Spring of the Blade - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The narrow alleyway was silent, with not a servant in sight. The high, stacked horse-head gables cut the sky into a slender, jagged strip, across which grey-winged, white-feathered birds occasionally flew. Qingyuan squinted, watching them with a distant, lost gaze.

She did not speak, and Baoxian, knowing her young mistress felt aggrieved, whispered, "Mistress, please don't take them to heart. One only spends a few years as an unmarried daughter in their parents' home; being overly aggressive in securing one's position isn't necessarily a good thing. Once they are married off, they’ll discover how the world outside truly operates."

Qingyuan hummed in acknowledgment, "I am not angry, you don't need to console me."

Though she smiled, it was the composure of a true young mistress. If she allowed every frustration to show on her face, she would be no different from those two sisters.

Baoxian sighed, "Before you returned, we served in various corners of the estate and didn't have deep interactions with the other young ladies. They seemed refined and polite enough back then. Now that you've returned, it's as if their true forms have been revealed—each one of them baring their fangs and claws, lacking any of the grace of a noble daughter. Isn't it strange? Take what the Third Miss said earlier; how does that even make sense? Her own mother was a mere dancing girl; even if she was raised by the Madam, that doesn't change the fact that she isn't a daughter of the main wife."

Qingyuan did not speak; her heart was clear as a mirror. In truth, it was less about who one was born to and more about who raised one. A young lady might sometimes speak rashly due to a petulant nature; after all, people aren't gourds—they don't all grow according to the same mold. But constant, vicious talk was a failure of upbringing. Qingrong hated her, and because everyone claimed her mother had poisoned Concubine Xia, that hatred at least had a source. But Qingru’s habit of making things difficult for her at every turn was truly excessive. It showed that this Xie family was not a place where reason prevailed.

"Honestly, staying with the Chen family was far better for you than returning to the Xie estate," Baoxian said while helping her along. "I truly don't understand what they are thinking. From the Old Madam down to the young ladies, everyone looks at you with contempt. If they knew it would be like this, why did they bother bringing you back just to incite anger?"

Qingyuan was remarkably open-minded. She spoke with a detached air, as if the matter were none of her concern, "It was originally for the sake of peace within the household. As long as I am in the estate, they feel at ease." Seeing Baoxian was still incensed, she patted her hand, "It doesn't matter to me. Some people live their whole lives cowering—so what? We are only here for a time, and that is already for the best. There is no banquet in this world that doesn't end; we won't be under this same roof until we grow old."

"Aren't you even a little annoyed, Mistress?" Baoxian asked, "Just now, she was practically stabbing her insults into your face..."

Qingyuan smiled, "If I were angry at something like this, I would spend my entire life in a fit of rage. Listen to me: in this world, one must often pretend to be deaf and dumb. She is the one cursing you, and she is more anxious than you are—she has to exhaust her brain and her energy to do it. Let’s treat it as if she is merely performing on a stage. There is no need to lose one's temper. Getting angry only confuses the mind, and the moment you are confused, you play right into her hands."

She had her own philosophy. It was hard to believe that someone so young possessed such a transparent understanding of the cold and fickle nature of the world. Perhaps this was for the best; many of life’s hardships were self-inflicted. Once that root of illness was removed, she would essentially become impervious to attack.

They quickly finished the writing they had been punished to copy and headed back to Huifang Garden. Expecting that Qingru and Qingrong had already left, they were surprised to find them still there, and that the Old Madam had summoned Qinghe as well. The three sisters stood to the side while the Old Madam reclined on a couch, checking the Neixun that Qingru had copied page by page.

In the Old Madam’s presence, no one dared to act out; everyone kept their eyes fixed on their own toes. Qingyuan did not dare make a sound upon entering, and only when the Old Madam had finished checking Qingru’s did she lift her own copy of the Nüjie with both hands to present it.

The deep, dimly lit room was quiet, save for the sound of rustling paper. The Old Madam scrutinized every page, even every character. She was a meticulous person; since her youth, she had cultivated the habit of being fastidious about every detail.

Both granddaughters used the elegant, slender regular-script calligraphy, but the styles differed. Qingru’s was superficially fluid but lacked strength, while Qingyuan’s was delicate yet possessed a sturdy structure—very much in line with Lady Wei’s description of "powerful and full of bone."

