—
She told one good story, and now every casual remark she made got her praised as a clever-mouthed girl? This was how rumors started!
Mo Zi felt self-deprecation was necessary. “Madam flatters me. Mo Zi is merely an ordinary maid.”
Madam Wei smiled. Hearing the zither music, she asked, “Is that your young lady playing the zither?”
“It is indeed.” Mo Zi couldn’t wait for Madam Wei to shift her attention.
Madam Wei quieted for a while, then gently nodded. “Second Young Master, you’ve heard the finest zither music in the capital. Comparing the two, what do you think?”
That Second Young Master hadn’t been listening, only looking at the lake and mountain scenery. When Madam Wei asked him, he focused his attention to listen, his gaze gathering, his expression seemingly surprised. He replied, “If the heart is calm and qi harmonious, they could roughly compete equally.”
“She’s different from others—she prefers movement over stillness. I think if she were as still as other families’ daughters, the zither music would lose its true meaning. It’s better this way. However, receiving such high praise from you is already no easy feat.” Madam Wei spoke with a smile.
Hearing this, Mo Zi thought the strategy of having Bai He help Qiu Sanniang reveal her true character had indeed been used correctly. Also, that Second Young Master’s tone didn’t change much—he probably hadn’t recognized her. It seemed the male disguise could indeed confuse others’ perception.
“Your young lady is truly capable in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting without exception. Last time playing chess with her, with my meager skills, she calculated she’d only win by three stones. No matter how I look at it, she should be very compatible with someone I know.” When Madam Wei said this, she intentionally or unintentionally glanced at the Second Young Master.
“Is Madam speaking of that Han Yellow Gate Commander who excels at clerical script?” Mo Zi remembered.
“See? What did I say? With such a clever maid, could her young lady be ordinary? I mentioned it just once, and she could guess correctly.” Madam Wei praised Mo Zi again, but this time speaking to the Second Young Master.
“Aunt… Mother, shall we continue upward?” Clearly, that Second Young Master had little interest in a maid.
Mo Zi was already accustomed to being looked down upon and felt no inferiority. Yet she wanted to seize another opportunity for Qiu Sanniang. “Madam, even going down the mountain from here, there’s still quite a distance. Why not rest in the pavilion and have a cup of tea?”
“I am indeed somewhat tired, but I fear disturbing your young lady’s refined leisure.” Though Madam Wei said this, she took two steps toward the forest.
“Madam, what are you saying? My young lady hasn’t just met Madam yesterday. She often tells us she feels a connection with Madam. It’s a pity Madam lives far away, otherwise she’d very much like to visit more often. Since we’ve rarely encountered each other here, but tomorrow we must return to the mansion, the young lady feels reluctant, yet doesn’t dare casually disturb your peace. Coming here to play the zither isn’t self-admiring solitude, but performing for a kindred spirit.” After Mo Zi finished this speech, she immediately felt a sensation of being stared at.
She raised her eyes, and unexpectedly met that Second Young Master’s gaze directly. Her heart jumped, and she quickly lowered her head.
“Indeed eloquent.” A deep voice.
Praising her? No, she could hear the mockery in the voice, almost impossible to catch. It seemed she should control her mouth more tightly.
“Madam, Mo Zi meant no offense…” She must not bungle things because of this Second Young Master. Mo Zi showed a troubled expression at the right moment. “Mo Zi spoke too much.”
“No matter. Though the words were somewhat excessive, I can still understand the meaning. Your young lady does have some similarities with me in my youth. Go inform her. If your young lady doesn’t mind, we’ll impose for a cup of tea.” But Madam Wei gave Mo Zi the opportunity.
“Please wait a moment, Madam. Mo Zi will go and return.” Mo Zi trotted in small steps into the forest.
“Second Young Master, you help me assess as well. After all, this is selecting a wife for your younger brother. Right now he fears no one except you most. If you think it’s good, at least he won’t make a fuss during the wedding ceremony.” Madam Wei waited until Mo Zi had walked far enough to ensure she couldn’t hear anything, then spoke to the man beside her.
