REM • CH006

# Chapter 6

Shen Xinyan could not help curling her lips at his aggrieved, pitiful expression, though she quickly suppressed it. She sat beside him and pressed a black lacquered gold-painted jewelry box into his hands, saying: “This is the shop’s recent earnings sent over a few days ago. See if it’s enough. If not, I’ll have someone fetch more.”

Wei Junhang received it in a daze and opened it. Then his hands recoiled as if burned. He leapt from his seat with a start, his face flushing red as he glared at her: “You, what do you mean by this?”

Shen Xinyan was startled by his fierce reaction. Hearing his question, she froze completely.

“I, Wei Junhang, worthless as I am, would never stoop to spending my wife’s dowry money. You, you… I, I… you’ll be the death of me!” He wanted to scold her properly, but the moment he looked at that face, beautiful as it had been for the past ten years, the words would not come. He could only fling down this remark in frustration, sweep his sleeve, and stride out the door.

“Young Master!” Qiutang, who had been about to lift the curtain and enter, was startled by Wei Junhang storming out with a flushed face. Before she could even offer her greeting, he had already vanished.

She stood with her mouth open, staring in disbelief at the maid beside her: “That was the Young Master just now, wasn’t it? I wasn’t mistaken?”

“No, no, that was indeed the Young Master,” the maid replied weakly.

Qiutang’s eyes widened even further.

The Young Master had actually lost his temper with the Young Madam? The sun had truly risen from the west today!

This couple had always been courteous and respectful toward each other, never once quarreling since their marriage. And although the Young Master was not particularly serious by nature, he treated the Young Madam very well, never once raising his voice at her, much less flushing with anger.

Back inside, Shen Xinyan watched her husband storm out in a huff, feeling rather at a loss. But as she turned over his words in her mind, she understood at once and gave herself an exasperated slap on the forehead.

It was her fault. Why had she not been more tactful? Pushing money so bluntly into someone’s hands like that.

“Madam, the Young Master…” Qiutang entered to find her mistress looking thoroughly vexed, and her heart lurched. Had the Young Madam truly angered the master?

“I was careless and did a foolish thing. It’s nothing. I’ll find him later and explain,” Shen Xinyan said. Though somewhat annoyed at herself, she knew her husband’s character well enough not to worry.

Seeing her unconcerned manner, Qiutang breathed a sigh of relief.

“Just now Granny Cui sent over a package of top-quality bird’s nest, without any explanation. This servant finds it rather strange,” Qiutang reported. She had taken leave the previous day to visit her ailing mother at home and had only just returned to the household, so she knew nothing of the morning’s events.

“Since she sent it, keep it. Have the small kitchen prepare it later. You and Chunliu and Xiahe can all have some,” Shen Xinyan said without much concern.

Whether it was Fang Shi’s gesture or the Great Princess’s, she was the Young Madam of this household. Could she really not even have a few taels’ worth of bird’s nest?

Qiutang replied with a crisp acknowledgement.

•••

In the Great Princess’s chambers at Ning’an Hall.

The Great Princess lay half-reclining on her soft couch with her eyes half-closed. Granny Liang, who had served her for most of her life, sat at her feet, carefully kneading her legs.

“Regarding what Shen Shi raised this morning, how do you think it should be handled?” the Great Princess asked suddenly, opening her eyes.

Granny Liang’s hands paused briefly. She smiled and said: “Princess has already made up her mind. Why tease this old servant?”

The Great Princess laughed despite herself, shook her head, and let out a long sigh: “What Shen Shi said has its logic. Only… if I agree to it, I fear Bizhen will carry a grievance against me in her heart.”

“Princess worries too much. The First Madam grew up before your eyes. Do you not know her? She is the most reasonable and understanding of people. Though this change was proposed by the Young Madam, it is ultimately for the household’s good. How could the First Madam resent you for it?” Granny Liang smiled reassuringly.

The Great Princess considered this and found it reasonable. But thinking of her eldest son who had died young, she let out another long sigh: “If Junting were still here, I would not need these old bones of mine to fret over everything. Junhang is still too useless, and even that Shen Shi falls short of Bizhen in many ways.”

『TL Note ♡︎』”Bizhen” (碧珍) is Fang Shi’s given name, used here by the Great Princess in a moment of private familiarity.

Speaking as she was of the household masters, Granny Liang found it unsuitable to comment, so she changed the subject: “This servant passed by the training ground just now and caught sight from a distance of the Young Master practicing his swordwork. My, the sharpness of those movements! Truly reminiscent of the Duke’s younger days.”

At the mention of her most accomplished legitimate grandson, the Great Princess immediately shed her worried expression and smiled: “That child Chenglin is a driven one. He is a hundred times better than his father! It is not for nothing that his grandfather personally tutored him.”

“The Princess says this now, yet who was it not long ago who wept before the Duke, complaining he was too harsh, drilling a four-year-old child like a soldier?” Granny Liang said with playful reproach.

The Great Princess shot her a mock glare: “What a chatterbox you are!”

•••

On the other side of the household, Wei Junhang had barely stepped beyond his wife’s courtyard before he regretted it. He felt clearly enough that his wife had meant well, and it had been poor of him to lose his temper at her.

He walked back and forth in front of the courtyard gate with his hands behind his back, wanting to go back and say a conciliatory word to his wife, yet worried she might have grown annoyed with him in the meantime. He could not make up his mind. Then he recalled the decision he had made earlier, turned on his heel, and headed in the direction of the east courtyard.

•••

The training ground of the east courtyard.

The young boy moved with his wooden sword, thrusting, parrying, and striking, sometimes leaping into the air, sometimes dropping close to the ground. Each stance carried real force, earning repeated nods from the martial arts instructor standing nearby.

