While everything was festive at the Grand Preceptor's mansion in the capital.

Far away, in Fengzhou, Ruiyu Hall was filled with joy and flourishing with fancy decorations. As soon as people entered, they could see that the hall was filled with the family's friends and relatives. There was pleasant music. Singers were singing and dancers were dancing. With the singing and dancing, various expensive foods were endlessly ranged over the tables. The banquet was extraordinarily lively.

At the moment when the music reached its climax and the dancers looked the most charming, Wei Huan, as the host, quietly excused himself as being too drunk from the banquet to the people by his sides. He then gave the task of hosting the banquet to his third son, Wei Shengnian.

When he returned to the back of the hall, a servant handed him a hot handkerchief. Having taken it and wiped his face, Wei Huan let out a breath. The drunkenness that had made him stumble disappeared. He asked, "Where is the person?"

"My Family Head, to obey your instruction, I took him on a detour to avoid being seen and brought him to the study at the back." The servant said softly.

Wei Huan nodded and took one step. But having recalled something, he asked again, "Did he come alone, or did he bring his servants?"

"He only brought a page boy, and he called the page boy 'Hu Nu'."

"Oh, that is really his page boy." Wei Huan stroked the long beard on his jaw, but he wasn't in a hurry to go to the study to see this mysterious guest. Instead, he went to the main room to change his clothes. Having spoken to Old Madam Song who had also left the banquet early, he then went over.

Having opened the study's door, he saw, on a rosewood long table, bowls which had contained exquisite food were almost empty. A handsome man, who was only in his twenties but seemed to have experienced a lot, was sitting at a table, holding ivory chopsticks and eating, with a boy in green waiting by his side.

Although the man seemed to have suffered, he looked noble as the bright moon and the white snow, very different from any other. Seeing Wei Huan enter, he steadily put down the ivory chopsticks, took an embroidered handkerchief handed to him by the boy in green, and wiped the corner of his mouth. He lifted his robe and rose to clasp his hands in a salute, "My Family Head!"

"Don't be so formal, Xinyong." Although Wei Huan knew what Wei Xinyong had done the year before last, he was not angered by seeing him. He smiled instead, pretending to try to stop his formal greeting gesture and saying gently, "I heard that you have come here. I didn't want to be rude to you, so I came immediately after having changed my clothes. I have happened to come at a bad moment, interrupting your meal." Wei Huan then told him not to be so polite and to carry on eating.

Wei Xinyong smiled lightly, saying, "Thank you, My Family Head. I have almost finished."

The two of them chatted a little more before Wei Huan told someone to take away the food dishes and replace them with tea.

Having finished this stilted conversation, Wei Huan asked Wei Xinyong why he had suddenly come, "Is there anything wrong in Chaoyun County?"

"Thank you for asking. Chaoyun County is a small, remote county. Even if there had been something that had happened, it wouldn't have caused a serious issue. It wouldn't have been worth bothering you with it, My Family Head!" Wei Xinyong smiled faintly, dismissing Wei Huan's speculation.

Wei Huan smiled, asking, "Then Xinyong, you have suddenly come... Have you come here to celebrate my great grandson's reaching one month old?"

"I didn't know I would happen to be here now, either." Wei Xinyong picked up a teacup and lifted the lid to skim tea froth. He seemed to have sighed and said, "When I last saw my niece, she wasn't married, but now her lineal eldest son is one month old. Congratulations."

He said "Congratulations", but the tone was very flat. Apparently, it was just his casual reaction to the situation.

Wei Huan didn't mind. He smiled and stroked his beard, saying, "I am old, so I am not as sensitive as you young people. If you have something to say, just say it."

"My niece is blessed with good fortune." Wei Xinyong said with a faint smile, "My Family Head, it is also thanks to your sharp insightfulness. You have found her a good match."

"Changying is not fortunate enough." Wei Huan smiled kindly, "If she had had your favor and had been able to get some help from you the year before last, she would have been truly blessed."

