In the third lunar month of spring, as the first auspicious day of the upper third approached, as the (acting) local official, Cheng Zhi needed to host the purification ritual for the common people—that is, leading the people to the riverside to splash water and bathe, removing the previous year’s ill fortune and gloom.

As for the female family members of prominent families, though they wouldn’t actually strip naked for outdoor activities, they would still dress much more lightly and use curtains to circle around and block the view. Lou Yao stammered asking Shaoshang whether she could splash a ladle of water on him that day as a blessing.

Shaoshang smiled cheerfully: “Sure. But that day I’ll be wearing a side-baring襜褕. What will you wear?” This body’s two collarbones were as delicate as butterfly wings—super beautiful, okay?

Young master Lou’s face immediately turned red as soy sauce braised meat. Not knowing what he’d imagined, he covered his nose and ran off.

Unfortunately, the day before the Shangsi Festival, Old Man Cheng and Director Xiao descended from the heavens. Strictly speaking, the couple arrived at Hua County one after the other, half a day apart. Now, forget about Shaoshang exposing her collarbones—even her words and actions needed to be regulated.

Cheng Shi had agreed to the marriage very readily, but afterward, upon reflection, inexplicably felt a sour taste at the root of his tongue. After the pacification work was completely finished, when leading the army back to the capital and passing through Dongjun, he brought a team of guards to gallop urgently to Hua County to see his daughter and incidentally examine his future son-in-law.

Lady Xiao had also been caught completely off guard by this marriage.

First, the second lady of the Lou family had someone come to propose marriage for Shaoshang. Before she could calm her shock, she received an earnest marriage request letter sent from Qing Province by Lou Yao’s father (actually this letter was originally addressed to Cheng Shi; when writing it, Lou Yao’s father didn’t know his future in-law was nearby). Lady Xiao had just begun seriously considering the feasibility of marriage alliance with the Lou family when she received her husband’s urgent letter saying he’d already agreed to this marriage and even exchanged tokens with Lord Lou.

Lady Xiao was annoyed for a while but was too lazy to bother with the little calculations in her husband’s heart. She simply set out for Hua County to inquire of Cheng Zhi and his wife in person, and incidentally take her daughter back to the capital.

“Whenever it concerns Niaoniao’s matters, your elder brother treats me like a thief to guard against.” Lady Xiao was not without self-mockery.

Sang Shi smiled: “What did I tell you back then? Don’t be too excessive with Shaoshang, or be careful the backlash will be severe.” After laughing, she asked if everything at home was well.

Lady Xiao said: “Granny Hu is accompanying Madam Jun in pulling up all the flowers and plants in the back garden—right now they’re discussing what grain seeds to plant! I see her spirits are actually better than before. Yangyang is still learning to manage household affairs. Her temperament has matured considerably, and she even dares to give people cold looks now.”

“So what do you think of Shaoshang now?” Sang Shi smiled radiantly.

Lady Xiao pondered, then closed her eyes and sighed: “You’ve raised her very well… better than I did.”

After several months apart, her daughter not only had a graceful and well-proportioned figure with bright eyes and white teeth, but the hostile aura that had previously condensed between her brows had completely dissipated. The way she looked at people was no longer gloomy and withdrawn as before, but rather revealed goodwill and mischief. Probably having experienced and witnessed much, the girl now possessed an open and natural demeanor throughout her being. Her refined manners revealed a vigorous and innocent radiance that made people happy to behold her.

Sang Shi looked around left and right, showing off: “Look, I even had Shaoshang draw diagrams to renovate this place!”

Following Sang Shi’s gaze, Lady Xiao looked around. This inner room was somehow arranged so that inside it was warm but not stuffy, and the light was bright with transparent air circulation.

“A while ago, Shaoshang even dug me a bathing stove. Connected to the large wooden tub she had people newly hoop together, no matter how cold the weather, I can soak in it. From laying bricks to channeling water, it was all her idea—simple and money-saving. Not one craftsman wasn’t impressed.”

Lady Xiao sighed lightly.

Her late birth mother, even after bearing seven sons and one daughter, still had a waist like a bending willow, a form like a maiden, and a delicate, pure countenance. No matter how much warfare, famine, family ruin, and death occurred outside, none of it could disturb her peaceful enjoyment of wealth and honor. Now that Shaoshang had grown considerably, her appearance came from almost the same mold as her birth mother, yet conversely she seemed increasingly unlike her.

