Spring of the Blade - Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Even Qingyuan was taken aback; she had not expected him to say such a thing so rashly. Baoxian, beyond her initial shock, could only stifle a giggle. Qingyuan, caught between anger and embarrassment, blushed and swatted her playfully, muttering, "What on earth is that man blathering about!"
Baoxian, however, was genuinely happy for her. She gently squeezed her hand and said, "Congratulations, Miss."
Congratulations? What was there to be congratulated for! If this favor had been bestowed upon Qingru, it would have been broadcast throughout the entire Xie estate in the blink of an eye. Qingyuan, however, was not one to believe in such unprovoked love, given her mother's history of suffering at the hands of a man.
The word "love" was so easily spoken, no more than a breath, like a passing sigh. Without cause or consequence, it held no weight. She had only met this young Marquis twice, and her previous show of interest had been a instinctive move made when Qingru and Madam Hu were determined to win him over. In truth, her ultimate goal was to oppose Madam Hu and her daughter; as for Li Congxin, if he were not so experienced in the affairs of the heart, he might indeed be someone to rely on.
However, talking of marriage was still premature. His rash, impulsive outburst might have been born of temporary indignation or a fit of pique. The harder something is to obtain, the more it is obsessed over; given his status, he must have been pampered by women wherever he went. Now, facing a rebuff, he had likely developed an obsession. Qingyuan saw through this clearly. If she were truly willing to commit to him, it would merely result in a major upheaval. As long as he remained steadfast for two years, the matter could be settled.
But what would happen after the deed was done? Not to mention whether the two of them could live in peace, having a sister-in-law who had previously eyed her husband with such hostility was no laughing matter! As time passed, what one had missed out on would only seem more desirable. She was no fool and would certainly not blindly push herself toward the edge of a cliff just because of his words.
Li Congxin was growing impatient. Seeing that she did not look back or respond, he called out "Sister" through the lattice window again, "I have thought about this for several days. I did not say this to you out of a momentary impulse."
Qingyuan’s pace slowed, and she finally came to a stop. She turned around and smiled, saying, "My marriage is not for me to decide; you should not be speaking of these things to me. Making a spectacle of this may cause you no harm, but it causes direct damage to Qingyuan. I ask you, sir, to conduct yourself with propriety."
Having said this, she did not linger. She took Baoxian through the moon gate and headed toward the private school.
Li Congxin stood before the lattice window, feeling momentarily despondent. Behind him, Zhenglun tapped his shoulder and pointed his chin in the direction Qingyuan had left, "Brother Chunzhi, have you really decided to propose to my Fourth Sister?"
Li Congxin turned around, his resolve as solid as a stone, "A man should marry, and a woman should be wed. Since the time has come and I have found the right person, is it wrong to settle it?"
Zhenglun truly could not fathom his thinking. He habitually twisted his thin mustache, tilted his head, and examined him as if he were a stranger.
Among the wealthy young masters of today—especially treasures like him, the future heads of noble estates—who hadn't experienced a few women? Usually, by the age of sixteen, even if you didn't want it, your mother would arrange for someone to be in your chambers. As a man, this was a necessary skill—if not as important as reading and writing, it was at least the subject most requiring study alongside them. This young Marquis, in particular, had the advantage of his birth, swimming like a fish in water through the circle of noble ladies in Shengzhou and leaving many a fine lady weeping for him. His smoothness lay in never actively pursuing anyone and never promising anything to anyone; in the end, the young ladies could never pin him down, and who could blame him for their own wishful thinking? Li Congxin had never let a single petal cling to his robes; he remained a clean and untainted young master. His only fault was that he was too perfect, too likable.
Zhenglun shook his head and sighed, "Are you proposing to her simply because you were thwarted by Qingyuan and feel unwilling to let it go?"
He thought about it earnestly; that was part of it, but more importantly, it was born of genuine admiration.
"The day of the Spring Banquet, I saw her for the first time... Zhenglun, put your hand on your heart and tell me: is there any young lady in this Hengtang territory more beautiful than her?" In truth, he didn't need an answer; he continued to lament to himself, "Or perhaps I cannot say she is the most beautiful, but she is the one who occupies my thoughts the most. The kickball that day seemed to have eyes of its own; it didn't hit anyone else, but it struck her. What a stroke of fate that was! I have thought of her often these past few days. It sounds ridiculous to say, but rather than being so tortured by longing, wouldn't it be more straightforward to bring her into my home?"
