The Book of Rites says: marriage is the union of two surnames in friendship; above, it serves the ancestral temple, and below, it continues the family line for future generations — therefore the gentleman values it greatly…

Chang Lianfang went out at noon to receive his bride, with dozens of Yandu’s young noblemen accompanying him in splendid attire, and at dusk he brought his worthy wife home.

When the new bride was welcomed back, the household became lively beyond measure, everyone going to the back to watch the ceremony. Chen Dasheng also wanted to go, but he couldn’t.

What else could he do? He himself didn’t mind, but the young wives of Qinwei Alley minded very much, all saying — why should it be that from start to finish, it was only the two “old strongmen” of the Chang family standing at the door to greet guests?

Did they think everyone was a fool?

“Old strongman” was a local rustic term, meaning the eldest brother with the most strength and standing.

Qiqian’er and the others had sharp eyes for this sort of thing — no matter how broad-minded a man tried to be, no matter how much he didn’t want to fuss over it, the women wouldn’t let this slide. The position of “old strongman” could not be given up, so everyone simply had to take turns.

Truly, after three days of endless greeting and seeing off guests, even Chen Dasheng — battle-hardened, immensely strong, a man who could cut down a warhorse with one blow — felt his mind worn ragged with exhaustion.

He was different now from before. Guests who knew his background would greet him first with formal courtesy, which was awkward — and not just once, but an unbroken stream of awkwardness.

What kind of person was Xiaohuar? Typically of the Shao Shang background, and also the Emperor’s adopted son, and he himself was accomplished in his own right.

For his wedding, naturally the entire old Shao Shang faction had to come. Even those far from the capital, “where the mountains are high and the emperor far away,” didn’t dare show poor judgment at this wedding. Some didn’t come in person, but plenty of gifts were still received.

And no matter how unreliable Chang Mianshen’s conduct might be, no one was really looking at him — what they were looking at was that small group of young men who had once surrounded Emperor Wu. They had come up together, followed the Emperor through campaign after campaign, and their numbers had dwindled over the years… until only these few remained.

This was a soft spot in the hearts of Daliang’s Shao Shang ministers, and so they all came, even if only to show their faces for a moment.

No wonder the two “old strongmen” of the Chang family were worked half to death and still wouldn’t sit down; no wonder they wouldn’t even step away to relieve themselves at the gatehouse chamber pot; no wonder Marquis Chang was so furious.

In the courtyard behind the house, the crowd’s voices boiled with noise. Chen Dasheng, smiling, took the teacup Chunfen handed him and had just taken two sips when he was startled.

A procession of carriages and horses had arrived at the street corner, dignified and proper, and when they reached the gate he saw clearly the lanterns hanging from them — the Tan family’s lanterns.

How long had it been since this surname had been active in the capital? Time truly flew.

All sorts of feelings stirred in Chen Dasheng’s heart, but on his face a plain, sincere smile appeared at once. He handed the teacup back to Chunfen, stood, and followed the somewhat hurried Chang Lianqi and Chang Lianxu out to receive the guests.

He said not one extra word, showed not the slightest extra emotion — he had, quite naturally, made himself unnoticeable.

As for friendship, Chen Dasheng’s ties to the Tan family were not deep on the surface — it was the two “old strongmen” of the Chang family who had truly grown up alongside them. In past wars they had often fought side by side; this group had their own circle.

Chang Lianqi watched as Tan Weitong, Tan Weizheng, and Tan Weixin dismounted from their carriage and horses, and came forward beaming with delight to bow in greeting: “Ah, ah, Tan the Eldest! What a fine gust of wind brought you here! Ah — where have you young marquises come from? Why arrive at this hour? Come, come in, come in… I’ll have them prepare a full table right away…”

In the past, meetings between them had always been full of mutual teasing — after all, who hadn’t been young once? All were sons of military houses, none lacking in valor, all with their own means. Each had their share of victories, their share of setbacks. The elders exchanged pleasantries, but privately, none of them had ever truly deferred to another.

