There are two ways to rapidly deepen a friendship: sharing a common enemy, and sharing a common secret.
Ever since that night when Minglan was dragged against her will into listening to a scene out of the Western Chamber, Rulan’s warmth toward her had clearly grown considerably. She would often take hold of Minglan to eat together, do handiwork together, practice calligraphy together, and had even expressed a desire to sleep together — this last item, Minglan firmly refused.
Minglan gave Rulan a solemn warning: having feelings was perfectly fine, and having someone come to propose in the proper manner was the right and honorable way. But there were to be absolutely no more secret meetings. Otherwise, she would immediately go and expose everything. Rulan agreed in a single breath, “Don’t worry. Jing gege needs to concentrate on preparing for the Spring Examination — he has no spare time to come out.”
“And if he did have spare time, would you go to see him?” Minglan found this utterly incomprehensible. So Rulan was a true devotee of love.
Rulan’s face bloomed a lovely red, yet she was full of pride, “A single day without seeing one’s beloved feels like an entire autumn apart, you know.”
Love truly was a powerful force — Rulan, who couldn’t even recite a four-character idiom properly, had now started dropping literary allusions. Minglan felt a pang of petty envy and immediately quipped back, “Then you had better pray to every god and spirit that he passes the Spring Examination on his first attempt. Otherwise, you’ll really have to wait out another ‘autumn.'”
The consequence of that remark was that Rulan threw herself into religious devotion with enormous enthusiasm. Not only did she actively join Wang Shi’s incense-burning and prayer sessions, she also made frequent visits to the old lady’s Buddhist hall — so often that the old lady, who had wanted to pray alone, was forced to schedule her visits in advance.
A few days after the Autumn Examination, the results were posted. The Sheng family’s fortunes were in excellent alignment this season. Not only did Changfeng and Li Yu both pass, but four out of the five scholars staying in the outer lodgings also made the cut. With both a son and a prospective son-in-law showing such promise, Sheng Hong was greatly pleased.
It should be mentioned that ever since Lin Yiniang had been sent away to the estate, the management of Changfeng’s daily life had been taken out of his own hands. Wang Shi insisted that maidservants should be pretty — the prettier the better. Sheng Hong suspected Wang Shi had some ulterior motive. Hai Shi felt it was better to endure hardship first and enjoy comfort later. Changbai believed everything should come down to personal discipline. After the four of them went through a democratic round of consultation, they agreed on a reward system for Changfeng: his privileges would be distributed based on his academic performance.
Minglan, upon hearing this, clapped her hands in approval. Literary families were indeed more intelligent than hereditary noble ones. What good was just beating the boy?! There had to be real, concrete stakes. Back then, if Jia Zheng had done the same with Baoyu — withheld Xiren and Qingwen from his company, kept him from seeing Baochai and Daiyu, and surrounded him only with stern-faced matrons like Li mama — Baoyu would have been hitting the books in no time!
Pressure breeds motivation. Changfeng rallied his efforts, and this time duly received back a gentle and charming young maidservant as his reward. Word had it that if he could pass the Spring Examination as well, his right to draw a fixed allowance from the household accounts would be restored. For this reason, Elder Brother Changfeng continued to strive onward.
Molan was also quite pleased and came back to the family home to show off a little, mainly encouraging Changfeng to keep at it and reach new heights. Wang Shi, for her part, had begun to worry. A talented concubine-born son was not inherently problematic — but what was to be done with a talented concubine-born son who had had conflicts with his stepmother?
“The imperial court holds its talent selection examinations every year. A raised scholar may be appointed to an official post, but most positions of rank require a formally conferred degree. In any given examination cycle, the number of degrees conferred ranges from as many as four hundred to as few as forty. After that, there are still countless further hurdles of accumulated experience and gradual promotion through the lower ranks — during all of which time, the family’s support and maneuvering play no small role. Mother need have no concern.” With a barrage of formidable figures and data, Hai Shi thoroughly overwhelmed Wang Shi.
