“Mo Zi, don’t talk nonsense. Lord Jiang… what status does Lord Jiang have? How could he marry me?” After Bai He’s face turned red, she still didn’t take Mo Zi seriously.
“I don’t like hearing that.” Mo Zi pulled Bai He to sit down. “He wants to marry you—what does status have to do with it? What status is he that you’re not worthy of? You haven’t even minded his big head and small mouth—that’s already good enough.”
Bai He mumbled, “We’re family, so naturally you’re on my side. Lord Jiang—” Wait, this name sounded so familiar. “Let me interject,” said Qiu Sanniang. “Mo Zi, first tell me who Jiang Tao is.”
“You forgot? On the road from Luo Zhou to the capital, passing through Luzhen, that county magistrate who opened the granaries to distribute grain was Jiang Tao. He transferred to the capital and is now a fifth-rank official, serving as Chief Clerk in the Ministry of Works.” Mo Zi ate some food—the taste was truly exceptional.
“That Jiang Tao who didn’t rank as Third Place Scholar because he was too ugly?” Qiu Sanniang remembered and immediately frowned. “Bai He, no matter how high his official position, if even His Majesty disliked his shabby appearance enough not to award him Third Place Scholar, you shouldn’t marry him either. To be husband and wife, first you must find each other comfortable and pleasing to look at—otherwise how can you spend a lifetime together?”
Hong Mei cried out, “Mistress! If Bai He marries over there, she’ll be the wife of a fifth-rank official… That’s tremendous good fortune!”
Qiu Sanniang looked at Mo Zi.
Mo Zi glanced lightly toward Bai He and nodded to Qiu Sanniang. “Bai He’s appearance is outstanding—matching her with that big-headed fellow would really be somewhat unfair to her. If you ask me, tomorrow I’ll just go decline him, to spare him foolish wishful thinking. What’s so good about being an official? These days the world is chaotic, accompanying the ruler is like accompanying a tiger—who knows what day his official hat will be removed? Better to find an honest, dependable person… Keep the fertile water in one’s own field—Cen Er isn’t bad and has also taken good care of Bai He.”
“Oh? Such a thing?” Qiu Sanniang clapped and laughed. “I was just saying a good husband still needs to be found outside. What about it? If it’s Cen Er, I think that’s quite good. Though his Cen family is my mother’s family, I’ve been planning to release the indenture contracts of Dalang and Erlang. With you two managing Wangqiu Tower, one handling accounts and one in the kitchen, I’d be most pleased.”
Bai He anxiously shook her head, momentarily not knowing where to begin, even her breathing becoming disordered.
Seeing this, Lu Ju hurried to rub her back and passed her a cup of tea.
“Mistress, Cen Erlang treats Bai He like a younger sister, and Bai He has no other feelings for him.” Bai He finally caught her breath. “Though Lord Jiang’s appearance can’t be called romantic and elegant, he’s gentle and sincere in character and wholeheartedly devoted to the people—a truly fine official. My godmother often said, don’t look at a man’s handsome or ugly exterior, only look at his heart. A man of Lord Jiang’s talent and backbone—truly it’s I who am not worthy of him, not he who is unworthy of me.”
She turned to Mo Zi again and said, “Tomorrow you can just go and decline, only don’t say anything hurtful like ‘foolish wishful thinking.’ I believe that if he wanted to find an official family’s young lady with much better background than mine, it would be easy as pie for him.”
Mo Zi gazed deeply at Bai He. “You actually have feelings for him too.”
Bai He startled, her face burning again. “I… never thought about it. It’s just… I just see him as a person and never considered him unattractive. He’s completely different from all those officials I imagined. When talking with him about my past, he never showed even a hint of looking down on me, always courteous and proper. This is probably what a true gentleman is—he’s read all those books into his heart.”
Lu Ju listened with longing and asked anxiously, “Why wouldn’t you hurry up and marry such a good person?”
“I know my own worth. I don’t know why he’s proposing, but I can’t read a single character, much less write elegant essays like him. I only know a bit about cooking. I could marry him for his status, but what about after the marriage? Perhaps there would be a year or two of good times, but once he tires of me and marries in someone educated and refined, I’ll just be the cook. And I couldn’t even blame him.” Bai He’s expression gradually dimmed.
