004 Double Joy

Wang Lanping came to a stop. The moment Yun Niang saw her, she quickly wriggled free from Lanping’s embrace, straightened her clothes, and lowered her head.

“Just playing around,” Wang Lanping said casually.

Du Ningning was furious, but just as she was about to step into the courtyard, two guards blocked her way at the gate. “Stop right there.”

Wang Lanping waved her hand. “Let them come in.”

Du Ningning lifted her floral skirt, her face flushed with anger, and stormed inside. “Don’t you know men and women shouldn’t be alone together? You shameless wild girl, oh, wearing new clothes now? Do you think wearing a phoenix coronet makes you the empress? Such arrogance!”

Yun Niang dared not retort. For decades, the Du family had been more powerful than the government itself. They looked down on commoners like Yun Niang, a poor girl who had never seen silver coins. She wasn’t worth their notice.

Without a word, Yun Niang hurried out. As she passed Du Ningning, the young lady took the opportunity to snort disdainfully.

“Yun Niang, child,” Lady Wang called out a few times, but Yun Niang had already left the courtyard, running while wiping tears from her eyes.

Wang Lanping and Du Ningning had known each other for years and were somewhat friends, but Du Ningning’s behavior now was utterly outrageous.

“Miss Du, enough. Yun Niang invited you over; why are you always picking on her?”

“Why does she keep pestering you? She did before and still does now. I just don’t like her. I hate her.”

Wang Lanping frowned. “Miss Du, this is not the Du household, and Yun Niang isn’t your servant.”

Those words only made Du Ningning angrier. She stomped her foot, ready to cause a scene.

“Ningning, that’s enough. How can you speak to the top scholar that way? Apologize immediately!” Du Ming quickly intervened, fearing his daughter’s tantrum. Then he turned to Wang Lanping with a smile. “Top Scholar, please don’t be angry. You know Ningning is blunt and thoughtless—don’t take it to heart.”

Du Yuanwai was a prominent figure in Huaining City. His personal visit was once considered more honorable than an emperor’s arrival to the Wang family, though times had changed.

Wang Lanping said, “Not at all. Miss Du has been kind to me; how could I be upset with her, right, Miss Du?”

Du Ningning remained defiant. “I forbid her from coming here again.”

“You!” Wang Lanping smiled wryly. Over the years, this young lady’s temper had only worsened.

Lady Wang, a cultured and reasonable woman, treated guests with grace. “Du Yuanwai, please have a seat.”

Du Yuanwai seized the chance to ease the tense atmosphere and placed a gift box on the table. “Madam, I should have visited you long ago, but I was caught up in trivial matters all these years. Please don’t mind the delay. This small token is to help restore your health.”

Lady Wang glanced at her son, knowing well this wasn’t for her but for him.

Wang Lanping asked, “Du Yuanwai, is there something you need?”

Du Ningning quieted down and stood behind Du Ming, occasionally making faces at Wang Lanping as if the earlier fury had vanished.

Wang Lanping looked at Du Ningning, smirking and winking, silently saying, “You really are incorrigible—such a changeable face, like a monkey’s.”

Du Ningning stuck out her tongue, as if proudly agreeing.

Du Ming didn’t notice this exchange. He forced a few uncomfortable laughs, seeming hesitant to speak.

Wang Lanping said, “Yuanwai.”

Du Yuanwai hesitated but then explained his purpose. He lamented how the Top Scholar had suffered in the Du household for so many years, already of marriageable age, but the chaotic times had delayed the union. The Du family could not be without such a distinguished figure. His visit was both to apologize and to make amends.

As Du Ming finished, Wang Lanping laughed. “Why is everyone suddenly so concerned about my marriage? Who are you anyway? I’m not anyone’s outsider. Whether I marry or not is none of your business.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Yuanwai, but this matter is not urgent.”

“I’m the one who’s urgent!” Du Ningning blurted out. The young martial top scholar of the Great Ming Dynasty, young, handsome, and still single—he was a prize catch. Any family’s daughter would covet him. Her outburst shocked not only Wang Lanping but even his father. Was there anyone so shameless?

Now it was Wang Lanping’s turn to feel awkward. “Miss Du, why are you so anxious?”

Only then did Du Ningning realize her slip, and for the first time, a blush crossed her cheeks like a guilty child. She shook her shoulder and called, “Father!”

After all these years, the once fiery young lady of the Du family was capable of shyness. Wang Lanping found the scene amusing and thought how satisfying it would be if Yun Niang saw it.

“Top Scholar, forgive us. You see, you and my daughter have known each other for a long time and get along well. Now that she’s of marriageable age, perhaps it’s time to—well—consider it seriously.” Du Ming was anxious, too. A promising son-in-law like Wang Lanping wouldn’t come by again. He could already imagine a swarm of matchmakers as soon as the door closed. No need for formalities or propriety now.

Wang Lanping understood immediately. “Du Yuanwai, you mean to propose marriage between Miss Du and me?”

Speaking those words, even Wang Lanping felt strange. In truth, Du Ningning was a suitable match—wealthy, educated, and attractive, albeit a bit headstrong. He knew her heart wasn’t bad. Comparing her silently to Yun Niang, he found himself unable to decide.

Du Ming breathed a sigh of relief that his difficult words had been uncovered. Traditionally, the bride’s family never initiated proposals; if news got out, how could he face the city? Embarrassed, he nodded awkwardly.

Wang Lanping was cornered. Du Ningning stared at him with hopeful eyes. To refuse might provoke a scandal; to accept without consent was equally troublesome. His military commission was not yet official; marrying so soon might not sit well with the emperor. What a dilemma.

He glanced at his mother. The final word on marriage belonged to her. Inwardly, he pleaded, “Mother, please bear with me.”

