Chapter 88: Ying'er’s Marriage

As a woman, Lady Liu found it improper to speak much, so she merely sat by and listened. Hu Ying’er, however, repeatedly questioned Xue Rui’s words, and the two inevitably argued a few times; when she could not best him in speech, she would grow indignant, grinding her teeth in anger at him.

Her conduct struck Lady Liu as rather surprising. She had met Hu Ying’er many times before, yet had never seen her display such a forceful side. Secretly, she thought that a girl raised without her mother’s guidance truly did not know proper decorum.

Of course, no matter how Hu Ying’er carried on, it was not her place to lecture her. Lady Liu acted as though she saw nothing.

Though they were not strangers to one another, quarreling in front of the Xue parents was still discourteous.

Hu Zhong knew his granddaughter’s temperament: in ordinary times she was rather strong-willed. Since Xue Rui’s arrival, the two had often bickered. Fortunately, Xue Rui was sensible and usually indulged her. Hu Ying’er had grown used to such an arrangement and, from time to time, could not help but overstep.

“Ying’er, go see in the kitchen when the meal can be served. Your uncle and his family do not come often; today we must treat them properly.”

Hu Zhong feared the Xue family might laugh at them, so he sent Hu Ying’er to hurry the kitchen.

These past two years, Hu Ying’er had been managing the household, and she was still able to arrange such matters properly. Before long, the dishes were carried to the table.

Guests are to be treated as guests, especially male guests; by etiquette, the women could not sit at the same table.

Hu Zhong was thoughtful and had the servants set another table of wine and dishes in the side hall, instructing Hu Ying’er to keep Lady Liu company at the meal.

After a period of drinking and feasting, host and guests were all in good spirits.

When the meal was over, Lady Liu returned to the lodging Hu Ying’er had arranged, took out the gifts that had already been prepared, and had Xue Yuanhao present them to the Hu grandfather and granddaughter.

“Teacher, while this disciple was in prison, my family received much care from you. I have nothing of value, only a few gifts sent by others. My wife selected several rather fine ginseng roots and deer antlers; please keep them to nourish your body.”

Xue Yuanhao held the brocade box in both hands and bowed in thanks to Hu Zhong.

“Shu Bai, and you still want to be formal with me?”

Hu Zhong glared, his beard bristling. “You’re not even well yet. This is the very time you should be replenishing yourself—why bring them to me? I’m already half in the grave; what use is more tonics to me? Can they make me young again?”

“Great-uncle, our home lacks nothing else now. We’ve gathered plenty of ginseng, deer antler, and fleeceflower root. My father could never use them all, so please do not refuse.”

“Looks like your father and son have made quite a name for yourselves. Plenty of people are eager to curry favor where it’s cool.”

Hu Zhong was taken aback for a moment, then sighed in admiration. In some muddled fashion, the name of the Xue father and son had spread throughout the capital. The young officials of the Astronomical Bureau all felt that the Xue family’s prospects were boundless, and so they had come seeking acquaintance. Since Xue Rui said they had plenty of ginseng and deer antler, that too was likely true.

“Very well. Since it is your filial intention, I shall accept it.”

Hu Zhong did not refuse further. Though Xue Yuanhao’s release from prison had been mostly due to Xue Rui’s efforts, the Hu household had also helped considerably. If he still would not accept the gifts, his disciple would surely feel uneasy, and might even insist on repaying the silver.

Seeing Hu Zhong accept them, Lady Liu then held out several bolts of cloth and smiled. “These are also excellent brocade and gauze fabrics from Suzhou, gifts from others. They are fashionable in the capital at present, so let Cheng’an and Ying’er use them for clothing. Brother and sister dressed in them will surely look both handsome and pretty.”

“Ying’er, why don’t you quickly thank your aunt?”

These fabrics were quite rare, and Hu Zhong did not refuse them either, smiling as he told his granddaughter to accept them.

