"This subject pays his respects to Your Majesty," Wei Qing greeted with a respectful bow.
"Come, come over here. Help me look at this!" Liu Che beckoned, signaling for him to approach.
Wei Qing walked over and saw a crystal lamp in the Emperor’s hand. He caught a quick glimpse of Liu Che’s expression before taking the lamp to examine it.
Liu Che led him further inside, where Wei Qing noticed five or six more crystal lamps arranged on a table. As they walked, the Emperor spoke. "Lady Li giving birth to a boy and a girl is a great joy. I want to hold a grand banquet for the children's hundredth-day celebration; it will also serve to bring some auspicious energy to the palace. Help me see which of these lamp styles looks best. I want them hung in the children's rooms."
Having fathered another son at nearly fifty, Liu Che was in high spirits and spared no expense with his rewards. These crystal lamps, for instance, were exceptionally precious.
Wei Qing held the lamp and looked closely. Each lamp was carved with a different pattern, and at the center of each was embedded a luminous pearl the size of a lychee. The one in his hand happened to be carved into the shape of a budding lotus.
"This subject finds them all excellent. The 'Crane and Tortoise for Longevity' pattern seems to have the finest craftsmanship, but the 'Golden Carp' is more lively. I am sure both the Princess and the Prince would like them."
"What about this 'Elephant of Universal Peace'?" Liu Che lifted the largest lamp. "Even the name sounds pleasing."
"That is also good. As long as Your Majesty likes it, it is well."
"Hmm? Zhongqing, why do you seem so out of spirits? You’re being quite perfunctory with me!"
"To answer Your Majesty, there have indeed been matters at my manor recently. My young daughter, Yuan’er, is about to have her engagement settled. I have been preoccupied with the arrangements at home." Wei Qing forced a small smile.
"Yuan’er... I remember she was only..." Liu Che thought for a moment but couldn't recall. "She was so small, and yet it is already time for her engagement. You should leave these matters to..." He suddenly remembered that Wei Qing’s wife had passed away. "Sigh, you really should find a new wife soon to take over these household affairs. Do you have anyone in mind? Tell me which family’s lady you fancy, and I shall act as the matchmaker for you." Liu Che spoke with great enthusiasm.
Wei Qing’s expression darkened slightly. "This subject has no such intentions for the time being."
"Sigh, that won't do. What about your daughters-in-law? You should hand these matters over to them. I know you have always doted on your children, but this is going too far!"
Wei Qing remained silent for a moment before saying, "I have only these few children. If I do not oversee things personally, I simply cannot feel at ease."
Moreover, his mother was still secretly planning to match Yuan’er with the Crown Prince. If he didn't keep a personal watch, he truly feared an accident would occur! To make matters worse, his elder sister was being indecisive and muddled about the whole thing.
"...Fine, fine. Just help me choose a lamp!" Liu Che plotted inwardly; he would have the Empress keep an eye out and select a new wife for Wei Qing.
***
Ever since the elders of both families settled the engagement, Wei Yuan had visited the Chen residence several times.
At this moment, Ruan Qing, in her capacity as the eldest sister-in-law, was leading the young misses of the Chen family to keep Wei Yuan company.
As the youngest child in the manor and being fair-skinned and adorable, Ah Jiao was a favorite plaything for the young girls.
"Cousin-in-law, look at Jiao-jiao. Doesn't she look pretty wearing this?" Wei Yuan placed a freshly woven flower garland around Ah Jiao’s neck.
The fine fuzz on the petals and leaves made Ah Jiao itch, causing her to squirm and dodge.
Seeing this, Ruan Qing said, "Oh, it’s truly beautiful. Yuan’er, you have such clever hands; the flowers are arranged so well." She smilingly took the garland off and gently placed it on Wei Yuan’s head. "But I think it looks even better on Yuan’er. Don't you all agree?"
She pulled Wei Yuan to the side and had her spin around slowly. "With Yuan’er’s green dress and that jade hairpin of 'Butterflies Playing with Hibiscus,' this garland makes her look even lovelier than the flowers themselves!"
The other sisters clapped in agreement.
Chunlan quietly stepped up to Ah Jiao and inconspicuously used a handkerchief to wipe the baby's neck. Ah Jiao instantly felt much more comfortable.
Wei Yuan adjusted the garland, her smile modest yet unable to hide her pride.
She had met Chen Zhuo a few times over the past few days. Chen Zhuo was handsome and had a way of speaking that resonated with people. Wei Yuan felt that, aside from the Chen family’s somewhat low status, marrying him wouldn't be a bad choice.
Thinking of this, Wei Yuan let out a sigh.
"What is it, Sister Yuan?" Chen Wan, the sixth miss of the Chen family, asked.
"It’s nothing. It’s just... your family is good, but no one holds any truly important office."
Ruan Qing was stunned by these words, and the other young girls looked at each other in awkward silence. Ah Jiao couldn't help but blow a bubble.
*How can this girl be so blunt? You’re the one about to marry into this family!*
"Oh, I didn't mean to criticize you. Don't worry, now that Father is marrying me into your family, he will surely help the Chens in the future." Wei Yuan assumed the silence was due to their shame and inferiority. Her grandmother had told her that the Chen family was of low status; when she interacted with them, there was no need to wrong herself—she could say whatever she pleased.
