Ah Mi
I have not yet completed my postpartum recovery and cannot leave the delivery chamber. All updates on Wei Jue's side have been relayed to me by Ah Yuan.
Wei Jue was taking a short rest in his chamber. At this moment, Guo Furen took Wei Zhi to the courtyard to play. When Wei Jue heard the laughter of the children, his mood brightened, and he went out to see. However, as soon as he reached the corridor, he suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground. The servanys hurriedly helped him up, but by this time, he could no longer speak clearly, and half of his body was paralyzed.
"I heard from the attendants serving by Chengxiang's side that his mouth is now crooked, and he can't speak clearly anymore. Furen also knows that Chengxiang has always been fiercely determined. When the attendants don't understand what he's saying, he gets angry and starts scolding. Even Guo Furen can't calm him down," Ah Yuan said.
I nodded, my thoughts racing in my mind.
Wei Jue's stroke and partial paralysis struck like a thunderbolt, carrying profound implications for both the Wei family and the court. The biggest question now is, since Wei Jue iso incapacitated, who will take charge - Wei Tan or Wei Zhao?
I gazed at the tightly closed window, the candlelight casting shadows on the pristine paper, creating elusive silhouettes. Beyond this wall, there must be many others harboring the same thoughts as I, right? Wei Tan…
"Goo..." A faint sound reached my ears. I lowered my gaze, and Ah Guai was nursing, her eyes gazing at me in a daze.
I watched her, and suddenly, a strange sense of reassurance and calm settled within me. I looked at her and couldn't help but smile, gently patting her back.
Wei Tan arrived very late. There was a hint of weariness on his face, but upon seeing Ah Guai awake, his spirits lifted.
"Awake?" He leaned in, looking at Ah Guai.
"En," I said. Wei Tan either came too early or too late. Most of the time, Ah Guai was fast asleep, and Wei Tan couldn't even play with her.
Ah Guai also looked at him, her tiny mouth slightly open, and her sparse eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if she was wondering who this person was.
Wei Tan chuckled and said gently, "Come, let Fuqin have a look if you've grown today." With that, he reached out and lifted her up.
Ah Guai was tiny, while Wei Tan was tall and sturdy. He had to cradle her with his arms carefully, making sure to support her delicate frame.
Every time I saw this scene, I couldn't help but find it funny, and a smile spread across my face.
"Fujun, sit down," I said.
Wei Tan nodded and sat down beside me.
"She's staring at me. Why?" Wei Tan asked, puzzled.
I glanced at Ah Guai and teased, "Ah Guai doesn't often see Fujun, so of course, she's staring."
"But she's also staring at you," Wei Tan immediately remarked. "If Furen doesn't believe, try holding her."
I scolded him with a glance and pushed away the hand he extended towards me.
Wei Tan grinned mischievously, gazing at Ah Guai. After a moment, he sighed and said, "She really looks just like me."
"Like me," I said.
"Like me," Wei Tan smiled contentedly. "Her nose, eyes, and face are all mine."
I couldn't be bothered to engage in this conversation. Before the birth, he used to sweet-talk me daily, saying, "Furen is beautiful, our child will definitely look like Furen." But after Ah Guai was born, every time he saw her, he'd sigh and say, "She really looks like me." I'd argue back, and he'd keep insisting, coming up with all sorts of ridiculous arguments, acting like a child.
Wei Tan seemed to notice my disdain and leaned in with a smile, whispering, "She resembles me quite a bit. Furen's beauty, no one can compare."
There was no sincerity in his words. I smirked and retaliated by pinching his nose. Both of his hands were occupied with Ah Guai, so he couldn't evade nor counterattack. He gritted his teeth and frowned.
I laughed happily.
Actually, I quite enjoy seeing him like this. Holding Ah Guai, he behaves and speaks just like a child, so simple and different from his usual self.
Ah Guai seemed to not understand what us adults were doing. After a while, she yawned and closed her eyes in Wei Tan's arms.
"Fujun, let her go to sleep," I said.
Following my suggestion, Wei Tan carefully stood up and placed her on the small bed. He watched her for a moment before returning to sit down.
The two of us faced each other. Wei Tan gently stroked my hair, then leaned down, burying his face in my neck.
