Back at the Grand General’s Mansion, Wei Qingchen remained rather listless. When she reached the South Courtyard, a maid told her the Old Titled Lady was taking her midday rest. Seeing the hour, her mother was probably resting too. Wei Qingchen retreated to her own courtyard.
After the evening meal, the Grand Princess sent someone to summon the two young attendants who had accompanied the Heir out today and questioned them about where she had gone. The two attendants answered truthfully. When the Grand Princess asked what the Chu family had said to the Heir, the attendants knelt and replied, “We were both waiting in the gatehouse and didn’t know the situation inside the inner quarters. We beg Madam’s forgiveness.”
After the two attendants withdrew, Aunt Qi arrived carrying a food box.
“Your Highness, the Heir only ate half a bowl of rice tonight. These are newly made ‘jade dew balls’ from the small kitchen—the Heir has always loved them. Shall I bring them to him?”
“At this hour, he probably won’t have an appetite. Share them among the maids.”
“Then the Heir…”
“He chose this path himself. Let him shoulder it himself.”
“Yes…”
A few days passed, and the entire household had more or less heard about the Heir hitting a wall at the Chu manor. Everyone steered clear of provoking her. The Third Young Master, Wei Jiewu, was a straightforward fellow who dragged her out of her room every day under the pretext of martial practice. In truth, he turned the back garden into utter chaos, sending chickens flying and dogs fleeing, loathed by all.
In the Grand Princess’s main quarters, no one dared gossip. But Tong Min’er’s courtyard was nearly trampled flat by people coming to complain—three or four waves a day! Infuriated, Tong Min’er felt like twisting her son’s ears every time she saw him.
Eventually, even the Grand General learned of it. He didn’t discipline them at home at all. He simply hauled both troublemakers off to the Northern Pacification Army camp to join the autumn drills!
With the two little demon kings gone, peace instantly returned to the residence. But then the South Courtyard grew unhappy—the Old Titled Lady missed her grandsons daily. The Eldest Young Mistress, Qin Nuannuan, brought her daughter Wei Baoru to pay respects to the Old Titled Lady, which slightly improved her mood. Qin Nuannuan stayed to share meals and play mahjong. By the time the gathering in the South Courtyard ended, Wei Baoru had long fallen asleep in her wet nurse’s arms. The Old Titled Lady laughed and said that elders slept less, forgetting that little ones needed much sleep. Qin Nuannuan smiled gently and remarked that it was only because Baoru felt so secure beside the Old Titled Lady that she could fall so soundly asleep in a moment.
Flattered and delighted, the Old Titled Lady had someone fetch a small string of exquisite jade beads as a gift for her great-granddaughter.
Towards evening, Qin Nuannuan carried her child back to her own courtyard. The room was brightly lit. The Eldest Young Master Wei Chengxian was lounging on a hu bed with one leg propped up. Seeing her enter, he let out a cold snort. “So you finally remember to come back!”
Qin Nuannuan gestured toward the side chamber. The wet nurse nodded and carried the little first daughter out. Qin Nuannuan walked straight to the dressing table, sat down, and began removing her pearl hairpins and ornaments one by one.
Seeing himself utterly ignored, Wei Chengxian jumped up, pointing at her, ready to curse. Qin Nuannuan regarded his reflection in the mirror with a sneer. “You’re just jealous that the Grand General took only Second Brother and Third Brother to the camp and didn’t take you. If you’ve got the guts, go roar at your father. Bullying your wife and child at home—what kind of skill is that?”
Stung by the pointed truth, Wei Chengxian’s face grew even more livid. Qin Nuannuan acted as if she didn’t see it. As she removed her earrings, she said, “Even if your family had no legitimate son, you still wouldn’t be more favored than the third one.”
“Third Brother? What’s Third Brother worth? His hair isn’t even fully grown and he wants to compete with me?! The legitimate son—hah! When I was charging into battle, this so-called legitimate son wasn’t even weaned!”
Hearing his crudeness, Qin Nuannuan frowned. Besides ruthlessness, Wei Chengxian truly had no merits at all. But she was his wife; they were already on the same boat. She had to help him.
“I told you long ago: when they send you to the front lines to charge and fight, it doesn’t necessarily mean they value you. It’s more likely they’re just pawns crossing the river, paving the road for your younger brother.”
“You!!” Wei Chengxian strode to her side, veins bulging on his forehead.
