Girls raised in the inner chambers are generally of pure and simple natures. Fond and clear in their likes and dislikes, yet without any very fixed resolve — they find it difficult to turn someone completely away, and think: it is just as well to see him, to hear what he has to say.
The Geng family had settled the betrothal gifts half a year ago. Hui Cun had met Geng Fangzhi twice before. In terms of appearance, he was not unhandsome among military men — passable enough, one might say — though not exactly the sort of looks that would strike a girl’s heart. He was tall and broad, with a decidedly masculine air. Because they were formally engaged, Hui Cun used to feel a little bashful when she saw him. Now, however, her ardor had cooled, and that nervous feeling had entirely dissolved. She sat composedly before the screen and watched as he was led in by a serving woman, giving him no more than the barest lift of an eyebrow. Geng Fangzhi cupped his hands in a bow; she acknowledged it only with a slight inclination of her head, and out of courtesy gestured with her hand, “Please be seated, General.”
They were essentially strangers, so both still addressed each other by formal title. Geng Fangzhi sat obediently in the place she indicated and looked at the two attendant maidservants flanking him like a pair of guardians, then opened his mouth — and swallowed his words back down again.
Hui Cun glanced at him curiously. “You have come today, General — you must have something to say. Since you have already crossed my threshold, speak freely. I still have several more pages of scripture to copy and have not so much time to idle away here.”
A girl putting on an imperious expression to appear difficult — in practice, it carried little actual menace. Geng Fangzhi shifted slightly in his seat with a trace of awkwardness, but did not beat around the bush. He said plainly and directly, “That chamber consort in my household — I have already had her sent away.”
Hearing this, Hui Cun turned a pair of beautiful eyes on him and gave him a measured look. “The General is certainly decisive. Someone who has served you for quite a few years, dismissed just like that — do you not find it a little heartless?”
This was a girl’s petty temper. Geng Fangzhi was not a raw young man just entering the world who could not hear the sarcasm in her words. He reflected genuinely on the matter of the chamber consort before Hui Cun and bowed his head. “Commandery Princess must have heard some rumor or other, which is why you have such dissatisfaction with me and with this match. In truth, the actual situation is not as the gossip in the streets would have it — that I pampered that chamber consort and was going to elevate her to concubine the moment we were married… Actually, I had already planned to send her away even before the engagement was announced. But at the time she was gravely ill, and the matter was delayed. I will not fear your displeasure, Commandery Princess, and will speak plainly: after all, she had served me for a period of time, and I could not look on while she died. That is why I permitted her to remain and convalesce in the household. During that time she did not enter my courtyard — firstly because I had formally presented betrothal gifts to the Commandery Princess, and secondly because I feared the passing of her illness. She has been recuperating in a small courtyard in the northeast corner of the garden and has never set foot outside it. As for why such false rumors came to circulate — it is simply because our two families’ engagement has blocked someone’s interests. I have come today specifically to clear this matter up with the Commandery Princess. I ask that you not grieve over those falsehoods, and still less allow them to make you lose faith in this match. There is not a single day that Jingcheng has not rejoiced with all his heart at the thought of being able to take the Commandery Princess as his wife. How could I, for the sake of a chamber consort, betray the deep affection you have shown me?”
He had good eloquence and a clear, orderly manner of speaking. With just a few short sentences, he had explained away all the doubts and suspicions that had been weighing on Hui Cun’s mind.
Thinking it over carefully — if the truth really was that the girl was ill and could not easily be sent away, then her own excessive fault-finding did seem rather petty. But a matter of lifelong importance could not be treated carelessly, and even if others found it tiresome, she could not afford to be so accommodating.
So she adopted the pride befitting a Commandery Princess, lifted her chin a little, and said, “Since she was ill and being nursed in the household — why then has she now been sent away?”
