38 Ashes to Ashes

Wei Tian Ao turned, his eyes falling upon an unfamiliar older official. He had seen the man before at morning court, which he had begun observing a few days' prior, but did not know who he was. Anticipating Wei Tian Ao's confusion, the older man bowed. "This one is Yan Jin Hai."

Who could not understand after hearing that? Wei Tian Ao stepped aside to avoid part of Yan Jin Hai's bow. "So it is Duke Ning. Please, there is no need to stand on ceremony. As a junior, I should have introduced myself to you sooner."

"Not at all, not at all. You are, after all, a future prince. How can this one possibly be counted as your senior?"

The two continued batting pleasantries and modestness back and forth like that for a few minutes before the duke cleared his throat. "We have received your household's betrothal gifts, but I was wondering if I could make a...somewhat impolite request." The duke's voice was lowered.

Wei Tian Ao waved his arm, a signal for his servants to take some steps back to give him and the duke some space. "You are too polite. We will be family in the future. If it is within my abilities, I am happy to grant your request."

"I suspect that there is much that your highness is not aware of yet. And before you could even get used to this unfamiliar place, a bride was even pushed at you."

There wasn't a good moment for Wei Tian Ao to interject that Yan Qiu Yue had hardly been "pushed" at him. But perhaps it was only Yi Cheng Rui who fully recognized just how much she meant to him. "What is Duke Ning suggesting?"

"This humble one would like to invite you to the Ning Estate to talk. It would be difficult to have a good conversation here in the palace. Let us receive you so that we can talk about the upcoming nuptials." The duke's tone was even and undisturbed as if the whole affair meant nothing to him. Of course, everyone in the capital knew how much he treated his daughter like a pearl in his palm.

"Why, this is hardly a request at all!" Wei Tian Ao forced himself to laugh. Did it sound convincingly carefree and light? He wasn't sure. "I am more than happy to drop by the estate when it is most convenient for Duke Ning." The wedding was, after all, only two months away. He didn't know much about marriage, as he hadn't anticipated getting married so soon, but Wei Tian Ao knew that there were a lot of things that one had to consider. It was only natural that the duke would have things to talk about it.

Really, he should have come to the estate much sooner. Feeling embarrassed, Wei Tian Ao said to the duke, "I am ashamed that the duke had to invite me. I really should have come to visit the estate of my own accord. I have been engaged to your daughter for some time, but have done nothing to--" Before he could say "show my sincerity", he was interrupted by the duke.

"Not at all, not at all!" Yan Jin Hai performed a cupped salute. "One knows that Prince Rui-shizi has had much on your mind these days. This one is the one being impolite. I am naturally delighted that you are willing to visit."

This interruption caught Wei Tian Ao somewhat off-guard. He coughed as he thought to himself that really, there was no need to talk to the duke about "sincerity" and his feelings for the duke's daughter. It would be rather embarrassing, after all. "Of course. Shall I visit next week?" After all, new year's festivities would go on for a while yet. The new year was a time to spend with family and he hardly wanted to intrude.

"Of course, whatever Prince Rui-shizi desires."

"Then... I shall come to the Duke Ning estate in another week." Wei Tian Ao confirmed. The duke bowed again before saying his farewells and walking back towards his family. When Wei Tian Ao turned back, both Yan Qiu Yue and Wei Hong Sheng had moved on to read other poems. Still, he could hear the gossip going on around him.

"How interesting that both the Yan family's fourth miss and Prince Rui-shi...that is, Wei Hong Sheng, both wrote about wild geese!"

"Is that the connection of two who were formerly betrothed? He he..."

"Still, the Yan miss's poem is really too... unique."

Everyone was amused at the parallels between the poems, but it was universally held that Yan Qiu Yue's poem was rather poor. Or, if one was polite, it was straightforward. That's the sense that Wei Tian Ao got from it, anyway.

Though Wei Hong Sheng's couplet was rather one of the best ones, he was quietly snubbed by the emperor, who bestowed rewards down upon three other poets instead. This was within his predictions, so Wei Hong Sheng showed no reaction. However, few noticed that Princess Rui looked rather unhappy at this turn of events.

"Sheng'er..." As the banquet drew to a close and people began to leave, Princess Rui walked up to catch up to her son whom she hadn't seen in weeks.

"Princess Consort Rui." Wei Hong Sheng bowed, his back straight as a board.

The cold form of address caused Princess Rui to stagger. This was her son, the Hong Sheng who used to run up to her, hug her around her knees, and exclaim "Mother!" in a cute voice. Yet the man in front of her was a stranger now somehow, one whom she had no idea how to interact with. Who had ever seen such a soft, hesitant Princess Rui?

"Have you been well?" she finally asked, afraid that if she didn't say something he would immediately leave.

"Thanks to Princess Consort's grace." Wei Hong Sheng had yet to rise from his bow.

"You..." His words completely did not give her any room to continue the conversation. "If you ever need anything..."

"This humble one is doing fine. Princess Consort need not worry."

Princess Rui let out a sigh. She steeled her gaze before saying, "Be well, then. I wish you happiness." and walking off with her retinue. Wei Hong Sheng did not respond to her final words and waited until her footsteps could no longer be heard before rising out of his bow.

"Is there a need to speak to her so coldly?" The fourth prince raised an eyebrow. "One knows she is not really your mother, but still... She raised you all these years."

Wei Hong Sheng only smiled. After all, only he knew that one ought not to reward evil deeds with good. He walked away, leaving Wei Xie Liang confused in his wake.

A short while later, the Yan family was on their way home. Yan Qiu Yue had bid farewell to her cousins before climbing aboard one of the Duke Ning estate carriages with her mother. "It is finished." Duchess Ning stated, her voice somewhat forlorn.

"Mm." Yan Qiu Yue replied. She was staring out the carriage window at the darkening evening sky.

"You remember what we agreed on?"

"Yes, Mother. I have already started on the embroidery." Yan Qiu Yue's voice was distant--not cold, exactly, but lacking in warmth all the same. "It will be finished in time."

"Good." Silence reigned for a time in the carriage. Only the sound of horses and wheels could be heard. Finally, the duchess spoke up once more. "Towards Wei Hong Sheng, you..."

"Mother." Yan Qiu Yue looked up, finally meeting her mother's eyes. "What one must let go of, one will naturally let go. I understand who I will be marrying. I have no desire to act out a tragic play of heartache and star-crossed love." She returned her gaze to the scenery outside the window. "You know I have always been practical."

The duchess understood what kind of person her daughter was. Yan Qiu Yue had never been one to fixate on things. Yet even this pained Duchess Ning. Was it too much to hope for her daughter to experience affection and happiness like other young girls her age? Even as she thought this, the duchess already knew the answer. The moment Yan Qiu Yue had been bestowed in marriage by the emperor, any chance of her experiencing normal happiness was wiped clean away.

Whatever small, inexplicable feelings she'd developed towards Wei Hong Sheng would be voluntarily snuffed out, the ashes and smoke carried away by the night wind.