Chapter 30: Heaven and earth are the inn of all things

In the Qi family's rear residence, orioles and swallows fluttered.

This generation of the Qi family is quite prosperous.

The family head, Qi Yi, has five sons and seven daughters; most of the five sons serve in the military, and there is no shortage of outstanding individuals.

Of the seven daughters, aside from one who died young and four who married far away, two more have also arrived early at the Qi family.

At this moment, they were drinking tea and admiring flowers in the rear residence.

Meanwhile, behind the screen in the side hall, several young ladies of the Qi family and several cousin misses were sitting properly at the table, pricking up their ears to listen closely, for fear of being caught.

Seeing that several of the Qi family ladies' remarks were full of praise, the seven or eight girls in the side hall each had different expressions.

This generation of the Qi family already has five daughters of marriageable age, and there are still many who are not yet adults.

They are Qi Yuxian, Qi Yuxin, Qi Yuheng, Qi Yuhua, and Qi Yuzhu.

Each of these Qi family young ladies is of notable appearance and character, especially Qi Yuxian and Qi Yuhua, whose temperament and looks are the most outstanding.

The other three are cousin misses who have come to celebrate the birthday.

These three cousin misses are also talented; they are respectively the somewhat older Wu Qing'an, Yu Hui'er, and Gu Linlang.

"I don't know what this cousin's character and appearance are like; it's a pity that the Zhang family's social standing is not high!"

Sitting at the last seat, the youngest girl showed a hint of curiosity; she wore her hair in two simple buns, and though young, she already displayed a budding beauty, her demeanor still retaining some innocence.

She is Gu Linlang.

She comes from the Gu family.

The Qi clan and the major families all have marital ties; this is also the basic operation of other prominent clans—you have me, I have you—but at critical moments, how much effect they can have is uncertain; at least they can deter external enemies.

Yu Hui'er's eyes flickered as she smiled and said: "Although the social standing is said to be low, I have heard that the Zhang family already possesses the foundation to become a prominent clan, and their financial resources even surpass it!"

These young ladies speak of nothing but the family's fortunes, obviously differing from the demeanor of ordinary girls; ordinary unmarried girls usually talk about their future husbands' character and talent, whereas these girls, having been instructed by family elders, inevitably have their dispositions influenced.

Among the Qi family's elder daughters, one wanted to speak but hesitated, until a graceful girl in pink embroidered clothes beside her pulled her back—she was Qi Yuhua, who was holding her younger sister Qi Yuzhu.

Given her understanding of Yu Hui'er, this girl is quite proud, rarely praising outsiders, let alone male concubines; behaving this way now, with her sharp mind, she immediately guessed what was going on.

The Qi family ladies were quietly sipping their chilled brew and tea, while the cousin misses felt it improper to hold a loud discussion; if word got out, it would show their upbringing falls short of the Qi family ladies.

Yu Hui'er held a fan, her gaze scanning the Qi family ladies, especially the two elder sisters Qi Yuxian and Qi Yuhua, and she felt they were outright formidable rivals.

The 'formidable rival' in her mind naturally refers not to competing for a marriage alliance with the Zhang family, but to something else.

Not long after, the banquet in the rear residence dispersed, and the ladies in the side hall also rose one after another, exchanging light greetings before departing with their elders.

Qi Yuhua and Qi Yuzhu, born of the same mother, followed to stand beside a beautiful noblewoman; this noblewoman had fair skin, lovely features, and an uncommonly distinguished aura.

The twin beauties called out in unison, "Mother!"

She is the principal wife of Qi Yuansi, the second branch of the Qi family, Lady Qi Wan. Lady Qi Wan gave a slight nod, her beautiful eyes scanning her two daughters, a faint smile appearing on her jade-like countenance.

After returning to their rooms, Lady Qi Wan summoned the two girls and asked about their wishes.

