai Ninghua in front of Madam Zou.

Madam Zou furrowed her brow as she looked Kuai Ninghua up and down. She had a good memory, and even after all these years, she recognized the familiar features in the young woman’s face.

Madam Zou’s heart sank, but she quickly feigned surprise and joy. Standing up, she grabbed Kuai Ninghua’s hand, examining her closely. “You must be Hua’er, right? It’s been so many years, and you’ve grown even more beautiful. I almost didn’t recognize you!”

In her past life, Kuai Ninghua had seen Madam Zou after she and Guo Shi were taken to the capital. At that time, Madam Zou was the highly esteemed matriarch of the Regent’s household, draped in luxurious fabrics and adorned with jewels. Guo Shi had begged her to ask Wen Gaozhe to show mercy and spare her daughter, but Madam Zou had coldly shaken her head and refused, saying, “You are rebels of the Great Zhou dynasty. The emperor has ordered the execution of your entire family. What can my grandson do about that?”

In her previous life, Kuai Ninghua had hated Madam Zou for being so heartless. However, since her rebirth, she realized that Madam Zou would soon become her grandmother-in-law. They would be family, and there was no point in holding onto grudges that no longer mattered. She had long since let go of her anger.

“Madam Zou,” Kuai Ninghua looked up with adoration in her eyes, “even though I’ve been away from the capital for so many years, I’ve always thought of you. Every day, I pray and recite Buddhist scriptures, hoping to bless you with safety and peace.”

She didn’t realize how overtly flattering her words sounded.

Madam Zou was taken aback. Even with her deep experience, she couldn’t help but let her expression turn cold for a moment upon hearing such blatant flattery. She cast a meaningful glance at Kuai Ninghua.

Then she turned her head slightly and gave her grandson a silent look, as if to ask: “Is this girl alright in the head?”

Things that are too out of the ordinary must be approached with caution. Even if she had once been close to Guo Shi, or if Kuai Ninghua had been her most beloved younger relative, such an emotional outburst after so many years of separation meant the girl had an agenda.

Madam Zou’s gaze fell on Wen Gaozhe, who responded with a helpless smile. When she saw the bashful, demure expression on Kuai Ninghua’s face, Madam Zou immediately understood. It seemed this girl had fallen for her grandson.

But with one of them having grown up in the capital and the other living in Yincheng for so many years, when did Kuai Ninghua even develop feelings for Wen Gaozhe?

Suppressing her questions, Madam Zou stayed calm. She knew her grandson well—he never did anything without a reason. If he had brought Kuai Ninghua back to the Marquis’s household, it must have been for a purpose.

Her expression softened, and she began to speak kindly, subtly probing Kuai Ninghua for more information.

On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, during the Dragon Boat Festival, Yan Su was invited by General Wang of the military camp to a banquet at Prince Qin’s residence.

Prince Qin, Kuai Heyu, had three mighty generals under his command, known as the Three Tigers of Yincheng. They were General Wang Lide, General Fu Xiong, and General Yue Xiangyang.

Yan Su’s camp was under the jurisdiction of General Wang Lide. Recently, due to Yan Su’s exceptional performance in battles against imperial forces, Wang Lide had developed great respect for him. Despite Yan Su being a favored connection brought in by Kuai Hongwen, Wang Lide had recognized his talents and promoted him without reservation. The general valued Yan Su highly.

If it weren’t for the fact that his only daughter was only nine years old and too young for marriage, and that Yan Su always proclaimed he had a fiancée in his hometown, Wang Lide might have even considered him as a son-in-law.

As one of the few people who knew Yan Su’s true identity, Wang Lide took him along to the banquet at Prince Qin’s residence.

Recently, Yan Su had been making a name for himself in the three military camps under Prince Qin’s command. Even Generals Fu Xiong and Yue Xiangyang had heard of him. These two were close friends and sworn brothers of Kuai Heyu, who had long been concerned that his sons were too mediocre to bear the heavy responsibilities of the Qin household. Now, with a nephew as fierce as a tiger in battle, they were genuinely happy for him.

The Dragon Boat Festival banquet at Prince Qin’s residence was a small gathering. Aside from the three generals, the guests included military advisors from the household and Guo Shi’s elder brother, Guo Hongji.

Kuai Heyu had been in good spirits recently, thanks to his nephew’s repeated military successes. This had helped ease the psychological blow caused by Kuai Ninghua’s departure.

During the feast, Kuai Heyu drank heartily with the three generals. As the wine flowed, nostalgia for their younger, battlefield days crept in, and the conversation became more animated, with everyone sharing stories.

Eventually, the topic shifted to Yan Su.

“I had intended to betroth Hua’er to Ah Kai, but who would have thought that girl didn’t appreciate my efforts and ran away from home…”

When Kuai Heyu mentioned his rebellious daughter, his mood darkened, and his voice grew quieter.

No one dared to continue discussing the Qin household’s family matters, and the table fell into an awkward silence.

Guo Hongji broke out into a cold sweat. He was filled with regret, silently blaming his sister for her impulsive actions and for starting a deadly feud with Wen Kai over unfounded suspicions.

Reflecting on the arrangements he had made in the military to get rid of Yan Su, Guo Hongji couldn’t help but glance at Yan Su with a complex expression.

This young man had the makings of a great general. If he could one day serve Kuai Hongwen and the Guo family, it would be ideal.

What a pity.

Guo Hongji knew he had to act before Yan Su became aware of his plot. If Yan Su ever uncovered the truth behind Zhuang Jin’s death, it would spell the downfall of Guo Shi and the Guo family.