Qinghe found her magnanimity incredible but didn’t want to say it directly, so she probed indirectly, “Fourth Sister, time passes so quickly. In the blink of an eye, you’ve been back for two months already. We sisters don’t have much time left together, as we’ll each soon need to find our path… Aren’t you angry about today’s events?”
Qingyuan shook her head with a smile, “This matter had nothing to do with me originally, so what is there for me to be angry about? In one’s lifetime, there are many encounters, and not everything can have the outcome we desire. When I was previously with the Chen family, my Grandmother was a very learned elder lady. Once when I accompanied her to a temple to worship Buddha, the temple was far away in the mountains and required traveling by water. When the boat reached the middle of the lake, I accidentally dropped a cup into the water. I watched it sink bit by bit until it disappeared to the bottom, and I cried over it. But Grandmother said that as long as it wasn’t broken, let it sink. Someone would eventually retrieve it, and when they did, it would still be intact and they would take good care of it.”
After listening, Qinghe remained silent for a long while before finally sighing: “That Lady Chen was truly an enlightened person.”
“That’s why there’s no need to torment oneself in life.” Qingyuan squinted at the flowing clouds on the horizon, with sunlight falling on her eyes, making them sparkle like clear springs. Turning her head, she smiled at Qinghe again, “Things that can’t be kept, might as well be given up for others’ benefit. Besides, the Young Master of Danyang Marquis and I only exchanged four or five sentences in total.”
Qinghe’s evaluation of her rose considerably because of this, and she later shared her feelings with her mother: “People’s perspectives and insights truly differ according to their circumstances. I used to think that with the Xie family’s status, we would naturally not be inferior, but now it seems that’s not necessarily the case…”
Though Qingyuan had consoled Qinghe, she couldn’t reduce the regret felt by those around her. Baoxian remained silent with her head down for a long time. Despite Qingyuan trying every way to cheer her up, she finally managed a forced smile and said, “I just feel wronged on Young Miss’s behalf.”
Qingyuan was stunned, finding it strange that everyone was feeling indignant for her as if the Young Master of Danyang Marquis’s household should have belonged to her. Or perhaps what they found more unacceptable was Old Madam’s judgment—wasn’t the Fourth Miss a granddaughter just as the Second Miss was? If there were countless faults with the Fourth Miss matching with the Danyang Marquis’s eldest son, why then immediately arrange introductions for the Second Miss?
Chuntai was a straightforward person. While taking apart old clothes in her hands, she kept muttering under her breath: “I just can’t accept it. Where in the world is there such reasoning? Both the palm and back of the hand are flesh. Even if Old Madam doesn’t favor the Concubine, Young Miss is still Master’s flesh and blood… Others aside, but especially Second Miss… Our Danyue Pavilion has suffered so many losses from them, both openly and secretly. Could Old Madam truly not know about this?”
These words hit the root of the matter, and everyone fell silent. The wind had picked up outside, rustling the parrot cage under the eaves, creating a fluttering sound of bird wings.
No hurry, Qingyuan thought secretly, everything must come one step at a time. Madam Tao sent more news from outside, saying that Madam Hu had thoroughly investigated because of this letter, but since she couldn’t do it openly, she only sent people to make inquiries everywhere. After two days of not finding Qingmei or her family members, another letter arrived saying Madam need not trouble herself searching, and if it wasn’t convenient for her, they could come to the residence tomorrow. Madam Hu had no choice but to buy peace with money, having Granny Sun secretly take fifty taels and place them beneath the wall as specified in the letter. As it happened, a coal delivery convoy passed by that day, and before Granny Sun could see clearly, the package disappeared. The money was spent without even hearing a sound, and when Granny Sun returned to report, it angered Madam so much that she ground her teeth.
