Chapter 23: Chapter Twenty-Three Strictly Speaking, She Should Be Called Sister-in-law

Chapter 23: By Formal Terms, He’d Be Considered Family

Though dusk had yet to fully settle, the palace was already aglow with lanterns, their light preceding the palace maids who led the way.

The palace, unlike the world outside, was bound by countless rules, both grand and trivial. Wei Zheng no longer had his arm around Wei San’s waist as he had before entering the gates, but walked formally beside him.

Along the way, Wei Zheng would occasionally lean in, whispering instructions on proper etiquette, seemingly anxious that Wei San might, through ignorance, cause offense. His gestures were overtly intimate.

Wei San wished to respond several times, but each time the words reached his lips, he recalled his master’s directive: do not appear overly eager; maintain a cool demeanor. So, he swallowed his words.

Thus, the intended message had surely reached its targets, and the Taihe Palace now loomed before them.

Having departed late, and with the imperial city a considerable distance from the capital’s outskirts, almost all officials had already arrived by the time they entered the Taihe Palace.

The moment they stepped through the palace doors, all eyes turned to them. The previously bustling hall fell into a silence so profound that a dropped needle would have echoed.

Wei Zheng surveyed the room, raising an eyebrow. "Why are you all staring at this prince?"

The officials exchanged bewildered glances, as if roused from a dream, then rose in unison to bow. As for Wei San, standing beside him, he was tacitly ignored by all.

The Grand Tutor, seated beside the Chancellor with hands tucked into his sleeves, frowned deeply upon seeing Wei San, a flicker of disdain in his eyes.

Who would have thought that the Virtuous Prince, even after recovering from his affliction, would remain so outlandish? To bring an unseemly male favorite to a palace banquet meant for officials was truly beyond the pale.

The Grand Tutor suppressed his anger, but it proved futile. Just as he was about to reprimand Wei Zheng, Chancellor Zhao, anticipating his move, gently pressed a hand on his shoulder.

"Grand Tutor, would you honor this old man by sharing a cup?"

He poured a cup of wine, pushed it towards the Grand Tutor, and gave him a subtle look, urging patience.

The Grand Tutor clenched his fist. "With the Chancellor’s generous invitation, how dare I refuse?"

The two exchanged a knowing smile and clinked their cups.

With the Grand Tutor and Chancellor setting the example, the other officials, who had been observing cautiously, gradually relaxed, gathering in small groups to drink and converse.

A palace maid escorted Wei Zheng to his seat. As he settled, Wei San instinctively moved to stand behind him, but Wei Zheng caught his wrist, pulling him gently. "Where are you going? Aren’t you staying with me?"

Caught off guard, Wei San stumbled, nearly falling into Wei Zheng’s arms and creating an embarrassing scene.

He steadied himself and slowly took a seat. He hadn't forgotten to maintain his aloof posture, remaining silent and ignoring Wei Zheng.

His indifferent demeanor only seemed to fuel a desire for conquest. The more reserved he was, the more Wei Zheng sought to provoke him, eagerly pouring him tea and, when he refused, coaxing him with sweet words.

After much effort from the Virtuous Prince, the proud, cold beauty finally showed a hint of compliance, reluctantly taking a sip before setting the teacup back down.

Despite the haughty, dismissive attitude, the Virtuous Prince beamed with delight.

To the secretly observing onlookers, their interaction suggested a superficial discord between the male favorite and the Virtuous Prince, yet an undeniable, fervent infatuation on the prince’s part.

This male favorite might indeed prove to be a valuable weakness.

Though thoughts varied among the attendees, outwardly, peace prevailed, yet beneath the surface, hidden currents stirred.

Zhao Fu emerged from the rear hall, flicking his horsetail whisk, and announced loudly, "His Majesty has arrived!"

The elderly emperor, resplendent in a bright yellow dragon robe, entered with a leisurely gait, followed by the Empress, Crown Prince Wei Heng, Fifth Prince Wei Yan, and Eighth Prince Wei Yan.

