When Shou An Jun woke up, she heard from Liu Momo that the four youngsters had gone hunting in the mountains.
With Huo Jue and Wei Rao, both skilled in martial arts, among them, Shou An Jun wasn’t particularly worried.
Sure enough, before long, the four children returned with a full haul.
“Did you go deep into the mountains?” Seeing the wild boar, Shou An Jun’s expression shifted slightly, and she looked displeased at Wei Rao, who was the most likely to have encouraged the siblings. Wild boars preferred to dwell deep in the mountains, but with the snow covering the slopes, Wei Rao had actually ventured there—her boldness was truly excessive. Shou An Jun’s indulgence toward the younger generation came with conditions: their safety had to be guaranteed.
Wei Rao quickly explained, “We didn’t go deep. We stayed near the foot of the mountain the whole time. This wild boar was driven down by Second Master Qi and his men—I just got lucky.”
Huo Jue and the others hadn’t seen Lu Zhuo, and Wei Rao omitted his name as well.
The Duke of Yingguo’s Manor was far too prominent. If she mentioned Lu Zhuo, her aunt Wang Shi and cousin Zhou Huizhen would surely start fantasizing, and Wei Rao couldn’t be bothered to listen to that.
“Second Master Qi—isn’t he that dashing imperial guard who accompanied the emperor here last year?”
Wang Shi’s eyes gleamed as she pressed Wei Rao for details.
Wei Rao nodded, afraid her aunt would ask more questions, and said with a smile to Shou An Jun, “Grandmother, I’ll go change my clothes first!”
With that, Wei Rao led Bitao back to her own courtyard.
Wang Shi’s heart burned with excitement, her gaze drifting toward the distant Cloud Mist Mountain. Once the snow melted, the wild apricot and cherry blossoms would burst into vibrant bloom across the mountainside. The young nobles of the capital were sure to come to Cloud Mist Mountain for spring outings and hunts. If she took her daughter into the mountains then, and they happened to encounter a promising young noble like Second Master Qi, they might just secure an excellent marriage.
Although the reputation of the Zhou women had been tarnished by Little Zhou, her eldest daughter, Huizhen, was as beautiful as a flower and nearly as captivating as Wei Rao—surely she could capture the hearts of men.
Wang Shi’s petty schemes were written all over her face. With just a glance, Shou An Jun could see right through them. Looking at her granddaughter Zhou Huizhen, who wore a similar expression, Shou An Jun felt a sudden tightness in her scalp.
Dinner that evening featured roasted wild boar. Gathered around a bonfire in the snow, three generations of the family ate and chatted merrily, enjoying the meal thoroughly.
The younger generation, who rarely saw each other, still had much to talk about. Shou An Jun retired to her room early.
Liu Momo attended to her as she settled in.
Liu Momo had been a young maid serving Shou An Jun back in the palace days and was now in her forties.
“Ah, I’m getting old. No matter what I do, I feel powerless. Help me think—what kind of husband should we choose for Huizhen?” Shou An Jun invited Liu Momo to sit by the bed and spoke from the heart.
Zhou Huizhen was sixteen, already of marriageable age for the past two years. Having watched her grow up, Liu Momo had naturally pondered this matter in secret.
“The young lady is exceptionally beautiful. It would be entirely unsuitable for her to marry into some powerless rural family. Those noble families, with their noses in the air, probably wouldn’t look favorably upon her either. In my humble opinion, it’s best to pick a young master from among the sixth or seventh-rank capital officials—someone who can take charge and who genuinely likes the young lady. Ideally, his household should have no mother-in-law or sisters-in-law, to avoid gossip after she marries.”
Shou An Jun lay on her side, lost in thought for a moment, feeling uneasy no matter what kind of man her granddaughter might marry.
For now, while she was alive and enjoyed Emperor Yuanjia’s favor, those in the capital wouldn’t dare openly disparage the Zhou women. But she was already sixty—how much longer could she live? How long could she protect the younger generation?The candidate mentioned by Liu Momo was more suitable for the younger granddaughter, Zhou Huizhu. Huizhu was intelligent, pure-hearted, and kind, with elegant and dignified looks, making her less likely to attract trouble. She herself was not overly ambitious. The elder granddaughter, Zhou Huizhen, was entirely different—she was conceited about her beauty and aspired only to marry into wealthy, influential families. Even if the elders selected a young man from a minor official’s family for her, Zhou Huizhen would feel discontented, and even after marriage, it would be difficult for her to live harmoniously with her husband.
