The vermilion gates of the Feng Residence slowly opened, and a middle-aged steward came out to greet them.
"Lord Wei, the master is waiting in the main hall. Please follow me."
Wei Mingde hurriedly cupped his hands. "Sorry for the trouble."
He straightened his clothes and headwear, then stepped over the threshold with his family.
Beyond the screen wall inside the Feng Residence lay a bluestone path, lined on either side with slender bamboo that rustled in the wind.
Farther ahead stood the main hall.
Its upturned eaves and interlocking brackets lent it an imposing grandeur without sacrificing elegance.
The Feng Family's main hall was spacious and bright, its furnishings simple yet refined. Celadon vases stood on the tables, and several works of calligraphy and painting by celebrated masters of the previous dynasty hung on the walls.
Feng Yan sat upright in the seat of honor, wearing an informal long robe. His hair and beard were white, but his eyes blazed like torches, and he commanded respect without a trace of anger.
Maidservants and attendants stood on either side with their hands lowered, even their breathing kept exceptionally quiet.
The Wei Family was ushered into the main hall.
Wei Mingde led the way, his face wreathed in smiles. The moment he entered, he bowed in greeting, bending his waist almost parallel to the floor.
"This junior, Wei Mingde, pays his respects to Lord Feng, together with his wife!"
Wei Shouzheng followed him in bowing, and Wei Nisheng did the same.
Feng Yan swept his gaze over Wei Mingde and gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
His gaze passed over Wei Shouzheng, lingering for a moment without any change in expression.
Then it settled on the youth at the rear.
The youth wore a moon-white brocade robe and stood with his head lowered, his bearing utterly unlike that of the others before him.
Wei Nisheng simply stood there, neither servile nor arrogant, neither flustered nor hurried, like a stalk of green bamboo standing in the wind.
No wonder that old fellow Qin Yan spread the word: the Wei Family's second son has a handsome countenance and the air of the Wei and Jin eras...
With that thought, Feng Yan formed an impression of him and raised a hand slightly, signaling for the Wei Family to sit.
Overwhelmed by the favor, Wei Mingde thanked him repeatedly and took a guest seat.
"Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye since Brother Wenyue died." Feng Yan lifted his teacup and took a sip, his tone level. "Are you still in the Ministry of Works?"
"In answer to Lord Feng," Wei Mingde said, nodding hurriedly, "this junior serves as a section officer in the Ministry of Works' Construction and Repairs Office."
Feng Yan nodded. "The Ministry of Works is a leisurely post. That's good too."
Wei Mingde gave an awkward smile, unsure how to respond.
The remark sounded like praise, yet also like a perfunctory dismissal. He could not fathom Feng Yan's meaning.
Feng Yan asked again, "Where is your eldest son studying now?"
Wei Mingde perked up and hastily pushed Wei Shouzheng forward.
Wei Shouzheng hurriedly stepped forward and bowed again, his movements somewhat more proper than before.
"In answer to Lord Feng, this student, Wei Shouzheng, is currently studying at the Imperial College. Qin Gong was gracious enough to accept me as his disciple."
Feng Yan glanced at him and nodded. "Mm. Qin Gong is a great master of Neo-Confucianism. Study diligently, and your prospects will be good."
At the praise, delight instantly spread across Wei Shouzheng's face, and even his voice rose half a pitch. "Thank you for your guidance, Lord Feng!"
Feng Yan then looked at Wei Shoucheng in Cui Shi's arms. "Is that your youngest son?"
Cui Shi hurried forward and bent her knees slightly while holding Wei Shoucheng. "Yes, this is my youngest son, Shoucheng. He is two and a half this year."
Feng Yan nodded and said nothing more.
Just as Wei Mingde was about to speak again and cultivate a little more familiarity, laying the groundwork for his request...
Feng Yan set down his teacup and suddenly said, "Mingde, there are a few things I would like to discuss privately with your second son.
"Take your eldest son and your wife to the side hall for a while, and have the servants bring you tea. What do you say?"
"Uh..." Wei Mingde froze, thinking he had misheard. "Lord Feng... you wish to speak with Ni Sheng alone?"