Regardless, they had both carefully completed the punishment she had set. Whether the writing was good or bad was a matter of their individual skill, and she did not wish to push them further. The Old Madam set their work aside and said sternly, "All of you must study diligently during this time. Your father will be returning shortly, and I will be careful to test you when the time comes."

Qingru was delighted to hear this. As a legitimate daughter, the Master doted on her more, and she received better treatment than her sisters, so she was naturally closer to him.

"Is Father returning on official business, or is he making a special trip to see Grandmother? How long can he stay at home?"

A trace of worry rose in the Old Madam’s eyes. Xie Shu’s family letter had been unclear, and between the lines, he seemed remarkably rushed. Why that was, she would likely only know when he arrived. However, people of age often have precise premonitions about many things. The Old Madam’s own family had been involved in official circles, and returning in the middle of the year, not for a festival, was likely not a good sign. But it was not yet certain, and she did not want to speak of it before the children and cause them to lose their composure. She said, "Your father has been defending the border at Jishi Mountain for several years. It is likely that the Imperial Court has issued a decree of grace, allowing him to return to visit his kin. It is hard to say how long he will stay; it depends on his intentions. If he has other official business, he won't be able to stay long."

Either way, being able to return was enough. Qingru and her sisters were beaming. The Old Madam looked at Qingyuan, who stood there quietly with a quiet smile on her face.

The Old Madam sighed. Presumably, because her background was less prestigious, she understood the bitterness of the world. Although she could not integrate with the sisters, her heart was delicate, and she was dutiful. Yesterday, the words she had said to stop her from decocting medicine—had it been Qinghe or Qingru, they surely would have quit on the spot. Yet she had a stubborn, persistent streak; she came again today, though she didn't show her face and instead had others deliver it to the inner chamber. Truth be told, she certainly wanted to curry favor, but she did not do so in a way that was irritating. A child with no one to rely on choosing the most difficult old woman in the family as her backer—her eye for people was somewhat unique.

Old Madam Xie coughed, "Qingyuan, you have yet to meet your father. During this time, be more cautious and prudent so you may win his favor."

Qingyuan said she would, biting her lip into a smile, as if she were truly full of longing.

In fact, before she knew her parentage, she had seen this Military Governor on the street. At that time, he was high atop a great horse, surrounded by soldiers, truly glorious and peerless. Now that she knew he was her father, that sense of awe had vanished entirely, replaced gradually by resentment. She hated him for not investigating the truth, for letting his pregnant lover die in injustice, and for not acknowledging her, letting her spend fourteen years living a life without a father or mother.

The Old Madam naturally did not know what she was thinking, assuming only that she understood the stakes now that she had been instructed. After a pause, she looked again at Qinghe, "The marriage match proposed by the Prefect’s wife—word was sent in today that the Earl of Founding’s family is interested in marrying the eldest daughter. I have not yet agreed, but in two days, the wife of Marquis Ji will be hosting a spring banquet. We will take the opportunity to see them then. If there are no hitches, it will likely be decided."

When this news broke, everyone was startled. Qingru had originally believed the Prefect’s wife favored her, and that this match would fall to her ten times out of nine. Unexpectedly, the matter took a turn at the final moment, and the candidate had become Qinghe. The Old Madam would, of course, not offer any further explanation; whichever granddaughter she picked was the same to her. It was even better to marry off the "stagnant" inventory first, making it easier for the remaining granddaughters to climb the social ladder. Qinghe was actually a bit dazed—it was hard to say if that counted as "honest." Regardless, her wits weren't too sharp; when things happened, there were moments when her face went blank, and she wouldn't even know how to be anxious. The reason the Earl of Founding’s family chose her was likely because they saw the ages were a better match. Although Qinghe was not a daughter of the main wife, she was still the eldest daughter of the Xie family, so one couldn't go too wrong with her.

As for Qinghe, she was indeed as dazed as Qingru had said. When she finally came to her senses, her face flushed red, and as she tugged at her sash, she said, "This granddaughter will leave it entirely to Grandmother’s decision."

Qingrong curled the corner of her lips, secretly slandering her: If you don't leave it to Grandmother’s decision, who else’s decision can you leave it to? Even if the Earl of Founding’s son wasn't well-featured, even if he were blind or crippled, if the Old Madam agreed to the marriage, one would have to marry him even if the sky were to fall.

