One had to admit, Wen Yiniang’s words carried considerable weight.

Eleventh Young Lady was particularly thinking of the maidservant in Young Master Wang’s household who was three years older than him… She naturally hoped that whatever situation Zhen Jie’er married into would be as uncomplicated as possible.

“But the Marquis feels the Zhuo Family’s eldest son lacks sharpness,” she mused aloud. “That he is not quite a worthy match for our Zhen Jie’er.”

Seeing that Eleventh Young Lady was willing to hear her opinion seriously, Wen Yiniang’s spirits lifted and she quickly said: “A straightforward man is a good thing! Truth be told, our First Young Lady is also a gentle and sincere person — if she were matched with someone overbearing and arrogant, she would only suffer. Besides, Young Master Wang is an only son. Unless the First Young Lady bears two sons right from the start after entering the household, I fear that…” Her voice trailed off with full worry at the end.

Eleventh Young Lady could not help pressing her fingers to her temple.

For a moment, the room was so still a falling needle could have been heard.

Seeing this, Wen Yiniang quickly said: “Ah, but the Marquis is both learned and brave, and Madam is knowledgeable and experienced — I am only worrying needlessly.” She then rose from her seat. “The hour is getting late — shall I call for the meal? Then you can go pay your respects to the Grand Matriarch earlier!”

Just as they were talking, a young maidservant announced from beyond the curtain: “The First Young Lady has arrived!”

There was no need to choose exclusively from these two families.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and asked the young maidservant to invite Zhen Jie’er in.

Zhen Jie’er entered and, seeing only Eleventh Young Lady and Wen Yiniang in the room with the atmosphere somewhat subdued, could not help pausing in slight surprise.

Let alone the fact that this matter had not even a single thread settled — even if it had been decided, it would not be proper to speak of it in front of a third party with Zhen Jie’er present.

Without any prior arrangement, the two of them tacitly chose to say nothing about the matter. One smiled warmly and stepped forward to call out “First Young Lady,” while the other moved to sit on the heated bed beside the window.

A flicker of puzzlement passed through Zhen Jie’er’s eyes as she bowed to Eleventh Young Lady and greeted Wen Yiniang. Xu Siyu and Xu Sijie then arrived.

When Qiao Lianfang came to pay her respects, Eleventh Young Lady dismissed both Yiniangs and kept the children for breakfast. She mentioned to Xu Siyu the matter of his departure to Le’an: “…It is not good to bring too many servants. If there is someone you find particularly useful, speak with Chief Steward Bai and have him make the arrangements for you.”

Xu Siyu had no objection to this. He bowed respectfully to Eleventh Young Lady and withdrew.

Eleventh Young Lady then took Xu Sijie in her arms and went to the east chamber of the waterside pavilion — as the weather grew hotter, it was the coolest spot, and she had set up Zhen Jie’er’s embroidery room there.

Zhen Jie’er had always been conscientious in her work. Though her stitches were still somewhat unpracticed, she was earnest and diligent, embroidering strictly according to Eleventh Young Lady’s requirements.

Eleventh Young Lady thought of how she still needed to attend the Chen family wedding banquet that day, and fell into a brief silence.

Needlework encompassed not only embroidery but also measuring, cutting, and sewing garments.

Seeing this, Zhen Jie’er grew somewhat anxious: “Mother, have I embroidered something incorrectly?”

“No,” Eleventh Young Lady smiled. “It is very good.” Then, seeing the puzzlement in Zhen Jie’er’s eyes, she said: “I was thinking that at the rate you are progressing, you will be able to start learning how to sew garments tomorrow.”

Zhen Jie’er was delighted to hear this and smiled with pursed lips.

Xu Sijie saw this and broke into smiles as well.

Eleventh Young Lady handed Xu Sijie over to Nan Yong’s wife, pointed out a few things for Zhen Jie’er to pay attention to, and then went to the Grand Matriarch’s quarters.

Along the way, she instructed Zhuxiang: “Go to Binju and tell her I have something to discuss with her — ask her to come by tomorrow.”

Zhuxiang acknowledged and went.

Upon arriving at the Grand Matriarch’s quarters, she found the Grand Matriarch frowning as she questioned Nanny Shi.

