Chapter Six, Facing Each Other Two by Two

Clusters of purple flowers hang down from the vines, forming a heavy veil of purple mist. The vines climb to the eaves, and the flowers resemble strings of purple gemstones adorning the window. Beneath the four large, open, red lacquered, carved wooden windows is a spacious Huanghuali wood writing desk. In the Longquan celadon water basin on the desk, a small pool of water lilies is nurtured. Two yellowed nan bamboo paperweights hold down a sheet of snow-white Jiajing bamboo paper.

The blue sleeves were blown open by the wind, resembling his outstretched embrace. Ji Yingying understood Zhao Xiuyuan's meaning, and her face suddenly flushed. She gazed at him dreamily, and after a while, Zhao Xiuyuan waved at her, prompting her to shyly leave the window. Yet, feeling a bit reluctant, she hid to the side and quietly peeked out to look. It was not until Zhao Xiuyuan's figure disappeared that Ji Yingying touched her burning face and left.

Linger entered the room and saw the window wide open. She hurried over to close it, muttering to herself, "I wonder how many mosquitoes have come in. I will need to burn more mugwort tonight."

Eighteen-year-old Zhao Xiuyuan is wearing a blue silk robe, with a matching ribbon tied around the sleeves, and is intently focused on painting

Zhao Shen's smile resembled the splendid peonies blooming between her skirts, as she casually praised Ji Yingying: "... she is quite charming, and her embroidery skills are excellent. Just look at her, she is certainly clever. Erlang has several cousins who are all outstanding young men, and they are eager for me to act as a matchmaker. I will have a good talk with your mother later... let her meet them. If this good fortune comes to pass, I will also be able to enjoy a cup of thank-you wine for my matchmaking efforts"

The elder of the Zhao family watched as his grandchildren gradually grew into adulthood and declared that whoever could win back the plaque of the Golden King for the Zhao family this year would become the next head of the family. Once the successor was determined, a series of training would commence to gradually hand over the family business from the current head to him. With each generation's continuous inheritance, the family fortune would not decline. Everyone understood that the elder had already decided to choose between Zhao Dalang and Zhao Erlang.

As soon as the voice fell, someone pushed open the wooden window covered with rose-red curtains

The tribute brocade submitted each year does not necessarily have to be made from silk dyed with the secret formula of the Ji family. The Huanhua Dyeing House cannot produce that much silk. However, the competition brocade is different. Each year, the brocade competition held in Yizhou Prefecture requires each family to submit only one piece of brocade. For the glory of the Brocade King and to gain fame in the competition, each family meticulously selects and deliberates on every aspect from design, finalization, patterning, flower selection, assembly, to weaving. The quality of the silk thread determines the quality of the brocade. From design, finalization, patterning, flower selection, assembly, to weaving, each family carefully chooses and repeatedly considers their decisions. The quality of the silk thread determines the quality of the brocade.

Ji Yingying seemed as if her innermost thoughts had been pierced, and she rarely retorted. She sat in front of the embroidery frame, smiling foolishly, staring at the half-stitched scripture, not having made a single stitch for a long time.

With a pause of the pen, Zhao Xiuyuan set it down, crumpled the drawing paper into a ball and discarded it, then took another piece of bamboo paper and laid it out properly. However, this time he did not put pen to paper at all. He felt somewhat restless.

Thank you, madam, for your concern regarding my sister's marriage. As her elder brother, I naturally hope she can find a good home. Our mother is still at home waiting for my response, so I must return now. " Ji Yaoting feigned indifference as he stood up to take his leave, politely saying, "If you have time, madam, please come to the Huanhua Dyeing Workshop at the end of the year to celebrate with a cup of wedding wine.

Madam, the day before yesterday you used the old gentleman's words to keep Erlang Jun at home, simply to avoid openly obstructing his secret meetings with the young lady of the Ji family, thus preserving the mother-son bond. I believe that to persuade Erlang Jun to change his mind, it would be better to start with the Ji family. If the young lady of the Ji family is engaged, Erlang Jun will be heartbroken for a while, but he will eventually give up.

