Bound in Marriage

The last rain of late autumn had scattered the golden leaves of the parasol trees in the courtyard. It was still dark when the maid, Qiao Xing, stepped out of the door. Just as she entered the yard, her foot landed on a wet and slippery fallen leaf, nearly causing her to fall.

She hurriedly called over a junior maid from the courtyard. "Quickly sweep away these fallen leaves. It wouldn't be good if someone were to slip and fall."

With that, she went to the kitchen to boil water for tea. Unbeknownst to her, the junior maid sneaked a disdainful glance at her back.

Having finished boiling the water, Qiao Xing picked up the teapot and carried it to the front door of the main house, lightly calling out, "Madam, are you awake?"

The room was quiet for a moment before a soft and gentle voice answered, "Yes, come in."

Qiao Xing pushed the door open and saw a woman sitting by the window. The room was empty except for her.

She had already dressed and was wearing a semi-new apricot colored, dark flower long robe. The color was not striking, but it complemented her slender neck and fair cheeks perfectly.

Her lips were a subtle shade, resembling pale pink petals. Her nose was elegant, not too prominent, and under her delicate eyebrows, a pair of bright eyes that resembled moonlit lakes gazed downward. She paid no attention to the bronze mirror on the dressing table and swiftly pinned up her dark hair, arranging it into a neat bun.

Qiao Xing didn't like the bun on Madam's head. When she was still Miss Xiang of the Xiang family, she used to have long braids adorned with precious jewels. Her thick, dark hair would be styled into enchanting clouds, accentuated by a few eastern pearls, making her irresistibly charming.

However, after marrying into the Tan family, she became the respectable wife of the Tan household. She not only abandoned the elaborate bun but also the fashionable hairstyles of the time. Her hair was now simply styled into a neat bun and adorned with a silver hairpin, without any further embellishments.

In the Xiang family, she had been radiant, but upon entering the Tan family, she lost her luster.

Moreover, her husband had gone to the capital for an imperial examination just a month after their marriage, and ever since, he had been away for three years serving as an official in the capital, leaving her alone at home.

"Madam, why not let your hair down? Yesterday, I saw the eldest miss styling her hair in the popular Jiangnan fashion. It looked exquisite. Why don't we modify the new hairstyle and give it a try?" Qiao Xing looked at her hopefully.

Xiang Yi smiled upon hearing this. "Young ladies should naturally enhance their appearance. But do I need to follow suit?"

"How could that be? You're only a few years older than Miss."

It's just that Miss has someone to care for her, while you're here without anyone to care for you...

Qiao Xing was the daughter of Xiang Yi's wet nurse, and they had been together since childhood. Xiang Yi knew that Qiao Xing cared for her, so she responded with a comforting smile and a glance.

"Alright, coming to the Tan family is not about competing. Let's just focus on our tasks."

Qiao Xing knew the mistress would say that. In her heart, coming to the Tan family meant fulfilling responsibilities, and she never paid attention to other matters. However, no matter what, the mistress had married into the Tan family, becoming the wife of the Tan family's heir...

Before Qiao Xing could say anything more, Xiang Yi had already stood up. "Alright, it's getting late. It's time to greet the old madam."

Qiao Xing couldn't say much more, so she sighed with a sense of frustration. She helped Xiang Yi freshen up her face, lightly tinted her eyebrows, and then carried a lantern, accompanying her to the residence of the old madam.

The residence where the old madam lived, known as Autumn Radiance Courtyard, wasn't close to the main courtyard. Despite the chilly wind, the two didn't dare to slow down. By the time they arrived at Autumn Radiance Courtyard, the sky had gradually lightened, but fortunately, they weren't too late.

Although she was called the old madam, Zhao Shi wasn't very old; she was still in her thirties. 

Back then, when the main Zhao Shi passed away, leaving behind her two young sons, Tan Ting and Tan Jian, there was no one to take care of them. The Tan family members were also eyeing the position of the legitimate branch's heir. So, the Tan family discussed with the Zhao family and decided to bring in the younger Zhao Shi to take care of the two young sons.

