Chapter 7 - For the Beauty
"This child."
Madam Pei muttered a couple words, but didn't think too much of it and let her be.
Speaking of which, when Pei Xuan heard the news that the Marchioness of Xining was looking for a husband for her daughter, she was shocked and anxious. However, she was very methodical in her actions. After leaving the courtyard where her mother lived, she stopped in her tracks.
Da Zhao placed great importance on propriety between men and women. Last time, she had silently climbed over the wall, which was already improper. Now, the top scholar in the imperial exam who was about to be granted an official position by His Majesty, if the censors wrote a memorial impeaching her at such a critical juncture, not only might there be unexpected twists and turns in her official career, the young lady living in the small courtyard would definitely be criticized.
She ordered her servants to bring a few items and get fully prepared. Then she got on a carriage and went out.
On the south side of the Marquis of Xining's residence was a secluded, tranquil small courtyard.
Cui Ti was drawing patterns on the ground with a tender willow branch while Bai Ge took the chance to glance over, unable to make out what she was drawing. Then she turned her head back to continue sewing and mending.
Taking advantage of the spring breeze, a kite flew over the wall and hovered in the air above the small courtyard.
"Eh? Where did this kite come from?" Bai Ge felt puzzled.
Although puzzled, she had no intention of going out to take a look.
She buried her head in mending the spring clothes full of holes, feeling distressed that the young lady didn't even have many clothes to change into during this fine season.
On the other side of the wall, Pei Xuan was so anxious that beads of sweat appeared on her temples. Seizing the right moment, she snapped the kite string so the paper kite fell into the small courtyard.
With a kite suddenly appearing in good order, Bai Ge could no longer pretend she didn't see it. She put down her sewing and walked out the door into the courtyard to pick up the kite.
"Hey, there are words written on it?"
Unfortunately she was illiterate and didn't understand Pei Xuan's question.
"My lady, a kite with words written on it flew into our courtyard."
Cui Ti gently exclaimed, "What does it say?"
"This..."
If Cui Ti was really blind, then Bai Ge was blind with eyes wide open. She was just a little maid and it was good enough to eat her fill, how could she recognize words?
She looked embarrassed and reluctantly said, "It says, you...me..."
"Hold my hand and randomly draw it out for me."
Bai Ge's eyes lit up. This was a good idea!
She forgot that although Cui Ti was the young mistress, she didn't have the treatment of one. She was illiterate, and Cui Ti was blind since birth so probably not much better than her.
Cui Ti's literacy was taught hand-in-hand by Pei Xuan in her previous life, starting from their wedding night with red candles. She had taught her for a full three years. The best female scholar in Da Zhao had personally nurtured her student, so even without sight, she was no longer the Cui Ti of the past.
Bai Ge held her hand and stumbled through writing the last stroke. The words formed a sentence—
Are you well? I've come to find you.
On the other side of the wall, the handsome and elegant top scholar of Xi Jing felt anxious enough to sweat. Carefully choosing the right moment, she pulled and snapped the kite string, letting the paper kite fall into that small courtyard.
She was afraid of missing the young lady's response, afraid that there would be no response.
Her retinue couldn't bear to watch.
Has their young lord been possessed?!
Waiting and waiting and not hearing anyone from the other side of the wall shout back, she was so anxious she wanted to climb the tree.
The kite wouldn't fly in for no reason. Cui Ti guessed he was waiting on the other side of the wall, so she had Bai Ge support her to the base of the interior wall. "Are you still there?"
"I'm here! I've been here the whole time!"
The corners of Pei Xuan's eyebrows lifted up. She was even more nervous than when answering the Emperor in the golden hall. She took a deep breath to try to steady her racing heartbeat.
"I haven't yet congratulated you on placing first."
The two of them talked with a wall separating them. Pei Xuan was delighted that news of her placing first in the exam somehow reached this small courtyard. "I left in a rush last time and didn't get to congratulate you on your birthday either."
"How did you know my birthday?"
"I..." Pei Xuan felt ashamed and bowed to the wall, "This humble one wishes to get acquainted with you, my lady."
Cui Ti didn't say anything.
Bai Ge's ears itched listening to this. Wow! Who would have thought the legitimate heir of the Pei family and top scholar would be like this! Isn't this trying to seduce their young mistress?
He has good taste!
Such good taste!
If the young mistress could marry this silly goose, at least she wouldn't be bullied.
"I'm fine."
Pei Xuan didn't believe at all that she was "fine." Still worried, she said, "I heard from my mother that the Marchioness of Xining intends to find a husband for you, my lady.
"I came to advise you not to be rash in this major marriage matter. If there are any difficulties, just fly that kite.
"Seeing the kite, no matter how far away or where I am, I will certainly rush over on horseback."
It was somewhat overstepping for someone she had only met once to say such things, but she didn't care. She emphasized earnestly, "My lady, you can trust me, I am trustworthy."
"I trust you."
Cui Ti smiled, "If I need help, I will seek assistance from you."
Her candor and trust pierced Pei Xuan's soft heart. She was reluctant to leave that wall, staring with eyes wide wishing to see through it.
