Chapter 56: The Armillary Tower

The day before the Start of Autumn, the court issued an Imperial Pardon. For the Battle of Huazhou, merits were assessed and rewards given. Wei Chengxian was indeed promoted to the Fourth Rank martial title of General of Illustrious Might, and Third Young Master Wei Jiewu received the rank of Principal Sixth Rank Zhaowu Captain.

When court adjourned, fellow officials all offered congratulations to Grand General Wei. Wei Huaishu cupped his hands in modesty, merely saying that defending the country and protecting the people were the duties of young men. When he returned home, he boasted to the Grand Princess about how humble and amiable he had been, always adhering to the duties of a subject.

Jingyuan Marquis, concurrently holding the real power of Grand General, was already a Second Rank official of the current dynasty. To go any higher, he’d have to be ranked among the Three Dukes. How many eyes were watching, staring, and how much trouble was hidden behind honeyed words and hidden daggers. The Grand Princess had no choice but to be on guard, constantly warning her husband to stay vigilant. Back when Qingchen had not yet married, His Majesty already had precautions against the Northern Pacification Army, so even more so now, they could not afford a single misstep.

Wei Huaishu wasn’t ignorant of court affairs, he just couldn’t be bothered to think too much about them. “Defending the country and protecting the people are the duties of young men” – he was speaking the honest truth.

As long as he lived up to His Majesty and to the country and its people, who could fault him?

These words were only spoken in private between husband and wife. At the time, the secondary wife, Lady Tong Min’er, was also in the Grand Princess’s room attending to her. Mu Yunxian then changed the subject, saying the Third Son had been conferred a Sixth Rank today—it was a celebratory matter, and the Marquis should celebrate with Tong Min’er.

As she said this, the tone at the end of her voice lifted slightly, carrying a knowing implication.

Wei Huaishu laughed heartily.

Tong Min’er, though already a woman in her thirties, couldn’t help blushing at the Grand Princess’s teasing, straightforward as her nature was.

She had come specially today to discuss her son’s marriage with the Grand Princess. The Heir Consort’s own sister, to be betrothed to her son, was a bit of a step down in status. But what could she do? Her son liked her, pestering her relentlessly until she had to come try her luck.

Thus that night, Jingyuan Marquis shared a meal with his eldest son and eldest daughter-in-law in Madam Jiang’s quarters, but spent the night in Lady Tong’s rooms.

The moment Wei Huaishu left, Madam Jiang’s face fell. Both had been promoted in rank; her son was Fourth Rank. Why should the Marquis go to that seductress’s rooms!

A young maid brought up tea. The moment it touched her lips, she screamed that the maid was trying to scald her to death, hitting and scolding her. Wei Chengxian just watched from the side, smiling. Wei Baoru was frightened into tears. Qin Nuannuan frowned, excused herself, and carried her daughter back to her own courtyard first.

Madam Jiang’s expression turned even uglier. Once her daughter-in-law had gone out, she sent all the maids away, turned around and scolded her son, saying Qin Nuannuan was utterly useless—couldn’t give him a son, couldn’t even bring any of her family’s money to her husband’s household.

Wei Chengxian sat eating fruit to the side. When his mother finished her tirade, he casually wiped his hands with a cloth and said slowly, “Your son is now a Fourth Rank official. Why are you stooping to argue with the mother of a mere Sixth Rank boy? There’s time yet. Our day will come.”

Hearing this from him, it seemed to make sense. Her anger eased a little. She rolled her eyes and added, “Aren’t you going to add one or two more people to your household?”

Wei Chengxian fiddled with a Jade Thumb Ring in his hand, narrowing his eyes. “I know you want me to give Father a first-born grandson, but now is not the time.”

“Then when will it be time!” Madam Jiang raised her voice again.

“Don’t worry about that. I know what I’m doing.”

“You know what you’re doing? I’m just afraid the situation won’t wait for you. That courtyard is newly wed too. Once a year or so passes and a legitimate grandson is born, what hope will we, mother and son, have in this mansion?”

“If I place someone in my household now, even if a son is born, he would be of common birth. A common-born son—what use is that?” Wei Chengxian lowered his head. Madam Jiang could not see his expression, but his voice gradually grew dark and cruel: “If I want a son, it must be a legitimate one.”

