My wife, Wei Gui, was 1.9 meters tall and fought against the Tang dynasty for the throne.

His steps slowed, his gaze fixed on the figure, unable to look away.

The attendant whispered a reminder from behind, "Young master, the abbot is still waiting."

Li Min did not respond.

He looked at the figure behind the pillar, at her slightly turned away, deliberately avoiding his gaze, and a complex feeling welled up inside him. It wasn't that she didn't see him, but that she didn't want to see him.

He took a step forward.

It stopped again.

Wei Gui's fan covered his face completely, not even revealing his profile.

If he takes another step forward, it would be impolite and he would be pestering him.

He's not that kind of person.

Li Min clenched his fist, then relaxed it.

"Let's go." He turned around, his voice slightly hoarse. "To the abbot's courtyard."

The attendant responded and led him toward the side hall.

After walking a short distance, Li Min couldn't help but turn back once more.

Behind the pillars, the figure remained motionless. A round fan veiled her face, and her blue-green half-sleeve shimmered faintly in the morning light.

He looked away and walked away quickly.

After watching Li Min walk away, Wei Nizi approached Wei Gui and whispered, "Sister, he's gone."

Wei Gui put down the fan, his face calm, but his fingers gripped the handle, his knuckles turning slightly white.

"He seems to want to come over," Wei Nizi added.

"Um."

"But they didn't come over."

"Um."

Wei Nizi tilted his head and looked at her: "Sister, are you afraid of him?"

Wei Gui did not answer, but simply put away the fan and straightened his clothes.

"Go in," she said, her voice regaining its usual calm.

She stepped into the main hall, lit incense, kowtowed, and then stood up.

The incense smoke in front of the Buddha rose in wisps, blurring her features.

Wei Nizi stood behind her, watching her back, and suddenly realized that her sister had been praying to Buddha for a little longer than usual today.

I am not praying to Buddha.

They were waiting for someone to walk away.

======

Emperor Yang Guang officially issued an edict to launch a campaign against Goguryeo.

The imperial edict shook the entire land. In Hebei, Shandong, and the Jianghuai region, laborers were conscripted, provisions were allocated, and warships were built—all to make way for the campaign against Liaodong.

As the eastern capital, Luoyang's Grand Canal Transport Office bore a heavier burden than any other government office.

Li Ju was so busy he barely had time to breathe.

He would arrive at the yamen before dawn every day and return to his residence late at night. The documents on his desk were piled up like a small mountain. Grain and fodder transported from various places had to be registered, verified, and dispatched. Ships bound for Zhuojun had to be convoyed, loaded with cargo, and set sail.

Du Chen kept the accounts very clear, but the workload was too heavy, and the two of them often sat facing each other until the wee hours of the morning.

Wang Yu and his dockworkers worked day and night, loading and unloading boat after boat, without daring to delay.

"Master," Du Chen said, his brow furrowed as he flipped through the account books, "Zhuojun is pressing us hard, but there are several shallows on the canal that large ships can't pass through, so we have to switch to smaller boats for transshipment. This transshipment will delay things by at least five days."

Li Ju glanced at the map: "Which places?"

"Sour jujube, Lingchang, Liyang."

"I'll figure out a way to deal with the shallows of Suanzao," Li Ju said. "Lingchang and Liyang, you write a proposal, and I'll find someone from the Ministry of Works to coordinate."

Du Chen agreed and buried himself in writing the memorial.

Li Ju leaned back in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Tired. But it was worth it.

The campaign against Liaodong was a high-stakes gamble for Yang Guang, but also his opportunity. The Grand Canal was the lifeline of the campaign, and by controlling this vital waterway, he held the key to victory.

More importantly—Li Zixiong is also on the chessboard of the Liaodong campaign.

The Right General of the Martial Guard was a high-ranking and powerful officer who commanded a large army. However, Li Ju discerned something from the grain transport accounts.

During the preparations for the conquest of Liaodong, Li Zixiong interfered with the allocation of grain and fodder.

Instead of going through the Grand Canal Transport Office, he used his connections in the army to collect grain directly from the local areas, bypassing the Grand Canal Transport Office's accounts.

While checking the accounts of other provinces, Du Chen discovered discrepancies in the figures and, following the clues, found Li Zixiong's connections.

Embezzlement. Seizing power.

Li Ju kept these clues in mind and did not make a fuss about them.

Now is not the time.

Li Zixiong began to suppress the Wei family in the imperial court.

In addition to impeaching Wei Kuangbo, Li Zixiong, along with several ministers close to him, also pressured the Wei family to contribute more money, grain, and children during the Liaodong campaign.

The Wei family was a prominent clan in the capital, and it was only their duty to contribute money and effort.

