Chapter 5 I dislike Wei Qin.
In the desolate mountains, where few people ventured, the clouds were thin and the wind howled, two overlapping figures arrived at the place where they had parted ways the day before after traveling for an hour.
The heavy snow weighed down the carriage, obscuring the surrounding footprints, making it look like rosewood inlaid in a vast expanse of white snow.
Jiang Yinyue jumped off Wei Qin's back, stumbling along and using all her strength to straighten the carriage. Her pale face from yesterday regained its color and became flushed from the exertion.
"Wei Qin, all your belongings are still here."
She climbed into the carriage and checked everything one by one, a smile spreading across her face. It was fortunate to have recovered what was lost, and even more fortunate to have escaped unharmed.
The oppressive mood she felt upon encountering Wei Xichen vanished instantly. She rummaged through the latticework of a cotton-padded dress and quickly changed, ignoring the chilly air in the carriage.
The jacket and skirt were brightly colored, not plain, and were specially ordered by Jiang Song for the maids in the mansion to wear in their bags.
Jiang Yinyue stopped agonizing over it; having something to exchange for was already good enough.
Three years of dressing habits changed naturally at this moment, as if it were a natural progression.
Wei Qin stood guard outside the carriage, deliberately ignoring the rustling sounds coming from inside. When a louder commotion came from behind him, he turned around and saw an orange figure jump off the carriage, clutching a sandalwood comb in his hand.
"Help me put my hair up."
Wei Qin then took on the duties of a maid, pulled Jiang Yinyue aside, and meticulously combed her long hair, tying it into a cloud-like, fragrant bun, and adorning it with a pair of rosy cloud pearl flowers.
The wind blew the remaining snow onto his evenly knuckled fingers, where it did not melt immediately.
The lower-than-normal body temperature preserved the shape of the snowflake.
Wei Qin's pupils were unusually dark, like a bottomless pool, but now they reflected the colors of orange and the morning glow.
"That's fine."
Jiang Yinyue turned around, raised her eyes, touched her hair bun, and immediately smiled and praised, "Hongmei's skills are not as good as yours."
Hongmei was the head maid of the Jiang family, and she took care of Jiang Yinyue alone.
Before setting off for Yangzhou, Jiang Yinyue was worried that she might not be used to not having Hong Mei by her side, and she was even more worried that Wei Qin was not as thoughtful as Hong Mei. However, after traveling more than half the distance, her worries disappeared. Wei Qin was not only thoughtful, but he could also be said to be meticulous about everything.
Just as Jiang Song had hoped, even though the young couple didn't develop feelings for each other over time, they did develop a sense of loyalty and trust.
Wei Qin looked into the distance, whistled to summon the horses that were frolicking in the snow, and used bridles and other tools to connect the horses to the carriage.
Jiang Yinyue imitated his whistling, attracting the horses' attention.
The man and the horse were interacting.
Wei Qin was used to this. He pulled her onto the carriage, cracked the whip, and urged the horse forward.
They drove towards the post station.
Sunlight spilled over the clouds, parting the mist and spreading the dawn.
Light and hope go hand in hand.
Yesterday's humiliation was left behind by the carriage. Jiang Yinyue smiled as she gazed at the flowing light that met her eyes, her mind and body immersed in the boundless expanse.
Three years of stagnation spent indoors have now become a thing of the past. People need to occasionally immerse themselves in nature to absorb inspiration and broaden their horizons.
This is also why Jiang Yinyue agreed to accompany Wei Qin to Yangzhou with her father; confining herself to one place would only lead to gloom and unhappiness.
Unresolved sorrows are related to one's state of mind, and at this moment, Jiang Yinyue was at least not overwhelmed by the resentment that had accumulated over three years.
They returned to the post station before dawn, and the aroma of cooking smoke filled the kitchen.
After Wei Qin escorted Jiang Yinyue back to her room, he went to the stable. Just as he was about to ask the postman for some wheat bran, he noticed Yan Zhuyi walking towards him with a maid's arm around her wrist.
These two people, who seem to have nothing in common, the concubine and the minister, are actually quite connected, having seen each other frequently in their neighborhood since childhood.
Yan Zhuyi approached gracefully, her luxurious clothes and heavy makeup clashing with the unpleasant smell of the stables.
The woman, no longer showing any signs of life, smiled serenely, her purpose clear: she had come to reminisce.
