She laughed out of extreme anger. “So what if I’m a girl? Isn’t the An’an you speak of also a girl?”
Wen Jinli found her words utterly ridiculous. Could Wen Xueling—who usually acted like a wild child, climbing trees and roaming the mountains—even be compared to the clever and lovely An’an?
“Ling’er, stop comparing yourself to An’an in everything. She is a refined young lady of a noble house. She has been tutored by Father since childhood and is well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics. Her skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting are even more outstanding. How could you possibly be fit to be mentioned in the same breath as her?”
“I know you feel wronged, but facts are facts. You must learn to accept your own limitations and never speak such boastful words.”
In Wen Jinli’s mind, he and his three elder brothers had inherited their father’s teachings from a young age and had been meticulously cared for by their grandmother. They were just like An’an—upright and polite.
They were nothing like Wen Xueling, who had a weak character and knew only how to enjoy herself in the countryside.
He recalled how she looked when reading at the old family home, reclining haphazardly on the soft couch without a shred of decorum.
Truly a country bumpkin!
A sigh flickered in the depths of Wen Jinli’s eyes. Aside from blood relations, she really didn’t share much in common with the four brothers. It was already generous of them not to despise her; how could she still act so sensible!
Wen Xueling naturally knew that only an incompetent man would place his expectations on a woman.
But the act still had to be played out.
She lifted her eyes, which were filled with tears, and choked out aggrievedly, “Yes, you all had Father’s guidance. I am the only one who hasn’t even seen Father’s face since I was old enough to remember things. But was that by my choice?”
She met Wen Jingshu’s gaze, her tears falling. “I also wanted to be like my brothers, like that An’an you speak of—to grow up with Father’s company. But I couldn’t.”
These words stifled the further rebukes Wen Jinli wanted to voice. He opened his mouth several times but couldn’t make a sound, eventually turning his head to look at his father.
Wen Jingshu suddenly remembered Wen Xueling when she was just born—a tiny little thing, even more beautiful than his four sons had been at birth. She was his first daughter, and he had been unable to put her down.
“Fine. In the end, I have indeed failed you.”
“I will return and discuss this with your mother. In a while, I will let you enter the mansion with the status of the second daughter of the Prime Minister’s Mansion. Will that finally satisfy you?”
This was already his greatest concession. The status of the legitimate eldest daughter could not be given to her; he could not wrong An’an, who had grown up at his side.
Wen Xueling reminded him, “Father, if I enter the mansion as the second daughter, how will outsiders view Mother?”
He had never returned to Huaxi County since coming to the capital. If he announced her existence this way, wouldn’t it be the same as telling the world that Mu Qingyu had cuckolded him?
Wen Jingshu naturally didn’t care about Mu Qingyu’s reputation, but he would always care about his own status as a man.
Wen Jinli felt she was intentionally looking for trouble. “This won’t do, that won’t do—Ling’er, why must you make things difficult for Father?
“It’s just the status of an adopted daughter. We’ve already said you won’t be treated any worse than An’an in the future. Why must you be so vain and insist on being a legitimate daughter?”
The room fell into a deadlock.
Wen Xueling was waiting. She was waiting for that woman in the mansion to lose her composure, and also waiting for her mother to see the true colors of her youngest son.
Sure enough, a servant soon arrived to report.
“My Lord, a letter has arrived from the mansion. The Madam has suddenly fallen ill.”
“What! Go and summon the imperial physician immediately!”
Wen Jingshu’s expression remained calm, but his speaking pace clearly quickened. He turned to leave at once.
“Li’er, take them to Fragrant Blossom Courtyard on the outskirts of the city. Let them stay there for a while.”
He paused and continued in a low voice, “Arrange for more people to serve your mother well. You must not let those watching the Prime Minister’s Mansion from the shadows know of their existence.”
Their gazes met. Wen Jinli understood the meaning behind his words—this was to have them watched, and to ensure that his mother and An’an did not find out.
“The Madam is unwell and needs Father by her side most. Please return to the mansion with peace of mind; I will handle things here.”
Wen Jingshu patted his shoulder and left the inn without looking back.
Wen Jinli turned and urged them, “Mother, Ling’er, the courtyard is ready. Please follow us there now.”
Once they were settled, he could return to the mansion to visit his mother.
Wen Xueling said to Mu Qingyu, “Mother, I’ll go pack our bags.”
“Don’t bother packing. Those rags you brought can’t be used in Jingcheng anyway. Just come as you are and let’s go. Don’t waste any more time.”
Wen Xueling ignored his complaining and went back to packing their things.
The clothes in the bags were all hand-sewn by her mother, stitch by stitch. A large portion of the bags was filled with new clothes Mu Qingyu had made for the four brothers.
But looking at his current attitude, he likely wouldn’t wear them anymore.
“Mother, the wind is strong outside. Put on an outer robe.”
Even though winter had arrived, their clothes were still thin. The fabric was the most ordinary kind, and even wearing several layers didn’t offer much protection against the cold.
Mu Qingyu felt her daughter’s cold hands and said heartache, “I’m not cold. Ling’er, you put it on.”
Both her sons and daughters were dear to her heart.
Even though Wen Jinli’s behavior today was different from how it used to be at home, Mu Qingyu still instructed, “Li’er, I made new clothes for all four of you brothers. Take them back and try them on. I sewed these on the way to the capital, so they should fit well.”
Wen Jinli wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but he was afraid Mu Qingyu would get worked up and fall ill.
Nowadays, the four brothers had their robes custom-made by tailors using the finest fabrics, and any ready-made clothes they bought were the most fashionable styles in Jingcheng.
The gentle and elegant mother in the mansion also frequently made them exquisite garments with her own hands. How could they possibly care for the coarse, rustic clothes Mu Qingyu had sewn?
Wen Jinli looked at the sky, then at the ground, but said nothing.
Wen Xueling saw his hesitation and reached out to pick up the teapot on the table.
With a “slip” of her hand, the hot water splashed onto Wen Jinli’s clothes. “Brother, your clothes are wet!”