It’s here, it’s here!
This tacky classic scenario has indeed arrived. Luo Chaoyan rolled her eyes inwardly. Must one be proficient in all four arts of qin, chess, calligraphy and painting just to appear in public? Ancient women already had to endure numerous rules and etiquette – hard enough as it was – yet they still had to painstakingly master eighteen different skills. Those who married well could manage, but those with unfortunate marriages would end up guarding empty rooms alone.
She believed her mother was the luckiest woman of all – able to travel with her uncle on shipping and trading ventures, experiencing diverse cultures and customs. Eventually she married her father, who was utterly devoted to his wife. This was far happier than those seemingly glorious noble families.
Old Madam Huo had initially tolerated Lady Cui’s affected manners out of consideration for her granddaughter-in-law Ye Shuanger. But now that Lady Cui wanted to embarrass Luo publicly, wasn’t this indirectly slapping the Huo Family’s face? Even when beating a dog, one must consider its master – did Lady Cui want to break completely with the Huo Family?
Her authoritative gaze turned sharply toward Lady Cui, ready to reprimand her, when she noticed her daughter-in-law gently shaking her head and gesturing toward Luo Chaoyan. Instantly understanding, she realized they wanted to see how Luo would handle the situation.
Very well, as the Young Mistress of the Huo Family, Luo would eventually need to learn how to handle social situations with all types of people on various occasions.
However, when they heard Luo Chaoyan’s response later, they would regret this decision immensely.
“Does Lady Cui perhaps want me to compete with Sister Ye?” Luo Chaoyan looked with a faint smile at Ye Yushu, who stood behind Lady Cui with her face lowered.
Ye Yushu looked at her in panic upon hearing this, immediately shaking her head. “N-no!”
“Excellent! My Yushu often prides herself on her exceptional painting skills. Why doesn’t Young Madam show her today what true mastery looks like, so she understands there’s always someone better?” Lady Cui said with a laugh.
Luo Chaoyan smiled warmly. “Miss Ye, with her delicate features and graceful demeanor of a cultivated young lady, clearly has learned from great masters. How would I dare display my amateur skills before experts and make a fool of myself?”
Ye Yushu was nearly frightened to tears. In the past, given her nature, she would have inevitably shown off on such occasions. However, after the incident at Su Manor where she argued with Huo Rui, and the kidnapping incident at Pu Guang Temple – both occasions where Fourth Miss Luo was present…
If she angered Luo now, and Luo revealed everything publicly, her reputation would be completely ruined.
She urgently tugged at Lady Cui’s sleeve, begging her to stop. She deeply regretted her impulsive actions from before, which she hadn’t even dared tell her parents about. Fortunately, the Huo Family hadn’t come seeking explanations. She thought that since her brother-in-law was already married, if she just avoided the Huo Family long enough, these matters would eventually be forgotten. Now her mother was forcing her to court disaster.
“Mother, I’m not feeling well today and shouldn’t embarrass myself,” Ye Yushu whispered pleadingly to Lady Cui.
Lady Cui frowned, unable to understand why her daughter was acting so strangely today. Since seeing the Huo Family members, she had been as jumpy as a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow – none of her usual pride remained.
No! Today, no matter what, she must make Luo lose face publicly to vent her frustration over the Huo Family’s disregard for their Ye Family.
“Since my sister isn’t feeling well, then let me seek some advice from Young Madam Huo instead!”
A clear, melodious voice came from outside the door. Everyone looked up to see a young woman wearing a light pink wide-sleeved gown, her graceful figure moving elegantly. A hibiscus gold hairpin adorned her hair, with a peach blossom makeup accent between her eyebrows – a truly dazzling appearance.
She walked gracefully to the front of the crowd, performed an elegant bow to the senior elders present, and then turned her gaze to Luo Chaoyan. Being the same age, they didn’t need to exchange formal bows; instead, she slightly lifted her chin in acknowledgment.
