"Spring Wedding in the Capital City - Chapter 6"
Jinghai Pavilion was located on the north side of the Yan Family Mansion.
As they walked from the bridal chamber to Jinghai Pavilion, Yan Rongshi softly explained to Ying Xiaoman how to "manage the household."
"When Father was in charge of the family, things became disorderly. There are many unreasonable elders in the family. For example, Eighth Young Master's mother can be quite troublesome when she throws tantrums. When you take over household management, if Eighth Young Master's mother comes to make a scene, just deal with her in two ways: hit and cut."
"Hit her favored attendants, and then send them away. Cut the allowance for items in her courtyard."
"My mother's companion maids will help you. Use these two tactics alternately a few times, and within two or three months, you'll have peace and quiet."
Ying Xiaoman had a question: "Why not hit the ringleader directly, and only hit those around her? What if someone charges at me, and I slap them back?"
Yan Rongshi glanced at her with a smile: "If you hit them, so be it. We still have Grandmother to keep things in check. But don't worry, the truly troublesome elders were sent back to their hometowns two years ago. Those remaining in the capital are quite docile. Eighth Young Master is already considered one of the more troublesome ones. If anyone in the back courtyard dares to provoke you, feel free to deal with their instigating attendants and maids, and strip the unreasonable elders of their support. If any brothers or uncles come to confront you, tell them to find me instead."
Ying Xiaoman listened attentively along the way and remarked, "Having fewer people in the family has its advantages."
"Indeed," Yan Rongshi agreed.
"With Grandmother still alive, it's not appropriate to divide the family. After Grandmother passes away, the different branches of the family will separate, and things will become more peaceful."
As they talked, they walked along the covered corridor, and the gate of Jinghai Pavilion, where the elderly Grandmother resided, appeared ahead.
Suddenly, Ying Xiaoman remembered something. She stopped at the edge of the corridor and tugged on her husband's sleeve.
"Wait, I have something for you."
"Oh?" Yan Rongshi stopped and looked down.
Under his gaze, Ying Xiaoman held out two pouches.
The pouches were clearly a matching pair, similar in size and style. One was entirely blue with auspicious cloud patterns at the corners and blue tassels; the other was lotus-root colored with lotus flower patterns at the corners and pink tassels.
In the sunlight filtering through the corridor, they each took one pouch.
Yan Rongshi held the blue pouch in his palm, his eyes filled with admiration as he carefully examined the embroidered stream and pine branch pattern.
"The composition is naturally rustic, the mood simple and pure. One can see the true meaning of 'returning to simplicity' in this. Did Xiaoman embroider this herself? The needlework is excellent."
Ying Xiaoman listened with half belief and half doubt.
Her embroidery skills had been taught by her mother since childhood, but somehow things had gone awry, and she could never achieve the exquisite perfection of her adoptive mother's needlework. She had long been aware of her shortcomings in embroidery.
After all, she had spent an entire day during the winter at her old home embroidering these two pouches.
As always, she believed that it's the thought that counts. She had presented them solemnly on their first day of marriage.
But the pouches she gave received such high praise, with words like "naturally rustic" and "returning to simplicity"...
Really? Was Seventh Young Master just flattering her?
Ying Xiaoman was greatly surprised.
Yan Rongshi's delight at this moment seemed genuine. He held the blue pouch she had embroidered, admiring it from all angles, truly appearing unable to part with it. He smoothed out the long blue tassel and was about to hang the pouch on his belt.
Ying Xiaoman gasped and reached out to stop him: "Are you sure? Do you really want to wear it? My giving you the pouch is the gesture that counts, you can just keep it. You don't need to display it so openly. What if people laugh at you to your face?"
"Why would they laugh?" Yan Rongshi dismissed her concern, "Good things should be worn proudly, to be admired by others."
He truly loved this pouch.
The eight words "naturally rustic" and "returning to simplicity" were sincere praise. He felt that Xiaoman underestimated her own embroidery skills.
