Chapter 3

After we returned from Jiangnan, Second Sister was placed in Mother’s care.

But the lessons the concubine had taught her were already carved into her bones.

Rooting them out was exceedingly difficult.

Besides, the concubine was Second Sister’s birth mother.

Mother and daughter had depended on each other for more than a decade.

Second Sister would never believe that my mother genuinely wanted what was best for her.

Instead, she believed her own mother’s teachings were the truly useful ones.

Mother disciplined her for two years. Although Second Sister changed a great deal, her speech and manner remained more flirtatious than those of the rest of us.

Mother grew weary too.

“All I can do now is restrict her outings. Once she marries and begins living her own life, she will learn right from wrong.”

The affairs of the inner household were merely a diversion after my lessons.

Father had set an extraordinary number of goals for me.

Beyond the Four Books and Five Classics, he even required me to offer my views on affairs at court.

I was busy, but I enjoyed it.

Sometimes I found it strange.

Why did Father make me learn so much?

After all, the law of our dynasty forbade women from holding office.

Even if Father one day rose to the first rank, he could not change that fact.

The year I came of age, we returned to our ancestral home in Jiangnan again.

Second Sister had changed considerably by then.

She finally looked like a proper young lady.

Grandmother saw it and at last felt her anger ease.

Yet whenever Grandmother was not looking, Second Sister would curl her lip and toy with her hair in the concubine’s manner, just as before.

After the New Year, my hairpin ceremony would be held with great fanfare.

That meant marriage talks could begin.

When we sisters gathered, that was all we discussed.

A girl’s marriage determined her whole life, and each of us had hopes and dreams for it.

Other than Second Sister and me, Third Sister was the oldest.

Of the remaining three, she was also the most curious about marriage.

Clinging to my arm, she asked,

“Eldest Sister, has Mother told you what sort of family she plans to find for you?”

It was a bold question, and the two youngest girls blushed.

Second Sister said nothing, but her gaze turned toward me too.

I shook my head.

“I don’t know. Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers.”

I never doubted Mother’s judgment or wisdom.

Third Sister loosened her hold on my arm but refused to give up.

“Even so, Mother must ask what you want, Eldest Sister.”

Our youngest, Fifth Sister, innocently repeated what the fifth concubine had taught her.

“Marriage is a girl’s second birth. If she is born into the wrong family the second time, her life will be miserable.”

The other three sisters agreed wholeheartedly.

Fourth Sister then looked curiously at Second Sister.

“Second Sister, what sort of husband do you want?”

“You’re next after Eldest Sister.”

As they grew older, my sisters came to understand that cultivating a good relationship with me might persuade Mother to choose better marriages for them.

I had reassured them tactfully that they need not worry so much.

We sisters would prosper together or suffer together.

When Mother chose husbands for them, she would naturally select the best candidates she could.

Still, no one could simply stop worrying about her own lifelong fate.

By asking about my prospects, they were also trying to learn what sort of match they themselves might expect.

Second Sister alone remained serenely unconcerned, as though none of it mattered to her.

“I already know where I am going.”