February sixteenth. The sky had just cleared after the snow.
A boy just over fifteen entered through the east corner gate of the Wei Residence, dressed in a padded robe and walking with a brisk stride.
He was Cui Fu, Cui Shi's half brother, born to a concubine.
As a concubine's son, he was unwelcome in the Cui Family, so he often came to his sister's place to skim a little cream.
He had received word the day before yesterday that Cui Shi had something for him to do, so he had hurried over first thing in the morning.
In the main courtyard, Wei Mingde had gone to work at the Ministry of Works, leaving Cui Shi there playing with two-year-old Wei Shoucheng.
The little fellow sat on the heated bed, clutching a piece of osmanthus cake and eating until his face was covered in crumbs.
"Sister." Cui Fu entered with a smile plastered on his face, though his eyes kept straying toward the pastries on the table.
Cui Shi glanced at him without offering him a seat or any pastries, merely saying coolly,
"Did you understand the message I had someone bring you?"
"I understood." Cui Fu nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, Sister. He's just a little brat who's never been outside. I can twist him around my finger."
"As long as you know what you're doing." Cui Shi lowered her voice. "But whatever you do, don't cause any serious trouble. My husband values his 'reputation.' A little taste will suffice."
"Don't worry, Sister!" Cui Fu thumped his chest in assurance. "I know every Gambling House in the Capital inside out!"
"I'll take him to play a few rounds. I guarantee he'll beg me to take him again next time!"
"Too bad he's still so young. Otherwise, I could take him straight to the brothels and have Xiuniang..."
"Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting, you ignorant little thug?!" Cui Shi hurriedly covered her own son's ears. "My son is right here!"
Seeing her expression, Cui Fu hastily slapped his own mouth. "I was talking nonsense."
At that, Cui Shi could not be bothered to say anything more to this concubine-born brother of hers.
She simply took three taels of silver from her sleeve and set them on the table. "Get out."
Cui Fu's eyes lit up. He took the silver, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and withdrew.
Once outside the main courtyard, Cui Fu hefted the silver in his hand, delighted.
Three whole taels of silver! How much did he even get as his monthly allowance at home?
He could do with a few more cushy jobs like this.
With that thought, he headed toward the side courtyard, calculating along the way how to complete his task with the least effort.
Wei Nisheng's rooms in the side courtyard were tucked into the westernmost corner of the Wei Residence, where few people ever came.
Before long, Cui Fu turned into a narrow passage and was about to enter the courtyard.
Then he spotted a figure nearby, furtively peering in the same direction.
It was a boy about his own age, wearing a gray padded jacket, his shoulders hunched as he craned his neck toward the side courtyard's entrance.
As someone who often came to the Wei Residence to sponge off his sister, Cui Fu naturally knew who he was.
Wang Rong, a House-Born Servant of the Wei Family, whose mother was Wei Shouzheng's wet nurse.
He liked loitering near Wei Nisheng's side courtyard, ostensibly to "deliver things for the eldest young master."
In truth, he came to skim off supplies intended for the side courtyard and find out just how miserable Wei Nisheng's life was.
Then he would report back to Wei Shouzheng, who was busy with his studies, to win his favor.
He also hoped to use Wei Shouzheng, the Wei Family's future head, to escape his status as a hereditary slave.
Seeing Wang Rong's behavior, Cui Fu shook his head without giving it much thought, went straight to the Side Courtyard's gate, and knocked.
The gate soon opened.
Wei Nisheng stood in the doorway in a blue-green padded winter jacket, his features refined, with Wei An behind him.
Seeing Wei Nisheng for the first time, Cui Fu instinctively froze for a moment.
This little brat really is good-looking.
Too bad he isn't my own nephew, so he can't blame me for this.
Coming back to himself, Cui Fu immediately put on a smile. "Second Young Master, I'm Cui Fu. My sister sent me to take you out for a stroll."
Wei Nisheng glanced at him without saying a word and stepped outside.
A concubine's son, and a pawn sent by Cui Shi at that-he had no need to be pleasant to him.
Cui Fu did not think much of it either. After all, the Cui Family and the Wei family were of different standing.
Besides, he was a concubine's son. The one who truly struck him as troublesome was Wei An.
This old codger is coming too? Looks like I'll have to get rid of him once we're outside.
Soon, the three left the side courtyard, ready to head out.
But they ran straight into Wang Rong, who was carrying a food box.
