Chapter 68: Seizing Him for Marriage, Secrets of the Past

After breakfast with the old madam, Wu Tan left with her two maids.

On the way back to Jingchun Studio, Cheng Cheng spoke up with a hint of worry, “Miss, even though Her Highness and her daughter were unreasonable today, now that you’ve confronted them directly and even made them fall out with you in public, won’t there be trouble in the future?”

Anyone would be infuriated by the way Princess Qingyang and her daughter spoke and acted. But after all, she was a princess, with that overbearing and unreasonable temper. Xingzi, always quick-tempered, had still been fuming for her young master and miss, but when she heard this, her expression turned anxious, and she looked at Wu Tan without saying a word.

Wu Tan only snorted disdainfully. “So what if we’ve fallen out? Am I supposed to let that shameless mother and daughter force my brother into marriage?”

Princess Qingyang’s status as a royal made her lofty, but that was all she had. Others might worry about unforeseen disasters if they offended her, but the Marquis of Dingyuan’s household controlled the military and held real power—she couldn’t shake them. At worst, offending her might mean being subjected to her petty tricks and snide remarks in the future.

Wu Tan was not one to seek trouble, but neither was she someone who feared it. Compared with her brother’s future, what did this matter? She absentmindedly plucked a flower from a roadside branch, but the sap stained her fingers. When she reached into her sleeve for her handkerchief, she realized it was missing.

Cheng Cheng quickly offered her own, wiping Wu Tan’s fingertips clean. “I think you left it on the table at breakfast.”

Wu Tan recalled this might indeed be the case and turned back at once.

The old madam preferred peace and quiet. Once she had finished breakfast, the maids cleared everything away, leaving only two junior maids watering flowers in the courtyard. Wu Tan was a frequent visitor here, and unless the old madam had guests, she was allowed to come and go as she pleased, so the maids merely greeted her softly and left her to her own devices.

She headed straight for the main room, lifting her skirt to climb the steps, but just as she was about to lift the curtain, she heard the old madam and Madam Zhou speaking in hushed tones inside.

Madam Zhou was complaining, “I’ve never seen anyone like Princess Qingyang. She’s a noble royal, and we’re all respectable families. Discussing our children’s marriage should be a matter of mutual consent. No matter how fond she is of her daughter, we still have to agree. You’ve already yielded so much, but she keeps pushing, making things so ugly. She’s lost face, but she’s made us angry as well.”

The old madam accepted the hot tea from her and sighed. “There are all kinds of people in the world. She relies too much on her status—who can stop her mouth? Even if I hadn’t had my doubts about that Princess Changping from the start, their behavior today would have made me refuse. We’re a military household—the men are often at war, and life is already worrisome enough. If the wife brought home is useless, or worse, stirs up trouble everywhere, how much more distressing would that be?”

Madam Zhou agreed but grew anxious. “What about the palace? What if Her Grace the Virtuous Consort…”

The old madam raised her hand, cutting her off. “Princess Lin’an is absolutely out of the question.”

Wu Tan had always been close to her grandmother, and hadn’t intended to eavesdrop. She was about to enter, but when she heard the old madam firmly veto Princess Lin’an, she couldn’t help feeling puzzled and let the curtain fall quietly.

Xingzi and Cheng Cheng exchanged glances behind her. Wu Tan signaled for silence, and they listened as Madam Zhou asked, “With Princess Lin’an, though girls raised in the palace can be a little spoiled, I’ve heard she’s well-mannered. Why not her?”

The old madam gave a bitter smile and sighed. “It’s not that I have anything against Princess Lin’an, but Qinglin… According to the dynasty’s ancestral laws, anyone who marries a princess cannot hold real power. Even if our family is noble, and after inheriting the title Qinglin doesn’t lead troops anymore, the difference between a true Marquis of Dingyuan and one in name only is vast. If it were up to me, I’d wish for that child to settle down, marry, and live peacefully in the capital. I’ve had enough years of fear for my son and grandson. But Qinglin takes things to heart—I know he has burdens. He trusts no one, and cherishes Tan dearly, wanting to protect her. No matter how good a princess, he would never give up power for an alliance. So if Her Grace does have this idea, I won’t need to object—he’ll never agree himself.”

