Ming Huashang and Su Yuji both stopped short at the same moment. The maids behind them, as if sharing one mind, held their breath too. The exchange from inside the rest chamber drifted to them in broken snatches.
The Old Madam was silent for a moment, then said: “I told him long ago to take a second wife, but he flatly refused. He even went so far as to say it was his private business and I needn’t concern myself. Hmph. When a son grows up and has a household of his own, how would I dare to be the one making decisions for others?”
The Third Madam spoke in a smooth, unhurried flow: “That is because Elder Brother-in-law was afraid of putting the Prince of Yong at a disadvantage. We did not understand it before — we truly thought Elder Brother-in-law had no wish to marry. But thinking about it now, it is plain to see: he feared that a new wife coming through the door might meddle and interfere with the Prince of Yong — and that would have brought disaster upon the Ming family. Now that the Prince of Yong has been restored to his rightful place, and the Sage has enfeoffed him in a prefecture at the heart of the capital region while entrusting him with the actual authority over the Jing Zhao administration — the Sage’s high regard is evident. When the Crown Prince ascends the throne in due time, Elder Brother-in-law’s good days will still be to come.”
The Old Madam’s tone had softened considerably, yet she still spoke with some dissatisfaction: “You make things sound so reasonable, but I know him. It was not entirely for the Prince of Yong’s sake. The Prince of Yong was fostered in a separate establishment, after all — even the most headstrong new wife, once she entered the household, would not dare do anything to the lord of the house. His primary concern has always been his daughters. Before, with one daughter to think of, he was already unwilling. Now there is another, so he will even less wish to bring in someone new to stir up trouble in the inner chambers.”
“Elder Brother-in-law is soft-hearted and cannot bear to see his daughters suffer — but daughters must eventually marry out of the family. It is a son who is the true pillar of the household.” The Third Madam continued in an unhurried voice, “You are the matriarch, Mother. How long this household can sail depends entirely upon you at the helm. If Elder Brother-in-law truly will not take a new wife, then it is no solution for the First Branch to have no sons at all going forward. One ought to select a filial and obedient child to adopt while there is still time. The Zhenguo Ducal Residence is a household of face and standing — we cannot possibly do as those fallen families do and take in a son-in-law as an heir, surely?”
The Old Madam prized face above all else. The moment she heard these words, her temper flared: “Preposterous! The Ming family marched with Taizong when he raised his banner, fought north and south through every campaign, and accumulated honors that were among the foundational merits of the dynasty. Take in a son-in-law as heir? Never!”
“Do not upset yourself.” The Third Madam quickly said, “Daughter-in-law was speaking carelessly. Elder Brother-in-law spoils his daughters as much as he may — but he could not possibly allow a son-in-law to inherit the family estate. Adopting from a branch of the same clan is still our own family. Our Zhenguo Ducal Residence — the accumulated legacy of three generations — could we let it pass to an outsider who married in?”
Su Yuji had begun to frown before the Third Madam was even half finished. By the time she heard the words about “taking in a son-in-law,” she was so incensed she nearly burst in right then and there to confront them. Ming Huashang quickly caught her arm and gestured to the maids to make no sound, then slipped quietly away down a different path.
Once they were far enough away, Su Yuji could hold back no longer. She said coldly: “They talk behind people’s backs like that, and you stopped me from going in. Why?”
“What else would you have me do?” Ming Huashang sighed. “One of them in there is my grandmother, and the other is my third aunt. What can we do to them? Besides — what they said is perfectly reasonable. Even if it were brought out into the open, we would be the ones in the wrong.”
Su Yuji, the more she thought about it, the more furious she became. “That does not mean we should just let them trample all over us. The First Branch is not dead and gone yet.”
