I've Got This Cannon Fodder Trope Covered!

Chapter 6

It wasn't until after Wei Hanzhang and Wei Yunpei were born that Madam Jiang stopped giving the concubines birth control, allowing Shen Shi to have two more sons.

At this point, with a son and daughter and support from her maternal family, Madam Jiang's position as the main wife was solid. She couldn't have foreseen that Shen Shi would eventually replace her.

Thinking of this, Wei Hanzhang frowned slightly. Having been given life by her mother, she was determined not to let a concubine take everything from her.

Even if that concubine was the original protagonist.

It's rather absurd—such a thing would never happen in a strict marquisate or even an ordinary official family. She wanted to see what kind of person Shen Shi was.

Unfortunately, neither Wei Heng nor Madam Jiang intended to familiarize their daughter with his concubines.

After the servants and concubines paid their respects to Wei Hanzhang, Madam Jiang introduced her to her two half-brothers. The presence of Wei Heng's concubines was even less significant than favored maids.

At least Madam Jiang's dowry maids had the chance to look up and recognize the little mistress, while the concubines were dismissed early.

When only a few trusted confidants were left in the hall, Madam Jiang took her daughter in her arms again, calling her 'my child' repeatedly.

Unlike his wife, Wei Heng was more reserved, keeping his eyes on his youngest daughter without looking away.

Their daughter was extraordinarily beautiful, her demeanor graceful and composed, lacking any trace of pettiness. Even without considering her looks, her bearing would place her at the top among noble girls in the capital.

In terms of beauty, it seemed the title of the capital's most beautiful woman, held by Duke An's daughter, would soon have a new holder.

Wei Hanzhang wasn't used to this kind of scene. To her, these parents were almost like strangers, but their loving gazes made her eyes well up with tears.

These were her parents in this life. Though she hadn't grown up under their care, there were reasons for it.

Every year, her birthdays were never forgotten, and along with her elder sister, she received many gifts from the capital.

Thinking of her elder sister, Wei Hanyue—the cannon fodder who lost her reputation at the beginning of the story—Wei Hanzhang realized how much she truly cared for her younger sister. Their letters were frequent.

To ensure her sister wouldn't feel estranged when she returned home, Wei Hanyue often wrote about life in the capital, from their household's small matters to the bustling affairs of others. Anything she thought of, she wrote to share with her sister.

Wei Hanzhang wanted to ask if she could see her elder sister, but seeing her mother, Madam Jiang, just wiped away her tears, she held back.

Now that she was here, there was time. As long as she had the ability, she would ensure that the sister who had always been so caring would not spend the rest of her life in a temple.

The three of them talked for a long time, with Wei Heng and Madam Jiang asking about their daughter's life in the Jiang family.

Wei Hanzhang shared a few childhood anecdotes. Pampered and adored at the Jiang residence, she had never faced any hardship, always welcomed wherever she went in the Xuzhou noble families. There was nothing to hide.

Madam Jiang watched her youngest daughter speak so orderly, with a proud and pampered demeanor, feeling both joy and sorrow.

She was happy to see her daughter so outstanding but sad that she hadn't watched her grow up herself.

They talked until dusk, near dinner time, when Wei Yunpei returned from the Imperial Academy, interrupting the conversation.

Madam Jiang waved at her son, saying to Wei Hanzhang, "This is your legitimate younger brother, four years your junior, studying at the Imperial Academy."

Wei Heng was not as gentle with his son as with his daughter. He sternly said, "Come and greet your sister."

Wei Yunpei, a shy young boy, was curious and bashful about his beautiful elder sister, whom he was meeting for the first time.

He walked over, greeted her properly, and softly said hello.

Standing together, they realized they did look somewhat similar.

Nanny Zhou chimed in playfully, "Indeed, they're full siblings. Our Ninth Miss and Sixth Young Master look alike in many ways."

Though an exaggeration, they did share some resemblance.

Wei Hanzhang looked at her blood-related younger brother. She couldn't remember all the details from the book, but she recalled the key events. If she wasn't mistaken, he was the only legitimate son of Jiang Shi, who drowned in the original story. His death was the final blow that broke Jiang Shi.

The book didn't specify the exact time of the incident, only describing it as happening in the depths of winter, when clothing becomes heavy with water, and the servants' rescue efforts were in vain. He died from a high fever after being pulled from the water.

Now it was early spring, and if her judgment was correct, this tragedy would occur in the coming winter.

With her daughter sent to a family temple and her son dying unexpectedly, Jiang Shi had no emotional support left. Managing the household would be out of the question, and life itself would lose meaning for her. If not for the fear that her daughter would have no one to care for her, she might have followed her son in death.

This was the primary reason why the concubine Shen Yue could later rise to power.

Her brother absolutely could not be allowed to suffer this fate!

Wei Hanzhang quickly made up her mind. Looking at her younger brother, who was destined to die young in the book, she felt a pang of affection. "I've heard you're doing well in your studies. I brought you some of the finest inkstones from Xuzhou, which I'll give you tomorrow."

Wei Yunpei's eyes lit up. "Do you have Huizhou inkstones?"

Wei Hanzhang nodded and said gently, "Yes, and I brought some Xuan paper from Yunzhou as well."

Jiangnan's paper and inkstones were famously good, with Xuzhou's inkstones and Yunzhou's paper being among the best.

Though the Marquis's household lacked for nothing, Huizhou inkstones were rare. Wei Yunpei stood straight and eagerly asked for them now.

Wei Hanzhang didn't refuse and had Lu Zhu open the trunk to retrieve them.

The siblings, meeting for the first time, bonded quickly. Wei Heng and Madam Jiang exchanged a long-missed smile.

The family of four looked harmonious and joyful, their affection evident.

Dinner was set in the main hall, with concubines and illegitimate sons excluded from the table.

The dinner setting showed how much care Madam Jiang put into it. Worried that Wei Hanzhang might not be accustomed to the food, most dishes were Jiangnan cuisine. If not for her frail health, Madam Jiang would have personally cooked a few dishes.

Wei Hanzhang ate half a bowl of porridge and felt sleepy. After dinner, Madam Jiang intended to personally take her to the prepared courtyard.

However, due to her recent illness and the emotional turmoil, she nearly collapsed upon standing. Wei Heng quickly caught her and carried her into the inner room.

After the commotion settled and Madam Jiang woke up, she admitted her frailty and sent Nanny Zhou to escort Wei Hanzhang to her courtyard.

"Ranran, you should go back and rest early after traveling these days." Wei Heng supported his wife in his arms, turned around, and said to his daughter in a gentle voice: "No need to be polite at home, you can wake up whenever you want tomorrow."