Nanny Du quickly whispered quietly: “Xin Jie is ill again!”

Eleventh Young Lady felt a pang of worry on hearing this.

Xin Jie had been raised so delicately she could not withstand even the slightest hardship. And in this era, the level of medical care was so limited that even a minor chill could cost a person their life…

She was just about to ask what had happened when she saw the Grand Matriarch stand up: “I will go have a look.” She looked up and noticed Eleventh Young Lady.

Without waiting for the Grand Matriarch to speak, Eleventh Young Lady immediately said: “Mother, I will come with you.”

The Grand Matriarch nodded, and the whole party went to Fifth Young Mistress’s quarters.

It was said that the child had been taken out for a walk the previous afternoon and had started coughing by evening…

The child lay wrapped in a large red brocade quilt patterned with phoenixes and the morning sun, her face flushed, letting out small fretful sounds from time to time.

The room’s latticed panels were tightly shut, and the air was heavy with a thick floral fragrance that made one feel stifled.

Fifth Young Mistress’s face was streaming with tears as she gripped the Grand Matriarch’s hand: “Mother, please send me an experienced Nanny!”

Nanny Shi standing nearby lowered her eyes.

The Grand Matriarch did not commit to this, but instead asked about the child’s illness: “What did the imperial physician say?”

Fifth Young Mistress quickly replied: “He said it is an imbalance of cold and heat. He prescribed Minor Bupleurum Decoction.”

“Let me see the prescription!”

Nanny Shi went and fetched the prescription.

Eleventh Young Lady read it aloud to the Grand Matriarch: “Bupleurum, nine parts; skullcap root, nine parts; pinellia tuber, nine parts; fresh ginger, nine parts; ginseng, three parts; prepared licorice root, six parts; one Chinese jujube.”

“Which physician wrote this prescription? Are the quantities not somewhat large?”

“It was Imperial Physician Wu,” Nanny Shi replied. “He said to take three doses first, and then reduce the quantities by half.”

The Grand Matriarch examined the prescription carefully for a long while. Second Young Mistress then arrived.

“I heard Xin Jie was unwell. How is she?” There was evident concern in her expression.

“Second Sister-in-law.” Fifth Young Mistress grasped Second Young Mistress’s hand. “It is said to be an imbalance of cold and heat…” As she spoke of the child’s illness, the Grand Matriarch showed her the prescription as well. “Does it look appropriate to you?”

This diverted the matter of the Nanny away.

Everyone began discussing the matter of Xin Jie.

A young maidservant appeared at the doorway, peering in.

Second Young Mistress recognized her as a servant from the reception hall and said: “Mother and I are here — Fourth Sister-in-law, you go attend to your affairs.”

Eleventh Young Lady did not stand on ceremony.

It was already the end of the month, and the inner courtyard accounts needed to be reconciled with the outer courtyard. The managing Nannies were all waiting for Eleventh Young Lady to affix her seal so they could send the account books to the outer courtyard accounting office.

She said her farewells to the Grand Matriarch, Second Young Mistress, and Fifth Young Mistress, and went to the reception hall.

All the managing Nannies were standing under the eaves waiting. When they saw Eleventh Young Lady enter, the courtyard instantly fell silent.

Eleventh Young Lady looked at the foot-tall stack of account books, thought for a moment, and said: “I need to attend the wedding banquet at Elder Chen’s today. We shall review these first thing tomorrow morning.”

The managing Nannies bowed their heads respectfully and acknowledged before withdrawing.

Eleventh Young Lady instructed Hupo: “Carry them back to the Hanging Line Water Pavilion.”

Hupo glanced at the sun outside and said: “The hour is not early — although arriving before the main banquet is sufficient, arriving too late would still be somewhat discourteous.”

“I know!” Eleventh Young Lady smiled. “Just do as I have instructed.” She then told Yan Rong: “Please invite Wen Yiniang to the water pavilion.”

Yan Rong acknowledged and went.

Hupo looked at Eleventh Young Lady with puzzlement, carrying the account books and following her back to the water pavilion.

They had barely arrived when Wen Yiniang came right behind them.

“Madam, you needed me?”

