Spring of the Blade - Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Everyone present was stunned, including the sisters of the Qing family and the aunts from neighboring mansions.

Although the Young Marquis’s sincere devotion was as clear as the heavens and earth, this was hardly an opportune moment to bring it up. The expression on the Old Madam’s face froze; Lady Hu could not collect her thoughts for a moment, and it took only the blink of an eye for Qingru to transition from shock to fury.

She could not understand why someone would rush to marry a girl who had just suffered such an incident and whose whereabouts had been unknown for an entire night. What exactly was so outstanding about Qingyuan? Was it her ability to scheme, or her willingness to discard all dignity to visit a man's home and beg for his intervention? These traits, which could hardly be called virtues, seemed especially remarkable while the Master’s career was struggling. In any other situation, they would have been enough to invite criticism and make people stab her in the back.

Qingru almost cried. She looked at Lady Hu, unwilling to let her first budding feelings of romance be buried by Qingyuan. In her previous interactions with Chunzhi, things had clearly been harmonious. She still remembered their parting at the Great Buddha Temple; he had said he feared rain and told her driver to take her home quickly. He had always politely called her "Second Miss," and after she mentioned it was too distant, he had changed it to "Second Younger Sister." What more could she want? Yet now, he was proposing to the Fourth Miss. He clearly knew she liked him, so why would he overlook a proper, legitimate daughter only to remain obsessed with a concubine-born girl?

However, Madam Jiang felt it was excellent. If the Fourth Miss climbed onto a high branch, it would be a hundred times better than the Second Miss making a prestigious match. Someone like the Second Miss, who relied solely on her good birth and held her head so high that her eyes seemed to be on the top of her head, usually barely acknowledged her elders. She looked down on all her peers who had grown up with her. She saw herself as a golden princess while others were mere dust; the higher one's self-regard, the more spectacular the fall. Now, not only was Qinghe matched with a good family, but it looked as if Qingyuan would also surpass her. If both of them succeeded, the Second Miss would have no way to reverse this decline unless she married a Prince or entered the palace as a consort.

Madam Jiang’s face broke into a broad smile. Seeing that Lady Hu was displeased only brought her more joy. She clapped her hands and said, "Congratulations to the Old Madam! The Fourth Miss has returned safe and sound, and a good marriage has followed right behind her. Look at this day; we were trembling with fear during the daylight, but as soon as night fell, all these good things arrived." As she spoke, she glanced at Lady Hu and feigned a bow. "Congratulations to you, Eldest Sister-in-law."

Lady Hu’s face remained calm, while Lady Pei nearby simply smiled and turned to look at the Old Madam.

With Xie Shu currently away, the Old Madam was the one who made the decisions in the house. While Lady Hu was capable of managing the household, when it came to the children’s marriages, she still had to seek the Old Madam’s instruction.

Old Madam Xie was clearly hesitant. It was a good marriage, but not one that would necessarily proceed smoothly. The first obstacle would be the Marchioness herself.

The Old Madam sighed. "Chunzhi, we have long known your heart. But the last time your mother entrusted the wife of the Surveillance Commissioner to come here, it was made very clear: though our Xie family does not have the high status of a noble house like yours, we still understand the principles of propriety, justice, integrity, and shame. The Fourth Miss is still young; it is indeed too early to talk about marriage. As for you, a young gentleman, you do not think far enough ahead. It is easy to contract a marriage, but being able to live a good life in the future is what matters most. Looking at the current situation, your good intentions alone are not enough! Before taking two steps forward, one must also look back. While the Fourth Miss’s character is indeed worthy of your admiration, her background cannot be changed. Even if you manage to get your parents to nod in agreement, you will be facing each other day and night in the future, and I fear your teeth will end up biting your tongue."

Li Congxin was a little anxious, but since his heart was set, he possessed the courage to risk everything. He pondered for a moment and said to the Old Madam, "I thought carefully all the way from the capital to Youzhou. I expected you to say this, and your words come from a place of deep love for your granddaughter, which is naturally beyond reproach. The last time my mother sent the Commissioner’s wife to your door, it filled me with guilt that I carry to this day. But my feelings for Fourth Sister have not changed. This time, I will do whatever it takes to gain my family’s consent. If Fourth Sister feels uncomfortable living in the same mansion, we can easily establish a separate household and live apart. I will never let Fourth Sister suffer any grievance. I ask the Old Matriarch to see the sincerity in my heart."

