Mo Zi exclaimed, “I didn’t know about this! Why doesn’t he tell me anything?” Bai He naturally knew Yuan Cheng. “Back when you jumped into his courtyard to borrow a path, it turns out it was fate ordained by heaven. How wonderful! Lu Ju’s marriage is settled, and yours is too. It looks like happy occasions will keep coming one after another.”
“My marriage is still far off. Why rush to get married—” Mo Zi heard about Lu Ju’s matter and reacted. “Lu Ju is engaged?” This was truly great news.
“Guess who it is?” Bai He was still keeping the suspense.
“If you’re asking me, then it’s someone I know.” After thinking for a long time, Mo Zi shook her head. “Most of the men I know have never seen Lu Ju, and Lu Ju is always following Sanniang—could it be someone from Prince Jing’s mansion? That’s impossible. Didn’t Sanniang forbid matching her with stewards and servants?”
“He’s not a servant. His grandfather was sworn brothers with the old prince—a life-and-death friendship—and also took the surname Xiao. His father now commands a border guard force of one hundred thousand as a fourth-rank general. He himself is accomplished too. He started as a guard at the prince’s mansion and joined the army last year, becoming a deputy general.” Seeing Mo Zi confused yet seemingly having some impression, Bai He continued, “You’ve met him too. Back when Grandmother was staying in seclusion at Lujiao Alley, he brought people to protect us.”
“Xiao!” That martial-looking man who dared to stand up to Qiu Sanniang but was actually quite approachable.
“That’s him.” Bai He smiled. “You couldn’t have guessed, right? And there’s something even more unexpected. This wasn’t arranged by any matchmaker—the two had already set eyes on each other long ago, and Xiao took the initiative to send a matchmaker to propose. That little girl usually doesn’t breathe a word, yet with that mouth of hers she could actually hold it in without saying anything. Really, she fooled us all before.”
“According to what you’re saying, the two were already together?” Free love?! Who would have thought the bold and forthright Lu Ju would have such a trick up her sleeve.
“After the matchmaker left, Grandmother called me over, along with Hong Mei, and fiercely questioned her in detail. Lu Ju only said that during the time at Lujiao Alley, once by coincidence she mended clothes for Xiao, and from then on, Xiao was very courteous to her. After Xiao joined the army, every time he came back he would ask her to make some clothes and such. That girl is stubborn—she said when the matchmaker came it shocked her too, that she didn’t know Xiao was interested in her. She only thought that since he was a big man who didn’t know how to sew and mend, and she was idle anyway… She even said Xiao paid her, so she just treated it as earning some private savings. But when she took out the payment to show us—oh my! Golden hairpins, bracelets, earrings… made so exquisitely they could compare with Grandmother’s jewelry. They were clearly betrothal tokens, yet she called them payment—it made us laugh to death. Grandmother said she accidentally fell into Xiao’s trap, and this marriage must happen whether it happens or not.” As Bai He spoke, she giggled. “I still think that girl likes him.”
Mo Zi also listened with delight. “I actually agree with Sanniang’s words. Hasn’t Lu Ju always been saving money wanting to become a proprietress? When that Xiao first liked her, Lu Ju probably hadn’t been moved yet. With her personality, even if someone stood in front of her saying they liked her, she might not understand. Then Xiao discovered she loved saving private money, so he used this tactic. When a young lady accepts ornaments a man gives her, that’s a betrothal. But Lu Ju didn’t care about all that—saving money was the important matter. Just like that, she brought herself a husband. Speaking of which, Xiao is quite calculating.” Too amusing.
“Grandmother said this, and you say this too. So Lu Ju really didn’t understand Xiao’s feelings? Hong Mei and I laughed at her for being reserved, and she got upset.” Bai He cried out in dismay. “It really was unfair to her.”
“That’s not entirely so. One wanted clothes made, one actually made clothes—and it wasn’t just once or twice. Maybe she had some thoughts but feared it was one-sided affection, so no matter what she wouldn’t speak up. In any case, it’s a good thing. I didn’t expect Xiao’s parents to be so open-minded and not pick at faults.” Mo Zi thought more deeply. “Although in my view Xiao’s conditions are just ordinary—he’s joined the army, times aren’t peaceful now, and when war breaks out in the future, unlucky ones will be mid-level soldiers like him. However, ordinary people would think Lu Ju reached above her station to marry him.”
Bai He clearly hadn’t thought in that direction. “His parents should have agreed, otherwise how could Xiao come to propose? Besides, Grandmother has already canceled Lu Ju’s bond of servitude, gave her the house at Lujiao Alley, and also said her dowry silver would be the same as mine—five thousand taels. Lu Ju also pooled money with Grandmother to do the official salt business, and according to Grandmother, just this year’s year-end dividend will be several thousand taels. Now saying Lu Ju is a wealthy young lady wouldn’t be excessive—how is she reaching above her station to marry him?”
Mo Zi applauded. “Bai He, this is the most ambitious thing I’ve heard you say since I’ve known you. I said it before, didn’t I? Status isn’t given to you by others—you grasp it yourself.” Xiao shouldn’t go too far, right? One Xiao Sanlang is already enough.
Bai He blushed and nodded with a smile. “While you’re here today, why don’t we send invitations to Grandmother, Mo Chou, and the others for a small gathering? Luo Niang and Mo Chou both have big bellies now. Every time they see me they ask if you’ve come back.”
Of course Mo Zi agreed. She now had plenty of free time.
Bai He hurried off to make arrangements. She and her husband sang in harmony—she’d made some progress learning to write, and writing invitations was perfect practice. When her husband returned, she could show him.
Only then did Mo Zi notice Yang Qiao. The joyful expression from just now was gone, and she was arranging flower buds alone.
