Chapter 4

The Song family had already sent someone to greet them. Wei Qi got out first, and as Song Yan leaned out of the carriage, she saw him standing before her, looking at her, waiting by the carriage for her to descend.

With Qiu Yue’s assistance, she stepped down and followed beside Wei Qi into her family home.

When they reached the front courtyard, Song Ming came out to greet them. Wei Qi walked up to him and spoke first, “Greetings, Father-in-law.” As he spoke, he cupped his hands and bowed with perfect decorum.

Song Ming was still somewhat flustered and nervous. He hurriedly replied, “...Hong Yu is too courteous. I know the court has been terribly busy lately. I can hardly believe you found time to visit—surely it won’t delay state affairs?”

Wei Qi answered, “I must beg Father-in-law’s pardon. This afternoon, I must rush to the Cabinet for a meeting—His Majesty set the time early this morning, and it would not do to request leave. So I can only stay at the Song residence half the day. When I depart this afternoon, I’ll leave Yan’er at home to keep Mother-in-law company.”

At these words, a hidden joy welled up in Song Yan’s heart.

He would leave, and she could stay behind; that was wonderful!

Her delight showed in her eyes and brows, while Song Ming said repeatedly, “State affairs are paramount, of course.” Then, unable to resist, he asked, “What has the investigation uncovered? Was it truly the Yellow Heaven Sect who attempted to assassinate His Majesty?”

Yellow Heaven Sect? An assassination attempt?

It was only then that Song Yan realized the Emperor had suffered an attempt on his life! No wonder Wei Qi had left the wedding so abruptly—so that so-called palace incident was something of this magnitude! As Minister of War, he did not directly control all the palace’s defenses, but nonetheless bore great responsibility—naturally he would be tense.

When Song Ming asked, Wei Qi replied, “The busiest days have likely passed, but the coming month or two will not be easy.”

He had deftly sidestepped the question, avoiding details about the assassination attempt.

Song Yan glanced at her father. Wei Qi dealt with this matter daily, yet no one in the entire Marquis’s household had ever mentioned the Emperor’s brush with death, and Wei Qi had not revealed a single detail. Clearly, the secrecy of the affair was paramount. No matter what rumors circulated outside, he would not let slip the slightest word. In asking so directly, her father had already overstepped.

Fortunately, Song Ming seemed to understand that Wei Qi would not say more, and soon changed the subject. The group then went to see her mother, Lady Luo, before paying their respects to the Song family patriarch.

The old master was in good spirits that day. After a few moments of pleasant conversation and some refreshments, Wei Qi asked, “Why haven’t I seen my elder brother-in-law?”

Lady Luo, looking awkward and apologetic, replied, “He... He hasn’t stepped outside in a long while. He’s not in a presentable state—best not let our son-in-law see him.”

Wei Qi responded, “I’ve heard about my brother-in-law’s situation, but have never had the chance to visit. Now that we’re family, as his junior, I ought to call upon him.”

Song Ming and Lady Luo were clearly embarrassed. Song Ming hurried to say, “Then I'll have someone bring him out!” and was about to give orders, but Wei Qi interjected, “No need to trouble Brother-in-law. Yan’er and I can visit him ourselves.”

Song Ming hesitated, uncertain, and looked to the family patriarch.

The old master said, “Since Hong Yu is so thoughtful, let them go.”

Lady Luo thus led them to her son’s room.

The eldest son of the Song family, Song Yan’s own brother, had once been a spirited youth. But at nineteen, during a riding contest, he had been struck down from his horse, suffering a head injury.

After lying in bed for four days, he finally awoke, only to find his legs paralyzed. His future was lost, his betrothal annulled. His temperament changed utterly, and he spent all his days in his room, given to unpredictable moods.

Three years had passed in a blink, and for all that time he had not shown himself to outsiders. Song Yan was deeply grateful that Wei Qi remembered she had a brother and would visit him in person.

When Lady Luo brought them in, Song Ran had already tidied himself. Though he could not stand, he sat upright in his wheeled chair, his hair and clothes neat and fresh. Seeing Wei Qi, he smiled, “I knew you were coming today. I should have come out to greet you, but these useless legs of mine have made you come all this way.”

At the sight of him, Song Yan’s eyes reddened. She stepped forward, “Brother…”

But she could say no more.

She knew that, ever since his injury, her brother had shunned visitors and idle talk. That he had dressed up and conversed so naturally today was all for her sake.

Song Ran gripped his sister’s arm and smiled, “Crying again? You’ve come home, haven’t you? From now on, the Marquis’s residence is your home. You’re grown up now—don’t keep crying like a little girl.”

Song Yan nodded vigorously.

Wei Qi lingered a while longer, inviting Song Ran to join them in the hall, but Song Ran declined. So the group left.

Song Yan was still wiping her eyes, and Lady Luo’s eyes were also red as they walked to the back courtyard. There, they saw a nursemaid chasing a young child—barely two years old, yet running nimbly after a bamboo ball, seizing it with glee and laughing.

The nursemaid, seeing the group, quickly scooped up the child to leave, but Lady Luo called, “Nanny, bring An’er over to greet his sister and brother-in-law.”

So the nursemaid brought the child over and coaxed him, “Come now, greet your sister and brother-in-law.”

The child, obedient and sweet, smiled and piped, “Sister, Brother-in-law.”