Hu Ying’er hurriedly took them and curtsied. “Thank you, uncle and aunt.”

“Get up, quickly. That makes us sound distant.”

Lady Liu helped Hu Ying’er to her feet and praised Hu Zhong. “It has been not quite half a year since we last met, and Ying’er has grown even more lovely. By her age, she should be thinking of marriage. Once the capital settles down, I shall ask around among families I know to see if there are any suitable young men. While your health is still strong, we can settle on a match and share in the joyful tidings.”

Hu Zhong had long thought of this. He had always intended, while he was still alive, to marry off his granddaughter in grand style and thus fulfill one of his wishes. If Hu Ying’er were not so stubborn, he would already have had Lady Liu help inquire after suitable families.

“Having you, sister-in-law, to worry over Ying’er’s marriage puts my mind at ease. In my view, it would be best to find a family with official standing in the Imperial Observatory. Failing that, we should at least find a talented and outstanding young man. In the future, with your care, she can still have a fine prospect.”

Naturally, Hu Zhong considered his granddaughter’s marriage with great care. If she could marry into an official family, then even after he was gone, no one would dare bully his grandson Hu Cheng’an.

Xue Yuanhao and his wife understood Hu Zhong’s intentions all too well.

Lady Liu hastened to say, “Of course. Ying’er’s affairs are our Xue family’s affairs. In a little while, let Rui’er’s father make some inquiries. If there is anyone suitable, I shall come personally to ask after them. I guarantee we’ll find Ying’er a good family.”

“Ha-ha, that is excellent.”

Hu Zhong and Xue Yuanhao both laughed.

In this day and age, it was common for girls to marry at fourteen or fifteen. Though Hu Ying’er had always complained that she did not want to wed, marriage was not hers to decide. Now that the elders were all worrying over her future, whether she wished to marry or not was no longer up to her.

After hearing the elders’ arrangements, Xue Rui glanced sideways at the girl beside him.

In the chair next to him, Hu Ying’er sat bolt upright, her face dark with displeasure. She bit her lip hard, her chest rising and falling again and again.

Seeing Xue Rui make faces at her, Hu Ying’er shot him several fierce glances, then gathered up a few bolts of brocade and ran off without even saying goodbye.

“Oh, my, she’s shy now. A girl’s face is indeed thin.”

Lady Liu did not understand and only thought Hu Ying’er had become embarrassed upon hearing them discuss her marriage, so she could not help but smile.

“Heh.”

Looking toward the direction his granddaughter had gone, Hu Zhong managed a smile as well, though he felt a little uneasy inside.

The others chatted for a while longer, when Jing’er, the maid, appeared at the doorway of the tea room, peeking in furtively.

Hu Zhong, seeing this, scolded her. “If there is something to say, then come in and say it. What kind of conduct is this, sneaking about?”

Jing’er had no choice but to come in and lower her head. “Master, the young mistress asks for Young Master Xue to come over. She says it is time for class.”

Ever since Xue Yuanhao was released from prison, Xue Rui’s lessons had been suspended.

Since Hu Ying’er had come to summon him while everyone was talking, there must have been some matter; she was not the sort to lack sense.

Xue Rui rose. “Father, Mother, you stay and keep Great-uncle company. I’ll go see what it is.”

Watching her son depart, Lady Liu worried aloud, “That Hu girl is so strong-willed; she has even got Rui’er firmly under her thumb. I fear it will be hard for him to find a good marriage in the future.”

When Xue Rui reached the study, Hu Ying’er was sitting there with a stern face, reading.

“What is this? Why are you in such a fine temper all of a sudden?” Xue Rui closed the study door and leaned in with a grin.

“You sit properly!”

Hu Ying’er forced Xue Rui back with a ruler and snorted. “Go tell auntie that I have no intention of marrying yet. I appreciate her kind thoughts. If she truly wants to play matchmaker, then she should first find a wife for you. You are older than I am by a bit; it is about time you married.”

