Upon Wei Yan’s marriage, the Emperor had graciously granted him a half-month holiday. It was therefore not convenient to send Wei Yan to the Court of the Imperial Clan at this time.
Fortunately, the Imperial Medical Academy was well-stocked with physicians of exceptional skill. After a brief moment’s thought, the Emperor named Physician-in-Chief Zhang and Imperial Physician Zhou, ordering the two of them to make a trip to the Court of the Imperial Clan.
Eunuch Ding received the command and immediately went to the Imperial Medical Academy to relay the order — no further details needed on that.
Wei Yan also took the opportunity to excuse himself.
Empress Wei gazed at Wei Yan and Ling Jingshu with a reluctance she could not quite hide, and gently admonished them: “It’s getting late — the two of you head back and rest early. A’Yan, tomorrow you still need to accompany A’Shu for her return visit to her maiden home. Have the gifts for the return visit been prepared?”
Being the eldest sister truly meant there was no end to things to worry about.
Wei Yan felt a warmth in his heart and answered with a smile: “I had someone prepare them long ago. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Empress Wei made a sound of acknowledgment, then turned to the Emperor with a self-deprecating smile: “Your subject is truly getting old — I can’t let go of anything. I hope Your Majesty won’t laugh at me.”
In the Emperor’s heart at this moment, Empress Wei had ten thousand virtues and not a single flaw. Hearing this, he immediately laughed and said: “You are simply concerned for your younger brother. How could I laugh at you?”
Well — they were about to begin yet another round of tender, eye-blinding whispered affections.
Wei Yan exchanged a helpless glance with Ling Jingshu, and the two shared a knowing smile.
In that meeting of four eyes, a warm and tender devotion flowed naturally between them.
The Crown Grandson found the scene rather dazzling to behold, and quietly turned his head to the side.
……
At the hour of Shen, the two returned to the Wei household.
Ling Jingshu had sat in the bridal sedan chair yesterday, and this morning had left in too great a hurry to take a careful look around the Wei residence. Now she felt a touch of curiosity, and gave Wei Yan a sweet smile: “Wei Yan, accompany me for a walk around the estate. I want to see what our home looks like.”
Indeed — from now on, this was home for the two of them!
He had been alone for far too long. He had finally taken the woman he loved as his wife, and finally had a home of his own.
In the warmth of Ling Jingshu’s sweet smile, Wei Yan’s heart softened completely. Taking her hand, he said with a laugh: “All right — I’ll walk through it with you. This estate is no small place. To make a full circuit, it’ll take at least one hour. If you get tired, don’t force yourself to push on — tell me at any time.”
Ling Jingshu agreed with a smile.
Bai Yu and Qiao Yun had intended to follow along, but Wei Yan turned his head with a gentle smile: “You two must be tired as well. Go back to your rooms and rest. With me at A’Shu’s side, there’s no need for you to wait on us for now.”
Bai Yu couldn’t bear to let go and was about to say something, but Qiao Yun grabbed her sleeve and gave it a firm tug.
These were the sweet first days of a new marriage — a time when a husband and wife could scarcely bear to be apart for a moment. The two of them had better not tag along and be an eyesore.
Bai Yu closed her mouth again.
Wei Yan took his young bride by the hand and walked away. Their silhouettes leaned toward each other, beautiful as a painting.
Bai Yu stood watching for a moment, then let out a forlorn little sigh: “Now that Miss has her husband, she no longer needs the two of us.”
Qiao Yun laughed despite herself: “What foolishness are you saying? Miss and her husband are happy together — aren’t you glad? What kind of jealousy is this?”
Of course she was glad! And yet there was also something indescribably wistful about it.
All these years, she and Miss had been inseparable, like shadows that never parted. In name they were mistress and servant, but in feeling they were like sisters. Now, Miss had someone even more important in her heart — and Bai Yu, her closest personal maid, was no longer the person dearest to her.
Bai Yu said listlessly: “I can’t explain it to you right now. Never mind me — I’ll be fine in a little while by myself.”
Saying this, she walked off first.
