Chapter 119: The Great Secret Emerges

Leaving the White Tiger Hall, Wei Wuji felt an immense sense of exhilaration. Being able to cow a group of generals gave him a tremendous sense of accomplishment. It was a pity, however, that while the scene had felt lengthy in the retelling, it had lasted only a minute in reality, leaving him feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

Stepping outside the hall, Wei Wuji cast a backward glance at the plaque inscribed with the three characters "White Tiger Hall." He let out a scoff before turning to walk away. "The rules of the White Tiger Hall... aren't they just something I trampled underfoot?" he thought to himself.

There was no trepidation, no anxiety; he felt no psychological burden whatsoever for what he had just done. Coming from a different world with different values, that scene was, at most, a minor conflict between colleagues—what did it really matter? In truth, Wei Wuji was also feeling a stroke of luck; had that general not backed down, he might have actually had to prick him.

Reaching the gate of the White Tiger Hall courtyard, Wei Wuji saw Zheng Dali and the others standing there, peering inside. Approaching them, Wei Wuji asked, "Did you see which way the Pillar of State, Xu, went?"

Taken aback by the direct questioning, Zheng Dali immediately replied, "Reporting to the Young Master, the old General just headed that way..." As he spoke, he pointed in a direction.

Following the direction indicated, Wei Wuji strode forward. There were some things he had to get to the bottom of. What exactly was his mother hiding? Why did Xu Anhong want to help him? Was there a connection between the two? Vaguely, Wei Wuji felt that this matter might involve something far more profound and unimaginable. This realization compelled him to pursue the truth, for the feeling of being unable to control events was deeply unsettling.

Wei Wuji marched ahead, while Zheng Dali and several other guards followed closely behind. Because they were in the administrative area of the Military Commissioner's office, Xu Anhong was traveling on foot, and his pace was not particularly fast. Soon, the group caught sight of Xu Anhong.

"Old General, wait!" Wei Wuji shouted, quickening his pace. Galloping through the summer heat left him drenched in sweat and looking quite disheveled.

Stopped by the call, Xu Anhong halted and turned slowly.

"Old General, you walk quite fast!" Under the watchful eyes of Xu Anhong’s guards, Wei Wuji reached him.

Xu Anhong smiled slightly before slowly asking, "Young Master, what is it that you have called me back for?"

After catching his breath, Wei Wuji straightened his posture and offered a flattering smile. "I came specifically to thank you, Old General. If not for your assistance just now, how could I have achieved justice, and how could those thousands of soldiers have been so thoroughly convinced?" Wei Wuji bowed with clasped hands, his expression sincere.

Xu Anhong dismissed this, waving his hand. "Young Master, you speak too seriously. Your achievements are plain for all to see. Our State of Wei is clear in its rewards and punishments; naturally, we would not let you suffer any injustice."

"Furthermore, this was the intent of the Sovereign, not my own doing." Xu Anhong’s expression became solemn, his demeanor deeply respectful whenever he mentioned the Marquis of Wei.

*That cheap father of mine again!* Wei Wuji thought to himself. He truly could not believe that his father would care about him so much. One had to remember that when he was at the front lines of Dashi Yi, the man hadn't even inquired about him, completely indifferent to whether he lived or died.

"Would Father really care about me this much?" Wei Wuji muttered, finding it hard to believe. Could a man who turned a blind eye to his wife leaving and showed no concern for his son’s life truly be a good father?

Unexpectedly, Xu Anhong overheard this complaint. The old man gritted his teeth before speaking slowly, word for word: "Young Master, the Sovereign has his own hidden burdens!"

Hearing this, Wei Wuji’s attention was instantly captured. *The Sovereign has hidden burdens? The old man knows quite a lot!* Wei Wuji thought. He had known there was something fishy going on, but he hadn't expected the Marquis of Wei to be involved as well.

"Father is the ruler of the state; there is no one under heaven who can restrain him. How could he have any burdens?" Wei Wuji pressed, refusing to let it go.

