Chapter 211: Chapter 197: Unexpected
Suddenly hearing the voice of his mother, Lu Yanqing’s imposing presence weakened significantly. He turned his head to look at the Eldest Princess, his voice sounding a bit uneasy, "Mother... Why did you come out?"
The Eldest Princess glanced at Lu Yanqing, "Today is my birthday, and all who come are guests. If you wish to bring honor to the Princess Mansion, you should treat people with courtesy and not speak disrespectfully."
Lu Yanqing frowned but dared not defy his mother’s wishes, feeling unwilling, he reluctantly invited Song Wei.
Song Wei seemed oblivious, his gaze fixed on the familiar face of the Eldest Princess, unable to look away for a long time.
Usually unperturbed, his expression of shock at this moment was excessively evident.
Lu Yanqing was furious. His mother’s beauty was renowned not just in the Capital, but throughout the Great Chu Dynasty, yet it wasn’t for a country bumpkin to covet.
"If you keep staring, I’ll dig out your eyeballs and feed them to the dogs!"
Lu Yanqing’s gritted voice quickly brought Song Wei back to his senses.
He withdrew his gaze, cupped his hands in salute, "Hanlin Academy Editor Song Wei, greets the Eldest Princess."
The Eldest Princess had not expected Song Wei to suddenly come knocking. Upon seeing him, her expression was somewhat complicated.
With so many eyes around, the Eldest Princess pretended not to recognize him and asked aloud, "Why is the Hanlin Official visiting my mansion?"
Song Wei slowly replied, "I heard the Eldest Princess is fond of Mr. Liu of Jin Dynasty’s Mo Bao. It so happens that I have a piece, but it’s difficult to determine its authenticity. I wish to ask the Eldest Princess for help in appraising it."
The Eldest Princess smiled at him, "Then why did you choose today to come?"
"I heard, Eldest Princess stays secluded most of the time. If I were to come unannounced on a regular day, I might disturb your tranquility. So, I took the chance on your birthday banquet."
The Eldest Princess smirked, "Did the Emperor send you?"
Song Wei: "..."
Perhaps he underestimated the intelligence of this princess.
Actually, it was not that the Eldest Princess had piercing insight but because she knew Song Wei too well.
His temperament has always been steady, as a newcomer in officialdom now, he would undoubtedly be very cautious, making sure he steps firmly with every move.
If it weren’t for having orders, how could he coincidentally come to the Princess Mansion on her birthday to ask for her opinion on a painting?
Having been exposed by the hostess before even entering the main gates, Song Wei didn’t feel embarrassed, his expression remained frank, and he stated honestly, "Although sent by the Emperor, the painting is a collection I’ve personally held for many years."
He didn’t say anything like "Hoping the Eldest Princess will kindly accept", merely stating facts.
Originally expecting refusal, he didn’t anticipate the Eldest Princess suddenly chuckling lightly, "I trust you."
Lu Yanqing looked at the Eldest Princess with bewilderment, "Mother?"
The Eldest Princess directly instructed him, "Yanqing, escort Mr. Song to the tea pavilion alone; I’ll be there shortly."
Upon learning Song Wei brought the Emperor Guangxi’s imperial command, Lu Yanqing dared not act up any longer, leading Song Wei to the tea pavilion.
During the way, Lu Yanqing muttered a few things, but Song Wei didn’t pay attention, his thoughts kept recalling the scene he saw earlier at the main entrance.
Even years apart, he felt he couldn’t have been mistaken.
The Eldest Princess’s appearance was identical to Aunt Lu’s.
Except the Eldest Princess’s demeanor was colder, unlike Aunt Lu’s approachability.
Was it mere coincidence, or were they in fact the same person?
Song Wei was deeply pondering when he heard a eunuch loudly announcing the arrival of the Eldest Princess.
Song Wei hurriedly stood aside, bowed his head and bent his body.
The Eldest Princess entered the tea pavilion, asked Lu Yanqing to take the servants away, and gracefully took her seat.
She picked up the teapot, poured the clear-colored tea into the cup, then looked at Song Wei, who had his eyes lowered, her lips forming a slight curve, "Apart from asking you to bring the painting, did the Emperor say anything else?"
Song Wei nodded, "The Emperor just instructed me to deliver a painting as a birthday gift to the Eldest Princess."
"Oh? And if I choose not to accept it, what would you do?"
Song Wei calmly responded, "This gift is the Emperor’s gesture; it’s the Eldest Princess’s right to accept or not. I’m merely a courier, with no authority to interfere with the Eldest Princess’s choice."
The Eldest Princess paused slightly in her tea-drinking, put the teacup down, and suddenly sighed, "It’s been about fifteen or sixteen years since we last met; Third Son’s temperament really hasn’t changed a bit."
A nonchalant remark caused the handsome face of Song Wei to show signs of rigidity.
Years ago, witnessing so many sword-bearing guards take Aunt Lu away, he speculated her identity must be unusual; later, the jewelry Wen Shun had inadvertently found further solidified his thoughts.
However, though Song Wei had considered many possibilities, he never guessed Aunt Lu would be the daughter of the Empress Dowager, a sibling of the current Emperor.
Even more unexpected, she would be the biological mother of Lu Yanqing.
The sudden truth overturned some of Song Wei’s previous understanding.
Especially regarding Lu Yanqing’s identity, he felt a subtle resistance.
Song Wei realized clearly that his resistance towards Lu Yanqing was being caused by his sense of injustice for Wanwan.
All the servants near the tea pavilion were dismissed, and with no one speaking inside the room, an eerie silence filled the air.
