Madam Zhu was taken aback.
In their time, men typically married for the first time between the ages of 14-15 and 18-19, while women married between 13-14 and 16-17. For a woman like Zheng Chuyu to remain unmarried at 18 or 19 was extremely rare, unless there were specific reasons such as illness, unattractiveness, or poverty preventing the preparation of a dowry.
Having lost her husband and eldest son early on, Madam Zhu had only Wei Shao left as her son, and inevitably focused all her attention on this only child. She had originally wanted her son to marry her niece, but knowing that Madam Xu would never allow it due to Miss Zheng’s insufficient background, she settled for hoping her son would take her as a concubine. This would not only strengthen family ties but also allow her to keep her niece by her side. However, as Miss Zheng grew older and the matter remained unresolved, Madam Zhu became increasingly anxious over the past year or two, pressuring Wei Shao more intensely. To her dismay, he didn’t budge at all, and on the first night of his return, he caused such a scene that humiliated her in front of the servants.
She didn’t blame her son for embarrassing her but instead directed all her resentment toward Miss Qiao. She had been sulking for the past few days, and this morning, seeing her son and new daughter-in-law arrive late, she assumed her son had been bewitched by Miss Qiao’s charms and overslept due to their dalliance. This thought made her even more upset. Just moments ago, she had been dwelling on this when Madam Xu suddenly kept her behind to discuss this matter. Her heart skipped a beat, and a troubled expression appeared on her face.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? Is it that you can’t find a suitable family, or that you can’t prepare a dowry? If it’s inconvenient for you, I can find someone, and I’ll provide the dowry as well.”
When Madam Zhu couldn’t speak, she heard Madam Xu continue unhurriedly. She looked up and met her gaze. Seeing her mother-in-law’s single eye fixed on her, she felt uneasy and forced a smile, “How could that be the reason? Mother-in-law must know that for the past two years, even the servants have regarded Chuyu as Zhong Lin’s woman. If we were to marry her off now, it might be inappropriate…”
Madam Xu said, “The servants are ignorant. As the mistress of the Wei family, if you don’t educate them, that’s one thing, but how can you be led by the servants? In a family like ours, even taking a concubine requires a proper ceremony. Without rituals or official status, how has Miss Zheng become Zhong Lin’s woman?”
Madam Zhu dared not look directly at Madam Xu and only explained, “Mother-in-law doesn’t know, I’ve already spoken to Zhong Lin about this, and he didn’t object. It’s just that he was away for a long time, and now that he’s just returned home and newly married, it wouldn’t be appropriate to bring this up immediately. I had originally planned to arrange it after some time had passed.”
Madam Xu snorted, “How is it that I heard on the first night of Zhong Lin’s return, that an old woman went to eavesdrop at the West Chamber, angering Zhong Lin so much that he damaged the door? What kind of servant dares to be so presumptuous? I’m old and tired, and I’ve entrusted the household affairs to you. Is this how you manage the servants?”
Madam Zhu was filled with shame, not expecting Madam Xu to know about this incident. She dared not speak further and lowered her head.
“I know it hasn’t been easy for you these past years. I’ve seen it all,” Madam Xu’s voice softened. “Keeping Miss Zheng at home also comes from your affection. But affection is one thing; continuing this foolishness will only ruin the girl’s future. I kept you behind this morning for no other reason than to remind you of this.”
Madam Zhu kowtowed, tears in her eyes, “Daughter-in-law understands Mother-in-law’s good intentions. I will follow your instructions and find a suitable match for Chuyu when I return. I won’t delay any further.”
Madam Xu’s face showed a faint smile as she nodded, “If you can think this way, I’m relieved. There’s nothing else, you may go.”
Madam Zhu wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and respectfully took her leave. Returning to the East Chamber, she dismissed the servants and told Zheng Chuyu about her conversation with Madam Xu.
Zheng Chuyu was stunned. Slowly, her eyes reddened, and she cried, bowing on the couch, “Aunt’s love for Chuyu is beyond repayment. It’s better for me to leave early, to avoid causing more trouble for Aunt, caught in the middle!”