Wang Shi was convinced.
Minglan watched from the sidelines and found the old lady’s temperament rather interesting. When the old lady herself had been a wife, she had been stubborn beyond all stubbornness — rigid to the point of not yielding even a fraction. But when it came to Minglan’s marriage, she became remarkably flexible and accommodating, her mind working at a surprisingly quick and adaptable pace.
The Spring Examination was in the second month of the new year. Li Yu, in order to concentrate on his studies, simply took up residence at Changwu’s home, coming by from time to time to seek Changbai’s guidance on the examination’s chapter requirements. And so, every time Li Yu came to pay his respects to the old lady, she received him with a face full of kindly warmth, asking him all manner of things and fussing over his well-being. Li Yu, for his part, cooperated admirably, taking the old lady’s hand with natural ease, modestly lowering his eyes and casting them sideways in a manner rather like a shy new daughter-in-law.
But this fellow’s mind was clearly perfectly sharp. He could detect Minglan’s silhouette through a folding screen, and while conversing with the old lady, could still find the gaps to throw meaningful looks in the direction of the screen.
“Grandmother! Look, look — he keeps stealing glances at me!” The moment Li Yu was gone, Minglan ran out from behind the folding screen and tugged at the old lady’s sleeve in complaint. “That man is up to no good!”
The old lady leisurely took a sip of tea and replied, “When a person is young, they cherish their parents. When they come of age and know attraction, they yearn for a beautiful companion — it is only human nature.” She set her teacup lid down gently and looked at Minglan, “Your Auntie Yun has made inquiries. The Li family’s reputation is clean and upright. Young Yu does not yet have any personal maids in his room. When he was studying in Songshan, he was always well-behaved and never fell in with those classmates who fancied themselves dashing romantics.”
“And so?”
“Nothing in particular. This old woman is just idle, asking around.”
Just then, a calling card arrived from the He family — the He family’s old madam was extending an invitation to come taste the freshly picked silver sprout tea. The old lady received it with a noncommittal arch of her brows, and Minglan pursed her lips. On this visit to the He residence, the weather had cooled — but the spirits of both grandmother and granddaughter had cooled as well. They sat side by side in the carriage like two statues, a small inlaid-lacquer table separating them, without a word.
Upon arriving at the He residence and going straight through to the main inner courtyard, He family’s second daughter-in-law was seated beside the He family’s old madam at the place of honor. The moment Sheng Lao entered, the second daughter-in-law rose to welcome the Sheng grandmother and granddaughter inside. Sheng Lao had barely taken her seat when she glanced around and said wryly, “Where’s the tea? You said you were inviting me for tea, did you not?” The He family’s old madam was also in a rather unhappy mood these days, and met her with an equally wry look in return, “What’s the rush? Fresh tea has to be brewed fresh before it’s any good — wait a moment. I’ve also packed several packets for you to take home.”
The two elderly friends glared at each other for a spell, and then both found themselves privately amused. With the He family’s second daughter-in-law interjecting a few jokes to smooth things over, the atmosphere thawed. The second daughter-in-law offered her apologies, saw to it that tea and refreshments were served to both parties, and then excused herself. The two old ladies had barely exchanged a few words before the conversation turned to He family Auntie. The He family’s old madam sighed, “Ever since… that day, she has not been free of illness. She lies in bed day after day.” Sheng Lao also let out a sigh.
At this moment, a maidservant came in and reported that He family Auntie was confined to bed and inconvenienced from receiving guests, and didn’t wish to trouble the elderly to move about — but that she missed Minglan very much and would like Minglan to come visit her for a chat. Sheng Lao glanced at the He family’s old madam, who shook her head with a look of helpless resignation. Then she looked at Minglan, who gave a calm and composed nod. Sheng Lao considered for a moment, then gave her leave to go.
After Minglan left following the maidservant, Sheng Lao’s expression immediately darkened. She turned to the He family’s old madam and said directly, “What exactly are your intentions? Let me say this first — if you think to wrong my Minglan in any way, that door is closed!”
