“Ladies, please stop arguing. I can’t make the decision regarding Huai’er’s marriage.”
Madam Liu sat at the head of the room, listening as the three ladies went back and forth. Her head throbbed incessantly, as though a thousand bees were buzzing inside it, leaving her unable to find a moment’s peace.
She drew a deep breath, doing her best to appear calm.
The three ladies’ gazes fell on Madam Liu at the same time, carrying both suspicion and tension.
Madam Lin was the first to speak. Her voice remained gentle, but a hint of probing had entered her tone.
“Madam Liu, what do you mean? You are the lady of the Marquis’s household. If you cannot decide on the young master’s marriage, then who can?”
Madam Liu was momentarily stifled by the question, and the expression on her face froze for an instant.
She could hardly say that Shi Huai’s marriage was being watched from behind the scenes by Shi Yuanping. Nor could she say that Shi Huai, that son of a concubine, had never taken her seriously.
All she could do was offer an ambiguous smile.
“Huai’er’s father is still here. For such an important matter, I naturally have to discuss it with him.”
Madam Shen nodded, her smile deepening.
“Of course, of course. A child’s marriage should indeed be discussed with the head of the household. So when can Madam Liu give us a definite answer? My husband is waiting.”
Madam Fang chimed in as well.
“That’s right, that’s right. Madam Liu, please give us a definite answer so that we can make preparations when we return.”
Madam Lin said nothing. She merely lifted her teacup and took another sip.
Her fingers gently rubbed the rim of the cup as her gaze settled on Madam Liu’s face, which was filled with panic and guilt.
Pressed from all sides by the three ladies, Madam Liu had nowhere to hide. She gritted her teeth and forced out a sentence.
“Please return home and wait for news, ladies. Once I have discussed the matter with the Marquis, I will give you an answer as soon as possible.”
The three ladies exchanged glances, and each saw the same meaning in the others’ eyes.
Madam Liu was trying to stall them.
Madam Lin rose and straightened her sleeves, a proper smile still hanging on her face.
“Then we’ll trouble you, Madam Liu. We’ll return first and await your good news.”
Madam Shen and Madam Fang also stood. The three women left the front hall one after another.
When they reached the doorway, Madam Lin suddenly stopped. Turning around to look at Madam Liu, she spoke in a voice that was not loud, but just loud enough for the four of them to hear.
“Madam Liu, I nearly forgot to mention something. My husband and the Chief of the Imperial Academy have been friends for many years. Since the young master studies at the Imperial Academy, please feel free to ask if anything comes up.”
The smile on Madam Liu’s face stiffened for an instant. She understood the implication behind Madam Lin’s words.
The Lin family had connections at the Imperial Academy. Every move Shi Huai made was under their watchful eyes.
“How thoughtful of you, Madam Lin. Huai’er is doing perfectly well at the Imperial Academy, so there’s no need to trouble Lord Lin.”
Madam Lin nodded and turned to leave.
Madam Shen and Madam Fang followed her out.
Once the three women disappeared behind the moon gate, the front hall finally fell silent.
Madam Liu stood at the entrance, watching the backs of the three ladies as they walked away. Her legs suddenly gave out, and she nearly fell. She steadied herself against the doorframe before managing to remain upright.
She turned and walked back into the hall, collapsing into a chair. Supporting her forehead with one hand, she closed her eyes, her thoughts in complete disarray.
Lin Wanqing, Shen Yuetang, and Fang Ruoyun—three young ladies from three powerful families. Each family was more difficult to deal with than the last, and each was more impossible to offend.
Lin Wanqing’s father was a Hanlin Academician, a favorite of the emperor and a man with the makings of a future grand councilor.
Shen Yuetang’s father was the Minister of Rites, a true high-ranking official of the imperial court with students and former associates spread throughout the realm.
Fang Ruoyun’s father was the Vice Minister of Revenue, the man in charge of the imperial treasury’s purse. Who would dare not show him some respect?
The more Madam Liu thought about it, the more her head throbbed. She rubbed her temples, but it did nothing to ease the pain.
She could not afford to offend any of the three families, yet she had no authority to decide Shi Huai’s marriage.
Not to mention the unfathomable Second Uncle, Shi Yuanping, watching from behind the scenes—even Shi Huai himself was not someone who would allow others to manipulate him.
Madam Liu recalled Shi Huai’s quiet, still eyes as he looked at her, and a chill ran down her back.
Those eyes had said nothing.
Yet whenever they fixed upon her, she always felt that every unspeakable thought in her heart had been seen through completely.
“Madam, are you all right?”
A maid’s cautious voice came from the doorway, carrying a hint of tentative concern.
Madam Liu opened her eyes and waved a hand.
“I’m fine. Go and call the Second Miss.”
The maid acknowledged her and hurried out.
Madam Liu leaned back in her chair and waited with her eyes closed.
After roughly the time it took to finish a cup of tea, Shi Youlan entered.
She wore a lotus-colored jacket, with several strands of brightly colored thread clinging to her cuffs.
It was obvious that she had been embroidering something when she was summoned.
“Mother, you called for me?”
Shi Youlan sat down in the chair opposite Madam Liu and looked up at her mother.
Madam Liu opened her eyes. She looked at her daughter’s still somewhat innocent face and remained silent for a long while before speaking.
“Youlan, do you know who came today?”
Shi Youlan shook her head.
“No. I was embroidering a Hundred Longevity motif. The maid said you wanted to see me, so I came.”
“Madam Lin, Madam Shen, and Madam Fang. All three families came together.”
Madam Liu counted them off one by one on her fingers, pausing after each name.
“The Lin family came for their Wanqing, the Shen family for their Yuetang, and the Fang family for their Ruoyun.”
Shi Youlan paused when she heard those three names. She lifted her head to look at her mother, her voice tightening slightly.
“What did they come here for?”
Seeing her daughter’s bewildered expression, Madam Liu felt even more irritated.
“What else could they have come for? They came to propose marriage. All three of them are after your younger brother.”
Shi Youlan’s hands clenched abruptly, wrinkling the sleeves of her jacket.
“They… they all came to discuss my younger brother’s marriage?”
Madam Liu nodded and rubbed her temples, her voice filled with indescribable weariness.
“The Lin, Shen, and Fang families—each one is more difficult to deal with than the last, and each is more impossible to offend.”
Shi Youlan opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but her throat felt blocked. Not a single word would come out.
“Mother, did you agree?”
“Agree to what? I didn’t agree to anyone.”
Madam Liu’s voice suddenly rose several notches.
She gave a cold snort, her anger at being toyed with mingling with her deep resentment toward Shi Huai. Then she sneered.
“If all three families were proposing marriage to you, I might actually consider it. But Shi Huai?”
“Does a son of a concubine like him even deserve that?”
