The back courtyard of the Qi Family was filled with the chirping of birds.
This generation of the Qi Family was quite prosperous.
The patriarch, Qi Yi, had five sons and seven daughters, most of whom served in the military, with many outstanding individuals among them.
Among the seven daughters, aside from one who passed away early and four who were married afar, two had already arrived early at the Qi Family.
They were presently drinking tea and admiring the flowers in the back courtyard.
Behind a screen in the side hall, several of the Qi Family’s young ladies and a few cousin girls were seated at a table, listening intently with ears pricked, afraid of being caught eavesdropping.
Noticing that many of the Qi Family’s female descendants were full of praise, the seven or eight young girls in the side hall showed varied expressions.
This generation of the Qi Family already had five young ladies of marriageable age, and there were quite a few others who had not yet come of age.
They were Qi Yuxian, Qi Yuxin, Qi Yuheng, Qi Yuhua, and Qi Yuzhu.
These Qi Family daughters were all of excellent character and appearance, especially Qi Yuxian and Qi Yuhua, who stood out in temperament and looks.
The other three were cousin girls who had come to celebrate the birthday.
These three cousin girls were also talented: Wu Qing’an, Yu Hui’Er, and Gu Linlang, the oldest among them.
"I wonder how this cousin’s character is? It’s just unfortunate that the Zhang Family’s status isn’t high!"
Sitting in the last seat, the youngest girl showed a bit of curiosity. Her hair was styled in twin buns, and though young, she displayed precocious beauty, with an air of straightforwardness.
She was Gu Linlang.
Born into the Gu Family.
The Qi’s and many great families had marriage alliances, which was basic strategy for major noble families. They intertwined with one another, but when it came to critical moments, how much it might help was uncertain. At the very least, it could deter external threats.
Yu Hui’Er’s eyes flickered, and she smiled, "The status might not be high, but I’ve heard that the Zhang Family long had the makings of becoming a noble family of county prestige, even surpassing others in financial strength!"
The young girls discussed the fates of families openly, showing a stark contrast to ordinary unmarried girls, who often spoke about the character and talents of their future husbands. These girls, influenced by the elders in their family, inevitably had their mindsets shaped differently.
Among the Qi Family’s young ladies, one tried to speak but was gently held back by a graceful girl in a pink embroidered dress. She was Qi Yuhua, holding onto her sister Qi Yuzhu.
Understanding Yu Hui’Er’s personality, who was very proud and seldom praised outsiders, especially not men from outside families, Qi Yuhua’s perceptive mind instantly guessed something.
The Qi Family daughters quietly sipped their iced sake and tea, and the cousin girls refrained from discussing too openly, lest it reflect poorly on their upbringing compared to the Qi girls.
Yu Hui’Er, holding a round fan, glanced at the Qi Family girls, especially at her cousins Qi Yuxian and Qi Yuhua, feeling they were ’strong competitors.’
The ’strong competitors’ in her heart naturally did not refer to vying for the marriage alliance with the Zhang Family, but something else.
Soon after, the banquet in the back courtyard dispersed, and the young ladies in the side hall rose, exchanging light farewells, and departed with their respective elderly relatives.
Qi Yuhua and Qi Yuzhu, born of the same mother, went to a beautiful and noble-looking lady nearby, whose complexion was fair and face charming, with a rare and striking nobility.
The two spoke in unison, "Mother."
She was Madam Qi Wan, the legitimate wife of Qi Yuan Si from the second branch of the Qi family. Madam Qi Wan nodded gently, her beautiful eyes assessing her two daughters, a light smile appeared on her jade-like face.
Back in their room, Madam Qi Wan called her two daughters to her, asking about their intentions.
Madam Qi Wan was well aware that only her two daughters were suitable for an alliance with the Zhang Family. First, because she had the best relationship with the third girl from the Qi Family, and second, because her two daughters were perfectly matched in age with Zhang Jian, being just one or two years younger.
The other three Qi girls were the same age or two to three years older.
In the spacious flower hall, Madam Qi Wan’s gaze fell on her two daughters.
Qi Yuzhu had held back before, wanting to retort to Yu Hui’Er, had it not been for Qi Yuhua holding her back. Now she poured out her thoughts all at once.
"Mother, so what if cousin becomes an Advanced Scholar? Who knows how long it will take for him to wear the purple or red robe? Our Qi Family is of noble birth, mingling with officials from various places, or with counts from the Capital City, Marquis’s Mansions, or the ladies from various families. It’s not hard if we want to marry someone with status!"
"And cousin still has many hurdles to overcome to succeed, like the Ministry of Rites Examination, the Palace Examination, the Ministry of Rites Selection, and external deployments... The Zhang Family’s foundation is too weak!"
The youthful figure counted on her fingers, murmuring and shaking her head persistently.
Her jade-like face was full of reluctance.
Madam Qi Wan, hearing this, couldn’t help but scold, "So young, yet so worldly!"
A touch of coquetry tinged Qi Yuzhu’s jade countenance as she walked up to Madam Qi Wan, hugging one of her arms, and cooed, "Mother, wasn’t it you who taught us this? You always said that noble family girls rarely have marital freedom. If so, why not find a higher-ranking official? Either way, it’s the same!"
Hearing this, Madam Qi Wan shook her head, sighed faintly, "You only heard the first part. The latter, more important part is still about character and virtues. If someone is stingy and ungrateful, cold-hearted, then it’s better to marry into a small family, where at least there can be love between husband and wife, lasting and enduring."
There was a trace of wistfulness in her eyes.
She then turned her gaze to her second daughter.
Originally avoiding Madam Qi Wan, Qi Yuhua had not wanted to consider this issue, but seeing no escape, she braced herself and acted nonchalantly, "I did see Brother Zhang once when I was young. He seemed gentle and delicate; I’m just not sure what he looks like now?"
Madam Qi Wan glanced at her second daughter, easily discerning Qi Yuhua’s evasion, but smiled nonetheless:
"You’ll soon find out!"
Madam Qi Wan had no intention of pressing the matter.
Everything would unfold naturally.
...
Zhang Jian was accommodated in a side room of the Qi Family’s south courtyard, with only an uncle visiting him briefly, mentioning a family feast that evening before hurriedly leaving.
Zhang Jian paid it little mind.
"Heaven and earth are the inn for all things, time the traveling guest of generations. Only through longevity can one fully enjoy this boundless freedom and great ease!"
Zhang Jian entered an adjacent annex room where many robust men had gathered, and the old soldier Hu Shan was preparing medicine for Xiaoxie.
After inviting a physician for Xiaoxie, Zhang Jian was somewhat moved, especially after witnessing Xiaoxie fall ill before him.
Mortal life was fraught with misfortune and suffering.
He felt his distracting thoughts melt away like ice and snow at that moment, gradually grasping a hint of the Nourishing Spirit Realm’s subtlety.
His energy refinement was now perfected. The next step was to eliminate delusions, paving his way into the Nourishing Spirit Stage.
Having just experienced an astonishing journey, his distracting thoughts quickly dissipated, allowing him to seize this opportunity to break through a bottleneck and further his soul’s cohesion.
Upon reaching the Nourishing Spirit Stage, his Spiritual Sense would further expand, evolving into Divine Thought.
The Divine Thought is more profound than Spiritual Sense, gradually unveiling the subtle forces deep within heaven and earth.
This power is also the most critical among the prerequisites for Foundation Establishment, for only by condensing Divine Thought can one delineate their own Life Plate, and fuse essence, energy, and spirit into the Supreme Dao Foundation.