History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 197 Searching for Confucian Scholars
"So reckless!" Hun Yu Niang scolded first, then explained the situation: "It was all thanks to Matchmaker Luo's carefulness. Her fifth son works as a broker in the north of Luoshui. A few days ago, when he came home and was complaining to Matchmaker Luo, he mentioned a family surnamed Wei. Matchmaker Luo asked where the Wei family came from. Her fifth son then said that the contract between them said... Hengzhou, Pingcheng."

Zong Yin pouted, "Hmph, I thought it was some confirmed news. There are a lot of people with the surname Wei in Pingcheng."

“I haven’t finished yet!” Hun Yu Niang poked the boy’s forehead hard. “Cao Wulang can’t remember the name of Captain Qi Fu’s family, but Matchmaker Luo has met Captain Qi Fu’s parents and they match Wulang’s description perfectly. Coincidentally, the couple only had one girl with them, and her age matches Captain Qi Fu’s.”

Zong Yin was both excited and anxious: "If it really is her, how will I find her?"

Hun Yu Niang pointed to the food and said, "Eat your meal, change into clean clothes, take the gifts and go to Matchmaker Luo. Since she told me about this, she must have a way to see the Wei family again."

Wei Yao's family had indeed made an appointment with the broker Cao Wulang to continue looking at houses on the north bank of the Luo River this afternoon. Zong Yin followed the matchmaker Luo, pretending to bump into her by chance, and greeted Wei Yao with a bow: "I didn't expect Miss Wei to come to Luoyang as well. I am Zong Yin. Do you still remember me, Miss? We met last May when Cui Xueguan was studying in the suburbs of Pingcheng."

Wei Yao ignored the man and said to her parents, "I don't know him."

Zhao Zhi stepped in front of her daughter and only shouted one word at Zong Yin: "Get out!"

The matchmaker, Luo, said with a forced smile, "Master Wei..."

Zhao Zhi: "You get out too."

Cao Wulang was the first to get agitated: "Hey? How can you talk like that!"

Wei Yin said coldly, "You, a real estate agent, don't help buyers find and appraise properties, but instead openly commit crimes and collude with private matchmakers..."

Cao Wulang didn't bother to listen to the rest of the conversation. He stepped forward to shove Wei Yin, but Zhao Zhi grabbed his wrist and threw him onto Luo the matchmaker, causing Zong Yin to fall to the ground as well.

The three of them felt guilty and in the wrong, and dared not make a scene or escalate the situation. They could only watch helplessly as the Wei family left.

Wei Yi's Residence.

In the study in the front courtyard, Steward Lu led five friends and servants in. Steward Lu presented the list of the current residents of Songlin Villa beforehand, and then handed over a scroll containing the name, age, and brief resume of each resident.

Without looking at the complete list, Wei Bao called out the retainers in order: "Wei Jing."

He shared the same name as A Jing. Wei Mao glanced at the man; this middle-aged man was one of the two scholars who lived in the courtyard with Wei Yao's family.

Wei Rusheng stepped forward awkwardly: "My name is Wei Rijing."

Wei Mao picked up the complete list to cover his mouth and stifle a laugh. Wei Bao looked at Steward Lu with displeasure. The latter was sweating profusely and explained, "It was written by my eldest son. I will definitely deal with him when we get back."

Wei Mao sat down to the side, listening to Wei Rijing introduce himself while opening the list. His indifferent attitude turned into a shock when he saw the last name, "Wei Yin," as if tiny pomegranate blossoms were exploding on the paper, making his face flush, his eyes burn, and his heart pound.

Yaoyao has arrived in Beijing.

Wei Mao slowly calmed himself down, beckoned Steward Lu to come closer, and asked in a low voice, "Wei Yin, are you from Pingcheng?"

"Yes. Does Moro know him?"

“Wei Yin is no ordinary disciple. He taught me, he taught my elder brother, and he is also the father of my fellow disciple.”

Manager Lu broke out in a sweat again and quickly offered a suggestion: "Shall I bring Wei Yin over right now?" "How can a master come to see his disciple?"

"But, but..." But there's no rule that the master should go to see the gatekeeper. Steward Lu stammered, unable to bear the Third Young Master's displeasure any longer. He could sense that the Third Young Master was the most difficult person to serve in the master's household.

