Qi Zhongkai went to find Lu Zhuo, and that very night, Lu Zhuo relayed the matter to Wei Rao.
Given Qi Zhongkai's temperament, since he had assured Lu Zhuo that he would come to propose marriage, Wei Rao felt that things were already halfway settled.
Wei Rao passed the message to He Shi and He Weiyu, but only to reassure them. Before the Qi Family actually sent a matchmaker, it was best for the four members of their main branch to act as if nothing had happened, lest any hint of it spread. If the Qi Family failed to propose, everyone would lose face.
From then on, He Shi and He Weiyu eagerly awaited news from the Qi Family, the Marquis of Pingxi's household.
Wei Rao, however, was not anxious about this, as it was not her own marriage. On the fifth day of the fourth month, the imperial examination results were announced. Early in the morning, Wei Rao sent a servant to wait at the place where the results were posted. He Weiyu was Lu Zhuo's cousin, but Zhou Huizhu was Wei Rao's own cousin and the sister she had been closest to since childhood. Naturally, Wei Rao was concerned about whether her prospective brother-in-law, Zhang Xian, had passed the examination with honors.
She waited in the Hall of Pine and Moon. By mid-morning, the servant she had sent out returned, joyfully informing Wei Rao that Zhang Xian had achieved second-class honors in the imperial examination.
For the noble families of the capital, having a son pass the imperial examination was not a particularly grand occasion. However, the Zhang Family had produced only one scholar, one provincial graduate, and now one imperial scholar in several generations—Zhang Xian, who could directly receive an official appointment. As soon as the yamen runners delivered the good news to Yunwu Town, the entire town knew that the Zhang Family had produced an imperial scholar.
Although Wei Rao was not present, she could imagine the Zhang Family's glory and the joy of her grandmother and cousin.
Delighted by her maternal family's good fortune, Wei Rao shared the happy news with the Old Madam when she went to pay her respects to the Duchess of Yingguo.
The Duchess of Yingguo thought of Shou An Jun.
In the past, when the Empress Dowager was alive, Shou An Jun had to avoid her influence and had refrained from entering the capital for twenty or thirty years because of it. Later, after the Empress Dowager passed away and Little Zhou returned to the palace as a noble consort, some speculated that Shou An Jun would surely return to the capital to enjoy a life of luxury. Yet, Shou An Jun remained serene and detached, staying at the Secluded Manor and arranging her granddaughter's marriage to a modest family in Yunwu Town.
Unmoved by honor or disgrace, calm and composed—the Duchess of Yingguo sincerely admired Shou An Jun.
If the Duchess were to choose, she could not find a more suitable grandson-in-law than Zhang Xian. With a noble consort for a daughter and a prince for a grandson, if Shou An Jun truly wanted her granddaughter to marry into a high-ranking family, she could certainly find a suitable match in the capital. However, doing so would raise suspicions of forming factions for the noble consort and her grandson. Would the Empress, the Virtuous Consort, and the De Consort be pleased? Moreover, would Emperor Yuanjia be pleased?
Currently, only Wei Rao and Zhou Huizhen from Little Zhou's line had married into prominent families in the capital. Zhou Huizhen was purely treated as a plaything by Han Liao, and the Han Family would not support the noble consort or the fourth prince. As for their own Duke of Yingguo's Lu Family, they had married Wei Rao long before the Empress Dowager's death, so they were entirely unrelated to factional struggles. Furthermore, as long as Emperor Yuanjia remained clear-headed, he would believe that the Lu Family, loyal for generations, would not involve themselves in the princes' disputes.
"Old Madam has excellent judgment. When Rao Rao visits the Secluded Manor, please bring a congratulatory gift from me as well," the Duchess of Yingguo said with a smile. She truly wished to meet Shou An Jun. Perhaps she could pay a visit on her way during the Double Ninth Festival climb this year.
At the West Pavilion Marquis Estate.
Zhou Huizhen also learned the happy news of Zhang Xian's success in the imperial examination. Overjoyed, she went to share the news with her mother-in-law, the Marquise of Xiting.None of the Han family had ever looked up to her. Now that she not only had an imperial consort aunt but also a scholar brother-in-law who had passed the imperial examination, shouldn't her mother-in-law regard her more highly?
The Madam Marquis of Xiting was currently receiving her granddaughter Han Ying, who had returned for a visit.
Han Ying was Han Liao's eldest legitimate daughter, married last year to a nobleman's son from the capital. Though his family status was slightly inferior to the Han family, even her mother-in-law treated her with great respect since her marriage. No one objected when she wanted to visit her maternal home.