The He family’s old madam looked entirely drained of energy and sighed, “After all these decades, don’t you know me by now? I have no patience for this sort of mess. Yes, relatives ought to help one another — but we’ve already given silver, found lodgings, and promised to help the Cao family’s sons establish themselves in the future. What more can be expected? The He family is the He family, and the Cao family is the Cao family. Are we to cover all of the Cao family’s eating, drinking, housing, and daily expenses before they’d consider that adequate?” The He family’s old madam grew a little agitated, caught her breath, and then continued, “Besides, if Cao family’s uncle had been exiled to Liangzhou because of an unjust accusation — wrongly implicated — then I would have nothing to say. But he…” She gave a cold huff. “He was certainly quick enough to enjoy the silver he embezzled!”
The two of them had become close friends precisely because they were of the same nature — both frank and direct, not given to circling around things. Hearing these words, Sheng Lao felt much lighter at heart. She took the He family’s old madam’s hand and said gently, “Old sister, I know you are not that kind of person. It’s just… ah, the hardships I endured myself — I truly cannot bear to see Minglan go through them again.”
The He family’s old madam thought of her own difficult years in youth, and sorrow came over her as well, “How could I not understand your meaning — what easy days have I had in all these decades? And I don’t mean to boast, but my He Hong — in looks, talent, and capability, there is truly nothing to find fault with. From a young age he set out on his own and traveled north and south, weathering many experiences alongside my maternal uncle’s family, and the silver he has steadily brought home over these years is no small sum. He knows how to be considerate and is devoted and attentive. Ever since the year I mentioned Minglan to him, he has waited faithfully, keeping his focus entirely on her — let alone outside entertainments, he doesn’t even converse freely with the maids in the house. And Minglan herself — there’s nothing to fault there either. I’ve often thought, if these two children could live a good life together, it would truly be a match made by Heaven itself. What a beautiful thing that would be. But who could have expected…” The He family’s old madam’s voice trailed off. “Well, even if she can’t become my granddaughter-in-law, I’m fond of that child and wish her well.”
The He family’s old madam let out a long, heavy sigh. Sheng Lao too lamented that in this world, truly, nothing can be perfect in every way — there will always be some shortcoming to complete the whole. She followed with a long sigh of her own.
…
But if one were to speak of sighing, He family Auntie had perhaps sighed more than anyone in these recent days. The very day the examination results were posted, the He family’s old madam had said to her plainly and without ceremony, “Do you think there’s only your son in the whole world for the Sheng girls to marry? Just wait and see — all those young men staying in the Sheng guest lodgings are from families of comparable standing, with talent to match. Any one of them could make a perfectly acceptable Sheng son-in-law!”
He family Auntie was full of unease, fearing a good match might be lost and her son’s future ruined. Her mother-in-law refused to relent, and her own sister wept and wailed without end. She had never been a decisive person to begin with. After being worn down for days on end, she thought the matter over from every angle and decided she needed to speak with Minglan first.
“Good child, Hong told me everything you said. Please don’t blame him — when all is said and done, it’s all my fault!” He family Auntie lay half-propped on the bed, a cloth wrapped around her head, her complexion sallow, dark shadows heavy beneath her eyes, her cheeks sunken deeply in. She was haggard beyond recognition. “But… Jing’er — she has no other way out. I’ve always known you’re a good-natured child. Please, just take pity on her and let her be accepted!”
Minglan had known it would come to this before she arrived, and was not caught off guard. She turned her head and looked at He Hong, who was standing at the foot of the bed. His eyes were full of apology as they fixed on her. She then looked to the right, where Cao Yima was sitting across from the bed, Cao Jinxiu standing beside her, mother and daughter both red-eyed and ashen-faced.