"There are indeed many exquisite embroideries in the capital. But while they may be beautiful, they often lack soul and show too much craftsmanship. Look at your pouch, it's full of vitality, with a bold composition that fully displays the rustic charm of the countryside."
He held up the blue pouch for Ying Xiaoman to see, praising it continuously:
"The stream is serene, the rocks are rugged, and the pine branches stretch across. Pine needles have fallen into the stream, showing unique ingenuity in composition, full of vivid naturalness."
"Look at these two wild ducks in the water, their feathers bright, wings spread and heads held high. In the capital, whenever embroiderers stitch ducks, they're always plump and swimming with lowered heads. What they're actually embroidering are domesticated ducks, not wild ones. The posture of your ducks is lively and expansive, truly representing wild ducks that can spread their wings and fly."
He concluded with a highly encouraging evaluation:
"As the saying goes, great skill appears artless. Xiaoman, have more confidence in your embroidery skills. Natural rusticity is most sought after in the capital. If I wear this pouch out for a walk, my colleagues who see it will surely come to ask me where I bought such a fine item."
Ying Xiaoman: "..."
She grew increasingly silent as she listened.
"Seventh Young Master, I'm very happy that you like my pouch. However," she paused for a moment, then said haltingly:
"First of all, those aren't pine needles in the stream, I was trying to embroider fish..."
"Secondly, do those really look like wild ducks? I intended to embroider two cranes wading through the water..."
Yan Rongshi: "..."
In the morning light of spring, four eyes stared at the bright-feathered, flat-headed "cranes" on the pouch.
Yan Rongshi calmly changed the subject: "—Indeed, great skill appears artless, it's perfectly natural. It doesn't matter what Xiaoman had in mind while embroidering, the final product is exquisite regardless."
He smoothed out the long blue tassel once more, fondly touched the embroidery, and still hung the blue pouch on his belt.
Glancing at the pink pouch newly hung on Ying Xiaoman's waist, he asked: "In that case, the pouch Xiaoman embroidered for herself... I suppose those aren't... bees gathering nectar around a large patch of roses?"
Ying Xiaoman: "...Lotus flowers and dragonflies."
The two walked side by side out of the corridor, quietly taking about a dozen steps, approaching the open gate of Jinghai Pavilion. It's unclear who started it, but Yan Rongshi's eyes brightened and curved in a smile, while Ying Xiaoman turned her head and stifled a laugh.
"Let's just pretend they're wild ducks and bees," Ying Xiaoman advised him:
"I don't know what people in the capital consider rustic charm, but this is how all my embroidery turns out. You can wear the pouch, but don't say too much about it to others. Huh?"
As the two stopped in the middle of the path, facing each other and trying to hold back their laughter, a figure ahead suddenly moved, attempting to hide behind a tree.
Unfortunately, they were a bit too slow, and Ying Xiaoman's keen eyes caught the movement.
"Seventh Young Master, there's someone sneaking around up ahead."
About a hundred paces beyond the corridor, on the straight path leading to Jinghai Pavilion, two rows of lush pines and cypresses lined the way.
A young man was pulled out from behind a large cypress tree.
His face was still swollen and bruised, his eyelids puffy, with several obvious scabs on his lips, as if he had just been beaten up yesterday. He avoided eye contact, not looking at Yan Rongshi and Ying Xiaoman as they approached side by side.
Ying Xiaoman stared at the person in front of her in shock.
At first glance, with his battered face, he didn't look familiar. But upon closer inspection, that gloomy look in his small eyes seemed increasingly familiar...
"...Eighth Young Master Yan?!"
She pointed at the man in front of her in astonishment, "Who beat you up like this?" The unfortunate young man with the battered face looked up at her words, giving her a resentful glance before clenching his jaw in silence.
Seeing this sullen attitude, it was indeed Eighth Young Master Yan.
"He wasn't beaten by anyone," Yan Rongshi casually added from the side. "Yesterday, when we went to the Yan family to escort the bride, Yan Yilang released ten large geese, and Eighth Young Master immediately ran away."
Unfortunately, adult geese are naturally aggressive creatures. The more one tries to flee from them, the more relentlessly they pursue.
