Chapter 150: Lady of Korea

Before Li Qing’an could get up, Yang Huahua stepped in a few paces ahead. In the Chenxiang Pavilion, the three sisters sat upright. Yang Yuhuan sat in the main seat, with a group of palace maids and eunuchs standing behind her. On the side seats sat Lady Qin, Yang Yupai, and Lady Korea, Yang Yuzhu. Yang Yupai’s expression was calm, as if nothing concerned her, while Yang Yuzhu’s willow-shaped eyebrows were tightly furrowed, her gaze filled with disdain and sharpness.

Although Li Qing’an had been promoted to governor of Tingzhou, in the Yang family’s eyes, a provincial governor was nothing more than a minor official.

At that moment, footsteps were heard, and it was Yang Huahua, who had left in anger just moments ago, who entered. Yang Yuhuan was overjoyed and quickly stepped forward, saying, “Elder sister, it’s great that you’ve returned. We’re all sisters—what’s there not to discuss?”

Yang Huahua gave Yang Yuzhu a cold glance and said, “Sister Four, I’m showing you some courtesy. Otherwise, I would never have come back even if beaten to death.”

Yang Yuzhu’s attention was no longer on Yang Huahua. She peeked outside, curious about what Li Qing’an, who was so famous in Chang’an, actually looked like. She hadn’t met him since Yang Huahua’s birthday party when she was sick.

Yang Huahua sat silently beside her elder sister, casting a cold glance at Yang Yuzhu—this stingy woman who even questioned a maid about buying a pair of socks. How could Li Qing’an be interested in her daughter?

Footsteps sounded again, this time more vigorous. In a flash, Li Qing’an entered, followed by two palace guards. He knelt on one knee and saluted militarily, saying, “Your servant, Li Qing’an, pays his respects to the Empress.”

Yang Yuhuan’s beautiful eyes sparkled with a smile. Li Qing’an had once been her teacher in throwing pots. Though it was only for half a day, the impression he left on her was unforgettable.

“General Qing’an, it’s been a long time since we last met.”

“Your Majesty, I first went to Jiangdu and then to Longyou; I’ve been away from the capital.”

“You’ve worked hard in the battles of Longyou. I have a question for you—would you be willing to answer it?”

“Ask away, Your Majesty. Qing’an will answer anything.”

“Don’t be so nervous. Here, we won’t discuss military matters.”

Yang Yuhuan smiled and asked gently, “General Qing’an, I heard you’re still unmarried. Are you engaged?”

“I was betrothed as a child, but the family moved to Shu. We’ve lost touch for many years.”

“Oh! Do you want to go look for her?”

“I don’t have time, but my grandfather repeatedly instructed me before his death that since that person has done favors for our family, a man should repay kindness when he’s in this world.”
Li Qing’an sneered inwardly—let him marry Yang’s daughter? Dream on!
A hint of disappointment appeared in Yang Yuhuan’s eyes, but she didn’t give up. As long as Li Qing’an wasn’t married, it would be fine. The arranged marriage from childhood could be canceled; the key was getting her second sister’s consent. With that in mind, she glanced at her sister.
Yang Yuzhu had been observing Li Qing’an carefully since he entered. He was tall and robust, with deep eyes and a strong, firm face, exuding a masculine charm that caught Yang Yuzhu’s attention. His youth, bravery, and vitality stirred her feelings. If this young man really became her son-in-law, it wouldn’t be bad at all.
Yang Yuzhu was not yet thirty-three, still considered a young woman, with some longing for the opposite sex in her heart. She had met a few border generals before, and in her memory, they were all rough, rude, and fierce-looking—either with orange-colored faces or big, swollen noses—which made her feel physically repelled. That’s why she reacted so strongly when Yang Yuhuan suggested giving her daughter to Li Qing’an. But after seeing him in person, she immediately became interested. Not to mention marrying off her daughter, even if her own Yunying were unmarried, she might…
She originally didn’t want to ask further, but now she had forgotten her earlier thoughts. Yang Yuzhu smiled and asked, “General Qing’an, may I ask where your father serves?”
“Madam, Li Qing’an is just an ordinary man. His parents passed away early, and I’ve been living with my grandfather in Anxi since I was young.”
“I see!”
Yang Yuzhu pondered for a moment before asking, “What title do you hold now?”
“I am currently the Marquis of Jinchang County.”
Yang Yuzhu hesitated. His appearance satisfied her, and his title was decent, but his humble background made her somewhat displeased.
Yang Huahua sat aside drinking tea, silent. She despised Yang Yuzhu deeply. She claimed to be looking for a man outside, but the enthusiasm in her eyes when she saw Li Qing’an earlier showed she was just as promiscuous. And yet she dared to lecture her seriously! Hmph!

