Chapter 7, Section 7: A conversation between Madam He and Chen Xuanhua…
Wei Yin was completely unaware of the conversation between Madam He and Chen Xuanhua. She had come to Huangzhou in a hurry and had not had time to bring Cuiwei with her. He Wenqing had not returned yet, and she was yawning repeatedly and was too afraid to sleep alone.
However, not long after, He Wenqing finished talking with Madam He and returned to his room.
When Wei Yin saw him return, she immediately went over and took his hand. He Wenqing, seeing that there were no outsiders in the room, calmly let her pull and tug at him, asking, "Why aren't you asleep so late?"
"I can only fall asleep when my husband comes back." Because she was so sleepy, Wei Yin's voice was unconsciously very soft.
His wife was naturally beautiful and loved to act coquettishly towards her husband, which was really annoying. He Wenqing felt a surge of desire in his lower abdomen when he heard her voice, but he remembered that his father was seriously ill. Even if he didn't have any fatherly feelings for his father, he couldn't do something so improper under the circumstances.
He could only swallow his anger and hold his fragrant wife close, saying, "Then go to sleep early so you can get up early tomorrow to pay your respects to your grandfather."
Wei Yin was already sleepy. She mumbled a couple of perfunctory "uh-huhs" in his arms and fell asleep.
He Wenqing looked down at his wife in his arms. Although Wei Yin's complexion hadn't been good lately, she was still incredibly beautiful under the dim light in the room, especially the red mole between her eyebrows. Seeing her sleeping so soundly, as if she were just a tool to fall asleep, he was both angry and helpless. He couldn't help himself and, for the first time ever, abandoned his usual composure and gently bit her tender lips.
He sighed softly and carried her to bed.
He Wenqing had just carried Wei Yin to bed and was about to take off her outer skirt and turn off the light when he heard a knock on the door.
He had no choice but to put on an outer robe and go out to see who it was.
Then he saw his cousin Xuanhua standing outside the door with a bowl of vegetable porridge. She was still wearing the same simple and elegant dress she had worn in her father's room. The young woman was twenty years old. Although she could not compare to the charming and bright beauty of his wife Wei Yin, she was without makeup, her skin was as white as snow, and she was as beautiful and refined as a night-blooming cereus.
Chen Xuanhua looked at He Wenqing, who was only casually wearing an outer robe, and blushed slightly: "The kitchen just made some vegetable porridge for my aunt and concubines. I thought that my cousin went to my uncle's place as soon as he returned to the mansion, and probably hasn't eaten yet, so I brought him a bowl."
He Wenqing chuckled softly: "You're not feeling well, just have a servant bring it over."
"I can't sleep at night anyway, it's fine." Chen Xuanhua saw the man smile, and she couldn't help but smile back. "I knew my cousin liked egg shreds, so I added some on special."
He Wenqing accepted it: "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Xuanhua. Your cousin-in-law probably doesn't even know that I love to eat this."
"Cousin, do you think your wife isn't considerate?" Chen Xuanhua pretended to look inside. "Then I'll tell your wife right now."
He Wenqing quickly grabbed her, "No, she's asleep. Don't tell her tomorrow either. If she finds out, she'll pester me again. I'll have someone take you home."
"No, thank you." Chen Xuanhua shook her head. "You go to sleep. I'll go back by myself."
"Okay, then keep an eye on the road."
Chen Xuanhua had just stepped off the stairs when he suddenly turned around and called out to He Wenqing, "Cousin."
"What's wrong?" He Wenqing looked at her in confusion.
Chen Xuanhua stared down at the steps for a while before looking intently at He Wenqing: "Does my cousin still remember when we were studying in the study, I once accidentally damaged the teacher's ancient book, and my cousin covered for me and took the punishment in my place?"
Why are you suddenly bringing up things from the past?
