Who exactly are you?
"Ren'er, the 20,000 goose-feather sabers forged in Feng County are basically completed. The men you secretly recruited have also made contact with my subordinates, and I have dispatched Shi Shou and Wu Jin to secretly train these soldiers," Yan Zhongxing said to Wei Qiao.
Wei Qiao nodded and smiled, "Zhang Xian was dismissed from his post recently for helping Prince Cheng investigate the Emperor's whereabouts. Now I have taken over as the commander of the Dragon Feather Guard. The three commanders of the Five Cities Garrison are all my men. Once my uncle gets in touch with the two commanders of the West City and the North City, the capital will be completely under our control."
Yan Zhongxing took a sip of tea, sighed, and said, "I didn't want to ascend to that high position; I was forced into it. Back then, your father wanted to maintain peaceful relations with the other side, but his own wings were constantly clipped, and in the end, he couldn't even protect you. If it weren't for this opportunity given by heaven, you and I, uncle and nephew, would have been separated by death long ago. Ren'er, it's time for Yan Zhongyou to repay what he owes us."
"Uncle, his reign as emperor won't last long."
"It's all thanks to your secret efforts in the court over the years, otherwise I wouldn't have a place in this court." Yan Zhongxing looked at Wei Qiao opposite him with satisfaction. Although his appearance was very different from before, his eyes were still those of his elder brother.
"Ren'er, you're twenty-five this year. Have you thought about your marriage yet?" Yan Zhongxing was very worried about Wei Qiao's delayed marriage. His elder brother only had Yan Ren as his child, and he hoped that Yan Ren could get married as soon as possible to continue the family line.
"Nephew, there's no rush. Let's discuss it after the great undertaking is accomplished."
"My child, are you still thinking about the eldest daughter of the Ming family? The Ming family was the marriage your father personally arranged for you. I heard from your aunt that the Ming family's daughter hasn't been engaged to anyone else in recent years. In my opinion, the Ming family's daughter is a model of a refined young lady in the capital, and she would be a good match for you. If you like her, your uncle can find someone to match you up."
Wei Qiao watched the tea leaves bobbing in and out of the teacup, a stirring in his heart. Ming Chuqing was the granddaughter of Grand Tutor Ming, a veteran official of two dynasties. When he was eleven, his father and Grand Tutor Ming arranged his marriage to Ming Chuqing, who was only five at the time. Later, when his father fell from power, the Ming family did not cancel the engagement, as Grand Tutor Ming said he believed his grandfather would clear their names. Later still, he was poisoned by a bowl of lychee honey and reincarnated as Wei Qiao.
The year he passed the imperial examination at the age of fourteen, he encountered Ming Chuqing at a flower-viewing banquet hosted by the eldest son of the Ming family. At the banquet, someone deliberately mocked him for being an illegitimate son, unworthy of entering the Ming mansion. Ming Chuqing, who happened to be passing by, stood up for him and drove the rude person out of the mansion. Although they didn't meet at the time because their backs were turned to each other, he always remembered her kindness.
He knew that Ming Chuqing had never married. He had thought that if he were to get married in this life, he would still marry Ming Chuqing if she hadn't married someone else.
Wei Qiao put down his teacup on the table and looked up at Yan Zhongxing opposite him. "Uncle, I do intend to marry the eldest daughter of the Ming family, but I am afraid that my current status will tarnish her."
Upon hearing that this was the reason, Yan Zhongxing laughed heartily and said boldly, "What are you afraid of? You are of noble birth. Once I sit in that position, I will definitely give you the status you deserve."
Xi Chun, who was outside the door, was stunned and stood there in shock after hearing their conversation.
who is he?
Who is the eldest daughter of the Ming family that he wants to marry?
Xi Chun's mind was in complete turmoil.
"Meow~" Inkjet was sunbathing on the roof when it saw Xichun standing at the entrance of the small flower hall. It jumped down from the roof and ran to her side, rubbing its tail against Xichun's legs. Xichun was not in the mood to respond to Inkjet's enthusiasm. She hugged the clothes in her hands tightly and turned to run quickly towards the Pomegranate Courtyard.
