Chapter Eighty-Six: The Marriage-Offering Wind Ripples the Still Waters of Spring

Autumn had come to the capital, and Chang'an was filled with festive color. In Shu and Jiangnan, the harvest had been abundant; in the north, the Fanyang military governor had utterly defeated the Khitans and the Xi, bringing back the severed heads of their chieftains and eight thousand Xi captives to offer the court. Gao Xianzhi, governor of the Four Garrisons of Anxi, had captured the land of Stone and taken its king prisoner. When the news reached the capital, the whole city of Chang'an erupted in cheers. Everyone wore smiles, and as people of the Tang capital, they felt deeply honored.

Within the circles of the great houses and the powerful, most took little interest in that. What truly drew their attention was that Wang Liuli, the most treasured ninth daughter of Wang Yuanbao, the Tang Dynasty's God of Wealth, would be choosing a husband before the end of the month.

Scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant: merchants ranked lowest. Yet since the founding of the Tang, commerce had been valued, and the status of merchants was far different from what it had once been. Besides, when one considered Wang Yuanbao, the God of Wealth, rich enough to rival a nation, what great house in the capital would dare look down on him?

Wang Yuanbao had no son. If someone married his beloved ninth daughter, Wang Liuli, there was a chance of inheriting the Wang family's unimaginable wealth. But Wang Yuanbao was unwilling to let his precious daughter suffer after marriage, and so he declared that anyone seeking to wed Wang Liuli must take her as his principal wife. That made many legitimate eldest sons from noble families hesitate. Yet the men of lesser birth, if they were of marriageable age, could not help but dream on, lost in fantasies.

In the martial yard behind the Qin Marquis's estate, sword light flashed like lightning and figures moved like startled geese. When Jun Ruichen finished a complete sword routine, he stood there in flowing robes, not a single bead of sweat on his face.

A man in his thirties, gentle and refined, watched Jun Ruichen in the yard with a smiling gaze. Every gesture he made carried a grace and composure.

"This time, when Wang Yuanbao's daughter holds her bridal selection, you should go as well. Do your utmost to marry that daughter of fortune."

Jun Ruichen, who had always copied every gesture of his father, looked at Jun Nanfeng in some surprise. "I am the legitimate son who is to inherit the title. If I marry the daughter of a merchant family as my principal wife, I fear my mother will not know how to answer for it."

Jun Nanfeng, unlike an ordinary live-in son-in-law who was usually careful, humble, and timid in the household, spoke with easy composure. "The power of the Wang family of wealth is not so simple. If you marry Wang Liuli and inherit the Wang family's fortune, the help it will give you in the future will be beyond imagining. Your mother is only a woman. What can she truly understand?"

The weather had already begun to turn cool. Sweat poured from Cheng Changmu's chubby face like water. He dashed into Lu Liaoliao's study in a flurry, snatched up the teacup on the table without the slightest courtesy, and drained it in one gulp.

"Brother Liao, Brother Liao, you have to help me this time."

Lu Liaoliao gave his now-empty cup a dark look and said irritably, "I say, Fat Cheng, are we really that close? Close enough to share the same cup of tea?"

Cheng Changmu waved his plump hand. "Brother Liao, we've known each other for so long, and we've even gone together to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion to drink flower wine and chase down lechers. That's no ordinary friendship. This time I truly have a big matter and need your help."

Lu Liaoliao laughed. He could not bring himself to be harsh with this fat fellow, so naturally friendly and familiar.

"Heh. What kind of earth-shaking matter has you so flustered?"

"Do you know? The God of Wealth Wang Yuanbao is choosing a husband for his beloved youngest daughter. It has shaken the entire capital. All the great houses and powerful families are on the move, picking out the finest youngsters in their households to go take part in the Wang family's bridal selection."

Cheng Changmu gestured wildly, his expression greatly exaggerated.

"So the Wang family is only choosing a son-in-law. Is there any need to make such a fuss?" Lu Liaoliao's face remained calm, showing no interest at all.

