Chapter 4 The younger brother plans to take her as a concubine
He was just helping the girl out of a tight spot.
But now, hearing her voice, thinking of the lilies in her arms, everything...
His breathing quickened, and a name was about to slip out.
"My surname is Xue, and I am from Yangzhou," Xue Lanyi said first, revealing her identity.
She didn't actually know where she came from, nor did she remember her own name.
The name Xue Lanyi was given to her by her mother, who worked at the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution), and she insisted on keeping only the character "Yi".
Later, when Wei Zhang rescued her and brought her back to the capital, she lost her speech due to excessive fright, so she simply learned to speak the soft Wu dialect.
The different accent helped her conceal her identity as a slave.
Fearing that others would realize she was a criminal who had escaped from the brothel, she changed her tone and altered all her usual habits.
Suddenly being questioned by Wei Xuan, she felt uneasy and stepped back slightly, cautiously observing Wei Xuan's expression.
Wei Xuan's lips slowly relaxed, and a hint of loneliness seemed to flash across his face as he stood there for a long time.
A gust of wind swept by, carrying scattered raindrops that landed on his brow, wetting his white veil.
He was startled by the cold, his brows furrowed even more, then relaxed, and he smiled self-deprecatingly.
"It's raining, let's go." He opened an oil-paper umbrella.
The white umbrella emitted a soft glow, and his face returned to its previous still and expressionless state.
Xue Lanyi nodded and kept a distance from him on his right rear side, following him at a moderate distance.
Thus, the two of them made it to the backyard without any trouble.
Seeing that he had no intention of harming her, Xue Lanyi breathed a sigh of relief and said to his shoulder, "Thank you, young master."
She knew that Wei Xuan had countless ways to enter the manor, and he asked her to lead the way because he was afraid that she would encounter trouble on the way.
In addition, his words of help earlier saved her from being taken to the authorities.
She was naturally grateful, and glancing at him, she noticed the edge of his mourning clothes peeking out from under the collar of his greyish-blue cloak.
She added, "Thank you very much, Princess Zhaoyang."
She thought he shouldn't mind.
Wei Xuan's brows relaxed slightly, and his unseen eyes were now filled with smiles. "No need to be polite. She was forced to have her ears pierced when she was a child. The pus drained for three days, and she cried until her eyes were red. She said that she would definitely give up the habit of piercing her ears in the future and never let others suffer this pain again."
Such a long time ago, such a small ear piercing, even if pus was draining from it, it would be difficult for others to notice.
He remembers it so clearly.
Xue Lanyi subconsciously touched her empty earlobe, a slight ripple stirring in her heart.
"Ah Zhang has a cold personality, please bear with him." A warm, gentle voice came from beside me, flowing slowly and smoothing the wrinkles in my heart.
Xue Lanyi was extremely surprised.
So, if you're willing, you can sense the emotions of those around you even without looking at them?
"How did the eldest son know about my relationship with the heir..."
"Are the lilies in the young lady's hand a gift for Ah Zhang?"
Wei Xuan suddenly remembered that his younger brother also loved lilies.
When they were young, his younger brother loved to stick close to him and imitate him, saying with great conviction, "Whatever my brother likes, I like too. No matter what, we brothers will always be of one mind! The two heroes of Wei! Sweep away the Xiongnu!"
So it's quite obvious that the girl and the flowers in her arms were there for her younger brother.
“Ah Zhang was very lively when he was young, but he is becoming less talkative as he grows up, though he has a good heart.”
“I know.” Xue Lanyi had never doubted this.
If he were heartless, why would he have risked his life to save her back then?
Xue Lanyi will never forget that it was also such a season of drizzling spring rain.
The young man rode a horse and carried her away from the military camp, traversing a hundred miles of battlefield.
He was already staggering from the rubble, his bloodied face slumped on her shoulder, and he said intermittently in her ear, "Yiyi, don't be afraid, we're going home."
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he spoke, but Xue Lanyi was not afraid at all.
Even after walking for two days through the desert sands without water or food, until she fainted, she felt a sense of peace she had never known before.
When she woke up again, she was lying by a lake where bones lay scattered everywhere.
Wei Zhang was squatting beside her, squinting as he caressed the jade pendant.
Fortunately, they are all still alive.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Xue Lanyi suddenly threw herself into his arms.
She rarely cried, but at that moment her tears flowed uncontrollably.
Tears streamed down Wei Zhang's neck, soaking his clothes.
"Don't leave me, please never leave me again..." she sobbed intermittently, burying her face in his neck.
He had risked his life to protect her and given her a safe haven; he was naturally an excellent person.
Xue Lanyi thought for a moment and then said, "He is the best in my heart."
