Spring of the Blade - Chapter 8
Chapter 8
With both families inclined toward a marriage alliance, their observation at this Spring Banquet meant that the wife of the Marquis of Ji had, in effect, facilitated another union; truly, it was a meritorious deed of boundless virtue. When families of equal status are both satisfied, it saves so much trouble! Possessing the kind intention to bring things to fruition, the Marquis's wife naturally cleared out a quiet area where several noble families could sit together, sipping tea and chatting as they waited for the eldest son of the Earl of Founding to appear, so they could observe the two young people to see if they were a good match.
Qingyuan had initially shrunk back behind the others, but her attempt to avoid notice did not dampen the interest of the noble ladies in using her as a topic of conversation.
So many pairs of eyes looked toward her—some intentionally, some not—and with the quiet whispering coupled with the sharp, sidelong glances flying her way, one didn't need to hear the actual content of their words to know exactly what they were discussing. Qingyuan was, after all, young, and it was inevitable that she would feel constrained at such a juncture. Xie the Old Madam naturally noticed; she said nothing, not even turning her head once as she set down her teacup, firmly covering it with its lid.
The translucent tent was like a pot filled with water, and the idle gossip was the small fire burning underneath. The heat was tepid, causing clusters of bubbles to rise against the walls—not enough to boil, yet lively and intense nonetheless. Those present were all people of status, so whispering was not exactly decorous. The wife of the Marquis of Ji simply threw caution to the wind, tilting her head to study Qingyuan closely before saying to the Old Madam, "Earlier, the Old Matriarch mentioned this was the Fourth Miss. I know the Governor’s household has three young ladies, but this one..."
No matter how noble a woman is, she can never bypass the hobby of prying into privacy, and the Marquis's wife was no exception. This, however, provided the Old Madam the perfect opportunity to speak plainly.
"This is my Xie family’s youngest daughter. She was lost to us earlier, and it was only this year, after receiving word, that we brought her back to the estate." The Old Madam did not shy away from the topic. Hengtang was neither small nor large; if a family had even a hint of a breeze, the entire city would know about it in the blink of an eye. In truth, everyone sitting here knew Qingyuan’s origins perfectly well. Because a deceased concubine did not count as a reputable secondary wife, the Xie family could keep the matter behind closed doors, but who outside did not know that two concubines had competed for favor, and one had poisoned the other to death?
Yet, the Old Madam did not care. Who is not talked about behind their back, and who does not talk about others? Among the great noble families, there were plenty of things much more foul than this, but once time passed and things were washed clean, they would just turn around and busy themselves with someone else’s drama.
A flickering smile hung on the Old Madam’s face. "The grudges of the older generation have nothing to do with her. She has been back at the estate for a good while, and I have observed her coldly; she is a well-behaved, complete child. Although our Xie family is not a household of immense prominence, we emphasize family affection and solidarity. How could we leave our own flesh and blood drifting outside? I often tell those around me that we have done our human duty; the rest depends on her own fate. If her fate is deep, marrying a high-ranking official will be her blessing; if her fate is not deep, even if she stays in the Xie house for a lifetime, we are well enough off to provide for her."
These words carried a certain air of refusing to bow to others; even if it meant raising a spinster, the Xie family accepted it. Outsiders might hear this and think the Old Madam was compassionate, righteous, and possessed the demeanor of a true family head, but Qingyuan knew exactly what percentage of it was hypocrisy. Had it not been for the sake of household peace, the Xie family would never have remembered her existence. Back then, when the Chen family’s elderly couple refused to let her go, they were the ones who stormed the house, alternating between threats and snatching her away.
However, the Old Madam was right about one thing: she did not expect any of these noble ladies to fancy her, and therefore she remained poised and elegant, avoiding the timid, bashful behavior of a small-minded girl.
The ladies present had originally held a "watching a play" mentality, intending to drag out this granddaughter who had returned halfway through her life just to see how the Xie Old Madam would handle it. As it turned out, the woman was incredibly open and frank, without a shred of shrinking, compromising behavior. For a moment, they were perplexed—did the Old Madam truly not worry about this granddaughter’s future? It was almost as if she really did have a match with a high-ranking official waiting for them somewhere.
