Zhuang Hui had been hiding in her room for a full five days.
Even though she hadn’t stepped outside in five days, she was well aware of everything happening in the Changping Marquisate, because Zhao Jingzhi came to Lanyuan every day to report. She even mentioned when one of the little goldfish in her room died, let alone the family affairs.
To be honest, nothing major had happened. It was just that, to express their gratitude and appreciation for the emperor’s rewards, the Zhao family held a banquet with many guests, making it quite lively. Additionally, Marquis Changping had privately spent half a day in his study chatting with Tang Shinian.
Oh, there was one more thing: Old Madam Peng of the Tang Family intended to marry her granddaughter to Zhao Changting.
It was her own granddaughter, the eldest daughter of the Tang Family’s Second Master, named Tang Wanying.
Over the years, the Zhao and Tang families hadn’t interacted much. Zhuang Hui might have seen this girl before, but they likely never spoke, so she had no impression of her.
As for Tang Wanying, Zhao Jingzhi had this to say: “Hmph, she may be my cousin, but she’s not a close relative, and she’s never been nice to me. I don’t want a sister-in-law like her!”
“Oh, even though she’s decent-looking, she’s not a good match for my elder brother. She’s only thirteen, just two years older than me.”
“My elder brother will be twenty after the New Year. If he marries her, wouldn’t he have to wait for her for a few more years?”
“Why should he? She’s not like you, Sister Hui, who looks like a fairy descended from heaven!”
Zhuang Hui: “…”
How did this end up being about her?
However, after hearing Zhao Jingzhi’s words, and because she had been dreaming about too many plot points from the book lately, she remembered Tang Wanying. She was a major supporting female character in the book Wangfu Xiaochuniang, with a role second only to the female lead, Wang Li.
But she was a villainess. In the book, because she liked Zhao Changting but couldn’t have him, she grew envious and jealous of Wang Li, causing her trouble both openly and secretly.
Of course, a villainess doesn’t end well. Despite her numerous attempts to harm Wang Li, she never succeeded. Instead, she ended up with a ruined reputation, abandoned by her family, and hastily married off to a libertine with a penchant for male companions.
Zhuang Hui couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. If the plot really unfolded this way, the Tang Family was ruthless!
But then again, she was powerless to change it, and it had nothing to do with her anyway.
So, she listened when Zhao Jingzhi spoke, and when Zhao Jingzhi finished, she showed no curiosity.
Instead, it was Zhao Jingzhi who grew curious: “Sister Hui, why don’t you care at all about who my elder brother marries? He’s not just my elder brother—he’s yours too. Whoever he marries will be our sister-in-law!”
“If he brings home a bad sister-in-law, it’ll be unpleasant for us to visit our family home in the future.”
That was true, but in the book, her elder brother never married anyone until the very end.
And regardless of whether he married or not, given his affection for the female lead, Wang Li, if she didn’t want to be a substitute, as long as he was home, she would have to reduce her visits or even avoid returning altogether. If she missed her mother and Rui Ge’er, it would be best to meet them outside.
Since she wouldn’t be interacting with him anyway, why should she care whom he married?
But of course, she couldn’t say that. So, Zhuang Hui deliberately teased, “How old are you, worrying about what happens after you’re married?”
Being a young girl, Zhao Jingzhi immediately blushed and stomped her foot. “Sister Hui, what are you talking about!”
Zhuang Hui didn’t bully the little girl and continued with a smile, “Alright, then let me ask you, what is Grandmother’s attitude toward this matter?”
Zhao Jingzhi was easy to coax and immediately stopped being angry, snorting, “Hmph, of course Grandmother doesn’t agree!”
“When Big Brother and Father argued and he ran away from home back then, my step-grandmother had a hand in it. She’s so wicked, and her granddaughter can’t be much better. Grandmother would never agree to let Big Brother marry Tang Wanying!”
“Grandmother said that Big Brother is already an adult, and from now on, his marriage will be his own decision. Even Father isn’t allowed to pressure him.”
Zhuang Hui nodded as she listened, “That’s quite good.”
It’s just a pity that Wang Li doesn’t like Zhao Changting.
Otherwise, they could not only be together smoothly, but she could also gain her freedom and peacefully live as a carefree person relying on her mother.
Oh wait, no—Wang Li thinks Zhuang Mingxiang is a bad woman who abandoned her husband and daughter to remarry into a better family. If she married into the Zhao family, it might not be good.
