Supporting the small body, Wei Kun asked with surprise : "What is Ah Luo saying? Madam wants to sell you? Didn't she take you to burn incense at Huguo Temple? Where is everyone?" Since he mentioned them, he looked around, and not seeing a trace of Madam Du, furrowed his brows, "How did you come back?"
The maidservant, who had delivered Wei Luo to the reception pavilion, muttered quietly: "Fourth Miss was brought here by a bodyguard… At that time, there was no one else with the fourth Miss."
That was a serious issue — Madam Du had led her out, but the girl had come back alone. No matter what, Madam Du hadn't properly looked after Wei Luo. Wei Kun's complexion wasn't very good. Ah Luo was crying as well, the tears soaking through his clothing material. His heart hurt for her. He squatted down and held Ah Luo's small face, asking gently: "Ah Luo, tell Daddy clearly, what has actually happened? Who was that guard? What about Madam?"
Wei Changhong, who was standing nearby, was equally distressed. His older sister was crying, but he had no idea why. He stepped forward to comfort her, but didn't know what to say.
He slowly reached for Wei Luo's hand, his grip tightening the longer he held it, "Ah Luo…"
Wei Luo was crying very pitifully, out of breath, her beautiful little face was red. She was wiping her tears and at the same time piling up the accusations: "After we finished burning incense, we passed through a forest on the way back, and two people were waiting there… Elder sister Jin Lu heard them, Madam said she was going to sell me to them…"
She repeated everything that had happened that morning. Her words were child-like and simple, but each spearhead was pointed at Madam Du. She was the one, who had contacted the slave traders, had prepared the sedative medicine, and had wanted to snatch her forcefully… The more she cried, the more dejected she looked. Finally, she asked Wei Kun in a terrified way: "Daddy, did Ah Luo make a mistake? That's why Madam doesn't want me. Daddy tell Ah Luo, Ah Luo can change…"
Wei Kun's complexion was black like the bottom of a pot. His thumbs gently wiped the tears from her face, his tone was doting: "Ah Luo hasn't made any mistakes. You're Daddy's little treasure."
He had barely spoken, and Wei Zheng, who had heard everything from beginning to end, shouted angrily from the entrance: "You're saying nonsense! My mother didn't do that, she's not a bad person. You're lying to Daddy!"
Although Wi Zheng was five, she could roughly understand what was going on. Wei Luo complained to father, saying that mother had done something wrong. She saw that father looked very angry, and would certainly punish mother later. She subconsciously knew she had to protect her own mother, couldn't let Wei Luo's scheme prevail.
Wei Zheng wasn't aware of the whole truth behind this matter. Madam Du alone had planned it all in secret. Today, Wei Zheng had wanted to go to Huguo Temple together with them, and even threw a fit that Madam Du was favoring Wei Luo, only taking her. Madam Du had had no choice but to tell her, as long as she behaved, she wouldn't ever see Wei Luo again. After considering for a while, Wei Zheng had nodded in agreement.
Wei Zheng and Wei Luo had never gotten close. Wei Zheng's temper was very similar to Madam Du — competitive, doing anything to fight for first place, wanted to be more outstanding than anyone. So whenever Duke Ying praised Wei Luo, she couldn't accept it in her heart.
Where was Wei Luo better than her? Why did everyone like her? Mother had said that Wei Luo didn't have a mother, that she was an illegitimate child. She quietly bore these words in mind, therefore had always thought Ah Luo's status was lower than hers. Now that she saw Wei Kun being so good to Wei Luo, she got even more furious.
Wei Zheng stepped forward, prepared to pull Ah Luo away from Wei Kun's embrace, and yelled: "You're lying, you're a liar!"
However, before she managed to touch Wei Luo's clothes, she was shoved away by Changhong. She staggered back a few steps, couldn't come to a stop, and slumped on the ground.
Changhong stood protectively in front of Wei Luo, his small face very serious, eyes cold: "Don't touch her!"
Wei Zheng hadn't seen Changhong so furious. She was usually calling him "Wei Changhong, Wei Changhong", never called him sixth elder brother. She didn't regard him as an older brother, let alone respect him. Yet now, as she looked at Changhong's fierce face anxiously, she suddenly felt scared. Turning to Wei Kun, she saw he was still comforting a crying Wei Luo, and simply had no time to pay attention to her situation. Frustrated, she also started crying.
Wei Kun coaxed Wei Luo with great difficulty, and asked the maidservant Jin Ge to bring her in the blue-screened room to lie down for a while.
Just as Jin Ge got close, she tightly held onto Wei Kun's neck, not letting go: "I don't want her!"
Jin Ge awkwardly froze in place.
She clearly remembered the past Jin Ge and Jin Ci's actions. As soon as she saw them, Wei Luo would think of the way Madam Du had strangled her neck. She hated everyone who had been at the scene, but most of all the indifferent Jin Ci and Jin Ge. At that time, they had already been bought over by Madam Du. She would definitely not trust them now, and if opportunity came, she'd give them both a harsh lesson.
She also refused to be held by unfamiliar servants.
Wei Kun thought she didn't allow anyone to get near her, because she'd received a scare, so he indulged her: "Alright, since you don't want her, Daddy will take you."
An ironwood arhat bed was set up in the blue-screened room. Wei Kun put her on the bed gently and rubbed her head: "Ah Luo, stay here for a while. If you want to eat anything, tell Daddy, so I can ask people to prepare something."
Wei Luo was tossed about for most of the day. Aside from one bowl of small wonton in the early morning, she hadn't eaten anything. Today had tired her out more than usual, naturally, her belly was also hungry. Looking at Changhong, she still remembered the dishes they'd always liked to eat :"Daddy, I want to eat hibiscus cakes and pine nuts fish."
Wei Kun was brooding over the earlier matter, barely forcing out a smile, "Alright, I'll ask the kitchen to make them."
After his departure, he sent a maidservant to the kitchen to let them prepare these two dishes, in addition to eight treasure gourd chicken and shrimp sauce tofu, also stewed carp soup, and a few side dishes. He had just returned from the Imperial Academy. There had been no time for lunch yet, but he didn't have an appetite anymore. He settled the two children first, then sent people to the Pine court (Madam Du's court). The people, who had recently served Madam Du were called to the front of the pavilion, kneeling neatly in two rows.
These people served Madam Du daily, it was certain they had to know something to a degree, but they weren't saying anything. The thought that these people had ganged up to harm Ah Luo, had him quaking with fury.
A maidservant brought over a pot of freshly brewed green tea. He took the ink-colored small cup and smashed it in front of the servant, the hot tea spilling all over the ground. He said: "Flog each person 20 times, and don't spare the rod!"
The people cried out as one, claiming they were innocent and knew nothing.
They truly didn't know, as Madam Du hid everything from them and only kept her closest attendant informed. But Wei Kun was extremely angry. He didn't listen to excuses, and without even waiting for Madam Du to come back and explain herself, punished all the servants in Pine court.
In the blue-screened room, Wei Luo and Wei Changhong were sitting on the arhat bed, while a maidservant gracefully placed the food to the side and waited on the two children.
Wei Luo picked up a hibiscus cake. She was half-done eating it, when she noticed Changhong hadn't moved his chopsticks, but his gaze was firmly locked on her. Not in a hurry to eat, she put down the chopsticks, and holding her cheek, asked: "Changhong, why aren't you eating? Are you full just from watching me?"
Changhong wasn't hungry as he still hadn't gotten over his shock, after listening to Wei Luo's words from earlier. More mature than his peers, he could understand what had happened. He knew what 'slave trader' meant. Although he wasn't too intimate with Madam Du, usually he'd show respect for her and regard her as an elder. It never crossed his mind she would harm Wei Luo.
Pursing his lips, Changhong slowly and solemnly said: "Ah Luo, I'll protect you from now on."
Wei Luo's hand paused over her food, and raised her head to stare at him blankly. She'd never had the chance to hear such words in her previous life. Though they really affected her, Changhong was still only six years old. She'd lived ten years longer than him, it made more sense for her to protect him.
There was no trace of the sadly sobbing in Wei Kun's bosom appearance on Ah Luo's face. She picked up a piece of gourd chicken and held it in front of him, asking with a smile: "You're younger than me, how can you protect me?"
Changhong anxiously raised his head to argue: "Only younger by an hour!"
Oh, he was actually younger than her in that way as well. Ah Luo didn't bicker with him over that, and shook the chicken between the chopsticks, "Are you eating or not? My hand is all sore from holding it up."
