"And that time with Fu Deqing, when you chased him into the heart of the Tatar territory, if it weren't for you, he might not have made it back alive. Without him, we wouldn't have been beaten to the punch by Fu Yu when we came to the aid of the emperor this time."
Wei Conggong added.
The already tense atmosphere of open and covert competition became even more strained at this moment.
Even though Wei Tianze tried his best to endure, his face was still cold. He said in a cold voice, "We fought side by side on the battlefield. How could I stab him in the back? Fu De asked to go deep into enemy territory to eliminate border troubles and risk his life for the people. If he dies, Dongdan will hear the news and march south, which will only shake the border defense."
"So you saved him, just to cause us trouble?" Wei Conggong sneered.
Wei Tianze ignored him and only looked at Wei Jian.
Almost as expected, Wei Jian snorted coldly, "You don't know what's important and you don't understand the big picture. If either Fu Yu or Fu Deqing died, we wouldn't have suffered such a huge loss. I painstakingly arranged for you to go to Qizhou and gave you so many instructions, but in the end, not only did you fail to eliminate our formidable enemy, you didn't even manage to sow discord within the Fu family!"
Years of painstaking effort were ruined in an instant, and many of his informants were also lost. When Wei Tianze slunk back that day, Wei Jian was secretly furious. He only let it go because he valued Wei Tianze's skills and thought he could use them for his own purposes. Now that he had suffered a great loss at the hands of the Fu family, it was difficult to hide his resentment and hatred when the old story was brought up again.
As soon as he spoke, Wei Conggong said half-jokingly, "Could it be that you're still thinking about your past relationship with the Fu family and have forgotten the kindness that gave you life?"
"Brother, watch your words!" Wei Tianze said, frowning.
Wei Conggong was a little hesitant and didn't say anything more. He just chuckled, finished setting up the rice seedlings and tending the fire, and then drank his tea as if nothing had happened.
Wei Jian patted Wei Tianze on the shoulder to appease him, but still scolded him, "The skills the Fu family taught you are useful, but those foolish ideas should have been thrown away long ago. You are my son, don't always argue with me."
After saying that, they began to discuss the affairs of the minor court officials.
The candlelight illuminated the two men, who were Wei Jian's own sons, and he knew very well how to please them.
Wei Tianze stood aside and watched coldly, his expression changing several times. Finally, he became annoyed and irritable, clasped his hands in a fist salute, said that there was still something he hadn't finished, bid farewell to Wei Jian, and returned to his residence.
...
The moon shines brightly over Suizhou, but the winter night is damp and cold.
Wei Tianze didn't wear a cloak, made up an excuse to send his attendants away, and walked alone in the dark night, his brows furrowed.
While plotting his escape from the military prison in Qizhou, he had already considered the situation after returning to Suizhou—he knew a bit about Wei Jian's actions and temperament through information gathered by Fu Yu's informants. Having been a pawn since childhood and separated from his birth mother, he didn't have many expectations for his biological father, Wei Jian, and knew that rashly returning to compete with his brothers for resources would inevitably lead to a difficult situation.
But he had no other choice.
With his true identity and schemes exposed, the Fu family could no longer trust him, and he had no face to see Fu Yu and his son, or the old Fu family generals who had taught him and treated him like a son.
If Wei Tianze wanted to live up to the challenges and realize his ambitions, he could only rely on Wei Jian's territory.
But to his surprise, when he actually arrived in Suizhou, his situation was even more unbearable than he had imagined.
The estrangement between father and son, the complete lack of affection, the brothers' rivalry and power struggles—none of that mattered. It was all about scheming and power politics. He possessed exceptional skills, illustrious military achievements, and the support of the Jiang family; he feared nothing. In fact, within a year, he had cultivated his own power base, transforming himself from an awkward stranger into Wei Jian's right-hand man, completely overshadowing the eldest son, Wei Conggong's, brilliance.
In fact, with his current abilities, he is almost on par with Wei Jian.
