The Innocent Heart - Chapter 73

Huo Qubing and Guan Yueyao returned from the palace laden with rewards from Liu Che and Wei Zifu. The prospect of heading to the frontier with the army after the New Year filled them both with eager anticipation.

Their spirits remained high as they rode back to the Wei Manor, chatting and laughing along the way.

However, before they even stepped into the courtyard, they spotted A-qi—a maid who served closely under Wei Zifu—pacing back and forth at the entrance with a face full of distress. She appeared to be waiting specifically for them.

Upon seeing Huo Qubing, she rushed forward, her voice tinged with anxiety. “Young Master, please go and see the Madam! She has locked herself in her room and has been weeping all afternoon!”

The moment the words left her mouth, Huo Qubing’s brow furrowed. He asked back with a look of displeasure, “Did she have another argument with that Chen Zhang?”

A-qi knew that Huo Qubing had always disliked his mother’s association with Chen Zhang. Realizing he had jumped to the wrong conclusion, she quickly clarified, “No, no. Neither you nor Master Wei were at the manor today; the Madam has been alone in her quarters all day.”

Then why? Huo Qubing felt a surge of irritability. Still, out of concern for his mother, he bid farewell to Guan Yueyao and followed A-qi toward the courtyard where his mother lived.

Wei Shao’er was indeed sequestered in her room, weeping in private. She was painfully aware that she held little influence within the Wei family, and even her own son did not seem to value her opinion.

However, as she thought of the day’s events, the realization that her younger sister in the Weiyang Palace, His Majesty, and even Guan Yueyao—an outsider living in their home—had all known of her son’s decision before she did felt like a stone lodged in her chest.

In this house, no one cares what I think at all, she lamented.

“Mother, are you in the room?” Suddenly, Huo Qubing’s voice, carrying a hint of worry, drifted through the door.

Wei Shao’er felt a flicker of joy and opened her mouth to respond, but a sudden wave of awkwardness stopped her. She clamped her mouth shut and remained silent, merely wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes to hide her state. Yet, her reddened eyelids betrayed her nonetheless.

Huo Qubing waited outside for a long while. The candlelight inside flickered, casting his mother’s silhouette against the screen; why then did she refuse to speak?

Recalling A-qi’s words, he remembered that the Chief Eunuch Wang He had delivered the furs gifted by the Emperor, after which his mother had locked herself away.

After a moment’s reflection, he seemed to pinpoint the issue. His mother was likely worried about him and did not want him to go to the frontier for training with the army.

“Mother, rest easy. I am only going to the border to gain experience; I am not following my uncle beyond the passes. Furthermore, A-Yao is traveling with me. His martial skills are superb; what is there for you to worry about?”

His tone was light, as if he didn’t hold the matter as a grave concern. Besides, the Emperor had already granted permission; even if Wei Shao’er wished to object, it would be to no avail.

Although a rift existed between mother and son—or perhaps more accurately, Huo Qubing held a one-sided grudge against her because of Chen Zhang—they were still flesh and blood. Wei Shao’er’s care and worry still brought a warmth to his heart.

He had now lowered himself to comfort her, and he expected she would soon open the door and let him in. As was her habit, she would likely nag him with a long list of instructions until he showed signs of impatience, only then reluctantly letting him return to his own quarters.

But things did not go as Huo Qubing imagined. Long after his explanation ended, there was still no movement from Wei Shao’er inside the room.

A sense of foreboding crept into his heart. Throwing caution to the wind, he reached out, pushed open the door, and burst inside.

“Mother! What is wrong?!” He rushed into the room, anxiously searching for her. The composure usually seen on his face had finally given way to a look of panic.

He soon came to a halt. Wei Shao’er was sitting behind a screen, her back to him, motionless. Even upon hearing his voice, she did not turn around.

“Mother, what has happened? Are you feeling unwell?” Huo Qubing spoke with a rare, hesitant edge to his voice.

“I am fine. Go back,” Wei Shao’er’s voice sounded cold, devoid of its usual tenderness. “Your departure is imminent; I imagine there are many things you need to prepare. There is no need to waste your time here with me.”

Huo Qubing was stunned. Seeing that his mother was physically unharmed and merely in low spirits, and being unaccustomed to the art of coaxing people, he hesitated for a moment. Finally, he merely uttered a soft “Oh” and obediently withdrew.

“So you just came back like that?!”

Back in their shared courtyard, Guan Yueyao had been waiting for a long time. She stepped forward to meet Huo Qubing as he walked in, but upon hearing his description of the encounter, her eyes widened in disbelief.

Unlike Huo Qubing or even Wei Qing—who often felt that Wei Shao’er was shallow-minded and thus were unwilling to share important clan matters with her or seek her counsel—Guan Yueyao felt differently. The men of the Wei family felt they only needed to provide for her, allowing her to enjoy the wealth and honor they earned, which in turn allowed them to ignore her thoughts, joys, and sorrows with a clear conscience.

