Leaving Plum Garden, Qin Guan still had many questions in her heart. As noon approached, Lu Youxin sent Huang Momo to invite Qin Guan, saying that Lu Jingxiu and Lu Jingyun had returned.
Arriving at Wutong Courtyard before the two had appeared, Lu Youxin invited Qin Guan into the inner chamber.
Once inside, Qin Guan recounted her encounter with Lu Suiyong in Plum Garden. After hearing this, Lu Youxin's expression turned stern. "That Lu Laowu is a hereditary servant of the Lu family, sent years ago to oversee the garden. He holds some standing on White Deer Isle, yet he'd speak such words. Guan'er, pay no heed to such talk. In a garden this old, deaths are common enough. As for vixenish evil spirits—I've never believed in such things. If ghosts and gods truly existed, how could so many evildoers remain unpunished?"
Qin Guan smiled. "Aunt doesn't believe in the supernatural?"
Lu Youxin lifted her chin slightly. "I visit Sky Lantern Temple in Lanzhou every year to pray for blessings, but it's merely a formality. The Lu family's glory and prosperity weren't built on incense offerings. As for Jingcheng's death, I'd rather believe the attendants failed to maintain the Earth Dragon and he froze to death than credit it to ghostly mischief."
Hearing this, Qin Guan felt increased respect for Lu Youxin. "I don't believe it's evil spirits either, but the Fourth Young Master's nighttime visits to Plum Garden are peculiar. His smiling expression each time is even stranger. The old servant being male described him as appearing lovestruck, which seems credible. Yet there are no other women in the garden—if it were a maid, he wouldn't need to be so secretive."
Frowning, Lu Youxin conceded, "That makes sense..."
After a moment's thought, Qin Guan asked, "Who were the people who died in the garden before?"
Lu Youxin sighed. "They were from a collateral branch of the Lu family—a generation above me, I should call her Aunt. This was over twenty years ago, before my elder sister married. My aunt had a childhood sweetheart she was betrothed to, their families having verbally agreed early on. She'd always loved him, and by twelve or thirteen, when such early betrothals typically proceed to formal engagement, his family remained silent."
She sighed again. "That family was also an established clan in Lanzhou, with officials in the capital. Though not equal to the Lu family, these days any household with court officials considers itself superior. Who cares about lineage and principles when pragmatism rules? My aunt waited at home for his proposal until she turned fourteen, when she could wait no longer and sent someone to inquire. Only then did she learn that because his elder had become a capital official, they'd secretly betrothed him to another while offering my aunt the position of honored concubine. How could that ever be acceptable?""Aunt naturally refused, and the Lu family wasn't one to be bullied. They immediately went to make a scene, but this only served to vent Aunt's anger. Marriage is meant to unite two families—under such circumstances, they couldn't very well force that man to marry Aunt by tying him up. Later, that family moved away from Lan Zhou. Heartbroken as she was, Aunt had no choice. Afterwards, her family arranged matches for her, and because they still doted on her somewhat, they wanted to choose someone to her liking. But Aunt never found anyone satisfactory, and so this dragged on for three years."
As Lu Youxin spoke, a sorrowful expression emerged on her face. "Before anyone knew it, Aunt was about to turn eighteen, yet no marriage had been arranged. The elders in the family went from doting on her to despising her—having an unmarried daughter at home made them feel disgraced. That year, Aunt's parents arranged meetings with many families and finally settled on a wealthy gentry family from Jian Zhou. That family had some dealings with the Lu family and could assist them in business. Without consulting Aunt, they immediately finalized the engagement. Only after the engagement did Aunt learn that the young master of that family had long taken a concubine, with even a cousin serving as an honored concubine who had already borne him children. Her parents knew about this yet still betrothed her for the sake of business!"
"My aunt had been talented and virtuous since childhood, with exceptional beauty. First, she was hurt by that previous man, then she became too proud, and coupled with her parents hastily introducing her to unsuitable matches, she was delayed. But she never expected her parents would ultimately marry her into such a family. My aunt was proud—she immediately decided to come to Jian Zhou herself to break off the engagement. But how could she defy her parents? No sooner had she arrived in Jian Zhou than her parents and brothers followed, captured her, and confined her to White Deer Isle. They even moved the wedding date forward, planning to marry her off right there in Jian Zhou. On the eve of the wedding, my aunt hanged herself in Plum Garden."
Lu Youxin sighed. "My aunt's name even contained the character 'Mei' (plum)."
Qin Guan frowned deeply. "As parents, how could they bear to pressure her like that?"
Lu Youxin smiled bitterly. "Parents... Most people in this world become parents, but few are truly competent. At first, they genuinely doted on her, but over time, how could their daughter's happiness compare to the fear of public opinion? They cared too much about others' views, to the point of sacrificing their own daughter."
