Chapter 139 Family Tradition and House Rules

Wu Anshi thought to himself at that moment that his mother’s intention was definitely just as he suspected.

Before the Fifteenth Miss was married to the sixth young master of Wen Yanbo's family, Lady Li had specially invited palace maids and several elderly matrons who had served in noble and ducal households to tutor the Fifteenth Miss in etiquette and deportment.

Yet, the Seventeenth Miss remained at home, and Lady Li did not allow her to join those lessons. Was this not a clear indication that she had no intention of marrying the Seventeenth Miss into a prominent and noble family as she had done with her other daughters? It was a glaring display of favoritism.

Even marrying into an outstanding family of modest means would be acceptable—what if that person were to achieve great success one day?

During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong, Chancellor Wang Dan also had a daughter. At that time, many prestigious and influential families came to ask for her hand in marriage. Yet, after much deliberation, Wang Dan ultimately chose to give his daughter in marriage to a humble jinshi named Han Yi.

Everyone was taken aback. Although Han Yi was a newly minted jinshi, he came from a thoroughly impoverished background and was already a widower with a child.

His family members all questioned Wang Dan's decision and raised their objections together.

Wang Dan simply retorted, "This is not something you people can understand," and resolutely married his daughter to Han Yi.

And how did Han Yi fare in the future?

Leaving aside the fact that Han Yi himself attained the rank of Vice-Chancellor, all eight of his sons passed the imperial examinations and earned the jinshi degree. Among them, three sons served as Chancellors, and one as Vice-Chancellor.

To look back at the Chancellor Wang Dan, he married another daughter to the son of Chancellor Lü Jianyi, and arranged for his own son to marry Lü Jianyi's daughter. Yet another daughter was married to the grandson of Chancellor Fan Zhi.

Political marriages among high ministers of the Song Dynasty were ubiquitous.

Yet only Wang Dan possessed exceptional foresight, combining political investment with political alliances.

However... if one were to place Liu Ji and Zhang Yue side by side, even a blind man could see that Liu Ji had a much brighter future!

Liu Ji was the top scholar of the Imperial Academy, and this time he secured second place in the Directorate of Education examination; it was highly likely he would pass the metropolitan examination as a jinshi next spring. How could anyone write a person off simply because he frequented brothels?

Ouyang Xiu and Liu Yong both visited day and night, which only stimulated their creative inspiration and ultimately made them great grandmasters of literature.

Therefore, Wu Anshi still decided to offer some advice: "Mother, this Third Young Master Zhang entered the Imperial Academy before he was fifteen, so he certainly has talent, but he is unquestionably far inferior to Liu Ji. In my view, Liu Ji not only possesses fine literary talent and the makings of a top imperial scholar, but his essays are exceptionally well-written, and he stands out as the very best among the current Imperial Academy students. Furthermore, judging by what Erlang has said about his character—how deeply filial he is to the grandmother and paternal uncle who raised him—he is truly impeccable in both personal conduct and scholarship!"

Lady Li replied, "What use is the talent of a top scholar? Was he not mocked by Ouyang Gong with the remark, 'A scholar carves, an examiner scrapes'? In my eyes, he is nothing special. As for Third Young Master Zhang, did you not notice that his kinsman, Zhang Ziping, is the current top metropolitan scholar, and his elder brother is also a provincial head? Setting aside his own abilities, these two can look forward to illustrious futures."

Wu Anshi countered, "But Mother, although Liu Zhidao comes from a humble background, his clan is a prominent local family. As the primary son of his household, his family is still quite well-off. As for Third Young Master Zhang, his family owns only a single shop and possesses no other landed property; otherwise, why would his elder brother have found it necessary to change his household registration? The Seventeenth has lived a life of luxury since childhood; how could she possibly endure hardship?"

Hearing this, Lady Fan thought to herself that if Lady Li deliberately intended for the Seventeenth Miss to make a poor marriage, then speaking in such a manner would only play right into her hands.

Yet, even knowing this, Lady Fan chose not to offer any reminders, as if she harbored other intentions of her own.

Then she saw Lady Li glare at him and say, "Do you take me for some ignorant woman of the alleyways who never steps beyond the inner gates? Is my discernment in judging people really inferior to yours? I was the one who chose your father in the first place, and had your maternal grandparents grant their consent, back when your eldest uncle was still merely a county magistrate."

