Chapter 294: Returning Home
Pingjiang City.
Li Jinzhu raised her foot to see off the Hong Family steward who had come to deliver the message, but the steward hurriedly waved his hands, bowing and retreating.
“I dare not, I dare not! Eldest Madam, please stop! I dare not. I shall take my leave.” The steward retreated all the way to the courtyard gate before turning to move forward.
Li Jinzhu stood under the corridor, watching the steward leave. She took a step back, touched the back of the bamboo chair, and slowly sat down.
Li Yuzhu came out of the room. Seeing Li Yuzhu emerge, Mei Jie, who had been peeking around the decorative gate to listen, also trotted over and stood at the foot of the steps, looking from Li Jinzhu to Li Yuzhu.
“Sister?” Li Yuzhu pulled over a small bamboo chair and sat down beside Li Jinzhu.
“I heard it all! Our A Nan is going to be a Princess Consort?” Mei Jie tightly gripped the spatula in her hand.
“My heart,” Li Jinzhu looked at Li Yuzhu, paused, and then continued, “is very uneasy.”
“I’m a little scared,” Li Yuzhu subconsciously lowered her voice.
“Isn’t this a good thing?” Mei Jie looked at the two of them, feeling uncertain.
“This is a step to heaven,” Li Jinzhu said softly.
“It’s A Nan becoming a Princess Consort, not us. Are we also going to the Capital City?” Mei Jie thought a step further.
“We’re not going. There’s a burnt smell.” Li Yuzhu sniffed.
“Oh dear! I was cooking!” Mei Jie turned and ran.
This burnt smell, the pot must have been burned through!
Li Yuzhu moved closer to Li Jinzhu and asked in a low voice, “Do we need to go back to Li Family Market?”
Li Jinzhu thought for a moment and shook her head. “The steward just now said he came specifically to our place to deliver the message. There are two other routes to Li Family Market and Hong Family. Tang Weng Weng and the others must already know. They’ll come to us. It’s better than us going to them and missing each other on the way.”
Li Yuzhu hummed, and lost in thought about something, she became dazed.
Li Jinzhu looked at her, and seeing that she hadn’t snapped out of it for a while, she gently patted her. “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing, nothing,” Li Yuzhu lowered her head, flustered, tidying the thread tangled around her shoe sole.
Li Jinzhu looked at Li Yuzhu knowingly, thought for a moment, and said nothing.
……………………
After seeing off Li Xuedong and Mr. Gao, Mr. Shao hurried into the adjacent schoolroom, called out Ni Rush, and pulled him to a spot under a tree in a corner of the courtyard, lowering his voice and smiling, “Great news! Fourth Mistress’s marriage has been settled!”
“Fourth Mistress? A Nan?” Ni Rush was stunned for a moment, then reacted.
“You must not address her by her given name!” Mr. Shao quickly corrected him.
“So soon? Didn’t you say it might take until the end of the year or the beginning of the next year for news?” Ni Rush was very surprised.
“Speaking of which, it would indeed be best to settle it after you pass the Child Scholar exam and Second Mistress’s engagement is set, around the end of the year or the beginning of the next,” Mr. Shao said with a smile. “But now that it’s so fast, there are benefits. Either the Prince and Princess Consort have taken a liking to our Fourth Mistress, or the Young Lord has absolute authority in the Prince’s Estate. Either of these is very good!”
Mr. Shao couldn’t help but laugh.
“Fourth Mistress clearly has great fortune,” Ni Rush said with a complex expression.
Before Fourth Mistress’s marriage was settled, he thought his own engagement to Second Mistress was something he could imagine. Now, he suddenly felt that this engagement was his wishful thinking.
“What’s wrong?” Mr. Shao examined Ni Rush.
“Nothing,” Ni Rush concealed.
“Go back and, preferably, go yourself to congratulate Second Mistress in person, or have your mother go,” Mr. Shao suggested with a smile, patting Ni Rush.
For Ni Rush, seeing himself about to ascend to heaven, it was only natural to feel as if he were dreaming.
Ni Rush was silent for a moment, looked at Mr. Shao, and shook his head. “I don’t think it’s appropriate. Neither I nor my mother are of a status to offer congratulations.”
“You, that’s fine too,” Mr. Shao changed tack very quickly. “Indeed, going to offer congratulations now would be too deliberate. I was too happy. Let’s not talk about this. We’re setting off for Hangcheng the day after tomorrow. You don’t need to study too hard these few days, rest well. Or, we can leave earlier, set off tomorrow, and rest an extra day in Hangcheng.”
