Ji Yingying was spreading ground dye powder to dry under the Chinese parasol tree. Only when immersed in her beloved dyes could she forget her troubles.
Seeing Madam Ji approach, Xiang’er and Ling’er brought out a rattan chair for her to sit.
Ji Yingying couldn’t pretend not to notice and walked over with pursed lips to sit beside her mother.
“All of you, leave us,” Madam Ji was already exhausted from today’s emotional turmoil. She reclined in the rattan chair, her gaze drifting toward the Zhao family’s vine garden in the distance.
Though powerless against the Zhao family, that didn’t mean Madam Ji’s heart was free of hatred.
“Yingying, that night when the Zhao family forcibly detained you in their mansion. I didn’t have the power to bring you home safely, fortunately, you were unharmed. Otherwise, I would have done more than just cough blood—I would have died from anger.”
When her mother suddenly brought up past events, Ji Yingying said bitterly, “It was the daughter’s fault for being blind and mistaking someone’s identity. Mother, it’s all in the past, don’t dwell on it.”
“You want to wait three years for Yang Jingyuan. During this time, do you think Second Young Master Zhao will leave you alone?”
If it weren’t for Shengfengze that day at Mount Qingcheng… Ji Yingying pulled out an exquisite small knife from her sleeve: “Mother, the small knife Third Young Master gave me for making dyes, I always carry it with me.”
Such a delicate constitution, yet willing to stake her life on it. This foolish child. Madam Ji sighed, “The other day, your brother went to deliver goods in town. A kind person quietly told him why the Military Commissioner would know about such a small dyeing house as the Ji family, specifically requesting a thousand pieces of tribute cloth. It was during the New Year when Madam Niu gave two pieces of green gauze to Madam Liu.”
Fifth Miss Niu had married Zhao Xiuyuan. Madam Niu had taken cloth dyed by Huanhua Dyeing House to attend a feast at the Military Commissioner’s mansion and given it to Madam Liu.
“Mother doesn’t believe this is a coincidence,” Madam Ji said calmly.
Hearing her mother’s words, Ji Yingying suddenly understood.
Marrying the Yang family would mean having powerful in-laws, and only then would Zhao Xiuyuan not dare act rashly.
She shook her head, mumbling, “No, I’m not afraid of them.”
How could she face Yang Jingyuan if she married into the Yang family?
Ji Yingying pleaded softly with her mother: “Mother, Third Young Master will hate me. I promised him. If I marry into the Yang family, he’ll think I betrayed him. He has no father and has lost his birth mother too. He used to spend money like water, yet left the Yang family without taking a single coin. You didn’t see him in his coarse cotton clothes. He’s joined the army, risking his life to forge his path. If you make me marry into the Yang family now, it will break his heart. If you’re worried about Zhao Xiuyuan causing trouble, I can go to Mount Qingcheng and ask Daoist Master Huaqing to take me in. I’ll stay in the mountains for three years. Please?”
“Do you want Yang Jingyuan to become someone without father, mother, clan, or roots? Just like your mother. Without a maiden family, worth less than even a wet nurse in the Zhao family?!” Madam Ji began gasping for breath as she spoke.
Ji Yingying helped her mother catch her breath, softly arguing, “In the Yang family, Madam Yang suppressed Third Young Master, never letting him rise. How is that different from raising pigs? In the end, they even forced him to leave before completing his father’s seven-day mourning period. Now because the Yang family needs to weave the Brocade Crown, they’re afraid I won’t help, that’s why they want me to marry over.”
“Even without this marriage, if the Yang family needed to reclaim the Brocade Crown from the Zhao family, I would have decided to let you help. Was there any need to force you to marry within the hundred days of mourning? Madam Yang did raise him for eighteen years after all, if not birth grace then at least raising grace. It was all that Granny Chen being overzealous in protecting her mistress, taking matters into her own hands. Madam Yang kept him by her side since childhood—if she wanted to spoil him, it would have been easy, so how could she have raised him so well? Whatever misunderstanding between mother and son can be cleared up. Firstly, the Yang family can protect you. Secondly, it can bring Yang Jingyuan home. When the family is harmonious, all affairs prosper. He’s only eighteen, how could he understand a parent’s heart? In choosing a wife, seek wisdom, and this wisdom includes being able to counsel one’s husband.”
He was so devoted to her. In this world, she was his only hope. How could she shatter his dreams? If reconciliation with Madam Yang was needed, they could wait until he returned after the mourning period to marry her, then let him make his judgment and decision. How could she force him?
Madam Ji’s earnest persuasion failed to change Ji Yingying’s mind.
