Chapter 62: The Ru Ware Vase

“Crash!” In the courtyard belonging to the Marquis Mansion’s Eldest Young Master, Wei Chengxian smashed another teacup. A young maid knelt on the floor, trembling with fear, tears welling in her eyes, the hem of her skirt already soaked through from the hot tea.

“Stupid fool!” Wei Chengxian kicked her, sending the young maid tumbling to the side, not even daring to cry out loud.

Qin Nuannuan had already sent the wet nurse to carry Little Sister Bao out of the room. Wei Chengxian, his face stormy, was making pointed insults, but she acted as if she heard nothing. Yet as she lifted her step to go toward the inner chamber, Wei Chengxian suddenly seized her arm with force, pushing her against the doorframe.

“Let go!” Qin Nuannuan frowned and shouted coldly. His hand was like an iron claw, clamping down on her with a pain that reached deep into the bone.

Wei Chengxian stared at her, his gaze gradually turning vicious. “What’s the meaning of this? Are you deaf to what I’m saying?”

“What is there to say? It’s always the same drivel.” Qin Nuannuan endured the pain and sneered, “You can’t compete with others out there, so you come home to beat and scold. What meaning is there in that?”

“I can’t compete?” Wei Chengxian ground his teeth. “Aside from being born from a princess’s belly, in what way does he surpass me!”

“You were both at the Elegant Orchid Hunting Grounds that day. What he encountered, you certainly encountered too. Did you seize your opportunity?” The pain in her arm was severe, but Qin Nuannuan stubbornly raised her head to meet his glare, her sarcasm merciless. “He had the courage to risk his life to save a prince. Could you? If the one who went to save the Fifth Prince had been you, would those above have failed to notice? Since you couldn’t do it, don’t blame Heaven for not giving you that chance!”

“…” Wei Chengxian’s expression grew darker. He panted heavily, unable to retort with a single word.

Qin Nuannuan raised her free hand and pressed it against his wrist. Slowly, finger by finger, she pried his iron grip, which had been clamped tightly around her other arm, loose. Then, without sparing him another glance, she walked into the inner chamber.

Veins bulged on Wei Chengxian’s forehead. In a low, menacing voice, he called out, “If only you knew how to be considerate to your man, take out some silver, the matter at Northern Chen…”

“Slap!” Before he could finish his sentence, Qin Nuannuan had already spun around and swung her palm hard across his face.

Stunned by the slap, the vicious gleam in Wei Chengxian’s eyes suddenly blazed. He lunged forward, one hand choking her neck, snarling through gritted teeth, “Shrew! You dare hit me!”

Under his chokehold, Qin Nuannuan’s face rapidly turned crimson. Only her eyes, utterly fearless, glared at him fixedly.

He tightened his fingers gradually, watching her flushed face slowly drain of color, turning pale. In a desperate, instinctive act, Qin Nuannuan grabbed his wrist and kicked out at him.

The kick landed on his shin. It was hardly painful or irritating at all. But Wei Chengxian jolted back to his senses. His lips pressed into a thin line, and slowly, he released his grip.

With ragged breaths, Qin Nuannuan barely managed to draw breath again. Clutching her neck, she gasped several times, having just escaped death’s door. Then, supporting herself against the doorframe, her voice hoarse, she enunciated clearly, word by word: “I’ve said before, if you want to contend for the position of Heir Apparent—to contend, to seize, to kill—go ahead, as long as you rely on your own ability. But if you intended to collude with the enemy and betray the country… I advise you, don’t even think about it. If you want to court death, go do it yourself! Don’t implicate me and Bao Ru. That sum of silver back then… I gave it to you, and that was that. But had I known you were taking it to…” She bit her lip, her voice lowering even further. “…had I known you were giving it to the Northern Chen Kingdom, I absolutely wouldn’t have given you a single copper!”

With that, she no longer looked at him. Staggering, she disappeared into the sleeping quarters.

Behind her, unseen, Wei Chengxian watched her retreating figure. The vicious cruelty in his eyes gradually subsided and died down, transforming into a murderous intent.

