Chongfei Manual

Chapter 97

The first day of August was Wei Zheng’s first time returning to her parents’ home after her wedding.

Although Wei Kun was displeased about this son-in-law, proper etiquette must be followed. He woke up early to wash his face and rinse his mouth, changed into a black robe with a pattern of lotus stems at the border, arrived at the receiving room, saluted Duke Ying and Old Madam, and sat down in an ironwood chair below them.

At this time, there were already many people in the receiving room. The people from the other branches were also here. They were all smiling as they waited for the newlyweds to come.

Around 8am, servants came into the room to say that Prince Ru Yang’s family’s carriage was here.

A short while later, Li Song and Wei Zheng came into the room together. Li Song was wearing an indigo blue robe with a treasure pattern and black boots. He saluted Duke Ying and Old Madam. He looked very upright and honest. He showed restraint by curbing his hostility. When he faced Wei Kun, he even docilely called him, “Father.”

Duke Ying had residual anger towards her. Even after drinking the tea, his face still didn’t look good. However, Old Madam Luo-shi‘s attitude became slightly warmer. She didn’t want to make things too uncomfortable, so she patted Wei Zheng’s hand and said, “You can sit down. Don’t tire yourself out.”

Wei Zheng’s face stagnated. She quickly nodded and slowly walked toward the chair next to Li Song’s. Her body was stiff after she sat down.

After Duke Ying and Old Madam said a few words, they had Li Song and Wei Zheng stay for lunch. Li Song didn’t refused.

During the time before lunch, Li Song, Duke Ying, Wei Kun, and the other men stayed in the receiving room. The madams took Wei Zheng to the nearby reception pavilion to talk.

Du-shi wasn’t here and the madams didn’t feel comfortable with saying too much. They just briefly mentioned how a husband and wife and a daughter-in-law and mother-in-law should get along. They instructed Wei Zheng with the rules for living with her husband’s family. Wei Zheng’s head was lowered. She didn’t reply and seemed preoccupied with her thoughts. First and Fourth Madam knew that her temperament was always like this, so they didn’t say anything. Second Madam was already too busy with dealing with the daughter that had been born outside. She didn’t have time to be concerned with anyone else. Only Third Madam was a chatterbox. She held Wei Zheng’s hand and asked, “How is House Li treating you?”

Wei Zheng’s hand was like icy cold. She resisted the urge to take her hand out of Liu-shi‘s hand. She pursed her lips into a smile and in a relaxed tone, she said, “Elder Princess and Prince Ru Yang treat me very well. Third Aunt, you don’t have to worry.”

Slightly surprised and reassured, Liu-shi made a sound of acknowledgement before worriedly asked, “Then… How about you and Li Song?”

Without changing her expression, Wei Zheng pulled her hand away. She was worried that Liu-shi would discover that she was trembling. She picked up the white glazed teacup with a rose pattern, took a sip of tea, and smiled as she said, “He’s very meticulous towards my daddy. When he heard that daddy hasn’t been feeling well lately, he brought along several pieces of ginseng and reishi mushroom when we left the residence this morning.” She paused. She was worried that Liu-shi wouldn’t believe her, so she blushed to show the appearance of bashfulness. “He treats me well too. Other than occasionally being a bit crude and rough…”

Liu-shi naturally understood the meaning behind her words. She ambiguously smiled and didn’t ask any more questions.

Prince Ru Yang was a general. His son practiced martial arts since he was child. How gentle could a military person be? It was understandable if they were slightly crude and rough.

——–

Around noon, the entire family was sitting at one table in the reception room to eat lunch.

Wei Kun had also called Wei Luo and Chang Hong over here.

Wei Luo and Chang Hong were originally gathering lotus flowers at the lotus pond that was at the back of the residence. Lotus flowers had a strong pigment that could be used to make rouge and lipstick. Chang Hong was rowing the boat at the back while Wei Luo gathered the lotus flowers one by one. After they came out of the lotus pond, their foreheads and the tip of their noses were covered in delicate layer of sweat from the summer heat.

After hearing Jin Lu’s words, Wei Luo couldn’t help curiously asking, “Why does daddy want us to go over there? Wasn’t it fine just to have the elders there?”

Jin Lu held a silk handkerchief out to wipe Wei Luo’s sweat. Before she touched Wei Luo, Wei Chang Hong took the handkerchief. Jin Lu embarrassedly said, “Master said it was just eating to lunch together…”

Wei Chang Hong held the silk handkerchief, wiped the sweat on Wei Luo’s face, and said, “Let’s go then.”