From the way Su Yuji spoke, Ming Huashang could tell she actually did want to return to the family — she was simply unable to get past the barrier in her own heart. Ming Huashang pretended not to notice, and drew Su Yuji along to acquaint herself gradually with the Ming household: “Grandmother is very old-fashioned in favoring boys over girls. When she learned that the children of the First Branch had been swapped, she was furious — but I believe the source of her fury was not that Father used his own child to take the place of Crown Prince Zhanghuai’s child. What truly enraged her was that the outstanding young man turned out to belong to someone else’s family, leaving the First Branch with only two daughters. Second Aunt is a little mercenary, and not the most pleasant speaker, but she is not capable of any great malice. One can treat her as an ordinary relative and get along well enough. Third Aunt is the most favored by Grandmother and also has a powerful family backing her. She has always been domineering in this household. Now that she knows the First Branch has no male heir, she certainly believes the Zhenguo Ducal Residence should pass to her son. I think Grandmother will ultimately agree — the two of them both know it, they simply do not feel comfortable acting too obviously for the time being.”
On the carriage earlier, Ming Huashang had already introduced Ming Huashang to the people of the Ming family, but Su Yuji had been unable to match names to faces. Now, with Ming Huashang’s descriptions, Su Yuji began pairing each name with a face, and even had a rough sense of each person’s temperament.
Su Yuji realized that beneath Ming Huashang’s bright and cheerful surface was, in fact, a heart easily wounded. Her ability to intuit others’ emotions swiftly and clearly was a gift that aided her greatly in her investigations and enabled her to win strangers’ affections quickly — yet it also meant she registered with painful clarity every sign of malice from a killer, and every trace of condescension from a family member.
This was a gift bestowed upon her by heaven, and also a double-edged blade. When she gripped it to fight, it cut her own hand from time to time. Her only recourse was to keep her distance from those who hurt her, and to mine twice as hard for the happiness that remained around her.
To be clearheadedly in pain, or to be blissfully unaware of it — Su Yuji genuinely did not know which was better.
Su Yuji asked: “These past weeks — this is what you have been dealing with inside the Zhenguo Ducal Residence?”
“Not entirely.” Ming Huashang answered honestly. “The ones who gossip and stir things up are a small minority. Most people treat me just as they always have. The Third Aunt only spoke like that because she assumed no one was nearby to hear.”
“That means it is still happening.” Su Yuji was seething just thinking about it. “What is Li Huazhang even doing? Always bringing trouble to everyone else, but when someone actually needs him, he is never there.”
Li Huazhang had just arrived to hear exactly this. He raised an eyebrow slightly, stepped out from the corridor in his usual calm manner, and asked: “What do you need me to do?”
Ming Huashang had been in the middle of trying to restrain Su Yuji, and had no warning before she heard the voice of the very person in question. Both alarmed and embarrassed, she said: “Nothing — you misheard.”
Su Yuji pressed down Ming Huashang’s hand and addressed Li Huazhang directly: “You say again and again that you regard Duke Zhenguo as a father, and that you will protect Ming Huashang all her life as an elder brother. But the business of the Third Branch’s proposal to adopt — do you know about that?”
Li Huazhang froze for a moment, then immediately looked toward Ming Huashang. Ming Huashang gave an awkward smile and quietly averted her gaze.
Li Huazhang’s expression became serious. He asked: “What is this about?”
Su Yuji paid no heed to whether he was genuinely ignorant or pretending to be, and told him directly everything they had just overheard. After hearing it, Li Huazhang’s thoughts became clear, and he suddenly understood why Ming Huashang had been distant with him.
Could it be she was hoping to remain in the Ming family through a son-in-law arrangement? Li Huazhang’s feelings grew a little complicated for a moment. He said: “Third Madam’s words are her view alone. I do not see that there is anything wrong with a son-in-law arrangement — and besides, inheriting the title is not the only solution available. If Ren Yao can inherit the Marquis Pingnan residence, why not the two of you?”
Ming Huashang and Su Yuji both fell silent, clearly finding the possibility unlikely. Li Huazhang continued: “Choosing an heir is Duke Zhenguo’s own matter. Instead of turning things over in your minds here, why not go and ask Duke Zhenguo himself what he thinks?”
Ming Huashang reflexively said: “Father has enough on his mind already. Why burden him with something that has not even taken shape yet?”
“You have not asked him, so how do you know what he thinks?” Li Huazhang said. “I believe he may be even more unwilling to see the two of you unhappy over idle talk. Come along — I happen to have some things I wish to consult Duke Zhenguo about. Let us go together.”
