February 17 was auspicious for ancestral offerings.
In a side room of the main courtyard, Wei Shouzheng hunched over his desk, his brows tightly knitted. His brush had hovered in his hand for ages, yet he could not write a single word.
The assignment for today was "On the Three Reverences of the Gentleman." He had to cite the classics and construct a coherent argument.
He had struggled all afternoon until his thoughts were a tangled mess, crumpling several sheets of draft paper without producing a single one that satisfied him.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open.
Wang Rong entered with his head lowered and a tea tray in his hands, replenishing the tea with quiet, careful movements.
Wei Shouzheng looked up and saw who it was. Already irritated, he asked offhandedly,
"Did you go to the side courtyard again today?"
Wang Rong lowered his head and stammered, "Eldest Young Master, this servant... this servant..."
"If you have something to say, say it. What are you stammering for?" Wei Shouzheng snapped impatiently.
At those words, Wang Rong immediately turned his face to the side, as if by accident.
Five finger marks stood out clearly on one cheek.
"Hm?" Wei Shouzheng paused. "What happened to your face?"
Once Wei Shouzheng asked, Wang Rong dropped to his knees with a thud, his voice taking on a tearful quaver.
"Eldest Young Master, you must seek justice for this servant!"
"This servant went to the side courtyard yesterday, hoping to check on that... that Second Young Master on your behalf, so I could come back with something to amuse you.
"But the moment Second Young Master saw this servant, he started cursing, saying, 'Who do you think you are? Are you worthy of showing your face before me?'"
"This servant thought, he is a master, so let him curse. I endured it.
"But I never expected Second Young Master to come up and slap me!
"Just as this servant was about to explain, that old servant beside him, Wei An, came up and slapped me again!"
Hearing this, Wei Shouzheng frowned. "Wei Nisheng dared to strike one of my people?"
Wang Rong hurriedly fanned the flames. "He did far more than dare!"
"This servant told him right then that I belonged to Eldest Young Master! But Second Young Master said... said..."
"What did he say?"
"He said... 'Even if my elder brother were standing before me, I would still beat you to death!'"
"He also said..."
"What else did he say?!"
"He also said Eldest Young Master merely held the title of Eldest Legitimate Son. If it came down to it, he was a Legitimate Son too, and neither of you stood below the other!"
Smack!
Wei Shouzheng slammed his palm on the desk and rose.
"Fine! So 'neither of us stands below the other,' does he?"
His tutor's assignment had already left him frustrated, and this only poured oil on the fire.
"I knew it! That day in the Ancestral Hall, I could already tell he was no obedient sort!
"Just because he is barely younger than me, he has been nursing wicked schemes all along!
"A calamity born to curse his own kin, and he dares challenge me?"
Kneeling on the floor, Wang Rong was blooming with delight inside, but he kept a wounded expression on his face.
"Eldest Young Master, it is nothing for this servant to suffer a little injustice, but for him to speak of you that way, this servant truly..."
Just then, the study attendant poked his head in. "Eldest Young Master, the master has returned from the office."
Wei Shouzheng's eyes lit up.
"Perfect timing! Say no more. I will go ask Father to judge this matter!"
With that, he kicked the chair aside and strode out.
The central hall of the Wei Residence.
Wei Mingde had just returned from the office and sat in the seat of honor, wearing the Crimson Round-Collar Official Robe.
Great Zhou modeled the colors of its official uniforms on those of the Song dynasty: third rank and above wore purple, sixth rank and above crimson, and ninth rank and above blue-green.
Wei Mingde had not passed the jinshi examination. His Principal Sixth Rank post had come through the lingering favor earned by his grandfather, Wei Zheng.
Moreover, the emperor had remembered old ties and specially granted him an "Equivalent Jinshi Degree." Otherwise, he would not even have been entitled to wear crimson.
At that moment, Wei Mingde was rubbing between his brows, while Cui Shi sat beside him.
She held two-year-old Wei Shoucheng in her arms, a smile on her face.
The little boy was sleepy, nestled in her embrace with his eyes half closed.
She was in an excellent mood today.
Yesterday, Cui Fu had returned to report that Wei Nisheng was proceeding step by step according to her plan.
At the thought, Cui Shi handed Wei Mingde a cup of tea. "You have worked hard, husband. Was there much to do at the Ministry of Works today?"
Wei Mingde took the tea and sighed. "Those construction and repairs duties again. Not a drop of grease to skim, just a heap of trouble."
Cui Shi smiled reassuringly. "Never mind. Once Shouzheng's Apprenticeship Banquet is over in a few days, we can pay a visit to Lord Feng's residence. There is still a long future ahead."
As they spoke, footsteps sounded outside.