"Mm." Feng Yan nodded. "After all, he is the 'Fiery Child' whose name has spread throughout the Capital, whom even His Majesty praised in person. I would like to see him for myself. You don't mind, do you?"
Wei Mingde opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Of course he minded! He had brought his eldest son here so that he could make an impression! Yet the one Lord Feng wanted to see was that unfilial wretch?
But did he dare refuse?
Wei Mingde could only force a smile uglier than tears. "You are too kind, Lord Feng. It is Ni Sheng's good fortune to be granted an audience with you."
Then he turned to Wei Nisheng, his gaze complicated. "Ni Sheng, answer Lord Feng's questions properly."
Wei Nisheng lowered his eyes. "Yes, Father."
Feng Yan told the servants, "Take Lord Wei to the side hall and attend to him well."
The servants obeyed and led Wei Mingde, Wei Shouzheng, Cui Shi, and her little son out of the main hall.
After the three left, only Feng Yan and Wei Nisheng remained in the Feng Family's main hall.
Feng Yan also rose and led Wei Nisheng through a side door into a side room.
It was smaller than the main hall, but more elegant.
Outside the window lay a pond of spring water, where several koi swam leisurely, occasionally leaping above the surface and scattering strings of droplets.
A tea table stood beside the window, set with purple-clay teaware. Spring water bubbled over a charcoal stove, sending up wisps of steam.
Feng Yan did not rush to speak. Instead, he lifted his teacup and slowly savored a sip.
Compared with the tea served to Wei Mingde outside earlier, the tea here was clearly superior, its delicate fragrance filling the air.
Wei Nisheng was in no hurry either and waited quietly.
Outside the window, koi swam past, sending ripples across the water.
After a long while, Feng Yan set down his teacup, rested his gaze on Wei Nisheng's face, and suddenly smiled.
"You sent a visiting card asking to see me. Now that you have, is there anything you wish to say?"
The question seemed casual, but concealed a keen edge.
Wei Nisheng understood clearly: Lord Feng was testing him. If his first words were a plea for office or wealth, he would already have fallen short. If he began by lamenting his hardships and soliciting pity, he would fall short as well.
So Wei Nisheng lowered his eyes slightly, then raised his head after a moment, his gaze calm. "On my way here, this junior kept wondering what I ought to say upon meeting Lord Feng.
"As I thought it over, I suddenly remembered something Uncle Wei told me-a saying Grandfather often repeated when he was alive."
Feng Yan's brows stirred slightly. "Oh? What saying?"
"Grandfather said, 'Brother Boyuan is good at drinking, and I am good at reckoning. In the time he drinks a pot of wine, he can reckon three years' accounts. Yet my reckoning of three years' accounts cannot match his drinking of a pot of wine.'"
The corners of Wei Nisheng's mouth lifted slightly. "This junior was young then and did not understand what those words meant.
"Only later did I realize that Grandfather meant Lord Feng's talents lay not within account books, but within human hearts."
Feng Yan was taken aback by those words.
Then he burst into hearty laughter.
"Good! You clever boy! Using your grandfather's words to stop my mouth!"
This child mentioned neither his request nor his wants, only old stories of his grandfather, yet every sentence drew them closer.
Very clever.
"Good! What a Wei Nisheng you are!"
Feng Yan pointed to the cushion opposite him. "Sit down, and we can talk."
Wei Nisheng sat as instructed, his posture upright and his gaze open.
Feng Yan refilled his teacup and pushed another cup toward Wei Nisheng.
Then he took another sip himself and said, "Your grandfather and I passed the imperial examinations in the same year. He placed second, and I placed first. Heh, heh."
"Later, we entered the Grand Secretariat together. He headed the Ministry of Revenue, and I headed the Ministry of Personnel. We kept at it for forty years."
He looked at Wei Nisheng. "There was even a saying among the people: 'Feng Half the Court, Wei One Corner.' Have you heard it?"
Wei Nisheng nodded. "I know a little of it."
Feng Yan smiled. "Then tell me, what does the 'one corner' in 'Wei One Corner' mean?"
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