Wei Xinyong smiled, saying, "I was born and raised in the capital. I left there just the year before last. Shen Cangfeng is so well-known among gentlefolks. Comparing me to him is like comparing weak light with a bright moon. Shen Cangfeng might not know me, but how could I not know Shen Cangfeng? If my niece had been promised to a different person, I wouldn't have let it happen. However, since it is him, why should I poke my nose into their business? They have experienced things together so they are more loyal and honest to each other. What do you think, My Family Head?"

Wei Huan knew that he was trying to defend himself, but anyway, it was the past and the news brought home from his lineal granddaughter, Wei Changying, had been good since she married into the Shen Family. Especially now, she had given birth to Shen Cangfeng's lineal eldest son, and there was no concubine in the rear courtyard. In Wei Huan's opinion, his granddaughter had a comfortable life. Even though he was a person who loved his children very much, he wouldn't seize upon trivial things concerning his juniors' relationships. He just smiled to let things go, saying, "Xinyong, you are very considerate."

Pretending not to recognize the sarcasm in these words, Wei Xinyong smiled, saying, "It is a pity that my nephew Changfeng isn't as fortunate as his sister."

"Oh?" Wei Huan was surprised, saying, "Xinyong, I will take a different view! Although Changfeng is not as agile as you, he has always been eager to learn. Yongshi has often praised him to me, and even his marriage has recently been personally decided by His Majesty. His Majesty has promised the lineal daughter of the Su Family in Qingzhou to him. Isn't he fortunate enough already?'

"My Family Head, you are absolutely right. In terms of His Majesty's intention in the marriage, there is no need for me to explain it poorly!" Wei Xinyong said with a faint smile, "Chaoyun County is really remote. I only recently learned about the news. This is why I quickly finished my work to come, wanting to share your worries, My Family Head."

He smiled meaningfully, "I thought you were waiting for me, too."

Wei Huan said without batting an eyelid, "I'm surprised you are so concerned about Changfeng. Since you are here, why not explain it to me?" Knowing that Wei Xinyong was going to say something like "I don't dare to make any redundant remarks", Wei Huan waved his hand, saying, "I know well that you are knowledgeable. There is no one else here at this moment, so why are you being so modest?"

He added, "I drank too much wine at the banquet and now I’m dazed. If you could give me some wise advice, I would feel refreshed. Why do you keep refusing to do so, Xinyong?"

Having heard these words, Wei Xinyong stopped being difficult, smiling and saying, "When His Majesty has just been enthroned, he had been assiduous in political affairs. However, there were frequent issues on the borders, vicious bandits, and endless punishments for corrupt officials. There was so much bad news. Therefore, His Majesty was too frustrated to deal with the political affairs anymore. His Majesty delegated the right to manage the government to gentlefolks and aristocratic families, but His Majesty was also worried that the gentlefolks would become too powerful and too deeply rooted."

"Empress Liu was His Majesty's first wife. When she was still alive, because of their love, the Eldest Prince naturally became the Crown Prince. After Empress Liu had passed away from illness, Consort Qian became the new Empress. The Eldest Prince fell into disfavor." Wei Xinyong blandly said, "Although it was because Empress Qian only thought of her son and framed him, the reason why His Majesty 'believed her accusation' was also that he thought the Liu Family was too powerful. One person of the Liu Family was a hereditary Duke Weiyuan and the other was a Military Officer. Additionally, the eldest prince was closer to his mother's family. His Majesty feared that his status was in jeopardy, as he knew there had been a case. Relying on the power of His Majesty's mother, Empress Dowager Deng, the Deng Family in Rong City had been as prosperous as any family among the gentlefolks for several decades. The Deng Family is only an aristocratic family. What do you think the Liu Family in Eastern Hu, one of the six gentlefolks, would achieve if they had the power?"

Wei Huan stroked his long beard, looking calm and smiling without saying anything.

Wei Xinyong then continued, "According to the rules of our country, the head of the civil officials is Grand Master and the head of the military officials is Grand Preceptor. After the Eldest Prince had been dismissed as the Crown Prince and had committed suicide, the Fourth Prince who had been born to Empress Qian became the Crown Prince. The Qian Family in Xinghe is an aristocratic family. Even so with Empress Qian's power, they have reached an exalted position. They have only achieved what the Deng Family has already got. However, the Fourth Prince had chosen the lineal daughter of the Duanmu Family in Jinxiu County, the lineal eldest granddaughter of the Grand Master Duanmu Xing, to be his wife! The Fourth Prince loved his wife and the couple showed deep affection to each other!"

