Snatching a Husband

"If any of you ministers have daughters awaiting marriage, you might follow Grand Secretary Wen's example. When I have time on my hands, I can play matchmaker for you."

"My old and beloved minister Wen, whom do you have in mind?"

Though the Yongzhao Emperor had addressed Wen Hong, his gaze, like everyone else's, flicked toward the silent top scholar.

"Your Majesty, this old minister..."

"Hey! Let me tell you all, the top scholar is the man I have set my sights on. You are not allowed to compete with me for him. As for anyone else, suit yourselves."

Zhao Huiluan turned to warn the assembled ladies, her voice clear and loud.

Not only did the ladies on her side hear her perfectly, but those inside heard her too.

① Shen Zhiyun's childhood name was Wanwan.

② "A single, peerless note summons the wind; one might think a star cloud had fallen from the ninth heaven" was written by the author.

③ "The sun climbs three thousand feet, cicadas sing as summer heat steams. Little flies vie for lotus blooms; a sudden shower drowns the frogs' cries" was written by the author.

④ "Clouds and flowering trees line the eastern night's path, yellow birds on green boughs above a jade-green stream. The spring breeze, I suppose, can scarcely understand; vermilion wisteria holds buds that will one day bloom" was written by the author. ("Yellow birds on green boughs" came from "Lament on the Jade Steps" by Yu Yan of the Southern Dynasties: "Yellow birds cross the green boughs.")

⑤ "The parasol tree knows its age, its leaves know the chill; a half-cut banana leaf cools the painted hall. I ascend the storied tower at leisure, the river's reflection receding, and laugh that the moonlight envies the cold frost" was written by the author. ("Ascend the storied tower at leisure" came from Liu Chang's "Two Poems on Ascending the City Wall in a Light Rain" of the Song dynasty: "At leisure I ascend the storied tower and lean by the city wall's corner.")

⑥ The author did her best! Everyone can just enjoy the plot; there's no need to pick the poems apart!

(I was afraid some people wouldn't read the author's note, so I added this directly to the main text. Enjoy reading~ 2023/10/28)

Chapter 16: Snatching a Husband

"Elder sister? Elder sister is here!"

Hearing the commotion, the little crown prince Zhao Jin'ang excitedly followed the sound.

The ladies all knelt, leaving Wen Nihe alone standing there in a daze.

Only when the woman kneeling beside her tugged at her sleeve did she come to her senses. Seeing Zhao Huiluan watching her at leisure, she bit her lip hard and knelt.

"Why are you here too?"

"I've been here all along. Father said I should also meet some of Great Yin's learned men. Didn't you see me, elder sister?"

The little crown prince looked up at the flower bushes, which towered well above him.

Zhao Huiluan was just about to say, "You're too short. The table blocked you from view," when she heard her father calling her.

"Zhenning, get over here at once!"

Smiling, Zhao Huiluan took her younger brother by the hand and walked in.

"Greetings, Princess Zhenning!" The court officials and successful candidates on either side knelt and called out.

"There is no need for such ceremony, ministers."

As she passed between the rows, Zhao Huiluan paused and pulled down two poems. She read them as she walked, only greeting the Yongzhao Emperor once she entered the pavilion.

The Yongzhao Emperor asked crossly, "Why are you here?"

"I'm hosting a spring outing banquet. I told you about it yesterday, Father. Don't you remember?"

"You're hosting a spring outing banquet here?"

Zhao Huiluan smiled slyly. "At Jinming Pool."

"Then why are you here?"

"It's nearby, and I came at just the right time to catch the husband-snatching beneath the ranking list."

The Yongzhao Emperor laughed in exasperation.

No wonder she had refused to tell him when he asked yesterday. She had been hatching this little scheme.

An awkward silence fell. Wen Hong's weathered face darkened slightly as he returned to his seat.

The Yongzhao Emperor knew full well that his daughter was used to fooling around, but with everyone watching, he had no choice but to scold her.

"What husband-snatching? Is that something a young lady should say? How improper!"

"I don't care. I like the top scholar."

Zhao Huiluan's cajoling tone carried a hint of imperiousness. She lifted her pretty eyes, meeting Rong An's gaze.

She suddenly felt the tips of her ears grow hot.

She hurriedly looked away and tugged at the Yongzhao Emperor's sleeve again.

"Father, please say yes."

Worn down until his head ached, the Yongzhao Emperor glanced over his ministers and said helplessly, "You have not yet come of age. It is too early to speak of marriage."

"Then wait two years for me!"

Zhao Huiluan answered so quickly that her old father felt a pang of melancholy: A grown daughter cannot be kept at home.

Even his breathing grew heavy. He pressed his lips together and, after a long while, uttered a single word: "Fine."

"We shall speak of it again in two years."

"Thank you, Father."

The Yongzhao Emperor's words were ambiguous, and Zhao Huiluan had not intended to take Rong An as her prince consort right now anyway.

She only wanted to change Rong An's fate from her previous life, when he had offended Wen Hong and been sent out of the capital to serve elsewhere.

"Elder Wen, I interrupted you just now. I still don't know whom you wish to betroth Miss Wen to."

The young lady's clear voice sounded utterly innocent.

But to the grandfather and granddaughter of the Wen family, it cut straight to the heart.

The princess had already declared in public that she had set her sights on the top scholar. Who would still dare speak of taking Rong An as a son-in-law?

Behind the flower bushes, Wen Nihe was clutching her handkerchief so tightly she nearly tore it to shreds.

"This old minister... this old minister..."

Wen Hong had been shrewd all his life and had weathered even the thorniest situations, yet he had never found himself in a position where the words were so hard to say.

He wanted to say, "The third-ranked scholar."

Wang He was his disciple. Even though he already had a wife, surely he would not refuse the marriage before His Majesty and leave Wen Hong unable to save face.

But his granddaughter did not like Wang He.

He was advanced in years, his only son had died young, and he had only one grandson and one granddaughter. He truly could not bear to make the apple of his eye suffer.

Remembering the way the Yongzhao Emperor had looked at Princess Zhenning just now, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

If he changed his answer and said he could not bear to marry his granddaughter off so soon—that she had only just come of age and there was no hurry to arrange her marriage-surely His Majesty would understand.

The Yongzhao Emperor saw Wen Hong's predicament and shook his head inwardly.

He glanced at his own carefree daughter and thought, Clever little imp. Simple-minded. She probably did not yet know that she had interfered with the match between Miss Wen and the top scholar.

He felt deeply guilty toward his old and beloved minister.

"This old minister truly cannot bear to..."

"Minister Wen, what do you think of the third-ranked scholar?"

Sovereign and minister spoke at the same time, leaving most of Wen Hong's sentence stuck in his throat.

When he heard the Yongzhao Emperor's words clearly, Wen Hong froze.

The Yongzhao Emperor looked toward the seats of the top three scholars.