Geng Fangzhi had the helpless air of a scholar bested by a soldier, but still produced a smooth enough explanation. “Her condition has improved somewhat, and the household must also make preparations for the wedding — her continued presence would really be inconvenient.” He then raised his eyes and said, “Commandery Princess — they say that for a woman, the choice of a husband is the great matter of her entire life. But for a man to take a legitimate wife — is that not equally the great matter of his entire life? Jingcheng is sincere and earnest in seeking the Commandery Princess’s hand. Once you have come through the door, Commandery Princess, you will naturally see Jingcheng’s heart for yourself. The matter of having had a chamber consort before marriage was a mistake made in the folly of youth. As long as the Commandery Princess is willing to give me another chance, I can swear today that from now on, besides the Commandery Princess, there will be no second woman, and I can even promise that for the rest of my life I will never take a concubine. I ask only that the Commandery Princess see my true sincerity.”
After he finished speaking, Hui Cun found herself greatly embarrassed. Her face reddened, and she stammered, “You… why are you saying all of this?”
He seemed quite anxious. “How can I not say it? If I say nothing more, the Commandery Princess will dissolve this engagement with me, and then I… I…”
A man’s hesitation, perfectly timed, was precisely the chisel that pried open a girl’s heart. Hui Cun was a girl untouched by love. Seeing him sweating with anxiety, her heart softened all at once. Come to think of it — a man who could promise never to take a concubine for the rest of his life was, for a woman, no small thing at all. Take her elder brother and sister-in-law — they seemed a match made by Heaven, and her sister-in-law was both gentle and capable. But even so, could one truly be certain her brother would never take a concubine?
That very morning, Grandmother had made the suggestion — between her words and her silences — and Hui Cun had sat by and listened, feeling very sorry for her sister-in-law. She had caught that flash of grief across her face in that instant — a feeling that girls yet to be married could deeply understand. So when Geng Fangzhi said he would take no concubine for his entire life, that single condition alone had already moved her somewhat. After all, what mattered most was that a husband, however good or otherwise, belonged entirely to you alone. And she was a Commandery Princess marrying down to a regional military governor’s household — she had no need to fear he would break his word.
So she lifted her eyes and looked at him. “Everything the General has said — is it truly from the heart?”
Geng Fangzhi said yes. “Heaven and earth are my witness.”
Hui Cun nodded, then asked again, pressing the point once more, “Truly — never take a concubine for the rest of your life?”
He stood up and swore as though pointing to the sky and the sun: “If I should break this vow, I am willing to be struck by thunder and lightning.”
Since it was so… then she would grant him one more chance! A faint bashfulness rose to her face. “As for today’s matter — let me consider it further. Go home first.”
But he did not leave. He stood there, gazing at her with uncertainty. “Hui Cun…”
Hui Cun’s heart leapt. To drop the official form of address and call her by her given name — though it was a little forward, between two people who were formally engaged, it was not wholly unreasonable.
On that small face of hers, the cold mask was beginning to slip, though she was still making a valiant effort to hold it in place. She frowned and said, “What is it? I said I would consider it.”
He seemed a little crestfallen, but quickly raised a smile again. “I brought some sweets made at home for you to try. Or, if there is something you would like to eat, I can accompany you — Ban Tower, Liang Residence Garden, Fang Family Garden… whatever pastries you fancy, you can tell me.”
Girls were always so easily coaxed — it seemed as though a few fine sweets would be enough to win anyone over completely.
Fortunately, Hui Cun had enough self-awareness. In a cool voice she said, “It would not be fitting for me to go wandering the pleasure quarter with you right now. I hope the General will still have this kind of enthusiasm after marriage — and will not tire of me once we are wed and set me aside.”
Before he could leave, she herself slipped away — at first still pacing with considerable composure in the direction of the courtyard gate, but then, as though someone were chasing her, gathering her skirts and breaking into a quick run. She ran all the way back to Xu Zhou.
When she saw Yun Pan, the flush of red still lingered on her cheeks, and she sat in the armchair gasping for breath.
Yun Pan stepped forward with a smile and asked, “Young Master Geng has come? What did you talk about?”