“Oh dear, why shout so loud? You’ll wake Baoru and make her cry again.” Qin Nuannuan pushed him onto the hu bed and softened her tone, stroking the veins on his brow. “Look at you, working yourself up like this. In this house, aside from your own mother and me, who genuinely treats you well? Don’t you know it in your heart?”
Her hands were soft, pressing gently on his forehead, and her voice was soft too, creeping into his ears. Wei Chengxian’s expression relaxed a little. Qin Nuannuan continued, “Since ancient times, the succession has favored the legitimate son first, then the virtuous, then the eldest. Among those three criteria, you only fulfill one—and the least important one at that. Don’t glare at me. Think for yourself and see if I’m wrong.”
Wei Chengxian snorted but didn’t reply.
Qin Nuannuan leaned against him and lowered her voice. “To establish the legitimate, eliminate this legitimate son. To establish the virtuous, become a virtuous eldest son. With the legitimate son gone, you hold the order of seniority and the name of virtue. Even if there’s the third son, his status can’t compare to yours.”
“You think I don’t know to eliminate the legitimate son? Years ago, all that silver spent with the Northern Chen…”
Qin Nuannuan’s head shot up and she locked eyes on him, her gaze like ice.
A chill ran down Wei Chengxian’s spine. His mind caught up and he hastily shut his mouth.
This worthless piece of trash! Qin Nuannuan lowered her eyes and slowly forced down her murderous expression.
Wei Qingchen and Wei Jiewu stayed with the Northern Pacification Army for the entire autumn. By the time “December arrives in the capital, evening snow has already fallen thick,” Wei Huaishu finally released them to return home.
After months away, both children had grown much sturdier. The Old Titled Lady felt both heartache and relief. With her left hand, she held Wei Qingchen’s hand; with her right, she pulled Wei Jiewu into her arms.
Wei Jiewu was two years younger than his second brother, born with a tigerish, sturdy look. Though an illegitimate child, his nature was open and honorable. As the youngest of this generation, the family doted on him a little more. His mother was the Marquis’s Secondary Wife, Lady Tong. Her background wasn’t prestigious—it was said her elders had some barbarian blood—but she was extremely straightforward. As long as others didn’t provoke her, she devoted herself single-mindedly to raising her son and never curried favor or trampled on anyone.
The Northern Pacification Army’s winter training normally lasted through the third nine-day period of the freezing cold. The two brothers’ early return to the mansion was thanks to the Grand Princess.
It turned out that the eighth day of the twelfth month was the Grand Princess’s fortieth birthday. The Grand Princess’s opinion was to take advantage of the Laba Festival and hold a small family feast. After all, with the Old Titled Lady in residence, how could a junior make a show of celebrating her own birthday? The Grand General personally sought the Old Titled Lady’s opinion, and the Old Titled Lady said, “The princess marrying into our family is our family’s good fortune. Naturally, the bigger the fortune, the grander and more auspicious it should be.” As she spoke, she gave her son a meaningful look.
Wei Huaishu understood his mother’s intent. Turning around, he ordered the two Secondary Wives and daughter-in-law Qin Nuannuan to prepare the banquet. Mu Yunxian wanted to object further, but Wei Huaishu waved his hand grandly. “Other occasions might be overlooked, but this is a milestone birthday of yours. The wife of the Marquis of Jingyuan—even if I host a grand celebration, who would dare gossip about it!”
Come the official day, before first light had fully broken, servants bearing gifts from various residences had already formed a long line outside the mansion gates. The gatekeepers had long received instructions to offer fine tea and water, but refused all gifts for the moment, holding everything until later.
It wasn’t until late morning approaching noon, when the Grand Princess and her family of three returned from the palace and the carriage rolled through the inner gate, that the vermilion main gates officially opened. Gifts flowed in like a stream, creating an instant bustle and excitement.
The garden performances and shows began after midday, with acrobatics, juggling, and puppetry alongside. Surrounded by her children and grandchildren, the Old Titled Lady beamed from ear to ear. The Grand Princess was pressed into the seat of honor, choosing opera scenes while listening to Tong Min’er tell jokes to the Old Titled Lady.
In winter, the daylight was short. Countless lanterns had been hung beneath the eaves of the Grand General’s Mansion in preparation for nightfall. Outside, a commotion arose. The steward’s wife scurried in gleefully, announcing that honored guests from the palace had arrived. Upon hearing this, the Grand Princess quickly brought Wei Qingchen out to greet them.
When the several young princes and princesses entered the mansion, all the children of the general’s household had already gathered in the Front Hall. The young cousins exchanged greetings, and the princes and princesses laughingly offered birthday congratulations to their aunt in the informal family manner.
