Chapter 486 Extra Chapter 5: The Wei Clan's Story - Ducks Are No Less Than Mandarin Ducks
Wei Ting was appointed as the Empress's master of ceremonies as soon as he returned to Lin'an, which shows that he was deeply trusted by the Emperor and Empress.
Not long after, he was appointed Grand Marshal, instantly becoming the most sought-after husband among the noble ladies of the capital.
But Madam Wei dared not play matchmaker again.
Because the old lady could sense the changes in her grandson, Wei Ting became increasingly silent and reserved, as if nothing could trigger any emotional changes in him, and even the smile on his face faded.
Old Madam Wei asked, "Didn't he attend the wedding banquet at the Imperial City Envoy's Office today?"
The old lady heard that all the important people in the capital had gone to join in the fun, even the emperor and empress had attended, but Wei Ting was the only one who didn't go.
Granny Cao replied, "I heard from the servant that the eldest young master is drinking at Xinyuan Hall."
Old Madam Wei twirled her prayer beads, sighed, and pondered for a while, as if she had made up her mind.
She said with a stern face, "Have Liru go over there."
Granny Cao was startled. In the past, the old lady had been extremely careful to prevent the two from contacting each other in private. Was she trying to bring them together now? But in the current situation, even if the old lady gave in, the two of them had no such intention.
Granny Cao hesitated and said, "Madam, Miss hasn't left the courtyard since she returned from the palace."
Madam Wei said, "It's a real shame. They're all so young, yet they're so lifeless. They're not even as energetic as this old woman."
"Just tell her that I ordered her to bring the hangover soup. She wouldn't be so tactless."
When Granny Cao appeared before Wei Liru, she was embroidering ducks with a frame.
Let alone other girls who embroider mandarin ducks, even if they did embroider, they would only embroider pairs, two would be enough.
But Wei Liru embroidered a whole group, at least twenty or so.
Granny Cao glanced at it curiously, but even she found it an eyesore.
Wei Liru asked, "How do you think my embroidery is, Granny?"
Granny Cao said, "Miss's needlework is famous in Lin'an. Her thread twisting and stitching skills are superb. This duck embroidery is truly lifelike."
Wei Liru pointed to the lead mallard duck and said, "This is just me."
"In someone's eyes, we were all ducks."
Granny Cao dared not reply; her lips trembled. If these words were to reach the palace, it would be disastrous.
Wei Liru laughed with a hint of joy.
She did not choose to remain as a lady-in-waiting because she did not want to see the emperor again and cause him further heartache.
The day after their wedding, Ji Qingwu's words struck her heart like a knife.
A few days later, the emperor dismissed her from the harem, and even the former princess of Anhua Palace, whom she had always regarded as a formidable rival, was ruthlessly swept out of the palace.
Wei Liru didn't want to be a clown anymore, but she wasn't so arrogant as to insist on staying at the royal temple to worship Buddha while still holding onto her status as a concubine, spending the rest of her life in boundless loneliness.
She just needs some time to come to terms with it.
Embroidered ducks are really stress-relieving.
Wei Liru took the handkerchief off the embroidery frame, held it in her hand, and asked, "What do you want to say to me, Granny?"
Granny Cao said, "The eldest young master is drinking alone in sorrow, and the old lady is not feeling well. She would like to ask Miss to bring her some hangover soup to cheer her up."
Wei Liru frowned. In her memory, her elder brother had never been so worried about anything that he had to drink alcohol.
She went with some skepticism regarding Wei Ting.
When they arrived at Xinyuan Hall, Wei Ting was sitting at the stone table outside, holding a wine cup and drinking happily with the person sitting opposite him.
Only when Wei Liru approached did the two notice her.
Wei Ting caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye and said, "Li Ru is here."
He introduced her to the people opposite him: "This is my younger sister. Not only is she outstandingly beautiful, but she has also been intelligent, quick-witted, and multi-talented since childhood. Everyone likes her, and what's rare is her generous personality..."
Wei Liru frowned and said, "Brother, you're really quite drunk."
She put down the hangover soup and said, "This is hangover soup I prepared for you. Drink it quickly."
Slightly drunk, Wei Ting grabbed the arm of the person opposite him and said, "Look how considerate and gentle my sister is. She even came all the way to bring me hangover soup. Don't you think so?"
The man could only nod repeatedly in agreement.
Wei Ting drank the hangover soup, then stood up and walked into the house. After a few steps, he turned back and said, "Li Ru, go see the guests off for your brother."
Wei Liru looked at Wei Ting's swaying figure with complicated emotions, then turned to look at the person still sitting on the stone bench.
She asked, "Why aren't you leaving yet?"
The man replied, "Your older brother said you should give me a ride."
Is this person stupid? Can't they even recognize polite words?
Moreover, she could tell what he was thinking just by looking at his eyes; she had seen many men like him before she left her secluded home.
But back then, her older brother always stood in front of her, helping her deal with these unwanted romantic advances.
Thinking back to the past, Wei Liru sat down, picked up the clean wine glass next to her, poured herself another glass, and drank it all in one gulp.
This liquor is strong, but not strong enough to get Wei Ting drunk.
He deliberately avoided her, wanting to keep her there and make contact with the person in front of him.
Wei Liru put down her wine glass, a smile playing on her lips. Instead of playing along, she said directly, "You're not so drunk you can't walk. If you don't know the way, just ask any servant."
This person was none other than Chi Rui.
He came from Lord Duan's wedding banquet. Because the emperor was there, no one dared to drink freely, for fear of behaving improperly after drinking.
Upon hearing that General Wei was at his residence, Chi Rui bought two jars of wine and slipped over.
Wei Ting didn't know if he had drunk too much, but he was a little tipsy, his whole body was hot, and when he looked at Wei Liru, who was as beautiful as a concubine in front of him, he spoke without thinking.
"General Wei is right."
Wei Liru took out a handkerchief, touched her lips with it, and said, "What?"
Chi Rui said, "No one would dislike you."
Wei Liru clenched her handkerchief and said sternly, "Do you think you can say such things to me just because I'm a deposed concubine?"
Having spent three years in the palace and holding the position of a palace mistress, her angry demeanor was vastly different from that of ordinary girls, causing Chi Rui's hands and feet to go numb.
But the more numb he became, the less he thought before he spoke, blurting out, "You're still the Empress, of course I wouldn't dare say that."
Wei Liru restrained herself from throwing the wine glass at his face.
Chi Rui continued, "But you're not anymore."
Wei Liru tried her best to suppress her anger, not wanting to argue with a drunkard. She stood up and gave him an ultimatum before leaving.
"Leave the Wei family now and don't ever appear before me again."
Chi Rui asked blankly, "Isn't it good to be liked?"
His gaze fell on the handkerchief she had tossed on the table, his eyes lit up, and he said, "Your handkerchief is so well embroidered."
Wei Liru frowned and turned to take back the handkerchief, but Chi Rui grabbed it first.
He examined it closely and said admiringly, "At first glance, it looks like a mandarin duck, but upon closer inspection, it looks like a duck. Especially the leader, it looks so majestic and proud. It is definitely the general among ducks, and the invincible kind at that."
As he spoke, he looked at her with a passionate and adoring gaze.
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