"Brother Wei, how have you been?"
Both women's fathers were officials in the Yangzhou Salt Transport Bureau. Yan Zhuyi's father had been promoted to the rank of Salt Transport Commissioner, a third-grade official, and was more prominent than the Prefect of Yangzhou. Wei Qin's father, however, had remained stagnant, serving as a ninth-grade Deputy Saltworks Commissioner, working diligently and considered an honest man by his colleagues.
Wei Qin clasped his hands together, bowed slightly with his eyebrows slightly raised, showing neither the joy of unexpectedly meeting an old acquaintance nor the eagerness to chat. His attitude was as indifferent as his body temperature, which was below average. "Greetings, Consort Yan."
How can a person be so indifferent that they never show their emotions? No matter how successful you are, you won't feel a sense of accomplishment in their presence. Spending time with them might make you lose your pursuit and yearning for fame and fortune.
Because there is no resonance of desire, enjoying envy becomes a pointless exercise.
"Brother Wei is still the same as always."
Yan Zhuyi released the maid's wrist and stepped forward gracefully to carefully examine Wei Qin's appearance. Just like when he was young, he was always the most outstanding one in the crowd. His bone structure and skin were both exceptional, and he was a handsome man. This was one of the reasons why the major families fought for him back then.
“Great talents can emerge from humble backgrounds. Brother Wei has lived up to Uncle Wei’s expectations, bringing honor to his ancestors and having a bright future.”
"Your Majesty is too kind."
After those five simple words, that was it.
Ordinary people would reciprocate with courtesy and mutual support, except for Wei Qin.
Yan Zhuyi was a little disappointed. Recalling the predicament she was in three years ago when her father forced her to become someone else's concubine, she had nowhere else to turn. She had pinned her hopes on Wei Qin, who was going to the capital to take the imperial examination, hoping to form a bond with him and break her father's idea of selling his daughter for personal gain.
As neighbors, and both of them at the age to discuss marriage, it seemed like a natural progression, but Wei Qin rejected her with just six words.
Let's leave no room for compromise.
"I'm sorry, I'm not worthy of it."
Marriage cannot be forced. She didn't hate Wei Qin, but only resented her bad luck, becoming a pawn in her father's climb to power. Fortunately, things took a turn for the better when she met the Crown Prince. Things were different now; she could look down on the past, but she couldn't find any sense of superiority in front of Wei Qin.
Yan Zhuyi's smile remained unchanged. "His Highness, considering my marriage to a distant place, has specially granted me permission to return to Yangzhou to visit my family and catch up with old friends. However, since my family has prepared a new house, I estimate that I won't be able to meet my second uncle and aunt. Please give my regards to them. My second uncle and aunt are honest people, and Brother Wei shouldn't always accommodate his wife just because he is a son-in-law, thus causing them distress."
Yan Zhuyi took the maid's hand again, slowly turned around, and unexpectedly heard a sentence—
"As an old acquaintance, I would like to offer Your Majesty one word: Humility."
Yan Zhuyi turned her head back, a hint of displeasure flashing across her delicate face. "Speak your mind."
"Humility builds a solid foundation. If the foundation is not solid, even the most magnificent house will collapse. A wife is married off, and a concubine is taken in. How can there be talk of marrying someone far away? If someone with ulterior motives were to spread this to the Empress, it would be detrimental to Your Highness."
"Insolence!" Sensing Yan Zhuyi's suppressed anger, the maidservant rebuked Wei Qin sharply, "How dare a mere seventh-rank compiler disrespect a concubine?!"
Unexpectedly, the taciturn Wei Qin tucked his hands into his wide sleeves, ignored the maid, and looked indifferently at Yan Zhuyi.
Silently scrutinizing Yan Zhuyi's foundation.
Relying on the Crown Prince's confidante, she wouldn't easily stir up trouble in front of him. Relying on maids to fan the flames repeatedly would inevitably backfire, and how could she then earn a reputation for being reasonable?
At this moment, Yan Zhuyi regretted provoking Wei Qin's hostility. A second-place scholar whom the emperor praised for his ruthless writing style was by no means a taciturn person who would be ridiculed!
"Thank you for the wise words."
Yan Zhuyi smiled instead of getting angry, and left with the maid. The hand on the maid's wrist tightened, almost digging into her flesh. She disliked verbal disputes, which were futile.
