"Miss Wu, we've only just met. Wouldn't it be a little..."
Xu Mingyuan's words came out haltingly.
"A little what?"
"The Xu Household and the Wu Household are well matched. Now that we've met, I find you good-looking, stronger than me, and from a household whose atmosphere I admire. I'm willing to marry you. Are you saying you don't want to marry me?"
"Or do I fail to catch your eye, Second Young Master Xu? Do you dislike me?"
"Of course not." Xu Mingyuan waved his hands repeatedly, looking thoroughly outmatched. "Miss Wu, you're forthright, unlike any woman I've met. I admire that."
"Then there's no problem, is there?"
"But we have no feelings for each other."
"Feelings?"
Miss Wu covered her mouth and laughed. "So Second Young Master Xu longs for the kind of mutual love and perfect match found in storybooks."
"Something like that. My eldest brother and sister-in-law are like that."
"Such couples exist, but they're rare. When aristocratic clans arrange marriages, they mostly consider family standing and character, and whether the marriage will benefit both lineages.
"If it will, they marry. Feelings can grow afterward. If we truly can't get along, we can leave each other alone. I certainly won't stand in the way if Second Young Master Xu wishes to take concubines."
Miss Wu smiled softly, then added, "The heads of the great households all praise you as a business prodigy. Surely you can calculate the benefits an alliance between our households would bring?"
Xu Mingyuan thought it over and over. Something felt wrong, yet he could find no fault with her reasoning.
The Xu Household certainly didn't fear the Wu Household. But as the foremost aristocratic clan in Qingjiang County, with a member serving as county magistrate, the Wu Household still had far deeper foundations.
If its head truly led the other four aristocratic clans against the Xu Household,
the road ahead for his household would be difficult indeed.
A marriage alliance could ease tensions. With a few concessions, it could buy the Xu Household several years, perhaps even a decade or more, to develop.
He believed that by then, the Xu Household could take the Wu Household's place as the foremost aristocratic clan.
After hesitating, Xu Mingyuan sighed. "Miss Wu, you've convinced me."
"I'll tell my mother I'm willing to marry you."
"As for feelings, I suppose we really will have to nurture them over time."
Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingwei both put the Xu Household first. But in matters of the heart, Xu Mingwei was steadfast and devoted, while Xu Mingyuan had spent years dealing with aristocratic clans and wealthy merchants. He was used to weighing every advantage and disadvantage, calculating every gain and loss.
Though he, too, hoped for a love like his eldest brother Xu Mingwei's, he could not help weighing the matter.
"Then here's to a pleasant partnership."
"Yes. A pleasant partnership."
Xu Mingyuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he admired her too. Perhaps only someone with her temperament would dare be so bold.
What ordinary young lady of an aristocratic clan would dare speak so freely?
Afterward,
Xu Mingyuan told Xu Chuan what had happened.
Xu Chuan paused in surprise, then smiled. "Women like her are rare. A Yuan, you lucky rascal."
"The match your mother chose for you is a good one. She'll fit right into the Xu Household."
"She wants to pursue the Martial Way. The Xu Household can give her its full support."
"And as for feelings, affection grows with time!"
"That's how it was with your mother and me. If I'd been choosy back then, I might never have had you boys."
"You needn't worry about the wedding. Your mother will arrange it. Just remember to treat her well once she joins our household."
"Yes, Father."
Late that night,
Xu Chuan praised Bai Jing for finding such a good match.
"After spending so long with you, husband, naturally I know a little about the sort of woman you admire."
"I'm not the one getting married. Why choose someone I like?" Xu Chuan shook his head and laughed.
"Because you're the head of this household. In the children's eyes, your word carries far more weight than mine. If you disapproved, they'd give up on someone even if they liked her."
Xu Chuan considered it. She was probably right.
"You understand me, my lady. Thanks for the effort you put into hosting the Wu Household today. Your husband will reward you properly."
"You shameless man!"
When Xu Mingxuan and the others heard the news, they all congratulated Xu Mingyuan.