“Indeed. And after what happened with the Lady of the Southern Courtyard… The second young miss was still an infant then and knew nothing, but the young master saw it all. And after our falling out with the Lin family…” Madam Zhou trailed off, troubled.

“Children should not speak of their parents’ faults—that’s filial piety. Though Qinglin never says it, I know he holds a grudge against his father. And the Lin family’s scandal hurt our eldest deeply. Now that Madam Meng’s children are growing up, the longer time passes, the harder it is for me to say anything about reconciliation.” The old madam sighed heavily, putting down her cup and rubbing her temples.

Madam Zhou moved behind her to massage her temples, then quickly tried to comfort her. “The young master is sensible—he’s done well all these years. Even if he can’t let go yet, he’ll move on in time. Before the marquis left the capital, didn’t he already arrange for the second and third sons to be adopted into the second and third branches? That shows his regard for the young master. There’s no real rift that can’t be healed between father and son. Men are like that—he’s still young, and awkward now, but once he marries, he’ll come around.”

What? Father arranged for my second and third brothers to be adopted into our late uncles’ families before leaving the capital?

This was the first Wu Tan had heard of it, and she was deeply shocked.

“Ah…” The two maids were equally astonished. Xingzi almost blurted something out, but Wu Tan shot her a warning look, and she quickly covered her mouth.

The three of them kept listening. Inside, the old madam sighed again. “But the fact that he keeps putting off marriage worries me…”

They returned to discussing suitable brides for Wu Qinglin, listing and comparing various young ladies.

Wu Tan had no interest in this and, after a moment’s thought, simply turned and left.

The old madam’s conversation with Madam Zhou was clearly full of hidden meanings. The two maids were also bewildered, but dared not make a sound and hurried after her.

Wu Tan was usually carefree and would dawdle on her way back from the old madam’s, but today she walked briskly, nearly running. The maids had to half-jog to keep up, and hurried to fetch tea for her when they got back.

Wu Tan said nothing, and for once, there was no smile on her face.

Xingzi nudged Cheng Cheng several times, until finally Cheng Cheng braced herself and spoke. “Miss, the old madam and Madam Zhou were just chatting—please don’t take it to heart.”

But Wu Tan, deep in thought, couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to their words. Wu Xun had quietly arranged for Wu Qingyu and Wu Qingrui to be adopted into the other branches—she could understand it as an effort to comfort the old madam, whose sons had died in battle and who had never recovered from the loss.

But what did the old madam mean by saying her brother “took things to heart”?

And why did Madam Zhou bring up the matter of Lady Meng?

Unable to figure it out, Wu Tan asked the two maids, “What was the story with Lady Meng back then?”

“Well…” The two maids were loyal, but gossiping about the household’s mistress was still improper. They exchanged a hesitant glance before Cheng Cheng answered, “They say madam was born a noblewoman, accustomed to city life. The old prime minister and his lady didn’t want her to endure hardship at the frontier, so when the marquis was stationed at Yuanzhou, he took the current Lady of the Southern Courtyard as a concubine to take care of things there. Twelve years ago, madam passed away, and a year later, the marquis brought the new wife and their son back to the capital. The old madam had wanted to arrange a formal marriage for him, but the marquis insisted on making the new wife his principal lady. Because of her low birth and the unusual elevation from concubine, the old madam was never satisfied with her.”

Cheng Cheng recounted all she knew.

Wu Tan frowned in thought. “That matches what I’ve heard.”

Xingzi tried to cheer her up. “Miss, that was years ago. However improper, the new wife has been in place for many years—surely you’re not angry over such old matters?”

But Wu Tan didn’t hear her, lost in silent speculation. “I’m not angry. I’m just puzzled. Grandmother and Madam Zhou said my brother resents father because of Lady Meng? Simply because she was made the principal wife?”

Xingzi was confused by the twists and turns. “I suppose so?”

