“Second Uncle is at the estate, busy planting flowers.” Shi Huai paused slightly.
“Planting flowers?” Du Ziteng’s brows furrowed for a moment, then smoothed out.
“Planting flowers is good. It cultivates the mind and nurtures the spirit.”
Shi Huai heard something else in his tone but did not press him. He stood and bowed.
“If there’s nothing else, Teacher, I’ll take my leave.”
Du Ziteng nodded and watched Shi Huai walk out of the classroom.
He began thinking about Shi Yuanping. As he thought, a sudden idea came to him.
The thought pierced his temple like a needle, making him frown.
Du Ziteng shook his head, as if trying to fling the thought away. He picked up his brush and wrote several words on the xuan paper, then crossed them out. He wrote again, only to cross them out once more. He repeated this several times.
At last, he set down the brush and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. His mind was filled with Shi Huai’s face and the expression he had worn when mentioning Shi Yuanping.
By the time Du Ziteng left the Imperial Academy, the sun was already slanting westward.
Shi Huai climbed into the carriage. Qinghe had already packed up the bundles and was dozing against the carriage wall.
The carriage rumbled along Chang’an Street. The shops along the roadside were beginning to close for the day. Shop assistants were removing the door panels, moving goods, and generally busy with the evening’s work.
Shi Huai lifted the carriage curtain and glanced outside. Just then, the carriage from the Shi family estate passed by in the opposite direction. A corner of its curtain was raised, revealing a pale face.
Shi Lingyi sat inside the carriage. Her gaze met Shi Huai’s, and the two of them stared at each other for a brief moment before looking away at the same time.
Shi Huai let the curtain fall and leaned back against the carriage wall.
Shi Lingyi had returned to the Shi family estate. She had stayed there for several days this time, and he had no idea how she planned to explain herself to the Shen family.
But that had nothing to do with him. He could not control whatever scheme Shi Lingyi was plotting. As long as she did not involve him, it was none of his concern.
When the carriage stopped outside the marquis’s residence, Shi Huai saw a blue-curtained carriage parked by the gate. The character “Lin” was embroidered on its curtain.
Someone from the Lin family had come. He did not know whether it was Madam Lin, Lord Lin, or perhaps Lin Wanqing.
He jumped down from the carriage and walked through the main gate. Old Liu greeted him with a smile.
“Young Master, Lord Lin is here. He’s in the main hall speaking with the Marquis.”
Shi Huai paused. “Lord Lin? Which Lord Lin?”
“Lord Lin Huaiyuan, the Hanlin Academician. He’s been here for nearly half an hour.”
Shi Huai thought for a moment, then turned toward the main hall.
The doors to the main hall stood open. Shi Yuanzhi sat in the seat of honor, while Lin Huaiyuan occupied the guest seat. The two men were drinking tea.
Lin Huaiyuan wore a dark blue official robe with a silver belt around his waist. His features were lean and refined, and three long strands of beard hung from his chin. His entire bearing exuded the upright, scholarly air unique to a learned man.
When he saw Shi Huai standing at the doorway, the teacup in his hand paused. He then set it down, a smile rising to his lips.
“So this is your son? He truly is an impressive young man.”
The smile on Shi Yuanzhi’s face held unmistakable pride. He beckoned to Shi Huai.
“Huai’er, come and pay your respects to Lord Lin.”
Shi Huai entered the hall and stopped before Lin Huaiyuan, bowing properly.
“Shi Huai pays his respects to Lord Lin. I hope you are well, my lord.”
Lin Huaiyuan reached out and helped him up, looking him over from head to toe.
“Good, good, good. The Third Scholar is indeed everything they say he is.”
Shi Huai straightened and took the seat below Shi Yuanzhi.
Lin Huaiyuan lifted his teacup and took another sip.
“I have come today for two reasons. First, to congratulate your son on placing as the Third Scholar. Second, there is a matter I wish to discuss with the Marquis.”
“Please, Lord Lin,” Shi Yuanzhi said politely.
Lin Huaiyuan set down his teacup, his gaze settling on Shi Huai.
“I have a daughter, Lin Wanqing. She is fifteen this year, well-read, sensible, and of dignified appearance. I would like to betroth her to your son. I wonder what the Marquis thinks?”
Shi Yuanzhi’s hand stopped abruptly. He turned to glance at Shi Huai and found the boy lowering his head to drink tea, as if Lin Huaiyuan’s proposal had nothing whatsoever to do with him.
“Lord Lin, Huai’er is only thirteen. Isn’t it a little early to discuss marriage?”
There was a slight strain in Shi Yuanzhi’s voice.
Lin Huaiyuan shook his head. “Not at all. They can be formally betrothed now and marry in another two years. The timing would be perfect.”
He turned to look at Shi Huai again.
“Your son is now the Third Scholar, with a bright future ahead of him. How many families in the capital are watching him? I’m merely afraid that if we wait too long, someone else will snatch him away.”
His words left Shi Yuanzhi both pleased and troubled. He was pleased that his son was so sought after, but troubled because the Lin family was not a family he could afford to offend.
“Huai’er, what do you think?” Shi Yuanzhi threw the question to Shi Huai.
Shi Huai set down his teacup and raised his head to look at Lin Huaiyuan.
“Lord Lin is too kind. I’m still young and don’t wish to consider marriage for the time being.”
Lin Huaiyuan’s smile stiffened for an instant before returning to its former warmth.
“There’s no hurry. Go home and think it over. Once you’ve made up your mind, send someone to let me know.”
He stood and straightened his collar.
“Marquis, I’ll take my leave for now. I’ll visit again another day.”
Shi Yuanzhi rose and escorted him to the doorway. The two exchanged a few more polite remarks.
Lin Huaiyuan climbed into his carriage. When the curtain dropped, it made a dull thud.
He was clearly not pleased.
Shi Yuanzhi stood at the entrance, watching the carriage disappear into the distance. Then he turned to Shi Huai.
“You truly don’t intend to consider it? The Lin family is an esteemed scholarly house, one that countless people wish they could marry into.”
Shi Huai stood and straightened his collar.
“Father, I’m not familiar with the Lin family's daughter. I’ve never even met her. How could I marry her?”
The words left Shi Yuanzhi speechless. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then swallowed it back.
He sighed.
“Fine. You can decide for yourself. I won’t interfere.”
Then he added, “Your Second Uncle is coming back tomorrow. He says he wants to discuss your travels and studies with you.”
With that, he turned and headed toward the study.
Shi Huai remained where he was, watching Shi Yuanzhi’s back disappear at the end of the corridor. The corner of his mouth moved slightly.
His Second Uncle certainly had not come back solely to discuss his travels and studies. There had to be something else.
After all, the matter of traveling to study had already been brought up in his presence two days ago.
And now that Lord Lin had come to propose marriage, what would his Second Uncle say when he found out?
Shi Huai did not know, nor did he care to guess.
He turned and walked toward Shou’an Hall.
Qinghe had already returned ahead of him. Nanny Zhou was busy in the kitchen, while Tangerine crouched on the windowsill, licking its paws.
Everything was peaceful.
The next day, Shi Yuanping arrived, just as expected.