Thinking about this, Zhuang Hui couldn’t help but laugh at herself, as if she really had the ability to make Wang Li marry Zhao Changting. Wang Li and the male lead, Chengwang, are genuinely in love, support each other, and live very happily. How could she possibly have the power to break up an official pairing?
Forget it, forget it. She’d better stop thinking about these things and focus on getting herself married off as soon as possible.
Zhuang Hui had hidden for five days, and her monthly period had completely ended. With no more reason to hide, she cautiously left her courtyard that evening.
She arrived at Yi’an Hall smoothly along the way.
Marquis Changping was out for social engagements that night, so only Zhuang Mingxiang, Zhuang Hui, and Rui Ge’er—the mother and her two children—had dinner together.
Rui Ge’er was already five years old. Although Zhuang Mingxiang and Marquis Changping doted on him, he could still eat by himself. Zhuang Mingxiang and Zhuang Hui didn’t need to look after him, but they were afraid he might overhear something and repeat it carelessly outside, so they only chatted about ordinary household matters.
After he finished eating and was taken away to play, the mother and daughter finally had a proper conversation.
Zhuang Mingxiang first inquired again about Zhuang Hui’s health, and after confirming she was fine, she mentioned Zhao Changting’s daily schedule: “He goes to Fushou Hall to pay his respects around Mao hour every day. Except for the second day after his return, when he stayed for breakfast, he usually leaves after about a quarter of an hour. You used to go to pay your respects at Chen hour, so you can completely avoid him and won’t run into him.”
Zhuang Hui breathed a huge sigh of relief and smiled, “That’s great!”
Zhuang Mingxiang: “Although he hasn’t taken up an official post yet, as a son of the Marquis’s household who has earned merit and been promoted, he has social engagements almost every day. On days when he doesn’t, he mostly stays in Jingyuan. You can go out as usual; it’s fine.”
Zhuang Mingxiang was somewhat helpless about her daughter being such a timid girl.
Zhuang Hui still smiled, “Alright, thank you, Mother!”
But inwardly, she thought, just to be safe, she’d better not.
She had already wandered around the Marquis’s estate’s back garden for seven years. Although she wasn’t tired of it, her own Lanyuan was quite spacious, with flowers, trees, and plants in the courtyard. There were also people to play with and plenty of interesting storybooks to read. Staying in her courtyard without going out wouldn’t be boring.
Zhuang Mingxiang tentatively brought up, “About the matchmaking you mentioned earlier…”
Zhuang Hui: “Mother, you arrange it. I trust your judgment!”
Although Zhuang Mingxiang’s first marriage ended in divorce, this actually proved her good judgment—she recognized when things weren’t right and left immediately, rather than being trapped for life by an unsuitable man just because she had a child.
As for the second marriage, it seems excellent now, and according to the plot spoilers in the book, it is also excellent.
Zhuang Mingxiang couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Hui Hui, in the past, whenever matchmaking was mentioned, you always had a pile of reasons to refuse. Now, are you really that afraid of Zhao Changting? Is it because he’s back that you’re no longer resisting marriage?”
If she answered yes, her mother probably wouldn’t believe it, given that she had never been timid to that extent over the years.
So Zhuang Hui replied half-truthfully, “Although I am indeed a bit intimidated by him, it’s not to that extent.”
Zhuang Mingxiang asked, “Then what’s going on with you?”
Zhuang Hui smiled, then lowered her head, pretending to be embarrassed. “Isn’t it just that I’m not young anymore? I want to get married.”
Had her daughter finally begun to yearn for love?
Zhuang Mingxiang suddenly grew nervous. “You don’t have someone you like, do you?”
In modern times, it would be normal for a girl her age to have someone she likes.
But in ancient times, such things were not allowed.
Zhuang Hui immediately shook her head. “No, I hardly ever interact with men outside the family. How could I possibly have someone I like?”
Zhuang Mingxiang breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “Then have you ever thought about what kind of man you’d like?”
Zhuang Hui had never answered this question before, but now she replied honestly, “Someone like you mentioned the other day would be fine—good-natured, with a simple and easy-to-get-along-with family. But I have to find him pleasing to the eye.”
Zhuang Mingxiang nodded and smiled. “After observing over the past two years, I’ve found three young men I’m quite satisfied with. Listen carefully.”
