Zisu submitted a calling card requesting an audience with Yuxi. After her afternoon nap, Yuxi received her. Seeing how plump Zisu had b...
Zisu submitted a calling card requesting an audience with Yuxi.
After her afternoon nap, Yuxi received her. Seeing how plump Zisu had become, Yuxi knew that she was living a very comfortable life. Yuxi smiled and asked, "Why didn't you bring the child with you?"
Zisu replied, "He's so mischievous that he's impossible to manage, and I alone can't coax him into behaving. When the head of the household1 comes to the city next time, I'll have him bring the child for Wangfei to see." Yuxi owned two large estates in the suburbs. One estate was where Guo Xun stayed while searching for specialised talent, and its location was highly confidential. The other estate was used to test potato cultivation and was mainly responsible for supplying the Yun residence with vegetables, poultry, and other produce. Guo Xun was ostensibly the estate manager, but in reality he was primarily responsible for training talent. This matter was highly classified, and very few people knew about it.
Yuxi smiled. "Zaozao is also so mischievous that she's impossible to manage. I often tell Wangye that this child must have been born in the wrong body." Wasn't that exactly the case? If she were a boy, she would undoubtedly be Yun Qing's carbon copy.
After they had joked for a while, Zisu said, "Wangfei, Miss Xinrong is getting married. The date has been set for the twenty-sixth of the fifth month." After saying this, she took a wedding invitation from her sleeve and handed it to Yuxi.
When Duan Xinrong was sent to the estate, Yuxi wrote to her twice, but she never replied. Later, when Yuxi brought the children to stay at the estate, Duan Xinrong avoided seeing her as well; she only sent someone over to deliver the clothes, shoes, and socks she had made. Yuxi knew that Duan Xinrong did not want to face her. If there were anywhere else she could go, Yuxi guessed that Duan Xinrong probably would not even have wanted to stay on her estate.
Yuxi had no solution to this either, and could only instruct Zisu to keep a closer eye on Duan Xinrong. Originally, she had been worried that Duan Xinrong would never marry due to the shadow in her heart! Now that she knew Duan Xinrong was getting married, Yuxi was surprised and delighted.
Yuxi took the wedding invitation and asked, "What kind of person is Xinrong marrying?"
Zisu replied, "It is Cui Mo Daren2's attendant, Liangcang." Liangcang meant 'granary full of grain'; a very simple name. Just from the name, you could tell that Liangcang's parents had hoped he would never have to worry about food or clothing.
Yuxi thought for a moment before asking, "You mean that short fellow beside Cui Mo who always has a smile on his face?" Cui Mo was unwilling to choose attendants taller than himself, so the two attendants by his side were both shorter than he was.
Seeing Zisu nod and confirm, Yuxi asked with great interest, "How did he get Xinrong to agree?" Getting Xinrong to relent and agree to marry down was no easy matter.
Zisu pressed her lips together and smiled. "Wangfei doesn't know this, but when Liangcang saw Miss Xinrong on the estate, he fell for her. Although Miss Xinrong kept rejecting him, Liangcang never gave up. At the beginning of this year, Miss Xinrong fell ill, and it was Liangcang who pestered Physician Bai relentlessly until he agreed to come to the estate and treat her. After that matter, Miss Xinrong began to soften a little." When Liangcang saw that Duan Xinrong had softened towards him, he immediately asked several women who were on good terms with Xinrong to put in good words for him. Then he invited Cui Mo's wife to step forward personally as the matchmaker, and Duan Xinrong finally relented and agreed.
Overjoyed, Yuxi said, "It's easy to obtain a priceless treasure, but a loving man is hard to find3. Since Liangcang can be this attentive towards Xinrong, I can also feel at ease." Two years after Duan Xinrong moved to the estate, Yuxi had wanted to secure Duan Xinrong's future. However, the shadow in her heart was too deep that she refused Yuxi's help. Yuxi therefore set this matter aside at that time.
Zisu was also very happy. "The only flaw in an otherwise good situation is that Liangcang's family has too many people. He has two elder sisters, one elder brother, and two younger brothers. Both of his elder sisters are married, and his elder brother got married at the end of last year. I heard that even his elder brother's wedding was funded by Liangcang." She had learned all this information from her husband.
