Qingyuan agreed, saying she had never harbored improper thoughts about that young master—she had merely admired for a moment how rare it was to see such a complete character in Hengtang, and after that, hadn’t given it another thought.
The Old Madam’s concerns were perhaps too early. “I’m only fourteen,” she said with a laugh to Baoqin.
They had attended the Spring Banquet and didn’t return until late afternoon. After settling the Old Madam, the Fourth Young Lady returned to Danyue Pavilion as dusk was falling. Baoqin had just finished helping her change clothes and was gathering everything to give to the maids for washing. Hearing her words, she couldn’t help but turn to look at her, saying with a smile, “Is fourteen still a child? In another year you’ll have your coming-of-age ceremony, and then it will be time to discuss marriage. Young lady, you don’t realize that nowadays when families look for daughters-in-law, they start paying attention to girls your age. Time flies—if you’re careless for a moment, you might miss your chance at a good match.”
Qingyuan lay leisurely on the daybed, listening to Baoqin’s persistent reminders. The latticed window was half-open, and outside, a plum branch stretched over, releasing a subtle fragrance. A crescent moon had climbed the edge of the sky, thread-thin, with a delicate, precarious beauty.
Marriage… she smiled slightly. Her mother had misplaced her trust in someone—how many marriages in this world could truly be relied upon? During her years in the Chen family, although she had seen her grandparents grow old together, her grandfather had still kept several concubines in his youth. In wealthy families, there was hardly a wife who didn’t worry about her husband.
Seeing no response from her, Baoqin figured she truly had no interest in such matters. After handing the clothes to the little maid outside, she returned to light the incense.
Young ladies needed guidance, and if the Old Madam had allowed the personal maids who came from the Chen family to enter with her, Baoqin wouldn’t have to worry about these things. Now the young lady was alone, and both she and Chuntai would depend on her in the future, so naturally they couldn’t let her remain ambivalent.
“What did young lady think of that Young Master of the Marquis of Danyang?”
Qingyuan replied listlessly, “We only exchanged a few words—can’t tell what kind of person he is.”
But within Shengzhou’s borders, such a noble family was considered among the finest. Baoqin smiled again, “Young lady is usually so prudent, why are you so unconcerned about your lifelong happiness? Why did the Old Madam say the Danyang Marquis’s family isn’t of our circle—could there have been some past grievance? If there truly was bad blood, the young marquis wouldn’t have approached you… Listen to me, young lady. Now that the First Young Lady’s marriage to the Founding Count’s family is essentially settled, the Second and Third Young Ladies still haven’t found matches. Though the Third Young Lady was raised under the Madam’s name, her birth mother’s status was humble, not equal to First Young Lady. The Old Madam probably considers the Second Young Lady’s marriage most urgent… Second Young Lady was born to the principal wife—wouldn’t it shame the family if she married beneath her station?”
Baoqin didn’t spell it out, but Qingyuan understood her meaning. She thought the Old Madam intended to reserve good marriages for the Second Young Lady, while the Fourth Young Lady’s marriage wasn’t important and could be delayed.
Qingyuan couldn’t help but smile. Baoqin hadn’t heard the Old Madam’s words and seemed to think they planned to let her become an old maid. If she had heard, who knows how she would have defended her mistress’s honor.
She lay on her side, playfully saying, “Come to think of it, Second Sister’s status would be quite well-matched with the Young Master of the Marquis of Danyang.”
Baoqin looked at her, unsure how to explain the complexities involved, and only said, “No one in this household plans for a young lady’s future; a young lady should think more for herself.”
Qingyuan understood, of course, but marriage wasn’t urgent at the moment—it could wait two or three years. She slowly closed her eyes and began calculating how soon the Founding Count’s family would come to propose, so she could use the opportunity of offering congratulations to visit Concubine Lian’s Hanxiang Chamber.
However, after five days, there was no movement from the Magistrate’s wife. The Old Madam remained patient, but Qinghe was anxious. Unable to speak with others about it, that morning after paying respects, she quietly took Qingyuan’s hand and said, “Fourth Sister, shall we take a walk in the garden?”