Cao Yima, this time, had not applied powder or rouge, making her complexion look even darker and rougher. Seeing that Minglan had not responded, she too came over and took Minglan’s hand, bending herself low to plead with sorrowful urgency, “Good young lady, I know your heart is not at ease. But my Jing’er truly has no other way. In her current state, how could she marry anyone else? We only beg that He Hong, out of kinship, might offer her some protection and care.”
On and on it went — all about how pitiable Cao Jinxiu was, how she would know her place, how she absolutely would not compete with Minglan for affection, and the like. Minglan listened to every word without saying a single thing in response. At last, when He family Auntie pressed her, Minglan said mildly, “That day, Minglan was speaking out of turn, and when I returned home, Grandmother reprimanded me. It was nothing more than an elder’s casual talk — it doesn’t really count for anything. What does it matter to me whom Elder Brother He chooses to take into the household?”
He family Auntie and He Hong were both startled at once. He family Auntie suddenly recalled the He family old madam’s words, and her heart began to pound erratically. She sank softly back against the headboard. He Hong, too, was thrown into a panic, and he looked at Minglan helplessly.
Cao Yima’s face turned ugly with anger. She said bitterly, “Well said! In the natural order of things, it’s the mother-in-law who makes decisions about choosing a daughter-in-law — whatever the mother-in-law says, goes! It is common sense for a man to have a wife and several concubines. It’s my sister who has been too lenient, letting outsiders behave without a shred of gratitude! Once she enters the house, surely you don’t expect He Hong to keep himself to just one woman for the rest of his life?!”
Minglan listened pleasantly, and then said slowly, “What the Cao family says is entirely reasonable, and the circumstances are truly deserving of sympathy. But there are a few things Minglan does not understand — may I ask to be enlightened on these points?”
Cao Yima waved her hand irritably, and Minglan continued, “First: if all is as the Cao family says, then going forward, will Auntie He’s daughter-in-law treat you as an aunt — or as the mother of a concubine? If merely the mother of a concubine, then when the mistress of the house is in a good mood, she might invite you in to see your daughter and toss you a few coins. If the mistress of the house is in a bad mood, she is perfectly within her rights to refuse to let you past the gate.”
At these words, Cao Yima’s expression shifted sharply, and He family Auntie was also taken aback. When it came to matters of status and standing, not even the slightest difference could be tolerated — and the distinction here was enormous.
Minglan looked at the two of them with leisurely composure and smiled lightly, “Second: the character for ‘concubine’ is composed of ‘standing’ on top and ‘woman’ below, combined to mean a woman who stands in service — half a bondservant who waits upon the master and mistress. If the Cao family’s young cousin were to become a concubine, would the future mistress of the He household regard her as a maidservant-concubine to be called upon and dismissed at will — or as a cherished and beloved cousin?”
Cao Yima stared at Minglan’s relaxed expression, hatred making her grind her teeth, “Among concubines, there are also favored ones! I don’t believe it — with my sister there, with He Hong there, who would dare lay a finger on my daughter?!”
Minglan gave a soft laugh, but the smile never reached her eyes, “What the Cao family says is true — which brings us to the crux of the matter. First: no matter how favored, a concubine is still a concubine, and can never exceed the standing of the official mistress. He Hong may speak a few words more or glance a little more often — entirely as he sees fit. There will be no aunt arriving to point fingers and question whether he has been cold or neglectful or insufficiently attentive. Yet as things stand now, with He family Auntie protecting from above and an auntie guarding from below… He Hong, your future wife is going to have a very difficult time of it!”
He Hong’s face was deeply unpleasant. His eyes fixed steadily on Minglan. She turned her gaze away from him — she had said all she had to say. Her passion was not limitless. For the same words repeated over and over, she had spent a great deal of her emotion and energy at the Peach Grove last time. Both feelings and physical reserves were finite — better to conserve them.