Wu Anshi hastily retreated a step and said, "I wouldn't dare. Naturally, this son would never presume to make decisions for Mother."

Lady Li continued, "That goes without saying. Even your maternal grandparents did not dare make decisions for me, so how could you possibly presume to?"

Wu Anshi was sweating profusely as he stammered, "Mother is entirely right. Of course, everything at home is decided by Mother."

Lady Li remarked, "You are wrong again. I cannot make the decision on this matter either; you had best let your father decide!"

Rebuffed several times over, Wu Anshi was too mortified and crestfallen to utter another word.

At this point, both Lady Li and Lady Fan turned their gazes back toward the water pavilion.

They saw Wu Chong returning to the reception hall, while Wu Anchi remained behind in the water pavilion to host the guests.

Lady Fan asked with a surprised expression, "Why is that? The meeting concluded after just this brief moment—could it be that Father did not take a fancy to either of them?"

Lady Li explained, "That is because you do not understand. Your father is a man who values his pride above all else. Since he called it a banquet gathering, he certainly cannot let outsiders perceive any underlying motives. If he questioned them too closely and drew the notice of others, word would spread and people would assume our Wu family's daughters are desperate to be married off."

Lady Fan smiled ruefully and said, "So that is how it is. Mother truly has eyes like torches."

Faced with her daughter-in-law's flattery, Lady Li merely smiled.

A moment later, Wu Chong entered the inner quarters, and Wu Anshi also took his leave from the reception hall.

Lady Fan poured tea for Wu Chong, while Lady Li asked him, "My lord, why did you return so quickly? Was there no one who caught your eye?"

Wu Chong took a sip of tea and replied, "What kind of talk is that? Today's gathering was held in the names of Anshi and Anchi; I merely happened to pass by, exchanged a few greetings, and that was all. If I had questioned them too closely and had it noticed and spread by meddlesome people, where would I hide my face?"

Hearing this, Lady Li smiled and said, "So that is how it was. As always, my lord considers everything with utmost thoroughness; it was my foolishness not to have foreseen it."

Hearing this, Lady Fan could not help casting a quick glance at Lady Li, then immediately lowered her gaze and attended quietly to the side.

Wu Chong set down his teacup, and Lady Li asked again, "Then was there anyone who met with your approval, my lord?"

Wu Chong replied, "We only exchanged a few hasty words and a brief glance; how could one make a definitive judgment in an instant?"

Lady Li smiled and said, "My lord has always been most astute in judging people. Is there anyone whose true nature you cannot read seventy or eighty percent of after a single glance? That scholar surnamed Niu from last time—you predicted he would pass the jinshi examination only after three tries, and sure enough, he passed on the fourth. I have always thought your judgment was nothing short of divine, my lord."

Wu Chong chuckled and said, "You still remember that matter, my夫人. I had completely forgotten."

"Is there a single word my lord has ever spoken that I could forget?"

Hearing this, Lady Fan felt an urge to cover her face.

Wu Chong smiled faintly and said, "That Liu Zhaozhi is indeed quite impressive. He has genuine literary talent, and his appearance is also quite acceptable. I had someone look over his essays for this upcoming autumn examination, and his style has undergone a remarkable transformation; previously it was convoluted and his phrasing was overly obscure. Now, not only does his writing possess substance and stylistic flair, but his arguments are sound. He truly has the talent of a top scholar."

"I offered him a few words of praise and even had Anchi ask him whether he was already betrothed. He replied that an engagement had been arranged in his hometown long ago, though he had lost contact for many years. I was already aware of this matter, but for him to state it so candidly shows that he is an honest man, which greatly raised my estimation of him."

Lady Li said, "My lord, if he is interested, even if a betrothal was made many years ago, it can still be called off."

Wu Chong responded, "We cannot make such decisions on behalf of others. Besides, even if he were truly to break off the engagement, what would we think of him? The act of casting aside one's wife upon attaining wealth and status is despicable. For our Wu family when taking in a daughter-in-law or recruiting a son-in-law, the most crucial considerations are family tradition and moral standing, followed by personal character, with everything else taking second place."

