Dusk had passed.
Relying on the prestige of Zhang Fuyong and Tang Zhaoyun, once the sky turned dark, a charcoal fire could be lit in the west wing.
With the room warm, Xu Zhihe didn’t have to clutch a tangpozi and curl up early in her blankets. Having free time, she sat before the desk, dipped her brush in ink, and practiced calligraphy.
Xu Zhihe had no dedicated calligraphy teacher to instruct her handwriting. Only occasionally had visiting tutors offered three or four pointers. For the most part, she practiced by copying the copybooks Zhang Fuyong had asked someone to send over. However, without a teacher to instruct her, she could capture the form, but not the spirit.
Fortunately, Xu Zhihe only practiced calligraphy to calm her mind and did not force it to be exceptionally elegant or otherworldly. Fang Li, curious, also pulled up a stool and sat beside Xu Zhihe, using her finger dipped in tea water to trace the strokes on the table.
Xu Zhihe practiced until her wrist ached. Seeing Fang Li in such high spirits, her eyes curved into a smile. “Come, I will teach you how to write.”
Holding the brush was something she had been taught before. Xu Zhihe handed the brush to her, and Fang Li didn’t show any timidity, taking it immediately.
Xu Zhihe was currently practicing the Thousand Character Classic. She pointed to the first passage and asked Fang Li to try copying it.
Fang Li held the writing brush tremblingly… Seeing the Miss copy the words had looked effortless, but only when the brush was in her own hand did she realize how difficult it was to control.
“Cold comes and heat goes, autumn harvest and winter storage.”
The line of words was written crookedly.
Xu Zhihe was overjoyed and burst into loud laughter. Fang Li originally wanted to keep a straight face to show her resistance, but catching a glimpse of her own scribbled handwriting, she couldn’t help but laugh along too.
“These words are quite interesting; I must put them away carefully.” Xu Zhihe “scrutinized” this piece of calligraphy and painting, looking at Fang Li with a beaming smile. “In the future, when Fang Li becomes famous for her excellent handwriting, I can also bask in your reflected glory.”
Fang Li reached out to snatch it back, “Aiya! Miss, good Miss! Just give it back to me!”
…
Separated by a folding screen, Tang Zhaoyun pulled on Zhang Fuyong, signaling for him to look.
Zhang Fuyong didn’t understand his wife’s intention and carefully probed, “Zhihe’s mental state is quite good now, looking much better than her sickly state from a few days ago. Since this is the case, we can safely take our leave…?”
Tang Zhaoyun felt stifled listening to this and reached out to rap him on the forehead. “You fool!”
Zhang Fuyong took the hit for no reason, his face blank. “Why does my Lady hit me?”
Tang Zhaoyun said, frustrated that iron could not become steel, “You and I are leaving tomorrow, but your own niece’s marriage is still unsettled. If she suffers bullying again in the future, who will stand up for her?”
With Lady Tang’s reminder, Zhang Fuyong suddenly saw the light. “My Lady is right to lecture me; it is your husband who did not consider things thoroughly.”
Tang Zhaoyun shot him a glance and said slowly, “At the end of the day, although I like Zhihe, I am ultimately only her younger aunt; there is a layer of separation. In speaking and handling matters, there are inconveniences everywhere… For this matter, you still have to go and discuss it with Zhihe and Magistrate Xu.”
Zhang Fuyong then smiled, “My Lady’s words are inappropriate. Zhihe is my own sister’s child, my niece, and therefore yours as well. Where is there any layer of separation?”
Tang Zhaoyun raised her eyes to look at him and hmphed, though her face carried a smile.
“I know Husband holds me in his heart,” Tang Zhaoyun paused and said softly, “But for this matter, it is still best for Husband to step forward. When Zhihe finds a good match in the future, I will then step forward and add generously to her dowry.”
Zhang Fuyong could say nothing else.
Tang Zhaoyun thought of everything thoroughly and considered every detail. Truly, with a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?
Zhang Fuyong put his arm around Tang Zhaoyun’s shoulders. Looking at the innocent and completely unburdened Xu Zhihe laughing with Fang Li under the oil lamp, he guaranteed, “Rest assured, my Lady, I will take Zhihe’s major marriage event to heart. I guarantee no one will be able to bully her.”
…
Early the next morning, Xu Zhihe put on the new clothes brought by Lady Tang: a bluish-purple beizi[1]A traditional Chinese outer garment or jacket, characterized by parallel, straight collars and side slits, commonly worn by women. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3004505_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3004505_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); with Suzhou embroidery of orchids, paired with a fur-trimmed cloak. It looked both respectable and warm.