Among the children in the family, Shou An Jun was most concerned about Zhou Huizhen.
She also wondered why, despite both granddaughters being raised the same way, Zhou Huizhen had completely adopted Wang Shi’s mindset.
A grandson-in-law who was both from a prestigious family and would treat her well—where could an old lady like her find such a person?
“Old Madam, Miss Rao is also of age. What are your thoughts on her?” Liu Momo asked curiously.
Thinking of Wei Rao, Shou An Jun’s worries turned into a smile. “That girl takes after me—she values money more than romance. As long as she has wealth, she doesn’t care whether she has a husband or how he treats her. Besides, Old Mrs. Wei is still above her, and Old Mrs. Wei would never shortchange her in matters of marriage.”
Wei Rao, Zhou Huizhu, and Huo Lin required little concern from her. It was only Zhou Huizhen, with her unrealistic expectations, who was like a hot potato.
Big Zhou and her husband, Huo Jingchang, stayed at Secluded Manor for just two nights before preparing to leave.
The family fortune of Jincheng’s wealthiest family was not built or maintained effortlessly. The couple often traveled far and wide. Big Zhou joked that only when Huo Jue married and their grandson was capable enough to take over would she truly be able to relax. By then, she would build herself a grand estate and enjoy life as luxuriously as Shou An Jun.
“Set off early, and don’t focus solely on making money. Take good care of yourselves,” Shou An Jun advised her eldest daughter and son-in-law.
Big Zhou smiled as she boarded the carriage.
Huo Jingchang bowed to Shou An Jun, gave a few words of advice to Huo Jue and Huo Lin, and then followed his wife into the carriage.
“With my sister and brother-in-law leaving, who knows when we’ll meet again,” Wang Shi said, standing beside her mother-in-law and shedding two hypocritical tears.
Shou An Jun felt goosebumps from her daughter-in-law’s feigned sorrow.
“Grandmother, my father has tasked me with overseeing the opening of a new branch in the capital. I’ll head to the city in the next few days to assess the situation and will visit you again when I have time,” Huo Jue said, having already arranged for his horse. He, too, was leaving Secluded Manor today.
Shou An Jun smiled warmly. “Go ahead. We have full confidence in your abilities.”
Wang Shi’s eyes shifted, and she leaned in to ask Wei Rao, “Rao Rao, why not travel back with your cousin? It would be more pleasant to have company on the road.”
The weather had warmed, and the snow on the ground would melt completely within two days. Wang Shi was worried that Wei Rao would, as in previous springs, stay at Secluded Manor for over a month. With Wei Rao’s striking beauty, she would inevitably outshine everyone wherever she went. Wang Shi had hoped to take her eldest daughter to the mountains during the spring outing season to scout for a suitable husband. If Wei Rao stayed, she would undoubtedly steal the spotlight.
Before Wei Rao could respond, Shou An Jun glared at her daughter-in-law. “Rao Rao has only been here for two nights, and you’re already eager for her to leave? Hah, even if you’re willing to let her go, I’m not. Unless Rao Rao stays for a full month, even if she wants to leave, I won’t allow it.”
Though Shou An Jun usually ignored Wang Shi’s antics, she would not tolerate her going too far.
Leaving Wang Shi with a face flushed crimson, Shou An Jun gathered her two granddaughters and two grandnieces and took them to stroll in the garden.
Wang Shi clutched her handkerchief, her face burning as if it were about to drip blood.Huo Jue could only pretend not to notice, mounting his steed and riding toward the main road with two attendants.
In addition to managing his own branch, he also needed to help his cousin find a suitable shop for opening a tavern.
The sun was bright, the spring breeze gentle, and the accumulated snow had quietly melted. The ground, damp for a day, quickly dried.
Commoners were busy with spring plowing, while leisurely and wealthy young masters, ladies, and matrons flocked outdoors to enjoy the spring scenery. Cloud Mist Mountain became the prime destination.