The wet nurse Gu, dressed in a cyan floral brocade robe, was Zhao Shen's wet nurse. She reached out to help Zhao Shen to her feet and gently advised, "Madam, do not let your health be affected by anger. Our family is not one that can aspire to the likes of the small Ji family. It is just... Madam, please persuade the young master well, so that mother and son do not become estranged in heart."

Since childhood, the son has had his own opinions. Zhao Shenshi can only hope that her husband can come up with a way to put an end to Zhao Xiuyuan's intentions.

Zhao Shenshi patted her hand and left the flower hall, following the corridor to the backyard. Her finely shaped eyebrows were slightly furrowed, troubled: "If it weren't for your attentiveness, I wouldn't have known that Erlang has been secretly meeting that girl all along. Tell Zhao Ping to watch his mouth. If he doesn't want to be punished by the family law, he should refrain from leaking information to Erlang."

Once Ji Yaoting took his leave, Zhao Shenshi let out a cold snort and sarcastically remarked: "The Ji family's secret recipe is passed down to daughters-in-law, not daughters. What benefit would marrying that Ji Yingying bring to my family's Erlang? Does the Zhao family still lack embroiderers?"

A small tapestry, two months is sufficient. When Ji Yingying placed a bougainvillea on the windowsill of the embroidery room, Zhao Xiuyuan was persuaded by his mother to stay at home. He asked Zhao Ping to go to Zhulin Temple to inform Ji Yingying. As a result, Zhao Ping was frightened by Zhao Shen's family and did not dare to go to Zhulin Temple, instead turning around and lying to Zhao Xiuyuan.

"I am at your service," replied the maid. Granny Gu accompanied her for a while and then said, "Madam, do you think we should have Er Lang Jun move out of the vine garden? This way, he won't see the young lady from the Ji family meeting with him."

The gentle sunlight filtered through the vine flowers and cast upon him, tinting his brows with a green hue reminiscent of the mountains, clear and picturesque. Just looking at him makes one want to breathe softly, reluctant to disturb him.

Aside from the disparity in family background, Ji Yaoting did not feel that his younger sister was unworthy of Zhao Xiuyuan. The Zhao family was deeply entrenched, and he was concerned that Ji Yingying would be constrained by them. The Zhao family had no intention of pursuing the matter, and the Ji family would never shamelessly entangle themselves. Ji Yaoting was determined to persuade his sister to give up.

The selection of heirs by the century-old family is extremely cautious. The legitimate son of the Zhao family diligently practices the family’s traditional brocade weaving skills, and can only marry after turning eighteen. Zhao Xiuyuan has just turned eighteen this year and finally dares to ask his mother to propose to the Ji family.

Staring at the pure white bamboo paper, Zhao Xiuyuan's lips curled slightly: "Yingying, if I could see you for just a moment, I would surely be able to create an even better piece."

Poor Yingying, how could she be so foolish? Why does she have to fall for Zhao Xiuyuan? Although Ji Yaoting had anticipated such an outcome, he still felt sad for his sister

Last month, upon returning home, Zhao Xiuyuan implored Zhao Shenshi to propose marriage to the Ji family. Zhao Shenshi was taken aback and used the excuse of discussing marriage after the Doujin Festival to pacify her son. As the head of the household, she immediately summoned Zhao Ping, Zhao Xiuyuan's companion, for questioning. After the inquiry, Zhao Shenshi nearly fainted from anger. She never expected that her son was able to gaze across the street at Ji Yingying, who lived just a street away, exchanging flowers as tokens of affection and frequently meeting at the bamboo forest temple on the outskirts of the city.

Zhao Shenshi resents her son for being infatuated with Ji Yingying, and even more so for Ji Yingying's seduction of Zhao Xiuyuan. Yet, she finds herself in a dilemma, unable to vent the frustration that is building up in her chest, leaving her in discomfort.

