Spring Message in the Snow – CH 013

Chapter 13

Lady Ling finally understood. This marriage had violated a major taboo of Lady Pan’s. She herself had married a widower and become a stepmother upon entering the family. When Madam Chen was speaking so eloquently earlier, she must have exerted a great deal of effort to restrain herself from slamming her fist on the table. Now, talking about the Kong family again, no wonder she was furious.

Lady Ling suddenly realized how difficult her life had been. For over a decade, she must have been holding back a lot of resentment. She had barely managed to marry into the family, and her husband had died suddenly. She had to be both father and mother, raising two children alone. That was why she always had a stern face—because life was devoid of joy, and she could not find a reason to laugh. Although Surou was not her daughter, putting herself in her shoes, she could not agree to the marriage.

Watching her departing figure, Lady Ling sighed sadly, “Pan Zongyue is not a bad person at heart.”

The maid agreed, “She just seems a bit strict and not easy to get close to. Last time I heard Nanny Tang say that the Second Madam was chatting with her personal maid, mentioning that the first requirement for choosing a husband for the Fourth Young Lady was not a military general, but a scholar who could settle down and serve as an official in the capital.”

Lady Ling was puzzled. “Why not a military general? Is it because she married a military general, and that general happened to die for his country?”

The maid said, “That’s roughly the idea.”

“That’s strange. Eldest Brother and Third Brother are both alive, and some military generals live very long lives.”

But ultimately, she could not truly understand the other woman’s feelings. Lady Ling, fanning herself with her round fan, dragged her languid steps back to her own courtyard.

***

Because the Zhang family had not divided their property and had a large household, they usually ate dinner in their respective courtyards in the evenings, as there were not many major events.

Surou’s Qiandui Xue Courtyard was very close to Suihua Garden, and the Grand Madam had specifically instructed her not to run her own kitchen. Mianmian, however, was not under the jurisdiction of the other three families and ate her meals with the Grand Madam.

At dinner time, Surou, with Quelan in tow, crossed the garden and happened to run into Mianmian. Mianmian was a busybody; she knew everything that had happened in the family, big or small. Today, the Marquis of Xingyang’s residence had come to take Shangrou home. Because her elder sister’s husband was also present, the sisters could not come to the Grand Madam’s garden, but she had overheard everything that had been said and who had been received during the reception of the Marquis’s wife and son.

She tilted her head and asked Surou, “Second Sister, did the Grand Madam send someone to say anything to you?”

Surou, having spent many years in the Forbidden City, had developed a habit of not looking around. She did not even glance at Mianmian, only replying, “No.”

Mianmian understood. This marriage was truly humiliating; it seemed the Grand Madam intended to keep it from her. Since that was the case, she should not say anything more and simply follow her through the moon gate.

The sun set, and the garden gradually sank into a vast stillness. Only the lights on the wooden corridors could be seen, their orange glow illuminating the half-open lattice windows. Beneath the windows, a vase held a branch of crabapple blossoms, its branches neatly trimmed, exuding a spirit of independent freedom, like a wild crane. Occasionally, a maid carrying a tray would pass by; her figure, seen through the sparse bamboo blinds, appeared exceptionally slender and beautiful.

Xianchun was already waiting in the corridor. Seeing the two young ladies enter, she turned to the old woman in the kitchen and ordered, “You can start preparing.”

The old woman, receiving the order, led the two maids away. Xianchun smiled and curtsied to them. “The old lady is waiting for you, young ladies. Please come in quickly.”

Surou and Mianmian entered the inner room and saw the fish tank where the Grand Madam had just been feeding fishes, with someone having the fish food removed. Turning around and seeing them, she smiled and waved, “Have them make seafood soup tonight. The fish and shrimp should be added fresh to taste better. Let’s wait a moment and sit down to talk.”

Here it comes! Was the Grand Madam going to tell her? Mianmian was a little excited and secretly glanced at Surou.

Surou sat down in the armchair at the lower end and inquired of the Grand Madam, “The Marquis’s wife did not make things difficult for my elder sister, did she?”

