Take the wrong and make the best of it

Ye Jiayao was ready to leave after cooking. She didn’t want to stay for too long. If Jinrong knew that Jiayao was alive and in her space, she would definitely kill her.

She came out from the alley at the back door. A group of people lifted a palanquin and walked past her, nearly knocking her off her feet. Ye Jiayao flattened her back against the wall hurriedly.

Wow! Trips for governors are so high-class.

The street didn't resume its hustle and bustle until the squad had passed. Ye Jiayao quickly blended in with the crowd and vanished.

The palanquin stopped in front of the prefecture of Wei. The guards came up to their master and said, "Lord, we're at the prefecture of Wei."

Xia Chunyu opened the curtain and got off the palanquin. He lifted his head and saw a golden horizontal inscribed board with a black background, the words 'The prefecture of Wei' sparkling under the sunlight.

Initially, he was going to go back to the capital after he finished his business in Hei Feng Gang. However, he felt that he just had to come to the prefecture of Wei at once.

Li Tie, who was the follower of second-in-charge, Sheng Wu, confessed that someone paid 3000 silvers for the Hei Feng Gang to kidnap Yaoyao. It was easy to guess who that was. Who else could gain profit from this monkey business? All he wanted was proof. If he couldn’t find the truth in Wei’s family, then he will search in Yang Zhou. Xia Chunyu felt that it was the only thing he could do now that Yaoyao was gone.

The prefecture of Wei got the news of Xia Chunyu's arrival and hurriedly sent people out to greet him.

"Please, forgive us. We didn't know that the Yu Hui ambassador would be arriving. This welcome was beneath you. " 

Xia Chunyu smiled calmly. "I was just passing by and thought that I'd come visit here. I'm sorry for troubling you."

"It is not a trouble at all. My humble house is honored by Yun Hui ambassador’s arrival." Wei prefecture laughed.

The two of them made small talk as they walked inside the house.

After Xia Chunyu took a seat, Wei prefecture requested the servants to prepare some drinks and food. "Let the first lady decide what drinks and food we get. Yun Hui ambassador is from Jin Ling."

Xia Chunyu suspected that the first lady should’ve been Yaoyao. Before he arrived, he expected Wei’s family to use two strategies to react to the kidnapping of the bride. One was to maintain their composure and find a substitute to complete the wedding, and the other was to pretend that the Ye family never sent anyone here.

However, it was difficult to use the second strategy. Normally, it only took two days for the bride to arrive at Ji Nan district. Since it was a big event, they must’ve already sent the wedding invitations ages ago. If they had canceled the wedding abruptly, people would’ve suspected. So, it was more likely that they found a substitute for Yaoyao.

Although, Xia Chunyu never expected that the substitute would be a southerner. Why else would the prefecture of Wei let the young first lady decide their meal?

The prefecture Wei dismissed the servants and turned around to ask, "Master Crown Prince, is it government business that brought you to Ji Nan?"

Of course, it is government business! I stayed in Black Wind Ridge for more than half a year! It had been a classified secret, though, so he kept his mouth shut. Even his family didn't know that he went to Shang Dong. Now that he had succeeded, they would be informed as he didn't need to cover his tracks anymore. "I am coming from the Black Wind Ridge."

Prefecture Wei had a strange look in his eyes, as expected, at the mere mention of the gang. "Helian Lord is marvelous, taking out Hei Feng Gang in one shot. You gave the Qi Lu area their peace back. You're truly formidable and you have served the country well."

"It is nothing. The Majesty of Jin Ling has always worried about the rampant bandits in the Lu area. He has sent troops many times but didn’t succeed. This time, Helian Royal Highness went himself and finally solved a worrying problem for the Majesty." Xia Chunyu mentioned the Majesty with a respectful expression.

"That’s right! Do you know when will Helian Royal Highness come to Ji Nan? I must thank his Royal Highness for the Shang Dong people," Prefecture Wei flattered with a smile. Helian Royal Highness has such a high position, and if they ever meet, it would be a great honor for him. Meeting the Royal Highness would at least make the bowing and humbling he was doing, all worth it.

Xia Chunyu smiled gently. "The Royal Highness has sent the head of Black Wind Ridge back to the capital. I will pass on your regards to him."

Prefecture Wei put on a regretful, look. It would've been nice if he could cozy up to the Helian Royal Highness. He would just have to turn his flattery and humility to the Yun Hui ambassador for the time being.

Technically, the prefecture of Wei and the Yun Hui ambassador were equal as they were both rank four official. Prefecture of Wei has a hold over a district and Xia Chunyu was in the military and an ambassador of the Majesty. However, Xia Chunyu was far nobler as he was the successor of the current Marquis.

The prefecture of Wei knew that building a connection with the Yun Hui ambassador was also practically the same as bonding with the Marquis. He had always heard of Yun Hui ambassador's outstanding deeds, abilities, and unlimited potential. The Yun Hui ambassador was the cream of the crop among the young generation of the royal bloodlines. Prefecture of Wei's son, Liujang, was going to take the test in Jin Ling soon, and if he succeeded, prefecture Wei planned to get him a position in the capital. If Liujang could make friends with the Yun Hui ambassador, that would benefit their family a lot.

Prefecture Wei said, "Thank you so much, Your Highness. If I may ask, how many days are you going to stay in Ji Nan? It is only so that I can prepare accommodations and hospitality for you."

