March 1, with winter's chill still lingering

It was March 1, and winter's chill had yet to fade.

After the Apprenticeship Banquet, Wei Shouzheng had gone to the Imperial College, while Wei Nisheng quietly studied. Life in the Side Courtyard remained unchanged.

In the Central Hall of the Wei Residence, charcoal still burned in the braziers, filling the room with warmth.

Wei Mingde had the day off and did not need to report for roll call at the Ministry of Works, but he sat in the seat of honor with his brows tightly furrowed.

Half a month earlier, shortly after the Apprenticeship Banquet ended, he had personally written a visiting card and sent someone to deliver it to the Feng Residence.

His wording had been respectful and his manner sincere. He had even made a point of mentioning his late father's friendship with Lord Feng.

Yet more than half a month had passed, and it was still like a stone dropped into the sea.

"Lord Feng... did he not see it, or does he not want to see me?"

Wei Mingde irritably rubbed the space between his brows.

"Husband."

Just then, Cui Shi came in, holding the hand of Wei Shoucheng, who was a little over two years old.

Wei Shoucheng wore a new padded jacket that set off his rosy, fair little face. He looked sturdy and bright-eyed.

The moment he entered, he looked all around. When he spotted Wei Mingde in the seat of honor, his eyes lit up. He let go of his mother's hand and scampered over.

"Daddy! Daddy!"

At the sight of his youngest son running toward him, Wei Mingde's tightly knitted brows immediately relaxed.

He bent down, scooped the boy up, and settled him on his lap. "Have you been good today, Cheng'er?"

"Good!" Wei Shoucheng answered in his babyish voice, waving his little hands. "Ate cakey! Lots of cakey!"

"Good, good! Eat plenty and grow big and strong!" Wei Mingde laughed heartily and kissed his cheek.

Holding him in his arms, he kept asking questions. "What did you eat today?" "Did you miss Daddy?"

Wei Shoucheng answered each one. Though his words tumbled out in a muddle, Wei Mingde listened with relish.

After all, his eldest son was away, and he loathed his second son. Only this youngest son offered him any comfort now.

So whether it was "cakey," "kitty," or "flowers," anything that came out of his youngest son's mouth became a wondrously entertaining tale.

Cui Shi smiled at the harmonious sight of father and son.

Then she went to the table, picked up the teapot, and poured Wei Mingde a cup of hot tea, offering it with both hands.

"Husband, have some tea."

She then moved behind Wei Mingde, rested her hands lightly on his shoulders, and kneaded them with just the right pressure.

"You have the day off. Why are you still wearing such a troubled face? Is something wrong at the office?"

Holding his youngest son and enjoying Cui Shi's massage, Wei Mingde sighed.

"It's not the office. It's... the Feng Family. There's still been no reply."

Cui Shi's hands paused before resuming their work. She said gently, "Don't be anxious, husband. Lord Feng has only just retired. There must be plenty of people seeking an audience.

"Perhaps your card is buried in the pile and hasn't reached him yet."

Wei Mingde nodded. "That's all I can tell myself."

Meanwhile, as Cui Shi massaged him, she was weighing how to broach another subject.

The main problem was that she had visited her parents in the middle of the previous month and, while chatting with them, had carelessly let something slip, boasting about the Wei Family's connection to the Feng Family.

At the time, she had merely wanted her family to know that she had not married into some ordinary household.

The Wei Family might hold an undemanding post at the Ministry of Works, but they had longstanding ties with Grand Secretary Feng's family. Their connections were impressive!

To her surprise, her father's eyes had lit up at once. He had taken her by the arm and said,

"Your eldest brother has served as an official in Taiyuan Prefecture for years. Since the Wei Family has old ties with the Feng Family, could your husband help pull a few strings?"

To save face, Cui Shi had readily agreed, thinking it would only take a word.

Even after returning home, the more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

After all, though Lord Feng had retired, his former students and subordinates were spread throughout the realm. Surely transferring one man would take no more than a word?

But her father's letter yesterday had suddenly changed the request: he no longer asked for a direct transfer back to the Capital, the Southern Capital. Even Kaifeng Prefecture or Nanchang Prefecture would do.

Though Cui Shi knew little of officialdom, she knew that a transfer from Taiyuan Prefecture to Nanchang Prefecture would span more than half the realm. This was no small matter.

And seeing Wei Mingde fretting over the Feng Family today had left her heart beating like a drum.

Still, she had already promised her father. She had to try.

So Cui Shi moved directly in front of Wei Mingde, crouched down, and began gently pounding his legs, her face wreathed in smiles.

