Chapter 14
After sitting for a while, Second Madam led the group to stroll through the garden. In May, the flowers were not as abundant as in April, but still plentiful enough. The group chatted and laughed, truly resembling a family already.
They walked for nearly half an hour before Second Madam, fearing Lady Yuan might be tired, suggested resting in the pavilion. As they made their way there, a courtyard door away, they heard Wei Zhi’s voice: “Xixi, stop fighting with Ling’er. There are guests from the Huang family here—what would they think if they heard this?”
Second Madam was about to go over when she heard Wei Xi retort, “What about the Huang family? There’s nothing to be proud of. It’s all things I didn’t want!”
At that, the faces of those from the Duke’s household changed dramatically; Second Madam paused, but quickly stepped through the door, speaking in a normal tone, “Zhi, what are you and Xixi quarreling about? You’re the eldest here—go take the children elsewhere to play. There are chilled lychees in the flower hall; share some with them.”
Wei Zhi’s cheeks were flushed from Wei Xi’s words. Seeing her mother and future husband, she was startled but managed to keep her composure. She obediently replied, “Yes,” greeted Lady Yuan, and said to Wei Xi and Wei Ling, “Come on, let’s stop with the swings and have some lychees.”
Wei Xi knew her words had been overheard. Her expression became awkward, but she soon bit her lip and followed Wei Zhi toward the hall with an air of disdain.
Lady Yuan and Huang Fengyuan were a little embarrassed, while the Duke’s family members looked uncomfortable; even Song Yan felt deeply ashamed, unconsciously lowering her head. She had never felt much connection to Wei Xi before, but today she realized, whether she acknowledged it or not, Wei Xi was her daughter by title. The Huang family had originally come to propose through her; now, to let them hear such words left her mortified.
Once the children had left, Second Madam resumed her usual cheerful conversation, keeping the atmosphere controlled. The incident didn’t escalate, but with so many present, it lingered in everyone’s minds.
Wei Qi returned that afternoon, met with Huang Fengyuan and his uncle, attended the banquet, and then Second Master saw the Huang family off.
After the banquet, Song Yan returned to her own courtyard. The men, still drinking, lingered over their meal. Not long after, the housekeeper from Jinghe Hall came to say Wei Qi wanted her to come over.
Jinghe Hall had several courtyards; she seldom visited. The housekeeper led her to the innermost one, where Wei Qi resided. He was standing under the main hall.
Song Yan entered and asked, “Master, did you call for me?”
Wei Qi inquired, “Were you present in the garden today when Xixi and Third Sister spoke?”
Song Yan realized the matter at hand.
She nodded, “I was.”
“What exactly did she say? Tell me the details.”
Song Yan didn’t know who had told Wei Qi about the incident. She paused before asking, “If I tell you, will it seem like I’m complaining?”
Wei Qi’s gaze was steady, his tone carrying authority, “You are her mother—how could it be complaining?”
Mother? Wei Xi herself had said her mother was Madam Guo.
Song Yan muttered inwardly, but lowered her head to reply, “Second Aunt was accompanying Lady Yuan and that Huang gentleman, and we were all strolling in the garden. At the entrance by the Lotus Pavilion, Xixi and Wei Ling were arguing over the swing again. Third Sister admonished Xixi, saying there were guests from the Huang family and it wasn’t proper for them to hear, but Xixi replied.”
“What did she say? Give me her exact words,” Wei Qi demanded.
“She said, ‘What about the Huang family? There’s nothing to be proud of. It’s all things I didn’t want.’” Song Yan concealed nothing.
Indeed, as a stepmother, she had always tried to be cautious and avoid trouble, but for Wei Xi’s sake, it was better not to indulge her further. Now that Wei Qi asked, she hoped he would properly discipline his daughter.
After she finished speaking, Wei Qi remained silent.
Song Yan surmised that since he had asked, he must have already heard the story elsewhere, and now wanted to confirm details with her. If both accounts matched, there could be no misunderstanding.
Wei Qi was silent for a long moment, then called out, “Send for Xixi.” He added, “Have Concubine Jiang come as well.”
This was clearly a summons for accountability.
Song Yan realized that when Wei Xi and Concubine Jiang arrived and saw her present, they would assume she had reported them, and would likely blame her. She tried to excuse herself, “I’ll take my leave, then.”
“Why leave? Stay right here,” Wei Qi ordered.
Song Yan pursed her lips, hesitated, but seeing his expression, she dared not argue and stayed.
Wei Qi sat on a chair below the hall, waiting for the two to arrive. Song Yan, feeling she had done nothing wrong, settled herself in a chair behind and to the right.
This arrangement resembled a parental hearing, with Wei Xi to face both father and mother.
Perhaps it was for the best—no matter how rebellious Wei Xi was, Song Yan was her mother by name.
Soon Wei Xi and Concubine Jiang arrived, both heads bowed. Concubine Jiang stepped forward, saluted Wei Qi, “Greetings, Master,” then turned to Song Yan, “Greetings, Madam.”