The drizzle tapped on the oil-paper umbrella, and the misty fog created a dreamlike atmosphere between her and Wei Xuan.
They were talking, yet they couldn't see each other clearly.
The two spoke of their deepest love and walked side by side toward the observatory.
From the high pavilion, looking down, the smiling faces of the two strolling side by side were gradually obscured by the edge of the umbrella, until only a concentric circle remained, moving slowly.
Wei Zhang stood leaning against the railing.
A drop of water fell from the eaves and flowed into Wei Zhang's neck.
He scooped up water droplets and rubbed them between his fingertips, slowly and deliberately.
Until the water droplets completely disappeared from the fingertips.
"Order...the Military Command, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Northern Camp to stand by and prepare to close the net tomorrow to wipe out the remnants of the previous dynasty."
The attendant behind him felt his legs go weak and subconsciously glanced at the man and woman below the pavilion.
Then, recalling a few casual words, he arbitrarily transferred the Censorate, the Imperial Guard, and the Ministry of War.
The attendant was filled with trepidation. "May I ask, sir, what if His Majesty questions us..."
"No problem, go and do it."
His gaze slowly left the couple, he took a half step back, and turned to go in another direction.
At that time, Wei Xuan and Xue Lanyi had also reached a crossroads.
“If you turn left, you’ll find A-Zhang’s Tingyun Pavilion.” Wei Xuan handed her the umbrella.
Since the eldest son had difficulty walking, Xue Lanyi had no reason to let him get wet in the rain, and quickly waved her hand.
Just as he was about to refuse, he saw a familiar figure pass by over Wei Xuan's shoulder.
"Your Highness!" Xue Lanyi's eyes lit up.
Seeing that Wei Zhang was not holding an umbrella, she didn't think much of it and took the umbrella, lifting her skirt and running towards him.
Wei Zhang never liked to use an umbrella; his fox fur cloak was covered with glistening water droplets, and his hair was slightly damp.
Xue Lanyi created a safe haven for him.
"Your Highness has a chronic illness; you must not catch a cold."
As she spoke, she put down the flowerpot and took a handkerchief to wipe the water droplets from his shoulder.
"No need!" Wei Zhang adjusted his cloak, the fox fur brushing against Xue Lanyi's fingertips.
She didn't touch him.
Wei Zhang's voice seemed even more distant than yesterday.
He didn't even glance at her, and went straight to Wei Xuan.
Wei Xuan, left standing in the rain, coughed heavily a few times.
His posture was not as upright as before; his back was hunched, and the white cane he was using to prop himself up in the mud trembled slightly, as if he was having difficulty supporting himself.
Xue Lanyi realized her rudeness and quickly walked towards Wei Xuan.
When she reached the two men, she hesitated for a moment, then silently tilted the umbrella towards Wei Zhang.
Rainwater slid down Wei Zhang's left side, leaving him completely dry, while Xue Lanyi's right shoulder was already covered in water droplets.
She awkwardly curtsied to Wei Xuan.
Wei Xuan didn't pay any attention and groped around to pat Wei Zhang's shoulder. "Ah Zhang, how have you been in three years? Did you like the birthday gift I sent back the other day?"
"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, brother."
Wei Zhang took a half step back, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and spoke politely, but avoided touching his shoulder.
To hold the umbrella for him, Xue Lanyi took two steps back.
Wei Zhang was eight feet tall, and Xue Lanyi was really struggling. She couldn't keep her balance on her tiptoes and was about to fall.
Wei Xuan, who was on the other side, could vaguely hear the girl's rapid breathing due to exhaustion.
He finally said, somewhat reluctantly, "Miss Xue was talking about you the whole time. You should cherish her sincerity."
“My brother’s teachings are correct.”
Another deathly silence descended.
The three remained silent, and the sound of the rain around them grew even clearer.
After a long while, Wei Zhang raised his eyes and looked at his elder brother who was close at hand. "It just so happens that I am planning to take her as a concubine. I will hold the ceremony tomorrow, together with the birthday banquet."
Since you are so concerned, elder brother, I would like to ask you to be my witness and to draft the contract between us tomorrow in front of all the guests.
Wei Zhang never mentioned to Xue Lanyi that he invited her to his residence to take her into his family.
Xue Lanyi's expression froze, and she stared in surprise at his retreating figure.
The dark fox fur rustled in the wind, sounding too cold and stiff.
Xue Lanyi didn't know why, even though she longed to be with him all the time, she didn't feel much joy when he took the initiative to speak to her this time.
Wei Xuan also shook his head, "A-Zhang, that's not what I meant."
"What do you mean, brother?"
When handling other matters, Wei Zhang always displayed a strategic and methodical approach.