Of course, Changhong ate it. As he chewed, he suddenly remembered, "The maidservant said you were brought back by a bodyguard. Who is he?"
He unexpectedly thought of the point that even Wei Kun hadn't taken note of.
Wei Luo thought it really wasn't an easy matter to explain, so from the thousand words, she formed a single sentence: a good-hearted person passed through there by chance, and conveniently rescued her.
Saying that, Zhu Geng was too cheap. Instead of saving her, he wanted to deliver her to his master for retribution.
Changhong didn't think much of it and didn't ask further. They sat on the bed and finished eating their meal. When the maidservant went forward to tidy up the tableware, they heard someone announce from outside that Madam Du had come back.
Finally back.
Ah Luo jumped down from the arhat bed full of enthusiasm, in a few steps ran up behind the sliding door, and pasted her ear to the surface with a mysterious appearance.
Changhong followed after her bewildered, "What are you doing?"
Ah Luo turned around, raised up a white and tender finger to place it on her lips, and hushed him, "Madam is back…"
After Madam Du returned to the residence, she wanted to go directly to Pine court, but the gate servants specifically told her the fifth master was waiting for her in the reception pavilion, and had her escorted there.
Madam Du was able to guess correctly the reason for this. It was certain that Wei Luo had come back and blabbed to Wei Kun one-sidedly. Wei Kun had always loved Wei Luo, so he must have believed her. As he was positively angry right now, he'd try to find trouble for her (Du).
She clenched the fists hidden in her sleeves, forcing herself to calm down, and signaled the maidservant Ning Xue with her eyes. Ning Xue caught on quickly, quietly slipping away to go to the rear court of Pear courtyard — the third family branch living quarters.
Together with Madam Du, Jin Lu and Nurse Ye also arrived at the reception pavilion. After Zhu Geng carried off Wei Luo, they had pursued part of the way, but couldn't catch up with him. Madam Du had wanted to silence them immediately while they were all in the wilderness, getting rid of two witnesses, as well as removing Wei Luo's close confidantes, killing two birds with one stone. However, one had to pay attention to the bigger picture. If Jin Lu and Nurse Ye died, it would only make her look more suspicious. By then, no matter how much she explained, it wouldn't be enough.
Anyway, she couldn't admit her own thoughts of bringing harm to Wei Luo. As long as she insisted Jin Lu and Nurse Ye were speaking nonsense, she would also have a little wiggle room to save the situation.
Though she was thinking so in her heart, when she passed by the main hall's wall, she saw the servants kneeling outside the reception pavilion. Madam Du suddenly felt her legs giving out, and shrank back.
It seemed like Wei Kun was for real this time.
Wei Kun's temper was mild and tolerant, he rarely punished the servants. Today, those servants had injuries as if they had been flogged. She couldn't help but tightly grip the nearby Nurse Dou's hand, taking a deep breath: "Nurse… I'm afraid I can't get out of this today…"
Nurse Dou was the wet nurse she had brought over from her maternal home. She'd taken care of her since childhood, so they were very close and affectionate. Narrow-minded, mean, and crafty, selling off Wei Luo was half her idea. Wuzhou and Wang, those two slave traders, were also her acquaintances.
Nurse Dou comforted her, "Madam, don't worry. You've shared marital affections with the master for 5–6 years…"
Saying that, they walking into the reception pavilion.
Wei Kun was sitting on the ironwood mandarin chair with a cold face. He saw her coming in, but didn't speak a word.
Madam Du steadied her mind, fixed a smile on her face, and was about to ask what had happened. Before she could ask, Wei Zheng, who was held by a nearby maidservant, cried out: "Mother!" She was waving her thin arms, wishing to jump into Madam Du's arms, "Mother run, Daddy is angry, he wants to punish you…"
Madam Du clutched at her heart, "Zheng!"
She wanted to go forward to hug Wei Zheng, but Wei Kun ordered in a cold voice: "Take the fifth Miss outside!"
The maidservant obeyed Wei Kun's instruction, Wei Zheng was forcefully taken away. Even as they disappeared from sight, Wei Zheng's weeping could still be heard from outside.
Hearing her cry so sadly, Madam Du felt her own heart breaking. No matter what Wei Kun intended to do, she had to say: "How can master treat Wei Zheng so heartlessly, she's your daughter!"
Wei Kun looked at her, finally letting his anger out, "You dare say these words? Is Zheng my daughter, but Ah Luo not?" He paused, took a deep breath, and asked enraged, "Where did you take Ah Luo today? You met anyone?"
Extra from the author's notes:
Changhong: Ah Luo, I'll protect you from now on.
Ah Luo: Okay.
Zhao Jie: The male lead hasn't spoken yet, what are playing at?
Changhong: …Ah Luo, who is he?
Ah Luo: I don't know, seems a bit familiar.
Zhao Jie: …
They'd been married for six years, but Wei Kun had never questioned her in that tone.
Among the different masters of Duke Ying's residence, Wei Kun's disposition was the gentlest. Not quick-tempered like the eldest master (Wei Kun's oldest brother, first family branch), and not as impulsive as the second master, he was mild-mannered and refined. Because she liked that about him, Madam Du disregarded the fact that his mind was set on Jiang Miaolan, in order to get married into Duke Ying's household.
After getting married, Du Yueying did her best to please him in every possible way. Including in the bedroom, she had racked her brains to think of how to make him happy. She had believed she could gradually replace Jiang Miaolan in his heart. After all, that woman was gone, while she had the rest of their lifetime with him. But she slowly discovered that she couldn't enter Wei Kun's heart. He was good to her out of civility, rather than affection. They treated each other with mutual respect during the day, and the night activities resembled fulfilling a duty — once he was done, he wouldn't even say a few intimate words, but would just turn over and fall asleep.
That much, Du Yueying could still endure, until the day she found an old sachet under Wei Kun's pillow.
The sachet was embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water, a very common pattern, with an unskilled needlework, obviously the work of someone, who had just started learning embroidery. Du Yueying thought he was using a bad sachet, and didn't give it much consideration. In any case, it was old, and the Duke's residence had plenty of better ones, so she let the servants throw it away.
But later that day, after Wei Kun came back to find the sachet gone, instead of getting angry, his complexion turned ashen. His appearance was worse, than if he'd actually gotten angry. He asked where the servant had thrown away the sachet, and when the maidservant answered somewhere in the rear court, he didn't bother with her further, and rushed to the rear court to search.
So desperate and crazy, as if that sachet was his lifeblood. Without that sachet, he wouldn't be able to live.
Afterwards, Du Yueying came to know it was Jiang Miaolan, who'd given him that thing. At that time, Jiang Miaolan had been pregnant and could only embroider a little bit each day. Just as she's finished the sachet, the children had been born. That was the last and only thing she'd given Wei Kun before she left, no wonder it was his treasure.
That was the first time Madam Du clearly realized Jiang Miaolan's importance in Wei Kun's heart.
That issue was like a thorn lodged deep into her heart. She gradually found traces of Jiang Miaolan everywhere in her life. For example, he'd frequently look lost in thought as he stared at that sachet; or he'd laugh joyfully when he saw Wei Luo and Wei Changhong; or he'd be better to Wei Luo than to Wei Zheng… As time passed, she hated Jiang Miaolan more and more, and couldn't wait to remove her pair of daughter and son. Out of sight, out of mind!
So she secretly prepared all these plans.
Only when all traces of Jiang Miaolan were gone from his life, would he notice her and Zheng.
She thought the preparations were flawless, certain that there wasn't the smallest miscalculation. Who'd have expected that little girl Wei Luo would suddenly change midway, like a different person, and upset all her plans. She gritted her teeth. Not wishing to reveal her guilty conscience on her own, she smiled unhurriedly, and asked perplexed: "Why are you asking such a question? I brought Ah Luo to Huguo Temple to burn incense today, as everyone here knows. Did you forget?"
It was precisely because he didn't forget, that he was asking her. Wei Kun gripped the armrests, trying to control his emotions, "Is that why Ah Luo came back first? She went out together with you, but you didn't look after her well. If she had come across some danger, how would you explain this to me?"
