Chapter 50: A Brilliant Counterattack (Part Four)

When Tantai Jing arrived, Tantai Shanchang was pacing back and forth in his study. Without a doubt, the fifth young miss, Tantai Xuan, was the most strikingly beautiful of the three sisters. Had it been before, he would not have dared to entertain such notions, but now that he was working for the Fourth Imperial Prince, his ambitions had grown. The previous falsehood he had spread—claiming that the third young miss, Tantai Jing, wished to marry into a prominent Beijing family as a concubine—had served to awaken his thoughts.

The third young miss, Tantai Jing, was already twelve. By the time he made a name for himself and rose to prominence, Tantai Jing would be well past her prime marriageable years. However, Tantai Xuan's age was precisely right. If she could be sent into the Fourth Imperial Prince's inner courtyard, it would serve as an extra layer of security. Relying on the fifth girl's beauty, she should quickly be able to firmly establish herself in the Fourth Imperial Prince's affections!

Yet, there was the lingering issue between the fifth girl and Wang Ziyu! Tantai Shanchang harbored deep resentment over this. If it had been the third girl earlier—being a mute, it would have been fine enough to marry her off to Wang Ziyu, a scholar from a humble background. But now, the third girl seemed entangled with the newly appointed imperial student, Ma Yuantong. Ma Yuantong was undoubtedly far more promising than Wang Ziyu. Regardless of the circumstances, he had already decided to cast Wang Ziyu aside.

Yet, how could he possibly prevent the clandestine vows of mutual affection that the fifth girl and Wang Ziyu had already exchanged!

Just as he was deep in thought, Steward Hu came to report that the third young miss had come to visit.

Tantai Shanchang's expression shifted instantly. Ma Yuantong's future remained uncertain, and the third girl was still a person of considerable utility!

Mingxin arranged the food box before smilingly speaking on Tantai Jing's behalf: "The third young miss said she had a dream and insisted on coming to draw it for you, Father."

Tantai Shanchang was startled, abruptly jolting back to reality. Ever since the third girl had lost her voice, she had acquired this uncanny ability to foresee the future. He wondered what she had dreamed of this time!

Tantai Shanchang immediately dismissed both Steward Hu and Mingxin, personally spreading out a large sheet of high-quality Xuan paper on his desk, fearing there would not be enough space for Tantai Jing to depict her vision.

Tantai Jing pressed her lips together, curtsied respectfully to Tantai Shanchang, and took up the brush to write: "The fifth younger sister committed a grave fault at the academy. As her elder sister, Jing'er failed to discover and stop it in time, thereby tarnishing the fifth younger sister's reputation. Jing'er feels utterly ashamed!"

At this moment, Tantai Shanchang had no leisure to concern himself with Tantai Xuan's affairs. He repeatedly comforted her, saying: "What does this have to do with you? The fifth girl lacks self-discipline, and it is also your mother's failure to properly instruct her. Pay no mind to these matters; tell me of your dream instead. What was it like? Could it be related to me?"

Tantai Shanchang eagerly pressed for an answer, only to see Tantai Jing looking at him with tear-filled eyes. Being a man who had served as an official for many years, how could he not know how to handle a young girl? He quickly added: "Father knows that you have been wronged this time. You have nothing to do with that Wang Ziyu, and at the very least, your innocence has now been vindicated. Today, Father will punish the fifth girl by making her copy the *Precepts for Women*, and she shall offer you a formal apology!"

Tantai Jing did not pursue the matter further. She performed a deep curtsy to Tantai Shanchang and began to draw. All she wanted was to secure Tantai Shanchang's attitude; as long as she retained the ability to foresee his future, Tantai Shanchang would not easily cast her aside.

Tantai Jing gently closed her eyes, recalling the sights of the capital from her past life. In her previous life, she had visited the capital only a few times, and every visit had been hurried. Fortunately, her memory differed from ordinary people's; once she had laid eyes on something, a careful recollection allowed her to summon every minute detail.

