Huo Tingshan returned in the evening. Upon hearing from Pei Ying that she had met with the young lady of the Shi family, he asked her, "You met her? What did you think, Madam?"
Pei Ying recounted what Shi Shi had told her earlier, concluding with, "...She is quite pitiful."
Her parents and eldest brother were gone, and her paternal uncle was hunting her down, forcing her to flee her homeland at such a young age. Pei Ying did not think the girl was lying, as Shi Shi likely guessed they would send men to Jiaozhou to investigate her background after their meeting.
Huo Tingshan remained silent. He had seen far too many wretched people in his time; in his eyes, this young lady of the Shi family did not yet merit the word pitiful.
However...
"She said she is familiar with the Jiaozhou commanderies of Lidan, Congheta, and Buta?" Huo Tingshan raised an eyebrow.
Pei Ying nodded. "Her maternal grandfather's family is from Lidan. She said she lived there for a time as a child."
The Jiaozhou of the Han Dynasty included a large portion of what is now Vietnam, and this era was likely similar. The climate difference between the north and south was vast. In her past life, Pei Ying had also been from south of the Qinling-Huaihe line.
Huo Tingshan walked to the door and spoke to Xin Jin outside. "Go and bring Huo Er here."
Xin Jin complied.
"Why call the boy over so suddenly?" Pei Ying asked in surprise.
"To confirm a few things. Back when that lad wrote to Xuzhou, he mentioned he had rescued a young lady of the Shi family who was fleeing an arranged marriage," he said, recalling the past.
Pei Ying smiled, her focus shifting elsewhere. "So you not only listened carefully at the time, but you also remembered it clearly afterward."
Huo Tingshan's lips twitched. "Your husband has only just reached his fortieth year. He has not yet reached the point where he forgets things that happened a few months ago in the blink of an eye."
"Alright then. So what did you mean by that just now?" Pei Ying asked.
Huo Tingshan played coy. "Madam will know shortly."
Pei Ying replied, "Fine."
Huo Zhizhang arrived quickly, seemingly having run the whole way. When Pei Ying saw him, his chest was heaving heavily. "There is tea in the room. Zhizhang, would you like some?"
The young man thanked his mother and went to pour himself a drink.
Huo Tingshan pressed a hand to his brow and looked away before speaking. "Huo Er, when you rescued that young lady from the 'bandits,' did you realize they were not truly bandits yourself, or did she tell you?"
Though confused by his father's intent, Huo Zhizhang answered honestly, "She told me. After I rescued her, I intended to send guards to scout the surrounding area and wipe out the hidden bandit den. But Miss Shi stopped me, saying it was unnecessary. She said those people were after her and were not real bandits."
"Did she reveal her identity as a daughter of the Shi family on the spot?" Huo Tingshan asked.
Huo Zhizhang shook his head. "She was injured and had been under extreme tension for a long time. She fainted once the danger was over. She only confessed the truth to me later, after we returned to the military camp."
It had been nearly dark when the incident occurred. Her entire party was wounded, and there were no nearby towns. Out of necessity, he could only bring them back to the camp. He had planned to let her go once she could move freely, but he hadn't expected her to inform him that she was a daughter of the Shi family of Jiaozhou.
The Shi family was a major clan in the south, and she was a descendant of the main line. It was not appropriate to handle her case carelessly, so he had not forced her to stay or leave.
Huo Tingshan turned his thumb ring. "When did you learn her father was the clan leader?"
Huo Zhizhang thought back. "Probably when she had just recovered. Her complexion was much better then, and she brought some herbs she had gathered nearby to thank me. Later, while chatting, I learned her father was the head of the Shi clan."
"Her father was indeed the clan leader, but only in the past. Her uncle murdered his own brother to take the position. The current clan leader is no longer her father," Huo Tingshan said flatly.
Huo Zhizhang's expression changed drastically; he clearly had not known this. A look of pity appeared in his eyes. "No wonder she fled her home. It turns out her own family would not tolerate her."
Huo Tingshan did not care to look at his son's expression and waved him away. "You may go. Your mother and I are going to sleep."
The young man did not move. He could not figure out the purpose of his father's summons, but he knew he might be able to take this opportunity to ask something else. "Father, do you have any arrangements for my marriage?"
Nowadays, marriages were decided by the command of one's parents. Huo Zhizhang knew that with his current status, he would likely enter a political marriage, much like his elder brother. His father had told his brother to marry the daughter of Governor Lei of Yuzhou, and he had to comply.
But looking at the state of the world, there were no targets left for the Youzhou Army to win over through marriage. Yuzhou was already an ally; the other eastern provinces had been brought under his father's control last winter. The Governor of Yangzhou had declared himself emperor, so they would certainly not have a marriage alliance with him. Looking toward the central and western regions, Jing and Yi provinces already belonged to Ji Xianbai. Given that Grand Marshal Ji had tried to kidnap his mother, his father could never be civil with such a man.
