Having heard that Wei Changying"s future uncle-in-law was about to arrive in Fengzhou, Madam Song was stunned and she immediately put down everything she was doing. She rushed to Xianshuang Court and stopped her daughter, who was just about to practice martial arts. Madam Song said, "We"ve won the war at the north of the province, and the imperial edict from the Royal Court, which is aimed to praise us, will soon arrive in Fengzhou! The person who will announce the imperial edict is Shen Zhou! So hurry up, put away your stuff and learn how to be a proper lady! If you make me lose face in front of him, I"ll beat you!"
Because Wei Changying was engaged to the Shen Family since she was a baby, she knew something about the members in the Shen Family, including Shen Zhou. Having heard what Madam Song had said, her face turned pale and said, "Why him?!"
"Now it"s time to count down to your wedding day, so even if the members of the Shen Family don"t come today, they will come in a month or two. They won"t come directly on your wedding day and pick you up without informing us beforehand." Madam Song said as she glanced her daughter, "Do you think Shen Family and Wei Family are those kinds of small families that you can get married easily after going to the Shen Family only by a bridal sedan chair?"
"I would rather get married like that. Look at those overelaborate formalities!" sighed Wei Changying. Hearing this, Madam Song became angry immediately and hit Wei Changying on her forehead. She then said furiously, "You only get married once in a lifetime! Many people hate themselves for not being born in a distinguished family, resulting in having a poor and simple wedding. What about you? So you are now complaining about the formalities?! A woman who has been verified several times and communicated through several match-makers, has the most complicated wedding process. Those who have the most simple weddings are concubines who can never enter their husbands" family, would you like to become one of them?!"
Wei Changying immediately put up a smile on her face and held Madam Song"s arm. She then said in a sweet voice, "I am thinking, since you are the Head Mother now, the more complicated my wedding is, the more exhausted you will be. I care about you! So it"s better to have a simpler wedding. After all, you have already been exhausted by managing the whole family, how could I add pressure on you for my own sake?"
Hearing this, Madam Song"s face brightened. She looked at her daughter so tenderly that her eyes could almost melt one"s heart. She spoke so softly as if she had been comforting a baby. "My daughter!" she said, "After hearing what you"ve just said, I am willing to exhaust to death!"
As soon as Wei Changying was about to blame her for saying such words, Madam Song continued and said, "Since you care for me, how could I not plan for you? Firstly, based on your status, it"s inevitable for you to attend many ceremonies. Secondly, the status of Shen Family is as same as Wei Family, so both of Shen Cangfeng"s sisters-in-law had a grand wedding. Since their families of origin are as distinguished as yours, if we had a simple wedding, those in the capital would think that you were not beloved! Therefore, we cannot simplify the process!"
Wei Changying smiled and nodded as she listened. But at the same time, she was screaming in her mind, "I know that the wedding ceremony of the Shen Family will be complicated. But I thought that since the wedding day is in April, I can have an idle life before the Chinese New Year.... However, the victory at the north of the province caused the coming imperial edict. And among so many emissaries, why did the Royal Court choose the Shen Family? According to my mother"s characteristics, I"m afraid she will urge me to practice being a virtuous lady from today...."
What Wei Changying had thought became true. Madam Song was moved by her daughter"s sugared words, so she determined to teach her to become as adorable as possible before Shen Zhou arrived. Although even Old Madam Song didn"t know what kind of girl Shen Cangfeng would prefer, it was Shen Zhou but not Shen Cangfeng who was coming to Fengzhou this time, and a good way to please an elder was to be virtuous.
Especially the gentlefolk who came from a family that was as distinguished as the Wei Family....
In fact, although Wei Changying had been practicing martial arts for years, she had already learned the manners as a daughter in a distinguished family. These manners were the foundations and symbols of the children from n.o.ble families. Those lineal children who were being most highly thought of had to behave more strictly. Therefore, whether they liked it or not, they had to learn those manners.
However, she was not interested in those, so she was far from what Madam Song had required—being outstanding even among a crowd of people from n.o.ble families.
Wei Changying went to Old Madam Song"s place and cried for her hardship. Although Old Madam Song thought that it was a bit hilarious, she had her plan. She told Madam Song, who was about to take Wei Changying to practice her n.o.ble deportment, about her plan. "Changying"s behavior is not away from a n.o.ble style," Old Madam Song said, "but being outstanding cannot be reached in a day or two...."
If Wei Zhenghong hadn"t been ill, he could have cultivated his children personally, and Wei Changying would have had nothing to worry about.
Old Madam Song compressed her sadness and continued, "Now the key problem is Changying"s style of speech while talking with Shen Zhou, but I think we needn"t worry about this either.... Now we have lots of work to do, so let Zaishui teach her how to speak. Zaishui, who doesn"t like her? If Changying can learn anything from her, the gentlefolks won"t complain about Changying."
Madam Song immediately understood what Old Madam Song meant—Song Zaitian would also come to Fengzhou with Shen Zhou. He was coming to take his sister Song Zaishui back to the capital, but no one had told Song Zaishui yet.
