Chapter 50: The Marquis Wei’s Intentions

"Has Fifth already left?" The voice of the Marquis of Wei echoed through the central command tent.

"Yes," Wei Hu replied in a low, somber tone.

"Hmm." The tent fell silent once more; the Marquis sat, Wei Hu stood.

After a while, the Marquis spoke again, "What reactions have there been outside?"

"Does Your Lordship mean..." Wei Hu was unsure.

"Chen Qian," the Marquis uttered the name, glancing impatiently at Wei Hu.

Wei Hu hurriedly bowed, "Outside... there hasn't been any notable commotion."

He continued, "None of the generals or officers beneath them have discussed this matter. Only among the soldiers below has there been some talk."

The Marquis set aside what he was holding and turned to Wei Hu with keen interest. "Oh? What are they saying?"

Seeing his lord interested, Wei Hu quickly organized the information he'd gathered from below in his mind.

Then he spoke, "Most of the soldiers believe Chen Qian deliberately made things difficult for the Young Lord Wuji, maliciously withholding military supplies."

He went on, "Then Your Lordship, with wise judgment, removed Chen Qian, the black sheep."

The Marquis's expression remained unchanged after hearing this, and he replied coolly, "You spread these rumors, didn't you?"

Wei Hu knew at once his minor schemes had been uncovered.

He grinned sheepishly, "Your Lordship, I would never do such a thing. Sneaking about is women's work."

Wei Hu denied it, and the Marquis did not press further. In any case, Wei Hu had not been wrong to do so.

The tent lapsed into silence again, so quiet the guards' breathing was audible.

Yet Wei Hu found no peace in his mind.

His mind was straightforward; he always wanted to understand everything, or else he felt uneasy.

Why did Chen Qian have to die? Wei Hu had pondered for two days without finding an answer.

Disrespect to the Young Lord? Wei Hu refused to believe that charge.

He had seen with his own eyes how Wei Wuji had beaten Chen Qian senseless.

Besides, in the whole of Wei, who would dare disrespect the Young Lord, or defy the royal house? Anyone who did might as well slit their own throat.

So what was the real reason? Wei Hu could not fathom it, just as he could not understand why the Marquis had so easily spared Wei Wuji.

"Are you still troubled by something?"

Just as Wei Hu was racking his brain, the Marquis's voice came at the perfect moment.

Wei Hu quickly shook his head, trying to conceal his doubts.

"You're wondering why I had Chen Qian killed, aren't you?" The Marquis cut straight to Wei Hu's thoughts.

Wei Hu hurriedly bowed with fists clasped, "I would not dare!"

Seeing Wei Hu's somber face, the Marquis smiled silently.

Wei Hu now bitterly regretted meddling so much these past two days—he should have simply minded his own business.

His fear was understandable, for he knew all too well what kind of man the Marquis was.

He knew that, at the start of the Marquis's reign, many had died from their lack of sense.

A large part of those executions were carried out personally by Wei Hu, which had earned him his fearsome reputation.

Wei Hu had no desire to become the next victim.

The Marquis understood Wei Hu's worries.

Nevertheless, he said, "Chen Qian was ignorant of his place, daring to involve himself in the struggle among the Young Lords—should he not die?"

At these words, Wei Hu suddenly saw clearly. It all made sense now.

The struggle between the Young Lords was a taboo in Wei; every transition of power claimed the lives of many.

But the bloody consequences never deterred those blinded by ambition. With low risks and high rewards, opportunists abounded.

The Marquis continued, "Though Fifth violated military law, Chen Qian himself was guilty beyond pardon."

At the lingering anger in the Marquis's voice, Wei Hu instinctively stepped back.

But the Marquis ignored his movement, pressing on, "Do you know what happened exactly?"

Wei Hu shook his head.

The Marquis's face grew darker. "Chen Qian had been in contact with Second, planning all along to make things difficult for Fifth."

"So, whether Fifth went of his own accord or not, this would have happened eventually."

