If she became a door-watching widow, she would be alone and destitute for the rest of her life, bringing no benefit whatsoever to the family or to her father and brother. She would inevitably be cast aside by the clan, and then her father and brother would have no choice but to devote all their efforts to supporting her and her younger brother.
Unfortunately, this marriage arrangement currently appeared utterly glorious. Neither her father nor her elder brother could find any fault with it—indeed, they ought to be grateful to her and her mother.
Yuanyuan picked a few apricots from the wicker basket, washed them clean, and placed them on a jade plate before offering them to Xie Zhaozhao.
Xie Zhaozhao picked one up and ate it slowly.
Yuanyuan also took one, took a bite, and spat it out with a "pfft," frowning. "Miss, why is it so sour?"
Xie Zhaozhao smiled, holding the apricot in her fingers. "It is a bit sour, but not so much that I can't eat it."
There was still over a month until the Dragon Boat Festival. Stopping Grand Secretary Gu from going south wasn't impossible, was it?
"Miss, the master and the young master are calling for you in the front courtyard." Manman came running back from the outer courtyard.
Xie Zhaozhao stood up. Yuanyuan fetched a cloak trimmed with fox fur at the collar and draped it over Xie Zhaozhao's shoulders. The three of them—mistress and maids—headed to the front courtyard.
Her father, Xie Anfeng, was currently Pingzhang Zhengshi of the Great Qian court, while her elder brother Xie Yu held only a minor post of Cong-liupin in the Ministry of Revenue.
Xie Yu was waiting outside the door. When he saw her, his originally cold brows and eyes softened. He said with concern, "The weather is nice now—don't stay cooped up in your room all the time. Go out for a stroll in the countryside, admire the flowers. Your brother has some days off recently—shall I take you out for a walk?"
When Xie Zhaozhao saw her brother, tears glistened in her eyes. She said softly and sweetly, "Brother should rest more too."
Entering the room, Xie Anfeng was still seated at his desk reviewing documents. Even after court had ended, he could not afford to slack off.
The Xie clan had flourished for several hundred years, not merely relying on the legacy left by their ancestors—every generation of clan elders and family heads had devoted themselves wholeheartedly to keep the great house from toppling.
"Father." Xie Zhaozhao performed the proper formal salute, then added with a hint of a young daughter's sweetness, "Is Father well?"
Xie Anfeng noticed the faint glimmer of tears in his daughter's eyes but assumed she was simply being coy before her father and brother. He said affectionately, "What has Zhaozhao been up to lately?"
"The same as always—reading, learning to manage accounts, and doing some needlework befitting a young lady." After speaking, Xie Zhaozhao listened with a faint smile as her father offered his guidance.
"You have been sensible since childhood, so I need not say much. Today I have arranged for you to marry Grand Secretary Gu as his lawful wife. Do you have any objections?"
Xie Zhaozhao thought for a moment, then said, "In matters of marriage, your daughter follows her parents' wishes entirely. But I would like to ask—what kind of character does Grand Secretary Gu have?"
"Speaking of Grand Secretary Gu, he is truly a prodigy of heaven. He entered officialdom at seventeen and, in just nine short years, joined the Neige. He is upright and self-disciplined, never lingering in pleasure quarters, keeping not a single chamber maid. All his thoughts are devoted to matters of state and the people's welfare. His Majesty relies on him above all."
"Your grandfather left instructions that the Xie clan's legitimate daughters should marry into the Pingyang Houfu to forge lasting ties of friendship. As the eldest legitimate daughter of the Xie clan, marrying Grand Secretary Gu is a way of repaying that debt—it is the responsibility that comes with being a legitimate daughter of the Xie family."
Xie Anfeng said with a smile, "And Grand Secretary Gu is young and accomplished—he is a worthy match for my daughter."
"Grand Secretary Gu is merely cold in temperament; there is truly nothing to fault in his conduct." Xie Yu added with a smile, explaining to his younger sister.
Her father's meaning was clear—she could not refuse this marriage.
Xie Yu felt for his sister and said with a smile, "If you marry Grand Secretary Gu, your seniority within the houfu will be quite high. Just close your doors and live your own life well—that's all Father and I need to know to rest easy."
