to bring good luck
"That's how it should be. This girl's marriage to you was just a promise the master made in a moment of desperation. It's not worth sacrificing your entire life for her."
When Zhang Yunyao heard from Wei Tian that Wei Kang and Xi Chun had rejected the marriage proposal, she was overjoyed. After quickly finishing her dinner, she hurriedly went to her son's courtyard.
Hearing his mother say this, Wei Kang frowned and his smile faded. Zhang Yunyao knew she had displeased her son; he was a gentleman who always saw the good in people and things.
She quickly changed her tune, "Mother knows what you mean. Mother won't mistreat that girl. There are two shops on Madao Street in the west of the city. Mother will give the girl the deeds to both shops and give her an additional two hundred taels of silver as a dowry. In the future, we'll also find her a suitable husband. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Wei Kang smiled. He knew that his mother was kind and loving, and that her words were just a slip of the tongue.
After taking care of Wei Kang and making him drink his medicine, Zhang Yunyao instructed the maid to look after him carefully before slowly strolling back to her own courtyard.
After Zhang Yunyao left, a dark figure darted out from behind the bookshelf, its steps light, and it jumped into Wei Kang's arms in a few quick movements.
"Meow." It turned out to be a black cat with a round face, a wide nose, amber eyes, and a jet-black body except for a touch of snow-white at the tip of its tail.
"Good boy." Wei Kang smiled and stroked the little guy lying on his book with his belly showing.
Upon hearing the cat meow, the maidservant hurried into the room. Ever since the young master fell ill, the madam had stopped letting Ink into the room, and she wondered when it had sneaked in again.
"It's alright, you can go now. I'll play with the ink for a while."
While helping Zhang Yunyao remove her makeup, Granny Wang asked about what Zhang Yunyao had said in Wei Kang's room earlier. She knew that Madam was not such a generous person. Perhaps because of her merchant family background, Madam valued money more than anything else.
Zhang Yunyao picked up the crane-shaped gold hairpin from her hair and put it away in her makeup box. She then took out the newly bought rouge and tried it on her hand. The rouge was rubbed smooth on the back of her fair hand, revealing a cold, vibrant red. The color was too intense and no longer suited her. After a while, she got up to wash her hands in the copper basin, and Granny Wang offered her a white silk towel to dry them.
"Of course I meant it, and I wasn't saying that to Kang'er to deceive him. You know Kang'er is the kindest child he could ever be. How could he just abandon that girl in her current state? I was just trying to comfort him. He seems to be getting better lately. If he could be like he used to be, he wouldn't have trouble finding a girl ten or a hundred times better than that girl. As for money, Granny Wang knows the household's finances. The master only spends and doesn't earn any. We rely entirely on my dowry to cover all the household expenses. Where would we get any extra money for her?"
Zhang Yunyao turned and sat down on the chaise lounge, glancing at the rosewood tabletop and pursing her lips. Immediately, the maid at the door turned and offered her tea.
After drinking a small cup of tea, Zhang Yunyao instructed, "Wang Mama, take ten taels of silver from me first thing tomorrow morning and send that girl away. Also, tell Wei Tian to keep his mouth shut and not let any word get to Kang'er."
The next morning, after Xichun finished breakfast, she stood under the eaves watching the maid sitting on the steps embroidering.
After giving instructions to Wei Tian at Shoujingzhai, Granny Wang rushed to the back room. She saw Xi Chun standing under the eaves wearing a dark blue, high-collared long coat that Madam had once worn. The coat was too big, and the frayed collar almost covered half of Xi Chun's face. Upon closer inspection, Xi Chun's eyelids were swollen like peaches, and her eyes were already bloodshot from crying.
With some emotion, Granny Wang exchanged pleasantries with Xichun before revealing the true purpose of her visit.
She stuffed a purse containing ten taels of silver into Xichun's hand.
“Miss, Madam and Young Master have the same idea. Madam said that she is grateful to your grandfather for what happened to Master back then. But now Young Master is not well, so we don’t want to delay you. Therefore, the marriage is called off. This ten taels of silver is a small token of our appreciation. Miss, go and find your own way to make a living. There’s no need for you to thank Madam and Young Master. Miss, please go now.”
After listening to Granny Wang's words, Xichun looked down at the purse in her hand, tears welling up in her eyes again. A full tear fell onto the maroon purse and shattered.
