Nanny Tao’s face suddenly flushed crimson. She couldn’t help but argue back: “Madam, I am worried for the First Young Mistress and for you! The way she is raking in money without a care — I fear she will tamper with the account books too. When the time comes, she will either pin the blame on our First Young Mistress, or dump the whole mess in your lap. She gets all the benefits while we are left holding the bag!”

Eleventh Young Lady laughed. “The money for the inner courtyard should be transferred in from the outer courtyard’s accounting office, should it not? There ought to be two stewards in the accounting office who oversee the inner courtyard’s ledgers — how much was transferred in, how much was spent, how much remains — all of it follows proper procedure. Even if the accounts for the past two or three years are muddled, Elder Sister has been managing the household for more than just a year or two. The records from earlier years should all have been archived. Even if she wanted to tamper with things, she could only touch the accounts from these past few years. For her to overturn everything from before — I doubt her reach extends all the way into the accounting office.” She paused, then smiled lightly. “Besides, her rush to push these reforms offends the interests of more than just our branch of the family. If others aren’t saying a word, why should we be the ones to stick our necks out? And if we take ten thousand steps back — the Third Madam managing the household was the Grand Madam’s decision. Even if things go badly wrong, that is the Grand Madam’s doing. Surely we wouldn’t make such a scene that the whole world hears about it! The Third Madam may well be counting on exactly this to act as boldly as she pleases. We need only sit back and watch.”

Nanny Tao stared at the composed and unruffled Eleventh Young Lady before her, her eyes filled with shock.

Had not the First Madam said she was young — that her temperament, though steady, was somewhat timid and weak? How could she possibly know all of this!

The thought flickered through her mind, and she immediately grasped the truth — the First Madam had misjudged this person entirely.

It was likely that this Eleventh Miss had been keeping such a low profile at home that the ever-watchful First Madam had simply failed to see what was right in front of her…

Nanny Tao’s thoughts churned in confusion. If she had been full of confidence earlier about carrying out what Yuan Niang had entrusted to her, she was now full of doubt. She had raised Yuan Niang from infancy, then followed her to the Xu household, and had lived through more than she could count. She understood deeply the importance of being prepared — for it was precisely because one anticipated dangers that one could always emerge unscathed. But now, how much had this Eleventh Young Lady actually revealed, and how much more lay hidden beneath the surface where none of them could see? What was her true purpose? Would she treat Zhun Ge well? All of it — every last bit of it — made cold sweat seep down Nanny Tao’s back the moment she began to think it through.

In an instant, the look she turned on Eleventh Young Lady was guarded: “Madam is right! This matter — we must take our time and plan carefully.”

Eleventh Young Lady watched as Nanny Tao’s expression shifted from shock to bewilderment, from bewilderment to anxiety, from anxiety to forced composure… and she could not help but smile softly.

It seemed she had accomplished what she set out to do. The Xu household was a place of great complexity, and the only people she could draw upon — and who would allow her to draw upon them — were those Yuan Niang had left behind. She needed to work with these people, not be used by them or made into a shield. For that, she had to show them what she was capable of. Otherwise, no one would take her words to heart.

And so she had taken advantage of this opportunity to ask Nanny Tao some rather important questions.

“…Do you know how many holdings are under the Marquis’s name?”

Nanny Tao hesitated for a long while, her lips moving slightly, as though the question were difficult to answer.

Eleventh Young Lady watched her without pressing further. Instead, she said: “The Third Branch has been so eager to gather money. Don’t you find that strange?”

At this, Nanny Tao’s expression shifted visibly. She said hurriedly: “Come to think of it — in those years, the late Marquis sold off most of the family’s holdings to support His Majesty’s succession. After Second Master passed away, the late Marquis felt keenly how unpredictable life could be, and while he was still alive he divided what little remained of the Xu family’s estate among everyone — including the deceased First Master, each person received a share. Then the late Marquis passed away, the Marquis inherited the title, and the household was beset by troubles both within and without. With the Grand Madam still living, no one raised the matter of dividing the family. One thing led to another, the family’s fortunes improved, and the subject was raised even less.”

