Because of Love

Su Jin was extremely anxious!

Forced by the circumstances, she was desperate to the core!

She had to investigate everything as early as possible and be prepared, or at least mentally prepared. Otherwise, once all her conjectures were proven true, the efforts she and her Second Uncle had made would completely collapse.

Therefore, she immediately sought out Zhou Ze, the Commander of the Demon Suppression Division, asking him to continue dealing with the bewitching objects in the capital. Meanwhile, she took Xie Changfeng with her to focus on the late Emperor Xiao Jingyuan, the Prostitute Empress, and that woman with the special lovers' knot.

Perhaps heaven was blessing the Su residence. Just as Su Jin finished discussing matters with Zhou Ze, her capable subordinate Xie Changfeng brought back good news.

However, when Xie Changfeng informed Su Jin of this news, she stood frozen in place.

Although everything was within expectations, actually hearing it still felt...

So absurd!

She hurried back to the Duke Ren's Mansion and found Ren Tianye. "Your subordinate greets you, Your Grace."

"Rise. Looking at your expression, did you find something?"

"Yes," Su Jin said. "When your subordinates were investigating Xiao Jingyuan and the Prostitute Empress, we deliberately visited the brothel where the Prostitute Empress stayed before entering the palace. Unsurprisingly, it had been torn down long before she became the Empress."

"We had lost hope, but unexpectedly..."

"Xie Changfeng found..."

Speaking of this, Su Jin gritted her teeth and said, "He found an old man. That old man used to be, used to be..."

"A patron of the Prostitute Empress!"

Ren Tianye said, "Huh? Hmm! What!!!"

"From the mouth of the Prostitute Empress's former patron, we dug up a long string of names. They were all... former lovers of the Prostitute Empress when she was in the brothel. However, most of them are no longer alive."

"Your subordinate suspects they were killed by Xiao Jingyuan."

"Fortunately, one of them died of old age, and his son is currently serving as an official in the court, holding the position of Director of Armaments of the Great Yu!"

Ren Tianye blurted out, "Wei Chengye?"

Ren Tianye knew of this person.

Not because this man was particularly outstanding, but because his official position held actual power, controlling the capital's Armory and the Inner Treasury, the two core weapon repositories.

Ever since Ren Tianye entered the capital, he had wanted to take control of them.

But at the time, he was severely lacking in talent and could hardly find a suitable candidate.

Moreover, his public image back then was that of a loyal subject. Without a valid reason, he could not strip Wei Chengye of his power.

So, he planted his own people in both the Armory and the Inner Treasury. According to the reports from his spies, Wei Chengye had taken a leave of absence and had not been at his post for a long time.

Ren Tianye then felt relieved.

He thought this Wei Chengye was a sensible man who dared not compete with him, using rest as an excuse to voluntarily give up the Armory and the Inner Treasury, handing these two core weapon repositories over to him on a silver platter.

He even had some favorable impressions of Wei Chengye.

But he never expected that Wei Chengye's ancestor...

Actually had such a glorious history!

Tsk, tsk, tsk!

In some ways, he was on equal footing with the late Emperor Xiao Jingyuan!

"A talent!"

"They are all freaking talents!"

"Xiao Jingyuan was a talent, and this Wei Chengye's father was also a talent. To be able to safely retire and enjoy his old age under Xiao Jingyuan's nose is truly remarkable!"

"Indeed, this also leaves your subordinate deeply puzzled," Su Jin said. "Therefore, your subordinate believes that this Wei Chengye must have some connection with the Prostitute Empress, Xiao Jingyuan, and even the woman in the portrait."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"Go arrest him!"

Su Jin said, "I have already sent Xie Changfeng. Your subordinate will go right after reporting. It is just that, by doing so, we will be disturbing Wei Chengye."

"Disturbing?" Ren Tianye asked. "What is going on with him?"

"According to your subordinate's knowledge, Wei Chengye is preparing for his wedding. He has already notified his family, clansmen, and close friends."

"That is indeed an interruption," Ren Tianye smiled. "But it cannot be helped. Who told his old man to be so fierce? At a time like this, we have to interrupt him..."

Pausing for a moment, Ren Tianye looked at Su Jin's unnatural expression and asked, "What is it? Is there something else?"

Su Jin gritted her teeth again and said, "The woman Wei Chengye is about to marry is quite unusual!"

"How unusual?"

"She, she... she is an old woman!"

Ren Tianye, who had just sat down, stood right back up upon hearing the words old woman. He said in disbelief, "What did you say?"

"An old woman?"

"Yes!"

"Are you sure?"

"I am absolutely, positively sure!"

"How old is she?"

"Forty-nine!"

Ren Tianye was speechless.

He knew of Wei Chengye, so he naturally knew Wei Chengye's approximate age, which was just in his early thirties.

Wait, a man in his early thirties marrying a woman nearly fifty?

"Is that old woman a noble in the capital?"

"Probably not," Su Jin said. "According to our investigation, that old woman is just an ordinary village wife."

"Then she must be exceptionally well-maintained, looking like she is in her thirties?" Ren Tianye tried hard to come up with a reason.

"No!" Su Jin said. "According to Xie Changfeng's report, the old woman has plain features and a thickset figure. She only has a somewhat fair complexion, which is likely natural."

Ren Tianye was completely bewildered.

Wait, she is not a noble, and she looks average. Then why on earth is Wei Chengye marrying her?

"Because of love!"

Su Jin answered Ren Tianye with absolute certainty!

...