Chapter 106: If You Don’t Want to Die, Get Lost

At this moment, the much-discussed Wei Wuji was already being guided by Zheng Dali toward his mother’s residence. He was now simply a son about to meet his mother after an agonizing separation—a full "dozen years" apart. Along the way, though Wei Wuji maintained a calm exterior, his heart was a tumult of excitement and apprehension. Despite the biological bond, he was a soul inhabiting a different body; how could he expect a reunion without a sense of estrangement?

"Dali, tell me, if I return like this, will my mother even recognize me?" Wei Wuji asked. He knew that if there was anyone who understood a son, it was his mother. Even if others failed to notice the change in his soul, the woman who had birthed and raised him might surely detect the subtle discrepancies.

"After being tempered by the brutality of war, the Lady will likely find it hard to recognize you," Zheng Dali replied with a simple, honest smile, his face completely devoid of the fierce expression he had worn earlier.

Wei Wuji felt a measure of relief, yet he still felt a sense of unease about the impending meeting. *Damn it! I’ve been on the battlefield and killed men, yet I’m afraid of this?* he chided himself silently. But the old saying held true: one feels trepidation as they approach their hometown, and how much more so when approaching one's own home? It was in this state of anxiety that Wei Wuji slowly moved forward.

Although Lady Tan had moved out of the palace proper, she remained one of the Marquis of Wei’s consorts and thus resided in the district adjacent to the palace. Wei Wuji’s route led him toward the palace complex. As they pressed on, the city center grew closer; the streets became more crowded, and the bustling shops grew more vibrant. Throughout the journey, Wei Wuji was struck by the prosperity of Wu'an City; he marveled that almost anything he saw along the way could be purchased here.

However, after passing through the city center and entering the Northern District, the situation reversed. The flow of pedestrians thinned, the shops and taverns gradually vanished, and the world seemed to grow sparse. Eventually, apart from a few individuals passing by in a hurry, it was rare to encounter anyone on the streets—save, of course, for the patrolling guards.

"Who goes there? Halt!" A sharp command rang out from behind them as Wei Wuji and his party were walking. They stopped, as they were the only ones on the street, and the order was clearly meant for them. Turning around, Wei Wuji saw a squad of armored soldiers watching them vigilantly, led by a decurion who had issued the challenge.

Just as Wei Wuji was wondering how to explain their presence, Zheng Dali stepped forward and pulled a dark object from his tunic. Wei Wuji looked closely and saw it was a copper token engraved with a snarling tiger. Upon seeing the token, the squad of soldiers bowed in unison. "Greetings, honored envoy."

"This is Young Master Wuji of Great Wei, returning from the front lines," Zheng Dali said, putting the token away as he introduced them. The soldiers’ expressions softened instantly, and the way they looked at Wei Wuji shifted to one of respect.

"Greetings, Young Master," the men chorused, bowing once more.

"Rise, and return to your duties," Wei Wuji said calmly.

"Yes!" The decurion stood, bowed again, and led his men away. As they resumed their march, Wei Wuji felt a bit perplexed by what had just occurred. Eventually, he couldn't help but ask, "Dali, that token you held—what kind of treasure is it?"

Zheng Dali turned back with a dry chuckle. "Young Master, you mean that token? It’s just the standard issue for us palace guards."

"It must be quite precious, right?" Wei Wuji said with a hint of envy; it seemed like a convenient tool with useful functions.

Zheng Dali looked stunned, and after a long silence, he explained, "Young Master, this is merely a token for palace guards. Not only do I have one, but they have them too."

*What?* Wei Wuji was speechless, feeling as if his pride had been trampled by a stampeding beast. Sure enough, the other guards nodded in agreement, some even pulling identical tokens from their own tunics. "That’s right, Young Master, we have them as well," one added.

Having just been put in his place, Wei Wuji felt his face burn with embarrassment. "Er, right..." he mumbled, unwilling to dwell on the subject.

