Chapter 290: Making the Decision

Although the Zhang and Du families were already closely connected, and it was Lady Gu who proposed the marriage directly without going through a matchmaker, the traditional customs requiring parental consent and a matchmaker still meant that a relative had to act as the matchmaker. Initially, the Duke of Yingguo seemed the most suitable candidate, but he was far away in Xuanfu, Lady Wang was pregnant and unable to intervene, and the Marquis of Baoding’s family was in mourning. After much consideration, Lady Wang sent Xi Yu to the Zhang household, where she spent a long time discussing matters with Lady Gu in the main room of the north wing. As soon as she left, Lady Gu ordered a carriage to set out, and she did not return until evening, looking relieved and smiling broadly.

Since Zhang Qidi’s engagement had been arranged early, the preliminary and formal engagement ceremonies had already taken place. Thus, the Zhang family was now busy preparing only Zhang Yue’s engagement rites. With Lady Sun already in Beijing, Lady Dongfang decided to let her handle these arrangements. The night before the preliminary ceremony, she secretly sent someone to inquire about what the third branch had prepared.

“Although the preliminary ceremony is just a formality, the third branch has limited resources over the years. Besides, Third Master has only been in office for less than a year as a mere sixth-rank civil official—how can he compare to the eldest and second sons?”

Hearing this from Yang Shi, who was sitting across from her on the kang, Lady Dongfang nodded modestly. Since Yang Shi was Zhang Chao and Zhang Qidi’s nurse and a reliable person she had brought from her own family, she felt little need to be cautious. Her words often carried complaints about Lady Gu’s favoritism. Finally, she sneered, “The old lady keeps pressing me for no reason. Does she really think I don’t understand? It’s simply because the eldest branch is now declining while the master’s status is rising rapidly. She wants to support the third branch as a counterbalance to the eldest! But doesn’t she realize how low the rank of that father and son is compared to the master? Even Chao has now secured a solid fifth-rank position—still not as good as them!”

Yang Shi leaned sideways on the kang and laughed, “Although the eldest branch is not as strong as before, after all, the Duke of Yingguo still has to address the old lady as ‘aunt.’ Madam shouldn’t be too concerned about the short term; there’s still time ahead. Even if the old lady is biased, the third branch’s resources are limited. She can’t possibly neglect the fourth master, the legitimate eldest grandson of the eldest branch, just to support the third master. Right now, the master holds the upper hand, so we might as well be magnanimous. Madam should help the third branch when necessary, so as not to give the old lady an excuse to criticize us.”

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Shi’s anger subsided a bit. Just then, the door curtain moved, and it was the maid Yu Long, who had just been sent out, returning. Since Linglong hadn’t married as she wished, she, in a fit of anger, simply renamed another maid at her side Yu Long and handed her all the tasks that Linglong used to handle. Now, upon seeing her return, she asked, “Have you found out everything?”
“Reporting to Madam, I heard that Xiao Ding has prepared a pair of official kiln twisted-rhyme Ruyi vases. The old lady added an extra pair of silver powder compacts weighing thirty-two taels each, a box of ivory combs, and a pair of gold-thread embroidered purses.”
Hearing this, Dongfang Shi’s expression darkened immediately. When Zhang Chao and Zhang Qi went to set the initial arrangements for the marriage, although Lady Gu also added some items, their value was far less than this. The old lady’s favoritism was truly obvious!
Zhang Yue naturally had no idea that someone was paying such close attention to the progress of his marriage. These days were not like those in later generations. Although it was his marriage, ever since his mother returned, he couldn’t get involved in anything. Whenever there was a task, Lady Sun would even enlist Lingxi Qiuhen Hupo’s help, keeping him at a distance and not allowing him to interfere in anything. The only thing he could influence was the layout of the new house, but most of the time, he would only be reprimanded by Lady Gu. As for any official duties, there wasn’t even a hint of them—his marriage leave felt even more like actual leave.
It was only on the day of setting the initial arrangements that he learned it was the wife of the Marquis of Wu’an from next door who went to the Du family to make the arrangements. And for the so-called important guests at the wedding, Lady Gu had invited Marquis Anyuan Liu Sheng. Watching the cheerful wife of the Marquis of Wu’an board the sedan chair, with over a dozen Zhang family servants following behind carrying items, he felt somewhat uneasy.
Zhang Qi happened to be off work that day and was also watching at the entrance. Seeing Zhang Yue’s dazed expression, he laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. “Third brother, the next step is to set the larger arrangements, and that’s when things will really get lively. You weren’t here in Shandong at that time, so you missed it. Tsk tsk—it took a full half hour to carry out the thirty-two items used for the larger arrangements. There were sixty-four people carrying them, blocking the entire alley, with onlookers gathered all the way at the entrance.”