What Wei Tianze truly found unbearable was his temperament, which was completely different from Wei Jian's.
Wei Jian was greedy, arrogant, and unscrupulous. Although he was a regional ruler with a powerful army and abundant resources, he had little love for his people. His subordinates were full of corrupt officials who exploited and oppressed the people. If it weren't for the blessing of God that prevented a famine and the presence of his strong army to suppress the rebellion, a popular uprising would likely have broken out long ago.
In military and political affairs, Wei Jian valued power and strategy most, prioritizing personal gain.
Wei Tianze, however, was completely different.
Even though he had long since fallen out with the Fu family, he was still trained by the Fu family's soldiers. The idea of shedding blood to protect the people and entrusting each other with life and death on the battlefield was deeply rooted in his heart and ingrained in his bones, unconsciously revealed in his words and deeds.
As a result, he and Wei Jian were incompatible in many ways.
Wei Tianze was filled with irritability. After returning to his residence, he did not go to Jiang Daijun's place, but instead went to find his mother, Madam Chu.
...
Lady Chu was around forty years old. In her youth, she was a graceful and beautiful young lady. In recent years, she had lived alone in a secluded courtyard in the Xiping Prince's Mansion. Her melancholy had faded considerably, leaving her with only a quiet demeanor. Even now, with Wei Tianze living alone in his mansion and providing her with riches and finery, she remained secluded and dressed simply.
It was late at night, and Chu was sitting under the lamp, sewing clothes.
She was lost in thought as she sewed the needle, when she heard a noise outside the door. She jerked suddenly, the needle pricking her finger and drawing tiny beads of blood. She quickly wiped it clean, and when she looked up to see her son had come in, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing Wei Tianze's gloomy and tense expression, he stood up and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I just got back from there and stopped by to see Mother." Wei Tianze looked at the half-finished garment she was sewing in her hands. The fabric pattern was clearly meant for him. After more than a decade of separation, his childhood memories had become blurred, but the bond of blood remained unbreakable. In the year he returned, Chu Shi seemed to have come back to life, like a withered tree in spring, taking great care in tailoring clothes and making shoes.
Wei Tianze's expression softened slightly, and he helped put the things away.
"Leave these things to others. Mother, don't worry too much. It's late at night, be careful not to ruin your eyes."
"I'm doing it for fun, it's nothing." Mrs. Chu pulled him to sit opposite her and brought him some steamed pastries she had made for dinner. Seeing the gloom on her son's face, she guessed what had happened. "Did you argue with him again?"
"Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together." Wei Tianze paused, then sneered, "They seem to be a perfect match, father and son."
These words were tinged with resentment, and Chu frowned slightly.
Caught in the vortex, Chu was well aware of Wei Changgong's ostracism and suppression of his son. And that ruthless old villain, Wei Jian, who had once abandoned a seven- or eight-year-old child to wander in exile, how much compassion could he possibly have now? Similar situations had occurred many times in the past six months. Just now, lost in thought while sewing, she had been pondering this very matter.
She turned around and closed the door, poured Wei Tianze a cup of tea, and whispered, "Is he still biased towards Wei Changgong?"
Seeing that her son didn't deny it, she couldn't help but say, "Wei Changgong has been targeting you at every turn, plotting against you in secret. He wished you would die on the battlefield to stop you from blocking the way. That villain didn't treat you like a son either. From childhood to adulthood, in his eyes, you've only been a pawn. Actually..." She paused, hesitating to continue.
Wei Tianze raised his eyebrows. "Mother, please speak frankly."
"Actually, with your current abilities, you don't need to be subservient to him all the time. When it's time to be ruthless, don't hold back."
She was always gentle and quiet, never argued with anyone, and rarely said such things.
Wei Tianze was slightly taken aback, and then she continued, "In the past, when you were alone in Qizhou, I was powerless to help you with many things. Later, when you first arrived here without any foundation, you had to endure it because you needed that villain's help. But now... that villain doesn't treat you like a son, and Wei Changgong doesn't treat you like a brother either. You don't need to have any reservations."