“So this is what you’re upset about?”

Xue Rui laid himself on the table and teased her deliberately. “Sigh, who would want to marry someone like me? Why don’t I speak to my mother and have you become her daughter-in-law instead? Then we could settle both of our marriages at once. Wouldn’t that save a great deal of trouble?”

“What, what did you say?”

Hu Ying’er had never heard such bold words before. It was as if she had been struck rigid in place. A fierce shame flooded her, turning her cheeks and neck red as ripe persimmons, and even the hidden parts of her body felt as though they were burning.

Seeing her panicked expression, Xue Rui immediately realized his joke had gone too far. He quickly changed the subject. “Forget I said anything. Let’s just hurry and have class. We’ve delayed a great deal lately and need to catch up as soon as possible.”

“Catch up my foot!”

Hu Ying’er forced down her embarrassment and chased after Xue Rui with the ruler, saying as she ran, “Brother Rui, I think you’re asking for a beating. How dare you tease me? Believe me, I’ll tell your mother!”

“Don’t hit me, don’t hit me. Can’t I admit I was wrong? I’ll tell my mother later to hurry and find you a good family to marry into. Will that do?”

With two or three quick steps, Xue Rui fled to the doorway. Seeing he had escaped, he no longer begged for mercy. He yanked the door open and shot outside.

Unexpectedly, someone was eavesdropping right at the door. Xue Rui bolted out and crashed straight into the person.

Because of the force of the impact, the two lost their footing and fell hard to the ground. In the confusion, he even bit the other person on the face.

Looking closely, the one pinned beneath him was Hu Ying’er’s personal maid, Jing’er.

“Why are you here?” Xue Rui got up, rubbing his mouth, and helped Jing’er to her feet with a complaint. “That’s not my fault. Who knew you were standing outside eavesdropping? If you’ve hurt yourself, go tell your young mistress and have her reimburse your medicine.”

Hu Ying’er, inside the room, had also seen them fall. She rushed out, tugged at the maid, and asked, “Are you all right? Were you hurt?”

But Jing’er did not answer. She only stared blankly, covering her face. After a long while, she burst into tears. “Miss, Young Master Xue kissed me. I’m ruined!”

“Well, that’s it. I’ve caused trouble again.”

Seeing the situation turn bad, Xue Rui hurriedly ran for it.

What had happened just now was an accidental scrape, not his attempt to take advantage of the maid. But now that he had been mistaken for a lecher, how could he dare stay any longer?

Anxiously returning to the west wing, he saw that Hu Ying’er had not come after him to demand an explanation, and only then did he breathe a little easier.

In the room, Susu was folding her clothes and stuffing them into a bundle, looking as though she were preparing for a long journey.

Seeing this, Xue Rui asked in confusion, “Didn’t we already settle in at Great-uncle’s residence? Where are you going?”

Susu turned her head and muttered, “Miss Hu came earlier to arrange the lodging. I saw that the room the young master is staying in has a bed in the outer chamber for a maid to rest on, so I said I would stay in the same room as you, so I could attend you at night. But Miss Hu refused. She said she had already arranged for someone specially to serve you, and told me to stay with her in the embroidery tower. I had no choice but to agree.”

“That’s fine, isn’t it? With someone specifically to attend me, you can rest earlier too. Oh, right—after you go to the embroidery tower, help me pass a message to Hu Ying’er. Tell her I know I was wrong, and that I won’t dare speak carelessly again. Remember that, all right?” Xue Rui instructed.

Susu looked at him, rather curious. “Young master, how did you offend Miss Hu? Why not tell her in person?”

“Cough, it’s nothing. Just do as I said. She should already be back at the embroidery tower. Once you’re packed, go on over. I’ll go see Father and Mother first.”

Xue Rui was too embarrassed to say he had taken advantage of Hu Ying’er and her maid, so he waved a hand and went to his parents’ quarters.