The other observer was Yang Yupai, the eldest sister. Originally, her second sister’s choice of husband had nothing to do with her. She was not in good health and lacked the energy to get involved in so many matters. If it had been someone else, she wouldn’t have wanted to say anything at all. But it happened that her fourth sister chose Li Qing’an. Hearing that several of their cousins hated him deeply, it was clear he was a political rival of the Yang family. Although Yang Yupai didn’t understand politics, she knew that trouble should not be brought within the family. If things went wrong, it could lead to division among the Yang family members.

She was very cautious, but since it was in front of her fourth sister, she couldn’t say much. So she coughed and said with a smile, “I just remembered something. Our eldest brother asked us to gather at his residence at noon to discuss important matters. It’s time now. Second sister, third sister, let’s go!”

Yang Huahua, who wanted the matchmaking matter to end as quickly as possible, stood up and said, “Our eldest brother seems very anxious. We can’t keep him waiting. Let’s go quickly!”

Yang Yuzhu also wanted to discuss it further with her husband, so she stood up too and said to Yang Yuhuan, “Fourth sister, then we’ll be leaving first.”

“You all…”

Seeing her three sisters getting up to leave, Yang Yuhuan could only sigh. “Go ahead! Give my regards to our eldest brother.”

Yang Yuhuan was in a turmoil. In the past, the sisters had been close and united. When making new clothes for the New Year, the eldest sister would wear them first, followed by the second, then the third, and finally her. By the time it was her turn, the clothes were still as new as ever, as the sisters were reluctant to wear them and preferred to save them for their younger sister. Although the family was poor back then, that warmth and harmony were unforgettable to her. Now that they were wealthy, the sisters no longer seemed as united as before. Sigh! Why was that?

Yang Yuhuan lowered her head, lost in thought. At that moment, Li Qing’an said, “Your Majesty, if there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave.”

Only then did Yang Yuhuan realize Li Qing’an was still there! She smiled apologetically and said softly, “General Li, I invited you here today actually because I wanted to propose my second sister’s daughter, Ningbi, to you. But it turns out you’re already engaged. I was rash.”

Li Qing’an thought for a moment and replied, “Your Majesty, actually, I wasn’t engaged since childhood. I just made up an excuse after hearing Lady Han Guo’s words outside earlier.”

Yang Yuhuan was surprised. “Does General Li not want to?”

Li Qing’an shook his head and said, “I know Your Majesty is a kind person, so I didn’t want to deceive you. To be honest, I don’t want to!”

Yang Yuhuan stared at Li Qing’an for a long time before asking, “Why not?”

Li Qing’an bit his lip and said, “Your Majesty, I wish to marry a woman I truly love. Lady Han’s daughter may be as beautiful as a fairy, but forcing me to marry a woman I’ve never seen—no matter how beautiful she is—I would never do it.”

Yang Yuhuan sighed softly. “General Li, I understand what you mean. In fact, Ningbi is my favorite niece. I’ve always wanted to find her the best husband, and that’s when I thought of you. You once taught me how to throw a pot for half a day; you’re like my master. Even the Emperor has spoken highly of you, saying you’re talented and a pillar of the Tang Dynasty. That’s why I thought you’d be the perfect husband for Ningbi. But I never expected… Ah! Never mind, General Li. I won’t force you.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding. Qing’an takes his leave.”

Li Qing’an bowed and slowly retreated.

Yang Yuhuan walked over to the window, gazing at the rippling blue waters of Longchi in the distance. Her heart was in turmoil today—from conflicts with her sisters to Li Qing’an’s refusal. She couldn’t help but think of herself. At seventeen, she was chosen as the consort of the Prince of Longevity. Their marriage was sweet and loving, but it didn’t last long. A few years later, she was forced to become a Taoist priestess, and later rose to become the Empress Concubine, the highest-ranking woman in the harem. Although her husband doted on her greatly and showed even greater favoritism toward her family, she always felt something was missing in her life. She refused to think about it, nor dared to. But today, Li Qing’an’s firm refusal stirred that long-dormant string in her heart: “Forcing me to marry a woman I’ve never seen—no matter how beautiful she is—I would never do it.” It was these resolute words that disrupted her peace. Li Qing’an would never marry a woman he didn’t like. But what about her? Could she refuse to marry a man she didn’t like?