"Someone's there!"
Yan Zhongxing's guard, Du Fang, heard footsteps and immediately went out to investigate, just in time to see Xi Chun's departing figure.
Yan Zhongxing asked in a deep voice, "Who is it?"
After thinking for a moment, Du Fang replied, "Your Highness, judging from their clothes, they should be someone from the young master's household."
Their plan to seize power is not yet complete, and they cannot afford any mistakes at this time. Yan Zhongxing ordered Du Fang behind him, "This man cannot be kept alive. Du Fang, go and get rid of him."
Du Fang bowed to Yan Zhongxing and said, "Yes, Your Highness."
Du Fang turned to leave, but Wei Qiao quickly stopped him, "Uncle, I'll handle this."
Yan Zhongxing glanced at Wei Qiao and saw the reluctance in his eyes. He sighed. His nephew had only had this one wife all these years, so he must have some affection for her. He wasn't a heartless person. "Never mind, as long as she can keep the secret."
Xichun stumbled back to Shiliu Courtyard. Shuixian noticed that Xichun had taken the clothes back from her hand and found it strange: "Miss, isn't Master in the front yard?"
Xichun didn't hear Shuixian's words at all; her mind was still preoccupied with the conversation she had overheard between Wei Qiao and others. She went straight into the bedroom, carelessly tossing the clothes she was carrying onto the bed.
Seeing that Xichun was not in a good mood, Shuixian quickly came in to check on her. She found Xichun huddled up in her knees, and asked worriedly, "Miss, has something happened?"
Xi Chun kept recalling the content of their conversation, and after repeating it countless times, she finally pieced together a complete story.
Wei Qiao was not actually Wei Qiao, and the wife in his heart was not actually himself.
All her previous thoughts now seemed ridiculously absurd. The fear and anxiety she felt about falling in love with her uncle turned out to be unnecessary, because he wasn't even a member of the Wei family.
Shuixian silently stayed by Xichun's side, watching as Xichun silently shed tears without uttering a word. Fearing that something bad had happened to Xichun, she asked the maids in the courtyard to come in and watch over Xichun. She herself went to the front yard to find Fuqing and ask her what was going on.
"You said the young lady has been crying ever since she went back from the front courtyard?" Fu Qing had just returned from going out with Zhao Yu and hadn't seen Xi Chun, so she figured Xi Chun must have come while she was away. But since she wasn't there, she didn't know the reason, so she could only say to Shui Xian, "I understand. You go back and keep an eye on the young lady. I'll go and ask her what happened."
During her absence, she knew that the master had been entertaining guests at the manor. The guests had left not long ago, and the master was currently reading in his study. Fu Qing brewed a cup of Longjing tea and brought it to the study. Wei Qiao glanced up at her, "Did someone from Shiliu Courtyard come by just now?"
"Yes, Miss Xichun said she came to the front courtyard to deliver something to the master, but she went back and started crying. The maid Shuixian didn't know what to do, so she came to ask me. But I wasn't in the manor at the time, so I don't know what happened to Miss Xichun. Does the master know?"
Wei Qiao put down his book, turned to look at the bright sunlight outside the window, his brows furrowing instantly, his thin lips falling silent. She certainly wouldn't betray him, but knowing his past, he wondered how she would view him. Wei Qiao didn't yet have the courage to face her.
After a long pause, he finally spoke to Fu Qing, saying, "You may leave now."
Wei Qiao sat quietly in his study until dusk, watching a single star light up the night sky. He then rose and walked towards the Pomegranate Courtyard. Xi Chun had stopped crying. She stood under the eaves, staring blankly at the sky. The dark blue sky seemed like a giant silk cloth enveloping everything, and she felt suffocated within it.
As soon as Wei Qiao entered the courtyard, he saw her slender figure under the eaves. After taking a deep breath, he slowly walked to Xi Chun's side. He tried his best to appear normal and asked gently, "What are you doing here? Have you eaten?"
