chapter 119

As soon as Yuxi arrived at the main courtyard, she immediately saw Han Jianye.

Han Jianye looked burly and had an imposing stature which resembled an angry King Kong. These two types of attributes were really unpopular in the capital, and it was not easy to find a marriage prospect to people who had these attributes. However today it was all about dressing up, and Han Jianye was seen wearing a purplish red round-necked gold brocade changpao. On his waist, his belt was decorated with a yupei and his black hair had been neatly combed into a bun, decorated with a pure gold tiger shaped head zan.

A round neck changpao

Image Credit |Paludan, Ann. (1998). Chronicle of the Chinese Emperors: the Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial China. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd. ISBN 0500050902. Page 115. via Wiki

The one with the arrow is called a zan

Image Credit | To the rightful owner via my hanfu favorite

The one with the green arrows are called a yupei

Image Credit | To the rightful owner via China (中国)

Yuxi happily said, “Erge¹Second brother, you look very nice in this dress. You have to wear something like this in the future!” Han Jianye used to bask in the sun every day on the mountain, and he loved to dress himself in black, which made him look like a piece of black charcoal. If you prepared clothes in bright colors such as blue or red for him, he wouldn’t wear them. In the end, Qiu Shi had no choice but to make him darker coloured clothes, such as in grey and cyan.

It went without saying that he was already dark, and by wearing such dark coloured clothes would only make him more unsightly. Still, Han Jianye didn’t care, plus he had been studying in the mountains with no restraints.

Han Jianye was currently trying to make a good impression on a girl, otherwise he wouldn’t have worn such a garment! Only those who were sissy would wear red and green. It could only be said that Han Jianye had been misled by a master who did not have any aesthetic ideas.

The group of people first went to the rouge and jewellery shop for a while. When they saw it was already a shichen²2 hours, they headed towards the satin shop.

As they arrived at the entrance of the satin shop, Yuxi was just getting out of the carriage when she saw Second Lady Lu and Lu Xiu who were on their way to enter the shop. Yuxi called out, “Lu Jiejie³elder sister.” After she called her out, she walked to Lu Xiu’s side and happily said, “Lu Jiejie³elder sister, I didn’t expect to run into you here, what a coincidence.”

Lu Xiu was also happy to see Yuxi. Although she and Yuxi were four years apart in age, the two still got along well together. “Yuxi Meimei⁴younger sister, are you here to buy clothes too?” What it could be said today was that Lu Xiu didn’t know a thing. Second Lady Lu didn’t tell her because she was afraid that the marriage wouldn’t happen which would further affect Lu Xiu’s mood.

Qiu Shi looked at Lu Xiu up and down. Lu Xiu was indeed like what Yuxi had told her: Lu Xiu had a big chest, and a big hip. Her body was definitely good for bearing children.

After saying a few words with Lu Xiu, Yuxi greeted Second Lady Lu first, then introduced, “Lu Jiejie³elder sister, this is my Eldest Aunt and this is my Erge¹Second brother.”

Han Jianye’s eyes lit up at once when he saw Lu Xiu. What Yuxi said was right. With this look and body, there was nothing that he could nitpick!

Lu Xiu noticed Han Jianye when he was in this situation. In her mind, she thought that this person must have been a skirt-chaser⁵playboy, otherwise how could he stare intently at her like this.

Yuxi immediately saw something was wrong with Lu Xiu, so she said with a smile, “Lu Jiejie³elder sister, let’s go in! Let’s see what good material is in the shop.” Once her words ended, she held Lu Xiu’s hand and went into the store.

Rather than angry about Han Jianye’s performance, Second Lady Lu was happy instead. When Second Master Han looked at her daughter, there was euphoria and excitement in his eyes, and there was nothing unclean in his stare. This showed that Second Master Han was very satisfied with her own daughter.

Once Qiu Shi saw the real person, the last bit of worry in her heart finally went away, and she enthusiastically said to Second Lady Lu, “Let’s go in too!” After taking two steps, she saw that Han Jianye was going to follow as well and she said to him, “You just wait outside.”