Chen Xuanhua gazed at her handsome and talented cousin, who was a top scholar, in a daze for a long time without saying a word. The thousand words that were about to burst out were timidly suppressed in her heart: "It's nothing, I just wanted to thank you, cousin."
He Wenqing stared at her departing figure.
When Madam He planned for him to marry his cousin Chen Xuanhua, he didn't actually object.
Chen Xuanhua is gentle and virtuous, skilled in cooking, well-mannered, and acts with grace and propriety. She always puts him first, and... she is also in love with him. After marriage, the couple will surely live in harmony.
However, since Grandma He disagreed, he couldn't refuse his grandmother, so he let it go.
Anyway, all he needs is a virtuous wife. As for Xuanhua, he'll find her some suitable young men.
Thinking about the past, He Wenqing returned to his room. Wei Yin was already asleep and her face was flushed. He sat down next to her and gently asked, "Yin'er, Xuanhua brought some porridge. Do you want to get up and eat some?"
Wei Yin hadn't slept well for days. Listening to He Wenqing's constant chatter, she forgot she was at the He residence in the desolate state and assumed He Wenqing was in the mood again. Impatiently, she pushed him away and mumbled, "Don't touch my clothes, I don't want tonight..."
He Wenqing paused for two seconds before realizing what she was talking about. He chuckled softly for a moment, then, not daring to disturb her any further, went and drank the porridge himself.
_
While He's father was busy taking women into his house and He's wife was busy competing with those women for his affections, He Wenqing grew up under the care of his grandfather, Old Master He. He respected and cared deeply for Old Master He, who had raised him since childhood. The next day, he got up early and, together with Wei Yin, went to Old Master He's courtyard to pay his respects.
Although both He's father and He Wenqing had married and even had children, the true head of the He family was still Old Master He.
Old Master He was a dignified old man who had a successful career, reaching the highest position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. After retiring in his old age, he returned to the desolate state to enjoy his remaining years. His only unhappiness in life was that his son was really disappointing. In his later years, he devoted all his energy to raising his eldest grandson, disciplining him very strictly.
Fortunately, Changsun Wenqing was a promising man, unlike He's father, who was unruly and only had eyes for women.
Later, when He Wenqing was twenty-five or twenty-six years old, he achieved academic success and became the top scholar in the imperial examination, which made Old Master He proud and wiped away the shame his father had brought upon himself in the desolate state.
Old Master He was strict with his grandson and with himself. Besides reading, he only tended to flowers and plants. Apart from his late wife, Old Madam He, there were only two elderly concubines serving him in his room.
At this time, Grandpa He had just finished breakfast and was staying in the house drinking tea.
Old Master He was a dignified man who loved rules, and none of the servants in his courtyard dared to make a sound. They all obediently went about their own business. When Wei Yin and He Wenqing arrived, they found Madam He and Chen Xuanhua with Old Master He. Madam He had an undisguised look of joy on her face, while Chen Xuanhua kept her head down and remained silent. Only when Wei Yin and He Wenqing entered the room did she bite her lip and quickly glance at Old Master He. Old Master He had an even more solemn expression than usual.
When Grandpa He saw the couple arrive, he said, "Wenqing, you've come at the right time. Your grandfather has something to tell you."
He Wenqing pondered the scene before him and asked, "What is it, Grandfather?"
"I discussed it with your mother," Old Master He said slowly. "Your father is so ill, we can't just stand by and watch. So I thought I'd hold a happy event for you to bring some good luck to the family."
He glanced at Wei Yin, seemingly casually: "Firstly, it might cure your father's illness. Secondly, our He family has always had few descendants. Take your father for example, out of all the concubines in his household, you are his only son. I, your grandfather, am already nearing my end. If you don't find a way to continue the family line, I'm afraid I won't live to see it."
Wei Yin was taken aback; no wonder Madam He had looked so happy just now.
He Wenqing understood the meaning behind Old Master He's words and was puzzled as to why his grandfather would come up with this idea. He frowned and said, "With Father like this, how can the manor hold another celebration?"