“Qiao, I heard from Yuan Cheng about your father resigning from office.” In the end, it must be hard to bear.
“Yes, yesterday I went to the Ministry of Rites to receive the edict and returned all my official robes. Even the nominal position that didn’t require attendance is being taken back. The Emperor is so petty.” Yang Qiao wrinkled her nose. “To be honest, I didn’t want to be an official either. But since I became one, even if it was just an empty title, I should have enjoyed it thoroughly. How can it be like this?”
“You’re upset just about this?” Mo Zi blinked. Had she misjudged?
“Yes. Aren’t you upset that the Emperor won’t let you move about the Ship Office anymore?” Yang Qiao blinked back, the corners of her mouth curving up.
Sometimes, the more you try to hide something, the more obvious it becomes. Mo Zi crossed her arms and looked at her. “Are you still putting up walls with me?”
Yang Qiao suddenly lowered her head and picked up a flower bud, but her movements were trembling and flustered. She spoke incoherently. “I’m fine. Father and Mother have no one to care for them… Brother just started his official career. That… we haven’t visited our hometown in a long time, but I remember it’s so beautiful there—even the tree leaves carry spiritual energy. I plan to start a poetry society specifically to embarrass those self-righteous sour scholars…” She couldn’t continue because tears dropped onto the back of her hand, startling herself.
Mo Zi sat beside her. “Don’t be anxious. As long as Wei Jia’s family comes to propose marriage—”
Yang Qiao raised her head, her eyes red like a rabbit’s. “I don’t know if my brother noticed, but he said Father and Mother don’t want me to marry in the capital and want me to find a man from our hometown as a husband. He also said that although the Emperor hasn’t rescinded the edict allowing me to choose my own marriage partner and be treated like a princess, we should know our place. Forcing ourselves to attach to the powerful will only make us suffer in the future.”
Mo Zi was somewhat angry. She could understand that Yang Ling’s starting point was good, but such a muddled explanation would only hurt Yang Qiao’s self-esteem.
“The truth is not like this.” She decided to tell Yang Qiao, because Yang Qiao was not a woman without independent thought. “In these chaotic times, your brother wants to accomplish great things. The future is uncertain regarding fortune or calamity, so your parents left the capital to prevent them from being treated as the family of an enemy and dragging down your brother if one day he stands opposed to Great Zhou. You know, don’t you? In ancient wars, they often captured the families of enemy generals to force surrender, and the endings were usually not good.”
Yang Qiao knitted her brows tightly.
“Similarly, they don’t want you to be sacrificed. If I’m not mistaken, I’m afraid that not long after you return to your hometown, you’ll leave again. Wherever your brother goes, you’ll go. Wei Jia is the son of the Defender of the Realm. You can marry him, but perhaps one day you’ll face the difficult choice between husband and brother. This is the real reason your brother doesn’t want you to marry Great Zhou’s powerful families—it has nothing to do with social standing.” She didn’t want this excellent young lady to think less of herself.
“What… is Brother going to do?” Yang Qiao asked softly, biting her lip.
“This I also can’t say well, but he may leave Great Zhou and go to Yuling.” The specifics would have to be seen as things developed.
“Yuling is under Daqiu’s control!” Yang Qiao was alarmed.
“The world is descending into chaos. Your brother has chosen a path that’s not easy to walk, but in the end it may fulfill what his heart yearns for.” Saying this was purely comforting. Much later, she discovered she had guessed correctly.
“So Brother is worried about my safety—it’s not that I’m not worthy of him.” Her heart felt somewhat better.
“Him” naturally referred to Wei Jia.
“Of course. He’s an official, you’re an official’s daughter, so you’re equals. There’s no such thing as who isn’t worthy of whom.” Quoting from Pride and Prejudice—classic in the extreme.
Yang Qiao let out a long breath. “Mo Zi, thank you. I’ve decided—to go home.”
“Qiao, you still have a choice. In the future, if Yuling restores its country, it’s actually more likely to continue maintaining friendly relations with Great Zhou, just like for the past hundred years. If you choose Wei Jia, at most you’ll be far from your natal family.” Mo Zi felt sorry for her.
“In any case, I want to go home first to see Father and Mother. At a time like this, the whole family should be of one mind.” Once Yang Qiao made up her mind, she wouldn’t turn back—just like when she volunteered to shoot at bells.
At this moment, Bai He ran in anxiously, with Hong Mei following behind.
Mo Zi smiled. “Bai He, you sent that invitation fast enough. Yang Qiao and I barely said a few words and you’ve already invited Hong Mei.”
Unexpectedly, Hong Mei grabbed Mo Zi and pulled her away. “Grandmother originally had me call Bai He over to hold up the scene, but who knew that as soon as I arrived, I heard you’d come back. Truly Amitabha, Buddha be praised.”
Yang Qiao saw she couldn’t help with the situation and found an excuse to withdraw.
“Hold up what scene?” Mo Zi was completely confused.
“Xiao’s mother sent someone to break off the engagement. Grandmother sent an invitation asking them to discuss it face-to-face at Wangqiu Pavilion, today.” Hong Mei’s steps didn’t stop.
Bai He, usually so good-tempered, now carried some anger. “Your words really came true, Mo Zi. Xiao’s mother isn’t satisfied with Lu Ju. She said Xiao sent the matchmaker on his own initiative and insists on breaking off this marriage.”
“Where’s Xiao?” Mo Zi asked.
“He’s not in the capital, which is why his mother pulled this stunt.” Hong Mei had a calm nature but a warm heart. “Lu Ju is at home crying her heart out and has shredded all the silk Xiao sent. Grandmother said this engagement can be broken, but we can’t break it off so wretchedly.”
Really, whether passionate or passionless, both bring heartache.