Upon hearing these words, Wei Yun’s expression immediately darkened. Chu Yu lightly coughed and casually changed the subject: “I wonder what confidence Lord Gu has that he can persuade Shen You to surrender?”
“Shen You is a good person,” Gu Chusheng didn’t continue the previous topic either. He picked up on Chu Yu’s words and calmly said, “He wants to do everything well, to be a loyal and righteous person, so he hasn’t betrayed Zhao Yue. But in his heart, he knows what’s right and what’s wrong. He admires the Sixth Madam and also feels ashamed towards the Wei family. He,” Gu Chusheng raised his hand and gently placed it on his chest, earnestly saying, “has a troubled conscience.”
Wei Yun nodded, “I understand Lord Gu’s meaning. I know. Don’t worry,” his expression became solemn, “I will wait until after May.”
Gu Chusheng seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He respectfully bowed his head, “This Gu thanks the Marquis.”
After saying this, he raised his head and stood up to take his leave.
After he left, Chu Yu looked up at Wei Yun, “Why did you ask those questions?”
“I thought you would understand my intention,” Wei Yun looked at her. “I don’t want the Wei family to follow in the footsteps of the past. If I am to assist an emperor, I hope that person can be from the Wei family.”
“A child isn’t something you can just have because you say so,” Chu Yu frowned.
Wei Yun chuckled lightly, “Who can tell if a child is real or fake? As long as you agree,” Wei Yun raised his hand and placed it on Chu Yu’s abdomen, speaking gently, “we can first send any child into the palace. When you become pregnant and give birth, we can switch the children back. Wouldn’t that be good?”
“Wei Yun…” Chu Yu’s lips trembled slightly, “I won’t let my child enter the palace.”
Wei Yun looked up at her. Chu Yu stood up, her body shaking slightly, but she still gritted her teeth and said to him, “I hope my child can live a good life. Do you know what a good life is? It’s to live like an ordinary person, by their parent’s side, carefree, with their biggest worry being that they haven’t finished copying their characters for the day. Not to be in that deep palace, bearing the title of ‘Your Majesty’ while being a puppet!”
Wei Yun didn’t speak. Chu Yu straightened her back, “I will never allow you to use my child as your chess piece.”
Hearing this, Wei Yun smiled bitterly, “I was just saying. We’ll do as you say.”
As he spoke, he reached out and embraced Chu Yu, speaking gently, “I just want to give our child the best. A’Yu, the feeling of powerlessness is too bitter. I don’t want to experience it a second time, nor do I want my child to experience this feeling.”
He said this very calmly. Chu Yu was stunned for a moment. When she realized what he meant, her heart suddenly ached.
He had been powerless for five years.
Five years ago, he went to Baidi Valley to collect the bodies of his father and brothers, powerless in the face of their deaths;
Later, when he was thrown into the imperial prison, watching his family kneel in the wind and rain, he was powerless;
Then when he killed the emperor’s enemies, thinking he had avenged his family, but upon touching the truth, he was still powerless;
He had been lying low for five years, finally waiting for today.
He was also a child from an ordinary family. The joys and innocence in this world sometimes depend not on what family you’re born into but on fate.
Chu Yu suddenly understood why he wanted their child to become the most noble person in the world. She hugged him and said hoarsely, “Xiao Qi… I’m sorry.”
I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you well when you were young.
Thinking of how her once dog-like scrawl had become today’s vigorous and beautiful handwriting, how the talkative youth had grown into the towering man of today, Chu Yu hugged him tightly, unable to utter a single word of reproach.
The two embraced for a moment. Chu Yu, thinking that Wei Yun was still busy today, got up to leave. She went over everything that needed to be prepared for tomorrow once more. After the inventory, she heard Chang Yue come over and say, “Madam, the Old Madam wants you to go over.”
“Hm?” Chu Yu was puzzled, “What does the Old Madam want me for?”
