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

As dusk fell, lanterns began to light up in front of the Wei residence.

Li Ju changed into a dark blue round robe, her hair was neatly tied up, and she wore a plain silver hairpin.

He stood at the entrance of the Wei residence, and before he could announce his arrival, a person walked out from inside.

Wei Feng.

He changed into a crimson brocade robe and wore a jade belt, looking even more dashing than during the day.

Upon seeing Li Ju, he cupped his hands in greeting and said with a smile, "Prime Minister Li, we've been waiting for you. Come in."

Li Ju returned the greeting and followed him through the porch toward the main hall.

The Wei residence was much larger than the Li family's mansion in Luoyang. The courtyard was deep and the corridors winding, with silk lanterns hanging beneath them, illuminating the bluestone path. The fragrance of osmanthus blossoms wafted from the courtyard, sweet but not cloying.

"Everyone here today is family; there are no outsiders," Wei Feng said as he walked. "You'll sit at the last seat in the west wing; don't think it's a lowly position."

"Wei Lang will make the arrangements," Li Ju said.

Wei Feng glanced back at him, smiled, and said nothing more.

There were already more than a dozen people sitting in the main hall.

On the east side were the elders of the Wei family, with Wei Kuangbo in the main seat and Wei Kuangzan to his side. On the west side were the younger members of the Wei family, seated according to seniority and illegitimate status, with the last seat empty, clearly reserved for Li Ju.

Upon entering, Li Ju first bowed to Wei Kuangbo.

"Li Ju, Assistant Director of the Water Conservancy Bureau, greets Lord Wei."

Wei Kuangbo sat in the main seat, nodding slightly, his expression calm and revealing no emotion.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "Li Cheng, you've worked hard on the Liyang canal transport."

The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, and the tone was neither too warm nor too cold.

It was as if he were talking to an ordinary, slightly acquainted lower-ranking official.

Li Ju's heart stirred, but his face remained expressionless.

"Lord Wei, you flatter me. It is my duty, and I dare not complain of hardship."

Wei Kuangbo didn't say anything more, but simply raised his hand, gesturing for him to sit down.

Li Ju walked to the last seat in the west wing and sat down.

Wei Kuangzan added from the side, "Prime Minister Li handled the situation in Liyang well, and the military supplies were not lost, which is a blessing for the court."

"Uncle Wei, you flatter me." Li Ju cupped his hands in greeting. "I was just doing my duty."

Wei Kuangzan nodded and said no more.

The banquet begins.

As the dishes were served one by one, the Wei family members chatted and laughed in hushed tones. Occasionally, someone would glance at Li Ju with curiosity in their eyes, but no one would come over to speak to him.

Li Ju didn't take it to heart, sitting quietly, eating and drinking as usual.

After a few rounds of drinks, Wei Kuangzan put down his chopsticks and looked at Li Ju.

"Li Cheng, the canal transport is facing difficulties these days. As the Director of the Water Conservancy Bureau, what are your thoughts on this?"

Li Ju put down his chopsticks and sat up straight.

"Uncle Wei, the difficulty of transporting grain by canal lies not in the waterway or the boats, but in the people."

Wei Kuangzan's eyebrows twitched slightly: "How so?"

"Along the canal, officials were corrupt and the laborers were exhausted. When the higher-ups pressed for supplies, the lower-ups would falsely report losses and withhold grain. On paper, the grain was plentiful, but in reality, less than 70% of it could be transported to Zhuojun."

Wei Kuangzan remained silent for a moment.

"Isn't the same principle true for what happened in Liyang?"

"Yes," Li Ju said. "Zhao Huaiyi embezzled funds meant for dike repairs, which led to the dike's instability and the resulting danger. If the dike had been sturdy, even months of torrential rain wouldn't have caused it to collapse."

Wei Kuangzan looked at him, his gaze deepening.

"In your opinion, what should be done about the future of the canal transport?"

Li Ju thought for a moment and said, "First govern the people, then govern the river. If the people are not honest, no matter how well the river is repaired, it will be in vain. Conversely, if the people are honest, even if there are dangers in the river, they can be dealt with in time, preventing a major disaster."

Wei Kuangzan nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

He picked up his wine glass and raised it towards Li Ju.

"It's rare to see someone so composed at such a young age."

Li Ju picked up his wine cup and drank it respectfully.

Wei Kuangbo remained silent throughout, only occasionally glancing at Li Ju when Wei Kuangzan asked him questions. His gaze was indifferent, as if he were looking at an ordinary object.

Halfway through the banquet, a maid brought out tea.

Wei Kuangbo put down his chopsticks and said, "Serve tea."

According to the rules of the aristocratic families, when the clan head holds a family banquet, the eldest daughter must come out from behind the curtain to serve tea.

This is a matter of etiquette and custom; no one will find it strange.

Faint footsteps came from behind the screen.