He remembered that since his mother, Lady Sun, returned from Nanjing, she had been extremely busy, constantly sending people out to make purchases. How could Zhang Yue not know that they were using silver to prepare gifts for the wedding? Hearing Zhang Qi laugh and talk about this, he couldn’t help but turn his head and glare at him, then said irritably, “Back then, my second aunt spent so much time preparing those thirty-two sets of wedding gifts. And you, Second Brother, just dismissed it as a mere formality. My second sister-in-law is getting married next month. I wonder if you’ll still be able to just watch from the sidelines then!”
Zhang Qi had indeed never considered how hard his mother had worked. Tilting his head, he felt a bit ashamed. When he heard about the wedding, he couldn’t help but snort coldly, “The Meng brothers warned me last time, saying that she has a difficult temper. If she behaves properly and respects our mother and sister-in-law after getting married, that’s fine. But if she acts like some noble princess, I won’t tolerate it!”
Glancing at Zhang Yue’s newly made robe of pure green silk, he couldn’t help but say with envy, “In short, neither my brother nor I are as lucky as you, Third Brother. Not only have you found someone you truly love, but you can also marry her legally.”
Zhang Qi’s marriage was arranged personally by the Dongfang family, as Marquis Anyuan Liu Sheng was currently in high favor with the emperor, and it was also a match made in heaven. In those days, marriages were primarily meant to produce offspring, with personal preference being secondary. Hearing Zhang Qi’s words, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but sigh for him in his heart.
The two brothers walked side by side. When they reached the double-flowered gate at the second entrance, the two wives who had been waiting there stopped Zhang Qi, saying that according to Second Madam’s orders, he needed to go back and try on the newly tailored clothes. Although he was extremely reluctant to be used as a mannequin, Zhang Qi still waved weakly at Zhang Yue and went reluctantly.
When Zhang Yue returned to his family’s western courtyard and entered the main house, he saw his mother, Lady Sun, walking back and forth on the floor, muttering, “Two bolts of gold brocade, two bolts of patterned brocade, two bolts of cloud silk, two bolts of gold-threaded silk, one end each of blue silk and cloud silk, two bolts of Lu silk, two bolts of cloud silk—this should cover the fabric needs… No, we still need to add velvet and patterned velvet…” As Lady Sun mentioned each item, Amber on the kang picked it up and wrote it down on paper. Meanwhile, Lingxi and Qiuhen were opening three chests to check out jewelry and beads, revealing a dazzling array of treasures. Seeing that none of the four noticed him, Zhang Yue coughed irritably before they finally turned their heads to look at him.

“Why are you coming to cause trouble now? If you make me miss something, it will be you who ends up in shame!” Mrs. Sun said reproachfully, but then stepped forward to tidy her son’s clothes before continuing, “If the betrothal gifts aren’t complete, it will surely draw ridicule. I must check everything carefully. Because of this, your father has been rushing to gather silver and other items, but some gold and silverware still needs to be made on the spot at a jewelry shop. These days, I haven’t had time to attend to you.”
As one who understood their own family’s situation, Zhang Yue naturally didn’t think, like others, that the third branch of the family was poor. But knowing how hard his father had worked to accumulate wealth over the years, he quickly said, “Mother, although marriage matters can’t be taken lightly, we don’t need to compete with others. Doing our best is enough. For example, it seems we don’t need to prepare so much silk and fabric…”
“How is that too much?” Mrs. Sun sneered before starting to count on her fingers. “If we follow the standards of a truly wealthy family, ten types of fabric—satin, silk, gauze, chiffon, brocade, velvet, satin cloth, silk fabric, and brocade—are all necessary. How many types have I prepared so far? Don’t worry; I won’t overreach myself and compete in wealth. The most expensive items were provided by the old lady, and there’s also the gold silk you got from the palace, which saves your elder brother’s expenses. We can be frugal with gold and silver; otherwise, it will be hard to prepare a proper dowry for the Du family.”
Hearing that his mother had even considered the Du family’s situation, Zhang Yue naturally relaxed. He smiled and said, “Mother is truly thorough. After all, my elder and second brothers married into wealthy families and don’t need to worry about the bride’s dowry. But our family needs to be more careful.”
Mrs. Sun herself came from a humble background and didn’t want her son to marry a delicate noblewoman. She nodded repeatedly and then hurriedly sent him away, saying, “Enough, enough! I don’t have time to talk to you now. I’ve sent Pearl and Peony to the warehouse. Lingshi and the other two, lend them to me for now. If you’re free, go talk to the old lady or check on Brother Jiu’s studies. In short, don’t get in the way here, or I might forget something again.”
Shoved out of the main house in no time, Zhang Yue stood in the courtyard and couldn’t help but sigh deeply once more.
On the day of delivering the betrothal gifts, as Zhang Chao had said, although the entire alley was filled with Zhang family members, there were also many onlookers at the alley entrance and along the streets, mostly discussing the redwood chests and other items.

Among the thirty-two items in the betrothal gifts, at the front were four goose cages containing two pairs of live geese. Next were four sets of wine jars, two jars per set, all painted red with gold trim and adorned with blue patterns of dragons and phoenixes symbolizing good fortune. After that came two live carp. Further behind were silk fabrics, gold and silver jewelry, quilts, and more. Although these were placed in four red-lacquered boxes with gold edges and thus invisible to others, people couldn’t help but speculate, all showing expressions of envy as they marveled at the wealth and extravagance of the wealthy family.

Although almost all of the Zhang family members brought their gifts to the gate that day, the Dong family pretended to be sick and stayed indoors. Mrs. Yang comforted her repeatedly, but she was still furious and took a long time before managing to speak.

“It’s one thing to add a few more gifts, but look— a pair of gold bracelets, a pair of gold hairpins, two pairs of gold hair ornaments, eight gold coins as good luck charms… The old lady really keeps things balanced; the quantity is the same as when she prepared gifts for Chaoer. But everyone knows exactly how heavy these gold items are!”