Madam Zhu, who had always doted on her niece and kept her by her side for years, treating her like her own daughter, was especially convinced by the shaman’s words that Miss Zheng was her lucky charm. Seeing her niece cry, she felt extremely distressed and quickly held her arm to comfort her, “Don’t be sad. What I said to the Old Madam was just for show. In my heart, I’ve long considered you as Zhong Lin’s person. How could I arrange for you to marry someone else?”
Zheng Chuyu sobbed, “Chuyu is useless, staying in the Wei family in this awkward position, wasting away the years. It doesn’t matter, even if no one wants me for life, I’m willing to serve my Aunt’s side. But now that the Old Madam won’t tolerate me, how can I continue to trouble Aunt? I should marry, even a peddler or porter, I won’t be picky…”
“Nonsense! How could I bear to part with you!” Madam Zhu quickly stopped her, holding Zheng Chuyu in her arms to comfort her. She said, “Don’t worry, I’ll use the excuse of finding a suitable match to delay the Old Madam for now. She shouldn’t press the matter immediately. As for Zhong Lin, I’ll think of a way to arrange things quickly. I absolutely won’t marry you off like this.”
…
Zheng Chuyu came from a humble background and became an orphan at around ten years old. With no one reliable in her paternal clan, she was fortunate to have the protection of her aunt, Madam Zhu, the mistress of the Wei family. After being taken into the Wei household, she lived a life of luxury, surrounded by servants, enjoying a status above others. It’s easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to return to simplicity from luxury. Moreover, Wei Shao was young, handsome, and dashing. She had long set her heart on him, how could she bear to leave halfway? Madam Zhu’s intention to match her with her son aligned perfectly with her wishes.
In fact, at the beginning, she had even entertained thoughts of marrying Wei Shao as his principal wife. Knowing her status was insufficient, to add weight to her position, she noticed Madam Zhu’s firm belief in shamans and her obedience to the great shaman of Yushan. She secretly prepared a hefty bribe, begging the great shaman to speak on her behalf to Madam Zhu. Having received the money, the great shaman naturally did her bidding, and she became Madam Zhu’s lucky charm. From then on, Madam Zhu valued her even more.
Unfortunately, Madam Zhu was not the final decision-maker in the Wei family. Not only was Madam Xu above her, but even Wei Shao did not always obey his mother. Zheng Chuyu knew that marrying Wei Shao as his wife was likely an unattainable dream, so she had to settle for being a concubine. Years passed, and she had already reached the age of eighteen. Not only had nothing happened, but Wei Shao hadn’t even spared her a glance when he returned in the past two years. She was anxious and uneasy, but since Wei Shao hadn’t married and had no other women by his side, she comforted herself and waited day after day. Until the end of last year, when news came that Wei Shao had married Miss Qiao from Yanzhou in Xindu, and Madam Xu had even sent her maid Zhong to oversee the matter.
When she first heard this news, Zheng Chuyu was truly distressed. But upon further reflection, she thought that since the Wei and Qiao families had a feud, Wei Shao’s marriage to Miss Qiao must have an ulterior motive. Even if Miss Qiao came, her life wouldn’t be easy, and Wei Shao wouldn’t truly treat her as a wife. Besides, he would have to marry eventually, and she had never expected to be his principal wife. His marriage to such a wife might be beneficial for her.
Previously, although Madam Zhu had shown her great affection, once outside the East Chamber, no one else in the Wei family treated her as a formal mistress. Even the servants occasionally dared to gossip behind her back about her failed attempts to marry the young lord and become an old maid. She harbored resentment in her heart. Thinking that this Miss Qiao would come and surely face cold treatment, she felt that by comparison, she wouldn’t be such a laughingstock anymore. This thought not only made her feel better but also made her secretly look forward to Miss Qiao’s arrival.
