Yu Tingwan really didn’t know.

"?"

Wei Zhao spoke lightly: "Inside is a map I drew myself."

He knows where Da Jin is easiest to attack.

Wei Zhao: "Without the Wei Family Army, what do you think he can do?"

"There’s also a letter, giving an enemy nation a similar map, and sending the military insignia of the Wei Family Army to Xiao Huaian."

"Oh, I also have people in the enemy’s camp, holding not low positions. Internal and external troubles, the Dog Emperor is overwhelmed. Xiao Huaian can always profit from their conflict."

Wei Zhao: "This country was protected by the Wei Family, and it should be taken back by the Wei Family."

Yu Tingwan: ????

You’re so terrifying.

Even when dying, how come there are still so many strategies!!

Evidently, the heavy burden that kept Wei Zhao tossing and turning was suddenly lifted, completely decompressing both body and mind; he willingly accepted his punishment.

The man’s mood was good, and he deliberately teased her.

"What?"

He raised his eyes, leisurely, raised an eyebrow: "Seeing me punished to kneel, are you going to share my hardships, my lady?"

"How could I..."

Wei Zhao: "Virtue wife."

The word "capable" was swallowed by Yu Tingwan.

She awkwardly switched topics, putting down the food box in her hand.

"Husband must be hungry."

Wei Zhao: "What do you think?"

He glanced at the food box; it was familiar.

When punished to kneel in the ancestral hall as a youth, it was Nanny Ru who brought him food.

Ning Suxuan was strict with him before, so he dared not think too much.

This vast backyard was managed by Ning Suxuan; did she really not know whenever Nanny Ru brought him food? Probably acquiesced.

Wei Zhao’s gaze softened.

"Before Mother left the ancestral hall, she said, though Gui Zhi was a name given by someone else, Zhao was the name given by Father."

Yu Tingwan opened the food box and took out the noodles cooked in old chicken soup. The noodles were handmade by the cook, very chewy, with shredded chicken and various small vegetables on top, steaming hot: "Day summons Zhao, bright and upright. Husband is who Father and Grandfather hoped to appear in this world."

Wei Zhao was really hungry, took the bowl to avoid her getting burnt: "But I stopped Mother."

"Told her, Father called me Gui Zhi more."

There was a sparkle in his eyes.

"Father obviously liked this name too."

"Gui Zhi. To Father, wasn’t Mother also a heaven’s blessing, willingly returning to him."

Ning Suxuan only knew Wei Fengxing treated her well because she was his wife. Little did she know, firstly it’s her, then she’s his wife.

Yu Tingwan couldn’t resist gossiping: "What was Mother’s reaction."

Wei Zhao: "Faced away from me, left hastily."

That haste proves inner turmoil.

He didn’t rush to eat the noodles.

"I was always thinking, what caused today’s situation."

Yu Tingwan heard him say.

"I never talked heart-to-heart with Mother, especially after Father passed; she became even more reticent. To protect me, she hid some things. Father’s wish for me not to investigate before passing was because back then I had no standing."

"Father and Uncle from a young age followed the family teachings of the Wei Family to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country."

That’s engraved in their bones.

"Uncle had spirit, but it wasn’t enough. The late Emperor married Uncle’s beloved woman, an open test to the Wei Family from the Royal Family for the first time. But Uncle wouldn’t rebel for love affairs."

"Then he left too suddenly. Father was learned, a well-known scholar, but didn’t understand military strategy, hence was completely restrained by that person in the Imperial Palace."

"The last thing he could do was to protect me, leaving the Wei Family’s last bloodline. Not telling me was his final expectation for me, to live well, so one day like my uncle, I could hold up the Wei Family."

"Mother knew I doubted Father’s death, knew I’d be wary of the Royal Family, and I indeed did well these years."

He made Emperor Ying want to move against him but feared him. But each border war had a backhand, leaving chances for the enemy to come back. Thus, the Court couldn’t be without the Wei Family Army.

Ning Suxuan knew Emperor Ying all too well.

Therefore, she was uneasy since she became pregnant.