But looking at the young girl herself, young as she was, her appearance was truly exceptionally beautiful. No wonder the Xie Old Madam had such confidence! This made the families who had sons hang their hearts in suspense. When a girl has such looks, how many shortcuts can she take? If some muddle-headed son or foolish grandson became infatuated with her, and started screaming and shouting to marry a girl of such origins, the household would surely lose its peace.
For a while, everyone harbored their own hidden thoughts, responding vaguely with a few polite remarks before each lifted their teacup. Only the Old Madam of the Prefect’s house, who had been close with the Xie Old Madam since their youth, looked at Qingyuan and offered a few perfunctory words, saying that life was not easy for the girl and that when she had time, she should come to visit their house along with her sisters.
Just at that moment, the eldest son of the Earl of Founding arrived, and everyone’s attention shifted to him. Qingyuan glanced at him; he was of medium height and appearance, his features upright. Although he wasn't exactly dashing or romantic, he carried the distinct, pure aura of a scholar.
In a family of that standing, to produce a legitimate candidate for the imperial examinations who wasn't born with a misshapen face was already a rarity. Earlier, Qingru had been craning her neck, hoping the Earl’s eldest son would be disappointing so she could fill the void of her own regret at having missed the chance. Who knew that she would get exactly what she feared most? She felt a flash of inward resentment, and seeing Qinghe’s shy, blushing demeanor, she found it even more of an eyesore, so she hooked the corner of her lip and let out a silent, mocking huff.
Qingyuan followed behind the Old Madam. As the youngest of the sisters, she could still play the part of a simpleton for two more years, just smiling along with the occasion. The Earl’s son knew his family was arranging a match for him, so facing them now, it was inevitable that he would feel awkward. His mother had him pay his respects to the Xie Old Matriarch, which he did with a bow and folded hands, but when he was asked to acknowledge the younger sisters, he grew quite flustered.
The four young ladies on the opposite side stood in a line, their colorful skirts trailing, and he did not even dare to lift his eyes to look. The greeting was performed in a hazy, muddled fashion. The young ladies retreated a small step, heads bowed, and returned the bow with a graceful knee-bend. Only then did he catch a glimpse of the Xie family’s eldest daughter; she was not a stunning beauty, but a delicate and graceful lady. That one look was enough.
The elders were all experienced in these matters and did not need to ask whether the meeting was successful; one look at their expressions told them the result. Since the children were to be married, they ought to spend a little time together before the wedding. The Countess of Founding asked Qinghe with a smile, "Does the eldest young lady enjoy cuju or chuiwan?"
Qinghe lowered her head and replied, "When we sisters are at home, we often play them."
The Countess of Founding smiled even more brightly, "That’s perfect. Let Guanshui take you outside to have a look. Perhaps there are some young ladies there that you know."
Qinghe felt a bit shy, looking lingeringly to her grandmother for guidance. Xie the Old Madam was happy to see this come to pass and nodded, "Go ahead. It’s rare to be out, and it’s good to walk around everywhere."
However, it would not be proper for a young lady to run off alone with a man, so Qinghe needed to pull one of her sisters to accompany her. Qingru was suspected of wanting to sabotage the match, and Qingrong was a cynical mischief-maker who thrived on chaos. After counting them up, only Qingyuan remained. She grabbed her hand and said, "Fourth Sister, come with me!"
Qingyuan was but a fourteen-year-old child; to outsiders, she appeared somewhat ignorant and innocent. She blinked her large eyes, waiting to hear her grandmother’s instruction, and only after Xie the Old Madam gave the nod did she follow Qinghe out of the green tent.
Outside, the spring sunshine was brilliant. Looking out, one saw layers upon layers of peach forests, appearing almost overwhelming. When the wind blew, it brought a fragrance that filled the nose. Qingyuan supported Qinghe’s arm and whispered in admiration, "The scenery here is so beautiful!"
