The next day, news came from Le Yiyuan that Wei Zhenghong wanted to see his daughter.
Because Wei Changying knew that Wei Zhenghong had summoned Shen Zangfeng the day before, he couldn't help but feel a little worried at this moment: "How is your father today? If he is tired, can I go and pay my respects tomorrow?"
Lu Han, who came to invite her, smiled and said: "Please don't worry, Miss. Youdao is that people are in high spirits during happy events, not to mention that Miss is about to have a good life now. After seeing my uncle yesterday, the old man said: My uncle was so full of praise that he not only stayed for lunch until dinner, he also ate half a bowl of bijian porridge."
When Wei Changying heard the words "good life", he couldn't help but blush with embarrassment. Hearing Lu Han's report that Wei Zhenghong was very satisfied with Shen Zangfeng, he became even more blushing and said angrily: "Lu Bojing bullies others by talking about his father's spirit." If it’s good, then it’s done, why bother talking about what’s available and what’s not!”
Lu Han, Lu Yuan and others have all served Wei Zhenghong for many years. For Wei Zhenghong, they even stayed unmarried all their lives and spent all their efforts on taking care of the eldest son of the Wei family who was born with insufficient wealth. Mrs. Song even said in her early years that Wei Zhenghong was able to live to this day because he met his wife, daughter and parents from time to time, firstly because of Ji's miraculous medical skills, and secondly because these people were really considerate in their service.
Therefore, their status is very unusual among old servants, and the guards chief Ying and his sister also address them as uncles to show their respect for their dedicated care of their father.
Lu Han can be said to have watched Wei Changying grow up. He is older than Wei Zhenghong, so although he is a male servant, he can directly enter the backyard. At this moment, he said with a smile: "I always accompany the eldest master. When the eldest lady goes to Leyi Courtyard, I don't dare to disturb the eldest lady to accompany the eldest master. I can only take advantage of this opportunity to ask for help." Only by doing this job can I congratulate the eldest lady."
"What are you talking about, Lu Bo! What are you talking about? I'm going to see my father!" Wei Changying looked embarrassed, jumped up, stamped her feet, and ran out angrily - after all, she also knew Le Yiyuan.
Mr. He hurriedly called for others to follow, but Mr. Huang joked with Lu Han: "Miss, I have been teased everywhere these past two days, and I don't want Brother Han to get involved."
"Our eldest lady is being generous and looks angry. She just heard that the eldest man is in good spirits and is anxious to see him." Lu Han said with a smile, "I heard that you are back, Miss Huang, two days ago. I will wait for you." The old man didn’t even have time to come and see me. More than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. Looking back on the past, it’s really..."
"Isn't that right?" Huang smiled slightly and said, "Fortunately, the eldest master is fine now?"
"I've been taking the prescription given by Divine Doctor Ji, and I usually use medicinal food... I can still rest and recover, but I'm just tired. I can't be disturbed if I don't keep my spirits up." Lu Han sighed.
Mrs. Huang also sighed: "I have been in the imperial capital these years, and I have been visiting Ji Shenji's door during the New Year. I have also learned a few tricks. I will take advantage of the eldest lady and the eldest master to talk to you later."
"That's great." Lu Han said with a smile on his face, "I'll have to write it down with pen and ink later!"
The two of them fell a few steps behind and talked about old times. The leader of the guard, Ying, quickly arrived at Leyi Courtyard. This time, Wei Zhenghong was not waiting in the court, and the yard was quiet. Two old servants were guarding her in the corridor. They didn't say anything when they saw her. They just gave her a kind smile and bowed slightly.
Wei Changying understood, stepped lightly, waved his hand to them to show that they didn't have to be polite, and walked into the house.
After entering the door, you can see under the west window that the newly-pasted green window screen after the beginning of spring is green and gleaming, contrasting with a bottle of newly picked peach blossoms and pink clouds beside the mica-embedded soft couch.