Xie Anfeng explained things to her briefly, then said, "This matter is settled. Go and speak with Yu'er outside."
Since both her father and elder brother had spoken, Xie Zhaozhao knew there was no changing it.
Walking out of her father's study together with Xie Yu, Xie Yu said in a low voice, "You don't wish to marry the Marquis's heir, do you?"
"Mm," Xie Zhaozhao pressed her lips together lightly. "Second Sister wants this marriage, so I'll let her have it."
"Fortunately, Grand Secretary Gu's side has already been settled. Otherwise, if someone with ill intentions twisted the Living Buddha's words to slander you, you'd end up an old maid."
"If I became an old maid, would Elder Brother support me?"
"Of course. I'd be happy to have you live in the manor for as long as you like—even for a lifetime, I'd be willing."
"Thank you, Elder Brother."
Xie Zhaozhao's eyes reddened as she thought of how tragically her father and brother had died in her previous life, but the most pressing matter now was to prevent Grand Secretary Gu from meeting his end in Jiangnan.
"Elder Brother, I wish to see Grand Secretary Gu. There are some things I need to tell him. Could you arrange a meeting for me?"
She rarely made such unorthodox requests, so Xie Yu was momentarily taken aback.
His sister had just exchanged Birth-date Marriage Proposals with Grand Secretary Gu, and now she wanted to see him?
"Elder Brother, I won't meet with him for long—just a few words."
Knowing she was always level-headed and surely had an unavoidable reason, he agreed: "I'll send Grand Secretary Gu a visiting card. Wait for my word tomorrow."
The next day at the hour of Si, Xie Yu sent someone to tell her they would go out together to inspect the Xie family's tea house. Xie Zhaozhao knew her brother had arranged the meeting with Grand Secretary Gu.
Dressed neatly, she went out to find Xie Yu already waiting at the gate, with the carriage prepared. She rode with Yuanyuan and Manman while Xie Yu rode on horseback, heading to the family's Qingyuan Chalou.
The Xie family owned many properties, and Qingyuan Chalou was just one of them—part of their mother's dowry from years past.
Wearing a veil, Xie Zhaozhao entered through the back door and went up to the third floor to the owner's private room. The shopkeeper sent up the finest tea and refreshments.
The view from the third floor was especially expansive. Opening the window, the splendor of the entire street came into view, but Xie Zhaozhao adhered to propriety and did not join Yuanyuan in standing by the window to gaze out.
Sometimes, while you are watching others, unbeknownst to you, others see you as part of the scenery.
Before long, a carriage stopped outside the door. Xie Yu, who had been waiting on the first floor, immediately went out and greeted the visitor with a cupped-fist salute.
Yuanyuan said, "Miss, Grand Secretary Gu has arrived."
"Mm."
She took her seat at the table inside, with a landscape screen separating the inner and outer areas.
Xie Yu and Gu Shaoyu chatted and laughed as they came up the stairs. Shortly after, a knock sounded at the door. Yuanyuan opened it, and Xie Yu and Gu Shaoyu entered.
"Grand Secretary Gu, I've invited you here today not on my own account, but because my younger sister has some words she wishes to speak with you."
Xie Yu, courtesy name Xiuyong.
He naturally could not write on the visiting card that his sister wished to see him—he could not compromise her reputation.
Gu Shaoyu was somewhat surprised but nodded seriously. "Very well."
Xie Yu spoke through the screen to Xie Zhaozhao: "Sister, Grand Secretary Gu is here. Speak freely with him. I'll wait outside."
Xie Yu left the room, leaving only Xie Zhaozhao and Gu Shaoyu inside.
Gu Shaoyu could not see the lady. Through the screen, he tried to catch any trace of her, and unbidden, the distant glimpse he had caught of her in the Xie manor garden floated into his mind.
A complexion like morning clouds, a face like Guanyin's, brows lowered in a gentle smile, steps light and unhurried. It was composure and nobility carved into the very bone.
"What instruction does the eldest young lady have? Please, speak."
His voice was gentle and proper, and Xie Zhaozhao habitually lowered her brows with a faint smile, a light blush involuntarily creeping up to her ears.