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

On the day of my return to my parents' home, the sky was clear and the air was fresh.

Li Ju prepared a cart full of gifts—osmanthus cakes, milk crisps, milk pearl tea, several pieces of fine Shu brocade, and two jars of aged wine.

Wei Gui changed into a lotus-root-colored dress, with a plain white half-sleeved outer garment, and a white magnolia hairpin in her hair, looking dignified and elegant.

When the carriage arrived at the gate of the Wei residence, Wei Gui lifted the curtain and was stunned.

Wei Kuangbo led his clan members to stand outside the gate, with Wei Kuangzan standing beside him. Wei Feng wore a black brocade robe and a long sword at his waist, with a group of Wei family members and nephews behind him.

The crowd stretched from the steps all the way into the gate, a dense, dark mass, creating a grand scene.

"Uncle, what's wrong..." Before Wei Gui could finish speaking, Li Ju had already helped her out of the carriage.

Wei Kuangbo stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, "Huairun, Gui'er, you must be tired from your journey."

Li Ju returned the greeting, his fingertips pausing slightly, a secret surprise creeping into his heart.

The Wei family's reception today was far from the usual hospitality for a homecoming—all the clan members were lined up, with Wei Kuangbo personally leading the main branch to welcome them. Even Wei Feng, a powerful general of the clan who was often away from home, stood by his side, clearly treating him as a "pivotal" figure.

He suppressed his doubts, kept his expression unchanged, and led Wei Gui to the steps, where he bowed deeply to Wei Kuangbo.

"Uncle, Ju has brought Gui'er back to his parents' home. It is too kind of you, Lord Wei, to personally welcome him. I dare not accept such hospitality."

Wei Kuangbo helped him up and said with a smile, "We're family, no need for formalities."

Before he could finish speaking, a pink figure rushed out of the door and pounced on Wei Gui.

"Sister!"

Wei Nizi buried her face in Wei Gui's arms, holding her waist tightly with both hands.

She looked up, her eyes red-rimmed, her voice trembling with tears, "Sister, you're finally back! I missed you so much!"

Wei Gui reached out and patted her head, saying softly, "It's only been a few days, but it feels like years have passed."

"A day apart feels like three autumns!" Wei Nizi buried his face in her waist and refused to let go.

Wei Kuangbo coughed lightly: "Nizi, don't be rude."

Wei Nizi then let go, took a step back, tugged at Wei Gui's sleeve, and pouted, "Sister, I've prepared lots of delicious food for you!"

Wei Gui smiled and led her inside.

In the main hall, Wei Kuangbo and Wei Kuangzan sat in the main seats. Wei Feng sat beside them, while Li Ju sat in the guest seat.

When the maid served tea, Wei Kuangbo spoke first, asking a few questions about everyday matters.

"Is Gui'er settling in well at the Li residence?"

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle. Gui'er is doing well," Li Ju said. "Everyone in the household treats him with the utmost courtesy."

Wei Kuangzan nodded: "Huai Run manages the household well, so we are naturally at ease."

Wei Feng held his teacup, his gaze lingering on Li Ju's face for a moment before he nodded slightly.

After exchanging a few casual words, Wei Kuangbo changed the subject and became serious.

"Huai Run, the Third Expedition is imminent, and the political landscape in the court is constantly shifting. Yuwen Shu, Lai Huer, and others are gaining increasing favor in His Majesty's eyes. I have heard that Yuwen Shu has been spending a lot of time with your father, General Li, recently, and his intentions are quite clear."

Li Ju's heart stirred slightly. These words, spoken by Wei Kuangbo, were not casual conversation, but rather a hint.

"Ju has also heard of it," he said.

Wei Kuangbo glanced at him, picked up his teacup, and slowly took a sip.

"Yuwen Shu holds military power and is close to the Emperor; he is now the most untouchable person in the court. He has taken the initiative to befriend you; you must neither offend him nor alienate him." He put down his teacup. "You are still young, with a bright future ahead of you. There are some things you should accept, and you should accept them."

Li Ju lowered his eyes, cupped his hands, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Uncle."

Wei Kuangbo nodded and said no more.

In the backyard, Wei Gui sat with his aunt, Wei Nizi, and other female relatives. Wei Nizi lay on Wei Gui's lap, chattering incessantly.

"Sister, I don't even enjoy my food when you're not home," Wei Nizi pouted.

Auntie laughed and said, "Nizi, your older sister is now a member of the Li family, so she can't come back every day."

Wei Nizi pouted and grabbed Wei Gui's arm: "Then I'll go stay at the Li residence!"

Wei Gui chuckled: "Where did you stay?"

"Sleep with your older sister!"

"no."

Why?

"Because you kicked off the blankets."

Wei Nizi blushed and muttered, "I won't kick off the covers..."

The room was filled with laughter.

After the luncheon, Wei Kuangbo summoned Li Ju to his study alone.

The study was small and simply furnished. A book lay open on the desk, and the ink in the inkstone was still wet.