On the day she learned of Wei Shao and Miss Qiao’s return home, she accompanied Madam Zhu back from Yushan, knowing that her aunt would certainly not give Miss Qiao a warm welcome. She had returned to watch the spectacle, never expecting that Miss Qiao would be as beautiful as a celestial being, as pure as an orchid. Zheng Chuyu had always prided herself on her beauty, but compared to her, she paled into insignificance.
Seeing her standing side by side with Wei Shao, bowing to Madam Zhu, they looked like a perfect couple. She was greatly shocked at the time. By evening, Wei Shao hadn’t followed Madam Zhu’s instructions to let her enter his chamber. Instead, the servant sent by her aunt to spy was discovered by Wei Shao. Although she was quite startled at the time, according to the servant’s description, Wei Shao and Miss Qiao had likely shared a bed.
Zheng Chuyu was greatly disappointed and had been troubled for the past few days, secretly paying attention to the movements in the West Chamber, hoping for news that Wei Shao was mistreating Miss Qiao. Yet this morning, the two of them arrived late together, seeming intimate. Even Madam Xu, who had always been indifferent towards her, appeared quite tolerant of Miss Qiao. Zheng Chuyu was both jealous and resentful, her mind in turmoil. When Madam Zhu returned and told her this, her tears were not entirely feigned. Fortunately, her aunt’s attitude was firm. Leaning in her embrace and comforted by her, Zheng Chuyu’s heart finally settled a little. She wept, “Given the situation, does Aunt still have any way to keep me here?”
Madam Zhu hesitated for a moment, then said, “When there’s an opportunity, I’ll go to Yushan to seek divination from the great shaman, and then we’ll make further plans.”
…
Three days later, Madam Xu’s birthday arrived.
Given the Wei family’s current status in the North, Madam Xu’s birthday celebration was a grand affair. Not only did many nobles from Youzhou consider it an honor to attend with their invitations, but also the governors from nearby regions such as Bohai, Renqiu, and Leling braved the long journey to Yuyang to offer their congratulations. Countless others who couldn’t attend in person sent representatives with gifts to convey their well-wishes.
As Madam Xu originally hailed from the State of Zhongshan, even the current King of Zhongshan, Liu Duan, who was her distant nephew, sent an envoy to extend his greetings. On that day, many commoners spontaneously gathered at the Wei family’s gate, kneeling to pay their respects to Madam Xu from afar. Deeply moved by this gesture, Madam Xu, accompanied by Wei Shao and Wei Yan, personally went to the main gate to reciprocate the people’s greetings. The grandeur and festivity of the occasion need not be elaborated further.
The hand-copied silk scroll of the Sutra of Immeasurable Life that Xiao Qiao presented as a birthday gift seemed to greatly please Madam Xu.
By this time, paper had been invented, but its quality was coarse and not durable. For formal books, bamboo slips and silk scrolls remained the primary mediums. Bamboo books were cumbersome; a single copy of the Sutra of Immeasurable Life would require a cart pulled by an ox to transport. Silk books were lightweight but expensive. Apart from the material cost, the copying process was painstaking, as a single mistake would render the entire silk sheet unusable, making it an extremely laborious task.
The scroll of the Sutra of Immeasurable Life that Xiao Qiao presented was elegantly bound with exquisite calligraphy. The content of the sutra resonated with Madam Xu’s interests. Upon learning that Xiao Qiao had personally transcribed it, she passed it around for nearby guests to admire. Among the guests was Gao Heng from Bohai, a renowned master of calligraphy and painting who had accompanied the Governor of Bohai to Yuyang for Madam Xu’s birthday celebration. Upon seeing the silk book’s calligraphy, he greatly admired it, praising its graceful and refined style, and its well-structured composition, and noting that it showed the makings of a master’s work.
Gao Heng, known as the “Crown of Bohai,” was a calligraphy master skilled in writing and painting, knowledgeable in epigraphy, and well-versed in music theory. With such high praise from him, the other guests naturally followed suit with their compliments. Madam Xu was delighted and personally handed the scroll to Maid Zhong, instructing her to store it carefully.