Perhaps due to her anger and greater need for joyous occasions, Madam Hu became increasingly eager to advance Qingru’s marriage, urging Old Madam to invite the Prefecture Governor’s wife to the mansion for a meal. For whatever reason—perhaps wanting Qingyuan to completely give up hope—Old Madam called the sisters over and arranged for them to shell almonds in the adjacent flower room. Separated only by a wall with latticed windows, they could hear everything being said on the other side. Old Madam tactfully expressed her intentions to the Governor’s wife, not saying it was Qingru’s own choice, only that the elders thought it very suitable. “As they say, one shouldn’t trouble two hosts for the same guest. Both of our children’s marriages have relied on Madam’s help, so for the third child, we might as well entrust it to you.”
The Governor’s wife, being familiar now, spoke frankly: “Since Old Madam trusts me, given our friendship, there’s nothing to say…” After a slight hesitation, she asked, “This time it’s for Second Miss?”
Madam Hu confirmed, “Madam, don’t you think these two make a good match?”
No one would say your child isn’t good enough for them, so the Governor’s wife smiled and agreed: “What else is there to say? A talented scholar and a beautiful lady, a match made in heaven. However… something interesting happened. That day when the Founding Count’s family presented gifts, the young Marquis accompanied them. On the way back, he intentionally or unintentionally inquired about the young ladies of your household, but not about Second Miss—it was about Fourth Miss.”
At these words, not only were Old Madam and Madam Hu struck dumb, but the adjacent flower room also erupted in commotion.
Qingru stared coldly at Qingyuan—if eyes could shoot daggers, Qingyuan would have been stabbed a thousand times already.
Qingyuan was completely stunned. Although everyone had previously connected her with Li Congxin, she hadn’t taken it to heart. Therefore, suddenly hearing the Governor’s wife say this, she truly couldn’t react. Qingru hated her so much her teeth could have grown eight zhang long, she felt wronged and waved her hand saying, “Second Sister, this matter truly has nothing to do with me.”
Qingru sneered, “Why does Fourth Sister need to deny it? If your mother were here, wouldn’t she be overjoyed? Young Miss has quietly found herself a son-in-law without making a sound.”
Qingyuan was helpless and ceased arguing. Qinghe smiled and turned her head, telling Xinyu to add hot water to the basin to soak the almonds.
Next door, Old Madam pondered for a long while before saying: “They are all my granddaughters, and I have no intention of showing favoritism. However, it’s not the right time for the Fourth Miss to discuss marriage. Firstly, she is still young, and secondly… because of her birth mother’s status, I fear she would be bullied in another household. To be frank with you, I have made plans for her. In the future, I’ll find her a family of decent standing—not necessarily wealthy or noble, just someone who will respect and love her. She has suffered since childhood; if she were to face more grievances in marriage, wouldn’t that make her entire life miserable? Every family hopes to find an illustrious son-in-law when marrying off their daughters, but for our Fourth Miss, I don’t think that way. In my opinion, as long as the son-in-law has ambition and talent, even if he’s from a humble family, that wouldn’t be unacceptable.”
These words left the Governor’s wife with no way to respond, and in the adjacent flower room, the smile that had been on Qingyuan’s face completely disappeared.
So she was only worthy of marrying into a humble family, to live with a poor scholar. Old Madam spoke of grand principles but hadn’t considered what if the poor family also caused trouble—would it be better to be a mistress suffering grievances in a noble house, or to be a servant in a poor household?
She placed the shelled almonds in the bowl, stood up, and said: “I’m not feeling well. Please stay seated, three sisters, I will return first.” Without further delay, she walked straight out of Huifang Garden.
On the way back, whether from the wind choking her or some other reason, her nose was filled with sorrow. She had to walk faster, even faster, or the tears would fall.
“Young Miss…” Baoxian saw her walking hurriedly but didn’t know how to comfort her. Old Madam was truly ruthless—that long, flowing speech was meant to stab Fourth Miss in the heart. Though Fourth Miss usually had her ideas, she was still only a fourteen-year-old child. How thick-skinned would she need to be to endure such deliberate belittlement from her grandmother?
Chuntai came out to meet her, calling “Young Miss,” but she didn’t respond, lifting her skirts to climb the steps. Chuntai was very puzzled and was about to speak again when Baoxian shook her head at her.
