RWNEFE -Chapter 623 The Follow-Up with Wei Jie

Wei Jie felt a bit embarrassed and forced a smile, waving his hand: “What’s there to congratulate? If it weren’t for the fact that the people under the Supreme Court aren’t competent enough yet, I would have already resigned.”

Liu Yanhui replied: “Don’t even think about it! Lord Wei is the Emperor’s trusted right-hand man. If you were to resign, there would be no one competent to take over the Supreme Court!”

Liu Yanhui, like Wei Jie, was a favorite of the Emperor. The two exchanged greetings at the Wei residence, and the capital’s citizens noticed.

Within a couple of days, matchmakers were practically trampling the threshold of the Wei household.

With the imperial plaque hanging over the door, Wei Jie held a unique honor in all of Great Zhou. Coupled with his upright demeanor and scholarly elegance, many students from girls’ academies found themselves admiring him.

“Your Majesty, you didn’t see it—the young women are so forward. They sneak onto Lord Wei’s route, and whenever they get a chance, they throw flowers at him. Some of the bolder ones even try to talk to him directly.”

Liu Yanhui told this to Shen Lanxi, as if sharing a joke.

Since Shen Lanxi had just finished handling pressing matters, hearing this amusing story sparked a curiosity to see it for herself.

“Shall we go see?”

Liu Yanhui smiled: “Let’s go!”

After tracking Wei Jie’s route, they lightly set off and waited where he would inevitably pass.

“He’s coming,” Liu Yanhui whispered sharply.

Shen Lanxi widened her eyes: where? She couldn’t see him.

“The one wearing the straw hat and dressed as a fisherman,” Liu Yanhui said, clearly having done his homework, pointing with a smile.

Shen Lanxi quickly spotted Wei Jie, and upon seeing his disguise, couldn’t help but laugh.

“Still in a raincoat, straw sandals on his feet—truly befits the Supreme Court Minister, so meticulous.”

Liu Yanhui burst out laughing.

“Lord Wei probably did this out of sheer helplessness.”

Nearby, several young women clutched flowers, glancing around.

“Where is he? Doesn’t Lord Wei pass here at this time every day? Why haven’t we seen him yet?”

“Could it be that the Supreme Court has a case to deal with?”

“Probably. Let’s go check further ahead.”

Liu Yanhui opened his folding fan, partially shielding his face, and said, “Seeing Lord Wei hiding like this, he’s probably afraid of any woman holding flowers.”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes sparkled. She had finally had free time outside the palace and wasn’t going to leave disappointed.

As Wei Jie walked, the straw hat on his head suddenly flipped back.

“Isn’t that Lord Wei?”

“Look! It’s Lord Wei…”

Liu Yanhui cupped his hands and shouted, then quickly ran back.

The Emperor had acted fast, all for the sake of personal amusement—wanting to see his minister in an embarrassing situation.

Truly, His Majesty understands the hearts of the people.

“Thanks for your effort. Have some water!” Shen Lanxi pushed a cup to Liu Yanhui, enjoying the scene from afar.

“My minister being hit by a crowd of girls like a rat in the street—who could argue about this?”

“Lord Wei, so useless! Not even a bit of resistance—how shameful!”

“Tell the Ministry of Rites: next year’s civil examination must add an event. Students must be strong enough to run 800 meters.”

Liu Yanhui laughed: Eight hundred meters… to run away, I presume?

“This pillar of mine is actually just a soft piece of meat—why didn’t he resist at all?”

Liu Yanhui teasingly said: “Lord Wei won’t always be like this. As the Supreme Court Minister, he’s bound to be physically fit.”

“Look, Lord Wei is running now…”

Shen Lanxi immediately stood up and started to follow.

Some were faster than she was.

“Where’s Lord Wei? I’m his distant cousin…”

“Get lost! I’m still Lord Wei’s fiancée for exchanging Geng-tickets!”

“That trick is outdated. Yesterday, there were already twenty or thirty cousins like you, and Lord Wei…”

Shen Lanxi casually followed behind, not rushing.

“I never imagined my Supreme Court Minister would look so embarrassed,” she murmured, folding her fan leisurely.

Liu Yanhui chuckled: “Lord Wei is suffering.”

The Emperor was rarely so relaxed—it was fortunate that Lord Wei could provide some entertainment.

“Is that Lord Wei’s residence up ahead?”

“Why is there someone kneeling there?”

“And a child?”

Wei Jie felt helpless and exhausted.

These girls didn’t intend to harm him. Previously, he had scolded, threatened, even reprimanded them sternly—but they weren’t deterred; in fact, there were more of them.

As Supreme Court Minister, he couldn’t punish them privately.

Besides, throwing flowers didn’t constitute an attack according to law—he had already confirmed with the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Justice.

These girls must be from the girls’ academy, well-versed in Great Zhou’s law.

Wei Jie had never imagined that, having spent his life enforcing the law, he would now be betrayed by the very law he upheld.

Enduring the mess, he reached his home.

“Who are you, and why are you at my doorstep?” Wei Jie demanded, scowling.

The girls saw him and rushed forward.

“Cousin, I’m your cousin, Honglian, from Linshui Town—we used to play together when we were kids…”

Wei Jie reflexively ran back in shock.

The girls following him, hearing her, stopped.

They formed a human wall in front of Wei Jie.

“Bah! We are Lord Wei’s cousins! Who sent you here to make claims in front of an imperial official?”

Wei Jie felt struck by lightning—both angry and amused at the scene before him.

The prestigious Supreme Court Minister, a grown man, being defended by a group of girls?

Embarrassing? Not really. Just awkward.

At forty-three, he could have been their father. Their claims to marry him were absurd.

“I’m Bai Lian.”

“I’m Xiang Lian.”

“I’m Hei Lian.”

“I’m Fen Lian.”

Wei Jie: “…”

Shen Lanxi and Liu Yanhui watched the commotion with delight.

“Guess, will Lord Wei acknowledge them as family?”

Liu Yanhui stifled a laugh: “Acknowledge them? If he did, he’d gain dozens more cousins.”

Shen Lanxi shook her head, clicking her tongue: “I really pity Lord Wei.”

Liu Yanhui joked: “Lord Wei is already the model official among the ministers. Now that he’s divorced, with all these young beautiful girls rushing to marry him, he must be thrilled.”

Shen Lanxi teased: “What about you? Would you be happy if it were you?”

Liu Yanhui waved his hands: “Definitely not. I’m not like Lord Wei.”

Hong Lian opened her mouth, but she couldn’t compete with dozens of others. After a few words, she burst into tears in frustration.

“Cousin, we were promised to each other as kids. I came to rely on you. If you don’t acknowledge me, I have no future.”

Wei Jie’s face darkened.

Even before she was married, she was threatening him?

Did she think the Supreme Court Minister ate grass?