Han Ying enjoyed returning home because she couldn't stop worrying about her full brother Han Chengsi. Though Han Chengsi was already sixteen and sensible, Han Ying still feared her brother might be harmed by those illegitimate sons or by his young and beautiful stepmother Zhou Huizhen. Zhou Huizhen appeared foolish, but she had Liu Momo by her side. Han Ying had always regarded Liu Momo as a serious threat, afraid that once she married off, Zhou Huizhen and her maid would scheme against her brother.
On this matter, the Madam Marquis of Xiting shared the same view as Han Ying and felt deeply comforted by the strong bond between her granddaughter and grandson.
As the grandmother and granddaughter were chatting happily, Zhou Huizhen arrived.
Seeing her, Han Ying didn't even bother to stand up, clearly categorizing Zhou Huizhen together with Han Liao's other disreputable concubines.
Zhou Huizhen had grown accustomed to this treatment and proceeded to pay her respects to her mother-in-law.
The Madam Marquis of Xiting responded indifferently: "What brings you here?"
After finishing her greetings, Zhou Huizhen tightened her grip on her handkerchief and forced a smile: "Mother, my younger sister Huizhu is getting married this mid-month to Scholar Zhang from our town. The spring examination results were announced today, and Scholar Zhang has passed the imperial examination. I'd like to return home to congratulate my sister."
While offering congratulations was her stated purpose, her true intention was clearly to show off her promising future brother-in-law.
Both the Madam Marquis of Xiting and Han Ying saw through Zhou Huizhen's motives, but how could they possibly care about some insignificant scholar?
"What wonderful news that he passed the imperial examination! You should hurry along then," Han Ying said with a blossoming smile, though her words dripped with sarcasm.
The Madam Marquis of Xiting went even further, waving her hand dismissively at Zhou Huizhen and telling her to stay directly at the Secluded Manor until Zhou Huizhu's wedding was over.
Zhou Huizhen stood frozen in shock.
Liu Momo stepped forward to support her arm, simultaneously applying pressure with her hand while shooting Zhou Huizhen meaningful looks, guiding her out of the Hall.
Zhou Huizhen's face was utterly distraught.
Liu Momo said nothing, knowing some things needed to be realized by Zhou Huizhen herself.
Just as Zhou Huizhen was preparing to leave for the Secluded Manor in low spirits, Han Ying sent over a maid, claiming the girl was skilled in massage and meant to serve the Madam Marquis of Xiting.
The Madam Marquis of Xiting smiled as she looked over, then started in surprise.
The maid had a face as fresh and delicate as a young girl's, yet her figure was alluring with full breasts and a slender waist. At first glance, she clearly wasn't just an ordinary maid for shoulder rubs and leg massages.
The Madam Marquis of Xiting understood her granddaughter's intention - to place a beauty who could compete for favor against Zhou Huizhen.
Happening to be dissatisfied with Zhou Huizhen herself, the Madam Marquis decided to keep the maid.
Han Ying felt pleased.
This maid named Lianniang was a Yangzhou "slender horse" she had spent heavily to acquire - superior to Zhou Huizhen in every aspect. She didn't believe her father could resist such a woman.
Meanwhile, at the Qi Family residence of the Marquis of Pingxi, Qi Zhongkai's mother, the Madam Marquis of Pingxi, had also purchased an exceptionally beautiful maid from a human trafficker.Back when my son wanted to marry Wei Rao, at least she was the legitimate daughter of a viscountcy, and her mother Little Zhou was about to regain favor, so I agreed to propose on his behalf. But this time, he actually wants to marry that obscure cousin of Lu Zhuo, He Weiyu—I absolutely refuse to consent.
The mother and son had been deadlocked for several days when Madam Marquis of Pingxi had a sudden inspiration: the strategy of "using beauty to counter beauty." Since her son desired a beauty, she would first arrange a beautiful maidservant for him, then slowly select a well-bred young lady from a prominent family to be his principal wife. She refused to believe He Weiyu could be so captivating that her son would reject readily available beauties.
Madam Marquis of Pingxi directly sent the beauty to Qi Zhongkai's courtyard.
Qi Zhongkai served in the Imperial Guard during the day and returned to his residence in the evening. Upon entering his courtyard, he saw his attendant leading a beautiful maid over.
Qi Zhongkai glanced at the maid twice before turning his gaze to the attendant.
Wiping sweat from his forehead, the attendant explained, "Second Young Master, this is the tea-serving maid Madam sent you."
The Lu Family had a tradition where men couldn't take concubines without reason, but the Qi Family, while having stricter family rules that forbade young masters from indulging in women, didn't have such restrictions. Thus, Qi Zhongkai and his elder brother Qi Bowei each received a maidservant at fourteen—both rather plain. Qi Zhongkai's maidservant had been so frightened of him she wept unwillingly, so he directly dismissed her. Since then, he had devoted himself to martial training and never thought about women again.
