Chen Xuan Yue was quickly appointed to the position of Administrative Secretary of the Left Military Command.
This was the first time the Chen family had produced a military official.
Third Master Chen spoke with Chen Xuan Yue: “Though the position of Administrative Secretary isn’t high-ranking, promotion from there would be remarkable. It depends on whether you have the ability. Your Third Uncle will help look after you, but ultimately it depends on yourself.”
Having worked hard for several years, Chen Xuan Yue understood these matters clearly. After staying at home for a month, he prepared to return to Shaanxi.
Chen Xi didn’t go to see him off when he left.
She had been avoiding him these days. Thinking about what happened by the lotus pond that day still made her feel flustered. But when he truly left, she felt lost. Chen Xi understood she needed to keep her distance—she and Chen Xuan Yue shared the same surname, and they had grown up together. If word got out, her reputation would be ruined. So she buried this matter deep in her heart, never mentioning it to anyone.
Perhaps because they had spent years together, she had already begun to like him. She just hadn’t realized it herself.
Besides, he didn’t care about her at all. When he left, he seemed to have completely forgotten her existence and didn’t even say goodbye…
Chen Xi’s heart remained in turmoil for several days before she finally made sense of things.
It would be best to pretend nothing had happened.
Her father finally decided to marry her to the heir of the Marquis of Ding Yang. The Marquis’s family was delighted and offered a betrothal gift of three thousand taels of silver.
On her wedding day, the household was bustling with activity. Lady Gu Jin Chao invited Old Lady Chang to help with her hair. Her two younger brothers, Chen Xuan Lin and Chen Xuan Jing, played nearby, both eager to watch her dress up. After each received a light smack from Gu Jin Chao, they behaved, and the two little radish-heads were led out.
When everyone had left, Gu Jin Chao carefully explained to her the ways of being a wife.
Chen Xi listened attentively, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Gu Jin Chao was content: “I watched you grow up, and in the blink of an eye, you’re getting married.”
Gu Jin Chao opened the door to find the two children pushing each other behind the latticed door. Seeing her emerge, they both grinned and called out to Mother. Gu Jin Chao reached out to catch them, but they darted away, leaving her with a headache.
Only the Third Master could control those two.
When she turned back to look at Chen Xi, she found her gazing absently into the mirror.
By the time the title passed to the current generation, the Marquis of Ding Yang’s household no longer had the large family it once did. The heir had only two half-brothers, and both their wives respected Chen Xi’s background, never exchanging a single unpleasant word with her. Her parents-in-law treated her kindly as well.
Two years later, she had a child, a girl. Then she failed to conceive again. Eventually, her mother-in-law couldn’t bear it anymore and spoke with the heir. The next day, two concubines joined his household.
Chen Xi thought she wouldn’t mind. But she had grown up in a different environment—her Seventh Brother had only one proper wife, and her mother and father had only each other, no concubines or bedchamber servants. Who could endure seeing their husband sleeping in another woman’s quarters?
She took her daughter and stayed at her parent’s home for a while.
Gu Jin Chao couldn’t interfere in such matters. No matter how powerful the Chen family was, they couldn’t prevent their son-in-law from taking concubines. That would only confirm Chen Xi’s reputation for jealousy. She could only tell Chen Xi: “If they bear sons, have them raised under your name. The Marquis’s household wouldn’t dare elevate a proper concubine for the heir. These two bedchamber servants—just endure it and it will pass.”
Chen Xi cried in her arms for a while and then felt better.
After comforting her, Gu Jin Chao sighed: “Your child is already a few years old, and Chen Zhao is about to be engaged. Yet your Ninth Brother remains far away in Shaanxi without any intention of starting a family. I can’t even control him… The last time I wrote to him, he said he wasn’t in a hurry. He’s already in his twenties. If he doesn’t marry soon, what young lady from a good family would be willing to marry him later…”
Her mother was probably trying to change the subject to comfort her, but Chen Xi was stunned: “Ninth Brother still isn’t married?” She had thought he already had a family in Shaanxi.
Gu Jin Chao shook her head with a smile: “He’s just odd! I can’t be bothered with him anymore.”
Chen Xi remembered what had happened by the lotus pond when she was fifteen. Her heart suddenly felt a little dazed.
After returning to the Marquis’s mansion, the heir, following his mother’s advice, carefully came to comfort her. When they were about to go to bed, she refused him, claiming she felt unwell. The heir thought she was still upset about the two concubines, and his expression immediately darkened: “You… although you are a daughter of the Chen family, you are also my wife, aren’t you? If you weren’t a Chen, I could easily divorce you for the seven grounds. Haven’t I treated you well enough all these years? I never had anyone else. Do you know what people outside say about me? And now I have to humble myself to ask for your forgiveness. I want to ask, whose fault is it?”
He left after saying this.
Chen Xi sat bewildered for a while, feeling very unhappy.
But she didn’t even know what she was unhappy about. After the sadness, she felt relieved.
Afterward, she indeed ignored the two concubines. Later, one of them gave birth to a baby boy, who was raised under her name. The old nurse once suggested she keep the child but get rid of the mother to eliminate future trouble. Chen Xi considered it but refused—not out of compassion, but because she felt it unnecessary.
In the sixteenth year of the Wanli era, Chen Xuan Yue quelled a major Mongolian rebellion and returned triumphantly. He was promoted to the position of Qian Shi of the Military Command, a rank of Senior Second Grade.
Third Master Chen personally went to welcome him.
Chen Xi heard that he wore a felt flower, rode horseback through the streets and that all the common people of the capital lined the roads to welcome him. It was more magnificent than a top scholar’s parade, with everyone in the city coming out to see it.
She couldn’t witness such a grand occasion.
At the family banquet, she only caught a glimpse of him.
Times had changed, and standing beside him now was his Second Uncle and Father. Second Uncle smiled and patted his shoulder, but he remained indifferent.
Chen Xi thought about how Second Uncle and Second Aunt had treated him before. If she were in his position, she probably wouldn’t be too warm either!
After the banquet ended, she accompanied her mother back.
Gu Jin Chao asked about the boy, and she replied: “His temperament is good, very teachable.”
As they were talking, they heard a maid announce from outside that the Ninth Master had arrived.
Chen Xi was startled, but Gu Jin Chao had already called him in. When he entered, his face was full of smiles, appearing very happy.
“Aunt, I’m back!” he said, only then noticing Chen Xi was also present, immediately restraining his tone.
Only in front of his aunt did he show childlike happiness.
Gu Jin Chao smiled and said: “I thought becoming a high official would make you more reserved. What brings you here?”
“There were too many people around when I returned, so I couldn’t come see you,” he stood a few steps away. “I wanted to pay my respects.”
Gu Jin Chao shook her head: “That won’t do. You’re now a second-rank official, how could you be paying respects to me!… Weren’t you speaking with your father and the others? Why have you come so quickly?”
Chen Xuan Yue said: “No matter how high my rank, you are still my aunt. I must pay my respects to you. As for my father… it’s always the same few words, nothing much to say.”