Returning to Lotus Lane, Eleventh Miss and Xu Lingyi went first to pay their morning respects to the Grand Madam.

The Grand Madam was delighted to see them return and at once asked Nanny Du to have the meal sent up.

Xu Lingyi smiled and sat down across from the Grand Madam. “Have you eaten yet?”

“I have!” The Grand Madam looked at Eleventh Miss standing behind Xu Lingyi, and a trace of hesitation came over her expression.

Xu Lingyi saw this and smiled. “Mother, there is no need to worry. We saw the Empress Dowager — all went smoothly.”

The Grand Madam seemed to want to say something but held back.

Eleventh Miss had understood. The Grand Madam had something she wished to say to Xu Lingyi alone.

She smiled, dipped into a curtsy before the Grand Madam, and said, “Allow me to go and see what is keeping the meal.” And she withdrew.

Both mother and son had a flash of surprise cross their eyes, though neither made any move to stop her.

The Grand Madam watched Eleventh Miss’s retreating figure and gave a small nod. “What a quick-witted young woman.”

For some reason, hearing that, Xu Lingyi gave a small, faint cough, and said, “Mother, the Empress Dowager will not cause trouble for us.” He then recounted his exchange with the Empress Dowager. “…The Count of Shouchang has been trying to break into the maritime trade and has been at a loss for how to go about it. Now that I have laid things out like that, the Empress Dowager will likely not have a thought to spare for any earlier grievance — I would wager she has already summoned the Count to speak with him about it today.”

The Grand Madam listened and could not help but let out a quiet, long sigh. “All these years, Marquis Jianning and the Count of Shouchang have had an ironclad hold on the business of the Water Works Office — no needle could pierce it, no water could seep through — and now they are reaching for the Imperial Household Department as well. When you speak of it, the Yang Family has made quite enough in these years. Why can they not know when to stop? How can she not see that in this world, only what the Emperor gives is a secure livelihood, and everything else is merely gilded emptiness? No matter how much money one amasses, it is built on nothing solid.”

Xu Lingyi smiled. “In all the world, how many people can see through the dazzle of wealth and splendor as you do, Mother?”

The Grand Madam burst into laughter. “You child — now you know how to tease your own mother.” And then: “It seems having someone at home really does make a difference — even your manner of speech has become far more at ease.”

Xu Lingyi could not help a faint flush, and glanced evasively to the left and right. “What time is the formal introduction? I would not want us to be late.”

The Grand Madam smiled. “For fear you would return too late, it has been set for the beginning of the shen hour.”

Xu Lingyi drew out his pocket watch and glanced at it. “Still two hours.”

The Grand Madam gave a nod and said, “There is something I would like to discuss with you.” Without waiting for Xu Lingyi to reply, she went ahead and said, “Zhun Ge — I think he should remain in my quarters.”

Xu Lingyi gave a slight start.

The Grand Madam continued, “She is both the boy’s mother and his maternal aunt. I have nothing against her in that regard. My concern is that she is young and has only just entered the household — there is so much to attend to, and she may not have the time to look after him properly. Let me help watch over him for a while. Once she has found her footing with the household matters, it will not be too late to have Zhun Ge go to her then.”

Xu Lingyi suddenly recalled the slender waist he had embraced the night before…

“She is still rather young,” he said after a moment’s thought. “Would you please continue looking after him for now?”

The Grand Madam gave a small nod of assent, then said, “Now that she has entered the household, it is not quite proper to have Third Daughter-in-law continue managing the house. Yet this arrangement was set in place when First Wife was alive — if we hand the household keys to Second Wife the very day she enters, there will inevitably be idle gossip. It is my thought to leave the household management with Third Daughter-in-law for now, and wait for a suitable opportunity before making any changes.”

“Mother has thought this through carefully,” said Xu Lingyi with a smile. “I shall leave it all to your arrangement.”

“Very well!” The Grand Madam, seeing that both matters she had worried Xu Lingyi might object to were settled smoothly, felt her smile deepen. She then asked about Xu Lingyi’s situation. “How do things stand with you?”

“The imperial physicians say I have a condition of rheumatic obstruction of the joints and cannot go to the bitter cold border regions again. They say I must rest and recuperate properly for three to five years. Otherwise, I may end up paralyzed in bed.”

The Grand Madam laughed. “This rheumatic condition is good. It shows no outward signs and flares only with the weather — and who can ever say with certainty what the weather will bring!”