The Wu Household discussed the marriage at length. Trading a daughter born to a concubine, one they cared little for, in exchange for certain benefits from the Xu Household was an excellent bargain, so they agreed.
As for whether they would move against the Xu Household later, they could decide when the time came.
To a century-old aristocratic clan, a mere tie by marriage meant little. It could be severed at any time.
The Wu Household.
Orchid Court.
This was the courtyard of the Wu Household Head's second wife.
Wu Rushan had grown up here.
A richly dressed woman entered the courtyard and saw Wu Rushan practicing her punches.
"Shan'er, good news."
"Mother."
Wu Rushan stopped, casually wiped the sweat from her brow, and bowed to her.
"Shan'er, your father has agreed to the marriage alliance with the Xu Household. The Xu Household's second young master is among the finest men in Qingjiang County in both character and looks, and you'll marry him as his principal wife."
"You'll finally have a good life."
As she spoke, the richly dressed woman took out a handkerchief and wiped tears from the corners of her eyes.
Wu Rushan was her daughter, born to a concubine. She had always defied convention and loved practicing martial arts, so her father did not favor her.
To find such a fine husband was a blessing from heaven.
"No, we must go to Yun'an Temple tomorrow to fulfill my vow. Come with me."
"All right, Mother." Wu Rushan was delighted, but curiosity soon stirred. "By the way, Mother, do you know why Father agreed?"
"Did the Xu Household promise him something?"
"I don't know. But that's for the Xu Household and your father to consider. What does it have to do with you? Don't ask questions. Stay home and prepare for your wedding."
"Has the wedding date been set?"
"Not for a long while. They haven't even completed the Three Letters and Six Rites. What, are you already eager to marry him?"
The richly dressed woman smiled. "You met Second Young Master Xu when you went to the Xu Household with the first wife, didn't you? Is he as the rumors say?"
"He isn't especially handsome, but he's pleasant-looking, with refined features, modest and courteous. Though they call him a business prodigy and he's busy with commerce, he still practices the Martial Way. He's stronger than me."
"You girl. It seems you really have fallen for that Xu boy."
"That's good. It takes a weight off my heart. Oh, I recall his household has a girl of about ten. She'd be a good match for your younger brother Feng'er. Once you're married, you could try bringing them together."
"If Feng'er could marry the Xu Household's daughter by the principal wife, your father would surely look on him more favorably."
Wu Rushan gave a faint smile and answered with a casual word of agreement.
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
It was time for the Xu Household's eldest grandson's one-month celebration.
Naturally, they invited guests far and wide to celebrate.
Of the Wu, Fang, Wang, He, and Cao Households, only the Wu Household came.
Many household members and wealthy merchants were astonished to see the Wu Household Head's wife and several others arrive.
"How strange. The Wu Household and the Xu Household were at each other's throats not long ago. Now they've come to celebrate the birth of the Xu Household's eldest grandson?"
The many households were baffled.
When the guests had nearly finished eating and drinking, Xu Chuan suddenly announced, "Everyone, thank you for honoring us by attending my grandson's one-month celebration today."
"I also have another piece of happy news to announce."
"My son Mingyuan will be betrothed to the Wu Household Head's daughter in six months. As for the wedding, the Wu Household Head and I have discussed it. Since they're both still young, we've decided they'll marry next October."
"Haha! Congratulations, Household Head Xu! Happy occasions just keep coming for your family."
"Indeed. Who would have thought you'd quietly form a marriage alliance with the Wu Household?"
The household heads raised their cups and offered their congratulations.
Xu Chuan said, "It's only because the Wu Household Head has been so gracious. Otherwise, how could my son have hoped to marry his beloved daughter?"
His words left no opening for offense and gave the Wu Household ample face.
"You're too kind, Household Head Xu. It's my daughter who's marrying above herself."
"Come, Brother Wu. Today, you and I must drink to our hearts' content."
By the next day, the news had spread throughout Qingjiang County.
The Fang, Wang, He, and Cao Households all visited the Wu Household, leaving only an hour later.
No one knew what they had discussed.
Yet Qingjiang County remained as calm as a windless sea.