Chapter 119: Find Time for a Meeting

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On Golden Bridge Street stood two Wu residences: one was the Chancellor Wu Yu’s mansion, and the other belonged to Wu Chong.

The two brothers had originally lived together. Now that Wu Chong had been appointed Prefect of Shanzhou, he had purchased a residence in the capital, right beside Wu Yu’s. Once the construction was complete, the two estates were joined together, allowing the younger members of the family to pass freely between them.

Upon hearing that Wu Yu was unwell, the officials and relatives by marriage in the capital all came to pay their respects. Although Wu Yu’s eldest and second daughters had both died young, their husbands still came to visit: the elder’s husband was Han Zongyan, Vice Director of the Ministry of War and Judicial Commissioner of the Salt and Iron Section of the Three Offices, as well as the son of the famous Chancellor Han Yi; the second was Pang Yuan Ying, son of Pang Ji.

The third daughter’s husband was Ren Yi, a Court Doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, whose father was Ren Bu, Junior Preceptor to the Crown Prince. He and his wife remained at Wu Yu’s side, tending to him.

Wu Yu had ten sons, but most did not live in the capital. Only his eldest son, Wu Andu, was there, and he received the guests. Yet Wu Andu held no official position and could not command enough authority, so Wu Anshi and Wu Anchi, from Wu Chong’s household, also helped entertain the visitors.

Wu Andu’s wife was the daughter of Fan Yong, Left Vice Director of the Secretariat. As the eldest daughter-in-law, she received the women who came to pay their respects.

Ouyang Xiu arrived with Ouyang Fa and Ouyang Fa’s wife, Lady Wu, to visit Wu Yu.

Wu Yu kept Ouyang Xiu behind to speak with him. Knowing that the two men had important matters to discuss, Ouyang Fa and Lady Wu left the courtyard first.

Ouyang Fa glanced back at the steady stream of high officials and ministers in the courtyard, then sighed with emotion and said to Lady Wu, “Father once remarked that none of Councillor Wu’s ten sons had passed the Presented Scholar examination. What a pity.”

“And Andu was the most outstanding of them all. Who could have guessed that the examiners would never take a liking to him? He has failed the examinations time and again. It seems they will all have to wait for official posts granted through family privilege. Unfortunately, in our dynasty, high officials and ministers must have come through the Presented Scholar route. It seems that, in the future, Councillor Wu’s family will have to rely on their father-in-law.”

Lady Wu said, “My two brothers probably will not amount to much either. Let us not speak of that. I shall go and see my sister first. When Father leaves the residence, send someone to call me.”

Ouyang Fa smiled. “Go on, my lady. I shall have Father return first, then come to your father-in-law’s residence to find you.”

Several elderly serving women and maids immediately accompanied Lady Wu. They left through the side gate and went directly to their own residence.

The old serving women stationed at the side gate were household retainers of many years. When they saw Lady Wu, they came forward excitedly and kowtowed to her.

After wiping away her tears, Lady Wu entered the residence. In those days, before she had married, Wu Chong had only just purchased this house on Golden Bridge Street. Several years had now passed, and each time she returned, the place felt more unfamiliar.

After walking for the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, Lady Wu reached the inner residence. As she came to a covered corridor, she saw a woman in an apricot-yellow jacket approaching from the opposite direction.

“Seventeenth Sister,” she called.

It was indeed Seventeenth Sister.

The sisters naturally exchanged their heartfelt feelings. Holding hands, they sat down beneath the covered corridor, and Seventeenth Sister asked, “How could your husband bear to let you come here alone?”

Lady Wu smiled. “My uncle has many things to discuss with Father-in-law, so I came ahead. As for my husband, it is not a matter of whether he was willing or unwilling.”

Seventeenth Sister smiled. “Your husband is truly a good man. He treats you just as he did before.”

“He is good enough.” Hearing her sister praise the harmony of her marriage, Lady Wu’s eyes filled with laughter and her expression brightened, carrying a hint of pride.