The next day, indeed, many gifts were delivered from the palace as rewards. A different Edict-bearing Eunuch stood in the main hall of the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion and announced in his shrill voice: His Majesty bestows upon the Heir Wei one Imperial Steed, one set of jeweled saddle and bridle, one golden bow, two quivers of golden arrows, and additionally, a pair of Ru Kiln Treasure Vases.

In the main hall, a dark mass of people kowtowed again in gratitude for the imperial grace. After they had risen, the Edict-bearing Eunuch, just like Eunuch Qiu the day before, offered his congratulations to the Wei family.

“Congratulations, Heir, on your official promotion and elevation in rank. His Majesty’s verbal decree: The Heir Wei is to rest and recover from his injuries at home for the next few days. There is no need to attend the roll call at the palace.” As he said this, he flashed a sly, roguish grin at the Heir Wei. “Only, that pair of treasure vases won’t be delivered until tomorrow. Heir must take good care of them, don’t disappoint His Majesty’s beautiful intentions.”

Wei Qingchen listened, a little baffled. Not having time to ponder deeply, she nodded in response, “Yes. I will certainly treasure them and care for them well.”

“Hahahaha.” The Edict-bearing Eunuch, as if triggered by some inside joke, couldn’t stop laughing.

Grand General Wei still pressed him to stay for tea in the side hall. But the Edict-bearing Eunuch, still laughing, shook his head and said he must return to the palace to report. The Grand Princess beckoned a servant over and similarly had an upper-class gratuity pouch delivered.

After the Edict-bearing Eunuch had left, leading the young palace attendants who had delivered the gifts, the entire household of the Wei Mansion looked at each other, completely baffled as to what he found so amusing. But the rewards from the palace were real, tangible and visible—even the Imperial Steed had been brought over. Wei Qingchen, in high spirits, took her wife to see the horse first.

Chu Mingxi had ridden in carriages many times, but never ridden a horse. Seeing Wei Qingchen walk over to the stable, her eyes practically glowing, she thought she looked rather adorably unguarded.

The Imperial Steed was very tall, with a sleek, glossy coat, clearly very well cared for. Chu Mingxi stood watching for a good while before gathering the courage to step a few paces closer. She then saw Wei Qingchen reach up and slowly stroke along the horse’s mane while speaking to it, “Let me give you a name. Let’s call you Soaring Cloud, how about that? I used to have a horse named Soaring Mist. It was a very good horse. You are also a very good horse. Soaring Cloud, from now on, we are companions!”

As she said these words, her back was to Chu Mingxi, but her voice was low, as if suppressing some emotion.

Chu Mingxi halted her steps and didn’t come any closer. Yet Wei Qingchen’s voice lifted again, calling out to the Imperial Steed, “Companion, let’s go for a run, shall we!”

The Imperial Steed blinked its brass-bell-like eyes but said nothing.

Wei Qingchen patted its neck, didn’t bother with a saddle, grabbed its mane, and mounted. Nodding once to Chu Mingxi from horseback, she squeezed her heels gently against the horse’s flanks. The Imperial Steed stretched out its hooves and trotted away with a clip-clop sound.

Although the Grand General’s mansion had its own horse track, naturally, it couldn’t be too expansive. Wei Qingchen galloped one round and returned, barely having broken a sweat. She stretched out a hand toward Chu Mingxi. “Come.”

Chu Mingxi smiled and shook her head, even taking a small step back.

Wei Qingchen jumped down from the horse and coaxed her, “Let me take you for a ride. It’s really fun.”

“I don’t want to.” Chu Mingxi pushed her hand away. “It’s… too high.”

Wei Qingchen was briefly startled, then chuckled to herself. Turning around, she fetched a saddle from the nearby storage room.

Then, taking Chu Mingxi’s hand, she led her to the mounting block. Chu Mingxi was still hesitating when Wei Qingchen had already scooped her up, one arm supporting her back and the other hooked under her knees, carrying her sideways.

“Wei Qingchen!” Chu Mingxi shrieked, clutching at her hand. Before the yelp faded, she was already on the horse’s back.