Ah Yuan and the maids had already left. In the room, besides Ah Guai, it was just him and me. Since giving birth, this was the only time each day when we could be affectionate with each other.
"Is today tiring?" I asked, gently caressing his temple.
"En," Wei Tan's breath tickled my ear.
"Jiushi...," I whispered, "Has Taiyi come to check on him?"
"He came," Wei Tan sighed, "but Fuqin scolded him and sent him away."
I fell silent.
Though I wasn't present, given my understanding of Wei Jue's temperament, I could still imagine how he would have behaved. Li Shang had told me that after the incident with Ni Rong, every physician in the capital dreaded hearing Wei Jue's name. Even those medical attendants who were usually trusted by Wei Jue were cautious when visiting the mansion. The prescriptions they wrote aimed more for stability rather than potency. The only one with the courage to treat Wei Jue was Wei Jiao.
With Wei Jue's current condition, it's likely even more challenging.
Wei Tan is the eldest son, and he must bear the responsibility both inside and outside the family. The weight on his shoulders must be quite heavy, one can only imagine.
"I'll send some over tomorrow," Wei Tan suddenly said.
"Hmm?" I was surprised. "What?"
"The name for Ah Guai," Wei Tan said slowly, lifting his head with a faint bitter smile on his lips, "now it's up to you and me to decide."
*****
Wei Jiao is still wandering outside, with no news from him. The commotion around Wei Jue has finally started to subside after a few days.
During this time, there was also another incident.
When Wei Jue fell ill, Ren Ji wanted to attend to him, but Guo Furen forbade it. She claimed that Wei Jue's illness was a result of Ren Ji's care, and thus, she was to blame. Guo Furen was about to order the servants to punish her, but Ren Ji went to Wei Jue and tearfully confessed that she was two months pregnant.
Guo Furen was greatly surprised and immediately summoned a physician. After examining Ren Ji's pulse, the physician confirmed that she was indeed pregnant.
"I heard that Guo Furen's expression was quite unpleasant at that moment. She had no choice but to swallow her pride and let Ren Ji stay," Ah Yuan said.
I was stunned.
This incident is quite intriguing. Ren Ji is a cautious person, so she must have been quite confident in her situation to reveal her pregnancy.
"Furen," Ah Yuan furrowed her brow, "if she gives birth to a son, wouldn't Da Gongzi have another younger brother?"
"Is that so," I said indifferently, not too concerned. Wei Jue had sons not only with Guo Furen but also with two other concubines, all of them less than two years old. So even if Ren Ji gave him another son, it wouldn't affect Wei Tan much, at most it would provide some security for Ren Ji herself.
These days, Wei Tan has been constantly busy. There are times when I don't see him for two consecutive days. However, he's always been accustomed to being busy. When he comes back, he hugs Ah Guai and his face lights up with a playful smile.
Although I worry about his health, my mobility is limited. So, I have Ah Yuan prepare some nourishing soups and broths daily. When he returns, he eats some before taking a rest.
*****
By the time I finally came out of the delivery chamber, the weather had already turned warm.
After the purification ceremony, I carried Ah Guai to pay respects to Wei Jue. As soon as we entered, a strong medicinal scent hit us.
Wei Jue lay on the bed, his eyes tightly shut. His thin face, grayish-white hair, and crooked mouth made him look completely different from his previous spirited self.
I was taken aback and looked towards the side.
Ren Ji was dressed in simple attire. When she noticed me looking at her, she lowered her eyes slightly.
"Zhugong," Guo Furen sat by the bed and called gently, "Shao Furen has brought the grandchild to see you."
After a while, Wei Jue finally opened his eyes.
"Jiushi," I stepped forward and bowed to him.
Wei Jue made a sound from his throat, as if in response, but it was tired and feeble.
He glanced at me, then after a moment, turned his gaze towards Ah Guai.
I quickly brought Ah Guai forward. "Jiushi, the child is one month old today," I said.
Wei Jue looked at Ah Guai, a gentle expression on his face, and reached out his hand.
Guo Furen took Ah Guai from my arms and held her in front of him.
Wei Jue raised his hand and gently caressed Ah Guai's face, then extended his hand towards hers.
Ah Guai had gained some strength. As Wei Jue's fingers reached out to her palm, she firmly grasped them.