The county office’s inner quarters weren’t large. From outside faintly came Cheng Shi’s resonant scolding and the girl’s annoyed voice, interspersed with Cheng Zhi’s gleeful laughter. Hearing this, both sisters-in-law found it amusing.

Lady Xiao said with some worry: “A’Yao is also the youngest son pampered and raised by the Lou family. Your elder brother shouldn’t be too heavy-handed!”

Sang Shi smiled: “Though A’Yao is young, he can still handle bow, horse, blade, and sword—he’s not just an embroidered pillow. Don’t worry! Moreover, Shaoshang is there! Elder Brother is just trying to scare him… By the way, speaking of which, what does sister-in-law think of this marriage?”

Lady Xiao said helplessly: “They’ve already exchanged tokens—what else can be done!”

Sang Shi heard the displeasure in her tone and said soothingly: “Honestly, if this marriage hadn’t been agreed to in one breath by elder brother but was instead left for sister-in-law to handle, what would you have done?”

Lady Xiao was silent for a moment, then said frankly: “I won’t hide it from you. That day when the Lou family had someone come to inquire about the marriage, I truly never would have dreamed it. Alas, Shaoshang is rebellious and unruly, and her reputation in the capital isn’t necessarily good. Even if A’Yao really liked her, I thought Lady Lou would also hesitate, yet who knew…” She shook her head. “So fast!”

Sang Shi smiled: “Now that He Zhaojun has married off to Bing Province, A’Yao’s mother is losing face. If they delayed any longer, He Zhaojun’s child would probably be born already. How could they not be quick!”

Lady Xiao nodded, then said hesitantly: “Tell me, Shaoshang is marrying so well—if in the future Yangyang’s in-laws don’t have as high a family standing as the Lou family, will the Ge family feel resentful…?”

“You’re at it again!” Sang Shi forcefully set down her wine cup. “I told you before—you can’t raise eagles and sparrows the same way! With Niaoniao’s appearance and temperament, she can’t be concealed!”

She thought to herself that Lady Xiao still didn’t know about Ling Buyi, otherwise there’d be even more trouble. “Yangyang has her own good qualities and will also have a beautiful marriage match in the future. You yourself also said before—what does high or low family standing have to do with whether life is good or not! What, Niaoniao can marry down and then peacefully live her days, but Yangyang can’t?”

Lady Xiao actually wasn’t angry. After sighing, she spoke in a slow tone: “Actually, I’ve also come around now. Many things won’t be as I wish them to be. In his letter, Lord Lou said that initially he also hesitated and sent people to inquire. By coincidence, they saw your group—the injured injured, the sick sick—hobbling along in carriages toward Hua County. Along the way, people and horses were exhausted, many in dire straits, yet the entire massive convoy was being managed by her, one small young woman…”

Sang Shi recalled how at that time her leg was injured and her husband was crying and regretting, curled up in the carriage absolutely refusing to come out.

She couldn’t help but blush.

“Lord Lou said that regardless of what rumors circulated in the capital, what his people saw and heard about were all Shaoshang’s good qualities—responsible, courageous, filial to her aunt, considerate of the orphaned family members of Old Master Cheng’s household, intelligent and experienced, and possessing an ardent heart that pitied the weak and sympathized with orphans. Lord Lou also said that good or bad temper is just a minor detail. Shaoshang is still young—she can be slowly taught in the future.” Lady Xiao continued.

Sang Shi laughed: “Oh my, who would have thought A’Yao’s father was so magnanimous and amiable? Shaoshang will be blessed in the future.”

Lady Xiao gave a bitter smile, saying with no small desolation: “I, her own mother, didn’t know she had so many good qualities, yet Lord Lou, a stranger, could see them. Shunhua, tell me—was I wrong?”

Seeing her usually firm and self-confident sister-in-law now looking so dejected and self-doubting, Sang Shi’s heart softened involuntarily. She consoled: “Shaoshang still has much to learn. Just the one thing of ‘acting on her own initiative, relying on her own abilities’ is enough to scare her uncle and me into cold sweats! You don’t know—previously Shaoshang even wanted to open a kiln and fire bricks herself! It scared me to death. Water and fire are merciless. If anything went wrong and the kiln exploded or bricks burst, burning or scalding her face or body, what would we do?!” She patted her chest, still feeling lingering fear thinking about it now.

