Second marriage proposal
At the same time, the Wen family also learned of her return.
The news was brought by Wen Jue. The young man was on temporary assignment in the Jingzhao Yin's residence and was well-informed. He returned from his shift today and couldn't wait to find his father's study.
"Father!" Wen Jue's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement and complex emotions. "Today at the yamen... I heard some rumors... that Junior Sister Xuanji has returned to Chang'an!"
Wen Tingyun's hand, which was practicing calligraphy, suddenly stopped. A drop of thick ink unexpectedly fell onto the Xuan paper, quickly spreading into a large stain. He looked up, his eyes filled with undisguised shock: "Is the news accurate?"
“It should be true.” Wen Jue said urgently, “They said they arrived a few days ago and haven’t returned to the manor yet. It seems… it seems they are temporarily staying at an inn in the south of the city. It’s Senior Brother Li… who arranged for people to take care of them.”
The study fell silent instantly.
Wen Tingyun put down his pen, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky outside the window, remaining silent for a long time. She had returned, but not immediately like a wanderer returning home; instead, Li Yi had first settled her outside. The implication was self-evident.
Seeing his father's face darken instantly, Wen Jue couldn't help but ask, "Father, aren't we... going to bring Junior Sister back?"
Wen Tingyun slowly shook his head, his voice hoarse with a hint of weariness: "Now that she has made her choice, she is no longer someone the Wen family can easily bring in or out. Everything must wait for Li Yi's arrangements."
He simply waved to Wen Jue and said in a low voice, "Don't disturb your mother about this matter for now."
Wen Jue opened her mouth, but could only reply with a "yes" before leaving with a worried expression.
In mid-April of the eighth year of the Tianqi reign, Li Yi once again stepped into the Wen residence.
The aroma of tea wafted through the study.
“Master,” Li Yi began, his voice steady and without the slightest hint of emotion, “Junior Sister Xuanji left the capital last year, claiming that her old illness had relapsed and she needed to recuperate. Now that she has returned to the capital, if she does not return to the manor for a long time, it may arouse unwarranted suspicion from the outside world, which would be detrimental to Junior Sister’s reputation and the reputation of the Wen family.”
He paused briefly, looked at Wen Tingyun with a frank gaze, and continued, "In my opinion, it would be better to use this 'recovery from illness and return home' as an excuse to let my junior sister return home first."
Wen Tingyun remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "...As you say."
Li Yi bowed slightly: "My esteemed teacher is wise. In that case, I will make arrangements as soon as possible to send my junior sister back to her residence."
The matter was thus settled. Just two days later, Xuanji was brought back to the Wen residence from the inn in the south of the city, citing her "recovery from illness." The servants in the mansion simply said that Miss Xuanji had recovered and returned, and although they had some doubts, they dared not say much. Madam Wen held Xuanji's hand, looking her up and down, her eyes filled with tears, full of heartache and worry, but ultimately she didn't ask any more questions, only repeatedly saying, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
Xuanji returned to the courtyard where she used to live, and everything was as it was, as if she had never left.
Three days after she returned home, Li Yi visited her again.
This time, he was dressed in formal attire, followed by two servants carrying red lacquered gift boxes. His manners were impeccable.
Inside the hall, Wen Tingyun and his wife sat in the highest seats, while Xuanji was not present. Li Yi dismissed his attendants and bowed deeply to the Wen couple at the head of the table.
"Master, Mistress." He raised his head, his gaze intense, and cut to the chase, "Last year, I was impetuous and made a rash request. Today, I have come to formally request your help. I, Li Yi, admire Junior Sister Xuanji's talent and virtue, and wish to marry her as a concubine. I hope you will grant my request!"
Despite having anticipated this, Wen Tingyun's expression still darkened. Madam Wen's fingers also tightened, gripping her handkerchief.
The hall was deathly silent.
Looking at the student before him, whom he had once placed high hopes on but now intended to take him, whom he regarded as his own daughter, into his harem as a concubine, Wen Tingyun felt a thousand words stuck in his chest, but in the end, they could only turn into a heavy sigh: "Zian, do you... really want to do this?"
“My mind is made up,” Li Yi replied without the slightest hesitation, his tone resolute. “I know this request is against etiquette and will wrong my junior sister. But I swear here that I will treat her with sincerity and will never let her suffer the slightest injustice.”
