Yingying vaguely sensed that while binding Matron Gu had vented her anger, it had also struck Madam Zhao’s face. She didn’t understand. Was it right that after being slapped on the left cheek by the Zhao family, they should humbly offer the right cheek? She said softly, “Madam Zhao has already punished Matron Gu… Mother, did I do wrong?”
If her father hadn’t died, if the Ji family had been more numerous, perhaps they could have supported her. Grief suddenly welled up in Madam Ji, her eyes growing moist: “No, you didn’t do wrong. It’s your mother who’s useless, afraid of being unable to protect you in the future.”
Yingying remembered Young Master Zhao Xiuyuan’s bright eyes in the tree shadows on the fifteenth night of the eighth month. When he turned eighteen in the third month, his face had been full of joy. According to Zhao’s family rules, he could now take a wife. That night, she had also seen the tender affection in his eyes when he said his grandfather had agreed. He had sought the Old Master Zhao’s permission. In the future, he would protect her, he definitely would. Yingying gathered her courage: “Mother, you’re overthinking again.”
As long as Zhao Xiuyuan didn’t betray her, she feared nothing.
Madam Ji knew her daughter hadn’t given up hope, still naively thinking Zhao Xiuyuan could shelter her within the Zhao family. The families weren’t even formally engaged yet, and Madam Zhao hadn’t yet unleashed her methods on her daughter. Madam Ji understood that after the Matron Gu incident, Madam Zhao would surely not be kind.
Madam Ji hardened her heart: “Yingying, can two people marry without their parents and families? Young Master Zhao may have feelings for you, but can he disregard his parents? A married daughter is like spilled water. If Madam Zhao doesn’t like you, can Young Master Zhao stay in the inner courtyard all day to protect you? Today’s incident and the brocade silk method—I indulged you, hoping to gain you more leverage in the Zhao family. But heaven doesn’t grant all wishes, and things often backfire. We can only say the Ji family and Zhao family aren’t fated. Marriage is a matter of parental command and the matchmaker’s words. Yingying, I’ll decide your marriage. Forget Young Master Zhao.”
“Mother, we’re home. I’m hungry.”
The cart stopped at the gate, and Yingying playfully acted spoiled. She quickly lifted the bamboo curtain and jumped down from the mule cart first.
When she lifted the curtain, half her face was bathed in amber light, her delicate chin tilted at a heartbreaking angle. For an instant, Madam Ji saw tears rolling down her cheeks. By the time she reached out to help her mother, she had wiped them away with her sleeve. With her daughter in this state, how could they arrange marriages with other families? Madam Ji worried silently.
Madam Ji ordered Ji Fu to drive the cart and return the Zhao family’s maids along with their confessions. Seeing her son waiting at the main gate brought waves of comfort to her heart. At least her son was sensible, unlike her difficult daughter.
Entering the inner courtyard, Yingying excused herself: “Mother, I’m a bit tired and want to go back to my room to sleep. If I’m hungry later, the kitchen can just make me a bowl of noodle soup.”
Madam Ji believed in cutting cleanly: “Yingying, I’m serious. From now on, I won’t let you see Young Master Zhao. And forget about going to the Yizhou brocade competition.”
Yingying suddenly turned back: “That day will be my only chance to see him. You should at least let me ask for clarity, shouldn’t you?”
Madam Ji didn’t back down: “If we’re breaking it off, let’s make a clean break. What’s there to ask?”
“I haven’t agreed yet!”
“I have the final say in this matter!”
“Oh my, Mother, the food is getting cold. Let’s hurry back to our rooms!” Ji Yaoting hadn’t expected that as soon as they entered the inner courtyard, mother and daughter would explode like firecrackers into an argument. He supported Madam Ji toward the main house while frantically waving his hand behind his back, gesturing for his sister to go back.
But how could Yingying’s temperament be so easily persuaded? She shouted: “Why should I marry someone I don’t like? Can I not marry at all? I’ll go become a Daoist priestess at Jianfu Temple!”
With that, she ran into her side courtyard.
Ji Yaoting escorted Madam Ji into her room, chanting like a sutra in her ear: “Mother, don’t take Yingying’s words to heart. She’s still young and doesn’t understand.”
