The married couple was happily discussing private matters when Sister-in-law Wang Shi came over with some freshly available pears, saying they were for Yu Tang to taste. The sisters-in-law inevitably began discussing Yu Tang’s marriage prospects. Learning that Shopkeeper Tong wanted to act as matchmaker for Yu Tang, Wang Shi said happily, “Once the date is set, make sure to call me. I’ll go take a look too.”
Chen Shi smiled and said, “We don’t even know if it will work out yet. We’re just going to feel out the situation.”
Wang Shi laughed dismissively and said, “With our A’Tang, she’s the one who gets to pick others. How could others pick her?”
Chen Shi clearly had expectations for this marriage match and kept laughing as she said, “I’ll borrow your auspicious words.”
Perhaps there really was fate at work—Shopkeeper Tong’s side quickly sent back word, saying that the Wei family’s second and third sons were both of suitable age with Yu Tang, and the Yu family could choose whichever they preferred.
Wang Shi laughed so widely she could barely close her mouth, and said to Yu Bo, “I think this Wei family are all honest people. It might truly be a good match!”
Yu Tang was the cherished jewel of the family, and this concerned her lifelong happiness. Although Yu Bo hadn’t personally gone to inquire, he was still very concerned. Hearing this, he carefully instructed Wang Shi, “You’re older than your sister-in-law, and you’re always the most steady and reliable in handling matters. You must look carefully into A’Tang’s situation. Everything else is secondary—character is most important. Family harmony brings prosperity in all things. If the temperament isn’t good, no matter how capable, how presentable, or how honest the person is, life won’t be comfortable.”
“I know, I know!” Wang Shi said. Discussing this matter reminded her of her own son. While sitting at her vanity combing her hair, she said to Yu Bo, “About Yuan’er’s marriage, shouldn’t you also make a decision?”
Wang Shi had previously wanted to form a marriage alliance with her natal family’s relatives, but who knew that child would die at the age of eight. Wang Shi had been terrified and went to the temple to have Yu Yuan’s fortune told. Everyone said Yu Yuan shouldn’t marry early, so his marriage had been delayed until now.
The Yu family had few descendants and always regarded their children as precious. Yu Bo didn’t dare make decisions casually either, saying, “Let me discuss it with Hui Li first.” He then asked Wang Shi, “Are we meeting both children, or have we decided which one to meet?”
Wang Shi smiled and said, “Sister-in-law’s thinking is that the second son is two years older than A’Tang. Being older, he’ll be more mature, so we’ll meet their second son.”
Yu Bo nodded and didn’t discuss the matter further.
On Yu Tang’s side, as the matter drew near, her heart became somewhat anxious and uneasy.
Was her marriage really being decided just like this?
She didn’t know what this person named Wei Xiaoshan looked like. What was his personality? How did he view this marriage match?
She let out a long sigh. She told herself that the Wei family showed full sincerity, and the Wei family’s eldest son had reportedly even passed the child scholar examination. Being able to form such a marriage alliance could be considered a good match, and she should be very satisfied. But thinking was one thing—her heart didn’t obey her control. It remained listless throughout, unable to muster any enthusiasm.
When the day of the meeting arrived, Chen Shi invited Ma Xiuniang to accompany Yu Tang.
Since the meeting place was set at Zhaoming Temple, the Yu family not only had to hire carriages and horses and prepare provisions, but also had to arrange a vegetarian feast at Zhaoming Temple and invite the go-between… Chen Shi was busy with preparations front and back. Yu Tang deliberately concealed her feelings, so Chen Shi didn’t notice Yu Tang’s unusual state, but Ma Xiuniang did.
She found an excuse to send Shuang Tao, who was serving in the room, away, then pulled Yu Tang’s hand and spoke in whispers: “What’s wrong with you? Are you unsatisfied? Or do you have other… thoughts? The meeting is about to happen. If there’s nothing obviously wrong, this matter is eight or nine parts settled. If you feel anything is wrong, say it now while things aren’t set in stone. Once this match is settled, even if you have a thousand or ten thousand ideas, you’ll have to suppress them in your heart for the rest of your life. This isn’t something to play around with. It will harm both others and yourself.”
