Chapter 48: An Immature Suggestion

The courtyard of Wei Jianming, which should have been quiet and dark by now, was brightly lit. From inside came the anguished cries of Madam Wei, “General! General, you can’t take Jianming to see the officials! If he goes to the authorities, his life will be ruined! General!”

“Father, I beg you, spare me this once,” Wei Jianming pleaded through tears. “I swear I won’t dare do it again!”

“Today he dares to maim someone, tomorrow he might kill!” Wei Zhaoxian was furious. “I thought he was just a bit spoiled and reckless, but not inherently bad. I never imagined he could be so vicious, willing to ruin someone’s future just because of his own whims.”

“Someone like him, even if he passed the imperial exams, would only bring harm as an official,” Wei Zhaoxian raged. “Let me be clear – even if he passed, I’d find a way to have him removed from office!”

“General, Shen Shilang has already barred him from taking the metropolitan examination. He has no chance of passing now!” Madam Wei sobbed. “He’s already been punished!”

“Punishment? You call that punishment? Shilang spared him out of respect for me, preserving face for him and our family. He’s just barred from the exam but still retains his status. Yet he nearly ruined another family’s child’s future!”

“What other family’s child?!” Madam Wei’s eyes were bloodshot as she screamed at Wei Zhaoxian. “All these years, did you think I was a fool? If it was just someone else’s child, why would you treat him better than your own son?!”

“Why does Jianming resent Shen Shilang? Isn’t it because you’ve always favored Shen Shilang over him since childhood?” Madam Wei shouted.

“What nonsense are you spouting?!” Wei Zhaoxian’s eyes bulged with rage. “You’re insulting me!”

“Fine, fine. No wonder you’ve been so cold to Shilang. So this is what you’ve been thinking all along.” Wei Zhaoxian was utterly disappointed. He nodded repeatedly, “Since marrying you, I’ve never done anything to wrong you. If you suspect me like this, I might as well make it true. I’ll bring in a new woman, so you can stop suspecting I’m hiding someone outside.”

Wei Zhaoxian truly didn’t understand what his wife was thinking. If he really had such intentions, why would he hide someone outside? He could have just brought them into the mansion.

Madam Wei’s eyes widened in panic. She hurriedly clutched Wei Zhaoxian’s arm, “General, please don’t bring anyone in. General, I beg you…”

Wei Jianming was stunned to see his mother now only begging his father not to take in a new woman, completely forgetting about him. Wasn’t the issue of his father wanting to take him to the officials more important right now?

“General, Young Master Shen requests an audience.” The voice of Steward Ning from outside interrupted the crying and commotion within.

Wei Zhaoxian opened the door and came out, seeing a figure in white robes standing in the moonlight outside the courtyard, looking especially cold and lonely.

Wei Zhaoxian sighed and quickly walked out to the courtyard, knowing Shen Shilang was avoiding involvement in the uproar inside.

“Shilang, I’ll definitely give you an explanation this time,” Wei Zhaoxian said, almost too ashamed to face Shen Shilang directly. “They went too far!”

“General.” Shen Shilang stopped Wei Zhaoxian, first bowing respectfully before continuing, “General, if you really take Wei Jianming to see the officials, as you said, his life will be ruined. You’ll also lose face and even be tainted, giving your future opponents ammunition to attack you.”

“That doesn’t matter. I don’t care. What future does he have to ruin? He’ll amount to nothing anyway. If he really became an official, it’s the common people who would suffer,” Wei Zhaoxian said angrily.

Shen Shilang shook his head and said, “As parents, we always hope for the best for our children.”

“Wei Jianming has many faults, but under your strict discipline, General, at least until now, he hasn’t dared to frequent brothels. Places like Cuiyun pavilion, he wouldn’t dare set foot in. At least he has some bottom line.”

“I think people with principles are not beyond teaching,” Shen Shilang said. “Use the metropolitan examination as a condition. Let him reform himself. When he’s truly changed, then he can take the exam. Helping him correct his ways is better than ruining his future.”

“But every time he does something to harm you, he faces no consequences!” Wei Zhaoxian said angrily.

“Not being able to take the metropolitan examination is his punishment,” Shen Shilang said. “I have one more immature suggestion.”

“Please, go ahead,” Wei Zhaoxian urged. How could Shen Shilang’s suggestion be immature?

“Brother Jianlang has been by your side since childhood, growing up in the military. Now, like you, General, he’s loyal and upright, protecting the country. Wei Jianming has become what he is now because he’s been too protected at home.”

“While you and Brother Jianlang risk your lives outside, leaving him, a grown man, to enjoy life at home, committing mistakes under Madam Wei’s protection, has led to the current situation,” Shen Shilang said. “Why don’t you take Wei Jianming to the military for training, starting as a common soldier? Let him understand the hardships outside, the difficulties of serving the people. If he wants military merit, let him earn it with his own hands. If he wants a future, let him work for it.”

“In the future, if he improves, he can choose whether to continue in the military or take the imperial examinations.”

Wei Zhaoxian’s eyes lit up, “You’re right. I originally thought he was too spoiled and useless to go to the military, fearing he’d be a burden to others. But now I see, we must let him experience military life. Perhaps through this tempering, he can truly grow.”

Seeing he had convinced the General, Shen Shilang bowed to Wei Zhaoxian, “Then I shall take my leave.”

“Go back and rest well,” Wei Zhaoxian hurriedly said. “My good-for-nothing son has caused you trouble again.”

Shen Shilang smiled and left.

As soon as Wei Zhaoxian entered the courtyard, he saw Madam Wei and Wei Jianming hiding in the shadows.

Wei Zhaoxian said coldly, “You heard everything Shen said?”

“General…” Madam Wei wanted to plead again. Wei Jianming had grown up in luxury at home; how could he endure the hardships of military life?

“Silence!” Wei Zhaoxian became angry at the sight of Madam Wei. “Or would you prefer I take him to see the officials?”

Madam Wei trembled and dared not say more.

Going to the military was still better than facing the officials.

Moreover, Wei Jianlang could look after Wei Jianming in the military.

When Wei Jianlang returned, she could speak to him about taking good care of Wei Jianming and keeping him away from dangerous situations.

Wei Jianming’s lips trembled uncontrollably. Thinking of life in the military, he realized he could no longer go drinking with Ke Hongbin and the others at Huizhen restaurant, nor lie at home being fed fruits by maids.

Unable to eat, drink, and be merry anymore, Wei Jianming felt his future was hopeless, his entire life turning gray.

Wei Jianming thought bitterly that although he had no choice but to go to the military, he must not let Shen Shilang off before leaving.

But then he heard Wei Zhaoxian say, “Come with me.”

“Where… where are we going?” Wei Jianming stammered, confused.