Wells in most households were usually located beside the kitchen, in the rear courtyard.

A man had jumped into a well?

Shiyiniang stared at Lu Yonggui. “Manager Niu’s nephew jumped into a well?”

Though Lu Yonggui was rarely at the mansion, he had always kept a close eye on its affairs, large and small. That day at Ciyuan Temple, when he had caught sight of Hupo, he had known the matter would likely be impossible to conceal. Upon returning to the mansion, he had also heard his younger brother boasting in front of him — going on about how the lady of the house had summoned him and what had come of it, still lost in his daydreams, saying his fortunes had turned and that perhaps, like Yang Huizu, he would rise to prominence in a single step. When he then connected this to Third Master’s household departing in high spirits, and to the fact that Shiyiniang had taken charge of the marquis mansion’s household affairs without the slightest resistance or ripple of opposition, he understood that this Fourth Madam was no simple woman. What was more, he himself held stewardship over the assets that Yuan Niang had left behind — a considerable sum of money. Though she had readily handed management rights over to Luo Zhengxing at the time, who could truly know what she thought in her heart?

He understood far too little about the woman standing before him, and had no way of gauging what she already knew.

Even if he wished to extricate himself, he would need to make peace with her first — to leave her well-pleased. For a steward from a great household who wished to strike out on his own, the support of the former master was essential; to offend the former master meant being unable to advance a single step.

If she was a river stone, then he was merely an egg — no, perhaps not even that. Perhaps only a quail’s egg.

Lu Yonggui dared not gamble. He dared not gamble with his own future, nor with his younger brother’s prospects.

And so, he chose to recount the facts with measured calm. “The man was pulled out of the well. Naturally, that means he jumped in.”

A quiet chill settled over Shiyiniang’s heart.

The matter was far more complicated than she had imagined. Yet this only deepened her resolve to determine exactly where Lu Yonggui’s loyalties lay.

“And what of the account books from the Hangzhou shop?” she asked him evenly.

She watched as Lu Yonggui’s hanging hand slowly clenched into a fist, then gradually relaxed and opened again.

“It is said that a sum of money went missing. Because the one who handled it was Big Mao, Manager Niu resigned to take responsibility.”

“Was it before Big Mao’s death, or after?”

“What?” Lu Yonggui raised his head to look at Shiyiniang.

“The missing sum — did it disappear before Big Mao died, or after?”

“After his death?”

What a coincidence.

First, the woman who had been betrothed to him before the marriage was completed had been subjected to the First Master’s advances… then Big Mao had jumped into the well, and Manager Niu had resigned…

She recalled her thoughts from when she had first arrived at the Luo family. All three branches of the Luo family had been in Yuhang observing mourning rites. Though Second Madam and Third Madam had taken issue with some of First Madam’s conduct, First Madam had married into the family at a time when Old Madam Luo was bedridden and unable to manage the household affairs; she had taken charge of the household within two years of her arrival. Furthermore, Old Madam Luo had been ill for seven or eight years, and throughout that entire period, it had been First Madam who attended at her bedside. When Old Master Luo passed away, all three sons had been away on official posts — it was First Madam who had seen him through to the end. Not only the two sisters-in-law, but even Second Master and Third Master showed deference to this elder sister-in-law.

Hearing what Steward Lu had just said, she was now certain this involved a struggle between the old and new powers within the Luo family.

“And then Wu Xiaoquan’s wife took over Manager Niu’s position?”

“No!” Hearing the implication in her words, Lu Yonggui understood that Shiyiniang had already fully grasped what he had left unsaid. A flash of fear crossed his eyes.

This Marchioness of Yongping — she had not even reached her coming-of-age ceremony yet!

He simply laid it all out plainly. “First, a steward who had once served at the late Old Master’s side managed things for a period, but did so poorly, and was replaced by another who had previously served the First Master. Several tasks were also bungled. First Madam then recommended Xu Deping to Old Madam. But before he even took charge, he fell from a horse and died. Old Madam then summoned Manager Niu and asked him to recommend someone, and Manager Niu recommended General Manager Wu. When General Manager Wu first took over, there were some minor missteps, though nothing went wrong on any major matters. Old Madam then settled on General Manager Wu. On top of this, the First Master spent money like water while away on official post, yet General Manager Wu always managed to balance the accounts. Only then did General Manager Wu’s position become truly secure.”