This was the scene Wei Junhang walked into.

The instructor noticed his arrival and was about to step forward to greet him. Wei Junhang waved his hand and shook his head. The instructor understood and offered a respectful bow from a distance.

Wei Junhang rubbed his nose and stood to one side to watch in silence, growing more pleased with each passing moment.

Truly a fine son born of him and his wife! With a son like this, what more could a man ask for? Let those wretches dare mock him as useless again!

Hmph. Worthless as he was otherwise, having fathered such an exceptional son was more than enough to hold his head high throughout the capital!

Wei Chenglin drew back his wooden sword, turned, and saw his father, who had arrived at some point, watching him with a wide smile. He handed the sword to the attending servant, exchanged a few words with the instructor, and then walked over.

“Father!” He bowed properly and respectfully.

“That swordwork is excellent! Far better-looking than that what’s-her-name, the Lady of Nangong, could ever manage!” Wei Junhang praised cheerfully, entirely unaware of the instructor’s pained expression.

『TL Note ♡︎』”Lady of Nangong” (南宫大娘) is likely a reference to a historical figure known for her graceful swordsmanship that inspired the calligraphy of the great Tang poet Du Fu. Wei Junhang is comparing his son’s swordwork to a woman’s performance art—which is precisely why Wei Chenglin objects.

Wei Chenglin pressed his lips together and ultimately could not resist: “Father, I am a man of standing. How can you compare me to such a woman of low repute? Besides, my sword is meant to cut down enemies on the battlefield, not to put on a pretty show for applause like an embroidered pillow!”

The instructor beside them nodded in approval.

Precisely right!

Having been rebuked by his own son, Wei Junhang was not upset at all and continued smiling: “Yes yes, Father spoke wrongly!”

This boy was fine in every respect, except his temperament was just like his grandfather’s—rigid and not a bit of fun. Much less amusing than that little Ying’er girl.

The Young Master muttered privately.

The instructor shook his head helplessly, stepped forward, bowed, and excused himself.

Wei Junhang dismissed him with a careless wave.

“Does Father have instructions? If not, I should return to review my studies,” Wei Chenglin said. He knew his father’s temperament well enough.

“You are not being forced by anyone. There is nothing wrong with relaxing a little now and then.”

“Grandfather often teaches that a person must be self-disciplined, and only…”

“Alright alright, go if you must!” The Young Master’s head began to ache.

“Then this child takes his leave!” The diligent young boy bowed, turned, and made to leave.

“Wait, wait!” Wei Junhang only remembered his reason for coming as his son had walked several steps away and hastily called after him.

Wei Chenglin stopped and turned, his inquiring gaze fixed on his father.

“From now on, make more time to visit your mother. Her health has not been good lately,” Wei Junhang said quickly, eager to state his purpose before the boy could launch into another of his grandfather’s teachings.

“Mother is unwell? Has a physician been called? What did the physician say? Is it serious?” The moment he heard his mother was unwell, the young boy’s face showed anxiety and he fired off questions.

“Nothing serious, nothing serious. I expect she simply worries about you often, uneasy with you living in the outer courtyard, and the worry has worn on her health a little,” Wei Junhang said, stroking a beard that did not exist, very satisfied with his son’s response.

“This child understands. Then as Father says, I will find more time each day to accompany Mother,” Wei Chenglin nodded.

Satisfied with this outcome, the Young Master was rather pleased with himself. He wanted to bring his son back to find his wife right then and there, and get some credit for it in front of her, but then worried it would disrupt his son’s studies and earn him a scolding from his own father, so he let the idea go.

Still, he was reluctant to waste a good opportunity to show his merit, and quickly added: “Come back to accompany your mother for the midday meal today. But be sure to wait for me to arrive before going over together.”

Wei Chenglin was puzzled: “I can return on my own. There is no need to trouble Father.”

“Just do as I say!” The Young Master puffed himself up and put on a stern fatherly expression.

“Then this child will follow Father’s instructions,” Wei Chenglin said, accustomed to his father’s ways and not inclined to argue. He nodded and agreed.

•••

The Duke Ying, now past his fiftieth year, smiled and stroked his beard. His son was a disappointment, but with such an exceptional grandson, the restoration of the Duke Ying household’s standing was only a matter of time.

“Later, practice the spear technique I taught you the other day a few more times. The Duke Ying household rose through military achievement. As a son of the Wei family, you must never let your martial skills lapse, no matter the time.”

“Yes, Grandson will keep Grandfather’s teaching in mind!” Wei Chenglin acknowledged respectfully. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, he said: “Mother is unwell. Grandson wishes to return early to accompany her for the midday meal.”

“If she is unwell, have a physician come. Rest and recuperation is what is needed… very well, go then!” The Duke Ying knew perfectly well this was simply his daughter-in-law missing her son.

Truly, an indulgent mother spoils the child! It was fortunate he had acted decisively, taking his eldest grandson at three years old to raise himself, determined never to let him be raised among women as his father had been.

Thinking of that disappointing legitimate second son, he could not help but feel a throb of frustration.

If only his eldest son were still alive, he would not need to exhaust himself like this. The Duke Ying household could have risen even higher without relying on his wife the Great Princess’s name.

He touched his left leg, which had lost all feeling many years ago, and thought of his eldest son, gone these many years, accomplished in both civil and martial arts. His heart could not help but clench with pain.

That son had been the only true hope of the Wei family. Had he lived, why would he need to drag this broken body of his, straining to cultivate his grandson himself? How would the household’s heir title have fallen to that useless second son?