Li Huazhang was composed and unruffled, and gradually Ming Huashang’s heart eased too — as if this were not so large a matter after all. She turned and looked at Su Yuji, asking softly: “Sister Yuji?”
Su Yuji, in truth, had no wish to see Duke Zhenguo — yet watching Ming Huashang, the soft-hearted creature, she genuinely could not let her go on her own without worry.
Left to her own devices, Ming Huashang would probably give in within a few sentences out of consideration for others’ feelings and simply swallow whatever she felt.
Su Yuji understood the importance of money and could not stand watching a kindhearted fool have her family assets schemed away from her. The things in the Zhenguo Ducal Residence might not be anything she herself had to have — but no one else had the right to scheme for them either.
Su Yuji said curtly: “Let us go.”
In the rest chamber, Duke Zhenguo had drawn Su Xingzhi over and was asking him at length about Su Yuji’s childhood. Su Xingzhi kept a composed expression on his face, though inwardly he was deeply anxious.
He had recognized the Duke. This was the mysterious man who used to come looking for his grandmother when he was young. Whenever the man came, his grandmother would tell Su Xingzhi to take Su Yuji far away to play. Su Xingzhi had not known what they talked about, but he knew that each time the mysterious man departed, the household would suddenly find itself much better off.
The Su family had been able to raise two children and provide for their studies without interruption, all thanks to that mysterious visitor. Now Su Xingzhi knew — the mysterious man had been Yuji’s father.
Duke Zhenguo’s manner was warm and genial, entirely without the air of a Duke. Like the most ordinary of fathers, he asked about his daughter’s favorite colors and her usual tastes in food. Yet Su Xingzhi could not relax at all. His back was ever so slightly tensed; he gave Duke Zhenguo detailed and thorough answers about Su Yuji’s preferences.
Yuji would eventually go home. He hoped she could get along well with her true family.
They were in the middle of their conversation when footsteps sounded outside. Then a guard announced: “Your Grace, the Prince of Yong and the two young misses have arrived.”
Duke Zhenguo immediately bid them enter. Su Xingzhi, recognizing the right moment, began to rise — but Duke Zhenguo stopped him: “No need to leave. I still have many questions to ask. We are all family here — there is no need for formality.”
Li Huazhang entered, gave Su Xingzhi a slight nod — the courtesy complete and unhurried, not dismissive, but not overbearingly warm either.
Equal and respectful.
Su Xingzhi felt something in him ease in response to Li Huazhang’s manner, without being able to say exactly why. Li Huazhang paid his respects to Duke Zhenguo; from the corner of his eye he glanced toward the back of the room.
Ming Huashang was picking at her fingers. From childhood onward, she had always done this when anxious. Su Yuji was even more forthright about it — still wearing her cold expression, still being stubborn. Li Huazhang had no choice but to act on their behalf: “Your Grace, Shang Shang and the others overheard Third Madam and the Old Madam proposing to adopt a son from the Third Branch for you. Out of deference to the elders, they found it difficult to express an opinion, and so they have come to ask what you think.”
Duke Zhenguo’s face had been warm and smiling — as he listened, his expression gradually cooled. “What?”
Li Huazhang looked toward Ming Huashang, encouraging her to speak with Duke Zhenguo herself. Ming Huashang let out a sigh and resigned herself to it: “After the Prince of Yong left, our household no longer has any young men, does it? Grandmother feels that a male heir is needed to inherit the family legacy, so she is considering arranging a second marriage for Father, or adopting a cousin from the Third Branch for you.”
Su Xingzhi listened in astonishment. He had imagined that once Yuji returned home she would have boundless love and wealth waiting for her — he had never imagined the situation she would be walking into could be so immediately practical in its challenges.
A stepmother? An adopted younger brother?
Li Huazhang heard it for the second time and still found it entirely unreasonable. He continued: “There is more — Third Madam also raised the possibility of a son-in-law arrangement for both sisters, and there has been a great deal of gossip in the household to that effect. Shang Shang was afraid to worry you and did not dare tell you.”
