Chapter 72 Wei Gao’an

Wei Qing’s two younger sisters, Wei Qiong and Wei Ying, were gentle and generous. Wei Changying became less upset because they did not show any disdain to her. She also thought that not all people talked about the meeting that she took the place of her brother to attend.

In public, people did not discuss Wei Changying out of the Wei Family’s face.

Wei Changying could bear the hurt. What comforted her was that Wei Zhengya had timely died. Four overnight misfortunes in Fengzhou, especially the death of Wei Zhengya, a renowned scholar in the country, caused uproar. Although northern Rong tribes claimed that they were not responsible for four disasters in Fengzhou, evidence showed that they were murderers.

Northern Rong tribes were the Great Vi’s rival. Who would believe an enemy’s words?

People focused on four events, so few paid attention to Wei Changying.

Considering this, Wei felt a lot more relaxed.

It was time to return home. Wei Changying was in animated conversation with Wei Qing’s two sisters. They walked toward the back yard together. Oil lamps were hung in the corridor every few feet. There were so many white clothes hanging near the lamps that it was a little dim here.

When three girls reached the turning, a boy suddenly appeared and rushed to Wei Changying.

He ran rather quickly, however Wei Changying did not fall off. She merely stepped backward unconsciously. She bowed her head to find out that the boy stumbled and sat on the ground.

She bowed to catch him firmly and asked, “Tenth brother, why did you run so quickly? Anything wrong with you?”

The boy was Wei Gao’an, the tenth common son of Wei Zhengya. He was nine years old. Wei Zhengya was once famous for his elegant flavor. He had only a concubine, the dowry maidservant of the little Mrs. Liu. The concubine was murdered on his bed, too.

She was birth mother of Wei Gao’an.

Wei Changying remembered that the little Mrs. Liu had brought up Wei Gao’an and Wei Changlin. Although Wei Gao’an was son of the concubine, she treated him as her own child. Therefore, Wei Gao’an was as lively as Wei Changlin.

Wei Gao’an was supposed to stay at the mourning hall now, why did he appear here?

Wei Changying thought in mind. Gazing at silent Wei Gao’an, she speculated that as a thoughtless child he was bored at the mourning hall and ran out to have fun for a while. His behavior was not allowed by the principle. When he grew up, it was not good for him if everyone knew what he had done. Wei Changying was not familiar with her cousin, but she did not expect that he would pay for his temporary fun in the future. Therefore, she helped him stand and said, “Come back to the mourning hall. Luckily, you meet us, your cousins. If others saw what you have done, it would be terrible. Come on.”

Getting to his feet, Wei Gao’an raised his head to fix his eyes on Wei Changying. After a few seconds, he lowered his head. Wei Changying thought that he understood her words and got ready to come back. So she walked aside to let him pass. Unexpectedly, instead of leaving, Wei Gao’an suddenly shouted and rushed to attack Wei Changying with his head.

Wei Changying was surprised. She had practiced material arts for many years. Agile as she was, she was shocked by the sudden action of Wei Gao’an. As a child, his attack was easy to deal with. Wei Changying caught his arms and pressed him still without any effort. She angrily asked, “What are you doing?”

“I want to kill you.” Wei Gao’an struggled. But he was too weak to wriggle free from Wei Changying. He was so furious that he hit Wei Changying with his feet. He loudly cried, “It is your fault. If my father did not say something for you, would my parents be killed by northern Rong tribes? I have lost them now. My father’s wife is staying on the bed without eating and drinking. How dare you come here to express your condolence to them? I heard that you have lost your virgin. You are not innocent. How dare you …”

His cry suddenly stopped. It was because Wei Changying suddenly loosened the grip on his arms and slapped him on the face.

Wei Changying did it so hard that Wei Gao’an staggered back against the pole in the corridor. After a few seconds, he kept balance. His half face swelled, with a little blood on the corner of his mouth. He was startled by the unexpected slap. A few seconds passed. He recovered and cried, “How dare you beat me? You are a bitch. How dare you!”