Yan Rongshi explained this to Ying Xiaoman.
"Originally, two of the ten geese were circling me. The next moment, Eighth Young Master turned and sprinted towards the alley entrance. Instantly, the two geese abandoned me and chased after him. That we were able to return safely from yesterday's bride escort, well, I suppose we should thank Eighth Young Master for his sacrifice."
Ying Xiaoman's cheeks ached from trying to hold back her laughter.
Seventh Young Master's words were ostensibly praising but actually mocking, weren't they?
Eighth Young Master Yan's eyes were gloomy.
Yesterday, on the day of the bride escort, he had deserted at the critical moment, abandoning the groom and running towards the alley entrance, causing quite an embarrassing scene in front of everyone.
Last night, during the wedding ceremony, he, the groom's own brother, was actually stopped outside the main hall by Seventh Brother's people, who politely told him to go home and tend to his injuries.
Why was he standing here in the early morning near the path to Jinghai Pavilion? Why hadn't he treated the bruises and wounds on his face, instead wandering around with them on display?
He had simply hoped to take advantage of Seventh Brother's joyous mood on his wedding night to plead his case in person and settle their differences. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that his new sister-in-law would be... her!
What a scheming vixen! She had plotted with him to kill Yan Rongshi, but somewhere along the way, she ended up marrying into the Yan family instead?!
Did that make him, Eighth Young Master Yan, nothing more than a stepping stone? A temporary bridge to be discarded?
Talk about pulling up the ladder after climbing over the wall and burning bridges after crossing the river!
Eighth Young Master Yan was seething with hatred. At this moment, even his long-standing grievances with his seventh brother were pushed to the back of his mind as he glared at the brightly smiling Ying Xiaoman before him, nearly grinding his teeth to dust.
Ying Xiaoman also wanted to clear the air with him. After all, he was Seventh Brother's family - they'd be seeing each other often from now on.
Seeing Eighth Young Master Yan still glaring at her furiously, his mind likely jumping to all sorts of wrong conclusions as his eyes began to shoot daggers, Ying Xiaoman exchanged a few words with Yan Rongshi before gesturing for Eighth Young Master Yan to follow her a few steps away to speak privately.
"Regardless of how yesterday's wedding procession went, you still helped shield Seventh Brother from the geese, so I must thank you for that. I'm willing to let bygones be bygones regarding our past grievances. I've heard from Seventh Brother that you're actually quite capable and competent. If you can mend your ways going forward and stop causing trouble for Seventh Brother, I'll treat you like a brother, no different from the other brothers in the family."
These words were fair and reasonable. Eighth Young Master Yan's burning resentment subsided slightly, his gloomy expression softening a fraction.
"Sister-in-law needn't speak only of me," Eighth Young Master Yan said in a low, cold laugh. "Now that you've married into a noble family, I trust you won't be harboring any more thoughts of killing Seventh Brother? That little story - heh, known only to heaven, earth, you and me - I'm sure you've kept it well hidden from Seventh Brother."
Hah, still trying to threaten her.
Ying Xiaoman gave him a pitying look. "Seventh Brother has long known about my past alliance with you."
Eighth Young Master Yan: ??
Ying Xiaoman continued, "I didn't know Seventh Brother was Yan Rongshi. During the assassination planning phase, I consulted with two people. One was you, and the other was Seventh Brother."
Eighth Young Master Yan: !!
"Say that again? You knew Seventh Brother before and discussed... killing himself with him face to face?"
"That's right. Seventh Brother not only discussed and planned with me, he even took me to Fengsong Courtyard to scout the location. You think everyone is as sharp-tongued, cruel, and impatient as you?"
The more Ying Xiaoman spoke, the more righteous she felt: "Seventh Brother treated me with wholehearted sincerity, and I reciprocated in kind. Later, when the misunderstanding was cleared up, I was willing to marry him. What's wrong with that?"
Eighth Young Master Yan: "..."
