On the first and fifteenth of each month, Master Yang would always give face to First Madam Yang Shi by dining in the main courtyard for the evening meal. Being the fifteenth today, the Yang family’s main branch had gathered together.
Yang Jingyuan paused at the doorway, involuntarily glancing at Concubine Liu.
Two tables were set in the hall, with no screen dividing the family. At one table sat his father and two brothers, along with three nephews. At the other table were Madam Yang Shi and the two daughters-in-law with their young daughters.
Concubine Liu wore a silver-red padded jacket, her white skirt tied with a scarlet sash, her waist so slender it seemed one could encircle it with a single hand. She possessed a delicate beauty tinged with womanly maturity. Her hair was styled in a drooping horse-tail bun, her eyes gleaming with flowing light. It was beauty refined to the utmost fragility.
Though his elder brothers both had concubines, they would only pay respects to their sisters-in-law, never attending formal dinners with their stepmother. Among all the people filling the room, only Concubine Liu stood to serve.
Since he could remember, every first and fifteenth when the family gathered to dine in the main hall, Concubine Liu would stand behind Madam Yang Shi. With her serving Madam Yang Shi, both sisters-in-law could be seated. She was only in her thirties, two years younger than his eldest sister-in-law, appearing about the same age as his second sister-in-law.
Yang Jingyuan recalled Fifth Miss Niu’s words, his heart stinging as if pricked by needles. For the first time, he found the sight of Concubine Liu standing there particularly jarring. He sat while she stood serving. She was his mother. He truly wanted to turn and leave.
Everyone had arrived, waiting only for Yang Jingyuan. Seeing him, Madam Yang Shi raised her customary smile and called out: “Third Young Master, come quickly, we’re just waiting for you.”
With his elder brothers, sisters-in-law, nephews, and nieces all present, Yang Jingyuan suddenly felt that if his mother and he were absent from the hall, it wouldn’t affect this family’s liveliness at all. He came forward, paid his respects, and sat beside his second brother.
The Yang family, though merchants, followed the ancient teaching of not speaking while eating. During the meal, only the soft sounds of cups and dishes could be heard. Only at Madam Yang Shi’s table, where it was said that alternate generations were closer, did she dote on her grandchildren, frequently instructing servants to serve them dishes and add soup. Occasionally, Concubine Liu’s gentle voice could be heard: “Madam, let this humble concubine do it.”
“Madam, the autumn air is dry. Shall I add some duck soup for you?”
“Madam, you shouldn’t eat too much of the braised pork knuckle.”
Her hushed voice, like a down-covered calamus, had a pleasantly tickling quality. Yet to Yang Jingyuan’s ears, it made him feel as if sitting on pins and needles.
Finally, Master Yang put down his chopsticks and rinsed his mouth. Yang Jingyuan quietly caught his eye.
Master Yang paused briefly, then rose and went to sit in the main hall with his hands behind his back.
As one table dispersed, the other followed suit.
After the meal, it was customary to sit and talk with one’s parents. The daughters-in-law led their children to sit in the lower seats. Concubine Liu once again stood behind Madam Shi, serving tea.
Master Yang glanced at Yang Jingyuan and asked: “Has the date been set for proposing to the Ji family?”
Madam Yang Shi answered with a smile: “As soon as the brocade competition ended, weavers from all over the city came asking about the new brocade weaving method. Even without master’s urging, I was planning to send the official matchmaker in the next few days.”
Father, I caught your eye not to rush the proposal! His father’s misunderstanding made Yang Jingyuan deeply uncomfortable. If he hadn’t met the Ji siblings that day, perhaps he would now be blushing with joy.
“Third Brother must be dumbstruck with happiness.”
“He’s turned into a wooden man!”
His elder brothers’ teasing voices startled Yang Jingyuan. He stood up and lowered his head: “Mother, please don’t propose to the Ji family.”
“What did you say?” Madam Yang Shi thought she had misheard. This was supposed to be a win-win situation—why had Third Young Master suddenly changed his mind and was now opposing it?
Right now, he was just a concubine-born son eating idle rice in the Yang family.
The assets his father had privately promised to give him in the future weren’t yet in his name. As long as his father lived, he couldn’t establish a separate household. This was the established custom in brocade-weaving families. If every concubine-born son were to receive his share of assets upon reaching adulthood, it would be like being eaten away by ants, gradually weakening the family.