Hearing this, Lady Fan's expression brightened considerably.

Lady Li smiled and said, "I have noted your words, my lord. We shall look for the Seventeenth's future husband according to those standards. What of the others?"

Wu Chong replied, "There is also Third Young Master Zhang, who is likewise very good."

At this mention, Lady Fan's lips involuntarily twitched.

Lady Li smiled and said, "If my lord says he is good, he must be exceptional indeed. I thought that Third Young Master Zhang had a very upright and proper appearance."

Wu Chong smiled. "He may indeed be called a man of outstanding appearance."

Lady Li continued, "But as Anshi just mentioned, he is still merely an Imperial Academy student who previously studied the classics and has only recently turned to composition. Do we yet know the true caliber of his essays and literary talent?"

Wu Chong smiled and said, "There can be no mistake. The words of Chancellor Li Hang that Anchi mentioned the other day were actually spoken by this young man. At the time, I even thought Anchi had made some progress, but for someone so young to utter such words is truly remarkable. Later, when I met Ouyang Yongshu, he also brought up this young man to me, praising him as a favored disciple of Zhang Boyi and mentioning that Master Anding had specifically shown him this young man's essays before leaving the capital."

"You see, someone valued by Ouyang Yongshu, Master Anding, and Zhang Boyi—how could his literary talent possibly be lacking? However..."

"However what?"

Wu Chong’s smile faded as he said, "I heard from Anshi that Third Young Master Zhang's second elder brother, Zihou, once broke off a betrothal and left. Although this happened away in Pucheng and few people in the capital know of it, and it was later said the fault lay with the bride's family, it still inevitably casts a blemish on the family's reputation."

Lady Li said, "My lord has stated that family tradition and moral standing are of the utmost importance, a sentiment I deeply share. However, this Zhang Zihou is the current provincial head of Kaifeng Prefecture; when the chief examiner selected him, he naturally first recognized his moral character before endorsing his essays. Not to mention that his kinsman is the reigning top metropolitan scholar!"

Wu Chong replied, "That is true as well. In a few days, I shall invite this Third Young Master Zhang to our home and question him myself."

Lady Li smiled and said, "With my lord personally vetting him, that would naturally be best of all. When shall we invite Liu Ji to the manor?"

Wu Chong pondered briefly before saying, "As for Liu Ji, let it be. We will not invite him."

Lady Li smiled. "We shall follow your instructions, my lord. Since Third Young Master Zhang's family background is somewhat lacking, do you truly intend to seek a match for the Seventeenth among families of humble origins?"

Wu Chong smiled and said, "It is often said that descendants of prestigious clans are arrogant and dissolute, but youths from humble backgrounds can also prove ungrateful and faithless; one cannot generalize. To tell the truth, I have other considerations in mind."

Upon hearing this, Lady Fan hastily said, "This daughter-in-law will go urge the opera troupe to arrive earlier."

"Very well," Lady Li said with a satisfied smile.

After Lady Fan had departed, Wu Chong turned to Lady Li and said, "You must realize that among nearly twenty descendants across three generations of our Wu family, not a single one has yet earned the jinshi degree..."

Lady Li hastily stood up and said, "My lord, it is due to my lax discipline that Anshi, Anchi, and the others failed to achieve this. Perhaps I pampered them too much; if I had only been harsh enough to push them properly back then... In short, it is entirely because I was too soft-hearted..."

"This is not your fault, nor is it yours alone; I too share the blame for lacking in discipline," Wu Chong said, waving his hand. "Besides, passing the jinshi examination was never an easy feat to begin with. Things have reached this point; Anshi and Anchi are already what they are, and there is no use dwelling on it. I see no hope of them passing the jinshi examinations. In the future, if they can peacefully secure an official post through hereditary privilege, that will be enough."

Wiping away her tears, Lady Li said, "I have failed you, my lord."

Wu Chong sighed. "Why dwell on such talk now? It is precisely because of this realization that I decided the Seventeenth's marriage should not simply aim for a high match, nor focus solely on aristocratic lineage or blindly seek an exact social equal. That is the very reason why I forbade you from having the Seventeenth study etiquette alongside the Fifteenth back then."