Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 76

Grand Tutor Wei’s hurried visit showed his anxiety.

Since the imperial edict was issued, it was as if a giant pie had fallen from the sky before him.

If they could gain Princess Puyang’s help, the Prince of Zhao would be one step closer to the position of heir apparent, and the Wei clan would be the greatest contributor. He could almost see it: with this “pie,” the Prince of Zhao would enter the Eastern Palace, and the Wei clan would enjoy titles of nobility for generations to come!

But he had waited for many days without a visit from Wei Xiu. Not only that, but this morning, he had heard that Wei Xiu had moved to her own residence in the capital.

Grand Tutor Wei’s fervent heart instantly grew cold. Could this be an attempt to draw a clear line with the Wei clan?

If so, how could he explain this to the Prince of Zhao?

A servant led the way, and Grand Tutor Wei, maintaining his dignified bearing, followed closely behind. After passing through two gates, he saw a hall where Wei Xiu sat leisurely in her wheelchair, holding a teacup.

Grand Tutor Wei paused for a moment, then slightly quickened his pace.

The courtyard was deep and secluded, the small hall hidden behind a thicket. The green leaves had all fallen, leaving only bare branches. It did not seem desolate, but rather possessed the vast emptiness of winter.

Wei Xiu looked up, unhurriedly set down her teacup, and raised her hand in a salute. “Grand Tutor, you are a rare guest. I am unable to greet you personally; it is truly impolite.”

Grand Tutor Wei spoke rather quickly, “No need for such formalities.” He glanced around, paused for a moment, and then asked as if it were a casual question, “Where is Her Highness, Princess Puyang?”

“Her Highness has already returned to her own residence.”

Grand Tutor Wei secretly breathed a sigh of relief. With the princess absent, it would be more convenient for him to speak with Wei Xiu.

To put it plainly, once Princess Puyang’s marriage was settled, all the princes had their eyes on the political power she held. As things stood, the Prince of Zhao was in the most advantageous position. He wanted to use the Wei clan to pull Princess Puyang directly onto his side.

But Wei Xiu stood in the middle of it all. If Wei Xiu did not agree, if she continued to draw a clear line with the Wei clan, then the princess would have no connection to the Wei clan, and the Prince of Zhao’s ambitions would be dashed.

Grand Tutor Wei’s purpose in coming was to persuade Wei Xiu.

Grand Tutor Wei ascended the low couch and knelt in a formal sitting position. A servant girl immediately served tea. Grand Tutor Wei noticed that the girl serving the tea did not even cast a single stray glance; her movements were proper and her conduct appropriate, possessing the air of a great household, no less impressive than the servants in the Wei residence. He nodded inwardly.

He took a small sip before speaking, “You are a child of the Wei clan. With your wedding imminent, you do not return home, but instead establish a separate residence outside. What is the meaning of this?”

Wei Xiu looked at him, a faint smile on her lips, but did not speak. At first, Grand Tutor Wei met her gaze, but after a moment, he began to feel uneasy. He frowned and continued his earnest persuasion, “By staying away, not only will the family be ridiculed, but the princess will also be subject to criticism.”

Wei Xiu gave a faint laugh, shook her head, and asked, “Does the Grand Tutor still remember that you have an eldest son who was cast out?”

Grand Tutor Wei was stunned.

Wei Xiu continued slowly, “It has been nearly two years since I came to the capital, and I have met with the Grand Tutor many times. Yet the Grand Tutor has never once asked how that eldest son of yours died, whether he lived a satisfactory life, or where his grave might be. After I arrived in the capital, what arrangements were made for the rites after his death? Was there anyone to offer him a bowl of rice?”

Her tone was still calm, without a trace of accusation, yet it made Grand Tutor Wei’s heart clench painfully.

Wei Xiu thought of the Master Wei she had met over a decade ago. She wondered if he knew, in the netherworld, that his family held not a shred of concern for him, and if he would weep in sorrow. After a moment, hearing no question from the Grand Tutor, she looked over and saw his expression had darkened. His original gentle, persuasive, elderly demeanor had vanished, replaced by a sharp, wary stare fixed upon her.

Wei Xiu let out a soft laugh, feigning surprise. “What is the Grand Tutor doing? I am merely speaking of past events. Why does it seem as if the Grand Tutor regards me as a sworn enemy?”

A glint flashed in Grand Tutor Wei’s eyes as he said in a low voice, “In that case, you have come to the capital to seek justice for your father?” If that were so, Wei Xiu was an enemy, not a friend, and he would have to warn His Highness, the Prince of Zhao, to be wary of Princess Puyang.

Instead of gaining a powerful ally, he had made an enemy. Grand Tutor Wei felt quite resentful and frustrated, and also regretted forgetting to show concern for his eldest son. But on second thought, if Wei Xiu had truly come to seek justice for her father, it meant she held her birth father in high regard. In that case, it was not too late to offer compensation.