Ying Xiaoman: "Oh, by the way, you had an unreliable confidant before, I believe his name was Yan An? He spread rumors that Seventh Brother was keeping a mistress outside - that was referring to me. If you ever see that confidant of yours again, remember to tell him to stop spreading false rumors."
Eighth Young Master Yan: "..."
Eighth Young Master Yan's pupils dilated in shock.
The situation had taken such an unexpected turn that he didn't know how to react. He stood there dazed, watching in a trance as Seventh Brother and his new sister-in-law walked into Jinghai Pavilion, chatting and laughing intimately side by side.
Had he suddenly gone deaf and unable to understand human speech, or had the world gone mad...?
In the past, he didn't believe in fate, much less that he was inferior to others. He had always firmly believed that whatever Seventh Young Master Yan could do, given the same opportunities, he, Yan Gengsheng, could do just as well.
But now, watching his Seventh Brother lead his newly wedded wife into Jinghai Pavilion, arm in arm, to pay their respects...
He had to admit, he could never do something so crazy. He would never marry a woman who had plotted to kill him, let alone advise her and take her to scout his own residence.
Does this mean that he, Eighth Young Master Yan, really couldn't measure up to Seventh Brother Yan Rongshi...?
The morning sunlight shone on the pine and cypress-lined path, casting a dazed shadow beneath the trees that remained motionless, like a stone statue.
*
Lively voices soon emanated from within Jinghai Pavilion.
Grandmother may have been forgetful, but her spirits were high, her loud voice echoing throughout the small courtyard.
"Seventh Brother has a new bride? When did this happen? How come I didn't know?"
The elderly maids around her all chuckled and said, "Old Madam has forgotten again? Last night, Seventh Young Master and his wife bowed before you and drank the nuptial wine. You even laughed and cheered for them."
Grandmother was dressed brightly, her snow-white hair neatly combed into a bun at the back of her head. She called Ying Xiaoman to her side, holding her hand and examining her closely, growing more and more delighted:
"Seventh Brother's new bride is so fresh and lovely. Where is she from?"
Ying Xiaoman sat obediently before Grandmother: "I'm from Jingzhou. My hometown is near the Han River."
"Jingzhou is wonderful! The water and soil there nourish people well. So pretty and lively - Seventh Brother knows how to pick a wife."
After admiring her up close for a long while, Grandmother happily sent Ying Xiaoman back.
The old lady sat at the head of the dining table, with the young couple seated in the guest positions. As the maids were busy serving porridge and dishes, Grandmother suddenly pointed at Ying Xiaoman and asked those around her in surprise: "My goodness, where did this pretty young lady come from? Quick, come let me have a look at you."
Ying Xiaoman: "..."
This morning meal took longer than usual. Grandmother was so taken with the beautiful bride that Ying Xiaoman had to put down her bowl three times during the meal, called over by Grandmother to be admired up close three times.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that today," Yan Rongshi said with an apologetic expression as they walked out of the courtyard side by side, fingers intertwined. "Once Grandmother becomes fond of someone, she'll remember them after seeing them a few times. It won't take too long."
Ying Xiaoman didn't mind. "Being called over by an elder to be looked at a few times is no big deal."
She was still wary of Eighth Young Master Yan and kept glancing behind the shrubbery every few steps as they walked. They continued like this for dozens of paces.
The deeply shocked Eighth Young Master Yan had long since left. Of course, she didn't find anyone behind the shrubbery, but light, rapid footsteps could be heard coming from the long corridor ahead.
"Sister!" Zhi had changed into a water-red cross-collared jacket today, with a matching ribbon tying her double buns. Like a lively little fox, she came bounding over.
Ying Xiaoman bent down to embrace Zhi: "Why are you here so early? Did Mother bring you?"
Zhi shook her head: "Mother is still packing boxes in the courtyard. She said we're moving in a couple of days. First Brother brought me here."
"First Brother?" Ying Xiaoman was stunned. Yan Yilang?
"Where is Yan Yilang? Wait, Zhi, when did you start calling him First Brother?"