Yuxi did not care too much about this, though. "As long as a man is capable and useful, he can build a family fortune of his own. Otherwise, even mountains of gold and silver would all be squandered away." Where in this world was there anything perfect in every way? Take Yun Qing, for example: every time he led troops into battle, she worried especially much.
Zisu shook her head. "When there are more sisters-in-law in the future, there will also be more trouble and gossip." An elder brother who required his younger brother to pay money before he could marry a wife was clearly incapable. Perhaps he would still have to depend on Liangcang for financial support in the future. There would naturally be no problem for a short while, but what if the younger brothers wanted to get married? If Liangcang only subsidised the eldest brother, the younger ones would certainly feel uncomfortable too, and many conflicts would surely arise over time!
Yuxi smiled and pointed out, "Didn't you say that Liangcang's parents had passed away? Once all the brothers are married, they will certainly split up the household. How could brothers live together for a lifetime? Besides, Xinrong Jiejie is not someone who acts without thinking. Once she has her own children, she will certainly consider their future too." Having gone through so much, Duan Xinrong must have considered everything before agreeing to marry Liangcang.
Zisu sighed. "We can only think of it this way."
Meiyun called from outside the door, "Wangfei, An Daren2 requests an audience." In the second month, Huo Changqing had sent six people to the rear courtyard. The four people Yuxi kept were Wei Meiyun, Jing Bai, Banqin and Banxia. Zaozao and Liu-er had one person by their side, too. In addition, the wangfu4 bought 12 children aged 4 to 6. The reason Momo Quan bought children this young was that they were the easiest to train and mould. If they were well taught, they would become Zaozao and Liu-er's trusted confidants and right-hand helpers in the future.
Yuxi stood up and said, "Zisu, Zijin is in the front courtyard. You two haven't seen each other for several days, so you must have a good chat this time." If she had not had so many other things to attend to, she would have liked to chat properly with Zisu, too.
An Zike had come to report on the mulberry sapling planting situation. "Wangfei, more than half of these mulberry saplings have survived." The location they had chosen was indeed ideal for planting mulberry saplings.
Yuxi was very happy and said, "If the mulberry trees can grow well, we will plant more of them and strive to wear silk and satin made by ourselves within three years."
An Zike nodded. "Wangfei, within three years, we will definitely be able to produce our own silk and satin." Once they had their own silk and satin, they would no longer have to rely on Shu and Jiangnan.
Upon returning to the rear courtyard, Yuxi started choosing gifts for Duan Xinrong. However, the gifts could not be too light or too valuable. If they were too light, it would suggest she did not value her former sister-like friend; if they were too valuable, Duan Xinrong might not accept them.
In the end, Yuxi selected some high-quality fabrics and some gold and silver jewellery. She also chose some things needed for the wedding. Altogether, there were three large wooden chests.
Once everything had been sorted, Yuxi called Xu Wu over and said, "Xinrong Jiejie is getting married in the fifth month. Have these things sent over as soon as possible." The only reason she didn't go herself was that the place was too far away; otherwise, she would definitely have gone personally to add to the bridal trousseau5.
When Yun Qing came back from outside, he saw Yuxi's face full of smiles and asked, "What good thing happened?" If it could make Yuxi this happy, it must be a truly joyous event.
Smiling, Yuxi told him that more than half of the mulberry saplings had survived. "Shu brocade sells very well even in the capital. If we can produce brocade as good as Shu brocade in the future—mm, even if it is only half as good, I will be fully satisfied."
Yun Qing thought that Yuxi's idea was far too ambitious. Shu brocade had taken decades to develop. If they wanted to produce something as good as Shu brocade, or even just half as good, it won't happen in less than ten years.
Yuxi only had this idea; she had never thought of reaching the heavens in one step6. "By the way, there is another joyous event besides this matter: Xinrong Jiejie is getting married in the fifth month."
Yun Qing asked, "Did she send you a wedding invitation?" He had always noticed how Yuxi looked after Duan Xinrong.