“Aunt favors this one?” The Second Young Master’s vision was excellent. He could see the graceful figure of the woman in the forest. “A beauty?” With no others present, his steady voice carried deliberate frivolity—the uninhibited ease before an elder.
“In Luo Zhou, I haven’t seen a more beautiful young lady than her. It’s just—” Madam Wei hadn’t made up her mind. “She’s truly different from ordinary great household young ladies. Having followed her father in business since childhood, with a personality that absolutely refuses to suffer losses—even when lowering her head, she must step on you once with her refusal to admit defeat. I both favor and don’t favor her. Our prince’s mansion emphasizes propriety everywhere. Whether she can adapt is the first concern. Second, if Third Young Master makes a fuss again about divorcing his wife, whether things can be settled peacefully is the second concern.”
“The first two were great household young ladies. What meaning is there in selecting another great household young lady?” That Second Young Master’s lips curved, extremely arrogant light flashing in his eyes. “According to what Aunt says, this one is more resilient. Perhaps she can endure—who knows? Aunt, since Mother has entrusted this matter entirely to you, you just make the decision yourself.”
“You speak lightly, since it’s not you marrying anyway.” Madam Wei put on an elder’s face and glared at him. “Which family has a younger brother marry before the older brother?”
That Second Young Master replied, “I’d also like to know why no one worries about my marriage, yet travels a thousand li to seek a match for a brother who’s gone through two wedding ceremonies?”
Madam Wei wanted to draw him in, only to find she was the one who couldn’t get out. She could only say, “If you keep refusing to marry, must you drag your brother down too? Besides, your marriage probably must be decided by that person. Even if we wanted to manage it, we couldn’t.”
Hearing this, that Second Young Master’s sword-sharp brows furrowed high, but seeing ahead, he changed his tone. “She’s coming personally to greet Aunt.”
Madam Wei looked and indeed saw two figures. She nodded. “Her etiquette toward elders is still very thorough. Remember, when speaking later, help me assess the person. At tonight’s banquet at the mansion returning to the Qiu Mansion, don’t avoid appearing like last time. Before we leave Luo Zhou, we must propose marriage and bring her back together, so we must decide quickly.”
The Second Young Master suddenly thought of that maid called Mo Zi just now. “If the maid is this clever, the mistress is probably formidable too. Isn’t Aunt worried Third Young Master’s courtyard won’t be peaceful?”
Madam Wei sighed. “The first two had such good temperaments, yet didn’t Third Young Master’s household still end up in chaos with chickens flying and dogs jumping? Your mother and I are of one mind—we want to find someone who can suppress things. Speaking of the maid, I’m considering her precisely because all of Qiu Sanniang’s maids are clever. In that household, it’s not enough for just the mistress to be formidable—even those servants who go whichever way the wind blows must all be controlled.”
“It’s merely household matters. Hearing Aunt describe it, it sounds as severe as court struggles.” How could the Second Young Master take it seriously? “Good thing Third Young Master only dotes on one. If he doted on many, wouldn’t it be more dangerous than going into battle?”
“You don’t understand again. It’s precisely because of exclusive favor that all these complications arise. If he were like you, bestowing favor somewhat equally on each, it wouldn’t be like this.” Men usually don’t like managing inner household matters, thinking women managing households is easy, but in fact which great family’s inner household isn’t like a small nation, with countless disputes?
“Since Aunt favors this family’s young lady, why do you need me to assess? Just have someone propose and present betrothal gifts.” The man watched that Miss Qiu San walk closer and closer, her bearing like flowing clouds in the sky, skin rivaling snow, face as gorgeous as peach blossoms, temperament noble among ten thousand fragrances—truly an incomparable beauty. “Who knows, perhaps this time Third Brother’s marital fate has arrived.”
Seeing his unblinking stare, how could Madam Wei not understand his words were merely being bewildered by such beauty?
“Beautiful she is, but one must also see the heart.” It was just that she could never see clearly—sometimes good, sometimes bad, impossible to fathom, keeping her from making a decision.