Lan strode in first, with Minglan following closely behind. As they entered the inner room, they found it full of bustling female relatives — grandmothers, young wives, grown daughters, some seated and some standing, the room glittering with silk and jewels. The sharp-eyed woman, sitting to one side, caught sight of Minglan coming in and laughed, slapping her knee: “Well, speak of someone and they appear — the very person in question is here!”

Minglan appeared not to hear, following Lan forward to pay her respects to the elders one by one. She then took her proper place standing beside Sheng Lao at the head of the room. Seated next to Shulan’s place was an elderly woman — her mother-in-law, who wore an ochre-red brocade outer garment. Seven or eight large pearl-studded hairpins were thrust haphazardly across her hair, along with a large velvet fabric rose. Strings of ornaments hung at her neck and wrists, laden with gold and silver, their brilliance dazzling to the eye.

Sun’s mother had been scrutinizing Minglan since she walked in. After a long look, the deeply lined old face broke into a smile, and she said: “Just the other day I heard your in-laws mention this child, and I thought favorably of her straight away. Seeing her today, she truly carries herself like a daughter of a distinguished family — what a lovely girl!” She then smiled toward the two elders seated at the head: “My nephew and this child are well-matched in age. Since today is such a happy occasion, why don’t we add another celebration — a union to make the families even closer? What does the in-law family think?”

Having said her piece, she looked straight at the other party, waiting for a response. Most of the women in the room fell quiet and turned to look.

Minglan laughed inwardly. Ordinarily, when proposing a match, one would never put it so bluntly — for fear of being refused. That Sun’s mother was brazen enough to propose marriage so openly, in front of the female relatives of half the county’s prominent families, left everyone in a position where refusal would be deeply awkward.

Well, that was not quite it — if Minglan were being honest, she simply disliked the way Sun’s mother had looked her over, like a market buyer inspecting eggs for quality.

Sheng Lao stirred her tea with the lid of her cup, saying nothing. The Great Madam’s brow creased slightly, and she was just preparing to say something to deflect the moment, when Sheng Yun cut in ahead of her: “Ha, how the in-law family jests! Your nephew is almost twenty — my little niece is just how old? And you call that a good match in age? Oh no, that won’t do at all.” Sun’s mother’s expression soured slightly: “What does a few years matter? We’ll just bring some attendants into the house first, and when the bride comes in she’ll have people to wait on her properly.”

The expressions among the women in the room shifted in every direction — some amused, some astounded, some shaking their heads, and more still wearing looks of contempt and scorn. Many turned to whisper quietly to their neighbors. Minglan was also deeply impressed by this mother of the licentiate — the prospective bride hadn’t even been agreed upon, and she was already openly putting the matter of household attendants on the table. Either Sun’s mother had come here deliberately looking for trouble, or she genuinely saw nothing wrong with it — the ignorant fear nothing, after all.

Yet one could not openly say that no women should be brought in — that would earn a woman the brand of “jealousy.” Sheng Yun’s eyes flickered, and she said with a smile: “Since the in-law family is choosing a wife for their nephew, I too have a say in choosing a husband for my niece. Our Sheng family carries some small weight in the world — my elder cousin-brother holds an official post of considerable rank, not to mention my young cousin-nephew, an imperially appointed Hanlin academician! So let me ask the in-law family — what can your nephew bring to the table as a prospective husband? Has he any academic credentials? Any landholdings or businesses? This matter of a girl marrying for clothing and food — you must at least give us a clear account of one or two things.”

Sheng Yun spoke rapidly and crisply, and her frankness was well-known throughout the county. What she said was half truth and half jest, and the room broke into laughter. Everyone there knew that Sun’s mother’s nephew had been orphaned young and was nothing more than a dependant living in his aunt’s household — idle and good-for-nothing, but clever enough in flattery to keep his aunt fond of him.

Ever since her son had passed the preliminary examination, Sun’s mother had come to see herself as a family of scholarly distinction and could not lower herself to accept just anyone. She had made a nuisance of herself to every prominent family in the county, and they had all been too polite — out of respect for the Sheng family — to be openly rude to her. After a few soft refusals had left her disheartened, she had heard of Minglan a few days ago and been tempted again, reasoning that although Minglan came from an official family, she was only a daughter born of a concubine — surely proposing the match was practically doing the girl a favor. She had not expected that both elders would sit in silence and leave her hanging, while Sheng Yun’s tongue struck like a blade, every word finding its mark. Sun’s mother’s face darkened: “My nephew may have no credentials or wealth, but he was born to the proper wife!”