"Xinyong, do you believe that the reason why the Fourth Prince lost his position was that he loved his wife?" Wei Huan laughed, saying.

"There are several reasons why the Fourth Prince lost his position. The first reason was Empress Qian, although he had become the Crown Prince because of her. Secondly, the Grand Master had been in charge of dealing with political affairs for a long time, so His Majesty was worried." Wei Xinyong said calmly, "The change of the Crown Prince concerns the future of the country. His Majesty would not have wronged his son only because of Empress Qian, a woman from his imperial harem! He must have secretly ordered Empress Qian to commit suicide to save his son! When the Fourth Prince chose his wife from the Duanmu Family, at that time, everyone thought it was very normal! However, after the Fourth Prince had been dismissed, Duanmu Xing immediately reported that he was old and frail and handed almost half of the right to manage the government over to His Majesty. Didn't His Majesty just then compliment him and discuss how to divide the right with all his officials? There are many children in the clan of the Duanmu Family in Jinxiu County. However, in the past few years, except for Duanmu Wuyou who became well-known after the imperial martial arts competition in the capital, no one else can be regarded as talented. Do you think there is no other more excellent child than Duanmu Wuyou amongst the Duanmu Family in Jinxiu County? They are afraid of His Majesty, so they don't dare to show off their talented children, in case His Majesty regards the Duanmu Family as a thorn in the flesh again!"

Having said these things, Wei Xinyong said with a smile, "Not long ago, Song Yuwang's second son dismissed his wife, Mrs. Duanmu. Although it has deeply embarrassed the Duanmu Family in Jinxiu County, Duanmu Xing must have breathed a sigh of relief!"

"The Song Family and the Duanmu Family have the same status. However, not considering the Duanmu Family's feelings, the Song Family forcefully dismissed their daughter-in-law who came from the Duanmu Family. Although it was because Mrs. Duanmu didn't behave as a proper daughter-in-law, people can also tell from it that the Duanmu Family in Jinxiu County is weak. They are no longer like the time when they were so dominant and the other five gentlefolks wouldn't dare to offend them as they had the support from the Grand Master and the Crown Princess." Wei Huan stroked his beard, smiling and saying, "Duanmu Xing must have been able to feel relieved. There aren't many heirs in the clan of the Song Family in Jiangnan. Even Song Yuwang only has two sons and one grandson. Empress Gu... The Lady of Bright Deportment Gu was insightful. She chose my grandniece without any hesitation. She has not only gained the support of the Song Family but has also benefited her old family, the Gu Family in Hongzhou from Jiangnan. Neither did she displease His Majesty."

Wei Xinyong said, smiling, "The Liu Family had first lost Empress Liu and then had lost the Eldest Prince. Now the infighting within the family is intense. Even though they have produced a Crown Princess, it is said that the Crown Prince doesn't like the Crown Princess. The families in Eastern Hu probably won't attract His Majesty's attention. His Majesty feared that if he punished Crown Princess Liu, the Military Officer and Duke Weiyuan would join forces. Empress Gu knew well what His Majesty thought, so she has chosen another girl surnamed Liu to be the Crown Princess, in order to help fuel the infighting within Ranli Hall. Look at the Duanmu Family. They lost a Crown Princess, and these incidents, demonstrating that they have failed to educate their children, happen frequently. It seems that the family is in decline, so His Majesty is relaxed about them at the moment. Among gentlefolks, the Su Family in Qingzhou and the Song Family in Jiangnan have been hiding their lights under a bushel and keeping their low profiles. The remainder is our Wei Family in Fengzhou and my niece's husband's family, the Shen Family in Western Liang."

Wei Huan said with a gentle smile, "Chaoyun County is a small place, but you are at least a county magistrate. Since you have specially made this trip in person, you must have been fully prepared before leaving. I'm guessing you probably received the news that Duke Ji has returned to the capital with Duchess Ji to be with His Majesty, which made you decide to come to Fengzhou this time. Am I right?"