Chapter 3: The Eldest Son Of The Kaiguo Earl’s Family Is Twenty-Three This Year—Age-Wise, He’s Quite A Good Match

The Xie family had a special, elegant courtyard set aside for entertaining female guests. After passing a decorative screen wall, one would see a tall banana plant standing gracefully in the southeast corner of the courtyard. The rain was falling in fine threads, soaking the tender new leaves. The broad, translucent green foliage trembled lightly in the wind and rain. When water poured suddenly from the eaves above, the leaves would sway wildly, shaking out their tension like a living thing.

Qingyuan’s umbrella appeared slowly at the carved flower gate. The green canopy looked like a floating duckweed drifting on water. A maid at the gate came forward to receive her. Baoxian closed the umbrella and handed it over. The rain had grown heavier halfway through their walk, splashing and soaking the hem of Fourth Miss’s skirt. Baoxian quickly crouched down and pulled out a handkerchief to dab it dry.

Qingyuan stood under the eaves, looking toward the main room. Beneath the pink walls and dark tiles was a beauty lean—a kind of bench made from camphor wood. On rainy days, the bamboo blinds above were let down halfway, leaving a narrow gap beneath. As the young ladies passed through that space, they looked like moving paintings, full of charm and grace.

Yuequan came out from the old matriarch’s room and, seeing Qingyuan, called out, “Fourth Miss, why aren’t you going in? The other three young ladies are already there.”

Yuequan had originally been named Yueyuan, but changed her name to avoid sharing a character with Qingyuan. She was one of the few in the Xie household who was sincere—she treated Qingyuan the same as the other girls, never judging her by her status.

Qingyuan responded softly, “I’m coming.” Yuequan understood her hesitation. As the youngest, with three older sisters ahead of her, Qingyuan had to be careful not to overstep. It was rather pitiful—having not grown up in the household, she had suddenly returned, and few truly regarded her as family. Her situation was difficult, and at such a young age, she had to be cautious with every step. That only made her more heartbreaking to those who noticed.

Yuequan gestured, “Go on in, Miss.” Then, watching her back as she walked away, she murmured in surprise, “How did she get her clothes wet?”

Baoxian remained outside the door and casually mentioned, “Oh, the maid Lüzhui from Second Miss’s side drenched Fourth Miss with rainwater. She was going to go back and change, but worried the old matriarch might be kept waiting, so she hurried over instead.” She added with a smile, “Fourth Miss didn’t take it to heart. She’s young and strong—not afraid of catching cold.”

Meanwhile, Qingyuan entered the room. Since the prefect’s wife was a familiar guest, the old matriarch and the main madam were accompanying her in the eastern side room. The main hall and the side room were separated by a screen with a cracked-ice pattern. As one walked in, the inner room was visible. The prefect’s wife gave a soft exclamation: “I used to visit often, but I’ve never seen this young lady before.”

Qingyuan entered the inner room, first bowing to the guest, then greeting the old matriarch and Lady Hu. The old matriarch, still suffering from a headache, wore a brow band, but she showed no sign of illness in front of guests. Her responses were measured and polite. “This is my youngest granddaughter, her name is Qingyuan,” she said, brushing the matter aside.

The prefect’s wife was a perceptive woman. She immediately understood the situation. At first, she looked at Qingyuan with interest, but soon her gaze shifted away, settling on the celadon teacup in her hand.

“Have a seat,” Lady Hu said, pointing to the spot below Qingrong’s seat. She was Xie Xu’s principal wife, her face always carried a cold expression, though the household said she had a kind heart. It was Qingyuan’s first time seeing her, and she was struck by her beauty. Even though she rarely smiled, her features still held a graceful charm that hinted at her youthful allure.

Once Qingyuan was seated, the conversation resumed. They were discussing how the eldest son of the Kaiguo Earl’s family had reached marriageable age, and the prefect’s wife had immediately thought of the Xie family.

“There are many noble families in Shengzhou, but when it comes to virtue and talent, none compare to the family of the Jieshi envoy,” the prefect’s wife said, her gaze sweeping across the row of young ladies. “Look at this household—such status, such beauty. You won’t find another like it in all of Hengtang. To be honest with the old matriarch and madam, the Earl’s wife is my stepsister. She entrusted this matter to me, and I’m treating it as my own. That’s why I’ve come today to hear the old matriarch’s thoughts.”