The Hu household had dwindled in numbers, and all the rooms in the west wing were empty. Hu Ying’er was considerate enough to choose a spacious, airy chamber for the Xue couple. Xue Rui was very satisfied when he saw it, and told the two elders to settle in at ease.

While Lady Liu was putting away their luggage, Xue Rui called his father into the outer room and asked about the thousand taels of silver.

Xue Yuanhao smiled bitterly. “It’s not that I meant to hide it from you. It’s just that your great-uncle spent a great deal on arranging connections, and we cannot repay it in a short time. Rather than worry all of you, it is better that I bear it alone.”

Given Xue Yuanhao’s meager salary, in ten years he had saved less than a hundred taels in all. When he and his mother were driven out by his uncle and aunt last month, they had not had time to take it with them, and by now it was likely already confiscated.

“Father, don’t worry. You needn’t repay that silver. I’ll find a way when the time comes. You don’t need to put it on your mind.”

Xue Rui was quite unconcerned. It was only that the timing was not yet ripe. Otherwise, with his broad knowledge, even if he could not say he would be rich beyond measure, making some silver to pay back Great-uncle’s debt would surely be no difficult matter.

With an oil lamp lit, Xue Rui practiced calligraphy in the room.

Over the past month, he had put considerable effort into his handwriting.

He had copied Liu Gongquan’s copybook no fewer than a hundred times.

By now, his characters could not be called beautiful, but at least they were legible.

After clearing away the paper and brush, Xue Rui was about to look again at the Great Compilation of Calendrical Astronomy when someone at the door said, “Is the young master about to rest? This old woman will attend you with washing and grooming.”

Xue Rui shuddered all over and looked up. Beneath the dim oil lamp, a wrinkled old face came into view.

The person Hu Ying’er had sent to serve him was actually a woman well past fifty.

The next night, Xue Rui refused the old woman Hu Ying’er had sent to attend him and washed himself before going to bed.

As he was drifting in and out of sleep, a gnawing creak suddenly came from the outer room.

At first Xue Rui thought it was a mouse. When the sound did not stop after a while, he got up to check.

Following the noise, he discovered that the old woman resting on the bed in the outer room was grinding her teeth in her sleep.

After calling out to her several times, she turned over, and the gnashing finally stopped.

Xue Rui returned to his room and lay down again. But just as he had settled on the bed, the grinding began once more from the outer room.

This time he could not be bothered to go out again. He simply pulled the quilt over his head and forced himself to sleep.

In such surroundings, he naturally did not rest well. When the old woman woke him in the morning, he was still dazed.

“Young master, wake up. Come wash your face. It will be time for breakfast soon.”

The old woman brought hot water and wanted to help him wash his face.

Xue Rui had originally intended to complain a little, but seeing the woman’s ingratiating smile, he could not bear to rebuke her. He took the cloth, washed his face, brushed his teeth with tooth powder, and only then went to the dining hall for breakfast.

By the dining hall, Hu Ying’er was already waiting at the door.

Thinking of what had happened yesterday, Xue Rui felt a little guilty and wanted to find an excuse to slip away. But then he thought, there was no escaping the temple once the monk had run off; they would be staying at the Hu residence for several more days, and they would inevitably have to face each other.

“I don’t believe you’d really dare to go snitching!”

Xue Rui felt that this matter was too difficult for Hu Ying’er to speak of. She probably would not dare tell the elders, so he steeled himself and stepped forward.

Seeing him approach, Hu Ying’er said in a tone of accusation, “Brother Rui, and you still have the nerve to come here. Yesterday...”

Before she could finish, Xue Rui cut her off. “That’s what I should be asking you. What exactly were you thinking? Yesterday you took my maid away and then stuffed that tooth-grinding old woman into my room to serve me. I didn’t sleep well all night. Tell me, how are you going to make it up to me?”