Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Dreamer in the Inner Chamber

“Miss Zhen, why are you acting so arrogant? Don’t think you’re above everyone else just because you have some beauty—do you even know the kind of man you’ll be marrying in the future?”

“Isn’t this the young lady of the Zhen family? Such a lovely little beauty… What a pity!”

“Luo, look at me—Brother Wang. The teacher praised me again today for reciting so well. How about you ask your family to break off that engagement…”

Words like these had never ceased since Zhen Luo was old enough to understand the world. One can only imagine how much gossip and grievance she had endured at such a young age.

What girl doesn’t yearn for love? Who doesn’t hope her future husband will be talented, virtuous, affectionate, and handsome—a dream come true?

Just as that famous line goes: “My beloved will be a peerless hero. One day, he’ll come to marry me, riding on a rainbow cloud…”

Though still young, Zhen Luo was precocious, as most children in ancient times were. Coupled with her intelligence, she was not entirely ignorant of the ways between men and women. Upon learning that her future husband was sickly from birth and rumored to be mentally deficient, it was hard not to feel despair, if not utter hopelessness.

Yet how could she defy her parents’ will? A daughter could only accept her fate. She heard her unseen fiancé was called Zhang Yu, the son of Uncle Zhang from the Zhongshan family. He was said to be adorable, but a husband is not just for looking at, after all.

Since childhood, Zhen Luo had loved to read and study, possessing a photographic memory. She often used her brothers’ writing tools to practice calligraphy. Her brothers teased her about becoming a “female scholar” one day. Zhen Luo would reply, “The wise women of old always learned from the successes and failures of the past to warn themselves. If one does not read, how can one gain such knowledge?” She aspired to be a worthy woman.

How could such a girl willingly accept a dull and foolish husband?

In her dreams, her beloved was always a young man of extraordinary talent—rosy lips, white teeth, sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, dressed all in white, a paper fan in hand, riding a magnificent white horse.

Indeed, who but a peerless hero, clad in white, could be worthy of such attire? He seemed like an immortal banished to earth, aloof and unique.

She imagined strolling with him in the spring, watching willows sway, swallows return to their nests, gathering wildflowers outside the city.

The beauty would play the zither, her beloved reciting poetry; she would dance, and he would understand her heart.

Even the jade-like youth of Zhongshan could not compare.

And yet, her intended was nothing more than a simpleton, ignorant of the world.

As her friends grew up, news of Zhen Luo spread. Some boys who liked her were heartbroken; some jealous girls felt secretly pleased. Zhen Luo saw it all and gradually grew accustomed.

“Sisters, what are your dream men like?” A group of close friends sat in the courtyard on a summer night, gazing at the starry sky and chatting idly.

“For me, my future husband must be just like the Jade Gentleman!”

“Pfft!” The girls mocked her. “As if someone like him would fancy you!”

“And why not? If he doesn’t, would he choose any of you? At least I won’t marry a fool…”

“Liu Yier, watch your tongue!” Zhen Luo’s second sister, Zhen Tuo, frowned and scolded.

“No need to be upset, Sister Tuo. Luo, I meant nothing by it.”

“Mhm.” Zhen Luo replied quietly, “I understand.”

“Come, Luo, let’s go!” Zhen Tuo took her by the hand, leading her home as whispers followed them.

“It’s true, isn’t it? They won’t let us speak the truth!”

“Exactly, if you’re so capable, don’t marry at all. Think you’re something just because you’re pretty? Still trying to steal my Brother Li!”

…

“Second Sister.”

“What is it, little one? Don’t listen to their nonsense—”

“Is it true?”

“What?”

“That Brother Zhang Yu… is simple-minded?”

“Well… don’t blame Father too much. He had no choice. Our family and the Zhangs of Zhongshan have always been close. Uncle Zhang has aged terribly over this. Father couldn’t bear to see it and so… Besides, I’ve heard Zhang Yu is so frail that he might not live long! If that happens, you won’t have to marry him after all!” Zhen Tuo said with a hint of cheer.