Having these private thoughts laid out in plain words by Li Huazhang, Ming Huashang felt thoroughly mortified, and with equal parts fury and timidity she objected: “It was not that I did not dare—”
Su Yuji’s brow gave a small twitch. She thought those two were made perfectly for each other. Su Xingzhi felt somewhat awkward and said: “Duke Zhenguo, perhaps I should—”
“No need to leave.” Duke Zhenguo raised a hand to stop him, and sighed. “I have always felt you were still young — that it was not right to let you be involved in matters of dividing property. I had not thought that all this talk would already be reaching your ears. Seen in that light, I am truly a failure of a father — knowing Yuji’s life less well than Xingzhi does, and caring for Shang Shang far less than the Prince of Yong does.”
Su Yuji gave a cold huff and said bluntly: “Let us speak to the point. There is no need to bring others into this. Who said he understands me?”
Su Xingzhi said: “Indeed. All matters regarding Yuji are for Yuji herself to decide. What I know is only the surface of things — please do not let me mislead you, Your Grace.”
Duke Zhenguo looked at the scene before him, and within his heart let out a long, heavy sigh. How could he not see it — even though Su Yuji’s words were dismissive in tone, in her heart Su Xingzhi was family, her sense of closeness to him far exceeding what she felt toward him, her blood father. Shang Shang was the same: compared to a father, she seemed more willing to confide her heart to Li Huazhang.
This was the retribution he was due to bear for having chosen to sacrifice his own child in order to protect the imperial heir. Duke Zhenguo had no face to reproach his daughters for not standing by him. He said: “Long before I decided not to remarry, I had already considered what today would bring. For a long time, I could not tell my mother the truth without risking exposure of the Prince of Yong’s identity — but the time has come to lay everything on the table. The question of how to divide the assets is a matter for the adults. That much I will handle myself. You need not worry. Rest assured — I made a promise to your mother: I will not take a new wife, and I will not adopt someone else’s child.”
Ming Huashang, hearing that Duke Zhenguo had already made his arrangements, felt a genuine wave of relief wash over her. Su Yuji, hearing that no adoption would take place, was satisfied, and moved to take her leave — only for Duke Zhenguo to call out: “Yuji — your father has some words for you.”
Su Yuji was startled, and hesitated for a moment. At just this point, Ming Huashang’s reflexes were remarkably swift — she bolted for the door, and as she went, pulled Li Huazhang along with her.
Li Huazhang followed her pace, allowing himself to be pulled. Ming Huashang ran through a corridor and stopped to catch her breath. Only then did she realize what she had done — what on earth had she pulled Li Huazhang along for?
Ming Huashang pretended to be wiping sweat, and with studied indifference released Li Huazhang’s hand. The person behind her gave a soft laugh, and reaching out, smoothed aside the wisps of hair that had come loose in her rush. “You heartless little thing — use people and toss them aside?”
Ming Huashang was embarrassed — yet she managed to keep her face composed. “Not at all. I only thought that, given the Prince of Yong’s distinguished status, to be grabbing and pulling at Your Highness the way I did would be disrespectful.”
Li Huazhang gave her a sideways look. “When you used to make an absolute scene insisting on going out — throwing yourself into things — I do not recall our Shang Shang being quite such a stickler for propriety.”
Ming Huashang’s mood suddenly dipped. She bowed her head and said: “That was before.”
Li Huazhang looked at her and suddenly asked: “Your abrupt wish to put distance between us — is it because I have become the Prince of Yong?”
Ming Huashang bowed her head and said nothing. Li Huazhang looked at the crown of her hair. “So it is. Why? Is it because I cannot enter your family as a son-in-law and stay by your side in the Ming household?”
Ming Huashang froze for a moment, startled. She quickly stole a glance at Li Huazhang — and found him looking at her with perfect seriousness, his gaze full of genuine curiosity.