It was only a shame that this familiar round of laughter now met with people who had changed — the once easy-tempered Tan Weitong, the outwardly simple and honest Tan Weizheng, the quick-witted and charmingly spoiled Tan Weixin — they were not who they used to be.

The visitors did not take up the joke, but instead apologized repeatedly for their lateness.

No one knew what had happened during those three years of mourning, but everyone knew that mourning periods for military officials differed from those of civil officials — especially for officers stationed away from the capital, who were generally granted a hundred days of mourning leave. Besides, His Majesty had always been generous with the Tan family and would not have held it against them.

Yet they had insisted, at the very best time for the newly founded dynasty, on observing the full traditional mourning for the three family members who had died. Afterward, they had not even petitioned the Emperor to reassign them to new posts, but instead had taken the whole family to Jindian.

Now they had become like young noblemen pressed from the same mold — all with the same modest gravity, the same noble elegance, the very picture of gentlemanly bearing.

Because their family were all marquises, people outside also called them “young marquises,” which was why the old strongmen of the Chang family had teased them so. Who would have thought the three Tan brothers would respond with such earnest, formal bows, insisting they dared not accept such address.

In truth, His Majesty had not yet issued any decree — the position that had belonged to Tan Shize had not even been given to an heir apparent.

Chang Lianxu said with an awkward laugh: “Why do you gentlemen act this way? Whatever for?”

Tan Weitong only smiled and said: “In the past we were ignorant and inevitably showed off — actually, this is how it should have been all along. How is this excessive courtesy?”

What could Chang Lianqi say? He could only rub his nose and urge them to come in quickly. But they did not enter. Instead, the youngest, Tan Weixin, spoke: “Do not blame us, elder cousins. On our way from Jindian, it was only when we reached Qingfeng that we heard of the joyous occasion at your household, and we hastily prepared some modest gifts to bring here.

By the friendship between our two houses, we ought by rights to go inside to offer our congratulations — but we are on official duty, and have not yet reported to the Emperor. We truly dare not enter, for fear of delaying urgent matters and implicating our elder cousins in trouble. That would not be fitting at all. We beg you not to hold this against us.”

He was speaking on behalf of the Second House of the Tan family, and now he too had to step forward to uphold the family’s standing.

Hearing this, Chang Lianqi’s mouth twitched. He looked at Tan Weitong, then at Tan Weixin. Although their fathers had held marquis titles of the same rank, the Tan family’s troops had, in the past, far outnumbered the Chang family’s motley forces.

And not only in the past — even now it was the same. The Tan family held a powerful border post at Jindian, while the Chang family had long since surrendered their military command. The military authority in the Tan family’s hands had never been touched.

To make such a show of force right at their doorstep — what could this mean?

Seeing his elder brother looking somewhat dazed, Chang Lianxu said with a smile: “Ah, I see, no offense taken, none at all! Elder cousins, your duties are important, please go on about your business…”

He wanted to add a few more pleasantries to show he was more capable than his brother, but the Tan family members, who had shown no change of expression this whole time, suddenly turned their gaze to the doorway, where Chen Dasheng stood quietly bowing.

Although Chen Dasheng now held a nominal marquis title and a fifth-rank post in the Ministry of War, and everyone knew he was to inherit the Prince’s estate — but that inheritance belonged to the future. Before that day came, the Tan family had once been his former master, and he would never let slip the smallest carelessness that might give someone cause to accuse him of arrogance after gaining status.

Others knew how to put on an act. He knew even better.

Tan Weitong blinked, clearing away some of his thoughts, and made as if he had only just recognized Chen Dasheng.

Who could blame him for that? A young general — why would his eyes fall upon a mere tool of the household, a lowly indentured servant?

He was supposed not to know him at all.

The two of them were acquainted, but not close — they had only occasionally spoken, and since each had his own private thoughts, a certain distance had grown between them… courteous, formal, with full observance of propriety.

As the saying goes, appearance follows the heart. People gradually change.