Cui Shi was naturally delighted that someone had taken the bait and, with an air of stirring up trouble, smiled and said, “Young Madam, this is the daughter of Marquis Gu, Third Miss Gu! She is renowned in Jingdu as a talented woman excelling in both poetry and calligraphy.”
“Truly, seeing is believing. I’ve long heard of the two virtuous and talented young ladies in Jingdu, and now that I’ve met one in person, I feel utterly ashamed of my own inadequacies.” Luo Chaoyan found herself genuinely impressed.
“Young Madam, you flatter me. These are merely empty reputations. I hope you will not hesitate to offer your guidance,” Gu Xinyu replied indifferently.
Luo Chaoyan carefully observed the young woman before her. Though Third Miss Gu appeared humble on the surface, she carried an air of pride. However, she had every reason to be proud—not only was she stunningly beautiful, but she was also exceptionally talented.
Tsk, tsk! Even as a woman, Luo Chaoyan found her a feast for the eyes. Wait! The daughter of Marquis Gu? Could she be Gu Er’s younger sister?
Well, it seemed one after another believed she had stolen their marriage prospects and were here to cause trouble. Did she have no choice but to “shine brilliantly” today?
“Third Miss Gu, let’s skip the competition and guidance. I admit I have little talent and willingly concede defeat.” Luo Chaoyan felt it was better to be straightforward. If everyone expected her to show off from now on, how troublesome would that be?
Gu Xinyu’s lips curled slightly. She had thought Luo Fourth Miss was a formidable and cunning woman, but now it seemed she was nothing more than an incompetent fool.
“The Luo Family is known as a scholarly household, and Lord Luo was once a Bangyan. Surely, Young Madam, having been immersed in such an environment, must be proficient in the four arts of the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. There’s no need for such modesty.”
“Exactly, exactly, Young Madam. It’s a rare opportunity—please let us broaden our horizons,” Cui Shi chimed in.
Watching the two of them play off each other, Su Qian, seated nearby, felt nothing but disdain. Gu Xinyu had always been arrogant about her talents, considering herself superior to others, and this Cui Shi of the Ye Family was no good either. Now that her daughter couldn’t marry into the Huo Family, she just wanted to see someone humiliated.
Just as she was about to speak up in defense, she heard Luo Chaoyan chuckle lightly.
“It’s not that I’m being modest, nor that I don’t want to compete. It’s just that my understanding of the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting is superficial—I’m truly not proficient!”
Luo Chaoyan showed no trace of shame as she smiled at the crowd. “My father taught me from a young age that ‘a woman’s lack of talent is her virtue.’ He said women don’t need to strive for the Zhuangyuan title; as long as they understand principles, support their husbands, and raise children well, that is enough.” She felt truly grateful for such parents, who allowed her to have a carefree childhood, free from worries about livelihood or the endless training classes modern children endured.
“If that’s the case, Young Madam, and ‘a woman’s lack of talent is her virtue,’ then does that mean a highly talented woman like Teacher Le Qing is without virtue?” Gu Xinyu asked.
There was no denying that Gu Xinyu’s question had made Luo Chaoyan the target of everyone’s criticism. Le Qing was a woman of both virtue and talent in the current dynasty, deeply admired by many. Many daughters of literary officials and noble families studied under her. By saying this, wasn’t Luo Chaoyan indirectly implying that these women were without virtue?
Noticing the change in everyone’s expressions, Cui Shi felt a sense of schadenfreude.
“Oh? Miss Gu, those are your words, not mine,” Luo Chaoyan quickly deflected.
“As the saying goes, a thousand people have a thousand faces. For instance, there are those like you who excel in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, and naturally, there are those like me who are not proficient. Some are kind-hearted, while others are narrow-minded.” As she spoke, she glanced at Cui Shi.
Cui Shi was furious. Was she blatantly implying that she was narrow-minded?