“Is that possible?” Wu Tan retorted. “At father’s age, even if he hadn’t promoted Lady Meng, he would have remarried. That’s only natural. My brother isn’t unreasonable, and as a junior, would he really hold a grudge for years over his father’s marriage?”

The Wu family was considered a model among the capital’s nobility. Since the first Marquis of Dingyuan, there had only ever been one principal wife, at most a concubine or two. Only Wu Tan’s great-grandfather had taken concubines because his wife had trouble bearing children.

After all, nothing in this dynasty demanded that men remain monogamous. Even if Wu Xun had married Lady Meng as a concubine, it would have been unremarkable.

From what she knew of her brother—

Wu Qinglin simply wasn’t that kind of petty man, nor one to nurse a grudge over a matter so trivial.

And yet, Madam Zhou had said plainly that he resented Wu Xun because of Lady Meng.

The more Wu Tan thought, the more she suspected there was something deeper she didn’t know.

The two maids couldn’t guess what she was brooding over, and seeing her so preoccupied, they quietly withdrew.

*

The Princess’s Mansion.

By now, Princess Qingyang and her daughter had returned, bringing back all the gifts they’d taken out that morning. The steward and doorman exchanged puzzled looks—who ever heard of bringing gifts out and then carrying them home again?

But seeing the princess and her daughter both in foul moods, ready to snap at anyone, the staff wisely kept silent and busied themselves moving the things indoors.

Mother and daughter stormed into Li Xun’er’s rooms. Princess Qingyang threw herself onto a stool.

“Your Highness, shall I bring tea?” a maid asked timidly.

“Out! All of you, out!” Princess Qingyang snapped, driving the servants away. She slammed the table in fury, grinding out her words: “Who would have thought that old crone of the Wu family would be so ungrateful? Today we lost all face!”

“What’s the use talking about it now?” Li Xun’er, who had held back her tears all the way home, now wept openly, smashing a cup on the floor. “I’ve never been so humiliated in my life! We went all the way there, and Wu Qinglin didn’t even show his face. That old woman lords it over us, and as for that Wu Tan—she’s insufferable! Who does she think she is, daring to humiliate me to my face? Is it because she’s gotten close to Prince Sheng that she thinks she can ignore me?”

The more she raged, the more she vented, smashing the entire tea set before she was done.

Princess Qingyang was already in a foul mood, and her daughter’s complaints only made it worse. Still, for all her own humiliation, she felt for her daughter and let her vent. She paid little mind to the insults—until Li Xun’er’s last words caught her attention. Her expression sharpened. “What did you say?”

“I said that little vixen from the Wu family is hateful!” Li Xun’er spat.

“That’s not what I meant.” Princess Qingyang frowned. “What did you say about her and Prince Sheng?”

Li Xun’er paused, then said indifferently, “Last night, on our way to Huayang Palace, we bumped into Prince Sheng. I was polite and greeted him, but he ignored me and went straight to talk to Wu Tan. He said they’d known each other for a while—who knows when they started their affair? That whole Wu family is shameless. Wu Qingqiong tried to seduce the crown prince and got punished—now Wu Tan is even worse!”

At this point, she was venting however she could, slandering the Wu family’s reputation and conveniently forgetting that just an hour ago she’d been desperate to marry into their household.

Princess Qingyang, however, grew thoughtful. “Is that so? Prince Sheng has only just returned to the capital, and isn’t he supposed to be convalescing in seclusion? When the emperor and empress held a banquet for his return, I invited him to visit, but he refused. And Wu Tan is just a girl from the inner chambers…”

“Who knows? Maybe she’s just cunning!” Li Xun’er sneered.

She now hated Wu Tan more than Wu Qinglin, for it was Wu Tan who had thwarted her at every turn.

After her tirade, she waited for her mother to comfort her, but when she looked up, Princess Qingyang was lost in thought.

Li Xun’er grew angry again. “Mother! I’ve been bullied like this, and you do nothing? Give me some advice!”

Princess Qingyang snapped out of her reverie and pulled her daughter to sit beside her. “How could I do nothing? I’m thinking of something for you.”

