Luo Wei explained his plans for Fort Ji Feng to Uncle Hong in detail. The older man listened carefully, nodding every once in a while.
Ye Xiu sat aside and observed Uncle Hong’s expressions. She’d been brought up singlehandedly by him. When Luo Wei sent an invitation to meet, Uncle Hong insisted on coming along in case she was put at a disadvantage somehow. Looks like he was right in coming along. If Uncle Hong agreed to Luo Wei’s enterprise, then she would comply without hesitation. The only thing was that even Ye Xiu herself did not realize that, at this moment, how much she longed for Uncle Hong to agree with Luo Wei’s idea.
“There would be no advantages to the Luo family,” Uncle Hong listened to Luo Wei carefully, then addressed the youth before him, “If Commander Luo married Xiu Er. Why does the third young master want to help them along?”
Luo Wei smiled simply, “Our family is nearing the limit for amassing wealth and power, I don’t think anyone, even the emperor, would want us to marry into another powerful family and gain advantage.”
Uncle Hong regarded Luo Wei for a good while. For a family to be at the limit of wealth and power, if they do not hide it and act modest, the power and wealth they amassed might become their ruin. He didn’t think someone so young would be able to understand the logic behind this.
“Uncle Hong?” Ye Xiu tugged at Hong’s coat sleeves.
Uncle Hong addressed Luo Wei directly again, “And why should we put our trust in the third young master?”
Luo Wei answered, “My big brother has not betrayed anyone in his life. If I commit any misconduct, he would repay it with his life. Why would I put my own brother’s life on the line?”
Uncle Hong then asked, “What about young master yourself?”
“Myself?” Luo Wei chuckled, “I’m no gentleman, but I never do anything against my own conscience.”
Uncle Hong smiled, the expression carving wrinkles into his face, “Fine, I trust the young master.”
Ye Xiu’s face opened into a joyful smile.
With that accomplished, Luo Wei grinned at Ye Xiu, “Future sister-in-law, you can’t keep enabling my big brother and just let him do whatever he wants, ok?”
“Huh?” Ye Xiu still couldn’t quite understand this boy.
Luo Wei laid out the rest of his plans, “Why don’t we tell my big brother that Miss Ye ran off with a merchant from Northern Yan, and won’t be coming back? Make him regret his decisions for a few days, and let him really feel how much he needs her.”
Uncle Hong agreed, “Exactly. Xiu Er’s been chasing after him all this time, it’s time we made the commander do some leg work.”
Luo Wei looked at the darkened sky outside the pavilion, it was already late. He stood from his seat, “Then I’ll wait for you at Yun Guan, my future sister-in-law. Uncle Hong, it’s late, I should return to camp.”
As they watched Luo Wei’s group quickened their horses in the distance, Uncle Hong told Ye Xiu, “Out of Chancellor Luo’s three sons, it seems that this third son is the most fierce of them all.”
“He’s fiercer than his eldest brother?” Ye Xiu asked. Her bias was for Luo Qi, and was feeling rather unconvinced about Uncle Hong’s judgement.
Hong added, “He has a fever.”
“Really?” Ye Xiu didn’t notice any discomfort in the way that Luo Wei acted.
Uncle Hong nodded, “His movements are a little slow, his injuries don’t seem light.”
Ye Xiu asked, “Why didn’t I see anything?”
Uncle Hong replied, “That’s because this young master is someone who’s ruthless even to himself. Commander Luo has killed countless soldiers in battle, but when it comes to ruthlessness, I’m afraid he doesn’t hold a candle to this younger brother of his.”
“Luo Wei is ruthless?” Ye Xiu said, “I thought he was really nice.”
Uncle Hong lowered his voice as he advised Ye Xiu, “Xiu Er, if you really do manage to marry into the Luo estate, you have to remember to never cross this third young master. Someone who’s this ruthless to himself would be even more ruthless to others. I know, I’m a good judge of character and I’ve never been wrong.”
Ye Xiu nodded. She never doubted anything Uncle Hong told her, even though she couldn’t for the life of her figure out where all the cruelty was in this cheerful and good-humored Luo Wei. “I wonder if his injuries are going to be alright,” Ye Xiu started to worry for Luo Wei as she thought about it, “It’s so cold out, and he sat here and spoke with us for such a long time.”
Luo Wei wasn’t feeling good. His body felt too hot, and pain ebbed from where he’d broken his finger, but all of this was within what he could endure. He still had so many things to put into motion. Now was not the time for him to be confined to a bed for rest.