In the main hall of the Wu’an Wangfu, Nuannuan sat on a specially made high chair, diligently working her way through a bowl of soft, stewed minced meat. Her small mouth was shiny with oil, and her cheeks were puffed out, stuffed full.
Midway through the banquet, Xiao Qingcang raised a cup of wine and looked at Wei Qinghan with deep sincerity.
“Qinghan, this cup of wine is a toast to you,” he said, his voice carrying a slight tremor. “On behalf of the entire Wu’an Wangfu, and especially on behalf of my disappointing son, I apologize to you.”
He drained the wine in one gulp. “It has been three years. You and your daughter were cast adrift, enduring all kinds of hardships. The Wu’an Wangfu has failed you.”
Wei Qinghan rose hurriedly. “Wangye, please do not say such things. You honor me far too much.”
“Sister-in-law, Father is right,” Xiao Yunshu added, standing up immediately beside them. “It was our fault for not finding you sooner. The Wangfu is facing difficult times now, but from this day forward, the Wu’an Wangfu is home for you and Nuannuan.”
“Wangye, Junzhu, I am the one who should apologize.” Wei Qinghan looked up, her gaze clear and firm. “I did not know the Shizi’s true identity before and held resentment in my heart. That was my mistake.”
With that, she squeezed Nuannuan’s small hand.
“The Shizi is a great hero who protects our country. I admire him.”
“As long as the Wangfu does not disdain me, and the Shizi does not reject me, Qinghan is willing to stay and serve the Shizi with all my heart until he wakes.”
“Only…” She paused for a moment. “Though I come from a humble family, I understand propriety. Qinghan… will not be a concubine.”
“What kind of talk is that!” Xiao Qingcang slammed his wine cup onto the table. “Rest assured, Qinghan. The men of the Xiao family stand tall and proud; we have never had a tradition of taking concubines.”
“Furthermore, since Yunheng gave you his signet ring, it means he has chosen you. That makes you the rightful Shizi Fei of our Wu’an Wangfu.”
He turned toward the steward and all the servants standing in the hall, his voice commanding and majestic.
“Listen clearly, all of you. From this day forward, Wei Qinghan is the Shizi Fei of our Wu’an Wangfu. Everyone in this household shall treat the Shizi Fei with the same respect as the Shizi himself. Any negligence will be punished according to the Jia Fa.”
“Qinghan, once Yunheng wakes, I will personally inform His Majesty to arrange your wedding and announce it to the world.”
Upon hearing this, the old steward immediately led all the servants of the residence to bow in unison toward Wei Qinghan.
“Greetings to the Shizi Fei.”
This sudden display of formality left Wei Qinghan completely stunned. Overwhelmed by the honor, she didn’t even know where to put her hands, waving them frantically in protest.
Seeing her like this, Xiao Yunshu affectionately took her arm. “There is no need to be alarmed, Sister-in-law. This is the courtesy the Wu’an Wangfu owes you.”
Nuannuan, who had been buried in her food, finally lifted her small face from her bowl. Seeing everyone bowing to her mother, she didn’t quite understand the specific meaning of “Shizi Fei,” but she felt it was a good thing.
She immediately clapped her greasy little hands happily. “Mother, Shizi Fei!”
Her daughter’s innocent and bright voice dissolved the awkwardness in Wei Qinghan’s heart, and she slowly nodded.
The next morning at the dawn court session.
Xiao Qingcang briefly and concisely informed the Emperor, formally petitioning to recognize Wei Qinghan as the Wu’an Wang Shizi Fei.
The Emperor was well aware of the Wu’an Wangfu’s situation. To be honest, the sudden appearance of a granddaughter and a Shizi Fei was indeed inconsistent with established protocol. However, the Wu’an Wangfu’s lineage was dwindling. Seeing Xiao Qingcang’s graying hair made the Emperor feel a surge of pity.
Very well, let it serve as a way to bring auspiciousness to that precarious Wangfu.
The Emperor raised his hand, about to nod his approval.
