Chapter 28: The Unorthodox Proposal
On the way back, Madam Shen didn’t ask Yin Zhi to share her carriage. Instead, she chose to ride with the Third Madam. The two sisters-in-law chatted affectionately all the way.
Yin Zhi had a carriage to herself and leaned back comfortably as she made her way home.
Madam Shen kept her composure. Upon returning home, she washed up and resumed her daily routine as usual. When the First Madam came to visit, she said, “Since you made the trip, why not stay a few more days?”
Madam Shen smiled and replied, “I’m not a young girl anymore.”
The First Madam sighed, “Back then, you were a young girl. I was newly married when you left for the capital. Who knows how many more times we’ll see each other in this life.”
Travel during this time was difficult and dangerous. Roads were infested with wild animals, and the journey was costly. Many people never left the places they were born, some even spending their entire lives without visiting the county town.
It was even less likely for women to travel.
Even daughters from noble households, once married far away, might never return to their natal homes. Whether or not they could return didn’t depend on their own family but on their husband’s willingness to bear the cost.
Most husbands were not willing.
In contrast, Madam Shen had returned to her natal home twice. She was indeed a fortunate woman, and she knew well there likely wouldn’t be a third time.
They all sighed.
After resting for a night, the next day Madam Shen formally visited her elder brother and sister-in-law to propose a marriage.
Master Yin (the third uncle) and Third Madam were stunned.
When Shen Ti was young, Master Yin knew it was wishful thinking. Now that Shen Ti had ranked third in the imperial exam, Master Yin had hoped for his nephew to marry into an even more prestigious family.
He never expected a familial match again.
When this was mentioned to the old master, his first reaction had been: “Good fortune doesn’t fall from the sky. There must be some hidden issue or shortcoming.” But Master Yin, unlike his cautious father, had immediately thought, “Finally, a stroke of luck for me!”
He was even less discerning than Yin Zhi.
Of course, this could be because he stood only to gain, while any potential downside would be Yin Zhi’s to bear.
Having received reassurance from the senior monk, Madam Shen believed the match between Yin Zhi and Shen Ti was destined and protected by the Buddha. She decided to proceed with the engagement.
What else could Master Yin do but rejoice? He called out immediately, “Quick, summon Fourth Miss at once!”
Third Madam gave him a playful slap, then told the maid, “Have Fourth Miss freshen up before coming. Don’t let her look too casual.”
“Yes, yes!” Master Yin added. “She needs to be presentable!”
After all, this was a betrothal to the Shen family. The daughter must appear respectable.
But his fatherly love had always been unstable. When nostalgia struck, he’d get sentimental, but most of the time, he barely noticed her.
As the Fourth Daughter aged and remained unmarried, she became more of a burden and less favored.
Now, he regretted not showing her more attention. He wasn’t even sure if she had any decent clothing.
He pushed his wife: “You go. You go yourself.”
Left with no choice, Third Madam went herself.
She pulled Yin Zhi inside and said cheerfully, “Good child, your fortune has turned!”
With a bright face, she claimed all the credit: “It wasn’t in vain that I praised you constantly to your aunt. Guess what? Your aunt came this time to arrange a familial match. Thanks to my daily praises, she’s chosen you. From now on, you’ll be the wife of a jinshi!”
Yin Zhi played along perfectly. She gasped in surprise: “Is what Mother said true?”
“Of course, absolutely true!”
Yin Zhi wiped at her eyes with her sleeve: “Mother’s great kindness, I shall never forget.”
Pleased, Third Madam urged her, “Quickly, change clothes and come with me to see your aunt.”
Yin Zhi called for her maid to bring clothes. Third Madam wasn’t satisfied: “Don’t you have anything brand new?”
Of course a wealthy family had new clothes. Yin Zhi didn’t argue and changed into a crisp new outfit before following her stepmother.
Madam Shen had been observing her for days. One look at the new outfit told her it was arranged by the Third Madam.
She didn’t comment, only smiled and said, “Fourth Miss, do you know why you’ve been called?”
Yin Zhi, like all well-bred girls of her time, bowed her head slightly and answered softly, “Mother has informed me.”
Madam Shen patted her hand: “You’ll be part of our family now. With me around, you need not worry.”
Yin Zhi nodded.
Madam Shen took out a luxurious gold hairpin inlaid with rubies and pinned it in her hair. The red jewels lit up the girl’s cheeks like rosy clouds.
Thus, the Shen family of the capital formally arranged the engagement of Shen Ti, the newly ranked third scholar, with the Fourth Miss of the third branch of the Yin family in Huaixi—Yin Zhi.
Yin Zhi lowered her head.
Though she had read many transmigration novels, she never harbored fantasies of emperors clearing their harems for her or being adored by all.
On the contrary, Yin Zhi believed marriage was a graveyard for transmigrated women. She had only ever wanted to dig out a tomb with a small skylight for herself.
She never imagined she’d be this lucky.
The biggest challenge of her transmigration was now resolved.
She couldn’t help but smile faintly.
Even so, Madam Shen found her too calm, too composed, not at all overwhelmed.
That pleased her.
She said to the dazed Master Yin, “Brother, now that everything is settled, we should inform Father and Mother.”
Master Yin, snapping out of his stupor, stood up: “Yes, yes, I’ll go now!”
Then he ordered his wife, “You go to Mother.”