Han Jianye would love to go in and see more of Lu Xiu, since she was his future wife! But he didn’t dare to disobey Qiu Shi’s words, or else he would have a bad reputation as being unfilial to elder in his future mother-in-law’s heart. “Then, Mother, take your time looking around, I’ll wait outside.”

When Second Lady Lu heard this, she smiled.

The group of people stayed in the satin shop for nearly two quarters of an hour. When they came out, Qiu Shi, with a full face of smile, stood at the door while holding Lu Xiu’s hand and said, “What a good child.”

Lu Xiu was a little embarrassed to hear this praise, but before she could say anything, she saw Han Jianye fixed his eyes at her. She felt annoyed in her heart and could only smile reluctantly at Qiu Shi as a response.

Yuxi took it all in stride, and a smirk appeared on her face. She knew Erge¹Second brother would definitely like Miss Lu once he took a look at her.

Lu Xiu got into the carriage as fast as she could.

Looking at Lu Xiu sullen look, Second Lady Lu asked with a smile, “What’s the matter? Are you angry because of Second Master Han?”

Not surprisingly, what came out from Lu Xiu’s mouth was, “Mother, why does Yuxi Meimei⁴younger sister have such a brother?” He was completely a skirt-chaser⁵playboy.

“Silly girl,” Second Lady Lu laughed, and after she had done laughing, she told Lu Xiu the reasons for their visit to the satin shop today.

Lu Xiu’s eyes went wide, but then she remembered Han Jianye’s performance, which made her become reluctant. “Mother, Second Master Han is too….”

Second Lady Lu lovingly touched Lu Xiu’s hair and said with a smile, “Silly girl, when Second Master Han looked at you, his eyes were clear. He looked at you like that because he already regards you as his fiancee.”

Lu Xiu opened her mouth, but she couldn’t say a word because she didn’t know what to say to that.

How could Second Lady Lu not know about Lu Xiu’s worry. “Lady Han said that she would ask an official matchmaker to come to our house tomorrow to propose the marriage. You don’t have to worry either, since Second Master Han was handpicked by your father and praised by your San Ge⁶san=third, ge=elder brother, short form for Gege, so it won’t be bad.” The marriage with the Ye family was promised by Old Lord Lu. There was a stake involved with the marriage, so at the time, Second Lord Lu and Second Lady Lu couldn’t refute it either. This noob translation was translated by a noob translator きつね. Please read this chapter at xin-shou.blogspot.com.

Lu Xiu’s eyes were red as she said, “For my sake, my parents and Gege⁷elder brother have been troubled about it.” To keep her parents from getting anxious, Lu Xiu tried very hard to act like nothing was wrong. Unfortunately, what Lu Xiu didn’t know was that the more she was like this, the more her family felt sorry for her.

Second Lady Lu smiled, “It is impossible to have smooth sailing all one’s life. There will always be many obstacles. At this point in your life, you should treat the obstacle as something in the past.”

And on the other hand, Yuxi didn’t speak at all after she got into the carriage. Seeing this situation, Qiu Shi curiously asked, “What’s wrong?”

Yuxi opened her mouth and asked, “Eldest Aunt, when we ask the matchmaker to go to the Lu family tomorrow to propose, and if our relatives and friends know, will they gossip about it?” They would gossip for sure. No matter which family they were, they would not let their youngest son marry a girl who had a broken engagement with the eldest daughter-in-law’s own younger brother. Those who knew the inside story would surely say that they had interests at stake.

Qiu Shi’s face was a bit unnatural, as she reluctantly smiled, “We should live our own life. Let others say what they like to say, and we have no control over other people’s mouths.” Seeing Yuxi’s worried face, Qiu Shi felt warm and said, “When your Erge¹Second brother marries his wife, I will take off the heavy burden and leave the matter of socialising to your Dasao⁸eldest sister-in-law.”

Yuxi shook her head and said, “I’m just afraid that my Dasao⁸eldest sister-in-law will have a grudge against aunt as well.”

It wasn’t that Qiu Shi wasn’t worried about it, but there was nothing she could do. The Old Lady had made it clear to her the benefits from the relationship, and her eldest son had also made it clear to her. What could she do other than back down? Opposing it till her death would only make things difficult for her son.