For a pampered noble young master to arrive single-handedly to propose could not be called insincere; rather, his sincerity was so profound it was almost enough to sway one. As for the feasibility of his words, it was arguably high. The Marchioness had only him, and her future status and care would all depend on this son. There was no parent in the world who could not be defeated by their own flesh and blood.

However, choosing was still a dilemma. The Old Madam steeled herself, deciding to take a gamble. She knitted her brows and said, "Though you like our Fourth Miss, I fear your family may have a more desirable girl in mind. If that happens, wouldn't our Fourth Miss be in an awkward position?"

Li Congxin felt as if he were baring his heart. He looked straight at Qingyuan and said, "No matter how many fine young women there are in this world, I only like Fourth Sister. I have admired Fourth Sister since the Spring Banquet, and that feeling has never changed to this day. Now that Fourth Sister has encountered such a calamity, I am truly worried. Setting this engagement now would at least give me some peace of mind regarding my own intent. My declaration to the Old Matriarch today is merely my own plan. I do not ask for your immediate approval without a matchmaker or betrothal gifts; I only ask for this opportunity, and I will handle all the rest myself."

The reason he had made this resolution was not a whim; he had his own reservations. After hearing Shen Run’s words, it was clear that there were other hidden circumstances in this case that he did not know about. He intuitively felt that Qingyuan’s desperate struggle for survival in the "dyeing vat" of the Xie family was meaningless. Her various tribulations had triggered his protective instinct; he hoped to become someone Qingyuan could trust and rely on, perhaps even her salvation. Once their marriage was discussed and settled, anyone in the Xie family wanting to harm Qingyuan would have to weigh the consequences.

Yet, even as he considered this, he realized someone else might be planning to intervene. Shen Run’s power went without saying, which only spurred his urgency. If he did not act first, the Xie family, after weighing their options, would very likely choose to rely on an official currently in favor. A capital official, one who controlled the security of the entire imperial city, was truly the best choice for a son-in-law. He had to be more urgent, more pressing; tonight was the best opportunity. When a major change had just occurred and suddenly settled, the Xie Old Matriarch might just agree to this marriage.

Indeed, the Old Madam gleaned a reassuring promise from his words. Although Qingyuan was well-liked, the influence of her mother had always been present. If she could truly marry into a noble household, it would be a fine match for both Qingyuan herself and the Xie family as a whole.

The Old Madam looked at Qingyuan and asked softly, "Fourth Miss, how do you intend to handle this? The Young Marquis seems very sincere, but you must be willing yourself for this to work."

The person most important to this marriage finally had room to speak. Qingyuan had blushed at first, surprised by Li Congxin’s persistence, but as she gradually calmed down, she realized how truly improper everything was.

Everyone in the room was watching her, waiting for her answer. Perhaps everyone felt she had no reason to refuse; Qingru’s sour, envious gaze even acted as a catalyst. However, marriage was a life-long commitment. Qingyuan was very level-headed in such matters; she was not like those sheltered young ladies who lost their wits and composure the moment they heard a talented young man had come to propose.

Maintaining her calm and cautious manner, she said to Li Congxin, "For a girl of my standing, it is not for me to personally respond to a proposal, but since Grandmother is so loving as to ask my opinion, I will speak openly to the Third Young Master. I first must thank you for your kind intentions. You have cared for our family many times recently, and I deeply appreciate your feelings. However, your abrupt proposal today, in my view, is truly highly improper."

Such a statement surprised everyone present. They had thought the marriage was practically settled, but now a hitch had appeared from Qingyuan’s side. As the aunts and concubines exchanged glances, even Qinghe and Qingru were deeply bewildered.

Li Congxin felt a pang of disappointment; a flicker of melancholy crossed his brow, but he quickly said, "Fourth Sister has always been prudent. I was indeed rash this time."