“Precisely,” said Xu Lingyi with a smile. “I fear I shall be idling at home from now on.”

“Idling at home is good!” The Grand Madam’s gaze on her son was full of tender concern. “You should rest properly at home for once. Your third brother is honest and steady, but your fifth brother is not yet formed enough to take on great responsibilities. You are the pillar of this family…”

“Mother, please don’t say such things,” said Xu Lingyi with a smile. “Third Brother is simply a man of caution by nature — and Fifth Brother has not yet grown into himself. Things will be different in time.” Not wishing to discuss the matter further with his mother, he changed the subject at once. “When is Fifth Sister-in-law expected to give birth? Is there anything I can help arrange? Should we find a different place for her to stay, or perhaps move her to the west mountain retreat for a time?”

“What need is there for such fuss?” The Grand Madam smiled. “The astrologers have said that those born in the year of the Ox and the year of the Sheep must not cross paths. Danyang is born in the year of the Sheep, so as long as she does not encounter anyone born in the year of the Ox, all will be well. I have already asked Nanny Du to see to it personally — everyone in the household born in the year of the Ox will be moved to the west mountain retreat for the time being to avoid any trouble… Nothing will go wrong.”

Xu Lingyi nodded. “Then all is well.”

“I cannot understand it, I really cannot.” The Grand Madam’s tone was tinged with wistfulness. “I gave birth to four sons and a daughter without any of this difficulty. I can only pray that the Bodhisattva watches over Danyang and she delivers a son on the first try — to bring a new life into our Xu Family.”

This was not a topic Xu Lingyi could readily respond to. Just then, Nanny Yao came in to announce: “Where shall the meal be set out?”

The Grand Madam pointed to the east room. “Set it there.”

Nanny Yao and the junior maidservants quickly cleared the kang table by the east window and replaced it with one laid with the meal.

Xu Lingyi could not help asking, “Where is Fourth Madam?”

Nanny Yao smiled. “She is in the side room having tea with Nanny Du.”

Xu Lingyi was mildly surprised.

He had expected her to be standing idly outside, waiting by the door…

Nanny Yao saw his expression and quickly said, “Nanny Weizi has already gone to invite Fourth Madam!”

Xu Lingyi gave a nod, and then he saw Eleventh Miss saunter in at an unhurried pace.

“Come and greet Mother, then sit and have something to eat,” he said, nodding mildly toward her.

Eleventh Miss acknowledged with a soft “yes” and went to pay her respects to the Grand Madam as told, then took the seat across from Xu Lingyi.

A maidservant poured water for her to rinse her hands. She asked for a small bowl of rice congee, and noticed that Xu Lingyi had asked for a large bowl of steamed rice. She ate alongside him, and finished at about the same time he set down his bowl.

Xu Lingyi’s gaze dropped briefly to her bowl.

Eleventh Miss thought he was about to say something — she had already prepared her excuses: “I have a small appetite” and “I always eat about this much.” But Xu Lingyi said nothing at all.

The two thanked the Grand Madam for the meal, then returned to their room to freshen up and prepare for the afternoon’s formal introductions.

Xu Lingyi asked whether she wished to rest: “…The formal introduction is not until the beginning of the shen hour.”

Eleventh Miss felt as though she were about to come apart at the seams. Without any pretense of ceremony, she nodded at once. “I’ll sleep a while.”

Xu Lingyi nodded and went to his study — which was in the east wing of the front courtyard.

Eleventh Miss immediately breathed a sigh of relief, washed up quickly, and fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow.

It was Dongqing who woke her — and even then, she lingered a little before actually rising.

…

The Xu Family’s founding ancestor had been nothing more than an orphan who had tended horses, with no knowledge of his parents’ origins. By a fortunate turn of fate, he had followed the Taizong Emperor, and from that came this family’s establishment. Later, implicated in the “Zheng’an Prince Rebellion Case,” the various branches of the family had each gone their separate ways. By the time the Yingzong Emperor restored the title, only a distant relative who had settled in Nanjing could be found; all the other branches had long since vanished without a trace.

And so, when Third Madam introduced the relatives from the south to Eleventh Miss, she said only: “These are the First Young Madam Hong, Second Young Madam Fu, and Third Young Madam Ding from the south.”