Lady Xiao laughed despite herself: “When you advised her, she still listened. But now when I speak, she also has to be willing to listen!”

Sang Shi said lightly: “…This child will only listen to those who treat her well.”

Lady Xiao was silent.

Cheng Shi had slipped out to make things difficult for (crossed out, examine) his future son-in-law. With his daughter standing by glaring with wide eyes, besides archery and saber on horseback where they symbolically sparred a bit, he couldn’t show off any of his signature moves like tossing stone locks.

“Father, what are you doing? Even if you examine A’Yao and find him lacking, you can’t get the token back from Uncle Lou, can you?” Shaoshang said with hands on hips, suppressing a smile. “Father, let me tell you a supreme truth. Before a marriage is set, you should investigate the other party’s shortcomings more. Once the marriage is set, you should look at the other party’s good points more—that’s how to have a good life!”

Old Man Cheng was also an old veteran—how could he be stumped by his daughter? Seeing Lou Yao had already been helped down by servants to apply medicine, he smiled: “What do you know at your young age? I’m testing his martial prowess for you. It’s better if your husband is a bit weaker—in the future when you quarrel, you can exchange a few blows with him, so when father and brothers come to rescue you, we won’t see you with a bruised nose and swollen face!”

Shaoshang was speechless with anger and shouted: “Father, can you wish me well for once!” If he dared commit domestic violence against her, even if he borrowed ten times the courage?!

Since the marriage was set, Shaoshang couldn’t be allowed to continue having fun outside. The礼数 procedures that should be followed needed to be followed, and the etiquette routines and basic prominent family genealogies needed urgent training.

That very night, Lady Xiao instructed household servants to pack Shaoshang’s luggage. While busy with this, young master Lou came shyly asking “whether he could return to the capital together with the Cheng family.” Lady Xiao looked wordlessly at the ceiling. After a long moment, she reluctantly agreed. At the same time she sneered lightly in her heart—no wonder third brother and his wife were so calm and relaxed, so certain and at ease. Looking at the young man’s clingy devotion to her daughter, obviously he’d already been firmly captured!

Lady Xiao was a swift and decisive person. After the convoy rested for two days, on the fourth day she picked up her daughter and set out. Lou Yao as usual rode his horse alongside the carriage, his face full of regret that his fiancée couldn’t ride together with him.

Shaoshang reluctantly bid farewell to Sang Shi, tears swirling in her eyes. She kept telling Sang Shi to take care of her health and nurse her injured leg, every word choked with sincere emotion. Lady Xiao watching from the side felt sour.

She wasn’t the only sour one—there was also Cheng Zhi who’d been standing in the cold wind for half the day. He seemingly naturally extracted his wife’s hand from his niece’s grasp, then with a face full of concern recited a few clichéd platitudes.

Shaoshang looked at her third uncle with pity.

Old Man Cheng was typically wise though appearing foolish—letting small matters go while perfectly clear-headed about major ones. Though Lady Xiao appeared strong, when Old Man Cheng made up his mind about something, she could rarely change it. But Third Uncle—his insides were far less distinguished than his face. He was held in the palm of Sang Shi’s hand without knowing it, yet always loved to feel smug and proud. Clearly back then the nutrition that should have grown into his brain all went to his face.

Cheng Zhi also looked at his niece with pity.

He knew his own elder brother. Cheng Shi from childhood to adulthood, from head to toe, exuded an air of honest sincerity. When telling lies, they sounded like truth. When telling the truth, if he didn’t move people to tears, that counted as underperformance. Lady Xiao was even more strong and resolute, with endless schemes and stratagems. No matter how formidable his niece was, could she still flip beyond this couple’s control? One misstep and it would be smashing cups as signal for corporal punishment again!

Cheng Zhi patted his niece’s head: “After returning home, listen more to your father and mother. Don’t be so stubborn anymore.”

Shaoshang patted her uncle’s arm: “Uncle, you should also listen more to Auntie. Don’t overthink things—listening to Auntie is definitely right.”

Uncle and niece both felt pity for each other in their bellies. For a moment they were rarely harmonious, no longer trading barbs.

The bamboo whip rose, the convoy set out. Shaoshang gazed back from the carriage window, seeing the city gate slowly closing behind her. She exhaled lightly—she was returning to the capital. She hoped to marry Lou Yao soon, then go out with him to serve as officials. That would truly be called boundless heaven and sea.