Early the next morning, Wei Ji accompanied Chu Shaoling to have breakfast and then left the palace. Chu Shaoling opened the storehouse early and had Wang Muhan pack up quite a few things, including more than a dozen bolts of top-quality brocade. Chu Shaoling didn't even have a concubine, so these brightly colored fabrics would just be left unused in Bitao Palace. Chu Shaoling simply had Wei Ji take them back to pay respects to Old Madam Wei and Madam Jiang.

Wei Ji hadn't been home for over a month. Old Madam Wei held her little grandson and talked for a good while, smiling: "The palace indeed nourishes people well. This child is getting taller and his complexion looks much better. But I heard your father say there's no guarantee when on duty, and there are times when you can't eat properly. Is that true?"

Wei Ji's face turned red. This was indeed true, but he usually ate together with Chu Shaoling. Not only did he not miss meals, if he ate a little less, Chu Shaoling would scold him. How could it be the same as the real guards? Every day after eating, Chu Shaoling would also have him drink nourishing soups and porridges, so of course his complexion would be very good.

The more Old Madam Wei looked at her grandson, the more satisfied she became. She said softly: "Your mother was a bit unwell a few days ago, having caught a chill. She didn't dare tell you all. She's much better now, go see her."

Hearing this, Wei Ji immediately got up to go to the inner courtyard to see Madam Jiang. Madam Jiang was wearing casual clothes, leaning on the bed drinking medicine. Seeing her son come, she put down the medicine bowl and smiled lightly: "Come here, let me look at you."

Wei Ji walked over and sat on the bed. He took the medicine bowl beside him and tasted it. Fortunately, it was just medicine like licorice for clearing internal heat. Madam Jiang hurriedly stopped him, scolding lightly: "Nonsense! Medicine can't be taken casually. I've been fine for a while, it's just that the imperial physician said to drink more medicinal soups for a few more days. It's nothing."

Madam Jiang smiled and scooted over, embracing Wei Ji in her arms. She smiled: "Silly child, did you see your grandmother?"

"I did." Wei Ji nestled in his mother's embrace and said softly: "Next time if you're unwell again, you must have someone tell me. The prince is benevolent and will definitely allow me to come back to attend to you."

Madam Jiang laughed: "It was just a bit of discomfort from the changing seasons, nothing worth alarming anyone over. I didn't even tell your older brother. Now that your father is away, I have few matters to attend to each day. After resting quietly for two days, I was fine. No matter how well the prince treats you, you must know your place early on. How can you come and go as you please?"

Wei Ji felt bad that he didn't even know when his mother was sick. A mother knows her son's thoughts best. Madam Jiang felt both gratified and comforted. She held Wei Ji, caressing him incessantly. Wei Ji still said in a low voice: "The prince will definitely allow it. Mother, next time you must tell me."

Madam Jiang smiled and undid Wei Ji's hair clasp, loosely tying his hair in a ponytail. Wei Ji comfortably laid his head on Madam Jiang's lap, enjoying his mother's caresses. Wei Ji turned his head and his collar opened slightly. Madam Jiang's hand paused and the smile at the corners of her mouth instantly froze.

Where Wei Ji's collar fell open, a few red marks were revealed. The color wasn't deep but it was exceptionally eye-catching. Madam Jiang felt like someone had poured a basin of ice water over her head, chilling her body from the inside out.

Madam Jiang tried hard to find a reasonable explanation for these few ambiguous marks. She asked softly: "Is Prince Qin, is the prince good to you? I've heard that many masters in the palace have bad tempers and it's common for them to punish those beside them."

Wei Ji closed his eyes and nuzzled into Madam Jiang's embrace. He smiled: "Mother, don't believe those rumors. The prince's temperament isn't at all like what they say outside. The prince is very good to me and hasn't..." Wei Ji suddenly thought this wasn't quite right to say. He had been slapped once before. But then he remembered Chu Shaoling said he definitely wouldn't hit him again in the future. He continued: "He hasn't hit me. Mother, don't worry."

Not from being hit, then it could only be... Madam Jiang closed her eyes. She had two sons herself, so she naturally understood how those marks came to be. Wei Ji was in Bitao Palace every day and the rules in the palace were strict. This certainly couldn't be from fooling around with some palace maid. If not a palace maid, then it could only be...

Last night they had agreed that Wei Ji would go home for two days. Chu Shaoling was reluctant to part and the two of them had been quite intimate for a while. Chu Shaoling had always been mindful that Wei Ji was young and had never gone too far, but he was at an age where he was easily aroused. How could he control himself? They had gotten carried away in their intimacy, leaving some marks on Wei Ji's body.