Fang Li looked at Xu Zhihe in the mirror and praised sincerely, “The Miss is naturally beautiful; you truly look good in whatever you wear.”
Xu Zhihe studied her own face. Fang Li had deft hands; today’s hairstyle was pretty and lively, with loose strands at her temples framing her face, making her look even more like a tender, blooming young girl.
Today, they were seeing off her younger uncle and aunt on their long journey.
…And there was also the ten-day agreement they had set.
She wondered if that scholar had taken it to heart and whether he would go to the bookstore to wait for her.
Thinking this in her heart, Xu Zhihe stood up with Fang Li’s support, pulled her clothes tighter around herself, and smiled at her. “Let’s go. We must go inform Da-niangzi.”
In the main hall, Madame Lü had known since early morning that the Zhang family was leaving today. She nodded indifferently, “Go on.”
Xu Zhihe bowed in respect once more and withdrew.
Tang Zhaoyun was waiting at the door. Seeing Xu Zhihe come out, she discreetly pointed toward the entrance of the Xu residence.
At the entrance, Zhang Fuyong was currently chatting with Magistrate Xu.
Tang Zhaoyun leaned close to Xu Zhihe’s ear and whispered, “Your younger uncle is currently telling Magistrate Xu that your future major marriage arrangement must be communicated to the Zhang family.”
Xu Zhihe gently lowered her eyes, her tone filled with gratitude, “Many thanks to Younger Uncle and Younger Aunt for taking care of this for me.”
Tang Zhaoyun looked at her and smiled, “We are all one family; we do not speak like two separate families.”
Traveling by water from Eqiao County to Shuiyang County was faster. Xu Zhihe escorted Zhang Fuyong and Tang Zhaoyun to the ferry crossing.
By the ferry, Zhang Fuyong coughed lightly.
Tang Zhaoyun, who had been waiting for a long while, saw him react and immediately led the servants onto the long bridge of the ferry crossing, acting as though they were merely taking in the scenery.
Zhang Fuyong looked at Xu Zhihe and comprehended Tang Zhaoyun’s words… In his memory, Zhihe was still just a little girl. But before he knew it, she was past sixteen and had blossomed into a graceful young woman.
She had indeed reached the age to leave the pavilion and discuss marriage.
Zhang Fuyong reeled in his wandering thoughts and said with a smile, “Zhihe, last night your aunt said to me that the girl has grown up and it is time to look at prospective families. But she worried that if she asked you directly, you would feel uncomfortable, so she asked me to inquire about your thoughts.”
Xu Zhihe looked at Zhang Fuyong, somewhat stunned.
Zhang Fuyong only thought Xu Zhihe was being shy, and his tone softened significantly. “Zhihe, there’s no need to be shy. Your younger uncle and aunt are not outsiders… I wonder what kind of person Zhihe likes? For instance, how tall? What sort of appearance? …Only if you tell us can your aunt and I properly arrange things and look out for a good match for you.”
Xu Zhihe knew that her younger uncle and aunt were genuinely looking out for her well-being.
With them guarding the pass, the character of any young master they introduced naturally wouldn’t be bad.
Her heart warmed. She pondered for a moment, and then a faint blush crept onto her face. “If Younger Uncle has time, Zhihe would like to take Younger Uncle somewhere.”
Zhang Fuyong’s curiosity was piqued by her.
“Where?”
Xu Zhihe kept him in suspense, “Younger Uncle will know once we get there.”
Seeing Xu Zhihe looking radiant, her eyes like brilliant stars, Zhang Fuyong guessed a little in his heart and couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing.
No wonder she had been in such a hurry to ask him to come over.
—So she already had a plan in mind.
Zhang Fuyong didn’t point it out, only saying, “Wait for me a moment, I will go tell your younger aunt.”
Xu Zhihe: “That is only proper.”
Zhang Fuyong left for a moment, turned back, and smiled. “All settled, let’s go!”
…
At the entrance of Baichuan Academy, a scholar in a green robe sat under the corridor, flipping through a book in his hands. His expression was calm and collected, completely unmoved by the sidelong glances of the pedestrians passing by on the street.
Next to his hand was a stack of books; under the sunlight, the ink-blue color of the book covers was very conspicuous.
Chen Yundu looked at the text in the book, but his mind was not on the words of the sages inside…
That day with the young miss… He had stared blankly that day. He announced his own name but forgot to ask for the young miss’s name, so he would temporarily refer to her as “that young miss”… They had agreed to meet in ten days, but they hadn’t agreed on exactly what hour…
He didn’t know if that young miss had forgotten.