“Second Madam said that the Old Madam is in high spirits today.”
Chu Yu frowned slightly. She vaguely guessed what it was about. She pressed her sleeve, steadied herself, and quickly went to Liu Xueyang’s room. Liu Xueyang was holding up a painting, laughing about something with Jiang Chun beside her. She was in excellent spirits, looking happier than she had in a long time, while Jiang Chun knelt beside her, her smile somewhat forced.
Chu Yu entered the room and greeted Liu Xueyang, then heard her call out, “A’Yu is here, come quickly and see how this young lady is!”
Hearing this, Chu Yu understood Liu Xueyang’s intention. Jiang Chun glanced at her as she came forward. She looked at the person in the painting and heard Liu Xueyang say, “This young lady is called Wei Qingping. I heard you went to receive her today. Is she as beautiful as in this painting?”
“She surpasses it,” Chu Yu had already prepared herself and spoke calmly.
Liu Xueyang exclaimed, “Oh my! Then she must truly be a beauty, perhaps even on par with our A’Yu.”
“Each has their charm,” Jiang Chun quickly interjected, changing the subject, “It’s late now, Mother-in-law. Aren’t you tired? Why don’t we…”
“No, no,” Liu Xueyang brushed off Jiang Chun’s support and turned to continue probing Chu Yu, “What’s this princess’s temperament like? Is she arrogant?”
“Not at all arrogant. The princess is just not skilled in social niceties, but she has a kind heart and is famous for it.”
“Good, good, good,” Liu Xueyang nodded repeatedly, “I’ve also heard that people call her the Female Bodhisattva, someone with a good heart. The Prince of Wei commands a strong army, and Princess Qingping is beautiful and kind-hearted. She seems to be a good match for our Xiao Qi.”
Liu Xueyang asked a few more questions about Wei Qingping. Chu Yu knelt to the side, answering each one. Liu Xueyang listened with joy and said to Chu Yu, “I heard today that when Xiao Qi was injured outside before, it was Princess Qingping who saved him. She even went alone to Tianshan Mountain to gather herbs for Xiao Qi. For a young lady to go to Tianshan alone to gather herbs, what great affection that shows. For so many years, Xiao Qi has never shown interest in any girl. Today he specially went to receive her, didn’t he?”
“Mother-in-law, where are you going with this?” Jiang Chun said with a smile, “The Prince of Wei has a noble status. Xiao Qi went to receive the Prince of Wei, not the princess.”
“It’s all the same,” Liu Xueyang waved her hand and continued to Chu Yu, “Tomorrow, all our close acquaintances will be here. You should keep an eye out for Xiao Qi. He’s come of age now. His brothers were all engaged early at his age. When A’Jun was engaged to you, he was only thirteen, and you were just a four-year-old baby. He even held you then, do you remember?”
“I don’t remember,” Chu Yu shook her head with a smile.
Liu Xueyang sighed, “That’s a pity. You liked A’Jun so much then. When he was about to leave, you even cried while hugging him. But Xiao Qi was also attached to you. He was only three then. When you cried, he cried too. A’Jun had such a headache…”
As Liu Xueyang talked about their childhood, her face filled with nostalgia. Chu Yu listened quietly until Liu Xueyang became sleepy. She attended to her as she went to sleep, then walked out with Jiang Chun.
Once outside, Jiang Chun sighed, “Don’t take Mother-in-law’s words to heart. There’s nothing between Xiao Qi and Princess Qingping, don’t overthink it.”
“Mm.”
“Mother-in-law now feels that Xiao Qi’s status is different. She probably thinks Xiao Qi is going to be emperor…”
“I know.”
“A’Yu,” Jiang Chun said worriedly, “Don’t be sad.”
“I’m not sad,” Chu Yu smiled. She patted Jiang Chun’s hand, “Don’t worry. I was prepared for Mother-in-law to say these things. I’ve chosen this path, so I’m ready for it.”