Hui Cun took quite a long while to settle her composure, then said, flustered, “He said that the chamber consort had fallen gravely ill before, and that was why he had no choice but to keep her in the household to convalesce. Yesterday, Elder Brother spoke with him, and when he returned home he sent the girl away. I get the feeling he actually does seem to have some real sincerity…” She paused, then blinked and looked at Yun Pan. “Sister-in-law, he gave me his word today that he would never take a concubine. Do you think such words can be believed?”
As she asked, her eyes held a light of hope. Yun Pan could tell she already had her answer in her own heart, and that for anyone to offer a contrary opinion would truly be playing the villain.
A man who could promise never to take a concubine for the rest of his life — for a woman, such a promise held a tremendous, irresistible appeal.
Yun Pan took Hui Cun’s hand and smiled. “If he truly has that intention, then what more could one ask for? Still… let me tell you a story. There was once a noble girl, famed throughout the capital. When she came of marriageable age, there was a man who swore solemnly that he would take no concubine for his entire life, and love only her alone. She believed him and married him. But the days of affection and harmony did not last long before that man fell desperately in love with someone else and begged to bring her into the household as a new wife.”
Hui Cun understood at once. “I know — you’re talking about your mother.”
Yun Pan’s expression remained as calm and even-tempered as ever, and she said warmly, “I only want you to know — one must always be on guard. But if you truly are fortunate enough to meet a faithful man, then it is indeed the blessing of a lifetime. As for whether Young Master Geng’s words are true or not — that is for you to judge. If you believe him, then build a good life with him. As the old saying goes: priceless gems are easy enough to find, but a devoted man is hard to come by. I want to see all the sisters around me doing well, passing their lives without great troubles.”
Hui Cun nodded. She had been about to offer some words of comfort in return, but found herself at a loss for where to begin. Later, they talked about making perfumes and handcraft pieces together, and the conversation drifted far enough away that she stopped thinking about those troublesome things — the question of concubines and all that it entailed.
Two days later, Yun Pan’s handcraft shop opened for business. She had chosen an elegant and graceful name for it: “Records of the Sunny Window.”
The occasion was truly one of great fanfare. There were no male guests — only the ladies of the capital’s finest families, gathered in such splendor that it could almost rival the brilliance of a grand banquet held beneath golden phoenix canopies.
The shop was heavy with the layered fragrance of powder and rouge. Inside, agarwood incense had been lit as well — golden pagoda-shaped censers that let fragrant mist drift out through every carved and latticed opening, until the entire street of the pleasure quarter was steeped in a rising cloud of sweetness.
The Prime Minister’s wife, the wife of the Assistant Governor of Political Affairs, and Nian Zi had also come. Their splendid carriages stopped before the shop, and as they descended with the help of their maidservants, Yun Pan came warmly forward to greet them, calling out sweetly, “Auntie Gao, Auntie-in-law, Sister Nian Zi — my little shop is truly honored to have you grace it today.”
The two ladies were both warm and sociable, and said with a laugh, “It has never occurred to anyone in our circle to think of opening a shop. All along, our gatherings have depended entirely on each family hosting banquets in turn. Now at last we have a place to spend our leisure — how could we not come to celebrate!”
Yun Pan agreed, then took Nian Zi’s hand, whispering secrets into her ear as they walked in together.
The arrangement of the shop was most refined and elegant. Every sort of handcraft tool was fully provided for — tools for making incense, for making wax pieces, for making mother-of-pearl lacquerware, for crafting the tiny miniature ornaments placed within hollowed-out walnuts — with hired craftspeople on hand to demonstrate them in person. There were also readymade rouge and face powders and all manner of small exquisite objects for sale. Yun Pan smiled and said, “It is hard to have all of these implements at home — here everything is complete, and adding anything that might be missing is easily done. I am not in this to make money; it is simply a gathering place, somewhere convenient for the ladies and young ladies of each household to come and enjoy themselves. The front section is the handcraft workshop; at the back there are also private rooms for lady guests to sit and take tea at their leisure.” She led them down the covered walkway as she spoke, gesturing at the various empty plaques above the doors of the rooms. “Those private rooms have not been named yet — I was waiting for you, Auntie Gao and Auntie-in-law, to come and bestow the names.”
