Wei Linxia didn’t know how to face her parents, claiming illness and missing dinner, not touching the meal Yu Mo brought. Later, her mother came, dismissed the servants, and they sat across from each other.
“Mother, are you sad?” Wei Linxia asked.
Her mother nodded, smiling helplessly. “I’m sad, but in families like ours, what man doesn’t have multiple wives and concubines? Your father is already considered good—he took a concubine only after you’d all grown up, not dividing his love among other women’s children when you were young. Thinking this way, I’m content.”
“Daughter, don’t be sad for me. For thousands of years, it’s been like this. This is what we women must tolerate.”
“Mother, I can’t accept it. I don’t understand why Father could refuse when he was young, but now he can’t. Are all men like this? No matter what vows they make, they can’t keep them?” Wei Linxia asked, her voice excited.
Her mother looked at her, noting her flushed face. “Probably so,” she said, gently holding her daughter’s hand. “Your father’s love for you won’t change. Don’t hate him. Feelings fade; it’s human nature. I’ve come to terms with it, and you will too. Your path will likely be similar, so it’s better to accept it early.”
Wei Linxia remained silent, locking herself in her room for days. She sat blankly at her desk, which was covered with books like “Female Precepts” and “Biographies of Virtuous Women.” One night, she had her servant bring a bronze basin and began tearing the books page by page, burning them. The flames danced, illuminating her round face, and there seemed to be a hint of a smile.
The next day, the Empress Dowager summoned Wei Linxia to the palace for an audience.
The Empress Dowager inquired about a recent incident, and Wei Linxia responded modestly with words from a book, which pleased the Empress. They then discussed Wei Linxia’s “rash” behavior, and she attributed it to misunderstandings and inevitable gossip.
Upon leaving the Empress Dowager’s palace, Wei Linxia encountered Xi Zhaoting and Li Weiheng in the corridor. Li Weiheng waved her over, and Wei Linxia felt a strong conviction: she did not want to be the crown prince’s wife, nor did she want a husband surrounded by countless women.
Li Weiheng seemed joyful, pulling Wei Linxia’s hand and stating, “I was just telling Brother Xiaozhuan that tomorrow on the tenth, we’ll visit the little brother. I heard he’s not yet one year old, which is the most fun time. Sister Chenbi, is the little brother cute?”
“Cute, very active, always crawling around, and not shy at all,” Wei Linxia replied with a smile.
“Really? Sister Chenbi, what can he eat? I’ll have someone prepare something,” Li Weiheng continued.
“Not yet one year old, he can only eat very soft rice porridge and some lotus root powder. You can prepare more as he grows older,” Wei Linxia informed.
Xi Zhaoting glanced at her, seeming to have something to say.
Wei Linxia thought it was about Lian Yi but said nothing as they continued chatting and walking away. She looked back, their eyes met, and she turned her face away, leaving the palace calmly.
Meeting Xi Linxuan again, he held a medical book and read with a calm expression. Wei Linxia sat in front of him, and he looked up, noting, “Your complexion doesn’t look good.”
“Really? I’ve been sleeping well these past few days,” Wei Linxia replied, touching her face. First, she was said to be ugly, and now her complexion was criticized.
“Is that so?” Xi Linxuan closed the book and set it aside. Wei Linxia noticed the bead bracelet on his wrist, a sandalwood bracelet from Lady Wei. He clasped his hands and turned his head, calling her.
“Hmm? What is it?” she asked.
“Nothing, time to apply the needles,” he said.
The palace maids set up a screen as a barrier between them. Xi Linxuan’s movements had become skilled, so Wei Linxia didn’t worry much, though she had her own concerns. The beautiful spring scenery outside looked dull.
“Wei Linxia.”
“Hmm?”
“That day, I wasn’t saying you were ugly.”
“Oh.” She thought to herself that if he wasn’t referring to her, then who could he possibly mean?
“Your necklace, cheap shells, very ugly,” Xi Linxuan said.
Very ugly? Wei Linxia thought it was fun how it jingled.
“It’s quite cute,” she replied.
“Hmph.”
What a bad temper. Wei Linxia pouted at the screen, then thought differently and smiled.
The next day was the tenth, and Li Weiheng insisted on seeing Wei Fengye, coming to drag Wei Linxia along.
The infant was being watched by a maid in the courtyard, and Lady Ji stood on the corridor, looking somewhat fragile. Upon their arrival, she flustered and looked at Wei Linxia. Wei Linxia picked up Wei Fengye and said to Lady Ji, “The Crown Prince, the Princess, and Miss Li want to see Fengye. Aunt, don’t be nervous.”
Perhaps due to their blood relation, Wei Fengye was well-behaved in Wei Linxia’s arms, trying to show affection. When Li Weiheng and Princess Yan held him, the child struggled, even slapping Princess Yan.
This slap drove away the guests. Wei Linxia went to see them off, then asked the maid about Lady Ji’s complexion and whether a doctor had been called. The maid confirmed that people had come every day, and her complexion was much better than when she first arrived.
Wei Linxia asked about Lady Ji’s symptoms and reviewed acupuncture methods, aiming to alleviate her condition and extend her life. Despite feeling no sympathy for Lady Ji, who had harmed her mother, Wei Linxia chose to treat her to secure a reputation for benevolence. She hoped this would evoke guilt in her father regarding her mother.
Lady Ji felt uneasy about Wei Linxia’s presence. Her pale face showed anxiety as Wei Linxia explained her purpose. Invoking her mother’s name, Wei Linxia expressed that her mother wished for Wei Fengye to be cared for by his birth mother. Reluctantly, Lady Ji complied and allowed Wei Linxia to insert black needles into her body.
“Trust my skills; next year, I’ll be ordered to treat Lady Ren,” Wei Linxia said with a smile while playing with Wei Fengye. After several days of treatment, Lady Ji showed improvement and expressed her gratitude to Wei Linxia.
Jishi, showing signs of improvement, was ultimately unable to recover due to severe injuries. Wei Linxia visited her daily. Jishi often seemed like she wanted to speak but didn’t in front of Madam Wei. However, at the end of April, Jishi unexpectedly went to the study to see Master Wei. Wei Linxia, about to fetch a book, noticed Jishi’s strange, evasive behavior and decided to eavesdrop.
Jishi spoke at length, crying about her love for her father, gratitude towards her mother, and finally revealed the origin of her child. During Lord Li’s birthday, the Li residence had invited top musicians for the celebration. The Li family’s steward pressured her to seduce Master Wei, threatening to demote her to a border region’s courtesan if she refused. Admiring Master Wei, she complied, using a love potion given by the steward.
Wei Linxia clenched her fists, her palms cold, and quietly left.
It was the Li family.
She understood why the Li family resorted to such tactics.
Her mother was well-known in Huo City, not for her beauty but for her personality. Some said she was the reincarnation of Lady Fang Xuanling from the Tang Dynasty. Did the Li family think that with Jishi and the child, her mother would create a scandal? That it would ruin her chances of becoming the crown princess?
Wei Linxia was furious and somewhat afraid. Even before entering the Eastern Palace, conspiracies were already targeting the Wei family. Would she be surrounded by schemes every day?
Once again, Wei Linxia told herself she did not want to be the crown princess. That magnificent palace was a marsh, with countless crocodiles lurking beneath its murky surface, ready to devour someone at any moment.
