Ancestral Hall

A crescent moon hung in the sky, casting a cold, white light. Looking up, Xichun saw it and it resembled the large sword in Wei Kang's hand in her dream. She stopped looking at the moon and hurried towards the ancestral hall. Turning left and right, passing through the azalea bushes beside the large garden, Xichun entered the ancestral hall.

Pushing open the door of the ancestral hall, all that met the eye was darkness. Xichun found a tinderbox on the offering table, lit a candle on the candlestick, blew out her own lantern, and knelt before Wei Kang's memorial tablet.

She clasped her hands together and repeatedly swore devoutly to Wei Kang's memorial tablet. She prayed that Wei Kang would protect her from being beheaded, that she would be a chaste and virtuous woman like those in the story, and that she would remain chaste for him.

Inside the Cedar Hall, it was pitch black; everyone was fast asleep, except for the light still on in Wei Qiao's study. He wrote a letter on a slip of paper, got up, and whistled by the window. A gray pigeon soon flew to his window. Wei Qiao rolled the letter into a small roll and tucked it into the iron ring on the pigeon's leg. With a flick of his wrist, the pigeon flew into the northwest sky.

Wei Qiao turned around to tidy up the writing implements on his desk. Seeing the carved Duan inkstone on it, he thought of Wei Kang. Wei Kang had also given him a carved Duan inkstone; that was in the thirteenth year of the Chengtai era, when Wei Qiao was only six years old, shortly after he became Wei Qiao. Because Wei Kang had come to Xue Song Hall to play with Wei Qiao and accidentally broke a Guanyin statue left by Wei Qiao's mother, Zhang Yunyi, Wei Qiao slapped him. Wei Changsong, seeing the red mark on Wei Kang's face, without any explanation, ordered Wei Qiao to kneel in the ancestral hall for three days and three nights as punishment. Ling Shuang, who was watching over Wei Qiao, was not there; she was Zhang Yunyi's dowry maid, and had returned home for her mother's funeral. Young Wei Qiao lost consciousness the following night. When he awoke, he was reborn as Yan Ren, the only son of the former Crown Prince Yan Zhongshen, after being poisoned. Yan Ren died at the age of thirteen, and young Wei Qiao died at the age of six. Yan Ren thus survived in the world by using Xiao Weiqiao's body.

Wei Kang learned from the maid that Wei Qiao had been punished by kneeling and had a persistent high fever because of him. Feeling extremely guilty, he soon took his favorite inkstone to Xue Song Tang to apologize to Wei Qiao. Seeing that Wei Qiao had no intention of accepting it, Wei Kang placed the inkstone on Wei Qiao's desk and then ran out of Xue Song Tang in a flash.

Wei Qiao hated everyone in the Wei family, especially Wei Changsong.

Wei Changsong was originally a county magistrate in a remote area. His father, the late Crown Prince Yan Zhongshen, promoted him from the countryside to the capital after seeing his diligence. However, Wei Changsong was not content with being a minor official in the Ministry of Works in the capital and secretly sought opportunities for promotion.

In the twelfth year of the Chengtai reign, a scandal of cheating erupted during the autumn imperial examinations. Crown Prince Yan Zhongshen petitioned for a re-examination on behalf of the scholars, and the court officials echoed his sentiments. The emperor, however, accused him of forming a clique and imprisoned him and the crown prince was deposed. In the thirteenth year of the Chengtai reign, the Zhinan River, overseen by Prince An Yan Zhongyou and Crown Prince Yan Zhongshen, collapsed, killing and injuring tens of thousands of people. Wei Changsong, sensing an opportunity, secretly contacted Yan Zhongyou. After receiving assurances from Yan Zhongyou, Wei Changsong shifted the blame for Yan Zhongyou's corruption onto Yan Zhongshen. He was a member of Yan Zhongshen's faction, a fact known throughout the court and the public. The emperor was furious and exiled the deposed crown prince to Lichang. Yan Zhongshen died en route to exile, while Yan Ren was killed shortly after arriving in Lichang by a nanny bribed by Yan Zhongyou, who fed him a bowl of lychee honey.

Wei Changsong was promoted as he wished and became the Vice Minister of Rites. Two years later, Emperor Gaozu passed away and passed the throne to Yan Zhongyou, causing the deaths of tens of thousands of people. Yan Zhongyou, who was corrupt by nature, thus became the supreme ruler of the land and the father of the people of the Great Zhou.