Her cleverness showed itself in precisely these small details — her thoughtfulness was thorough to the extreme. She had deliberately left the room names to be given by these illustrious ladies, both to win their hearts and to honor them greatly, so that in the future one could say: this room or that was named by such-and-such a lady.
The Prime Minister’s wife and the wife of the Assistant Governor were naturally most pleased to be offered this face. Women skilled in managing the inner household seldom had the occasion to show their talents. Each was a daughter of a distinguished family — every one of them steeped in poetry and books — and bestowing names was effortless. The Prime Minister’s wife pointed to the room nearest the workshop in the front courtyard. “Let it be called ‘Golden Blades, Delicate Hands’ — will that do?”
There was no one who would say it was anything but fine; everyone praised the name as perfectly suited to the occasion.
The wife of the Assistant Governor then chose the room across from it and said with a smile, “Since this is a place to while away the time, let it be called ‘Spring Robes Seeking Fragrance’!”
Everyone enthusiastically contributed their ideas, and the remaining rooms were quickly given names one after another — “Listening to Rain in the Lamplight,” “Silk Balustrade and Old Tunes,” “Forgetting the Scent of Duckweed and Moss”… By the end, the shop no longer seemed to belong to Yun Pan alone. Everyone had a piece of their heart in it, having had a hand in it — and one and all were as invested as if they had bought shares in the business.
Yun Pan directed people to usher the noble wives and daughters into the private rooms and serve them tea. She had only just found a moment to herself when she saw the wife of Zhao Zhongyan arrive at the door.
Since the woman was heavily with child and moved with some difficulty, Yun Pan hurried forward to help her, saying with deep gratitude, “You have gone to such trouble, Sister — your body is so heavy, and yet you came specifically to celebrate with me. How can I be worthy of such care.”
Chun Sheng laughed and said, “It is hardly only for your sake — I am using your shop opening as an excuse to come out openly and get some air. You don’t know, but I have been watched over so closely at home. He instructed all the servants attending me that I was not to move about carelessly. I am so restless and frustrated inside. Men are all the same — they understand nothing, yet they love to take charge of everything. If I stay still and don’t move, when the time comes to give birth, things will be so much more difficult. The baby will be too large and hard to deliver.”
Just as she was speaking, another carriage was heard arriving. Yun Pan turned to look — it was Madam Ming, arriving with Mei Fen.
The Mei Fen of today gave one the sense of an altogether fresh and new person, as though the years of deep-seated melancholy that had weighed upon her had finally shed away, and a wholly renewed radiance had emerged.
She wore a summer gauze jacket-and-skirt ensemble, with a sandalwood-colored painted silk sash draped over her shoulders. The snowy white trim at her collar set off her lightly powdered cheeks, and she looked full of gentle, luminous beauty.
Even Chun Sheng was a little taken aback, and turned to ask Yun Pan, “Is that the young lady of Duke Shuguo’s household?” When Madam Ming led Mei Fen closer, she exclaimed in genuine admiration, “Goodness me — I had never seen Lord Xiang’s young lady before. It must be that the Duke’s wife treasures her too dearly to let her out to be seen!”
Madam Ming was thoroughly satisfied these days, and responded cheerfully amid pleasantries, “She used to be timid by nature and disliked meeting strangers. Today it is her cousin’s new shop opening — she simply could not stay away! Defense Commissioner’s wife — she has only just entered this circle and has no friends of her own age among the ladies. You are close in years, so I hope you will look after her from now on.”
Chun Sheng readily agreed, “But of course — go in and seek out your old friends, Madam. The young lady will be with us, and I guarantee she will be returned to you safe and sound after the banquet.”
Madam Ming said good — and went inside with the serving women, leaving the three of them to draw apart and talk.
Mei Fen was only just beginning to find her footing in society and was still a little awkward, not knowing quite what to say when she met someone. Chun Sheng had a rough sense of her circumstances — at the banquet Zhao Zhongyan had hosted, they had all heard He Xiao’s pronouncements. And later, word came that it was she who had exposed He Xiao’s false reputation as a brilliant talent, which made Chun Sheng look on Mei Fen with a kind of admiring regard, as one might reserve for a hero.
