"Thirty percent? Doesn't that mean giving the lion's share to the clan?"
At these words, Wei Mingde's expression changed, and he blurted out.
"Uncle, aren't you asking for far too much?
Even if Ni Sheng is adopted into another lineage, he's still my flesh and blood. This estate..." Before he could finish, Wei He raised a hand to cut him off.
"Mingde, you're mistaken." Wei He's tone was mild, but his words struck deep. "After the adoption, he will be your elder brother Mingyuan's son, not yours. The estate belongs to Mingyuan, not your branch."
"The clan will manage it to ensure he reaches adulthood safely. Once he comes of age, the entire estate will be returned.
Until then, thirty percent of the proceeds will cover his expenses, and seventy percent will go to the clan. Those are the rules."
Those words, "Those are the rules," were neither forceful nor mild, yet they blocked every further objection Wei Mingde might have made.
But Cui Shi refused to give up.
She hurriedly forced a smile and spoke in a gentle voice. "You're right, Uncle. That is indeed the proper reasoning.
But... Ni Sheng is only ten. He's still a long way from adulthood.
Taking seventy percent of all the profits from the past ten years at once... isn't that a little much?
If nothing else, how about we keep the earlier profits, then follow your rules for the next five years after his adoption, until he comes of age?"
As she spoke, she carefully watched Wei He's expression.
After hearing her out, Wei He slowly turned to look at Cui Shi.
She wants to take all the past profits in one gulp and leave me only the next five years' earnings, which haven't even materialized? This nephew's wife certainly knows how to scheme.
But Wei He had no intention of settling for the smaller share. He stared at Cui Shi with a mocking half-smile and rebuked her on the spot.
"Cui Shi, which branch did you marry into? Do you think you can meddle in the Eldest Branch's affairs?"
Cui Shi's smile froze.
Wei He's tone remained indifferent, each word distinct. "You are Mingde's second wife, stepmother to Shouzheng and his brother, and Shoucheng's birth mother.
But the Eldest Branch's affairs have nothing to do with you. Do not throw the rites and rules into disorder!"
Rules again!
Cui Shi flushed crimson and pressed her lips together, no longer daring to utter another word.
Wei Mingde hurried forward to smooth things over. "Uncle, my humble wife only lost her composure out of concern. Please don't take it to heart."
Wei He snorted and let the matter drop.
Instead, he picked up his teacup again and slowly took a sip before lifting his eyes toward Wei Mingde.
"Mingde, you invited me here today to arrange the adoption of an heir son. I have agreed. But the Eldest Branch Estate must be handled according to the rules."
"If you agree, we will open the Ancestral Hall and perform the rites as prescribed."
"If you refuse..." Wei He set his teacup on the table and stood. "We'll return to the countryside right now. Find someone else to arrange this adoption."
Seeing this, Wei Mingde hastily rose to stop him. "Uncle, please stay! Please stay! We can discuss this!"
Wei He stopped and looked back at him without a word.
Wei Mingde inwardly groaned. This old fox won't release his hawk until he sees the hare.
He gritted his teeth and forced himself to ask, "May I ask, Uncle, how much profit my elder brother's branch has earned over these ten years?"
Wei He stroked his beard and recited the accounts without haste. "Three hundred mu of good farmland, with annual rent of one tael per mu. Five storefronts, their rents calculated separately. Over ten years, the total profit came to five thousand six hundred taels of silver."
Wei Mingde calculated rapidly in his head. A moment later, he said:
"Very well. Of those five thousand six hundred taels, the clan and I will each take forty percent, leaving the remaining twenty percent for Ni Sheng!"
He paused, then added, "But after Ni Sheng's adoption, the clan will manage the estate as you proposed.
Of the annual proceeds, sixty percent will go to the main household, and forty percent will remain as communal clan funds."
He raised his eyes toward Wei He, his gaze probing. "Also, while the clan manages the estate, a copy of the accounts must be sent to me each year for review."
Wei He narrowed his eyes, then turned and exchanged glances with the other clan elders.
They nodded slightly.
After all, the past ten years' profits were solid silver. Receiving forty percent was already an unexpected windfall.
As for the years to come, who could say?
A painted cake could never compare to meat already in one's mouth.
Seeing this, Wei He turned back and nodded. "Agreed."
With the matter settled, half the weight lifted from Wei Mingde's heart, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
But he did not stop there. Taking a deep breath, he continued, "There is one more matter."
"What is it?"
"After Ni Sheng's adoption, I want..." Wei Mingde paused. "A lineage separation."
"A lineage separation?"
Wei He froze, staring at Wei Mingde in disbelief as though he had misheard.
"Wei Mingde, do you know what you're saying? A lineage separation?
You want a ten-year-old child to separate his lineage after being adopted? Do you know what that means?"
"Of course, I know you loathe him, but from what I've seen, he may well be a piece of uncut jade capable of becoming something fine. Yet you want him to establish a separate lineage and live on his own?"
Wei Mingde met Wei He's gaze without flinching.
"Yes. Let him live separately and establish his own line." His answer was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
"From this day forward, he will belong to the Eldest Branch and have no further ties to mine."
At that, Wei He fell silent.
The other clan elders fell silent as well.
They looked at Wei Mingde with complicated expressions.
A lineage separation was a serious matter.
But it did not concern their own branches. Ultimately, this was a dispute between the Eldest Branch and Mingde's branch.
After pondering for a moment, Wei He asked, "Does the child himself agree?"