"Husband, I have a favor to ask. I'm not sure whether I ought to mention it..."

Holding his youngest son, Wei Mingde glanced at her. "What is it? Speak."

"It concerns my family..." Cui Shi chose her words carefully. "My eldest brother, as you know, has served as an official in Taiyuan Prefecture for many years.

"My father is getting old. He hopes my brother can be transferred somewhere closer, so he can better fulfill his filial duties."

Wei Mingde's brows creased slightly. "Transferred back? Where does he want to go?"

"He needn't return straight to the Capital. I would be satisfied if he could go somewhere like Kaifeng Prefecture or Nanchang Prefecture."

At those words, Wei Mingde's expression darkened at once.

He set his youngest son down and patted his head. "Cheng'er, go play with your wet nurse."

Wei Shoucheng looked blankly at his father, then at his mother, before scampering out.

Only after his youngest son had left did Wei Mingde turn to Cui Shi, his tone hostile.

"Heh. From Taiyuan Prefecture to Kaifeng Prefecture or Nanchang Prefecture? That esteemed father-in-law of mine certainly dares to dream!"

At Wei Mingde's tone, Cui Shi's smile stiffened.

"What sort of place is Taiyuan Prefecture? A strategic stronghold in the northwest, a land of bitter cold.

"What sort of place is Kaifeng Prefecture? The gateway to the Southern Capital!

"And Nanchang Prefecture? A land of fish and rice in Jiangnan!"

"How major a transfer would it take to move from Taiyuan to Kaifeng or Nanchang? Even when my father was alive, he wouldn't have dared entertain such a thought!"

"Why doesn't your father simply ask His Majesty to move the Capital from the Southern Capital back to the Northern Capital? Then your eldest brother would be in the Capital already!"

As she listened to Wei Mingde, Cui Shi's face alternated between pale and ashen.

She had not expected her husband, who was usually fairly gentle with her, to fly into such a rage.

But after all these years in the Wei Family, Cui Shi had long since learned to read expressions and weigh words.

She knew what Wei Mingde liked and what he wanted to hear...

So she neither talked back nor acted aggrieved. Instead, she immediately sighed and said softly,

"You're right, husband. That is what I told my father, too."

She raised her head and looked at Wei Mingde sincerely. "I knew this would be difficult and hadn't intended to bring it up.

"Only because you asked just now did I tell you the truth."

Cui Shi paused, then rose and went to Wei Mingde's side, gently taking his hand.

"I am part of the Wei Family. Naturally, I stand with you, husband.

"If you say it cannot be done, then we won't pursue it. I will write back and tell my father."

Sure enough, after hearing these words, Wei Mingde's expression softened considerably.

Without his noticing, the anger in his heart dissipated.

"Ah, this isn't your fault."

Seeing this, Cui Shi hastily changed the subject.

"Husband, about the Feng Family... do you think something might have delayed them?"

As she spoke, she poured him another cup of tea, as though the earlier incident had never happened.

Wei Mingde accepted the tea and sighed. "Who knows... Lord Feng has only just retired. There really are plenty of people seeking an audience.

"Perhaps it's just as you said. The card is sitting in the gatehouse and hasn't been delivered inside."

Though Wei Mingde said this, his heart was beating like a drum.

He knew better than anyone that if the Feng Family truly wanted to see him, half a month was more than enough time to send a reply.

There was only one possible reason for their silence.

The Feng Family did not want to see him.

But he did not dare dwell on that thought.

"Don't worry too much, husband. Perhaps there will be news in a few days.

"Don't you always say the Wei Family and the Feng Family have been friends for generations? Lord Feng wouldn't deny you that courtesy."

Wei Mingde nodded, but his brows remained tightly knitted.

Cui Shi thought for a moment, then added, "And about what you mentioned earlier... that matter concerning my family. I know it would be difficult.

"But if word comes from the Feng Family, could you... mention it in passing?"

She cautiously watched Wei Mingde's expression. "There's no need to make a special visit about it. Just bring it up.

"Whether it works out or not, I won't blame you. It would simply give me something to say in my letter home."

At those words, Wei Mingde glanced at her.

He was no fool. He knew what Cui Shi was scheming.

But he also understood that she was giving him a step down.

She was using the matter of the Feng Family to soften the unpleasantness from earlier.

Besides, they were husband and wife, after all. After a moment's silence, he finally nodded.

"All right. If there is news from the Feng Family, I'll mention it."

Delighted, Cui Shi leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, husband!"

"Good heavens, how indecorous!" Wei Mingde frowned in mock solemnity. "What are you doing? In broad daylight!"

"Go back to your room at once!"