Another day passed before Cheng Danruo finally made her intentions clear to Yan Hongzhi.
“I am not willing to marry into the Wang family.” She came straight to the point. “Please, Father, think of a suitable excuse and decline on my behalf.”
Yan Hongzhi already knew of her decision, yet he feigned surprise on his face. “Such a good match – once missed, you’ll never find another like it.”
Cheng Danruo said, “I know.”
“You won’t regret it?” he asked.
“Regret is a matter for later.” Cheng Danruo sighed. “Who can guarantee they will always be right?”
Yan Hongzhi said, “But this decision of yours, by any measure, is not wise enough. Dan-niang, you have already reached the age of coming-of-age. Even if I keep you for a few more years, once the Wang family is missed, what kind of family could you possibly marry into in the future?”
He asked, “Or is it that you have other plans?”
Cheng Danruo was silent.
Yan Hongzhi said, “If you have something to say, speak plainly.”
“Father.” She began to speak. “I have never intended to stay in the Yan family forever.”
Working as a family physician, one’s food and expenses being covered by the household was reasonable enough. But pelvic inflammatory disease was not a serious illness. The prescriptions she had given Lady Hong seemed to have some effect, and with regular acupuncture, the condition seemed to have greatly improved. Yet her expenses in the Yan household were growing by the day.
For the New Year, new clothes had to be cut and new jewelry made. After the New Year, the new season’s spring clothes had to be prepared again. When the weather warmed up and one went out for spring outings, the maids, the servants, the carriages – which of these did not cost money? How could she have the nerve?
Raising an extra child was not simply a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks.
Yan Hongzhi neither agreed nor disagreed. “You want to go out and make a living?”
Cheng Danruo said, “Please, Father, point me toward a clear path.”
“A clear path? Isn’t marriage a clear path?” He was curious. “What kind of clear path do you think I can give you?”
Cheng Danruo raised her head and looked him straight in the eye, then said slowly, “Perhaps it is my imagination, but I always feel that you, Father, have such a path for me.”
Yan Hongzhi was astonished.
After a long moment, he laughed uncontrollably. He slapped his thigh. “You child, your intuition is not bad at all.”
Her suspended heart suddenly fell back into her chest. Cheng Danruo said earnestly, “Please, Father, enlighten me.”
Yan Hongzhi picked up his teacup and took a sip of hot tea to warm his lungs, only then saying, “Let me say this first: this path is not easy. At the very least, it is harder to walk than marrying into the Wang family. If you do not have a one-hundred-and-twenty-thousand-percent resolve, you would be better off not going.”
Cheng Danruo said, “I have already made up my mind. I am not going to the Wang family.”
Yan Hongzhi sighed, but no longer kept her in suspense. “Next spring, not only will there be the spring imperial examinations, the Six Bureaus and One Directorate will also recruit female officials anew.”
Cheng Danruo knew of the system of female officials, but did not know much about the situation in the Xia dynasty. “Are female officials different from palace maids?”
“Palace maids need only be of good family and have a clean background. Female officials, however, must be well-read and reasonable. They are not only responsible for the work of the Six Bureaus and One Directorate, but also must guide the central palace and purify the inner chambers. At the founding of the state, the rear palace was peaceful, and the female officials’ contributions were indispensable. However, because female officials are women, they are, after all, not as close to the sovereign as eunuchs, and so they gradually declined.”
Yan Hongzhi briefly explained the history of female officials, then told her, “In the late emperor’s time, eunuchs brought chaos to court politics. The current sovereign takes this as a warning and dares not heavily employ the Directorate of Ceremonial. But since the rear palace has no sons and the consorts are uneasy, there is now an intention to revive the use of female officials. Palace Matron Hong submitted a memorial requesting the selection of female officials to enter the palace, and it has already been approved. Next spring, the selection will be held in the capital region.”
Cheng Danruo pondered and asked, “How many years would one serve? What is the salary?”
