Shangjing.
The white silk decorations of Duke Shun Mansion have not been removed.
Though it is a sunny day, there is a desolate air everywhere.
The servants in the main courtyard are trembling with fear, not daring to make a noise.
The Duchess Shun lying on the couch, her body turned to the wall, has grown significantly thinner, and the bruised marks on her neck are glaring.
The person speaking is the sister-in-law from Duchess Shun’s maternal family.
"Mother-in-law has cried over Gui Zhi’s affairs repeatedly, and right now, her biggest worry is you."
"We’re still hiding the matter from you, fearing it would sadden the elderly lady. When she heard I was coming today, she wanted to co along. However, she’s aged, her body isn’t as strong as before, and in your current state, it wouldn’t be good for her to see you. Both your brother and I persuaded her ti and again."
Duchess Shun does not respond.
She was the legitimate daughter of Marquis Ning who dazzled the Capital, dignified and skilled, adhering strictly to her principles, admired and envied by outsiders all her life.
Although her engagent had been broken once, she never beca the subject of ridicule.
She turned her life around with great prosperity, marrying into Duke Shun Mansion after the late Emperor’s bestownt and the Wei Family’s proposal.
A year later, she gave birth to Wei Zhao.
Her husband was exceptionally talented and treated her with utmost care, maintaining her honor through marriage by neither taking concubines nor setting up secondary wives.
Her son excelled as well. From Imperial College to the military camp, every step he took was swift and steady.
Which woman in Shangjing City could boast of such good fortune as hers?
Yet now, she resembles a withered flower.
Desolate and hopeless.
Sister-in-law: "You must not entertain such dark thoughts again. The vast Duke Shun Mansion still needs you to support it."
Duchess Shun remains silent.
The woman, seeing she had not been heard, was at a loss and had to quietly exit the room.
Outside, a stern-faced middle-aged man, who had been waiting a long ti, asked in a low voice as she approached.
"How did the persuasion go?"
The woman could no longer hold it in, shook her head, wiped her tears with a handkerchief, her voice tinged with sobs: "Don’t you know your sister’s temperant? She’s stuck in a dead end. How could anyone persuade her? Gui Zhi... he was the most promising child in our family. Even I, as an aunt, can’t sleep through the night with worry, let alone her, his mother."
Inside, Duchess Shun didn’t feel like speaking, even breathing was painful.
Yesterday, she dreamt of Duke Shun, and he still appeared in his youthful form.
In white clothes, his features as elegant as carved jade.
It was ironic. This was the first ti Wei Fengxing appeared in her dreams since his death. Her normally kind-eyed husband looked at her with a particularly distant gaze.
He said.
"Why didn’t you take care of Gui Zhi?"
"Suxuan, can you honestly say you’ve been a good mother?"
Was she?
Probably not.
She had overly high expectations for Wei Zhao.
Strict in every aspect.
While other mothers would eagerly wait at the doorstep when their children returned from school.
—Are you hungry? Mother had the kitchen prepare your favorite snacks, have so first.
But as for her.
She valued rules and deanor above all.
From the very beginning of Wei Zhao’s education, she would wait in the room for the servant to bring him over to pay respects.
She would only ask.
—How did you perform at school today? Did you note down what the teacher taught? Mother will check later.
At that ti, young Wei Zhao was just a little bundle, still unsteady in his steps, yet he could bow to her and pay respects.
Then... still with a child’s nature.
He would approach her.
Softly calling.
"Mother."
He spoke very softly, very softly.
"Xiao Huaian cried and wanted to go ho the mont he got there today. His parents took him back and even requested a ten-day leave."
"I..."
He cautiously observed his mother’s expression.
"I don’t want to go either."
Duchess Shun only said two words: "You cannot."
Receiving the answer, young Wei Zhao’s eyes dimd, tears shimring in his eyes, he sniffed.
"Gui Zhi understands."
Later, at eight years old, Wei Zhao transferred from the academy to Imperial College.
When Duchess Shun caught a cold, Wei Zhao stood by the couch to attend to her.
"Not going to Imperial College?"
Wei Zhao: "I want to stay with Mother."
Duchess Shun’s voice was particularly hoarse.
"Don’t be lazy, I have maids and servants here, why should you stay?"
Duke Shun had just entered with dicine and upon hearing this, he began to feel a headache.
"The child is being filial and caring towards you, what’s wrong with that?"
"Study is important, but it doesn’t matter if it’s one or two days. Even if he misses a month, he will still top the monthly exam."
"I’ve already granted him leave, soone has inford the teacher."
Duchess Shun, however, looked at Wei Zhao.
"Gui Zhi, at your age, you should know what to do and what not to do without telling you."
And then?
Afterwards, this son started drifting further from her.
In every way, he excelled, making it impossible for others to find fault with him.
Once, Duchess Shun ca out of a restaurant and saw a group of students from Imperial College.
Several people, wearing student uniforms, were chatting and laughing.
Duchess Shun imdiately spotted Wei Zhao in the crowd.
She couldn’t help but feel nostalgic at how quickly ti had passed, without realizing it he had grown as tall as his father.
Wei Zhao’s expression was cool, his deanor exuded nobility and composure.
At that mont, beside Duchess Shun was the Marchioness Zhongyong, Xiao Huaian’s mother.
Marchioness Zhongyong: "It must be the Feng Shui of the Wei Family. Which of their offspring is lacking?"
"Look at Gui Zhi, his deanor, his grace."
"Even you. Everything went smoothly after you married in, with no trouble hanging over, everyone around you knew when to show concern, you looked invigorated."
Over there, the students had also seen them.
Duchess Shun watched as Wei Zhao’s smile faded sowhat when he saw her.
"Mother!"
Xiao Huaian ran over to Marchioness Zhongyong with big steps.
"You’ve just eaten at the restaurant?"
"That’s perfect then."
Xiao Huaian turned around, waving his hand broadly.
"Enjoy your al everyone, my mother is paying today."
"You brat!"
Marchioness Zhongyong said in mock irritation: "Where’s your monthly allowance?"
"I spent it."
"Oh, and I still owe Wei Zhao three hundred taels, Mother please pay it back for too."
"Why does he manage his money well enough to lend you?"
Xiao Huaian: "He is quite boring, apart from buying books, he usually doesn’t spend much. How can he be like ?"
Wei Zhao walked the slowest.
Unlike Xiao Huaian, he did not co close to take his mother’s hand but stopped three steps away from Duchess Shun, completely out of place.
He gave a courteous bow.
"Mother."
Duchess Shun, satisfied, said: "Yes."
Then...
Mother and son exchanged no more words.
Duchess Shun didn’t think it was unusual, nor did Wei Zhao.
Until the students entered the restaurant.
She and Marchioness Zhongyong boarded the carriage one after the other.
Marchioness Zhongyong found it odd.
"Why do you seem unfamiliar with each other?"
Duchess Shun remained gracefully seated, her emotions unreadable. She only asked: "What expectations do you have for Huaian?"
Marchioness Zhongyong: "Expectations? I simply hope he doesn’t cause trouble."
She subdued her smile a little: "My marquis holds power in his hands, just like your Wei Family, he is also wary of the emperor. I don’t hope for him to achieve great fa, I only wish for Huaian to live a stable life, even if... even if he remains diocre, it’s fine."
Rembering these past events, Duchess Shun remained silent but tears welled at the corners of her eyes, dampening the pillow.
So things, perhaps from the start, have determined their outco.
But Gui Zhi... he never had a choice.
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