Chapter 94: Using Du Heng's reputation to make him look ungrateful
Jinniang gnashed her teeth in hatred, but she dared not show it in front of the old lady and her cousin Heng. Before she could even clean up after Su Ying, she found Miss Xu, the Minister of Rites.
When she first went to the capital, she said to her mother, "Mother, please let me take someone with me. If anything happens, I won't have anyone to help me. Do you want me to dirty my hands?"
The Deng family was a large clan in western Fujian, with descendants from all branches living together. If they told anyone anything secretive, no one would believe it. Jinniang's mother had made her stand out among her sisters and earned a reputation as a talented woman, but that wasn't simply due to her literary talent.
The mother knew what she meant, but felt that she had not inherited her intelligence and talent at all. She sighed in disappointment, tapped her forehead with her hand, and called her a silly child!
"No matter who you take with you, you'll still be unfamiliar with the capital, not to mention the extra expenses for the journey! This money must be spent wisely!"
After saying that, her mother patted the bundle in her hand and then handed her a letter.
"Your grandfather's previous status and position were not obtained for nothing. Even though we have nothing now, we still have some old friends in the capital."
"When you arrive in the capital with the caravan, they will take you to see a man named Cai Jiu. This Cai Jiu was once a tyrant in the city of Sijiu, and he made a lot of money with your grandfather. Now that your grandfather has fallen on hard times, he's not as good as he used to be. But a lean camel is bigger than a horse. You can find him more useful than bringing a hundred maids with you!"
On the day she arrived in Beijing, the caravan dropped her off at a place called Po Luo Er Hutong and departed. As she was hesitating in fear, a disheveled child carrying a bowl asked her who she was looking for. Upon learning it was Cai Jiu, the little beggar said, "Follow me!" and led her to an old man.
The old man was Cai Jiu. Seeing his skinny, bony face and ragged clothes, Jinniang felt a chill in her heart. This wasn't a case of a skinny camel being bigger than a horse; it was a case of a phoenix without feathers being worse than a chicken.
Cai Jiu called her "Miss", but she was not happy at all, she just felt it was bad luck.
Later, Cai Jiu sent a little beggar to take her to the Du Mansion.
During the days she stayed at the Du Mansion, she never thought that she would need Cai Jiu, but when she learned that she was going to the Lantern Festival, her mind became active.
She had just arrived, and besides being humble and trying to please her aunt, there was little she could do. Since she was going to the Lantern Festival, she had to seize the opportunity and do something. So, she decided to try her luck. Following Cai Jiu's advice, she made an excuse to go to the gatehouse. While no one was looking, she placed a piece of paper with the words "Shangyuan Lantern Festival" written on it under the stone lion standing on an embroidered ball, and also held two copper coins to hold it down.
Although Cai Jiu was a man of few means and his power was no longer what it once was, he still had the righteousness of a man of the underworld. Indebted to Jinniang's maternal grandfather, he had been sending his beggars around the Du residence every day since she entered.
On the day of the Lantern Festival, after the carriage left the Du Mansion, Cai Jiu and others followed the carriage not far away and followed it all the way to the Lantern Festival.
As soon as they got off the carriage, Jinniang saw him and deliberately provoked Wanyi to guess lantern riddles, using the excuse of watching the lanterns to leave Du Heng and his group. Afterwards, she sent Qingquan to various places to buy things. While Wanyi was fascinated by the lanterns, she met with Cai Jiu and quickly agreed on a plan.
Only after using it once did she realize the magical effect of Cai Jiu.
Because she was in love with Du Heng, she did not want to endanger him in the slightest. However, after Cheng waved the invitation from the Xu Mansion in front of her grandmother, Jinniang knew that she had to do the thing she least wanted to do.
She wanted to use Du Heng's reputation to make a fuss. As long as the Du family did not marry her, he would be branded as ungrateful. Even if he passed the imperial examination, his future would be ruined.
Having made up her mind, she took advantage of the time when Cheng and Du Heng went to Xu's house and used the same trick again.