Lan’s little face went crimson. Her eyes were blazing with barely suppressed fury. Beneath her sleeve, she gripped Minglan’s hand without quite realizing it, squeezing so hard she was nearly drawing blood. Minglan lowered her head and with her other hand gently patted Lan — Li Shi had also been born of a concubine.

When Sheng Wei had taken a wife in those years, Sheng Wei’s father had nearly squandered the entire family fortune. Fortunately, Elder Li had been a person of integrity who still remembered the bond of having built their fortunes together with Sheng Lao’s late husband. He arranged to have his granddaughter married into the family — but his son and daughter-in-law had been unwilling, and had interfered midway, substituting a concubine-born daughter instead. Who could have known that ten years would reverse all fortunes? Among Li’s daughters-in-law, it was now Li Shi who had married best — her husband was capable of earning a living and devoted entirely to her. The legitimate daughter who had been switched out in her place had ended up in a far less satisfactory marriage and was said to be filled with regret beyond measure.

One did not expose another’s vulnerabilities in public — and over all these years, as the Sheng family had gradually come into prosperity, no one brought up Li Shi’s origins anymore. Sun’s mother’s words were a serious overstepping. A profound silence fell over the room. Everyone turned to look at the members of the Sheng family and at Zhu Shi the maternal aunt, who sat quietly with her head bowed, sipping her tea. Then Da Li Shi looked directly at Sun’s mother with cold, still eyes, and said quietly: “Proper order must be observed — Minglan still has several elder sisters ahead of her. By age, it is our other branch’s Cousin Hui who would be the better match for the in-law family’s nephew.”

The sharp-eyed woman, who had been gloating with barely concealed delight moments before, suddenly found the spear turned on her. She frantically waved her hands: “No, no — that absolutely won’t do! My family would never want a lazy, good-for-nothing poor…” She cut herself off short. She had just caught Sun’s mother glaring at her with furious eyes, and with so many witnesses present, Sun’s mother had to restrain herself from launching into her with the full fury she might otherwise have brought to bear.

But the meaning was plain to every woman in the room. Suppressed laughter rippled through, and a wave of contemptuous looks converged on both Sun’s mother and the sharp-eyed woman, painting both their faces a deep crimson.

Lan was inwardly jubilant. She finally released Minglan’s hand. Minglan also felt a deep satisfaction, and she tugged Lan to quietly step back a few paces, easing away from the crowd to catch their breath behind a carved lattice panel.

At this moment, a beautiful young woman seated nearby covered her mouth and gave a soft laugh: “Mother, there’s no need to dismiss it out of hand — Brother-in-law Sun is, after all, a man with an academic title. Who’s to say the in-law family might not look down on our sister?” Sun’s mother’s expression eased slightly, and she let out a cold snort: “You’re right — I was overthinking it.” She deliberately drew out the last syllable with a lingering tone. The sharp-eyed woman trembled with rage. Behind her, Huilan stood in mortification, her head bowed, her lip bitten hard, clutching a handkerchief and twisting it in her hands, shooting a fierce glare at the beautiful young woman — who paid her no mind whatsoever and did not even glance back. Quiet laughter rustled through the room like a breeze.

In the commotion of a moment ago, Minglan hadn’t managed to take note of everyone. Lan quickly explained in a low voice: “The one sitting next to your aunt, dressed in the water-red gown, is Cousin Yuelan. The quiet, good-natured one seated beside her is Cousin Xiulan.”

Minglan gave a quiet sound of understanding. A properly born mother, a properly born daughter, and a daughter born of a concubine. So it was… The saying “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” apparently did not apply in Yuelan’s case.