The Grand Madam Zhang said no, “After all, a home is not a home if the daughter-in-law does not come home. The Marquis’s wife is clear-headed about this; she will agree to whatever your elder sister says. It’s just that I see no remorse in that Chen Ang. He talks a good game, but his actions are still as erratic as ever. If your elder sister continues to live with him, I am afraid she will not have any peace of mind.”

Surou said, “Whether it’s peaceful or not depends on my elder sister. If she does not want to get involved, even if he causes a huge mess, it’s none of her business.”

The Grand Madam sighed, “Your eldest sister is soft-hearted; I do not know if she can make up her mind… Oh well, let’s just see how things go.” She paused, then called out to Surou, not formally asking for her opinion, but casually mentioning, “Today, your eldest sister’s mother-in-law proposed a marriage for you with the second son of Kong Lingzhang, a Grand Secretary of the Yankang Hall.”

Surou replied with an “Oh” and said, “Grandmother, please make the decision for me.”

Mianmian, who was listening nearby, was puzzled. Strange, why was she not flustered? Why was she not blushing? Did she not care about her own marriage?

Turning to the Grand Madam, who spoke calmly, “The family is indeed of good standing, but it’s a pity this second young master is not marrying a first wife. He was previously married, but his wife died last year. Now he wants to remarry, and Madam Kong has taken a liking to you, specifically asking the Marquis’s wife to act as matchmaker.”

There was no need to hide these things. Surou was not an inexperienced child. Now that she was out of the palace, she would inevitably encounter various unpleasant situations. For example, a marriage proposal from a man like this—if it were not the Kong family today, it would be the Meng family tomorrow. If they did not tell her for fear of upsetting her, would she not be even more caught off guard if she faced it herself later?

Therefore, the Grand Madam wanted to see her reaction and also probe her requirements for a future husband.

Mianmian thought she would be angry. After all, a noble lady of marriageable age, the eldest daughter of the first principal wife, having her first prospect be a widower—it would be a significant blow to her pride.

Surprisingly, she seemed unconcerned, even pondering it seriously for a moment. “If he’s of good character and talented, it does not matter if he’s been married before.”

Mianmian was surprised and called out to her second sister, “First wives are the most devoted. Why would someone want to be a second wife?”

Surou smiled. “Eldest Sister is Brother-in-law’s first wife. I see Eldest Sister has a lot on her mind, so whether he’s good or not depends on the man’s character. Besides, I’ve been in the palace for ten years; I am indeed getting old. I reckon the Kong family took that into consideration, which is why they asked the Marquis’s wife to arrange the marriage.”

She knew her current situation. It was not that eighteen was too old to be a second wife; it was just that she was prepared in advance to avoid repeated embarrassment.

The Grand Madam was actually pleased to see her magnanimity. People were often afraid of being overly ambitious; the more self-assured they were, the more miserable their circumstances would become. It was better this way. Seeing the world clearly, having an accurate grasp and assessment of everything, and making your own choice—whether to choose or not—was fine. A second husband was not necessarily unreliable.

Of course, the young lady could not just settle for anything. The Grand Madam had already set boundaries for her: “Eighteen years old, not seventy or eighty. Regardless of the young man’s family background, he should at least be a first-time husband. I did not agree to the Kong family’s proposal. You will inevitably run into Madam Kong at the Golden Duck Banquet next month. If she says anything, then you should be prepared.”

Surou nodded, agreeing without offending her.

At this moment, Nanny Feng came in to report that dinner was ready. Surou and Mianmian then helped the Grand Madam into the small flower hall. The three women dined in the gentle evening breeze. During the meal, the Grand Madam jokingly asked Mianmian, “What kind of family will Mianmian marry into in the future?”

Mianmian hesitated for a moment, then mimicked Surou’s attitude, replying to the Grand Madam, “Please advise me, Grandmother. Anyone you approve of will surely be good.”

The Grand Madam hummed in agreement. “It does not matter how high their social standing is. The most important thing is that they are reasonable and understanding, and that the elders in the family do not fawn over those of higher status. Such a family will make life easier.”