Chen Yundu thought aimlessly. His gaze landed on the Memorial to Yueyang Tower, and he couldn’t help but smile faintly.
Just thinking about being able to meet her, a surge of anticipation couldn’t help but rise in his heart.
…
Standing outside the entrance of Baichuan Academy, Xu Zhihe, as expected, caught sight of the young man’s figure.
She breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. Turning to Zhang Fuyong, she pointed at Chen Yundu’s figure from afar and said, “Younger Uncle, I want to marry him.”
Looking at the young man who appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen, Zhang Fuyong couldn’t help but burst into hearty, booming laughter:
“Zhihe, don’t make fun of your younger uncle!”
All the way here, his heart had been half gratified and half conflicted. Now that he had actually seen the person, he breathed a sigh of relief instead.
A sixteen or seventeen-year-old child—though his appearance was handsome, he was still wearing a scholar’s green robe and still studying… It was probably just Xu Zhihe pointing randomly, not to be taken seriously.
He laughed happily to himself, even planning to remember this to joke about with Lady Tang on the boat ride. But as he laughed and laughed, his expression gradually turned serious. Looking at Xu Zhihe’s face, which showed no sign of joking,
“…You are serious?”
Xu Zhihe: “Naturally, I am serious.”
Zhang Fuyong’s face instantly changed. Staring at Xu Zhihe with a dark expression, he said, “Nonsense! He hasn’t even reached the age of ruoguan[2]An ancient Chinese term referring to a young man reaching the age of twenty, marking his coming of age. The literal translation means “capping,” referring to the traditional ceremony … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3004505_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3004505_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, he is still young, and he is still trying to pass the examinations to earn a title… Even if you have the heart, how would his family ever agree?”
Furthermore, he lowered his voice and said, “Besides, he is only a farmer’s son.”
Zhang Fuyong himself came from a farming family, so naturally, he didn’t look down on a farmer’s son. It was just that after he and Tang Zhaoyun married, he knew her hardships. Deep down, more or less, he couldn’t bear to let Xu Zhihe suffer that same hardship.
Xu Zhihe tugged on Zhang Fuyong’s sleeve, “Younger Uncle, trust me this once…”
“…Don’t try this trick.” Zhang Fuyong made up his mind, keeping a stern face. “Let me ask you, are you and this farmer’s son well-acquainted?”
Xu Zhihe had originally intended to run into Chen Yundu accidentally a few times to cultivate some feelings, but the matter with Xianwei Wei had happened too suddenly, completely disrupting her rhythm.
Hearing Zhang Fuyong’s question, Xu Zhihe pursed her lips and said quietly, “We have only met once.”
Only met once?!
One time…
Zhang Fuyong’s vision went white; he wished nothing more than to faint right then and there.
He had originally thought Madame Lü and Magistrate Xu were biased and muddle-headed. Who knew his niece also didn’t have a clear head?
Zhang Fuyong glared at Xu Zhihe with a fierce scowl, pointing at her forehead. “You! You are muddle-headed!”
…This was indeed something Xu Zhihe had not anticipated.
With no way to defend herself, Xu Zhihe simply accepted this reprimand from Zhang Fuyong.
Zhang Fuyong turned his back, pacing back and forth, sighing from time to time, and glancing at Xu Zhihe occasionally. Seeing her standing there perfectly straight and proper, the pent-up breath in his chest had nowhere to go, so he could only stomp the ground resentfully.
He blamed himself for not visiting his niece often. Now that he wanted to properly teach her, he didn’t even know how to begin.
A hundred years from now, what face would he have to meet his third sister, Zhang Fuyun?
The more Zhang Fuyong thought about it, the more distressed he became, and he couldn’t help but wish Tang Zhaoyun were by his side.
…If Zhaoyun were by his side, how would he explain this to her?
Should he say calmly to Zhaoyun: “Your niece is exactly like you; she has taken a liking to a farmer’s son…”
As Zhang Fuyong thought and thought, he actually ended up amusing himself.
Xu Zhihe watched Zhang Fuyong worriedly from the side. One moment he was beating his chest, the next moment he was sighing, and the next he was revealing a bizarre smile…
She hadn’t driven her younger uncle crazy with anger, had she?
T/n: The New chapter is up! Enjoy the ride and do join us on this adventure 😍🎉🎊. If you want to support me, do check my other novels on my Translator’s Page🫶. You can support the original author here. Please vote on NU here. If you’re interested, you can also buy me a Ko-Fi. Happy Reading 🤓 💅.
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