Huilan, sensing the surrounding women giggling and exchanging pointed looks that seemed aimed at her, flushed crimson with shame, stamped her foot, and at last could endure no more. She spun on her heel and walked out. Xiulan, seeing her sister’s exit was improper, apologized on her behalf and followed her out. Yuelan had no patience for just sitting there either. She stood up and walked over to where Lan and Minglan were standing, immediately reaching out to feel the fabric of Minglan’s clothing and touch her hair, while saying with a smile: “What a lovely little sister — I adore her the moment I see her.”

Minglan had encountered female relatives back in Dengzhou, but never anyone who reached out and touched strangers so freely upon first meeting. She simply turned slightly to the side to move away. Lan watched with cold eyes and said not a single word. Yuelan, seeing that neither of the two paid her any attention, showed no embarrassment and simply kept talking to herself. Lan found her irritating, pursed her lips, and turned away to help herself to some tea and refreshments.

As Yuelan talked on, her gaze fixed directly on the flower-shaped ornament pinned in Minglan’s double buns — gold thread wound around pearls into flower shapes, fine and beautiful, the pearls each round and lustrous. It was clearly a valuable piece. Her heart swelled with envy. She reached out and touched it, saying: “I’ve never seen such large pearls as this, sister! Your second uncle’s family are officials — you must be well accustomed to such finery. Why not lend this to your older sister for two days, so I can make a bit of an impression at my in-laws’ home?”

Minglan stared at her, genuinely taken aback. Was she actually… asking her for the hairpin?

She suddenly felt a wave of nostalgia for Molan. Molan could be scheming, but at least her schemes had a certain class to them. Shamelessly begging a cousin she had just met for her belongings — that was something even Molan would not stoop to. Before Minglan could even open her mouth, Yuelan had already helped herself. With a swift motion she pulled the ornament right out of Minglan’s hair, held it up to examine it, felt it approvingly, and then turned back to Minglan with a smile: “Thank you, little sister — I’ll return it to you later.” And she moved to pin it into her own hair. Minglan watched, completely dumbstruck.

Just then Lan returned with the tea and refreshments, catching the tail end of what had been said. The fury inside her flared instantly. She came up from behind Yuelan, made a quick, unexpected move, and snatched the ornament right out of her hands, pressing it back into Minglan’s grasp. Then she said with a cold smile: “Is Cousin Yuelan borrowing this, or robbing it? Minglan hasn’t even agreed — and you’ve already made your move! Your husband is said to be a man of means — and yet you’re eyeing a younger cousin’s things? What kind of elder sister behaves this way?”

Yuelan, seeing something already in her grasp snatched back, immediately narrowed her eyes with fury and said: “I was talking with Minglan — what business is it of yours to stick your nose in? Hmph, sharp-tongued and petty — careful you never find a husband!” She then turned back to Minglan with a smile: “Little sister, you must understand — we country folk with money still can’t buy fine things like this. It’s just borrowing it for two days to wear — surely you’re not so stingy as that?”

Lan was about to fire back when Minglan grabbed her arm. Minglan met Lan’s eye with a look of reassurance, then turned to face Yuelan with a polite smile. In a perfectly composed and earnest tone, she said: “I’m sorry — I am stingy. I won’t lend it.”

Then she immediately pulled Lan forward and walked away. Yuelan stood rooted to the spot, mouth agape. She watched as Lan helped Minglan pin the ornament back into place in her hair, and the two of them moved over to stand near the elders, chatting pleasantly. Yuelan didn’t dare go after them to demand it again, and could only stamp her foot where she stood. Helping herself to other people’s things was an old habit of Yuelan’s. She had assumed that after pulling the ornament out she could quickly go sit back down in the middle of the room, and that seeing Minglan’s silence, she must be a timid girl, too embarrassed to say anything. She would rush home after this and the whole matter would dissolve quietly away. She had not expected…

Yuelan returned resentfully to her seat, and only then learned that the performance on the outdoor stage was about to begin. Most of the female relatives in the room were already following Da Li Shi outside. Yuelan quickly fell in step with them. Sheng Yun and the two elders had also intended to go, but had been detained by Sun’s mother. Zhu Shi the maternal aunt remained nearby listening. Lan and Minglan found a pair of cushioned stools and sat chatting between themselves.

