Changying The Lady

Wei Changying was silent for a long time before she said, “I just don"t like it.”

“But it"s not up to you.” If it were normal times, Madam Song would never say such cruel words. But now she must say it. If she didn"t break the usual way of thinking of her daughter and just let her meet Shen Zhou, Wei Changying might be able to be perfunctory. But if she let her marry into the Shen Family with such an idea, it would be harmful to her. Madam Song endured her heartache and said indifferently, “You only see the majesty and insistency in her decision that even your grandfather has to yield to her today. But you did not see your grandmother"s forbearance and filial piety in front of your great-grandmother. And the times your grandmother wept privately holding the swaddling clothes left by your uncles. Moreover, you did not see the frustration and the sadness of your grandmother when your cousin Changyun and Changsui were born but the eldest branch still had no children. Additionally, you did not see the heartbreaking moment of your grandmother when she invited Ji Qubing home with the last glimmer of hope but was surprised to know that he could have cured your father if it was a few years early!”

Although they were talking about a major event related to herself, the name of Ji Qubing had been mentioned again and again so that Wei Changying"s attention wandered, “Ji Qubing? Who is he?”

“…He is the eldest grandson of Ji Ying, who was the head of the Royal Hospital.” Madam Song was silent for a moment before she faintly said, “The Ji Family has practiced medicine from generation to generation. Although it can"t be compared with families like ours, it has been famous for a hundred years in the capital. Ji Ying was very skillful in medicine. When he was alive, we always asked him to come to be the doctor. It was just that the conflicts between the abandoned imperial concubine Mrs. Huo and the Imperial n.o.ble Consort Mrs. Deng involved the sudden death of the six Princes of Mrs. Deng. And Ji Ying was carried along in this. Not only he was ordered to suicide in the palace, but also his wife, daughter, and grandchildren. At that time, Ji Qubing was only 11. Thinking of the affection of Ji Ying, several families spoke out to save him from being drawn into the disaster that implicated the family at such a young age. But the Ji Family was afraid of Mrs. Deng"s power and dared not adopt him. Ji Qubing had no choice but to wander in the city and struggle to grow up.”

Although Mrs. Deng of the Rong City could not compare with the Shen, Wei these six aristocratic families it can also be regarded as a Huayu cla.s.s and an aristocratic family. It was by no means the Ji Family, which had been practicing medicine for generations, could compare with.

Wei Changying was surprised and said, “Since Ji Qubing was in the capital, why did we invite him late at that time?” She heard that Wei Zhenghong was late in inviting the Doctor Ji so that she thought that Ji Qubing must live in such a remote place or simply had no fixed abode to cause such a tragedy. However….

Before she finished speaking, she saw a change in Madam Song"s facial expression! It was obvious that this was Madam Song"s pain point. Madam Song restrained herself for a while before she said burdensomely, “There are Scholars, farmers, workers, and businessmen. Doctors belong to the category of workers. Because of the Ji Family"s excellent medical skills, they were not regarded as ordinary worker families by aristocratic families. Yet, their status is not high after all. But even so, such families also have their own rules. And the most common of which is that the skills of the family are pa.s.sed on to males and the elders but not to females or to the youngsters! Although Ji Qubing is a male and the eldest grandson that according to the rules, Ji Ying would definitely teach him all the most crucial skills. But Ji Qubing was only 11 years old when the Ji Ying"s misfortune happened. How much could he learn even if Ji Ying did teach him?”

Madam Song raised her head slightly, closed her eyes and said with a wry smile, “Who would have thought that when it comes to the talent of medical treatment, Ji Qubing was the first place throughout the history and among the so many generations of the Ji Family? Ji Ying didn"t have much time to teach him anything when he was alive. However, with Ji Ying"s handbooks of medical practice which were hidden when his house was searched and possessions confiscated, who would know that Ji Qubing was able to learn by himself and become a great doctor? He was eleven years old who was left living among the commoners and penniless. Although the Deng Family did not continue to bother him to show respect to our families, there was no one who dared to help him. It was lucky for Ji Qubing to prevent from suffering exiling because of our families" help. And naturally, we didn"t think too much about him afterwards. Because he lived a poor life, he started to use the name of his grandfather as the signboard to practice medical treatments. Although the century-old Ji Family put Ji Ying"s medical skills in the first place when he was alive, Ji Ying had already pa.s.sed away. Therefore, to prevent from infuriating Mrs. Deng again due to Ji Qubing"s practicing of medical treatment as well as to extort the medical handbooks from Ji Ying"s branch, the Ji Family interfered Ji Qubing"s medical practice a lot. Our family also believed what the Ji Family said, thinking that Ji Qubing was just too poor to use the name of the Ji Family to mendaciously practice medicine….”