Zhao Shi had a more carefree personality. During the years she spent as a wife in the Tan family, she worked extremely hard. But when Xiang Yi married into the family, she hurriedly passed most of the responsibilities to her.

At this moment, Zhao Shi had just gotten up, her arm supporting her head as she was attended to by her maids for grooming. When she saw Xiang Yi enter, she mustered a bit of energy.

Xiang Yi greeted her.

At that moment, a gust of wind blew outside, causing the windows to rattle.

Surprised, Zhao Shi asked Xiang Yi, "Such strong wind? Is it colder outside today?"

Xiang Yi confirmed and said, "Mother, you should put on more clothing."

Zhao Shi said it was alright. She wouldn't go out anyway, but she remembered others and called over a maid.

"Go and inform Second Master and Miss not to come and pay their respects today. They shouldn't risk catching a cold."

The young maid nodded to the instruction and was about to leave when Zhao Shi added more instructions.

"Have them light up the braziers, wear more clothes, and don't go out. They're not that strong, how can they endure the cold?" The attending maids around all burst into laughter. "The old madam is really worrying too much about the Second Master and the young lady."

Xiang Yi smiled on the side, took the tea from the maid's hand, and personally poured it for Zhao Shi.

Only then did Zhao Shi remember the quietly seated Xiang Yi by her side. "By the way, it's less than a month away from Jian Ge's marriage, starting from today. You need to pay more attention to it and make sure this joyful occasion is well-prepared. Even though the weather is cold, there are many matters this year. You mustn't be careless. Handle every detail inside and out."

Xiang Yi responded earnestly.

Zhao Shi took another sip of hot tea, suddenly remembering something. She placed down the tea cup and rubbed her forehead in distress. "And there's the matter of Chu Xinggu. This matter can't continue to stir up trouble. It needs to be settled today. You go and take care of it."

Then she brought up a few more matters, all of which were entrusted to Xiang Yi to handle.

No matter how she handled them, as long as they were resolved without causing any trouble, it would be fine.

Xiang Yi responded to each task, and after leaving Zhao Shi's room, she felt the winter chill wrapping around her as the wind blew through the corridor. She hurriedly pulled her cloak closer.

"The morning wind is quite strong. Madam, please return to your room first. Wait until the wind calms down before coming out to handle matters."

The sky was a dull gray, and it was uncertain when the wind would subside. Xiang Yi looked up for a moment, sighed, and decided to abandon the idea. Braving the wind, she turned and headed toward the Tan Family's main hall.

"The matters instructed by the old madam cannot be delayed. I'll handle Chu Xinggu's matter first."

The issue with Chu Xinggu wasn't easy to handle. She was a young lady from a scholarly family in Qingxiang County. Her father, Mr. Chu, had studied diligently for twenty years but only achieved the rank of a "xiucai," a minor scholar, in the imperial examinations. Despite not passing the higher examinations, his knowledge was profound, even surpassing that of some "juren," those who had passed the county-level imperial examinations. As a result, he was recommended to the Tang family and became a tutor for their younger members.

Mr. Chu had served as a tutor in the Tang family for fifteen years. However, two months ago, a sudden cold took his life. Chu Xinggu had always been frail, and her engagement had faced numerous obstacles. With the sudden loss of her father, her situation became even more precarious.

The consecutive blows had left Chu Xinggu in a dire situation. Her only source of support, her mother, also fell ill. Both mother and daughter relied on medicine to stay alive, causing relatives and friends to keep their distance. Amidst the bitter cold and leaks in their roof that they couldn't afford to repair, they had no money for medicine, and their food supplies had run out.

Seeing their desperate situation, Chu Xinggu and her mother had no choice but to turn to the Tang family, seeking their assistance. After all, Mr. Chu had been a tutor in the Tang family for fifteen years. Xiang Yi, knowing this, had them placed in the Tang family's Benevolent Hall and arranged for medical treatment for both mother and daughter.