The moment Wang Rong saw Wei Nisheng, he put on a smile that never reached his eyes.
"Well, well, has the Second Young Master finally decided to venture outside?"
Wei Nisheng only wanted to leave and had no interest in engaging with him, so he turned sideways to pass.
But Wang Rong took that as an invitation to push further, stepping forward again to block his path.
He even raised his voice deliberately so that several passing servants could hear.
"Second Young Master, why run around outside in this freezing weather? If you cause trouble, kneeling in the ancestral hall in this cold won't be pleasant."
"Get lost." Wei Nisheng gave him an icy look.
Wang Rong paid no heed, however, and even continued with a smile.
"What? You like kneeling in the ancestral hall? Well, you do have a fate tough enough to outlive everyone around you. Kneel a little more and drive away that ill fortune. It'll be good for all of us."
Hearing that, several servants stopped and covered their mouths as they laughed.
Cui Fu stood to one side with his arms folded, ready to enjoy the show.
With an audience egging him on, Wang Rong grew even more enthusiastic.
"I say, Second Young Master, what are you even living for? You brought death to your mother and grandmother. Just seeing you annoys the master."
"If you had any self-awareness, you'd hurry up and..."
Suddenly.
Smack!
A resounding slap struck Wang Rong hard across the face.
Caught completely off guard, Wang Rong staggered two steps and fell to the ground.
The food box overturned, spilling soup all over the ground and splashing his face and clothes, leaving him a sorry sight.
Dead silence fell.
Cui Fu, who had been watching the show, widened his eyes and instinctively retreated several steps.
Th-this is the jinx my sister said hadn't left home in ten years and let everyone bully him?!
Wei Nisheng remained where he stood, right in front of Wang Rong.
He looked down at him from above, his gaze as cold as ice.
"I told you to get lost. Are you deaf?"
Wang Rong held his face, stunned for a moment.
Half his face burned with pain. A ten-year-old child had slapped him to the ground in front of so many people-he had lost every shred of dignity!
"You little bastard! You dare hit me?!"
He struggled to get up, his face twisted with rage, and reached out to grab Wei Nisheng.
Just then, a figure rushed in from the side, passing Cui Fu and moving faster than Wang Rong.
Smack!
Another slap, even harder than the first, knocked Wang Rong straight back down.
Wei An stood in front of Wei Nisheng, his aged body ramrod straight, his clouded old eyes brimming with ferocity.
Normally, he stooped and hunched like an unremarkable piece of old timber. Now, he stood like a wall before Wei Nisheng.
"You old codger! You dare act just like this little bastard..." Wang Rong held his face and glared at Wei An, about to lash out again.
At that moment, a sharp rebuke rang out.
"Wang Rong, you hereditary slave! What did you just say?"
Wei Nisheng stepped out from behind Wei An and stood before Wang Rong again.
"I am of the Wei Family's legitimate line."
"My birth mother's spirit tablet is enshrined in the Wei Family's ancestral hall."
"You're nothing but a hereditary slave bound by a Death Contract. Your mother merely nursed my elder brother a few times."
"Here in the Wei Residence, you don't even count as a proper servant."
"In the past, when you skimmed a few things from my share, I turned a blind eye because I was young."
"But what gives you the right to insult me to my face?"
Wang Rong held his face, his complexion shifting between pale and ashen.
He wanted to argue, but every word Wei Nisheng said was justified.
However low Wei Nisheng's standing might be, he was still the Wei Family's legitimate second young master.
However arrogant Wang Rong might be, he was merely a hereditary slave bound to the Wei Family by a Death Contract.
With no one mentioning it in ordinary times, he had forgotten.
This unwanted child, loathed by the entire family, could legally beat him to death without facing any punishment!
And then there were the things he had just said in his fury...
At that thought, Wang Rong swallowed and dared not raise his hand again.
He could only scramble up, point at Wei Nisheng, and throw out a threat. "Y-you just wait! The eldest young master won't let you get away with this!"
Having delivered his threat, he fled, stumbling and scrambling.
He trampled through the spilled soup, making an utter mess, and even abandoned the food box.
The watching servants did not dare breathe loudly. They lowered their heads, pretended they had seen nothing, and quietly dispersed.
Besides, rumors had recently been circulating through the residence that the mistress, Cui Shi, was kneeling in the ancestral hall every noon because of the second young master.
No one knew whether that was true, but today's slap suddenly made the rumors seem credible.
Before you continue