The weather was getting hotter by this time, but the soft mica couch was still covered with thick mattresses. Wei Zhenghong leaned on a hidden bag, half embracing the brocade quilt. He was holding half a volume of book in his hand, but he seemed to have no energy to read it. He closed his eyes and only put a few pages of the book on the quilt. The knuckles holding the book were clear and slender, but they were pale.
Perhaps it was because he was asleep, but although his expression was calm and relaxed, the pain between his brows was extremely obvious. Moon-white background with beads, flowers and trees, deer pattern brocade double-breasted wide-sleeved robe loosely draped over shoulders - Wei Changying remembered that this brocade robe was newly made this year, but it was only half a month since he last came to see his father. Scenery, it looks like this robe is actually a bit wider...
It can be seen that Wei Zhenghong's life has not been easy in the past half month. He is prone to illness in spring, not to mention that Wei Zhenghong is weak... Wei Changying felt sad.
Wei Zhenghong's body is so weak, of course he cannot be alone in the house. Now the person guarding him is not a servant, but Mrs. Song herself sitting by the couch, holding Wei Zhenghong's hand that is not holding a book, as if He was keeping himself warm, but his eyes were confused as he looked at the mandala with plum green branches and vases not far away.
Although the couple was lying and sitting in silence, at this moment, they revealed an indescribable tranquility.
It seems that it is a sin to disturb someone.
Seeing this scene, Wei Changying quickly held his breath and concentrated, quietly retreated and waited in the corridor.
Wei Zhenghong was pretending to be asleep, but he had been suffering from illness for many years and his five senses were not as sharp as ordinary people. However, Mrs. Song was thinking about something and was out of her mind. Because of Wei Changying's martial arts training, when he noticed, his steps were lighter than ordinary people. The couple didn't notice their daughter coming in and leaving. About half an hour later, through the window screen, I heard Zheng Hong, the guard inside, ask Mrs. Song out of breath: "Is Chang Ying still in the future?"
"I'll go take a look..." Mrs. Song responded.
"Father, I'm here." Wei Changying hurriedly agreed through the window screen, and Mrs. Song scolded: "You are here, why don't you come in! Your father is too tired to ask!"
Wei Changying straightened his skirt and walked through the door, where he saw Mrs. Song helping Wei Zhenghong to sit up. She hurriedly went to help, and was ordered by Mrs. Song to go into the inner room to get some hidden bags and put them behind Wei Zhenghong to make him sit more comfortably.
After Wei Zhenghong sat down, his face turned pale again. He turned his face sideways, put his fist to his lips and coughed. Wei Changying was startled, Mrs. Song's eyes showed pain, and she hurriedly shouted to the door: "Lu An!"
The old servant who was guarding the corridor came in. Without asking any questions, he walked quickly to a long table aside. There were several porcelain bottles high and low. He chose one of them and poured a black pill into the tea bowl. He grabbed a silver pot next to him, poured hot water into it, took a silver spoon to dissolve the pills, and then brought them to the bedside.
Mrs. Song took it and fed Wei Zhenghong carefully.
After drinking half the bowl, Wei Zhenghong waved his hand and motioned to take it away. Mrs. Song sighed and advised, "How about some more?"
"I feel unhappy after drinking too much of this medicine." Wei Zhenghong said briefly, but he said he didn't want to drink anymore.
Mrs. Song had no choice but to hand the bowl to Lu An. Lu An cleaned it up and left again.
Although he only drank half a bowl, the prescription left by Ji Qubing was indeed effective. After Wei Zhenghong rinsed his mouth, his face softened and his coughing stopped. He smiled and asked his daughter to come forward and talk.
As Wei Zhang Ying approached, Wei Zheng Hongzi looked at her carefully and said with some sadness: "How many years have passed in the blink of an eye. My son has grown up and is now going to leave the court."
Wei Changying was tired of hearing these words these days, but hearing this rare biological father say it, he still couldn't help but feel sour in his heart. Mrs. Song didn't want her frail and sick husband to feel sad, so she smiled and said: "Girls will marry when they grow up. If she can marry into a good family, we are relieved for her... You met the Shen family yesterday. How is the child? I didn't have time to ask."