The sky gradually darkened.
The two of them stood in place without making a sound. The evening light was obscure. The willow branch swung lightly.
"My lady, I'm leaving now."
"Mm."
Pei Xuan placed her palm against the gray wall, rubbing off a hand of powder. She smiled radiantly, "I hope to see that kite fly up into the air."
The subtle feelings were warmer than the daylight, warming Cui Ti's heart. She listened for the sound of Pei Xuan's leaving footsteps, followed by the rolling noise of carriage wheels.
Twilight had arrived and the heavens and earth were serene.
Bai Ge exploded, "My lady, the madam really is looking for a marriage for you! If Lord Pei didn't say so, I'm afraid we'd be the last to know!"
Lord Pei already knows, how grand must the marriage arrangements be in public!
Cui Ti cherished the kite in her embrace, "There's no hurry."
Someone had already delivered a promise to her door.
She trusted him.
Of course she trusted him.
In this world, she irrationally trusted two people. One was Bai Ge who grew up with her since childhood, the other was Pei Xuan who married her in an eight-man ceremonial palanquin.
Her gentle and restrained, courteous husband.
"Feeling unwell, my lord?"
After letting down the carriage curtain, the delight in Pei Xuan's eyes dissipated like mist. Her voice was tinged with a hint of fatigue, "Let's go back."
She had to look again, look more.
Look at the young lady's feelings, look at what kind of family the Marchioness of Xining would select for her eldest daughter.
Her jade-like knuckles tightened as the image of the young lady in a water red dress appeared before her eyes. The young lady smiled gently. Just sitting there made the years settle in peace.
"From today on, have people keep watch day and night over that small courtyard. If a kite flies up into the sky, report to me immediately. There must be no mistakes!"
"Yes, my lord!"
The Marchioness of Xining was very selective in finding a son-in-law for her daughter, which made it easy to arrange Cui Ti's marriage. The difficulty lay with Cui Dai.
Cui Dai was unwilling to be overshadowed by Cui Ti, insisting on finding a husband from a family of higher status than the Suns.
Marriage ties is to bond two families well, so Lady Sun visited the Marquis of Xining's residence again today. She came frequently that outsiders would roughly understand the two families have intentions of an engagement.
"Truly so sorry to disturb again. My useless son wishes to meet your esteemed daughter. He simply doesn't believe my descriptions of her being as beautiful as a flower. It's me overpraising her that makes him daydream and long for her all day. "
"Meet once?"
The Marchioness of Xining looked slightly hesitant. "This..."
Lady Sun came today already with an objective in mind, readily saying, "Won't do to not meet face to face. Giving a portrait will also do. My words don't work on him, but seeing with his own eyes should satisfy and settle him down."
She went on coaxing and persuading until her throat was parched, just short of swearing to the Marchioness of Xining that she would definitely have her son marry Cui Ti. Only then did she obtain the portrait as wished.
Giving out the portrait meant the marriage was half accomplished. With Cui Ti's looks, the two madams were certain
Young Master Sun would be unable to escape love at first sight. But by chance, things turned out this way. The portrait prepared for Young Master Sun was taken by Second Master Sun.
Fengming Restaurant, celebratory banquet for the new jinshi.
"Why so slow?"
The other jinshi at the table teased Sun Ze one after another. Sun Ze placed 128th in the first class this time. Riding the spring breeze arrogantly, and coming from an official's family, he was quite popular.
His ranking wasn't too far back, but compared to the top three jinshi, it really wasn't much to look at.
The zhuangyuan, bangyan, and tanhua sat together at one table. Song Zizhen said, "Just one painting from a past dynasty, 'Peach Blossom Sleeping in Spring', that's worth his showing off like this?
"Look at those people surrounding him, is that necessary? If talking of good family background and high literary talent, the zhuangyuan is right here. What reason does Sun Ze have to be so pretentious?"
He sighed, "Xing Guang is much more low key."
The only son of the current Prime Minister, elegant and refined beyond compare, easy-going and accessible, he was giving them tremendous face to join them here.
Xing Guang was Pei Xuan's courtesy name, just adopted yesterday for old classmates and colleagues to address her as such.
"Xing Guang, you seem to have something on your mind?"
The bangyan Zheng Wuji poured her a cup of fine pear blossom wine.
Indeed Pei Xuan was plagued by an unsolvable worrisome matter and didn't know what to do. She lifted her cup and drank.
Song Zizhen and Zheng Wuji exchanged glances. Gossip stirred up in their hearts as they widened their curious eyes, "What's the issue? Tell us and we brothers will advise you."
"Yes, Zizhen makes sense."
They could be considered friends Pei Xuan approved of, with excellent character.
After thinking it over and over, she drooped her eyebrows, "If there was a young lady..."
"A young lady?!" Song Zizhen exclaimed softly, rubbing his hands excitedly, "What about the young lady? I love hearing matters like this the most!"
"Don't make trouble, let Xing Guang speak properly."