The mother and daughter were naturally deeply grateful. However, within a few days, news of their situation spread, leading to turmoil within the Tang family's ranks.

"While Mr. Chu was alive, it was the Tang family that provided him with a job and a stipend every month, allowing him to live a comfortable life. Otherwise, how could a scholar from a humble background like him have peacefully taught in the Tang family for a lifetime?"

"He wasn't grateful, and now that he's dead, his wife and daughter are leeching onto the Tang family?"

Some of the relatives wanted to drive away the mother and daughter from the Tan Family.

Originally, there wasn't much interaction between prominent families and common scholars. If a scholar from a common background succeeded in the imperial examinations, there might have been a chance for a marriage alliance with a prominent family.

In recent years, the relationship between prominent families and commoners has grown colder. Prominent families looked down on commoners for their humble ways, often believing that even common-born individuals who became officials would abandon the integrity of scholars for personal gain. Commoners, on the other hand, resented the prominent families for their abuse of power. They believed that the prominent families held sway in various aspects of society, including the imperial examinations, making it even harder for commoner scholars to succeed.

With numerous commoners and a powerful presence of prominent families, there was an underlying tension wherever they crossed paths, be it in the court or in the countryside. While there used to be instances of prominent families assisting commoners in the past, now, unless a commoner wrote a formal request for help, prominent families were unlikely to offer any support.

The situation of Chu Xinggu and her mother wasn't well-received by the Tan Family's relatives. Some argued that times were tough for everyone this year, not just for them, and it wasn't the responsibility of the main family to use their resources for outsiders. The family members even pushed to drive Chu Xinggu and her mother away.

These agitated relatives of the Tan Family were all those who weren't faring well themselves. They lacked the ability to earn money outside and could only rely on their family for financial support. Seeing the main family spending money on outsiders felt as if it was coming from their own pockets, causing them great distress.

Initially, Xiang Yi hadn't intended to pay them any attention, but they managed to stir up trouble to the point where they reached Zhao Shi's residence in the Autumn Radiance Courtyard.

Zhao Shi had the least patience for such matters. Moreover, the situation was delicate. Forcibly expelling Chu Xinggu and her mother seemed heartless, but taking care of them also invited criticism from the relatives.

Not wanting to handle it, Zhao Shi left it to Xiang Yi.

Consequently, the agitated relatives gathered at the Benevolent Hall, voicing their complaints.

"It's not that we won't help you, but it's a tough year for all of us. It's not just you."

"In the end, you and your daughter aren't part of the Tan Family. Have some decency and leave."

One woman in her forties, with a long chin and a gaunt face, cast a disdainful look at the frail Chu Xinggu. "You're an unmarried daughter from a commoner family. What gives you the right to rely on the Tan Family? Are you hoping to marry into the family?"

She clicked her tongue and added, "You better not have any such delusions."

These words drained the little remaining color from Chu Xinggu's face, and her mother almost couldn't catch her breath upon hearing them.

"Don’t speak nonsense about my daughter!"

Just as a heated argument seemed imminent, a young servant girl cried out, "Madam of the main family is here!"

All the gathered relatives were branches of the Tan Family. Upon seeing the main family's Madam arriving, they immediately quieted down and turned their gazes towards Xiang Yi.

The slender-faced Madam, Tan You Liang, was articulate and quick-witted. She had been at the forefront of the commotion before. Now, she addressed Xiang Yi, "Madam of the main family, these mother and daughter from the Chu family have been staying in our Benevolent Hall for three or four days. The Tan Family is a prominent family, and although we can waive their lodging, meals, and medical expenses, they can't continue to stay there indefinitely, can they?"

With a righteous tone, Madam Tan made her statement. She quickly glanced at Chu Xinggu, who was dressed in mourning clothes and had a sickly appearance, making her somewhat resemble a suffering beauty.

Oddly enough, this appearance caught the interest of her son.

Ironically, even if a commoner daughter appeared as beautiful as a celestial maiden, she couldn't enter their prominent family's doors. With Madam Tan's words spoken, the faces of Chu Xinggu and her mother turned ashen, and they clutched their bundles uneasily.