The Kaiguo Earl held a senior fourth-rank title and received a stipend from 700 households—a noble rank, no matter how one looked at it. And since it was the eldest son who was seeking a match, it was, truthfully, a very respectable proposal. The old matriarch of the Xie family nodded and said, “There’s nothing to fault in terms of family status. I’m just not sure about the young man’s character and learning.” She smiled and added, “Our family may be of military background, but our ancestors also produced scholars. We can’t be careless when it comes to our children’s marriages. Since we’re old acquaintances, I’ll speak plainly. Marrying off a daughter is different from taking in a daughter-in-law. If someone else’s daughter comes to our house, we’ll treat her well. But if our daughter is given to another family, her well-being depends entirely on them. The man must have good character—only then can we feel at ease.”

The prefect’s wife nodded repeatedly. “I completely understand your concerns. Since we’re old friends, I would never deceive you. As for the Earl’s eldest son—he’s a promising young man. He just passed the provincial exam this year. Despite having noble lineage, he still chooses to pursue scholarly success step by step. That kind of ambition is rare these days. You, madam, have lived long and seen much—surely you agree?”

From the sound of it, there was little to object to. But with so many granddaughters in the family, it wasn’t clear which one the Earl’s family had their eye on. It wouldn’t be proper to ask directly, so the old matriarch said, “All my granddaughters are dear to me. No matter which one I give away, I’ll be reluctant…”

The prefect’s wife’s gaze landed on Qingyuan. In terms of appearance, she was flawless. If not for her mother’s scandal, suitors would be lining up across all of Shengzhou. What a pity…

Everyone’s eyes followed the prefect’s wife’s lead, each person with their own expression, their own thoughts.

Lady Hu gave a light cough and said to the maid beside her, “The tea’s gone cold—why hasn’t it been refreshed?”

Only then did the old matriarch take a closer look at Qingyuan. She noticed the uneven coloring on one side of her dress—it looked soaked through. But with a guest present, she couldn’t ask about it, and her brows furrowed in displeasure.

The prefect’s wife, with a trace of regret, turned her gaze away and looked toward Qingru instead. Smiling, she asked, “Second Miss, how old are you this year?”

Qingru was now quite different from earlier. She sat demurely, with the poise of a legitimate daughter from the main branch. She gave a slight bow and replied, “Replying to Madam, I was born in the year of the Rabbit—I’m sixteen this year.”

Qingyuan listened and smiled quietly to herself—she knew that Qingru had just made a mistake.

Sure enough, Lady Hu’s lips tightened slightly, a trace of displeasure at the corners of her mouth as she glanced at Qingru.

In the process of arranging a marriage, there is a step called “asking the name”—after the formal proposal (nacai), the suitor’s family inquires about the girl’s birth date and zodiac sign to check compatibility. Well-bred young ladies typically don’t reveal such details too early, especially not at this stage. Even if the age is mentioned, matchmakers can deduce the zodiac sign, but not saying it outright is a matter of modesty. Saying it too readily makes one seem overly eager.

The prefect’s wife, however, remained composed and smiled. “The Earl’s eldest son is twenty-three this year—age-wise, it’s quite a match.”

The old matriarch lifted her teacup and took a sip. “The girls are all about a year apart in age. There’s no rush in arranging their marriages.”

“Ah, that’s wonderful,” the prefect’s wife replied. “One after another—just lively enough, not too overwhelming, and not too quiet either. The household will have joyful events year after year.” Her gaze returned to Qingyuan. “Fourth Miss is fourteen this year, yes?”

Qingyuan gave a slight bow from her seat. “Yes.”

“Still young,” the old matriarch interjected. “She’s the youngest in the family—she can stay a few more years.” That effectively shut down any talk of marriage for Qingyuan.

Qingyuan had no interest in the matter anyway, so she felt nothing of it. It was the prefect’s wife who looked slightly disappointed. Lady Hu, however, took the opportunity to show her fairness as the matriarch. She looked at Qingyuan with gentle affection and said to the prefect’s wife, “This child has had a hard life. I hope you’ll keep her in mind when the time comes for marriage.”

That confirmed the rumor that Qingyuan was the daughter of Concubine Jin. The prefect’s wife gave a soft “oh” and responded smoothly, “Now that Fourth Miss is back with the old matriarch and madam, her hardships are over. When the time comes, she’ll surely find a good match and enjoy a life of peace and happiness.”

It was a polite remark. Everyone wore smiles of courtesy. After a few more pleasantries, the prefect’s wife took her leave. The old matriarch sent a maid to escort her all the way to the carriage.