*...Who raised this girl?* Ah Jiao couldn't help but complain inwardly. *Does she even know how to speak?*
Ruan Qing laughed softly. "With this marriage between relatives, we will naturally become even closer." She knew such words could not have come from her husband’s late aunt; who would disparage their own maiden family to their child?
However, she had heard from her husband that the Great General’s mother had never liked the late aunt, and this young lady had been raised by the Old Madam of the Wei family!
She was likely not going to be easy to get along with. Ruan Qing sighed inwardly for her own future.
"Wuu, wah! Give your Great-Aunt a smile!" Wei Yuan walked over to tease Ah Jiao again.
Ah Jiao stiffened her face and forced a smile.
"Actually, my grandmother’s intention was for me to marry my Cousin, the Crown Prince! But Father thought Cousin Zhuo was better. So I..."
"Doesn't the Crown Prince already have a Consort?" Ruan Qing was startled. Had something happened in the palace? Although the Chen family held low rank, they paid close attention to capital affairs because of their connection to the Wei family.
Ah Jiao was also shocked. If something had happened to the Crown Prince’s Consort, Chang'an would surely be thrown into turmoil. The fact that Wei Qing was rushing to marry his daughter into their family suggested something major was afoot!
Could it be that the Wei family’s attempt to seize the position of Crown Prince’s Consort had met with an accident, and they had been warned by Liu Che?
"Yes!" Wei Yuan continued. "Grandmother said I could enter the Eastern Palace first, and then later... sigh, well, make plans for the future. Grandmother said the Chen family already sent a girl to the Eastern Palace. Not your branch, but the Chen family that the Grand Princess married into. Do you know of them?"
The moment Ah Jiao heard the words "Grand Princess," she instantly perked up.
"That Chen family... I do know of them. However, we have no way of knowing about a Chen girl entering the Eastern Palace."
Wei Yuan couldn't help but smirk. "Of course you wouldn't know. I heard it from my Aunt herself!"
If the Empress said it, it must be true. Ah Jiao thought to herself, wondering which girl had entered the Eastern Palace. There had been no news outside, so it must have been done secretly. It was a pity her two brothers were so useless; if they had been up to par, why would a daughter of the Chen family be sent away so quietly?
Ah Jiao felt like crying. She remembered her mother bringing several juniors to Longmen Palace to pay their respects to her in the past. Based on age, it might be one of them!
"Then, which girl is it?" Chen Wan asked in a low voice.
"She is the granddaughter of Chen Kan and the daughter of Chen Yin. Actually, I don't know her, but Grandmother said if their family’s girl could enter the palace, then I certainly could too." Wei Yuan sounded both proud and a bit regretful.
"..." Ah Jiao spent a moment pondering who those two were, and suddenly, she didn't feel like crying anymore. Although she had never met Wei Qing’s biological mother, she felt that Wei Qing allowing that old woman to raise his daughter was a massive mistake.
It took her a while to remember who Chen Kan was. He was one of her father’s illegitimate sons—the kind who wasn't even registered under her mother’s name. And who was Chen Yin? He was Chen Kan’s illegitimate son.
The Chen family had only sent the illegitimate granddaughter of an illegitimate son, and that was enough for the Wei family to offer up their only daughter?
Not worth it! Absolutely not worth it!
Ah Jiao suddenly realized that Wei Qing’s talk of an early engagement to avoid national mourning might just be an excuse. In reality, Wei Qing had probably seen through his mother’s schemes and wanted to settle his daughter’s marriage quickly to prevent the Old Madam from interfering!
Although Ah Jiao didn't like the Wei family, she had to admit that with the Wei family’s current power, Wei Yuan’s status was very similar to her own back in the day. Wei Qing had no illegitimate children, and of his two daughters, the eldest, Wei Xian, had died young. Wei Yuan was his only legitimate daughter.
Ah Jiao really wanted to lean into Wei Yuan’s ear and shout: *Wake up! You are Wei Qing’s only daughter; right now, the Crown Prince should be the one begging you to be his Consort!* And yet you’re rushing to be a mere concubine!
If you really became a concubine, your father, the Great General Wei, would lose all face!
Looking at the self-satisfied Wei Yuan, Ah Jiao secretly rolled her eyes.
"Oh! What’s wrong with the young miss? Are her eyes twitching?" Xiazhu cried out in alarm.
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
仲卿 | Zhongqing | Wei Qing's courtesy name.
龙凤胎 | Dragon and Phoenix twins | A twin set consisting of one boy and one girl.
百日宴 | Hundredth-day banquet | A traditional celebration for a baby reaching 100 days of age.
夜明珠 | Luminous pearl | A legendary gemstone that glows in the dark.
鹤寿龟龄 | Crane and Tortoise for Longevity | A traditional motif symbolizing long life.
锦鲤 | Golden Carp | Symbol of luck and perseverance.
喜象升平 | Elephant of Universal Peace | A motif featuring an elephant, symbolizing peace and stability.
东宫 | Eastern Palace | The residence and office of the Crown Prince.
陈瞰 | Chen Kan | A distant, illegitimate relative of the original Chen family.
陈胤 | Chen Yin | Son of Chen Kan.
卫娴 | Wei Xian | Wei Qing's eldest daughter (deceased).
