Although the Grand Dowager had entrusted her with receiving Madam Lin, it was, after all, the Third Madam who oversaw the household’s domestic affairs. After leaving the Grand Dowager’s quarters, Eleventh Young Miss went to find the Third Madam.

She was in the middle of sorting through items with Qiuling: “…This official kiln plum vase belongs to the communal property — forty-five taels apiece, ninety taels for the pair. And this bowl here is a crimson glaze; you couldn’t buy another one even with money. Write them all down. When the time comes, go to the Huguo Temple fair and buy something similar, smash them up, pile the pieces together, and clear the communal accounts.”

Items belonging to the communal property that went missing required someone to be held accountable; items that were damaged required the damaged goods to be presented before the accounts could be cleared.

Qiuling nodded and noted down everything the Third Madam pointed out.

A young maidservant came to announce that Eleventh Young Miss had arrived. Qiuling’s brush tip trembled, and a blot of ink dropped, smearing the account book.

The Third Madam shot her a glare. “Be careful. Don’t leave anything out when you copy it.”

Qiuling quickly rose and answered yes. The Third Madam had already hurried out.

Upon hearing that the visit concerned arrangements for a banquet to receive Madam Lin, the Third Madam immediately took it all upon herself: “This is a small matter — just leave it to me!”

Eleventh Young Miss rose with a smile and thanked the Third Madam, then returned to her own quarters. She took out the embroideries she had already inventoried and looked them over. Hupo came in and said, “I’ve found out everything about Hui Jie’er!”

“That was quick!” Eleventh Young Miss laughed and invited Hupo to sit on the kang and speak.

Hupo settled herself on the opposite side and said with a smile, “Hui Jie’er is the eldest granddaughter of the Lin family’s main branch. Her mother, the First Young Madam of the Lin family, had a difficult labor giving birth to her, so she was raised at Madam Lin’s side. Later, the First Young Madam gave birth to two young sons in succession. Madam Lin, fearing that no one would take proper care of Hui Jie’er, kept her by her own side. As it happened, Hui Jie’er was also quite exceptional — from a young age she followed her aunts to study under a private tutor, yet she surpassed all of them. Over the years she even completed the Analects, and her zither-playing, chess, calligraphy, and painting had all taken on a respectable shape, so she stood even higher in the eyes of Marquis Lin and Madam Lin than the young masters of the household. As it happened, the fifth son of Senior Grand Secretary and Grand Academician of the Hall of Literary Profundity, Chen Zixiang, was fifteen this year — handsome in appearance, of a very upright and earnest character, and had just passed the prefectural examination last year. The First Young Madam took a liking to him and wanted to pursue the match. She sent someone to make inquiries, but as it turned out, the Chen family’s rules were exceedingly strict. Not only were morning and evening greetings absolutely non-negotiable, but the daughters-in-law of the household were also expected to make shoes and socks and sew and iron clothing, just like the maidservants. The First Young Madam couldn’t bear to put her daughter through that, and so she gave up the idea. Yet Madam Lin had her eye on the Fifth Young Master of the Chen family and said the Chen family was a household of scholars who upheld propriety as a family tradition, unlike noble or powerful clans — not one of which could truly bear close scrutiny. So she invited an instructress from the Imperial Needlework Bureau to teach Hui Jie’er embroidery. But as it turned out, Hui Jie’er could outperform young men in her studies, yet when it came to feminine needlework, she was utterly clumsy. Four or five teachers in succession all failed to manage. Madam Lin was growing anxious about this when she happened to run into you that day, and promptly sent the girl over in a great hurry.”

Eleventh Young Miss couldn’t help but think of Zhen Jie’er.

This Hui Jie’er was only a year older than Zhen Jie’er, yet Madam Lin and the First Young Madam had already begun looking for a suitable husband for her — while no one seemed to so much as mention Zhen Jie’er’s situation. She had always believed that opportunity was reserved for those who were prepared. Zhen Jie’er was clearly not among the prepared — though, come to think of it, was she not Zhen Jie’er’s mother? Surely she could be the one to take charge of this household matter.

As she pondered, she asked Hupo, “Who told you all this about Hui Jie’er?”