Everyone had changed…

Tan Weitong hastily brought his younger brothers forward to bow to Chen Dasheng — this was not the ground in Jindian where the Tan family held sway; this was in the presence of two generations of favored subjects before the current Emperor.

In the future, even after Chen Dasheng inherited his title, he would still rank two tiers below them. Between a prince of a commandery and a marquis, there was still the rank of duke in between.

Three-plus years had given everyone ample cause for growth; anyone who still couldn’t place himself correctly after all this had suffered for nothing.

Tan Shouyi was growing old, and fearing he would not manage to properly discipline the next generation before he died, his methods had become nearly ruthless.

Tan Weitong bowed deeply to Chen Dasheng with a warm smile: “The sky grew dark before I recognized so distinguished a person before me — my apologies for the discourtesy.”

He and his younger brothers currently held no official rank.

Chen Dasheng quickly lowered himself and, following the old custom, addressed him: “Young General, you mustn’t say such things. I came from the Tan family’s Old Blade Battalion — how would I dare call myself distinguished before you young generals?”

Not forgetting one’s origins was a virtue valued by everyone, high and low — and that virtue was tied to loyalty. How would he dare hand anyone grounds to accuse him otherwise?

And so both sides bowed lower and lower, bent more and more, until laughter erupted from the back courtyard, at which point they straightened up together and exchanged courteous, warm smiles.

Tan Weitong made another round of bows, then tugged at his sleeve and looked into the courtyard with what seemed like regret: “I truly wish I could go in. Ah, what bad timing. Had I known of San Lang’s happy occasion, we should have set out through the night.”

Chen Dasheng smiled gently: “Young General, don’t be sad. We — there will be another day.”

Tan Weitong nodded: “Just so. We — there will be another day. It’s already late; as scheduled, even if we can’t enter Yandu tonight, we’ll camp right outside its gates. Well then, we take our leave. We’ll meet again another time.”

“Good, good, good… go on, go on, San Lang can’t say anything about it either.”

The Chang brothers were also weary at heart. Dealing with this third generation of the Tan family made it very clear, in a visceral way, that their own family had lost this round — which only made them more tired.

They thought, let’s just hurry inside… we still have to receive guests, and duty, what duty, who are they trying to scare…

And so those people came and went, leaving behind a cartload of so-called “modest gifts.” When one box was casually opened, it turned out to be a whole case of tinned dendrobium — tsk!

Chen Dasheng personally escorted them to the mouth of the alley behind Quanhou Street, watching until their carriages and horses had disappeared from sight, before returning to Quanhou Street.

Halfway there, he found Chang Lianxu waiting for him.

This man was interesting — wanting to show off his current status, he had only escorted them halfway, yet couldn’t help counting the number of their carriages and baggage.

Chen Dasheng was weary at heart but forced a smile and went over to greet him. As he walked in silence, he overheard Chang Lianxu saying to his brother: “Brother, hasn’t it been how long since we last saw them? How did they change so much?”

It was quite a shock — at the very least, the bearing and conduct of those Tan sons had struck a nerve in the Chang sons.

Chang Lianqi walked along with his hands behind his back for a while, then suddenly remembered something and asked Chen Dasheng with a smile: “Little Brother, do you know a man called Wu Xiu?”

Chen Dasheng was the Chang family’s adopted son, so naturally he was their younger brother.

How could Chen Dasheng not know Wu Xiu? Hearing the name, he nodded and smiled: “Of course I know him. Back in the Tan family’s army, I had far more dealings with Wu Xiu than you gentlemen did. Elder Brother, why do you ask about him?”

Chang Lianqi laughed: “It’s nothing, just a passing thought. Back then, Wu Xiu wasn’t even fit to eat the horse dung behind us. But have you seen the airs he puts on now?”

He knew, but hadn’t gone to see the man himself.

Chen Dasheng shook his head: “I’ve been busy on my end, haven’t had time to see him. Besides, though we’re both in the Ministry of War, the Court of Imperial Stud’s offices are all outside the city — heh! Truth is, I don’t often go to the Ministry of War myself, either.”