“You deserve it, bastard.” Mrs. He snarled, quivering with indignation. She did not hesitate to walk toward Wei Gao’an and slapped him for many times with her both hands. Originally, Mrs. He had been teaching maids serving Wei Changying since she came to Xianshuang Court. For several years, she had been used to slapping people. Wei Qiong and Wei Ying were shocked by Mrs. He’s skillful behavior. When they were about to cheer for what Mrs. He had done, they realized that it was not proper. So they swallowed their words and covered their mouth with the sleeves.

“Qin’ge and Yan’ge, listen. Tenth young master is nine years old. Now, his parents were murdered by northern Rong tribes. People in the country felt sad about it. Tenth young master did not keep vigil beside the coffin, but slid out secretly to play. First Miss who taught tenth young master that he should be filial was hit and insulted by him. If the madam of the royal heir was not tired now, I would beg her to seek fairness.” Mrs. He was so furious that she was anxious to give Wei Gao’an a fat lip to comfort Wei Changying. She knew that it was impossible to do so. Therefore she just slapped him to stop him saying something. She ordered servants of Wei Gao’an, “You bring him to Madam Song. She will teach him how to be polite instead of the madam of the royal heir. In the funeral, no one breaks the principle except Wei Gao’an, a disobedient son. It is a shame of the Wei Family.”

Wei Qiong and Wei Ying stared at each other for a second. They clearly knew why Mrs. He did so. For one thing, Mrs. He wanted to cover up the fact that she and Wei Changying had slapped Wei Gao’an. For another thing, she was ready for the result that Wei Gao’an would speak out the truth. He was not pious to his parents because he went out for fun when he should stay beside the coffin. If so, his words, including his insult toward Wei Changying, were not convinced. People would think Wei Changying gave instruction in filial piety to Wei Gao’an, but he retaliated against her.

Wei Qiong and Wei Ying did not feel pity for Wei Gao’an, their cousin. Wei Gao’an felt gloomy, but was what he knew the truth? Furthermore, Wei Qing, two sisters’ brother, was appreciated by Wei Huan. He also luckily survived in the ambush. Wei Qiong and Wei Ying had only a brother. Their father was common. So, their future was affected by Wei Qing. If he had died, Wei Huan might have taken care of them for the sake of Wei Qing, but it was not better than their brother.

Wei Gao’an cursed that Wei Changying should have died in the forest. Wei Qing accompanied her. If Wei Changying had been killed and Wei Qing came back alone, could he have been forgiven by Old Madam Song and Madam Song? Even if Wei Hun appreciated his assistant, there could be gap between he and Wei Qing. The ruined career was the best result that Wei Qing could receive.

It was concerned with their own interests and sole brother, so Wei Qiong and Wei Ying calmly watched what had happened before them. They were not sympathetic to young Wei Gao’an. Instead, they said peacefully, “Gao’an is not pious. It is no wonder that Sister Changying is so angry that she beat him. He is too young to understand her words. Now Sister Changying teaches him considering his future. He does not understand, but he must do in the future.”

Three cousins said that Wei Gao’an had slipped out of the mourning hall to have fun. It would be the truth.

However, the purpose of Wei Qiong and Wei Ying was not received by Wei Changying.

Wei Changying slapped Wei Gao’an out of her instinct. Now, she was shivering. Sometimes, she felt cold because of humiliation; sometimes, she felt hot because of anger. Her feelings were intricate. She was muddled in mind, as if reaching a distant and empty place. She was calm there.

In the corridor, after Mrs. He ordered Qin’ge and Yan’ge to bring Wei Gao’an to Madam Song, she turned around and found that Wei Changying was not comfortable at all. She shook Wei and asked her what was up, but no reaction. Mrs. He was so scared that she was on the brink of tears. Suddenly, Wei Changying turned around to head straight to the yard where the carriage was in.

When Mrs.He was about to be relieved, she noticed that Wei Changying was walking in an unstable way. Now Wei did not look like the one who practiced material arts for many years. On the contrary, she seemed ill for a long time and might fall off at any time.