“Okay,” Ni Rush nodded.
……………………
Li Xiaonan and Fourth Mistress Wei’s large Wei Family ship quietly set sail south.
Of course, the word “quietly” was mocked by Wan Jing when the Wei Family old woman delivered the message, calling it self-deception.
The marriage of the Heir of the Prince of Rui had always been among the top three gossip topics in Jianle City. After the Shi Family broke off the engagement with the Prince of Rui’s Estate, it had been at the very top of the gossip list. Within an hour before and after Li Wenliang entered the Ministry of Rites, the entire Capital City knew that the Young Lord’s Consort would be from the Li Family.
From that moment on, the alley around the Li Family was filled with all sorts of people peeking around.
Fourth Mistress Wei accompanying Li Xiaonan on her journey south was, through the tacit understanding of those involved and the audience, a “quiet” departure.
Along the way, Li Xiaonan’s eyes were opened.
There was nothing within her sight that was not a busybody.
For the first time, Li Xiaonan understood the difficulty of being in a high position; seeing the real world was simply an impossible task.
When Li Xiaonan arrived in Pingjiang City, the officials from the Ministry of Rites had already arrived. After the baptism of the journey, Li Xiaonan obediently accepted the arrangements made by He Chengzhe and the steward of the villa, Uncle Hong, and stayed at the He Family’s villa in Pingjiang City, Wanfeng Garden.
The small courtyard of the Li Family was simply unable to block out the countless busybodies and those trying to find ways to connect with her and pay their respects.
Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu followed the old woman into Wanfeng Garden, passed through several gates, and wound their way inward along the covered corridor.
Li Yuzhu’s eyes were dazzled by the surrounding pillars, furnishings, flowers, and the maids who immediately bowed their heads upon seeing them, and the maidservants busy amidst the flowers. Leaning against Li Jinzhu, she asked in a low voice, “Sister, will A Nan live in a place like this in the future?”
Before Li Jinzhu could answer, the old woman in front turned back and smiled, “A place like this wouldn’t catch the eye of the Prince’s Estate. Even Eldest Madam and Second Madam won’t be able to live in such a simple place in the future.”
Li Jinzhu gently patted Li Yuzhu, who understood and tightly pursed her lips.
They were stepping into a world they could not even imagine.
Not them, but A Nan.
Li Xiaonan was sitting by the window, listing the things she wanted to write. Upon hearing the announcement, she quickly stood up to greet them.
“Eldest Sister! Second Sister!”
“A Nan!” Li Yuzhu saw Li Xiaonan and hurried forward to meet her.
Li Jinzhu stopped and carefully examined Li Xiaonan, wanting to smile but unable to.
“I’m doing very well! Let’s go inside and talk.” Li Xiaonan pulled Li Jinzhu into the room.
The room was pleasantly cool.
“Where is Wan Jing? And A Wu and the others?” Li Jinzhu asked in a low voice, looking at the young maids standing respectfully in the room.
“Wan Jing went to the Weaving Bureau to look at fabric. Yu Ting and A Wu went to Linhai Town. Eldest Sister, please sit here.” Li Xiaonan pushed Li Jinzhu to sit on the couch, pushed Li Yuzhu to sit opposite Li Jinzhu, took the tea from the young maid, and placed it in front of them.
“Wan Jing will follow you from now on? What about A Wu and Yu Ting?” Li Jinzhu asked with concern.
Although she didn’t know if A Wu and Yu Ting would be useful following Li Xiaonan, knowing they could follow Li Xiaonan eased her heart a little.
“Yu Ting and A Wu said they will follow me from now on. Eldest Sister, don’t worry, I’m doing very well,” Li Xiaonan said, sitting down next to Li Jinzhu.
Li Jinzhu looked at Li Xiaonan, words on the tip of her tongue but swallowed back.
When A Nan speaks of doing well, it means there are difficulties she faces that they cannot help with.
“A Nan, have you met the Princess Consort? Is the Princess Consort treating you well?” Li Yuzhu leaned forward and asked in a low voice.
“Of course I’ve met her, and she’s treating me very well,” Li Xiaonan replied with a smile.
“What about the Prince?” Li Yuzhu breathed a sigh of relief and continued to ask.
“There’s no need to meet the Prince,” Li Xiaonan replied with a smile, then looked at Li Jinzhu and changed the subject. “Eldest Sister, there are a few matters I need to discuss with you. First, about the Imperial Grant. Father and Mother don’t need to worry about these; there are rules. Besides these, our family can also have a County Madam and a nominal Second Rank position, which are for elders. There’s also a nominal Eighth Rank position, for peers or juniors. Eldest Sister, how do you think we should allocate them?”