The couple, full of joy, hurried off in different directions, leaving Yin Zhi behind.
Madam Shen had planned this precisely to speak to Yin Zhi alone.
She dismissed the maids and spoke gently: “Child, I know you must be both shy and happy right now. But I am your aunt, and since I have arranged your future, there are things I don’t wish to hide from you. It’s better for you to know early and prepare.”
While Madam Shen searched for the right words, the previously “shy” Yin Zhi lifted her head and said clearly, “Is Aunt referring to the young lady Cousin Shen was previously engaged to?”
Madam Shen was startled: “Oh?”
Yin Zhi didn’t hold back: “I met Cousin on the way to visit my master. He stopped me and shared some things.”
Madam Shen’s expression darkened: “What did he say? Did he speak nonsense?”
Yin Zhi smiled slightly: “How could a jinshi speak nonsense? He merely told me about his past engagement and asked me to refuse this marriage.”
Madam Shen was furious: “Unfilial child! Outrageous!”
She asked, “How did you respond?”
She had observed Yin Zhi for over half a month. Though Third Madam always praised her daughters before others, in private she had complained to Madam Shen: “She’s foolish, inarticulate, and doesn’t know how to please.”
Of course, by “please” she meant flattering her stepmother.
But Madam Shen trusted her own eyes.
After watching Yin Zhi, she was certain the girl was far more mature and composed than her sisters.
What Madam Shen now wanted to know was how Yin Zhi had responded to Shen Ti—her attitude toward this entire matter.
Yin Zhi had lived here for 8 or 9 years and understood the moral framework of the time well.
She launched into a carefully rehearsed speech: “I told Cousin that marriage is decided by the elders, not by us.”
“If the elders match us, then I will marry him properly, with full rites.”
“If the elders do not, we are still close cousins. Our bond will remain strong for generations.”
Her reply was measured and safe—something she had prepared in advance.
As expected, Madam Shen was pleased and scolded her son: “All that studying, and he still knows less than a girl in the boudoir.”
“Cousin is still young,” Yin Zhi defended Shen Ti, “He was calm, didn’t make a fuss, and wanted to settle things quietly. He was being considerate.”
Only a mother may scold her son. For someone else to join in would be out of line. By stepping in to protect Shen Ti, Yin Zhi won even more favor.
This daughter-in-law was indeed well chosen.
Madam Shen took her hand and shed tears: “He must take the Feng girl as a concubine. It will be a grievance to you.”
Yin Zhi thought to herself, "So, her surname is Feng."
She clasped Madam Shen’s hand warmly: “Don’t worry, Aunt. Once I’m married, I will live with you.”
Who cares about the husband? The mother-in-law is the real boss of a daughter-in-law!
Look, without any confusion from love, life becomes so clear.
She was so considerate, it was heartbreaking.
Surely it was because she had been wronged as a concubine’s daughter.
Madam Shen had also been a concubine’s daughter once, raised under her stepmother. Even more coincidentally, she was the fourth daughter, just like Yin Zhi.
As she looked at the beautiful girl before her, she saw her younger self.
“Don’t worry,” she said firmly, “Since I have chosen you, I won’t let you be wronged.”
She added, “Remember, in the future I may be your mother-in-law, but I will always be your aunt.”
A mother-in-law is a social role, but an aunt is bound by blood.
Suppressing her joy, Yin Zhi called out sincerely: “Aunt!”
This marriage shook the entire Yin family.
The other wives beat their chests in regret. If they had known Madam Shen came to pick a daughter-in-law, they would have pushed their own girls forward. But who could have guessed?
Back then, everyone was simply caught up in the joy of Shen Ti’s success.
It turned out the old master had known all along and kept it secret. His silence drove his daughters-in-law mad.
The old matriarch was so angry she fell ill.
Back when the Shen family had first come to choose a bride, they had skipped her biological daughter for a non-blood relative.
Now again, they had chosen someone not related to her.
When she found out her husband had known from the start, she flopped back in bed in anger.
Then she sat up and wailed: “That old devil! He just can’t bear to see me happy!”
Despite having direct granddaughters, he chose the concubine’s daughter.
The old master, for once visiting her, rolled his eyes: “Was it up to me? If it were, would I be marrying someone else? I’d marry into the Shen family myself!”
“It’s fate.”
“Third Daughter didn’t have this fate back then. Others don’t have it now.”
“Who it belongs to, it belongs to.”
With the engagement settled, Madam Shen and her son planned their return.
Though newly successful scholars were given time off, it was important to begin social visits early. As rare as it was to visit her family, her son’s future came first.
According to custom, betrothed couples were not to meet before marriage.
Yet before they departed, someone came to Yin Zhi’s courtyard.
It was a young page, around seven or eight, with proper manners and a fair, adorable face.
Yin Zhi had seen him at Donglin Temple but never spoken. She offered him candy: “What’s your name again?”
“Greetings, Fourth Miss,” the boy bowed respectfully. Clearly well-trained, he said, “My name is Changchuan. I serve the young master.”
While speaking politely, he tucked the candy neatly into his waistband.
“Young Master asked me to bring you a message.”
“He says there is no need for you to worry about what was said earlier. He will take care of everything. A wife is to be one’s equal. In his heart, things are already decided.”
“He also says: Please remember your original intention. Do not forget our agreement.”