A marriage alliance with the central or western regions was also impossible.
That left the south—Jiaozhou.
She was from a great clan of Jiaozhou, though her parents were now dead...
Seeing his youngest son waiting eagerly for an answer, Huo Tingshan gave a cold snort. "What? Are you trying to manage your father's arrangements?"
"I wouldn't dare," Huo Zhizhang said hurriedly, his fair face flushing slightly. "I was only asking."
Huo Tingshan wanted to needle him a bit more, but seeing Pei Ying cover her mouth with a yawn, he changed his mind. "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask. Don't just stand there; go back to your own courtyard."
The young man left dejectedly.
Once his son had gone, Pei Ying looked at the man beside her. "You asked Zhizhang quite a lot and found out everything you wanted. What do you think?"
"This girl from the Shi family is no fool," Huo Tingshan smiled.
She hadn't revealed all her information at once but disclosed it layer by layer. And in the end, this silly boy didn't even know her father, the clan leader, was dead.
Pei Ying looked at the curve of his lips. "So you are satisfied?"
Huo Tingshan pulled her into his arms, leading her toward the bed. "My son has practically come to me with a plea. How could I not agree?"
Pei Ying was suspicious. "I don't believe it's just that."
The Huo Tingshan she knew was not such a doting father. When he settled the marriage alliance with Yuzhou, he had been looking at the benefits it would bring.
Benefits...
Shi Shi was from Jiaozhou.
Suddenly, a flash of insight crossed her mind. This man had asked about Lidan and those other places in Jiaozhou earlier—could it be that those were all strategic locations? So what Huo Tingshan truly valued was Shi Shi's familiarity with the key areas of Jiaozhou, or perhaps even her maternal family's influence there?
Pei Ying: "..."
Huo Tingshan saw her expression and knew she had understood some of it. He laughed. "It is partly as you think, Madam, but not entirely."
Pei Ying let out a questioning hum.
"This Shi girl is very sharp. It will be good for Huo Er to have someone clever by his side. That way, when you and I set aside these mundane affairs to go and travel the mountains and rivers, you won't have to worry about the silly boy back home." Huo Tingshan picked up a night-luminescent pearl and tucked it into a black silk pouch.
In truth, there were things he hadn't said. Looking further ahead, when he and his wife passed away, the two brothers would surely divide the family estate. A woman's battlefield was in the inner chambers, but sometimes it was also outside—at social gatherings for noble ladies, for instance. It was hard to say that a clever person wouldn't use such gatherings to build bridges and make connections.
The bonds of brotherhood are hard to sever, and as long as Mingji was around, protecting a fool like Huo Er for a few decades would be no problem. But what about the next generation, or the one after that? Once Mingji retired and his heirs took over, the bond would surely weaken, for they would be mere cousins rather than brothers born of the same mother.
The start of every dynasty was a reshuffling of the deck, and after a new regime endured for several decades, problems would inevitably arise. By then, many things would be at stake—the transfer of power, the use of grand banners for personal gain, and those who would exploit the influence of others for their own ends.
If a simpleton married a scatterbrain and sired a litter of little fools, it would be a truly bleak prospect. There was no telling if Huo Er’s lineage would even last long before being exiled to some remote, desolate region.
As for whether that daughter of the Shi family would cause trouble because she was exceptionally clever, Huo Tingshan was not worried at all.
A wife follows her husband. Her parents were dead, and her homeland was far away in Jiaozhou. When she married, she would have only a few Jiaozhou servants by her side, with no real power to call upon. She would have no choice but to cling tightly to Huo Er, doing her utmost to ensure her none-too-bright and none-too-perceptive husband lived out the rest of his life in peace, while raising the next generation well.
Pei Ying chuckled softly, following his words to a conclusion he hadn't fully voiced. "A parent's love for their child means planning far ahead for them. You are a compassionate father, husband."
Huo Tingshan refused to admit it. "I am no compassionate father. I simply cannot bear to see him being used as a pawn like a fool in the future."
*
This spring and summer, Huo Zhizhang reached two major milestones in his life.
At the end of spring, he celebrated his capping ceremony.
A man is capped at twenty and receives his courtesy name. The ceremony usually includes ancestral worship. However, as they were currently out on campaign, extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures. The ancestral worship was simplified, and Huo Zhizhang merely offered sacrifices in the direction of Youzhou.
He received his courtesy name: Jiuyuan.
Jiuyuan referred to the nine sacred springs of mythology, later evolving to mean a deep pool. Huo Tingshan hoped that his boisterous younger son could become as steady and calm as a deep pool.