Madam Du was getting reprimanded in front of all these servants, she felt thoroughly disgraced. She defended herself subconsciously: "A bodyguard with excellent martial arts took her. Who knows what his reason was…"
Not waiting for her to finish speaking, Jin Gu lost her patience by the entrance, shoving two maidservants aside and rushing in. She dropped on her knees in front of Wei Kun, "Master, this servant girl (referring to herself) has heard everything. Begging master to do right by the fourth Miss!" Her eyes red, she looked angrily at Madam Du, and stated: "The madam didn't return directly to the residence from Huguo Temple, but brought fourth Miss into the woods, where two slave traders were waiting… This servant girl heard with my own ears, the madam told them to sell Miss as far as possible. If Master doesn't believe me, you can send people to search in the woods. Those two should still be nearby!"
Wei Kun clasped his hands and looked straight at Madam Du: "Is she telling the truth?"
Madam Du was leaning on Nurse Dou, holding her breath and gritting her teeth: "Utter nonsense! There's no way I know such people. You said you heard us talk, where's your evidence? If you can't produce the evidence, you should be ready for the consequences!"
While in the woods, she'd said the slave traders were a hunting couple. Returning to the official's residence, it turned out she didn't know them. Jin Lu really hated her brazenness. For a while, she couldn't take into account the different status between masters and servants, as she wished to expose her mask immediately: "The Nurse and me are both witnesses, the fourth Miss was also present. If Madam wants to quibble, better call the fourth Miss here to personally ask. Little children never lie!"
Long before they came back, Wei Luo had told Wei Kun everything.
Wei Kun felt truly sad for his daughter, and refused to involve Wei Luo even a tiny bit. He only said: "Ah Luo came back crying and told me that the madam didn't want her, that she wanted to sell her. She also asked what she did wrong." Saying this, his eyes reddened and he glared at Madam Du, "I also want to ask what she did wrong that you can't tolerate her, when she's only six years old."
His eyes were full of anger, so unfamiliar. A firm look that made Du Yueying's legs go soft.
She opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.
Yes, she simply could not tolerate them, really wishing to see the two siblings immediately disappear. That way, her world would be tranquil. She also had Zheng with Wei Kun, the three of them made a whole family. Where did those two children fit in?
Why were they blocking her happiness?
Nurse Dou heard Wei Kun's words and seemed to find a lifeline. She quickly followed up: "Master, you just said Miss had returned ahead of time. If Madam really wanted to sell her, how could she get away so easily? It must be that bodyguard who influenced her. The fourth Miss is young and naïve, she learned to say this from him…"
Wei Kun threw her a cold glance, "Are you making fourth Miss out to be a fool, or me?"
This simple question left Nurse Dou dumbfounded.
Wei Kun added: "What relation does that bodyguard have to you that he would frame you? If Ah Luo wasn't rescued by him, she also wouldn't have come back!"
Speechless, Nurse Dou suddenly knelt on the ground and cried: "Master, if you don't believe us, send people to Huguo Temple to look around whether there really are slave traders as that maidservant said… If they're not found, I'm begging Master to restore my madam's innocence."
The reason she could say that, was because they had arranged everything before coming back.
Madam Du had given the married couple a lot of money, rushing them to leave the capital and go away to Liulin county, never to return. Wuzhou hadn't gotten what he'd come for and his face was ruined by Ah Luo, so he didn't want to let them go easily. But looking at the sum Madam Du had offered, that would be enough to feed them for three to five years without working, he had agreed without a fuss. That's why Nurse Dou was so bold. After so long, that couple was certainly far away. Even if Wei Kun searched, he wouldn't find them.
"Good, good." Wei Kun nodded angrily, and called eight guards over. Pointing at Jin Lu, he said: "Go with her to Huguo Temple, and find the people she talked about. If you don't find them today, don't come back!"
Duke Ying's guards were well-trained and worked very efficiently. Hearing his orders, they complied immediately, and followed Jin Lu to go out.
Just as the guards left, two women waked in from outside.
Leading the way was the third madam, Madam Liu. Her hair combed in a cloud bun, jade hairpins with golden cicadas at her temples and pearls coiled around, it was really luxurious. Combined with her bright, showy tunic, the ensemble was actually consistent with her temper. Passing through the gate, she exclaimed with surprise, "What is going on? Such a huge commotion, did fifth sister-in-law do something wrong that let fifth brother-in-law get so angry?"
Walking behind her was the fourth madam, Madam Qin. She was comparatively low-key. She had two golden butterfly hairpins tucked in her bun, and was wearing a honey-colored dress with peony patterns, she looked beautiful and gentle.
A while ago, Madam Du had signaled for Ning Xue to bring the third madam over as her ally. When Ning Xue went to the Pear courtyard, she had found the fourth madam in the third madam's room, so she had invited them together.
Duke Ying had five sons and three daughters. The daughters were all married, and only visited on holidays. From the remaining five masters, the eldest, third and fifth were from the main wife, the second and fourth — from a concubine. Duke Ying's position was quite high, so even if the second and fourth sons were born of a concubine, the young ladies they married weren't bad. The fourth madam's family was from Marquis An Ling's house. She was a daughter of the main wife. The young lady from Marquis An Ling's house was known in the capital as delicate, graceful, and virtuous, with splendid manners. That marriage could be considered the fourth master's moving up in society.
After getting married, the fourth master and madam were close and affectionate, their days passed in satisfaction. Madam Qin already had three sons. She'd always wanted a daughter, but never got one. Since the fourth master, Wei Yan, and Wei Kun had their duty in the Imperial Academy together, the two's families visited each other diligently. So Madam Qin frequently saw Wei Luo and loved that little girl, who was beautiful and smart, like a little fairy. Moreover, Wei Luo didn't have a mother, so Madam Qin was compassionate and grew increasingly fond of her over time.
From the several madams in the residence, only the fourth madam treated Ah Luo wholeheartedly well.
When she saw Madam Qin enter, Wei Luo, who had been hiding behind the blue screen, hurriedly pushed the screens open and ran up to her, dragging her soft voice in a spoiled manner: "Fourth aunt, hug."
Madam Qin smiled and picked her up, flicking her little nose, "How come Ah Luo's here? Are you feeling better now? I had to visit my parents yesterday. You won't blame your aunt for not coming to see you, right?"
Ah Luo burrowed in her neck. Leaning her head, she saw Madam Du glowering at her. She lowered her head, so that no one saw the corners of her mouth bending in a smirk, then her two slender arms tightly hugged Madam Qin: "Ah Luo is alright… Fourth aunt, Ah Luo is afraid."
Madam Qin was puzzled, "What are you afraid of?"
Ah Luo's voice was faint, with a hint of fear, it sounded exceedingly distressed, "Afraid of madam…"
Madam?
While Madam Qin was speculating, Madam Du angrily cut in: "Ah Luo!"
The girl in her bosom cowered, body slightly shivering, and Madam Qin realized that her 'madam' referred to the fifth madam.
Didn't Ah Luo call her mother before? Why did it change?
Madam Qin looked at Wei Kun. Although he didn't want to speak of it again, he repeated everything from earlier today.
Madam Qin and Madam Liu only now learned that such a big incident had taken place. Madam Qin was quite shocked, even her impression of Madam Du had changed. As for Madam Liu, she assumed a natural demeanor and actually laughed: "How can fifth brother-in-law trust the maidservant so easily? What if she intentionally framed fifth sister-in-law out of malice?"
However, what would the maidservant Jin Lu gain out of framing Madam Du?
Wei Kun didn't feel like speaking, and only requested for Madam Qin to bring Wei Luo back inside the blue-screened room, as he didn't want Wei Luo to tarnish her mind listening to this nasty affair.
Two hours later, the guards returned together with Wuzhou and Wang.
Hearing that Wuzhou and Wang were brought back, Nurse Dou's body went soft and dropped to the ground, unable to get up.
Didn't she send them away? How did the guards find them?
Wei Kun saw her reaction and could mostly guess the reason. His heart froze over. He asked the guards: "Where are they?"
One of the guards bowed and performed a greeting, then said: "To answer the Master, those two are still outside the courtyard, they don't dare come in. We seized two things from them. Please take a look, Master."
Wei Kun nodded, letting him hand the objects over.
Nurse Dou and Madam Du had an idea what those were. They looked at each other, feeling coldness seeping in.
Sure enough, what the guard handed over was one package of the sleeping medicine and not a small amount of money.
Nurse Dou and Madam Du's faces were white.
They couldn't figure out how these people had managed to find Wuzhou and Wang. Weren't they supposed to leave Sheng, why were they found?