Qinghe was very gentle and amiable at this moment. She hummed in agreement, "The Marquis of Ji’s wife has been managing this place for dozens of years."
Li Guanshui heard the sisters’ quiet whispers and laughed, "This was originally the place where local officials held the 'Deer Cry' banquets for the scholars who passed the examinations. Later, when that ceremony was abolished, the Marquis's wife bought this place and had people plant a large forest of peach trees all around. It took seven or eight years to achieve this magnificent sight. Is this Fourth Sister’s first time here?"
Qingyuan smiled and nodded.
Most people knew her background, but men did not have the roundabout intestines of women, and Li Guanshui was the same. He walked with his hands behind his back and said, "I have come for two years in a row, and I didn't want to... it was my mother who forced me... but it’s fine now. I never have to come again." Even the most dull-witted man would find an infinite amount of inspiration when faced with the prospect of taking a wife. After saying this, he pondered carefully, feeling he had spoken quite clearly; surely the young lady would understand, and in no way would he leave the impression of being a bookish nerd!
The cuju field was right ahead. The people on the field were running with vigorous energy, while those watching from the sidelines—near or far, sitting or standing—were in a state of high excitement. Looking left and right, there didn't seem to be an extra stool, so he told them to wait a moment while he ran off to arrange one for them. Qingyuan and Qinghe exchanged a smile. "I really must congratulate you, Big Sister. Young Master Li is quite interested in you."
Qinghe grew flustered and blushed as she argued, "That is not so."
Qingyuan smiled and said, "How could it not be? He just said he would never have to come here again. That was just his way of telling Big Sister that now that he has met someone who suits his heart, he will never have to come here for observation again."
Qinghe naturally understood his meaning. To be honest, before attending the banquet, she had been worried. Li Guanshui was the legitimate eldest son of an Earl; he should have been matched with a legitimate daughter like Qingru. She did not know why this marriage had fallen to her. She had worried repeatedly that perhaps he truly had some defect, or was hideously ugly, or possessed poor character, or was, as Qingrong had said, a fool... Now that she had seen him, the young man was a steady, down-to-earth person, and he possessed none of the arrogance of an Earl’s son. Just from the gesture of him finding them stools himself, one could see he would be a considerate person in the future.
Because her happiest moments were when Qingyuan was by her side sharing her joy, Qinghe did not dislike her as she once had. In fact, compared to Qingru and Qingrong, this Fourth Sister had even more commendable qualities. She really was just a child, her heart simple and pure. She had discovered an even deeper meaning in Li Guanshui’s words and said to herself, "People who are already married don't come to the Spring Banquet anymore. Someone who, before even being married, is so glad he never has to come again—he surely will not take concubines in the future!"
For a husband not to take concubines is almost every woman’s wish. Especially for girls like them—born of concubines—they understood the difficulties of being one, and they understood what people were willing to do at any cost to survive. Thus, avoiding their husbands taking concubines was just as important as not being someone else’s concubine. Qingyuan’s analysis, whether correct or not, was at least very gratifying for Qinghe to hear.
The sisters were whispering to each other when, unexpectedly, a ball from the distant cuju field flew out of the grounds and hurtled toward them. Qingyuan could not dodge in time and was struck in the shoulder.
The currently fashionable cuju ball was made by stitching eight petals of leather together and stuffing them with rice husks. Though it wasn't heavy, the force at which it was kicked gave it considerable impact. She let out an "Ouch!" and rubbed her shoulder. Qinghe was startled and asked hurriedly, "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, and seeing the ball lying at her feet, she lifted her eyes to scan the surroundings. Who was the reckless one who kicked the ball so inaccurately!
The ball’s path had split the people in the area into two groups. At the end of the human wall, a young man rushed over in a hurry. He wore a garment of cream-colored satin with auspicious cloud patterns, the collar and sleeves trimmed with red silk piping. That faint line of crimson, reflecting against his fair, clean face, carried the refined and handsome charm of a young gentleman from the capital.