Huo Zhizhang loved his name immensely. On the night of his capping ceremony, he was so excited he couldn't sleep. He ended up staying up by lamplight to carve himself a private seal with the name "Jiuyuan."
Not long after the ceremony concluded, spring faded into summer.
Summer in Jingzhou was much hotter than in Youzhou. The sun blazed, and heat shimmered off the ground, seeping into one's pores until it felt as though the very blood in one's veins was boiling.
Just as the first month of summer was coming to an end, Huo Zhizhang reached his second major milestone.
"...Father, you are truly letting me marry the young lady of the Shi family?" Huo Zhizhang looked at his father in astonishment.
Huo Tingshan shot him a glance. "You were the one who came begging me before, constantly asking about your marriage. Do you suddenly not want to marry her anymore?"
"No," Huo Zhizhang shook his head. "I'm just a bit surprised." He was surprised that his father had finally relented.
Could it be as he thought—that there were no more regions left to form alliances with, so his marriage could be handled with more flexibility? Or was it actually his mother who had intervened on his behalf, convincing his father to agree?
Huo Zhizhang fell into deep thought.
The doubt and curiosity on his son's face were unconcealed. Huo Tingshan saw it but had no intention of explaining. "She has a younger brother. Are you aware of this?"
Huo Zhizhang nodded, saying he knew.
The day Shi Shi went to see his mother, she told him upon her return that she actually had one living relative.
Her younger brother was fourteen this year. During their flight north, he had fallen ill because he was not accustomed to the local climate and could not continue the journey with her. After much thought, she had decided to hide him away, both to allow him to recover and to evade the pursuers following them.
Huo Tingshan said, "I will send men to bring her brother to Luoyang in Sizhou. I'll find a residence for him first. From now on, the presentation of betrothal gifts and the wedding ceremony will all be held in Luoyang. There will be no further contact with the people in Jiaozhou. Your elder brother will be married in Luoyang during the Beginning of Autumn. The rituals for your betrothal gifts will be arranged after that."
After his eldest son left Wangchang Dam in Yuzhou, Huo Tingshan had sent him back to Luoyang to oversee the sale of glass. Later, considering the vast distance between Luoyang and Youzhou, he realized there wouldn't be enough time for the round trip.
When Mingji wed, he and his wife would certainly need to be present.
However, with small skirmishes ongoing and a major battle looming, it was inappropriate to travel thousands of miles back to Youzhou at this time. Sizhou was already his territory, and Luoyang was essentially home. Getting married in Luoyang was a fine choice.
"Thank you, Father," Huo Zhizhang said, bowing with his hands clasped.
*
In the small courtyard.
Shi Shi sat on a swing beneath a tree, gently swaying back and forth. Being from Jiaozhou, she was more resistant to the heat than northerners, so the outdoor temperature wasn't enough to drive her back inside.
Sunlight filtered through layers of green leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Shi Shi’s toes lightly brushed against the patches of light. She leaned against the vine rope on the other side of the swing, her expression vacant as she daydreamed.
The sound of footsteps approached, startling the young girl on the swing. Her toes stopped abruptly against the ground. The swing ceased its movement, and the dappled sunlight fell across her skirt, making the dark patterns on the fabric stand out.
"Young Lady Shi."
"Young Master Huo," Shi Shi said, a smile blooming on her face.
Huo Zhizhang stopped three paces away from her. When his gaze met those curving, cat-like eyes, he instinctively looked away, though he stood even straighter than before. "My father just told me that he agrees to our marriage."
Shi Shi froze.
Receiving no immediate response, Huo Zhizhang looked back at her. Seeing the surprise on her face, he frowned. "I offended you, so I ought to take responsibility..."
Shi Shi didn't hear the rest of his words; she just stared blankly at the man before her.
He had come of age. His dark hair was tied up high, symbolizing his transition from a youth to a grown man.
At this moment, he frowned first, then broke into a smile.
He looked so handsome when he smiled. The reflected sunlight made his eyes exceptionally bright. The sharp angles of his face softened slightly, yet he still possessed the spirited arrogance of a youth. He was like an eagle soaring freely in the sky, or the brilliant sun. Shi Shi was momentarily dazzled by his smiling face.
For a few moments, her ears were filled with the sound of her own racing heart. A strange sensation spread through her chest, accompanied by a faint trace of guilt.
Guilt was an unfamiliar emotion to her. She was her father's most beloved daughter and did many things with full confidence, well aware that schemes and intrigue were unavoidable within a large clan.
If she didn't scheme against others, others would surely scheme against her.
"I'm sorry..." Shi Shi murmured.
Huo Zhizhang didn't hear her clearly. "What?"
Shi Shi's smile returned. "Nothing. I will treat you well in the future."