Minglan turned to He family Auntie with a solemn expression and said gravely, “Auntie, you have just heard what the Cao family said. The Cao family’s young cousin repeatedly insists she wishes to become a concubine — and yet, has there ever been such a well-protected and watched-over concubine as this? In the end, you will certainly need to take on a proper daughter-in-law. Have you ever considered how the relationships between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, husband and wife, and legitimate versus concubine-born children would work out under these circumstances?!”
Even someone as simple-minded as He family Auntie understood this. Cao Yima erupted with fury, leaping to her feet, pointing her finger at Minglan and screaming, “You wretched little girl — why don’t you just say outright that my Jing’er entering the household would bring chaos and ruin to everything! Just because you have a good family background, you little hussy, you dare…”
“Auntie!”
He Hong suddenly bellowed with full force, cutting off Cao Yima’s shrieks. The veins stood out on his temple, his eyes blazing with fury. Cao Yima was also startled and stood clutching her chest. Cao Jinxiu’s tears brimmed over and streamed freely down her face, and she choked out, “Cousin… please don’t blame my mother. It’s all my fault… It would have been better if I had died in Liangzhou. I should never have come back — making things so difficult for you, making things difficult for Auntie…” As she spoke, Cao Jinxiu collapsed to her knees, knocking her head against the floor in prostration, weeping as though her heart would break. Cao Yima let out a wail of anguish and threw herself over her daughter, crying out to the heavens, “My poor child! It’s all your father’s and my fault — we have ruined you. We thought that once we returned to the capital, your cousin would look after you. Who could have known times would change, and people would go off chasing a better perch… and leave you to live or die on your own! My child, let’s both die together — that wicked aunt of yours and that heartless cousin have driven us to this!”
Mother and daughter wailed together in great, heaving sobs. He family Auntie’s face was white as chalk, and she crumpled limply against the bed, unable to stir. Minglan’s expression was as still as deep water as she stepped quietly to one side.
He Hong clenched his fists with fury, his face dark as red lacquer. Since returning to the capital, the Cao family had been coming to find him once a day: one day it was Cao Yima who was unwell, the next it was Cao Jinxiu who had fainted. They seemed to want nothing less than to keep He Hong himself installed in the Cao household at all times — and at the slightest provocation they would weep and wail, calling Heaven and Earth to witness their grievances. An ordinary man would likely have been moved by now. But He Hong was himself a physician — he understood things more clearly than most. His aunt and cousin were suffering from nothing more than pent-up emotion and bodily weakness.
He turned to look at his mother, lying helplessly ill on the bed. Then he looked at Cao Yima, still carrying on with her weeping and wailing. Abruptly, a surge of indignation rose in his chest. His family had done so much for the Cao family — and now, the moment he showed even a hint of reluctance, they were denouncing his mother as heartless and cruel, hurling tears and sobs like weapons. By what logic was this just?!
While the noise was still at its height, a maidservant came in from outside to announce that both the He family’s old madam and Sheng Lao had arrived.
He family Auntie struggled to rise and pay her respects. Sheng Lao promptly held her down with both hands, offering reassurances and urging her to rest quietly.
The He family’s old madam’s gaze swept over the Cao mother and daughter crumpled on the floor, and her expression grew displeased. She snapped at the maidservants outside, “Still just standing there?! Are you all dead?! Hurry and help the lady up — have you no sense of propriety?!”
Whether this was directed at the maidservants for lacking sense, or a pointed rebuke aimed at Cao Yima, was unclear. Cao Yima flushed, and slowly pulled herself up off the floor, covering her face. Cao Jinxiu dared not weep aloud anymore, and only hiccupped with her residual sobs.
Sheng Lao seemed as though she had seen nothing whatsoever, and simply pulled her granddaughter to her side. She smiled and said, “What’s all this about — it sounds quite lively in here.”
Minglan went over obediently, and said in a completely natural and innocent tone, “Just now, the Cao family was suggesting that the young cousin be taken as a concubine by Elder Brother He. It doesn’t concern your granddaughter, of course, but I did happen to overhear a bit of it.”