How could she say she’d never thought about it? After listening, Mo Zi thought to herself—clearly she had thought about it but resisted it.
“What’s wrong with not knowing characters? Among daughters of great families, many don’t know how to read or write.” A woman’s lack of talent is itself virtue—Mo Zi discovered this saying could rarely actually be put to some use. “Jiang Tao said that as long as you’re willing to marry him, no matter how difficult the obstacles ahead, he’ll get through them. Clearly, he’s extremely devoted to you. He doesn’t even mind that you were once a maid—would he mind whether you can write? He’s marrying a wife, not looking for someone to compose matching couplets.”
Hearing Mo Zi relay Jiang Tao’s words, Bai He was deeply moved.
“Forget it, forget it. Who’s worthy of whom—what’s there to fuss about? Since Bai He is unwilling, Mo Zi, just go and decline.” Qiu Sanniang seemed impatient and waved her hand.
Bai He opened her mouth, finally bit her lip, said something about going to serve food, and left the room.
Hong Mei and Lu Ju hurried out after her.
“Those two are fine—they play the good people while we two play the villains.” The wine cup in front of Qiu Sanniang was empty. Without asking, she took Mo Zi’s.
Her alcohol tolerance was as good as her own. Mo Zi didn’t interfere. “What do we do now?”
“You don’t really think we should decline, do you?” Qiu Sanniang’s cheeks were flushed with powder, her face beautiful as a lotus. “Could I meet this Jiang Tao? Even if Bai He agrees, I still have things I need to make clear to Jiang Tao beforehand.”
“You can meet him tomorrow, as long as it’s convenient for you.” Having tested things, Bai He’s feelings were already very clear—they could boldly facilitate this match.
“I’ll stay here tonight and return before the evening meal tomorrow. Though the Old Madam and my mother-in-law can’t attend to me these days, I think being a good daughter-in-law before the family divides is better than being resented later.” Qiu Sanniang had her own plans.
“Then I’ll have someone send an invitation now. Wangqiu Tower is all our own people—let’s arrange a lunch there.” Seeing Qiu Sanniang agree, Mo Zi didn’t delay. She went to a table to the side to grind ink and dip her brush, wrote a note for tomorrow’s meeting, attached her calling card, went outside and had Ding Gou deliver it to Jiang Tao’s home.
Returning to the room, she saw Qiu Sanniang staring at her blankly. “What’s wrong?”
“I really don’t know whether this female official position you received is a blessing or a curse.” Seeing the second cup of wine about to be drained, Qiu Sanniang moved the wine cup away. Just like this—seemingly impulsive and willful, but actually having her own sense of propriety.
“Blessings and misfortunes depend on each other.” Mo Zi appeared relaxed but in her heart never dared to relax.
“The edict rewarding Xiao Mingrou has also been issued—it’s tremendous joy for the Xiao family.” After reminding Mo Zi, Qiu Sanniang changed to gossip. “She’s been granted the title of Noble Consort Ming and will enter the palace after the Lantern Festival.”
Mo Zi knew it wasn’t her place to sympathize with Xiao Mingrou, but still sighed. “How are her injuries?”
“Two days ago the palace sent her back. I went to see her. Her complexion wasn’t bad… but she had no spirit at all. It’s like after receiving the edict, her soul flew away. I used to think I was pitiful enough, but seeing her, I know I’ve had it good. She didn’t want to enter the palace—I think you should know, otherwise why would she volunteer as a target?” Qiu Sanniang’s relationship with the Xiao family girls was still quite good.
“Those favored by the Emperor can’t escape even if they try, and besides, the Xiao family wouldn’t let her make her own decisions. So Bai He really has extremely good fortune.” Comparing the two, being a young lady from a prestigious family seemed even less desirable.
“Exactly. My mother-in-law probably also guessed and has been avoiding her for two days, ordering people not to leave her sight for a moment, fearing she might do something foolish again. However, I don’t think she’ll seek death—she’s just disheartened and disillusioned.” Seeing Bai He and the others come in, Qiu Sanniang stopped talking about it.