That's a strange statement. Wei Tianze had been under Fu Yu's command for a long time and was an excellent reader.
Seeing that Chu's expression was not as usual, and that he was full of resentment and called Chu a "wicked villain," and that his words seemed to be urging him to take action against his father and brothers, he was slightly moved.
“Mother thinks…” He raised his hand, palm facing up like a knife, and held it against his neck.
The candlelight flickered, and Madam Chu, her fingers gripping the edge of the table, slowly nodded.
"But they are, after all, connected to me by blood—"
"Who said that?" Chu's voice was as low as a mosquito's buzz, but to Wei Tianze it was like a thunderclap.
Chapter 128 The End (Part 1)
Chu Shi harbored a secret, a secret that no one but her knew.
More than twenty years ago, she was just a pampered young lady from a county magistrate's family. Although her background wasn't high, she was well-fed and clothed and had never experienced hardship. Her father and brothers treated her well, and when she was thirteen or fourteen, she was betrothed to a man who was her father's student. He was a fair-skinned, shy scholar with a gentle nature and treated her very well.
Unfortunately, before she could get married, she encountered Wei Jian.
A person's fate is sometimes very strange. Her appearance wasn't particularly outstanding in Suizhou, only considered above average. At that age, any girl who wasn't ugly could be presentable with a little makeup. Moreover, she had been pampered since childhood, with slender fingers and a fair face adorned with silk and hairpins, making her like a flower blooming in midsummer. She had dressed up to meet her lover, but unexpectedly, she bumped into Wei Jian, who was hunting on horseback.
To this day, the Chu family deeply regrets that unfortunate encounter.
Having just seized military power and obtained the title of Prince of Xiping, Wei Jian was riding high and became arrogant and frivolous. He took a fancy to a beautiful young woman and, disregarding her already betrothed, insisted on marrying her, using both threats and inducements.
Chu's father was a poor scholar, and the scholar had no family background either. How could they withstand Wei Jian's coercion?
Fearing she would implicate her family and lover, Lady Chu married him with tears in her eyes.
Unfortunately, Wei Jian was a heartless scoundrel. Although he bestowed upon her the title of concubine, he was only interested in fleeting pleasures. Every few days, he would bring other women to his side, whether they were pretty maids from the manor or beautiful concubines sent by his subordinates. He was not picky at all. Chu was still young then, her girlish heart devoted to her lover. How could she not be disgusted to encounter such a libertine who left his children everywhere?
In the early days of her marriage, she had to be mindful of her family and could only endure it, not daring to offend Wei Jianzhi.
However, as time went on, even a clay figure can develop a temper. Chu Shi had been forcibly taken away and given the title of concubine, making it impossible for her to leave the manor. She was constantly depressed and harbored resentment. One day, while out for a spring outing, she unexpectedly encountered her former lover, which immediately stirred up painful memories. The outskirts were sparsely populated, and the spring sunshine was beautiful. Her servants and maids were all trusted confidantes, so Chu Shi easily found an excuse to send them away and reminisced with him.
At first, she just wanted to catch up with old friends.
However, their love was forcibly broken up. She wept and complained, and he comforted her with heartache. How could he really remain unmoved? Moreover, Wei Jian changed women more frequently than clothes, and his concubines were numerous. She was forcibly taken away. Why should she remain chaste and sever all ties with her former lover? In the midst of the intense spring atmosphere, with seven parts tenderness and three parts resentment and spite, Chu Shi finally couldn't resist her handsome lover.
The pleasures in the countryside, though brief, were intense and deeply moving, and the more one savors them, the more one appreciates their flavor.
After returning home, Lady Chu feigned illness and secluded herself at home for several days, refusing to see Wei Jian. Fearing that her pregnancy might be discovered and implicate others, she struggled with the decision several times before finally steeling herself and going to see Wei Jian. Later, she discovered she was pregnant. The doctor's calculations indicated the date of her secret rendezvous with her lover. Fearing exposure, Lady Chu immediately corrected the date, postponing it to the night Wei Jian stayed overnight.