Hearing his voice, Xichun turned to look at him. He was just as she remembered him: with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, handsome and unparalleled. But now she didn't know what to call him.
Gazing into his dark eyes, Xi Chun couldn't fathom what lay hidden beneath his gentle gaze. Wei Qiao, seeing Xi Chun's probing look, simply gazed at her even more tenderly.
The two gazed at each other for a long time. A gust of wind blew by, and the bells hanging from the eaves of the narcissus tree rang out, breaking the silence.
Xi Chun turned around and looked at the night sky. After a long while, she asked, "Who exactly are you?"
Her voice trembled slightly, and she spoke very briefly, but Wei Qiao heard her clearly.
It seemed she really had overheard his conversation with his uncle inside. Wei Qiao walked over to Xi Chun, took her cold hand, and gave his answer: "I am Wei Qiao. I was before, and I will be in the future."
"I am whoever you like. Xichun, don't be afraid of me. I have my reasons. I will tell you my story slowly in the future."
His words were like a hand pulling her out of the sea when she was on the verge of drowning; her love was not dead, and could still breathe. Xi Chun turned to look at Wei Qiao, who was looking at her.
His features remained unchanged, and his eyes were still as bright as ever under the night sky.
She fell into his eyes back then, and to this day, her heart belongs to him.
From this day forward, whoever he is, she will only love him. As for whether he loves her or not, she can forget about that for now.
Xi Chun grasped his fingertips and smiled at him, "Wei Qiao, I believe whatever you say."
The two tacitly agreed not to bring it up again. Wei Qiao took the next few days off, and during the day he taught Xi Chun to read in his study. Seeing that Xi Chun still didn't understand even after he had taught her dozens of times, and even wrote her own name crookedly, Wei Qiao shook his head.
He patted her head helplessly and said, "Forget it, it seems you're just not cut out for studying."
Wei Qiao gave up teaching Xi Chun to read, only letting her grind ink beside him. The two exchanged glances, and Wei Qiao's paintings everywhere showed their deep affection for each other.
Fearing she would be bored, Wei Qiao took her fishing at the estate the next day. Xi Chun was quite talented at fishing, and she caught a full basket of fish in just one afternoon. After dinner, Wei Qiao and Xi Chun strolled and chatted together among the fields of the estate, carrying lanterns, just like an ordinary farming couple.
Xi Chun felt as if she were living in honey these past few days. He hadn't said he liked her, but she could feel it in her heart. After returning to the manor, Xi Chun gave him the undergarment she hadn't given him that day, and Wei Qiao liked it very much and wore it every day.
Inside the Yuanhe Hall, the Empress brought two plates of pastries made in her own palace to see Yan Zhongyou. Yan Zhongyou tasted the hibiscus cake and noticed that the Empress seemed uninterested in drinking her tea, glancing at him occasionally as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. He then asked, "Does Zitong have something to say to me?"
"Your Majesty has seen through it." The Empress put down her teacup and smiled at Yan Zhongyou, "I came here today to ask Your Majesty to act as a matchmaker."
Yan Zhongyou put down the pastries in his hand and asked curiously, "I wonder who has such great influence to persuade the Empress to arrange a marriage for him?"
The Empress covered her face and smiled, "Your Majesty is too kind. It was my close friend, Madam Yueru of the Ming family, who brought her daughter to visit me at the palace yesterday. During the meal, she mentioned her daughter's marriage. Your Majesty knows this girl; her name is Chuqing, and she is the only daughter of Grand Tutor Ming. She was betrothed to Yan Ren, the eldest son of the deposed Crown Prince, when she was young. After Yan Ren died in Lichang, she never arranged another marriage. Chuqing is beautiful and charming, and under Grand Tutor Ming's tutelage, she is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She is a renowned talented woman in the capital. A few days ago, Chuqing met Lord Wei on the street and was captivated by his dashing appearance. Both of them are unmarried and of suitable age, so Yueru asked me to ask Your Majesty for a favor."