Those present pursed their lips to suppress laughter, and some nodded in agreement, feeling that her words made sense.
Luo Chaoyan smiled and said, “Just as the court is divided into civil and military officials, there are generals like the Duke of Liang, who are well-versed in military strategy and lead troops to defend our dynasty’s borders, and there are scholars like my father-in-law, Grand Tutor Huo, who are deeply learned in the classics and assist in governing the court.”
“Who among you can say which is stronger or weaker? They simply have their own strengths and fulfill their duties, serving the court together.”
Her words startled everyone. How had a petty rivalry among young women escalated to matters of state and family? With such a statement, who would dare refute it? Of course, no one would!
Gu Xinyu chuckled softly and said, “Young Madam’s words are not without reason. However, Xinyu would still like to ask: if a woman with neither talent nor virtue insists on marrying a husband of exceptional literary talent, and in the end, the couple cannot understand each other’s thoughts or aspirations, can such a marriage last?”
Was she implying that someone as uncultured as her would struggle to communicate and get along with someone as cultured as Huo Jin? Luo Chaoyan straightened her posture and smiled, “I believe that, first and foremost, regardless of whether a woman is talented or not, it ultimately depends on whether she has the fortune to receive a heaven-sent marriage.”
Seeing the confusion on everyone’s faces, Luo Chaoyan spoke with feigned seriousness, spouting nonsense: “Isn’t the purpose of a woman improving her literary and moral cultivation to marry into a good family? Yet, someone like my mother, a merchant’s daughter with no literary talent, was able to marry a husband like my father, who is considerate and attentive in every way. This is a heaven-sent marriage!”
“Although my father’s official rank is not high, he and my mother are deeply affectionate. My mother often says that contentment brings happiness, and living a life envied even by immortals, she has no regrets in this lifetime.”
What kind of twisted logic was this? Yet, the women present had to admit, albeit grudgingly, that they felt a pang of envy. Among noble families, which man did not have three wives and four concubines, surrounded by a flock of beauties, leaving them gritting their teeth and shedding tears in frustration?
Although Luo Sanlang was once notorious for his lack of learning and disreputable behavior, he was now famously known as a doting husband. It was said that he didn’t keep a single concubine in his household. How many women in Jingdu envied this! In comparison, didn’t it seem like Yin Shi was incredibly fortunate?
“Take me, for example. Perhaps it’s because my previous life was spent in a virtuous family that I have the fortune in this life to marry someone like Lord Huo, a dragon among men.” Luo Chaoyan shamelessly glanced at the Huo family elders. “Of course, I am also indebted to Grandmother and Mother-in-Law for not looking down on me.”
Madam Huo pursed her lips to suppress a smile and shot her a reproachful glare.
Old Madam Huo rolled her eyes. Could she say she was now feeling disdain? A virtuous family, indeed—she was nothing but a sly, thick-skinned troublemaker. Listening to her twisted logic, Old Madam Huo was both annoyed and amused. She silently resolved to make her study poetry and literature once they returned home.
Everyone was stunned by her nonsensical arguments.
Su Qian, sitting behind Su Madam, watched as Gu Xinyu’s pretty face flushed red and then turned pale, alternating between the two. She felt immensely pleased. Young Madam Huo was truly fascinating. No wonder her elder brother had called her a remarkable person. It seemed her brother had not exaggerated in the slightest.
Luo Chaoyan continued, “Moreover, Miss Gu, you are not a fish—how can you know its happiness?”
“Well said, Young Madam!”
Marquise Jinyang smiled and said, “Women don’t need to take the imperial examinations to bring glory to their families. How much they read of poetry and books isn’t important. What matters most is knowing self-reflection, managing the household well, honoring elders, and being able to stand by their husbands through thick and thin.”
Huh? Luo Chaoyan was somewhat surprised. Among these official families, there was actually a lady with such enlightened thinking?