One reason that they didn"t tell her was that they knew Song Zaishui was extremely reluctant to marry into the royal family, but her father and brother insisted, so the Wei Family couldn"t help her. If she knew it, she would feel upset, so it was better to leave her unaware so that she could remain happy in the rest of the days in Fengzhou. The other was that Song Zaishui was a calculating person, so she might do something if she was stung.... Before Song Zaitian"s arrival, if anything happened to Song Zaishui, the Wei Family was to be blamed. Therefore, they decided not to tell her beforehand, and let the brother and sister fight.... After all, Song Zaitian would shoulder the responsibility.
But Song Zaishui"s second elder brother Song Zaijiang had always disagreed about Song Zaishui marrying into the Eastern Palace. Therefore, since Song Yuw.a.n.g had ordered his eldest son to come to Fengzhou, he would keep an eye on Song Zaijiang. However, accidents might happen—what if Song Zaijiang found a way to tell Song Zaishui about this?
Facing such a sensitive and smart guest, the Wei Family felt hard to spy on her without making her suspicious. Therefore, they decided to let Wei Changying learn from Song Zaishui, so that Wei Changying could benefit from her teaching, and they could keep an eye on her at the same time.
Although Song Zaishui was a year elder than Wei Changying, she had been cultivated as a motherly model of the nation. All she had learned was aimed to lead the emperor"s harem, so she was qualified enough to teach Wei Changying.
Madam Song sighed and said, "What a pity! Zaishui"s brother is not in Fengzhou, and I can"t go to the capital. Or else, I will persuade her brother...."
"He is now possessed," Old Madam Song said, "so it"s no use doing anything even if you persuade him face to face."
Madam Song knew what her granduncle—Old Madam Song"s father—had done. Now Song Mianhe, the daughter of his concubine was still setting herself against Old Madam Song, and even Old Madam Song"s daughter had gone into trouble because of him.... Although Old Madam Song wouldn"t scold and beat Madam Song as she did to Wei Huan, Madam Song knew that she should stop talking about the playboys in the Song Family who had always caused their children into trouble. Before leaving, Madam Song said, "I"ll go and ask Zaishui to teach Changying."
... Song Zaishui, the kind, virtuous girl who was regarded by the elders as the model for the ladies under heaven, agreed to her aunt"s request. She promised that she would teach Wei Changying everything she knew, and would let Shen Zhou praise highly of Changying.
Madam Song had no confidence towards her daughter, but she had confidence towards her niece. After hearing Song Zaishui"s words, she left with satisfaction.
Soon after Madam Song went away, Wei Changying jumped out behind the screen, with her heart still fluttering with fear. She patted her chest and said, "That was close. Thank goodness she didn"t hear what we were saying."
"Madam Song is a virtuous lady, do you think that everyone breaks into rooms like you do?" Song Zaishui sneered as she said. As soon as she saw Wei Changying, her dignified and virtuous manners disappeared. After all these months, she had understood that it was no use telling her cousin Wei Changying about reasons and rules.
Wei Changying, a girl who was proficient in utilizing others" love for her, was good at availing herself of every opportunity. She wouldn"t be stimulated by several words or became obedient for someone"s sake.
Therefore, if she wanted to let her cousin listen to her.... Song Zaishui, who already had painful lessons, deeply understood that the quickest way was to let go of her dignity, ident.i.ty, and sentiment in front of Wei Changying....
Therefore, the future Empress Song Zaishui made a vitriolic expression which was used to deal with the imperial concubines. She squinted at Wei Changying and sneered as she said, "My poor aunt! She is the Head Mother so she is very busy. Unfortunately, she has a mischievous daughter! She even visits me personally to ask me to train your postures and manners..., but she doesn"t know that you came to visit me beforehand and asked me to teach you how to escape from the training! I wonder what my aunt did in her previous existence that she now has such a child like you!"
These words were extremely harsh. If the listener was Song Zaishui herself, she would become angry before the words were finished. However, Wei Changying didn"t even blink her eyes. She earnestly corrected, "Cousin, your words are wrong! Since I was a child, my grandmother and mother have always said that they had prayed every day for having children, and that Changfeng and I were born because they had moved the G.o.d! If they had sinned in their previous existence..., Changfeng and I wouldn"t have even appeared."
"..." Song Zaishui took a deep breath and said, "Well, I don"t want to talk to such an unfilial girl. I...."
"Cousin, you are wrong again!" Wei Changying said sadly, "Why did you say I"m unfilial? My mother has said that she will be happy as long as I am happy! These days all those I have learned are rules, rules, and rules! I am almost dying! How can I be happy? If I"m not happy, how can my mother be happy? So I come to ask you how to escape from the training, and it"s for my mother"s sake!"
Song Zaishui couldn"t believe that her cousin was so shameless!!!
Poor Song Zaishui was stunned for a few moments before she said, "You mean, you are a filial daughter?"
"Of course!" said Wei Changying. She was not feeling ashamed at all. She then confidently said, "Since my mother loves me so much, I have to consider for her! If I"m not filial, who will take care of her? So I...."
Song Zaishui covered her chest with one hand and stared at Wei Changying. After a while, she decisively grabbed Wei Changying"s ear with her fingers, and gnashed her teeth as she said, "I know you will not say anything good!! You...you feel happy to p.i.s.s me off, right? You"ll feel uncomfortable if you say good words, right?! You! I am so regretful that I don"t practice martial arts! I have to learn how to use an awl. Or else, I can"t give vent to my anger without beating you for three or five thousand times!"