“The First Young Madam of the Lin family’s personal nanny is very close with the wife of Li Quan, who manages the carriages and horses in our household. The two families are even related by marriage. She said the First Young Madam has been terribly worried about this matter — she personally oversees things every single day. Once, Hui Jie’er got so fed up with being scolded that she flung the embroidery hoop right onto the floor in front of the First Young Madam and made her absolutely furious.”

Eleventh Young Miss broke into a sweat.

She couldn’t say why, but it brought to mind the memory of the boy who lived next door in her previous life — the one who had thrown his violin off the sixteenth floor rather than practice it…

A young maidservant came to announce: “Steward Bai has sent someone to deliver pearls to Madam.”

“So soon!” Eleventh Young Miss had them shown in.

It was a young page boy of about seven or eight, fair-skinned with delicate and clear features.

Though young in age, his bearing was neither overbearing nor servile — he carried himself with an air of considerable refinement.

“Steward Bai sent this small one to report to Madam,” he said. “He says the pearls are worth sixteen taels of silver, and not a single one is false. Among them, five are of matching size — if they can be set into a pearl flower ornament or the like, they could fetch at least twenty-five or twenty-six taels. The silversmiths have already picked out those five pearls and wrapped them separately.” His speech was also exceptionally clear and well-organized.

Eleventh Young Miss looked at him with great admiration and asked, “What is your name?”

“This small one is called Xiao Luzi,” he answered respectfully. “I entered service in the household only yesterday and now run errands at the side of Head Steward Bai. If Madam has any instructions, please do not hesitate to give them.”

Eleventh Young Miss was quite surprised.

She had not expected to encounter this person called Xiao Luzi so soon — and he had already been so well-trained by the Second Madam. Even she herself found him impressive, let alone Xu Lingyi.

With a complicated feeling in her heart, she smiled at Xiao Luzi, had someone reward him with some pastries, then had Qiuyu see him out. She then instructed Hupo to pass word and have Liu Yuanrui’s wife come over.

Hupo acknowledged and left. Before long, Xu Lingyi returned.

Seeing Eleventh Young Miss knotting a decorative cord, he smiled and said, “What are you making now?” She had just finished two children’s cloaks a few days earlier, intending to send one each to Fifth Young Miss and the Fifth Madam.

She smiled. “I want to make a pearl bracelet for Zhen Jie’er.” She rose and went to take Xu Lingyi’s cloak.

Xu Lingyi made a sound of acknowledgment and went to change his clothes and wash up. Eleventh Young Miss finished the last of her work.

She threaded the pearls onto a fine white cord to make the bracelet, then wove the remaining cord into a tiny little bat to form a sliding knot, leaving two short ends of cord. The cord was slightly stiff, like two little tails on the bat, and with two bats made this way, they had a lively and playful quality — quite charming.

She set her things aside, intending to give it to Zhen Jie’er later when they went to the Grand Dowager’s for dinner, so she could wear it the next day when receiving guests. Xu Lingyi came out of the washroom, took it and looked it over, and said with a smile, “These little bats are quite clever.”

Eleventh Young Miss simply smiled without a word and changed the subject. “My lord, you are home quite early today!”

Xu Lingyi said, “Help me pack — I’m leaving for the Western Mountain Secondary Palace tomorrow to stay for a few days. I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

Eleventh Young Miss was taken aback, and then felt a creeping unease.

“The new year is almost here — why the sudden notion to go to the Western Mountain Secondary Palace…” She looked at Xu Lingyi, her face full of worry. “Has something happened?”

“Nothing has happened!” Xu Lingyi’s expression was as composed and unruffled as ever. “Just stay home at ease. Third Sister-in-law is flighty by nature, and Fifth Sister-in-law is carrying a child. While I’m away for the next few days, help me take good care of Mother and look after the children well.”

He said nothing had happened — yet!

The laws of ancient times upheld the principle of collective punishment.

The moment this thought came to her, her face drained of color. “My lord, I am but a woman of the inner quarters — I should have no hand in matters of the outside world. But if you don’t so much as give me a word, and something were to happen, I would have no footing, let alone any way to prepare in advance. Though there is still the Third Master and Steward Bai at home, they are, after all, in the outer courtyard.”

Xu Lingyi thought of several matters she had handled since coming into the household as his wife… He hesitated for a moment, then brought her into the inner chamber.