Zhi blinked a few times: "Yesterday. Yesterday when First Brother was escorting the bride, he asked Mother on the way if our two families would be considered relatives from now on. Mother said since you were marrying out of the Yan family, of course we'd be relatives. Then Mother told me to call him First Brother. Mother also said yesterday that when you see the Yan family's First Brother in the future, she wants you to change how you address him and call him First Brother too."
Ying Xiaoman: "..."
"Where is this newly recognized good First Brother?" She looked around, still holding Zhi. "Did he leave after bringing you here? Is he being so well-behaved today?"
Zhi couldn't say where Yan Yilang was either.
She opened her little hand, offering a crumpled letter.
"Sister, a letter from First Brother for you. He said you should open it yourself. Not allowed to show Seventh Brother."
Ying Xiaoman took the envelope with surprise, broke the seal, and pulled out a thin sheet of paper.
Yan Rongshi glanced at the letter, then considerately took Zhi and walked a few steps ahead.
Ying Xiaoman stood under a pine tree and unfolded the letter. Fortunately, there were no difficult words.
"A spring day escorting the bride, my longing heart turned to ash.
I take my leave.
With a broken heart, I cannot stay in the Capital City. Gazing upon ten thousand miles, this young master has his own place to return to. I shall not return until I have traversed mountains and rivers.
Xiaoman, do not worry.
Yixing."
Yan Yilang had said the letter wasn't to be shown to Seventh Brother, so Ying Xiaoman clutched the letter and read it aloud to Seventh Brother from beginning to end.
After finishing, she asked in puzzlement: "This young master has his own place to return to. Where did he go?"
Yan Rongshi thought for a moment: "He won't return until he has traversed mountains and rivers. Perhaps he left the Capital City to clear his mind since he was feeling down?"
"Oh." Ying Xiaoman put away the letter. "Something that could have been written in one sentence, yet he wrote so much I almost couldn't understand it. If I want to write back to him, will we still be able to find him?"
Yan Rongshi carried Zhi as he walked side by side with Ying Xiaoman into the corridor.
"Yan Yilang holds an official position. The night he left the capital, he must have rested at one of the post stations in the outskirts. If we send someone to inquire at the various city gates, find out which direction he left from, and send a fast horse to the post stations, we might still be able to find him tonight. If we wait two more days, once he's left the capital region it will be difficult to locate him."
"Then I'll quickly write a reply to him." Ying Xiaoman hurried forward a few steps with the letter in hand, then suddenly stopped as if remembering something.
"Seventh Brother, you're not angry, are you?"
"How could I be?" Yan Rongshi casually took the letter she was holding, folded it neatly into quarters, and tucked it into his sleeve without a care. He had always been very tolerant towards defeated love rivals.
"Write if you wish. I'll have someone deliver it out of the city by fast horse."
The two walked side by side towards the newlywed quarters arranged in the east.
Ying Xiaoman grumbled along the way: "On our first day of marriage, it's rare that you don't have to go to the Ministry of Justice to hold court, and I don't have to open the butcher shop. Yet we're still busy with so many things at home."
Yan Rongshi replied calmly: "Small tasks don't take much effort. It's still early, we have plenty of time to while away."
*
Outside the city. At the western courier station.
The newly arrived servants of the Yan family were still noisily leading horses and carts, when dust rose in the distance on the main road, and a fast horse delivered a reply from the Capital City.
Yan Yilang unexpectedly received the envelope, feeling its weight with his fingertips. He closed the door and shooed away all ten or so of his personal attendants.
Sitting alone in the room, he unfolded the thin letter.
Ying Xiaoman's neat and tidy handwriting appeared before his eyes.
"A spring wedding procession, two families becoming relatives. From now on, we'll call each other brother and sister, so why worry about longing?
The Xingning Marquis Mansion has notified on your behalf, and the Seventh Young Master from the Imperial Guard Office has written to request leave for you.
Enjoy your journey and remember to return. Your father misses you.
Come back soon.
Xiaoman."
Yan Yilang held the thin letter, reading "Come back soon" over and over, before tucking it into his chest.
He got up and walked to the window, giving the revolving lantern he had brought from the Capital City a spin.