Spring in the Hall of Paintings

Yun Wei was weighing the information she had received from Mama Yang. She had never met the Crown Princess, Lady Shi, but Mama Yang had spoken of her with admiration during casual conversations. She had mentioned that the Crown Princess was personally chosen by Emperor Kangxi to be the Crown Prince’s legitimate wife. She was steady, yet not lacking in sharpness and skill, with every gesture exuding grace. She was the Emperor’s favorite daughter-in-law, and people like her were difficult to read—no one could easily tell what she liked. Yun Wei didn’t want to waste time guessing. Considering the current status of the Tong family, Yun Wei felt that showing enough gratitude was sufficient. There was no need to flatter the Crown Princess, and it was better to maintain a respectful distance.

Having made up her mind, Yun Wei picked up her brush and began drafting the list of gifts. After checking and re-checking, she finally handed it over to Mama Chen, saying tiredly, “Let my mother take a look. If there are no issues, have my uncle rewrite it neatly, and send someone sensible and respectable to deliver it to the Crown Princess. No need to avoid others.”

“Understood, miss. I’ll go right away. You should rest for a bit,” Mama Chen said. Having been with the Old Lady for a long time, Mama Chen was well aware that the gift list Yun Wei prepared didn’t seem like the work of a first-timer—it was thoroughly considered. As the daughter of Lady Fucha, Yun Wei had been well-raised.

Yun Wei, with her usual sweet and gentle voice, replied, “It’s my duty to share the worries of my mother. Mama Chen, you go find her. I’ll prepare some food for the Old Lady, then rest for a bit.”

Yun Wei had the maid fetch a basin of cold water. The cool well water refreshed her spirits, and she wiped her face clean. She then called the woman in charge of the small kitchen to carefully instruct her to prepare dishes that would nourish the Old Lady’s blood and body. Over the years, Yun Wei had accumulated a wealth of private recipes, focusing on food that was gentle and nourishing. After following Yun Wei’s carefully arranged menu, the Old Lady’s health had improved, becoming stronger and more energetic than before. Having gone through many trials in life, the Old Lady could see clearly who was genuine and who was pretending. So, while she always treated everyone equally, she understood why, at times, she favored Yun Wei a little more.

Yun Wei had originally planned to return to her own room to rest, but after arranging everything, the exhaustion weighed heavily on her. Her legs felt weak, and her eyelids were heavy with dark circles. Not wanting to worry her mother, Fucha, she decided to rest a little before returning. The Old Lady’s courtyard had a special area for Yun Wei, where she would sometimes sleep when the Old Lady couldn’t bear to have her leave. So, when the Old Lady returned from the Tong family’s estate, Yun Wei was sound asleep.

After hearing from Mama Chen about what happened after her departure, the Old Lady saw the warm medicinal food on the table. She discarded her gemstone-blue cloak, not bothering to rest, and went to check on Yun Wei. Seeing her granddaughter’s innocent and sweet sleeping face, the Old Lady couldn’t bear to disturb her but also didn’t want to leave. She sat by Yun Wei’s side, feeling comforted just by looking at her. A deep smile formed at the corners of her eyes and mouth as she whispered softly, “This girl, I truly love her to the core.”

“Who wouldn’t love Miss Six, my lady? As for the Tong family…”

“It’s fine. Lord Tong Guowei values our Rongxuan. He treats this old lady who is half in the grave with great respect. After all, we are of the same generation. Looking at Lord Tong, he is still in his prime. The Tong family won’t fall.”

“My lady, that household is the Emperor’s rented family. They’ve produced a queen, and now there is a favored concubine in the palace. How could they not be glorious?”

“Everything that flourishes must eventually decline. That’s a timeless truth. Lord Tong knows this well, so there’s no need to worry about them. Moreover, we of the Zhenlan Banner are not in the same faction as them; they are now in the Yellow Banner, and we can’t align with them.”

The Old Lady patted her shoulders and sighed. “With Cheng Yin safe, Rongxuan’s success, and the prosperity of the Tong family, I don’t really wish for anything more. But…” Her gaze fell on Yun Wei, unwilling to see her beloved granddaughter suffer. “As for the Qing’e Prince, ‘sigh’, perhaps there’s no hope left.”

“My lady, what do you mean by that?” Mama Chen asked, startled. The Old Lady shook her head and said, “He sent a message to the palace before Rongxuan’s success, but now, only the Emperor can decide Wei’s marriage, and no one else can speak on it. The Emperor’s thoughts are the hardest to read. I’m truly afraid… I fear that he might arrange for Wei to marry a prince or a prince’s heir. Just think about it—what kind of character do these young princes and heirs in the capital have? They are not only frivolous and carefree, but they have also done things that I can’t even bring myself to mention. How could my Wei, my darling, deserve such a reckless young man?”

The Old Lady was especially indignant. Mama Chen didn’t know how to comfort her. The Old Lady had been strong all her life, and once she made up her mind, it was hard to change. The Old Lady placed her palm on Yun Wei’s forehead, her gaze firm. “It seems I may have to enter the palace to plead with the Emperor.”

“Grandmother, I don’t want to trouble you,” Yun Wei said softly, rubbing her eyes. The Old Lady frowned. “Are you pretending to sleep? You truly need a good spanking.” She made a motion as if to hit Yun Wei, but Yun Wei laughed and rolled into the Old Lady’s embrace, sweetly saying, “Grandmother, you wouldn’t really hit me.”