Qingru and Qingrong happened to pass by and glanced at them. Qingru snorted with laughter, “Elder Sister is so close with Fourth Sister now? What secrets do you have that we can’t hear?”
Qingrong waved her round fan, its tassels flying wildly with her rapid movements. She disdainfully shifted her gaze skyward, mockingly saying, “Don’t you know, Second Sister? Elder Sister is to be married to the Founding Count’s family, and Fourth Sister has caught the attention of the Young Master of the Marquis of Danyang. They’re of equal status now—how could they lower themselves to speak with us!”
Qingru couldn’t stand hearing such things. It was already enough that Qinghe had secured an advantageous match, but now this little hussy Qingyuan also wanted to climb higher. Through gritted teeth, she forced out the words, “As if she’s worthy!”
In this world, deliberate perfection is difficult to achieve, but causing trouble is all too simple. Qingrong wasn’t in a hurry, saying with a false smile, “My goodness, the Founding Count’s family is being rather leisurely—I’m anxious for Elder Sister’s sake. Didn’t they see her that day? Could something have displeased them, requiring further consideration? As for the Fourth Sister, she could never enter a marquis’s household. If people learned of what your mother did, getting snubbed would be the least of your worries—what if you were thrown out in disgrace?”
The two sisters walked away laughing, leaving Qinghe pale with anger, spitting out, “Such foul mouths, growing more outrageous by the day!”
Qingyuan maintained her composure, only comforting her, “Elder Sister, calm down. Not being envied is a sign of mediocrity—try to see it that way.”
Qinghe sighed, “You’re so magnanimous.”
Without magnanimity, how could one survive in the Xie family? These cutting remarks were meant for her to hear—if she took offense each time, she’d anger herself to death first. Qingyuan smiled, “Let’s go.”
Taking another path, they entered the garden. The Xie mansion’s garden layout was ingenious, with distinct Jiangnan characteristics, featuring both soaring eaves reaching to the sky and hidden, bright passages with winding waterways. Walking among the flowers and willows on the bluestone path in spring, they saw a succession of moon gates in the distance, appearing like interlocked rings from where they stood.
Qingyuan led her to sit on a stone bench by the path and studied her face, asking, “Is Elder Sister unhappy? Why so worried?” Having her intentions to guide the conversation, she said softly, “Though Third Sister’s words were unpleasant earlier, they had some truth. The Founding Count’s family’s silence is unsettling… Why doesn’t Elder Sister send someone to inquire?”
Qinghe’s temperament was mild, unlike her mother. Concubine Lian was a sharp-tongued woman, but having born no sons, she had been suppressed for years. She had hoped her daughter’s success would help her gain face, but with the marriage arrangements showing no progress, she was naturally more anxious than Qinghe. She had suggested several times about sending someone to inquire, but Qinghe was stubborn, insisting on maintaining her dignity as a young lady. At the mention of sending someone to investigate, she would cry and make a scene, refusing to agree no matter what.
Now hearing Qingyuan suggest the same thing, Qinghe wavered, “You think so too?”
Qingyuan nodded, “A household of their status must have many servants coming and going. We only need to find out if they’re preparing betrothal gifts.”
Qinghe sat dazed for a while before finally making up her mind. Without another word, she hurried back to Hanxiang Chamber.
“Young Lady…” Baoqin called out.
Qingyuan smoothed her clothes as she stood, saying with her hands tucked in her sleeves, “Go ahead with the plan.”
Those who come prepared always catch the prey that rushes headlong into the trap.
Concubine Lian repeatedly emphasized the need for careful inquiry—if even a hint of gossip leaked out, it would become a laughing matter even after the marriage was settled and the First Young Lady had entered the Count’s household. People’s tongues were sharp; their mockery could make one wish to disappear into the ground. They would say, look at the Xie family’s First Young Lady, so eager to marry into their household that she couldn’t wait five days, restless at home, as if she’d never seen a man before—what about face? So the servant sent out had to be extremely careful, pretending to casually observe around the Count’s mansion, but after half a day, he hadn’t seen so much as a goose feather.