“The reputation of Ji Qubing was spread among the commoners. In particular, a common family also had a congenitally deficient daughter. After months of recuperation from Ji Qubing, she not only recovered but also married and had children. However, this news took more than a year to spread to our family. At that time, your father was already….” Madam Song said bitterly, “There was really nothing we could do about it so that your grandmother decided to invite him to come and have a look of your father. Anyway…there was no shortage of consultation money in our family! Unexpectedly, he sighed as soon as he saw your father. The reason for this sigh was asked out by your grandmother by all means afterwards. He said that if it was a few years or even two or three years earlier, he would have the ways to cure your father! It wasn"t until seven years after Ji Qubing started to practice medicine that our family invited him. So… it"s too late!”

Wei Changying could not help but stun on the spot. Although she did not experience such great despair as Old Madam Song and Madam Song that they went through hope to great regret, she also felt a kind of coldness in her heart when she heard this. Two or three years, it was only two or three years late. The father, who had been lived in Leyi Yard for a long time so that she could only meet him once or twice a month and had always suffered from illness but had a marvelous demeanor, originally could have a chance to fully recover?

However….

The stereotype of the gentlefolk and the obstruction of the Ji Family made him miss this opportunity.

It had been seven years since Ji Qibing came out to practice medicine and before he came to treat Wei Zhenghong at the Wei Family! In the first five years, it was not true that the Wei Family did not hire other doctors, including the Ji Family doctors. However, they neglected the great doctor Ji Qubing, who had great talent but was affected by the struggles between imperial concubines and was abandoned by the family so that he had to put down the pride as a member of the Ji Family and wander among the commoners.

Like Old Madam Song and Madam Song, the enormous unwillingness almost immediately filled with Wei Changying"s heart when she learned about the past!

“Under no circ.u.mstances can this matter be talked about in front of your grandmother, ok?” Madam Song felt some regret when she saw her daughter like this. She said softly, “Your grandmother had a serious illness when she heard the news. She almost…. Luckily, she was saved by Ji Qubing who was at the scene. When she heard that although your father could not be fully recovered, it was not totally hopeless, your grandmother came back to shape! But she couldn"t hear anyone talking about the three words ‘Ji Qubing" as well as the Ji Family anymore!”

Wei Changying said solemnly, “I know what to do and what not to do.”

Even she, as a youngster, who did not personally experience this great despair or go through the transition from having hope to despair, was troubled by this, not to mention the Old Madam Song, who was old and gave birth to Wei Zhenghong.

…It was the only son that Old Madam Song had to live to adulthood.

However, because of the prejudice and the rumors, all son"s life was messed up as well as Wei Changying and Wei Changfeng"s. If Wei Zhenghong had been treated for illness two or three years earlier by Ji Qubing and had been fully recovered, the eldest branch might have had more than two heirs now. Wei Zhenghong might also take concubines, but Wei Chengfeng would also do not have to bear such a pressure nowadays.

Because of Wei Zhenghong"s demeanor and the status as the eldest son, he behoved to inherit Wei Huan"s position and possessions. However, because Wei Zhenghong could not recover, the responsibility and pressure of revitalizing the eldest branch were on Wei Changfeng"s shoulder now!

It was more than that. Now Wei Changying was about to get married. However, she was also facing the situation that she would have no father"s protection but to only count on the future success of the younger brother!

Although this could not be blamed on Old Madam Song, as a mother and grandmother, it was impossible for Old Madam Song not to blame herself for everything! Therefore, over the years, Old Madam Song had loved and connived her own granddaughter and grandson exceptionally. It was not only because of her heartfelt love for the hard-won heirs but also because of the intention to make up for the guilt of missing her eldest son"s chance to be fully recovered and the grandchildren losing of protections from their father.

Thus, it could be seen how much did Old Madam Song take this matter to her heart. She cared so much that Wei Changying wondered whether it was really because it was inappropriate for grandfather to leave Fengzhou so that he resigned and returned to his hometown, or whether it was because grandmother could no longer stay in the capital so that she would not hear people talking about Ji Qubing or the Ji Family?

However, in the deep courtyard, who would come up to her and talk about the things that Old Madam Song did not want to hear? Or maybe this was not the matter that she did not want to hear about?

When Wei Changying was thinking randomly, Madam Song settled her mind and took the topic back, “The village women who live in the mountains don"t have to worry about their husbands taking concubines, because commoners are not qualified to have concubines! Moreover, it is already difficult for these families to have enough food and clothing, how can they have any spare money to feed extra people? But some of them degenerate into doing business and gain some money. Even if they don"t take concubines, how couldn"t they buy a few beautiful maidservants to ‘serve" aside?”