Wei Shouzheng strode in, seething with anger, followed by Wang Rong with his eyes lowered in meek obedience.
"Father! Mother!"
Wei Mingde frowned. "At this hour, why are you not reviewing your lessons in the study? What have you come here for?"
Wei Shouzheng bowed, then pointed at Wang Rong.
"Father, your son has come to ask you for justice!"
Wei Mingde paused. "Justice? For what?"
Wei Shouzheng looked at Wang Rong. "Tell him yourself!"
Wang Rong dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Master, this servant is Eldest Young Master's attendant. Yesterday, on Eldest Young Master's orders, I went to the side courtyard to deliver some things to Second Young Master..."
Wei Mingde did not interrupt, waiting for him to continue.
"But when Second Young Master saw this servant, without a word, he ordered that old servant Wei An to beat me..."
"This servant thought that Second Young Master was, after all, a master. If he wanted to beat me, I would endure it."
Wei Mingde glanced at him without speaking.
"But what Second Young Master said afterward was simply too..."
Wang Rong paused and stole a glance at Wei Shouzheng.
Wei Shouzheng said coldly, "Speak! Tell him every word!"
"Second Young Master said, 'Even if Eldest Young Master were here, I would still beat you to death!
"'What does Eldest Young Master amount to? He merely holds the title of Eldest Legitimate Son. If it comes down to it, I am a Legitimate Son too, and neither of us stands below the other!'"
Those words instantly drew Wei Mingde's brows into a tight frown.
He had remained silent earlier instead of flying into a rage.
That was because beating a servant was no great matter. A beating was a beating.
But something in Wang Rong's next words struck a sore spot.
Especially that line: "Neither of us stands below the other."
"That unfilial wretch... wants to contend for his brother's place?"
Seeing a show unfolding, Cui Shi immediately had the wet nurse take her son away.
"Husband, Ni Sheng has always seemed such an honest, obedient child. How could he... ah, might there be some misunderstanding?"
"And Shouzheng, do not be too angry. Ni Sheng is your younger brother, after all. He is young and does not know better..."
Wei Shouzheng immediately cut in. "Mother, stop speaking up for him! I think he is older now and has begun harboring other ambitions!"
Cui Shi shook her head and said no more, wearing a helpless expression.
Wei Shouzheng drew a deep breath and looked at Wei Mingde, adopting an aggrieved but still dignified air.
"Father, your son did not wish to trouble you over such a trifling matter.
"But think about it. My Apprenticeship Banquet is only a few days away, and Qin Gong will come to our residence in person...
"If he learns that a young master of the Wei Family freely humiliates and abuses servants, speaks outrageously, and disregards the distinction between elder and younger...
"What if he decides that our Wei Family cannot govern its own household, and his impression of your son suffers as well..."
He did not finish, but his meaning was clear.
By then, Wei Mingde's face had darkened completely.
Qin Yan, Director of Studies at the Imperial College, was a great Confucian scholar of his school and a Renowned Upright Scholar.
To persuade him to accept Wei Shouzheng as a disciple, Wei Mingde had called in countless favors and expended immense effort.
With the Apprenticeship Banquet imminent, nothing could be allowed to go wrong.
Wei Mingde set down his teacup, his voice turning cold.
"Servants."
Two servants entered from outside.
"Go to the side courtyard and bring that unfilial wretch here under guard!"
"Immediately!"
The two servants accepted the order and left.
Wang Rong knelt on the floor, his head bowed low as he laughed inwardly.
Wei Shouzheng straightened his back, unable to suppress the triumph on his face.
Meanwhile, in the side courtyard.
Wei Nisheng sat reading at his desk, while Wei An tidied things beside him.
Neither spoke, but the atmosphere was peaceful.
Suddenly, a jumble of footsteps came from outside, mixed with shouted orders. "This way! Hurry!"
Wei An's expression changed. He put down what he was holding and stood in the doorway.
Wei Nisheng raised his head.
The door was pushed open, and two servants barged in.
They saw Wei Nisheng but offered no bow, simply saying,
"Second Young Master, the master summons you. Come with us."
Their tone was stiff, devoid of respect.
Wei An stepped forward. "What kind of attitude is this?!"
One servant sneered. "Old fool, spare us your nonsense. The master is furious and ordered us to bring him 'under guard.' You had best know what is good for you. Do not make us use force."
Wei An was about to speak again...
But Wei Nisheng slowly put down his book and stood.
"Uncle Wei, it is all right. Father only wants me to come over."
Wei An opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing and merely stepped aside.
Wei Nisheng straightened the front of his robe and walked out.
The two servants followed, one on either side, as though escorting a prisoner.
Before you continue