From the gate of Secluded Manor, Wang Shi could see an endless stream of carriages on the main road—young ladies riding in carriages, while the young gentlemen preferred horseback. Wang Shi had sharp eyes; even from two li away, she spotted several handsome and dignified young noblemen.
Wang Shi grew restless and went to discuss with her mother-in-law, hoping to take the girls up the mountain to admire the flowers.
Shou An Jun sat in the pavilion by the lotus pond—a perfect spot for viewing the garden. Forsythia bloomed by the pond, while peach, apricot, and plum trees dotted the distance, flowers everywhere. Wei Rao and the other three girls were flying kites, their vibrant red and green kites soaring high in the vast blue sky. Watching them, Shou An Jun seemed to feel years younger, her mood particularly cheerful.
“With so many flowers here at home, why trouble yourselves going up the mountain?” she asked her daughter-in-law absentmindedly.
Wang Shi replied awkwardly, “No matter how lovely the garden, one grows tired of seeing it every day. Besides, this is Linlin’s first visit to the capital since she grew up. As her aunt, I’d like to take her to enjoy more of the local mountain scenery.”
It seemed she was determined to go.
Shou An Jun shot Liu Momo a meaningful glance.
Liu Momo beckoned the two young maids serving tea, and they all left the pavilion together.
Wang Shi looked at her mother-in-law, puzzled.
Shou An Jun pointed to the stone stool beside her, signaling her daughter-in-law to sit.
The stone stool was covered with an exquisitely embroidered silk cushion. Wang Shi felt uneasy, convinced her mother-in-law was about to lecture her.
Wang Shi was quite afraid of this mother-in-law. She lowered her head, nervously twisting her handkerchief in her hands.
Her daughter-in-law’s timid demeanor made it difficult for Shou An Jun to speak too harshly. Yet, Shou An Jun couldn’t understand: when Wang Shi first married into the family, she had been a content, charmingly naive girl. Shou An Jun still remembered the sparkle in her eyes the first time she tasted lychees bestowed by the palace. How had a life of wealth and comfort gradually made her so discontent?
“I understand your intention—you want to find Huizhen a high-born young master as a son-in-law, am I right?” Shou An Jun came straight to the point.
Wang Shi glanced at her mother-in-law, whose expression was unreadable, and silently acquiesced.
Shou An Jun asked her, “Do you remember when you first married into this family? One moment you feared we’d look down on your humble background, the next you worried your etiquette might be improper and cause embarrassment. Back then, the Zhou family was to you what the noble families of the capital are to Huizhen now—and the disparity in status is even greater. If Huizhen really marries into such a family, aren’t you afraid she’ll be constantly scrutinized?”
Wang Shi murmured, “Huizhen learned all her manners from Liu Momo—she’s better than most official’s daughters. As long as she remains dutiful and avoids giving others leverage, what could they possibly criticize?”
Shou An Jun replied, “Then how can you be sure Huizhen will marry into such a family? Even if the young masters admire her beauty, their mothers won’t choose a daughter-in-law based on looks alone.”Wang Shi clenched her hands and argued with reason, "If the man sincerely wishes to marry Huizhen, he will surely be able to appease his elders. Mother, we must take the first step to see if it works. Huizhen is so beautiful—it would be a waste for her to marry into an ordinary family. As her mother, my heart aches for her. You are her own grandmother—don’t you feel the same?"
Big Zhou remarried the wealthiest merchant in Jin, and Little Zhou remarried into the palace, becoming a noble consort to Emperor Yuanjia. With such beauty, her Huizhen was marrying for the first time—why should she settle for a lesser match?
Wang Shi simply could not accept it.
Shou An Jun was not yet heartbroken; at the moment, she only felt a headache coming on.
"Fine, do as you wish. If you truly encounter the gentleman you speak of and fulfill your and Huizhen’s wishes, that would be your good fortune. Even if her marriage turns out poorly, at worst, she can divorce and return home, and I will arrange a more suitable match for her." Shou An Jun suddenly had a change of heart, deciding to let Wang Shi do as she pleased. If the first marriage wasn’t perfect, there could be a second—or even no marriage at all. After all, the Zhou family had no rule about remaining faithful to one husband.
Upon hearing this, Wang Shi nearly shot her mother-in-law a glare!
Her own grandmother—couldn’t she say something more auspicious?
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