“Among all the sisters in the two Wu households, you are the one whose marriage is the most harmonious. I have heard that Uncle’s Fifth Daughter is well matched too, but still not as well as you.”

Lady Wu smiled and asked, “Where is Fifteenth Sister? Does she no longer live here?”

“The family is preparing for her marriage into the Wen household. Father says that the rules in a Chancellor’s family are naturally unlike those in an ordinary official’s household; everything must be done with dignity. Her future mother-in-law is a very exacting woman as well. That is why Eldest Sister requested several palace instructresses from the imperial court, so that Fifteenth Sister might learn every rule and leave no opening for anyone to find fault with her. She has been studying etiquette in Azure Cloud Pavilion for the past half month. Even though I returned to the capital some time ago, I have only seen her once.”

Lady Wu sighed. “Poor Fifteenth Sister. There is no one in this world so perfect that no one can find fault with her. As for the mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and all the other women in a Chancellor’s family—who among them is easy to deal with? This is only the beginning.”

Seventeenth Sister covered her smile. “You sound as though you do not have much confidence in Fifteenth Sister’s marriage.”

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Lady Wu said, “I have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Give her a warning on my behalf, so that she will not return to her mother’s home sobbing in the future.”

“Besides, among the sisters in our family, you and she are the cleverest. Whatever you study, you master at once. Now that Fifteenth Sister is to be married, you should make plans for yourself as well.”

“Exactly. Why did you not go and study with Fifteenth Sister?”

Seventeenth Sister smiled. “I have only just arrived in the capital and am exhausted from the journey. Besides, I would much rather have some time to enjoy my freedom.”

Lady Wu gave Seventeenth Sister a deep look. She knew that although their mother always appeared to treat all her daughters equally, at a time like this she was still partial.

She quickly changed the subject. “Uncle is unwell now. I only hope that nothing goes awry with Fifteenth Sister’s marriage.”

Seventeenth Sister smiled. “Let us not speak of such unpleasant things. Come sit in my room.”

“All right. I happen to have brought you an amusing little object.”

Lady Wu went to Seventeenth Sister’s boudoir, which remained as simple and elegant as ever. She knew that her two younger sisters, who had married into the households of the Chancellors Lü and Xia, had taken enormous quantities of dowry with them. Their rooms were crammed with displayed possessions, as though they wished everyone in their husbands’ families to see them. Their daily lives were extravagantly furnished: their sleeping mats were replaced every three days, and old quilts and bedding were simply thrown away. It was almost as though they intended to assert themselves over their sisters-in-law.

Seventeenth Sister’s room, by contrast, was plain. Everything she used was neither new nor worn out. Such restraint was the true bearing of a daughter from a distinguished family.

Lady Wu thought that Fifteenth and Seventeenth Sisters had never been close because they had grown up together in the Wu household and both stood out among the sisters.

Fifteenth Sister was a legitimate daughter, and from childhood she had been proud and ambitious. After seeing how pleased and honored their parents looked when their two elder sisters married into chancellor’s households, she had resolved to marry into a powerful family herself. She studied everything, compared herself with everyone, and sought to excel in every matter. She and Seventeenth Sister had always been quietly competitive, and as a result, their sisterly affection was not particularly deep.

At this point, Lady Wu took out a seal and said, “What do you think of this?”

Seventeenth Sister picked it up and examined it. “This is soapstone from Shoushan. It is the first time I have seen anyone use it for carving a seal.”

She studied it for a while longer. “It does not seem to have been carved by a professional craftsman. The workmanship is somewhat lacking, but the force and movement of the seal script have come through. Was it carved by a man of letters himself?”

Lady Wu smiled. “Seventeenth Sister, your eyes are far too discerning. That is exactly so.”

“He was quite ingenious to think of using such soft Shoushan stone for carving. That way, even without a master craftsman, one could carve one’s own seal.”

“Still, being a stone seal, it lacks the gravity of a jade or gold seal. But the seal script is truly excellent. If one overlooks the carving, the calligrapher’s vision and artistic conception are both evident. It even seems somewhat familiar… Thank you, Sister, for giving me such a fine gift.”

