Chapter 10 Matchmaking
◎ Today, she’s matchmaking. ◎
The girl who had been sad and sentimental the previous day had completely forgotten her sorrows by the next morning. Today was the big day she would act as a matchmaker.
She had finally persuaded her mother to allow her to attend a flower-viewing banquet with her close friend. She hadn’t gone in her previous life, and this time, she used this as an opportunity to meet her cousin, Xing’er.
Her benefactor’s beloved should be a very nice girl.
However, after meeting her at the flower-viewing banquet, she had mixed feelings.
Chen Xing’er wore a bright red dress with green trim. She was quite pretty, but her figure wasn’t particularly striking; she had some noticeable flaws.
The hostess of this flower-viewing banquet was surnamed You, and she was Mu Jiaojiao’s close friend. Their parents knew each other, hence their familiarity.
Miss You had been entrusted with the task of inquiring about Miss Xing’er and could only help her good friend find out information.
Both being fifteen or sixteen-year-old girls, and with the relatively small population of Yanhua Town, they quickly became acquainted.
“Sister Xing’er, are you betrothed?”
Shancha and Mu Jiaojiao, who were eavesdropping nearby, both pricked up their ears, afraid of missing crucial information.
Chen Xing’er wiped the crumbs of pastry from her mouth with her handkerchief and smiled, “Not yet. My father and mother are still looking for a suitable match.”
Although the Chen family had made their fortune through renting carriages, they weren’t considered proper merchants. However, because they only had one daughter, they were being very picky.
Her cousin, Zhan Qiyu, was also on her list of potential suitors. If he could pass the imperial examination and become a juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination), it would be a good match.
Moreover, Chen Xing’er was quite satisfied with her cousin; his appearance alone was the most appealing to her. However, her cousin was cold and distant towards her, so she rarely visited him.
Hearing this, Mu Jiaojiao quickly interjected, “I think one shouldn’t blindly trust matchmakers; we should have our own considerations.”
Chen Xing’er, in her red and green attire, didn’t actually like this beautiful girl. She had dressed up hoping to shine at the flower-viewing banquet, but Mu Jiaojiao, wearing a simple light green dress, outshone all the flowers present.
Even without men present, the other women could sense her natural beauty.
Such a beautiful girl would undoubtedly have opportunities to marry into a wealthy family, and Chen Xing’er felt envious.
“Miss Mu, you’re joking. As a daughter of the Chen family, I naturally listen to my parents.”
Only three girls were present in the small hall at that moment; Miss You had sent the others away to fly kites, so there were no outsiders. Mu Jiaojiao decided to take the plunge.
“Both of you sisters are my good friends, so I won’t hide it. I’ve actually already fallen for someone—my cousin.”
Shancha’s hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched. Their young mistress was completely disregarding her reputation for the sake of Young Master Zhan.
Miss You was also quite shocked, not by the fact itself, but by the brazenness of Mu Jiaojiao’s confession, which greatly damaged a woman’s reputation.
Chen Xing’er was equally shocked. Upon hearing the word “cousin,” she uncontrollably thought of her own cousin, a gentle and refined young master with handsome features.
It had been two or three years since they had last met, and she wondered what he looked like now.
Seeing her pensive expression, Mu Jiaojiao seized the opportunity. “I hear Miss Chen also has a scholar cousin. I wonder if he’s already engaged?”
She struck at the heart of the matter.
Chen Xing’er’s hand holding the pastry trembled, dropping crumbs on the floor. Miss You subtly frowned, still thinking that Chen Xing’er’s upbringing was lacking.
Chen Xing’er nervously held the pastry, “I haven’t been in contact with my cousin for a long time and don’t know.”
Miss You saw the connection but didn’t point it out, helping Mu Jiaojiao say, “Now that he’s a scholar, he might even become a zhuangyuan (top scorer in the imperial examination) in the future!”
However, her unspoken implication was that Chen Xing’er might not necessarily become the wife of a zhuangyuan. At least, she didn’t think so.
Mu Jiaojiao was about to say more when someone entered the room. The three girls tacitly stopped talking.
But Chen Xing’er’s heart was uneasy. Surely, her cousin must have had some kind of opportunity for others to find out about him.
Now, the beautiful Mu Jiaojiao had become a thorn in her side—a girl who clearly intended to steal her cousin.
At the meticulously planned flower-viewing banquet, she hadn’t appreciated many flowers but instead ended up in a very bad mood.
The girl in the red and green dress left You’s residence with a heavy heart.
At that moment, a carriage stopped in front of her. Mu Jiaojiao smiled invitingly and asked Chen Xing’er to share her carriage.
Chen Xing’er, who also wanted to get some clarification about her long-lost cousin, readily accepted.
“My family has two brothers who both want to become disciples of the great Confucian scholar, Guan. If they become his disciples, they will surely become high-ranking officials.”
Her eyes shone with sincerity, but Chen Xing’er, a sheltered young lady, didn’t know who Guan was. Mu Jiaojiao earnestly explained.
After she finished, Chen Xing’er was skeptical, “Are you sure my cousin can help you?”
“Of course. He recently became Guan’s last disciple. If he could put in a good word for my two brothers, I would benefit as well.”
Chen Xing’er paid no attention to Mu Jiaojiao’s subsequent words. Her mind was filled with the idea of her cousin becoming a high-ranking official.
She suddenly stood up, stopped the carriage, and hastily boarded her own carriage with her maidservant.
