Soon.
Wei Nisheng arrived at the Central Hall under escort by two servants.
In the seat of honor sat his father, Wei Mingde, his face livid. He had not yet changed out of his official robes, and his official belt was cinched tight.
His stepmother, Cui Shi, wore a look of "concern." His elder legitimate brother, Wei Shouzheng, stood with his head held high, while Wang Rong knelt on the floor.
Wei Nisheng withdrew his gaze, his mind perfectly clear.
Wang Rong had lodged a complaint, Wei Shouzheng had fanned the flames, and Cui Shi had added fuel...
They had set the stage and were waiting for him.
With that thought, Wei Nisheng stepped forward and bowed.
"Father."
Then he turned to Cui Shi. "Mother."
His manners were impeccable, neither servile nor overbearing.
But Wei Mingde showed him no kindness and snapped at once,
"You unfilial wretch! Kneel!"
Wei Nisheng did not move.
Wei Mingde knitted his brows, his voice growing colder. "I said, kneel! Didn't you hear me?!"
Wei Nisheng raised his head and looked calmly at him. "Father, if you want me to kneel, I can. But first, I'd like to know what I've done wrong."
"You insolent brat!!" Wei Mingde slammed the table, making the teacups clatter.
"You dare ask what you've done wrong?!
Does the Wei Family's reputation for pure nobility give you leave to humiliate servants as you please?!"
Wei Shouzheng immediately stepped forward and pointed at Wei Nisheng.
"Father, not only did he strike someone, he made outrageous claims!
Wang Rong said he invoked my name to make my younger brother restrain himself, but my younger brother actually said...
'Even if my elder brother were standing before me, I'd beat or kill him just the same!'"
With that, he turned to Wei Nisheng, his face filled with indignation. "I've never treated you poorly. Why would you insult me like this?!"
Kneeling on the floor, Wang Rong spoke at just the right moment, his voice choked with tears.
"Master, please judge fairly. I truly went to the Side Courtyard to deliver things on the eldest young master's orders.
But when the second young master saw me, he had that old servant Wei An beat me without a word..."
With that, he raised his head, the five finger marks on his face especially glaring in the candlelight.
"A couple of slaps mean nothing to me, but I couldn't bear to see the second young master insult the eldest young master like that. That's why I came to report it!"
He sounded utterly sincere, as though he really were a loyal servant protesting an injustice against his master.
Cui Shi sighed and said gently, "Ni Sheng, you're young. Perhaps you didn't mean some of the things you said.
But your elder brother is about to become someone's disciple. At such a critical moment, if rumors spread that the brothers are at odds..."
Wei Shouzheng immediately cut in. "Mother, don't make excuses for him! He did it deliberately!"
Wei Mingde's expression grew darker and darker.
Wei Nisheng waited until everyone had finished before speaking calmly.
"Father, may I say a few words?"
"Speak!"
Wei Nisheng turned to Wang Rong.
"Wang Rong, let me ask you. When you went to the Side Courtyard yesterday, were you really 'delivering things'?"
Wang Rong froze, then said, "O-of course!"
"On whose orders?"
"On... on the eldest young master's orders."
Wei Nisheng looked at Wei Shouzheng. "Elder brother, what did you have him deliver?"
Wei Shouzheng choked.
He had never told Wang Rong to deliver anything. Wang Rong had gone on his own.
But he could not admit that, so he could only grit his teeth and say,
"I told him to see what you needed and report back to me."
Wei Nisheng nodded, then asked Wang Rong again,
"Then where were the things you delivered?"
Wang Rong's expression shifted slightly.
The food box had overturned, spilling soup all over the floor. What was left to deliver?
So he said, "They... they spilled..."
"How did they spill?"
"They spilled when you hit me!"
Wei Nisheng smiled. "Before I hit you, the food box was in your hands. I hit you, you fell, and only then did the food box overturn. Is that right?"
Wang Rong nodded.
"Then why did I hit you?"
Wang Rong opened his mouth but gave no answer.
Wei Nisheng answered for him. "Because you insulted me in public.
Do you dare repeat those words in front of my father?"
Wang Rong's face flushed red, and he could not speak.
Wei Shouzheng frowned and looked at Wang Rong.
Cui Shi's eyes flickered.
Wei Nisheng continued, "As for those words you claim I said, I never said them."
"Wei An can testify, and so can Mother's half brother born of a concubine, Cui Fu. They were both there."
With that, Wei Nisheng looked at Wei Mingde.
"If you don't believe me, Father, you can summon them and question them."
"In that case..." Wei Mingde was just about to speak.
Just then, Wang Rong suddenly raised his head. "Master! Of course Wei An would side with the second young master!
Cui Fu is Madam's brother, but the second young master took Cui Fu out yesterday. Who knows what they might have said in private?
Their words cannot serve as testimony!"
Wei Shouzheng immediately agreed. "Exactly! Father, their words can't count!"
Wang Rong quickly added, "Master, they weren't the only ones present.
Several servants were passing by, too. They saw the second young master strike me with their own eyes! You can summon them and ask!"
Wei Nisheng's heart sank.
This household servant came prepared... He means to have every witness lined up in advance.
Soon, Wei Mingde sent someone to summon those servants who had been "passing by."
Before long, three servants were brought in and knelt in a row.
They were the very ones who had gathered to watch outside the Side Courtyard that afternoon.
"Tell me, what did you see outside the Side Courtyard yesterday afternoon?"
The first servant stole a glance at Wei Shouzheng before speaking.
"Master, I saw the second young master hit Wang Rong. Wang Rong didn't fight back, and the second young master struck him again."
The second servant echoed him. "I saw it too. The second young master struck viciously. One slap knocked Wang Rong to the ground."
"Why did he hit him?"
"Well... I didn't hear what was said beforehand. I only saw the second young master suddenly start hitting him."
The third servant was even more "sensible." "I vaguely heard the second young master say something like, 'He only holds the title of Eldest Legitimate Son. When it comes down to it, I'm a legitimate son too. Neither of us is beneath the other'...
I didn't dare listen to the rest, so I hurried away."
Three men, all telling the same story, perfectly corroborating Wang Rong's version.
Wei Nisheng did not argue.
Because he knew arguing would do no good.
These servants always tailored the dishes to whoever sat at the table.
He was the second son the entire family despised, while Wei Shouzheng was the Eldest Legitimate Son, their hope for the future.
How could they possibly take his side?
Before you continue