“It depends on the person. If she is a woman without husband or children, she may remain in the palace until old age. If she is an unmarried young woman, she may return home to marry after serving several years. As for salary, it is equivalent to that of officials. The annual salary of the Six Palace Matron is one hundred and eighty dan.”
She immediately did the accounts: if one dou of rice costs one qian, then one hundred and eighty dan is one hundred and eighty taels.
That was not a small amount. The palace provided food and lodging, so she could save quite a bit. Most importantly, since female officials had rank, they had a status recognized by society.
She could also grow old and die in the palace, openly and honorably without ever marrying.
Where else could one find such a good thing?
Cheng Danruo immediately made up her mind. “I’ll go.”
“You must think this through. The palace is no ordinary household – it is the most complicated and unpredictable place under heaven.” Yan Hongzhi said earnestly, “Entering the palace to seek a future: if you succeed, glory and wealth; if you fail, a straw mat wrapped around your body, and no one can protect you. Have you truly thought it through?”
Cheng Danruo was silent for a moment, then nodded. “I know.”
Who did not know that serving the royal family was the highest risk of all? Sometimes one lost one’s life in a muddle.
Yet how much better was it outside?
There was nowhere in this world that did not devour people. If she went out there, even local ruffians and thugs could swallow her whole. Since that was so, why not gamble on the biggest stake?
“Learn both civil and martial arts, and sell them to the imperial house.” She said, “I have nothing to lose.”
Yan Hongzhi finally nodded. “Since you have such ambition, I will not stop you. However, the list of books a female official must read thoroughly is not short. Before the second month, you must at least thoroughly read the Classic of Filial Piety, the Women’s Classic of Filial Piety, the Women’s Admonitions, and the Four Books. The Book of Songs cannot be skipped either.”
Cheng Danruo nodded without the slightest hesitation. “Alright.”
What was so difficult about reading? What she feared was not having the chance to read.
“Tomorrow, you need not do needlework anymore. Come to the front to study during the day.” Yan Hongzhi said cheerfully, “It just so happens that you and San-lang can prepare together. Whoever does not study hard gets no food.”
Cheng Danruo: “…”
Senior year began.
But studying in winter was no easy matter. Even though the Yan family was wealthy and never lacked for charcoal, they could not change the natural environment.
In the capital, dawn came late and darkness fell early. On rainy or snowy days, the rooms were especially dim. Although glass existed at the time, there were no glass windows, and reading indoors was extremely hard on the eyes.
One could only open the windows and endure the cold while reading beside them.
Fortunately, the charcoal braziers burned amply. With a warming cage placed under the desk, her feet stayed warm and toasty, and even with thin clothing on her upper body, she was not too cold. What was troubling was that the ink in the inkstone froze easily. As she wrote, it would freeze, and she had to add water again to melt it.
Yan Hongzhi did not allow maids or young servants to accompany her in studying; all the work had to be done by herself.
Cheng Danruo had never missed modern pens so much.
The chilblain ointment she had made before was now being used on herself. As soon as there was slight redness and swelling, she applied it, and only thus did her skin avoid ulcerating.
This scene all fell into the eyes of others.
Over the past several months, although Lady Hong had not been close to Cheng Danruo, since Cheng Danruo had kowtowed and formally acknowledged the kinship, she did regard her as half a daughter. She could not help saying, “Although this is Sister Xia’s idea and we as family must support it, once one enters the palace gates, it is as deep as the sea. It would be better to marry into the Wang family. We could always watch over her for ten years. After ten years, she ought to have established herself.”
Yan Hongzhi patted the back of his wife’s hand. “Ah-Jing, people have different aspirations. I have said it before – Dan-niang’s ambitions are high.”
Lady Hong sighed. “Ambition is all very well, but the palace… how many corpses were carried out in those years? Surely you know.”
“Times are not what they were. The sovereign is not a bloodthirsty or cruel sort, and with my cousin’s sister to look after her, it should not come to that.” Yan Hongzhi was perfectly clear in his heart. “She is not without a way back. If something truly happens, let her come home and marry.”
Lady Hong rolled her eyes. “And how old will she be by then? She could only be someone’s second wife.”