Shiyiniang thought of how, on her journey from Yuhang to Yanjing, Wu Xiaoquan’s wife had sought her out to bring food to Lu Yonggui.

“General Manager Lu and Wu Xiaoquan — you are on quite good terms, I take it?” she asked tactfully.

“Though General Manager Wu is First Madam’s attendant who accompanied her from her natal home, the person First Madam favored most was Nanny Xu’s late husband, Xu Deping.” Lu Yonggui replied. “When General Manager Wu first came to the Luo family, he learned account-keeping under my father’s guidance. Though there was no formal master-and-apprentice name between them, there was very much the substance of such a relationship. He was therefore quite close to both my brother and me. That we two brothers were later able to follow the First Young Mistress to Marquis Yongping’s mansion was also largely due to Manager Niu’s recommendation and endorsement to Wu Xiaoquan.”

So that was why Second Yiniang had said that the Lu brothers’ coming to Marquis Yongping’s mansion was entirely thanks to Manager Niu?

Shiyiniang then said, “Does Wu Xiaoquan know that the two Yiniangs came to Yanjing to look for Steward Lu?”

Lu Yonggui replied, “This servant does not know.”

A clean, straightforward answer.

There were usually two circumstances in which a person would speak with such a tone. One was to conceal something; the other was a clear conscience with nothing to fear.

Which was Lu Yonggui?

Shiyiniang smiled faintly. “The two Yiniangs settling at Ciyuan Temple — Steward Lu must find that quite satisfactory?”

Lu Yonggui bowed his head even lower. “Compared to other temples, Ciyuan Temple’s abbess, Master Jining, possesses some genuine ability. This servant only wished for the two Yiniangs to have a place to settle and sustain themselves in their later years.”

In other words, that the two Yiniangs were accepted by Jining was something this Steward Lu had a hand in.

“I am told the two Yiniangs donated five thousand taels of silver as incense-and-oil money to Ciyuan Temple. Does General Manager Lu know of this matter?”

Lu Yonggui raised his head, his face a picture of astonishment.

A faint disdain settled quietly in Shiyiniang’s eyes.

Without money to open the door, how could Lu Yonggui — a minor steward of the marquis mansion — have possibly gotten a word in with Jining? If he claimed he knew nothing of it, she most certainly would not believe him.

Seeing her expression, Lu Yonggui could not help but smile ruefully. “At the time, the two Yiniangs gave me three thousand taels in silver notes, saying there were three people who needed lodging at Ciyuan Temple. Master Jining initially agreed. Later, upon learning the full circumstances, she returned the money. The two Yiniangs then went to see Master Jining themselves. I waited outside the door. The two Yiniangs and Master Jining spoke together in a side room for over half an hour, after which Master Jining agreed to let the two Yiniangs remain at the temple.”

Three people?

Now it was Shiyiniang’s turn to be startled.

Her mind began to turn swiftly.

Yang Yiniang, knowing her own days were numbered, had wanted to mend the rift between Shiniang and First Madam — yet First Madam had been utterly unresponsive. Left with no recourse, Yang Yiniang had drawn on her years of savings and asked the two Yiniangs to take Shiniang away from the Luo family. The two Yiniangs had thought of Lu Yonggui, and so they had brought Shiniang to Yanjing.

And after that? Had it been Shiniang herself who chose to return to the Luo family — or had the two Yiniangs urged her to go back?

That question, she supposed, could only be answered by Shiniang herself.

Shiyiniang then noticed the door curtain sway gently.

Remembering she still had to accompany the Old Madam to Marquis Zhongqin’s mansion that afternoon, she lifted her teacup. “I am merely curious about some old matters. I shall have to trouble General Steward Lu for more details another time.”

From her tone, Lu Yonggui understood this was not yet finished. Yet since Shiyiniang had expressed curiosity about the old affairs, there was nothing he could do but speak. He murmured his acknowledgment, bowed, and withdrew.

Shiyiniang instructed Hupo, “Bring me Liu Yuan’rui’s son, Liu Taiping.”

