Chapter 10: Probing

Chapter 10: Testing the Waters

◎If it were you, would you be willing to marry into the wife's family?◎

When Xie Zhenchuan returned to Fangze Court from the market, he carried not only a fifteen-cash pine-soot inkstick but also a fortune slip.

He had already read it on his way back—the paper, imbued with the scent of incense, bore a line of unremarkable regular script: "A pearl reveals its virtue, meeting a noble match brings honor to the hall."

It was a common folk fortune slip predicting a "golden jade" perfect match.

Entering the study, he handed the fortune slip to Bei Ming and picked up the pine-soot inkstick, preparing to paint.

Bei Ming had already prepared all the necessary tools for deciphering hidden messages and confidently began his investigation.

Nan Xuan, not wanting to idle, quickly offered, "Master, allow me to grind the ink for you."

Xie Zhenchuan spread out an ordinary sheet of bamboo paper and instructed, "This pine-soot ink is loosely textured, so grind it with even pressure."

Nan Xuan, exerting effort while grinding, remarked, "Master, this pine-soot ink is light and lacks luster. It’s fine for casual writing, but why use it for painting?"

Xie Zhenchuan held the brush, studying the paper as he mentally composed the layout of his painting before replying, "It’s rare to find a bookstore that buys paintings. As a scholar of modest means with meager painting skills, I ought to sell a piece or two to support myself."

Describing Xie Zhenchuan’s painting skills as "meager" was truly an understatement.

Nan Xuan chuckled flatteringly, "Wouldn’t that be a bargain for them? Your paintings have sold for as much as three thousand taels at auctions in the capital."

Xie Zhenchuan dipped a wolf-hair brush into the ink, suspended it over the paper to outline the general shape of a mountain rock, and then added varying textures with light and heavy strokes. He replied nonchalantly, "Indeed, they’ve also spent five thousand taels on Grand Secretary Wang’s calligraphy, Minister Zhang’s antiques, and Vice Minister Li’s tea."

Nan Xuan fell silent, well aware that his master had personally handled the cases of these officials, whose graves were now overgrown with weeds.

After finishing the mountain rock with swift, decisive strokes, Xie Zhenchuan set down his brush and glanced at Bei Ming, who was locked in an intense struggle with the fortune slip. He asked with a light laugh, "Well?"

Beads of sweat dotted Bei Ming’s forehead. He had tried various methods—heating it over fire, examining it under light, applying developing powder, and scrutinizing it word by word—but found nothing unusual about the thin sheet of paper.

Faced with the loss of face and three months' salary, Bei Ming had to admit, "Reporting, sir, no anomalies detected. But that young lady clearly approached you with ulterior motives—"

Xie Zhenchuan dipped his brush in water again, then in thick ink, casually adding an old tree to the mountain rock. He said leisurely, "In the last imperial examination, there was a candidate named Zhu Xiujin, son of Huaian Prefect Zhu Yan and nephew of Nanjing Garrison Commander Feng Ruicai. Start investigating from there. As for Li Ci…"

If not for today’s incident with Cheng Lixue, he might have thought Li Ci was cunning and feigning innocence to lure him into a trap. But now, it seemed that even if she were involved, she was nothing more than a useless distraction, at best meant to divert his attention.

"Enough. Given her capabilities, she’s likely just a decoy. Paying too much attention to her would only play into their hands."

"Yes."

Nan Xuan couldn’t resist asking, "If Miss Li comes to Fangze Court again, should we receive her or not?"

Xie Zhenchuan continued painting leaves of varying sizes and densities on the branches until the ink ran dry. "It’s fine. We’ll deal with it as it comes."

Before he finished speaking, a servant announced from outside the study, "Master Xie, Miss Li is here to visit."

Xie Zhenchuan glanced at his half-finished painting, his tone tinged with impatience. "What is it this time?"

Before the servant could reply, a voice as clear and sweet as pear juice rang out from beyond the door, drawing nearer, "Xie Zheng gege, I brought you a gift!"

…

Xie Zhenchuan had no choice but to signal the two to hide the fortune slip and leave through the side door with the brazier. He set down his brush and went to open the door himself.

"No need to be so polite—"

His polite words cut off abruptly when he saw the lotus-purple brocade in Li Ci’s hands.