Wei Mao wouldn't act rashly. He took the list and went directly to his mother. However, he didn't expect that his mother would remember without him reminding her and would praise him: "Master Wei Yin, yes, he taught your elder brother. When you were young, he praised you for your integrity and advised your father not to be too strict with you."

“I didn’t have Steward Lu bring Master Wei to see me. He’s a member of our family, but he’s also the father of my fellow student, Wei Yao. Their family wouldn’t have moved to the capital for no reason. Wei Yao is the top poet in Hengzhou, so I guess it might be related to the new education magistrate. Mother, true talents shouldn’t be treated like servants just because they are struggling financially. Wasn’t that the original intention you and Father had when you built the Pine Forest Villa?”

Lu Luo looked at her son with delight and nodded: "You're really sensible. I need to write these words down for your father so he can be happy too. Then I'll have your father inquire about the political affairs related to the new school decree. Since the Wei Yin family has moved into the Pine Forest Villa, there's no rush. Let Steward Lu tell them that your father will meet with Master Wei Yin alone when he returns. This way, we won't break the rules, and our family won't seem impolite."

Wei Mao pretended to be troubled: "I know that my fellow disciple Wei Yao has come, but I feel bad about talking to her alone, but it would be even worse if I didn't talk to her. Mother, please give me some advice."

"Silly. Isn't Wei Zhen still in the capital? Why don't you invite her to go play with Wei Yao?"

“Wei Zhen has returned to her hometown. I remember now, Lu Baozhen and Wei Yao were good friends when they were in Pingcheng, so I called Lu Baozhen over.”

During the hottest part of the afternoon, inside the Qianqiu Gate of the Imperial Palace, there is a high platform called Lingyun Terrace on the north side of the road. Below the platform is a pond called Bihai Quchi, which is quite cool. Wei Yi and several other officials and gentry sought refuge from the heat there. When they saw the burly Prince Rencheng approaching, they quickly found places to hide.

“Wei Yi”.

What bad luck. Wei Yi was stopped, thinking he was about to be scolded, but unexpectedly, the Prince of Rencheng really had something to ask him. "Help me find out about someone. The Seventh Prince met a Confucian scholar who was good at reciting poetry in the orchard in Yinianli. It's near your residence. Go and find out the scholar's background. After you find out, tell the clerk or chief clerk in your residence."

Wei Yi took the opportunity to return home. The orchard in Yinian was long and narrow, with dense trees stretching from the back of Songlin Villa all the way to the Qinghe Prince's Mansion. He did not enter his house for the time being, but asked the gatekeeper to call Steward Lu from Songlin Villa. After entering the orchard, he could see many children playing in groups.

Wei Yi asked, "Are there so many children in the orchard every day?"

Steward Lu replied, "Yes. Because the mistress treats the servants well and never assigns any work to the servants' children under seven years old, the servants' children, along with the children of former officials and gatekeepers, all love to play in the orchard, making this place the most lively."

Wei Yiqian grunted in acknowledgment and on his way back to the manor, Steward Lu mentioned Wei Yin. Observing his words and expressions, he finally realized that Wei Yin was different from the other servants.

When Lu Luo saw her husband return, she was both delighted and surprised: "I was just thinking of writing you a letter tomorrow."

Wei Yi gently pinched his wife's nose and smiled smugly: "Missed me? This time I can rest at home for two days and spend some quality time with you and Mao'er."

"Don't blame me for scolding you, ever since Mao'er came back, you've been so carefree. If you keep spoiling him like this, be careful that the brothers don't get along! Jin'er just said he wanted to go on a trip."

Wei Yi scratched his head in distress: "Of the three sons, I actually like Jin'er the most. Since he wants to travel, let's take advantage of the peace and go quickly."

Lu Luo asked nervously, "What do you mean? What does 'taking advantage of peace' mean?"

"The Prince of Rencheng was assassinated in the trading area, but thankfully he escaped unharmed. For so many years, no one has dared to cause trouble in the main market of Luoyang. This is a sign of impending chaos!" He returned to the previous topic, "If it weren't for that widower Yuan Zhi constantly trying to snatch the baby, would I have been able to keep such a close watch on him?"

“Mao’er has grown up. Don’t be like before, always calling him ‘little brat’! By the way, there’s something I want to tell you.”

(End of this chapter)