The Innocent Heart - Chapter 75

Driven by a surge of guilt, Huo Qubing braved the wind and charged headlong into his mother’s courtyard, triggering a chorus of startled cries.

“Young Master, why have you come so suddenly!” A-qi was carrying a hand warmer toward the inner chamber when she saw a figure burst in. She didn’t need to think twice; in this manor, no one would dare act so brazenly except for Huo Qubing.

She stepped forward with a smile, only to see that Huo Qubing’s body, hair, and even his eyebrows were covered in willow-tuft-like snowflakes. Once inside the room, the snow melted into water, soaking his relatively thin clothing and making him look quite disheveled.

“What has happened to you?! Quickly, follow me to change into clean clothes!” Her expression turned to one of shock as she urged him anxiously. If the Young Master were to catch a cold because of this, it would break her mistress’s heart.

However, Huo Qubing shook his head. “A-qi, where is my mother? Is she in her room?”

The youth asked with a solemnity that lacked his usual casualness and the unconscious intimacy he himself might not have noticed, which made A-qi feel somewhat unaccustomed.

“She is, she is! Madam is inside doing needlework!” A-qi reported quickly, then looked at him hesitantly. “Are you truly certain you don’t need to go to the side room to change first?” Her voice was laced with worry.

“There is no need. Go quickly and inform my mother that I crave an audience.” He stood with an air that suggested if Wei Shao’er did not agree to see him, he would wait right there indefinitely.

A-qi did not dare delay. She hurriedly handed the hand warmer to a little maid behind her—who looked no more than eight or nine years old—instructing her to go to the pantry and refill the charcoal, then hurried back into the inner chamber.

As the most trusted personal maid by Wei Shao’er’s side, A-qi had vaguely sensed that something had transpired between the mistress and the Young Master over the past few days. Seeing Wei Shao’er in a constant state of despondency lately, she too was quite anxious.

Although the Second Master (Wei Qing) had visited once after dinner yesterday and spoken some intimate words behind closed doors, the Madam had merely smiled as she saw him off, only to return to her listless state the moment she was back in her room. Even the gold hairpins and fine silks sent by her lover, Chen Zhang, failed to bring a smile to her face for even a moment.

Now that Master Qubing is here, it’s perfect. His arrival will surely make the Madam happy, A-qi thought, quickening her pace as she entered the inner chamber.

The room was very warm. Despite it being daytime, the candles were lit brightly. Wei Shao’er was sitting on the couch focused on her needlework.

She was using furs bestowed by the palace, intending to sew a fox-fur cloak for her son who was about to head to the front lines. Although the Wei Manor employed seamstresses specialized in needlework, she felt in her heart that no outsider could care for a son as much as a mother. A garment made by her own hands would always be more reassuring than one made by others.

She had been angry, but after two days, that anger had turned into a sense of bewilderment. Her brother and her son shared almost identical attitudes and thoughts; neither understood what she was truly upset about. It was like a chicken talking to a duck, or playing a lute to a cow—as if she had thrown a punch into a pile of cotton.

But reflecting on it carefully these past few days, she felt there was no one to blame but herself. She was not as capable or successful as her younger brother or sister; she had even caused a scandal with Chen Zhang that was the talk of the town, making it difficult for Qubing to hold his head up among his peers. It wasn’t until he was ten that he finally made a single friend in Guan Yueyao.

She glanced at the dense stitches on the fur in her hand and sighed; it seemed this was the only way she could find solace for herself.

Just then, A-qi walked in, her face beaming with joy.

“Madam, Madam! The Young Master is here; he says he wishes to pay his respects to you!”

Wei Shao’er was startled and couldn’t help but ask, “At this time? With such heavy snow outside, why has Qubing suddenly run over here?”

“The Young Master didn’t say, but it seems to be an urgent matter. His clothes are soaked from the snow; I wanted him to change before seeing you, but he refused.”

Hearing this, Wei Shao’er could no longer sit still. Tossing aside her needlework, she hurried toward the reception room.

Huo Qubing had been invited into the reception room to wait. Though his face did not show it, his heart was inevitably filled with trepidation.

What if Mother is still angry? What if she refuses to see me?

At his core, he was still a child. He couldn’t help but worry about losing his mother’s protection and affection, feeling a sense of gain and loss. He stared blankly at the snowy scene outside the window, pretending this was merely a routine visit to pay respects.

A frantic patter of footsteps came from the inner chamber. Before his mother’s figure appeared, her familiar, gentle voice reached his ears.

“My son! With such heavy snow, why have you come like this? Are you cold? Quick, let A-qi take you to change into clean clothes!” Her hurried words were saturated with tenderness and concern.

Huo Qubing’s heart warmed. His mother was still her same old fussy self, but for the first time, he found it neither troublesome nor annoying. He stood and took a few steps forward, nearly colliding with the rushing Wei Shao’er.

“Oh dear, look at the state of you! A-qi, hurry and take the Young Master to change before we speak further,” Wei Shao’er commanded A-qi without hesitation, her attitude rare in its firmness.