Wei Ji had gone to bed late last night and was sleepy now. He dozed off leaning against Madam Jiang. Madam Jiang looked at Wei Ji's still somewhat childish profile, her heart filled with uncertainty. Outside, Old Madam called for someone to send things over.

A maid came in, followed by two older women carrying brocades. The maid smiled: "These are the rewards that Young Master brought back from the palace. Old Madam said these fabrics are good but too bright. It isn't suitable for Old Madam to use them, so she kept a brown bolt with the 'fortune' character and left the rest for Madam to use as you see fit."

Wei Ji opened his eyes to take a look and murmured softly: "These are what the prince usually rewards me. I just brought them back. Mother, keep them to make clothes to wear."

Hearing this, Madam Jiang's heart was thrown into even more turmoil. She nodded and said indifferently: "I just made a few sets of clothes and don't need to make more for now. Send them to the storehouse."

The maid bowed and left. Madam Jiang looked at her younger son in her arms, slightly lost in thought. Wei Ji yawned and closed his eyes again. Madam Jiang tidied her hair and said softly: "Good child, there's still an hour until lunch is served. You're already sleepy. I'll take off your outer clothes and you can lie here with me for a bit."

Wei Ji was too sleepy to open his eyes. He nodded and undressed himself. Madam Jiang got up to help him take off his clothes, pretending not to see those marks, and straightened his inner garments. Suddenly, she saw the exquisite, fine gold chain around Wei Ji's neck. Madam Jiang's hand paused. There was nothing her son wore that she didn't know about. Where did this come from?

Wei Ji laid down and pulled the covers over himself. Madam Jiang sat by the bed to keep him company for a while. When Wei Ji fell sound asleep, she slowly lifted the covers a bit and gently picked up the gold chain. The pendant hanging from the chain followed, pulled out from the inner garments - a gold coiled dragon inlaid with precious gems pendant with delicate tassels. Madam Jiang had never seen such a valuable item. Madam Jiang looked closely at the characters on it and her heart sank. So it really was from the prince...

Madam Jiang slowly sat on a couch to the side, her heart filled with complex emotions. Many things from before now had an explanation - why her younger son was promoted again and again, why Marquis Zijun would promote Wei Zhan, why Wei Ming could gain the eldest prince's favor...

Unlike her husband who was good at maneuvering, Madam Jiang only knew how to support her husband and educate her children. She didn't have any extravagant expectations for her husband and son's future, only hoping for the whole family to be healthy and safe. Now her younger son had gotten into this kind of situation.

Madam Jiang understood her son's temperament the best. Wei Ji would never do anything to curry favor or flatter superiors. If it wasn't Wei Ji, then it must be that His Highness had taken a liking to her son. Madam Jiang felt bitter in her heart. Wei Ji had a pure and kind nature and had never done a single bad thing since he was young. How could her son have gotten into this kind of situation?

Looking at her son, he didn't seem to be under duress. But of course, someone as lofty as the Crown Prince could promote people in the residence one by one. Her son must be grateful for the grace. It's just that this kind of thing can never see the light of day. If others found out, how would Wei Ji get married in the future?

Letting things be was definitely not an option, but what else could be done? The grace of the imperial family can only be repaid with gratitude, it's not like it can be refused, right? Madam Jiang's heart was in turmoil, but she didn't dare discuss it with anyone else. She sat alone, lost in thought. The maids quietly entered and changed the desserts on the table. Madam Jiang glanced over and said softly, "The young master loves walnut cookies, why weren't they prepared?"

The maid smiled, glanced at Wei Ji lying on the couch inside, and said softly, "The old madam had already instructed the kitchen to make new ones for the young master to eat, but they haven't been sent over yet."

Madam Jiang nodded and casually instructed, "He can't eat almonds. Tell the kitchen not to mix those dried fruits together carelessly."

The maid nodded, "The young master has gotten sick from eating almonds since he was young. The cooks all know and wouldn't dare be careless."

Madam Jiang paused, her heart pondering.

Chu Shaoling had granted Wei Ji two days off, but by the second day at the You hour, Wei Ji still hadn't returned. Wang Muhan hurriedly entered the hall with a message from outside to explain to Chu Shaoling, "The people from the Wei Manor sent a greeting note saying that Lord Wei is slightly ill and cannot return to the palace for now."

Chu Shaoling's face instantly darkened, "Slightly ill?! Did they say what illness he got?"

Wang Muhan also looked puzzled and said, "According to the people from the Wei Manor, Lord Wei suddenly developed a fever last night and now has red rashes on his body, unsuitable to be seen."

Chu Shaoling was silent for a moment before saying, "Go to the Imperial Physician Institute and request for Doctor Zhang to make a trip to the Wei Manor. Have him properly examine Wei Ji. After taking his pulse, send the medical record back to me."