They were an engaged couple—and they could act like this?!
Yu Tang was dumbstruck.
Miss Xu didn’t think anything of it and continued: “When I stopped talking to him, he had no choice. He had to think of every way to coax me, telling me this and that. I felt he knew a lot, so gradually I started talking to him again.”
Listening, Yu Tang’s mind conjured up images of two adorable children, one sulking with a stern face and the other circling around trying to coax—she couldn’t help but laugh out loud with a “pfft,” saying: “Is it because of this that you know so much about the affairs of prominent families?”
Miss Xu smiled sheepishly.
Yu Tang felt this was quite nice.
No matter what, the most important thing was for two people to have things to talk about.
Having lived two lives, she had seen many married couples who, apart from household matters and children, had nothing else to discuss.
Yu Tang asked: “What happened after that? Did you start enjoying speculation then?”
“Not entirely!” Speaking of this matter, Miss Xu became somewhat angry again. “When Yin Mingyuan was taking the imperial examination, he always had to spend so much time writing policy essays. When I asked him anything, he would just say ‘mm, mm, mm’ to brush me off. I was particularly unhappy. It just so happened that during that time, didn’t the Emperor’s eldest granddaughter pass away young? Many people were clamoring to establish the Third Imperial Prince as heir. He gave me homework, having me guess what would ultimately happen. I found it very interesting and gradually formed a habit, feeling this was more fun than many other things.”
Yu Tang thought for a moment before understanding what Miss Xu had said.
The current Emperor had difficulty producing heirs and only two adult sons survived. Unfortunately, both sons also had difficulty with heirs. The Second Imperial Prince had no sons, only two daughters, one of whom had died young. Only the Third Imperial Prince had two sons. Added to this, the Empress had passed away nearly ten years ago, leaving the central palace empty. Whether to establish the eldest or the legitimate heir—the court had been in constant turmoil over this.
The Empress Dowager wanted to hold a selection, adding more people to the Emperor’s harem.
Because of this matter, many prominent families were fanning the flames behind the scenes.
Yu Tang paused slightly and asked: “Is Young Master Yin from the special examination?”
That year, fifty young women were selected to enter the palace, but the Emperor didn’t take any as consorts. Instead, he bestowed all these young women upon his two sons. The Empress Dowager was displeased. The following year was the Empress Dowager’s sixtieth birthday, and to please her, the Emperor specially held a special examination.
That was why Yin Mingyuan had been so studious, without even time to play with Miss Xu.
Miss Xu nodded, somewhat aggrieved: “My father originally wanted him to wait for the regular examination, but he insisted on taking the special examination, saying something about seizing the opportunity while it lasted. The Yin family thought I was the one who wanted him to take it. Their old matriarch even specially came from Huayin and summoned me for a talk. My mother was so angry those days she couldn’t sleep for several nights, considering how to break off the engagement with the Yin family. Later, Old Madam Li came to our house to mediate with my mother, and then Yin Mingyuan passed the examination with honors, so my mother didn’t go through with breaking off the engagement.” Speaking of this, she became happy again. “However, it wasn’t completely without gain. The Yin family agreed that after I marry, Yin Mingyuan and I will move out and live separately. We’ll only return to the Yin family’s old residence after Yin Mingyuan can achieve the rank of third-grade official. Hehe, some people never become third-grade officials in their entire lives. I think we might live in my dowry residence forever.”
Such conditions were truly shocking!
Yu Tang hurriedly asked: “Why do you need to move out? Does his family also have a residence in the capital?”
If Yin Mingyuan was currently a Hanlin scholar and had a residence in the capital, this wouldn’t be the way it was described.
Miss Xu nodded and said: “You don’t know—the Yin family has many women and few men. Having a baby boy is like having a golden treasure. Many are raised by their sisters before coming of age. To ensure the family line continues, the Yin family’s daughters are all raised like sons—not only reading and writing, but also managing the family’s shops and affairs. By Yin Mingyuan’s generation, it’s even more extreme. His second uncle took four concubines one after another but only produced one daughter. He wanted to adopt a son from within the clan but couldn’t find a suitable one. Yin Mingyuan has to shoulder the responsibilities of two branches…
You haven’t seen it—whenever there’s any disturbance in the Yin family, all those aunts who can make it back will rush home. The discussion hall can seat a whole room full of women.
Otherwise, why would Second Brother Yin run off to be a prefect in Huai’an?
It’s because he doesn’t like those aunts from his family interfering in their affairs.”
Then she complained: “Yin Mingyuan is fine, but he can’t withstand having so many aunts, big and small, in his family! I don’t even know if my grandfather is trying to harm me or protect me.”
Yu Tang truly had her eyes opened!
In other families, married-out daughters didn’t interfere in their natal family’s affairs. In the Yin family, everything was reversed.
She couldn’t help asking: “So you really don’t plan to marry Yin Mingyuan anymore?”
“How is that possible!” Miss Xu jumped up upon hearing this and said, “Never mind that our two families have a marriage contract—even without one, Yin Mingyuan treats me so well. If he came to propose, I would definitely agree. I’m just somewhat annoyed by their family’s affairs, especially in the capital. Old Madam Li, Old Madam Zhang—they’re all aunts from the Yin family. Whenever something happens, they like to come to my house, always wanting to instruct me. I really don’t like it.”
Yu Tang’s heart stirred, and she asked: “Old Madam Zhang?”