Jiang Chun pressed her lips together and finally said, “A’Yu, why don’t you like Gu Chusheng?”
Chu Yu didn’t speak. After a moment, she smiled, “Then why don’t you like Song Shilan?”
Jiang Chun was taken aback. Chu Yu held her hand and lowered her head, “I understand your feelings. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
“Go back to sleep,” Chu Yu smiled gently, patting her shoulder.
When she returned to her room and lay on the bed, it felt somewhat empty being alone. Wei Yun had to prepare for tomorrow’s coronation ceremony, so he probably wouldn’t come tonight.
Chu Yu felt extremely tired. She lay on the bed, closed her eyes, and didn’t sleep well all night, constantly dreaming. When she woke up, she heard commotion outside and stood up, asking the people outside, “What time is it?”
“Madam, it’s the Hour of the Rabbit. The Marquis has already started preparing.”
Chu Yu narrowed her eyes and supported herself as she got up, “I’ll go take a look.”
After washing up, when Chu Yu arrived at Wei Yun’s room, he was already dressed in his ceremonial robes. Today was both his coronation as a prince and his coming-of-age ceremony combined. The procedure was different from ordinary coming-of-age ceremonies, focusing on using this day to let all those attending know of Wei Yun’s current power, so as not to fear Zhao Yue’s influence. Therefore, most of the front rituals were omitted, keeping only the “capping” ceremony in front of everyone.
Wei Yun’s attire consisted of a black wide-sleeved silk robe with gold cloud patterns on the edges, embroidered with the sun, moon, and stars on the back. The wide sleeves were embroidered with the twelve divine beasts, and a red apron hung in front, with a vermilion bird spreading its wings and holding a pearl, looking extremely magnificent.
Many people surrounded Wei Yun. Since Wei Yun had no father or brothers, Chu Lingyang and Song Shilan were invited to act as Wei Yun’s brothers. Liu Xueyang stood behind Wei Yun, saying something with tears in her eyes, while Wei Yun sat in front of the mirror, smiling and responding.
Chu Yu quietly watched for a while but didn’t go in. There were already many people around him, and she didn’t need to disturb him.
After washing up in her room, Chu Yu put on her pheasant-patterned robe and golden crown. When the time came, she took a sedan chair to the parade ground.
The training ground had been prepared, and guests were being led in, taking their seats one by one. Chu Yu went forward to sit in the elevated area. The central position was for Wei Yun, while her seat and Liu Xueyang’s were slightly higher and further back than Wei Yun’s.
Pearl curtains hung in front of their seats. As Chu Yu entered, Liu Xueyang smiled and asked her, “I saw you arrive this morning. Why didn’t you come in to see us?”
“I heard it was lively at Little Seven’s place, so I went to take a look. Once I understood what you were all happy about, I didn’t want to disturb you,” Chu Yu smiled, taking a cup of tea from the side and exchanging pleasantries with Liu Xueyang. “Has Mother-in-law had breakfast?”
“I had some porridge,” Liu Xueyang answered casually.
Soon after, drum beats signaled the official start of the ceremony. The drums sounded intense, and as they rang out, the ground began to tremble. Thousands of soldiers marched into the training ground from afar, their steps perfectly synchronized. From their entrance to their positioning, not a single movement was out of place. Infantry, cavalry, archers…
Between the drum beats, accompanied by the soldiers’ shouts, a complete army entered in succession.
Liu Xueyang watched quietly, sighing, “His coming-of-age ceremony shouldn’t have involved weapons like this. But using this ceremony as a pretext to invite so many guests, I fear his intentions go beyond this?”
“Indeed,” Chu Yu replied calmly. “Right now, everyone is watching the Marquis and the one in Huajing. The Marquis needs to give the world reassurance. To form alliances, one must at least show their strength.”
“Your brother,” Liu Xueyang watched the infantry practicing below, seemingly casually asking, “What does he think?”
