Flickering Candle Flame

While the matters of Prince Rui's family were the hottest gossip in Yinchuan for a good while, no topic would stay on top forever. Soon, a scandal regarding this or that baron's daughter running off with a poor scholar or the corruption of a governor in the east took over. After a few weeks had gone by, hardly anyone even remembered that there had been a man named Tian Ren who had committed suicide over his guilt from kidnapping Prince Rui's infant son.

On one particularly blustery winter morning, a long line of carts bearing betrothal gifts came to the gates of the Ning Duke Estate once more. What was truly impressive was that Prince Rui's household sent over completely different items from last time. It could be seen just how much wealth Prince Rui had; the servants couldn't help but idly wonder what had been done with the betrothal gifts from last time.

It was the same steward as before, and he was still announcing the contents of dozens of trunks to the point that his voice became hoarse like before. Yet so much had changed--a different fiance, a different Prince Rui-shizi. So, hearing the list of items announced, Yan Qiu Yue did not hold the same feelings as before.

Yan Qiu Heng eyed his sister in a furtive manner. She was keeping her composure, but he noticed that her hand that was tightly gripping a handkerchief was even whiter than usual. Her gaze was unfocused as if she was viewing something very far away.

Though he'd had his suspicions, at this moment everything clicked into place in his mind. Somehow in the last few months, despite the strangeness of their encounters and the mere fleeting moments they'd spent together, Yan Qiu Yue had fallen for Wei Hong Sheng. The practical side of her understood that she would have to marry Wei Tian Ao, but inside, her thoughts were...

He closed his eyes for a few moments to think, sighing inwardly. Yan Qiu Heng knew that this was the first time his sister had felt this sort of affection towards a man. At the moment, it was not yet an unbreakable, unforgettable love. Her feelings were a flickering candle flame struggling to stay lit against the harsh winds of reality.

Should he help her to keep that flame going or would it be best to snuff it out completely? Which would be better for his sister? Yan Qiu Heng knew that he had to find out more about both of Prince Rui's sons before deciding on anything.

In the evening after dinner, Yan Qiu Yue chatted with her mother about the betrothal gifts that had been sent. "The style of the gifts was quite different this time," Duchess Ning stated.

"Oh?"

"Many more of the items were practical in nature this time, whereas the gifts sent by Wei Hong Sheng were more decorative. There were also many special items from Northern Xi."

The difference in how the two grooms thought of her daughter was evident. Inside, Duchess Ning was dissatisfied with this Wei Tian Ao, but he had not grown up in the capital among the nobility. His shortcomings were somewhat understandable. Still, she had to admit that despite all the rumors and his own attitude, Wei Hong Sheng's sentiments towards her daughter as expressed through his choice of betrothal gifts seemed much stronger.

Yan Qiu Yue had been in a daze earlier and not noticed what her mother was now pointing out. "I was under the impression that betrothal gifts were sent by the family." She didn't think that Wei Hong Sheng or Wei Tian Ao actually had a hand in the specific items sent.

"Of course, the matriarch handles a majority of the gifts, but the groom must put in some efforts as well, or else how will their bride feel their sincerity?"

She was in disbelief that Wei Tian Ao had the mind to actually think of gifts to send her right now. From the information that Mu Rong had gathered from outside, she gathered that Wei Tian Ao was currently in an extremely depressed state.

For some reason, Yan Qiu Yue's mind traveled to that painting that she had "gifted" Wei Hong Sheng. He had said that he'd add the painting to her dowry. The implication had been that while she was giving it to him, it would still be hers in the future when she married in. Now that the relationship between them had completely dissolved, what would become of that painting? Did he really keep it or had he only been teasing her?

Yan Qiu Yue had the vague thought that if Wei Hong Sheng returned that painting to her, she could then finally lay these ambiguous feelings to rest.

After bidding her mother good night, Yan Qiu Yue returned to her own courtyard. Her heart still felt heavy. She had no idea what Wei Hong Sheng was currently thinking. He had moved out of Prince Rui's estate to establish his own and bought a sizable property in a rich suburb of Yinchuan. The estate was still relatively close to the imperial palace, but with him so far removed from Prince Rui's estate, news about Wei Hong Sheng was hard to come by. When he'd left, he did not bring many servants with him. Wei Hong Sheng had never married nor taken any bedwarmers. As far as Yan Qiu Yue knew, it was just him and a handful of servants living in that huge place.

"Young Miss..." Mu Rong's voice was soft.

"Hmm?"

"I have heard some news about Prince Rui-shiz--that is, Wei Hong Sheng."

Yan Qiu Yue motioned for her maid to continue.

"Apparently he has been trying to establish more of a relationship with Wei Tian Ao, but has been rebuffed. I hear that Wei Hong Sheng hasn't left his estate in days."

Yan Qiu Yue frowned. "In the end, no matter what, they are still brothers. How can Wei Tian Ao be so cruel as to reject Wei Hong Sheng's sincere efforts to befriend him?" She paused, realizing her words weren't quite right. How would she know if Wei Hong Sheng's efforts were truly sincere or not? The brothers hadn't known of the other's existence these 20 years. They might be brothers by blood, but their relationship at present was that of strangers.

"Will both of them be going to the New Year's banquet in the palace?" The emperor held one every year. Pretty much all nobles that were at least a Marquis could go. Yan Qiu Yue and Yan Qiu Heng, who had skipped out on the Mid-Autumn banquet, couldn't afford to miss this one, too. It might be interesting for them to switch places, but she had been thoroughly embarrassed by her last attempt. Who knew what words her brother had used to explain that incident to Hua Yan Ting?

Mu Rong hesitated. "I believe so. People are whispering that the emperor is trying to fan the flames and let Prince Rui's two sons be in conflict on purpose." For an emperor, it was best if all of his ministers and potential heirs were in check. Better still if they checked each other so he didn't have to worry about them striking at him.

What a cruel and calculating man! For his own ambitions, he could contribute to breaking up a family and pitting two brothers against each other? Yan Qiu Yue sighed. Her days ahead in Prince Rui's household wouldn't be simple. With the emperor so wary against them, how could Prince Rui ever achieve his goals? How could she dare to be carefree?