The Perilous Palace Dream - Side Story-1
Side Story (Part 1): It Is Hard to Be a Father
In his lifetime, Master Wei always felt that only by seeing a house full of children and grandchildren could he consider his life free of regrets.
Today was his fiftieth birthday, and he had brought his whole family back from overseas to the ancient city of Pingyang specifically to celebrate it. At fifty years of age—a time when one ought to look at things open-mindedly and not anger easily—he looked at the hall filled with children and grandchildren, yet not a single one of them was worry-free.
He had originally been quite satisfied with the daughter-in-law his second son had married. Although she was born of a concubine, she still came from a prominent, noble family. Though a bit hot-tempered, she was well-educated, sensible, and behaved with proper decorum toward her parents-in-law. He truly had been very satisfied with her…
Yet, little did he expect that one day in the garden, he would inadvertently overhear an argument between his second son and his daughter-in-law behind the rockery. Listening to his daughter-in-law’s indignant words, it turned out that his son had actually compromised her virtue for the first time inside the rockery of the Imperial Garden… and even forced her, an Empress, to marry down to a boatman…
That last sentence struck Master Wei like a bolt from the blue, leaving him teetering on his feet. However, he could hardly reveal himself during such unspeakable, private lovers’ quarrels, lest his heavily pregnant daughter-in-law be too embarrassed and do something reckless like jumping into a well out of shame. So, he tottered back to his own room. Once he settled his mind and thought about it, he understood the whole cause and effect. His unfilial, rebellious eldest son, Wei Lenghou, had monopolized power in the court and meddled in the imperial harem; his audacity-crazed second son had taken a liking to the Empress in the rear palace, forcibly claimed her for himself, and colluded with his elder brother to falsely report that the Empress had passed away…
Thinking it through like this, everything fit together with perfect, chilling logic! Just how much lion’s courage had they consumed to dare such a thing? How could he have the face to meet the ancestors of the Wei family after he died?
In the end, he secretly summoned his second son to the ancestral hall. The arm-thick wooden club that had historically been reserved exclusively for his eldest son was brought down heavily and solidly upon Ah Zhi, who had always been well-behaved.
Yet, he never expected that what was beaten out of him was an even more horrifying truth—that the Emperor was actually a woman! And she was the very Princess his eldest son intended to marry…
Master Wei instantly felt all the strength drain from his arms. Only after Old Madame Wei patted his chest and back repeatedly did he finally come to; otherwise, he would have gone to see his ancestors a step ahead of time.
Therefore, when news arrived from the capital that the Grand Tutor had “married” into the palace to serve the Empress Regnant, Master Wei actually let out a long, deep sigh of relief. He thought comfortingly: At least my family hasn’t produced a treacherous rebel after all. Matrilocal marriage brings peace of mind anyway—let him drop his surname altogether, and we’ll just pretend the Wei family never had this son!
However, when it came to this family birthday banquet, arranging the seating at the tables proved rather difficult.
The relatives and friends of the clan had already enjoyed the birthday wine early in the morning. Only when nightfall descended did a carriage surrounded by front and rear escorts come to a halt before the Wei Manor in the ancient city of Pingyang.
A peerless beauty clad in a white-ground, red-patterned, floor-length plum blossom dress slowly stepped down from the carriage with the support of palace maids. The tall, handsome man riding alongside jumped down from his horse, reached out to take her hand, and said, “Tonight is a family banquet. My Guo’er isn’t the Emperor on the dais tonight, so be a bit more relaxed when you see Father and Mother shortly.”
Nie Qinglin looked at Lord Dingguo with amusement and said with a light chuckle, “I understand, Husband. Your humble wife will certainly fulfill her filial duties to the utmost and win the hearts of our parents-in-law.”
Saying this, she held her husband’s broad palm and walked toward the interior of the residence.
The elderly Wei couple had received word early on. Once the guests had dispersed, they had the paved walkway washed with clean water, laid down handmade Persian carpets imported from overseas, and knelt beneath the steps to respectfully welcome the Empress Regnant of Great Wei to the humble Wei Manor.
Nie Qinglin raised her eyes and saw the elderly Wei couple kneeling. She hurried forward a few steps to support the two elders, saying, “Father, Mother, doing this will surely shorten my blessings! My husband and I specifically came at dusk to avoid the tedious formalities before others. Please simply treat me as a daughter-in-law of the Wei family; you must never act like this.”
Old Madame Wei had originally been worried about how to treat such an exalted imperial daughter-in-law. Seeing that she was not clad in a dragon robe, but rather dressed in quiet, elegant plain attire, she realized these were no mere polite pleasantries. Looking at this noble imperial daughter-in-law with her gentle, approachable smile, she truly was a child one could not help but love from the bottom of one’s heart at first sight.
How wonderful it would be if her family background were a bit lower, she thought. Then she could have been married into the Wei family’s inner quarters, and mother-in-law and daughter-in-law could spend day and night together.
Shen Hong’er’s eyes welled with tears upon seeing the Emperor. Nearing her delivery date, she walked forward with quick steps, took Nie Qinglin’s hand, and refused to let go. Her unusually warm enthusiasm provoked another wave of displeasure from the Grand Tutor: A deposed Empress who has past her prime truly doesn’t know proper decorum. Even as sisters-in-law, holding hands like this without letting go is deeply embarrassing. He shot a glare at his younger brother, signaling him to pull Shen Hong’er away.
Wei Lenghou was a natural at controlling the atmosphere. Though the family was a bit stiff at first, unsure of what to do, things warmed up before long. Since it was too late for a full banquet—lest eating so late cause indigestion—they took advantage of the beautiful moonlight and the pleasant garden scenery. In a gazebo beside a small lake, they laid out melons, fruits, and pastries, chatting casually as a family.