“I’ve taught Yingying to be too innocent and kind. The Ji family has few members, and you always indulge her. She’s never even experienced siblings competing for parental affection. She just thinks the Zhao family is merely wealthier than us. She’ll understand eventually.” Madam Ji briefly explained the day’s events and made her decision, “After your marriage, hint to the Zhu family to propose marriage.”
Ji Yaoting felt his mother was being overly cautious: “Mother, though Madam Zhao’s methods are fierce, she still follows reason and doesn’t blindly favor her own. Aren’t you worrying too much? Aren’t all mothers-in-law the same? After I marry, would you let Fourth Miss Zhang act as if she were still in her maiden home? She’ll have to follow our family’s rules too, won’t she?”
“You don’t understand!” Hearing her son also question her, Madam Ji grew agitated, “Great families may appear glamorous, but their inner quarters are full of power struggles. Yingying is no match for Madam Zhao.”
Madam Zhao was only in her early forties, looking prosperous and healthy—without major illness, she could easily live another twenty or thirty years. By the time his sister became a mother-in-law herself, Madam Zhao might still be controlling the household. Why should she have to struggle for power with Madam Zhao? Ji Yaoting thought this but dared not say it to his mother.
Unexpectedly, Madam Ji was truly unsettled and, in her anxiety, told her son about herself: “I was a concubine’s daughter, and my mother died early. From childhood, I knew I had to read people’s expressions and please the first wife, just hoping for a good marriage. Back then, your father went to the West Market to buy dyes and rented a courtyard to store goods. I was schemed against by my sisters in marriage arrangements. The first wife didn’t even care about the bride price, just gave a hundred strings of cash from the family funds as my dowry to marry me to your father. Fortunately, your father was kind, and our modest life was comfortable. Eldest son, when I look at Madam Zhao, I’m reminded of my stepmother. I’m not wrong about this. Madam Zhao has developed a hatred for our family. This marriage cannot happen.”
No wonder they sent festival gifts to Chang’an every year but never visited. Ji Yaoting fell silent before saying: “Mother, Yingying is stubborn. Let’s take this slowly.”
“Should we wait until she marries into their family, causes chaos, and gets divorced before she realizes? This matter is settled. Madam Zhu and Young Master Zhu both admire Yingying. The families are well-matched, and they won’t let Yingying suffer.”
Poor sister, with her genuine feelings for Zhao Xiuyuan. As Ji Yaoting pondered how to persuade his sister to accept the new marriage arrangement, he suddenly remembered that the Double Ninth Festival was in two days. Why not take her to burn incense and view chrysanthemums at the Qingyang Temple, and coincidentally meet Young Master Zhu? After all, Zhao Xiuyuan would be busy weaving for the brocade competition this month, so they wouldn’t have a chance to meet. Madam Ji thought this was a good idea and immediately agreed.
The tradition of viewing chrysanthemums on the Double Ninth Festival originated with Tao Yuanming of the Jin Dynasty. Tao Yuanming was famous for his reclusive lifestyle and love of chrysanthemums. His line “Picking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern fence, I serenely see the southern mountains” had intoxicated countless scholars and poets. Later generations followed his example, gradually forming the custom of viewing chrysanthemums on the Double Ninth Festival.
Qingyang Temple wasn’t far from Huanhua Stream, just a two-quarter-hour ride by mule cart. On this Double Ninth Festival day, Yingying wore a fresh red cornel as an ornament in her hair and took two maids to offer incense at the temple.
The temple was bustling with noise that day, with long rows of stalls set up on the streets outside. An endless stream of horse carts and mule carts carried people out of the city toward nearby Mount Qingcheng for the traditional climb.
Sharp-eyed Ji Yaoting spotted Young Master Zhu in brand new silk clothes, standing with his attendant at the street corner, craning his neck so much he might as well have been standing on two bricks. He thought that Young Master Zhu’s enthusiasm might not be any less than Zhao Xiuyuan’s feelings for his sister. Stealing a glance at his sister, he smiled and said: “Yingying, the road ahead is narrow. Let’s get off the cart here.”