Sun’s mother was in the middle of holding forth at great length about the glories of her son, praise flowing without end: “…the county magistrate personally insisted on inviting our Zhi to a banquet and asked him to write a piece of calligraphy for a plaque — oh, Zhi was reluctant, but he had no choice but to agree. I say, for the magistrate to receive calligraphy from our Zhi — that’s the magistrate’s good fortune…”

Lan could bear it no longer and pressed close to Minglan’s ear: “It’s the other way around — Brother-in-law Sun drank himself senseless and pressed the calligraphy on the county magistrate himself. And that banquet — Father had some business to discuss with the official, but Brother-in-law Sun showed up uninvited and drank up a storm, then talked nonsense for ages afterward, making Father spend the rest of the night apologizing to the magistrate!”

Minglan was thoroughly mortified. Sun’s mother was something else entirely — she could have applied to be a professional spinner of tales.

Sun’s mother indulged herself at length, and finally thought to address Sheng Lao: “I hear, in-law Elder, that your grandson is also a scholar — at what age did he pass the preliminary examination?” This was Sun’s mother’s favorite topic. She could hold forth without tiring on it, and even if someone had passed the palace examination at the top, if they had passed the preliminary exam at a later age than her son, she would find reason to boast.

Sheng Lao gave a light smile: “Fifteen.” Sun’s mother was exceedingly pleased: “Oh! That’s later than our Zhi managed it — though one could still call it young and talented.” Sheng Lao replied with casual modesty: “Hardly. That year in Dengzhou, there were several little licentiates who passed at eleven or twelve.”

Sun’s mother gave a few thin-skinned laughs: “Well, that doesn’t mean much — perhaps it was simply an easy year. Even if they all hold the same title, not all licentiates are equally talented.”

These words were enough to irritate Zhu Shi, who had been sitting patiently nearby. Unable to hold back any longer, she said pointedly: “Speaking of which, your son passed the preliminary examination at twelve — how many times has he sat the provincial examination since then? Why hasn’t he passed yet?”

Sun’s mother stiffened and swallowed her anger: “Plenty of people have spent decades trying — what’s a few years?”

Zhu Shi covered her mouth and smiled lightly: “Quite so — decades, indeed, it does happen.”

Sun’s mother was furious, and seeing that the Sheng family women were not coming to her aid, all her rage with nowhere to go, she turned on her daughter-in-law Shulan standing nearby: “Why haven’t you refilled your mother-in-law’s tea? What good are you, with such poor attentiveness?” Shulan, publicly scolded, flushed crimson to the ears and bent her head to signal a young maid. Lan, seeing her sister so humiliated, felt a stab of pain inwardly, yet could not speak up. Minglan hurriedly whispered in her ear: “Don’t move. Stay calm. Stay calm. Your grandmother has a sense of measure.”

Sheng Lao continued without expression to watch the tea leaves drifting. The Great Madam’s temper was gradually rising, but not a trace of it showed on her face. She sat quietly listening.

Sun’s mother watched Shulan walk away, curled her lip, then turned back and continued: “In-law Elder, I’m not boasting when I say that a face like our Zhi’s is not easily found even with a lantern in hand. For your daughter to enter our household is the good fortune of eight lifetimes of virtue! And she’s been in the door for several years now with no children to show for it — in any other household, she’d have been sent off with a letter of repudiation long ago.”

Sheng Yun was fiercely protective of family, and could hold her tongue no longer: “There are women who don’t give birth until ten years into the marriage, you know. And in these four or five years, how many little attendants has my niece already brought in for her nephew-in-law?”

Zhu Shi added: “Quite right — heirs come with the blessings of ancestors and Heaven. With a room already full of concubines, what more could one want?”

Sun’s mother gave a cold laugh: “If she were truly virtuous, she’d let them come in through the proper door. Having them kept outside only invites ridicule.”

The Great Madam said in a low, measured voice: “A woman of unclean origins — how could she be received properly into the household? Your son-in-law is also a scholar. That you can say such things without fearing dishonor to your ancestors — truly remarkable.”

Sun’s mother cried out indignantly: “Your daughter has no ability herself and wants to prevent her husband from taking concubines — what, does she want our family line to die out?”

Lan could endure no more. She could not sit and listen to another word. She spun around and walked out. Minglan rushed frantically after her. Lan was fit and in high temper, and with a breath held down in her chest, she covered eight feet in an instant. Minglan sprinted until she nearly tore something loose inside before she caught up with her under a willow tree. She grabbed Lan’s arm and refused to let go, doing nothing but gasping for breath.

