Chapter 96: Over Mountains and Across Ridges

On the third day, Zhang Yue and He Qi returned to the library.

He Qi felt a lingering sense of unease, worried that his eagerness the previous day might have caused young Master Wu to look down upon him. Upon arriving, he saw that Zhang Yue had already sat down and was writing historical essays with complete focus.

He Qi understood that these historical essays required not only substance but also a mastery of classical references. Zhang Yue was weaving together the historical materials he had copied over the past two days with other texts from the library, drafting his essays directly.

"Third Brother," He Qi could not help but ask, "would you like me to lend you a hand?"

Zhang Yue smiled. "Many thanks, Brother He. Let me write first; if I encounter anything I cannot resolve, I will certainly consult you."

"Very well, do not stand on ceremony with me, Third Brother." He Qi paused, then added, "Third Brother, do you know of the seventeenth young lady of the Wu household?"

"Seventeenth? Is she the seventeenth in birth order?" Zhang Yue asked.

He Qi was momentarily choked by the question, then patiently explained, "That is how they are ranked within the Wu clan."

"I see."

"My grandfather was stripped of his status due to a crime, but he was at least a seventh-rank official. Does your family have any prominent officials in the last three generations?"

Zhang Yue shook his head. "None."

He Qi continued, "Then do you know what kind of men are worthy of marrying into a family of the Wu’s stature?"

Zhang Yue instinctively reached up and touched his face, asking, "Like a handsome fellow such as myself?"

He Qi was so exasperated he nearly laughed, tempted to pound the table. *You know nothing, so why did you come here? Are you actually here to copy books?*

Seeing Zhang Yue smile and say, "Brother He, if you keep asking like that, I shall think you are talking about me," He Qi could only chuckle, thinking that while the man’s talent was yet to be proven, his skin was certainly thick.

As Zhang Yue went back to his writing, He Qi fell silent. The young man truly knew nothing of the world.

The brief distraction had only cost Zhang Yue a moment. He already had a rough idea for his first essay. Although He Qi had dismissed the three historical essays as mere formalities, Zhang Yue intended to write them with the utmost seriousness, knowing they would be tested in the palace examinations, where the Emperor himself would pose the questions.

Before he knew it, a full day had passed. There were no beautiful maids to scent the air, nor did young Master Wu invite them for wine. Instead, He Qi spent the day sitting on pins and needles.

That day, the Wu household did have a visitor. Zhang Yue’s second aunt, Madame Yang, arrived with a calling card from the Zhang family.

"Such a high-quality Duan inkstone—I am truly undeserving of such a gift," Madame Fan said with a smile.

Madame Yang replied, "I heard that your eldest son is diligent in his studies and plans to head to the capital for the autumn examinations next year. I thought it might be useful, so I brought this as a pre-emptive celebration of his success."

Madame Fan had a maid accept the gift and smiled. "The capital is filled with hidden talents; it is not so easily conquered. On the contrary, your own son’s nomination for this year's exams should be a certainty."

Madame Yang said with a hint of pride, "Dun-ge is the seventh in our clan. It is a coincidence that he will be traveling to the capital with your eldest son for the Kaifeng prefectural exams. By the way, when do you intend to set off for the capital?"

"Probably after the spring warmth arrives," Madame Fan replied.

"That should be enough time. My Dun-ge just got engaged to the Zhang family of Luoyang before the new year, it is set for..."

Just then, footsteps approached. Madame Yang saw a young woman dressed in a goose-yellow gown walking toward them.

"And this is?"

Madame Fan smiled. "This is our seventeenth daughter. She happened to come by to meet our guest."

The young lady bowed to Madame Yang. "Greetings, Madame Zhang."

Madame Yang was taken aback, feeling somewhat flattered. "I did not expect to meet the daughter of the Wu household here. What a refined young lady. I have long heard that the Wu family's seventeenth daughter is a peerless beauty, both knowledgeable and virtuous. Seeing you now, the rumors are true!"

The seventeenth daughter smiled. "You are too kind, Madame Zhang. I happened to pass by and heard that your son is engaged to the Zhang family of Luoyang. Is the bride-to-be from the family of the current Investigating Censor, Zhang?"

"Indeed," Madame Yang said. "I see the seventeenth daughter is well-informed about court officials despite staying within the inner chambers."

The seventeenth daughter laughed. "I dare not claim such a thing. It is a fine match, though I wonder how much dowry the Zhang family provided? I mean no offense; after all, someone like Master Zhang, who has already passed the imperial examinations, is a cut above the rest and different from his past. I am just a curious person by nature."

Madame Yang forced a smile. "The Zhang family is wealthy; they gave what they saw fit. We do not focus on such things."

After Madame Yang left, Madame Fan turned to the seventeenth daughter. "What has gotten into you today? Even though the Zhang family is not what they once were, it is not wise to offend people with such sharp words."

The seventeenth daughter replied, "The Zhang young master abandoned the daughter of the county clerk and her three-hundred-string dowry just to marry the daughter of a court censor. Even if I don't ask, others will. Right and wrong should reside in people's hearts. Are we women just meant to be bullied like this?"