Qingyuan smiled and said gently, "It is good that the Third Young Master understands my meaning. It is not for any other reason, but because your previous words truly startled me. You mentioned planning to move out and establish a separate household. But you are the legitimate son of the Marquis household; in the future, you must inherit the title and the family estate. If you were to alienate your parents and cut off contact with your family because of me, then I would be leading you into unfilial and unbrotherly conduct. A sin like that is something I, Qingyuan, could never bear. Since ancient times, marriages have required the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers. If you cannot obey your parents' commands, please do not mention this matter again. Although I grew up in the Chen household, my grandfather was well-read, and I still understand these basic principles." As she spoke, she looked at the Old Madam. "Grandmother, this is my clumsy opinion. If there is anything incomplete, I ask you to decide for me."

The Old Madam nodded and sighed heavily. "With such judgment, how could I, as your grandmother, let you violate the rules? It should indeed be this way. The Young Marquis’s character and talent are certainly beyond reproach, but this one thing cannot be done hastily. We all know the Marchioness's stance from before. If anything else happens, our Xie family also has a reputation to maintain. Young Marquis, you see... Fourth Miss understands your heart. She is a young girl and is shy; she finds it hard to speak too bluntly, so let me, an old woman, make the decision. As long as your Marchioness nods in agreement, we are happy to see this completed. However, if she does not agree, then I ask the Young Marquis to choose another partner."

It was truly a pity. Everyone except Qingru and her mother felt it was a shame. A perfectly good marriage would be difficult to put into effect, and that would depend on the ability of this Marquis’s son. But no matter how capable he was, Youzhou was thousands of miles from Hengtang; convincing his family would not happen overnight. By that calculation, it would not be easy to bring this to fruition.

But Li Congxin was not in a hurry; he had the spirit of one who was determined to succeed. The human heart was such that the less one could obtain, the more one brooded over it. He looked at Qingyuan and asked, "Sister, your meaning is the same as the Old Matriarch’s? As long as my family agrees, are you willing to give me this opportunity?"

Qingyuan smiled faintly. "If you only have my word, and if that consent is reluctant, then you must think twice. Family harmony is what truly matters. There are many girls in the world, but parents are limited to those two. I ask you to prioritize your family."

There was certainly a hint of wanting him to retreat in the face of difficulty in those words, but as long as she opened the door, he would try no matter what. Li Congxin did not stay for the banquet; he turned and walked out, leaving a room full of people harboring their own thoughts, their gazes woven together.

Lady Pei sighed, "I think this Young Marquis is truly a sincere person."

Madam Jiang shook her head, "It’s a pity he has such a formidable mother."

"Mothers in this world are all the same, all hoping for the best for their children," Lady Hu remarked with a cold smile, implying that if there were dissatisfaction, it meant the children’s choices did not meet the standards, and someone like the Fourth Miss would only make their Marquis household a laughingstock.

Only now did the Old Madam relax. Massaging her temples, she said, "It has been one moment in heaven, the next in hell. I thought the most I would deal with was the turmoil in your father’s official career, but who knew today would be even worse." She waved her hand. "The banquet in the flower hall is ready, but I have no energy left. You all should go and eat."

But if the Old Madam wouldn't eat, the rest of them would rather not either; who hadn't eaten in eight hundred years that they would still bother with the banquet?

Since they all expressed a lack of appetite, Lady Hu said, "Distribute it to those who went with the Fourth Miss. After suffering such a fright, they should be comforted."

Qingyuan said, "Madam, there is also that servant boy. He died so不明不白 (unjustly/without clarity), we must give an explanation for that."

Lady Hu said with flagging interest, "Call his parents in, take thirty taels of silver from the accounts, and send him off; that will be enough."

So, in Lady Hu’s eyes, a human life was worth only thirty taels of silver. A while ago, a fake letter had extorted fifty taels from her; now, a living life was gone because of her, and it was only worth thirty.