Wei Kuangbo closed the door and locked it behind him. His expression was more solemn than ever before. He took out a neatly folded piece of hemp paper from his sleeve, his fingertips trembling slightly, and slowly handed it to Li Ju.

"Huai Run, take a look at this—I risked my life to copy this, it must never be revealed to anyone."

Li Ju's heart tightened, and he quickly took it and slowly unfolded it.

On the hemp paper, in neat small regular script, were written a few lines of nursery rhyme, yet each word was sharp as a knife:

"Peach and plum trees, floodwaters encircle Yangshan. Peach and plum trees, do not speak carelessly. Yellow sparrows carry grass into the pass, Luoyang girls pick up door halberds."

He looked at it three times, the coolness at his fingertips spreading along his veins to his heart, and a fine layer of cold sweat seeping out from his back.

Peach and Plum Blossoms – His surname is Li, and he is a member of the Li clan of Longxi; Flood Surrounding Yang Mountain – 'Yang' refers to the Sui Dynasty, and 'Flood Surrounding Yang Mountain' is his courtesy name 'Huai Run,' which means water. Moreover, he is now in charge of the Grand Canal, and the water of the Grand Canal, spanning thousands of acres, is all under his control!

This nursery rhyme is not just some idle gossip; it is clearly a prophecy pointing directly at him!

He abruptly looked up at Wei Kuangbo, his eyes filled with barely concealed turmoil, yet he forced himself to remain composed: "Uncle, this..."

Wei Kuangbo leaned back in his chair, his face ashen, fear churning in his eyes, his voice hoarse:

"This is something that's been circulating quietly in Luoyang lately. It hasn't caused a big stir yet, but it's already reached my ears. Huai Run, ask yourself—if this prophecy isn't referring to you, then who is it?"

He paused, then spoke with a piercing veil:

"Yang Xuangan has just rebelled, and the Emperor is most wary of those who 'show signs of rebellion.' You were ennobled at eighteen, in charge of the grain transport and supply lines, and were already on the Emperor's list of suspects. Add this prophecy... Once it gets out, you will surely die!"

Li Ju took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

"Uncle, you've greeted me with such great ceremony today, surely it's not just for my homecoming?" Li Ju put down the note and looked at Wei Kuangbo.

Wei Kuangbo remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Huai Run, you are now the son-in-law of the Wei family. We share both glory and loss. I'm showing you this so you know—the Wei family will always stand behind you."

Li Ju's heart skipped a beat.

Wei Kuangbo was betting on Li Ju's future.

"I will always remember your kindness, Uncle." Li Ju stood up and bowed deeply.

Wei Kuangbo helped him up and patted him on the shoulder.

"You need to keep in touch with Yuwen Shu. He's the Emperor's confidant; with him around, at least you can weather some storms. Also—" He paused, "you're too perfect. So young, yet you're not greedy or corrupt, you don't form cliques or take credit for others' work, and you handle everything flawlessly."

The emperor wouldn't trust someone like that, and would be most suspicious of them. At the right time, you should subtly tarnish your own reputation, making the emperor aware of your flaws; only then will he truly feel at ease.

Li Ju felt a chill run down his spine and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "I have learned much from you."

Wei Kuangbo nodded and said no more.

On the return journey in the carriage, Wei Gui leaned on Li Ju's shoulder and noticed that he was much quieter than when they arrived.

"Liulang, what's wrong?" she asked softly.

Li Ju was silent for a moment, then took the note out of his sleeve and handed it to her.

Wei Gui took it, unfolded it, and softly read the lines aloud. When she read "Peach and plum trees, floodwaters surround Yangshan," her fingers suddenly tightened.

"Rokuro, this is...?"

"A nursery rhyme. It's circulating in Luoyang." Li Ju looked into her eyes. "My uncle showed it to me today."

Wei Gui's face paled slightly. She recalled the poem from the Luo River gathering, Li Ju's surname, his courtesy name, his official title, and the canal transport he oversaw. Wasn't the nursery rhyme about him?

She recalled the grand procession of the Wei family members welcoming her at the door today, and the long time her uncle had spent alone with her.

She understood—the Wei and Li families were now bound together.

"Liulang." She folded the note, handed it back to him, and took his hand.

"Um."

"Whatever you do, I will support you."

Li Ju looked at her, his gaze deep. He took her hand in his own, holding it tightly.

When the carriage stopped at the alley entrance, Li Ju lifted the curtain and was stunned.

Several tall, magnificent horses were parked at the entrance, their coats glossy and their saddles and bridles ornate—fine steeds typically found only in the military.

Several servants stood beside the horse, dressed in fine clothes, clearly not from ordinary families.

The butler came forward and whispered, "My lord, a guest is waiting in the hall."

"Who?"

"Yuwen Chengji, the eldest grandson of General Yuwen."

Li Ju and Wei Gui exchanged a glance.

The Yuwen family arrived very quickly.