Wei Gui carried the tea tray and walked out slowly.

Today she wore a light purple dress with a plain white half-sleeved outer garment, her black hair styled in a high bun and adorned with a white jade hairpin. Her face was lightly powdered, making her appear even more dignified than usual.

She first went to Wei Kuangbo, knelt down, and offered him tea.

"Uncle, please have some tea."

Wei Kuangbo took the teacup and nodded.

Wei Gui then walked up to Wei Kuangzan, knelt down, and offered him tea.

"Uncle, please have some tea."

Wei Kuangzan took it and said with a smile, "Gui'er looks quite well today."

Wei Gui lowered his eyes and did not reply.

She served tea according to the seating arrangement, from east to west, and finally reached Li Ju.

He bent his knees, lowered his eyes, and offered the teacup with both hands.

"Li Cheng, please have some tea."

The voice was soft and steady, neither too loud nor too soft, just the proper tone for serving tea.

Li Ju stood up and accepted the teacup with both hands.

"Thank you, Madam Wei."

He looked up and glanced at her.

She also looked up and glanced at him.

In just a moment.

Her eyes were bright, like the clear, serene waters of a lake in late autumn. But beneath the surface, ripples stirred.

Then she lowered her eyes, took a step back, and turned to walk behind the screen.

Her steps remained composed, and her skirt remained still.

But Li Ju noticed that her ears turned slightly red the moment she turned around.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip.

The tea is this year's newly harvested Guzhu Zisun, with a delicate aroma and a slightly sweet taste.

He put down his teacup, continued to sit, and remained calm.

Behind the screen, Wei Nizi was waiting for Wei Gui to return.

She leaned closer and whispered, "Sister, you're back already? Aren't you going to say a few words?"

Wei Gui ignored her, put down the tea tray, and sat back in his seat.

Wei Nizi rolled his eyes, picked up a plate of snacks, lifted a corner of the screen, and peeked out.

"Li Cheng!"

The sound wasn't loud, but everyone in the main hall heard it.

Li Ju looked up and saw Wei Nizi standing by the screen with a bowl of snacks, smiling.

"This was made by my older sister, specially saved for you!"

Wei Kuangzan coughed lightly and said, "Young man, children shouldn't talk nonsense."

Wei Nizi stuck out his tongue, placed the snacks on Li Ju's table, and ran away.

Behind the screen, Wei Gui lowered his head, his ears turning bright red.

Wei Kuangzan watched Wei Nizi's retreating figure, shook his head, and said to Li Ju, "President Li, please don't be offended; this child is spoiled."

Li Ju stood up and bowed towards the screen.

"Thank you for your kindness, Madam Wei."

There was no sound behind the screen.

But he knew she had heard him.

By the time the banquet ended, it was completely dark.

The Wei family members took their leave one after another, and Li Ju also stood up, preparing to leave.

Wei Feng walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "Li Cheng, I apologize for the poor hospitality today. I'll treat you to drinks another day."

"General Wei, you're too kind," Li Ju said. "You've already shown me great kindness today."

Wei Feng smiled and saw him to the door.

Just as Li Ju was about to step out the door, a very soft voice came from behind him.

"Li Cheng".

Li Ju turned around.

Wei Kuangbo stood at the entrance of the main hall. Everyone else had left, and he was the only one left in the corridor.

He took two steps toward Li Ju and stopped. There were three steps between them.

"Young man, it's good to be steady." Wei Kuangbo's voice was very low, only Li Ju could hear it. "In Luoyang in the future, the Wei family will not let you be trapped without cause."

After saying that, he turned around and walked into the main hall.

He never looked back.

Li Ju stood there, his heart skipping a beat.

He found out.

Wei Kuangbo knew.

He knew about saving Wei Feng, about his relationship with Wei Gui, and might even know what he had done behind the scenes—spreading rumors, protecting Wei Feng, and secretly dealing with Li Zixiong.

But he didn't say it out loud.

He chose the most discreet way to give Li Ju a promise.

"In Luoyang in the future, the Wei family will not let you be trapped without cause."

This wasn't said to a minor official of the seventh rank. This was said to someone he respected.

Li Ju took a deep breath and bowed slightly to Wei Kuangbo's retreating figure.

Then he turned around and stepped out of the Wei residence.

A night breeze blew by, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms.

He had only taken a few steps when he heard hurried footsteps behind him.

"Li Huairun! Wait!"

Wei Nizi chased after him, carrying a blue cloth bundle in his arms, panting heavily.

"I almost couldn't catch up with you!" She shoved the package into Li Ju's arms. "Here, take this."

Li Ju took it, weighed it in his hand, and found it wasn't heavy.

"What is this?"

"Sachets! And medicine!" Wei Nizi counted on her fingers, "Soothing medicine, medicine for colds, medicine for sprains and bruises—my sister said you stay up all night running along the riverbank, so she's keeping these on hand."