The Perilous Palace Dream - Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Before the steward could finish speaking, the eldest son of the Wei family hurried into the hall from outside.
When he saw his parents, he knelt according to etiquette and said, “Father and Mother above, your unfilial son greets you both.”
Seeing the tall figure of his son, Master Wei finally relaxed and said from his seat, “So you still remember where the door of the house is. At least you are willing to come back.”
Madam Wei quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.
She held the handsome son she had not seen for a long time and looked him up and down without stopping.
She spoke about many of his recent matters and waited for the younger son Wei Yunzhi to return from the shop so they could all have a family dinner together.
Because his elder brother had returned, Wei Yunzhi did not linger at the shop and returned early.
Aunt Liu and her daughter also came back.
Everyone in the Wei residence sat around the dining hall, lively and cheerful.
Madam Wei looked at her eldest son with a smile.
Naturally she also noticed Ruoshan’s shy glances toward her older cousin during the banquet, so she used the lively atmosphere to say, “Yu Lang, you are no longer young. Your younger brother has been led astray by you, claiming the affairs of the ships are too busy so he will not marry. You should set an example. When will you get married?”
When Madam Wei finished speaking, the sound of chopsticks striking plates in the hall stopped at once.
Silence fell.
In the past, every time this topic was mentioned, things would end unhappily.
The Grand Tutor could play a fine game of evasion.
Even in front of his parents he was extremely skilled at turning away every question.
But this time, Wei Lenghou did not seem inclined to avoid anything.
After putting down his chopsticks, he said with a solemn expression, “Your child has been unfilial and has caused worry in the past. This time I have come to see you both with the intention of settling my lifelong matter. I ask Father and Mother to put in the effort.”
Hearing this, Master and Madam Wei felt relieved.
Aunt Liu and cousin Ruoshan could not hide their joy either.
The atmosphere at the table became lively again.
Only the younger brother Wei Yunzhi, who understood his elder brother’s character very well, secretly sensed something was wrong.
Madam Wei had just wanted to say, “Your cousin Ruoshan has been waiting for this day,” when Wei Lenghou continued, “If it is convenient for you both, please follow me tomorrow to the guest residence to propose marriage.”
At these words, everyone’s expression froze.
Cousin Ruoshan looked as if she was about to shed tears.
Madam Wei did not even dare to look at her sister’s face.
It was unbearably awkward.
According to her son’s words, he did intend to marry, but he meant to marry someone else.
“Bastard. Since you already have a marriage agreement with your cousin Ruoshan, how can you ask to marry another woman?”
Master Wei was so angry he nearly slapped the table.
Madam Wei, well practiced in smoothing things over, quickly said, “Eat first. One should not talk while eating or sleeping. We will speak after the meal.”
But after hearing this matter, no one had any appetite.
The dinner ended quickly and everyone dispersed.
After the meal, before they could even drink tea, Madam Wei dragged her eldest son into her private chamber.
Some things were not suitable to ask in front of her younger sister and niece.
“Yu Lang, which family’s young lady do you have your eye on, to the point that you ignore your cousin Ruoshan’s engagement?” Madam Wei asked anxiously.
Wei Lenghou raised his thick brows.
“My marriage agreement with cousin Ruoshan was ended long ago. Has Mother forgotten? You and Father do not need to worry about Aunt Liu’s side. Your son will handle it. It will not harm the affection between you sisters. As for the one I have set my heart on, she is the blood sister of the current Son of Heaven, the Princess Yong’an of Great Wei.”
Wei Lenghou’s words made Madam Wei open her mouth in shock.
She and her husband had lived overseas for many years and were cut off from news.
Master Wei always felt that the disobedient son was capable of anything, so he avoided hearing too much about him.
Naturally they did not know about the many rumors between their son and Princess Yong’an.
Hearing everything at once made her anxious and uneasy.
Even if the world did not dare speak openly of the hidden matters between the Grand Tutor and the former emperor, everyone knew of her son’s ambition to seize the heart of Great Wei.
What was wrong with him? He wanted to marry the daughter of the former emperor.
Such a marriage did not look like it would bring happiness.
“Yu Lang, no matter whether you intend to become emperor or stir up storms, there is one thing. The mother of the children of the Wei family cannot be a woman who resents the Wei family. If you marry for power and become a resentful couple, what will your future sons think of their parents?”