"Back then, Wang Shanhu, the Wang family's sixth daughter, set up her embroidered pavilion and tossed down her silk ball, and it landed squarely on the young top scholar Zhang, who had just taken the highest degree. It became one of the great love stories of Chang'an. Scholar and beauty joined as husband and wife, and who in the city did not envy them?"

"And now this ninth daughter, Wang Liuli, is no less lovely than her sisters, while her talents are enough to make countless men lower their heads and bow their faces. She is the apple of her father Wang Yuanbao's eye. If someone brought her home, gaining both woman and fortune, would that not be a wondrous thing indeed?"

Cheng Changmu shook his head and nodded, eyes shining, as though he could already have the beauty in his arms.

"Then by that logic, you also want to go to the bridal selection and take both wealth and beauty?"

Lu Liaoliao smiled at Cheng Changmu.

"Alas!" Cheng Changmu let out a long sigh. "I know my own abilities all too well. How could I possibly stand out among so many people? But my eldest brother Cheng Changyin inherited the title and is already an imperial censor in the palace. My second brother Cheng Changyi married Princess Guangping, so the family has ordered me to go to the bridal selection. If I cannot bring back Wang Liuli, they will break my legs. Tell me, what am I to do?"

"I think you, Fat Cheng, are gifted in both civil and martial matters. You're a bit heavy, yes, but even your plumpness has a certain charm. If you go, you may have a very good chance. Why belittle yourself so? Why look down on yourself?" A look of nostalgia flashed in Lu Liaoliao's eyes as he patted the fat man's shoulder.

"Hehe, Brother Liao, you still have vision. You can see the charm in my plumpness. At first I thought I still had a little hope myself. But who knew that Jun Ruichen and Yin Feng would also sign up? They're clearly legitimate sons who are to inherit their titles, yet they insist on joining the Wang family's bridal selection too. Tell me, what hope do I have left?"

Cheng Changmu sighed again and again, his chubby face full of woe.

"So you came to me because you want me to give you an idea?" Lu Liaoliao tilted his head and looked at the fat man.

Cheng Changmu stared at him with eager anticipation and nodded repeatedly.

"Hm." Lu Liaoliao stroked his chin, lost in thought, and his expression turned somewhat tempted. "Since marrying this Wang family's ninth daughter has so many benefits, I think I'll try my luck too. So I can't help you."

Cheng Changmu looked at Lu Liaoliao in disbelief for a long while, then shook his head and left with a face full of regret.

"Haha, hahahaha!" Lu Liaoliao burst into laughter, unaware that this little speech had been overheard in secret by Ping'er, the maid who had come to add tea.

As word spread farther and farther, more and more people signed up for the bridal selection. Even Lu Jiu, who had always remained calm and detached, could no longer sit still. On a clear day, she came to the Lu residence, rushed straight into Lu Liaoliao's study, and began a furtive discussion.

"I never expected that even Jun Ruichen from the Qin Marquis's estate and Yin Feng from the Yin Marquis's estate would sign up for this bridal selection. On top of that, many scholar-officials who had taken the spring examinations are coming too, despite risking their reputations. Lu Liaoliao, do you actually have any confidence at all?"

Lu Jiu paced back and forth in the study, her brows knitted, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on Lu Liaoliao.

"I am not a god. How could I dare guarantee that I will certainly win? Still, with your covert help from inside, I do have some advantage."

Lu Liaoliao spoke lazily, utterly unhurried.

"All I know is that there will be examinations in classical learning, poetry, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, horsemanship, and archery, and the best two will be chosen. My father has also personally set three additional contests, but he refuses to tell me what they are, no matter what. How can I not be anxious?"

The usually composed Lu Jiu now looked very irritated.

"My heavens! Your lord there is choosing a top scholar or a son-in-law? The standards are even higher than those for an imperial princess. I say, why are you so anxious? The champion selected this way would still be worthy of your Wang Liuli. Happily marry yourself off, and stop bothering me day after day. You are well, I am well, and everyone is well. That is the sensible way."

Lu Liaoliao looked at Lu Jiu with a smiling face, pretending to be kindly.

"Get lost! I, Lu Jiu, swear that I will never marry. You think I was joking? Lu Liaoliao, remember this: if you fail, then I will not have it easy, and you can forget about any peace either."