Yun Pan took Mei Fen’s hand and said warmly, “A’Jie being able to come today makes me truly happy from the bottom of my heart. I know this step wasn’t easy for you to take. From now on, everything will be well — smooth sailing, with no more obstacles.”
Mei Fen felt deeply grateful to her, and said in a low voice, “Si Si, I must thank you. Without you, I would never have had the day when I could walk out of my own door.”
The two sisters stood there with tears in their eyes, overflowing with all they could not say. Chun Sheng was a straightforward sort, and she had already been restraining herself for quite some time. Finally finding her opening, she leaned over and quietly asked Yun Pan, “Is Madam Mei betrothed to anyone yet?”
Mei Fen gave a slight start, and the color promptly rose in her cheeks.
Yun Pan said she was not. “If Sister Chun Sheng has anyone suitable in mind, please do keep an eye out for my A’Jie.”
“Why, there’s already a perfectly ready candidate right here!” Chun Sheng clapped her hands together and said, “My husband’s younger brother is called Zhao Zhongyan — twenty-three this year, called back from an outside post just this fourth month. He is currently serving as the Military Reception Officer of the Western Division and concurrently as the Prefectural Observer of Mu Prefecture. In terms of looks and bearing, he is first-rate, but because he spent so many years posted away from the capital, he missed the age for arranging a marriage. At the moment, the family is urgently trying to arrange a match, but a suitable one has not come along. There was talk of arranging something with the eldest granddaughter of the Grand Academician of the Hall of Proferred Elegance, but unfortunately she is too young, and their family specifically wants a scholar husband — so that did not work out…”
Yun Pan knew the Zhao family’s background. The father had been awarded eleven ranks of merit upon the founding of the dynasty and given the title of Pillar of State. Zhao Zhongyan was also Li Chenjian’s good friend. In terms of family standing, they were a fitting match for Duke Shuguo’s household. She was only uncertain what Mei Fen thought about it all — one He Xiao had already frightened her thoroughly, and in the short term she might not be willing to consider a match.
Yet Yun Pan herself looked favorably upon it. She looked toward Mei Fen and said gently, “A’Jie — we sisters are speaking privately among ourselves, so you need not be shy. I think the person Sister Chun Sheng has mentioned sounds promising. Perhaps we could find an opportunity to have a look.”
Chun Sheng was a warm-hearted soul. Patting her rounded belly, she said, “I was a little too abrupt today. But I liked Madam Mei so much the moment I saw her that I couldn’t hold my tongue. If you find it difficult, Madam, it is no matter at all — just consider me to have made a joke. Please don’t take it to heart. But if it could come to something — if we became sisters-in-law, we could be in each other’s company often, and wouldn’t that be lively!”
Mei Fen was deeply flustered, and not knowing what to say, she only replied, “My nature is solitary and unsociable — I am afraid I would not be pleasing to others…”
Chun Sheng let out a couple of hearty laughs. “Truly solitary people never care to call themselves solitary. I will be honest with you: it was hearing about the thrashing you gave that scoundrel when he was down that I found so much to my liking. To settle grudges and repay favors with swift action — that is the aspiration of my life. It is just that now…” She patted her belly with a thud. “Being like this, I can’t ride horses, can’t play polo, and it is vexing to me no end!”
Everyone burst out laughing at that. Even Mei Fen could see that Chun Sheng had a frank, bright disposition — rather like Nian Zi in some ways. In truth, when it came to talk of a match, she was still somewhat resistant. But she had this fierce streak in her now: the more her mind told her she did not want to do something, the more she wanted to defy it.
Chun Sheng was still waiting for her answer, without any impatience. Mei Fen thought for a moment, then said, “I have had two betrothals, and two broken ones — I do not know how the elders of your household would view that. That you, A’Jie, like me — that is our affinity, and we can be friends who see each other often. But that other matter… the elders would still need to be consulted. If the elders have no objection, then catching a glimpse from afar — there is no reason to say that could not be done.”