After General Jing Yuan’s incident, this unease peaked.

Emperor Ying always resented Wei Fengxing.

If Wei Zhao weren’t a son, and the Wei Family had no successor, maybe the situation would be different.

After all, Emperor Ying cared about his reputation for benevolence and virtue.

"But Mother was bound by worldly rites. She would never think that Duke Shun Mansion actually had a path, though risky, that could rebel against the entire Dynasty and be unorthodox."

"The Ying Family generation after generation grew more ambitious, and the Wei Family long became a thorn in their side."

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have such a large scheme.

Escaping is useless.

"Enduring humiliation always leads to being at someone’s mercy, sitting and waiting only makes one controlled by others; Father and Uncle were so, and I too, would also be like that. Future generations depend on others to survive, living even more precariously."

Wei Zhao’s voice was calm yet echoed in the ancestral hall.

"Living under the Court, there will never be a day to rise again."

Therefore, revenge or for the Wei Family, as you wish.

The Ying Family must be eliminated! 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He reached out to Yu Tingwan.

"Come."

"Offer incense to Father and the ancestors."

Wei Zhao: "Let them meet you too."

The ancestral hall enshrined many of the Wei Family ancestors’ tablets.

The placements were particularly particular. With names on top, birth and death years.

The founder in the center, left Zhao right Mu; eldest as Zhao, youngest as Mu; legitimate as Zhao, concubine as Mu. Father as Zhao, son as Mu.

Husband sacrifices follow Zhao and Mu, differing fathers, distance, order of seniority, and closeness for no disorder.

Yu Tingwan offered incense under Wei Zhao’s introductions to each.

Finally knelt next to Wei Zhao, in front of Wei Fengxing’s tablet.

Unlike the previous bows, this time with both hands clasped holding incense, she closed her eyes placing her hands on her forehead.

"If father-in-law above can hear, this daughter-in-law of the Yu Family wishes you to bless husband’s future without disaster or difficulty, shielded from storms."

Wei Zhao: "Saying it out loud makes it void."

Yu Tingwan bowed three times, then got up and inserted the incense on the altar.

"Who says?"

She had her own reasoning: "Those who pray silently in Buddhist temples haven’t had many wishes come true. It seems saying it out loud, the gods can hear."

In front, a thick genealogy lay on the altar.

Wei Zhao knelt with a straight posture but relaxed, eating noodles.

Yu Tingwan casually: "Is it good?"

Wei Zhao: "Heh."

Yu Tingwan: ???

Why the sudden strange mood!

Wei Zhao slowly: "If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to ask."

Yu Tingwan: ???

Wei Zhao: "Sneaking bites outside."

Yu Tingwan: ?

Wei Zhao: "I smelled the Drunken Pavilion’s roast chicken."

Yu Tingwan indeed had a few drops of oil splashed on her.

Dog-like nose!

After finishing his noodles, Wei Zhao wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. He gestured for Yu Tingwan to look at the thick genealogy on the altar, alongside the writing materials.

Yu Tingwan helped him retrieve them.

Wei Zhao: "Open it, turn to the last page."

Yu Tingwan, inexplicably curious, did as told.

Wei Zhao: "What do you see?"

What else could it be?

The last few lines had Wei Fengxing and Ning Suxuan’s names close together, alongside Wei Fengyuan.

This was General Jing Yuan’s uncle.

Wei Zhao looked over, slightly stunned.

He was silent for a moment, then looked elsewhere.

Beneath Ning Suxuan and Wei Fengxing’s names, there was a small character.

Son.

Then it was Wei Zhao.

Wei Zhao grounded the inkstick, dipped the brush into ink.

Beside his own name, he sincerely wrote Yu Tingwan’s name.

This should have been done long ago, but he hadn’t dared before.

He raised his eyes towards the girl leaning in for a closer look, smiling bright-eyed.

Then he solemnly penned a small character.

—Wife.

"Yu Tingwan."

"Hm?"

"You must treat me well."

Yu Tingwan: ??

He chuckled lightly: "In front of the ancestors, it’s already stamped approved."