A chance to go out

As he was thinking, the door curtain lifted, and the wet nurse came in with two-year-old Wei Shoucheng.

The little fellow was bundled up into a round ball, with a small sable hat on his head.

He wore tiger-head boots and was looking around with wide, round eyes.

When he spotted Wei Nisheng, however, he immediately shrank timidly into Cui Shi's arms.

"Mama~"

Cui Shi coaxed him with a smile. "Don't be afraid. This is your second brother. Once you start your lessons, he'll live in our courtyard and play with you every day."

After saying that, she paused, then smiled again. "Of course, don't be in such a hurry to refuse. I have a younger brother born to a concubine in my family. He's only a little older than you.

"You must have been bored out of your mind in the side courtyard all these years. You've never even been out, have you?

"How about I have him take you out and show you a good time? Let me tell you, this Capital is a lively place!"

Going out.

Wei Nisheng, who had been playing the idle loafer, instantly grew clearheaded.

He understood.

Cui Shi wanted to keep him under her nose and slowly "raise him into a wastrel."

Studying alongside her son was the pretext; getting him out of the house was the real aim.

From Cui Shi's perspective, he was a despised child who had been left to run wild in the side courtyard for ten years, never leaving home and knowing nothing of the world.

She would have her brother take him out to play, employ a few little tricks, and, given enough time, he would become an expert in drinking, feasting, whoring, and gambling.

When that happened, would the Wei Family, whose family tradition prized Pure Nobility, tolerate a son steeped in vice?

At best, he would be driven out of the family. At worst... beaten to death to uphold the family's honor.

But the offer to go out was precisely what he needed.

Trapped in the side courtyard all these years, he knew nothing about the outside world.

He did not even know how vast Great Zhou was.

"What is it? You don't agree?"

At Cui Shi's words, Wei Nisheng immediately put on an expression of flattered surprise mingled with apprehension.

"No, thank you for your kindness, Mother. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"It's just that your son is slow-witted. Eldest Brother said so back then, and I'm afraid I might hold up my younger brother's elementary lessons.

"It would be better for me to study on my own in the side courtyard and not disturb your peace, Mother."

Cui Shi's smile remained unchanged, but a trace of coldness flashed through her eyes.

Just then, however, Wei Nisheng changed tack, raising his head with a little delight and longing in his eyes.

"But your son truly has never been out. When I hear the servants discussing things in my courtyard, I do get curious... is the Capital really that lively?"

He stopped at just the right point, giving exactly enough.

The chill on Cui Shi's face vanished at once, replaced by delight.

"The Capital is far more than just lively!"

"And my brother knows the Capital better than anyone. Let him take you, and I guarantee it'll open your eyes!"

Wei Nisheng looked hesitant again. "But Father..."

"Don't worry." Cui Shi waved her hand expansively. "I'll speak to your father! What child should stay at home every single day?"

"In that case, your son will..." Wei Nisheng lowered his head, making a show of gratitude. "Thank you, Mother."

"It's nothing, nothing. Why speak of such things between mother and son?" Cui Shi waved her hand with a smile.

"When my brother comes tomorrow, I'll have him go to your courtyard to find you. Just wait for him."

Only after the maid had escorted Wei Nisheng out of the main courtyard did Cui Shi drop her false smile and hold Wei Shoucheng in her arms.

Pinching her son's chubby cheek, she teased him.

"He really is just a child!"

"Shoucheng! Are you happy? Your second brother will soon be a good-for-nothing~"

After leaving the main courtyard, Wei Nisheng passed through the hanging-flower gate and headed toward the side courtyard.

Just as he was about to turn into the narrow passage leading to the Side Courtyard, he ran into his elder brother born of the principal wife, Wei Shouzheng.

As before, Wei Shouzheng had a page following him and wore that brand-new sable cloak, walking with his head high and chest thrust out.

"You wretched spawn, what right do you have to come to the main courtyard? Have you come begging Mother for charity?"

He blocked Wei Nisheng's path, looking down at this younger brother who was a good deal thinner than he was.

"What, can't stand the side courtyard anymore? Want to move over here and sponge off my tutor?"

Wei Nisheng once again chose not to give him the time of day.

Seeing this, Wei Shouzheng snorted coldly and lost interest, then stepped closer.

"I'm telling you, don't get any foolish ideas.

"What do you think you are? You think you deserve to study?"

"And another thing." A gleam of smugness flashed in his eyes, and he lowered his voice further.

"My apprenticeship banquet is in five days. You'd better keep quiet during the banquet and not come out to offend anyone's eyes.

"If I see that ill-omened face of yours in front of the guests, don't blame me for being rough."