As the lanterns gradually stretched into a river of light, the general’s mansion buzzed with voices. The banquet was divided into inner and outer sections, men outside and women inside, though there was frequent passage through the connecting doors.
Wei Qingchen, now nearly sixteen, carried herself with the youthful vigor of a spirited young lord as she sat with her princely cousins in the outer garden, occasionally coaxed into taking a sip or two of wine. Having spent long periods in the military camp, she wasn’t forbidden from drinking during days off, so her tolerance was decent. The only issue was that drinking would spread a pink flush across her face, like peach blossoms resting on a branch. The Grand Princess had caught her once and warned her. Ever since, she only drank lightly.
Midway through the banquet, Wei Qingchen thought to toast her mother’s birthday in the back garden. The princes present that day, all on good terms with the Grand Princess, clamored to go along. The Grand General, seeing they were all half-grown children, ordered serving women to escort them to the rear courtyard. Two princesses who had also come that day heard about it and went to join them along the way.
Passing through the ceremonial gate, they encountered a line of maids, each carrying a food box. Seeing them approach, the maids all stepped aside and slightly bowed, clearly waiting for the masters and guests to pass first.
Mu Qishao, the Fifth Prince, was close in age to Wei Qingchen and had been the most intimate with her since childhood. Seeing the neat row of servants standing in perfect order under the lantern light, as if rehearsed, he laughed and said, “Uncle Marquis truly runs his household with military discipline. It’s fitting for a general. Even the serving women and maids can line up and retreat in order.”
Wei Qingchen walked with him past a cluster of flowering shrubs, not yet having a chance to reply, when Mu Wenxin, the Sixth Princess, curled her lip. “Indeed. The Grand General’s Mansion is certainly extraordinary. The halls and pavilions are even more imposing than the palace.” As she spoke, she lifted her chin and cast a scornful look at the brilliant lights half a courtyard away.
“Wenxin!” The Third Prince, the most mature and restrained of their group, hurriedly reprimanded his sister.
The Sixth Princess’s words insinuated that the Grand General was arrogant because of his high merits—not the sort of thing to joke about casually.
Wei Qingchen’s smile faded slightly. She replied with careful respect, “Imperial Sister jests. This residence was bestowed by the Late Emperor. Both Father and Mother cherish it deeply. His Majesty and the Empress Dowager occasionally honor us with their presence. And ever since Qingchen has had any understanding of the world, I have never seen any new pavilions built at home. May I ask, regarding Imperial Sister’s words—‘more imposing than the palace’—which part were you referring to?”
Mu Wenxin glanced at her Third Brother, then at this younger male cousin, not much younger than herself. In the end, she stamped her foot and stalked off into the courtyard.
Wei Qingchen truly didn’t know why she had said such a thing and could only be doubly cautious.
The Fifth Prince, Mu Qishao, deliberately lagged behind and tugged her sleeve. Wei Qingchen knew he had something to say but shook her head.
After the birthday celebration was over and guests began departing, Wei Qingchen found an excuse to walk a short stretch alone with Mu Qishao while seeing guests off.
“Are you wondering why Sixth Sister suddenly harbors such hatred for you?” Mu Qishao laughed breezily under the moonlight, not looking as if this involved any particularly thorny difficulty.
The moonlight cast silhouettes before the carriage. Wei Qingchen tilted her head, thought, and still looked puzzled, frowning. “I truly don’t understand. Did I unknowingly offend her somehow?”
“Do you know that half a year ago, Father Emperor wanted to select a Prince Consort for her?” Fifth Brother Mu Qishao stood with his hands clasped behind his back beside the carriage, deliberately leaning his head forward, his eyes lighting up with the fire of gossip.
Wei Qingchen could only shrug. “I’ve heard a little.” Actually, she hadn’t paid the slightest attention.
Mu Qishao burst out laughing and didn’t keep her in suspense. “She took a fancy to the Li family’s third son, Li Shaohua.”
“Ah?”
Seeing her blank, uncomprehending look, Mu Qishao laughed even harder. “The Li family canceled the Chu family’s engagement just to marry a princess. Li Shaohua was dead set against it, but the Li family had already made their word known. Sixth Sister was waiting for the Chu family girl to lose face, and then you went and proposed to her. The Chu family even rejected your Marquis Mansion! Isn’t that a slap in her face? Silly little brother, do you understand now? It was to win yourself a wife that you offended someone.”
I don’t get it