After a while, the Eldest Princess spoke first, "Third Son, there’s no need to be constrained; come over and sit to talk."
Song Wei didn’t move, "The Eldest Princess holds a noble status; it is appropriate for me to reply standing."
The phrase "Eldest Princess" invisibly widened the distance.
A glimmer of loneliness flitted through the Eldest Princess’s eyes. "I actually miss those times when you used to call me ’Aunt’."
Saying this, she glanced up at Song Wei, noticing his expression hadn’t changed much, and then looked away. "Over these years, you’ve taken good care of Wanwan for me. The ’thank you’ I owed you for over ten years, I’m expressing it today."
"Wanwan is now my wife. Taking care of her is my duty; there’s no need for the Eldest Princess to thank me, a humble servant."
"You little rascal." The Eldest Princess chuckled, her tone full of helplessness. "You’ve taken my daughter into your family. When you see me, you still keep calling me ’Eldest Princess’ over and over. If you call me wrong again, I won’t acknowledge you as my son-in-law."
Song Wei paused briefly, then corrected himself, calling her "Mother-in-law" in a calm and unenthusiastic manner.
He was probably just born with this kind of temperament.
The Eldest Princess didn’t force him to call out with emotion again and motioned for him to come and sit.
Song Wei walked to the table and sat down slowly.
The Eldest Princess personally poured him some tea, unable to resist asking, "How is Wanwan lately?"
Song Wei listened and thought that the Eldest Princess must have been secretly observing Wanwan’s situation, so she could ask so naturally.
"She’s quite fine. Since recovering her voice, she has become more cheerful than before."
Hearing him say she was well, the Eldest Princess felt relieved. "Later, I’ll have someone prepare some supplements for you to take back to her. Just say you bought them yourself; don’t mention me."
Afraid that Song Wei might misunderstand her as heartless for not acknowledging her daughter, the Eldest Princess explained further, "The matters of the past are too tangled to explain with a few words. Regarding the truth behind it, I hope Wanwan will never find out for the rest of her life. As long as she is well, I’d rather she think I’m already dead."
Song Wei recalled that late last year, when Father Wen brought Mrs. Zhou and Wen Shun to the Song family to deliver New Year’s gifts, he had said to him privately that if one day in the Capital he happened to meet Wanwan’s biological mother, he should not let Wanwan know of her existence. Some truths were too much for Wanwan to bear.
Upon hearing the Eldest Princess say similarly now, Song Wei pondered for a moment before voicing his confusion, "Is Wanwan not Uncle Wen’s biological daughter?"
The Eldest Princess had no intention of hiding it, "Wanwan’s biological father is my current husband, Prince Consort Lu Xingzhou."
Hearing this answer, Song Wei was somewhat surprised.
But thinking it over carefully, it was not entirely unexpected.
Aunt Lu was such a resolute person, how could she suddenly remarry a stranger?
It’s just that his father-in-law had suddenly changed, and it was the Prince Consort whom he had already met due to Lu Yanqing, making it difficult for Song Wei to adjust quickly.
The Eldest Princess also noticed his hesitation. "I heard from the Prince Consort that you two met early on, and if you’re not used to it for now, it’s understandable. We never expected to acknowledge Wanwan. Your father-in-law is still your Uncle Wen; that will not change."
Outside, a number of noblewomen had arrived, and the Eldest Princess had to attend to the guests, leaving little time for other discussions. She glanced at the long box on the table and said to Song Wei, "I’ll keep this painting. You may return with peace of mind, having fulfilled your duty."
Exiting the tea pavilion, a servant from the Princess Mansion led the way to escort him out of the mansion.
Upon reaching the front courtyard, it was inevitable for Song Wei to encounter Lu Xingzhou.
Seemingly surprised by Song Wei’s presence, Lu Xingzhou appeared somewhat at a loss.
"Song Wei? Why have you suddenly come to the Princess Mansion?"
As Lu Xingzhou spoke, he carefully observed Song Wei’s expression to discern whether he had met with the Eldest Princess.
Song Wei bowed and truthfully replied, "This humble servant was ordered to deliver a gift to the Eldest Princess."
Lu Xingzhou narrowed his eyes, "The Emperor sent you?"
"Exactly."
"So does that mean you’ve already met the Eldest Princess?"
"I just came out of the tea pavilion, Your Excellency."
Lu Xingzhou took a deep breath; it seemed Ah Yin had already said something to him.
Not waiting for the other party to speak, Song Wei preemptively asked to take his leave, "I must return to report, and if Your Excellency has nothing else, I will not linger."
Thinking that Ah Yin should have explained everything necessary, Lu Xingzhou said nothing more and instructed someone to escort Song Wei out of the mansion.
Song Wei returned to the palace immediately to report.
Emperor Guangxi was surprised to learn that the Eldest Princess had accepted the painting.
In past years, regardless of who delivered it, his sister would always unceremoniously return it directly. It was the first time she had outright accepted something like this.
Even though accepting a painting did not mean much, Emperor Guangxi felt gratified.
He looked at Song Wei, "You’ve done a great job this time. How about I promote you?"
Song Wei shook his head, "I have just joined the Hanlin Academy not long ago and have not made any political achievements. If Your Majesty promotes me now, it would only serve to make me enemies. If Your Majesty insists on rewarding me, please fulfill one of my wishes instead."
"Oh? What wish?"
Song Wei looked up at Emperor Guangxi, "I would like to request a quota to enter the Hongwen Academy."
"Is that all?"
"That is the only thing I seek for now."
"Very well, I grant it."
To shun promotion and wealth for a quota? Truly, he is a person of integrity, deserving of my esteem!