She continued helplessly, "After the incident, my aunt didn't even receive a proper funeral. The entire clan condemned her as rebellious, unfilial, and dishonorable. Coincidentally, after that, a batch of plum trees in Plum Garden withered and died, leading to rumors that it was my aunt's resentful spirit causing trouble. In truth, it was just that the gardeners during those years were unskilled."
Qin Guan sighed. "To choose death in despair—one can imagine she had no other way out."
Hearing the pity in her words, Lu Youxin felt comforted and said, "Yes, people are different." After a brief silence, she suddenly asked, "If it were you, what would you do?"
Qin Guan looked at Lu Youxin, tilting her head. "If she hadn't married then, would her family have been thrown into chaos and severely affected because of her?"
Lu Youxin shook her head. "No, it was just business—at most, the family's income from Jian Zhou would have decreased by ten or twenty percent. The other party wouldn't dare to truly harm the Lu family."Qin Guan smiled lightly, "If that were the case, I'd simply leave home in secret. Living under an assumed name without the Lu family name—could I not survive? That would still be better than marrying into such a family and ruining half my life."
Lu You Xin's eyes brightened slightly, "You'd never choose death?"
Qin Guan laughed, "Never choose death. That Miss Lu might have had no other choice but to take that step, but I do. If I were to die so easily, it would be sheer cowardice and incompetence. I'm afraid even as a wandering spirit, I'd despise myself and regret it."
Lu You Xin's smile grew more heartfelt, and she continued, "You answered only after asking me earlier—but what if your departure caused such turmoil in the family that it led to ruin and disintegration?"
Qin Guan sighed, feigning distress, "Then I'd have no choice but to marry."
Lu You Xin raised an eyebrow, seemingly unsatisfied. Qin Guan added, "Life is what we make of it. No matter how difficult the situation, there's always a way to cope—it just depends on whether you want to and have the means. In these times, it's indeed very hard to escape once you're married, but it's still possible to find a way to live your own life."
Watching Qin Guan speak so calmly and deliberately, Lu You Xin felt somewhat dazed, then said, "You're so young, yet your thinking is remarkably clear-sighted—almost as if you've weathered many storms."
Qin Guan looked slightly embarrassed, "I dare not speak recklessly before my aunt. It's just that in this life, there are countless difficulties. Once you understand this, when hardships come, you don't feel like you're the most miserable or desperate one. Everyone has their sorrows—how do others manage to live on? If others can survive, so can I. If there's wealth and honor, naturally we live freely and joyfully. But if all we have is a bamboo staff and straw sandals, can we not still live a contented life?"
Lu You Xin clapped her hands and laughed heartily, "Good! What a splendid 'contented life'! Dear child, your words truly resonate with me. At your age, to possess such wisdom—it's truly Chi'er's fortune to have you as his wife! I was quite worried before, but now I'm completely at ease!"
Lu You Xin's eyes sparkled faintly, her words heartfelt. Upon learning Qin Guan's identity and that it was an imperial marriage arranged by the Empress Dowager, she had either imagined Qin Guan as a delicate noble lady or suspected some power struggle conspiracy. But after meeting Qin Guan, first being moved by her grace and demeanor, then witnessing her calm and wisdom during the late-night Corpse Examination, and now hearing such words, she realized Qin Guan was broad-minded, optimistic, and resilient. Though she appeared gentle and refined, Lu You Xin now felt nothing in this world could defeat Qin Guan!
This was truly rare and remarkable!
Qin Guan blushed at the praise, "I'm still young, after all—these are just clumsy opinions. But Aunt, you inspire my admiration."
Lu You Xin understood Qin Guan's meaning and her smile softened, "As for me, in others' eyes, I'm probably considered an extraordinary woman. You must know, in this world, to be an extraordinary woman—while appearing impressive on the surface—one endures untold hardships in private. But I am proud and stubborn by nature; I simply dislike being forced by others. I'm not someone who vows never to marry, but when I reached marriageable age, among all the men I met, truly not a single one was worthy of me!"Lu Youxin's smile broadened, her chest lifting slightly. "Since even I feel unworthy of myself, how could I ever stoop to servility? How could I lower myself to serve in-laws who show me no affection or endure the sharp tongues of my sisters-in-law? I cannot comprehend why marriage is the only Path for women in this world. Seeing what happened to Aunt only deepens my sorrow. Fortunately, your maternal grandparents are not narrow-minded people. Aside from worrying about my lonely old age, they only wish for my happiness. Though this half of my life has been arduous and occasionally lonely, I have been content and joyful most of the time—that is enough!"
Qin Guan hurriedly replied, "Aunt, you will never face a desolate old age. If His Highness and I are blessed with children, we will surely let you enjoy the pleasure of dandling grandchildren in the future."
Warmth surged in Lu Youxin's heart, moistening the corners of her eyes. She blinked and nodded, then looked away to compose herself. After a moment, she said softly, "Now I understand why Chi'er holds you dear, and my heart is at ease. May you both be blessed with abundant happiness and many children."
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