Qingyuan watched them from the side, each harboring their own hidden agendas, and found it somewhat amusing. Those three sisters had grown up together, but when temptation appeared, any talk of sisterly affection was nothing more than empty, verbal fluff. Take this good marriage match, for example—everyone was eyeing it hungrily. Qingru, holding herself as the daughter of the main wife, likely had strong ambitions to win it. Who would have guessed that the Earl’s family would happen to fancy the eldest daughter? In the end, after much painful reflection, it would likely all be blamed on that phrase "I was born in the year of the Rabbit," and Qinghe would surely receive her fair share of cold sarcasm.

The Old Madam nodded slowly, "Among your generation, the marriages for the boys have all been discussed; now it is the girls' turn. You are the first; you must set a good example so that your younger sisters' marriages can be arranged at a higher level. If the eldest son of the Earl of Founding is decent, then agreeing is a good thing. I will naturally prepare a dowry for you; your Madam will add a little, and your concubine mother can give some of her private savings. When you go to your husband's house, you will be able to hold your head high."

For a girl, besides the social status and character of the other party, the second most important thing was the dowry. Hearing the Old Madam offer to prepare it personally, the flush on Qinghe’s blank face deepened. She lowered her head and said, "Thank you, Grandmother... This granddaughter will listen entirely to Grandmother and the Madam."

Qingyuan was standing not far from Qingru and heard clearly the "huff" squeezed through Qingru’s teeth.

Later, they filed out, retreating to the moon gate outside the garden. Here, the green bamboos swayed and the light and shadows danced; normally, one could praise it as a beautiful spring scene, but it was ruined by the ridicule of Qingru and Qingrong.

Qingru toyed with her handkerchief, saying with a smirk, "Congratulations to Big Sister for being promised to such a good family."

Qinghe had not yet woken from her previous shock, and hearing her sister say this, she looked quite embarrassed, twisting about and saying, "It is I who climbed too high..."

"That’s not necessarily so," Qingrong laughed. "Although they look glorious and prosperous from the outside, who doesn't know that their second branch gave birth to a fool? Such things are hard to say. Big Sister must be very careful when dealing with the Earl of Founding’s eldest son. I fear his family carries that 'foolish seed.' Everything is fine now, but if something happens in a couple of years, who knows if it might suddenly flare up."

Only then did Qinghe realize they were not wishing her well. Her face fell, and she said angrily, "If it is their second branch, what does that have to do with the Earl of Founding’s family?"

"That’s a strange thing to say. Weren't they all passed down from the same ancestors?" Qingru said with a bland smile.

Qinghe became even angrier. Their respective maids did not dare to interrupt, and with no one to play mediator, she turned her head and looked at Qingyuan, "Fourth Sister, be the judge—is there any such logic?"

Qingru and Qingrong also looked intensely at Qingyuan, "Yes, ask Fourth Sister. Tell Big Sister to be careful—is she wrong?"

Qingyuan was suddenly pushed to the forefront, becoming the prize they were both vying for—except this prize was being roasted on a fire, and no matter how she turned, she suffered. She thought for a moment and smiled, "Second Sister and Third Sister are just reluctant to part with Big Sister. For Big Sister to be careful—there is certainly no harm in that. However, in my opinion, this 'foolish seed' is not necessarily passed down by the Earl of Founding’s family. Sons grow up and marry their own wives; perhaps it was brought over by the second branch’s Madam—that is not impossible."

At this, Qinghe straightened her back, "Fourth Sister is absolutely correct."

Seeing that Qingyuan wasn't offending either side, Qingrong huffed, "You certainly know how to ingratiate yourself." She smiled again at Qinghe, "Then I wish Big Sister a satisfactory husband. You will see him at the spring banquet anyway. Checking him out now is better than discovering he is a fool after you’ve entered the bridal chamber."

Qingru and Qingrong laughed and walked off down the path, discussing as they went, "What is wrong with Big Sister? She’s so simple-minded—we try to persuade her to be careful, and she doesn't even recognize a kind heart."

"She’s been like that since she was small—a beautiful lantern, looking bright on the outside, but unfortunately, there’s no candle lit inside..."

The voices were too loud, and they could be heard clearly. Qinghe’s anger had not yet subsided, and she glared fiercely at the backs of her two sisters. Qingyuan did not know what to say, so she softly said, "Congratulations, Big Sister."

Naturally, Qinghe did not appreciate her sentiment. She left in a huff with her maids, leaving Qingyuan and Baoxian to exchange looks, their smiles helpless and awkward.