After tidying up his things and closing the study door, it was nearly midnight. Wei Qiao had originally planned to go back to sleep, but upon looking up at the crescent moon, he turned around, picked up a lantern, and headed back to the ancestral hall. He hadn't properly paid his respects to Wei Kang yet, so he would offer his prayers tonight. Wei Kang was Wei Changsong's beloved son, and naturally, also someone he disliked. Yet, he had to admit that Wei Kang was an anomaly in the Wei family. Wei Kang had been taught by Wei Changsong and his wife to be a virtuous gentleman, and he himself took that as his life's motto. Even towards his younger brother, who never gave Wei Kang a kind look, he often showed his care, sending a plate of pastries, two calligraphy brushes, or a few rare books hard to find on the market.

In his past life, he was an only child and never experienced the love between brothers. In this life, Wei Qiao harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Wei family and never reciprocated Wei Kang's affection. Upon hearing the news of Wei Kang's death, he felt an indescribable heartache. If Wei Kang hadn't been Wei Changsong's son, perhaps they could have been friends, brothers.

Lost in thought, I walked around the azalea bushes to the open space in front of the ancestral hall. In the distance, I could see a dim light inside the hall, and a woman kneeling devoutly on a prayer mat.

Wei Qiao approached quietly and stood at the entrance of the ancestral hall. He then realized that the woman inside was Xi Chun. She was still wearing the same light blue long coat she had worn when she worshipped Wei Kang. Her hair was not combed, but tied up with a blue ribbon, and her long, jet-black hair lay smoothly against her back. In the dim candlelight, Wei Qiao thought he could vaguely see her slender waist.

Xi Chun felt her legs were going numb from kneeling, so she shifted her body slightly. Wei Qiao, who was outside the ancestral hall, thought Xi Chun was about to get up, so he quickly stepped aside and hid by the door. After waiting for a while, Xi Chun did not appear, but her clear voice came from inside the ancestral hall.

"My husband, I wish you a speedy ascension to paradise. If you are reborn, I hope you will be born into a good family. I hope you will live a peaceful and long life in your next life, and have a happy life. I also hope that you will bless Xichun with peace, long life, and a happy life as well."

Hearing Xichun's wish, Wei Qiao chuckled softly. What a fool. Xichun, too far away, didn't hear a sound. After a while, Xichun still showed no sign of leaving, kneeling quietly in the ancestral hall like a silent tree. Wei Qiao put down his lantern, bowed towards Wei Kang's memorial tablet from afar, and turned to leave the ancestral hall.

Xi Chun stayed in the ancestral hall until the end of the 1-3 AM period before leaving. Strangely enough, she slept soundly afterward and remained dreamless for the next few days. Xi Chun believed that Wei Kang must have heard her wish and was protecting her from the unseen world.

The weather was cool that day. After her afternoon nap, Xichun played with Mozhi for a while before taking a walk in the small garden. There weren't many flowers in bloom, but the crabapple trees were laden with bright red fruit. Xichun secretly picked one, but it was so sour it made her teeth ache; no wonder the birds passing by wouldn't peck at it. She looked at the ladybugs crawling on the grass and the sparrows flying around, and walked to the four-cornered pavilion between the Moon-Loving Pond and the small garden.

There were hardly any people in the garden at the moment. Xichun sat on the balustrade of the four-cornered pavilion, watching two magpies perched on the branches of a nearby pomegranate tree, pecking at the ripe, open pomegranates. Another magpie perched on a nearby branch, vigilantly observing its surroundings, seemingly keeping watch for its companion. The magpies' blue-green feathers contrasted sharply with the bright red pomegranates on the tree, which Xichun found quite charming.

The magpie on lookout chirped, and the other two magpies stopped eating at the sound. The three magpies shook their heads and observed the surroundings. Before long, they flapped their wings and flew away from the pomegranate tree to a pear tree in the distance.

Xi Chun also heard footsteps, which must have come from the West Corner Gate. She looked towards the West Corner Gate and saw Wei Qiao, dressed in a bright red official robe and wearing a black gauze hat. He had just entered through the West Corner Gate and was probably heading back to Xue Song Tang. Wei Qiao seemed lost in thought and didn't look in her direction. Xi Chun hadn't encountered Wei Qiao since their brief exchange at Ai Yue Pond after the last memorial service for Wei Chen. Back then, Xi Chun felt her initial thanks to Wei Qiao had been too hasty; she should have properly and formally expressed her gratitude to him in person.