When he finished, the three of them laughed together.

As for the ill feelings that had built up privately these past few days over household matters — well, what was there to say? Anyway, the old strongmen of the Chang family didn’t think it was a big deal; given time, it would sort itself out.

Since the family itself didn’t think it was a big deal, and since Xiaohuar hadn’t shown any resentment on his face either, Chen Dasheng remained good brothers with them as before — except that in this brotherhood, there were still levels in his heart. These two were absolutely not at the front of the line; they cared too much about self-interest.

Put plainly, Chen Dasheng looked down on the two of them, yet could still laugh and joke pleasantly with them, appearing on the surface as close as family.

These past years hadn’t been wasted on him, after all.

Each person had their own nature — no use trying to change anyone; better to just be at ease with yourself.

They laughed, but the reason Chen Dasheng didn’t like to linger at the Ministry of War was also the reason the two of them didn’t go either.

Sons of great families who took up office had it easy, far simpler than officials without backing — at the very least, who would dare call the roll and expose that they never showed up for duty at all?

Chang Lianqi sighed with some self-satisfaction: “You’ve got it easy enough — you’re on palace duty, and even outsiders don’t dare touch the Changdao Guard. Never mind our direct superiors — even Minister Sun himself doesn’t dare move against the Imperial Bodyguard Office. But we brothers have it rough. With Father the way he is, and the two of us holding several posts at once, we’re running ourselves ragged every day patching holes everywhere. Ah, if only we brothers could somehow get transferred into the Bodyguard and command a company — that would be the life of an immortal.”

Chang Lianxu, off to the side, pouted: “Brother, why bring that up? Weren’t we talking about Wu Xiu?”

Chang Lianqi laughed: “Right, that Wu Xiu. These past few years he’s really made a name for himself. Don’t just see him as someone leeching off the Tan family — heh, little brother, you don’t know the inside story. With how crafty and cunning the old marquis is, our father wouldn’t last three exchanges with him.

We also heard secondhand that the man is actually descended from the previous dynasty’s great general Wu Yisheng. Though his family fell, they still have plenty left — no wonder the Tan family wants to marry into his family. No one’s a fool, are they?”

Chang Lianqi made a coin-flipping gesture with his hand, his whole face full of envy.

These two brothers were like this — a lifelong trait they’d never shake, not even to the grave.

Their father had scattered money in all directions his whole life, playing the generous patron to everyone — and once his sons had grown up, what were they supposed to do?

In their hearts, every coin was as big as a millstone — back when they had nothing, the whole family went hungry, cinching their belts tight, pawning family possessions to entertain their father’s so-called friends and brothers.

Chen Dasheng, helpless, could only look at Chang Lianqi’s gesturing hand and nod: “Ah, yes, I heard a bit about it too — they say the residence he bought here in Yandu was originally a branch property of a legitimate son of a duke’s household from the previous dynasty, over in Rongqing Alley.”

Chang Lianxu sighed, also stretching out a finger to mimic flipping coins in the air: “His Majesty is wise — that’s exactly how it should be, damn traitors. Hmph, just look, it’s only been a few years and already they can’t keep it contained! Those fallen noble houses really do have hidden reserves — a hundred and twenty thousand strings of cash for a capital mansion, and he just bought it outright, just like that! Imagine how deep those family coffers must run.”

Hearing this, Chen Dasheng drew a sharp breath. He too was genuinely surprised — the scheme they had originally set up had only involved five thousand strings of cash as bait. Who could have predicted that the Wu Xiu he knew would change so much?

Relying on the winnings from that gamble, Wu Xiu had quietly used his official position to open up a path no one had ever imagined.

Wu Xiu was now minting his own coins — and spending them himself!

Control over currency had always been difficult, from ancient times to the present. His father, She Qingling, had once said that in ancient times, the court had even supported private minting among the people. In the current dynasty, Daliang’s copper mines were in short supply, which was why coins from the previous dynasty were still circulating among the people — and Wu Xiu had found exactly this loophole.