“Did you hear that? I originally thought the Qing’e Prince would be fine, but now your father has accomplished so much. I estimate he will soon be promoted to lead the Fengtai army, and half of the military power in the capital will fall into his hands. Yun Wei, your marriage must be handled very carefully. If it’s too light, it will disappoint the high officials. If it’s too heavy, it will make the Emperor uneasy. This is a delicate matter. If I go to the palace to request a marriage, perhaps we will receive an imperial marriage decree. After all, we are making the request ourselves, helping the Emperor with his troubles.”

“Does that mean I won’t have to participate in the selection?” Yun Wei hadn’t expected such a turn of events. The Old Lady shook her head. “No, that won’t work. Even if I go to the palace to request an imperial decree, it will have to happen after you go through the selection. Only then, with the Emperor’s personal marriage approval, will it appear as if the Emperor has granted a great favor. Yun Wei, this will also give you more dignity in your husband’s family. Do you understand?”

“Mm, mm, mm,” Yun Wei nodded repeatedly. An arranged marriage, following fate, had been her only choice, and now with this opportunity, she certainly didn’t want to miss it. “But to make Grandmother worry about me…”

“It serves you right, Wei. You really deserve a good spanking. Mama Chen, go get the ruler.” The Old Lady’s face became stern, and Yun Wei turned around, looking like a little puppy. She pouted her little bottom, her eyes full of innocence as she said, “Grandmother, please spare me.”

The Old Lady hugged Yun Wei and laughed heartily, even to the point of shedding tears. She poked Yun Wei’s forehead. “You’re really making it easy for that silly boy from the Lady Fucha family.”

“Grandmother,” Yun Wei’s face was flushed, almost as if it could bleed. She nestled her face against the Old Lady’s shoulder. “How can you laugh at me?”

After spending some time with the Old Lady, Yun Wei finally returned to her own room and saw her mother, Fucha. Yun Wei stood obediently in front of her, her little hands tugging at her ear lobes as she softly said, “Mother, I know I was wrong. I won’t be mischievous again.”

This was Yun Wei’s habit—whenever she made a mistake, she would tug at her earlobes and apologize. Fucha, however, was especially fond of this gesture and could never maintain a stern face. She revealed a smile, “You know you were wrong? You have such nerve, going so far as to take the blade from Yun Lan’s hand? Were you hoping to make your mother cry?”

“I was thinking that I couldn’t let Fourth Sister do something she would regret. I didn’t think too much about anything else. Besides, if Fourth Sister hurt herself, it would be bad for the entire Tong family. Mother, I know you love me, but I also want the Tong family to be respected and prosperous, so that you won’t have to worry about us, and can enjoy your later years in peace.”

Hearing this, Fu Chashi felt nothing but deep affection for her daughter. She took Yun Wei’s small hand and said, “Alright, alright, I don’t blame you. My little Wei, your mother just worries about you.”

“Father works so hard outside, sacrificing everything for the glory of the Tong family. I feel for him too. And my brother strives to carry on our father’s legacy, working tirelessly, reading late into the night. You manage everything in the household and care for us, serving your mother with devotion. All of this is hard work too. If I am to be married and take part in the selection, I don’t want to see you tiring yourself out, Mother. It hurts me too.”

“You silly child.” Fucha’s eyes grew a little moist. “Are you trying to make your mother cry?”

Yun Wei smiled sweetly and said. “Mother, are you thirsty? Let me make the tea. It will smell even better if I do it myself. Please, try it.”

As Yun Wei prepared the tea, the white mist rose and dampened her cheeks and brows, giving her a serene and gentle beauty that made the heart flutter. She then repeated the Old Lady’s words. Fucha’s face lit up with surprise, and she smiled as she replied, “Your grandmother is right. That silly boy from the Fucha family is lucky. If the Emperor himself arranges the marriage, no one will dare to go against the Emperor’s decree, even if they feel dissatisfied. Wei, you’ll be happy. Whether it’s wealth or status, you’ll be happy. Your Fourth Sister is right— the more prosperous the family, the greater the responsibility, and the more worries there are. Lan understood that and could advise others, but never really figured it out for herself.”

“Even if someone from the royal family looks at you and admires your beauty, they will only regret not recognizing a true gem. As for the Fucha family, your Aunt is so fond of you, I have no worries. Your aunt-in-law is your proper mother-in-law, and even though she might be strict with you, she won’t go too far, especially out of respect for your father. Fucha Zheng is a good man, diligent and honest. If he ever mistreats you, I’ll have Cheng Wu teach him a lesson.”

“Mother, Cousin Zheng is quite a good man.” Yun Wei spoke softly. Fucha smiled with a raised brow, “When we secretly made that agreement with the Fucha family, I couldn’t rest easy. You’re about to enter the selection, and I feared that something unexpected might happen and cause trouble between the two families, hurting our relationship. I raised you like my own, and you’ve always been close with your cousin, but I don’t want feelings to be hurt over this matter. That’s why I thought, if your marriage to the Fucha boy doesn’t work out, I’ll let your brother marry a girl from the Fucha family.”

“That’s how you thought? No wonder you rejected the suitors for Brother. I thought you weren’t interested in them.” Yun Wei finally understood. Fucha took a sip of tea and whispered, “That’s one reason, but I also didn’t want your brother to marry early. He’s still at a stage where he needs to work hard, and I didn’t want him to be distracted by a woman. After your selection, once everything is settled, I’ll help Cheng Wu find a wife. The candidates this year are all exceptional in appearance, family background, and talent. It’s a prime year for the selection, so I’m sure there will be a suitable match for your brother.”