These words unintentionally struck the deepest knot in Wei Lenghou’s heart.
His handsome face tightened and he said firmly, “She will be a good mother.”
Those few words made Madam Wei realize that her son’s wish to marry was not merely a political alliance.
He truly cared for this Princess Yong’an.
In truth, Wei Lenghou’s reckless nature had much to do with Madam Wei’s indulgence.
Since childhood, no matter how frighteningly large the rod in his father’s hand, Madam Wei loved and protected him.
Sometimes she scolded him for being troublesome, but in her heart she believed her son was brilliant beyond compare.
Whatever he wanted, she tried her best to give him.
Marriage was no exception.
At first she worried herself sick because he refused to marry, but now he had finally softened.
Although the woman he wanted had such a daunting status, after recovering from her shock she accepted it calmly.
What else could she do? If her son wanted to poke a hole in the sky, who could stop him? Only her sister’s side remained troublesome.
Ruoshan’s good name had been damaged because of Yu Lang.
She could not ignore it.
What a calamity.
If he married the princess and Ruoshan still insisted on marrying him, she could only be a concubine.
As for that princess, what was her temperament? Would she be willing to marry this troublemaking son?
Leaving aside the chaos in the Wei residence, Princess Shaoyang heard from An Qiao’er that the Grand Tutor had sent her younger sister to the guest residence, then left in anger.
Worried for her sister, she rose to find her.
“What happened now? Why was the Grand Tutor angry?”
Hearing her elder sister ask, Nie Qinglin removed the hairpin from her hair, looked plain and simple, pulled her sister to sit by the window, and said to Nanny Shan, “Nanny, go and rest.”
Nanny Shan understood that the two sisters wished to speak privately and withdrew quietly.
Nie Qinglin then briefly explained the matter of the Grand Tutor insisting she meet his parents.
Princess Shaoyang remained silent for a long while before saying, “If the Grand Tutor wishes to marry a princess, he should first report to His Majesty. Forcing the princess to meet the parents of the Wei family in this manner is outside the proper rites. But it also shows that he is sincere in wanting to marry you. That is good. However, the Grand Tutor is not a suitable match. Your temperament seems soft, but in my view it is very firm. Yet behind this firmness, is it unwillingness or reluctance?”
Princess Shaoyang’s soft personality made this remark all the more pointed and accurate.
Nie Qinglin held a small piece of carved jade ruyi and slowly stroked its warm surface.
“Yes. Is it unwillingness or reluctance?”
Seeing her sister deep in thought, Princess Shaoyang continued, “Sister can see you are not without feelings for the Grand Tutor. Perhaps you worry about his future prospects. Whether he becomes a virtuous minister or claims the throne, neither you nor I can stop him. I only hope he will spare His Majesty’s life for your sake. You always tell your sister to be strong and understanding. Why is it that when it comes to yourself, you are as stubborn as dried ox tendon tied in a knot and then drenched with water?”
Nie Qinglin was amused at once by her elder sister’s northern frontier style of metaphor.
She asked with a smile whether her sister had personally herded cattle in the northern lands.
Being interrupted and diverted by her sister’s playful nonsense, the topic shifted.
After the sisters chatted and laughed for a while, Princess Shaoyang grew tired because of her pregnancy.
She offered a few words of comfort, then returned to her room to rest.
Nie Qinglin asked Nanny Shan whether the Grand Tutor had returned, but learned that he had not.
He had likely stayed outside the capital for the night.
Hearing this, she asked no further.
She simply ate a few small dishes and a bowl of sweet pumpkin and chestnut porridge that Nanny Shan brought up.
After spending a short while daydreaming, she changed into comfortable silk sleepwear, lay on the bed, and began reading the newly purchased storybook from the marketplace that still smelled of fresh ink.
As expected, the tales of swift vengeance and fierce loyalty were exhilarating.
After reading for a while, her troubles disappeared entirely.
At the most exciting part, Princess Yong’an lifted both long legs toward the sky, waving the jade ruyi in her hand and making a few sword flowers in the air.
Imitating the amorous hero from the chivalrous storybooks, she deepened her voice and shouted, “Young master wanders the land, living free and unrestrained. How could I stay for ordinary powder and rouge like you? Farewell.”
But just after she executed a move from the paired mandarin duck kick, and before she could withdraw her leg, it was caught by a large hand.
The elusive Grand Tutor narrowed his phoenix eyes as he appeared behind the curtain.