As a man, Zhenglun could well understand his feelings. It would be wonderful for lovers to be united, but the chasm between them was too wide and deep, perhaps too difficult to cross.
"You know of my Fourth Sister's background, don't you?" Zhenglun said bluntly, "Her mother poisoned Concubine Xia and was driven out of the estate. With a mother like that, your Marquis household will never accept her. I advise you to give up this notion; there is no sense in creating friction with your family for this."
But the young Marquis’s gaze was firm as he smiled, "Where there is a will, there is a way."
The Xie brothers had known him since childhood and knew that the Marchioness of Danyang had only this one seedling, raising him like a living dragon and never daring to deny him even the stars in the sky. If they were lucky, perhaps he would have a say in his own marriage, but because the matter was of great importance, they dared not make any guarantees. However, knowing Li Congxin’s temper, if he had set his mind on something, he would surely see it through—on that point, he was reliable. After returning home, he had discussed it with his mother. It was unclear how that discussion went, but the wife of the Inspection Commissioner arrived at the estate the very next day to speak with the Old Madam.
Because Madam Hu had previously entrusted her with matters, she knew as soon as she heard that Madam Tao had arrived that she was bringing news of some sort. She waited in her own courtyard, waiting for the Old Madam to send someone to summon her. Qingru, being a weak-willed girl, paced back and forth in front of her, restless and unable to sit still.
Madam Hu averted her gaze, propped up her forehead, and said, "Like a headless fly, what are you pacing around for! If it is your fate, it will not escape you even if it goes to heaven; what are you in such a rush for?"
Only then did Qingru sit down sheepishly. She twisted her handkerchief and retorted in a low voice, "When was I ever in a rush... If I am in a rush, why is Mother not?"
Being in a rush was useless. If things could be accomplished by rushing, the world would not be full of lovesick men and women. Madam Hu frowned as she put down her account book and leaned toward the window to look outside. In the courtyard, two old women walked by carrying baskets, and the maids on the porch stood with heads bowed. This spring day was quiet, and time seemed to have frozen.
Madam Hu was also beginning to lose her patience. After waiting for half a day, there was no movement; she feared there might be a snag inside. She called out for Cailian, "Go to Huifang Garden and see what the Inspection Commissioner's wife is saying to the Old Madam."
Cailian acknowledged the order and quickly went to the Old Madam’s courtyard. The weather was getting warmer, and bamboo blinds had been placed under the horizontal windows of the main chamber, the closely packed bamboo slats blocking the view from within. The head maids around the mistress were all sharp and capable, and Cailian was no exception. Before anyone noticed, she turned and slipped into the adjacent flower hall. The Old Madam’s maid, Xia Zhi, was holding scissors, trimming the leaves of a jade tree. When she saw Cailian enter, she let out an "ah" and was about to ask what she was doing when her words were smothered by Cailian’s palm.
Cailian pointed to the wall next door; the meaning was perfectly clear—she was here to eavesdrop. Because she was a maid from the Madam’s chambers, Xia Zhi didn't know what to say. Later, when Cailian pressed her ear against the long window, Xia Zhi could not bear to look and cast a white glance at her before walking out of the flower hall.
The flower hall and the room where the Old Madam relaxed were originally one large space, separated only by a partition. Everything said on the other side could be heard clearly here. Cailian heard the Inspection Commissioner’s wife say with no small amount of regret, "I think the Fourth girl is excellent. With such appearance and character, if only she had been born to the Madam, imagine what she could have achieved! It is a pity that things in this world can never be perfect. The person is flawless, but the problem lies with Concubine Jin. If it weren't for that single issue, not to mention the Danyang Marquis family, what if she were to enter the palace as a consort?"
The Old Madam, however, was somewhat indignant, "I said as much at the Spring Banquet before; I am not coveting a high-ranking official's family for Qingyuan. Where does this talk come from now? Although the Danyang Marquis family are relatives of the Imperial family, my Xie family has also served the Imperial Court for generations. To be bullied like this is going too far."