Xiang Yi's gaze swept lightly over the crowd before she calmly spoke, "I've come here today to inform everyone that Chu Xinggu and her mother may stay at the Tan Family's Benevolent Hall for their recovery. There's no need for them to leave."

As her words fell, a collective uproar erupted among the gathered relatives.

Even Chu Xinggu and her mother were completely caught off guard.

Tan You Liang immediately grew anxious. "What does this mean?" She stared at Xiang Yi, "Could it be the Old Madam's intention?" 

She tried to use Zhao Shi to put pressure on her, but Xiang Yi just smiled faintly. "The Old Madam is fatigued and resting, I'm following the family rules."

After saying this, her gaze swept across the faces of everyone present. "According to the Tan family rules, all the descendants of the clan, and the neighbors who are friendly with the clan, give help to each other in poverty, sympathize with each other in disasters, and help each other in illness.This is the way to extend the family's prosperity."

"Mr. Chu worked as an educator at the Tan family school for fifteen years. Isn't that considered being friendly neighbors? Mr. Chu passed away less than a hundred days ago, and his wife and daughter are in distress. Why shouldn't the Tan family provide assistance?"

"Chu Xinggu and her mother can continue staying at the Benevolent Hall. The expenses for medical treatment and medication will all be covered by the clan, and they can leave once their condition improves."

Although Xiang Yi and Chu Xinggu were not familiar with each other, the fact that Chu Xiucai had served the Tan family for so many years should not be disregarded.

With the family rules in place, no one dared to argue at that moment. Only Tan You Liang was unwilling and started to argue.

But before she could speak, Xiang Yi beat her to it with a gentle reminder. "Anyone obstructing this matter is defying the family rules and will face disciplinary action."

The autumn wind swept away the murky atmosphere in the Benevolent Hall.

Tan You Liang wanted to speak, but her words were held back.

Tears streamed down Chu Xinggu and her mother's faces as they supported each other, wanting to kneel and express their gratitude to Xiang Yi.

Xiang Yi quickly signaled Qiao Xing to help them up. "I'm just following the family rules."

After saying that, Xiang Yi instructed Tan Qingshan and his wife, who were in charge of the Benevolent Hall, to keep a record of Chu Xinggu and her mother's expenses for clarity.

With everything sorted out, Xiang Yi didn't linger. She nodded at the people present, then turned and left.

The cold wind stirred up fallen leaves from the ground.

As they hadn't gone far, the troublesome Tan family members couldn't hold back anymore.

Tan You Liang spoke directly. "Oh, when the Old Madam was the matriarch, she never used family rules to suppress us. What right does she, from the Xiang family, have?"

"Yes indeed, what right does she have? None of us, the clan's descendants, receive any attention. Yet she's in such a hurry to care for a poor outsider family."

Someone chimed in, and suddenly someone recalled something. "I understand now. Isn't she from a poor family herself? No wonder she doesn't get close to us. She treats us like thieves!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd's dissatisfaction with Xiang Yi began to boil over.

"Indeed, where does she spend our Tan family's money? She's using it to help her own kin."

"Tsk tsk, she might not have squandered it. Perhaps she's taking it back to her natal family. After all, the Xiang family's assets were seized. She might need our money to support them."

The Xiang family being investigated and raided was a well-known event that had shocked both the court and the public.

Seeing that everyone was talking like this, Tan You Liang began to sarcastically comment, "The daughter of a corrupt official, forcibly married into the family due to an old engagement—she's thrown away her dignity. What kind of person could she be? She talks about recording everything. In my opinion, her own accounts might not withstand scrutiny!"

Everyone present echoed in agreement.

However, Xiang Yi was the matriarch of the family, and she couldn't be investigated just because the side branches wanted it. Only a few people had the authority to investigate Xiang Yi's finances, and the respected elders wouldn't do so, and the Old Madam Zhao had a leisurely disposition and wouldn't seek trouble.

Unless, the Tan family's eldest son, Tan Ting returned.