Yang Jingyuan knew that although his father was over sixty, he was still in good health. For quite a long time to come, he would still have to depend on the family, living off the monthly allowance. Before marriage, he could spend money as he wished. After marriage, he wouldn’t be just one person anymore. If Ji Yingying liked him, it would be fine. But she had no feelings for him. Why marry her and make her suffer others’ mockery with him?
Yang Jingyuan made up his mind and knelt before his parents, lifting his robe: “Son has idly lived for eighteen years without achievement. I wish to venture out and make my way—I beg Father and Mother’s blessing!”
He wanted to leave home to seek his fortune.
The entire hall was shocked.
In her urgency, Concubine Liu looked toward Master Yang. Master Yang shook his head slightly, signaling her to remain calm. He understood now that he had misinterpreted his son’s earlier signal. Third Young Master grew more sensible with each passing day. The old steward had reported that he was naturally intelligent, quick to learn, and understood the basics of business at first explanation. A good man doesn’t live off his parents’ food—Master Yang saw nothing wrong with his son’s request. He asked: “Third Young Master, they say establish family then career. Marriage wouldn’t conflict with your ambitions. Moreover, venturing out must have a purpose—you don’t mean to just take money and go sightseeing, do you?”
“I don’t want to marry now.” Yang Jingyuan didn’t know what he wanted to do after leaving. He only knew that staying at home, he would at most run errands for his elder brothers. Perhaps it was Zhao Xiuyuan’s mockery. Perhaps he didn’t want Ji Yingying to look down on him. Perhaps Fifth Miss Niu’s words had stung him. Perhaps he too wanted to have a sky of his own.
If the Third Young Master doesn’t marry Second Miss Ji, wouldn’t that benefit some other family? Madam Yang Shi patiently advised: “Third Young Master, don’t you admire Second Miss Ji? She’s at the perfect age. If we don’t propose now, won’t you regret it later?”
Regret—a word expressing dark and depressed emotions. One word captured Yang Jingyuan’s current mood perfectly. If he agreed, his stepmother would certainly bring Ji Yingying into the Yang family. Yet he insisted on not marrying—perhaps Ji Yingying would marry Second Young Master Zhu? Or some other man he didn’t know.
Madam Yang Shi saw the hesitation in Yang Jingyuan’s eyes. She said gently: “Third Young Master, you’ve been pampered since childhood—how could you endure hardships outside? You’ve never left Yizhou Prefecture. A child traveling a thousand li worries the mother… Look at your birth mother. Concubine Liu, stop crying.”
Concubine Liu’s tears fell in strings as she turned away to wipe them. With only this one son, how could she not worry about his safety away from home?
If they didn’t propose to the Ji family, by year’s end, perhaps they would receive news of Ji Yingying’s betrothal to another. Yang Jingyuan lowered his head.
Madam Yang Shi sighed: “Third Young Master, you suddenly don’t want to marry, and suddenly propose to leave. Could it be because Second Miss Ji refuses to marry you?” Seeing Yang Jingyuan’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, she couldn’t help but smile: “The Ji family merely runs a small dye house, barely managing to survive with their few secret dye formulas. Being able to marry into our Yang family would be her good fortune. Marriage is decided by parents’ command and matchmakers’ words—how could she decide for herself? Mother will certainly fulfill your wish.”
“It has nothing to do with her!” Yang Jingyuan raised his head, finally resolute. “I don’t want to marry so early. I’ve already packed my belongings these past few days and plan to leave tomorrow.” He solemnly kowtowed to his parents: “Forgive your unworthy son.”
He stood and bowed to his brothers and sisters-in-law: “With Third Young Master away, please take care of Father and Mother. Accept Third Young Master’s bow!”
“Third Young Master!” Yang Jingshan stood to support him, but seeing the determination in his eyes, he couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
Yang Jingyuan didn’t look at Concubine Liu—he dared not see her tearful face. He strode out of the main hall as the autumn rain began to fall steadily.
Xiangyou, waiting in the corridor, pulled out an oil-paper umbrella from under his arm and opened it, secretly glancing inside: “Young Master, did Master and Madam agree?”
Yang Jingyuan made a sound of assent. The cold wind blowing in his face gave rise to a desolate feeling, like “The wind whistles, the Yi River runs cold.”
Halfway along, he stopped: “You go back first.”
“Young Master, where are you going?” Xiangyou asked in confusion.
Yang Jingyuan walked into the rain curtain without looking back.
Xiangyou hesitated, then hurried after him with the umbrella: “Young Master, I’ll come with you.”