Seeing that expression on his face, Lu Jiu's rage flared up. She snarled a threat and slammed the door as she left.

Lu Liaoliao watched her retreating back in frustration, clutching his forehead in misery. "Damn it, I'd be delighted if that devil woman married off sooner. What star of ill fortune has cursed me in this life, to be seized by such a woman by the weak spot, unable even to resist?"

At the moon gate, Lu Jiu was stopped by Tang Xiaoqi, who had been waiting there for quite some time. A very false smile hung on her face. "So even the ninth young master, who is more imposing and fierce than any man, is finally going to marry. Tang Xiaoqi is here to offer you my congratulations first."

Lu Jiu was just full of anger and looking for a place to vent it. She waved away Wang Shiyi, who had followed her, and glanced at Tang Xiaoqi with a smile that was not quite a smile. "You only married less than a month ago, with no formal matchmaker, no proper sedan chair, not even a legitimate wedding. What's there to boast about?"

A trace of embarrassment appeared on Tang Xiaoqi's face, but her words were not in the least weak. "My husband cherishes me and dotes on me. He long ago said he did not care about status and would not marry any principal wife. Whether I was formally wed or not does not matter."

"Is that so? Just now, in your husband's study, he was still swearing up and down that he would surely take part in this Wang family bridal selection, win first place, and marry me into his house. Then, when I become the principal mistress, you'll have to pour tea and serve me. You must be respectful and diligent."

Lu Jiu gave a cold smile, looking down at Tang Xiaoqi from above.

Tang Xiaoqi had already heard Ping'er's report, yet she still refused to believe that Lu Liaoliao could be so heartless. At that moment, hearing Lu Jiu speak with such certainty, she could not help wavering and turned pale as she glared at Lu Jiu.

"I don't believe my husband would do such a thing. It's much more likely that you, that sly fox spirit, are up to some wicked scheme again."

"You say I'm a fox spirit?" Lu Jiu pointed at her delicate nose with a jade-white finger, looking down on Tang Xiaoqi with disdain. "Do I, Lu Jiu, need to use my beauty to seduce men? Have a look around you. Ever since the news of the Wang family's bridal selection came out, how many handsome young men have rushed here in a crowd?"

"If there are so many handsome young men, then why did you come looking for my husband?" Tang Xiaoqi retorted indignantly.

"Because you, as the young mistress of the Lu household, said I was shameless and trying to steal your man. So I thought I'd steal him right in front of you." Lu Jiu lifted her chin in triumph.

"My husband is not someone you can simply steal away," Tang Xiaoqi said with complete confidence, staring boldly at Lu Jiu.

"Whatever I, Lu Jiu, set my heart on, I will obtain." Lu Jiu's expression was firm.

"I will never let you succeed." Tang Xiaoqi's face was frosted with coldness, yet her confidence did not waver.

"Tang Xiaoqi, you are truly lucky. There is such a man out there fighting with all his might to shield you from the wind and rain, yet he never says a word of it before you. For your sake, he missed the spring examinations that might have advanced his career. For your sake, he nearly lost his life twice. And yet before you, he has always shown only a smile. Do you know even a little of the sorrow and pain hidden beneath that smile?

"Besides clinging to him, acting spoiled, and fighting over jealousy, what have you ever done for him? Night said she knew not to touch his scars, only to find ways to ease his burdens. But you, Tang Xiaoqi, because of his excessive indulgence toward you, have even grown pleased with yourself over the reputation of being a man fearful wife."

Lu Jiu rattled off her words in a torrent, forcing Tang Xiaoqi back step by step.

"I-I didn't! This time he was going far from home, and I didn't want him to go off with your caravan just because of this house. I begged and begged him, but he simply would not listen. How was I to know he would encounter so much danger, so many things?"

Tang Xiaoqi was so aggrieved that she was about to burst into tears.

"After being at his side for so long, you still do not understand him at all. Do you really think a man as proud as he is would give up the spring examinations and go risk his life fighting those fierce horse bandits just for a mere house?"

Lu Jiu shook her head and looked at the pitiful, fragile Tang Xiaoqi, letting out a faint sigh.