Qiao Yun — half helpless, half amused — hurried after her.
……
After a leisurely stroll of half an hour, they had only toured half of the Wei residence. Ling Jingshu was already so exhausted that her limbs had gone soft. She and Wei Yan found a nearby pavilion and sat down to rest.
Ling Jingshu could not help but sigh: “This estate is truly enormous — more than double the size of the Ling residence. Clearly someone has been keeping it up all along. The flowers in the garden are blooming beautifully; not an inch of it has gone to waste.”
Wei Yan laughed without much concern: “This is a residence bestowed by the Emperor, so of course only the finest would do. Otherwise, it would be an embarrassment to His Majesty.”
Ling Jingshu gave Wei Yan a sidelong glance and hinted, in a roundabout way: “An estate this large — with just the two of us living in it — isn’t that rather a waste?”
Wei Yan raised an eyebrow and laughed with a mischievous glint: “Oh? You’ve only just crossed the threshold and you’re already eager to have children? Don’t worry — if you like children, ten or eight of them is no problem. The estate is large enough; it can house them all.”
Ling Jingshu’s face flushed red: “I wasn’t talking about children. Actually, I wanted to discuss with you — letting A’Xiao come to live here with us in the future.”
“The Ling residence is, after all, no place to stay for long. With Father and my stepmother living there now, I’m afraid Li Shi might secretly move against A’Xiao. I truly cannot feel at ease. That’s why I thought about having A’Xiao live together with the two of us. It would both take him away from Li Shi and make it convenient to look after his daily needs.”
“If you’re unwilling, just consider it as though I never said it…”
“You speak of this with such gravity, and it turns out to be this small a matter.”
Wei Yan cut in with an amused laugh: “A’Xiao is your own full-blooded younger brother — the person you’re closest to in the world. I am his brother-in-law. Of course I should look after him together with you from now on.”
“I’ve also been thinking that I’ll often need to report for duty at the palace, which means I won’t have much time to come home and keep you company. I worried you might feel lonely by yourself. Having A’Xiao here to keep you company would be the best possible arrangement.”
Ling Jingshu had not expected to persuade Wei Yan so easily. Her heart brimmed with joy, and her eyes sparkled brightly: “You treat me so well. Marrying you must be the luckiest thing I will ever do in this life.”
Hearing such a fervent and heartfelt declaration of love, Wei Yan felt a warmth surge through him. Unable to restrain himself, he pulled her close and kissed her soundly.
Ling Jingshu gave a startled little jump and, without thinking, thumped his chest: “We are in a pavilion — aren’t you afraid someone might see?”
Wei Yan knew she was thin-skinned and quickly released her, murmuring with a low laugh: “Very well, very well — I’ll kiss you again once we’re back in the room.”
Ling Jingshu’s face turned crimson as dawn clouds. She shot him an indignant glare.
As for what passed between husband and wife upon their return to the room — there is no need to elaborate.
The following morning, Ling Jingshu rose from bed with an aching back, her whole body sore, and furiously twisted Wei Yan’s ear: “It’s all your fault — you kept me up all night. Today I still have to return to my maiden home. How am I supposed to show my face like this?”
The shadows faintly darkening under her eyes and her flagging energy made it all too plain that she had… had not slept well. Anyone who saw her would find it difficult not to smile knowingly.
Wei Yan had indulged himself freely all through the night and was in a state of perfect physical and spiritual contentment — his temper so agreeable it was almost surreal. Even having his ear twisted did not provoke him. He soothed Ling Jingshu with gentle, honeyed words: “We’re newlyweds — it’s like this for everyone. People will understand in their hearts and won’t call attention to it just to embarrass you.”
It had already happened — what could be done?
Ling Jingshu shot him a vexed look and called Bai Yu in to apply powder and rouge to her face, which at least managed to conceal, to some small degree, the traces of a night spent thoroughly awake — and thoroughly otherwise occupied.
Just before they left, still feeling aggrieved, she planted a firm stomp on Wei Yan’s foot.
Wei Yan made a show of crying out in pain, but inwardly he was thoroughly pleased with himself.