When ladies chat, they can glean quite a bit of information from a sentence here and a sentence there of ordinary household talk.

It had been assumed that the Yang siblings were only three years younger than Pei Ruozhu, but accounting for the reckoning of nominal versus actual age, the difference was in fact a full four years. Since the siblings were born in autumn, the Yang Family patriarch had chosen the characters “quan” — “spring” — and “yue” — “moon” — for their names, a combination elegant and bright in its imagery.

A young woman’s hairpin choice carries deep significance. Gold set with jade is precious; the lotus suggests a harmonious home; a frog pinned in the hair signifies many children and a wife devoted to her husband and the raising of their children. By wearing such a gold-and-jade hairpin, Miss Yang was at once giving a veiled compliment to the Pei household for its jade-like talented young man, while also making a display of her own family’s values and upbringing — a young woman just come of age, not yet betrothed… In choosing this hairpin for her daughter, the Yang Family mistress had given it a great deal of thought.

It expressed a preliminary inclination of the heart without causing either family any awkwardness. It said just enough and stopped there.

For a man to seek marriage and a woman to be sought in marriage are the natural order of things. Two families meeting to see if there is a connection — if fate has arranged a match, it becomes a happy event; if not, it is simply a pleasant visit and no harm is done to either side.

The great houses speak of matching family standing, but they would not presume to settle a marriage on words alone. More visits and acquaintance are always the better course.

As Lian Jie’er and the others conversed with Yang Shiyue, they naturally wove in poetic allusions and classical references here and there. Yang Shiyue listened with composed attention, invariably catching the deeper meaning and responding with warmth, allowing her talent to show without making a display of it.

Well-versed in poetry and books, virtuous and luminous in her own right.

The Pei Family was scrutinizing Yang Shiyue; and the Yang Family mistress was no less studying the Pei household. Seeing the harmonious family atmosphere in the Earl’s estate and the warmth with which everyone was treated, and finding the daughters’ conversation refined and articulate, she felt even more certain in her earlier assessment — the Pei household would be a good family to marry into.

Her eyes curved with a smile.

As the hour was growing late, the Yang Family mistress rose to take her leave.

After the Yang family’s departure, the Pei household women still sat together chatting in the reception hall. The old matriarch was very well pleased with the Yang Family, and very well pleased with Yang Shiyue.

Lian Jie’er, who was accustomed to going about with her mother-in-law and had more exposure to the world, said: “The Yang Family’s reputation is one of distinction and integrity. Every generation has produced meritorious figures and men of renown. Their upbringing is firm without being harsh, kind without being indulgent. This Yang Family mistress enjoys considerable standing among official wives as well — and having met her today, that reputation proves true.”

Ying Jie’er picked up the thread: “A distinguished and upright family background, graceful beauty, learned and courteous, composed and dignified — with these qualities, it is only natural that Miss Yang stands out. And yet whether there is a bond or not ultimately still depends on what Brother Shaohuai thinks, does it not?”

Everyone in the hall nodded. They all knew Shaohuai’s nature.

They knew him to be intelligent and warm-hearted — yet they did not know what kind of person he was drawn to.

“I understand.” Lin Shi replied. Having observed the interaction, she too was well pleased with the Yang Family’s daughter, and continued: “Shaohuai has been sensible from a young age, always attending to others without ever giving others cause to worry about him. The more he is like this, the more he tugs at the heart… I specially called you all back today precisely because I wanted you to help think things through together.”

Such painstaking thought she had put into it.

Pei Ruozhu offered comfort: “Brother Huai is perceptive — Mother need only mention this young lady to him and say a few words, and he will understand the trouble Mother has taken. As for the rest, it is up to fate.”

Lin Shi nodded.

To lighten the mood, Lian Jie’er said with a smile: “It is only right — with Brother Huai’s scholarship and character being what they are, surely there is no fear he cannot find a worthy partner? Mother, please set your mind at ease.”

Speaking of the other side, in the Yang Family carriage.

An elder brother always tends to be more protective of his younger sister — yet after Yang Xiangquan’s exchange with Pei Shaohuai, his tone turned completely around, and he said: “When I first came, I was wondering what manner of exceptional talent could have moved Mother to bring my sister over for a visit… Having now met him, I understand. The scholarship of this eldest grandson of the Pei Family is truly formidable.”

He added: “We talked for only half an hour and I still felt it was not enough.” He had gained considerable insight from Pei Shaohuai’s words — insight that would serve him well in this year’s Autumn Examinations.

