Zhu Shi looked at her daughter, who had come to take breakfast with her — a rare occurrence of late — and said softly, “Are you really going? Why not wait until after the new year, when it isn’t so cold?”
“After the new year it’ll still be cold for three more months. Adding that to the time before the new year, it pushes the whole trip back by half a year. Your father and the others will be worried.” Hua Zhi gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s all right — these are roads I’ve traveled before. I’ll make sure everything is ready before I leave.”
“All the preparation in the world doesn’t stop the wind from blowing.” Zhu Shi lowered her head and dabbed at the corner of her eye. Her mother had been visiting more often lately, and through her she knew more about what was happening in the outside world than the others in the household. Knowing made her ache all the more — such a small person, and yet carrying so much on her shoulders. She truly did not know how she had endured it.
“When you’re out there, you must…”
Hua Zhi listened to her mother’s instructions with a warm smile, responding occasionally, not a trace of impatience even though none of it would actually be of any use on the road. This was the fullest extent of care her mother could give — she was excavating every last thing she knew and pouring it all out for her. This was enough.
Leaving her mother’s room, Hua Zhi made the rounds of each branch of the household, sitting for a while, receiving a few more words of familiar fussing, and collecting the letters and other small things they had prepared. Everyone was thoughtful about her comfort, and no one had packed anything large or cumbersome.
She was in the middle of making plans with her Fourth Aunt to pay calls together on the more distant branches of the family when Liu Xiang came in to report, “Young Miss, Mr. Yu requests an audience.”
Mr. Yu? “Yu Xiasheng?”
“Yes.”
Wu Shi covered her mouth with a smile. “Go and attend to your business — I’ll do the rounds on my own.”
“Thank you for the trouble, Fourth Aunt.” Hua Zhi rose, curious about Yu Xiasheng’s purpose for coming. She walked quickly.
Wu Shi watched her leave the courtyard, and the smile slowly faded from her face. “Make ready — we’re going out.”
She signaled the maids to go about their business, and Nanny Song came over to help her sit down, lowering her voice. “Why did you not mention that matter to the eldest young lady?”
“If it weren’t for my own mother sending word, I wouldn’t even have known that Zhi’er’s abilities had caught the Emperor’s eye. Do you think that’s a good thing? If it were, why would Zhi’er say not a word about it at home? If it were, why did the household feel so uneasy during that period?” Wu Shi gave a cold laugh. “Never mind that there may not even be a place for Zhi’er to intervene in court affairs — even if she truly had the ability, I would not raise the matter. I’ve seen it clearly enough now: whether it’s one’s maternal family or old friends — no one can be relied upon. I have made up my mind to follow the eldest young lady of the Hua family wholeheartedly. Whatever she asks of me, I will do. Others — I cannot concern myself with.”
“But that is still your maternal family. Even if you won’t think of yourself, you must think of your two sons.”
“They didn’t even care whether I lived or died — do you think they’ll care whether my sons live or die? I’ve stopped dreaming such dreams. Nanny, you’d do well to wake up too. By comparison, I trust Zhi’er far more to look after her own brothers properly.”
Nanny Song was struck silent. She could not find the words to speak on the Wu family’s behalf. It wasn’t that she necessarily sided with them — only that her mistress’s fortunes were bound to her own, and she naturally wanted to scheme in her mistress’s best interest. In her mind, even if things had turned sour, since the Wu family had now extended an olive branch, it was better to take hold of it. As a married-out daughter, how could one truly do without one’s maternal family?
Yet from the look of her mistress, she had indeed made up her mind — and what she had said made sense, too. The eldest young lady would always be a more reliable anchor than anyone else.
Wu Shi changed into her outer coat for going out, and said as she did so, “Keep this buried in your belly — not half a word of it before Zhi’er. She’s about to head north. Don’t bother her with something so trivial.”
“Yes.” Nanny Song agreed hastily, then hesitated a moment before adding, “I’ve noticed that over the past few days, people from every branch of the household have been moving about. I’m afraid we’re not the only ones caught up in this matter.”
“Anyone with sense won’t bring it up.” Wu Shi thought for a moment, then said, “I’ll go and sit with the sisters-in-law for a bit — I should warn them. Zhi’er has worked too hard to build things to where they are. We cannot be the ones to disrupt it.”
“That’s exactly right.”
Hua Zhi, who had no idea she was being watched from every direction by various forces, came to meet Yu Xiasheng. This man, who had been so forthright the last time they met, was now visibly evasive in manner.
Hua Zhi did not know what had happened, and her heart sank slightly.
After exchanging pleasantries, Hua Zhi came directly to the point. “Mr. Yu, did you have something important to discuss today?”
“Eldest Young Lady, I… I…”
“Yes?”
Afraid of making a poor impression, Yu Xiasheng’s anxiety got the better of him and the words burst out: “I have come to propose a marriage.”
A marriage proposal? Hua Zhi found herself uncharacteristically slow to respond. She exchanged a glance with Nanny Su, who had come back to serve at her side, and the name of one person surfaced in her mind.
She collected herself, yet did not name that person — instead she asked, “Which of my younger sisters is Mr. Yu seeking for?”
“The Third Young Lady of the Hua family.” Now that the matter was stated plainly, Yu Xiasheng seemed to relax a little, his face reddening as he said, “I wish to take the Third Young Lady as my wife.”
It truly was her! Hua Zhi now regarded Yu Xiasheng with entirely different eyes. Helping her younger sister find a match was not the same as looking at any other man. Her very first question was direct: “Mr. Yu, do you have any concubines or chamber maids?”
“None whatsoever.” Yu Xiasheng volunteered everything about himself. “I am nineteen this year. Both my parents are living. I have one younger brother and one younger sister at home. My grandfather once served as a regional official, but retired due to illness. I… have a steady income, and I will not let the Third Young Lady suffer hardship.”
Hua Zhi was well satisfied with Yu Xiasheng’s character, but if the family circumstances were too complicated, she would not entertain the notion. Marriage — especially in this era — had never been a matter for two people alone; it was a matter of families and clans. In her view, choosing a decent household was far more important than choosing a wealthy one.
“Was no match arranged for you by your family?”
“No. My grandfather was afraid it would distract me, and would not allow my parents to do anything that might take my attention away.”
“And how do you know they would be satisfied with Hua Ling?”
“Grandfather would certainly be satisfied — I once heard him praise the Hua family’s conduct and character. My parents would have no objection.”
It seemed promising. Hua Zhi gave a small nod — still, “Marriage is a matter requiring careful consideration. Besides, my Third Sister has not yet come out of mourning. Mr. Yu, why not write home and consult fully with your family first, and speak of other matters after that?”
Yu Xiasheng could only agree. He knew the eldest young lady was still uncertain of him — which showed all the more clearly that she was acting in the Third Young Lady’s best interests, and would not lightly marry her off because of some external consideration.
He already had an advantage over others, yet he could not resist adding a few words on his own behalf. “Before I came to sit for the examinations, my grandfather said that if I could place in the secondary list, he would bring the whole family to the capital to spend the new year, then return home after next spring’s examination. I had already written to him, and they may well be on the road to the capital already. When the time comes, I will ask my mother to call — I hope the eldest young lady will not turn her away at the door.”
Hua Zhi laughed despite herself — he truly was in earnest about this. “After the eleventh month, then we shall speak of it.”
This was as good as a soft promise. Yu Xiasheng’s heart leapt with joy, and he quickly agreed.