The main gate was out of the question, so Wei Ming had to sneak in through the back door.
As soon as he entered the front hall, he saw Pei Jian punishing a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy, a servant of the household, while Pei Xi Jun pleaded for him.
“You scoundrel! Who told you to go out and brag? Now look what you've done, I can't even leave the mansion!”
The boy hung his head in apology.
“Father, please don't be angry. Xue Huan didn't mean to. Please forgive him this time.”
Pei Xi Jun obediently poured water for Pei Jian and massaged his shoulders.
Pei Jian calmed down a little, but along with his anger, a sense of pride welled up within him.
This future son-in-law's talent was truly astounding.
At just eighteen, barely a man, he had already firmly established himself in the literary world and become famous throughout the land. A true prodigy, unparalleled in this era!
Even if Pei Jian reached the position of Prime Minister, his name would only be mentioned in passing in the annals of history.
But this son-in-law was different. Even thousands of years later, people would still sing his praises.
Speaking of the devil, here he is.
Wei Ming's voice came from outside: “Uncle, why are you so upset?”
Pei Jian rose to his feet with a bang and welcomed him: “My dear friend, you're back.”
“It's all this little slave's fault. And it's also Xi Jun's fault for pampering him. He sneaked out and showed off the painting of the 'Lingbo Fairy' you made last night.”
Xue Huan couldn't help but speak up: “Master-to-be, your poetry, calligraphy, and painting are unparalleled in the world. Why hide them away? Make them public, become famous, wouldn't that be better? And it would also showcase our Miss's discerning eye, showing that you're worthy of her trust and a lifelong companion.”
Pei Jian was furious: “You little slave, you dare talk back? Bring me my cane! Family discipline awaits!”
Wei Ming stopped the servant and dissuaded Pei Jian: “Uncle, there's no need to be angry. This young man may have acted improperly, but he's truly loyal to Xi Jun.”
“And the boy is right. This proves that Wei Ming is worthy of Xi Jun. After all, Xi Jun is a talented woman. Her paintings are lifelike. Given time, she could rival Qin Xiao Bai and others. Even Yan Li Ben, Xi Jun could try to catch up with him!”
Pei Xi Jun blushed: “I'm not as amazing as you say.”
Pei Jian sighed: “My dear friend, you're too modest. Alright, alright, go back.”
Xue Huan bowed to Wei Ming and Pei Xi Jun: “Thank you, Master-to-be and Miss, for standing up for me.”
Pei Jian glared: “What? It's as if I'm the only bad guy in this entire mansion?”
Xue Huan hung his head: “Xue Huan wouldn't dare.”
“Alright, get someone to prepare a feast. I want to have a few drinks with my dear friend.”
After the meal, Pei Jian insisted on taking Wei Ming to drink Chang'an Red Tea.
“Three silver ingots for an ounce of tea. You must try it, my dear friend.”
“Nowadays, all the nobles in Chang'an, from princesses and princes to officials, half of them drink this divine tea.”
“If you don't try it, you'll have nothing to talk about when you chat with your colleagues later.”
Pei Jian crushed the tea cakes and brewed the red tea. Soon, a fragrant aroma filled the room.
While brewing the tea, Pei Jian said: “This tea is rare and its preparation unique.”
“The elderly who drink it will find their bones supple and their spirits rejuvenated.”
“Young and strong men who drink it will find their yang energy overflowing and their vital essence boundless!”
“It's said that drinking it regularly can allow you to ascend to a realm of immortals and dance with the divine beings!”
Wei Ming chuckled and asked: “Have you seen the divine beings, Uncle?”
“Of course! How could I not have seen them? I've even talked to them…” Pei Jian coughed twice: “Alright, you'll know when you try it yourself.”
Pei Jian brought two cups of red tea: “Come, my dear friend, let's drink together.”
Just as Pei Jian was about to drink, Wei Ming stopped him with a hand, his eyes burning with intensity: “Uncle, this tea contains forbidden substances, and… human blood!”
“What?”
The next morning.
Pei Jian, feeling drowsy and drained, approached Wei Ming, his face clouded with despair: “It's just like you said, my dear friend. If I don't drink it for a day, not only do I toss and turn at night, but my spirits are also weak.”
“I must report this to the court and have Chang'an Red Tea banned. We cannot let this demonic tea wreak havoc on Chang'an!”
Wei Ming stopped Pei Jian and said meaningfully: “Uncle, it's not the right time yet. Moreover, if you take the lead in this matter, you'll not only offend those high-ranking officials in the court, but you'll also likely bring down those few with you!”
Pei Jian's pupils contracted, his hands trembling: “My dear friend, is it really that serious?”
Wei Ming nodded, sighing: “Chang'an Red Tea originated in the Princess's residence. It was originally a secret brew, but it has spread throughout Chang'an. There's a reason behind this… heh heh…”
Pei Jian was incredibly intelligent. As an old hand in the political arena, he immediately understood that this was tangled with power struggles within the imperial court.