Marquise Jinyang smiled at her. “Young Madam, I feel we are quite kindred spirits. You are welcome to visit my Marquise Jinyang residence whenever you have time.”
As soon as she said this, many ladies showed expressions of disbelief. In Jingdu, who didn’t know of her eccentric temperament—she never knew how to flatter others, let alone invite people to her residence as guests.
Luo Chaoyan was also somewhat stunned. This was the first lady to publicly extend a friendly olive branch to her! She could sense that Marquise Jinyang hadn’t spoken up for her merely because of her identity as Young Madam Huo.
Come to think of it, she seemed to recall her mother-in-law mentioning that Marquise Jinyang was a third-rank military marquis who commanded the imperial guards in the palace. He was someone both the Crown Prince and Prince Xian were vying to recruit under their banners. However, like the Huo Family, Marquise Jinyang remained neutral, serving as a loyal minister to the throne, which earned him great favor from The Emperor.
Rumors said Marquise Jinyang’s wife was illiterate, and the marquis himself came from humble origins—his official rank was entirely earned through real battles on the battlefield.
It must be said that such a couple was rare even in ancient times. Despite rising from poverty to the marquis’s current high position, he still deeply cherished and respected his wife.
Nevertheless, Marquise Jinyang’s wife was often mocked as an illiterate village woman. However, she was straightforward and disdained flattering or currying favor with the noble ladies of Jingdu’s aristocratic families. Thus, she rarely attended these ladies’ banquets, and even when she did, she remained mostly silent.
Perhaps she spoke up out of sympathy, feeling they shared similar hardships. Or maybe she simply couldn’t stand these women who always prided themselves on being paragons of virtue and talent, using it to lecture others.
Luo Chaoyan nodded at her warmly.
Marquise Jinyang said, “Third Miss Gu, I am quite curious. In the Dayong Dynasty, there are few women as virtuous and talented as you. I wonder what kind of man would truly be worthy of you? Otherwise, I’d have to worry whether your future husband could truly understand your thoughts and aspirations.”
Hearing this, Luo Chaoyan almost wanted to applaud in admiration. She decided then and there—she would definitely befriend Marquise Jinyang.
Gu Xinyu felt a surge of anger rising in her chest, secretly resenting this illiterate village woman, Marquise Jinyang, for daring to mock her and humiliate her in front of everyone.
Seeing her sister-in-law’s face turning red with anger, Gu Xieshi quickly interjected, “There’s no need for Marquise Jinyang to concern herself with this. My sister’s marriage will naturally be decided by our elders.”
Marquise Jinyang nodded and smiled. “Of course. Usually, I’m too busy managing household affairs to concern myself with other people’s matters like idle folks do. That would just be meddling in things that don’t concern me.”
“You!”
Not only Gu Xinyu, but even Gu Xieshi turned green with anger.
Pfft! Luo Chaoyan almost couldn’t hold back a laugh.
Marquise Jinyang’s words were truly cutting! Using words to counter words—the highest level of verbal sparring.
Su Qian also found it hard to suppress a smile. It was so satisfying. It seemed this trip to the Liang residence’s birthday banquet wasn’t in vain—she had actually met two interesting ladies.
Seeing the atmosphere grow somewhat tense, Madam Liang the Second quickly smoothed things over: “Haha! Whether one is talented or not, in my view, as long as one is pure and kind-hearted, they will ultimately find fulfillment.”
“That’s right! Madam the Second speaks wisely!” the others hurriedly chimed in.
Thus, a rather absurd contest was quietly laid to rest. However, from this day onward, Young Madam Huo, née Luo, would become known throughout all of Jingdu as a woman lacking in talent.
Just then, a maid rushed in anxiously and reported to Old Madam Liang: “Madam, outside, the young master and the Huo Family’s young master have started fighting in the garden!”
What?
Old Madam Liang and Old Madam Huo exchanged a glance, quickly rose to their feet, both worried that their own great-grandsons might be getting bullied.