"That is not the way to put it," Madame Fan said. "The clerk's daughter was also at fault. Besides, their family affairs are none of our concern. You must change this habit of yours, being unable to tolerate even a speck of sand."

"I understand, Sister-in-law. I was just inexplicably angry. I won't do it again."

After leaving the Wu estate, Madame Yang sat in her carriage, lost in thought.

Her maid, Mother Xu, said, "Though the Wu family is of prime ministerial rank, this seventeenth daughter is merely a concubine's child. You can find an opportunity to vent this frustration in the future, Madam."

Madame Yang shook her head. "In a prominent clan like the Wu, they value equality; there is little difference between children of the primary wife and concubines. Furthermore, among the four great families of Pucheng, the Zhang and Wu clans are the most powerful. As for my Yang and Huang families, we have maintained our status for years by intermarrying with the Zhangs. But the Wu family? Aside from the older generation, their children now marry into the great ministerial clans of the capital.

"The Wu Minister’s daughters married into the Han, Pang, and Ren families. As for the seventeenth daughter’s sisters, most also married into prime ministerial households. Even if she is from a concubine, I suspect the Wu family intends to marry her into a prestigious capital clan. I did not want to cause a scene, not to vent my own anger, but to avoid causing trouble for my husband and Dun-ge.

"Of course, we are in the wrong regarding Dun-ge. I cannot let my partiality for him lead me to cover up his mistakes. The seventeenth daughter was right; I actually admire her integrity and frankness."

Mother Xu said, "That clerk was a villain who did much evil; this was his own doing. Now we only need to compensate the eldest and third brothers of that family for Dun-ge's sake, and the matter will be settled."

"Compensate?" Madame Yang sighed. "How can it be compensated? This Zhang Third Brother has no intention of coming to the capital with us. His polite refusal was merely to save face for me, his second aunt. He is just like his brother—full of pride. I truly have no way to reach him. If I hadn't been so biased, treating Dun-ge as my own son while keeping the Third Brother at a distance, perhaps I could have reconciled them. Now, we must leave it to fate."

"Does Dun-ge really care nothing for them?"

"I asked Dun-ge before," Madame Yang replied. "He said, what if he wrote a letter? What if he didn't? They would likely resent him for a lifetime anyway. It is better to leave it be. Perhaps they will offer an apology, and it will pass. Can there truly be an overnight grudge between brothers?"

"In all the years you have known him, Madam, have you ever heard Dun-ge apologize to anyone?"

Mother Xu sighed. "Then this has been a hardship for you, Madam."

"The hardship matters little," Madame Yang said sadly. "I only fear that I will have no face to meet my sister in the afterlife. Enough, let us go."

The carriage drove away from the Wu estate.

Zhang Yue finished his three historical essays, while He Qi gave up on even pretending to work. After completing his tasks that day, Zhang Yue returned home and did not go back to the Wu library. As a gesture of gratitude, he purchased a rare book missing from the Wu collection and gifted it to them. When Zhang Shi found out, he complained, thinking that a prominent family like the Wu would hardly care for such a trifle.

Zhang Yue then handed his essays to Zhang Youzhi for review. Zhang Youzhi taught him step-by-step how to refine them, praising him highly after the revisions were made.

After the new year, the county school resumed. Madame Yang visited a few more times, bringing many gifts. After the Lantern Festival, she prepared to depart for the capital. The entire Zhang family went to see her off.

"Third Brother, have you truly decided? You will not come to the capital with your second aunt?" Madame Yang asked in front of the family.

"I truly thank you for your kindness, Second Aunt," Zhang Yue said. "I have thought it over, and I will not go. It is not for any other reason than that I am loath to leave my home. Please understand. But rest assured, whenever I do go to the capital in the future, I will certainly come to find you."

Madame Yang shed tears. "Even though you are not coming with me, I am happy. By calling me 'Second Aunt,' I see that you do not hold me as an outsider."

Zhang Yue bowed his head. "Second Aunt, both my brother and I have always looked upon you as a mother. My brother often reminds me of the kindness you have shown our family all these years. We will remember it for a lifetime."

Madame Yang nodded. "With those words from you, my journey has not been in vain. You are a young man of ambition. I will say no more, but remember your promise. If you still hold me in your heart, you must come to find me when you reach the capital."

"I promise, Second Aunt," Zhang Yue replied.

Madame Yang finally looked relieved. She bid farewell to Zhang Shi, Yu Shi, and Zhang Qiu one by one before boarding her carriage. The Zhang family followed them for several miles, watching until the carriage disappeared into the north.

"Let’s go, Third Brother!" Zhang Shi wiped his tears and called out, only to see Zhang Yue staring toward the north, lost in thought.

"What are you looking at, Third Brother?"

Zhang Yue looked at the Xianxia Ridge, which stood like a screen blocking the path to the north, and sighed, "Brother, do you think we will ever have the chance to cross these mountains, head north, and reach the capital?"

Zhang Shi laughed. "What is difficult about that? If you have the desire, Third Brother, we can just climb over the mountains and see it for ourselves one day."

Zhang Yue nodded. "You are right. And not only will I go, I will take our whole family to see it!"