Just as he was thinking of ways to befriend the household’s servants, someone tapped his shoulder from behind, “Aren’t you from Concubine Lian’s quarters!”
The servant jumped in surprise, “Who might you be?”
The man, dressed as a servant, said, “You don’t know me, but we have connections to the Xie household. My sister Qingmei used to work at your mansion—tell Concubine Lian, she’ll surely remember. I’ve noticed you lingering here for half a day—is there something you need?”
The servant had been worried about finding someone to inquire from, and since he’d been discovered, there was no point in hiding anymore. He asked about the progress of the First Young Master’s marriage arrangements.
The man made an “oh” sound, “It’ll be any day now—they’re about to visit the Xie mansion. We’re all looking forward to the engagement. When the First Young Lady comes to our household, even the scraps that fall through her fingers will be enough for our salvation.”
So the servant returned to report, his face wreathed in smiles as he bowed with clasped hands, “Congratulations to the Concubine! I’ve learned everything—the Count’s household has prepared the betrothal gifts, but the dates in the almanac weren’t favorable, so they delayed for two days. They’re waiting for an especially auspicious day to send the matchmaker. A concubine can expect good news!”
Hearing this, Concubine Lian’s usually stern face lit up with joy, “Who did you hear this from? Is it reliable?”
The servant assured her it couldn’t be more reliable, “A senior servant at the Count’s mansion has a sister called Qingmei who used to work in our household. He said to mention her to the Concubine, saying you would surely know her. There’s some connection there, so he wouldn’t deceive me.”
“Qingmei?” Concubine Lian thought for a moment but had no recollection. Noble households followed certain rules in naming servants—if not spring, summer, autumn, or winter, then plum, orchid, bamboo, or chrysanthemum. These eight characters were mixed and matched endlessly; she couldn’t remember someone who hadn’t served her directly. Regardless of who it was, she just needed reliable information. Learning that the Founding Count’s family would soon come to formalize the engagement, she felt relieved. After rewarding the servant with some money and dismissing him, she hurried to inform Qinghe.
As the servant left Hanxiang Chamber counting his money, he ran into Madam Shang from the kitchen. The old woman was his aunt by marriage, and like a magician, she produced a roasted squab and stuffed it into his arms, pulling him aside to whisper, “Did you just mention Qingmei to Concubine Lian? Did the Concubine remember her?”
The servant was confused, “Aunt, how do you know about Qingmei?”
“Oh my, that girl was dismissed for some wrongdoing, and now she wants to return. Her brother found me and asked me to sound out the Concubine’s thoughts.” Madam Shang responded casually, “So when you mentioned Qingmei, did the Concubine react?”
The servant said, “What reaction? Concubine Lian thought for quite a while but couldn’t remember at all. This approach won’t work—Aunt, better tell them to give up hope.”
Later, when this conversation reached Qingyuan, she had arranged the whole thing just to observe Concubine Lian’s reaction. If she had been involved in the incident years ago, even after more than a decade, suddenly hearing that name would surely have caused at least a moment’s disturbance.
Madam Tao felt quite disappointed, “Concubine Lian has such a fiery temperament, I thought she was the most suspicious, but it seems we were wrong.”
A dog that bites doesn’t bark—having ruled out Concubine Lian, only Madam Hu and Concubine Mei remained. Baoqin looked at Qingyuan and asked, “What does the Young Lady plan to do next?”
Qingyuan stood before a plum vase, arranging newly cut peach blossoms—two branches, one long and one short. With extreme patience, she turned them this way and that until she achieved her desired arrangement, responding languidly, “The Master will return soon, and Third Young Master is to be married next month. Both the Madam and Concubine Mei will be busy. Being busy is good—busyness breeds chaos, and chaos creates opportunities.”
When she spoke these words, she didn’t sound like a fourteen-year-old child at all. That kind of composure and calculating nature was probably something those who underestimated and oppressed her had never imagined possible.