Chapter 10: Wang Rong Twists the Story

On the seventeenth day of the second month, a day considered favorable for sacrifices, Wei Shouzheng sat bent over his desk in a side room of the main courtyard. His brow was furrowed and his brush had hung in the air for some time without producing a single character.

His assignment was an essay on the three things a gentleman holds in awe. He had to support his argument with the classics and make it coherent. After struggling all afternoon, he was irritable and distracted, with several sheets of paper crumpled beside him and nothing to his satisfaction.

The door opened softly. Wang Rong came in with a tea tray, head lowered, and quietly refilled his cup.

Shouzheng looked up. Already in a foul mood, he asked casually, “Did you go to the side courtyard again today?”

“Young Master, I… I…” Wang Rong lowered his head and stumbled over the words.

“Speak up. What’s all this mumbling?” Shouzheng snapped.

Wang Rong turned his face as though by accident. Five distinct finger marks showed on one cheek.

Shouzheng stopped. “What happened to your face?”

At once Wang Rong dropped to his knees, his voice thick with tears. “Young Master, you must stand up for me!

“Yesterday I went to the side courtyard to see how the… the second young master was getting on, so I could come back and entertain you. But as soon as he saw me, he cursed me. He said, ‘What are you? How dare you show your face before me?’

“I thought, he’s my master, so I endured it. But then he slapped me! I was about to explain when that old slave Wei An slapped me too!”

Shouzheng frowned. “Wei Nisheng dared hit one of my people?”

“More than that! I told him I belonged to you, but the second young master said… said…”

“What?”

“He said, ‘Even if my elder brother were here, I’d still beat you to death!’ And he said…”

“What else?”

“He said you only had the title of eldest legitimate son. When it came down to it, he was a legitimate son too, and neither of you was beneath the other!”

Shouzheng slammed the table and stood. “Fine! Neither of us beneath the other, is that it?”

His assignment had already put him in a bad temper; this poured oil on the fire. “I knew it! I could tell in the ancestral hall that day he wouldn’t behave. He’s barely younger than me, and he’s been harboring bad intentions all along! An ill-starred thing who kills his own kin dares challenge me?”

Still kneeling, Wang Rong was delighted inside, though his face remained aggrieved. “It doesn’t matter if I suffer a little, Young Master. But for him to speak of you like that, I couldn’t…”

The study attendant poked his head in. “Young Master, the master has returned from his office.”

Shouzheng’s eyes lit up. “Perfect timing! Say no more. I’ll ask Father to settle this.”

He kicked his chair aside and strode out.

……

In the main hall of the Wei residence, Wei Mingde sat in the principal seat, newly returned from his duties and still wearing his crimson, round-collared official robe.

Great Zhou’s official colors followed the Song: purple for the third rank and above, crimson for the sixth and above, blue-green for the ninth and above. Mingde had never passed the highest examination. He owed his regular sixth-rank post to his grandfather Wei Zheng’s influence, and the emperor, remembering old ties, had specially granted him equivalent graduate status. Otherwise he would not have been entitled to wear crimson.

He was rubbing his brow. Lady Cui sat beside him with two-year-old Shoucheng in her arms. The sleepy child lay curled against her, eyes half closed. She was in excellent spirits. Cui Fu had returned yesterday and reported that Nisheng was following her plan step by step.

She offered Mingde tea. “You’ve worked hard, husband. Was the Ministry of Works busy today?”

He accepted the cup and sighed. “The usual construction duties. No profit in them, and endless trouble.”

“Never mind,” she said soothingly. “Once Shouzheng’s apprenticeship banquet is over and you’ve paid Lord Feng a visit, you’ll have a bright future ahead.”

Footsteps sounded outside. Shouzheng stormed in, followed by Wang Rong with his eyes respectfully lowered.

“Father! Mother!”

Mingde frowned. “Why aren’t you in your study at this hour?”

Shouzheng bowed, then pointed to Wang Rong. “Father, I’ve come to ask you to make things right!”

“Make what right?”

“Tell him yourself,” Shouzheng ordered.

Wang Rong dropped to his knees. “Master, I serve the eldest young master. Yesterday, on his orders, I went to the side courtyard to bring the second young master some things…”

Mingde waited without interrupting.

“As soon as the second young master saw me, he had that old slave Wei An strike me. I thought, the second young master is my master after all; if he hits me, I must bear it.” Mingde glanced at him but said nothing.

“But what the second young master said afterward was…” Wang Rong paused and stole a look at Shouzheng.

“Speak!” Shouzheng said coldly. “Tell him exactly!”

“He said, ‘Even if the eldest young master were here, I’d still beat you to death! What is he? He only has the title of eldest legitimate son. When it comes down to it, I’m a legitimate son too, and neither of us is beneath the other!’”

Mingde’s brows drew together. He had kept silent because striking a servant was no great matter. But Wang Rong’s next words, especially “neither of us is beneath the other,” struck a nerve. Did the wretch want to compete for the position?

Seeing a chance for a show, Lady Cui had the wet nurse take Shoucheng away. “Husband, Nisheng usually seems so well behaved. Could there have been a misunderstanding? And Shouzheng, don’t be too angry. Nisheng is your younger brother; he’s young and doesn’t know better…”

“Mother, don’t speak for him!” Shouzheng broke in. “He’s older now, and he has other ambitions!”

Lady Cui shook her head and said no more, looking helpless.

Shouzheng took a breath and addressed his father with a suitably aggrieved but composed expression. “Father, I didn’t want to trouble you with something so small. But in a few days it will be my apprenticeship banquet, and Master Qin himself will come here. If he hears that a Wei son casually humiliates servants, speaks wildly and refuses to respect the distinction between elder and younger, he might think our family is badly governed. His impression of me…”

He left the sentence unfinished, but his meaning was clear. Mingde’s face darkened. Qin Yan, vice director of the Imperial Academy, was a great scholar and a respected upright official. Mingde had called in countless favors and put in enormous effort to persuade him to accept Shouzheng. With the banquet so near, nothing could be allowed to go wrong.

He set down his cup. “Someone come.”

Two servants entered.

“Go to the side courtyard and bring that wretch here under guard. Immediately!”

They left to obey. Wang Rong kept his head low, laughing to himself, while Shouzheng straightened, unable to hide his satisfaction.

……

At the side courtyard, Nisheng sat reading while Wei An put things in order. Neither spoke, but the room was peaceful.

Then hurried footsteps sounded outside, along with a shout: “This way! Quickly!”

Wei An’s face changed. He put down what he was holding and moved in front of the door. Nisheng looked up as it was pushed open and two servants barged in.

They offered no greeting. “Second Young Master, the master wants you. Come with us.” Their tone was stiff and disrespectful.

Wei An stepped forward. “What kind of manner is that?”

One servant sneered. “Old man, spare us. The master is angry and ordered us to bring him under guard. Be sensible, or we’ll use force.”

Wei An was about to speak again, but Nisheng slowly put down his book and stood.

“It’s all right, Uncle Wei. Father only wants me to come over.”

Wei An opened his mouth, then said nothing and moved aside. Nisheng straightened his clothes and walked out. The servants followed on either side, escorting him like a prisoner.