Wei Qing had just finished his midday meal and intended to check on his youngest son, Wei Buyi. This child had been frail since birth, unlike his two elder brothers.
Lately, His Majesty had been in a foul mood. Last year, Princess Pingyang had presented a certain Lady Li to the court, who became a great favorite. Rarer still, she had conceived shortly after entering the palace. Two months ago, Lady Li gave birth to a pair of dragon-and-phoenix twins, and in his great joy, His Majesty promoted her to the rank of Lady of Handsome Fairness. This should have been a joyous occasion, yet Lady Li’s health had been failing ever since the birth.
Now, the imperial physicians diagnosed that Lady of Handsome Fairness Li was in a dire state, her end likely drawing near. His Majesty was deeply grieved by this and had even sighed a few words of lament to Wei Qing.
He had heard that Lady Li would only turn sixteen this coming December; it was uncertain if she would even last until then.
As Wei Qing passed through the garden, he suddenly spotted two figures not far off.
Wei Qing’s brows knit together. "Wei Kang!"
Startled, Wei Kang spun around. Seeing it was his father, he was momentarily at a loss.
"Why are you at home? Did I not tell you to go to your uncle’s house to offer congratulations?"
"I went... I just got back. It wasn't that I wanted to return, but the Crown Prince summoned me, so I came back," Wei Kang said, his voice laced with guilt.
"The Crown Prince? Did your second brother not say this morning that he was going on an excursion with the Crown Prince? Why would he summon you now?"
"That... your son does not know." Fine beads of sweat broke out on Wei Kang’s forehead from the heat and nerves.
"And your sister? Once you have seen the Crown Prince, go to your uncle’s house this evening to fetch her," Wei Qing sighed.
*I’m dead!* Wei Kang’s heart skipped a beat.
"Yuan’er... Yuan’er, she..."
"What about Yuan’er?" Wei Qing’s voice grew stern. "Did she cause trouble at your uncle’s house?"
"No, no," Wei Kang quickly denied. "It’s just... just... Yuan’er... she didn't go." He hastily lowered his head.
"What? How can that be?" Wei Qing was incensed.
Wei Kang stole a glance at Wei Qing’s expression and took a deep breath. After a long pause, he finally said, "Grandmother said... said Buyi was unwell, so she had Yuan’er stay to keep him company."
"Buyi has physicians by his side; what need has he for her company! To..." Wei Qing suddenly understood.
This was likely the Old Madam’s pretext.
"Father, please do not be angry. Once I have seen the Crown Prince, I will go to my uncle’s house to apologize. When my little niece reaches her full-month milestone in a few days, I will surely bring all my younger siblings along." Seeing his father’s dark expression, Wei Kang hurried to offer comfort.
Wei Qing turned and asked the steward, "Where is the Old Madam?"
"In the young master’s courtyard," the steward replied with deep respect.
"Father!" Wei Kang feared his father’s temper.
"Since the Crown Prince has summoned you, go then!"
"Understood! Then your son shall change his clothes before departing!" Wei Kang left, looking back three times with every step.
Wei Qing strode toward Wei Buyi’s courtyard. Just as he reached the door, he heard the sound of laughter and talking from within.
Signaling his attendants to remain silent, he stepped inside.
A small table had been placed upon the bed, spread with various delicacies. The elder Lady Wei sat near the door, while the two siblings sat further in, their complexions ruddy and healthy.
Wei Qing felt a throbbing ache in his temples. He marched inside.
Seeing Wei Qing enter, Wei Yuan stood up in a shock. Wei Buyi ducked down, hiding toward the inner side of the bed.
Wei Qing reached out and hauled Wei Buyi up. Only then did the Old Madam react; she stood up to pry Wei Qing’s hand away, and the young girl rushed to help as well.
Wei Qing pushed Wei Yuan aside. "You stay there. We will deal with your matter in a moment."
"Oh, Qing’er, release your son this instant! Can you not see he is frightened?"
Wei Qing finally set him down, but his fury did not subside. "I told you to go with your eldest brother to your uncle’s house today to offer congratulations. Why did you feign illness?"
The elder Lady Wei hurried forward to pull Wei Buyi into her arms, scolding Wei Qing, "Who said he feigned it? Buyi truly was uncomfortable this morning. How can you treat your son this way?"
"Furthermore, for a family of our standing, having Kang’er go is enough to satisfy etiquette. Why must you insist on all the siblings going? If they were to eat something unclean or touch something foul there, my heart would ache for them!..."
"Mother!" Wei Qing barked, cutting her off. "What are you saying in front of the children?"
"Am I wrong? Buyi has been frail since he was small. In our Marquis’s Manor, what we feed him is the same as what is served in the Palace. How could he possibly stomach the coarse food of the Chen family?"
The angrier Wei Qing became, the calmer he appeared, though a sense of helplessness filled his heart. "How could he not stomach it? This picky, choosing manner of his is exactly what comes of being spoiled! From this day forward, his three meals a day shall be strictly according to military rations!"
"Grandmother!" Wei Buyi cried out in panic. How could he possibly eat that!
"No! Is that even fit for consumption? If you have so little care for your son, I shall go to the Palace and speak with Her Majesty the Empress!" The Old Madam grabbed Wei Buyi, intending to walk out.
"The military has always eaten such fare. You wish to speak to Her Majesty? Why not go speak to His Majesty instead, and see if he deems such food unfit?"
The Old Madam was choked with rage and suddenly burst into tears. "You are simply... simply bewitched by the Chen clan! You are unfilial!"
Wei Yuan wanted to step forward to comfort her, but seeing Wei Qing’s grim expression, she did not dare move.
Wei Qing closed his eyes to compose himself for a moment before saying, "Mother, your health is poor; please stop crying. I do not wish to criticize you. But these children are truly behaving out of line..."
"What 'out of line'? You are simply itching to send all your children to the Chen family. And Yuan’er—her sister-in-law cannot even go, so why make her go? Is it not because you still want to marry her into the Chen family? Wake up! Our family is not what it once was. With our current status, she could even marry the Crown Prince. Why do you not consider your daughter’s future!"
Wei Qing said solemnly, "Yuan’er’s marriage is something I have considered carefully. Chen Chuo is a boy of good character and ambition; he is a fine match for Yuan’er..."
The elder Lady Wei interrupted impatiently, "How is that a match? Our Yuan’er is a match for someone of the Crown Prince’s status!"
Wei Yuan listened carefully from the side, her face flushing with bashfulness.
"Mother!" Wei Qing grew increasingly exasperated. "The Crown Prince has long since taken a Crown Princess!"
Hearing this, the Old Madam could not help but show a hint of smugness. "What of it? For now, Yuan’er can be slighted as a Consort Liangdi. The Crown Princess is getting on in years. When the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, he naturally won't treat Yuan’er poorly. Just as your sister was also first..."
Listening to this, Wei Yuan felt a stir of ambition. Indeed, was her aunt not the one who became Empress step by step?
"Absurd! Do not even think of such a thing!" Wei Qing’s face turned pale.
Wei Yuan was startled; she had never seen her father look this way.
"All of you, stay behind closed doors and reflect on your actions. Someone, escort the Old Madam back." Having given his orders, Wei Qing turned and left without looking back.
He would absolutely not allow Yuan’er to have any further connection with the Crown Prince! He and his wife had already lost Xian’er. Now that his wife was gone, he could not allow any accidents to befall Yuan’er. Otherwise, how could he face his wife in the Nine Springs below!
He decided he would personally visit the Chen family another day to properly discuss Yuan’er’s marriage.
***