Wei Kun crushed the bank notes and the medicine in his hands, that were trembling with anger. He waved the items then threw them at Nurse Dou and Madam Du, "What is this? Do you have anything else to say!"
A madam, who rarely went outside the residence, unexpectedly kept this kind of thing on her. Obviously, her conscience wasn't clear.
Wei Kun was both furious and disappointed. What was more, he felt sorry to Wei Luo. These years, he had thought Madam Du was taking care of Ah Luo very well, going along with any of her wishes, showing how much she loved her all the time. But he hadn't considered that she would be hiding such evil intentions. If Ah Luo hadn't been rescued today, she would've been sold to the slave traders. That small child, who had only turned six earlier this year, was well-behaved and sensible. Just what kind of ruthless heart would hate her?
Wei Kun grew more and more uncomfortable, his heart heavy. He couldn't stop himself thinking of Jiang Miaolan. If she was still here, if she hadn't gone, Ah Luo wouldn't be in the current situation… He would properly love the mother and daughter pair, making sure nothing would harm them… He was so in love with her, why had she left?
With so many years since then, he'd believed his love for Jiang Miaolan had faded, only resentment remaining. But the truth was, he still loved her. Loved her brighter than the sun smile, her gentle and passionate eyes, and her whimsical nature. She had taken root in his heart, and nothing could uproot her for as long as he lived.
She had appeared in his life without a warning, but it had never crossed his mind that she would leave the same way, without a trace.
Since then, whenever he saw Ah Luo and Changhong, he would think of her.
Wei Kun was in pain, his back hunched over as if he had suddenly aged several years. Standing up, he said to the fourth madam: "As soon as father and mother come back, fourth sister-in-law, please help me tell them, Madam Du is not virtuous, and her heart is malicious…" Closing his eyes, he said resolutely: "I want to divorce her."
His words were like thunder, exploding in the gathered people's ears, startling even the meddlesome third madam Liu.
Shocked, Madam Du staggered back a few steps. If it wasn't for Nurse Dou holding her in place, she would've collapsed on the ground.
Divorcing wasn't a minor incident. Coupled with Wei Kun's accusations, it was enough to give her a reputation of a vicious wife. If she wanted to remarry afterwards, it wouldn't be easy. Not to mention her own daughter's reputation would be implicated, also affecting her future marriage.
Moreover, Madam Du was the maternal niece of Count Zhongyi's madam, she was backed up by the Count of Zhongyi's house. Duke Ying and Count Zhongyi were good friends for many years. Even if Wei Kun wanted to divorce her, it wouldn't go so easily.
Nurse Dou crawled on her hands and feet, hanging onto Wei Kun's foot, and wept noisily as she begged for mercy: "Master, please investigate this issue thoroughly, Madam is innocent… Madam wasn't aware of anything, it was all planned by this old servant, the madam isn't related to it… Begging Master to think it over…"
Madam Du looked at her dumbfounded. She hadn't expected that at the critical moment, Nurse Dou would take the fall to save her.
Speaking of it, Nurse Dou was truly loyal to Madam Du. The two of them, master and servant, had a close relationship. Nurse Dou was Madam Du's wet nurse, as Madam Du's parents had perished early. Since childhood, she had been placed in Count Zhongyi's residence with only Nurse Dou as a devoted servant. Nurse Dou had raised her, hence their feelings could be compared to those of any mother and daughter.
Wei Kun flapped his robe, kicking her out of the way: "She wasn't aware? The two of you always stick together, how can she not be aware!"
The kick wasn't light, it had hurt Nurse Dou's chest, but she still insisted: "Madam truly didn't know, it was me who deceived her at Huguo Temple, the hidden sleeping medicine is also mine. There is a rich family in Liulin county, who want a beautiful girl to become their daughter. The Wuzhou couple then contacted this old servant… This old servant lost her mind for a moment, thought the fourth miss fit their condition, and made those plans. Master, if you must punish someone, it's me. This matter has nothing to do with the madam!"
Wei Kun was enraged, did this old thing really believe he wouldn't punish her? He leaned over and grabbed her neck, the fingers squeezing, and asked through gritted teeth: "Your courage is really great. The fourth miss of Duke Ying's family is not something you can sell just because you decided so. Did you think I would spare you because you have Madam Du backing you?"
A man's strength was obviously larger than a woman's, even if he was a scholar.
Nurse Dou's face turned red, her eyes rolled back: "Madam…"
That woke Madam Du up. Like a drowning man finding a lifeline, she hurried to Nurse Dou's side and said with astonishment: "Nurse, how can you be so muddled! Why did you want to do such a thing? Ah Luo is my daughter. I don't even have enough time to spend with her, how can I be willing to sell her!"
Madam Du's response was quick, also fixing her expression appropriately. She was thinking that as long as she could avoid this disaster, it was not a bad idea to trouble Nurse Dou to take on the blame. She would certainly compensate her later. She couldn't get divorced, she wasn't willing to, and she believed Wei Kun had at least some feelings for her.
Seeing that Nurse Dou couldn't breathe, Madam Du knelt to Wei Kun, pleading: "Nurse Dou was muddled for a while. Begging Master to forgive her this once…"
Did she think Nurse Dou's words were enough to wash her hands off this matter? Wei Kun had said, today he didn't plan to let them off. First, he would punish those servants who thought themselves untouchable, then he would wait for Duke Ying to come back and discuss the divorce. He loosened the fingers around Nurse Dou's neck, and said to the gate guard: "Bring Nurse Dou out to the courtyard, use the wooden rod to beat her to death!"
Nurse Dou went soft from fear, and couldn't rise from the ground. With two bodyguards on both sides, she was dragged out.
Wei Kun was still not done, he said: "Find the servants who went to Huguo Temple with Madam Du today, give them 30 hits each, lock them in the woodshed after. Sell them off tomorrow!"
Among those were Madam Du's trusted maidservants, one was Ning Xue, the other — Han Shuang.
Madam Du suddenly lost her closest people. She wanted to beg for mercy for them, but she was in trouble herself. Her mouth opened, but couldn't utter a single word. In the end, she helplessly watched as they were led to the courtyard, tied up, and hit with the wooden rod. Her despair was indescribable.
Seeing this, the fourth madam Qin initially intended to placate him, but Wei Kun didn't seem open to any words. She had to swallow the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
These people were truly wretched, even 100 hits wouldn't be sufficient to let out his anger.
Wei Luo was the dignified Duke of Ying's family legitimate Miss. Having such evil intentions toward her, they were really tired of living.
Third madam Liu, listening to the crying coming from outside, knitted her brows: "These servants are so wicked, but fifth brother-in-law, you also heard, fifth sister-in-law is innocent… Isn't a divorce too much?"
Madam Liu was usually close with Madam Du, at this time she naturally spoke up for her.
Wei Kun was indifferent to the sounds coming from outside, his resolve firm, he said: "Even if she was unaware of this matter, she didn't show proper care for Ah Luo, that's for certain. If she can't manage the servants of her own courtyard well, I can blame her incompetence. If I don't divorce her, should I keep her so she can go on harming Ah Luo?"
Madam Liu added: "This is no small matter. It's better to discuss it with Father and Mother before coming to a conclusion…"
Cries kept coming from the courtyard. Nurse Dou was old, she couldn't endure the rod punishment. Several hits already brought her to death's doorstep. Madam Du glanced at the entrance. She wanted to tell the servants to hit lightly, but Wei Kun's orders were 'beat to death'. Would the servants dare disobey? So whether she pleaded for Nurse Dou or not, the rod would keep hitting steadily, and soon she would be bruised all over.
Madam Du was holding onto the door with water chestnut flowers design. The March day was cold,while the sun was blindingly bright from above. Her head dizzy and her body weak, she fainted on the ground.
In the blue-screened room, Ah Luo was lying next to the window, looking out to the row of kneeling servants. She was listening to the rod hitting the bodies, finding the sounds delightful and refreshing to hear.
Nurse Dou thought hiding behind Madam Du would save her? Naïve.
Madam Du couldn't save herself, where would she find the ability to help her? She was already useless. No matter whether Nurse Dou lived or died, or how ugly her death would be, these were now beyond Madam Du's control.
Wei Luo was grinning. Under the bangs, a pair of clever eyes were spinning around. One didn't need to guess, to know that evil thoughts were definitely lurking there.
Wei Changhong was standing behind her, silent for a long time. At last, he couldn't help but ask: "Ah Luo, why did madam want to sell you? Is it because she's not our mother?"