Eleventh Young Lady murmured thoughtfully: “Do you know who holds the share that was meant for the deceased First Master?”

Nanny Tao replied: “At the time it was used to purchase sacrificial fields. The late Marquis said it was so that future generations would remember First Master’s virtues.”

“How many acres in total?”

Nanny Tao’s forehead was already faintly damp with perspiration: “Two thousand acres in total.”

Two thousand acres. When the First Madam had purchased bridal farmland for her, the price had seemed to be around five taels of silver per acre — using that as a measure, each branch of the family could receive around ten thousand taels. In other words, the Xu family’s total fortune amounted to no more than fifty thousand taels of silver. That figure would still have to include properties, antiques, calligraphy and paintings — all things that lose value when sold — meaning the actual silver that would come to hand might not even amount to ten thousand taels per branch.

Yet look at the household now. The embroidery alone from the Silk Mist Pavilion in the green-curtained small oil carriage was worth a considerable sum, to say nothing of the furnishings in Yuan Niang’s rooms, or the lush, year-round greenery filling the Grand Madam’s courtyard. And Xu Lingning and Xu Lingkuan both held fourth-rank positions, drawing annual salaries of three hundred sixty taels of silver and one hundred forty-four piculs of grain. Xu Lingyi drew three separate salaries — as Marquis Yongping, one thousand three hundred taels of silver and five hundred twenty-two piculs of grain per year; as Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, seven hundred twenty taels of silver and two hundred eighty-eight piculs of grain per year; as Commander of the Five Armies’ Commander’s Office, five hundred twenty-two taels of silver and two hundred ten piculs of grain per year. And even so, sometimes the silver was paid out in bolts of silk instead…

She could not help but look at Nanny Tao with a smile: “That is to say — there is not very much at all.”

Nanny Tao’s complexion shifted upon hearing this: “How have I never thought through this so carefully before… I have always been puzzled — the Third Branch, clever as they are, why are they leaping about in such a frantic rush? So it turns out that what they call ‘communal funds’ is entirely the Marquis’s own fortune… And then there is the Second Branch — today wanting to buy a painting, tomorrow wanting to buy a vase, spending a hundred taels, a thousand taels, without the slightest twinge of regret. I have always wondered — the First Young Mistress was never a petty person, so why was she quarreling with the Marquis over money those past two years?” As she spoke, she was already turning round and round in circles.

Eleventh Young Lady listened, her eyes flickering. She smiled: “Don’t fret, Nanny. Since there is no money in the household and everything is drawn from the Grand Madam’s dowry — it is entirely possible that the Second Madam is also spending her own dowry!”

“Aiyo, what do you know!” Nanny Tao was growing agitated, and “Madam” had slipped into “you.” “When the Second Madam married in, she brought nothing but a small farmland of four hundred acres and thirty-six trays of trousseau. And from what I heard, even among those thirty-six trays, some gaps had been filled in with the Grand Madam’s own private money, just to save face for the Second Madam. After the Second Madam was widowed, with no children at her knee, the Grand Madam feared she would have no one to rely on, so she divided her own dowry among them — a share each for Second Master, Fourth Master, and Fifth Master. Second Master’s share went to the Second Branch. Fifth Master’s share was brought out when Fifth Master’s wife was being betrothed. The Marquis’s share — our First Young Mistress never saw a trace of it. When you married in, there was not even a written record of how much land and property the communal funds should have allocated to you… And then there was that reward the Marquis received — ten thousand taels of gold and ten hectares of fertile land. By that time, the First Young Mistress was already gone, and you had not yet entered the household. Where did that account go? Nobody knows!” As she spoke, she began turning in circles again. “No, this won’t do — I must find someone to go to the accounting office and make inquiries. Those holdings — Zhun Ge has a share in them!”

Eleventh Young Lady listened and could not help but let out a quiet, inward sigh.

Silk and gold move the heart. And Xu Lingyi was not yet dead… No wonder there were people who could bring themselves to commit murder and arson over an inheritance.

