Chapter Text
The atmosphere was rather stilted as they waited for Lady Xu's maid to put down the teapot and cups and withdraw. Lady Xu was smiling fondly at Wei Yan, occasionally patting his hand grasped in hers. Wei Shao, on the other side of the table, was gazing at him with his habitually stern expression. Wei Yan smiled back at his grandmother, still doubtful about his decision to stay in Yujun. He meant to leave once he made his bow to her as the new Lord of Bianzhou, but he couldn't say no to her entreaties. She might be welcoming the new Bianzhou Lord, but more importantly, she was welcoming home Shiyuan, her beloved grandson.
Pouring tea for both Wei Yan and Wei Shao, she chided, "You can't leave without telling us how the succession happened; I'd like to know everything."
"It went as well as can be expected," Wei Yan picked up his cup, "Surprising how eager they were about having a new Lord with ties to the clan who won the war," he remarked drily. "I also have the bright idea to dismantle Lady Yulou's tower of gold for the treasury's additional source. That really made my popularity soar…"
"I can't believe you planned to just leave again after seeing Grandmother," Wei Shao suddenly griped, frowning.
"Well, I'm staying, am I not," Wei Yan huffed aggrievedly into his tea, but he halted from sipping his tea when Wei Shao continued.
"I haven't thanked you for keeping our home safe," he told Wei Yan, a smile peeking on his lips and transforming his coldly handsome face into something sweet. Wei Yan didn't miss Wei Shao's emphasis on 'our'. Eyes suddenly stinging, he put down his teacup carefully. He could spout whatever he wanted about him no longer a Wei but a Chen; in the end, his cousin never stopped believing where Wei Yan belonged.
He was saved from having to reply when Lady Qiao swept in with Little Feifei in her arms.
"My apologies for being tardy, she was a little restless," she said, smiling at Lady Xu and the two men standing up to greet her. Wei Yan chuckled at the bright eyes watching him from the bundles; he'd seen her once, but time had made little Feifei plumper and more adorable. Wei Shao was extending his arms for his daughter when Xiao Qiao offered to Wei Yan instead, "Would you like to hold her?"
Wei Yan glanced at Wei Shao's crestfallen face and went pfft. He shook his head, "Maybe later, when she is less fragile. I don't think Zhonglin trusts me to hold her," he quipped, making Wei Shao glare and everybody else laugh.
"He didn't even let me hold her for long," Lady Xu playfully lamented.
"Well, she is getting heavier; you might get tired," Wei Shao reasoned while sitting carefully, making googly eyes at his precious daughter in his arms. Xiao Qiao and Lady Xu just exchanged knowing looks. Wei Yan produced a jingling pouch from his sleeve, putting it on the table and looking at Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao.
"I have a belated present for Feifei, if…" he said tentatively, "It's acceptable." Wei Shao stared at Wei Yan and then the pouch, but before he could say anything, Xiao Qiao took it and opened it.
"Of course, we will accept it," Xiao Qiao said, smiling at Wei Yan, "How could we refuse a thoughtful gesture from family?" She said the last part while giving her husband a side-eye. Wei Shao broke into an acquiescing smile as he gazed at his wife.
"Of course, my Lady, we couldn't," he conceded, "And, as I promised before, I'll not break them this time," he added playfully, cheeks dimpling, making Xiao Qiao beam at him.
Wei Yan felt a bit awestruck. In the short time he was gone, the level of trust and intimacy between the couple in front of him seemed to have reached another level. With Feifei between them, they made such a perfect picture of a family. Wei Yan examined his own heart. Envy… it was still there. He always wanted that happiness, that sense of belonging. But the pain… seemed to have lessened?
"Is this for Feifei as well?" He woke up from his daze with a question from his grandmother. She and Xiao Qiao were ooh-aahing over the bracelet, bangles, and earrings Wei Yan got from Bianzhou's quite renowned goldsmiths. The style was elegant, not too ornate yet still dainty. What Lady Xu was holding up, though, was a perfectly round, polished jade in a simple gold setting, fashioned into a tassel of gold silk.
"Ah, that's meant for A Ci, actually," Wei Yan remarked. He saw it when choosing gifts for Fei-fei, and, somehow being reminded of Qiao Ci, bought it in a spur purchase.
"For my brother?" Xiao Qiao asked in wonder.
"We owe him a lot," Lady Xu sighed, passing the tassel for Xiao Qiao to see. Wei Shao nodded, his face pensive. Admiring the tassel in her hand, Xiao Qiao also nodded gently.
"It does suit him," she smiled, "It looks… warm."
"How is he? And your family?" Wei Yan asked carefully.
"They left for Boya not long ago to… lay to rest my eldest cousin, at the place she was the happiest," Xiao Qiao answered, eyes blurring as she remembered Da Qiao and her horrible fate. She tried so hard to protect her beloveds from killing and fighting, yet she was inevitably, cruelly dragged into the war. So many innocents died in the war against Liangya, but Xiao Qiao's heart still bled over Da Qiao's sacrifice; so tragic, yet so brave. Wei Shao rubbed her hand consolingly.
"A Ci has really been a pillar of strength. He was so patient, so steady. I don't know how our family could get through this without him," Xiao Qiao pondered, "It was like he grew mature in the blink of an eye…"
"He bends but does not break," Wei Yan assented, thinking about that teary but determined pale face with an ache in his heart. Another death added, another loss to face. So much to shoulder in such a short time, but Wei Yan was glad to hear that Qiao Ci rose to the occasion. He never doubted Qiao Ci would. "He is much stronger than any of us thought he was."
"It's just like what the proverb says, isn't it?" Lady Xu observed calmly, "A person can become truly outstanding in the face of adversity."
Wei Yan raised his eyes to meet his Grandmother's, and he found so much love and pride in them that he felt like bawling as if he were a little boy all over again. Blinking his teary eyes, he avoided looking at Lady Xu only to get caught in Wei Shao's smiling eyes.
"Who'd have thought you'd be the Lord of Bianzhou, eh, Cousin?" Wei Shao drawled. The words are mocking, but the tone was so full of approval that Wei Yan laughed. He couldn't help mocking back, though, to the annoyance of Wei Shao and the delight of the ladies.
"And who'd have thought you'd be such a doting father, eh, Lord of Wei?"