But Guan Yueyao had a great deal of affection for this gentle woman; she constantly reminded her of her own mother. She had witnessed the way Wei Qing and Huo Qubing treated Wei Shao’er and had long disagreed with it.

However, as she was merely a guest—despite being highly regarded by Wei Qing and a best friend to Huo Qubing—she felt it was not her place to interfere in the master’s family affairs. Thus, she had always remained silent.

But this time, she could no longer hold back.

“My mother is likely just in a bad mood and acting a bit petulant. It’s no matter; I’ll find some exquisite gold and jade jewelry to send her later, and she’ll be happy again.” Huo Qubing dismissed the concern, intending to use his old tricks.

These small ploys to please his mother had never failed before, so he didn’t take her unusual behavior too seriously. If all else failed, there was still his uncle. His mother always listened to Wei Qing; a few words of persuasion from him would surely set her mind at ease.

At this moment, Huo Qubing didn’t want to spend his energy on coaxing his mother. As she had said, their departure was near, and he had much to prepare.

Guan Yueyao, however, did not see it that way. She looked at Huo Qubing, who had already sat back down at his desk, and shook her head. “Just you watch. This time, your mother definitely won’t let it slide so easily.”

Huo Qubing smiled dismissively. “Do you know my mother better, or do I?”

Guan Yueyao said nothing, but thought to herself: You are a man, and I am a woman. How can a man understand a woman as well as another woman does?

Seeing Huo Qubing’s continued composure, she couldn’t help but think with a bit of schadenfreude: A woman’s anger can be a terrifying thing. Qubing is in for some suffering this time.

Yet, her thoughts quickly turned to worry. She understood Wei Shao’er’s position in the household well, and after hearing Huo Qubing’s account, she easily guessed the reason for the older woman’s anger. As a participant in this secret plan, Guan Yueyao felt a twinge of guilt.

She wanted to urge Huo Qubing to go and sincerely apologize to clear the air, but looking at his stubborn attitude, she knew he wouldn’t take her words to heart until he learned his lesson.

She glanced sideways at him. As if to prove her point, Huo Qubing was bowed over his desk, writing intently, seemingly untroubled by his mother’s behavior.

“Hmph, it serves you right that your mom is upset with you. If you dare make her angry, you’ll have plenty to deal with later,” Guan Yueyao thought crossly. Not wanting to stay in the room any longer, she stepped out, intending to clear her head with a walk in the courtyard.

Wei Qing encountered Guan Yueyao in the garden, where the youth was standing by the lake, listlessly kicking at stones. Despite being a fourteen-year-old boy, he was acting quite childishly.

Huo Qubing was mentally mature beyond his years; his words and actions had long been as meticulous as those of an adult. Wei Qing hadn’t expected that while Qubing’s friend was slightly older in years, his temperament was even more like a child’s.

But he isn’t annoying… Wei Qing thought, a smile tugging at his lips.

“Yueyao, what are you doing by the lake in this cold? Be careful not to slip. The ice on the lake isn’t thick enough yet; if you fall in, the icy water will make you very ill,” Wei Qing called out warmly, beckoning her over.

Guan Yueyao had been agonizing over how to let Huo Qubing learn a lesson without making Wei Shao’er too sad. Hearing Wei Qing’s voice, an idea struck her.

In her heart, Wei Qing had always been a dependable adult. Perhaps she could ask Master Wei to help mediate and offer a reminder? Thinking this, Guan Yueyao ran toward Wei Qing, her feet sinking unevenly into the snow.

Before her soul had crossed into this era, she had lived in the south—a place where snow was a rare sight once every decade or two. She was entirely unprepared for the slipperiness of the snowy ground.

Under Wei Qing’s watchful eye, her foot slipped, and she landed face-first in the snow.

“Ouch!” she cried out, so embarrassed she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Wei Qing hurried forward and reached out, pulling Guan Yueyao up.

“Are you hurt?” Wei Qing asked with concern, though he was struggling to suppress a laugh. His slightly curved eyes gave him away.

“I… I’m fine!” Guan Yueyao gritted her teeth against the pain, determined not to lose any more face in front of Wei Qing.

However, her words sounded a bit too much like she was speaking through clenched teeth, which made it even harder for Wei Qing to keep a straight face. He tactfully pretended not to notice her bravado and reached out to brush the snow off her clothes.

“Why are you standing in the courtyard alone? Where is Qubing?” Wei Qing asked, looking at the solitary youth. In his memory, Guan Yueyao and Qubing were as close as could be, practically inseparable.

“Did you two have a fight?” he guessed, seeing the frown on Guan Yueyao’s face.