Ah Luo turned around, meeting his puzzled eyes. She jumped down from the short couch to stand before him, "You know she isn't our mother?"
Changhong nodded, he knew, he had always known. Apparently, there had been a maidservant, who had let it slip in front of him, saying that biological and non-biological was different. He had heard it, and since then, had always kept it in mind. He had more on his mind than his peers. He hadn't told about it to Ah Luo before, however, he was only a six year old child. After much deliberation, he still couldn't figure it out, so he asked in the end.
Ah Luo held his hand and let him look out the window at the servants getting hit. She answered happily: "That's right, because she is not our mother. She is Wei Zheng's mother. So in the future you can't consider her as 'mother' anymore, you must stay away from her, she's a bad person."
Changhong obediently agreed. His understanding of good and evil was still a little fuzzy, but whoever bullied Ah Luo was surely a bad person. After a while, he asked: "Then who is our mother? Where is she?"
Ah Luo hadn't seen her, either. She didn't know what Jiang Miaolan looked like. She thought for a moment, then said:
"She's dead."
In the afternoon, Duke Ying Wei Zhangchun and his wife came back from their trip to their ancestors' home. Immediately after entering the residence, they learned of the situation, and called everyone to the reception pavilion to discuss how to settle the problem.
Wei Kun was wholeheartedly decided on divorce, regardless of some of the other masters' (his brothers) efforts to dissuade him. Madam Du had fainted at noon and had yet to wake up. The third madam had called for a doctor a moment ago, and they had no results for now.
Wei Zhangchun was over 50, a man of integrity. Having heard the whole story, he pounded his fist on the table angrily: "How can Madam Du be so irrational!"
Beside him was his wife, Madam Luo, wearing patterned plum-colored dress and golden jewelry encrusted with a green jade going around her forehead. She said with a frown: "Didn't you say Nurse Dou personally admitted to planning everything, so it's unrelated to Madam Du? Where is she?"
The quiet fourth madam Qin said: "Fifth brother-in-law had her punished with a dozen hits by the rod. She couldn't endure it, barely alive, she was locked in the woodshed along with the other servants."
Actually, in accordance with Wei Kun's wishes, Nurse Dou should've been killed, but at that time Madam Du had fainted, causing the scene to fall into chaos. The third Madam made the servants stop for now, then let them bring the people into the woodshed, so when Duke Ying and his wife returned, the matter would be handled again by them.
The old Madam ordered someone to bring in Nurse Dou, who stumbled onto the ground like a pile of mud. She was covered in wounds from top to bottom, beaten to the point that she was barely breathing.
The old Madam asked her: "How did you plan everything? Tell us again in detail."
Nurse Dou was very loyal to Madam Du, given this chance, she didn't forget to protect her. She repeated today's excuse, taking in all the blame, she wept and yelled: "Madam was wrongly accused… Madam didn't know anything. If she made a mistake, it's the mistake of trusting this old servant too much. Begging the Duke and old Madam to exonerate Madam…"
The old madam waved, letting someone bring the person back to the woodshed.
The room with a dozen people inside, suddenly turned quieter.
The eldest master, Wei Min, thought things through, then said: "Fifth younger brother, it's better to think again, just in case what fifth sister-in-law's Nurse said was true. While we don't know all the facts, if you break the marriage, our family's relations with Count Zhongyi's family will get damaged in the future. After all, father has decades of friendship with Count Zhongyi…"
That was exactly what all the people present had to consider, Count Zhongyi's status wasn't to be taken lightly. Most importantly, Count Zhongyi was from the same clan as the current Noble Consort Ning (Ning Guifei). She was being favored now, Emperor Chong Zhen's heart was set on her. Duke Ying's house was powerful, they weren't willing to offend Noble Consort Ning…
Wei Kun stood suddenly, saying with red-rimmed eyes: "Eldest brother needs not persuade me again. In the first place, when Ah Luo and Changhong were just born, you said that no one was looking after the children, and advised me to marry Madam Du, so Ah Luo and Changhong would also have a mother. But now, what is this mother doing? Whether she's related to today's matter or not, I've decided to end this!"
Wei Min opened his mouth, feeling guilty toward his brother after all, had nothing good to retort.
On his right side was sitting the third master, Wei Chang, who smiled coldly and secretly tightened his fist. Wei Min looked at him startled, afraid that he would punch someone the way his eyes threatened of violence.
It was good that Wei Chang knew propriety and reigned in his impulses.
These two brothers really gave him a headache. That was the case 6–7 years ago, and it was the case now. When all was said and done, the root of the problem was a woman.
The year Wei Kun brought Jiang Miaolan to the family, no one in the Duke's residence had expected that the two brothers would end up liking the same woman.
At that time, the two of them had fought for Jiang Miaolan quite a lot. After Wei Kun and Jiang Miaolan had gotten married, the two brothers' relations not only didn't get better, but dropped below the freezing point. These many years, it still hadn't gotten better.
In third master Wei Chang's eyes, Wei Kun didn't know how to cherish people. At present, he viewed him as a hoodlum.
And in fifth master Wei Kun's eyes, Wei Chang was a lunatic, who coveted his younger brother's wife.
Eldest master Wei Min was in the process of getting a headache, when the third madam led the doctor inside. Madam Liu's complexion was very subtle, greeting Duke Ying and his wife, she hesitantly said: "Father, Mother, just now, the doctor diagnosed fifth sister-in-law… Fifth sister-in-law is one month pregnant."
The people in the reception pavilion were all startled. No one had expected that at this important juncture, Madam Du would actually turn out pregnant.
She had fainted at the entrance, making people believe it was caused by her anxious mind, but nobody had supposed it was pregnancy. Presently, the doctor diagnosed her, and she was indeed pregnant, just a month and a half in.
The old madam was the first to react, asking the doctor: "How is it, is the fetus healthy?"
The doctor nodded, "Only a little nausea. I just gave the fifth madam a prescription. Let her take it for several days, everything will go smoothly."
The old madam nodded, looked at her youngest son Wei Kun, and suddenly didn't know what to say to him.
Not only was Madam Du pregnant, the fetus was also doing well. While everyone was deliberating whether to keep her in the family or not, she was unexpectedly with child. If they sent her back to Count Zhongyi's residence at this point, the Count's family would bear a grudge against them, and Duke Ying's reputation would also suffer a huge blow.
This divorce, regrettably, couldn't be carried out immediately. They had to take it as slow as possible.
The old madam was ready to convince Wei Kun to take the whole situation into account, but he suddenly stood up from the armchair and shot out of the reception pavilion like a gust of wind, heading for the rear court.
Thinking he was going to look for trouble with Madam Du, the old madam hurriedly urged the eldest and the third sons to block him. However, the third master remained unmoved and didn't have any intention to block him, saying with contempt: "He's unable to manage his own woman, yet also needs me and eldest brother to take charge for him?"
The eldest master reprimanded him loudly: "Third brother!"
Even at such a time, those two brothers couldn't make peace for one moment? The animosity between them wasn't formed overnight, could it be they intended to carry this old issue to their coffins?
The old madam choked with anger at her third son, pointing at Wei Chang a few times, "Your fifth brother aggravates me, now you also want to aggravate me…"
Wei Chang felt sorry to his mother, since he was annoyed at Wei Kun, not at the old madam. Thinking it through, he ended up saying a few caring words as an apology, then went out of the reception pavilion.
Outside the pavilion stood a thin and small girl, dressed in a delicate green dress that made her appear all the more adorable. She raised her little face, her bright and intelligent eyes revealing curiosity: "Third uncle, I've just heard, is madam really pregnant? Is she going to give birth to a younger brother?"
The little girl was Wei Luo. She couldn't enter the reception pavilion, yet wanted to know what was happening, so she was hiding outside the door eavesdropping. When she learned that Madam Du was pregnant, other than getting angry, she came to a realisation.
No wonder Madam Du hadn't gotten punished. Despite losing her, she had managed to hold onto the position of the fifth madam. The biggest reason was right there, after Madam Du had come back from Huguo Temple, her pregnancy had been discovered. Even if Wei Kun was enraged, even if he was suspicious about Wei Luo's disappearance, for the sake of the child, he wouldn't be able to take an action against her for the time being. Additionally, Wei Luo hadn't come back and couldn't reveal the scheme. Wei Kun might have suspected Madam Du, but without any evidence, nothing could be confirmed. After a while, Madam Du had given birth to a child for Wei Kun, and the event had passed unexposed.