A mother knows her son best. Lady Wang saw his predicament and realized he hesitated between yes and no. Just as they had been discussing Yun Niang, another matter arose.

Lady Wang smiled generously. “Du Yuanwai, we appreciate your kindness. But as you see, the Wang family has nothing but these two humble rooms. We dare not mistreat your daughter. The Du family is a century-old prosperous clan in Huaining; the Wang family cannot hope for such a match.”

Du Ming, a businessman, understood the polite refusal but was not deterred. In these turbulent times, even the wealthiest could vanish overnight. The best strategy was to find a reliable ally in the military. And who better than the Top Scholar? With proximity comes advantage. He would not let go.

He immediately produced a document. “Madam, rest assured. If this marriage succeeds, the Du family has a grand residence in the west of the city to serve as the dowry. I have the deed here. Additionally, the bride price will be waived. As you know, Ningning’s mother passed early; she is my only daughter. On the wedding day, the Du family will prepare eighty thousand taels of silver as a gift. Once the two unite, Madam, you may look forward to a prosperous life.”

Wang Lanping was itching to speak. Silently, he begged, “Please stop, please stop. If you say any more, I’ll agree immediately. Eighty thousand taels plus a house and a daughter—can we negotiate so the daughter stays but the possessions go?”

Of course, eighty thousand taels was nothing to the Du family. That mansion alone was worth over ten thousand taels. Even Du Ningning herself didn’t know their full wealth, spread across Huaining City and Anqing Prefecture.

Du Ming’s confident offer cleared his mind. Not even the prime minister dared resist such a proposal. Just as Du Ming felt certain of victory, Wang Lanping kept sending desperate glances to his mother, silently pleading, “Please don’t agree.”

Lady Wang understood. “Du Yuanwai, everyone in Huaining knows your family’s prominence and how much you value your daughter’s marriage. Though our family is poor, we must observe proper etiquette. Marriage is about fate. How about this: let’s record Miss Du’s birth details first, and I will consult an expert to find an auspicious date...”

“Very well, we will follow Madam’s suggestion. We won’t disturb you further. Farewell.” Du Ming hastened to leave, fearing second thoughts.

As they departed, Du Ningning stood contentedly in the Wang courtyard, snorting disdainfully at Yun Niang’s dilapidated hut. She turned to Wang Lanping and deliberately said loudly, “Lanping, don’t let those ignorant poor girls run into this courtyard again. This is the Top Scholar’s residence.”

Wang Lanping rolled his eyes. This lady was looking for trouble. He hurried her along, whispering, “Miss Du, you’re not even married yet. Isn’t it tiring worrying so much?”

“Don’t call me Miss Du, I have a name—Ningning. Besides, I saw you holding her just now. You should hold me too.”

Wang Lanping grinned. “Alright, alright. I’ll hold you in my dreams tonight. Now go home; your father’s already gone far.”

After the Du family left, Lady Wang wore a displeased expression. Though poor, the Wang family was no social climber. She summoned her son and asked sternly, “Ping’er, what exactly do you intend?”

Wang Lanping’s heart leapt with joy. Just as he was dozing, someone had brought him a pillow. How fortunate.

“Heh heh, Mother, you’re so clever. Your words are perfect. I admire you.”

“What do you want? You mustn’t do anything to betray Yun Niang. She’s a good girl, and I like her. Besides, the Du family is not someone we can associate with. And Miss Du is notorious in Huaining—no one dares marry her. If you marry her, we’d have to worship you like an ancestor.”

“Mother, where are you going with this? I’m not thinking about marriage. I’m just eyeing that eighty thousand taels.”

“That’s Du family money. It has nothing to do with us.”

“How does it not? Mother, I am now the deputy commander of Anqing Prefecture. Do you know why the emperor sent me home?”

“To be an official?”

“No, this position is different. I command two thousand iron cavalry. The emperor wants me to manage military affairs in Anqing. But I’m a martial top scholar with no backing or connections. How can I manage without funds?”

“I don’t understand all that. I never interfere and can’t control you. Do whatever you want, but only one thing: always follow your conscience. Think carefully about Yun Niang.”

Wang Lanping’s smile faded to seriousness. “Mother, I have two great debts in life: one is your gift of life; the other is the emperor’s favor. I shall repay both.”

“Good. I won’t say more.”

Wang Lanping started to leave, but she called after him, “Where are you going? Not eating?”

“Look at this courtyard full of gifts. I’ll send them back where they came from.”

“What about the gifts Du family left?” Lady Wang pointed to the pile Du Ming had left behind.

“Send them to Yun Niang’s home. Ningning’s behavior is unreasonable; she owes Yun Niang.”

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Historical Note:

What were the “Ten Heinous Crimes” in ancient times?

In the third year of the Heqing era during the Northern Qi dynasty, the Minister of State issued the “Qi Code,” listing ten gravest crimes: 1. Rebellion, 2. High treason, 3. Betrayal, 4. Defection, 5. Heinous crimes, 6. Immorality, 7. Disrespect, 8. Ungratefulness, 9. Injustice, 10. Internal strife. Those convicted of these ten could not be pardoned even in times of amnesty.

During the Sui Kaihuang era, Buddhism rose, and the list changed. According to “Book of Sui: Penal Laws,” the ten crimes were: 1. Plotting rebellion, 2. Plotting high treason, 3. Plotting betrayal, 4. Heinous crimes, 5. Immorality, 6. Great disrespect, 7. Ungratefulness, 8. Discord, 9. Injustice, 10. Internal strife.

Subsequently, all dynasties followed this. Those guilty of these or intentional murder were excluded from pardon.

“Ten Heinous Crimes” means complete and utter wickedness, describing the worst of evildoers.