Ming Huashang had no idea how he could say the word “son-in-law” with such perfect equanimity — but she was so flustered with awkwardness that her scalp prickled. She stumbled and fumbled: “No — I never thought that—”
“Then you do not object to my accompanying you through life.” Li Huazhang extracted the portion he wished to hear with practiced ease, and said, “I will not pretend that as long as I can be with you, I would do anything and everything without exception. There are many things in this world that I cannot do or am unable to do. But I promise: if you are willing to marry me, I will spare no effort to sustain what we have between us. What you are worried about — whether your family will fare well, whether the world will doubt Duke Zhenguo’s loyalty after you marry me and accuse him of leveraging a favor — and so on. These people are also my family. I am willing to work through all of it with you.”
Ming Huashang did not raise her head. Li Huazhang could not read her expression, and continued: “To be a woman and inherit a Duke’s title by direct succession — the resistance would indeed be immense. But given the merit you and Su Yuji earned in saving the sovereign, getting the Ministry of Rites to agree that the title may be passed to your children is something that can be worked toward. I hold no real authority at present, so I cannot make you any sweeping promises — but I give you my word: whatever comes, the heir of the Zhenguo Ducal Residence will be chosen only according to your and Su Yuji’s own wishes.”
Li Huazhang heard the familiar sound of indrawn breath. He bent and cupped Ming Huashang’s face in his hands — and found, as he had expected, that she was crying. Li Huazhang sighed softly, and gently wiped her tears. “What are you crying for? Your second elder brother is here for everything.”
Ming Huashang could not agree with what the Third Madam had said — that daughters were outsiders — but she could not deny that the laws of the present day simply did not permit women to inherit family property. Ren Yao was a single exception; to reach where she had reached, Ren Yao had struggled through many years, and greater trials may yet await her. She was one among ten thousand of her kind — and their kind could not count on being so fortunate as to become the next Ren Yao.
Only a man could preserve the Zhenguo Ducal Residence’s title. That seemed to leave only a son-in-law arrangement for them. Ming Huashang could not in good conscience ask her sister — who had been adrift outside for so many years and had only just found a way home — to face these rumors and pressures. And so it would have to be her.
Yet Li Huazhang was Crown Prince Zhanghuai’s sole son. Whatever the circumstances, he could never become a son-in-law of another family. Even if he agreed, the world at large would not.
Ming Huashang had once resigned herself to this — convinced it was heaven’s intention that they should not be together. But now Li Huazhang kept showing her, over and over, that when family faces a problem together and works at it, many things that appear to be dead ends turn out to have another way through.
Ming Huashang sobbed as she spoke: “But you could clearly have someone so much better…”
Ming Huazhang looked at her — red-rimmed eyes brimming with tears, and still saying he could have someone better — and felt a sharp, repeated ache in his chest. For once he let the smile fall from his face, gripped Ming Huashang’s shoulders firmly, and said: “Shang Shang. Look at me.”
Ming Huashang felt she must look terrible right now and refused to face him — but he held her shoulders tight, gentle yet unyielding, giving her nowhere to retreat. Ming Huashang realized he was not going to let her keep evading, and with much reluctance met Li Huazhang’s eyes.
His eyes were like the stars — bright and steady, yet they would not scorch the one they rested on. With earnest sincerity he said: “By the world’s standards, there will always be someone better — that is true forever. But the only person who has left a mark on my life, and the thought of whose company through the remaining years fills me with eager anticipation — that person is you and you alone. The world’s standard of ‘better’ holds no meaning for me. By my standard, you are the best.”
Ming Huashang blinked, and a single tear fell with a faint sound onto the back of Li Huazhang’s hand. It was as though his hand had been burned. His fingers relaxed involuntarily, and Ming Huashang seized the moment to turn away and wipe her eyes vigorously.
Li Huazhang gave a quiet sigh, reached out, and drew her into his embrace, so she could cry freely without fear of being seen. He felt the faint, cool dampness spreading against his chest, said nothing more, and waited quietly for her emotions to run their course.
Ming Huashang cried to her heart’s content for a while, then gradually began to feel awkward. Li Huazhang sensed the right moment and let her go. Seeing her eyes darting evasively — plainly too embarrassed to know what to do — he gave a light laugh and tapped her forehead, teasing: “You — still worrying yourself with groundless imaginings. Making such a fuss with your second elder brother over something so small. Heartless little thing.”