Xiang’er bit her lip and anxiously knelt on the couch. “Elder Servant Ji is guarding the courtyard gate. You won’t be able to leave. Young Miss, please stop thinking about Young Master Zhao.”

Ji Yingying responded calmly, “So you too think I’m fixated on marrying him?”

*If not, why would you want to rush to Yizhou City? Isn’t it just to see Young Master Zhao?* Xiang’er lowered her head and stammered, “Young Miss, this servant is clumsy with words, but I can see… though Young Master Zhao is good, but between you and him, between you and him…”

She wasn’t skilled with words, her sentence broken and halting, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.

Ji Yingying laughed out loud. “He and I are different. He is the legitimate son most likely to inherit the Zhao family business. I’m just the daughter of a small dye house.”

Seeing Xiang’er raise her face in shock, Ji Yingying laughed until her whole body shook. “I know everything. I just refused to face it. I deceived myself, believing that in this world there could be true feelings that transcend social status. I thought what I saw in his eyes was real. Everyone praised me for being clever, but in the end, I was just a fool.”

As she laughed, tears fell from her eyes.

Xiang’er’s heart twisted into knots watching this, and she buried her face against the couch, crying loudly.

“Don’t cry. What is there to cry about?” Ji Yingying sat up and lifted Xiang’er’s face. “I won’t be foolish anymore. I worked so hard for this brocade competition, I just want to see the outcome. Ling’er, come in. I’ll go ask Madam, I won’t put you in a difficult position.”

Ling’er said with distress, “Young Miss, this servant won’t tell Madam.”

She had brought porridge earlier and heard Ji Yingying and Xiang’er talking, not wanting to interrupt them. She had also pretended not to hear, to avoid having to answer if Madam Ji asked about it.

Ji Yingying didn’t point this out but supported herself on Xiang’er’s hand as she got up from the couch and slowly walked toward the outer room. “Ling’er, go inform Madam that I wish to see her. Try to make her believe in me.”

Ling’er hesitated before responding, “Yes.”

The white porridge was good for the stomach. It had been cooked until the rice grains had dissolved, releasing a rich rice fragrance. Ji Yingying drank two bowls, breaking into a light sweat. Her face soon regained some color.

She took a bath and still feeling tired, went back to sleep. When she woke again, lamps had been lit in the room, and Madam Ji was sitting beside her couch.

“Mother, why didn’t you wake me when you came?” Ji Yingying sat up.

Madam Ji took her hand, tears falling before she could speak: “Yingying, have you truly understood?”

A surge of bitterness rose quickly in Ji Yingying’s heart. She blinked hard and said softly, “There are plenty of good men in the world. I shouldn’t make you and your brother worry. I can’t forget now, but I will eventually. By my calculation, Second Young Master Zhao should have finished the competition brocade by now. I just want to know if this marriage was forced upon him, or if he was willing. Even if we can’t be together, at least I won’t have this doubt stuck in my heart, living my future days in confusion.”

“My good child.” Seeing her speak so clearly, Madam Ji couldn’t help but cry. She pulled Ji Yingying into her embrace and said chokingly, “It’s your mother who was useless. I harbored resentment in my heart, hating how my stepmother married me off far away. After marriage, I cut off contact with your maternal grandparents’ family. When your father passed away, you and your brother were still small, which is why I finally sent word to Chang’an. I refused to curry favor before, only writing to ask for help when we needed it. It’s natural that your maternal grandfather and grandmother were angry and ignored us. If not for this, with the merit and reputation of the Xu family ancestors alone, what would a mere Zhao family amount to?”

“Mother, we can live well without relying on Maternal Grandfather’s influence. You preserved the Huanhua Dye House and raised brother and me – you are the best mother.”

As Ji Yingying spoke, thinking of how her relationship with Zhao Xiuyuan had caused her mother such worry, she too began to cry.

After mother and daughter cried together, their melancholy gradually dissipated, and they couldn’t help but smile at each other.

Madam Ji took the initiative to say, “I know you want to go see the brocade competition. To see if the Zhao family can win. Yingying, remember what you promised Mother.”

“I remember. If I have the chance to see Second Young Master Zhao, I’ll listen if he explains. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter anymore.” Ji Yingying made her promise seriously.