Since childhood, Nie Qinglin had rarely experienced such sweet moments of family reunion. When her mother-in-law personally peeled a small mandarin orange, removed the white pith, and fed it to her, she accepted it with a smiling mouth, chewing it carefully.
Seeing her selectively pick those slightly sour fruits to eat, Old Madame Wei felt a surge of joy in her heart and asked secretly, “Why do you like eating things so sour they could set your teeth on edge? Could it be that you’re pregnant?”
Hearing this, Nie Qinglin’s heart sank. She was just about to reply with a bitter smile when she heard Wei Lenghou beside her say displeasurely, “She has a habit of holding food in her stomach, and she ate a bit too much for dinner tonight, so she likes eating these sour things to relieve her appetite.”
Seeing her son’s displeasure, Old Madame Wei realized she had said something she shouldn’t have, so she hastily closed her mouth and spoke no further.
Before long, as the night grew deeper, everyone dispersed to rest.
Upon returning to the bedchamber specially arranged by the Wei Manor, Nie Qinglin washed her hands and feet under the service of her maids, then collapsed onto the bed, staring blankly at the heavy curtains.
When Wei Lenghou lay down beside her, kissing her neck intimately, he noticed her distraction and asked, “What is it?”
Nie Qinglin blinked her large eyes, looked at the handsome man before her, and said softly, “Before you and I married, we had already weathered many storms together, yet I have never been pregnant. I heard Divine Physician Wei mention that I am not easily conceived, while the Grand Tutor is advancing in years and cannot be left without an heir…”
The Grand Tutor could never tolerate the word “old.” Being asked this by his beloved, he raised his sword-shaped eyebrows slightly.
“Why worry about that? Besides, where am I old? Could it be that the Princess is complaining that my recent efforts haven’t been enough?”
Nie Qinglin naturally knew where Lord Wei’s touchy subject lay, and she suddenly recalled a dispute over the flipping of bed-paddles a few days ago. Over the past few days, the nation was at peace and the court was harmonious; having nothing to do, the Grand Tutor had ordered the Bureau of Internal Attendants to make a tray of named paddles, saying they were for Her Majesty to use when summoning someone for the night.
When Nie Qinglin flipped through them casually, she discovered that every single paddle in the tray for the serving beauties belonged to the same person—Lord Wei Lenghou himself…
And if she didn’t flip one, the young eunuch would say tremblingly, “The Grand Tutor said that if Her Majesty does not flip a paddle, it means we servants have failed in our duties, and we are to be beaten with boards.”
For the sake of the fair buttocks of those delicate young eunuchs, the Empress had no choice every day but to be forced to flip a paddle. Thus, every night, a fierce tiger would enter the dragon bed to devour her imperial body completely.
Pressing against his approaching chest, her face flushed with bashfulness, she said, “Where am I complaining? Lord Wei makes trouble all day long without any rest. Today, having returned to the Wei Manor, there is no need to flip a paddle, so we should take a rest.”
How could Lord Wei agree? Unbuttoning Her Majesty’s inner garment with single-minded intent, he said, “Now that Your Majesty has come among the common people, how could you not leave behind a story of plucking flowers? Tonight, consider yourself staying overnight with me as a single night of romance.”
In the end, it was the former Empress who was most thoughtful of the sovereign’s mind. Having carefully observed the Emperor’s complexion that night, she pulled Nie Qinglin aside the next day and said softly, “There is a Child-Sending Guanyin Temple in Pingyang that is very efficacious; why don’t we go there to offer incense?”
Nie Qinglin was also quite moved by the idea and wanted to go. Having nothing to do, the Grand Tutor naturally accompanied her to the Guanyin Temple.
Sure enough, the temple grounds were bustling with activity, filled with vendors selling cloth dolls of boys and girls, as well as offerings like lotus seeds and peanuts.
Seeing a vendor whose dolls were exquisitely made, Nie Qinglin enthusiastically picked through them back and forth. In her heart, she personally preferred a girl, but thinking of her husband, she picked out a boy doll. Yet, turning around, she saw that the Grand Tutor had long since chosen a girl doll.
“If we have one, I hope it’s a girl who looks just like my Guo’er. She must be doted on and spoiled from childhood, never allowed to suffer the slightest hardship,” the Grand Tutor said, placing the girl doll into her hands as his thin lips parted slightly.
Nie Qinglin could not help feeling a slight warmth in her heart. In the past, she had not truly understood this man. She had always felt he was arbitrary, tyrannical, and acted only according to his own pleasure. Only now did she slowly realize that he always felt she had suffered too many hardships in her childhood, so he doted on her like a child. Most of this man’s love had to be felt silently with one’s heart; behind much of his domineering nature lay deep and profound affection.
Holding the two dolls in her arms, for the first time she felt an urgent desire to bear children for this man as soon as possible—it would be best to have many, both boys and girls.
Before they reached the temple gates, they saw a fortune-telling stall surrounded by many women, creating quite a lively scene.
Nie Qinglin glanced over the crowd, and her gaze met the fortune teller’s directly. Suddenly, she felt this old gentleman looked somewhat familiar.
The old gentleman was also taken aback upon seeing Nie Qinglin. Suddenly ignoring the women waiting around him, he stood up excitedly: “Young lady, please wait!”
Hearing the old gentleman’s shout, Wei Lenghou frowned slightly.
Raising his eyes, he instantly recognized the old man—wasn’t he the very one in the refugee village who had babbled nonsense, claiming his Guo’er would die young?