Lan kicked the tree trunk one foot after another, cursing in fury: “Damn her! My sister is such a good person — how did she end up with this? Why? Why?!”

Minglan pressed her hand to her chest and panted hard. She could only wait until Lan had kicked herself out of energy before slowly drawing her to the shade of a decorative rock formation. She found a clean stone and they both sat down. Minglan didn’t know quite how to offer comfort in a situation like this. If she were still back in modern times working as a junior records clerk, she’d probably have said with great feeling, “Just get a divorce!” — but here, in this world… ah…

The two sisters sat in silence for a long while. Then suddenly, from behind the rock formation, came the sound of hurried footsteps and voices.

“…Sister, don’t go — listen to what I have to say!”

“I’m going to watch the performance. You don’t need to say anything, Sister — I don’t want to hear it.”

— It was Xiulan and Huilan! Lan and Minglan exchanged a swift look.

As an experienced eavesdropper, Minglan’s first instinct was to cover Lan’s mouth — but Lan was faster. She pressed her own hand over her own mouth, then sat perfectly still, turning her ear to listen intently. Seeing that practiced, fluid motion, Minglan could not help a flicker of suspicion: could it be that they shared the same hobby?

Then Xiulan spoke: “A marriage match is like a second birth for us women — it is that momentous. Sister, you must not act foolishly! I have heard of that young master’s family — they may be wealthy, but he is a womanizer. He was keeping many household favorites even as a young boy.”

“Then what can I do? Aunt watches me like a thief — I can’t even catch a glimpse of Cousin Taisheng. My years are catching up with me, so I’ll have to look elsewhere.” Huilan said bitterly.

“Taisheng? Hmph, you can put that thought out of your mind entirely — there are things you don’t know. Years ago, when Aunt wanted to marry Uncle, our grandfather pushed Great Uncle to give Aunt to another family instead, and nearly had Uncle beaten to death. From what I’ve heard, it was the second elder who intervened to protect him. Even if Aunt doesn’t harbor deep resentment in her heart, she can hardly look upon our branch of the family with any warmth.” Xiulan’s voice was touched with wistfulness.

Lan and Minglan exchanged another look. There was more to the story than they had known? Lan’s eyes lit up with excitement. Minglan was equally riveted — so Uncle Erniu and Auntie had been a love match all along.

A thudding sound followed, as though someone were stamping their foot. Huilan’s voice came through the rock formation again: “…Sister, just look at the display they put on today — then look at what Lan and Minglan are wearing, what they have pinned in their hair. Pull off any single piece and it would be worth more than everything I own put together! I will not live a bitter life. If I am to marry, I will marry someone wealthy!”

“Don’t be foolish — having money is not all that matters in a marriage. My husband’s family may be modest, but he is sincere and wholehearted with me, and his mother knows how to care for others. I have him and our two children — I am more content than I would be with a table of rare delicacies every day. Don’t look at Cousin Yuelan and think she married well just because her husband has money — that man is an absolute wretch. He chases after women every single day, and beats her at the slightest excuse. The concubines in that house who have borne children don’t give her an ounce of respect. Would you want to live that kind of life? You should go and earnestly beg Great Aunt — she will stand up for you.” Xiulan’s voice was full of heartfelt urging.

Huilan seemed to give a cold laugh. “That’s because Sister was blessed with a good fate and good fortune. You were both given away in marriage at the same time — and what about Cousin Shulan? She also married a modest young licentiate. But her husband is nothing like yours. He lives off his wife’s dowry and struts about putting on airs all day. And Shulan is too weak to stand up to him! Hmph. Forget it — money is the more reliable foundation after all…”

With that, heavy footsteps followed, as though she had shaken Xiulan off and walked away. Xiulan hastened after her, their voices fading into the distance.

Lan slowly released the hand she had been pressing over Minglan’s mouth. Her expression was a complicated half-smile. She said quietly, in a voice that drifted: “Younger Sister Minglan… I find I’m not angry anymore, somehow. When all is said and done — at least my sister has never been struck, not even once.”