Qi Zhenzhen paused. Yes, Gu Sinian had been gone for some time. She wondered how he was doing now. The weather was getting colder by the day; had he used all the things she had prepared? The journey from the capital to the border was long and arduous.
"Yes, I do miss the Young Master a little," Qi Zhenzhen admitted frankly, though it was purely out of concern for a friend. They were now in the same boat, and she genuinely wished for his safety.
"Ew, ew, ew, second sister, aren't you ashamed?" Li Rou made a face. "Aren't you afraid of corrupting me and Xuanxuan?"
Qi Zhenzhen gave her a playful glare. "I know what my Xuanxuan's personality is like; a few words won't corrupt her. Besides, I haven't said anything excessive. Ah Nian and I are engaged, and we'll be married in a few months. It's natural for me to care about him. This is also a lesson for you both. While girls should be modest, they shouldn't be excessively so. Be modest when you should be, and take action when you should. Otherwise, you might miss out on a good marriage."
She paused and looked at Li Rou meaningfully. "If you're corrupted by what I've said, your mother will be overjoyed."
Li Rou's face flushed with embarrassment. The topic had shifted too quickly. She had only wanted to tease Qi Zhenzhen, and now it had turned to her in just a few sentences.
"Second sister, I'm still young..." Li Rou mumbled.
"You're not young anymore; you'll be thirteen next year. Many families start looking for suitable partners at twelve. It's not like it's decided instantly; choosing takes at least two years. By then, you'll be fifteen. Once engaged, after going through all the customary rituals, you'll be sixteen. Sixteen is not too early to get married," Qi Zhenzhen said earnestly.
Li Rou shivered. Why did Qi Zhenzhen suddenly seem so terrifying?
Seeing her reaction, Qi Zhenzhen chuckled. "What do you say? Am I right?"
"No, no, no," Li Rou exclaimed, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her eyes wide. "There's no law in our Great Feng that dictates women must marry when they reach a certain age. The great scholar Ru Yi from the previous dynasty never married!"
Although laws varied across dynasties, most were similar. Great Feng was preceded by Great Qi, and historical records mentioned a great female scholar from that era who never married. Despite having many admirers, there were no rumors tarnishing her reputation. Even the current emperor tacitly approved of her choices, and the law was amended accordingly. For women who made significant contributions to the court, marriage was not bound by tradition.
Great Feng had inherited the laws of the previous dynasty, but in recent years, there had been no mention of any woman who had not married due to significant contributions.
"Then, have you made any significant contributions to the court or Great Feng?" Qi Zhenzhen pointed out the crucial point.
"Not yet, but I will. I'm only thirteen after the new year, and there are still five years until I have to get married. Who knows, I might make significant contributions in these five years?" Li Rou said.
Qi Zhenzhen felt a headache coming on. This young girl's ideas were truly rebellious. It seemed that Madam Tang still had a long way to go in urging her to marry.
"Your mother always says you're reluctant to speak, but it's a good thing you are. Otherwise, with your eloquent tongue, how many people could possibly argue with you?" Qi Zhenzhen chided.
Li Rou adopted a serious expression. "I just feel that there's no need to speak most of the time."
Li Nuan entered just as she heard Li Rou's words and couldn't help but say, "That's just how you feel. Many times, if you don't speak, how can we know what you're thinking? Don't you know how worried Mother is about you? We are a family, and maintaining family bonds requires communication. If you don't speak, how can we communicate?"
Li Rou opened her mouth to retort, but suddenly didn't know what to say and just closed it sulkily.
"I'm truly going to be angered to death," Li Nuan complained to Qi Zhenzhen. "This girl is always like this. She keeps her happiness and her unhappiness to herself."
It was her nature, and changing it wouldn't be accomplished with a few words from others.
"Sister Rou is intelligent and methodical in her actions; she won't act recklessly," Qi Zhenzhen comforted her. "She's still young, and her personality isn't set yet. Perhaps in a while, she'll change on her own without us saying anything?"
"It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to alter one's innate disposition. I'm truly worried," Li Nuan sighed.
Li Rou, perhaps unwilling to listen to Li Nuan's nagging, pulled Qi Xuanxuan along, saying they were going to accompany the Old Madam.
Seeing Li Nuan's furrowed brow, Qi Zhenzhen changed the subject. "Didn't you say you were making incense for Madam Qian? How did you find the time?"
"It's finished. Now it just needs to be dried in a cool place," Li Nuan replied.
Qi Zhenzhen keenly noticed Li Nuan's absentmindedness and, not understanding, asked, "Sister Nuan, do you have something on your mind?"
Li Nuan hesitated, looking somewhat uneasy.
Qi Zhenzhen comforted her, "Sister Nuan, if you trust me, tell me if you have any difficulties. Perhaps I can help you solve them?"
Li Nuan waved her hand. "There's no difficulty. I just feel it's a bit unreal. The Qian family has a prominent lineage, and I'm merely a concubine's daughter from the Li family..."
So, she was still troubled by this.
How to put it? Li Nuan appeared dignified and generous on the surface, but that was just an illusion. As an unappreciated concubine's daughter in the Li family, she had always acted cautiously, striving to avoid mistakes. The education she received from childhood was that only legitimate daughters had good prospects; concubine's daughters either became concubines themselves or married into humble families as the main wife. Now that she had received this marriage proposal from the Qian family, alongside her joy came deep self-doubt.
Qi Zhenzhen could understand this kind of internal conflict.
"Sister Nuan, has no one told you how wonderful you are? You are gentle and generous, and you handle matters with great composure. Although your circumstances are not ideal, you have never given up on yourself; you are resilient and tenacious, caring for elders and cherishing your younger siblings," Qi Zhenzhen said slowly.
Her words seemed to possess a magical quality, quickly smoothing the frown on Li Nuan's brow.
Qi Zhenzhen continued, "Although Madam Qian has been eager to marry Qian Yuanbao, it doesn't mean she's reached a point of desperation. The Old Madam herself personally looked after the current Emperor when he was growing up in the palace. Such a person has the sharpest eyes. If she has chosen you, she must believe you are good and suitable for the position of the Qian family's matriarch. As for Qian Yuanbao, although he can be a bit of a rake, consider this: the Qian family's vast enterprises are managed in an orderly fashion under his governance. If he didn't like you, why would he joke about his own marriage?"
"Therefore, my dear sister, you should be more confident. Don't overthink things; just prepare for your wedding with peace of mind," Qi Zhenzhen patted Li Nuan's hand.