Lady Wu smiled. “I am glad you like it.”

A thought stirred in Seventeenth Sister’s mind, and she smiled. “Your father-in-law and your husband both seem fond of such objects of stone and metal. I wonder why they were willing to part with it. Or does your household have many seals like this?”

“You are already casting your eye over the rest of the household’s possessions. Five of these were sent to us in all. They came from a scholar surnamed Zhang who had traveled here from Fujian. His teacher is Zhang Boyi, the greatest master of seal script in the empire today.”

“Your husband says that he writes superb seal script. As for this seal, he carved it casually, but even that was enough to reveal his uncommon talent.”

“It truly is him.” A momentary haze passed through Seventeenth Sister’s eyes as she glanced once more at the seal in her hand.

Noticing the change in her expression, Lady Wu asked, “What do you mean, ‘It truly is him’?”

Seventeenth Sister held the seal in both hands and said, “He came to the capital from Pucheng to sit for the Imperial Academy examination, which is why he traveled with my brother. He is an exceptionally perceptive man, and he possesses an innocent, guileless heart as well. I believe he and your husband must have found much to discuss.”

“Your husband did indeed take to him at once. But I have rarely seen you praise anyone so highly.” Lady Wu studied Seventeenth Sister’s expression carefully.

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Seventeenth Sister laughed. “Not at all. I often say that your husband is a good man.”

Lady Wu smiled, thinking that Seventeenth Sister must be trying to recommend this young man to her husband.

Lady Wu said, “Your husband truly does like this seal, but I knew that you would like it even more, so I asked for it. Do not let Fifteenth Sister hear of this, or she will say that I am playing favorites.”

Seventeenth Sister smiled. “Very well. But Fifteenth Sister is busy preparing for her wedding and has no time to quarrel with me. By the way, did Master Ouyang write a poem?”

“Father-in-law has written so many poems. How would I know which one?”

“The one that says, ‘Xiu already knows you, yet you still feel no shame!’”

After visiting Wu Yu, Ouyang Xiu returned to his residence with Ouyang Fa.

Late that night, Ouyang Xiu summoned Ouyang Fa to the study.

Ouyang Xiu was fifty-two that year, yet he had preserved himself remarkably well. His gaze was deep, and his bearing serene and profound.

Seeing Ouyang Fa, he asked, “How have your studies been lately?”

Ouyang Fa answered cautiously, “I have been applying myself diligently.”

“Today I visited the Wu family, and I was deeply affected. One father and four sons of that family produced five Presented Scholars, yet now, in the generation of their grandsons, not a single one has succeeded. Do you know why?”

Ouyang Fa said, “I have had dealings with the young men of the Wu family. They are good people.”

“They are good people, but when it comes to study, they lack a certain drive. Do you know why the Han and Lü families have remained powerful at court for decades without decline? Because every generation produces Presented Scholars.”

“That is why people have long said that the empire’s finest scholars emerge from either the Han family or the Lü family. Their sons never rely upon honorable protection to obtain fine offices. Such privilege easily breeds arrogance, indulgence, and a habit of enjoying comfort without striving for advancement.”

“Yes, Father. I shall remember your instruction.”

“You are the eldest brother. You must set an example for your younger brothers. If you are unwilling to study, then return to Yingchuan and live as a retired gentleman. Do not remain in the capital to bring shame upon me!”

After saying this, Ouyang Xiu thought of something and asked, “And what arrangements have been made for the third son of the Zhang family, the disciple of Zhang Boyi and Zhang Wangzhi?”

“I gave him some money and silver and had him settle in first.”

“His journey to the capital has taken him a thousand miles, and he has brought gifts and letters with him. You must receive him with care. Whatever you do, do not be discourteous.”

“I am entangled in official business, and Councillor Wu has fallen ill as well, so I cannot spare the time for the moment. Treat him properly on my behalf. When I have some leisure, have him come to the residence for a visit.”

Ouyang Fa could not help saying, “Father, the Third Young Master Zhang is a rare talent. I think you should make time to meet him.”

“Oh?”