“Yan, did the procession to receive the bride go smoothly yesterday?” Wei Empress asked with a smile.

Wei Yan replied with a grin: “Everything went very well. There were simply far too many people lining the streets to watch. When we reached the Ling residence, the Ling household did not make excessive trouble — only Ling Xiao and Ling Jingyan caused a commotion for a while.”

He recounted in detail the episode in which Ling Xiao and Ling Jingyan had blocked the entrance and refused to let him in, making Wei Empress laugh without stopping.

In truth, the auspicious attendants had reported all of this upon returning to the palace the previous night. But hearing it from the lips of those attendants could never compare with Wei Yan telling it himself, so vividly and amusingly.

Wei Empress listened with great delight, her laughter ringing out repeatedly. When it was all told, she gave a rather wistful sigh: “What a pity that I could not personally go to the Wei residence yesterday — I could not see with my own eyes as you performed the wedding rites.”

As Empress, she possessed the wealth and standing that ordinary people could hardly imagine, yet she also bore far greater constraints. With her position, she could not leave the palace at will. Even when her only younger brother was getting married, she could not attend in person. She could only send a few auspicious attendants to assist in managing the wedding, and imagine from the attendants’ descriptions how festive and splendid the occasion must have been.

The regret and wistfulness on Wei Empress’s face were plainly visible.

Ling Jingshu smiled and offered comfort: “Your Majesty’s intentions are clear to us in our hearts. Though Your Majesty could not be present in person, there has not been a single moment when we have forgotten Your Majesty.”

“In the future, when I have time and nothing pressing, I will certainly come often to the palace to impose upon Your Majesty’s hospitality. Your Majesty must not find me tiresome for coming too frequently.”

Wei Empress’s brow cleared, and warmth returned to her eyes: “I would welcome you coming to the palace at every opportunity — how could I ever find you tiresome? These past several months since you left the palace, I have felt as though something were suddenly missing beside me — I have been finding it rather quiet and lonely.”

Ling Jingshu smiled and replied: “Not only Your Majesty — I too found it difficult to adjust. In the first few days after returning to the Ling residence, I would wake early every morning, telling myself I needed to hurry to attend upon Your Majesty. My two maids teased me over it many times, saying that I had come back to the Ling residence in body but left my heart behind in Lingbo Palace.”

Wei Empress listened and gave a warm, delighted smile.

The two women chatted warmly together, leaving Wei Yan standing somewhat to the side.

Wei Yan felt not in the least bit neglected or lonely. Watching his respected elder sister and his beloved new wife conversing with such pleasure and ease, he felt nothing but contentment in his heart.

A court maid stepped in swiftly to report: “Your Majesty, the ladies of the various palace quarters, having heard that Imperial Physician Wei has brought his new bride to the palace today to pay respects, have specially come as well. They say they wish to meet the new bride.”

Ling Jingshu had been in the palace long enough that there was not a single imperial consort or concubine of any quarter who did not know her. The professed desire to “meet the new bride” was, for the most part, driven by a wish to show deference to Wei Empress.

Wei Empress smiled and said: “It is good of them to have this thoughtfulness — please ask them in.”

Then she turned to Ling Jingshu and said quietly with a smile: “Now that they are coming, they will certainly feel obliged to bring out some decent gifts. Do not be shy about it — simply receive them all one by one.”

Ling Jingshu smiled in bemusement and readily agreed.

Just as Wei Empress had expected, a considerable number of consorts and concubines arrived at Lingbo Palace. Each one bent on currying favor with Wei Empress and eager to make a good impression, they were all generous with their gifts.

Ling Jingshu received gift after gift until her hands were almost numb — she had quite unexpectedly come into a handsome windfall.

By midday, Wei Empress kept Wei Yan and Ling Jingshu to stay for the noon meal. With the various consorts remaining to join in the festivities, several tables of a palace banquet were assembled, making for a lively and merry gathering.

After the midday banquet, the Emperor personally sent Eunuch Ding over.

“Congratulations to Imperial Physician Wei on his joyful wedding.” Eunuch Ding wore a broad smile: “The Emperor, knowing that Imperial Physician Wei has brought his new bride to the palace today, has specially sent this servant to convey his words — he invites Imperial Physician Wei and his wife to come together to Zichen Palace for an imperial audience. The Emperor has gifts to bestow.”