He could not stop singing his praises.

The Yang Family mistress gently chided: “I asked you to go and take a good look on your sister’s behalf, and instead you only cared about gathering learning.” Then she added: “A good wife is hard to find; an exceptional young man is equally hard to find. A fine match is not something one can afford to wait for.”

In the Yang Family mistress’s heart, if this match could be made, it would be a genuinely good marriage — her daughter would marry a husband of gentle character and capable ability, in a household of proper conduct and harmonious atmosphere. The days ahead would not only be lived well; they would be truly good to live.

The Yang Family mistress had a genuine regard for the Pei household. She could only see whether fate would follow.

Returning to the Yang residence, in her boudoir, the flush of rose had faded from Yang Shiyue’s cheeks, and a measure of calm had settled in its place. She looked into the bronze mirror, reached up, and gently removed the hairpin. A few strands of black hair fell loose.

The hairpin was placed in a small drawer, arranged neatly, and the clasp was shut.

Yang Shiyue let out a breath.

Her maidservant coiled up the fallen strands for her and asked: “Young Miss, the hairpin your Lady Mother took such care to have crafted is so exquisite and lovely — why put it away after wearing it only once?”

Yang Shiyue could hardly explain that though the hairpin sat on her head, it had been made specifically for the visit to the Pei household. She said vaguely: “To wear it out again would put others in an awkward position.”

If she wore it out and others saw it, it would put the Pei Family in an awkward position.

The maidservant did not understand, and could only nod along.

Pei Shaohuai had met Yang Xiangquan, and his mother had told him in detail about Miss Yang’s character and temperament. With the two things together, even if he were as dense as a block of elm wood, he ought to understand that both families had intentions of matchmaking him with this Miss Yang.

Pei Shaohuai did not resist too much, and even found it somewhat amusing. He inwardly mocked himself — if this had been his previous life, by his true age, he would indeed have been at the stage of meeting potential partners.

Seeing his mother’s expectant gaze, Pei Shaohuai replied: “Your son understands. If there is another gathering at the Fanpark, your son will certainly attend.”

Going to meet her was proper — whether anything came of it or not, it was not only an accounting to be given to his family, but also to the young lady herself. Pei Shaohuai understood how difficult marriage was for women in this world.

Yet his heart remained still as the surface of a lake, without a ripple.

At the tail end of summer and the start of autumn, on this particular day, Pei Ruoying brought Chen Xingchen back to her family home and led him into Pei Shaohuai’s courtyard. There was a look of mild irritation on her face as she said: “Brother Shaohuai, please say something to your brother-in-law. I can’t manage him.”

Pei Shaohuai was torn between amusement and bewilderment — he had no idea what small disagreement the young couple had gotten into, that it would require him, the younger brother, to intervene.

“Tell him yourself.” Pei Ruoying said to Chen Xingchen.

Chen Xingchen straightened up and recounted the matter from beginning to end.

It turned out that Chen Xingchen was to sit for the Spring Examinations the following year, and this was precisely the time when he should have been in intensive study for the final push. But with Pei Ruoying being with child, Chen Xingchen’s heart was entirely with her, and he simply could not settle down to review his lessons.

He would just manage to pick up the brush and write a few lines, only to come running back and check whether she was tired, thirsty, or hungry.

Pei Ruoying said she had nannies to look after her, but to no avail. Thinking that Chen Xingchen had once heeded her younger brother’s advice, on this day she brought her husband home and asked her brother to “lecture” him once more.

Now that Pei Shaohuai understood, he first sent his elder sister off to their mother’s courtyard, then invited his brother-in-law to sit and have a chat.

He was about to become a little uncle — and he already felt a mix of joy and mild anxiety. How much more so must Chen Xingchen feel, as a man preparing to become a father? Pei Shaohuai understood his brother-in-law’s state of mind, though he could not truly feel it from the inside — so he first listened quietly.

Chen Xingchen spoke at a measured pace —

First: he watched his wife’s belly grow larger day by day, and felt both anticipation and worry — for a woman to give birth was, after all, to walk through the gates of death and back.

This matter weighed constantly on his heart.

Second: he felt his own scholarship was still not quite sufficient. Even if he passed the Spring Examinations, it would be difficult to place in the top tier in the Palace Examinations, and remaining in the capital would be beyond hope. At that point, he would be posted away to a distant assignment — but Pei Ruoying would have just given birth. How could he leave the capital with peace of mind?

Chen Xingchen was considering waiting another three years.