At noon that day, the Wei family hosted a grand banquet in the front hall, with guests as numerous as clouds. Coincidentally, among the Wei clan members was an uncle of Wei Shao who had died ten years ago. He had sustained multiple wounds while fighting alongside Wei Jing against Li Su, sacrificing himself to clear a path and protect the young emperor. He left behind a widow and an orphan, who received generous care from Madam Xu. Now that child had grown to adulthood, the same age as Wei Shao, married with his own family. A year ago, he had a son whose birthday coincidentally fell on the same day as Madam Xu’s, and today marked his first birthday.
Out of affection and to honor the child, Madam Xu had invited the child’s grandmother, Madam Zhang, a few days earlier to discuss the celebration of the child’s first birthday. She suggested bringing the child to join in the festivities, adding to the joyous atmosphere.
Although Madam Xu claimed it was to enhance the celebration, the child’s grandmother was a perceptive woman who understood this as Madam Xu’s way of showing favor and honor. How could she refuse? She happily returned home to make thorough preparations. By noon on the day of the celebration, with the hall full of guests, the child was brought out by his mother, adorned in splendid attire, and placed on a couch.
After the “zhuazhou” ceremony and the serving of longevity noodles, the birthday feast began.
“Zhuazhou” is a later term; at this time, it was called “testing the child.” The custom originated in the Jiangnan region and was gradually spreading to the North. Though the name differed, the essence was similar, embodying the elders’ expectations for the younger generation.
The child was chubby with a round face, dressed in new clothes, and placed on the couch by his mother, with a wet nurse nearby. Closest to him on the couch were placed books, a bow and arrow, and an official seal. Further away were pearls, shells, ivory, and rhinoceros horns. Beyond his reach were various foods and toys. After setting the child down, the wet nurse began to coax him to grab the nearby objects.
With so many wealthy and noble guests present, to ensure everything went smoothly, the child’s family had fed him well before arriving and repeatedly practiced having him grab the books and bow and arrow. At home, he had performed flawlessly. However, suddenly placed in this grand hall surrounded by unfamiliar faces, whether due to fright or post-meal drowsiness, the child sat motionless, ignoring the wet nurse’s encouragement. Seeing this, his mother hurriedly joined in trying to entice him. But the child remained still, appearing dazed and unmoving.
Madam Xu had initially acted out of goodwill, thinking the shared birthday was a rare connection and wanting to add prestige to the child’s celebration. She hadn’t anticipated the child’s stage fright, especially with a hall full of guests waiting for him to complete the ceremony before the feast could begin.
The atmosphere grew slightly awkward.
Madam Xu noticed the child’s mother’s anxious expression and the guests gradually ceased their chatter to stare at the immobile child on the couch. She began to regret suggesting this idea; what was meant as a kind gesture had dampened the mood. Seeing the child’s mother’s increasingly harsh tone due to anxiety, which only frightened the child more and brought him to the verge of tears, Madam Xu looked towards Maid Zhong standing beside her, about to signal her to find an excuse to remove the child. Suddenly, she heard a female voice behind her say with a smile, “Eyes empty of objects, heart full of rivers. Standing tall as a thousand-foot cliff, desire-free and unyielding. This child will grow to have a broad perspective and will not be mediocre.”
Madam Xu felt relieved. Turning around, she saw it was Xiao Qiao, who had been standing behind her. She hadn’t expected Xiao Qiao to resolve the awkward situation so timely and skillfully, instantly diffusing the tension without drawing attention.
The guests were initially startled but quickly caught on, nodding in agreement. The child’s mother finally relaxed, her face breaking into a smile as she hurriedly picked up the child and brought him before Madam Xu, bowing to wish her a happy birthday.
Madam Xu, beaming, asked Maid Zhong to bring the child to sit on her lap. Seeing how fair and chubby he was, and realizing he had indeed just been frightened earlier, she was quite taken with him. She ordered the feast to begin in the outer hall, then turned to look at Xiao Qiao, giving her a slight nod.