Chu Yu was surprised that Liu Xueyang would inquire about such matters. Liu Xueyang usually didn’t involve herself in these affairs, but today she suddenly asked. After a moment of surprise, Chu Yu slowly realized.
Liu Xueyang was probably worried about her.
She couldn’t help but smile bitterly, and could only answer truthfully: “My mother and sister-in-law are both from the Xie family. Now Zhao Yue’s greatest support is the Xie clan. My brother probably won’t side with anyone.”
On one side was his wife’s and mother’s maternal clan, on the other was the family his sister had married into. For Chu Lingyang, not getting involved with either side might be the most likely choice.
Liu Xueyang frowned slightly, and after a moment, she sighed, “Everyone has their difficulties.”
As they spoke, they quietly watched the soldiers form into neat squares in unison, then uniformly kneel. In the silence that fell over the entire field, Wei Yun walked up from below. He knelt on a cushion, with Tao Quan standing behind him holding the golden crown. Wei Yun’s expression was solemn, his back straight as an arrow.
He had fully grown into a young man, his features strong, having lost the soft lines of his youth.
He looked like a fully forged sharp sword, gleaming in the morning sun, with a resilient radiance that seemed capable of piercing through endless darkness.
All eyes were on him. Chu Yu saw the ceremonial official step forward to invite Liu Xueyang to preside. Liu Xueyang, supported by attendants, walked to stand before Wei Yun.
“This should have been done by your father,” Tao Quan stood behind Liu Xueyang. Liu Xueyang’s voice was usually weak, but at this moment, she spoke in a volume loud enough for most to hear, steady and gentle: “But now that your father and brothers are gone, I can only do this for you. In your coming-of-age year, your mother has nothing she wants you to do, except for one thing. Do you know what it is, my son?”
Wei Yun raised his head, looking at Liu Xueyang’s tear-filled eyes, and spoke seriously: “Please instruct me, Mother.”
“Uphold our Wei family’s traditions,” Liu Xueyang raised her head, suddenly raising her voice, “and restore the Great Chu’s golden age!”
After speaking, Liu Xueyang turned abruptly to face the crowd: “Since the founding of our Great Chu, through four emperors, our Wei family has been the sword in the emperor’s hand, the wall of the northern border, defending against external enemies, expanding our territory. We’ve secured thousands of miles of land for Great Chu, ensuring peace for our people.”
“However, in recent years, countless people have been displaced; corpses pile up on the roads, their origins unknown. I remember when Huajing was a dream city, Great Chu was the greatest nation, with no bones on the roads, and no empty houses in the streets. But what about now?”
“The Langyue Tower is carved in gold and jade, and the imperial palace is filled with song and dance, but beneath the imperial city, heavy taxes crush the people, making life unbearable. Even if our Wei family guards the northern border and reclaims the land, Great Chu is no longer the Great Chu of the past. Huajing is no longer a dream city, Great Chu is no longer the greatest nation.”
“I am now in my destined year, having experienced countless things in my life. My husband and sons all died on the battlefield, but this is not what grieves me most. What grieves me most is that the upright men of our Great Chu are here, yet they watch helplessly as treacherous people hold power and our nation crumbles!”
“My son,” Liu Xueyang closed her eyes, her voice hoarse, “The backbone of everyone in this world can break, but yours cannot. Everyone in this world can bow their heads, but you cannot. Even if our Wei family is left with only you and us women, we must not forsake our century-old spirit, nor bend the backbone of four generations.”
“I will remember, Mother,” Wei Yun lowered his head, his voice calm and composed, as if he had said these words countless times before.
Liu Xueyang lifted the golden crown, tears in her eyes as she placed it on his head.
This was her son.
Her only, remaining son. She had watched him grow from a naive child to the man he is today. Even though he had already faced countless hardships, in Liu Xueyang’s heart, it was at this moment that he truly became an adult.