Yan Zhongyou clapped his hands and laughed after hearing this, "Hahahaha, this Miss Ming has some good taste. I was thinking about what to reward Wei Qiao for saving my life a few days ago. Now it seems that I should reward him with this good marriage."
"In that case, I thank Your Majesty on behalf of Yue Ru and Chu Qing." The Empress said, rising to bow to Yan Zhongyou.
Yan Zhongyou instructed Michide beside him, "Michide, convey my decree to betroth the eldest daughter of the Ming family to Wei Qiao."
Inside the Wei residence, Wei Qiao was reviewing official documents from the Ministry of Justice in his study. A-Gui rushed in to report, "Master, Eunuch Mi has arrived!"
Wei Qiao looked up at A Gui: "Did you say why you came?"
Ah Gui scratched his head. "Grandpa Mi didn't say it explicitly, he just said it was a happy occasion."
He had only recently been promoted to Commander of the Dragon Feather Guard, so the happy event that Eunuch Mi mentioned certainly wasn't related to his promotion. But what else could possibly warrant such a special trip to his residence? Wei Qiao couldn't think of a reason, so he simply went directly to Eunuch Mi and asked him directly.
Miched sat on a chair in the hall waiting for Wei Qiao's arrival. When he saw Wei Qiao step into the front hall, he stood up and greeted him with a smile: "Lord Wei."
"Eunuch Mi." Wei Qiao quickly walked to his side. "May I ask what brings you to my humble abode, Eunuch Mi?"
Miched waved to the back, and the accompanying eunuch handed him the bright yellow imperial edict. Miched took it and smiled at Wei Qiao, saying, "Lord Wei, please accept the edict."
Wei Qiao knelt down suspiciously to receive the imperial decree.
Miched read aloud with great joy: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that the eldest granddaughter of Grand Tutor Ming is beautiful, gentle, virtuous, and talented. I hereby bestow her in marriage upon Wei Qiao, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice and Commander of the Dragon Feather Guard. I hope that you two will live in harmony and mutual respect after your marriage. Choose an auspicious day for the wedding. This is my decree!"
Upon hearing that the Emperor had bestowed Ming Chuqing upon him for marriage, Wei Qiao was momentarily stunned. He had originally intended to wait until his uncle's uprising succeeded before marrying Ming Chuqing with the honors due to a prince, but now Yan Zhongyou had granted her to him in marriage, which was truly unexpected.
Seeing that Wei Qiao hadn't gotten up for a long time, Miched hurriedly went forward to help him and joked, "Lord Wei, are you so happy about getting married that you forgot to get up?"
Wei Qiao smiled and said, "You jest, sir. I just don't know why His Majesty would suddenly bestow this marriage upon me?"
"Your marriage was arranged by the Empress. She said that the eldest daughter of the Ming family had taken a liking to you, so she asked the Empress to ask the Emperor to grant you the marriage."
Wei Qiao remembered that he had met the eldest son of the Ming family on Zhuque Street a few days ago and they had chatted for a few minutes. At that time, the eldest son of the Ming family was followed by a carriage with blue silk cloth, so it seemed that Ming Chuqing had seen him that time. Thinking that he and Ming Chuqing were going to become husband and wife after all the twists and turns, Wei Qiao felt that it was the will of heaven.
After seeing Michid off, Wei Qiao summoned A Gui and Fu Qing to his study.
"Today, His Majesty has bestowed a marriage upon me and Ming Chuqing, the granddaughter of Grand Tutor Ming. You two shall begin preparations for the wedding immediately. Tomorrow, Agui will accompany me to the Ming residence."
Fu Qing's heart skipped a beat upon hearing Wei Qiao's instructions. The master was getting married—what would happen to Xi Chun, the girl from Shi Liu Yuan? She couldn't help but ask, "Master, where is Xi Chun...?"
Wei Qiao frowned. He had never intended for Xi Chun to be his principal wife; once Ming Chuqing married into the family, he would make her a concubine. However, since she liked him so much, she probably harbored the idea of making him her principal wife, but he had never told her this.
He sighed, "Don't tell Xichun yet. I'll explain it to her when the time is right."
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