Li Xun’er sat down reluctantly.

Princess Qingyang’s gaze darkened. “You saw for yourself how the Wu family responded. Whatever you wanted is now impossible…”

Li Xun’er, who still held out a sliver of hope for Wu Qinglin despite her rebuff, grew anxious. “I…”

She tried to rise, but her mother pressed her back down. “It takes two to make a match. No matter how much you like him, what good does it do? Haven’t you lost enough face for one day? Do you still want to throw yourself at someone who doesn’t want you? No matter how outstanding Wu Qinglin may be, he’s not the only man in the world. I can’t help you get what you want in this. Besides, that wretch of a consort is meddling as well—when we left, her maid and Doctor Qi both saw the spectacle. Who knows what they’ll say afterward?”

“Mother, what are you saying? Do you want me to give up?” Li Xun’er angrily shook off her mother’s hand. “Just because she’s a princess and I’m a county lady, must I always be beneath her? Must I even surrender the man I love? Why should Xiao Qing have everything?”

Xiao Qing was Princess Lin’an’s given name.

Li Xun’er’s tantrum finally drove Princess Qingyang to her limit. She snapped, “It’s the Wu family who refused! What can I do? After today’s fiasco, marrying into their family will be even harder. But—since they’ve humiliated us, I won’t let them have their way. I’ll go to the palace and make a scene. If we’ve lost face, let everyone lose face! Your uncle the emperor cares about his reputation—he won’t help his own daughter steal a man at the cost of being seen as bullying a widow and orphan.”

Princess Qingyang was just that sort—sharp, domineering, and willing to drag others down with her.

No sooner said than done, she stood to leave.

Li Xun’er, whose aim was now simply to prevent Lin’an from succeeding, had no objection to her mother seeking out the emperor. Then, a sudden thought struck her, and she caught her mother’s arm. “You don’t have to go, mother. I can handle this myself.”

Her abrupt change in attitude made Princess Qingyang suspicious.

Li Xun’er sneered, pulling her mother back to the table. “Let me show you something.”

She went into her bedroom, then returned with three envelopes and slapped them on the table.

“What’s this?” Princess Qingyang took one, opened it, and her expression changed dramatically. “Where did you get these?”

“We should thank Huo Yunhua!” Li Xun’er replied, her smile full of malice. “There were more letters hidden in Xiao Qing’s jewelry box, not just the one Wu Qinglin found. Last night while I was playing there, I found them by accident. I only took a few, afraid she’d notice if I took all ten or so, but these are enough. With these, neither Xiao Qing nor Wu Qinglin will be able to show their faces!”

Huo Yunhua had prepared the evidence carefully—besides the letter planted in the returned clothes, she’d had Granny Gui hide more than a dozen in Lin’an’s jewelry box, spanning six months. If there had been only one letter, Consort Zhao and her daughter could claim it was planted, but a trove of love letters in Lin’an’s own box…

Huo Yunhua’s plan had been to set fire outside the princess’s quarters, so that in the chaos, the jewelry box would be spilled and the letters discovered. She hadn’t intended for Lin’an to be present, and had even tried to stop Li Xun’er from visiting.

Later, when the plan unraveled and Wu Qinglin found the letter, and no one mentioned the others, Huo Yunhua believed they’d burned, and secretly rejoiced.

No one had expected Li Xun’er to steal a few.

Princess Qingyang, looking at the letters, felt as if a pillow had been delivered when she needed sleep—she couldn’t be more pleased.

She flipped through them, then glanced at her daughter in confusion. “Why didn’t you produce these yesterday? If you’d exposed her then, perhaps Lin’an would have been ruined on the spot.”

Li Xun’er pouted. “Wu Qinglin found his letter by accident—would anyone believe I did too? And if I’d denounced Xiao Qing to her face, what would people think of me? I’m not stupid! As long as I have these, there’ll always be a use for them.”

She’d found the letters by accident, and tucked a few into her sleeve. At first, she hadn’t decided how to use them, but holding Lin’an’s secret was bound to come in handy.

It was just Lin’an’s misfortune to have crossed her.