“From my lips to your ears — you must not speak of this to anyone.” His expression grew somewhat grave. “Two nights ago, the Fifth Prince fell suddenly ill — vomiting and with severe flux. The Imperial Physicians were at a loss. He is now unconscious and unresponsive. The Emperor has ordered me to escort the Empress and the Third Prince to the Western Mountain Secondary Palace, while the Imperial Guard Commander Ouyang Ming escorts the First Prince to return to the ancestral home in the Emperor’s stead to perform the ancestral rites.”

Eleventh Young Miss felt a jolt in her heart.

The palace was indeed not at peace…

Xu Lingyi observed that although Eleventh Young Miss had gone pale as white paper, her bearing showed not even a trace of panic — in fact she appeared calmer than usual. Feeling both gratified and unable to help pitying her for her young age and for being dragged into his troubles, he let out a quiet sigh, patted her on the head, and reassured her: “There’s nothing to worry about. If the Emperor had given up entirely, he would not have sent both me and Ouyang Ming to separately escort the Third Prince and the First Prince. You should know that Ouyang Ming entered the palace at the age of thirteen and served as the Emperor’s personal guard ever since — he is the person the Emperor trusts most. He also carries the Emperor’s personal edict and has the authority to mobilize the forces of the various garrison commands in Shanxi, Hebei, and Tianjin. Nothing will go wrong.”

Even if the Emperor harbored such intentions, even if Ouyang Ming and the First Prince came through unscathed — the Xu household without Xu Lingyi would be in quite a different situation… Listening to him, Eleventh Young Miss felt only a stifling oppression in her chest. “But what of you, my lord?” she said, and before she knew it, she had gripped Xu Lingyi’s sleeve tightly.

Xu Lingyi lowered his head. At the sight of her knuckles white from gripping, something stirred warmly in his heart without his knowing why, and words that ordinarily should not have been said came naturally flowing out: “When the late Emperor passed from this world, the fact that the Emperor was able to ascend to the throne smoothly was not unrelated to my having once served as the Chief Commander of the Western Mountain Main Camp…” He paused, then added, “Rest assured — even if I cannot command the Northwestern Army, I can command the Western Mountain Main Camp.”

Hearing this, Eleventh Young Miss felt not reassurance, but a chill spreading through her heart. “Yet the Emperor has dispatched you precisely to the Western Mountain…”

The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became.

A man whose trump card had been seen through by his opponent had nowhere left to go — he was nothing but meat on a chopping block, to be cut apart at will. “My lord, you must think of another way!” Eleventh Young Miss’s eyes filled with fear.

Because of her background in studying law, she had once encountered some cases from ancient times — the fate of Fang Xiaoru, for instance, had been extraordinarily horrific.

“Since you rendered distinguished service in supporting the Emperor’s succession, he knows perfectly well the nature of your connection to the Western Mountain Main Camp. And yet he has deliberately sent you there…”

Xu Lingyi grasped her meaning immediately and could not conceal the look of astonishment that crossed his face.

This young woman before him was far more intelligent than he had imagined. She seemed capable of looking through the surface of things to perceive their very essence — the moldy rice affair, and now this… and then again, those words she had said to him, seated at his side reading the Comprehensive Gazetteer of the Great Zhou, not long after their marriage — words that had instantly calmed his agitated mood. Then it struck him all at once: she had only been married into the household for less than two months.

This was no longer merely cleverness. It was something akin to thinking three moves ahead.

He was suddenly seized by excitement.

This was the stuff of a first-rate strategist.

Just imagine — having someone beside him like a military counselor helping him manage the inner household, free from worry about the rear forever more, never again having to personally deal with all that tangled mess himself… The way he looked at Eleventh Young Miss had already changed.

“Don’t worry,” he said with a smile. “If the Emperor were suspicious of me, he would either leave the Western Mountain Main Camp entirely undisturbed as a show of favor, to see how I would react, or he would transfer all of those closely tied to me out of the Western Mountain Main Camp as a preemptive precaution. Yet the Emperor has done neither — rotations proceed when rotations are due, transfers happen when transfers are due.” His voice had grown somewhat grave. “I know my own situation. I will not let anything happen to this entire family.”

—