Pei Xuan sank into inexplicable emotions she couldn't free herself from. "If there was a young lady, at the sight of her your heart starts pounding uncontrollably, and you miss her when you don't see her. You want to marry her and guard her your whole life, but marrying her may not truly be the best for her, what should be done?"
"Marrying her may not truly be the best for her? What does that mean?" Song Zizhen was completely confused. "Marrying her of course is to treat her well, otherwise why marry her?"
"Right, marriage is the most important matter in life. Xing Guang, who have you taken a liking to?"
"I..."
Some words could be spoken, some words could only rot in the stomach.
If that young lady's wish was to assist her husband and be outstanding, how could she provide that?
If she looked down on her female form, wouldn't marrying her harm her?
She could not reveal her identity to Lady Cui, could not place the entire Pei household over raging flames for her own selfish reasons.
The crime of deceiving the ruler, once exposed, was not something anyone could withstand.
"I don't want to see her marry someone else."
"This is simple." Zheng Wuji put down his wine cup. "Then marry her first and bring her home. Go step by step from there. If you marry her with utmost sincerity and protect her with utmost sincerity, take it step by step."
The zhuangyuan of this exam encountered the most difficult puzzle of his life. She pondered deeply.
Cheers erupted from the neighboring table.
"Brother Qiu Ming, don't tell me you sneaked out some young miss' portrait?"
"This woman, such a beauty!"
"No, Brother Qiu Ming, this is the 'Peach Blossom Sleeping in Spring' you spoke of?"
Everyone laughed loudly.
Some were also bewitched by the woman in the painting, with infatuated looks in their eyes.
Realizing he took the wrong painting, Sun Ze was stunned himself, then quickly rolled it up when he reacted. As expected, this should be the one Lady Sun obtained from the Marquis of Xining's estate.
The person in the painting was his future sister-in-law.
He was unwilling to let his future sister-in-law's appearance be revealed to the public, but some still hadn't seen enough.
"Why put it away, let me see some more."
The one snatching the painting placed 39th in the second class. He was the legitimate second son of a third-rank grand official in court.
Sun Ze didn't dare offend him and could only watch the painting exchange hands multiple times. His future sister-in-law was judged and talked about as he angrily turned red, unable to utter a word.
"What are they passing around to look at?"
"Seems to be a painting."
"Painting?"
Pei Xuan had no intention of glancing over at first, but her gaze froze.
The woman in the painting wore brand new, gorgeous clothes, clearly carefully dolled up. Her ink black hair and porcelain white face, silk covering her eyes. The spring wind blew up the wisps of hair by her ears, each strand soundlessly speaking of gentleness.
Without a doubt, she was a beauty.
Yet she didn't seem carefree, adding a touch of tranquil melancholy that made one's heart ripple all the more.
"What a gentle and beautiful maiden! Brother Qiu Ming, where did you find this beauty? I'm buying this painting!"
"No, this isn't—"
Sun Ze hurriedly explained, but abruptly felt a gust of wind sweep past him.
Pei Xuan rushed over in two to three steps, her lovely face cold.
She was usually so refined and proper, with immaculate comportment. But now her eyes actually emanated chill, sending shivers down people's spines, unclear what was going on.
"The painting, hand it over."
Zhou Ye smiled awkwardly, "Xing Guang, I already said I'm buying this painting first. A gentleman does not seize what another fancies. You—"
"Hand it over!"
She rarely lost her temper, with faint thunder hidden in her eyes. Not only was Zhou Ye afraid of her, even Sun Ze was scared to death.
Of everyone present, Song Zizhen and Zheng Wuji were considered closest to her, but right now didn't even dare advise her. Who knows why the moon surrounded by stars, the zhuangyuan, suddenly had such a fiery temper?
Zhou Ye handed over the painting. Pei Xuan gently caressed the woman's eyebrows and eyes in the painting, "She can also be someone you have designs on?"
Tossing out these words, she stormed off in a huff.
Earlier, everyone said the zhuangyuan had a gentle personality, gentle as water. Today, they finally witnessed the legitimate heir of the Pei family.
A smile like spring breeze.
Rage like sudden storm and thunder.
"Are we...have we offended him?" someone silently swallowed their saliva.
"What 'we'? Who's 'we' with you? I didn't say anything about that young lady. It was Brother Zhou! He caused this!"
“Why would it be me?” Sweat dripped down Zhou Ye's forehead as he hurriedly tried to deflect blame. “Sun Ze, this is all your fault!”
Sun Ze's legs trembled, his throat tightened, and he couldn't find the words to speak.
“I've never seen Xing Guang so furious in all the time I've known him,” said another.
Song Zizhen was taken aback, exchanging glances with Zheng Wuji.
“Could it be...”
They both arrived at the same possibility—was the lady Xing Guang admired the one in the painting?
“How did the Miss in the painting look? Did you get a good look at her?”
Zheng Wuji gave him an exaggerated eye roll, “Are you dreaming? Didn’t you see how livid Xing Guang was? He was so fierce; do you think I'd dare to keep staring?”
“Indeed,” Song Zizhen murmured to himself. “Xing Guang is so intimidating!”