Seeing that Xichun was only crying and didn't move, Granny Wang beckoned the two maids who were secretly watching the commotion to go in and help Xichun pack her things.
Carrying two bundles of clothes, Xichun was politely ushered out of the Wei residence by Granny Wang. She had barely stood still when the vermilion side gate behind her slammed shut with a thud, startling her.
Xichun didn't know where to go, and looked down at the bluestone slabs on the ground. The sun was already high in the sky, and Xichun felt the warmth of the sunlight. Seeing the shadow cast on the ground, she raised her sleeve to wipe away her tears.
Grandpa wanted her to marry Brother Wei Kang and be a good wife, and that's what she wanted too, but Brother Wei Kang didn't want her, and there was nothing she could do.
Xi Chun started walking towards the south gate. She still wanted to go home, or perhaps not back to Fuping County, but to Liangye County or Futian County, which bordered Fuping County. Leaving Shuimo Street where the Wei family lived, she walked down a small alley to the bustling main street, Zhuque Street. Zhuque Street was teeming with people and vehicles, and shops selling all sorts of goods lined both sides. Peddlers carrying snacks and fruits called out as they passed by Xi Chun.
Xi Chun had never even been to the prefectural city before, and this was her first time visiting the capital. Seeing such a magnificent sight, she was somewhat dazzled.
Walking slowly, they reached the entrance of Magpie Street and overheard people at a roadside tea stall saying that a group of people from Persia would be performing acrobatics at the West Gate that evening. They had already performed at the East Gate a few days ago, and it was quite a show. Xi Chun was intrigued by their vivid descriptions. Since she would never come to the capital again, why not spend another day exploring? If she could broaden her horizons, she could tell her friends, including Aunt Li, about it when she got back.
Having just finished lunch, Zhang Yunyao planned to take a short nap to recharge. She had just changed into her nightgown when she heard Wei Tian's voice outside the door.
"Madam, something terrible has happened! The young master has fainted."
Zhang Yunyao's face turned pale, and she hurriedly changed into her outer clothes and rushed to Shoujingzhai.
Wei Kang's face was deathly pale, his eyes were tightly closed, and he didn't respond no matter how Zhang Yunyao called out to him. Zhang Yunyao pulled Wei Kang's hand and slumped down on the edge of the bed.
"What happened? Kang'er was fine, why did he faint?" Wei Changsong had just returned from the yamen and came to Shoujingzhai immediately after hearing the steward's report.
The maids inside the room stepped aside to make way for Wei Changsong. Seeing Wei Kang's appearance, Wei Changsong's heart tightened, and he turned around to scold the servants and maids beside Wei Kang.
"Kang'er's condition improved a few days ago after taking the medicine prescribed by Physician Feng. Why did she faint today? Wei Tian, why don't you go out and invite Physician Feng to come and take a look?"
After Wei Changsong finished speaking, he also moved closer to the four-poster bed, looked at his eldest son with a loving expression, and reached out to gently stroke Wei Kang's pale face.
About an hour later, Physician Feng arrived. After taking Wei Kang's pulse and inquiring in detail about his recent condition, he nodded and smiled confidently after a long while.
"But do you have a prescription?" Zhang Yunyao asked.
Doctor Feng stroked his goatee and nodded with a smile, "Madam, please don't be impatient. Come with me to the outer room to talk."
Wei Changsong and Zhang Yunyao followed Doctor Feng to the main hall outside. Doctor Feng placed his medicine box on the table before turning to the two of them and telling them about his effective prescription.
"The eldest son's illness came on fiercely, but in my opinion, it is not something to fear. Lord Wei knows that in addition to studying medicine, I have also devoted myself to the study of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. I now deduce that the eldest son's Yang energy is too weak and needs a woman from the south to remedy it. Now that this woman has appeared but left, this is the reason why the eldest son's condition improved but then suddenly fell into a coma. If we can find that woman again and restore the Yin and Yang of the two to harmony, the eldest son's condition will soon improve."
Zhang Langzhong was recommended to him by Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Rites, who said that he had cured the old lady's headaches at his residence. Since being startled off his horse by some thugs on the street last year, Wei Qiao had consulted several doctors and even the imperial physician, all to no avail. Hearing from Minister Zhao that Wei Changsong had spent a large sum of money to have Zhang Langzhong treat Wei Kang at his residence, and that Wei Qiao had indeed improved after taking several doses of Zhang Langzhong's medicine, Wei Changsong completely trusted Zhang Langzhong's words.