Soon, everyone in the main room withdrew. Seeing that Qingyuan’s status had increased, even Madam Jiang became much warmer toward her, urging her to go back and rest well to regain her energy. Then, with a shameless face, she added, "I see that you can speak to Commander Shen as well. Your brothers are currently looking for work; when you have free time, put in a good word with Commander Shen to see if you can get your two brothers placed. It is, after all, the interest of your siblings."

The so-called "two brothers" referred to Madam Jiang’s sons, Zhengyuan and Zhengde. The two of them were cut from the same cloth and were completely incompetent. They had never even spoken a word to Qingyuan, and now hearing her called "your brother, your brother" sounded somewhat laughable.

Qingyuan said, "Second Aunt, please do not entertain such thoughts. There is no sense in someone saving a life only to be asked to arrange positions afterward. I am already struggling to avoid trouble; why would I go out and invite more?"

Baoxian took the opportunity to say, "The young lady has been frightened and has traveled back and forth; her eyes are already sunken from exhaustion. Let us go back quickly."

The mistress and her maid hurried away. Madam Jiang was left standing there, stomping her feet in anger but unable to do anything, before turning and heading toward the courtyard gate.

On the other side, Qingru chased her mother into her courtyard and said with a sorrowful face, "Mother, did you hear? Brother Chunzhi wants to marry the Fourth Miss..."

Lady Hu was already full of anger with nowhere to vent. Hearing this wailing tone, she couldn't help but shout, "Shut your mouth! If it weren't for you, how could things have ended up like this? 'Chunzhi this, Chunzhi that' all day long—have you been blinded by pig lard? What is there about that blind fool for you to be so obsessed with? If all the good men in the world died, why must you insist on him?"

Qingru was stunned by her mother's outburst, but in an instant, her stubbornness flared up. She twisted her body and stomped her feet on the ground, "They haven't died out! I just want him, and even if it’s just to prevent the Fourth Miss from getting her wish, I want him!"

Lady Hu felt a headache from her noise, rubbing her temples and closing her eyes.

The Second Miss was a muddle-headed fool; she still hadn't figured out that the problem wasn't Li Congxin, but Shen Run. The people the Fourth Miss was attracting were becoming more significant one by one. Take Shen Run, who had extorted ten thousand taels of silver from the Xie family last time; if he managed to get a hold of evidence from this incident, he would likely drain the Xie family dry. Furthermore, the Old Madam was unaware of the truth. Qingyuan was her biological granddaughter no matter what; if she found out that she, as the legal mother, had secretly orchestrated all this, how could she ever forgive her!

The more she thought, the more her head ached and the more frightened she became. Qingru was still making a scene, and eventually, Lady Hu became somewhat numb, saying blankly, "Alright, alright, we will think of a way."

Qingru sobbed as if the sky were falling, "What way is there? The Fourth Miss has already agreed..."

In Danyue Pavilion, Baoxian felt the same anxiety.

"Is the young lady truly planning to marry the Third Young Master?"

Qingyuan shook her head. For some reason, this question brought Shen Run’s face to mind. Her heart shivered; she imagined how that Commander would deal with her if Li Congxin’s proposal today had actually been successful.

Baoxian was confused, "If so, why didn’t the young lady refuse him?"

Qingyuan took off the small purse from her waist and placed it by the head of the bed, saying calmly, "It was nothing more than a stalling tactic. Once the Old Madam sees that I am willing, she will naturally shift all her energy and attention onto the Third Young Master, making it easier to fend off the Commander’s side. I know the Danyang Marquis household may not grant the Third Young Master his wish; this marriage will not come to pass."

"What if it does?" Chuntai, squatting by her feet to change her soft shoes, looked up and asked. "If he makes a scene with his family, insisting he will not marry anyone but the young lady, and that if he cannot marry you, he will become a monk, how could the Marchioness possibly resist him?"

"If it truly comes to that..." Qingyuan sighed. "It will take several months to go back and forth. Even if the Old Madam approves, we still have to wait for a letter from the Master... If I haven't managed to make any progress in such a long time, it simply means I am useless and have no way to get justice for my mother. In that case, I will just have to marry him; I cannot spend my whole life wasting away in the Xie family.”