Drawing upon her memories, Tantai Jing carefully sketched on the paper. The more Tantai Shanchang watched, the more astonished and shocked he became, until astonishment finally transformed into wild ecstasy!

What Tantai Jing was drawing was the scenery surrounding the Tantai family estate in the capital. The most remarkable part was not the scenery itself, but the courtyard situated just a wall away from the Tantai estate. Tantai Jing drew that courtyard with extreme precision, and the names inscribed upon the structures were none other than the Clear Breeze Studio, the Liruo Courtyard, and the Xiaowei Courtyard!

Disregarding the wet ink, Tantai Shanchang pointed his finger at several spots on the paper and asked in astonishment: "Jing'er, did you dream that we moved into this residence? Is the Clear Breeze Studio where your mother lives? Is the Liruo Courtyard where you live? Is the Xiaowei Courtyard where the sixth girl lives?"

Tantai Shanchang was excited beyond measure. The names of these three courtyards were identical to those of their current residence in Zecheng, but the crucial difference was that the location of this estate was in the capital, right next to the residence currently occupied by his mother and eldest brother!

This meant that he was destined to secure an official post in the capital; otherwise, Jing'er would never have drawn such a map.

Tantai Jing had already departed, leaving Tantai Shanchang alone to stare at the painting, stroking his beard and smiling. Wonderful! Simply wonderful!

After the initial excitement subsided, Tantai Shanchang closely examined the painting, hoping to deduce when he would move into the capital and when he would be transferred to take up an official post there. However, he noticed that the fifth girl's Fangfei Courtyard was entirely absent from the drawing...

Could it be that the fifth girl would not be accompanying them to the capital? Did that mean the fifth girl was to be married off locally? Yet, the third girl's Liruo Courtyard was still present, which indicated that the third girl had not yet married. The third girl was currently twelve, and would be wed by the time she reached fifteen at the latest. This meant that he would certainly enter official service in the capital within the next three years!

Tantai Shanchang was thrilled beyond measure when a sudden thought struck him: he must not act against the will of Heaven. If he forcefully kept the fifth girl by his side and provoked the wrath of the heavens, causing his bright future to be snatched away, what would he do then?

With this thought in mind, Tantai Shanchang carefully folded the painting, hid it inside a book, and summoned Steward Hu into the room. "If anyone from the Wang family comes to propose marriage for the fifth young miss, treat them with utmost courtesy. Bring them to the mistress and tell her that I have consented to the fifth girl's marriage!"

Steward Hu was startled. He glanced at Tantai Shanchang, though he dared not show his surprise too openly. Only moments earlier, when the master had returned from the Clear Breeze Studio, he had clearly been harboring anger—an expression that suggested the master had no intention of marrying the fifth young miss to Wang Ziyu. Why, then, had the master changed his mind merely because the third young miss had paid a visit?

Tantai Shanchang, however, had already prepared his own justification. "Since Wang Ziyu and the fifth girl share such deep affection, I cannot bear to play the part of the cruel mandarin duck tearing lovers apart. Although the Wang family's circumstances are somewhat humble, fortunately, their feelings for the fifth girl are sincere. I only wish for the fifth girl to live a safe and smooth life; I have no desire for my daughter to scramble for a high-ranking match."

Steward Hu acknowledged the order in a low voice and prepared to deliver the message to the main courtyard, while his mind raced with three distinct reflections along the way:

First, the master's handling of this affair would successfully silence public gossip and earn him a reputation for cherishing talent and showing compassion toward his daughters. For the master, this was by no means a bad thing; indeed, it might even prove beneficial to his official career.

Second, the third young miss was not to be underestimated. Even without the ability to speak, she had managed to turn the tides within the span of a single cup of tea. Sending Mingxin to serve by the third young miss's side had been the right choice; her future prospects were undoubtedly boundless.

Third, would the mistress ever agree to marry the fifth young miss off to a penniless scholar like Wang Ziyu?

At this thought, Steward Hu's heart tightened. The inner courtyard was bound to erupt in another storm!