Wei Luo didn’t have to time take a bath. She could only put on a pomegranate red outer robe with a stylized mushroom stem pattern before following Chang Hong to the receiving room.

When they arrived at the receiving room, everyone was already sitting down. She saluted Duke Ying and Old Madam.

Fourth Madam Qing-shi gestured her to her side, “Ah Luo and Chang Hong are here. Sit down next Fourth Aunt. Today is your fifth younger sister’s first visit home after her wedding. You two should at least see her once…” Then she looked left and right at Wei Luo and exclaimed in surprised, “Where did you two go? Why are you sweating so much?”

Wei Luo lifted her eyes to glance at Li Song and Wei Zheng who were across from them. There wasn’t any strong emotion in her eyes when her gaze swept past them. She smilingly curved her eyes when she looked at Qin-shi and replied, “I went to pick lotus flowers with Chang Hong at the back of the residence. Chang Hong was rowing the boat and I was responsible for gathering the flowers. It didn’t take long to pick enough flowers to fill half of the prow of the boat. But, the weather was too warm. I was sweating even when I was only slightly moving. I won’t go next time. ”

Without a better option, Qin-shi could only scold her, “What’s the matter with you? It’s so hot. Why would you go there? Of course, you’re sweating.”

Wei Luo’s smile was obedient and cute as she said, “Lotus flowers have a very pretty color and can be used to make rouge and lipstick. When Aunty Han makes them, I’ll bring extra ones to my aunts. I guarantee that you’ll all look ten years younger when using them.”

Her words made the mood in the room more cheerful and lively as the various madams smiled.

Seeing that the mood was just right, Qin-shi said to her and Wei Chang Hong, “Chang Hong, you probably met House Li’s heir. Ah Luo, have you met him before? This is Prince Ru Yang’s heir, he’s your brother-in-law.”

Wei Luo didn’t have a choice. She had to look at Li Song. The smile on her lips slowly faded. She politely greeted him, “Heir.”

Li Song didn’t smile. His eyes were looking down and she couldn’t see his expression or guess his emotion. Even after a long time, he didn’t reply.

Qin-shi felt somewhat awkward.

Contrarily, Wei Luo didn’t really care. She sat down and continued talking about the advantages of using rouge and lipstick made from lotus flowers. Not much later, the dishes were brought up one and after another. Everyone forgot the recent episode. They waited until Duke Ying picked up the first bite of food before picking up their own chopsticks and started eating.

From beginning to end, Li Song’s eyes were looking down. He didn’t look across the table even once as if he didn’t recognized Wei Luo and never had feelings that he shouldn’t have had towards her.

When lunch was half over, Wei Luo rubbed her nose and sneezed.

She had recently been sweating and came over here without changing clothes. Qin-shi was worried that she was getting sick and caringly asked, “Are you cold? How about you go back to change clothes? Otherwise, you might feel too cold later.”

Wei Luo wasn’t uncomfortable anywhere. But, she didn’t want to eat lunch with Li Song, so she took the advantage of the situation for her benefit and agreed. She bid everyone farewell and walked away from the receiving room.

She walked in the verandah with Jin Lu at her side. Jin Lu long-windedly said, “Miss, isn’t Prince Ru Yang’s heir slightly too arrogant… When you greeted him before, he didn’t even say a single word. This servant saw that Fifth Master’s face didn’t look good. I heard that Prince Ru Yang’s heir used to be very overbearing. No one in the capital dares to offend him. I don’t know if Fifth Miss’s days will be good after marrying him…”

Wei Luo didn’t respond.

After they walked to end of the verandah and passed through a moon gate, the path to the inner part of the residence was in front of them. Just as Wei Luo was about to walk forward, something was suddenly thrown over here! It stably pierced the soil near her embroidered shoes and blocked her path. She lowered her head to look. It was a golden hairpin with emeralds. It looked slightly familiar.

Next to her, Jin Lu asked in surprise, “What is this? Who threw this?”

Wei Luo looked at it for a while, then she turned around to look behind her.

She saw Li Song standing not far away in the verandah without any expression. Wearing a brocaded robe, he looked pale and slender. Clearly, he had the appearance of a cool, young aristocrat. But against expectation, his eyebrows were low and his expression was indifferent. He gave off a feeling of a person who wasn’t amendable to reason. Even when Wei Luo was looking at him, he didn’t say a single word.

Jin Lu wanted to bend over to pick up the hairpin, but Wei Luo held onto her shoulder and wouldn’t let her move.