She placed the golden crown on his head, and Wei Yun stood up, turning to face the crowd.
The sun rose high, and he stood there in his royal attire, the golden crown on his head, bathed in the morning light. He seemed to have come bearing the fire of light, ready to illuminate the darkness across the nine provinces.
“With a foolish emperor on the throne and innocent people suffering, Wei Yun accepts the mandate of heaven. On this day, I take action and proclaim myself king. May our Wei family forever be the sharp blade of Great Chu, protecting the people’s peace and prosperity, ensuring an everlasting golden age!”
“Peace for the people, prosperity for the nation!”
The Wei family emblem, a vermilion bird encircling the character “Wei,” slowly rose. The soldiers gradually joined in the chant.
Chu Yu listened as the voices below grew louder and louder, like a tidal wave sweeping over, seeming to envelop Wei Yun, herself, and this entire era.
“Peace for the people, prosperity for the nation!”
“Peace for the people, prosperity for the nation!”
Chu Yu quietly watched the young man standing with his back to her. He stood at the forefront, his wide sleeves billowing in the fierce wind, the pendants of his golden crown swaying and rolling in the breeze. He seemed to be a single man facing all the storms of the world, yet he remained calm and fearless.
As she looked at his back, she suddenly had a strong urge to walk over, stand by his side, hold his hand, and face the storms together, to witness both the tumultuous times and the peaceful prosperity.
However, she could only sit in this elevated place, where his elders sat, accompanying Liu Xueyang in her capacity as an elder, quietly gazing at him.
She had to use composure to suppress the admiration and love in her heart, and reason to control the passionate desire to embrace him regardless of consequences.
Until he turned around and looked at her.
It was just a gentle glance through the swaying pearl curtains. She saw him standing in the sunlight, suddenly smiling.
It was an angle that the crowd could hardly see, his smile directed right at her. That smile carried a hint of youthful spirit, with a touch of pride and radiance, completely at odds with his previous demeanor.
In just an instant, he turned his head away again. Chu Yu, sitting behind the pearl curtains, gripped the armrests tightly. Somehow, she suddenly started crying. She smiled through her tears, raising her handkerchief to wipe her eyes. Beside her, Wanyue asked with concern, “Madam?”
Chu Yu waved her hand, signaling her not to speak.
Wanyue pressed her lips together, saying nothing more.
After the entire ceremony was over and everyone had dispersed, Liu Xueyang, feeling unwell, was escorted down early by Jiang Chun.
Wei Yun came to Chu Yu’s pearl curtain. He lifted the curtain and saw her eyes brimming with tears.
He couldn’t help but smile, “Why are you crying?”
Chu Yu stood up with a smile, seeming a bit embarrassed as she said, “The wind and sand got in my eyes, I rubbed them too hard.”
Wei Yun said nothing, just smiled, and stepped back, respectfully escorting her out.
She was supported by Wanyue, with Wei Yun following behind. Wei Yun accompanied her to a less crowded place and quietly took her hand.
He was still wearing the formal attire from earlier, but the warmth of his hand remained the same as always.
“Chu Yu,” he said softly, “Do you know what my courtesy name is?”
“Wasn’t it given by Master Tao?” Chu Yu thought for a moment. “Why wasn’t it mentioned earlier?”
Wei Yun turned to look at her, smiling, “It wasn’t given by Master Tao. I chose it myself.”
Chu Yu looked up, puzzled. Wei Yun stopped, took her hand, and wrote his courtesy name on her palm, stroke by stroke.
“Huai…” Chu Yu read the first character, then she saw him write the second character: “Yu…”
Chu Yu was stunned. Wei Yun enclosed her hand in his as if holding that name in his grasp.
“Chu Yu,” he spoke earnestly, “No matter where I go in the future, in front of you, for my entire life, I will always be Wei Qilang, Wei Huaiyu.”