Unaware of his displeasure, Li Ci, eager to show her sincerity, had refused Xiuchun’s help and struggled to carry a box of pastries and a bolt of fabric into the study. "Xie Zheng gege, make way for me."

Xie Zhenchuan frowned as he took the long, heavy bolt of fabric from her, unsure what new scheme she was up to.

Li Ci chirped, "The Book of Songs says, ‘When given a peach, I return a jade.’ Since you gave me peaches today, it’s only right that I return the favor."

She set down the food box, pulled out a foot of the brocade, and showed him the embroidered lotus medallion with paired beast patterns. "I picked this especially for you. See, aren’t these lions majestic?"

Yes, especially embroidered on lotus-purple brocade, with even their manes tinged pink.

Xie Zhenchuan tilted his head away, not even bothering to look.

Sensing his reluctance, Li Ci counted on her fingers, "If you don’t like it, Xie Zheng gege, I also have lilac brocade with scrolling grass patterns, hibiscus-colored silk with phoenix and crane designs, and Consort Yang pink pearl gauze…"

The more she listed, the more reluctant she became. When she saw these unused fabrics in the storeroom earlier, she had spontaneously decided to use the lilac brocade for a phoenix-tail skirt, the hibiscus silk for a ruqun, and the pearl gauze for a narrow-sleeved long jacket. Only this lotus-purple brocade with paired beast patterns held no interest for her, so she brought it here.

Gifting such a color and material to a man made it obvious she had chosen it on a whim.

Xie Zhenchuan felt a headache coming on and couldn’t be bothered with politeness anymore.

He casually set down the priceless brocade. "This is fine. No need for more trouble."

Li Ci breathed a sigh of relief and nodded eagerly. "I also had the cook make some Jade Cake using the recipe you gave me last time. Would you like to try it?"

Judging by her gift-giving habits, it was clear this little trickster only knew how to sweet-talk and was unwilling to part with anything she truly valued. This Jade Cake likely wouldn’t taste good either.

Xie Zhenchuan forced a smile and declined, "Since you like it, you should keep it for yourself."

Li Ci had initially wanted to try it, but when the cook brought out the Jade Cake, its color and appearance were vastly different from what she remembered. Without even tasting it, she brought it over.

To hide her guilt, she smiled sweetly, her tone exceptionally docile, "I want to share it with you, Xie Zheng gege."

The Jade Cake made by the princess’s chef was soft, delicate, and jade-green, hence its name. The one before them, however, was hard, sticky, and dull gray.

With one glance, Xie Zhenchuan could tell it wouldn’t taste good. He reluctantly took a bite, pondered for a moment, and remarked honestly, "It doesn’t taste like Jade Cake. More like peanut-sesame brittle."

Brittle? That meant it was delicious!

Seeing that Xie Zhenchuan had tried it, Li Ci also picked up a piece and popped it into her mouth. Her face immediately scrunched up like a wrinkled bun. "Eww, it’s so sweet it’s bitter!"

Watching her fall for it, Xie Zhenchuan struggled to suppress a laugh. He set down his piece and poured two cups of light tea to rinse their mouths.

Only after the tea’s fragrance overpowered the cloying sweetness did he speak again, "The sesame wasn’t fried with suet oil, so it easily burns and turns bitter. It also lacks the fragrance of suet oil. As for the color, it’s gray because matcha wasn’t added."

Li Ci drank her tea but still couldn’t figure it out. "I did forget the suet oil and matcha, but I specifically asked for more rock sugar. Why is it still bitter?"

"The flavor of food isn’t about adding strong ingredients but about balancing them to bring out the best. The perfect level of sweetness is the hardest to achieve."

Li Ci looked troubled. "How do you achieve the perfect level?"

Xie Zhenchuan glanced at her, his tone unusually pitying. "Perhaps it’s a matter of talent."

"Then forget it. I’ll just come here to enjoy your delicious treats from now on," Li Ci, talentless, felt no sadness—even a sense of relief. Remembering her other purpose for visiting, she added hesitantly, "After all, I really have no talent. I can’t make pastries, and I can’t write essays either."

Xie Zhenchuan didn’t know why she had shifted the topic to essays, but he grew wary and didn’t respond.