“But why me?”

“Sister?”

“It’s nothing, Sister. I understand.”

…

“Is Young Master Yu… really that Brother Zhang Yu?”

“Yes, how many Zhang Yus could there be in Zhongshan? My genius little sister, why are you so muddle-headed today?” Zhen Yan reached out to ruffle her hair, but saw tears streaming down her face, dropping onto the tea table like blossoming flowers.

She had considered it before, but never dared to believe.

From being abandoned by fate to becoming fortune’s most cherished, even when happiness arrived, how could one dare to reach out and touch it?

Zhen Luo wandered back to her room in a daze, gazing at the ceiling as if it were a boundless starry sky.

That night, the white-robed youth appeared in her dream once more, but this time he spoke, his voice gentle and tender.

“Luo.”

“Mm… Are you Brother Zhang Yu?”

“Hehehe…”

…

The next morning, Zhen Luo rose early, her delicate face finally bright with a child’s joy and innocence, skipping and laughing through the courtyard like a beautiful butterfly, drawing the attention of maids and family alike.

She was just about to follow her Jade Gentleman’s example and pay respects to her mother in the main hall when she heard her second and third brothers speaking with their mother inside. Zhen Luo hesitated at the door, unsure whether to enter, when her mother called, “Is that you, Luo?”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Come in, quickly.”

Obediently, Zhen Luo entered, greeted her brothers, and sat quietly to the side.

“Fifth Sister, don’t just sit there. Your little head is no less clever than ours—come, give us your thoughts,” Third Brother Zhen Yao beckoned.

“It’s like this,” Zhen Yan began, “In recent years, there’s been famine after famine, disasters everywhere. Many commoners wanted to exchange their money and treasures for food to survive. Our Zhen family had plenty of grain, so we traded for their valuables and ended up with quite a few good things.

“But recently, you all heard about what happened in Zhongshan. The Jade Gentleman of the Zhang family opened his granaries and wrote the poem ‘Song of the Mugwort Fields,’ calling on the great clans and gentry to help the starving. So, Third Brother and I came to discuss with Mother whether we should continue as before or, like the Zhangs, give away grain freely.”

After Zhen Yan finished, Zhen Yao added, “I don’t see the harm. Trading grain for treasure is just an exchange of needs. We’re not cheating anyone.”

Their mother, Lady Wang, pondered for a moment before turning to Zhen Luo. “Luo, what do you think?”

“I believe we should open our granaries and distribute food freely,” Zhen Luo answered firmly.

“Fifth Sister, you’re not even married yet and already following your future husband’s lead,” Zhen Yao teased, clearly a charming young gentleman.

“Third Brother!” Zhen Luo’s face flushed bright red after barely five seconds of resolve. “I’m serious. In troubled times, hoarding treasures isn’t wise. As it’s written in the ‘Spring and Autumn Annals’: ‘A commoner with a treasure brings disaster upon himself.’ That’s the tragedy of dying for wealth. Besides, so many are starving now. What… Zhang Yu did is what I wish for too. Why not open our granaries to help the neighbors? That way, we help others and preserve our family’s virtue.”

At just eight or nine, Zhen Luo spoke earnestly. The three listened in silence until Zhen Yan made the decision.

“Very well, we’ll do as Luo and my soon-to-be brother-in-law suggest!”

“Oh, Second Brother!”

…

“Whew!” Zhang Yu turned over in bed. “So beautiful at such a young age—how will she look when she grows up? Wait, how do I know that girl is Zhen Luo?”

He tossed off his blanket, about to get up, but a sudden chilly wind sent him scurrying back under his warm bedding.

“If only I were a science student—would I invent central heating or something? Winters are brutally cold here…”

Grumbling about the cold, Zhang Yu recalled that pure, ambiguous dream.

“Why! Heavens, why do you keep sending me such young girls? What am I supposed to do? Beast!

I don’t want to be a paragon of virtue. I don’t want to raise a girl from childhood. I just want to live a normal life…!”