Hupo assented and went off, and only then did Shiyiniang begin receiving the steward Nannies.

When the matters were settled, Shiyiniang received Liu Taiping, who had been standing and waiting beneath the eaves.

“Do you know of someone called Lu Yonggui in the Fourth Young Master’s quarters?”

“I do!” Liu Taiping replied. “We all came from the Luo family. People often mention him to me. They say he is very capable and very good at making money.”

“Then do you know him personally?”

“No, I don’t!” Liu Taiping said honestly. “But I know Elder Brother Yongfu. He works in the stables. Last time my mother went back for a visit, he absolutely insisted on hitching a carriage for her.”

“And did your mother accept?”

Liu Taiping’s face flushed red, and he hemmed and hawed for quite some time without managing to say anything.

Liu Yuan’rui was such an articulate man — yet he had fathered a son this straightforwardly simple-minded.

Shiyiniang laughed and had someone bring him a handful of sweets. “Lu Yongfu’s elder brother Lu Yonggui has returned. He manages the business affairs of the Fourth Young Master’s quarters and has been travelling outside for many years. I worry he may not serve the Fourth Young Master faithfully. During the days he is in Yanjing, you will temporarily follow him about — helping pour tea, fetch water, wash and starch his clothing. But wherever he goes, whoever he meets, and whatever he does while staying in his room — you are to report every last detail to me. Can you do this?”

“I can!” Liu Taiping nodded eagerly, then asked in puzzlement, “But — what if he won’t let me follow him?”

“Then tell him it is on my orders.”

Liu Taiping nodded again and again.

Shiyiniang rewarded him with a handful of copper coins and had Nanny Song escort Liu Taiping over to Lu Yonggui’s quarters.

Hupo said, “My lady, should we also post someone to keep a covert watch on him?”

“No need,” Shiyiniang replied. “I only wish to make my position clear. Lu Yonggui is a shrewd man. Once he has thought it through, he will come to see me of his own accord.”

Shiyiniang returned to her courtyard and changed into a wide-sleeved lined jacket of Hangzhou silk — jujube red, embroidered with turmeric-yellow peonies. She combed her hair into a high bun, fastened it with a Southern Pearl headband, and went to the Old Madam’s quarters.

The Old Madam had changed into a Hangzhou silk jacket of deep black patterned all over with gold gourds and double-happiness motifs, her hair set in a round bun, adorned with a jade-green hairpin, with a pair of jadeite bracelets at her wrists.

Seeing that Shiyiniang wore nothing but a single headband, she had Nanny Du retrieve a Southern Pearl bracelet from her own collection. “The pearls are as large as the ones on your headband — they should look like a matched set.”

Shiyiniang hastened to decline.

The Old Madam smiled. “Now that I am getting on in years, I like things that sparkle and gleam. Leaving it at the bottom of a chest does it no good — better to give it to you.” Then, suddenly remembering something, she called to Nanny Du again, “I believe I also have a pair of Southern Pearl ear studs. Fetch those for Fourth Madam as well.” Then she looked at Shiyiniang with a pleased smile. “Since you are already wearing a hairpin today, matching ear studs would look a bit too studied. Keep them for a fitting occasion. For today, just wear the bracelet.”

A kind gesture from an elder — Shiyiniang pressed no further, smiling and thanking the Old Madam.

Nanny Du brought out an oblong carved lacquer box, red in color.

When it was opened, what was called a bracelet turned out to be nearly a foot in length — long enough to be worn as a necklace.

“Come, let me put it on you.” The Old Madam wound the Southern Pearl bracelet in loop after loop around Shiyiniang’s wrist, perhaps seven or eight coils, until it sat more like a wide bangle than a bracelet. Against the wide, flowing sleeves of her lined jacket, it appeared and disappeared with each lift of her arm — a restrained and understated elegance.

Shiyiniang was delighted, and thanked the Old Madam again with a smile.

The Old Madam was equally pleased, looking her up and down with an expression of the satisfied contentment of a child who had just dressed a favorite doll in a pretty new outfit.

Shiyiniang took the Old Madam’s arm and helped her into the carriage.

—