Chapter 2 — The Dowry Without a Name

Lien To lifted her head to look at me, her eyes still rimmed with red. I remained unmoved.

"The ground is cold. If you kneel until your old ailments flare up again, it will only mean more expenses for medicine once we return to the manor."

Those nearby lowered their heads, covering their mouths with handkerchiefs to hide their expressions. Lien To rose slowly, the fabric in her hands crumpled tightly within her grip. Before long, rumors rippled through the capital: the Marchioness of Tinh An was gripped by a jealous, vengeful nature, refusing to tolerate even the girl who had once saved her husband's life. Inside the carriage on the way home, Thanh Hoa was so angry that tears welled in her eyes.

"You had two sets of new clothes specially made for her, Madam, yet she deliberately chose not to wear them. She did that on purpose!"

"Indeed."

"Then why did you not clarify the truth on the spot? Both the seamstress and the servant who delivered the garments could have borne witness."

"Had I spoken, she would have simply claimed she did not wish to be wasteful, accusing me of misunderstanding her humble nature."

"Are we to simply let her smear your reputation?"

I lifted the carriage curtain, casting a glance at the modest palanquin trailing behind us. Lien To was peering at me through the gap in her own curtains. Our eyes locked for a heartbeat before she abruptly dropped her screen.

"Does she not enjoy playing the role of one who seeks nothing?" I remarked. "From now on, I shall ensure that if she desires anything, she must ask for it herself, sign for it herself, and take responsibility for it herself."

Once back at the manor, I summoned the steward and the managers of each courtyard. I laid down a single rule: from this day forward, the provisions for the Listening to the Rain Pavilion—food, clothing, and medicine—would remain as they had always been. Should they require anything extra, Lien To must come to me personally to state exactly what she wanted and why. No one was to use the excuse of "Miss Lien being too shy to speak" to bypass my authority and reach into the private stores. The steward listened, mopping beads of sweat from his brow.

"But what if the Dowager Marchioness or the Marquis issues an order?"

"They may provide for her out of their own pockets."

The steward stopped wiping his sweat and began to retreat, much like the other cautious servants. That evening, after the new rule had been established, Hoai Can came to see me. He did not come to discuss bird’s nest soup or inquire after my health. He had returned from the flower-viewing banquet carrying the weight of the rumors.

"Everyone outside is saying you are harsh toward Lien."

I was reviewing the guest list for the Dowager Marchioness’s birthday celebration. I looked up, undisturbed.

"She has food to eat, medicine to take, a room in the Listening to the Rain Pavilion, and two maids at her service. Where exactly is the harshness?"

"She resides in the manor without status or title; she is already vulnerable to being slighted by others. As the mistress, if you truly wished to protect her, who would dare say otherwise?"

"So, the root of the problem is her lack of status."

I closed the guest list. "That is easily resolved."

Hoai Can furrowed his brow. "What are you planning now?"

"Have the Dowager Mother adopt her as her foster daughter. Grant her an official place in the family."

I calculated the benefits clearly for him. "From this day forth, she shall be the Second Young Lady of the Marquis Manor. Her expenses can be drawn from the public treasury, and when she goes out, no one will dare whisper that she is merely a guest living off the charity of others. Once her health is fully restored, I can even help her secure a favorable marriage alliance."

No status, being looked down upon, having no one to care for her in the future—every concern he had raised would be addressed in one stroke. Yet, Hoai Can did not nod. His hand rested on the edge of the table, his knuckles slowly turning white.

"Lien once saved my life. How could we treat her adoption so casually?"

"If admitting her as a daughter of the manor is considered casual, then what status do you wish to bestow upon her?"

He offered no answer.

"If she does not wish to bow to the Dowager Mother, she may adopt me as her elder sister. When she sees you in the future, she can simply address you as brother-in-law."

Hoai Can’s jaw tightened. "That is not appropriate."

"And why is that?"

"She may not be willing."

"Then we shall invite her here to ask."

I immediately sent Thanh Hoa to the Listening to the Rain Pavilion. Hoai Can moved to stop her, but it was already too late. Lien To arrived quickly. Upon hearing the proposal of being adopted as a foster daughter, she cast a fleeting glance at Hoai Can before bowing to me.

"The Marchioness has thought so thoroughly for my sake; I am truly grateful. It is only that my fate is ill-omened; I am a harbinger of bad luck to my own parents. How could I dare to bow to the Dowager Marchioness and bring misfortune upon her?"

Once again, she offered the perfect words to make herself look considerate of others.

"If you do not wish to bow to the Dowager Mother, that is fine," I said. "You may adopt me as your elder sister. You need not change your surname, nor perform the formal rites of adoption."

Lien To’s fingers twisted the fabric of her handkerchief beneath her sleeves.

"I do not wish to cause the Marchioness any further trouble."

"It is no trouble; I am more than willing."

"But I..."

"You just said you were grateful, and now you say you do not wish for it. Miss Lien, is it that my considerations are insufficient, or is it that the status you truly desire is something else entirely?"

Lien To parted her lips, unable to respond immediately. Hoai Can suddenly stood up.

"That is enough. If she does not wish for it, why must you force the issue so cruelly?"

"Rest assured, I am not forcing her." I picked up the guest list again. "But from now on, if anyone dares to claim she lacks status, do not come to me. She refuses to move, she refuses to be a foster sister—if there is a third type of status you have in mind, wait until you have thought it through clearly before speaking."

Lien To looked toward Hoai Can. Hoai Can did not look at her. I lowered my head and slowly struck out a name that had been written incorrectly on the birthday guest list.

The Dowager Marchioness’s birthday was approaching. Ten days before the celebration, the relatives of the Xie clan arrived at the manor to discuss seating arrangements and return gifts. Lien To arrived as well.