They had gradually forgotten about her, forgotten that the Duke's house had once had a fourth miss.
Only remembered Madam Du's children, Wei Zheng and Wei Changmi.
Changhong and her were the two obstacles of Madam Du's life. Once she kicked them out of the way, the road ahead was clear.
If she couldn't kick them out of the way, she would stumble terribly.
She recalled Madam Du had given birth to a son. Calculating the day of conception, it appeared to be the right time. Madam Du had wanted to grasp Wei Kun's heart using this son, but what a pity, her son had failed to live up to her expectations. Without learning or skills, with no ambitions, spending his days indulging in a life of debauchery*, he had been the typical hedonistic young master. Previously, Wei Luo had witnessed him beat a person to death on the street. The other person had turned out to be the close servant of Prince Rui's successor. After the incident had been reported to the authorities, he had later been put in prison, where he hadn't fared well.
Madam Du had worried greatly for this son. She had spoiled him rotten since childhood. Even if she wanted to bring him back onto the correct path, she wouldn't know where to start.
Wei Luo considered spitefully, if she had a younger brother like that, dying a hundred times over would be better.
The third master Wei Chang looked at her for a long time without speaking.
Ah Luo called out again: "Third uncle?"
Wei Chang snapped out of his daze suddenly, and stretched out a palm to rub her head. The hostile expression fromwhen he'd faced Wei Kun earlier, was completely replaced by a very kind one, "Little Ah Luo, how do you know it'll be a younger brother?"
Ah Luo resembled her mother more and more, especially those bright eyes. He couldn't help remembering Jiang Miaolan as he looked at her.
Wei Luo's tone was soft and immature: "I don't want a younger sister, Wei Zheng is not cute at all."
Wei Chang smiled, his face somewhat bitter and harsh, "Is that so?" He had nothing else to say and walked away from the pavilion. As he went, he whispered almost inaudibly: "If she was here, there would be no Wei Zheng…"
Though it was really soft, Wei Luo still heard that sentence.
She was very curious about her birth mother. What kind of woman was she, that she abandoned her children right after they were born? Did she love her and Changhong? Was it equal to the love Madam Du had for Wei Zheng?
Wei Luo didn't know.
The reception pavilion gradually emptied out, she was still standing at the entrance motionless. The longer she thought about it, the angrier she got.
Other mothers knew to protect their children, but where was her and Changhong's mother? Did she really die? Or did she just leave like fourth aunt said?
Rather than Jiang Miaolan having left, Ah Luo was hoping she had died instead.
Because that way, she could deceive herself that their mother loved them, leaving them alone against her will. If she hadn't died, but had actually abandoned them, then this whole life Wei Luo was never going to forgive her. Ah Luo was staring straight at a big vase with winding lotus pattern in front of her. As if she was looking at Jiang Miaolan, she suddenly reached out and shoved it ruthlessly.
When she came back to her senses, the sound of the breaking vase echoed in her ears, crashing loudly, pieces of broken porcelain everywhere.
Ah Luo was standing next to the broken vase, her head hanging, no one could see through her thoughts.
Changhong found her because of the noise and stopped behind her. Softly, he asked with some surprise: "Ah Luo, what are you doing?"
Her shoulders shrank back, she didn't want to let Changhong see her gloomy side. Quickly adjusting her mood, she raised her hands to pat her cheeks, and turned around to rush to his side. She held his hand to run together, and with a big smile on her face, she didn't look the slightest bit guilty: "I knocked the vase down accidentally. Let's run, when grandmother finds out she will certainly get angry!"
Changhong was pulled along to run, a helpless expression on his face.
Ah Luo kept running ahead of him while thinking, she didn't have a mother, but she had Changhong, and also had herself. Madam Du believed she could escape unharmed? It wasn't over yet, they weren't done. She had plenty of methods to pay her back.
Like the vase, she wanted to see her fall, break apart, and meet a gruesome death.
Pine courtyard.
Wei Kun arrived at the entrance of the Pine courtyard with long, hurried strides. He stood there, observing for a long time, before he stepped heavily into the courtyard.
Before today, he had never thought that so many things could happen within a day.
The servants in the courtyard had just been punished by him, and now worked despite their injuries. They kept silent, afraid that they would agitate him and eat the wooden rod again.
Wei Kun walked into the main house directly. Seeing his mood, the two maidservants outside the room didn't dare breathe deeply, let alone announce him. He walked past the screens with pine drawings, and entered the bedroom expressionlessly.
In the room, Madam Du was leaning on the yellow rosewood frame in bed, having just drank a bowl of medicine. Her face wore a relaxed expression compared to before, even smiling a little, thinking that this baby arrived in the nick of time to save her life. Two young maidservants waited on her by the bed, since Ning Xue and Han Shuang were now locked in the woodshed after getting beaten. Madam Du wasn't worried. Seeing Wei Kun enter, she even smiled as she asked him: "Sheng Ming, did you hear what the doctor said? We're having a child, a son or a daughter…"
Sheng Ming was Wei Kun's courtesy name.
Wei Kun kept standing behind the screen. The eyes looking at her held no emotion, and he didn't speak a word.
Madam Du met his gaze, feeling vaguely uneasy, but still maintaining her smile: "Do you want a son or a daughter? If it's up to me, since we already have Zheng, a son would be better…"
Before she finished, Wei Kun calmly interrupted her words: "Behind Pine courtyard is Ginkgo courtyard. Let your servants tidy the place up, and move there tonight."
Ginkgo courtyard was named after the several scattered ginkgo trees growing outside. That courtyard had been neglected to wither for a long time, empty, the servants didn't clean there either. In so many years, the land outside the courtyard had overgrown with weeds. Even for half a minute, people absolutely wouldn't consider living there. Wei Kun forcing her to move at this time, made her lose hope entirely.
The smile on Madam Du's face froze, she asked in disbelief: "What did you say?"
Wei Kun was unwilling to even glance at her, shifting his line of sight to look out of the window, "If you don't want to live there, I'll write a letter of divorce, and let you return to Count Zhongyi's residence."
Madam Du was unable to tolerate this, she called his name with red-rimmed eyes: "Wei Sheng Ming, the child I'm carrying is yours, too!"
So what? He didn't love her, so he also found her children unnecessary.
Before, he didn't know her true nature, he had some feelings of guilt towards her. Because he could be a husband to her in all regards, except for loving her. Now he clearly realized her character, but he was relieved instead, a sort of pleasure from liberation. He couldn't stand being around her, and also didn't want to see her. Since he couldn't divorce her, he found a way to separate for now. In any case, they couldn't live together like before.
Wei Kun remained impassive, standing with his hands crossed behind his back, "Take these two maidservants and all your belongings from this room. I can't let you live together with Ah Luo, she's still young and needs better care. I'll raise her personally." He paused, then said, "As for the child you're carrying… After it's born, let fourth sister-in-law take over. You're unsuitable to bring up children. I'll talk to fourth sister-in-law to ask her for this favor."
Madam Du was stunned to no end, as if looking at a stranger in his place.
Granted that he didn't want her, but he even wanted to snatch away her child? What did he regard her as, after her pregnancy was over, he wouldn't even place her in his thoughts?
Madam Du lifted the covers to get out of bed, didn't bother putting on her shoes, and walked to him. She burst into tears, asking: "Do you really have to be so cruel? Don't you have at least some feelings for me? These many years, did I count for nothing in your heart?"
Wei Kun turned around to walk out of the main house, "It's not that I didn't have any feelings for you, but you went too far this time. I'll go, you pack your things now."
"Wei Sheng Ming!" Madam Du called after him furiously, anger and despair intertwined, her voice distorted beyond recognition, "You're still in love with Jiang Miaolan, right? You haven't forgotten her, right?"
Wei Kun paused in his steps and nodded, saying: "Yes."
Madam Du stood there absent-minded, staring at Wei Kun's back vacantly. After he left the room, she came back to her senses suddenly, and shouted at him: "The child I give birth to is mine, no one can take it away! You want to give it to fourth sister-in-law, no way!"
Unfortunately, Wei Kun was gone, and didn't respond to her.
She was full of rage and hatred. She hated Wei Kun's heartlessness, hated her own incompetence, hated Jiang Miaolan's existence!
She had lived for six years under her shadow. Though she had obtained Wei Kun, she had lost in the end. Lost to someone who had died six years ago.
She couldn't accept it.