Once the guest had gone and there were no outsiders left in the room, the old matriarch’s smile vanished. She sat by the southern window, slowly counting her prayer beads, her eyes fixed on Qingru.

Everyone stood silently, waiting for the old matriarch’s judgment. They heard her say:

“Copy The Inner Instructions ten times. Reflect carefully on the lesson: ‘The more you speak, the more you err; better to speak less.’”

Qingru hesitated, sneaking a glance at her mother. Lady Hu’s face also showed displeasure. Qingru dared not disobey and lowered her head. “Yes, Grandmother.”

The old matriarch’s gaze was like a Green Dragon Crescent Blade—wherever it swept, people seemed to shrink. Finally, her eyes landed on Qingyuan. With a cold snort, she said:

“Since when has our family ever had such a disgraceful incident? A girl’s appearance is of utmost importance. If it were just family, it would be one thing—but to make a scene in front of guests! What happened to your clothes?”

Qingru, of course, knew the truth. She grew uneasy and glanced at Qingyuan, ready to deny everything if Qingyuan spoke up. But to her surprise, Qingyuan didn’t even look at her. She bowed her head and said:

“It was my own carelessness. It’s been raining for days, and the clothes I left out never dried. When Grandmother’s summons came, I didn’t dare delay, so I grabbed one and wore it… It was my fault. I accept the punishment. Please don’t be angry, Grandmother—your health is what matters most.”

Qingru let out a quiet sigh of relief. “At least she knows her place,” she thought. But while she felt reassured, Lady Hu was far from pleased. No matter what Concubine Jin had done in the past, Qingyuan had now returned to the family. If she wasn’t properly cared for, it reflected poorly on her as the matriarch. The old matriarch would surely question it—how could a noble young lady not even have dry clothes after a few days of rain? It would seem like deliberate neglect.

Sure enough, the old matriarch was displeased. “Is Danyue Pavilion lacking in food and clothing?”

Qingyuan replied, “No, everything is provided. It’s just that my two maids were busy attending to me and didn’t have time to dry the clothes.”

The old matriarch gave a sharp “hmph,” her tone rising like a whip crack. “And you don’t have any servant women in your courtyard?”

Qingyuan said nothing. She simply smiled and shook her head slightly.

Only then did Lady Hu recover and try to smooth things over. “We did assign two helpers to Danyue Pavilion at the start. Likely those women have been slacking off, spending their time in the kitchen or sweeping instead.”

This time, the old matriarch’s “hmm” was much calmer. She stroked her knee and said, “Those old servant women are all seasoned and cunning. When they see a young girl, they don’t take her seriously.” Then she turned to Yuejian and instructed, “Later, go and pick two capable older maids and two clever young ones to serve Fourth Miss.”

Yuejian accepted the order. Qingyuan bowed and said, “Thank you, Grandmother.”

But punishment still had to be given—rewards and penalties were separate matters. The old matriarch was always fair and strict. She ordered Qingyuan to copy The Admonitions for Women ten times, to learn the lesson of “keeping one’s appearance clean and unblemished.”

With all matters settled, everyone returned to their own courtyards. Qingru clung to Lady Hu’s arm and muttered, “Grandmother was too harsh—punishing me over such a small thing…”

Lady Hu replied sternly, “Grandmother handled it well. You deserved to be punished. If it were just family, it could be overlooked. But to make a mistake in front of outsiders—do you want people to laugh at us? I’ve always told you to be careful with your words. A girl’s reputation is everything. Why give others something to gossip about? But you never listen. Qingyuan, on the other hand…” She paused, murmuring, “That girl may seem quiet, but every step she takes is calculated.”

“Qingyuan?” Qingru scoffed. “No matter how clever she is, with a mother like that, she’ll never amount to much.”

That, at least, was true. Lady Hu’s expression softened. She smoothed Qingru’s hair and said, “What the prefect’s wife said today—this is truly a good match. I asked her carefully, and it seems the Earl’s family is indeed looking for a legitimate daughter.”

Qingru couldn’t help but feel pleased, but soon hesitated. “But the prefect’s wife didn’t just ask about me—she asked about Qingyuan too. I wonder what she’s thinking. Could she actually be considering her?”

Lady Hu stood by the flower lattice window, feeding two lionhead goldfish in the tank. The daylight outside cast a glow on one side of her face. She gently curled her lips and said, “She asked, but she already knows. Once the older three are married off, the last one won’t be needed. For Qingyuan to marry well—it’s unlikely. People say, ‘If the beam is crooked, the rafters will be too.’ What respectable family would dare take in a daughter-in-law like that?”

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