**
As the smoke from the kitchen gradually died down, plates of delicious food were served on each table. Yan Zhuyi's table did not have the mint cake and lion chestnut cake that the Crown Prince had specifically requested. Instead, the aroma of the two kinds of cakes wafted from the small wooden table in the side courtyard.
Jiang Yinyue stood by the table, not understanding the Crown Prince's intentions. If he believed that she had deserted in order to protect herself back then, why did he want to make up for the guilt of using her?
Isn't that contradictory?
The crown prince, who is extremely busy with state affairs, has no need to waste his energy on a contradictory sense of guilt.
"Your Highness appreciates your kindness, but I have been avoiding sweets lately. I would be grateful if Steward Fu could send these two pastries back."
Fu Zhongcai spread his hands, "If we can't even send out two plates of pastries, we won't be able to explain ourselves to His Highness. My wife, please don't make things difficult for us."
“I would believe these words if they came from someone else. But for Steward Fu to say them is too modest. Your position in the Crown Prince’s Palace is unshakeable to this day.”
"It seems that my wife has been paying attention to the Crown Prince's political climate these past few years."
"My father's position in the court means that if he is not a confidant of the Crown Prince, he will be a major threat. The winds blowing in the Eastern Palace can shake the stability of the court. As a junior who has benefited from the family, I must safeguard the family's interests and pay attention to the changes in the Eastern Palace's network of people. It will be beneficial and harmless."
It's said that adversity tempers character. After the woman before us stumbled and fell heavily amidst romance and fleeting pleasures, she may still be willful, but she no longer prioritizes love and has learned to hold onto her interests.
Fu Zhongcai smiled and pushed the pastries toward Jiang Yinyue, unusually instructing the younger generation, "Since we've discussed benefits, Madam should accept His Highness's kindness. In interpersonal relationships, one should be adept at utilizing debts."
Deep within the palace walls, new brides laugh while old ones weep. To balance the power among their princes, princes inevitably accumulate numerous wives and concubines. The old eunuch, having witnessed all the glory and favor, knows all too well that love often cannot compare to the enduring nature of human relationships.
Jiang Yinyue remained silent, glanced at the colorful and fragrant pastries, and said softly, "I have learned something."
The old eunuch finished his task and hurried back to report. He wasn't sure if the Crown Prince would ask about this trivial matter, and he habitually didn't try to guess his master's thoughts. But he was certain of one thing: people in the court and the countryside wouldn't put love first. For example, Jiang Song, after losing face, didn't get angry and demand justice for his daughter or break ties with the Eastern Palace. Instead, he continued to serve the Crown Prince and clear obstacles for him.
The crown prince was bestowed the character "宸" upon his birth, destined to rule the world; how could he possibly be swayed by petty love affairs?
Upon returning to the main dining hall, Fu Zhong bowed to Wei Xichen, who was having his meal, and then stepped aside.
The matter of the pastries was left unresolved.
However, during a break while accompanying the Crown Prince in his morning exercise, Fu Zhongcai still asked about something.
"Minister of Revenue Tao Qian's strong recommendation of Wei Qin is undoubtedly a long-term strategy to recruit talented individuals for the Third Prince. Wei Qin's performance in the Hanlin Academy is most commendable, which is enough to prove his talent. Why doesn't Your Highness take advantage of the trip south to bring him under your command and make him your own?"
Snatching away the woman the Third Prince had his eye on would be quite a delightful thing. In the past two years, as the Third Prince's mother was granted the title of Virtuous Consort and became increasingly favored, the Third Prince also frequently accompanied the Emperor, his arrogance growing ever stronger.
Wei Xichen pointed the arrow at the grass target, his eyes fixed straight ahead, and released the arrow with a "bang," hitting the bullseye perfectly.
He drew another brand-new white-feathered arrow from his quiver, strained his arm, drew the bow, and said calmly, "Wei Qin, you have a heavy heart."
Fu Zhongcai never thought that being thoughtful was a bad thing. How many people in the Eastern Palace were truly simple-minded? He scratched his cheek, puzzled, "Your Highness means..."
I do not like this person.
A note from the author:
----------------------
It's another punctual day. I'll try to update a few hundred more words tomorrow. Please forgive my snail-paced typing speed right now. [Let me see...]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