She already recognized this hairpin. After she had used this hairpin to injure him, she hadn’t taken it back. She hadn’t expected that he would keep it until now.

Why did he come over here instead of staying in the receiving room to eat lunch?

Li Song looked at Wei Luo without moving. Just when Wei Luo thought he was going to open his mouth to speak, he turned around and left.

Not long after, he disappeared from Wei Luo’s line of sight.

Jin Lu was very confused by this scene. She looked in the direction that Li Song had left, then she looked at Wei Luo. “Miss, was this the hairpin that you had lost? Why was it with House Li’s heir?”

Wei Luo didn’t answer her. She turned around and walked through the moon gate.

Jin Lu continued to persistently ask, “Miss, do you still want this hairpin…”

She quietly said, “No, throw it away.”

——–

House Wei’s Fifth Miss was married, but the Fourth Miss didn’t have an engagement. Many of women in the capital were overtly and secretly inquired about Wei Luo’s marriage plans. After all, Wei Luo’s reputation was very good and her appearance was exceptional. In the past, she had been engaged with Song Hui before she was born, so other people didn’t dare to look as if they were considering. Now, the engagement was gone. The eyes of young men that were of marriageable age were all looking at Wei Luo.

Today was Qin-shi‘s father, Marquis An Lin’s seventieth birthday. Duke Ying’s entire family had been invited.

Of course, Wei Luo and Wei Chong Hong were attending.

Wei Luo was sitting together with Qin-shi. As soon as a madam saw her, her hopeful and desirous gaze would intentionally or unintentionally fall on Wei Luo’s body to the point that Wei Luo felt uncomfortable. Wei Luo understood their meaning. Qin-shi had asked her if there was someone that she liked, but she shook her head to say no.

There was someone that she liked. That person was anxiously waiting for her to agree, so that he could come to her home to propose marriage.

Wei Luo found an excuse to leave and led Wei Chang Mi to the pavilion at the back of the residence to play.

Wei Chang Mi had come here a few times before and could be counted as familiar with this place. Without any adults around to control him, he seemed to be scattering happiness as he held Wei Luo’s hand and ran forward. “Older sister Ah Luo, there’s a swing up front. Little maternal uncle specially made it for me. He said that I can play with it every time I come here!”

The little maternal uncle that he mentioned was Marquis An Lin’s young son, Qin Ce. He was twenty-four years old this year. Qing Ce was mischievous as a child. As he grew up, he gradually curbed his playful temperament and started to attentively study the art of war. With some reservations, he could be considered accomplished.

Wei Luo followed behind Wei Chang Mi. Seeing that he was running so quickly, she frowned and reminded him. “Wei Chang Mi, don’t run so fast. Be careful, you might fall…”

Wei Chang Mi listened to her words and stopped running. Step by step, he swiftly walked forward.

Laughter escaped from Wei Luo for a moment. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

After they passed a long corridor, the space in front of them suddenly opened. There was lush, thick banyan tree with a swing tied to it in the courtyard. If they continued walking forward on this path, they would reach the dooryard. The dooryard was where the men would be gathered for Marquis An Lin’s birthday today.

(Note: During these gatherings, women and men would usually be separated into two different places in the residence.)

Wei Chang Mi pulled Wei Luo forward as he rushed towards the swing. He suddenly stopped after seeing someone in the front and said in surprised, “Little maternal uncle!”

Wei Luo also stopped and lifted her eyes to look.

There were two people standing in the verandah in front of them. One was wearing a moon white robe with a persimmon stem pattern. He looked slightly familiar and somewhat resembled Qin-shi. He was probably the little maternal uncle that Wei Chang Mi had mentioned. The other person was wearing a dark green robe with a python pattern. The side of his face was handsome and his figure was tall and straight. Standing there, he had an indescribable essence that was as incomparable as jade…

Why was Zhao Jie here?

Zhao Jie hadn’t seen her. His deep phoenix eyes were looking towards the front. She didn’t know why he was looking so competitive or who he was looking at.

Wei Chang Mi pulled Wei Luo over there until they were a few steps away from Zhao Jie. She finally had a clear view of that person.

Wei Luo’s heart dropped for a moment. This person had eaten breakfast and left the residence with her today… Wei Chang Mi impatiently called out, “Yi, is older brother Chang Hong also here?”

Wei Chang Hong was right across Zhao Jie. He was one head shorter than Zhao Jie, but he didn’t seem like he was retreating at all. His thin lips were flattened into a line and his face was taut. Without blinking, he looked at the white jade hairpin on Zhao Jie’s head and the hand inside his sleeve involuntarily clenched into a fist.