Du Yueying gritted her teeth, staring at the entrance bitterly, her nails were digging deeply into her palms, and even if they broke, she wouldn't feel the pain. Her tears streamed down unnoticed. She couldn't admit defeat. Wei Kun wanted her to move to Ginkgo courtyard, she'd move. As long as she had this baby, as long as she gave birth to a son, she didn't believe Wei Kun would not change his mind.
"Mother…"
A murmur reached her from the entrance.
Madam Du looked up, finding Wei Zheng standing at the door. Perhaps she had gotten frightened by her appearance, she was looking at her with red eyes, her face distressed.
Notes: About Wei Changmi's life of debauchery… I'm not sure whether the author forgot she was talking about an eight year old boy (with Wei Luo at 15). In any case, it happens that a novel may have a few inconsistencies, so let's kindly ignore this bit. It won't really come up again later.
A man will get a courtesy name when he turns 20. For more info ask Uncle Google ^^
That night, Madam Du had all her things removed from Pine courtyard as she got settled at Ginkgo courtyard.
Duke Ying and the old madam knew of this, but hadn't said anything. It seemed that they had tacitly agreed. After all, everyone was well aware that although Nurse Dou had taken on someone else's sins, without Madam Du's approval, as her personal servant, she wouldn't dare act of her own initiative. If there wasn't the house of Count Zhongyi behind her, the Duke's family wouldn't have held back on the punishment. Moving her to Ginkgo courtyard was already considered fairly light.
So regarding this matter, everyone maintained their silence, making every effort to keep it secret. Wei Zheng was the only one making noise, loudly crying.
When Madam Du moved out, she grabbed onto her clothes, asking her not to leave, that it was all Ah Luo's fault. She placed all the blame on Ah Luo. If it wasn't for Wei Luo complaining to father, he wouldn't have gotten mad at mother, and mother wouldn't have had to move to a broken down courtyard.
She grew more and more angry. Glaring at Wei Luo with reddened eyes, her hands were feeling for something to grab and hurl towards Ah Luo: "It's all your fault!"
Tossing items aside, Wei Zheng blindly grasped onto something. As soon as she threw it, it turned out to be a pair of copper scissors.
Standing behind Wei Kun, Ah Luo didn't have to dodge. Wei Kun quickly picked her up, taking her out of harm's way.
Wei Kun was outraged. At this young age, Wei Zheng knew to get the scissors to wound others. After growing up, how would she turn out? He was disgusted with Madam Du. Thinking those were all things she had taught, he became increasingly colder to her, his tone of voice somewhat fed-up: "Is this how you teach Wei Zheng? To have no regard for her elders! Ah Luo is her older sister, continuing like this, whatever's next?"
Madam Du's complexion was not good in the first place, having been reprimanded by him, she blanched even more. Clenching her teeth, she suffered through his reproach with making a sound.
Wei Kun also said: "If Zheng is still like this in the future, I'll see to it that you won't get to bring her up. When she learns decorum, then I'll let her see you again." Pausing for a bit, he added: "And Wei Zheng, you were too much to your older sister. You'll be punished with no dinner, and kneeling at the ancestral shrine for half an hour."
Madam Du felt her vision darken. She wanted to call his name, but he didn't give her the opportunity to dispute. Holding Wei Luo, he turned around.
While he was walking, he was consoling Wei Luo: "Ah Luo, don't be afraid. Daddy's here, I'll protect you."
Wei Luo leaned on Wei Kun's shoulder, and blinked her glittering pitch-black eyes, watching Madam Du mockingly.
And Wei Zheng, hearing about a punishment, was already alert. She was waiting for Madam Du to speak up for her, but Madam Du couldn't save herself, how would she save her?
Wei Zheng cried despondently at her feet, looking in the direction Wei Kun and Wei Luo had departed, seemingly choking on something in her throat, almost spitting out blood in anger.
In the evening, Wei Zheng came back from the shrine, and cried all night.
Ah Luo's room happened to be next door to Wei Zheng's. The weeping noise and the sobs passed through the walls, keeping Ah Luo up the whole night. Waking up the next morning, her complexion looked very bad.
At daybreak, Wei Zheng was finally quiet, probably crying herself to sleep. Ah Luo lingered on her bed, unwilling to get up. In her mind, she grumbled about Wei Zheng a bit. Dallying for a long time, she reluctantly raised her thick, long eyelashes. Under the lashes, a pair of limpid, watery eyes like deep pools, gently rippled, sharp and charming.
She appeared annoyed, but who knew what she recalled, a smile suddenly bloomed on her face.
Why had Wei Zheng cried? Of course, it was because Madam Du had moved out.
Although she hadn't yet toppled Madam Du entirely, she wasn't anxious. She had a nice start. She hadn't gotten sold by Madam Du, and on top of that, she had managed to deal her a serious blow. Madam Du had lost father's trust, and also exposed her true nature. If she wanted to bring her down later, it would be much easier.
Ah Luo's fresh and tender small face had a smiling expression, appearing sweet on the outside, while concealing the innermost devious thoughts.
When Jin Lu came in, she happened to see her curled lips, and couldn't help smiling as she asked: "Miss, what are you thinking about? Such a happy look."
She sat up in bed. A pale white undergarment robe covered her tiny body, her soft and glossy black hair was draped over her shoulders, and after a night of tossing around, the even bangs were messily parted to two sides, revealing a tiny cinnabar birthmark between her eyebrows. Between Ah Luo's eyebrows there was a dark red beauty mark, but the bangs usually covered it, so it wasn't normally in view. Only during the moments that she was just waking up, it could occasionally be seen.
Jin Lu thought this birthmark was extremely pretty, right between the brows, enhancing Wei Luo's fine facial features. She resembled the young children by the lotus flower Bodhisattva*. Her age was still small, but when she grew up, who knew how stunning she would turn out to be.
Wei Luo stood in front of her, waiting obediently with both arms spread, so she could change her clothes. She said with a sweet smile: "I was thinking of what to eat for breakfast. Elder sister Jin Lu, Ah Luo wants to eat sweet red bean paste rolls."
Jin Lu laughed as she gently helped her dress, "Fifth master knows that Miss likes to eat that, he already had the kitchen prepare it a while ago. Once Miss is properly dressed, I'll bring you to eat."
Wei Luo was startled, also thinking she had misunderstood.
Before, Wei Kun was always busy, he rarely had his meals together with Changhong and her. Even if they ate together, he'd be in a hurry to finish and run to the Imperial Academy. There had never been a case like today, where he would especially wait for her to have breakfast.
What happened?
Did he feel too guilty because of Madam Du, that he wanted to make it up to her?
Wei Luo didn't know she had only guessed half of it. Wei Kun not only wanted to make it up to her, he planned to take care of her personally in the future. He had thought it out well. The books from the Imperial Academy, he could take home to read. It would be good enough to only go there for his exams. That way he could free up a lot of time to look after Wei Luo and personally bring her up.
Curious, Wei Luo dutifully put on a cherry colored short coat with passion flower patterns, and a light yellow skirt, and then headed for the main house. Her hair was tied with red silk ribbons in a bow-knot, the loose ends hanging by her ears. As long as the wind blew, the red ribbons would brush against her face, only to reveal eyes curved like the crescent moon*, quick-witted and cute.
When she reached the entrance to the main house, she heard Wei Zheng's voice coming from inside: "I'm not eating! If Daddy doesn't let Mother return, I won't eat!"
Taking a look, she saw three people sitting at the round red sandalwood table with black and gold lacquer. Wei Kun was sitting in the middle impassively, on his left side was Changhong, on his right — Wei Zheng. Wei Zheng didn't want the maidservants to wait on her, threw the chopsticks down, and looked at Wei Kun with a pout.
Wei Kun ignored her. Looking up, he noticed Wei Luo coming in, his expression brightening: "Ah Luo, come sit down. After the meal, Daddy has something to tell you."
Wei Luo sat next to Changhong, to the opposite of Wei Zheng.
Wei Zheng was still mad at Wei Kun for yesterday's punishment, naturally her anger spread to Ah Luo as she stared indignantly at her. Ah Luo paid her no attention, she was only hurting herself by refusing to eat.