Yuxi picked up the wedding invitation from the table and replied, smiling, "Of course she sent me an invitation. For such a significant event as a wedding, how could she not tell me?" If Duan Xinrong got married without inviting Yuxi, it would mean she wanted to cut off all contact with her.
Yun Qing did not have a good impression of Duan Xinrong, not only because she had once stayed in a brothel, but also because she was cold towards Yuxi.
Yun Qing glanced at the bright red wedding invitation in Yuxi's hand and changed the subject. "I just received news that Hongfu Biaodi7 will arrive tomorrow morning."
Yuxi smiled and nodded. "I have already asked Mama Qu to clean up the Qingjia8 Courtyard. Once Biaodi7 arrives, he can move in directly." Although she was wary of Jiang Hongfu, Yun Qing was so happy that she couldn't bring herself to sweep away his excitement9.
This was also the difference between Yun Qing and Yuxi. When Yun Qing disliked someone, he never hid it from Yuxi. But Yuxi, when it came to someone she disliked but who was very important to Yun Qing, would never show it.
Yun Qing knew that Yuxi handled matters properly, so he did not ask further. "Tomorrow I won't go to the army. I'll stay at home and wait for him."
Yun Qing was still very happy about Jiang Hongfu's arrival. In high spirits, he regaled Yuxi with many amusing stories from their childhood. As he talked, he remembered a joke. "I remember telling Hongfu when we were young that we should become in-laws through our children one day! But Hongfu didn't agree. He said that if the children took a liking to each other, they could marry. If their temperaments and personalities were not compatible, then they could not."
When Yuxi heard the first part, her eyelid twitched, but she let out a breath of relief when she heard the rest. Fortunately, Jiang Hongjin was more rational than Yun Qing. Yuxi smiled and said, "Those words are very true. Marriage is a serious matter. Although it is said to depend on the parents' command and the matchmaker's words, the two children must still be willing. Otherwise, wouldn't arranging such a marriage harm both children?"
Yuxi had said these words to Yun Qing before. Yun Qing held Yuxi's hand and said, "At that time, I was only ten. It was just something I said in passing; why would anyone take it seriously?"
Early the next morning, Yun Qing got up to practise swordsmanship and practised for the whole morning. After having breakfast, he picked up a bowl of rice paste and fed it to Liu-er.
Yuxi ate much more slowly than Yun Qing. Liu-er had already eaten nearly half of that bowl of rice paste before Yuxi finished her breakfast. Having no intention of waiting in the rear courtyard all day, Yuxi said, "I'll go to the front courtyard to handle some matters. When the person arrives, I'll come back."
Yun Qing responded, "Let's stay and wait for him together!"
But this time, Yuxi would not give in to Yun Qing. "There's a lot I need to do. If I don't deal with them in the morning, they'll just keep piling up. The front and rear courtyards are less than half a quarter of an hour apart, so it's not very far. Once I receive the news, I can come over very quickly." If it were an elder or someone especially important coming, Yuxi would certainly wait in the rear courtyard. But delaying proper business for Jiang Hongfu? Forget it!
Yun Qing said helplessly, "All right, then!"
Footnotes Full List
- 当家の (dāngjiā de) — literally 'the one who manages the household'; a colloquial term for one's husband or household head.
- 大人 (dàren) — title of respect toward superiors
- 易得无价宝，难得有情郎 (yì dé wújià bǎo, nándé yǒuqíng láng) — literally 'a priceless treasure is easy to get; a loving man is hard to find'; a proverb meaning sincere love is rarer than wealth.
- 王府 (wángfǔ) — king's residence
- 添妆 (tiānzhuāng) — literally 'add makeup'; a traditional term meaning to give gifts to a bride before marriage, adding to her dowry or trousseau.
- 一步登天 (yībù dēngtiān) — literally 'ascend to heaven in one step'; means to achieve great success instantly or unrealistically quickly.
- 表弟 (biǎodì) — a younger male cousin whose family relationship comes through a female line (mother's side or father's sister's side)
- 庆嘉 (Qìng Jiā) — Joyous (庆嘉 (Qìng), Blessings 嘉 (Jiā)
- 扫興 (sǎoxìng) — to spoil someone's fun or dampen their spirits.
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