Finishing, the Marquis seemed relieved, as if unburdened.

He spent his days weighing these matters and needed someone to confide in.

Meanwhile, the guards in the tent, hearing these confidential affairs, remained utterly unmoved, eyes cast down, faces expressionless.

Those permitted to serve in the command tent were the Marquis's most loyal and trusted men; they would never speak of such things outside.

Then the Marquis lowered his voice, "Moreover, I intend to use Chen Qian's blood as a warning to those who wish to meddle, and those who already have."

Though the Marquis was not visibly emotional, Wei Hu felt a chill throughout his body; even the smallest ripple in the tent could tear him apart.

Now, in the Marquis's mind, he reviewed all those he meant to warn.

They were clever men and would naturally understand his message. If not, their fate was sealed.

Gradually, a familiar face resurfaced in the Marquis's thoughts.

That face was strikingly similar to his own, as if carved from the same mold.

"What do you think of Fifth?" The Marquis's abrupt question made Wei Hu tremble.

How could he answer? Praise too highly, and he might end up on the death list; speak ill, and it would be disrespect to the Young Lord—a grave offense.

In the end, Wei Hu managed to squeeze out, "The Young Lord is... quite extraordinary."

This answer was impartial enough to earn admiration for his quick wit.

"In what way?" The Marquis pressed, eager to hear more.

In truth, the Marquis knew exactly what Wei Wuji had been like before.

He had been a youth with no edge, no opinions.

But precisely because of this, the Marquis was amazed at Wei Wuji's transformation. He had even had people investigate the reason.

The conclusion was that war, bloodshed, and death had forced Wei Wuji to mature rapidly—perhaps too rapidly, to the point of being unhinged (how else would he have caused such a scene at the supply depot?).

Now with Wei Hu describing Wei Wuji as extraordinary, the Marquis was keen to hear his reasoning.

"The Young Lord Wuji is not afraid of me," Wei Hu said, a bit sheepishly. He regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth—why should the Young Lord fear him?

The Marquis, however, did not pursue it, and gestured for him to continue.

"Most others who see me are terrified, only a few can argue with me on equal terms."

"But the Young Lord Wuji alone, he..."

Wei Hu paused.

"And?" The Marquis prompted.

Wei Hu continued, "The Young Lord not only isn't afraid, he even resorted to violence right in front of me—and it was utterly unreasonable violence."

The Marquis was confused, looking at Wei Hu with doubt; he clearly hadn't investigated this incident closely.

Wei Hu explained, "At the supply office, I had ordered everyone to stand down, but the Young Lord ignored me completely and lashed Chen Qian for speaking too much."

The Marquis was dumbfounded—such behavior was rare even for him.

He thought for a long time, then muttered, "He really is... quite extraordinary."

Wei Hu's reputation outside was hardly as gentle as it appeared now; he was the Marquis's executioner—few dared not to fear him.

Wei Wuji's unconventional ways—the Marquis had to admit—were indeed remarkable.

Wei Hu thought for a moment, then couldn't help but add, "Young Lord Wuji resembles someone."

"Who?" the Marquis asked.

"He resembles Your Lordship," Wei Hu replied, sounding almost foolish.

The Marquis hadn't expected that Wei Hu meant a resemblance in appearance.

But thinking of Wei Wuji's face, the Marquis smiled faintly; how could a son not look like his father?

For a son and father to resemble each other so closely was a rare miracle.

Unexpectedly, Wei Hu interjected, "Your Lordship, I don't mean merely in appearance—or rather, not just appearance."

Hearing this puzzled the Marquis; what did Wei Hu mean?

Wei Hu explained, "Your Lordship, when I see the Young Lord Wuji, I feel as if I'm seeing you."

Wei Hu's words sent the Marquis into deep thought. After careful consideration, he too seemed to perceive something in that familiar face.

For the first time, the Marquis felt a genuine interest in Wei Wuji.

In this son who looked so much like himself, he found a faint sense of expectation.