Wei Luo saw the familiar anxiety on her face.
Initially, when she had just gotten married, her worry stemmed from fearing his temper. Now, she dreaded his potential anger towards their child.
Was he truly that irritable in her eyes?
“I have a plan,” Wei Luo reassured her, pulling her into his embrace and habitually pinching her soft earlobe.
Yin Hui visibly relaxed.
Suddenly, Wei Luo lifted her chin, gazing into her eyes. “Are you unwilling?”
Yin Hui’s heart raced faster than when facing Xiao Heng.
It was not an easy question to answer; it delved into complex emotions. Yet, Wei Luo’s eyes were cold, revealing no hint of emotion.
After some contemplation, Yin Hui shook her head.
Wei Luo’s gaze remained steady. “Why?”
Yin Hui hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest. “I am content to be your wife and to receive your kindness.”
Praising him when deserved was always appropriate.
Wei Luo smiled, pinching her earlobe once more. “That’s good.”
Exiting the room, the couple made their way to the hall, the children trailing behind.
After dinner, Wei Luo reviewed Xiao Heng and Xiao Xun’s homework as though nothing had occurred. Then, he pointed out Xiao Heng’s mistake and invited him to the study.
Xiao Xun cast a worried glance at his brother.
Yin Hui smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Father won’t scold your elder brother. I’m here.”
With that, Xiao Xun and his sister returned to their quarters.
Not long after, Xiao Heng emerged from the study, wearing a relaxed expression as he greeted his mother who had been waiting patiently.
Curiosity gnawed at Yin Hui. As she settled onto the bed, she turned to Wei Luo, eager to learn about the father-son conversation.
Wei Luo explained, “It was akin to your reasoning. He came to understand it himself, so I didn’t say much. I simply advised him to be cautious in his words and actions.”
In fact, he even asked his son why he felt uncomfortable.
His son praised him all the time, all the discomfort was a grievance for his father.
His wife’s flattery carried elements of deliberate exaggeration, unlike his son’s sincere admiration.
Hearing his words, Wei Luo found himself in a good mood.
As for the rest, they simply needed to adapt to the circumstances.
Wei Yang’s canonization ceremony was scheduled for the first ten days of October. Prior to that, he, Xu Qingwan, and other family members had already moved into the East Hall.
The several halls in Jinling were far less magnificent than the Yan Palace, and the East Hall was much smaller than the princes’ mansions outside the palace due to its location within the palace walls.
Because Concubine Meng had given birth to two grandchildren, she was assigned to an independent small courtyard and bestowed the title of the Crown Prince’s noble concubine. Her status in the East Hall was second only to the Crown Princess and the two side concubines.
While Wei Yang’s ascension naturally brought joy to Concubine Meng, more than half a month had passed since she moved into the East Hall, and Wei Yang had yet to visit her yard.
Anticipating their meeting, ConcubineMeng’s eyes held a hint of resentment when she finally encountered Wei Yang two days before the canonization ceremony.
Though her demeanor was somewhat impertinent, almost all the women around Wei Yang adhered to the rules and etiquette. Concubine Meng’s attitude provided a refreshing contrast.
“I have been too busy. I haven’t had the chance to visit your quarters, or any others,” Wei Yang explained as he led Concubine Meng to the inner room, enveloping her in his arms and soothing her.
Concubine Meng let out a soft hum.
Concubine Bai was seven months pregnant, and Concubine Ye was also three months along. Naturally, Wei Yang would not spend the night with either of them. Instead, he would either sleep alone or be with Xu Qingwan.
Concubine Meng didn’t have much refinement in taste, and Xu Qingwan’s appearance and demeanor couldn’t rival hers in Wei Yang’s favor.
When Wei Yang was initially named the Crown Prince, he had to act cautiously, but inwardly, he felt elated and yearned to indulge.
Concubine Meng became his preferred indulgence. That night, they embraced repeatedly, and Wei Yang found it hard to rise the next morning.
With some time remaining, Concubine Meng hurriedly helped Wei Yang with a massage.
Wei Yang lay comfortably on his stomach, occasionally humming. Concubine Meng glanced at the ring of fat around his waist and sighed inwardly.
She still preferred the Wei Yang who had just returned from patrolling the river, with his hard-earned, strong physique. However, upon Wei Yang’s return to Beijing, he resumed merely performing errands, and the weight he had lost gradually returned. As the head of the family, no woman dared to comment on his physique; they could only think of him as Wei Yang.
His wives and concubines always supported him, and courtiers never discussed the Prince’s figure. Thus, Wei Yang paid it no mind and continued to indulge in eating and drinking.
After all, he was only slightly overweight, and there are several civil servants who didn’t gain weight in middle age.
After she was done, Wei Yang dressed neatly and transformed into a gentle and elegant Prince again.
On the day of the canonization ceremony, in addition to civil and military officials coming to witness the event, all of the Emperor’s relatives also brought their families to the palace.
Xiao Heng and Xiao Xun accompanied Wei Luo, while Yin Hui brought only Ning Ning.
Ji Xianxian also brought only Xiao Zhuang; the two side concubines of the Chu Mansion, one in confinement after giving birth to Shi’er Lang, and the other expected to deliver in two days, did not enter the palace.
On Fu Shan’s side, Ba Lang also went with his father. Jiu Lang and Xiao Bao were still young and being cared for by their wet nurses. The two side concubines were slender and not pregnant.
Wei Jing, the wet nurse was holding little Shiyi Lang, and the two side concubines who had just entered the mansion this year didn’t appear to be pregnant yet.
Everyone stood and waited at the pre-arranged location. Shortly after, the Crown Prince’s family arrived.
Yin Hui was the first to notice that Concubine Bai, who was pregnant in July, and it was said that Concubine Ye next to her was also expecting.