“I’m going in to rest for a while. Unless it’s important, don’t call me.” She tried hard to control herself, keeping her voice very low.
Baoxian acknowledged, “Young Miss should rest well.” While helping her close the partition door.
Chuntai, not understanding the situation, kept making eye signals to Baoxian. Baoxian sighed, pulled her under the crabapple tree in the courtyard, and told her everything that had happened earlier. Chuntai was stunned for a long while before sighing: “Before, we used to complain about why we weren’t born into wealthy families, having to do such serving work. Now it seems we have our advantages—fewer heartaches to worry about, so we might live longer.”
Both felt lost, sitting for a while before moving their needlework under the flower trellis. They kept glancing at the door; the bedroom remained completely quiet as the sun’s shadow moved from the main hall’s lattice window to the eastern corridor. Young Miss was sleeping deeply; when she woke up, perhaps she would understand many things better!
As night was falling, a little maid ran into the courtyard, panting and calling for Sister Chuntai. The commotion was so great it provoked Chuntai to curse: “You devil, is a ghost chasing you? Why are you shouting so wildly!”
The little maid, having been scolded, became somewhat timid and twisted her fingers as she spoke: “Master’s official boat has arrived at Nanpu, only ten li from home. Old Madam asks to inform the young ladies to wait in the front hall. I came to report to Fourth Miss.”
Chuntai, seeing it wasn’t appropriate to scold further, gruffly acknowledged and sent her away.
Just as she was about to knock on Fourth Miss’s bedroom door, the two partition doors opened by themselves. The person inside came out, already washed and dressed, standing under the dripping eaves to ask: “How far away now?”
Chuntai said: “Still ten li. At full gallop, they’ll arrive in half an hour.”
Baoxian had also arrived, handing over the incense-making implements to a nearby maid to take inside. She carefully observed her expression and asked: “Is Young Miss feeling better now?”
Qingyuan smiled slightly, assuring them not to worry. Earlier, she had lain on the bed and had a good cry, falling asleep when she became tired from crying. After waking up and thinking it over, she felt she must have been temporarily confused to feel heartache over her circumstances. In fact, in a family like the Xie’s, there was nothing to hope for. She had originally still harbored a yearning for familial affection in her bones, but after today, there would be no more.
“There’s still half an hour, it wouldn’t be good to arrive late, let’s go over early.” She beckoned to the maid Xiaozi to bring a wind lantern, then went to the front with Baoxian. Tonight’s moon looked like a water-soaked pancake, with pale edges. The clouds were racing quickly, covering and uncovering randomly. Qingyuan looked up at the sky and murmured, “It will rain tomorrow.”
Some people had already gathered in the front hall, including Zhengze and Zhengjun, each occupying their territory like the Chu and Han kingdoms, each leading their wives. Qingyuan greeted them one by one, and though they responded, their faces remained cold. Soon after, Concubine Lian and Qinghe also arrived. Qinghe, now engaged, had a different status as a bride-to-be, and no longer needed to carefully observe others’ expressions to win their favor. She sat together with Qingyuan and asked: “Fourth Sister, are you feeling better?”
Qingyuan smiled and nodded, about to speak when Old Madam arrived leading Madam Hu. She and Qinghe stood up together to bow to Old Madam.
Old Madam currently had no spare attention for other matters, having sent people running to the ward gate three times in a moment to keep watch. The whole family was waiting anxiously until finally, a servant boy came bouncing in, clasping his hands to report that Master’s carriage had entered the ward gate.
Before he finished speaking, several soldiers entered the main gate, standing like nails guarding both sides of the straight path. Old Madam hurriedly led everyone to the corridor to welcome them. In the bright lamplight, the Xie family’s eldest master, Xie Shu, came in through the door wearing an official’s round-collared wide-sleeved casual clothes, without a hat. Reaching the steps, he lifted his robe to kowtow to Old Madam, prostrating himself on the ground saying: “Son has been away from home for two years, and when mother was ill, could not attend to her medicine. Son is ashamed and unworthy of being a son.”