Pei Shaohuai thought for a moment and said: “To make use of your time and study diligently for the top positions, so that passing the examinations may bring joy and good fortune to your wife and child — these two principles, even without my saying them, you would understand on your own… But there is one thing you have overlooked.”

“What is that?”

Shaohuai replied: “You are devoted to Elder Sister, and Elder Sister is no less devoted to you. Have you ever considered — if you were to let your official prospects be delayed, Elder Sister would inevitably blame herself, causing her spirits to sink. That in itself would add to the danger.”

He then offered his view: “What is most to be feared is that you have her best interests at heart, and she has yours — yet the two of you end up doing opposite things. In this younger brother’s opinion, the question is not whether to sit for the examinations or not. The question is for husband and wife to discuss it together… Elder Sister is with child. Brother-in-law, you might be generous of spirit and take the initiative to say to Elder Sister everything you just said to me, and let the two of you plan things through together.”

When Chen Xingchen heard the words “add to the danger,” he was already persuaded. He nodded and agreed.

Once the misunderstanding between the couple was resolved, Chen Xingchen followed Pei Ruoying’s wishes. From then on, Chen Xingchen gradually settled his mind and studied conscientiously in preparation for the Spring Examinations.

His natural gifts were not lacking. With a new source of motivation in his heart, there was great promise ahead. In the last round of Autumn Examinations, it had been for the sake of making a name in mathematics. Now, for the Spring Examinations, there was a new addition — his wife and child.

With one month remaining until the Autumn Examinations, Shaojin and Yancheng were both in excellent form. With their level of scholarly foundation, they could handle whatever question the examiners might devise.

All that remained was the performance on the day and the ability to adapt in the moment.

With Shaohuai sharing the benefit of his experience, the two had paid attention to physical conditioning — their bodies were hale and robust, not at all like the frail constitution of ordinary scholars.

To help them refine a steady rhythm for answering the examination questions, at Pei Shaohuai’s suggestion, the teacher arranged two “mock examinations” for Shaojin and Yancheng — each lasting nine days, with every timing element matching that of the actual Autumn Examinations.

The essay composition questions and the administrative writing questions were set by the teacher; the current affairs policy questions were set by Master Xu. The breadth and difficulty of the questions were not inferior to those of the real Autumn Examinations.

After the first mock examination, both of them had encountered quite a few problems that affected the quality of their written answers. After the teacher marked the papers, he said: “Only eight parts out of ten of your usual standard.”

Shaojin and Yancheng were taken aback and immediately began to reflect and analyze, seeking to improve on every front.

By the second mock examination, the two were clearly far more composed. Rather than blindly following each other’s rhythm, each proceeded according to his own approach, advancing methodically step by step as though following a pre-set course, steady and unhurried.

This time, after the teacher marked the papers, he was very satisfied — though he concealed it — and said: “Nine parts.”

As autumn deepened, the air grew crisp and dry. On the osmanthus trees, tiny flower buds emerged among the leaves, their fragrance not yet detectable.

The number of scholars in the capital grew visibly greater — most had come to sit for the North Metropolitan Region Autumn Examinations.

On the eighth day of the eighth month, the day before the Autumn Examinations, Shaojin and Yancheng were both fully prepared. In the third watch of the night, they set out by carriage, departing at the signal of the cannon fired at the examination grounds.

Before the examination grounds’ gate, the light of the lanterns was faint, casting a pale glow on the two men’s faces, which showed some tension. Shaohuai had come to see them off and teased them cheerfully: “You’re already at the door — no need for nerves, no need for excess thought. Just remember your own names when the time comes. Everything else you can forget.”

After the examination baskets had been checked once more and confirmed in order, Shaohuai walked them to the queue to enter, then returned to his carriage.

As it happened, peering through the carriage curtain, Pei Shaohuai caught sight of a familiar carriage slowly pulling up and stopping not far away. The person who descended from it was, indeed, a familiar face — the other Pei Family.

Pei Shaowen had only placed on the supplementary list last time, which did not count as passing the examination. He had to sit for it again this year.

Three years without seeing him, and Pei Shaowen had not become more robust — on the contrary, he looked gaunt and haggard, and his eyes held a somewhat blank and scattered look.

It was not his grandfather who had come to see him off, but his grandmother. The second old matriarch was encouraging her grandson: “Wen’er, do well on this examination. All the tutors say that as long as you perform normally, you will certainly place on the list without fail, and may even contend for a good ranking.”

She added: “Once you have passed and earned your degree, your grandfather will seek a match for you.”