“Your Majesty, I believe this is improper,” the Libu Shilang stepped forward abruptly. “This woman’s origins are unknown, her status is lowly, and she was pregnant out of wedlock. Whether the daughter she bore is of pure blood remains to be seen. To rashly appoint her as Shizi Fei would surely damage the reputation of the Wu’an Wangfu. I implore Your Majesty to reconsider.”
Xiao Qingcang turned around sharply. “Minister Zhao, since when did my family matters become your business to meddle in? Wei Qinghan is the wife my son chose, and everyone in the Wu’an Wangfu accepts her. That is enough.”
The Libu Shilang’s face flushed red from the rebuke. He glanced toward the Zuoxiang and argued stubbornly, “Wangye, this humble official is also concerned for the Wangfu’s reputation.”
“Enough,” the Emperor said, not wanting to hear their pointless bickering. He glanced at Su Wenyuan and spoke slowly. “The Wu’an Wang has served the state well. Given the special circumstances of his household, I grant the petition.”
“The Madam Wei shall be treated with the etiquette of a Shizi Fei for the time being. We shall wait… wait until the Shizi wakes before holding the formal investiture ceremony.”
Once the Emperor spoke, even those who were dissatisfied did not dare to object further.
After the court adjourned, Xiao Qingcang strode out of the palace, eager to bring the good news back home. However, Duan Hong followed him like a lingering ghost.
“Wangye, fighting so hard for a woman of unknown origin and a wild seed… aren’t you afraid of being the laughingstock of the world?”
Upon hearing the words “wild seed,” Xiao Qingcang turned his head and gave him a cold, sweeping glance.
“If Minister Duan has the time to worry about my family matters, perhaps you should go back and properly discipline your own kin, lest you raise another brat who gets exiled three thousand li.”
Having said his piece, he ignored Duan Hong, who was trembling with rage, and walked away.
Duan Hong stared at Xiao Qingcang’s retreating back, his fists clenched until they cracked.
Su Wenyuan slowly strolled up to him, watching Xiao Qingcang’s silhouette with a chilling voice.
“I told you long ago to restrain Chenlang, but you wouldn’t listen.”
“But no matter how tough Wu’an Wang acts, he is nothing more than a man without an heir. The Wu’an Wangfu is already a grasshopper at the end of autumn… What use is a mere little girl?”
Duan Hong turned to look at Su Wenyuan. The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with malice.
Xiao Qingcang’s heart was with his family. As soon as he returned to the residence, he looked at the steward. “Where is Nuannuan?”
The steward bowed quickly. “Wangye, early this morning, the Shizi Fei took the young lady to the Shiziye’s courtyard.”
A flash of gratification appeared in Xiao Qingcang’s eyes, and he walked straight toward Xiao Yunheng’s courtyard. However, as he reached the gate, he intentionally slowed his steps and waved off the maids who tried to greet him.
The room was quiet.
Wei Qinghan was sitting by the bed, sleeves rolled up, using a cloth to meticulously wipe the arms and face of the unconscious Xiao Yunheng.
Nuannuan was leaning over the bedside, her small hand tightly gripping her father’s large hand, her little face focused and intent.
When Nuannuan woke up this morning, she discovered that the purple dragon egg in her mind had brightened slightly. Immediately after, the dragon egg told her that she could continue absorbing the black qi from her father’s body. She had been unable to wait, dragging her mother to her father’s courtyard.
Watching the black misty substance flow into her and be consumed by the dragon egg, Nuannuan’s large eyes grew brighter and brighter.
But before long, the dragon egg went quiet again.
“Nuannuan, I’m tired. I’ll eat more next time.”
Nuannuan was a bit disappointed, but she continued to hold her father’s hand.
Xiao Qingcang watched this heartwarming scene with a swirl of emotions. He was about to step forward when Xiao Yunshu came rushing in from outside.
She charged straight to the bedside, scooped up the “working” Nuannuan, and spun her around in a circle.