He paused, his voice softening: "Besides, my junior sister... has already agreed to my request. This matter is between the two of us. I hope that my master and mistress will grant our wish."
He uttered the words "mutual consent" softly, but they struck Wen Tingyun's heart like a heavy hammer. He recalled her words, "My mind is made up," and knew that there was no turning back.
Wen Tingyun closed his eyes, and after a long while, he opened them again, his eyes filled with exhaustion and powerlessness.
He finally spoke with difficulty, his voice hoarse: "Since... she herself is willing. What... what else can we... say?"
This is tacit consent.
A barely perceptible smug glint flashed in Li Yi's eyes, and he immediately bowed again, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Master and Mistress!"
Xuanji had been back at the Wen residence for some time, and the atmosphere inside was subtle. The servants hurried about, their eyes meeting in whispers. That night, Xiang'er finally couldn't contain herself any longer. Holding a plate of newly made lotus-shaped pastries, she tiptoed into Xuanji's room.
"Sister Xuanji?" she whispered, leaning in.
Xuanji turned around at the sound of the voice and saw Xiang'er. A faint smile appeared on his face: "Xiang'er, it's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?"
"I couldn't sleep, and I thought my sister might be feeling down too, so I brought some snacks." Xiang'er placed the snacks on the small table and sat down on the embroidered stool opposite Xuanji. Her almond-shaped eyes darted around, scrutinizing Xuanji. "Sister, since you came back, you seem... a little different from before."
Xuanji picked up a lotus-shaped pastry but didn't eat it: "Going out for a walk and seeing the world, people always change."
Xiang'er tilted her head, hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but lean closer, lowering her voice: "Sister, I...I heard something." She paused, observing Xuanji's expression, and asked cautiously, "They all say...Senior Brother Li is going to formally propose to Father and Mother, to marry you...into the manor?"
Xuanji's fingertips paused almost imperceptibly, then returned to normal, and she softly hummed in acknowledgment.
Upon receiving confirmation, Xiang'er's eyes widened instantly: "Sister! You...you actually agreed? That's...becoming a concubine!"
Her voice was filled with urgency and confusion: "Senior Brother Li is a very good person, he became the top scholar in the imperial examination, and he's handsome... But, but he married Miss Pei! I heard that Madam Pei has a very difficult temperament to get along with! Sister, you have such talent and such good looks, why... why did you have to..."
She seemed unable to find the right words, and finally managed to stammer out, "Sister, do you... do you actually like Senior Brother Li very much? So much that... you'd be willing to be his concubine?"
In her innocent world, it seemed that only "deep love" could explain Xuanji's shocking choice. Upon hearing this, Xuanji looked up at Xiang'er. In the candlelight, Xiang'er's face, still childlike, was filled with genuine worry and confusion.
"Xiang'er," she said softly, "not everyone is as fortunate as you and Senior Brother Lu to meet a good man, find a perfect match, and live a carefree life."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the warm, smooth jade bracelet on Xiang'er's wrist—a gift carefully selected and presented by Lu Jingxiu with his first salary shortly after her coming-of-age ceremony. Though not expensive, it was a token of his heartfelt sentiment. A shy blush instantly spread across Xiang'er's face, and she subconsciously touched the bracelet.
Xuanji chuckled: "Senior Brother Li has granted me an independent courtyard, a vast collection of books, and an endless supply of writing materials. This kind of carefree life is far more enjoyable than that of an ordinary wife."
She fed Xiang'er the lotus-shaped pastry: "Besides, Madam Pei manages her backyard, and I'll focus on my poetry and books. We're completely separate, isn't that perfect?"
Xiang'er chewed on her snack, seemingly understanding but not quite: "But if you like someone, why would you want to share them with someone else..."
“There are a million ways to like someone.” Xuanji wiped the lotus-shaped pastry from Wen Xiang’er’s lips. “Some people ask for a harmonious marriage, but I ask for boundless freedom. Senior Brother Li understands me, and that is the best kind of affection.”
"Go ahead, I'll take you to pick out some new fabric tomorrow—it's Suzhou satin that Senior Brother Li just sent over; it'll be perfect for making you a dress."
As Xiang'er was being pushed out the door, she turned around and saw Xuanji leaning against the door with a smile, her eyes reflecting the moonlight in the courtyard, clear and bright.
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