“Your wife hasn’t shown any signs for so many years; where would a legitimate son come from?” Madam Jiang muttered complaints under her breath.

Wei Chengxian curled his lips into a smile, his voice lowering: “If she doesn’t bear one, can’t I swap her out for one who does?”

Taken aback by the cold malice in his tone, goosebumps involuntarily rose on Madam Jiang’s forearm, a chill running through her heart.

He wanted a legitimate son. Was it really just to give his child the status of a legitimate heir? Or was it… for himself to seize the position of the legitimate heir?

After the Start of Autumn, the weather remained stiflingly hot. Rumbles of thunder rolled past, yet not a single drop of rain fell, and everyone knew the Indian Summer had arrived.

Progress on the Detoxification Formula for the corn mold still eluded her. But spending her days puttering around the dispensary and the study, Chu Mingxi unexpectedly devised another formula—a recipe for a Medicinal Tea. She smoothed her brow a little; it was an unintentional gain.

That day, after accompanying the Grand Princess for breakfast at Jade Grain Courtyard, the sun was just right when they returned. Chu Mingxi had the maids set up a large square table in the yard and brought out many medicinal herbs, preparing to mix the new Medicinal Tea according to the formula. However, halfway through moving them, a dark cloud drifted across the sky, startling Qingdai and Yining. They held up the dried herbs, one staring at the sky, one staring at the trees, terrified that the rain would suddenly pour down and turn all the herbs into waste.

That was exactly what Wei Qingchen saw when she came in from outside. Several maids, mouths slightly agape, faces filled with tension as they stared at the heavens, looking just like a nest full of fledglings chirping for food. She burst out laughing at the sight. Chu Mingxi had also seen it. Though not as dramatic, she too couldn’t help the corners of her lips curving upward.

Qingdai and Yining knew they had made fools of themselves, and even Jingyun nearby felt rather embarrassed.

The maids bustled about, packing up. Wei Qingchen, having laughed enough, approached: “Is Madam sun-drying medicinal herbs?”

Chu Mingxi surveyed the table and nodded. “Not quite, but close enough.” Seeing the curiosity all over Wei Qingchen’s face, she explained further: “I’m mixing herbal formulas. There wasn’t enough room inside, so I had them set it up in the yard. Unexpectedly, the heavens didn’t cooperate and scared my maids silly.”

As she spoke, the corner of her lips curved up again. Hearing this, Qingdai and the others looked slightly reproachfully at their mistress—even you, Eldest Young Miss, are teasing us?

Wei Qingchen picked up a piece of herb and examined it, unable to identify what it was. Her ambitions didn’t lie in this, so it mattered little. She simply said to her wife, “I know of a place—spacious, bright, and sheltered from wind and rain. Would the Young Mistress be willing to spare a moment to see it?”

As she said this, she extended her hand to Chu Mingxi.

The maids, as if on cue, lowered their heads again, pretending to see nothing.

Chu Mingxi smiled and placed her slender hand into hers. “Then I must trouble the Heir to lead the way.”

The screen-curtain around the Armillary Tower had already been dismantled. A small clearing was opened in front of the tower. Chu Mingxi was led by the hand by Wei Qingchen up the steps. Along both sides of the staircase grew several Crabapple Trees. Their branches and leaves had been carefully pruned, and the blooming trees were radiantly splendid.

The small tower was exactly as Wei Qingchen had described—almost no furniture arrangements. Only one wall featured a large bookshelf, and a spacious desk was placed before it. The log furnishing emitted delicate waves of fragrance.

Chu Mingxi looked around, her eyes gradually filling with delighted surprise. No lamps were lit in the tower, yet it was as bright as the outdoors. She slowly raised her head and saw that the eaves up above were made of Translucent Tile, crystal-clear like rock sugar, gleaming with a pearlescent luster under the sunlight. It was truly rare and fascinating.

“Do you like it?” Wei Qingchen stood behind her, gently steadying her by the shoulders.

“What is this made of?” She looked up for a long time.

“Windowpane Oyster Shells from the South Sea. They’re ground down into thin sheets and used on the roof—bright and beautiful. It’s well-ventilated here on all sides. In the future, you won’t have to feel stifled in the dispensary.”