Though it was just a nod, Xiao Qiao could see a hint of approval in Madam Xu’s gaze, which immediately made her feel more at ease.
From the moment she first saw Wei Shao’s grandmother, Xiao Qiao felt that this old lady with only one good eye had an air of inscrutability about her.
If her attitude towards Xiao Qiao had been similar to that of Madam Zhu or Wei Shao, there would have been nothing to say. After all, marrying her was for the value of Yanzhou.
But Madam Xu was different.
Xiao Qiao had, of course, heard about Madam Xu’s past experiences in managing the household. Without a doubt, she was an extraordinary woman. This made Xiao Qiao even more puzzled by her decision to have Wei Shao marry her, the daughter of an enemy family.
However, it didn’t matter if she couldn’t understand; as long as Madam Xu treated her well.
Madam Xu’s treatment of her was indeed good, especially after witnessing how Wei Shao and his mother behaved. This old lady seemed like a living Bodhisattva with a halo of saintliness, making Xiao Qiao feel overwhelmed with favor.
But that was still just the normal attitude of an elder towards a junior; Xiao Qiao was self-aware enough to recognize this.
However, just now, things seemed to have changed slightly.
Because of her quick thinking in resolving the awkward situation, Xiao Qiao saw in Madam Xu’s approving glance that she now viewed her somewhat differently.
Was she not happy about this?
Of course, that was impossible!
She was very pleased.
To be honest, she still hadn’t figured out what to do five or ten years from now.
Following the trajectory of her previous life, Wei Shao was very likely to take severe action against her and the Qiao family.
Spring Maiden had previously advised her to serve Wei Shao with gentle care, which essentially meant seducing him to change her fate.
Spring Maiden was blindly confident in her, full of expectations, but truthfully, Xiao Qiao had no confidence in herself.
Her beauty might be able to captivate the hearts of most men in this world, but this Wei Shao seemed to be among the few who were immune.
He truly hated her, or rather, the Qiao family.
She couldn’t imagine how he would viciously insult her if she were to strip naked in front of him. This highly difficult task, which was very likely to result in humiliation, required careful consideration even if she were to lose her head tomorrow. Since one avenue was temporarily blocked, she could only focus on Madam Xu for now.
It seemed that her luck was quite good, with even the heavens helping her.
Xiao Qiao couldn’t help but grow fond of the chubby little boy in Madam Xu’s arms.
He was truly Auntie’s little lucky star!
As soon as the chubby boy was taken down from the platform where he was supposed to perform for the adults, it was as if a spell had been lifted. He immediately became lively, his round eyes darting around, looking utterly adorable. The women in the hall gathered around, competing to praise him and take turns holding him.
“You should hold him too,” Madam Xu suddenly said to Xiao Qiao with a smile.
It was customary at the time for women to take turns holding the child after the “testing the child” ceremony, especially those eager for offspring, as it was believed to bring good fortune for conceiving.
The other women giggled and turned to look at Wei Shao, who was greeting guests at the entrance of the hall.
He seemed to have noticed the commotion inside, appearing somewhat distracted, his eyes occasionally glancing at Xiao Qiao.
The chubby boy’s mother personally brought the child to Xiao Qiao.
Knowing Wei Shao was still there, Xiao Qiao glanced towards the entrance, catching his gaze.
Xiao Qiao’s face showed the shy smile befitting a new bride as she carefully took the chubby boy from the woman’s arms. After securing her hold, she playfully teased him.
The chubby boy obliged her, giggling, which made everyone around laugh as well.
“Madam Xu, by this time next year, you’ll be holding your great-grandson!” one woman cheerfully added to the festive atmosphere.
Xiao Qiao maintained a shy, silent demeanor as she returned the child. She couldn’t help but glance at Wei Shao again.
His expression seemed to show a hint of stiffness. Just then, someone called for him from the steps outside. He paused for a moment, then quickly turned and left.