“Do not speak so absolutely about everything.” Yan Hongzhi smiled and changed the subject. “By the way, Er-lang wrote back and said he will arrive home in a few days…”
At the mention of her second son, who was not by her side, Lady Hong immediately forgot everything else and said through gritted teeth, “That bastard! When he comes back, I will beat him to death!”
“Ah-Jing, he is your own son, born from ten months of carrying him in your womb.” Yan Hongzhi hurried to soothe his old wife. “Leaving everything else aside, if he still does not marry, who knows what year you and I will have to wait before we can hold a grandson.”
Lady Hong was silent.
Yan Hongzhi put his arm around her shoulder and said softly, “The child has grown up. Let him be.”
“Hmph.” Lady Hong gave two soft snorts, but did not object again.
First Master Yan and First Madam Yan were also whispering to each other.
First Madam Yan felt rather regretful. “Such a good match with the Wang family! What a pity.”
First Master Yan, however, approved. “A family too powerful is not a fitting match. Dan-niang does not covet the Wang family’s wealth and honor. She truly has a bit of backbone.”
“A bit foolish.” First Madam Yan saw it differently. “A wife’s status comes from her husband. Once she marries, she becomes the granddaughter-in-law of a minister. Past matters would not be pursued. To be so rigid about origins is, on the contrary, petty.”
First Master Yan nodded again. “What you think also makes sense. It is just that in marriage, both sides must be willing. Since Dan-niang is unwilling, then let it be – but you must not go complain to Mother. She is a young lady; she does not use much money.”
First Madam Yan said, “Rest assured. Third Sister’s daily expenses come from the public funds; the rest is all Father’s private money. If the elder is willing to support her, I naturally have no objection – it is only a pity.”
“Oh?”
“That day at the Wang family banquet, everyone was on edge, yet she alone was calm.” First Madam Yan still remembered the scene that day – how frightening that mad dog had been. “Honestly speaking, when I saw it, I both admired her and felt afraid.”
First Master Yan did not understand. “Why afraid?”
First Madam Yan shook her head, finding it hard to explain the subtlety. “It is hard to say. In any case, if it had been me, I would surely have come back and had nightmares for days, yet she did not even brew a bowl of medicine.”
“She came from the borderlands. Presumably she has been bold since childhood.” First Master Yan casually comforted her, then changed the subject. “Has your mother’s health improved? Tomorrow I will accompany you back to visit.”
First Madam Yan then set the matter aside and said sweetly, “You have official duties. I can go by myself.”
“Bring some red ginseng.”
“Mm.”
After nightfall, Xie Xuanying sat in a folding chair, reading The Romance of the Western Chamber by the dim yellow lamplight. Although it was not a proper serious book, as long as he did not read it in front of his teacher, there was no harm in sneaking a look in his room. He even had a set of Spring Boudoir Dreams illustrated by a famous artist… ahem!
He flipped through it carelessly. When he reached the chapter of the Long Pavilion, where the old madam says, “Today I give Yingying to you. When you go to the capital, do not disgrace my child. Win first place in the imperial examination and come back,” he could not help but chuckle softly.
What a simple method. He had never thought of it before.
Dan-niang was indeed clever, striking straight at the core.
To bring a happy matter to fruition, bitter pleading was useless. Better to win a place on the golden list.
Of course, the examination for female officials was not difficult to pass. This was only the beginning.
“Young Master.” Song Mu came over quietly and trimmed the candlewick brighter. “Everything has been packed. We can return to the residence tomorrow.”
Xie Xuanying nodded. With the end of the year approaching, staying at his teacher’s house for seven or eight days was already rare; he could not delay any longer. Fortunately, the trip had not been in vain. Not only had the matter of Dan-niang’s marriage taken a turn, but he himself had also firmed up his resolve and was no longer lost in confusion.
Going home was good too.
He had to ruin that marriage arrangement.
He said, “Go rest.”
“Yes.” Song Mu withdrew, but as he closed the door, he could not resist raising his eyes for a glance.