Behind the Tan family’s back, he had used the power their name lent him to open a foundry deep in the mountains of Jindian, operating a private mine, quietly casting copper coins and releasing them into circulation.

Most strange of all, His Majesty knew of this. His father knew too. The senior officials of the Ministry of Revenue knew as well. And behind it all, they had tacitly chosen to pretend ignorance.

In truth, the more seasoned an official, the rarer and more valuable he became. Officials who dared to openly rebuke wrongdoing to the Emperor’s face probably only existed in stage plays. State affairs were never simple — as long as real gold and silver, real wealth, remained firmly in the hands of the Emperor and the state, the realm would not fall into chaos.

The government-minted coins in the Emperor’s hands cost, after deducting the enormous labor expense, eighty coppers per catty of copper — while Wu Xiu’s coins cost two hundred and thirty coppers per catty on the other side. Though inferior in quality, they nonetheless served the useful purpose of driving the previous dynasty’s currency out of circulation.

This was a scandal that, sooner or later, would get countless people executed by a thousand cuts. His father had forbidden him from ever mentioning it again, and so Chen Dasheng never would.

He was one of the few who knew the truth, and one of the first to be shaken by it — it had made him see people in a whole new light. People change, and the transformations of power are beyond anyone’s grasp or prediction.

Just like the Tan brothers tonight — something new had already grown into their very bones, and it was a kind of thing Chen Dasheng knew all too well.

It was the same arrogance that had long existed in Tan Shouyi, Crown Prince’s Junior Tutor and founding marquis — though he hid it deep, the thing in his bones could not be changed. He would always be certain that he possessed every means to control lesser, drifting creatures like Chen Dasheng.

No use refusing to accept it — the more clearly Chen Dasheng saw himself, the more clearly he understood: he was among those being controlled, and he needed to work even harder.

Many people carried this arrogant certainty — the imperial princes were born with this trait. Later, Xiaohuar had learned it too, and so had A Man, and so had Li Jingui — which was why they always started their outward compromises with a show of restraint, always seeming patient, always seeming to yield.

So — had the Tan sons begun this too?

Beside him, the two old strongmen of the Chang family fell short by comparison, demoted down among the ranks of ordinary young men of Yandu, their words tinged with obvious envy.

As for how Wu Xiu spent his money in Yandu — he had gone several times to play around with Yandu’s famous courtesans. At first, those proud women wouldn’t even look at him, so he wrapped up a whole gold shop and sent it to their establishment, laying out a staircase of gold every single day: whatever fine thing those women’s eyes landed on was theirs for the taking — I ask for nothing, he’d say, if you’re happy, I’m delighted, and as for whether you’re willing to give yourself to me, that’s entirely up to you…

Now that was spending money with real flair! Who wouldn’t love that?

There were many such stories about Wu Xiu’s spending, and layer by layer, he bought his way into respect.

Never mind the women — how many people could withstand that kind of open-handed spending in the first place?

Among Yandu’s circle of young noblemen, Wu Xiu had already worked his way into the third tier — just shy of being recognized by the Emperor himself, but that was as far as he’d ever climb.

As for someone like Tan Weitong, whom he deeply resented, they had simply started from different places entirely. No matter how badly they conducted themselves as people, they had a solid backer, achievements the Emperor himself couldn’t deny — they were born into a different tier altogether.

Now that they had observed a full three years of mourning with no one at court to speak for them, once they returned, the Emperor’s favors would naturally flow their way again — it would be embarrassing for the Emperor not to grant them something.

Feeling envy in his heart, Chang Lianqi fell silent. After walking a good while, he suddenly said: “Ah! Come to think of it, it’s still because our father is too honest.”

Chang Lianxu nodded too: “Isn’t that the truth. If our father had even half the old Tan marquis’s ruthlessness, he never would have handed over military command…”

Chen Dasheng suddenly spoke up in warning: “Elder Brothers, watch your words.”

Only then did the two remember — in the past, in the household, it had been two against one; now it was two against two. This was the first real clash between the two younger ones and them, and they had lost on every front.