The physician relied on pulse diagnosis for his diagnosis, and a difference of two or three days was not very accurate. Upon hearing the princess's words, he naturally changed his tune.
When the news reached Wei Jian, everyone was overjoyed. The maids and servants were kept in the dark, and no one knew the inside story.
Chu focused on her pregnancy, thus avoiding Wei Jian's favor.
By the time Wei Tianze was born, the women around Wei Jian were engaged in fierce competition, and she had been pushed to the sidelines.
Chu didn't argue or fight, and simply asked for permission to move Wei Tianze to the villa. Fearing that Wei Tianze would resemble his father and cause trouble as he grew up, she found a pretext to ask her father to arrange for her lover to pursue a career elsewhere, thus separating them forever. However, she never expected Wei Jian to be so cruel, using his many children to treat Wei Tianze, who had moved out of the mansion at a young age, as a pawn, sending him to Qizhou to suffer.
Lady Chu had long been out of favor and was unaware of her husband's wolfish ambitions. By the time she learned the truth, her child had already vanished without a trace.
For the remaining ten years or so, she endured hardship in the Prince's mansion, living like a dead person.
It wasn't until Wei Tianze returned and mother and son were reunited that the clouds parted and the moon shone through. His features bore a striking resemblance to his former lover, reminding Chu of the long-forgotten, buried secrets. However, at that time, Wei Tianze was alone and powerless, and needed Wei Jian's help. Chu feared that revealing the truth would bring disaster upon Wei Tianze, so she kept it a closely guarded secret.
Now, there's no need to worry.
Her son suffered for more than ten years, and his skills, talents, and shrewdness far surpassed those of the sons raised by Wei Jian.
This year he has recuperated and grown stronger; he is no longer the defeated pawn who fled back home.
By the light of the candles filling the room, Chu told him about the past.
...
After slowly recounting the events spanning twenty years, Chu's usually calm face concealed a resentment that had been suppressed and hidden for half a lifetime.
"He is not your biological father. He imprisoned me, coerced you, and used you. He is worse than an animal!"
It was freezing cold outside, and the night wind made the windows rattle softly.
Wei Tianze stood by the table, his expression and posture stiff.
The respect he had for his father in his childhood had long since vanished after he grew up and understood Wei Jian's ruthlessness. Even tigers don't eat their cubs. Compared to the careful upbringing of Fu Deming's brothers' children, Wei Jian's use of his own flesh and blood as pawns was simply cold-blooded!
His initial infiltration of Qizhou, concealing his schemes and refusing to confess to the Fu family, was largely for the sake of his biological mother, who was thousands of miles away. A smaller part of it was due to the limitations imposed by his status. When he first learned the truth about being "abducted," Wei Tianze hadn't yet grasped the ruthlessness behind it all. Because Wei Jian's spies were secretly threatening Chu Shi's life, he was too weak to resist and could only be coerced. By the time he was older and more experienced, there was no turning back.
It's like being stuck in a swamp, being swept away and sinking deeper, with no way to cleanse yourself.
What's more, his mother was trapped at the end of this swamp.
Wei Tianze could only move forward, even if he hesitated and suffered.
After returning to Suizhou, he spared the lives of the dead, not killing them all, also for the sake of the bloodline flowing in his veins.
But unexpectedly, everything that had previously bound and restrained him collapsed today. Wei Tianze stood there dumbfounded, his fists clenched. After a long while, he managed to suppress his turbulent emotions and whispered, "Does he know?"
"If he had known, would he have spared my life until now?"
If Wei Jian knew this woman had betrayed him, he would surely kill her in a fit of rage, and would never allow her to remain in the palace, where she would be provided with a life of luxury. After Wei Tianze returned to Suizhou, he would certainly not hand over the marriage to the Jiang family, nor would he allow Wei Tianze to build his own power base and waver when choosing a crown prince.