Gently stroking the soft skin around her ankle, he said, “The princess is certainly carefree, but to toy with one’s affections and then abandon them, are you not afraid of meeting someone troublesome who refuses to let go?”
Caught off guard and having forgotten herself, Nie Qinglin felt embarrassed.
“Grand Tutor, why have you returned? Should you not stay longer with your family?”
The Grand Tutor was somewhat annoyed.
He bit gently into the tender arch of her foot, catching Princess Yong’an completely unprepared.
She jerked as the ticklish sensation shot through her, twisting like a little fish flicking its tail and leaping out of the water.
Wei Lenghou had been frowning, but her reaction made him smile.
He bent down, lifted her into his arms, and kissed her soft cheek.
“I had planned to stay at the manor, but once I lay down I kept thinking of my little Guo’er sleeping all alone. I could not rest, so I returned in the night. Who knew the one I was longing for had turned into a wandering little hero, able to take up and put down with ease.”
Earlier that day, he had returned her to the residence and they parted unhappily.
How could he sleep after that.
He tossed and turned before deciding to come back first.
Hearing this, Nie Qinglin felt her heart warm.
She pursed her lips and reached out with her slender fingers, fiddling with the pearl button on his collar.
The Grand Tutor saw the laughter hiding in her eyes and completely forgot the quarrel in the carriage earlier.
Wei Lenghou had always possessed a nature unwilling to yield.
Toward his lifelong rival he was unbending from beginning to end, never bowing his head.
Yet before this delicate and charming girl, he lowered his head again and again.
Though it frustrated and stifled him at times, whenever she smiled at him like this, everything melted away like smoke.
He only wished she would always look at him with such gentle affection, and even drowning in it would be worth it.
“Little Guo’er, playing with my collar like this, are you urging this lord to undress more quickly?” he asked with a soft smile.
Only then did Nie Qinglin realize what her unconscious little gesture implied.
She immediately blushed and pulled her hand back.
“Tomorrow, my parents will come to pay respects to both princesses.”
After placing her gently back on the bed, he suddenly said this.
Nie Qinglin froze.
Her lips parted slightly.
“What?”
The Grand Tutor unfastened the button she had been playing with and said, “There are no elders of the princess here. Tomorrow, my parents will naturally propose the marriage to Princess Shaoyang. I hope the two princesses will show consideration for the parents of a humble official. They hold no titles and do not understand palace etiquette. If they happen to act improperly, I ask for your understanding.”
After speaking, he removed his clothing, then took down the hairpin from his head.
His dark hair fell over his bare, well built back.
As strands brushed past his cheek, he appeared almost neither male nor female.
When he lowered his head, the candlelight shimmered in his phoenix eyes with a captivating glow.
“But tonight, I ask that the princess grant permission for this humble official to serve in attendance. If I act improperly, I beg for your understanding.”
The movements on the Grand Tutor’s bed had always allowed no room for doubt.
The autumn weather was unusually brisk, and even if fragrant skin and light sweat clung to clothing it would not make anyone feel unbearable.
Because they had made such a ruckus in the night, they were drowsy the next day, and even with sunlight shining through the lattice windows they still had not awakened.
After their son left yesterday, Madam Wei took the chance to persuade her husband again.
When Master Wei’s anger finally subsided, the couple carefully pondered the matter once more.
Master Wei was not someone who coveted the powerful, but neither was he like his son, who was born with a rebellious streak.
Regardless of noble rank or humble status among princes, marquises, ministers, and generals, he only regarded both families as ordinary common households.
He had not taught his son well, causing the Nie family to suffer.
No matter how one looked at it, it was the Wei family who was at fault first.
In that case, it would be safest to pay a formal visit to the Princess.
As for what would come afterward, they would have to act according to the situation.
So early in the morning, after bathing and changing clothes, the couple boarded the carriage and followed the guards left behind by Wei Lenghou to the lodging house.
But once they arrived, Shan Tiehua received the elderly couple into the sitting room.
When Master Wei asked where Lord Wei was and whether the Princess intended to see them, she answered frankly without hiding anything, saying, “The Grand Tutor and the Princess have not risen yet.”
At those words the couple looked at each other, eyes wide, and inwardly cursed in pain, “Unfilial son! Unfilial son! He actually acted first and reported later, barging recklessly into the inner palace!”
