Chapter 219: Altering Power, Seizing Influence

Lights dimmed, the lane grew still; night blanketed the great house.

All sounds ceased; the deep manor lay still, veiled in night mist.

By rights, this hour should be a good time for sleep.

Yet tonight, Yu Yiai finds it hard to sleep.

He is usually simple‑minded, rarely troubled, yet tonight he tosses and turns, standing by the window lost in thought, a faint worry creasing his brow.

Light footsteps sounded outside the corridor, their force extremely gentle, for fear of disturbing those inside.

Moments later the door was pushed open a crack; the two faced each other's gaze. The night‑watch attendant A Chou, who should have been on patrol, was shocked to see his master still awake.

But after the surprise, A Chou noticed the worry in his master's brow and was stunned again:

"Master, it's late and cold; you haven't rested— is something weighing on your mind?"

Yu Yiai heard the voice, came to himself, slowly drew back his gaze from the window, and sighed:

"I am pondering; tomorrow is the seasonal rite—I don't know whether I should go to my wife's parents' grave to pay respects."

"By common custom, juniors should honor elders at festivals—but I have heard that, according to my wife's wishes, when her parents were alive they treated her poorly."

Du Shanü's identity could be hidden from outsiders, but not from her own family.

Moreover, the Wife Master has always been open with him.

The Wife Master rarely mentions that early‑deceased couple or her brothers; he has heard little, except when he once spoke of his own parents and she, recalling her parents, let slip.

She said that couple were "honey‑mouth, sword‑belly"—to the villagers they seemed good for years, but in fact they did nothing decent.

If they were ordinary parents and child, and if they truly felt affection......

Would they say such things?

Yu Yiai doesn't quite understand, but he does not wish to look kindly on those who mistreat his Wife Master——

He and the Wife Master are the true husband and wife!

If he knows others treat the Wife Master badly yet still favors them......

That would be nothing but a utter fool!

He's just a bit slow, but not that stupid!

If the Wife Master truly suffered in the past, forget paying respects—we'd dig up their graves!

But after all, is there any neglect or not? _(:"3"∠)_

The Wife Master isn't here, and no one tells him anything!

Inside, a hush fell; only the candlelight crackled softly.

A Chou scratched his head, thinking of a way to ease his master's worries:

"How about this: at dawn tomorrow I'll ride to Dun Cheng and find out for you?"

Yu Yiai's eyes lit up, but after a moment's thought he shook his head:

"Never mind; I heard Brother Yan say you last time angered Chinu......

He wasn't there then, and no one knows exactly what happened.

But later people said that after that incident the Wife Master left with Chinu.

Now sending someone to sway in front of Chinu—wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?

Inside, master and servant spoke in low voices, still tangled in thought, until outside the night a thunderous disturbance suddenly shattered the stillness——

The long night dripped on; the city gates stood wide open.

On the main street's stone slabs, several clear hoofbeats rang out—urgent yet steady—breaking the midnight hush all the way.

Points of torchlight rose from the street's end, flickering, drawing near, illuminating the dark lane and the silhouettes of a returning party.

Yu Yiai heard the sound, startled; he didn't even have time to throw on his outer garment, striding straight out and dashing through the door.

The night was thick, yet that troop bore a fierce, orderly presence.

The leading rider sat tall and straight, surrounded by the midnight chill and dust, and halted abruptly at the street's mouth.

Just a glance, just a glance.

Just that glance, and Yu Yiai clearly recognized the comer——

"Wife Master!"

All the worries that had tangled his heart vanished in an instant as he saw that familiar figure.

Yu Yiai's brows and eyes curved; his former gloom disappeared completely.

Before the manor gate, Du Shanü heard the call, turned her wrist slightly, and smoothly dismounted.

She was now skilled with bow and horse; her feet touched ground, her stance steady as a rock, without a hint of sway.

She lifted her eyes, glanced coolly at the crowd awaiting before the gate, and instantly spotted Yu Yiai standing foremost.

The young man stood in the lantern light, his features clear and handsome, his eyes warm and moist, his face bearing an open smile, his heart brimming with genuine joy, pure and warm.

Such pure, fervent warmth, even veiled by night, stood out sharply, making one's heart feel soft at a glance.

But today, that softness is truly ill‑timed.

Du Shanü's gaze lingered on his face for a brief instant, then slipped away silently:

"It's none of your business—go back to sleep."

Having spoken, she gave Yu Yiai no further glance; her eyes fell directly on Ouyang Yan, who had hurried over at the sound, and she beckoned him to come near.

Huh?

Huh huh huh?

How come this time the Wife Master returns without embracing him, without a string of endearments like 'my dear', without being all clingy?!

And moreover, Chinu didn't come back either!

What, what is going on?

Could it be that Wife Master and Chinu also got into an argument (? ｀? Д? ′)???

Yu Yiai was a bit dazed, but he was usually obedient and compliant, rarely going against the words of those he trusted.

Seeing that Wife Master seemed to have some business to attend to, he again obediently stepped back, meekly and compliantly retreating slowly along the way he had come....

No, he even came happily and left happily.

Xiao Ai's thoughts have always been clear—

Wife Master tells him what to do, and he does it!

Only in storybooks would someone pester others for details at an inappropriate moment, eh!

If Wife Master wants to say it, she will; if she doesn't, it doesn't matter— as long as the person returns safely, that's fine!

Only after Yu Yiai's figure had gone far away, disappearing under the eaves, did Du Shanü finally withdraw her gaze.

She turned her head to look at the attendants following behind, pausing momentarily on Yu Lve, who stood dazed under the eaves, before casually ordering:

"...... Lift the things up."

The attendants, hearing the command, immediately bent down, lifted the elm wood box from the carriage, and steadily placed it on the bluestone ground before the gate.

The wooden box was solid in texture, with no excessive ornamentation, appearing ordinary yet extremely heavy.

Du Shanü stepped forward two paces, stood beside the box, and signaled the person next to her to open it.

Ouyang Yan caught the glance, was also somewhat curious, and did as he was told—

The next instant, he was violently shaken in the eyes.

Inside the box, it was filled to the brim with clear, bright green beryl raw ore.

Each raw stone was uniform in size, translucent, and in the flickering torchlight gave off a warm, clear green glow that was especially striking.

Du Shanü lowered her eyes to look at the box full of green beryl, her gaze deep and inscrutable; when she spoke, her tone was flat and unchanging:

"Immediately inform Leitie, order him to bring his apprentices and set off for Dun Cheng at once; from now on, weapons will be developed in Dun Cheng......"

"From now on, you only need to handle some small business."

?? Thunder and rain, dew— all are the ruler's grace.