Lady Qi Wan was well aware that, for a suitable marriage alliance with the Zhang family, only her two daughters were fitting; firstly, she had the best relationship with the Qi family's third daughter; secondly, her two daughters' ages matched Zhang Jian's, being only a year or two younger.

The other three Qi family ladies are either the same age or older by two or three years.

In the spacious flower hall, Lady Qi Wan's gaze fell upon her two daughters.

Qi Yuzhu had long been unable to hold back; if not for Qi Yuhua restraining her, she would have already retorted Yu Hui'er, and now she poured out all the thoughts in her heart.

"Mother, even if the cousin becomes a degree holder, who knows how long it will take before he can wear purple or red robes? We of the Qi family are naturally of high standing; our associates are either local officials or the mansions of Beijing marquises and dukes, or the daughters of various nobles. If we want to marry someone of rank, it is not difficult!"

"Moreover, for the cousin to achieve success, there are many hurdles: the Ministry of Rites provincial exam, the palace exam, the Ministry of Rites selection, external assignments… The Zhang family's foundation is too weak!"

This youthful figure counted on her fingers, and as she went on she kept puckering her lips and shaking her head.

Her jade-like face showed reluctance.

Lady Qi Wan couldn't help but scold: "At such a young age, so worldly!"

Qi Yuzhu's jade-like face showed a touch of coy charm; she stepped forward a few paces, took Lady Qi Wan's arm, and said in a coquettish voice: "Mother, isn't this what you taught us? You always said that daughters of aristocratic families rarely have marital freedom; if so, why not seek a higher official post—either way it's the same!"

Lady Qi Wan shook her head and sighed softly: "You only heard the first half; the latter, more important part is still character and virtue. If one is stingy and ungrateful, cold-hearted, then it would be better to marry into a humble household—at least one could have a loving couple, lasting long."

There was a hint of resentment in her eyes.

Afterward, she turned her gaze toward her two daughters.

Qi Yuhua had originally been avoiding Lady Qi Wan; she really didn't want to consider this matter, but seeing she couldn't evade it, she steeled herself and spoke with a composed expression.

"When I was young, I did see the Zhang family's elder brother once; he looked frail and weak, but I don't know what he is like now."

Lady Qi Wan glanced at her second daughter; she could tell Qi Yuhua was trying to fool her, and she merely smiled sweetly:

"You will find out soon enough!"

Lady Qi Wan also had no intention of forcing anything.

Everything should proceed naturally.

……

Zhang Jian was arranged to stay in a side room of the Qi family's southern courtyard; only an uncle came to greet him briefly, saying there would be a family banquet that evening, and then left quickly.

Zhang Jian didn't pay much heed.

"Heaven and earth are the inn of all things; time is the traveler of a hundred ages; only with longevity can one freely enjoy this boundless ease and freedom!"

Zhang Jian entered the side room nearby, where many sturdy warriors were gathered; the veteran Hu Shan was decocting medicine for Xiao Xie.

After arranging for a physician to see Xiao Xie, Zhang Jian felt some emotion, especially having personally witnessed Xiao Xie collapse before his eyes.

Ordinary people suffer many misfortunes throughout life.

He felt his distracting thoughts at this moment melt away like ice and snow, gradually grasping a hint of the mystery of the Nourishing Spirit realm.

Now his essence and energy have been refined to perfection; next, as long as he cuts away delusive thoughts, he can endeavor to step into the Nourishing Spirit stage.

Having just undergone a harrowing journey, his distracting thoughts have dissipated in a short time; now he seeks to seize this opportunity to break through the bottleneck and further condense his soul.

Once he steps into the Nourishing Spirit stage, his spiritual awareness will further expand and transform into divine sense.

Divine sense is more profound than spiritual awareness, enabling one to gradually perceive the deep mysteries of heaven and earth.

This power is also among the most crucial powers in the Foundation Establishment prerequisites; only by condensing one's divine sense can one chart one's life pattern and fuse essence, qi, and spirit into the supreme Dao foundation.