“Don’t be in such a rush about this matter either.” Having gotten to the bottom of what she wanted to know, she smiled. “Let’s not stir up trouble from nothing.”

Nanny Tao heard the sense in that, and forced down the agitation in her heart. Seeing that the hour was growing late, Eleventh Young Lady dismissed Nanny Tao and went to the Grand Madam’s quarters.

The Fifth Madam had not yet arrived. The Third Madam was holding an account ledger and saying something to the Grand Madam. When she saw Eleventh Young Lady enter, she broke off the conversation and smiled, greeting Eleventh Young Lady with a bow.

This immediately brought to mind what Nanny Tao had said about the Third Madam wanting to reform the kitchen arrangements!

That must be what they were discussing!

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and returned the greeting, then stepped forward to pay her respects to the Grand Madam. Smiling, she said: “Mother and Third Sister-in-Law are going over the accounts? Then let me help Wei Zi and the others set out the chopsticks.” Without waiting for the Grand Madam to respond, she turned and went into the west side room.

The Third Madam resumed the conversation from where she had left off: “…This way, it would also do away with all the squabbling and bickering among those people over meals. It would save a great deal of trouble.”

The Grand Madam listened with a faint smile: “Who is the head purchaser for the kitchen?”

The Third Madam’s smile stiffened somewhat: “It is Gan Laoquan.”

The Grand Madam glanced at her, then smiled: “Very well then, do as you say.”

“Mm.” Joy spilled undisguised across the Third Madam’s face.

“However…” The Grand Madam’s tone shifted.

The Third Madam’s expression immediately tensed: “However what? Mother, please do speak your mind!”

The Grand Madam slowly sipped her tea and said unhurriedly: “However, have each branch draw up a menu listing the dishes their household prefers, and let the kitchen plan the meals accordingly. They are not to act on their own initiative and cook whatever they please.”

The Third Madam quickly murmured her assent, though her expression held a trace of disappointment.

“Since there is nothing more, go help Eleventh Young Lady set out the chopsticks,” the Grand Madam said lightly. “She is young, newly arrived in the household, and you are an elder sister-in-law — you ought to set an example.”

The Third Madam felt even more stifled inside. She drew a deep breath, and only then smiled and rose, murmuring her assent.

Beside the Grand Madam, Nanny Du could not help but let out a quiet sigh.

The Grand Madam, hearing it, also sighed: “You want to ask me — knowing perfectly well that she means to line her own pockets, why do I still give her free rein to do it, don’t you?”

Nanny Du laughed: “You have always been kind-hearted. This is out of compassion for the Third Madam — you fear her days ahead will be difficult.”

“It is not compassion for her.” The Grand Madam’s expression carried a trace of wistfulness. “It is compassion for Qin Ge and Jian Ge.” Then she added: “All things considered, for her to have conceived of this scheme, she must have put a great deal of thought into it. What a pity her cleverness has been spent in the wrong direction!”

…

Eleventh Young Lady had her meal at the Grand Madam’s quarters, attended upon the Grand Madam until she had settled down for her nap, then returned to her own rooms to rest.

Dongqing was already there waiting anxiously: “Madam, the First Young Mistress said she would slip away sometime to come see you.”

Very well. Things had already reached this point — there was no turning back. Since an open break was not an option, they would need to discuss not only how to persuade the First Madam but also how to speak with Tenth Young Lady about the matter.

She took an afternoon nap and woke to find the First Young Mistress had still not arrived.

Afraid that the First Young Mistress might come and not find her, Eleventh Young Lady left word and went first to the Grand Madam’s quarters — arriving, as it happened, a quarter of an hour before the midafternoon hour.

The Grand Madam had just woken. She smiled: “This child — still arriving exactly on schedule!”

Nanny Du, who was helping the Grand Madam into her shoes, smiled: “Quite so. This morning was the same as yesterday — she arrived a quarter of an hour before the morning hour.”

The Grand Madam gave a quiet “oh,” and her eyebrows lifted slightly.

—