Chapter 3

Before I knew it, Third Young Master Xiao and I had been corresponding for more than three months.

His letters filled three boxes to the brim.

At first he wrote only a few pages. Later he became quite outrageous, as though he wished he could write an entire book and send it to me.

By the time his latest letter arrived, it was spring.

The magnolias in the courtyard were in full bloom.

The sunshine was pleasant and warm.

Sitting beneath the grapevine, I opened the letter and stared.

This time he had written only three thin pages.

“Ah Yao, let these words bring me before you; may you smile as you open my letter. After these three months of correspondence, I wonder whether you find me satisfactory.”

He had said we should write to get to know each other, and he truly had told me everything, down to the smallest detail.

What he liked to eat at each meal. What colors he liked to wear.

How he listened to the rain in the morning and admired the flowers at sunset.

Afraid I couldn’t picture it, he had even drawn a plan of his courtyard and sent it to me.

In his letters, he explained it all.

Where the pavilions and terraces stood. Which spots were best for brewing tea and listening to summer rain, or warming wine and watching winter snow.

A sense of ease ran through every line.

Sometimes, walking outside, I would come upon a lovely view.

And suddenly I would think: if the third young master were here,

he would surely be dressed in pale robes with a jade coronet in his hair, sipping a pot of clear wine and sitting quietly there all day.

I gathered my wandering thoughts and read on.

“Ah Yao must have thought a great many things the moment she read that last sentence.”

He really did guess everything.

This letter was perfectly serious. Not a word of nonsense in it.

Or, one could say, nothing but nonsense.

Who needed so many words merely to introduce his name, background, and interests?

He said he was the third son of his family and that his name was Xiao Tong.

The name came from the ideal of universal harmony. His family had originally intended him for an official career.

But as he grew older, he preferred traveling and doing business, so he had chosen the courtesy name Hengzhi.

“Your father may have told you that in my reckless youth, I was hailed as Jiangnan’s foremost scholar. I passed the highest imperial examination and took office at court, but resigned and came home a year later. By then, I had realized I was no great statesman capable of governing the realm and saving its people. Through trade, one can still weigh the affairs of the world. After all, when all is said and done, the world runs on profit.”

Father had certainly never mentioned that Xiao Tong had been an official.

I looked again at the words “in my youth.”

Just how old was he?

Father happened to come home then.

I stopped him to ask. “Father, do you know how old Young Master Xiao is?”

“Oh, how am I supposed to remember everything?” he said vaguely. “I saw that he was a fine-looking, respectable scholar, so I didn’t ask any more questions.”

I thought, without much feeling,

that this was just like Father. He kept insisting he had found me an excellent match.

Yet all he knew was that the man lived on Vermilion Bird Street in Jiangnan and was the Xiao family’s third young master. Ask him anything else, and he knew nothing.

He came closer, his eyes shifting. “Ah Yao. The year your mother died, I gave you most of the family property for your dowry. But since you still haven’t married, couldn’t you spare some for me? I have those two little brothers of yours to raise. Money has been rather tight lately.”

I lifted the letter in my hand. “Father, I’m going to Jiangnan to be married,” I said calmly. “The Xiao family is rich and powerful. What if, without a dowry, they looked down on me—and on our Xie family?”

Father cared more about appearances than anything. At that, he said no more.

Then he thought of something. “How much are the Xiao family offering in betrothal gifts?”

I got up and left, unwilling to make idle conversation.

Behind me, he muttered, “Everyone says my daughter is gentle and mild. If you ask me, she has quite a temper!”

I returned to my room.

Taking up my brush, I wrote:

“In half a month, I will come to Jiangnan to formalize our engagement. Please meet me when I arrive.”

Outside, I heard a commotion and crying.

Looking through the window, I saw Madam Zhang holding her two sons and weeping.

Ah Jing stood nearby. “I didn’t hit them!” he said stubbornly. “I’ll say the same thing even if Father comes!”

I went out, took Ah Jing by the hand, and told Madam Zhang calmly, “I’ll be taking Ah Jing away in half a month. You needn’t trouble yourself with schemes against the two of us any longer.”

She glanced at me. “You must be joking, Eldest Miss,” she said softly. “I wouldn’t dare.”

I took Ah Jing back to my room.

Young as he was, there was a wistfulness in his voice. “Sister, when we go to Jiangnan, will we still have a home?”

I put my arms around him. Looking at the magnolias outside, I said quietly, “Home is wherever your heart is at peace. Don’t be afraid, Ah Jing. I’ll always protect you.”