At the Apprenticeship Banquet, who was the noble son?

Once the apprenticeship ceremony was complete, everyone took their seats.

After three rounds of wine, the atmosphere gradually grew lively.

Qin Yan sat in the guest of honor's seat. After a few cups of wine, his face was slightly flushed, and he was in excellent spirits.

Suddenly, something occurred to him. He set down his cup and looked at Wei Mingde.

"Mingde, where is your second son? That ten-year-old 'Fiery Child'?"

No one had expected Qin Yan to bring up Wei Nisheng at a time like this.

Wei Mingde's heart lurched, and the smile on his face froze for an instant.

"Qin Gong, he... he is in the Side Courtyard. I will send someone to fetch him at once."

Qin Yan waved a hand. "No need. There is no harm in my going to see him myself.

"Even His Majesty praised him yesterday. I would like to see for myself just what sort of person this ten-year-old Fiery Child is!"

As he spoke, he actually began to rise.

Wei Mingde hurriedly stopped him. "Qin Gong, Qin Gong, you are our guest of honor. How could we trouble you? I will send someone to invite him here at once!"

Meanwhile, Wei Shouzheng sat just below Qin Yan. Listening to his father and teacher's conversation, he looked displeased.

That wretched son again! This is my Apprenticeship Banquet, yet all my teacher can think about is seeing him!

At that moment, Cui Shi hurriedly rose to help, walked up to Qin Yan, and said with a smile:

"There is something you do not know, Qin Gong. Ni Sheng had quite a fright yesterday, and after he returned, he developed a slight fever.

"When I went to see him early this morning, he was still lying in bed. He said he was terribly dizzy, so I told him to rest."

After speaking, Cui Shi sighed, looking as though her heart ached for him.

"He is only ten, after all. Seeing blood for the first time, he was bound to be frightened."

"Indeed." Qin Yan nodded slightly in understanding.

"For a ten-year-old child, killing someone for the first time would certainly be frightening. Let him rest properly, then. There will be plenty of time."

Seeing Qin Yan sit back down, Wei Mingde breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly raised his cup.

"Thank you for your understanding, Qin Gong. Allow me to offer you a toast!"

Wei Shouzheng also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as everyone was about to resume drinking, a sudden commotion arose at the entrance to the banquet hall.

"Elder brother, your younger brother has arrived late!"

Everyone turned toward the voice. The light at the doorway dimmed as a figure approached, silhouetted against it.

As the figure entered the Central Hall, the candlelight gradually illuminated his face, and the banquet hall abruptly fell silent.

A boy in a moon-white brocade robe stood before them.

His skin was like congealed cream, his features like a painting, and his bearing as straight and tall as a pine or cypress.

Wei Nisheng raised his eyes slightly and swept his gaze over everyone present, neither servile nor overbearing, as calm as still water.

"Splendid! What a noble son of an illustrious family! It is like beholding Wei-Jin Elegance!"

Qin Yan sat in the guest of honor's seat, his eyes lighting up as he looked at the boy.

He was a great scholar of Neo-Confucianism and placed the highest importance on propriety and deportment.

In his view, a person's appearance and conduct were outward expressions of their inner character.

The child before him had handsome features and an extraordinary bearing.

One glance told him this was "a virtuous person who honored his father, respected his mother, and loved his elder brother"!

Meanwhile, Wei Shouzheng sat there, staring at that face.

That face was a hundred times more handsome than his own, and jealousy coiled around his heart like a venomous snake.

Why... why did he have to come?! This is my Apprenticeship Banquet! This is my special day!

Wei Nisheng, meanwhile, smiled faintly and walked to the center of the Central Hall. First, he bowed to Qin Yan in the seat of honor.

"Wei Nisheng, second son of the Wei Family, pays his respects to Qin Gong."

(Wei Nisheng had never been taught by a tutor, so he could not call himself a student.)

Then he turned to Wei Mingde and Cui Shi.

"Father, mother."

Finally, he looked at Wei Shouzheng and inclined his head slightly.

"Elder brother."

His manners were impeccable, without the slightest fault to be found.

Qin Yan nodded repeatedly. "Excellent, excellent! Mingde, this Second Young Master of yours has been brought up so well!"

Wei Mingde gave an awkward smile, unsure what to say.

Wei Nisheng straightened and looked at Cui Shi, his tone calm.

"Just now, at the doorway, I heard mother say that I was ill. Thank you for your concern, mother.

"I merely had something of a fright yesterday. After a night's rest, I am already quite all right."

He paused, then looked at the guests filling the hall.

"Besides, so many honored guests have come to the Wei Residence today for elder brother's grand apprenticeship ceremony.

"As a son of the Wei Family, how could I absent myself over a minor ailment?"

His words both explained that he was not ill and expressed respect for his elder brother.

He gave the Wei Family ample face while showing that he understood propriety and the greater good.

The guests nodded one after another, their fondness for the child growing considerably.

Cui Shi's smile froze on her face, and she could not utter a word.

Wei Shouzheng's face grew even paler.

Only Qin Yan liked him more with every look, and he could not help beckoning him over.

"Child, come here. Let me have a good look at you."

Wei Nisheng stepped forward and stood before Qin Yan, neither servile nor overbearing.

Qin Yan took his hand and looked him up and down, then turned to Wei Mingde and said with feeling:

"Mingde, this Second Young Master of yours is handsome and courteous. It truly is like seeing a scion of one of the great Wei-Jin families!"

Then Qin Yan looked at Wei Shouzheng and added with a smile:

"Shouzheng, you have a fine younger brother! An elder brother is his younger brother's teacher. You must set a good example!"

Wei Shouzheng forced a smile uglier than a crying face. "Yes... teacher is right..."

For the rest of the banquet, Qin Yan barely spoke to Wei Shouzheng. Instead, he kept Wei Nisheng beside him, asking him one question after another.

"What books have you been reading?"

"I am currently reading the Analects and the Arithmetical Classic."

"Oh? You read the Arithmetical Classic too? Why study that?"

"I believe that although the imperial examinations emphasize poetry and rhapsodies, governing a country cannot be separated from money, grain, revenue, and expenditure.

"My grandfather once headed the Ministry of Revenue. This student would not dare tarnish his reputation."

Qin Yan's eyes shone even brighter at that. "Excellent! You have ambition! You have insight!"

"Truly worthy of being Duke Wenduan's grandson!"

Wei Shouzheng sat to one side, unable to get a single word in. He could only lower his head and drink tea, his fingernails nearly digging into his flesh.

Watching Qin Yan's fondness for that wretched son, Wei Mingde felt all five flavors mingling in his heart.

Yet there was nothing he could do. Among the third generation of the Wei Family, Wei Nisheng was outstanding in looks.

He really did bring honor to the Wei Family!

Meanwhile, the longer Qin Yan held Wei Nisheng's hand and looked at him, the fonder he grew.

With the plain-looking Wei Shouzheng sitting beside them, a thought suddenly arose in his mind.

Have I... taken the wrong disciple?