“Yes!” Miss Xu said listlessly. “The Yin family is also quite famous for selecting sons-in-law. Never mind Old Madam Li—you already know about her. Old Madam Zhang is the wife of Zhang Ying, Pei Xiaguang’s mentor. She and Old Madam Li are cousins, which is why the Li family values Pei Xiaguang so highly and is determined to marry a daughter to him! Now that the Li family’s plan has failed, the Yin family definitely won’t let Pei Xiaguang go so easily. Just wait and see—whether Third Madam Yang came to arrange a match for our Xu family or to evaluate a son-in-law for the Yin family is really hard to say.”
Yu Tang broke out in a sweat and asked hesitantly: “Then how could you, in front of Third Madam Yang…”
“Act like a little wife?!” Miss Xu smiled nonchalantly as she finished the sentence.
Yu Tang’s face reddened.
Miss Xu sighed and said: “I had no choice either! My family had originally agreed with the Yin family to marry this September. The Yin family’s old matriarch came to the capital, and together with Old Madam Li and Old Madam Zhang, they came to ask about the wedding every few days. My mother has a straightforward temperament. I couldn’t please either side, so I wanted to avoid the storm. Yin Mingyuan knew I was very troubled, so he entrusted me to Third Madam Yang who was returning to her hometown on business, letting me come out to relax. Third Madam Yang is terrified something might go wrong and watches me without taking her eyes off me. If I don’t behave, I’m afraid she’ll enshrine me at the Yang residence and only send me back when she returns!”
Yu Tang laughed heartily.
Shuang Tao entered with one of Miss Xu’s maids named A’Fu.
“Miss!” She respectfully saluted Yu Tang and Miss Xu, then reported: “The Second Young Madam of the Peng family heard you were also here. She sent an old woman to pay her respects and wants to visit you later together with the two young ladies of the Song family.”
Without thinking, Miss Xu said: “I came accompanying an aunt of the Yin family. Go tell her that today won’t work—I’ll visit her after tomorrow’s blessing ceremony.”
A’Fu curtsied and withdrew.
Miss Xu then explained to Yu Tang: “The Peng family acts very domineeringly. My mother greatly dislikes them and doesn’t want me associating with the Peng family’s women.”
If so, why marry a clan daughter to the Peng family?
Clearly every family had its own difficult scriptures to recite.
She didn’t want to discuss these matters further with Miss Xu, so she changed the subject: “Let me go ask for you when Third Master goes to pay his respects to Old Madam Pei. Perhaps we can run into him.”
Miss Xu eagerly agreed.
Yu Tang then sent Shuang Tao to see A’Ming, having her tell Pei Yan about Miss Xu’s desire to meet him, lest Miss Xu barge in recklessly and cause even more troublesome incidents. As for whether Pei Yan would agree to meet Miss Xu, that was for him to decide.
Miss Xu didn’t know how Yu Tang had privately instructed Shuang Tao. She chatted with Yu Tang for quite a while longer when the Fourth and Fifth Young Ladies of the Pei family arrived together.
“I didn’t expect Miss Xu to arrive even earlier than us.” The Fourth Young Lady said in her clear voice, then asked Yu Tang about writing down her birth date and time. She also brought a carved red lacquer box decorated with magpies to Yu Tang. “We ran into Manager Ji on the road, so we brought this for you. Write it tonight, seal it in the box, and when you go pay respects to the Old Madam tomorrow morning, bring it to Manager Ji. Everyone will use identical boxes, so no one will know which box belongs to which family.”
This was very thoughtfully arranged.
Yu Tang smiled and said: “I was worried about this earlier, but as Miss Xu said, I was just worrying needlessly.”
The Fifth Young Lady quickly asked what had happened.
Yu Tang told her what Miss Xu had told her earlier.
The Fourth Young Lady then began chatting cheerfully with Miss Xu.
Everyone spoke one after another, and the room became very lively.
Chen Shi stood in the hall listening for a few sentences, then returned to her east room with a face full of smiles.
Chen Pozi, who was supporting her, helped Chen Shi sit down by the bed, then turned to pour her tea while smiling: “Miss is much more sensible now than before. Though she was also considerate and filial in the past, she always had a childish air about her. Now she can converse with anyone, which makes people happy.”
“Indeed.” Chen Shi replied, then said to Chen Pozi: “I think we should still inform the Old Madam about the Wu and Wei families’ matters. Although this is the Pei family’s favor, it was ultimately because of us that Third Master Pei had someone arrange places for the Wu and Wei families. The Master should also know about this, and if there’s an opportunity, we should thank Third Master Pei in person.”
Just now, Madam Wei’s personal old woman had come to visit Chen Shi. Chen Shi had thought it was like the Wu family, wanting her to help arrange lodging for the eighth day of the fourth month. She never expected the Wei family had come to express thanks. Like the Wu family, the Wei family had arrived late with no place to rest. Knowing that Mother and Daughter Yu had entered the temple with the Pei family women, they wondered whether they should use the Yu family’s name to mention it to the Pei family’s steward. Instead, they ran right into Hu Xing, who immediately went to see Pei Yan after learning their purpose.
Just like that, the Pei family’s steward cleared a side room for them in the outer courtyard.
Not only the Wei family, but the Wu family also benefited.
“We should also express thanks to Old Madam Pei.” Chen Pozi thought further than Chen Shi. “One can never be too courteous. Third Master Pei arranged this perhaps also out of consideration for Old Madam Pei’s face.”