Thinking of this, Xichun called out to Wei Qiao.

"Uncle, it's been a long time!"

Wei Qiao was thinking about what the emperor had told him about his intention to marry his only daughter, Princess Shuangyue, to the current top scholar, who was a student of Grand Tutor Ming. It seemed that there would be new changes in the court. He was lost in thought when he suddenly heard a clear female voice. He looked up and saw Xichun standing in the four-cornered pavilion, waving happily at him.

Wei Qiao was puzzled by her excited expression. Was seeing him really that exciting?

Seeing Wei Qiao stop and look at her, Xi Chun quickly ran out of the pavilion and walked up to Wei Qiao, stopping in front of him.

Xi Chun wore a pale yellow stand-up collar long coat, with a light white vest over it, and a light purple silk sash tied around her waist to accentuate her slender figure.

"What can I do for you, sister-in-law?" Wei Qiao asked with his usual smile.

Xi Chun curtsied to him and said with a smile, "Last time at Aiyue Pond was too rushed, and I haven't had a chance to properly thank you. Uncle, I am really grateful to you. If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't have been able to get to the capital."

"This matter happened a long time ago, sister-in-law, you don't need to keep it in mind. We don't need to mention it again." Wei Qiao's tone turned cold when he saw Xi Chun bring up the matter of the one tael of silver again. He hadn't slept well last night while on night duty in the palace and was feeling tired. He looked up at the sky to clear his head.

"But……"

Seeing that Xichun had no intention of letting the matter pass, Wei Qiao sighed and noticed the pomegranate tree behind Xichun.

“If you feel indebted to me, sister-in-law, please pick a pomegranate for me,” Wei Qiao said, pointing to the pomegranate tree behind her.

Xichun looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a big, round red pomegranate hanging high on a branch. She nodded happily, "Then wait for me, Uncle, I'll pick it now."

Before Wei Qiao could react, Xi Chun rolled up her sleeves and began climbing up the rough branches of the pomegranate tree. Before long, she had reached the highest branch of the tree.

The pomegranate Wei Qiao had chosen was at the treetop. Xi Chun stood with one foot on each branch, gripping a nearby twig for support, while repeatedly trying to pull the branch with the pomegranate closer. Unfortunately, it was too far, and she couldn't quite reach it. Xi Chun struggled to move her feet, getting them closer to the branch. Her eyes were only on that fiery red pomegranate. Once, twice, three times… On her seventh attempt, Xi Chun finally plucked the pomegranate.

Xi Chun proudly showed off the pomegranate to Wei Qiao under the tree, holding it in her hand. "Uncle, I picked a pomegranate!"

Seeing Xichun's smug expression, Wei Qiao couldn't help but chuckle. He hadn't intended for Xichun to climb the tree to pick the pomegranate, nor had he imagined a girl would climb a tree in front of him. Seeing Xichun working so hard to pick that pomegranate for him, his heart was touched for a moment.

Seeing the smile on Wei Qiao's face, Xi Chun was even happier. She carefully wrapped the pomegranate in her vest before turning around and climbing down the tree.

Xi Chun flew to Wei Qiao's side like a happy butterfly, took out a carefully guarded pomegranate from her vest and handed it to Wei Qiao, "Uncle, here's a pomegranate for you."

Wei Qiao was dazzled by Xi Chun's bright smile and hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take the pomegranate from her hand. The pomegranate was warm to the touch, still carrying Xi Chun's body heat.

Wei Qiao gripped the pomegranate tightly, his face returning to its indifferent expression. "Sister-in-law, I've received the pomegranate. You don't need to bring up that little bit of silver on the boat anymore. I don't have the habit of making people owe me favors. If I'm helping you, it's just a small favor. I have other things to do, so I'll take my leave now."

Hearing Wei Qiao's suddenly cold words, Xi Chun's smile froze. She suddenly realized that her thanks might also be a nuisance to Wei Qiao, and she felt very guilty. "Uncle, I understand. I won't mention it again. You have things to do, so you can go now. I'm going back to Qingwu Garden too."

Wei Qiao noticed the disappointment on Xi Chun's face, nodded to her, and turned back to Xue Song Tang.