As a personal attendant, one’s sensitivity to one’s master was higher than anyone else’s. More than once, he had realized that since returning from Jiangnan, the young master had increasingly favored Bai Mu.
Why on earth was that? Song Mu set his mind to work and began to ponder.
Inside the room, Xie Xuanying intended to read two more pages, but when he casually flipped forward, he came upon. “Her embroidered shoes have just half come off, her willow waist is a handful to grasp, shyly she will not raise her head, only pressing close to the mandarin-duck pillow.” Not daring to read further, he quickly closed the book and went to bed to sleep.
How could he possibly fall asleep?
Cui Yingying… Dan-niang… Dan-niang…
After returning to the Marquis of Jinghai Residence, Xie Xuanying immediately became busy.
There were many matters around the New Year – banquets, sacrifices, court congratulations… every single one could keep a person so busy that they fell asleep the moment their head hit the pillow. The emperor also had no shortage of affairs, and loved to keep him close during ancestral sacrifices and celebrations.
Xie Xuanying grew thin from busyness.
Lady Liu was the same. As the matriarch of the marquis manor, she opened her eyes before dawn and was still not finished after dark. When she truly could not hold on, she simply handed the household affairs over to her eldest daughter-in-law and second daughter-in-law, having the two check and balance each other.
As a result, First Madam Mo became a Bodhisattva, saying of everything, “I will follow my sister-in-law’s lead,” while Second Madam Rong, out of filial piety, ran to ask Lady Liu about everything and did not dare make decisions on her own.
Lady Liu was so angry that she ground her teeth and poured out her bitterness to her trusted old maid.
“One is the son of a concubine and eldest son of the house, the other is the legitimate eldest son. Back then they fought like black chickens with red eyes. Now, isn’t it wonderful – they treat me as the enemy.”
The old maid said, “Madam, neither the First Madam nor the Second Madam is simple.”
“Of course they are not simple.” Lady Liu sneered. “One was decided by the Old Madam, the other was chosen by the one before me on her deathbed. Both are afraid that I, the one who came later, will make things difficult for them in their marriages!”
The old maid also found it thorny. After thinking for a long while, she said, “Madam, you originally thought to wait until the third madam entered the household and then hand the household affairs to her. But the Third Young Master’s marriage cannot be settled anytime soon. It would be better to take a step back first.”
Lady Liu closed her eyes in thought. After a while, she said slowly, “I originally thought that once Xu Yi-niang entered the household, with her methods, even if she could not suppress them, she would at least not come off worse. Now… heh, never mind.”
She said, “Starting tomorrow, say that I am ill. Hand all household matters to the two of them. I want to rest and recover properly.”
An alliance, is it? Fine.
With such a huge pie as the marquis manor, let us see how long you two can hold back.
The situation in the inner quarters quietly shifted.
Xie Xuanying knew nothing of it.
A man who is not married, as long as he lacks neither food nor clothing nor expenses, will not care about changes in power in the inner quarters. But Lady Liu’s trusted old maid felt sorry for her own mistress and, taking the opportunity of delivering soup, quietly told him.
“Madam suffers in her heart too. Those two appear respectful on the surface, but in private they do plenty of scheming.” The old maid said, “If only the Xu family daughter could enter the household. Then Madam would not have to be so tired.”
Xie Xuanying raised an eyebrow.
“No need to concern yourself with Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law.” He said, “Let Mother rest well.”
The old maid probed, “By the way, when Commandery Princess Jianing came to visit, Madam was quite pleased.”
Xie Xuanying’s political nerves were stirred. “Commandery Princess Jianing? Mother has met her? How many times?”
The old maid, thinking he cared, smiled and answered, “Only twice. Once was when she came to visit and thank you for your help in the Wang family matter. The other was on the Empress Dowager’s birthday, when Madam entered the palace to offer congratulations and encountered Commandery Princess Jianing’s sedan chair. The princess took the initiative to step down from her sedan and yield the way.”
Xie Xuanying’s brows immediately knit tightly.