"Xie Zheng gege, could you help me with one more thing?"

Her voice was clear, sweet, and soft, like a perfectly measured spoonful of rock candy stirred into a cup of fresh, fragrant matcha tea.

One could say it was an innate talent, just not applied in the right way.

Xie Zhenchuan sneered inwardly but maintained a gentle smile on his face. "Ah Ci, you're too kind. What brings you here today?"

Li Ci widened her eyes, her round pupils sparkling with a bright, earnest light as she stared intently at him. "My grandfather has hired a tutor for the women in our household. The tutor assigned us a policy analysis essay, and I’m not very good at it. I’ve heard that Xie Zheng-gege is very knowledgeable, so I was hoping you could give me some guidance."

It sounded like a reasonable request.

Xie Zhenchuan hadn’t expected the Earl of Guangcheng to take the education of the women in his household so seriously. Most noblewomen in the capital only studied music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and the Four Books for Women. This was the first time he had heard of them being assigned policy essays.

He felt a rare flicker of interest. "Do you have a topic?"

Li Ci nodded and handed him the topic she had just written down.

The high-quality gold-flecked stationery, paired with the elegant ink, was already marred by her immature and awkward handwriting, giving the impression of a bull in a china shop. But what was even more unbearable was the content of the essay—it was downright unbefitting scholarly discourse.

Seeing Xie Zhenchuan frown, Li Ci grew anxious that he might change his mind and quickly added, "The topic is already set, and I have to submit it to the tutor tomorrow. But I really don’t know how to approach it. Xie Zheng-gege, do you have any ideas?"

Even though Xie Zhenchuan had weathered the storms of the court, facing political adversaries and absurd accusations without batting an eye, and had always responded fluently to the emperor’s policy questions, he found himself truly at a loss for the first time when confronted with a topic like "On the Benefits of Marrying into the Wife's Family."

Seeing that Xie Zhenchuan seemed "uninspired," Li Ci tried to prompt him further. "I’ve thought about it for a long time and concluded that marrying into the wife's family has at least one benefit: it can improve a person’s circumstances. Especially for those who can’t afford to marry due to poverty or family conflicts, it prevents them from ending up alone or without support."

Unfortunately, he didn’t seem to take the hint.

Having witnessed all sorts of absurdities in the tumultuous court, Xie Zhenchuan was no stranger to outrageous statements. After a moment of consideration, he calmly replied, "That’s one way to look at it, but the premise lacks elevation. To discuss the benefits properly, one should proceed from the simple to the complex. From the man’s perspective, it can help him overcome difficulties. From the woman’s perspective, it can secure an heir and avoid the hardship of leaving her family. For both parties, it can strengthen alliances through marriage and preserve both family bloodlines. For society as a whole, it can modernize traditions and bring about a new atmosphere... Finally, add a few suggestions, and the essay will be complete."

Li Ci listened with admiration shining in her eyes. "So, according to this, marrying into the wife's family is practically a great benefit for both the nation and its people!"

...What nonsense.

Xie Zhenchuan felt that his horizons were still too narrow. Ever since meeting Li Ci, he often found himself astonished by new perspectives.

He subtly took a step back and replied evasively, "I suppose one could say that."

"Then, Xie Zheng-gege, what do you think of marrying into the wife's family?"

"It suits some; not for others. I don’t have strong feelings about it."

Li Ci pressed further, "If it were you, would you be willing to enter a matrilocal marriage?"

Before Xie Zhenchuan could answer, a loud "clang" echoed from the backyard.

Li Ci jumped in surprise. "What was that?"

It sounded like a heating basin tipping over. Xie Zhenchuan maintained his composure and casually explained, "Probably just a servant cleaning and knocking over a bucket."

"Oh," Li Ci didn’t dwell on it and continued her questioning. "Xie Zheng-gege, you still haven’t answered. Would you be willing to enter a matrilocal marriage?"

***Author's Note***

Mini Theater:

Li Ci (waving her hands at Xiao Xie): "Matrilocal marriage benefits the nation and you personally. I really don’t understand why you wouldn’t see it as an incredible opportunity—"

Xie Zhenchuan (hugging his wife): "I agree."