However, Li Zixiong deliberately increased the burden, making the Wei family's burden 30% heavier than that of other prominent families.

Even more ruthless, he transferred all the Wei family's sons who had joined the army to the front lines.

The Wei family members could no longer sit still.

"It's all Gui'er's fault!" The clan elder slammed his fist on the table in the hall. "If she hadn't refused the marriage, why would Li Zixiong have targeted the Wei family like this?"

"Yes, she offended Li Zixiong, and her whole clan suffered as a result."

"Hurry up and find someone to marry into, and settle this matter!"

Wei Kuangbo remained silent, his face grim. He knew it wasn't Wei Gui's fault, but he couldn't stop his clansmen from talking.

Wei Gui sat in his room, the door closed.

She could hear the accusations coming from outside clearly.

She neither cried nor argued.

He simply sat by the window, clutching the jade piece engraved with "Changle Huairun" in his hand, stroking it gently.

Wei Nizi squatted at the door, listening intently to the sounds outside, occasionally glancing back at Wei Gui.

"Sister," she whispered, "they're talking about you again."

"Um."

Aren't you angry?

"Don't be angry," Wei Gui said calmly. "They're wrong, so why should I be angry?"

Wei Nizi thought about it and realized it made sense, but she was still indignant: "But they're framing you!"

"The innocent will remain innocent." Wei Gui put the jade into his sleeve, picked up a book, and said, "Ni Zi, go and see if Uncle Zhou has sent any news."

Wei Ni's eyes lit up, and he jumped up: "I'll go right now!"

There has been no news of Li Ju since he went to another region to supervise the transport of grain.

Wei Gui didn't show it on her face, but Wei Nizi knew that her older sister would sit by the window for a long time every day, staring blankly at the magnolia tree in the courtyard.

Wei Nizi ran to the alley next to the Grand Canal Office and found Zhou Xiaoli.

"Uncle Zhou! Is there any news?"

Zhou Xiaoli took out a series of neatly sealed letters from his sleeve, handed them to her, and said in a low voice, "They just arrived, take them quickly."

Wei Nizi took the letter, tucked it into his pocket, and ran home.

"Sister! I believe you!"

Wei Gui took the letter, his fingers trembling slightly.

She opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.

Li Ju's handwriting is neat and powerful.

Ze Niangzi's Appreciation:

It has been more than a month since we last met, and I miss you dearly.

Since leaving Luoyang, Ju has been overseeing the transport of grain and fodder along the Grand Canal, traveling day and night, and has already reached Liyang. On the Grand Canal, thousands of sails race and tens of thousands of ships shuttle back and forth, the campaign against Liaodong in full swing. However, what he sees along the way is that the laborers are exhausted, the grain supplies are running low, officials are corrupt, and the morale of the army is wavering. Outwardly strong, inwardly decayed—just as Ju once wrote in his poem.

Taking advantage of the campaign against Liaodong, Li Zixiong seized power, embezzled military funds, and framed dissidents. Ju had already heard of his suppression of the Wei family in the court. This arrogant and domineering man thought he had succeeded, but little did he know that those whom Heaven wished to destroy would first be made mad. His arrogance today was precisely the cause of his downfall tomorrow.

My lady is being criticized by the clan, and although I am away, I am truly pained by it. However, I ask that you bear with it for now. Li Zixiong has made too many enemies; if the campaign against Liao is unsuccessful, he will become the target of everyone's ire. At that time, not only will no one dare to protect him, but they will also rush to kick him when he is down. My lady only needs to remain calm and wait for the situation to change.

The Wei family is short-sighted; there's no need to argue with them. The innocent will remain innocent, and the guilty will remain guilty. We'll see the truth when Li Zixiong is defeated and killed.

Ju is doing well abroad. Although the canal transport business is busy, he is fortunate to have the help of Du and Wang, so he can manage. My lady, please take care of yourself and don't let trivial matters trouble you.

Words cannot fully express the feelings conveyed in writing.

Li Ju bowed deeply.

After reading the letter, Wei Gui's solemn expression slowly faded, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

Wei Nizi leaned over the table, looking up at her: "Sister, what did he write?"

"It's nothing," Wei Gui said, folding the letter and putting it in his sleeve. "Just letting you know I'm safe."

"Then what are you laughing at?"

Wei Gui reached out and gently flicked her forehead.

"Go do your homework."

Wei Nizi covered his forehead, giggled, and ran away.

Wei Gui sat alone by the window, took out the letter again, and read it once more.

"Today's arrogance is the reason for tomorrow's downfall."

She silently repeated the sentence twice, clenched the letter tightly, and then let it go.

The magnolia tree outside the window has already turned a deep green. Spring has passed, and summer is in full swing.

She pressed the letter to her chest and gently closed her eyes.

That's enough.