Qi Zhongkai didn't look like someone who would be fond of women anyway, so Madam Marquis of Pingxi never arranged another maidservant for him.
Now that Qi Zhongkai wanted to marry He Weiyu, and Madam suddenly sent a beauty, how could he not guess her intentions?
"Get out!" Qi Zhongkai's lion-like roar sent the maid fleeing in terror. She arrived before Madam Marquis of Pingxi trembling and fearful, sobbing and kowtowing to beg for mercy, pleading not to be sent to serve the Second Young Master again—as if Qi Zhongkai were some ferocious beast.
Madam Marquis of Pingxi was so furious her head ached, losing sleep at night.
The Marquis of Pingxi laughed at her, "You're truly peculiar. Before, you always hoped our second son would marry early and continue the family line. Now that he has someone he wants to marry, you're unwilling. Isn't this just asking for trouble?"
"What do you know? With our family's status, the He Family doesn't even have a proper scholar—what qualifies them to marry in? That Miss He should at most be Zhongkai's concubine."
"Concubine? Wishful thinking. She's Shoucheng's own cousin. If she's truly beautiful, would Shoucheng be willing to let his sister become someone's concubine?"
"All the better if he's unwilling—she can marry someone else. I don't want her anyway."
"You may not want her, but your son does. The problem is, with you two arguing endlessly at home, Miss He might not even be willing to marry him."
"Unwilling? Why would she be unwilling? Is Zhongkai beneath her?"
"In terms of family status, certainly not. But what about him personally? You've arranged so many matchmaking meetings for Zhongkai—which beauty has ever taken a liking to him?"
Madam Marquis of Pingxi fell silent.
Her son wasn't ugly—just too burly and imposing. Not to mention anything else, she had heard his roar at the maid all the way from her quarters, finally understanding why her son could frighten enemy soldiers out of their wits on the battlefield with just his voice.
The Emperor surely appreciated generals like her son, but young maidens—few indeed fancied such men.Could it be that Lu Zhuo’s cousin truly doesn’t fancy my son? If Miss He really doesn’t wish to marry, and my son remains stubbornly fixated on her, delaying for a few more years would mean he’ll soon be thirty!
Madam Marquis of Pingxi suddenly relented.
The next day, she went to discuss the matter with Old Madam Qi.
Old Madam Qi, being older, was even more anxious to have a great-grandson from the second branch. After some deliberation, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law decided to first meet He Weiyu. If He Weiyu was merely of humble origins but had no flaws in her character, it would be acceptable to marry her into the family. Since He Shi had given birth to such an outstanding son like Lu Zhuo, perhaps He Weiyu could also bring a mighty descendant to the Qi Family.
Old Madam Qi then sent a visiting card to the Duchess of Yingguo.
At first, the Duchess of Yingguo did not know the purpose of Old Madam Qi’s visit. It was only when Old Madam Qi mentioned He Weiyu that the Duchess understood and, with a smile, sent someone to invite He Shi and her niece.
He Shi arrived with He Weiyu.
The aunt and niece looked as if they were carved from the same mold, except that time had granted He Shi more composure, while He Weiyu still appeared quite youthful and inexperienced.
Nevertheless, having lived in the Duke of Yingguo’s Manor for so many years, He Weiyu was well-versed in basic etiquette. Aside from being nervous, she made no mistakes.
Both Old Madam Qi and Madam Marquis of Pingxi could see that, although He Weiyu was beautiful, she was a demure and well-behaved girl—not the type to stir up trouble in the inner household relying on her looks.
After the aunt and niece left, Old Madam Qi confided in the Duchess of Yingguo, explaining that Qi Zhongkai had encountered He Weiyu while visiting a temple and had since been determined to marry her. She wanted to hear the Duchess’s opinion of He Weiyu.
The Duchess was surprised by the serendipitous meeting between He Weiyu and Qi Zhongkai. On one side was her daughter-in-law’s niece, and on the other was an old friend of several decades. Remaining impartial, the Duchess said fairly, "Weiyu is delicate. If she were to marry Zhongkai, she might not be of much help in managing the household. However, she is gentle and unpretentious, and would surely take meticulous care of Zhongkai."
Flowers come in countless forms and charms, and so do beauties with their distinct temperaments. In the eyes of the Duchess of Yingguo, He Weiyu and Wei Rao were two entirely different types of women. The former was like a delicate, clinging vine flower, needing to rely on a man to bloom peacefully, while the latter was a wildflower on a cliff, standing firm even in the fiercest storms.
Neither type of flower was superior or inferior; placed in the right setting, both could blossom beautifully.
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