Wei Linxia didn’t dare to hope to escape her father’s punishment. Under the moonlight, she consciously knelt on the ground in front of her room, holding thick books high with both hands. After nearly half a shichen, her father entered through the courtyard gate.
“Do you know your mistake?” Wei Taifu said solemnly, looking at his daughter’s calm face in the moonlight with mixed emotions.
“I know my mistake,” Wei Linxia said.
“What mistake?” Wei Taifu asked.
Wei Linxia replied, “A woman’s study is not for fame and fortune. She should not belittle history after reading a few pages. The three obediences and four virtues are the right path for a woman. My mistakes are, first, ghostwriting, and second, transgressing the proper path. Father, I will not dare to do so again.” Her voice softened with a hint of grievance.
“Since you know, why did you disobey? Did you think I couldn’t distinguish your handwriting from Feng Zhi’s?” Wei Taifu stroked his beard, his tone rising.
In truth, he couldn’t tell the difference, otherwise, he wouldn’t have let her ghostwrite for so long.
Late at night, Wei Taifu, always doting on his daughter, gave a few more admonishments and let it go. Wei Linxia knelt for about one and a half shichen, her knees turning purple. When Yu Mo brought her food and prepared boiled eggs, Wei Linxia asked her to set them aside. Soon, Madam Wei hurried in, seeing the bruised knees and cursing, “That old man! I was told to play cards, and he was plotting against my daughter.” She then praised Yu Mo for her thoughtfulness when she saw the red-skinned eggs.
Wei Linxia hugged her mother’s arm and said, “Mother, don’t blame father. It was my fault. I won’t do it again.” This made Madam Wei more sympathetic, promising to teach the old man a lesson later.
After the punishment, Wei Taifu no longer allowed Wei Linxia to attend the study hall. When Princess Yan asked, he said Wei Linxia was unwell. Li Weiheng, reluctant to ask Wei Taifu directly, turned to Wei Fengzhi, who confirmed that Wei Linxia was indeed ill. Princess Yan frowned, questioning if it was due to kneeling in the cold. Wei Fengzhi chuckled without answering. Meanwhile, Xi Linxuan remained silent, flipping through a book he seemed not to understand.
The details of Wei Linxia’s angering her father were only known to the Wei family, piquing Xi Linxuan’s curiosity.
During dinner, Xi Linxuan glanced at Wei Linxia. She appeared normal, polite, and distant while Madam Wei occasionally shot fierce looks at Wei Taifu.
Though Wei Taifu forbade her from studying together, Xi Linxuan thought he would still allow her in the study hall. He visited the study hall every afternoon for five days, but Wei Linxia never came.
This slightly annoyed him, stemming from his lack of understanding regarding her punishment. Due to his frequent visits, Wei Taifu was pleased and occasionally asked if he had any questions, but Xi Linxuan always replied “no,” which disappointed Wei Taifu.
Until it began snowing in Huo City, Xi Linxuan had not seen Wei Linxia in the study hall. The first snow in Huo City was fierce, and Xi Linxuan, who had never seen such heavy snow, found it novel. He had the eunuchs and palace maids open the door and place two large braziers to enjoy the view. As he watched, he thought of the palace in Yan City, where he had a secluded palace east of the east wing, near a lake where many eunuchs and palace maids had drowned annually. His wet nurses and nannies used to scare him with tales of water ghosts to keep him in bed while they drank and gambled.
A hand waved in front of him, bringing him back to the present. It was Princess Yan, dressed to go out. She asked, “Your Highness, we’re going to see the snow. Will you join us?” Xi Linxuan declined, and Princess Yan’s beautiful face showed a hint of helplessness. She smiled, “Thirteenth Brother, come with us. You must not have seen such beautiful snow in the capital.”
Of course, it’s not as good as our Yan Kingdom. If I can convince you, I can then ask Wei Taifu to let Miss Wei come.”
This long sentence touched Xi Linxuan only with two phrases: “Thirteenth Brother” and “Miss Wei.” Although his heart was turbulent, his face remained indifferent: “What does Miss Wei’s presence have to do with me?”
“Of course it does. If I can convince you, Thirteenth Brother, Wei Taifu won’t refuse my request. Besides…” Princess Yan’s face showed a small dimple, “Don’t you want to know why Wei Linxia was punished?”
“No,” Xi Linxuan said.
Princess Yan finally said, “Then I’ll tell Wei Taifu that Thirteenth Brother invites Miss Wei to enjoy the snow.”
“As you wish,” Xi Linxuan replied indifferently. After half a shichen and four cups of tea, he finally couldn’t bear it and agreed to go. Princess Yan then cheerfully jumped into the snow and ran away.
With Xi Linxuan’s consent, the six-person trip was set in motion.
Xi Linxuan was not good at walking, so he took a carriage. Wei Linxia also took a carriage. Yan Junzhu, dressed in a feminine male outfit, rode alongside Wei Fengzhi.
The street’s snow had been trampled solid, and the carriage wheels wrapped in cowhide made hardly any sound. Xi Linxuan lifted a corner of the curtain to look at the market.
Huo City was not as prosperous as the capital, and with the snow, it appeared somewhat desolate. Xi Linxuan briefly poked his head out, unable to see Wei Linxia. When he had been escorted out by the eunuchs, she had already been seated in the carriage, greeting him through the curtain. He imagined she must be happy, anticipating the reunion with her beloved.
Regretful of agreeing to Yan Junzhu’s request, Xi Linxuan felt he inadvertently benefitted Wei Linxia.
Their meeting place was a pavilion halfway up the mountain, likely Xi Zhaoting’s idea. On the way up, they saw hardly anyone. Upon arrival, Xi Zhaoting and Li Weiheng awaited them, seated by the window. Li Weiheng, in an orange-red dress, appeared lively, while Wei Linxia, dressed in a mustard-yellow outfit, seemed to blend with the withered surroundings. Li Weiheng observed, “Sister Shenbei, I think I’ve seen this outfit before.” Wei Linxia replied, “It’s my mother’s old shirt. You last saw it when she was sorting her wardrobe.”
The others remained silent. Eventually, Yan Junzhu remarked, “Madam Wei is truly thrifty. Come, it’s so cold that riding here has nearly frozen me.”
Quick, pour me some hot wine to warm up.” Soon, wine was poured and sipped slowly, accompanied by delicate pastries. The conversation became more relaxed. Li Weiheng, cracking hazelnuts with a small copper hammer, asked, “Sister Shenbei, did Uncle Wei let you out because you’re recovered? Does that mean you can go to school with us now?”
Except for Wei Fengzhi, the others perked up their ears. Wei Linxia smiled and said, “I can recognize characters now. I want to learn qin, chess, and painting.”
Li Weiheng wrinkled her pretty face. “Sister Shenbei, you’re already so good at qin. What about me?”
Yan Junzhu comforted her, “Don’t worry, apart from recognizing characters and using a whip, I can’t do anything else.” Wei Linxia and Xi Linxuan glanced at Wei Fengzhi before lowering their heads.
Since they came to appreciate the snow, everyone discussed it. Xi Linxuan was not interested and sipped his warm wine. Suddenly, a crisp voice asked him, “Your Highness, is winter in the capital as cold as Huo City? Is the snow this heavy?”
Xi Linxuan answered without looking up, “Slightly warmer, less snow.”
“Thirteenth Brother, what do people do when it snows in the imperial palace?” Yan Junzhu asked, having never been to the capital despite being a noble.
“Mostly the same everywhere,” Xi Linxuan said, putting down his wine cup to see Wei Linxia looking at him with expectation. He noticed her clothes were particularly ugly.