…

Lady Han, Yang Yuzhu, didn’t go to her elder brother Yang Qi’s residence right away. Instead, she returned to her own home first. She was conflicted—on one hand, Li Qing’an had made a good first impression on her, but on the other, his family background made her hesitate. In such times, she usually consulted her husband.

Yang Yuzhu’s husband was named Cui Xun, who held the position of Deputy Secretary. Cui Xun had originally been a minor official in the county government, but thanks to his wife’s status, he rose rapidly to become Deputy Secretary. It was like a beggar suddenly finding a fine brocade robe—it didn’t suit him at all. Though the robe was brand new, his hair still had straw stuck in it, and he wore straw sandals.

It was evident in the imperial court that he struggled to handle major affairs and often stayed at home due to illness. The court allowed officials to take up to a hundred days of leave per year, but he requested ninety-nine days, unbothered by the loss of his salary. At home, he retained some old habits—habits formed from his past financial hardships that made him frugal, a trait he shared with his wife, Yang Yuzhu.

Put nicely, it’s called frugality; put harshly, it’s called stinginess. The difference between frugality and stinginess lies in how one treats oneself and others. Frugality means dressing simply like servants, eating coarse food, and donating the saved money to the poor—a virtue. But stinginess means indulging oneself in luxury while treating servants poorly, even considering it excessive to give them a needle.

These couple undoubtedly belonged to the latter category. They led a luxurious life: Yang Yuzhu wore pearls and jewels, silk clothes, and applied cosmetics, costing tens of thousands of coins each year. Cui Xun enjoyed collecting land, and the amount he had amassed in recent years was enough to grant as permanent estates to ten princes.

Yet even in such a wealthy household, there were strict rules for the maids serving them—only the cheapest coarse white cotton socks were allowed, at most two pairs per year. When new socks were bought, the old ones had to be handed in; if not damaged, they could be washed and given to the servants on the estate.

The couple had a beloved daughter named Cui Ningbi. She was of average appearance but had lofty aspirations. They wanted to marry her into the royal family not only to bring honor to their lineage but also because most members of the royal family were wealthy and powerful. As for marrying into noble families, it wasn’t that they didn’t want to, but rather they felt inferior, like sparrows compared to phoenixes.

That day, as usual, Cui Xun took sick leave at home, thinking about the drought in Hedong the previous year—perhaps land there was cheap and could be acquired. Just then, his wife Yang Yuzhu rushed in and said, “Sir Cui, there’s an urgent matter to discuss.”

Cui Xun put down his pen and smiled. “My dear, what is it?”

“It’s this: my fourth sister wants to arrange a marriage for Ningbi.”

Yang Yuzhu briefly explained the situation with Li Qing’an and concluded, “I think he’s okay, but I can’t decide right away. I thought I’d ask you—do you think he’s suitable?”

Cui Xun wasn’t as ignorant as his wife; he had some insight. Frowning, he said, “This man isn’t bad. He was appointed as the deputy commander of Beiting during the morning court session. Since there’s no official in charge above him, he actually holds all the power in Beiting. With Gao Lishi as his backer, his family isn’t wealthy. I won’t even mention his salary—the silver and silk he’s received in two awards total only a little over ten thousand guan. I heard he’s generous, but I guess he doesn’t have much left. Our family can’t provide much dowry either. I’m afraid Ningbi will suffer there if she marries him. If the husband’s family isn’t prosperous, why should the wife’s family foot the bill?”
Yang Yuzhu nodded. “I think the same. And I heard he comes from a humble background—his parents were commoners. Our family background isn’t very high either. We can’t possibly choose someone even lower than us!”
Yang Yuzhu had initially been tempted, but as Li Qing’an’s image faded from her mind, she calmed down and still felt this marriage was unsuitable. She wanted her daughter to marry into the imperial family; if that wasn’t possible, a reputable family would do. But marrying a border general like Li Qing’an, forcing her daughter to go to the Western Regions and suffer—she began to resist the idea.
“I say, Mr. Cui, let’s pretend this never happened. We shouldn’t tell our daughter either, so she won’t worry too much.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the door suddenly moved. “No good!” Yang Yuzhu realized immediately that her daughter must have been eavesdropping outside. She stepped forward and opened the door. Sure enough, her daughter, Cui Ningbi, was standing there, her face flushed red, her eyes shining with anticipation.
Seeing her mother, she asked shyly, “Mother, is it really Li Qing’an from Anxi?”