Yuxi naturally knew Qiu Shi’s dilemma as she said, “Eldest Aunt, I actually have an idea. As long as it is implemented, neither aunt and Dage⁹eldest brother will be criticized nor will you have any bad feelings with Dage⁹eldest brother and Dasao⁸eldest sister-in-law.”

Qiu Shu revealed a look of surprise, “What idea do you have, tell me quickly.”

Yuxi also noticed Han Jianye staring at Lu Xiu just now. In a flash of light, she had come up with a solution to the gossip. “Eldest Aunt, didn’t Erge¹Second brother gape at Lu Jiejie³elder sister just now? We can use this opportunity to do a play.”

Qiu didn’t quite understand, “Put on a play? What kind of play?”

Yuxi’s idea was actually very simple, that was, Han Jianye fell in love with Lu Xiu at first sight in the satin shop today and he wanted to take Lu Xiu as a wife anyway. Qiu Shi and Han Jianming refused, but Han Jianye forced them by saying that he would rather become a monk if he couldn’t marry her. In the end, they had no choice but to agree.

Qiu Shi was choked with emotion for a moment. What kind of an idea was this?

Yuxi explained, “Eldest Aunt, there are a lot of sons of nobility in the capital who marry improper wives. Between Miss Lu and Erge¹Second brother, there is only the Ye family. When Erge¹Second brother, marries Lu Jiejie³elder sister, if outsiders laugh at you, you just say it was not up to you. Even Dasao⁸eldest sister-in-law will not have much to say either.”

Qiu Shi thought it was a good idea, but then she would be condemning her youngest son at the same time.

Yuxi smiled, ”Eldest Aunt, Erge¹Second brother will only be gossiped about at most at that time, but it won’t have any effect on his future. When the two get married and live harmoniously in the future, others will in turn become very envious of Erge¹Second brother. Where will they continue to gossip about Erge¹Second brother?” The world was very lenient on men, and an affair had no effect on a man’s fame nor future. But women were different. If they had a slightly flawed reputation, not to mention their marriage would be in less value than anticipated, they would also have to marry to lower rank grooms.

Qiu Shi was silent for a moment, then responded, “Let me think about it first.”

Yuxi looked at Qiu Shi’s expression and knew that her aunt was already tempted. She only had an idea. How to implement it, depended on Eldest Aunt and Dage⁹eldest brother. However, for Yuxi to have this idea, was in fact inspired by Han Jianye who went to a great length just to marry Qiu Yanfu in her last life.

As soon as Qiu Shi returned to the state residence, she immediately dragged Han Jianye into the house and told him about it. If her son didn’t agree, she wouldn’t be using this method.

After Han Jianye knew the reason for doing so, he said, “Mother, do what you think is good. I’m okay with that.”

Seeing that Han Jianye didn’t have a hint of reluctance on his face, Qiu Shi said, “I’ve wrong you.” Making Jianye married the Lu girl had already aggrieved him enough, and now for him to carry such a reputation, Qiu Shi’s heart felt both sad and heartache.

Han Jianye laughed and said, “Mother, I don’t have any complaints. Miss Lu is quite good.” Miss Lu perfectly matched all the fantasies Han Jianye had in mind about his wife. How could he feel aggrieved.

After the mother and child had their talk, Qiu Shi thought for a moment and immediately went to find the Old Lady as she talked about the matter with her. Qiu Shi also knew her shortcomings and told the Old Lady that she hoped to improve the matter and not leave any flaws.

When the Old Lady heard this, she looked at Qiu Shi and after being silent for a moment, she asked, “Is this Jianming’s idea?” Qiu Shi’s mind couldn’t turn that fast, so the Old Lady thought there was a good chance that the idea was made by Han Jianming’s personal aide. Although the idea was good, but it lacked camaraderie.

Qiu Shi shook her head and said, “No, it was Yuxi who came up with the idea. She said that in this way, we all will not be pointed out, nor will let Ye Shi’s mind create estrangement. It also won’t harm Jianye’s future and reputation. I have thought about it for a moment, and I think Yuxi’s way to stop the gossip is really good. I have already asked Jianye and he agreed.” Qiu Shi didn’t sell Yuxi on purpose, but she didn’t want to hide it from the Old Lady.

The Old Lady’s pupils flinched.