On the way home, Mrs. He prayed for Wei Changying. After arriving at Ruiyu Hall, Wei Changying fell ill at night.

She slept on the bed uncomfortably. Her feelings were complicated. Although filled with sadness, blankness and anger, she did not want to revenge anyone. The only thing she wanted was to fall into sleep without waking up. It sounded easy.

Madam Song gave a hand in Duke Jingping mansion. Old Madam Song was in Ruiyu Hall. She did not come to Duke Jingping for condolence, but ordered Chen Ruping to express her pity and to visit the little Mrs. Liu. It was because she was still angry and an elder. Madam Song and Mrs. Pei were not at home. Therefore, Old Madam Song was in charge of domestic things recently.

Old Madam Song treated Wei Changying as an apple of her eye. Now she heard that her beloved granddaughter’s experience in Duke Jingping mansion and she was ill for that. Mrs. He thought that Old Madam Song must be furious and would do something for her granddaughter.

Mrs. He depicted what had happened in the Duke Jingping mansion and embroidered the truth. Old Madam Song also was grieving, her eyes filled with tears. But she did not blame Wei Gaochan, Wei Changyan and Wei Gao’an who had insulted Wei Changying. She wiped her tears with her handkerchief and said calmly, “I got it. As an old saying put it, gossip is more difficult to avoid than rivers. The emperor cannot stop gossip, how can we do it? If we punish those who spread the rumor, can others not talk about it? People beside you do not discuss it before you, but they do it behind you in a sharper way. Should we kill them all?”

Mrs. He was stunned. She did not expect this result. She was a wet nurse of Wei Changying and was slightly decent before Old Madam Song and Madam Song. She asked, “What about the suffering First Miss experienced?”

After hearing this, Chen Ruping standing behind Old Madam Song glanced at Mrs. He to warn her.

Mrs. He immediately realized that she was wrong. These words were not proper. If Madam Song was here, she would merely utter them privately.

Old Madam Song became a little displeased but did not scold Mrs. He. She just said, “You do not understand it. People from the Shen Family will arrive in Fengzhou after three days. Although Changying may not…” If the Shen Family’s attitude was not beneficial to Wei Changying, the engagement must be canceled. Old Madam Song could not allow her granddaughter to suffer something unfair after marriage in the Shen Family. It was one thing that Wei Huan and Old Madam Song had agreed with. But people from the Shen Family did not come yet, the marriage was uncertain. She could not reveal any words now.

Old Madam Song was blank for a while and continued, “The rumor in Fengzhou is not sharper than that in the Capital City. We can protect her here. If she failed to stand it now, how could she survive in the Capital City?”

Mrs. He left. Chen Ruping rolled up the sleeves of Old Madam Song. She saw several obvious bruises in Old Madam Song’s thin wrist. They were made by herself when she heard what Changying had suffered in the Duke Jingping mansion.

Chen Ruping applied medicine on her wrist. She said, “Before First Miss set off, you must expect the consequence. Why did you hurt yourself?”

“I know that Changying would be rumored, but I am still heart-broken when I heard Mrs. He’s words.” Old Madam Song was sorrowful and continued, “I cannot show my sadness to Mrs.He. Otherwise I would cope with the rumor if she begged me for many times. Mrs. He is short temper and always supports Changying, but she is pretty loyal.”

“I will not forgive those who insulted Changying. It is not the proper time to do it. If the marriage is not canceled, it is a practice for Changying to bear the gossip in Fengzhou. If not, after she marries to the Capital City, she must cause troubles.”

Old Madam Song was shivering, burying her face into hands and sobbing. She said, “I even asked Yu Wei to stay at Duke Jingping mansion for these days. I hope Changying could bear the rumor on her own. If she did not go to the Capital City, I cannot protect her for all her life. Now it is a good chance to practice her flexibility. If she could bear it, she would not be threatened by anyone. Wei Zhengya has died, I could not permit Changying to be trapped in the rumor in her life.”