Chapter 168: How is Wei Jinyi Here? _1

Translator: 549690339

After spending some time with Madam Yuan, Wei Ruo left.

Exiting from the magistrate’s office, Wei Ruo got into a carriage, purposely choosing a route that would pass through Ronghua Street, for both Xu’s cured meat shop and Four Treasure House’s branch in Government City were located on this street.

To get to Ronghua Street, the carriage passed through an alleyway. As they did, Wei Ruo glimpsed a familiar figure through the carriage’s window…

A white brocade robe, with a jade crown in his hair.

Just from seeing a silhouette, Wei Ruo identified the person as her elder brother, Wei Jinyi.

But shouldn’t elder brother be studying with old man Ruan in Huzhou Prefecture? Why was he here?

Once the carriage left the alley, Wei Ruo asked Xiumei to stop.

After stopping the carriage by the roadside, Wei Ruo got out.

“Miss, what’s the matter?” asked Xiumei.

“I think I just saw elder brother.”

“The young master? Is that possible? He’s supposed to be in Huzhou Prefecture. Why would he be in the Government City of Taizhou Prefecture?”

“I don’t know, but I must have seen correctly.”

We Ruo pulled Xiumei towards the alleyway and said, “Let’s go check.”

The two of them walked back into the alley and reached the doorway of the house where Wei Ruo had glimpsed Wei Jinyi.

This house was located in the alley. The door seemed old and weathered, the door’s wood was worn and faded, showing traces of wear and tear.

Just now, she had seen Wei Jinyi enter this house.

“Miss, what should we do? This place appears to be a private residence, how are we going to get in?” Xiumei asked.

Wei Ruo whispered something into Xiumei’s ear.

Xiumei nodded and then walked towards the door.

It was quite a while before the door opened, revealing a woman inside. She was graceful and seductive, with a few strands of hair hanging loose on her forehead.

Her styling had a hint of a worldly sophistication and a certain geniality.

When she saw the woman, Xiumei was obviously taken aback, and the words she had prepared were suddenly stuck in her throat.

Could it be that the young master didn’t go to Huzhou Prefecture to study but secretly started to keep a mistress without the family knowing?

Xiumei’s jaw dropped, numerous thoughts racing through her mind.

At this moment, the woman inside the door spoke, “Little girl, who are you looking for?”

“I… I am looking for my miss’s cat, which ran out just now, and jumped over your yard’s wall into your house,” Xiumei used the excuse Wei Ruo had given her.

“I didn’t see any cat come in, maybe you got the wrong place.” The woman said.

“No, I saw it with my own eyes, Xiaohua definitely ran in here!” Xiumei declared confidently.

As she spoke, she tried to look toward the backyard over the woman’s shoulder, trying to find Wei Jinyi.

“I’ve been in the backyard the whole time, and I’m sure no cat came in,” the woman replied.

“Let me take a look inside!” Xiumei said, inching her body forward.

The woman quickly tried to block her.

But Xiumei, being a martial artist, was not just strong but also agile.

The woman didn’t expect Xiumei’s unexpected strength and agility, and by the time she tried to stop her, Xiumei had already slipped in half way.

In the confusion, Wei Ruo, who had been hiding nearby, darted through the gap-

By the time the woman reacted and shouted for the people inside to stop her, Wei Ruo had already made it to the yard.

At the same time, the door of the main room opened, and a few men came out.

Wei Ruo locked eyes with Wei Jinyi in the crowd. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Their eyes met and both of them looked surprised.

Just then, a burly middle-aged man strode toward Wei Ruo angrily, “Who are you? How dare you trespass private property?”

“Brother Ke, please halt, she’s my younger sister.” Wei Jinyi interrupted the impulsive middle-aged man.

“Your sister?”

Everyone in the house was taken aback.

At this moment, Xiaobei also came out from the house and upon seeing Wei Ruo, he asked in surprise, “Miss, why are you here?”

The woman who had answered the door earlier said, “They said they were looking for a cat.”

A cat? Wei Ruo didn’t own any cat. Wei Jinyi looked at Wei Ruo. Wei Ruo made no effort to avoid his gaze, not only meeting it, but her eyes showing a hint of anger.

If she lied, was he any better?

Wei Jinyi addressed everyone present, “All of you, please retreat inside.”

The people nodded and quickly went inside, even Xiumei was pulled inside by the woman who had answered the door.

Only Wei Ruo and Wei Jinyi were left in the courtyard.

Wei Jinyi walked over to Wei Ruo, lowered his head, and looked at her.

“I don’t have a cat, I haven’t lost one, I just saw someone who shouldn’t be here and used it as an excuse to get in,” Wei Ruo said.

“Hmm.” Wei Jinyi apologized, “I’m sorry, I came back to Taizhou Prefecture without telling you.”

His apology was sincere, but somehow it made Wei Ruo angrier.

Squaring up to Wei Jinyi, she drew back her fist and landed two blows to his chest.

Wei Jinyi neither retreated nor dodged, allowing Wei Ruo to take her frustrations out on his chest, saying only, “Don’t hurt your hand.” “You’re worried about my hand?” Wei Ruo shot back.

“Yes.” Wei Jinyi nodded, and then took out a bag of money from his waist and stuffed it into Wei Ruo’s hands, “Use this to hit, save your strength.”

The money bag was filled with bit silver and copper coins, which were quite heavy.

Looking at the bag in her hand, Wei Ruo’s anger fizzled out.

Who does this sort of thing?

“Never mind, I’m not that angry.” Wei Ruo said.

“Okay, don’t be angry then.”

“So have you thought about how to explain to me why you are here?” Wei Ruo looked at Wei Jinyi, waiting for his explanation.

“Yes, I didn’t go to Huzhou Prefecture to study with old man Ruan, but I am here for legitimate reasons, not idling around.” Wei Jinyi explained.

“Legitimate reasons?” Wei Ruo looked at Wei Jinyi with a questioning gaze.

“It has something to do with our late mother,” Wei Jinyi replied.

Upon hearing this reply, Wei Ruo didn’t ask any further questions.

Everyone has a secret. She was no exception.

“Okay then, as long as you are not here enjoying yourself while idling around.” Wei Ruo said.

In fact, as soon as the door of the main room opened and she saw all the older men, she knew he wasn’t here for pleasure.

No one would keep a house full of old men if they were looking to enjoy themselves in secret.

“Yes, I’m not here for pleasure,” Wei Jinyi promised.

“How long have you been away from Huzhou Prefecture?” Wei Ruo asked.

“I have not returned to Huzhou Prefecture since the last time I saw you,” Wei Jinyi replied honestly.

It’s been that long?

“Has the Tibetan layman been covering for you all this while?” Wei Ruo asked, surprised.

“I’ve wronged you by asking old man Ruan to hide this from you. I didn’t want you to get involved in my troubles,” Wei Jinyi admitted his deception.

He had chosen to hide the truth from Wei Ruo simply to prevent her from getting into any danger.

Wei Ruo was immensely surprised.. So the old man Ruan had been helping her elder brother deceive her?