The next day, Qiu Sanniang arranged a banquet at Wangqiu Tower and met Jiang Tao.
Mo Zi also went along.
When the accompanying Hong Mei and Lu Ju first caught sight of big-headed, small-mouthed Jiang Tao, they both furrowed their brows. However, later, listening to him answer Qiu Sanniang’s questions, their views changed somewhat. Lu Ju even directly said Bai He had good fortune.
Qiu Sanniang asked, “Lord Jiang is a fifth-rank official—why have you set your sights on Bai He who has neither wealth nor influence?”
Jiang Tao answered, “My family circumstances were poor, my parents died early. From childhood I witnessed the world’s coldness and warmth, so I choose a warm person to spend my life with, not seeking wealth or influence. Miss Bai He warms this scholar’s heart—words cannot express it. If I miss her, I’ll never meet her like again.”
Qiu Sanniang asked, “Lord Jiang, Bai He will absolutely not be a concubine. If you marry her as your principal wife, in the future you cannot take secondary wives. Even so, is this acceptable?”
Jiang Tao answered, “Since I’m proposing marriage, naturally it’s as wife—I would never dare wrong Miss Bai He. I’m a poor official with many duties to attend to and have never had thoughts of taking secondary wives. One wife to share weal and woe, growing old together—that’s sufficient.”
Qiu Sanniang asked, “Lord Jiang says he’s poor, and Bai He also has no savings… How would you two live?”
Jiang Tao answered, “When I say poor, it’s compared to high officials and nobles. The court provides salary and constant property, and at home I have an old loyal servant managing things. If Miss Bai He is willing, I’ll immediately purchase a residence and farmland—there will certainly be no worry about food and warmth.”
After this meal, Qiu Sanniang saw Jiang Tao off and said to Mo Zi, “Bai He truly has good fortune—I’m even envious. This marriage, I cannot oppose, and moreover won’t let Bai He oppose it either. As for the dowry, you’re more familiar with things outside than I am—can you help arrange it? Apart from her share of Deer Horn Alley, I’ll give you five thousand taels. Choose top quality items so people won’t look down on her.”
“Just give her bank notes directly.” Mo Zi didn’t think much of it. “That Jiang Tao’s family doesn’t have many people either. Arranging those showy but impractical things isn’t as good as having silver on hand—then Bai He would also have capital to open a shop.”
Thinking about it, Qiu Sanniang agreed. “Follow Bai He’s wishes then.”
When they told Bai He about Qiu Sanniang’s three questions and Jiang Tao’s three answers, she was moved to tears. How could there be any reason not to agree?
Jiang Tao, getting the news from Mo Zi, immediately enlisted a matchmaker to come over and finalize the marriage. He also selected an auspicious date at the end of the first month and swiftly bought a residence with Jiangnan style, moved in, arranged everything carefully, and waited for his bride to enter the door.
Lu Ju simply took leave from the Prince’s mansion and stayed at Deer Horn Alley to embroider wedding clothes and celebratory bedding for Bai He.
On this side, she complained that Bai He’s wedding was like Qiu Sanniang’s back then—the date rushing forward, wondering if she could finish embroidering before the wedding. On that side, pregnant Luo Niang and skilled Cheng Niang both came to help. The three worked with divine speed and embroidered set after set.
Meanwhile, Wu You and Sister Xiu sent jewelry and hairpieces, and additionally reserved a shop space, making it double happiness.
The tenth day of the first month.
This day, all officials had an audience with the Emperor. Mo Zi had the Bureau Chief call her name to go along.
After washing and dressing, leaving Willow Garden, the sky was still dark. One lamp on the carriage didn’t illuminate very brightly—quite cold and cheerless. But inside the carriage were thick padded cotton cushions, an enclosed warm copper brazier, and glazed lamps—spacious and bright.
Five people—already a fixed traveling group. Zan Jin and Ding Gou drove the carriage, A Hao held her sword and listened, A Yue studied medical texts, and Mo Zi continued catching up on sleep.
Suddenly, Zan Jin’s voice rang out. “Brother Mo, we have a tail.”
But Ding Gou’s voice came from behind the carriage. “Stay in the carriage and don’t move.”
Thud—
Something struck the top of the carriage canopy.