Xia Chunyu laughed. He looked around, intentionally dodging prefecture Wei's question. "I saw the prefecture filled with happiness on my way here. Did you have a wedding?"

"My eldest son just got married last month."

Xia Chunyu acted surprised. "Is that right? If I knew, I would've prepared a gift!"

Prefecture Wei laughed. "Your Highness is too modest."

"I should, I should. It is just that I have been outside, and I don’t have anything good with me now. After I get back to the capital, I will make up for it." Xia Chunyu laughed and asked again, "Which daughter of highness did he marry?"

"It is my old family friend Yang Zhou Tong Zhiye Highness’s daughter. The two had been engaged to each other before they were born."

Xia Chunyu maintained his composure. "Is that the eldest daughter of Ye’s family?"

"How does Your Highness know?" Prefecture Wei looked at him in surprise. 

"To be honest, I am here to verify something for a friend."

Prefecture Wei was visibly worried.

"What is it, Your Highness?"

Xia Chunyu slowly sipped tea from his cup, and said, "When we attacked Black Wind Ridge, I met a girl who called herself the eldest daughter of the Ye family. She said she was the daughter-in-law of Wei’s family."

Prefecture Wei was shocked and infuriated. He had been plagued by this issue for a long time. He only knew that there had been issues when he saw the second daughter of Ye in the bridal chamber, instead of the first daughter. They said that the rightful bride was kidnapped on her way to Ji Nan. Both families knew that if the news of the situation got out, their reputations would be tarnished. Luckily, and coincidentally, the second daughter was in the bridal entourage, so she took her sister's place.

He thought that this incident could be hidden forever. Who knew that Hei Feng Gang could be destroyed so fast? Yun Hui ambassador had seen Ye’s first daughter and now he was asking for the truth.

But what has been done is done.

No change can be made. They would all stick to their stories and even if it was wrong, it will stay that way.

Prefecture Wei composed himself and smiled. "Your Highness must be jesting. Ye's first daughter has married my son last month. The female bandit must've just used that excuse to get away from her crimes."

"Really?" Xia Chunyu sneered insensibly.

Prefecture Wei nodded with certainty. "This thing can’t possibly happen."

"That is good! I didn’t believe it either. If Wei’s daughter-in-law was really kidnapped, there was no way you would stay calm, right?" Xia Chunyu was smiling outside but he was seething with rage inside.

Prefecture Wei was sweating bullets and he looked like a broken doll as he continuously nodded. "That's right! If this really happened, I would've raised hell to get her back. Such an awful woman to make this type of lie to destroy Wei’s honor. Please hand over the girl to me, Your Highness, and let me deal with her."

Prefecture Wei wanted to get to the girl first before she could spread the story to anyone else.

Xia Chunyu was angry. He knew that Wei would deny this, but he didn’t think that he would go these lengths. Yaoyao was gone, but even if he had her, he wouldn’t hand her over to him. He was certain that they would kill her to get rid of any evidence. What wrong did Yaoyao do to them?

"I cannot deliver what you have requested I'm afraid." Xia Chunyu tamped down his anger patiently.

Prefecture Wei was apprehensive. "Your Highness, this concerns the Wei’s honor…"

Xia Chunyu raised his hand to stop him from continuing. "Your Highness thinks too much. That girl is dead from the war. I was just being cautious so I came here to ask about it."

Prefecture Wei secretly relaxed. The memory of holding Ye Jinxuan before when she was still a baby, drove a twinge of pity in his heart. He was sorry for the girl, but it was for the best. She had already lived among the bandits and must've already lost her virginity. How could she face the rest of the world? If she had to blame anyone, it should be her fate for dealing her with a cruel hand.

Servants came in and announced that the lunch was ready.

"We have prepared food and drinks, please take a seat with us," Prefecture Wei graciously offered.

Xia Chunyu put his fist together and said, "Your Highness is too generous. I'm afraid I still have tasks to do and I can’t stay long. Since this thing has been figured out, I can bid my farewell."

He detested eating with a hypocrite like him. He wasn't sure that he would be able to keep his food down.

"Your Highness, we can still eat quickly, if you'd prefer," Prefecture Wei urged him.

"Farewell, farewell." Xia Chunyu left hurriedly. There was no necessity to stay. Now that he had figured out who the so-called Ye’s first daughter was, he must bring Yaoyao her justice.

After sending Xia Chunyu away, prefecture Wei asked his servant to call his first son to his study.

"Yun Hui ambassador just visited and mentioned that he met a woman claiming to be the first daughter of Ye in Black Wind Ridge," Prefecture Wei said.

Wei Liujiang was nervous. "Father, what should we do now?"

Prefecture Wei looked calm and cold as he said, "Don’t panic. I believe Ye’s family would take the same stand as us. Since Ye Jinxuan is already dead, no evidence can be found. If both of our families say the same story, there won’t be any problem. You just have to talk Jinrong to be careful and tell her not to give the show away."

"I understand. Rongrong will be careful as always," Wei Liujiang said, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"Ji Nan district is safe but when you go to Jin Ling, you must exercise extra caution," Prefecture Wei warned.

"There will be some trouble in dealing with Jinxuan’s grandparents."

"Your father-in-law can deal with that by himself." Prefecture Wei felt anxious. No one wanted this type of trouble, but since they had no choice, they just have to cover it up as much as possible.

They'd take the wrong and make the best of it.