The Ninth Prince, being out of favor, was absent.

The assembled officials rose and bowed in unison: "We respectfully welcome Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress."

"Rise, my lords."

The old emperor waved his hand, signaling them to stand, then took his seat on the main dais with the Empress, while the other princes settled into their places.

With that, the banquet officially commenced. With the emperor present, the officials were no longer as relaxed as before. They sat on tenterhooks, their expressions solemn, even eating and drinking with an eye on the emperor’s mood.

Wei San found merely watching the officials exhausting. As an unnoticed, accompanying male favorite, he was, ironically, the most at ease. He felt no hunger, as Wei Zheng had made him eat pastries beforehand, claiming one could never get a full meal at a palace banquet. It seemed his master had been prescient.

He feigned eating a few bites before setting down his chopsticks. Just as he was about to take a sip of tea to cleanse his palate, the person beside him leaned in, whispering intimately.

"Aren’t you going to feed me? You’ve eaten your fill, Sui Yun, but I’m still hungry."

Wei San: "..."

Eyes from all directions converged on them; even the Emperor and Empress on the main dais glanced over. Wei San uncomfortably curled his fingers, unsure whether to pick up his chopsticks again or not.

Wei Zheng, accustomed to the emperor’s indulgence and his own free-spirited nature, paid no heed to others’ gazes or opinions. He raised an eyebrow, urging Wei San to hurry.

His master’s words were not to be disobeyed. Wei San, steeling himself, and under the scrutiny of dozens of eyes, publicly picked up a piece of crystal fish with his chopsticks and offered it to Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng, brazenly, took the fish directly from the chopsticks. Afterwards, he leisurely remarked, "Delicious. More."

Disgraceful! Utterly disgraceful!

The officials looked on, dismayed and speechless.

The Grand Tutor secretly gritted his teeth in frustration. The Chancellor cleared his throat and drank a cup of wine to steady his nerves.

The Empress frowned, about to reprimand Wei Zheng for his impropriety, but the old emperor silenced her with a look.

The Crown Prince remained composed. Fifth Prince Wei Yan’s inquisitive gaze darted between the two. Only the Eighth Prince, the most guileless of them all, simply kept his head down, engrossed in his meal.

Though the banquet was ostensibly for Wei Zheng, the old emperor offered no clear declaration of intent. He had merely gathered the officials to allow them to meet the Virtuous Prince.

At the banquet, the Virtuous Prince and his male favorite openly flirted, oblivious to their surroundings. The emperor, far from stopping them, seemed to indulge them. No one could fathom his true intentions, not even Wei Zheng himself.

The banquet left everyone mentally drained, with countless schemes swirling, yet ultimately yielding no clear outcome.

After less than half an hour, the old emperor declared himself unwell, instructing the officials to eat and drink freely, then rose and departed.

The Empress followed closely behind.

With the Emperor and Empress gone, the officials exchanged glances, and the atmosphere grew awkward.

Zhao Fu stepped forward, smiling genially. "Please continue, esteemed sirs, continue."

The musicians resumed playing, and dancers performed lively routines. The atmosphere gradually relaxed; without the Emperor and Empress present, the officials became more uninhibited.

With the main audience gone, Wei Zheng lost interest in maintaining the charade. He tugged at Wei San’s sleeve and said, "Let’s go back."

Wei San had long awaited this permission to leave. Now that it was granted, his eagerness surpassed Wei Zheng’s.

The two rose to depart, but someone had other plans.

Wei Yan, who had been observing them for some time, approached, a wine pot in one hand and a cup in the other.

He completely ignored Wei Zheng, his inquisitive gaze fixed on Wei San’s face, a flash of admiration in his eyes.

"This must be Young Master Sui Yun, the one rumored to have my Seventh Brother completely captivated?"

"Everyone says Young Master Sui Yun possesses heavenly beauty. I thought it mere gossip, but now that I see him, those rumors were indeed true."