Madam Ji looked at her daughter disappointedly, “Mother knows you’re considering Yang Jingyuan’s feelings. But the mother hasn’t forgotten that when the Ji family was in trouble, the Yang family extended a helping hand. A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. Now the Yang family is in trouble, Madam Yang is advanced in years and personally came to beg. How can we refuse her with a clear conscience? The marriage was arranged between Mother and Madam Yang. You’re marrying the Third Young Master of the Yang family, not the Yang Jingyuan who abandoned his family and ran away.”
She stood up with Granny Li’s support and said coolly, “The dowry has long been prepared. In three days, I will notify the Yang family to come collect the bride. If you want to kill me with grief, you can refuse to marry.”
“Mother!” Ji Yingying looked at her mother in disbelief. How could she bear to marry her off like this?
Madam Ji’s body trembled, but she resolutely walked away with Granny Li’s support.
Outside the small courtyard, Madam Ji stopped.
Granny Li sighed, “Madam, why force the young miss so urgently? Making her marry in just three days.”
Madam Ji’s eyes reddened: “I’ve wronged her. The fourth Sister is with a child, and I fear the Zhao family will cause more trouble. The Ji family has only Yaoting as its sole heir. If she marries over, she can also find shelter under a great tree for her brother and sister-in-law.”
Granny Li had thought the madam was only considering the young miss’s safety and repaying the Yang family’s kindness. She never expected Madam Ji to have such considerations, and couldn’t help saying, “Madam, you’re being too heartless to the young miss.”
“Yes, I am heartless. I’m forcing Yingying to marry in three days. This way, Yang Jingyuan won’t harbor resentment towards her. In the future, if Yang Jingyuan amounts to nothing and returns to the Yang family for a peaceful life, Yingying can still live peacefully with him.” Madam Ji’s thoughts seemed distant as she smiled sadly, “Daoist Master Huaqing once said that if I avoid great joy or sorrow, I might live another three to five years. This arrangement can protect the eldest son’s family, and Yingying can live contentedly in the future. Then I can be at peace. See, I haven’t completely forgotten the inner chamber tactics I learned in the mansion.”
Tears welled up in Granny Li’s eyes: “Madam, this servant misunderstood you.”
Marriage—it happens only once in a lifetime.
Every young woman has a dream. On her wedding day, a handsome groom rides up on a white horse, brilliant and vigorous, with drums and gongs announcing his arrival to fetch his bride. The red of the occasion would dye their future life. Blessings from relatives, the bustling joyous scene. When the bridal veil is lifted, his eyes would see only the most beautiful version of herself.
“Young Miss looks truly beautiful.” Fourth Sister Zhang helped her put on the golden phoenix hairpin sent by Madam Yang. Though knowing she would have to remove all makeup and change into plain white mourning clothes upon arrival, she still couldn’t help but praise her.
The person in the mirror had clear eyes and shapely brows, cherry-red lips. The foot-high chignon was decorated with symmetrical red coral hairpins, radiant and striking. But Third Young Master wouldn’t see it. Even if he did, he would only resent and hate her, wouldn’t he? Ji Yingying slapped the mirror face-down on the table.
“Yingying, mother won’t harm you. Don’t resent her.” Fourth Sister Zhang, thinking of her own joyous and bustling wedding, dared not say more and hurriedly called for the maids to help her put on the outer robe.
Ji Yingying silently stood up and spread her arms. The red front-closing wide-sleeved dress was made of the softest silk gauze, moving like crimson clouds in the spring breeze. Xiang’er and Ling’er draped the spring-green outer robe with its wide sleeves and open collar over her shoulders. Not brocade, but green silk she had dyed herself.
Red for the groom, green for the bride, like mandarin ducks in a row. The auspicious garments bore the colors of mandarin duck feathers. Yet she had no groom in auspicious red coming to fetch her.
Ji Yingying pressed her lips tightly together.
The Ji household was so quiet. No gongs or drums or suona horns, no close friends coming to send off the bride. Ji Yingying truly wanted to tear off these clothes and throw herself on the couch to cry her heart out.
She looked back at her maiden chamber. The back window was open. If only Yang Jingyuan would jump in through the window right now, how wonderful would that be? Ji Yingying turned around: “It’s time to bid farewell to mother.”
Walking out of the room, she heard firecrackers crackling at the main gate. Ji Yingying knew the Yang family was hurrying the sedan chair. She clenched her fists tightly, feeling her nails dig into her palms. She whispered to herself: “Third Young Master, please don’t blame me.”
The newly sprouted green leaves of the Chinese parasol tree once again shaded the entire courtyard. On the second floor of the Zhao family’s vine garden, Zhao Xiuyuan struck the window frame with his fist. “She’s getting married!” He felt as if his heart would explode as he turned and rushed down the stairs.