Ah Luo was very hungry. Since she couldn't neglect her own stomach, she deliberately leaned over to pick an emerald shark fin dumpling between her chopsticks: "What does Daddy want to tell me? Aw, Daddy, Ah Luo can't reach this…"
That dish was what Wei Zheng liked to eat the most, so the maidservants had gotten used to placing it in front of her. A moment ago, Wei Zheng had spitefully declared she wasn't going to eat, and Wei Kun had a mind to educate her by letting her suffer some setbacks, or else she would become too wilful with everything. Right away, he said to a maidservant: "Place this dish in front of the fourth Miss."
Wei Zheng had said she wouldn't eat in anger. She had cried a whole night, and crying also consumed energy, so now she was also absolutely hungry. She had meant for Wei Kun to coax her and let her mother join them. She hadn't expected that not only would he not coax her, but would also give her favorite dish to Wei Luo! Feeling wronged, she wanted to cry, however, she thought of the words that Madam Du had spoken to her yesterday, to restrain herself and to tolerate, and to hold her tears back. She could not cry, mother had said there was no use crying. She had to think of a method to rescue mother and reunite with her.
Wei Zheng looked anxiously at the emerald shark fin dumplings that were put in front of Wei Luo. One plate of steamed stuffed buns and one of seasoned bracken salad were the only dishes that remained in front of her, dishes that she didn't like.
Wei Luo pretended not to see Wei Zheng's line of sight, and clamped an emerald shark fin dumpling between her chopsticks to give to Changhong: "Changhong, eat more. Fourth Aunt said that if you eat a lot, you'll grow tall faster."
Hearing the last sentence, Changhong raised his eyes to look at her: "Can it also let me grow taller than you?"
At this age, girls grew quicker than boys. Even though they were born on the same day, Ah Luo was taller than Changhong by half a finger.
Ah Luo nodded with a smile: "Sure it can!"
She was chatting with Changhong harmoniously, talking and laughing, with Wei Kun occasionally inserting a sentence or two. No one took the initiative to talk to Wei Zheng, making her look like an outsider.
There used to be Madam Du before, who completely doted on her, and even personally fed her, though she was already five. Now that Madam Du wasn't there, she actually couldn't even feed herself.
Ah Luo and Changhong were done eating, while she was still sluggishly picking up the food. Wei Kun knitted his brows, saying to the children: "I've invited a gentleman for you, he'll teach you how to read and write. The gentleman will come over tomorrow, you should go and meet him first. Remember to greet him properly." Having said that, he turned to Wei Luo and Wei Zheng: "For the two of you, I've also invited a female tutor, she'll teach you manners and etiquette. Ah Zheng's behavior today of throwing the chopsticks cannot happen again."
Wei Zheng was quiet, not that interested about the tutor. Wei Luo, on the other hand, was looking forward to it very much.
In her previous life, she had grown up in a farmer's family. There had been one scholar in that village, who had been the only literate person. Though she had studied a little, it had been insufficient. In particular, when she had returned to the capital at 15, she had increasingly felt the gap between herself and the other noble ladies. Other people's manners had been elevated and splendid, even if they were standing still, they would attract attention. Her own face had been pretty, but she hadn't possessed the type of bearing they'd had, so she had fallen short in comparison.
She had still been young then, and hadn't known anything. Having grown up in those circumstances, the gap had only become more apparent.
Therefore, she had to take advantage of the fact, that she was on even grounds with the other noble ladies at this point in time. She was very eager to study poetry and etiquette. What her past self hadn't learned, she wanted to make up for it all, and become a genuine well-bred young lady of a prominent family.
Wei Luo blinked her eyes, asking: "What is the gentleman going to teach us? I've heard that third and fourth elder brothers were studying the Book of Songs (a collection of poetry), I also want to learn."
Wei Kun laughed, patting her head, "It's too early for you to study the Book of Songs. Let the gentleman teach you all the Three Character Classic first, and how to write letters." Thinking about it, he was feeling guilty towards Ah Luo, so he was more considerate of her, "Every day after your lectures, Ah Luo can come to my study, and I'll check your progress personally."
Wei Luo nodded and said 'yes', her answer crisp and sweet.
In contrast, Wei Zheng, who had been spoiled by Madam Du, wasn't able to read the mood, and was still throwing a tantrum: "I don't want this gentleman, I want mother! Daddy, let mother come back!"
When she had said that before, Wei Kun had deliberately not responded. As she kept mentioning it, Wei Kun also started to lose his temper, saying with a cold face: "In the future, you're not allowed to speak of this again. If you want her, go live with her in Ginkgo courtyard right away!"
Wei Zheng's eyes reddened from his chiding. Tears threatened to spill out, but she resolutely suppressed them in the end, causing her eye rims to turn red through and through.
Ah Luo didn't look at her. She placed her chopsticks down, saying: "I'm full. Daddy, I'll go look for fourth Aunt."
The Wei Zheng from her previous life liked to cry, cried when she was angry, cried when she felt wronged, also cried when she was scared. Ah Luo disliked this type of unreasonable behavior the most. She didn't know whether in this life, without Madam Du around, Wei Zheng would be able to grow up a little.
Changhong, seeing Ah Luo jumping down from the chair, quickly put down his chopsticks: "I'm also full!"
Only Wei Kun and Wei Zheng remained in the room. Wei Zheng ate one bite after another dejectedly, evidently scared by Wei Kun's solemn expression, she didn't dare to cry.
The third and fourth elder brothers Ah Luo had just mentioned, were precisely her fourth aunt's children. Third young master, Wei Changxian, was eleven years old this year, and the fourth young master, Wei Changchi was ten. Due to Ah Luo frequently visiting fourth aunt's house, she was quite close to those two cousins of hers.
When Ah Luo reached the Plum courtyard, she found it bustling with noise and excitement. From afar, she could hear barks and people's voices mixing together. She went to the backyard to take a look, and it turned out there was a Shandong hound (province, not an actual breed) inside. With a ferocious appearance, it looked like it wasn't a good idea to provoke it.
The courtyard maidservants were all terrified, continuously hiding to one side or another. Wei Changxian, that reckless young demon king, was pulling the dog along, laughing rampantly, and asking people: "This is the dog my maternal uncle got through great effort, how is it? Handsome?"
The maternal uncle he meant, was the youngest son of Marquis An Ling, Qin Ce. Qin Ce was 16 this year, still young, but his position in the family was rather high. Since they could play together, Wei Changxian would follow him around all day, getting to see many novelties in the process.
This dog was among those.
Wei Luo was standing at the entrance. Seeing the dog's fierce expression on its face, she hadn't moved.
Wei Changxian noticed her when he turned around. Thinking she was scared, he hurriedly passed the dog to a servant, and called out to her with a smile: "Little sister Ah Luo has come? Don't be afraid, that dog listens to me. It won't dare to bite you, if I don't let it."
Finished talking, he saw Ah Luo was still motionless. He was five years older than Ah Luo, and was delegated as a big brother. With a considerable mien of an older brother, he stepped forward to hold her soft small hand, and led her to enter the courtyard, "I'm going to use it in a contest against Song Hui, hopefully it can beat his skinny Shaanxi dog."
Hearing him mention Song Hui, Wei Luo stiffened slightly.
Song Hui and her had been set up as childhood sweethearts by their parents since an early age. During the time Jiang Miaolan had been pregnant with her, their engagement had been decided. Song Hui was six years older than her and took care of her like an older brother. Her past self had believed she would marry him one day, and become his little wife. But to her disappointment, she had gone missing for a decade, ten years later returning to Duke Ying's residence, only to discover that Song Hui had been engaged to Wei Zheng.
Originally, Song Hui wasn't hers. Even if they switched the fiancee, he was still able to marry her all the same.
Since her rebirth, Wei Luo hadn't seen Song Hui.
Wei Changxian was speaking enthusiastically, warmly inviting her: "I want to bring it to Count Zhongyi's residence tomorrow, and let it fight Song Hui's hound. Little sister Ah Luo, do you want to go together?"
Extra from the author's notes:
Zhao Jie: …This male lead who can only live in the writer's words, can you even call me a male lead?
Author: Eh? What do you have in mind then?
Zhao Jie: Screen time, I want screen time! I want Ah Luo!
Author: Ah Luo said that she's busy, and to go play by yourself. Come again when she's 15 and finished with her education.
Zhao Jie: excuse me？？？sure？？？ (*originally in English)
Notes: Lotus flower Bodhisattva children is something from Buddhism, so I have no idea. Here's an image from google instead:
The children in paints also have small red marks on their foreheads, hence Ah Luo resembling them.
Crescent moon eyes is basically this happily smiling expression ^_^