This put Xu Anhong in a difficult spot. He had only spoken in passing, never expecting Wei Wuji to latch onto the topic. Xu Anhong replied ambiguously, "Young Master, the difficulties of governing a state—how can one do as they please? Naturally, there will be burdens."

His attempt to explain only made Wei Wuji’s eyes grow brighter. *Why bring state affairs into this?*

"Old General, how did we stray so far?" Wei Wuji asked with a wry smile.

Xu Anhong finally withdrew the look of pity that had inadvertently surfaced, returning to his guise of a respected and venerable general. "Young Master, now that you have expressed your thanks, we shall take our leave!" he said calmly, his emotions unreadable.

Before Wei Wuji could recover from his surprise, Xu Anhong turned to leave, wanting no further entanglement. Wei Wuji would not let this opportunity pass. The old man clearly knew a great deal and was obviously a breakthrough point; he could not let him go so easily.

"Old General, wait!" Wei Wuji pursued him, opening his arms to block his path. If anyone else had done this, they would have been thrown far away by the guards, but as for Wei Wuji... naturally, nothing happened.

"Does the Young Master have further business?" Xu Anhong asked in a low, cold tone.

But the more he acted this way, the more Wei Wuji felt that the matter was significant and that the old man certainly knew the truth. Recalling the "Uncle" that Lady Dan had called out yesterday, it was clear that Xu Anhong was inextricably linked to the situation.

After organizing his thoughts, Wei Wuji said, "Old General, do you know something?" He could not afford to be too pushy, or he might scare him off.

"To what does the Young Master refer?" Xu Anhong replied coldly.

"Naturally, it is..." Wei Wuji stopped, unsure of how to phrase it. He couldn't just ask about his relationship with his mother! Taking a breath, he said, "The Old General knows perfectly well what I am referring to."

Xu Anhong remained silent. The two men stood there, staring at each other.

"If the Old General wishes to help us, you should naturally let me know everything..." Wei Wuji spoke in riddles, trying to peer through the veil. The guards were bewildered, unable to understand what he was talking about, but Xu Anhong understood, a flash of sharpness appearing in his eyes. Yet, he remained silent; apart from his beard fluttering in the wind, he did not move a muscle.

Seeing that Xu Anhong still refused to engage, Wei Wuji had no choice but to speak kindly. "Only if I know the reasons can I better prepare against future troubles!"

To outsiders, Wei Wuji seemed to be babbling nonsense, appearing quite deranged. Xu Anhong looked at him with the same gaze one would reserve for a madman. It was like punching cotton; Wei Wuji felt helpless, an intensely uncomfortable sensation.

But Wei Wuji was not one to give up easily. *So the old man won't talk, eh? Then he isn't going anywhere.*

In a fit of desperation, Wei Wuji walked right up to Xu Anhong and, under the shocked gazes of Zheng Dali and the others, grabbed his sleeve. He then poured out his heart, as if weeping, speaking of life and death, trying to persuade him. He had determined that this old general must have had the same considerations as his mother, which was why he wouldn't tell him. This meant that Xu Anhong could be trusted—he was, in a sense, "one of his own."

Wei Wuji dropped his guard, no longer treating Xu Anhong as an outsider. He played the role of a child longing for the care of his grandfather.

"If none of you will say anything, do you expect me to remain a child forever?" By the end, Wei Wuji was seething with anger, shrilly questioning the old man.

Having been badgered by Wei Wuji for so long, Xu Anhong’s defenses began to crumble. This final outburst was the tipping point.

"For these matters, you should go back and ask your mother," Xu Anhong finally said.

Just as Wei Wuji was about to say that his mother wouldn't tell him either, Xu Anhong added, "If she answers you, tell her it was my idea."

Having said this, Xu Anhong pulled his sleeve from Wei Wuji’s grip and turned to leave. Standing where he was, Wei Wuji’s obsession deepened; he would get to the bottom of this.

"Let's go!" he shouted in a low, firm voice, and set off first.