Wei Xi murmured, “Greetings, Father, Mother.” Her voice was soft, tinged with girlish delicacy, her manner flawless, a true daughter of a noble house; Concubine Jiang, always proper, neither coquettish nor alluring, carried a dignified air even in humility. If one hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, one could hardly imagine Concubine Jiang scheming, or Wei Xi uttering such words.
Wei Qi spoke, “Do you know why you’ve been called here?”
Neither replied. Wei Qi said, “Wei Xi, you answer.”
Wei Xi buried her head low, and before she could speak, Concubine Jiang fell to her knees. Seeing this, Wei Xi knelt as well.
Concubine Jiang began, her voice trembling, “It’s my fault, I failed to teach Xixi well. I never intended for her to know about the marriage proposal, but she heard it elsewhere and came to ask me.
“I thought it wasn’t important, so I didn’t give it much thought. But the child felt slighted before Miss Zhi and, in a moment of pique, uttered those words. Xixi is young and ignorant—motherless children are pitiable. If you must blame someone, blame me. I’m willing to kneel before Madam Guo’s shrine for a month in penance!”
Wei Qi glanced at her coolly, “I didn’t ask you.” He turned to Wei Xi, “Did you tell your aunt that Huang Fengyuan was someone you didn’t want?”
Wei Xi had shrunk into herself, her head deeply bowed, and after a long silence, she whispered, “Yes…”
“Where is respect for elders, where is shame? If your mother knew, she’d rise from the grave in fury!” Wei Qi raised his voice, rare for him. Wei Xi made no sound, but wept as she knelt.
Wei Qi watched her quietly, “Do you know where you erred?”
Wei Xi wiped her tears, sobbing, “I was disrespectful to Aunt… And spoke carelessly about marriage and men, letting the Huang family hear.”
Wei Qi said, “This marriage, right or wrong, is settled—they are your aunt and uncle; Xiuchun Hall is your granduncle’s family. With these ties, others dare not utter a word, lest it harm family harmony. Yet you spoke as you did.
“It’s fortunate the Huang family heard—now they rejoice that it wasn’t Wei Xi but Wei Zhi who was chosen. Such luck for our household.”
Wei Xi buried her head deeper, crying harder.
Song Yan noticed that both Wei Xi and Concubine Jiang were docile and pitiful before Wei Qi—so much so that even she felt this was just an unfortunate incident, not deserving of harsh punishment.
Wei Qi said, “Go kneel in the ancestral hall together, before your mother’s shrine, so she may see what you’ve become.”
Neither dared argue, only murmured, “Yes.”
When they had gone, Song Yan lingered, offering comfort, “Don’t be too angry, Master. Xixi is still young—she may grow more sensible in time.”
Wei Qi’s expression darkened, but after a moment, he told her, “I’ll find a chance to apologize to Second Aunt for today. If you see Third Sister, tell her not to take it to heart. Huang Fengyuan is an excellent match—she needn’t worry about anything else.”
“Yes, I’ll tell her when I see her.”
Wei Qi had nothing more to say. Song Yan asked, “Then may I go?”
Wei Qi nodded.
Back in her own courtyard, Chunhong was pleased to learn Wei Xi had been punished. “Finally she’ll learn her lesson! Let’s see if she dares act so wild again!”
Song Yan remarked, “She fears her father—she’s perfectly obedient before him. Hopefully, he’ll discipline her more in the future.”
Yet Song Yan never imagined how naïve she was.
Later that night, after bathing and preparing for bed, Wei Qi came to her bedside. He said, “I’ve thought it over—the roots of this problem run deep. For Xixi to speak as she did is no accident. Perhaps it was a mistake to have Concubine Jiang raise her. Maybe from now on, she should move here and be taught by you.”
Song Yan was so shocked she couldn’t speak, unmoving for a long while.
Wei Qi continued, “She’s twelve now—perhaps her last years for proper guidance. If we wait two more years, she might become completely unmanageable.”
Song Yan hastily replied, “Concubine Jiang… She’s been with her mother for years, raised her like her own daughter…” She fumbled for reasons, “I’m afraid I wouldn’t teach her well.”
“At the very least, you’d be better than Concubine Jiang. If she’s with you, you are her mother, free to discipline her as you see fit,” Wei Qi insisted.
“But I…”
Song Yan searched for polite refusals, but finally, unable to delay, her temper flared and she stated outright, “I don’t want to.”
Wei Qi looked at her, puzzled, as if he’d never expected her refusal.
Song Yan grew more resolute, saying, “I hardly know her, and I’m only a few years older. I don’t know how to teach a child her age—and she doesn’t even like me.”
“But you are her mother. Concubine Jiang cannot fulfill the role—only you can teach her.”
“What kind of mother am I to her? I never imagined having a child so grown!” Song Yan blurted, unable to contain herself.
She regretted it immediately. What she said was wrong.
It was indeed hard to accept being mother to a girl nearly grown. Yet she had married him, so she was Wei Xi’s stepmother. That identity was bound to her role as Wei Qi’s wife. Refusing to be her mother was, in essence, refusing to be Wei Qi’s wife.
Perhaps she hadn’t meant it that way; perhaps there were grievances buried deep within her heart, unknown even to herself. But the words had been spoken, and there was no taking them back—any attempt to remedy them now would be futile.