Princess Qingyang nodded. “This is a much better plan than making a scene at court.”

Li Xun’er carefully folded the letters and put them away, her face full of glee. “That silly girl wants to compete with me? The emperor may cover up for her once, but not twice. Even if she is a princess, the Wu family would never accept a woman of such ill repute.”

Having lost face at the Wu residence, mother and daughter were bent on revenge.

Princess Qingyang recalled the smug look of Granny Qi, and thought how Consort Zhao would squirm after the coming disaster, and could hardly keep from laughing.

“Very well, since you have a plan, go ahead. We can’t let others trample us.” She exhaled heavily, then stroked her daughter’s hair, but her gaze turned icy. “As for that little wretch from the Wu family, I have my own way of dealing with her!”

“Wu Tan?” Li Xun’er’s eyes lit up, and she fixed her gaze on her mother. “What do you plan?”

Princess Qingyang smiled mysteriously and beckoned her closer, whispering a few words.

Li Xun’er frowned in doubt. “Will that work?”

“Just wait and see!” Princess Qingyang declared confidently. “I won’t guarantee anything else, but this plan is foolproof. We won’t have to lift a finger ourselves—just watch her suffer.”

Seeing her mother so assured, and unable to think of a better idea herself, Li Xun’er let it go. “Very well.”

While mother and daughter plotted, Wu Qinglin returned home.

Xiao Lingzi had been waiting at the gate and immediately reported all that had happened.

Wu Qinglin’s brows drew together. “Princess Qingyang’s household? And the palace’s chief maid?”

What a tangle.

“Yes! The palace delegation was fine, but Princess Qingyang argued with the old madam, and Lady Changping fought with the second young miss. They didn’t leave in good spirits. I thought there might be trouble, so I came to tell you.”

“I see,” Wu Qinglin replied coldly, changing direction for the main house.

He didn’t stay long with the old madam, just asked about the morning’s events and offered a few words of comfort before leaving.

As he left, he met Madam Zhou carrying ginseng tea. She asked the old madam, “What did the young master say?”

The old madam, reclining on her pillow, sat up to take the tea, her face showing little emotion. “What else? The same as always.”

Madam Zhou grew anxious. “The young master will be twenty at New Year—old madam, you can’t let him have his way in everything. At least try to persuade him…”

“He said to wait two more years. Am I to choose a wife for him myself?” The old madam, having met with resistance so often, was now immune. She sighed. “I could make the choice, but what if he’s unhappy? Fine—two more years, then. By then, Tan will be grown, and even if I don’t urge him, he’ll have to act.”

Custom dictated that elder siblings marry first, unless there were special circumstances.

Wu Qinglin had grown up under Madam Zhou’s care, and she cared about this. “If you don’t press him, and neither does the marquis, I’ve never seen such easygoing elders.”

The old madam laughed. “Let them be. Every child has their own fate. Actually, Qinglin and Qingyu are fine—once they marry, I can keep an eye on their wives. It’s Tan I worry about… I need to choose carefully for her.”

Wu Qinglin had barely returned when Wu Tan came to see him.

Brother and sister entered almost together. Wu Qinglin, changing into informal clothes, came out as Wu Tan entered, grinning. “Brother!”

He motioned for her to sit. “Did you need something?”

“Not really, just wanted to ask you a question.” She followed him to the table and sat, eyeing him with a mischievous look. “You heard what happened this morning, right? The consort sent word from the palace, inviting grandmother for a visit…”

Before she could finish, Wu Qinglin cut her off. “I’ve already told grandmother to refuse with some excuse. Was that all?”

Wu Tan was momentarily stumped, then pressed on, “I’m just worried about you. You don’t even have a maid in your courtyard now—doesn’t Huangfu Qi go to brothels without telling you? He must be gossiping about you behind your back…”

Xingzi and Cheng Cheng blushed furiously at such outrageous talk and wished they could sink through the floor.

For the first time, Wu Qinglin blushed as well. He barked, “Wu Tan!”