Wei Zhenghong smiled calmly and said: "He is a good boy."
After hearing his comments, Mrs. Song and Wei Changying were overjoyed. Wei Changying hid it and said calmly: "As long as he honors his father and mother, I..."
"Nonsense! Of course the most important thing is to treat you well!" Wei Zhenghong and Mrs. Song said in unison, "If we don't treat you well, what does it mean to be filial and respectful to us? Aren't we no longer filial?"
Wei Zhenghong smiled and stopped his wife to teach his daughter, and said kindly: "If he treats you well, he will naturally respect us. Do you need to say this?"
Wei Changying stuck out his tongue and said with a smile: "That's what father taught me."
"As a father, I think that child is a person with ideas and a humble temperament." Wei Zhenghong didn't know that his daughter's reputation was once ruined and she was almost renounced by the Shen family. Although he had a good impression of Shen Zangfeng, considering that his daughter was Marrying far away, he was not at ease after all, and reminded, "However, this is just in front of his elders. You have to think about how he treats you in private... I heard that your grandmother gave the Huang family to you? The Huang family has a smart temperament, and you have to think about it... You can ask for advice, but don’t be scornful because you are a servant.”
As usual, before leaving the court, parents will lecture their daughters in front of many guests. But Wei Zhenghong was weak and sick and could not bear to be disturbed. Even if they wanted to see their daughter's wedding again, neither Mrs. Song nor Mrs. Song would agree, so they could only summon her daughter in private to give her instructions before she left the palace.
Guard Chief Ying stood up solemnly and said, "Yes."
"Being a wife is different from being a girl. You can no longer be indulgent and willful. You must be respectful and prudent, be filial to your aunt, and be friendly to your brothers and sisters."
"yes!"
"The husband is the guide for his wife. From now on, you should obey your husband and help her with all your heart. You should not stir up trouble and make the family uneasy."
"yes!"
"If our aunt shows favoritism, we should be considerate and not angry; if our sister-in-law has something to say, we can ask her in private and don't make any grudges over it."
"yes!"
"Be careful with your words and deeds. Don't spread family affairs to outsiders. Don't let outside gossips come in! Whatever you say or do, remember not to taint the tradition of my Wei family!"
"yes!"
Speaking of this, an abnormal blush flashed across Wei Zhenghong's face, and Mrs. Song hurriedly said: "It's almost done. Our daughter has always been obedient and we all know this."
Wei Changying went to pour a cup of hot tea and served his father to drink a few sips. Wei Zhenghong smiled and said: "These are girls who come out of the palace, and parents must warn them... I guess your grandmother and mother I have said it repeatedly." The conversation suddenly changed, and there was a hint of sharpness in his pale face. He said lightly, "It's just that our Wei family's family status is not inferior to that of Xiliang's Shen family. You are fulfilling your duty as a woman. If... the Shen family betrays you, don't be too tolerant, just ask someone to come back and tell them, and the family will seek justice for you... "
Wei Changying finally shed tears and choked with sobs: "Yes!"
"When my daughter gets older, it is inevitable that she will leave the court." Wei Zhenghong looked at her with gentle eyes and said with a smile, "It just depends on who you promise. After all, you are the child of your father and your mother. When encountering difficulties, don't forget Send people back to tell your father and mother. Even if your father and mother are no longer here, there will still be Changfeng. You are brothers and sisters and you should support each other..."
Hearing this, even Mrs. Song began to sob.
Although Wei Zhenghong's expression remained calm, he sighed slightly. He took his wife's hand with one hand and stroked the top of his daughter's hair with the other. Wei Changying could feel his father's palms, which were broad, dry, and weak, and even a little cool because of his illness.
The palm was so weak that she could easily break it. But when he caressed the top of her head, it made her feel at ease for no reason.
Like a young bird caged under its wings, it feels indescribably safe and peaceful, and feels fearless even in the face of the entire world. (To be continued)