Chapter 37: If You Must Marry, Marry the Best

Xiao Ming was surprised that Huai Xi was actually willing to listen, so she began her analysis in earnest.

"Sister, let us set aside the royal family for now; that is not something within your control. In our current dynasty, there is only one Duke—the Duke of Han—so a hereditary Marquisate is the highest tier we can aim for. Excluding those in the capital with poor family reputations, the truly incompetent, the lecherous, the gamblers, or those who already have favored concubines, there are only three houses worth considering: the Ling, the Yan, and the He families. Do you know why our Ling family is ranked first?"

"I would be pleased to hear your explanation," Huai Xi said with an intrigued smile.

"Our Ling family was granted the title for military merit. General Ling was a founding hero of the dynasty and saved the Emperor's life. The Yan and He families were ennobled only after the Emperor ascended the throne, so the difference in status is clear. Ling Zhao is the eldest son and heir of the Ling family, and he will inherit the title as a matter of course. This is one of the reasons why all the noble ladies are so keen to marry him."

"Beyond Ling Zhao, there is the Yan family. The eldest son has already been sent by the Emperor to serve in the provinces, and he will likely be made a Prince Consort upon his return. Given your status, the only direct descendant you could marry is Yan Jing. Though he is a fifth-rank official, he was the Emperor’s personal choice for the top scholar (Tanhualang). He is exceptionally talented and prestigious, and his rise in the official ranks is only a matter of time."

At the mention of Yan Jing, a flicker of unease crossed Huai Xi’s eyes.

Xiao Ming continued calmly, "Master Yan has an impeccable family background, scholarship, and appearance. He also has a very agreeable personality, making him a truly suitable match for you. It is only a pity..."

"A pity that he spent his youth in debauchery and has long kept a courtesan in the Jiaosi Bureau," Huai Xi said with a calm expression.

Xiao Ming, being observant, noticed the subtle melancholy in her eyes and guessed that Huai Xi still held feelings for Yan Jing.

"Sister..."

"Continue, little sister. I hadn't expected you to find out so many interesting things in just one afternoon." Huai Xi rested her chin on her hand, looking uninterested.

"Very well."

Xiao Ming used her brush to start a new line, circling and dotting as she spoke. "Now, let us discuss the He family. Marquis He passed away early. He had two sons; the eldest is twenty-five and serves as a Vice Minister in the Ministry of Revenue, but the Emperor allowed the second son to inherit the title. It is this second son, He Jingzhi, whom our grandmother hopes Huaining will marry. Although this young Marquis is only sixteen, he has frequented the palace since childhood and studied alongside the princes. It is said he excels at archery and hunting, and his learning and insight are outstanding, though he currently holds no official post."

"In that case, does that mean my only remaining option is the eldest son of the He family?" Huai Xi teased.

Xiao Ming’s eyes crinkled with a smile as she deliberately held back. "There is one more."

Huai Xi raised an eyebrow. "Are you referring to Han Yi?"

Xiao Ming nodded with a look of certainty. "Precisely. It is him."

"But I have heard that his temperament is somewhat eccentric and he has no intention of marrying. It seems the Duke does not particularly favor his eldest son, so he simply lets him be."

"I am not entirely sure about that, but today, seeing him oversee the 'Winding Stream' banquet, I found him to be mature, composed, and very proper in his conduct. Furthermore, he is handsome and upright. If one calls his temperament eccentric, it is at most a bit of coldness. Personally, I think he is far superior to your eldest brother. If I were you, he would be my first choice. As for Ling Zhao, he is simply... impossible to describe." Xiao Ming looked disgusted.

"Why can you not describe him?"

Huai Xi was genuinely surprised. In her heart, Ling Zhao was an omnipotent young general, the elder brother she respected and admired. He was kind-hearted and gentle; despite his years of campaigning, he was well-read. Among all the ladies in the capital, there was not one who did not admire him.

Xiao Ming seemed unwilling to elaborate, merely brushing it off: "Your brother... is not a good man."

Seeing her reluctance, Huai Xi did not press further. "What about the others?" she asked, pointing to a name on the third line of Xiao Ming’s paper.

Xiao Ming blushed and whispered, "That list is for myself."

The examination occurs every three years, and the paper contained the names of scholars from two sessions. Most of the previous session's graduates were already married, and those who weren't were either posted abroad or in mourning. From this recent session, only four or five were in the Hanlin Academy. The most outstanding was Li Zongfang, whom she had her eye on, and another named Chen Qingcen, who was not truly from a poor background but rather from a scholarly family like her own.

"Sister, I have taken your words to heart. I cannot choose my birth, but why not treat this as a game where I am the one in control? What men can do, we women can do as well."

"Besides, although I am not as talented as you, I am still well-read and know the virtues. Huaining is right—since I must marry, why not pick the best one? One who truly likes me, who will not abandon me in the face of difficulties, but will instead overcome and solve them with me?"

When Xiao Ming said this, her eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed, and her expression was open—a look of infinite longing for such a life.

Huai Xi couldn't help but grasp her hand, her voice trembling slightly. "Ming’er, you will find such a person. Someone who knows you and understands you."

"Sister, you will too."

In that small meditation room, where sandalwood incense burned on the desk and seasonal fruits sat by the bed, the room was filled with warmth and the mutual affection of two sisters.

As they spoke, the night deepened.

Huai Xi pulled the quilt up and tucked it in for Xiao Ming. "I heard the Old Dowager enjoys polo matches. Tomorrow, they are organizing a makeshift game at the villa's polo field. Sleep early, and we shall go watch together."

"Really? That is wonderful! I have never watched a polo match before."

"My elder brother plays polo exceptionally well, as if he were born on horseback. He rarely attends these banquets, but this afternoon, while you were away, the Old Dowager specifically requested he play. If you see him tomorrow, you will surely be captivated."

Xiao Ming laughed heartily at this, rolling around in her bedding. "Then I truly cannot wait."

—

Most of the ladies who had come to burn incense and pray the day before stayed overnight at Nanshan Temple.

They rose early the next morning and walked down the mountain to the polo field; the strict boundaries between men and women were not so rigid here. The path was shaded by trees, with the occasional sound of cicadas and a refreshing breeze.

Huai Xi, always dignified, wore a lotus-pink dress embroidered with butterflies, which made her look as lustrous as a pearl.

Today, Xiao Ming was vibrant and bright, wearing a pomegranate-red skirt. She had plucked a camellia flower as red as rouge and pinned it to her hair, matching it with a pair of red coral earrings. Her face was like a peach blossom, and she looked like a beauty painted on silk—utterly graceful and charming.

Huaining was the most daring, wearing a small-sized men’s riding outfit paired with magenta lambskin boots, looking both spirited and adorable.

By the time they arrived, everyone had already gathered at the polo field. It was indeed a lively scene, with drums resounding.

The area for the ladies to watch the polo match was a distinctive two-story pavilion. Each level had a large platform with low tables and refreshments, allowing the girls a clear view of the field.

As luck would have it, the day was bright and sunny. The sunlight shone directly onto the stands, and the young men on the field could see those in the pavilion quite clearly as well.

Since Ling Zhao was to play, Meng Qingxuan naturally occupied the best spot in the pavilion, right next to the Old Dowager and directly facing the center of the polo field.