Ma Xiuniang never believed that Yu Tang could remain completely unmoved facing someone like Li Jun, who was flawless both in appearance and sincerity.
Yu Tang smiled at Ma Xiuniang, but she didn’t realize how forced her smile was.
“I know,” she said quietly. “My mother and father aren’t unreasonable people either. I just feel that to marry just like this…”
She was a bit afraid.
Back then, with Li Duan and Gu Xi, how many people had envied them! Even she, before discovering Li Duan’s vile thoughts, hadn’t she also thought them a pair of lovebirds drinking wine, composing poems, painting eyebrows, and adding fragrance together?
Ma Xiuniang didn’t believe her, but feared that saying too much would cause Yu Tang to resent her and stop confiding in her in the future. If Yu Tang then ran off recklessly to Zhaoming Temple to meet Li Jun like before, causing even more trouble, that would be problematic. Better that she keep watch and prevent Yu Tang from doing anything foolish.
“Everyone’s the same!” She simply followed Yu Tang’s words to comfort her. “Look at me—I’ve known Young Master Zhang since childhood, but when the engagement was actually discussed and the match settled, my heart was still pounding with worry. Afraid I’d do this wrong or that wrong. After some time passes, it’ll naturally get better.”
Yu Tang smiled and thanked Ma Xiuniang, appearing as if she’d been comforted by her words, but in reality her heart grew even more uneasy.
Her fear was different from the fear Ma Xiuniang described.
She wasn’t afraid of changing environments, nor was she afraid of living poorly after marriage. What she feared was that she didn’t want to marry this person…
As the thought flashed through her mind, Yu Tang froze.
Did she actually not want to marry this person?
But what was wrong with this person?
Wasn’t everyone like this? Following parents’ orders and the matchmaker’s words. If families were well-matched, they could form a marriage alliance.
The Wei family had even bent over backwards, offering two sons for their family to choose from. What more could she be dissatisfied with?
What kind of person was she looking for?
Yu Tang was startled by her own thoughts. She wanted to talk to Ma Xiuniang about it, but didn’t know where to begin.
Chen Shi was already calling from outside: “Are you two ready? The carriage has arrived, and we still need to get to Zhaoming Temple for lunch!”
Ma Xiuniang quickly responded and helped Yu Tang tidy up before going out.
All of Yu Tang’s words were stuck in her throat.
Zhaoming Temple was still as grand and magnificent as before, but seeing it now, Yu Tang felt it was too noisy and ostentatious, lacking the solemn dignity befitting a great guardian temple.
Perhaps because her state of mind had changed, her feelings about everything had changed too.
She pondered this quietly to herself as Chen Shi led her to the Heavenly Kings Hall.
Quite a few people had come to accompany Yu Tang for the meeting. Besides Yu Wen and his wife, on the women’s side were Ma Xiuniang and Wang Shi, and among the male guests were Shopkeeper Tong along with Yu Bo and Yu Yuan.
According to the arrangement with the Wei family, after both families had their midday meal, everyone would tour the back mountain, then pretend to encounter each other coincidentally at the Inkwash Spring on the back mountain, giving both families’ members a chance to look each other over.
Yu Tang ate her midday meal with a heavy heart, then arm-in-arm with Ma Xiuniang, followed behind Chen Shi and Wang Shi toward the Inkwash Spring.
To avoid overshadowing the main event, Ma Xiuniang wore a simple brown sleeveless jacket today, with silver-plated hairpins and a pair of clove-shaped earrings—very plain. Yu Tang wore a silver-red plain Hangzhou silk jacket with willow-green piped edges, her hair styled in double spiral buns, adorned with a lapis lazuli-inlaid ivory comb—gorgeous yet playful.