“The first young man is named Jiang Shen. He’s from the north and is one of the scholars sponsored by the Marquis. His family background is somewhat poor, but the Marquis says the young man is knowledgeable. When the imperial examination comes next spring, he’s highly likely to make the list. The Marquis has also observed him carefully and says his character is good. I’ve seen him once—tall and slender, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, quite handsome. His conditions are the best among the ones I’ve considered!”
Zhuang Hui also thought it sounded excellent. His family was poor, his household was simple, and he was about to take the imperial examination to become an official. Not only would the Marquis’s estate have done him a favor, but he also wouldn’t dare offend the estate. Marrying him would likely lead to a comfortable life.
Without waiting to hear about the other two, she immediately said, “Can you arrange for me to meet him?”
Delighted that her chosen daughter also liked him, Zhuang Mingxiang replied, “Of course.”
Zhuang Hui asked, “Is he willing to marry me? If I’m satisfied with him too, roughly when could we get married?”
Zhuang Mingxiang was amused. “You silly child, how can a young lady speak like this?”
She added, “Don’t worry. Although you’re not the Marquis’s biological daughter, you grew up in the Marquis’s estate, and everyone knows how well the Marquis treats you—almost as well as his own. You have a good family background, and you’re so beautiful. Why wouldn’t he be willing?”
“However, he’s taking the imperial examination next spring. You could get engaged first, and after he passes the examination and gains his official title…”
Upon hearing that she would have to wait so long, Zhuang Hui immediately lost patience and interrupted Zhuang Mingxiang. “Mother, why don’t you tell me about the other two? I’d like to compare their conditions.”
“Are you really in such a hurry?” Zhuang Mingxiang sighed helplessly and continued describing the remaining two. “The second young man is named Pei Zizhao. He’s the son of the Zhongqin Count’s estate, but he’s a concubine-born son. Since the Countess has no sons, he was recorded as the legitimate heir.”
“I’ve had dealings with the Lady of the Loyal Diligence Count, and she’s quite a decent person. It was she who first took a liking to you and quietly sounded me out. I didn’t give her a reply at the time, but later I had the Marquis make some inquiries. Pei Zizhao’s reputation seems fine, and the Pei family is relatively simple in terms of household size. However, there’s just one thing—he himself has somewhat feminine features, a bit too handsome.”
A pretty boy?
Zhuang Hui didn’t particularly dislike that type of handsome man, but there was a key question she had to ask: “He’s not intimate with men, is he?”
“Don’t worry, he doesn’t have a preference for men!” Zhuang Mingxiang glared at Zhuang Hui. “Hui Hui, don’t forget you’re a young lady!”
Even at eight or nine years old, she could say shocking things, and now that she was grown, it was even worse—she even knew about preferences for men!
Fortunately, she at least knew to say these things in private, away from others. Otherwise… Zhuang Mingxiang covered her face. Otherwise, who knows what people would think of her, raising a daughter like this!
Zhuang Hui chuckled softly. “Mother, don’t be upset. I only learned all this from reading those storybooks, and those storybooks…”
Although in her modern life, Zhuang Hui had seen everything she could and couldn’t, the reason she read storybooks in this ancient era was because Zhuang Mingxiang had the same hobby and hadn’t hidden them well, so she’d discovered them.
Zhuang Mingxiang continued to glare at Zhuang Hui. This little brat, she was actually blaming her!
But when her daughter was younger a few years ago, she hadn’t been able to stop her, and now that she was grown, it was even harder to control her. So, she decided not to dwell on it and upset herself further, instead moving on to the last young man’s situation.
“This last one is the son of my close friend, your Aunt Wang’s son, Cui Lang. I trust your Aunt Wang completely, and she cares for you deeply. If you were to marry into their family, she wouldn’t let you suffer. But the Cui family is a merchant household, and Cui Lang’s prospects can’t compare to Jiang Shen or Pei Zizhao. As for looks, he’s also a bit less handsome than the other two.” So, this was her last choice.
Zhuang Hui asked, “Can Pei Zizhao and Cui Lang marry earlier?”
Zhuang Mingxiang resisted the urge to roll her eyes at Zhuang Hui. “Pei Zizhao definitely can, and Cui Lang probably can too.”
Of the three, Zhuang Hui naturally liked Jiang Shen the most, but if she wanted to marry quickly, she’d have to choose between the other two.
She hadn’t met Pei Zizhao yet, and as for Cui Lang, he was a bit on the plump side. She didn’t dislike him, but she still wanted to see Pei Zizhao first.
Sighing inwardly, Zhuang Hui resignedly said, “Then, Mother, please arrange for me to meet Pei Zizhao.”