Seeing his mother, Huo Qubing’s heart steadied somewhat. He smiled and did not refuse her words, obediently following A-qi to the side room.

Wei Shao’er’s courtyard always kept a trunk of Huo Qubing’s clothes for just such an occasion. Before long, A-qi pulled out a set of slightly thicker garments and assisted him in changing.

“Madam made these just a few days ago; the size is just right!” A-qi said with a smile. Hearing this, Huo Qubing felt a strange sense of emotion. Recalling Guan Yueyao’s words, his heart grew even more heavy with guilt.

“Mother, these matters should be handled by the seamstresses. Why must you do them yourself?” Huo Qubing frowned. Though his words were born of pity and concern, the way he spoke made it sound like disapproval or a reprimand.

Wei Shao’er was often disregarded by her younger siblings at home, so she lacked much of her own opinion and was easily swayed by the words of others. Upon hearing her son speak this way, her heart grew uneasy again.

“I… these are precious furs rewarded from the palace; how could I leave them to the clumsy hands in the sewing room? I—oh, I’m only making this one for you!” As if fearing he would disagree, she added hurriedly: “The borderlands are bitter and cold. I can only feel at ease if I see you wearing clothes I sowed myself!”

Looking at his mother’s nervous state over a single sentence of his, Huo Qubing felt an ache in his chest. He realized more clearly that his previous attitude toward her had indeed lacked sufficient respect.

Otherwise, why would his mother be like this? Perhaps this was also why she was so devoted to Chen Zhang? After observing as a bystander for so many years, he realized that while Chen Zhang was always keeping an eye on the Wei family and his third aunt (Wei Zifu), in all fairness, he was truly attentive to his mother—at least far more so than himself or his uncle.

“Mother, I did not mean to criticize you. I know your kind intentions. I only worry for you; doing too much needlework is bad for the eyes. Now that the household has many servants, there is someone to help with everything. I don’t want you to exhaust yourself for me,” Huo Qubing softened his voice to comfort her.

Wei Shao’er looked at her son in disbelief. Was this still her Qubing? He was actually explaining the meaning behind his words to her with such patience.

“Mother is not tired! My son is so capable, wanting to go to the frontier for training at such a young age. It’s just that when you were born, your aunt had already entered the palace; you’ve never suffered since you were small. Your mother simply pities you,” Wei Shao’er said, the expression on her beautiful face growing even more tender.

Looking at her son’s face—which still held a trace of youth but was already quite heroic—her face shone with a sense of pride.

“Rest assured, I won’t stop you from experiencing hardship just because I pity you. I know that is a path one must take to grow. I will manage the household affairs well and prepare the bags for you and your uncle so that you can be as comfortable as possible on the road.”

So Mother understands everything… Huo Qubing was somewhat stunned. For the first time, he looked at his mother with a more serious and deliberate gaze.

She still had that delicate look that made one want to protect her, appearing fragile and unable to care for herself. Yet at this moment, within those gentle eyes that were always watching him, there seemed to be a trace of fortitude that others rarely noticed. Like a willow or a reed—seemingly weak and boneless, but actually more resilient and harder to break than sturdy branches.

“Mother! When I go to the frontier, I hear there are many crafts sold there from Great Qin (Rome), Kushan, and other lands. Their workmanship and style are very different from what we usually see in Chang’an. I’ll bring a few pieces back as gifts for you!” Huo Qubing changed the subject, laughing as he spoke to her in a rare, lively tone.

Wei Shao’er did not want to ruin her son’s good mood. Suppressing her inner worry, she smiled and promised, “Alright, then I shall wait for Qubing to bring gifts back for me!”

By the time Huo Qubing returned from Wei Shao’er’s courtyard, the snow had begun to let up. Inside the room, Guan Yueyao was busy playing with “Old Three” (the dog).

“Old Three, sit! Yes, that’s it—shake!”

With the encouragement of a small piece of dried meat, Old Three quickly and obediently followed Guan Yueyao’s command, causing the maids watching nearby to burst into laughter. The atmosphere in the room was exceptionally relaxed.

“Why did you let Old Three into the house?!” Huo Qubing said in surprise as he walked in and shook off the remaining snow.

In the Han Dynasty, there was no custom of keeping pets, and dogs were considered one of the six domestic animals—part of the daily diet. Therefore, he found Guan Yueyao’s affection and intimacy toward Old Three quite difficult to get used to.

As soon as he spoke, the lighthearted atmosphere in the room stiffened. The maids quickly regained their submissive demeanors. After bowing to Huo Qubing, they looked toward Guan Yueyao with a sense of helplessness.

“It’s fine. You sisters can head out first; Qubing and I will play with Old Three.”

Huo Qubing said nothing, watching as the maids filed out of the reception room looking somewhat crestfallen. In an instant, only Guan Yueyao, Huo Qubing, and Old Three were left. Old Three was wagging his tail and circling Guan Yueyao’s feet, his eyes fixed intently on the meat in her hand.

A-Yao seems to have a kind of magic; he always makes everyone who interacts with him like him, Huo Qubing mused. Even the dogs.