Chapter 46

46 A childish promise

” Husband,” Zhai Chenguang’s eyes teared up with pearly see-through tears as she stared at the man with whom she promised to spend the rest of her life but could not fulfil it. She died leaving him all alone in this world and he was now leaving a lonely life waiting for his time to come such that he will be able to come and see her. She walked towards Wei Junfen but stopped when she noticed that he was rubbing his arms because of the chill that was emanating from her.

Even though she very much wanted to embrace the man in her arms, Zhai Chenguang knew that she couldn’t do it, after all, if she was to touch him, she will snatch a considerable amount of Yang energy from her husband causing him to go all weak and tired.

Zhai Chenguang knew that her husband worked really hard as a scholar and even though he could have climbed up ranks riding on her coattails, he was very much satisfied with the position of the fifth rank official that he earned with his own strength, this was one of the reasons why she admired him. He was different from all the men she has met and didn’t rely on her like it was a normal thing to do.

She loved him with all her heart and he loved her too, if not then he would not be living alone in that big house without even accepting a legal concubine.

” Junfen sits down,” Grand Dowager Empress’s old face crinkled as she smiled at the middle-aged man who came to see her. She patted the chair that was next to her with a smile as she asked in a soft and jolly voice, ” When did you return from the city of Doughdou? Was the trip to that city all right? Were you able to finish your lectures in peace?”

” Of course,” answered Wu Junfen with a soft smile as he took a seat on the chair next to the grand dowager empress and turned his head slightly such that he was looking at her, every bit of his action was refined and gentle. ” I was able to arrive at the city without any trouble and after I spent time with the children there my uneasy heart calmed down and I was able to change my depressive outlook as well.” He paused and then added swiftly with a smile, ” What I meant to say was that you should come with me on an outing as well Mother Empress, I promise you will feel much better than being cooped in this courtyard of yours.”

His words caused Grand Dowager Empress to feel slightly guilty when her daughter newly married Scholar Wei, she childishly took a promise from him that he would never marry any other woman if she was to die, it was something that Zhai Chenguang spoke in the heat of their newly married life but who would have thought that her words would come true? Now Scholar Wei was living a lonely life without a wife or child fulfilling the promise that he made to her daughter.

” Of course, I will talk with Tianyu, you know how overprotective he can be,” Grand Dowager Empress wished she could tell Scholar Wei to marry again and have a child but she knew that he will get angry, so she didn’t bring up the topic, instead she let him change the topic as he wanted and said, ” What good things did you bring for me from this trip of yours? I bet you came bearing gifts for me, right?”

” Of course, how can I come empty-handed to see you, your majesty?” Scholar Wei smiled as he conceded before turning to his aide and motioning him to bring the things that he has brought for Grand Dowager Empress. His servant boy bowed his head and retreated towards the entrance of the hall before he slid open the door and called all the maids who were standing outside with the gifts that Scholar Wei has brought with him.

.....

A bunch of young maids strolled inside the room carrying bronze plates that were covered with velvety red cloth and placed the gifts on the tea table one by one until the entire table and its surrounding chairs were filled with the gifts that Wei Junfen has brought for the Grand Dowager Empress.

Grand Dowager Empress looked down at the gifts that were placed in front of her and were speechless, she looked at the number of bronze trays that were placed in front of her as she asked in shock, ” Junfen, how many times have I told that I do not need you to buy so many gifts for me? Why do you not listen to what I say?”

Wei Junfen smiled as he motioned his servant boy to lift the cloth of each bronze plate and then spoke in a slightly gentle voice, “I asked you to come with me to the city but you could not come with me your majesty, that is why I brought the entire city for you to look at.” He pointed at the bright red apples that were lined on the trays to the candied Hawthorns that were aligned just next to the apples and then pointed at the silk bolts that were sitting at the centre of the table. ” Doughdou is a small city and does not have many places to visit but their street fruit and apples are really famous, even this silk bolt is of much better quality than other provinces.”

” Junfen you...you are going to spoil me,” Grand Dowager Empress said with an emotional voice as she looked at all the gifts that were piled in front of her and clutched her chest. ” You are one of the sweetest men I have seen in my life.”

Wei Junfen shook his head and simply said, “It’s nothing, your majesty ...now that Chenguang is not here, I will have to make sure that you do not feel lonely. If not for me being so busy, I would come to look for you every day until you get bored of me.”

Grand Dowager Empress waved her hand and said, ” Of course not, I will never be bored of your company, you can come to look for me at any time.” She paused and clapped her hands softly as she asked in a slightly exclaiming voice, ” Oh before I forget, did you have dinner?”

” No, your majesty.”

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