Wei Qi chuckled, glancing at Song Yan, while Song Yan praised, “An’er is such a good boy. I brought some osmanthus cakes—later, you and Second Sister can share them.”

“All right, thank you, Sister,” the child replied.

Lady Luo instructed the nursemaid, “All right, take An’er away now.”

The nursemaid left with the child, just as a servant came to call Lady Luo to the kitchen. She hurried off, leaving Song Yan to show Wei Qi to the main hall.

Wei Qi asked Song Yan, “Is he your full brother?”

“Yes,” Song Yan replied. “After my brother’s injury, Father took a new concubine. She bore twins soon after—an elder daughter, Ping’er, and the younger, An’er, whom you just met. Both are clever and adorable.”

Wei Qi gave her a thoughtful look. “So, you, your mother, and your brother…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but Song Yan immediately sensed his concern.

Yes—the more clever and lively An’er became, the more pain it brought the three of them. Now, with a healthy second son, her father might one day have a third or fourth son as well. He cared less for a crippled eldest; only she and her mother still fretted over him. Whenever they saw An’er, full of life, and their father’s pleased smile, their hearts ached.

“No matter what, with new siblings, your brother will have someone to rely on in the future,” Wei Qi said.

Song Yan nodded.

Though it hurt, her little brother was also the Song family’s hope.

True to his word, Wei Qi left after lunch, and Song Yan spent the rest of the afternoon freely at her family home, only returning at dusk by ox cart.

She was in good spirits—partly from visiting her family, partly from realizing Wei Qi was not so bad. The gloom of the past three days had lifted, and even seeing the gates of the Marquis’s residence filled her with ease.

She hadn’t expected to see Sixth Brother Wei Feng coming out as she arrived.

“Hurry up, or we’ll be late!” Wei Feng was always in a rush, and now he dashed out. Catching sight of Song Yan, he stopped and bowed respectfully, “Sister-in-law.”

Song Yan was about to reply when Fifth Brother Wei Xiu emerged behind him. Their eyes met unexpectedly.

The last time they’d seen each other, they were still betrothed, soon to be formally engaged. That day, at the Flower Festival, the Lady Feng had invited her to the Marquis’s residence. Wei Xiu had secretly taken her behind the banana trees, pressed a wooden mandarin duck into her hand, and whispered that his family would propose in a few days.

But days later, his family had instead made a match with the Princess Royal, while the Marquis had arranged her marriage to Wei Qi.

Since then, this was their first meeting—everything had changed.

Wei Feng nudged Wei Xiu with his elbow, reminding him to greet her.

But whether Wei Xiu didn’t notice or chose not to, he just stared at her, silent.

Song Yan forced a smile, “It’s getting dark. You’re going out?”

Wei Feng answered, “Some friends invited us to admire the moon at Lan Yue Tower. Just the usual crowd.”

Song Yan said, “Well, don’t stay out too late—don’t let the family worry.” She truly sounded like a proper sister-in-law.

Wei Feng replied, “Yes, ma’am,” and dragged Wei Xiu away, though Wei Xiu kept looking back at her as he went.

Song Yan kept her gaze straight ahead and hurried inside.

She knew well the importance of propriety. In the Marquis’s residence, she could exchange a glance or a word with anyone—except Fifth Brother.

Wei Qi returned early that evening, just after nightfall. Song Yan remembered the food box she’d brought from home and said to him, “You didn’t dine at home this afternoon, and Mother felt bad. She especially sent some cakes for you—water chestnut osmanthus cake and snowflake crisp, both made by the Yangzhou cook. Would you like to try them?”

“Thank you—your mother is very thoughtful. Leave them here; I’ll have some later,” Wei Qi replied.

Song Yan set the box on the small table by his side and stood quietly nearby. Wei Qi glanced at her, “You can go bathe and rest. I have some things to attend to.”

“Yes. You take care too, don’t stay up too late,” she replied, bowing her head as she left for the inner rooms. Only once she reached the bedchamber did she glance back toward the main room, but Wei Qi was out of sight, and she relaxed.

But that relaxation was short-lived. It was already late, and soon she would have to bathe, and then...

The rites of marriage—most likely tonight.

Clearly Qiu Yue and Chun Hong thought the same, for they had brought her a peach-pink nightgown, delicate and lovely. She wanted to refuse, but with Wei Qi reading at his desk in the next room, any word or commotion would be overheard. She held her tongue.

Wei Qi didn’t stay up late that night—by the second watch, he had gone to bathe in the rear bathhouse.

She could hear the sound of water from the front, and again and again she tried to steel herself.

He bathed much more quickly than she did, and by the time he returned, the maids had already withdrawn. In the warm orange candlelight, only the two of them remained.

Song Yan sat on the edge of the bed, her hair draped over her shoulders, head bowed, looking the picture of docility.

He came in—not in the solemn robes of office, nor in his usual neat attire, but in a soft, white silk nightgown, a look she had never seen on him before, adding an inexplicable intimacy. Her composure vanished; her breath caught, her whole body trembling.

She kept her head lowered, feeling that he glanced sideways at her, and lowered her head still further. He sat beside her, leaving a person’s width between them.

Nerves at their peak, she stammered, “Y-You’ve finished bathing, sir?” Then, raising her eyes slightly, “Shall I unfasten your hair for you?”