They were the wives of three cousins from the same clan. Excepting the First Young Madam Hong’s husband, Xu Linghong, who was older than Xu Lingyi, the other two men were younger.

Eleventh Miss curtsied and presented the needlework gifts she had prepared.

The three Young Madams each presented Eleventh Miss with a set of head ornaments.

Third Madam then introduced the Countess Yongchang, Lady Huang: “…She and Mother are sworn sisters.”

Lady Huang presented Eleventh Miss with a pair of inlaid lapis lazuli haircombs as a gift.

As for Second Madam, Fifth Madam, Zhun Ge, and Zhen Jie’er, she already knew them. So she turned her attention to taking careful note of Xu Lingyi’s eldest son, Xu Siyu, and Xu Lingning’s two sons, Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian.

Xu Siyu was eleven years old — fair-skinned, with a pair of full, long phoenix eyes. Not only did he resemble Xu Lingyi in looks; the composed and self-possessed quality in his bearing and manners was equally reminiscent of Xu Lingyi. He was as though cast from the same mold as his father.

Xu Siqin was three years older than Xu Siyu and the eldest among those of the Sui generation. Like all boys in the full flush of adolescence, he was tall and slight, with fine and delicate features — he resembled Third Madam.

Perhaps because he and Eleventh Miss were the same age, his expression was somewhat awkward when he came forward to receive his gift.

Xu Sijian had neither the composure of his cousin Xu Siyu — who was only a few months older than him — nor the shyness of his elder brother Xu Siqin. He was slight and small of build, with quick and alert eyes. The moment Eleventh Miss began to bring out the gift she had for him, he immediately stepped forward to take it himself: “How could I dare put Fourth Aunt to such trouble? Allow me, allow me!”

A child speaking like an adult — and naturally everyone burst into laughter.

They all ate together in the flower hall. Afterward, the Grand Madam herself saw off Lady Huang.

Xu Lingkuan then announced that he wanted to go out for a stroll. “…We have come such a long way — surely we ought to have a look around.”

The three cousins from the south were of the same mind, so Xu Lingyi and Xu Lingning accompanied them and all went out together.

First Young Madam Hong and Third Young Madam Ding went to Second Madam’s quarters to rest. Second Young Madam Fu, however, wanted to go to Third Madam’s quarters: “…It was when First Wife passed that we last saw each other — I would very much like to have a proper conversation.”

And so now it was only Eleventh Miss, Third Madam, and Second Young Madam Fu left.

Those around Eleventh Miss began to feel slightly uncomfortable. But Eleventh Miss simply smiled and said, “Then I shall not intrude on Third Sister-in-law’s time.”

Her smile was warm and her manner gracious — not the slightest trace of displeasure showed on her face.

Second Young Madam Fu glanced at Third Madam, exchanged a few pleasantries with Eleventh Miss with a smile, and then followed Third Madam to her quarters.

Back in the room, Dongqing could not help but speak up on Eleventh Miss’s behalf. “…That was a rather unkind thing to say!”

But Eleventh Miss called all four of her maidservants before her and said with all seriousness, “First Wife was my lord’s lawfully wedded wife — that is a fact no one can erase. Not one of you is to show any discomfort or harbor any wayward thoughts when you hear First Wife mentioned.” The four of them curtsied together in acknowledgment.

Hupo then voluntarily stayed to keep watch that night.

“I have found out everything you asked me to look into,” she said, helping Eleventh Miss take down her hair. “Nanny Tao said that the Grand Madam rises at precisely the end of the mao hour every day, comes out of her inner chamber at the beginning of the chen hour, and takes her morning meal at a quarter past the chen hour. Household members generally pay their morning respects between the beginning of the chen hour and the beginning of the si hour. Just after the beginning of the si hour, she is accompanied by the nannies who attend her most closely to go to the nunnery hall to chant sutras. She takes her midday meal at the wu hour, rests after the midday meal at the beginning of the wei hour, and rises again at the middle of the wei hour. In the afternoons, she either plays with Zhen Jie’er and Zhun Ge for a while, or plays cards with Third Madam and Fifth Madam. She takes her evening meal at the beginning of the you hour, then takes a walk in the courtyard, returns indoors at around the middle of the you hour, and retires at the beginning of the xu hour.”

There is a clear rhythm to it — and a healthy one at that…

Eleventh Miss considered this. “In that case, have everyone wake me at precisely the end of the mao hour from now on.”

—