“As for the temperament of the third son, I don’t dare to interfere, and his wife certainly wouldn’t dare. I know you care about the third son, but when you say that, I suddenly feel uneasy. Please tell me the truth, have the couple committed some offense, or perhaps made an unintentional mistake, and you’ve come here to remove them from the family?” Mrs. Wen spoke while covering her face with a quilt and softly sobbing.
King Yan had an aversion to women’s tears. He found the unreasonable and shameless way of crying irritating. It was a timid manner of manipulation that he found both unsettling and vexing, and he felt compelled to clarify.
“I’m simply concerned about the third son. You’re overthinking it.”
“Then you should speak to the third son yourself. I’m afraid I won’t convey it clearly, and he might jump to wild conclusions,” Mrs. Wen responded.
In any case, Mrs. Wen had no intention of offending her daughter-in-law. Their relationship was harmonious, so why create discord?
King Yan sighed. Mrs. Wen had been cautious and sensible when she was young, but as she grew older, she became more headstrong. If he had known that she wouldn’t be useful, he wouldn’t have bothered visiting.
The following evening, as soon as Wei Luo returned to the palace, the guards outside Donghua Gate informed him that his father wished to see him. Therefore, Wei Luo quickly made his way to the Palace of Qinzheng.
King Yan was in his study, with a large ice tripod placed inside, allowing cool air to circulate. He held a book in his hand, and when his son arrived, King Yan glanced up. He observed that his third son was still catching his breath, fresh beads of sweat forming on his slightly sun-kissed, handsome face. It seemed that he had just returned from outside and had started perspiring.
“Fetch a towel,” King Yan ordered.
Eunuch Hai promptly dampened a towel, wrung it half-dry, and held it out to Wei Luo.
“Thank you, Father,” Wei Luo replied as he wiped his face while quickly pondering the reason for his father’s summons. Given his father’s demeanor, it seemed like it might not be anything serious.
He wiped his neck as well, and when he returned the towel to Eunuch Hai, King Yan astutely noticed that it was covered with dust. The guardhouse was some distance away from Pingcheng, and Wei Luo often returned dusty from his horseback rides. While his elder brothers held administrative positions in the palace, keeping themselves relatively clean even if tired, he was exposed to dust.
“Have you been staying at the guardhouse these past few nights?” King Yan asked, having someone pour tea for his son.
Wei Luo replied, “Yes, the commander wanted to practice a night attack, so I took half of the troops to defend.”
Yan Wang became more interested, inquiring, “What was the outcome?”
Wei Luo admitted somewhat sheepishly, “The commander led a surprise attack.”
“In military matters, such tactics are common. Don’t be embarrassed. Besides, Feng Su is twenty years your senior and has been in over a dozen battles with me. If he couldn’t even challenge you, a rookie, I wouldn’t dare to entrust him with leading the army,” King Yan reassured.
Wei Luo nodded, saying, “I will study hard.”
King Yan then instructed him to have some tea. After Wei Luo drank it all in one gulp, King Yan smiled once more and said, “Yesterday, you gained another nephew.”
Wei Luo suddenly remembered and responded, “I will go congratulate my elder brother later.”
King Yan nodded, and the conversation circled back to his son. “You need to work hard. Your eldest brother has four children, and you only have Wu Lang.”
Wei Luo was taken aback.
King Yan continued, “I understand you’re reserved, but regardless of your temperament, you should have more children. Xiao Heng’s mother enjoys raising children, while those housemaids, you can’t expect them to stay alone in empty rooms for so long, can you?”
Wei Luo understood the point King Yan was making.
King Yan raised the book in his hand and said, “Now, go back and rest.”
Wei Luo bowed and bid his farewell.
As he left Qinzheng Hall, the corners of Wei Luo’s mouth tightened gradually. Having only one child didn’t bother him; his qualities were worth more than five nephews combined.
On his way past Yizhi Hall, Wei Luo paused and asked Changfeng to deliver a message.
Wei Yang was assisting Da Lang and San Lang with their homework before dinner. When he heard that his younger brother was coming, he patted his sons’ heads and said, “Come with me to greet your third uncle.”
Seeing his elder brother followed by his two nephews, he thought that the composed Da Lang seemed calm, while the energetic San Lang seemed like a spirited child who might excel in martial arts training.
“Congratulations, big brother, on the new child,” Wei Luo greeted his elder brother with a three-pointed smile.
Wei Yang teased, “I have to thank Liu Lang. It’s thanks to him that I got to see my third brother smile once more.”
San Lang chuckled a couple of times but promptly stopped when Wei Luo turned his gaze toward him.
Wei Yang invited Wei Luo into the hall and sent someone to bring Liu Lang over. Throughout the entire meeting, his face radiated the sincere joy of being a father once again.
If Wei Luo hadn’t been reminded by his father, he might not have thought much about it. However, as he observed his elder brother’s beaming face, he found it increasingly irksome.
Fortunately, he didn’t linger for long and bid farewell after seeing the child.
Back at Chengxin Hall, Wei Luo took a bath first. The cool water helped wash away both the dust and the discontent he had been feeling.
After changing into fresh clothes, Wei Luo strolled to the backyard. As he walked along the corridor, he heard Xiao Heng’s cheerful laughter. It turned out he was watching a little maid playing shuttlecock, occasionally causing Xiao Heng to burst into laughter.
In the shade of the pagoda tree in the courtyard, Yin Hui held Xiao Heng in her arms. When she saw Wei Luo, she knew he had been on the road and had Jinzhan fetch some fresh melons and fruits.
Jinzhan hurried off, and another chair was set up beside Yin Hui. Wei Luo joined them and held Xiao Heng close to his side. The little maid, who was playing shuttlecock, continued her efforts, perspiring profusely in her determination to entertain the young master.
Jinzhan returned with two fruit plates, one containing melon slices and the other cold lychees.
As Wei Luo reached for a piece of melon, Yin Hui’s face changed slightly. She suddenly remembered what Liao Qiuniang had said about smelling melon on Yin Wen’s breath when he kissed her.
With her stomach churning, Yin Hui tilted her head, covered her face, and retched.
Wei Luo noticed her discomfort, and his thoughts stirred. When Yin Hui regained her composure, he gazed at her and then her stomach, saying softly, “Again?”
Seeing that he had misunderstood, Yin Hui quickly shook her head, explaining, “I had my menstrual period a few days ago.”
Wei Luo lowered his eyes, intending to continue eating the melon in his hand.
Yin Hui struggled for a moment, then reached out and snatched the melon, handing the melon plate to Jinzhan. “This melon doesn’t taste good; don’t serve it again.”
While she didn’t mind Wei Luo kissing her, she didn’t want to witness it, either.
Wei Luo looked at her with confusion.
Yin Hui smiled and offered, “The lychees are delicious, but it’s not easy to transport them here. Let me peel them for you.” She didn’t mind her informal behavior.
After a brief exchange between husband and wife, night fell, and Wei Luo carefully observed Yin Hui in the lamplight. Her skin was fair and devoid of any moles.
Wei Luo appreciated this about her. On one occasion, during a palace banquet, the entertainers were dressed revealingly. He happened to notice a mole on the arm of one of the performers while she was dancing, and it had put him off his appetite.
The author’s note:
King Yan: Your offspring are too few. How about having a few beautiful concubines?
Third Master: There must be no moles on their bodies.
After much searching, King Yan remarked: You should continue.