“For the two for the elders, can we give them to Tang Weng Weng and Great-Grandmother?” Li Jinzhu asked.
Li Xiaonan nodded.
“That nominal Eighth Rank,” Li Jinzhu paused, hesitated for a moment, “A Nan, I think it should be given to Eldest Uncle, but what about your brother? What do you think?”
“Second Sister?” Li Xiaonan looked at Li Yuzhu.
Li Yuzhu answered quickly, “Mr. Gao mentioned this. Eldest Sister and I have discussed it several times. If we can manage the household, we’ll give it to Eldest Uncle. Mr. Gao also thinks this is good. Mr. Gao said your brother should try to pass the exam himself; it would be more respectable that way.”
“Brother has no talent for studying. He won’t be able to pass it himself. Was Brother present when Mr. Gao said this?” Li Xiaonan’s tone was firm.
“Your brother was present. Mr. Gao felt that your brother would definitely be able to pass, but he, like you, didn’t think he could pass,” Li Jinzhu replied.
“If Brother can’t pass, this Imperial Grant will only be for this one time,” Li Xiaonan said.
Li Yuzhu looked at Li Jinzhu. Li Jinzhu was silent for a moment. “Even without an official position, he’s your brother. No one in Pingjiang Prefecture will bully him. It’s fine if he doesn’t have one.”
“Yes, for the County Madam, I think it should still be for Eldest Sister. The nominal Second Rank for Tang Weng Weng seems to be a set. The nominal Eighth Rank should go to Eldest Uncle,” Li Xiaonan said.
“I don’t need it! How can I be a Madam? That Madam…” Li Jinzhu was startled.
“Eldest Sister is the head of our family. Having a title is better than not having one. Besides, Eldest Sister is going to do the fine cloth business. Having this County Madam title will make things twice as effective,” Li Xiaonan said with a smile.
“A Nan, I was just about to talk to you about this. Can we still do this business? Mr. Gao said we are now considered influential gentry and officials. Doing business might not be appropriate,” Li Jinzhu said worriedly. This was her biggest concern. The fine cloth business hadn’t even taken off yet. If she stopped, who would she hand it over to?
“Of course we can. The Prince’s Estate has even more business. Besides, Eldest Sister’s business isn’t just for personal profit; it’s to help everyone earn money together,” Li Xiaonan said with a smile.
“That’s exactly what I thought. It’s hard for country folk, and even harder for women. One loom is a path to survival,” Li Jinzhu sighed deeply.
“I want Eldest Sister to have a title, also for the sake of this business. I also want every household in our Pingjiang Prefecture, Liangzhe Circuit, and even Jiangnan, to have the sound of looms,” Li Xiaonan said, linking her arm with Li Jinzhu’s.
“It’s only a matter of time. Everyone knows now that having a fine cloth loom at home means continuous income. We have to ask for favors to get into our few weaving schools,” Li Yuzhu said with a smile.
“Once I’m done with your dowry, I’ll go with Second Sister to handle the school matters. There are too few schools, so we need to open more. Also, yarn. It was originally managed by Eldest Uncle. The sales of fine cloth have improved, but it’s still not enough. Sister-in-law Yin wants to go out and travel. We didn’t know if this business could continue before, so everything was delayed,” Li Jinzhu spoke faster and faster.
“Eldest Sister and Second Sister don’t need to worry about my dowry. Our family doesn’t have money. Tang Weng Weng said he’d gather some from the clan, and Hong Family Master also wants to contribute some. They want it to be grand and magnificent, but I didn’t ask for that. Just follow the rules of our Pingjiang Prefecture and prepare everything that should be prepared,” Li Xiaonan said with a smile.
“Just preparing what should be prepared, then it might as well be like your Third Sister’s,” Li Yuzhu frowned.
“I’m different from Third Sister. Third Sister’s dowry is considered good, but even if you double Third Sister’s dowry for me, it wouldn’t be much. It’s better to follow the rules,” Li Xiaonan said with a smile, spreading her hands.
“A Nan is right,” Li Jinzhu nodded. “The only thing our A Nan can rely on is herself. The dowry won’t help you, and neither can I, your sister.”
Li Jinzhu stroked a stray strand of hair by Li Xiaonan’s temple.
“I’m very capable, Eldest Sister, don’t worry,” Li Xiaonan said with a bright smile.