Sheng Lao shot Minglan a look, then turned to the He family’s old madam and said, “Look at this granddaughter of mine — she’s been coming to your home to play since she was small, and doesn’t even treat herself as an outsider anymore. She goes listening in on things like this! Wouldn’t it be laughable if word got out!”
“Laughable? Not at all — I did have some thoughts toward your Minglan.” The He family’s old madam smiled broadly. “But they were just thoughts. Not a single calling card, matchmaker, or betrothal gift has been exchanged.”
Sheng Lao gave the He family’s old madam a gentle pat, and said with a feigned reproach, “Old sister is getting more and more improper with age — marriage is such a serious affair, and you speak of it so carelessly!” Then, turning to Cao Yima with a smile, “Please don’t take offense, my lady — old sister and I have known each other since girlhood and have always spoken carelessly. Please don’t take it seriously.”
Cao Yima gave an awkward smile and didn’t know what to say in response. She glanced at He Hong standing nearby — lost as though his soul had gone somewhere else, staring fixedly at Minglan — and a wave of resentment surged in her chest. She was just about to say something cutting, when Sheng Lao spoke again.
“…Come to think of it, your family has quite a lot to be grateful for. After the amnesty, you were able to return to the capital, and you have relatives here looking after you.” Sheng Lao said these words in an unhurried, casual tone, her face a picture of warm concern.
But Cao Yima’s heart sank heavily. These words of Sheng Lao’s cut straight to the bone. Families of convicted officials, as a general rule, were sent back to their place of origin even after an amnesty — not to the capital. Former official households that had quietly slipped back to the capital were not unheard of, but if anyone reported them, they would face punishment all over again: fines at the lightest, corporal punishment at the worst.
The He family’s old madam leaned in close and said with a smile, “There you go, talking too much again. The Cao family’s good fortune comes from their ancestors’ accumulated virtue — naturally, in time, their luck will turn and things will go smoothly from here on.”
Sheng Lao nodded and said, “Indeed so. Accumulate more virtue, and Heaven will always protect you.”
The two old ladies spoke in perfect harmony with one another, and Cao Yima, a sharp-minded woman, could hardly fail to grasp the message — which was: whether or not the matter of Cao Jinxiu came to anything, and whoever He Hong eventually married, it had nothing to do with the Sheng family’s young lady. If she dared go outside making noise about it, the Sheng family had ways of keeping it in check. Besides, with no evidence to speak of — no token exchanged, no matchmaker involved — the Cao family could say whatever they liked outside, and it would only bring trouble back on themselves.
Cao Yima shut her mouth in silent resentment. It seemed she had better watch what she said going forward. But then, a sudden thought occurred to her — looking at the way Sheng Lao was conducting herself, could it be that she no longer wished to form a match with the He family? An involuntary flicker of hope stirred in Cao Yima’s heart.
“Alright, that’s enough — the tea is done, the packages are collected, and I’ve paid a visit to your daughter-in-law. We ought to be going.” Sheng Lao, judging that things had run their course, moved to take Minglan and leave. The He family’s old madam rose smiling to see the guests off.
— “Auntie!” A great shout rang out.
Everyone turned at once. There stood He Hong, rigid and upright, his jaw clenched as though he had made a momentous decision at great cost. He stared straight at Cao Yima and Cao Jinxiu, and said in a controlled, low voice, “Auntie, I will absolutely not take my cousin as a concubine! From childhood I regarded her as my own younger sister — and I will continue to do so!”
He Hong’s eyes were red. Cao Yima crumpled to the floor in collapse. Cao Jinxiu stared at him with disbelief, her face the grey pallor of someone already dead. The He family’s old madam and Sheng Lao exchanged a quiet, satisfied smile.
But Minglan stood quietly in the doorway. Was this… a victory? Why did she not feel even the slightest bit happy? When Sima Xiangru finally turned back to look at Zhuo Wenjun, did she throw her arms open in welcome? She didn’t even pound on him once or make him kneel on a washboard?! This feeling was suffocating.