Grand Tutor Wei’s thoughts raced, and his expression shifted from wary to cautious.

Last time, using the Wei clan’s eyes and ears in the army, Wei Xiu had helped Princess Puyang win over several military officers from humble backgrounds. Those officers had now all been promoted, and relying on their military achievements and the backing of the princess’s residence, they had established a firm foothold in the army. Grand Tutor Wei knew all of this. Seeing her methodical steps, her deep thoughts, and her far-reaching plans, he knew she was resolute and could not be moved by words alone. She likely had her own agenda.

However, Princess Puyang’s power rivaled that of the princes. If he could make her one with the Prince of Zhao, the benefits would surely be immense. As long as Wei Xiu’s demands were not too outrageous, he could agree to them for now.

These many thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Grand Tutor Wei’s expression quickly softened, and he sighed wistfully, “It is only right that you seek justice. The family has wronged you and your father greatly. Now that you are an adult, it is perhaps too late to speak of compensation. But if you have any request, the family will certainly grant it. Just say the word.”

He was as benevolent as an old man from an ordinary family, pouring all his loving affection onto his children and grandchildren.

But Wei Xiu knew at a glance what he was plotting beneath his kind and benevolent facade, and a strange sense of sorrow welled up in her heart. She smiled faintly, her expression becoming somewhat nonchalant. She raised her teacup, took a slow sip, and then said, “I do not ask for much, only a small effort from the Grand Tutor.”

After speaking, she took a letter from her sleeve, leaned forward, and handed it to the Grand Tutor.

Grand Tutor Wei took it, and upon seeing the handwriting on the envelope, his gaze suddenly tightened. He looked up at Wei Xiu, his expression somewhat dazed. Wei Xiu remained silent, merely inclining her body slightly, gesturing for him to open it.

This was the final letter of that Master Wei.

Over a decade ago, Master Wei had passed away. When she learned of his identity and decided to come to the capital for revenge, she knew she needed a new identity, so she made some arrangements. The correspondence with Wei You was written by someone she had hired to imitate Master Wei’s handwriting. It was also in those letters that she revealed he had a son who was born with a leg ailment and could not walk. Bit by bit, she transformed herself from Zhongmeng into Wei Xiu.

This letter was the only object found on Master Wei’s person. In it, he expressed his wish to be returned to his ancestral tomb after his death.

Grand Tutor Wei scanned the letter, ten lines at a glance. His expression was sorrowful, his tone compassionate. “Time flies like a fleeting colt. After more than twenty years, any mistakes are like floating dust, scattered by the wind.”

Wei Xiu watched him, the smile on her lips revealing a hint of coldness, but she did not speak.

Grand Tutor Wei had no choice but to continue, “Your wedding is imminent, so it is not a suitable time to move a grave. How about next autumn? We will bury him in the ancestral mausoleum, allowing him to return to his roots.”

Wei Xiu had no objection and agreed.

Grand Tutor Wei breathed a sigh of relief. He had met her condition. Next, it was time to discuss when she would move into the Wei residence and how the wedding with the princess would be arranged.

Grand Tutor Wei’s expression brightened. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Wei Xiu say, “I’m afraid the Grand Tutor has misunderstood. I never agreed to return to the Wei clan.”

“You!” Grand Tutor Wei’s eyes went wide. Before he could finish, Wei Xiu added, “The Wei clan faces the calamity of extermination. To return to the Wei clan would be to walk into a dead end.”

Grand Tutor Wei stared, momentarily choked with shock. “You… what did you say?” Realizing what she had said, he sneered repeatedly. “In broad daylight, what are you saying? Have you lost your mind?”

Wei Xiu’s expression did not change. Her tone remained as calm as ever, but her words made Grand Tutor Wei break out in a cold sweat. “I have not lost my mind. But for the Grand Tutor to run errands for the Prince of Zhao—if that is not courting destruction, what is?”

The mention of the Prince of Zhao made her words seem well-founded. Grand Tutor Wei’s expression immediately became solemn. He glanced around, saw no one else present, and lowered his voice. “What is the meaning of this? Could it be that Her Highness, Princess Puyang…”

Which prince would take his rightful place in the Eastern Palace was something everyone at court wanted to know first. Princess Puyang had always been close to the Emperor, but beyond that, she had never shown any signs of closeness to any of her brothers, remaining extremely detached. Thus, there were rumors at court that if His Majesty intended to name an heir, Princess Puyang would likely be the first to hear of it.

Grand Tutor Wei had already chosen the Prince of Zhao, so he was naturally very concerned about this matter. He stared at Wei Xiu, trying to discern some clue from her expression. But Wei Xiu said nothing, lowering her head to refill her empty teacup.