Chang Lianqi immediately laughed: “Little Brother, don’t mind me — look at this loose mouth of mine, it’s just that I’ve been drinking too much these past few days, my head’s muddled every morning, so my words slip out carelessly, heh heh…”

Chen Dasheng also smiled: “It’s fine, we’re family. Say what you like among us, brothers — but out there, everyone is an outsider.”

Chang Lianqi nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes, exactly, you see me…”

He didn’t finish his sentence before they arrived at the mouth of Qinwei Alley.

As it happened, a group of women was just coming out of the alley, led by Qiqian’er carrying a food box.

The wives of the various households on Qinwei Alley were all there too, and seeing the Chang “old strongmen,” they bowed and greeted them first.

After the Chang brothers returned the courtesy, they put on their best elder-brother smiles and teased: “You sisters-in-law have been working hard these past few days. It’s already this hour — what are you all up to?”

He curiously pointed at the food boxes everyone was carrying.

Qiqian’er glanced at Chen Dasheng, then said with a smile: “This is food we’ve prepared for our new sister-in-law — after all, her proper sisters-in-law didn’t prepare anything for her!”

This was awkward — everyone knew those two women practically wanted to come to blows with her, and yet were preparing food for her?

Besides, how would those two menfolk of theirs even think of something like this?

Chang Lianxu said awkwardly: “Ah, if we were back in the capital proper, our household would have prepared everything long ago — it’s just that things aren’t so familiar out this way.”

Qiqian’er smiled, good-natured: “Elder Brother is right, that’s exactly how it is. Poor little sister married in from thousands of miles away — we’re the sisters-in-law from another region, and we don’t even know what our new sister likes to eat. The girl left her own family behind to come marry into the Chang family, to bear children and honor the elders — we can’t have her going hungry on her very first day. If word got out that we didn’t even prepare a meal, people would say we’re a heartless bunch.”

Madam Chai was the Chang brothers’ own cousin, and so she stepped forward and said: “You two cousins are standing here talking so leisurely! Well I’m no ‘Sister Qian’ — everything’s already been arranged for your household, and on top of that she’s still trying to make you two look good.

As if we don’t all know each other! Among family, what’s there to be so face-conscious about — doesn’t Huar’s household even have a working kitchen? He’s a grown man, if his heart were even a little in it, things wouldn’t be like this.

Thankfully our Sister Tong thought of a solution — having each household contribute a little something special to send over to the new bride, as a show of the family’s care, to warm the girl’s heart so she can build a life with our Xiaohuar. Otherwise, wouldn’t this be planting a lifelong grudge for Xiaohuar!

Oh, so on the very first day she married into your family, the Chang household couldn’t even give her one full meal? All it would have taken was one more question, and this wouldn’t have happened!

The girl came with a dowry worth over a hundred thousand strings of cash, carried in on an eight-bearer palanquin — how is it that a proper marquis’s household doesn’t have a single person with any sense? Go ask the stewardess in charge — does the new sister-in-law like sour foods, or sweet? Does she prefer something light, or something more flavorful? It’s simple human decency, isn’t it? What, is it just a few coppers’ worth? Is this some blood feud, that you’re trying to give her a hard time on her first day? She might not even eat it, but we can’t be the ones showing bad manners…”

Having said her piece, Madam Chai pulled Qiqian’er and the others along and walked off.

Once they had walked quite a distance away, the Chang brothers stood there thoroughly embarrassed, and then both turned to look at Chen Dasheng.

What could Chen Dasheng do? What could he possibly do?

Under their gaze, utterly helpless, he offered them a way out…

So he laughed foolishly: “Ah well, women’s talk from their maiden families — so much fuss over nothing.”

Good — now they could save face.

And so the two of them relaxed at once, both laughing heartily: “Just so, just so… these past few days, we’ve all had a few too many drinks. Little Brother, Little Sister-in-law, please don’t trouble yourselves over it, haha~ haha!”

Those with face to save found their own way to save it; those without, had their own way of getting by too.