Wei Yan possessed a fierce temperament, with no preference for men or women, and often collected beauties of all kinds. But someone like Wei San—cold, proud, yet pure and untainted in demeanor—was a first for him.

"Would Young Master Sui Yun do me the honor of sharing a drink?" He swayed the wine pot slightly, his eyes filled with worldly desire and implication.

Wei Yan’s open flirtation with the man beside him instantly darkened Wei Zheng’s expression. He gripped Wei San’s hand, stepping forward to shield him, then said with a forced smile, "Fifth Brother, this is someone I went to great lengths to acquire. Surely you don’t mean to try to take him from me?"

Wei Zheng showed no regard for saving face, tearing off the veil of pretense outright. The previously relaxed atmosphere instantly grew tense and hostile.

The officials all paused, tucking their hands into their sleeves as they watched with curiosity, clearly eager for drama.

Even the Crown Prince, who had been preparing to leave, shook out his robes and sat back down, holding his wine cup as he observed the scene impassively.

Wei Yan acted as though he had only just noticed Wei Zheng, feigning ignorance as he said, "Seventh Brother, you misunderstand. Fifth Brother was only thinking that, although this male favorite holds no official status, strictly speaking, he could be considered my brother's partner. Shouldn’t a brother's partner offer a drink to her elder brother?"

His expression was dazed, as though already somewhat drunk, as if he were merely spouting nonsense in his intoxication, completely unaware of how shocking his words were.

The Fifth Prince acknowledging a mere male favorite as his brother's partner? Where would that leave the future legitimate mistress of the Virtuous Prince’s household? Even if the Virtuous Prince's wife were to come later, this would still damage her reputation, and she might well be ridiculed behind her back by the noble ladies.

How could the Virtuous Prince's wife compare to a male favorite, receiving recognition first? What noble-born daughter would tolerate such an insult?

Wei Yan’s drunken ramblings were truly vicious.

Wei San cared deeply about the fact that his presence might hinder his master’s future marriage prospects. Unable to hold back, he coldly cut off Wei Yan’s nonsense: "Fifth Prince, you must not speak recklessly. This commoner is but a lowly man, unworthy of being called your brother's partner."

Hearing him retort, Wei Yan grew even more intrigued. He pressed aggressively, "Are you not Seventh Brother’s male favorite?"

Wei San wore an expression of humiliated indignation, gritting his teeth as he flicked his sleeve. "This commoner may currently find himself in a subservient position, but it is not by my own will."

Hearing these words, many among the officials couldn’t help but feel pity for Sui Yun, their previously scornful attitudes softening slightly—this naturally included the Grand Tutor.

After a moment’s thought, the Grand Tutor came to a realization. Sui Yun had been forcibly taken by the Virtuous Prince. With no power, influence, or connections in the capital, even if he wished to resist, he had no means to do so. Yet, seeing his scholarly integrity, it was clear he must be inwardly unwilling to yield.

A forced melon is not sweet. It seemed he would have to find an opportunity to reason with the Virtuous Prince and persuade him to set the young man free.

While others might have been moved and refrained from causing further trouble, Wei Yan was deliberately picking a fight under the guise of drunkenness. He sneered, "Willing or not, the fact remains that you are Seventh Brother’s male favorite. As such, you should offer me a drink."

"Even setting aside your status as a male favorite, you are but a commoner. As the Fifth Prince, if I ask you to offer a drink, should you not comply?"

His words made it clear: Wei San had to drink this wine.

Wei San frowned, his expression uneasy. He was not a drinker at all, as an assassin needed to remain absolutely clear-headed at all times—otherwise, he might lose his life without even knowing how.

The Fifth Prince’s wine cup was already right before him. If he continued to refuse, it would seem as though he were looking down on the Fifth Prince.

Just as he raised his hand to accept it, Wei Zheng suddenly pressed down on Wei Yan’s wrist.

"Elder Brother, if you dislike me, so be it. But must you take it out on Sui Yun because of me?"