Chapter 361: Obstruction

"Prince of Yue!"

Roughly in his early forties, Wei Cheng, who exuded a scholarly elegance, was both startled and angry.

"Spreading rumors to defame my Wei family—did you also take part?"

Prince of Yue Li Tai was somewhat disheveled, his hair slightly tangled, clearly having rushed here in haste.

Upon hearing that Wei Cheng, a Confucian scholar who had served as a doctoral instructor at the Imperial Academy and taught the classics to Crown Prince Li Chengqian, was one of the prominent figures of the Wei family, he merely gave a faint smile.

"Do not misunderstand; I am unaware of any rumors about the Wei family. I only saw that the outside world was spreading bad news about the Weis, which worried me, so I came here specifically to see if I could be of any help."

As Li Tai finished speaking, his gaze shifted to Wei Ting behind Wei Cheng and said, "After all, Lord Wei Ting still serves as the Sima of my household; how could I stand by idly?"

"But…" he said, his expression rather odd, "What is happening to Lord Wei?"

"Has he been plotted against by villains?"

Wei Ting's complexion turned extremely grim; he instinctively turned his head, not wanting anyone to see his bruised, battered face.

Wei Cheng angrily retorted, "Then what is your purpose in surrounding the Wei family with men?"

"Is this how you just stand by and do nothing?"

"Alas!" Li Tai sighed helplessly, spreading his hands, "You see, he's impatient again!"

"The outside is so dangerous now; the whole Chang'an City is spreading bad news about your Wei family. Even Lord Wei has been plotted against and beaten into this state… sigh~. I am afraid you might encounter danger, so I sent men to protect you."

Li Tai spoke with righteous rhetoric, "To keep you all safe from danger, please cooperate with me and stay at home for a while. I guarantee that I will protect your safety and will never allow the nation's pillars to suffer harm!"

"Nonsense!" a member of the Wei family shouted at that moment, "Is this supposed to be protection?"

"You clearly want to house‑arrest us, preventing us from handling the matter. Sima Zhao's intentions are known to all, yet you still put on this grand façade!"

"I will tell my aunt!"

Li Tai was not annoyed, smiling, "So you are the nephew of Consort Wei. Then we are cousins. Since we meet today, how about we drink until we're drunk together?"

"Ugh!" Wei Yu shouted, "Who wants to get drunk with you?"

"Release us now, or if this matter escalates, none of us will have a good life!"

Wei Cheng raised his hand to stop Wei Yu from continuing, and at that moment he had calmed down, struggling to suppress his inner fury, his face dark, "Prince of Yue, we are all reasonable people. I may not know why you are doing this today, but I believe you are not the mastermind. If you return now, consider the Wei family indebted to you for a favor."

Li Tai clicked his tongue, "The Wei family's favor is indeed tempting. If it were in the past, I probably would have been swayed and left without a second thought."

"But… I no longer need anyone's favor. I have found a new pursuit, and since Consort Wei comes from the Wei family, I cannot watch you suffer danger. So if I withdraw, say nothing more."

"Servants!"

Li Tai composed himself and said evenly, "Bring the dishes, and serve the fine wine!"

The atmosphere instantly grew tense, and the Wei family members all felt the Prince of Yue's resolve.

They also pondered what the phrase "I no longer need anyone's favor" truly meant, and what the Prince of Yue's new pursuit was.

Why must he oppose the Wei family?

Wei Cheng took several deep breaths, gazed at the delicacies and wine carried by a few servants, and, despite his fury, forced a smile.

"Good! Good! Good!"

"Prince of Yue, I, Wei Cheng, will remember your generosity of wine today!"

"And when the day comes, I will prepare a lavish gift and visit to give thanks!"

Li Tai raised an eyebrow, seeming a bit disappointed.

"You all have been blinded by anger and cannot even see the basic situation clearly."

"Fine, I won't blame you. Please, go ahead!"

"......"

"Please, sister!"

In Zhaoqing Hall, Empress Changsun ordered the dishes to be brought and, smiling, invited Consort Wei to taste them.

Consort Wei did not think much, for whenever Empress Changsun found something good, she usually shared it with them.

Today, Empress Changsun brought dishes that the palace kitchen had newly learned from Chen Yan, and even arranged a whole hot‑pot table from Zui Xian Lou.

Consort Wei took a light sip and praised, "I've long heard that Zui Xian Lou's hot pot is unrivaled in the world; no one can replicate its flavor. Tasting it today, the reputation is well deserved!"

"Thank you, sister. I imagine bringing this hot pot took considerable effort."

"Sister, you flatter me," Empress Changsun chuckled lightly, "Zui Xian Lou invested money in this delicacy; if you wish to have it again, just let me know—it's all within the family."

"By the way," she looked around and asked, "Where are Meng Jiang and Shen Er? Have they gone to sleep?"

"Yes." When speaking of her children, Consort Wei's eyes softened, "The two kids were playing around early this morning and have just fallen asleep under the maid's care."

"Hehe......"

Empress Changsun spoke without a flaw, continuing along Consort Wei's words, and the two chatted enthusiastically about the children.

Outside the hall, Empress Changsun's most trusted lady‑in‑waiting, the chief of the Six Shang Office, Shen Shurong, said expressionlessly to the anxious palace maid:

"Her Imperial Highness the Empress and the Consort are dining; any urgent matters can wait. Please return!"

"Chief Shen, I truly have an urgent report; could you make an exception?" the maid pleaded.

Shen Shurong gave her a flat glance and refused without hesitation, "No!"

"The Empress and the Consort are dining; no one may disturb them. Even if it is a matter of the utmost importance, it must wait until they finish their meal!"

"I..."

The maid tried to plead further, but Shen Shurong narrowed her eyes sharply, the warning unmistakable.

The maid hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to shout loudly to attract Consort Wei's attention inside.

But Shen Shurong's attitude made her feel something was odd.

As Empress Changsun's most valued lady‑in‑waiting, could Shen Shurong be a simple person?

She had already said there was an extremely urgent matter to report; even if she couldn't enter, Shen Shurong should go in herself and say a word to gauge the two's attitude.

Yet now, Shen Shurong's utterly unsympathetic demeanor made the maid realize something was amiss.

After thinking it over repeatedly, they gave up the idea of shouting loudly.

She bowed and retreated slowly.

Shen Shurong saw her turn around, and gave a glance to the two other female attendants beside her.

The two understood, and followed lightly.

After doing all this, Shen Shurong's expression unchanged, like a statue, she continued to guard outside.

"......"