Wei Jue smiled.
I was a bit surprised. Since I married into the family two years ago, I had witnessed Wei Jue's smile countless times - deep, cheerful, enigmatic, and inscrutable. Yet, this time, his cloudy eyes had a faint gleam, a simplicity I had never seen before.
"Ah… en?" Wei Jue looked at me, his mouth opening.
I was momentarily taken aback.
Wei Jue said something else, but I still couldn't understand. I looked to Guo Furen for help.
Guo Furen seemed accustomed to this, her expression unchanged.
"Is Zhugong asking if the child is a boy or a girl?" She looked at me and asked Wei Jue gently.
Wei Jue shook his head.
"Is Zhugong asking about the nickname?" Guo Furen asked again.
"En," Wei Jue nodded.
I smiled and said, "Replying to Jiushi, her nickname is Ah Guai."
Wei Jue seemed to think for a moment, then after a while, he nodded slightly.
"Ah... ah?" He looked at me again, his mouth opening.
I turned to Guo Furen.
She too was puzzled. "Zhugong?"
Wei Jue repeated himself. Seeing that we still couldn't understand, he suddenly let out a deep sigh and pushed Guo Furen aside. Fortunately, I reacted quickly, one hand supporting Guo Furen, and the other steadying Ah Guai.
"Zhugong!" Guo Furen returned Ah Guai to me, her brows furrowed in helplessness.
Wei Jue turned away, closing his eyes.
Guo Furen tried to persuade him a few more times, but Wei Jue remained motionless.
"Shao Furen should go back," Guo Furen turned to me and said, "Zhugong has seen you mother and daughter, there's nothing more we can do."
I nodded, performed another bow, and then left, holding Ah Guai in my arms.
*****
When Wei Tan returned at night and heard about the situation, he frowned and said, "Fuqin's mood is unpredictable these days. We'll visit him another time. Taking care of the child is the most important thing for now."
I agreed.
He thought for a moment and said, "Fuqin might have wanted to ask about Ah Guai's formal name. What about those characters Furen was considering earlier?"
I understood and took out a stack of paper. "Here they are."
Sitting through the postpartum month was quite dull, so choosing a name became the busiest part of my day.
I searched through characters, consulted references, and whenever I found a good one, I wrote it down on the paper, waiting for Wei Tan's opinion. However, he was too busy, and I didn't want to disturb his rest with these matters, so I kept putting it off.
Wei Tan took the stack of papers and carefully examined them, discussing each character with me, one by one.
It's strange to say, he's usually quite decisive in everything he does. However, when it comes to naming the child, he seems to be as meticulous as a woman, nitpicking about this and that, saying neither option is quite right.
" 'Cao' as the first character won't do. How can my daughter have a name with 'grass' in it?"
"'Xian'? If you shout it on the street, there would be dozens, if not hundreds, who respond," Wei Tan remarked.
"This one is even worse. My daughter is naturally beautiful. Why compare her to a beauty with a metaphor?" Wei Tan commented.
Unable to bear it any longer, I tossed the entire stack of papers onto Wei Tan's desk, snorting coldly. "Since none of them are good enough, Fujun can do it yourself."
Wei Tan looked a bit defeated. After some thought, his eyes suddenly brightened. He picked up Ah Guai.
"Daughter, pick one yourself," Wei Tan said, holding the papers in front of Ah Guai, showing her one by one. "How about this? Hmm? Don't like it? What about this one?"
I couldn't laugh nor cry, "She can't read characters yet."
"You never know," Wei Tan looked indulgent, "She's my daughter after all."
Ah Guai had her eyes wide open, seemingly curious about what was in front of her. Her fingers were a bit wet with saliva, and suddenly, she reached out and grabbed at the paper.
"You can't eat that!" Wei Tan hastily intervened. As he pulled the paper out, we could see the slightly crumpled corner with the character "谧" (Mi) and a faint trace of saliva.
Wei Tan: "....."
Me: "....."
"Fujun just said this character wasn't worth mentioning, right?" I looked at Wei Tan's gleaming eyes and sensed trouble.
"What's the harm? Our daughter likes it," Wei Tan chuckled. He seemed to feel quite accomplished, patting Ah Guai's face contentedly. "Mì, my daughter indeed has a discerning eye."