This time, she was not as cautious as last time. Instead, she wrote down what she wanted Cai Jiu to do on a piece of paper. This way she could avoid a meeting and still make Cai Jiu do what she said.
......
Because the Tanchun banquet at the Xu Mansion was scheduled for the afternoon, Du Heng left the mansion first and came back to meet his mother.
Before getting on the car, Cheng asked, "Where have you been? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Du Heng brushed it off: "My son went to the Nanshi Painting Studio."
Cheng frowned: "I know you love painting, but since you know that the Spring Examination will be held after April, it is best not to go there in the future."
After Du Heng answered yes, he said nothing more. He respectfully helped his mother into the carriage and continued to ride in front to lead the way.
Du Heng had no choice but to make this trip to the Xu residence. They say a son knows his mother best, and vice versa. His mother was too easy to see through. Perhaps Lord Xu's advice was one reason, but meeting Miss Xu must have been another.
He knew that if he didn't speak up, his grandmother and mother would push his marriage further and further in the direction he least wanted. The only thing he could do now was to express his feelings to them as soon as possible.
Thinking of this, he unconsciously touched the blue-gray balloon-shaped fragrance pendant on his waist. He wondered if Ying'er had received the book they used for written communication?
Most officials in the capital lived in the East and West Cities. Lord Xu, as the Minister of Rites, had chosen to reside in Qinghefang, just three or four miles from the six ministries. However, this was halfway across the capital from the Du Mansion in the West Cities. If Du Heng had ridden alone, he would have arrived in under a minute. However, because his mother, Cheng, was with him, he deliberately ordered the groom to slow down, and it took him half an hour to reach the Xu Mansion.
After Cheng was helped out of the carriage by Du Heng, a steward came forward to greet her and then led her to the flower hall. Afterwards, the mother and son were led by a maid from the inner house to Madam Xu.
After greeting each other, Mrs. Cheng and Mrs. Xu took their seats.
Mrs. Xu's smile hadn't faded since Du Heng helped his mother into the flower hall. Du Heng not only had a clear and sharp gaze and handsome features, but he also walked the few steps with his mother inside with composure and courtesy, his manners revealing his upbringing. It was clear at first glance that he was a down-to-earth, steady, and respectable man.
The Du family's children were indeed all very good-looking, even their sister Wanyi was beautiful and charming. Wenqing, as a child, had been jealous of this, unwilling to get close to her more lovable sister, and deliberately embarrassed Wanyi, earning her a scolding.
Seeing that Madam Xu looked very satisfied with her son, Cheng said hurriedly, "Heng'er, why don't you pay your respects to Madam Xu?"
Du Heng bowed and kept his eyes lowered out of respect.
The more Mrs. Xu looked at you, the more satisfied she became. She smiled and said, "I saw you from a distance last time at Bodhi Temple, but I didn't want to disturb the Buddha's tranquility, so I didn't exchange pleasantries. When I saw you that day, you were already as tall as a pine or cypress. Now that I see you up close, you are even taller and more handsome."
As he spoke, he looked at Cheng and praised her, "Mrs. Du, you have truly raised a pair of wonderful children. Not only did your daughter pass the imperial examination, but your son is even more outstanding, having won the top prize in the previous session at such a young age. I also have a young child at home. If you don't mind, could I send my child to live in your house for a while? I'd like you to take care of him and we'll both benefit."
Upon hearing this, Cheng cried out in disbelief, saying, "Madam Xu, you are truly flattering me. My daughter Wanyi only just managed to gain the favor of the Master of Bodhi Temple this year. Your daughter is truly the epitome of a lady from a noble family, selected every year and renowned for her talent."
At this point, Cheng couldn't help but exclaim, "Where is the young lady? Can I see her?"
Mrs. Xu was even more pleased to see Cheng come up. She nodded and looked towards Cheng to look outside the flower hall.
Xu Wenqing, dressed in a lake-blue dress, came walking slowly with her maid. Du Heng had not yet taken a seat. When Xu Wenqing came forward, she happened to sit side by side with Du Heng.
Madam Xu and Madam Du's eyes lit up. This was the so-called golden boy and jade girl, a match made in heaven.
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