Chapter 18: Which Son Shines at the Banquet?

After the apprenticeship ceremony, the guests took their seats. Several rounds of wine warmed the room. Qin Yan sat in the place of honor, his face slightly flushed after a few cups, in excellent spirits.

Suddenly he remembered something. Setting down his cup, he turned to Wei Mingde. “Mingde, where is your second son? The spirited ten-year-old?”

Mingde’s heart jumped; his smile stiffened for an instant. He hadn’t expected Qin to ask for Nisheng now. “Master Qin, he… he’s in the side courtyard. I’ll send for him at once.”

Qin waved a hand. “No need. I can go and see him myself. His Majesty praised him yesterday, and I want to see for myself what sort of person this spirited ten-year-old is!”

He actually started to rise. Mingde hurried to stop him. “Master Qin, you’re our principal guest. How could we trouble you? I’ll send someone to invite him.”

Shouzheng, seated below Qin, listened with displeasure. That wretch again! This was his apprenticeship banquet, yet his teacher could think only of seeing Nisheng.

Lady Cui rose and approached Qin with a smile. “Master Qin, you don’t know. Nisheng had a fright yesterday and developed a slight fever after he returned. I visited him this morning; he was still in bed, saying he felt dizzy, so I told him to rest.”

She sighed as though distressed. “He’s only ten. It was his first time seeing blood; it’s natural he should be frightened.”

“Quite so.” Qin nodded in understanding. “A child of ten, killing for the first time, would indeed be shaken. Let him rest. There will be time to meet another day.”

He sat down again. Mingde breathed easier and raised his cup. “Thank you for your consideration, Master Qin. Allow me to offer you a toast!” Shouzheng also relaxed.

The guests were about to resume drinking when a stir arose at the entrance.

“Elder Brother, I’m late!”

Everyone turned. Light dimmed at the doorway as a figure approached against it. When he entered the hall, candlelight gradually illuminated his face, and the banquet fell abruptly silent.

A boy in moon-white brocade stood before them, his skin fair, his features like a painting, his posture straight as pine and cypress. Wei Nisheng lifted his eyes and calmly surveyed the guests, neither servile nor arrogant.

“What a fine son of a noble house! It’s like seeing the elegance of the Wei and Jin!” Qin’s eyes lit up. As a scholar of moral philosophy, he prized rites and bearing. To him, a person’s appearance and conduct revealed inner character. This handsome, poised child looked every bit a virtuous boy who honored his father, respected his mother and loved his brother.

Shouzheng stared at a face a hundred times more handsome than his own. Jealousy coiled around his heart like a venomous snake. Why had Nisheng come? This was his apprenticeship banquet, his day of triumph!

Nisheng smiled faintly and walked to the center of the hall. First he bowed to Qin in the principal seat. “Wei Nisheng, second son of the Wei family, greets Master Qin.”

He had never studied under Qin and could not call himself his pupil.

He turned to Mingde and Lady Cui. “Father. Mother.” Finally he nodded to Shouzheng. “Elder Brother.”

His manners were faultless. Qin nodded repeatedly. “Good, good! Mingde, you’ve brought up your second son very well!”

Mingde smiled awkwardly, unsure what to say. Nisheng straightened and addressed Lady Cui calmly.

“At the door just now, I heard Mother say I was ill. Thank you for your concern. I was only a little shaken yesterday. After a night’s rest, I’m quite well.”

He paused and looked around at the guests. “Besides, honored guests have come to the Wei residence today for my brother’s apprenticeship ceremony. As a son of the family, how could I miss it over a minor indisposition?”

He had explained that he wasn’t ill while showing respect for his brother. He gave the Wei family every courtesy and appeared both considerate and well mannered. The guests nodded, their regard for him growing. Lady Cui’s smile froze, and Shouzheng went paler.

Only Qin looked more and more pleased. He beckoned. “Child, come here and let me have a good look at you.”

Nisheng came forward and stood before him with quiet composure. Qin took his hand and examined him from head to foot, then turned to Mingde.

“Your second son is handsome and courteous. It’s truly like seeing a young nobleman of the Wei and Jin!”

He smiled at Shouzheng. “You have a fine younger brother! An elder brother teaches his younger, so you must set him a good example.”

Shouzheng forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. “Y-yes… Teacher is right.”

For the rest of the banquet, Qin scarcely spoke to Shouzheng, keeping Nisheng beside him and asking question after question.

“What have you read?”

“I’m reading the Analects and a mathematical classic.”

“A mathematical classic? Why that?”

“I think the examinations may value poetry and rhapsody, but governing a country requires managing money and grain. My grandfather once headed the Ministry of Revenue. This student would not dare disgrace his name.”

Qin’s eyes grew brighter. “Good! Ambitious, and perceptive! Worthy of Lord Wenduan’s grandson!”

Shouzheng sat beside them, unable to get a word in. He lowered his head to drink tea, his nails nearly digging into his flesh. Mingde watched Qin’s fondness for the wretch with mixed feelings. But there was nothing to be done. Among the third generation of the Wei family, Nisheng was indeed the best-looking. He brought the family honor.

The more Qin looked at Nisheng, the more he liked him. With the ordinary-looking Shouzheng sitting beside them, a thought suddenly occurred to him.

Had he chosen the wrong disciple?