To be personally summoned for an imperial audience was an exceptional honor of the highest degree.

Wei Yan displayed an appropriately awestruck and deeply grateful expression as he conveyed his respectful thanks.

Wei Empress thought for a moment, then rose with a smile: “Today, occupied as I have been welcoming you two, I have not yet had the chance to go to Zichen Palace. I shall accompany you both there as well.”

Accompanying them to the imperial audience was an act of concern — a precaution should the Emperor choose to make things difficult.

Since falling ill, the Emperor’s temper had grown increasingly erratic and unpredictable. In this palace, only Wei Empress had any sway over him. As long as Wei Empress was present, the Emperor would naturally not trouble Wei Yan and his wife.

Wei Yan and Ling Jingshu exchanged a glance, their hearts both filling with a warmth that rose in gentle waves.

……

The Emperor had been bedridden with a prolonged illness, and the heavy scent of medicine within Zichen Palace was impossible to dispel. Mixed with the fragrance of sandalwood, it pressed into the nostrils — rather stuffy and disagreeable.

Wei Empress and Wei Yan, who spent much of their time in Zichen Palace, had long since grown accustomed to this smell. Ling Jingshu, not having caught this particular scent for several months, found it unsettling in no particular way either.

The Emperor was supported by palace attendants and half-sat, half-reclined against the bedding.

Having been kept from sunlight for the better part of a year, the Emperor’s face had taken on an unnervingly pallid cast. Poor appetite had left him considerably thinner, and the lines on his brow were especially pronounced. He had aged in a way that was truly startling to behold.

Even a person with no knowledge of medicine, upon seeing him, would know that the Emperor was close to running out of oil to burn his lamp. How many more years he might live would depend on whatever fortune remained to him.

Ling Jingshu composed her thoughts and, together with Wei Yan, knelt in kowtow to pay their respects.

The Emperor appeared to be in fine spirits today, and smilingly bade them both rise, then commanded that many gold, silver, and jade objects be bestowed upon them.

The Emperor’s gifts were, of course, far beyond what any of the imperial consorts could match.

Ling Jingshu quickly made a rough mental calculation and could not help but feel a quiet inward shock. This single visit to the palace had yielded truly remarkable gains!

“Many thanks for Your Majesty’s generous gifts — your servant gives thanks on behalf of this married couple.” Wei Empress smiled radiantly and quite naturally moved to sit at the edge of the bed, carefully and attentively straightening the Emperor’s collar.

Such tenderness and consideration — even a battle-hardened warrior would be moved by it. How much more so a bedridden Emperor whose spirits were dark and confined?

The Emperor’s expression softened at once by several degrees: “Wei Yan is your younger brother, and my brother-in-law as well. He has taken a wife — it is right that you as his elder sister should be glad, and as his brother-in-law I have every reason to be glad as well. These gifts are nothing to speak of. When they have children in the future, I shall certainly bestow a title of nobility — to be inherited by the Wei family through the generations, to enjoy wealth and honor forever.”

Bestowing gifts upon the family of the Empress was a custom of Dazhou.

When Empress Jiang was invested, the Duke of England had become the foremost meritorious noble of Dazhou. Later, when Empress Xu was installed, the Xu family rose accordingly. Now that it was Wei Empress’s turn, the Emperor would naturally not be miserly.

In any case, Wei Empress had only this one younger brother, and no other family remaining. An hereditary title would need to be bestowed sooner or later.

Wei Empress had long since prepared herself for this eventuality, yet hearing these words, she still broke into a delighted and surprised smile: “For Your Majesty to treat the Wei family with such magnanimity, your servant is boundlessly grateful and offers thanks for the Emperor’s grace ahead of time.”

Ling Jingshu and Wei Yan duly knelt again to express their gratitude.

The Emperor said amiably: “Very well — both of you rise.”

Just at this moment, a palace attendant entered and reported: “Your Majesty, the Crown Grandson requests an audience.”

Now that the Crown Prince administered the court, the Crown Grandson assisted with state affairs, occupied every moment of every day. Yet he did not neglect to come frequently to the palace to pay his respects. The Emperor was exceedingly fond and proud of this eldest grandson.

“Let him come in at once.”