—

Zhao Xiuyuan had finished his brocade three days ago. To achieve a shocking effect, after Old Master Zhao had seen it, the brocade hadn’t left the Treasury Hall. Old Master Zhao had instructed Zhao Xiuyuan to personally oversee its mounting.

The craftsmen had nailed the wrapped brocade into a wooden box. Watching his father take the box away with men from the escort agency, Zhao Xiuyuan looked around the empty weaving workshop, feeling both satisfied and slightly lost. He thought confidently that if such a brocade couldn’t win back the Brocade Crown, it could only mean the Zhao family’s luck was too poor.

His father would transport the completed competition brocade into Jinguan City, staying in the city’s lodgings with all other brocade-weaving families from Jiannan Circuit who were participating in the competition, waiting for tomorrow’s presentation.

Zhao Xiuyuan straightened his robes and walked out of the Treasury Hall with light steps.

“Young Master!” Seeing Zhao Xiuyuan, Zhao An, and Zhao Ping nearly cried.

Old Master Zhao had strictly ordered that anyone who dared disturb Zhao Xiuyuan’s weaving would be beaten to death. The two servants had naturally heard rumors about the engagement with the Niu family and had been anxiously pacing outside the Treasury Hall until they had worn away a layer of the bluestone slabs.

“Zhao Ping, go tell Madam that I’m returning to Teng Garden to freshen up,” Zhao Xiuyuan ordered with a smile playing on his lips.

Zhao Ping gave Zhao An a meaningful look before leaving first.

Zhao An followed behind Zhao Xiuyuan, hesitating before saying, “Young Master, it seems the Old Master arranged a marriage for you while you were weaving.”

Zhao Xiuyuan’s eyes brightened, and he unconsciously looked toward the Ji family’s direction, breaking into a happy smile. “This is wonderful news, you’ll get an extra month’s wages.”

*When you find out it’s not with Young Miss Ji, forget about extra wages, you’ll probably get beaten instead.* Zhao An suddenly realized that Zhao Ping had likely anticipated that delivering this news would bring both fortune and misfortune, which was why he had left without hesitation. Having already spoken, Zhao An quickly turned his thoughts, carefully responding, “This hasn’t spread yet. Perhaps the Old Master wanted to wait until you finished the brocade to tell you personally. We only carefully inquired as you instructed, and don’t know if it’s certain.”

*While I was away, they went to the Ji family to propose and present betrothal gifts. Yingying won’t be happy. They must have only exchanged birth charts.* Zhao Xiuyuan was eager to know the details of the engagement. He changed direction and walked toward Old Master Zhao’s residence. “Let’s pay our respects to the Old Master first.”

Zhao An was stunned for a moment before hurrying to follow.

Worried about Zhao Xiuyuan’s anger, he followed to the entrance of Pine Wave Courtyard. Seeing Zhao Xiuyuan step over the threshold, and fearing the consequences of knowing but not reporting would be worse, he steeled himself and said in a low voice, “The Old Master wants to arrange your marriage with someone other than Second Miss Ji.”

“I know… what?” Zhao Xiuyuan, in his joy, had completely missed the word “other.” By the time he realized it, Old Master Zhao was already standing before him.

He shot Zhao An a fierce glare before walking forward and bowing deeply, “Greetings, Grandfather.”

“Second Young Master, brew some tea for your grandfather.”

There was an emotion in Old Master Zhao’s eyes that Zhao Xiuyuan couldn’t understand. He obediently went over and knelt opposite his grandfather. Was what Zhao An said true or false? Grandfather had approved of his choice, how could he arrange another marriage without a word?

He stared at the stove, where the red coals gradually brought the water in the copper kettle to a boil. Zhao Xiuyuan used the bamboo ladle to add another scoop of water. When the water boiled again, he lifted the kettle to pour the tea.

The tea’s fragrance spread throughout the room as he respectfully offered the cup with both hands.

Old Master Zhao unhurriedly savored the aroma and took small sips. Only after drinking two cups did he stroke his beard with satisfaction and smile: “You can still maintain your composure. After this hurdle, you will be the Zhao family’s next head.”

Like a thunderbolt, the words exploded in Zhao Xiuyuan’s mind. His hands, resting on his knees, involuntarily clenched into fists. Countless “whys” were held in his mouth. He kept his lips tightly closed, forcefully controlling himself from shouting these three words. He stared steadily at his grandfather. He knew that his grandfather must have understood the meaning in his eyes.