With that, he deliberately rammed Wei Nisheng's shoulder hard and left with his page.

Wei Nisheng stood where he was, watching the retreating figure.

Without dwelling on it, he simply turned and continued toward his side courtyard.

When he reached his courtyard and pushed open the door, the charcoal brazier inside still held some warmth.

Wei An was absent, probably off collecting this month's allowance for him.

So Wei Nisheng sat back down at the desk, picked up his book again, and began reading it line by line.

Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened.

That night, in the main courtyard's bedchamber, fine charcoal burned brightly, filling the room with cozy warmth.

Cui Shi sat before the dressing table, facing a bronze mirror as she slowly removed the pins and ornaments from her hair.

Wei Mingde leaned against the headboard, idly leafing through a book of light reading.

"Husband." Cui Shi glanced at him in the mirror and said, "I saw Ni Sheng today."

Wei Mingde's hand paused on the page, and his brows furrowed slightly. "What did you see that wretched son for?"

Cui Shi placed the hairpin she had removed into her dressing box, her voice carrying a hint of grievance.

"Listen to what you're saying, my lord. I'm his mother. What's wrong with seeing him?

"I've thought over what happened in the ancestral hall last time, and I keep feeling that I wasn't sufficiently considerate.

"I specifically called him over today because I wanted him to move into the main courtyard and study with Shoucheng."

"Move into the main courtyard?" Wei Mingde's frown deepened. "He agreed?"

"At first, he said he didn't want to, for fear of holding up Shoucheng's elementary lessons."

"Hah. At least he knows his own limitations."

"Oh, husband." Cui Shi turned around with a smile. "Later, I said I would have my youngest brother take him out to see something of the world, and he did seem tempted.

"He's still a child, after all. After being cooped up in the side courtyard for ten years, how could he not yearn for the world outside?"

After Cui Shi addressed him in that sweet, coaxing voice, Wei Mingde no longer felt like reading.

"As you please. Just don't let that brother of yours cause any trouble that disgraces the Wei Family."

"Rest assured, husband. I know what I'm doing." Cui Shi rose and sat down beside the bed, changing the subject. "By the way, husband, was there any news outside today?"

"As a matter of fact, there was." Wei Mingde closed his book, his eyes brightening. "I heard there's going to be a vacancy for a section director in the Ministry of Works' Imperial Parks Bureau."

Cui Shi's eyes lit up. "The Imperial Parks Bureau? That's a lucrative post..."

"So what if it is?" Wei Mingde sighed. "It may also be a sixth-rank position, but do you think just anyone can take that seat?"

Cui Shi considered for a moment, then asked tentatively, "My lord, are you planning to..."

"I'm planning to speak to the Feng Family."

"Lord Feng?" Cui Shi's expression shifted slightly. "Hasn't Grand Secretary Feng already retired?"

"Hah, this is just like you women." Wei Mingde smiled, sounding rather pleased with himself.

"Tell me, which officials who retire under ordinary circumstances are still allowed to remain in the Capital?"

Cui Shi froze for a moment, then instantly understood.

What did it mean when someone retired but remained in the Capital instead of returning to his hometown?

It meant imperial favor had not waned, that his former students and subordinates filled the court, and that people still listened when he spoke.

Wei Mingde settled back against the headboard, his gaze distant.

"Back when Father headed the Ministry of Revenue, Lord Feng headed the Ministry of Personnel.

"In those days, the saying at court was, 'Feng Half the Court, Wei One Corner.'"

Cui Shi's eyes brightened at that, then dimmed again as worry crept in.

"Then... will he still help us now?"

"Why wouldn't he?" Wei Mingde shot her a displeased look.

"The Wei Family may not be what it was when Father was alive, but we still count among the Capital's distinguished families of Pure Nobility.

"Shouzheng is gifted and intelligent. Once Qin Gong takes him under his wing as a disciple, his prospects will be boundless."

"Besides, the friendship between the Wei Family and the Feng Family wasn't built in a single day.

"At every festival and holiday, your husband has kept up the exchange of gifts without fail."

Cui Shi hastily smiled in appeasement. "Yes, yes, I was mistaken. Then will you visit the Feng residence tomorrow, husband?"

"No." Wei Mingde shook his head. "We must wait until after Shouzheng's apprenticeship ceremony."

"After the apprenticeship ceremony?"

"Exactly. Qin Gong will come in person for the apprenticeship banquet, and the Feng Family is bound to hear about it.

"If I write out a visiting card and call on them then, won't I have much firmer ground to stand on?"

"That makes sense!" Cui Shi nodded repeatedly, her smile deepening. "You really have thought of everything, husband."