In a panic, he strode over to shut the door, then turned and nearly scolded her nose to nose. “What’s gotten into you? I leave you alone a little and you run wild? Saying such things in broad daylight—what kind of talk is that for a young lady?”

He was truly intimidating when angry.

The two maids, sweating with anxiety, dared not speak up.

Wu Tan, shameless as ever, only winked at him. “I’m just curious. Don’t all men want three wives and four concubines? Are you saving yourself for my future sister-in-law? You’re so out of touch, grandmother is worried sick!”

She finally invoked the old madam as her shield, but Wu Qinglin knew she’d never send Wu Tan to lobby him about marriage.

He was furious, but after so many years as siblings, he knew her well. Seeing her playful expression, he realized she was probing him.

Suppressing his irritation, he took a deep breath and waved the maids away. “You two, out.”

Grateful not to be embroiled further, they left at once.

Wu Qinglin returned to the table, poured himself a glass of water, and sat down.

“So, what is it you wanted to say?”

Wu Tan cocked her head, her expression suddenly flat. “After what happened with Lady Changping today, I’ve been thinking. In two years I’ll have to marry, and if I can’t find a good match, what then?”

Wu Qinglin frowned. “Why say that?”

“It’s true. Our family is considered decent, but even father took concubines after marrying. I don’t know what mother thought of it, but I can’t imagine living like that…” Wu Tan sighed, then looked at Wu Qinglin intently. “Brother, do all noble families live this way?”

All the while, she watched his every expression, seeking any reaction.

Wu Qinglin was unprepared for this line of questioning. His brow furrowed deeper, and after a moment’s silence, he warned, “Keep such words between us. Don’t speak of father and mother’s affairs outside. And yes, that’s how things are in noble families. As for you—no need to worry about marriage yet.”

His tone was perfectly natural, betraying no emotion.

Wu Tan watched him closely but saw no hint of resentment toward Wu Xun. Her suspicion only deepened—what did the old madam and Madam Zhou mean?

She could have asked Wu Qinglin directly, but they’d never kept secrets. If he had hidden something for over a decade, it meant he truly didn’t want her to know, and asking would only create a burden.

With no answer from this probing, she had to let it go, plastering on a smile. “On the sixteenth, the results of this year’s imperial exams will be announced. I’ve already arranged to go watch the parade with Cousin Yan Yao.”

Wu Qinglin was puzzled. “Watch the parade? Do we know the top scholar?”

Wu Tan winked. “Those scholars are all old and dull. I’m going to look at the candidates—cast a wide net and see if I can catch a handsome one to marry in!”

Wu Qinglin: …

So after all that preamble, this was her aim?

He was speechless for a moment, then managed a sheepish, “Is that all the ambition you have?”

Wu Tan was unashamed. “I call it practical!”

After holding his stern face for so long, Wu Qinglin finally burst out laughing. “Do as you like!”

He shooed her away as if swatting a fly.

Wu Tan was always only half to be believed—she was tricky, and her words were often half-truths.

Wu Qinglin took her talk of marrying in a scholar as a joke, but Wu Tan, upon returning to her rooms, actually had Xingzi send an invitation to her cousin Lin Yan Yao to go out together on the sixteenth.

*

Prince Sheng’s Residence.

Xiao Yue was in a foul mood.

Since returning from the emperor’s birthday banquet, he had been silent and sullen, as if the entire world owed him a fortune.

All day, the servants avoided his study, careful not to make a single sound to provoke his anger.

But Lei Ming, who had to stand ready for orders, could not escape, and when news came from the Marquis of Dingyuan’s household, he seized it as a lifeline and rushed in.

“My lord, something happened at the Marquis’s residence this morning!”

Xiao Yue was seated at his desk, holding a military book, but did not look up.

Lei Ming assumed he was reading, but in truth, Xiao Yue had not turned a single page all morning. He answered coldly, “Speak.”

Lei Ming cut to the chase. “Second Miss Wu and Lady Changping fought!”

Sure enough, Xiao Yue finally reacted, shooting him a glare so fierce Lei Ming dropped to his knees on the spot.

A book came flying at his head.

———End of this installment———