"Dali, how come you took the initiative to explain yourself just now? That’s not your style," Wei Wuji said, seizing upon a new topic to divert attention.

The tactic worked, and the focus of Zheng Dali and the others shifted. "Young Master, we are already within the Forbidden City. If the patrolling guards encounter a suspicious target, they are authorized to attack immediately," Zheng Dali explained. "It’s better to get things cleared up early; otherwise, it’s unsettling to be watched like that all the time." He rubbed his neck as he spoke.

"I see..." Wei Wuji nodded, marveling at the strict security of the Forbidden City.

"Young Master, this is only the outer perimeter. The closer we get to the palace, the more government offices there are, and the tighter the security becomes," Zheng Dali continued.

"In that case, trying to infiltrate the heart of Great Wei would be as difficult as ascending to heaven," Wei Wuji remarked.

"Indeed. The residences of ministers and nobles are all in the Northern District, so the protection is naturally reinforced," Zheng Dali agreed.

*The ruling class has it good, as expected,* Wei Wuji thought to himself. Commoners didn't even have the qualifications to approach this area, let alone vent their "commoner’s fury" upon the high and mighty. *This is for the best, at least; with my mother living inside, there is no need to worry about her safety,* he mused.

"Enough, let's stop wasting time and pick up the pace, or we won't make it in time for lunch," Wei Wuji said with a smile. As they continued, the security grew even tighter, and the armor of the patrolling foot soldiers became increasingly refined. As for the mother he was about to meet, Wei Wuji’s heart was a tangled mess; the closer he got, the more chaotic and anxious he felt.

...

Meanwhile, in a secluded, run-down courtyard not far outside the palace walls, a heartbreaking scene was unfolding. In the yard, a beautiful woman stood outside the main room, looking haggard and weary as she gazed down at a group of servant girls standing at the foot of the stairs. Although the beautiful woman was the mistress of the residence, the arrogant and overbearing behavior of the servants made one doubt it.

"Lady Tan, the Madam has decreed that you are not to leave. You would do well to stay put!" the lead servant girl said in a shrill, spiteful voice. Behind the mistress, a young maid glared at the group with such ferocity that she was grinding her teeth, clearly wishing she could rush down and tear into them.

"You are all going too far! Don't forget, my mistress is a consort conferred by the Marquis himself; how dare you offend her!" the young maid shouted indignantly.

The servants below dismissed her words, becoming even more smug. "We act under the orders of the Madam. Does Lady Tan think she is superior to the Madam?" At this, the servants burst into laughter.

Incensed, the young maid grabbed a broom and prepared to rush out, but the mistress—Lady Tan, or rather, Wei Wuji’s mother—reached out and held her back. "Lan'er, stay calm!" Lady Tan said softly, her face full of helplessness. The maid known as Lan'er looked furious but obeyed.

"Don't get too smug! My young master is a general now. Once he returns, he will never forgive you for this," Lan'er threatened, trying to sound fierce.

The servants remained indifferent, and the leader sneered, "Lady Tan, you really should just stay here quietly. As for your Young Master Wuji, the battlefield is a treacherous place; who knows what has become of him?"

"That's right! It’s questionable whether he’s even alive!" another servant scoffed.

Such words were tantamount to a death sentence. Wei Wuji was, after all, a prince of Wei, and cursing him in such a manner was a capital offense. Yet, backed by the Madam of the house, they feared no such consequences. Lady Tan, who had managed to remain composed until now, began to tremble with rage. She pointed a finger at the women but was unable to utter a word. Her reaction only emboldened the servants, who laughed even louder.

Suddenly, a cold, sharp voice rang out from the entrance of the courtyard.

"If you lot don't want to die... get out of here right now!"

The voice was devoid of any emotion, sounding like a demon emerging from the depths of hell, and the atmosphere in the courtyard instantly turned frigid.

"I won't say it again. If you don't want to die... get out."