"It's because your father is not well that we need to hold a wedding to bring him good luck." Old Master He said without room for argument: "Your mother and I have already made the decision. It will be in the next couple of days. Just get ready to marry Xuanhua."
After saying that, he said to Xuanhua, "Xuanhua, you are Wenqing's cousin, so we will not treat you unfairly. From now on, you will be treated the same as Wei Yin in the manor."
Wei Yin went to see Chen Xuanhua. No wonder she was there too. Chen Xuanhua met Wei Yin's gaze, gently bit her lip, felt ashamed, and lowered her head even further.
Madam He knew that He Wenqing was a steady man, but she was afraid that he was still in the throes of his new marriage with Wei Yin and might make a mistake and refuse Old Master He's request. So she quickly smiled and said, "Yes, Wenqing, I know that you and Xuanhua have had a deep affection for each other since childhood. I was thinking that since you two are so in love, why not take this opportunity to make it happen? This is not only for your father, but also for your own good."
Grandpa He nodded wearily and said, "Wenqing, your mother also told me that it's a good thing that you don't want women, but it's really not advisable to remarry after forty without a son. Besides, Xuanhua is well-behaved and polite, and she certainly won't make things difficult for you. This is the only request I have for you now. Can you bear to let me leave without ever seeing my great-grandson?"
He Wenqing subconsciously looked at Wei Yin, and for a moment his thoughts became chaotic.
"What?" Old Master He's expression changed slightly when he saw that he didn't react. "You don't want to?"
He Wenqing paused. It was only natural for a man to marry and take concubines to continue his lineage. He glanced at Chen Xuanhua, who was biting her lip and staring at him, as well as his nervous mother and his somewhat displeased grandfather. In the end, he could only nod.
"Grandson understands."
Upon hearing this, Madam He beamed with joy: "That's wonderful! We have another joyous occasion in our household!"
When Old Master He saw that He Wenqing had agreed, he was relieved and had the maid help him back to his room to rest. Madam He was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling. She held Chen Xuanhua and He Wenqing's hands and told them to get pregnant soon. Then she hurriedly took Chen Xuanhua to buy a wedding dress.
Only Wei Yin and He Wenqing remained in the house.
In the years following their marriage, He Wenqing, due to her father's philandering, had no intention of taking in too many women and creating a chaotic atmosphere in the household.
If his grandfather were to take someone else as a concubine, he would need to consider it further.
But since she was his cousin Chen Xuanhua, she was gentle and obedient. Even if he took her into his household, there wouldn't be any unpleasantness between her and Wei Yin. Besides, since Old Master He had already said so much, he couldn't disobey his grandfather.
He saw Wei Yin staring at him silently.
He Wenqing knew that women were generally unhappy when their husbands took other women, and it was normal for them to show their displeasure. He wouldn't care about other women, but when it came to Wei Yin, he couldn't help but coax her gently: "Although Xuanhua and I have a childhood bond, don't worry, you are my wife, He Wenqing's wife. I won't let her compete with you. Even if Xuanhua has children in the future, if you want, I will let her raise the children for you, okay?"
Wei Yin remained silent as she gazed at him.
“I know you’re not happy about this, and I’m not a lustful person, but as the eldest grandson of the He family, I can’t be without an heir…”
After He Wenqing finished explaining, seeing that Wei Yin had no reaction, he felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
It seems as if a barrier has suddenly grown between the couple.
But he didn't think he had done anything wrong. What man in the world doesn't have multiple wives and concubines? It's not like he would neglect Xuanhua just because he married her.
He Wenqing sighed heavily, raised his hand and pulled out a strand of Wei Yin's hair that was tucked inside her clothes, then changed the subject: "You went to bed late last night and came early this morning to pay your respects to your grandfather. Go back and rest for a while. I'm going to see my father now."
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