She rambled on, not noticing that Chu Mingxi had slowly turned around to stand face to face with her.

“Qingchen.” Chu Mingxi tilted her head up.

When this name came from her mouth, it sounded utterly pleasing. Wei Qingchen’s eyes curved as she answered: “Mm?”

Chu Mingxi’s eyelashes trembled, and she bit her lip.

In the moment she dropped her gaze, Wei Qingchen’s heart suddenly leaped, a sudden flash of inspiration hitting her, and even her breathing grew slightly heavier. She wrapped her arms around Chu Mingxi’s shoulders, and first placed a light kiss on her smooth forehead. After a pause, one hand lifted her glistening chin, and she slowly lowered her head and kissed her lips.

The soft lips were savored and crushed at will. Chu Mingxi’s heart was flustered and chaotic. She probed out a tiny bit of her tongue, trying to resist her advance, but she only took advantage, also probing her tongue out and gently curling around hers.

“Mm…” Chu Mingxi had never been treated like this. Soon she felt dizzy and lightheaded, forced to clutch at Wei Qingchen’s robe to steady herself.

The warm autumn sunlight, filtered through the Translucent Tile of Windowpane Oyster Shells, lit the whole room up brilliantly. The silhouettes of the two figures nestled together, entangled without a trace of space between them.

The long kiss finally ended. Wei Qingchen loosened her tight hold, merely cuddling her loosely. Both their breaths were ragged. Chu Mingxi’s eyes were cast downward, her long lashes glimmering with a hint of moisture, fragile and alluring.

Wei Qingchen couldn’t resist leaning over again, pecking her gently on the lips. Before Chu Mingxi could say “no,” she had already pulled back again.

She could only give her a sideways glare, but with her eyes slightly reddened, this glare lacked its usual cold majesty.

Wei Qingchen giggled and, with aching tenderness, pulled her into her embrace.

She twisted once in her arms. Wei Qingchen didn’t let go, and she allowed herself to be held.

Several more days passed like this. The Indian Summer relented a little. The estates below sent up many fresh things, among them several baskets of crabs and lotus pods. For wealthy households, crabs were nothing to fret over, but these lotus pods were much rarer to see.

So Chu Mingxi reported to her mother-in-law, requesting to invite her younger sister over to enjoy the autumn scenery and eat lotus pods.

The Grand Princess naturally agreed, adding that the mansion hadn’t had a good gathering for a long time. Why not let her play host and hold a banquet?

The invitation Chu Mingyu received was delivered by Yining. She and Yining had grown up together, after all. Moreover, Yining, having received instructions from the Eldest Young Miss, told the Second Young Miss the real purpose of this banquet before she went to the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion for the feast.

Chu Mingyu had never expected that the Grand Princess would hold a banquet for her sake. While flattered, she also laughed heartily.

“In two days, I’ll come to escort the Second Young Miss. You must give us the honor of attending the appointment.” Yining curtsied.

“Alright. Now that Sister has been married so long, I haven’t even been to visit her. I’ll definitely come.” Chu Mingyu patted her hand. “Come fetch me early.”

Qi Xiaolong had originally worried she might be shy, or fret over the Third Young Master of the Marquis Mansion’s status. But now, looking at her, her worries had been for nothing. Her youngest daughter hadn’t grown that shy bone at all!

On the day of the banquet, the autumn air was crisp and clear. All the women of the household were present. The banquet was set in the garden, where clumps of autumn chrysanthemums swayed in bloom, a scene bustling with elegant company.

Chu Mingxi took Chu Mingyu to pay respects to the elders. Tong Min’er was also attending to the Old Titled Lady. Seeing this lively, adorable Second Young Miss, her heart was already partly won.

When it was time for the banquet, the men arrived too. The three brothers greeted the Old Titled Lady together. The Old Titled Lady was very pleased and, smiling, asked where they had come from, whether their studies were pressing, and if they had to roll call at the government office.

Chu Mingxi and her sister shared a table. She rolled back her wide sleeve and poured her sister half a cup of Fruit Syrup, saying softly, “That young man in the blue robe beside your brother-in-law is the Third Young Master of the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion. Take a look. Do you find him to your liking?”