The Wei family spotted Yu Tang in the crowd at first glance.
Mrs. Wei was already extremely satisfied before her son could even express his opinion.
When she turned to look at her son, his face was already completely flushed and he couldn’t raise his head.
Mrs. Wei couldn’t help smiling with pursed lips.
The Yu family also spotted Wei Xiaoshan at first glance.
He wore new clothes still bearing creases, was tall and powerfully built, somewhat dark-skinned, but had thick eyebrows and large eyes. His honest demeanor carried a hint of spirited vigor—a very energetic young man. When he looked at Yu Tang, his eyes shone brightly, sparkling with joy that anyone could understand at a glance. Not only were the Yu family members pleased, even Yu Tang, who had felt somewhat unhappy on the way here, developed good feelings toward him, and her drifting heart immediately became more settled.
If it were this person, that would be quite acceptable.
She thought to herself and couldn’t help carefully observing the Wei family members.
The father was clearly a taciturn country gentleman; Mrs. Wei had an overtly shrewd air, but her gaze was upright and proper; the Wei family’s eldest son looked very much like Wei Xiaoshan, except his bearing carried more scholarly refinement than his younger brother’s; the eldest son’s wife was also good—gentle and refined, speaking in an unhurried manner, appearing to be educated. There was also someone accompanying them, Mrs. Wei’s sister-in-law from her natal family, who looked capable and straightforward. However, the Wei family’s fifth son Wei Xiaochuan, who had tagged along, had just turned ten and had been looking somewhat huffily at Yu Tang ever since he saw her. When the two families were talking, he fell behind everyone else. At some point he had even broken off a tree branch, sometimes sweeping it against the knee-high grass by the roadside, sometimes swatting at tree branches nearby, occasionally making noises that interrupted the two families’ conversation.
Mrs. Wei frowned directly at this, called her eldest son over and gave him some quiet instructions. The eldest son Wei Xiaoyuan then went with a stern face to pull Wei Xiaochuan aside and scolded him in a low voice. Wei Xiaochuan actually lost his temper and ran off in a flash.
The Yu family members found this strange.
Mrs. Wei had apparently been observing the Yu family’s expressions all along. She hurriedly explained to Chen Shi, “This child is the youngest and has been spoiled by the family. Originally we weren’t going to bring him, but after arriving at Zhaoming Temple we discovered he’d somehow followed us, so we had to bring him along. In-law… ah, Mrs. Yu, please don’t take it to heart. I’ll discipline him properly when I get back.”
Chen Shi was someone who reciprocated courtesy with even greater courtesy. Seeing Mrs. Wei being so polite, she quickly said, “All children are this mischievous. Mrs. Wei needn’t take it to heart.”
Hearing this, Mrs. Wei immediately struck up a conversation with Chen Shi. Although they discussed only everyday trivial matters, one could see that she was very attentive toward Chen Shi and very eager to form a marriage alliance with the Yu family.
Chen Shi was also satisfied with Mrs. Wei’s family. When they parted, she explicitly indicated that Mrs. Wei should visit their home when she had time.
The Wei family members, including the father, all showed pleased expressions.
On the way back, Ma Xiuniang kept praising Wei Xiaoshan.
Yu Tang let out a breath of relief, lifted the carriage curtain and looked back at the gradually receding Zhaoming Temple. Only after a long while did her wildly beating heart slowly calm down.
Early the next morning, the Wei family sent a matchmaker to their door. The matchmaker spoke a whole basket full of praise for Yu Tang. The smile never left Chen Shi’s face, but she still modestly indicated according to custom that she needed to consider it.
The matchmaker knew this marriage was as good as settled and happily left with the reward silver Chen Shi gave her.
Sister-in-law Wang Shi, remembering the earlier rumors that Yu Tang was proud and arrogant and wanted to recruit a scholar as a son-in-law, deliberately spread word of this marriage match.