Grand Tutor Wei watched her for a moment, then tentatively asked again, “If this is the princess’s intention, has she mentioned any of the princes…”

“Grand Tutor,” Wei Xiu suddenly said.

Grand Tutor Wei quickly stopped speaking and fixed his gaze on her.

“Does the Grand Tutor think the princess is a fool?”

“Of course not. The princess’s abilities are no less than a man’s.”

Wei Xiu asked again, “Then how does the Grand Tutor think His Majesty treats the princess?”

“With immense affection, second to none.”

Wei Xiu smiled, raised her teacup, and gazed at the deep green liquid within. She asked leisurely, “In that case, does the Grand Tutor know why Her Highness has not shown favor to any of the princes to this day?”

Grand Tutor Wei was silent.

“His Majesty dotes on the princess so much. Is he not afraid that after he passes away, the princess will not get along with the new monarch?” Wei Xiu asked again.

Grand Tutor Wei was drawn in by her questions and found them very reasonable. After observing for so many years, it should be clear which son was outstanding, yet His Majesty stubbornly refused to reveal anything. The princess was currently favored and living a splendid life, but if she showed no closeness now and did not support any prince, would the new monarch not hold a grudge when he ascended the throne?

Grand Tutor Wei guessed left and right but couldn’t figure it out, and he grew somewhat anxious. “You might as well speak plainly. What are the princess’s intentions?”

“When the time comes, you will naturally know. If the Grand Tutor is afraid, simply follow the princess’s lead.” After saying this, Wei Xiu said no more.

When Grand Tutor Wei asked again, she would not utter another word.

Further questions yielded nothing. Grand Tutor Wei’s mind was filled with her words that running errands for the Prince of Zhao was courting destruction. He also thought that by having her father’s tomb moved to the ancestral mausoleum, she was reconciling with the family. Afterward, if anything untoward happened to the Wei clan, she would not be able to escape involvement. Even for her own sake, she would not intentionally make things difficult for the family, so what she said could not be false.

Grand Tutor Wei thought it over and over and decided to return to his residence to discuss it with his sons and nephews.

Seeing him take his leave, Wei Xiu did not try to keep him, only bowing slightly in a gesture of farewell.

As Grand Tutor Wei walked past her, he suddenly stopped. His voice was as faint as if from beyond the heavens. “How did he die?”

Wei Xiu lowered her gaze and said softly, “He starved to death.”

Grand Tutor Wei looked up at the gloomy sky outside the hall, said nothing more, and walked away.

Wei Xiu watched him walk away. When she turned back, she saw the letter lying on the table, not taken with him. She wheeled herself over, picked it up, refolded it along the creases, put it back in the envelope, held it before her eyes for a moment, and then placed it in the nearby brazier.

The charcoal fire met the paper, and a rush of flames flared up, consuming the letter.

A Rong had entered at some point. She said softly, “Even if moved to the Wei clan’s mausoleum, Master Wei might not receive the worship of future generations. It would be better for him to remain in the resting place you chose for him, Sir. At least during the holidays, someone will pay respects and sweep his grave.”

“The wishes of the deceased cannot be ignored. This arrangement may not be the best, but it is what he wanted most,” Wei Xiu said slowly.

She had acted using his identity; now, by fulfilling his last wish, she considered it repaid. It was a pity that she had carefully preserved this letter for over a decade, only for it to be uncherished in the end.

A Rong was also silent for a moment. Seeing the somewhat somber atmosphere in the hall, she smiled and said, “I’m afraid Grand Tutor Wei could rack his brains and still not figure out the key to it all.”

Wei Xiu smiled as well. Everyone thought that Her Highness would ultimately be the first to know the choice for Crown Prince and would be on good terms with the Eastern Palace. Who could have imagined that Her Highness never intended to choose a prince to support? What she wanted was to take that seat for herself.

A Rong cleared away the cups. Just as she was about to withdraw, Wei Xiu suddenly said, “I ordered Yan Huan to investigate the advisors around Xiao Dewen. Are there any results yet?”

A Rong replied respectfully, “Yes, there are.”

Wei Xiu seemed somewhat lost in thought.

That dream was truly vivid. Many days had passed, yet it had not faded in the slightest. On the contrary, it was as if every event and detail in the dream had been real.

Her doubts grew daily. Finding it extremely strange, an idea took root: to investigate the events of the dream and see how much of it was true.

She had never looked into Xiao Dewen’s advisors, but in the dream, she knew each of them clearly—not just their names, but their appearances as well. So, she decided to start her investigation from there.

“Sir?” A Rong called out when she received no response from Wei Xiu for a long time.

Wei Xiu returned to her senses and nodded slightly. “Have him come see me.”