Hearing her grandmother’s words, Mianmian felt a pang of disappointment. She felt that since she had come to live with her maternal grandmother’s family, she wanted to escape her previous circle and find a respectable and noble family. Her grandmother’s criteria for a husband suited Surou, but not necessarily her. There were many low-ranking officials in their hometown; the county magistrate’s family had even considered marriage, but her mother had said that her grandmother had already found a suitable family for her in the capital. If she ended up marrying into another low-class family, then this trip to the capital would have been for nothing.

Seeing her somber expression, Surou knew she had her own plans and did not want to openly comfort her. She simply said, “Next month’s Golden Duck Banquet will be attended by the families of high-ranking officials and nobles from the capital. My cousin is beautiful; as soon as she shows her face, she will surely be noticed by those ladies.”

The Grand Madam, having lived to such an advanced age, was naturally worldly-wise. She knew Surou said this to save face for Mianmian. They were all her grandchildren, and she loved them all, but people’s personalities differ greatly. Mianmian was still young and far less insightful than Surou. She only knew to envy those noble families, but she did not understand that the higher the social standing, the fiercer the infighting. Even though her father’s family was wealthy, in other people’s eyes, he was still a merchant. In the future, when the sisters-in-law compared their social standing, before they even had a chance to discuss character and methods, Mianmian would already be outshone.

But she might not listen to these words now, and the Grand Madam felt there was no need to argue with her. Lowering her eyes, she said to herself, “I have several old sisters who are all noblewomen in powerful families. Their young grandchildren are not married yet. This meeting is a good opportunity to have a good chat.”

Mianmian cheered up again. Surou found it amusing; after all, she was just a child, unable to hide her emotions.

After a while, the meal was finished, the food was cleared away, and the maid brought hot water. The Grand Madam, holding a Jianzhan cup, said, “Tomorrow is the first day of the month, the actual day your father is to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. The court has already sent someone to inform you. Prime Minister Sun Yannian will be the envoy to welcome the memorial tablet and oversee the transfer of the spirit.”

Surou agreed but felt somewhat uncertain. Since the founding of the dynasty, only twelve meritorious officials had been granted the honor of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Generally, they received imperial decrees during their lifetime, and their spirit tablets were directly placed in the temple after death. Her father was the only one to receive this posthumous honor more than ten years after his death. Since there was no precedent and the procedures were all newly drafted, everything had to be done according to circumstances. Major events involving the imperial court could not be taken lightly, and this thought weighed heavily on my mind.

Seeing her lost in thought, the Grand Madam tilted her head and asked, “Are you worried about making a mistake?”

Surou looked up, nodded, and smiled. “I am afraid I will be reckless. All those present are court officials; if I do something wrong, it will bring shame upon Father.”

The Grand Madam, however, remained relaxed, showing no concern whatsoever. “Since you held a position in the Forbidden City, you can certainly handle the ceremony. You are a reliable child; Grandmother trusts you. There will be an announcer who will guide you step by step on what to do. Just be bold and careful, and you will be fine. Do not be so apprehensive. The more you fear making mistakes, the more likely you are to make them. Besides, those officials in charge are all acquaintances of your father; none of them will deliberately find fault with you. Just take good care of Jiezhi, and follow the instructions to remove your father’s memorial tablet from the ancestral temple and then take it to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. That will be a satisfactory outcome.”

Grand Madam Zhang always had a calming influence, and Surou realized she had been overthinking things. When the memorial tablet would leave the ancestral hall, all the elders of the family would be present to offer sacrifices and see it off, and there would be special people to guide it at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. It was actually quite safe. On the contrary, Jiezhi, as the eldest son in charge, bore more pressure.

Mianmian was concerned about something else entirely: “Will the Emperor go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices?”

Grand Madam Zhang said no, “The Emperor is the sovereign; there is no reason for a sovereign to bow to a subject. At most, he will send a eunuch to offer sacrifices on his behalf.”

Mianmian was somewhat disappointed and turned to Surou, asking, “Second Sister, is the Emperor handsome?”

Surou tried to recall, but found she could not quite remember what the Emperor looked like. Perhaps it was because she had not had many opportunities to see him directly before; even within the Forbidden City, not everyone could catch a glimpse of the Emperor’s face. But since Mianmian had pressed her for an answer, she could not very well refuse, so she gave a vague reply: “Yes, of course they are handsome. All the emperors in the world are good-looking.”