Huo Zhizhang knew she had always been direct. Hearing her speak this way no longer left him as flustered as the first time, though he still changed the subject. "Father said he will bring your brother to Luoyang to settle him. After my elder brother's wedding during the Beginning of Autumn, we will arrange our betrothal gifts. By the way, where exactly is your brother?"
Shi Shi gave him an address.
Huo Zhizhang nodded. "Good. I will handle the arrangements for everything else. Do not worry."
A breeze blew past, shaking the shadows of the trees. The dappled light on the ground danced along, and within the rustle of the wind, there was the faint, soft sound of the girl's response.
*
As the days passed and the Beginning of Autumn drew near, Pei Ying became increasingly busy. With her eldest son's wedding imminent, they had to make a trip to Luoyang.
Perhaps Ji Xianbai also knew that they would surely head to Luoyang this autumn. Consequently, during the summer, the Yongzhou army that had occupied Jingzhou joined forces with the local Jingzhou troops they had absorbed and reorganized to launch several offensives against the small cities held by Huo Zhizhang, attempting to reclaim them.
Huo Tingshan dispatched Li Qiongqi and Sha Ying to the front, ordering them to each lead a detachment to provide support to the towns located to the southwest and southeast of Chenyuan Pass, respectively.
With both sides evenly matched in terms of manpower and the opposing side having the advantage of treacherous terrain, the battle became a stalemate. Neither side could gain the upper hand, reaching a sort of strained balance.
After handing over the defense of Chenyuan Pass to Chen Yuan, Huo Tingshan and Pei Ying set off for Luoyang with the whole family in tow.
With the war looming, time was of the essence. Their journey to Luoyang was a forced march, intended to be a quick trip there and back.
Autumn arrived with clear waters, twilight mountains, and the lingering hum of cicadas; the trees of Luoyang were shrouded in the misty smoke of Minggao. Luoyang in autumn possessed a unique beauty. Pei Ying had come to Luoyang last year during the autumn, and returning just as autumn began this year filled her with nostalgia.
The Governor’s Mansion in Luoyang had already been prepared. Just like last time, Huo Mingji personally waited in front of the residence for his parents' return. Along with his parents and sister, he saw his younger brother as well.
It was only natural for his brother to attend his wedding the day after tomorrow, but what was unusual was…
Huo Mingji turned his gaze toward the unfamiliar young lady walking beside his sister. The two seemed quite close, and this young lady had even shared a carriage with his sister just now.
The young man took a glance before shifting his gaze back to his sister.
Meng Ling’er understood his look and introduced her with a smile, “Eldest Brother, this is the young lady of the Shi family from Jiaozhou. She accompanied us to Luoyang so that after your wedding, she can undergo the betrothal ceremony here with Second Brother.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Huo Mingji’s eyes.
A betrothal ceremony?
Was Zhizhang’s marriage also being put on the agenda?
His startled thoughts were quickly concealed. Huo Mingji gave Shi Shi a polite smile and then instructed the nearby servants to arrange for Shi Shi’s courtyard to be right next to Meng Ling’er’s.
“Madam, how should tonight’s dinner be arranged?” Xin Jin asked Pei Ying.
Pei Ying remained silent for a moment.
Logically, since they were not yet married, Shi Shi was not considered part of the family and it wouldn't be appropriate for her to dine and move about with them. However, given the current special circumstances, it would be even more inappropriate to leave her to dine alone.
Thus, Pei Ying said, “Tonight’s evening meal will follow the style of separate tables. Inform Miss Shi to dine in the main hall this evening.”
Xin Jin replied, “Understood.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the brilliant afterglow blanketed the earth, painting the sky into a beautiful oil painting.
By the time Pei Ying and Huo Tingshan arrived at the main hall together, the juniors were already waiting. They were all sitting upright, and upon seeing the couple enter, they rose in unison to pay their respects.
Huo Tingshan said, “We are all family, there is no need for such formalities. Sit.”
Today they dined at separate tables. Pei Ying and Huo Tingshan sat at the head, with the two Huo brothers on the right and Meng Ling’er and Shi Shi on the left, separating the men and women.
Although they were at separate tables, which made the setting seem more formal than dining together at one, the relaxed atmosphere of the past was practically etched into Huo Zhizhang’s bones. Not long after they sat down to eat, he began to speak.
Huo Zhizhang chatted with his elder brother beside him. “Eldest Brother, your wedding is the day after tomorrow. Are you nervous?”
Huo Mingji remained composed. “It’s alright.”
“What does ‘it’s alright’ mean? Are you nervous or not?” Huo Zhizhang pressed.
Sitting at the head of the room, Pei Ying listened to their chatter, her thoughts drifting toward her daughter.
Given the current trajectory of the relationship between Nannan and Chen Yuan, marriage was only a matter of time. In ancient times, it seemed that before a daughter got married, the mother had to tuck a few instructional erotic scrolls into her hands.
Pei Ying: “…”
