When Wei Luo took Xiao Heng for a horseback ride for a while, King Yan and others arrived in a grand manner. Because Yin Hui and other female relatives were there, Feng Su and other male officials went elsewhere by themselves.
All four women respectfully greeted King Yan, and Wei Luo also dismounted with Xiao Heng in his arms.
King Yan held the reins casually, glanced at the face of his third daughter-in-law, and said to Wei Ying with a smile, “You lost to your third sister-in-law this time; are you convinced?”
Wei Ying replied, “I am convinced.”
King Yan nodded and then turned to Yin Hui, asking, “You’re good at riding, third daughter-in-law. Have you also learned martial arts?”
Yin Hui modestly responded, “I know a little bit of swordsmanship.”
King Yan commented, “No wonder. Martial arts are beneficial for staying in shape.” He then inquired of Ji Xianxian, “What about my second son and the others? The weather is beautiful today; why aren’t they out for a stroll?”
Ji Xianxian couldn’t reveal her husband’s true intentions in front of her father-in-law, so she smiled before replying, “He wanted to teach Er Lang how to paint. The grassland scenery is stunning, which inspired his artistic side.”
King Yan appeared to accept the explanation and then urged his horse toward Wei Luo and Xiao Heng.
“Does Wu Lang want to learn how to ride a horse?” King Yan inquired with a smile.
Xiao Heng nodded and gazed up at his tall grandfather, saying, “Horse racing!”
Thinking of his son’s less-than-adequate horse riding skills, King Yan’s smile deepened as he responded, “Horse racing can be dangerous. You can do it when you grow up. Now, I’m going to take a little rest.”
With that said, Wei Luo sent his father off respectfully.
“Third Brother, do you mind if my third sister-in-law rides the horse with us?” Wei Ying asked playfully.
Wei Luo simply replied, “Don’t stray too far.”
Yin Hui mounted the horse once more and rode slowly toward the lake with Wei Ying, Wei Shan, and Ji Xianxian.
After enjoying themselves until the sun began to set, the four of them headed back.
In the meantime, Wei Luo was teaching Xiao Heng how to read and write, incorporating subjects such as grasslands, horses, the blue sky, grasshoppers, and other common topics they had encountered recently. When she saw Yin Hui return to the house, Wei Luo gave her a casual glance.
During their noon break, Wei Luo allowed Yin Hui to take the lead. Their morning activities had left them quite drained, and they couldn’t muster up the energy to do anything more strenuous.
“Didn’t you say you’ve learned martial arts?” Wei Luo sat up, hugged her, and inquired.
Yin Hui leaned on his shoulder, feeling slightly embarrassed. “Stop teasing me. You don’t want me to do it again, do you?”
Wei Luo smiled and embraced her warmly.
.
That evening, King Yan visited Concubine Li’s courtyard.
“How is Si Lang?” King Yan inquired about the well-being of his grandchild. Although he didn’t have the time to personally oversee his upbringing, he remained deeply concerned.
Concubine Li smiled and replied, “He was a bit sluggish in the morning, but after a nap in the afternoon, he woke up feeling much more refreshed. He even wanted to go play with his brothers.”
King Yan nodded in satisfaction. “That’s good. Children shouldn’t be too pampered. They should be more like Wu Lang—strong, intelligent, and adventurous. Wu Lang even enjoys catching grasshoppers.”
Concubine Li made a slightly disgusted expression. “He’s your grandson, why catch grasshoppers?”
King Yan gave her a stern look. “What’s wrong with catching grasshoppers? I used to catch them as a child. It’s not an easy task, you know. Catching grasshoppers requires good eyesight and quick reflexes. Children who excel at it tend to do well in martial arts as they grow up.”
Concubine Li relented, saying, “You’re right. Tomorrow, I’ll have Er Lang take Si Lang to catch grasshoppers. I’ll make sure to show you the results, okay?”
King Yan laughed and playfully threw Concubine Li down.
Afterward, King Yan patted Concubine Li’s hand and asked, “Have you met Feng Teng and Yang Pengju, these two young men?”
Concubine Li replied lazily, “Yes, I remember Commander Feng and Commander Yang. I met them during the dragon boat race.”
King Yan explained, “Well, Shan’er is seventeen now, and I’ve decided to choose one of them as my son-in-law. In three days, I will organize a riding and archery competition. Shan’er will have a closer look at both of them and make her own choice.”
Concubine Li sat up and looked at the man beside her in disbelief. “I know you value Feng and Yang, but they are just your officials. Their families don’t even have a noble title, and the eldest daughter is married to a prestigious family in the capital. Isn’t it unfair to treat Shan’er this way?”
King Yan snorted, lay on his back, and responded, “When Jin’er was getting married, I also thought a prestigious family was the way to go and married her off to the capital. However, we are separated by thousands of miles, and I don’t know if any misfortunes might have befallen her there. So, whether it’s Shan’er or Ying’er, I would only choose a son-in-law from the officials around me.”
He initially had other intentions when it came to marrying his eldest daughter off to a prestigious family in the capital. However, over time, King Yan began to realize that he was just a vassal king, and the prestigious families in the capital were dependent on the favor of the crown prince. Even if he married his daughter into one of those families or had his sons marry a daughter from there, they wouldn’t be safe from the influence of the crown prince. Should any issues arise, the clans in the capital would hesitate to intervene, fearing retribution from the crown prince.
In contrast, it seemed more practical to marry his children and in-laws within Yandi. Although the Yin family was known for their business, the marriage of the third son had helped resolve a military supply problem in the past. Additionally, she was skilled at educating her child, at least far more capable than his second daughter-in-law.