When it comes to matters of the heart, however, he is completely oblivious and seems utterly clueless.
Wei Xuan paused for a moment, then patiently said, "A relationship requires mutual consent and shared feelings. Shouldn't you ask Miss Xue for her opinion?"
"concubine……"
"It's alright, as long as my brother has no objections, nothing else is difficult."
Wei Zhang kept his eyes fixed on his elder brother the whole time, without ever looking back.
He never paid attention to her opinion.
Xue Lanyi's grip on the umbrella handle tightened slowly, her fingertips digging into her palm, almost drawing blood.
And the tilted half of the umbrella gradually straightened itself without anyone noticing...
“You’re all grown up now, and you have a lot of ideas. You always like to hug the dirty and smelly things outside. I can’t control you, but why should I force your brother to do something he doesn’t want to do?”
At that moment, a solemn voice rang out from afar.
At the Baoping Gate of the courtyard, an old woman with white hair was being helped by her old woman as she walked unsteadily.
The woman wore a headband with two phoenixes playing with a pearl, and the center was inlaid with an emerald, which shone brightly.
Dozens of guards followed behind him.
Such a grand display clearly befits Lady Wei, the wife of the Duke.
The old lady had been observing a vegetarian diet and purifying her conduct for three years, and had closed her doors to visitors.
Xue Lanyi never expected to meet her under such circumstances.
She hurriedly curtsied.
The old lady glanced at the slender, delicate woman, her disgust deepening. "It's one thing for you to cause trouble outside, but to bring someone into the family and have your brother officiate at your wedding? Won't others laugh at our Duke's Mansion for having no manners?"
The words "no rules" were pronounced particularly harshly.
Xue Lanyi suddenly realized that she had performed the wrong greeting in her haste.
Only those of similar status can perform the Wanfu salute. Given the Old Madam's status and position, the only appropriate gesture would be the Kowtow.
Xue Lanyi frowned as she glanced at the muddy puddle at her feet, then lifted her skirt and nodded as if to kneel.
"Mother is not well, why did she come to the backyard?"
At this moment, the green bamboo staff passed by Xue Lanyi's eyes and headed towards the old lady.
A series of crooked bamboo marks were left on the ground.
When the old lady saw that her eldest son could barely walk, she rushed forward to help him, her sharp eyes replaced by tenderness.
"Didn't your mother guess that you wouldn't be carrying an umbrella again?" The old lady took an umbrella and held it for her son, giving him a reproachful look. "You never like to carry an umbrella. If you don't carry an umbrella again, your mother will hit you."
Wei Xuan shook his head helplessly, "If Mother truly loves her son, then she shouldn't linger in the rain. I will accompany Mother back to Chong'an Hall."
He waved his hand behind him, indicating that Xue Lanyi did not need to kneel.
The old lady naturally noticed her son's little trick, but having not seen him for three years, she couldn't care less about anything else at the moment.
"Xuan'er, you've traveled for three days and three nights from the border. You must be hungry. I've made your favorite bamboo shoot soup."
Over the years, the old lady had been copying scriptures and worshipping Buddha, and her body was always covered with the austere scent of sandalwood. At this moment, her sleeves were filled with the smell of incense.
It was as if they had gotten up very early to prepare the meal.
Wei Xuan felt a warmth in his heart, "Mother still loves her son the most..."
He paused halfway through his sentence, then continued, "Our family hasn't been together for a long time, and I have a lot to talk about with Ah Zhang. Why don't we have lunch together?"
“I have already used it.” Wei Zhang bowed to the old lady and Wei Xuan from afar. “Mother and brother, please make yourselves at home.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and went in the opposite direction without looking back.
Xue Lanyi remained standing there, holding her umbrella, her emotions still not calmed down.
No one told her where to go or what to do in this unfamiliar place.
"Take all your shady stuff with you!" the old lady ordered.
Wei Zhang paused, only to hear the old lady sneer behind him, "This is the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, not the residence of a Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet. I will not tolerate anyone defiling the reputation of my century-old mansion!"
The maids and servants serving around her all turned their gazes toward Xue Lanyi.
Clearly, the one who was disreputable and tarnished the family's reputation was Xue Lanyi.
The gazes were all fixed on me, piercing me deeply and causing me pain.
Xue Lanyi seemed to know where she should go from here.
She hurriedly knelt and bowed in Wei Xuan's direction to thank him for his help, then went to hug the dying Baihe and prepared to leave the Duke's mansion.
When I arrived, the flowers were almost in bloom.
When I arrived, it was just a pile of mud.
Overwhelmed by shame, she felt as if she were walking on cotton, and was about to collapse.
Suddenly, a large hand grasped hers.
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