Once they were gone, Mu Jiaojiao showed a triumphant expression. Shancha praised her mistress, “Miss, I think you’re different.”
Her young mistress was definitely different. Now, she was capable of great things.
“I’m a late bloomer, you understand.”
She laughed happily in the carriage, a huge weight lifted from her shoulders.
This was going to work.
The formal apprenticeship ceremony was tomorrow. She prepared a moon-white Confucian scholar’s robe for Young Master Zhan, wondering if he’d look good in it.
Thinking of this, she decided to visit the Zhan family. After showing her face to her mother at the Mu residence, Mu Jiaojiao found an opportunity to sneak away.
After the carriage returned, a servant who had followed the carriage all day finally obtained some news about Mu Jiaojiao and hurried back to report to Master Qin.
Qin Fenghang had been listless at home recently, constantly thinking about his beautiful cousin.
Hearing that she had gone out, he felt he couldn’t wait any longer and had to get his cousin.
In his past life, he had also tried his best to find Mu Jiaojiao around this time, but he hadn’t had the chance. Later, when he learned that she had become a palace maid, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and bid her farewell.
In the small courtyard of the Zhan family, Zhan Qiyu’s expression was rather cold. He felt compelled to wear the new clothes, but he wasn’t happy about it.
If it hadn’t been sent by Mu Jiaojiao, he wouldn’t have worn it.
A Liu and Shancha both felt that he looked incredibly elegant and refined in white.
“Brother Zhan, you look very handsome in this.”
She squinted and smiled, looking him over. Only a flickering lantern lit the courtyard, but the dim light made the man appear even taller and more upright.
Because of her words, Zhan Qiyu later wore white for most of his clothes, besides his official robes.
“Hmm, nothing much. I’ll go read.”
But Mu Jiaojiao didn’t let him go. She needed to inform him about her plans.
“Shancha, A Liu, cut some watermelon.”
After sending them away, she seriously explained her arrangement.
“I know, Brother Zhan, you’re fond of Cousin Xing’er. Tomorrow, I’ll bring her to see you. When she sees your promising future, she’ll definitely fall for you.”
Zhan Qiyu’s brows furrowed deeper. When had he ever said he liked his cousin?
He even had to think for a moment to remember who Xing’er was.
What did that spoiled young lady from his aunt’s house have to do with him?
“No need.”
He was now somewhat angry. Clearly, he liked her, yet she thought he liked someone else.
Being misunderstood was unpleasant, and being misunderstood by his beloved was even more so.
The refined young master’s face held a hint of anger. He didn’t even say another word and left, slamming the door behind him.
Mu Jiaojiao, unaware of his feelings, called out to Brother Zhan several times but to no avail.
She looked at the newly planted fruit trees in the yard, feeling strange. When she returned, she discussed it with Shancha, and the two began to analyze the situation.
Shancha had also asked A Liu for information; he confirmed that his young master had a beloved, but nothing more specific.
Therefore, Shancha analyzed, “Maybe Young Master Zhan is shy and embarrassed to admit it. After all, they haven’t discussed marriage yet. What if it doesn’t work out?”
Mu Jiaojiao found it very reasonable.
“Brother Zhan is overthinking. With me, he’ll definitely marry the person he loves.”
She had prepared the betrothal gifts to the standard of a wedding, planning to send them to the Zhan family tomorrow, waiting for Chen Xing’er to agree.
With enough betrothal gifts and his promising future, there was no reason he couldn’t marry Chen Xing’er.
With expectations for her benefactor’s happy future, Mu Jiaojiao slept soundly, but the cold man next door couldn’t sleep.
In bed, his eyes narrowed, seeming to ponder something, his hands clenched at his sides, revealing his current state of mind.
She was actually trying to match him with someone else. He wanted to open her head to see what was inside.
He didn’t understand her intentions either. Why would she help him so tirelessly? Saving her shouldn’t require all this.
So, he secretly hoped that she cared about him, but her actions today made his chest feel tight.
So, the next day, he left home with a sullen face. Zhan’s mother and A Liu dared not ask, only smiling as they sent him off.
Zhan Qiyu, in his moon-white robe, disappeared into the alley, several doors opening slightly, revealing young ladies of marriageable age.
If he guessed correctly, matchmakers would be visiting today.
One daughter brings countless suitors, but one outstanding young man also attracts a throng of people.
Unfortunately, the outstanding young man already had someone in his heart, ignoring all other affections. He held a gift box containing his elder brother’s painstaking work; today, he would give it to his teacher.
The newly rewritten “Notes on Inns” was different from before. He had rewritten many parts, confident that Guan Zeyang would like it.
Soon after he left, Mu Jiaojiao also went out.
Today, she had arranged for Chen Xing’er to witness the demeanor of the great Confucian scholar’s disciple, but the tracks of her carriage were soon covered by another carriage.
Qin Fenghang secretly followed behind. He would get his cousin today, no matter what.
In his arms, a small packet containing a substantial amount of a sleeping drug, prepared long ago, had to be used today.
The servant beside him also showed a lecherous smile; this wasn’t the first time his master had done this.
Thinking of the erotic scene, the servant began to daydream.
All three headed towards the Laifu Inn in the north of town; A Liu was already waiting at the entrance as instructed.
His task today was very important; he had to get it done for his master.
If his master hadn’t arranged for him to come later, he would have thought his master wasn’t going to visit the teacher but to kill someone.
A good day for murder, with a bright sun and low wind!