“… I see.” Wei Changying sighed and said gloomily.

Her perfunctory could not be hidden from Madam Song so that Madam Song was not willing to pause the topic, “You don"t understand! As the saying goes, able men are always busy. Since you are living a life of higher status with rich food and clothing, you will have this kind of trouble! The things you are worried about now, even if your grandmother and I solve them for you before you get married, we can"t protect you forever! From now on, you have to learn to solve them on your own! And it was not only you, but also your children in the future. When you become a mother yourself, at least half of your children"s future fortunes will count on you. What kind of mother are you going to be? Will you be like your grandmother, like me, who can protect you, or be like your third aunt who can only endure the heartache when seeing Changyan upset by Changxian?”

Madam Song took her daughter"s hand and said, “When you get married, you will be an adult! It"s time to put away children"s tricks!”

Wei Chang"s facial expression changed several times. After a while, she bit her hips and said, “Yes.”

She lowered her eyelids and whispered, “But I"m not married yet.”

“Even if you are married, as long as mother is still alive, you will always be my daughter.” How could Madam Song not understand the feeling of not wanting to grow up? But she had to go on and said, “But your husband"s family won"t think so. So why do I ask Zaishui to instruct you even if everyone knows that when Shen Zhou comes over this time, you only need to pay a visit at most and talk a bit? This is because the Shen Family regards you as the bride and not only the bride. Since Shen Cangfeng has been internally designated as the next Family Head, what the Shen family asks of you now is the future Family Mother of the Shen Family! So on any trivial occasion, you have to show the ability to hold this position!”

Madam Song sighed and said, “And there is another reason I ask Zaishui to teach you. She doesn"t love to play with Gaochan and Changyan. So I don"t want her to think too much alone in the Mingse House if you have to be away to learn the disciplines.”

Wei Changying asked sensitively, “Mother, what did uncle say?”

“You don"t have to worry about this matter and don"t ask more about it.” Madam Song knew that her niece Song Zaishui was shrewd and meticulous, and Wei Changying had a good relationship with this cousin. If Wei Changying knew the news that Song Zaitian was visiting with Shen Zhou, it would be a minor matter. However, it would be bad if Song Zaishui coaxed Wei Changying to help her do something that shouldn"t be done. The Wei Family didn"t want to be accused of helping the future Crown Princess escape marriage.

Although Song Zaishui was the lineal niece of Madam Song, her niece could not be compared with her own child.

No matter how much Madam Song felt sorry for Song Zaishui, she would never disregard the future of her family and the future of her children to help Song Zaishui escape from the marriage without Song Yuw.a.n.g coming forward to dissolve the marriage.

So she immediately cooled her voice and said, “Zaishui hasn"t mentioned traveling around ever since she came to Fengzhou, but now she suddenly wants to travel…. You have to pay attention and not to let her do anything stupid which will not only harm herself but also our family!”

Wei Changying looked at her suspiciously and paused for a while before saying, “Since Mother is worried about Cousin, why do you agree to let Cousin to go out?” In fact, when she came over, she speculated that Madam Song would not agree with the plan. After all, the change of att.i.tude of Song Zaishui was too sudden, and Shen Zhou was about to visit…. At this time, Wei Changying should stay at home and practice the demeanors to prepare to see Shen Zhou. It was inconvenient for her to go out, and there was no suitable person to accompany Song Zaishui. How could Madam Song let Song Zaishui take some people out and play alone?

This was the reason for ready-made refusal and also the least likely to cause trouble.

However, Madam Song said faintly, “Our family can no longer help her with her matter. Such a major event in life, no matter how reasonable Zaishui is, she still can"t help but to be disappointed with our family under such despair. Now if we do not allow her out for the fear of causing troubles, this should not be the actions done by the relatives and would also make her hate us. Why will we do so then? Besides, what she said is also true. At that time, the Wei Family made a promise with the Empress to marry out Zaishui after she turned 15. Now it has been dragging on for three years. I am afraid she will marry into the Eastern Palace as soon as she returns to the capital. If she wants to travel in the future…. How can it be so easy?”

“Now she can do whatever she wants, as long as it"s not something our family can"t afford.” Madam Song said wistfully, “As an aunt, I can only indulge her so little after all.”

Wei Changying did not respond. Whether as an aunt or a mother, Madam Song was only able to indulge her niece and daughter before they left the family.

After marrying out, they would belong to other families.