“Don’t be afraid.” Wei Qingchen mounted immediately, settling behind her to shield her. She nudged the horse gently with her heel, and the clever Imperial Steed broke into a slow, clip-clop walk down the small path.

Passing through a short, tree-lined lane, they reached the Wei family’s horse track. Wei Qingchen wrapped her arms around Chu Mingxi and whispered in her ear, “Don’t be afraid. I’m right here.”

Though the Imperial Steed was tall, it understood human nature. Once inside the track, without its master’s command, it didn’t run but walked obediently.

Sunlight spilled down from behind them, a warm expanse of golden yellow. In Wei Qingchen’s arms, Chu Mingxi turned her head back to look at her, and saw the gentle smile Wei Qingchen offered her in return.

The night passed, and the next day, after returning from the Training Hall, Wei Qingchen went back to the stables. She still had some minor scratches and small wounds, but nothing troublesome.

Soaring Cloud had grown a bit more familiar with her by now, and allowed her to feed it some hay.

Wei Qingchen led it out onto the track and galloped a couple of laps. Afterward, she patted the horse’s back, negotiating, “Another day, I’ll take you out of the city for a stroll. You can’t really stretch your legs here. Okay?”

“Heir! Heir!!!” A young page boy rushed over in a panic. Just as he reached her, he suddenly tripped but didn’t even cry out in pain. He scrambled up immediately and shouted, “Heir, the palace’s gift of the treasure vase is here, go take a look, quick!”

Wei Qingchen jumped down from her horse and looked at him. “Delivered is delivered, why are you in such a rush?”

“No… sigh. It’s the people who delivered the treasure vase! Her Highness the Grand Princess has ordered you to come at once!” The page boy was nearly stamping his foot in anxiety.

Wei Qingchen tossed him the reins, casually pulling a small piece of broken silver from the pouch at her waist. “Take the horse back to the stables. And take the silver, have a look at that foot of yours. Don’t let it really get sprained.”

The page boy accepted it with profuse thanks. Wei Qingchen dusted off her robes and headed for the front hall.

She hadn’t even entered the main hall when she could hear the bustling voices coming from within. An unfamiliar, charmingly coy voice was chattering away about health and well-being, and the Old Titled Lady was responding cheerfully, repeating “good, good” over and over. Wei Qingchen stood outside the door, tilting her head in thought for a moment but couldn’t make sense of it.

“Heir, why are you standing there?” A maid who regularly served the Old Titled Lady came over carrying a small box. Seeing Wei Qingchen, she suddenly pressed her lips together in a smile. “Come inside quickly, everyone is waiting for you.”

Wei Qingchen had no choice but to lift her foot and enter. Sure enough, the room was packed, and even Chu Mingxi had arrived.

Hm? Why did her wife’s face look so strange? Wei Qingchen silently asked with her eyes: What’s going on?

Chu Mingxi’s expression was slightly cold. She was doing her best to remain impassive, but seeing Wei Qingchen, she simply turned her head away.

Wei Qingchen blinked and looked at her mother next. The Grand Princess’s face was unreadable, but Wei Qingchen could still tell—her mother had a “headache” kind of look.

Only the Old Titled Lady, warmly and affectionately, called out, “Qingchen, come over here quickly, quickly. The treasure vase His Majesty bestowed upon you has arrived. It is truly beautiful.”

Wei Qingchen walked forward, paid her respects to the Old Titled Lady, and only then raised her eyes to look.

Below the dais stood two young women, just in the bloom of youth, around sixteen years of age. One was serene and composed, the other gorgeous and radiant. Both of them were holding a Ru Ware Vase. Seeing the Heir Wei looking their way, they curtsied in unison. “May the Heir enjoy good fortune, peace, and blessings.”

The Old Titled Lady smiled until her eyes narrowed. Pointing at the two of them, she declared, “These were bestowed upon you by His Majesty! From now on, they will serve in your chambers! Ah, you truly are blessed with fortune!”

Wei Qingchen was so shocked she froze. It took a long moment before she managed, very slowly, to turn just a fraction toward her mother. She suppressed the panic on her face, but her eyes clearly screamed: What is this?? What am I supposed to do now??!!!