Zhao Xiuyuan's mood was as if it had been blown through by the wind, incredibly refreshing. He could not contain his joy and longing, smiling as he opened his arms wide

You still do not understand Er Lang's temperament? It is better to reason with him than to forcefully stop him. Otherwise, it would be strange if there isn't chaos at home. This troublesome child, if he does not marry a good wife, how can he compete with the eldest son of the second uncle's family for the position of head of the family? After I and his father pass away in a hundred years, will we have to hand over the Yuejin Hall to the second branch?" Zhao Shen's wife became increasingly angry as she spoke, stopping at the second door, "No, I must go talk to Er Lang, otherwise my heart feels so blocked.

In the Zhao family's direct lineage, there are three brothers living in the main residence. A total of nine legitimate sons are eligible to compete with Zhao Xiuyuan for the position of family head. The youngest, Seventh Brother, is only six years old. Among the other legitimate sons, the eldest, Third Brother, is just fourteen. The only one who can contend with Zhao Xiuyuan for the next family head is the eldest son of the second branch. Last year, Zhao's eldest son married the legitimate daughter of the prominent Liu family from Yizhou Prefecture, known for its brocade weaving. With the support of his wife's family, the second branch's momentum in vying for the family head position has suddenly surged.

The two brothers of the Zhao family and the skilled brocade weavers of the Zhao clan presented their finest brocade artworks. The greatest wish of Old Master Zhao in his lifetime was to win the title of Brocade King once more. He did not inform everyone which piece of brocade he had chosen to enter the competition. Instead, he encouraged all those selected to take advantage of the remaining two months to weave another piece of brocade.

As a result, the top-quality bright red silk dyed with the secret formula of the Huanhua dyeing house has made Huanhua silk a sought-after commodity

The branches of the yellow jujube tree in the yard stretched directly to the eaves of the house. Beneath the black tiles and white walls, the rose-colored window curtains complemented the touch of light green, resembling a tender sprout emerging from the branches in spring, delicate beyond measure. His heart felt as if it had fallen into spring water, and he couldn't help but softly call out: "Yingying, I am here."

The brocade used in the brocade competition is not a whole bolt, but rather a piece of brocade artwork measuring three feet in size. The competition focuses on the patterns, colors, and weaving techniques. The time required to weave a complete bolt of Shu brocade is too long. This regulation allows participating families to create a new piece of brocade artwork in a short period of time

In the vine garden, there are two robust ancient vines. Their intertwined branches provide shade over most of the courtyard. The main house has two stories; the ground floor consists of Zhao Xiuyuan's study and brocade room, while the second floor contains the living room and bedroom

Ji Yingying, tired from embroidering, yawned and lifted her head in boredom. In an instant, she saw someone in a blue robe on the upper floor in the distance. Ji Yingying's eyes lit up as she waved her arms at him

Go see if the master has returned

Across the street, Zhao Xiuyuan could not clearly see the woman's features and expressions; he only caught a glimpse of the graceful silhouette standing by the window. Yet he knew for certain that it was not the maid of the Ji family, but Ji Yingying.

Zhao Shenshi hesitated for a moment, but still followed the wet nurse's advice and turned to enter the second gate: "Once he gets married and intends to take Ji Yingying as a concubine, I will personally go to propose to her as a noble concubine without a second thought. Yet he, on the other hand, wants me to hire a matchmaker to propose to her as a legitimate wife. If it weren't for the annual brocade competition, where I have to beg the Huanhua Dyeing Workshop to dye the finest silk threads... for just a small dyeing workshop, why would I need to be so cautious?"

Zhao Shenshi has raised her son since childhood to become the successor of the family head, intending to retain the authority of the main branch. In her mind, the wife of Zhao Xiuyuan is certainly not a delicate and unassuming woman like Ji Yingying

In the small courtyard of the Ji family, there stands a tall yellow jujube tree. Its branches shade most of the courtyard, deliberately leaving a corner open to reveal the window of the embroidered room. Zhao Xiuyuan could not help but whisper, "Yingying, if you share my feelings, allow me to see you once."

He untied his sleeves and left the study to go upstairs. Pushing open the intricately carved wooden window of the living room, which depicted the story of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, he gazed from a distance at the small courtyard where Ji Yingying lived, located just outside the street.

The shadows of flowers are reflected, and the study is tranquil and elegant