"Does Doctor Zhang mean the two of them should get married?" Zhang Yunyao asked suspiciously.
"Indeed, I wonder if Madam has heard of the practice of 'marrying for good luck'? This is the method."
Zhang Yunyao opened her mouth as if to ask another question, but Wei Changsong said, "Let it be a marriage of convenience. Butler, hurry up and go out and find that girl for me."
After seeing off Doctor Zhang, Wei Changsong glanced at Zhang Yunyao beside him and said, "This is all your doing."
Xichun watched a Persian acrobatic performance in the western city. Red-haired, blue-eyed men and women tumbled and leaped on wooden stakes, leaving Xichun mesmerized. After the performance, Xichun found a small inn nearby, planning to stay overnight and return home early the next morning.
The next day, Xichun got up very early. Just as she was about to leave the city gate, she heard someone calling her. She turned around and saw that it was Weitian.
"marriage?"
“Yes, how could I, Wei Changsong, go back on my word? I promised Uncle Jiang that I would let Wei Kang marry you and take good care of you for the rest of my life. Now that Uncle Jiang has passed away, I must keep my promise. How could I let a young girl like you live alone?”
Xi Chun returned to the Wei residence. This time, Zhang Yunyao did not let her stay in her original room, but instead chose the small Qingwu Garden in the east corner of the residence for Xi Chun to live in. She also assigned a maid named Cuizhu to serve Xi Chun.
Cuizhu looked to be no more than sixteen years old, with an oval face, upturned eyebrows, and a pretty appearance.
Following Cuizhu's directions, Xichun headed towards Qingwu Garden, located in the eastern corner of the mansion. She walked along a covered corridor, through the central garden, and onto a flagstone path winding around a pond. From there, she entered a smaller garden; the path on the east side of the smaller garden led directly to the gate of Qingwu Garden. The smaller garden had only a few sparsely planted plum and crabapple trees, the rest being low-growing peonies and herbaceous peonies. Looking west from Qingwu Garden, she could see the gate of the opposite courtyard. Just then, a pretty maid carrying a vase entered the opposite courtyard, and Xichun looked over with curiosity.
“Miss, that’s the second young master’s courtyard, Xuesong Hall.”
Second Young Master? She remembered that Brother Wei Kang had mentioned to her that he had a younger brother, a year younger than him. Xi Chun nodded, looked away, and followed Cui Zhu into the courtyard.
The Qingwu Garden had already been swept and cleaned, and it looked fairly clean. There was a tall sycamore tree in the courtyard, which almost shaded half of the yard. After settling Xichun's two bundles, Cuizhu hurriedly left the courtyard to go to the kitchen to get breakfast for Xichun. The kitchen was on the west side of the large garden, and it would take some effort to go back and forth, so Cuizhu told Xichun to rest in the room first.
Xi Chun looked around Qingwu Garden. Besides the main house, there were two side rooms, one on the east and one on the west. The rooms were sparsely furnished. Xi Chun went inside and put her clothes in the closet. Then she came out and leaned against the door to look at the paulownia tree in the yard. She also had a tree in her yard, an apricot tree.
When she was little, she was greedy. Whenever she saw someone selling apricots on the street, she would be unable to resist and would pester her grandfather to buy her a few coins' worth. Later, when she was five years old, her grandfather met a sapling vendor and specially asked someone to buy him an apricot tree. Apricot trees bloom in spring and bear fruit in summer. When she left, the apricot blossoms in the yard were in full bloom, but unfortunately, neither she nor her grandfather will be able to eat the fruit from that tree this year.
Cuizhu, carrying a food box, walked towards Xichun with a happy expression. "Miss, you are a lucky star. The young master has woken up."
After noon, Xichun wanted to visit Brother Weikang. Master and Madam Wei wanted them to get married. She was willing to do so in order to help Brother Weikang get better. Besides, she was originally his betrothed. She just didn't know if Brother Weikang was willing to marry her.
Seeing Xichun arrive, Weitian hurriedly announced her arrival inside. Just as Wei Kang let her in, Granny Wang came looking for Xichun again.
"Miss, the master and mistress want to speak with you."
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