As a member of the pro-emperor faction, he wanted to ask more questions.
However, Wei Ming shook his head: “Uncle, just sit back and watch the show. Once the play on the stage of the court concludes, the case of Chang'an Red Tea will be solved!”
Pei Jian nodded seriously: “Don't worry, my dear friend. While I'm loyal to the emperor, I won't disregard my family's well-being. Even if I'm exiled to a distant post, I will ensure that the turmoil in the court will not affect you and Xi Jun.”
…
After leaving Pei's Mansion, Wei Ming went to the Chang'an Public Office.
As soon as he reached the entrance, he heard Su Wu Ming and Lu Ling Feng arguing.
Su Wu Ming was furious: “You've repeatedly interfered with my investigation, and now you've even shot Song Chai, the suspect in the street execution case, dead. Lu Ling Feng, I'm going to report you!”
Lu Ling Feng looked uncomfortable, a little embarrassed. But, proud as he was, he refused to back down. He sneered: “Su Wu Ming, a mere Chang'an County Constable, who are you going to report me to?”
“I, I'll go to the Princess and report you!”
“You…”
Lu Ling Feng suddenly smiled: “Song Chai ultimately violated the curfew and was shot dead by my Imperial Guard. Su Constable, no need to keep harping on this point, right?”
Su Wu Ming narrowed his eyes: “When encountering someone violating curfew, the Imperial Guard should first fire a warning shot. If they continue to flee, shoot at their feet as another warning. Only if they still refuse to stop do they have the right to shoot them dead on the spot.”
“I only found this fatal arrow, but where are the warning shots? Lu Ling Feng, shouldn't you give me an explanation?”
Lu Ling Feng wanted to defend his subordinate and cover up the matter. However, at that moment, Wei Ming arrived.
“Continue bickering, you two. Don't mind me, I'm just listening.”
Lu Ling Feng snorted coldly at Su Wu Ming, then his expression turned strange: “This fatal arrow is also the warning shot!”
“My subordinate wanted to shoot at his feet as a warning, but for some reason, Song Chai suddenly stopped. Then he was shot.”
Su Wu Ming laughed in anger: “Are you kidding me? The Imperial Guard are the elite of the elite. They would miss their target? Okay, even if they missed, they should have hit his lower body. Why did this arrow pierce his heart?”
Lu Ling Feng stood with his hands behind his back, turning his head away: “Believe it or not, that's what happened. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Wei Ming reached out, gently grasped, and pulled Dou Cong's soul out of Song Chai's body.
Now, Dou Cong was completely different from the gentle and delicate person she had been yesterday. Her entire soul was like a frozen mountain of snow, her face as bleak as a storm cloud.
What baffled Wei Ming was that Dou Cong's soul was even more substantial than before.
Logically, souls should gradually fade away. Without special measures or protection, they would surely dissipate after seven days.
However, Dou Cong's soul was not only not weakening or fading, it had actually become more solid.
Upon seeing Wei Ming, Dou Cong knelt down, her face filled with resentment: “Sir, thank you. You allowed me to see a human scum and a degenerate. It was Dou Cong who was blinded, who trusted such a wolf in sheep's clothing like Song Chai.”
Wei Ming sighed softly: “You can paint skin and bones, but you can't paint the heart. The heart is hidden behind the belly. It's just like this!”
“Right, what about Song Chai's death?”
Dou Cong admitted: “When I learned that he was a gambler and intended to sell me to Dongdu, I flew into a rage and swallowed his soul. I then controlled his body and delivered it to the Imperial Guard's arrows!”
“You swallowed Song Chai's soul? And controlled his body?”
Wei Ming was somewhat surprised. Could it be related to his Soul Summoning technique?
“Yes, Sir. I acted without authorization. Punish me as you see fit, I'll accept it!”
Wei Ming waved his hand, suddenly remembering something. The brides selected by that old immortal for tea-making seemed to be all of the yin-extreme type.
So-called yin-extreme refers to women born on the midday hour of the midnight of the Qingming, Zhongyuan, or Chongyang festivals within a year!
Among them, the Zhongyuan Festival was the most potent.
“Your birthday?”
“I was born at the midnight hour of the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month in the third year of Tianshou.”
As expected, born on the Zhongyuan Festival itself, and at midnight.
The yin-extreme body, coupled with the power bestowed by the Soul Summoning technique, had unleashed a strength far surpassing a normal soul.
And at this moment, he had just unlocked ten percent of Soul Summoning, activating the ability to create Ghost Servants and contract Ghost Slaves.
“Dou Cong, are you willing to be my Ghost Servant?”
Dou Cong bowed her head: “I, Dou Cong, am willing to serve you forever!”
At that moment, Su Wu Ming and Lu Ling Feng went to interrogate the two human traffickers.
Wei Ming's mind moved, and he named Dou Cong: “Go, swallow them!”