Wei Mingde faltered, then tugged at the corners of his mouth in a bitter smile. "Him? He can't wait to free himself from me, his father."
Wei He remained silent for a long while before finally nodding.
"Then we shall do as you ask. We will handle the lineage separation today as well."
Overjoyed, Wei Mingde bowed repeatedly in thanks.
Standing to one side, Cui Shi quietly breathed a sigh of relief too.
It was done.
They would split the lion's share of the estate proceeds equally with the clan, but they had never expected to take everything anyway.
Once the lineages separated, that wretched son would be gone for good.
It was worth it.
Meanwhile, the discussion in the side hall continued.
Wei Shouzheng stood beneath the covered walkway, idly kicking pebbles at his feet.
Through several intervening doors, he could faintly hear voices inside, broken and indistinct.
But he was in no hurry.
He knew all too well why today's performance was being staged.
Once today was over, that dear younger brother who stuck in his throat like a fishbone would have to get out of the Wei Family.
At the thought, Wei Shouzheng could not help smiling.
He was savoring his delight when he unexpectedly looked up and saw Wei Nisheng approaching from the other end of the corridor with Wei An.
His eyes immediately lit up, and he went to meet them in a few quick strides.
"You're here, Second Brother?" He plastered on a smile, looking utterly sincere. "Ah, come to think of it, after today, I may never again be able to..."
He deliberately paused halfway through, waiting to see how the other boy would react.
This time, however, Wei Nisheng did not step aside to let him pass. Instead, he stopped and faced him.
His gaze was as calm as if he were looking at a clown capering about.
That look made Wei Shouzheng uneasy, but he refused to show weakness and continued. "What's wrong? Unhappy?
I suppose that's understandable. Though we share the same blood and lineage, Eldest Uncle's branch does need someone to carry on its ancestral incense.
But don't be sad. You'll still be my younger brother. As your elder brother, I..."
"You call yourself my elder brother? That isn't right, is it?" Wei Nisheng suddenly smiled, drawing out his words.
"My... dear, younger, cousin."
"Huh?" Wei Shouzheng froze. "You... what did you call me?"
"Younger cousin." Wei Nisheng looked at him candidly. "After the adoption, I will belong to the Eldest Branch Legitimate Line, and you will be my younger cousin from the Second Branch. What's wrong with addressing you that way?"
Wei Shouzheng flushed. "You! Wei Nisheng, I am your elder brother!"
"Not for much longer." Wei Nisheng tilted his head. "Besides..." He paused, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"According to the rites, I do indeed belong to the Eldest Branch, while you belong to the Second Branch.
You're a student of Neo-Confucianism. Didn't Qin Gong teach you?
Under the lineage rites, how should precedence among the legitimate and illegitimate, senior and junior be determined?"
Wei Shouzheng was tongue-tied, unable to answer.
"Younger cousin, after today, I will belong to the Eldest Branch Legitimate Line and outrank you in the lineage." Wei Nisheng patted his shoulder.
"Get used to bowing when we meet from now on. You're a student of Neo-Confucianism, after all. Don't let Qin Gong down!"
With that, he bumped past Wei Shouzheng's shoulder and headed toward the side hall.
Wei Shouzheng stood rooted to the spot for a long while, looking as though he wanted to argue but could find no answer.
The side hall's door stood ajar.
Wei Nisheng stopped at the entrance and straightened his robes before gently pushing the door open and stepping inside.
The low voices in the hall abruptly ceased.
Several gazes fell on him at once.
His expression unchanged, Wei Nisheng walked to the center of the hall and bowed deeply to Wei He in the seat of honor.
"I, your junior Wei Nisheng, pay my respects to my honored clan granduncles."
He bowed all the way down, composed and unhurried.
After straightening, he turned to Wei Mingde and his wife and bowed. "Father, Mother."
Finally, he turned to the other clan elders seated there and greeted each in turn.
His courtesies were impeccable, neither servile nor arrogant.
Wei He's gaze rested on him, examining him carefully from head to toe.
The boy was barely past ten and had yet to reach his full height, but he stood perfectly straight.
His features were handsome and refined, his expression calm. Standing there, he possessed a steadiness far beyond his age.
Fine features, a bearing straight as a pine, and a composed, elegant manner. Wei He stroked his beard and inwardly nodded.
This child truly is extraordinary.
With that thought, he withdrew his gaze and cleared his throat, his voice regaining its earlier authority.
"Today, we open the Ancestral Hall to select an heir to continue the ancestral line of Eldest Branch Duke Wei Mingyuan."
"The chosen heir son is Wei Nisheng, second son of Wei Mingde of the Second Branch."
"According to the rules, we must ask for his own consent..."
Wei He's gaze settled on Wei Nisheng as he asked, word by deliberate word.
"Wei Nisheng, are you willing to inherit the Eldest Branch's line and become the son of Duke Wei Mingyuan?"
For a moment, the hall was silent.
Every gaze converged on the boy.
Wei Nisheng raised his head.
His gaze had never been so resolute.
Meeting Wei He's eyes, he spoke slowly and distinctly.
"I, Wei Nisheng, am willing!"
His voice was not loud, but every word rang clear, striking the ground with the force of stone.
Wei He looked at him, then slowly nodded after a moment.
"Good. Since that is so..." He rose with the support of his cane and headed toward the Ancestral Hall's main chamber.
"Open the Ancestral Hall and inform the ancestors!"
Before you continue