Seeing the Old Madam’s anger, the Inspection Commissioner’s wife quickly tried to soothe her, "Please, calm your anger. The Marquis family didn't want outsiders to know, which is why they entrusted me to come. The Marchioness is my kinswoman, and the Old Madam is my godmother. If there are any misunderstandings, it is better for our own people to mediate than to have someone else pass on rumors. Listen to me, Old Madam: this is Chun’er’s own wish. He went back and knelt before his mother, begging her to go to the Inspection Commissioner's estate to propose marriage. A few days ago, when the Madam of the estate spoke to me about the Second Miss, I mentioned a word to the Marchioness, and she assumed it was the Second Miss he was talking about, so she thought they were a perfect match. But who knew? After inquiring, it turned out he was talking about the Fourth girl. Now that this has happened, things are becoming difficult."
Cailian’s heart leaped. She thought to herself: Goodness, the young Marquis of Danyang actually told his family he wanted to marry the Fourth girl as his wife. If the Second Miss has exhausted all her efforts, wouldn't it all be for nothing?
Just listening at the wall was no longer enough. She crouched down and moved to the windowsill where she could see the people inside. The gap beneath the carved wooden panel looked directly at where the Old Madam was receiving guests. She saw the Old Madam’s face was dark, her hands pressed against her knees, "Whatever the Marchioness intends, there is no need to beat around the bush. I know that the Fourth girl has met the Marquis’s heir. Since ancient times, a modest, retiring lady is a good match for a gentleman. Chunzhi asking his mother to propose marriage to the Fourth girl—that is Chunzhi’s own business. What does it have to do with our Fourth girl?"
The Old Madam was fiercely protective. The Inspection Commissioner’s wife laughed, "Godmother is right. A daughter in one family is sought by a hundred others; it is only natural. Not to mention a young master like Chunzhi, even I find the Fourth girl lovely to look at. However, the Marchioness has her own difficulties. Entering the Li family, she raised only this one child, and all her life's efforts are tied to him. As parents, who doesn't hope for their children to be successful and respectable? When Chunzhi came back and raised this, it kept his mother from sleeping well all night. The next morning, she came to my estate to ask me to mediate from both sides." After a pause, she took the teapot from the maid, poured a bowl of tea for the Old Madam herself, and added, "Godmother, there is something in my heart; I don't know if I should say it or not."
The Inspection Commissioner’s wife had once almost married Xie Shu; later, through a twist of fate, they married others, but the two families remained close, and the Old Madam had adopted her as a goddaughter, meaning they would remain close for a long time. Since they were always on good terms, there was no need to avoid speaking the truth, so she said, "Speak."
The Inspection Commissioner’s wife weighed her words, "My mother passed away early; I treat you like my own birth mother, so I will speak my mind to you. When it comes to closeness, the Marchioness is a distant relative, so naturally, my heart is with you. Listen to me, Godmother: since the young Marquis spoke to his mother, there is no way he acted on his own initiative. I fear there is already affection between the two children, and they are planning a long-term future. As for status, you can search all of Shengzhou and find nothing higher than the Danyang Marquis household. If our girl could enter the Marquis's gates, what more could one ask for? But high and powerful houses have their own mysteries. Everyone inside looks glamorous, everyone is a royal relative; if our girl enters, she won't be looked upon with respect, and behind her back, people will be gossiping. Why bother! Godmother, please try to persuade the Fourth girl. No matter how reluctant she is, she must behead her emotions with a sword of wisdom. Chunzhi is hot-headed right now, but if we cool down our side, as time passes, the matter will fade. If she follows him and makes a scene, and the Marquis finds out, wouldn't it be awkward for the brother when he meets them in the official world?"
The Old Madam listened for a long time. Her words were naturally reasonable, but between the lines, there was a suggestion that it took two to clap. Indeed, the last time the family held a banquet, the Marquis’s son had sent pastries; asking herself, was the Fourth girl truly without any responsibility? She had originally brought her back in hopes of a family reunion, but it had turned out like this—indeed, a mother who caused trouble could never give birth to a daughter who lived in peace.
The Old Madam kept up appearances for a long time before seeing off the Inspection Commissioner’s wife. The rage in her chest could no longer be contained. She slammed her hand against the kang table, stood up, and shouted, "Go! Call the Fourth girl here immediately. I have things to ask her!”