Eleventh Young Lady invited her to sit on the embroidered stool beside the heated bed, and pointed to the account books on the table: “I must go to the Chen family wedding banquet. You and Hupo go through these accounts together.”

Everyone in the room was astounded.

“This…” Wen Yiniang’s forehead broke out in a fine sweat.

“Were it not for hoping to meet Lan Ting, I would have simply sent the managers from the accounts office to attend the Elder Chen event,” Eleventh Young Lady said. “As time is running short, I can only ask Wen Yiniang to take the trouble.”

Wen Yiniang clenched her teeth and agreed: “Madam, please go without worry. I will help Miss Hupo go through these accounts.”

Eleventh Young Lady nodded, ate a light snack, and left for Elder Chen’s household.

Life in Yanjing was no easy matter.

Elder Chen lived in the Watergourd Hutong on the western side of the city. The hutong was narrow, and the carriages had to queue all the way out to the main street. Although bearing the Yongping Marquis Mansion’s banner caused drivers to yield one after another, it still took well over half an hour to pass through Elder Chen’s courtyard gate.

Madam Zhou, Madam Li, and others were all present. Everyone came forward to greet Eleventh Young Lady. But most of the ladies were unfamiliar to her. Madam Zhou said quietly: “They are womenfolk of the Six Ministries officials — I am not particularly acquainted with them either.”

Eleventh Young Lady nodded, and then spotted Madam Gan’s eldest sister-in-law — the wife of the Court of Transmission Commissioner.

She went forward with a smile to greet her.

Madam Gan’s sister-in-law introduced Eleventh Young Lady to several ladies who were wives of deputies and academicians.

Most were older than her, and their husbands held lower ranks than Xu Lingyi.

Everyone smiled and nodded toward her with restrained courtesy.

Eleventh Young Lady greeted each one respectfully in return, then smiled and chatted with Madam Gan’s sister-in-law: “Why haven’t I seen Lan Ting?”

“It is said Madam Liang is feeling slightly unwell,” Madam Gan’s sister-in-law smiled. “Both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law did not come!”

Eleventh Young Lady felt somewhat disappointed and made no effort to conceal it: “I had hoped to meet with Lan Ting.”

Madam Gan’s sister-in-law caught this and gave her a meaningful look.

The two quietly made their way to a secluded spot.

Madam Gan’s sister-in-law then lowered her voice: “I heard that a few days ago, Official Chen and Official Liang had a quarrel before His Majesty!” Eleventh Young Lady was greatly startled.

Madam Gan’s sister-in-law lowered her voice another degree: “It is said to be over the matter of lifting the maritime trade ban!” She then let out a soft sigh. “I hear that the Jiang Family of Jian’an has also been drawn into it, and even submitted a memorial to the Emperor strongly opposing the lifting of the ban. One can only hope it doesn’t implicate Cao’e.”

Eleventh Young Lady accompanied her in a few words of shared concern. A young maidservant came in to invite everyone to the reception hall for tea and refreshments.

Everyone moved to the reception hall.

Eleventh Young Lady sat with Madam Zhou, Madam Li, and others.

Both women were seeking to marry Zhen Jie’er — sitting face to face, neither naturally felt it appropriate to raise the subject, and both tacitly avoided it, speaking instead of unrelated matters. When opportunities arose, each separately brought up Zhen Jie’er.

“She is currently learning needlework with me,” Eleventh Young Lady smiled. “The Grand Matriarch and I both feel it is the time to begin discussing marriage, but the Marquis still thinks Zhen Jie’er is too young. So we can only begin making preparations first.”

Madam Zhou was not entirely convinced: “Which family agrees on everything right away? With all the formal steps to follow, it takes three or four years at minimum. Persuade the Marquis to stop being so hesitant.”

Madam Li smiled and said: “That is why a rare thing commands a high price. The First Young Lady is the Marquis’s only daughter, and she has been raised in the Grand Matriarch’s own quarters since childhood — no wonder the Marquis dotes on her and is reluctant to give her away.”

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and said: “Indeed. Even when Deputy Minister Zhuo came to sound out our intentions, the Marquis gave him a response that was neither rejecting nor welcoming.”

A flash crossed Madam Li’s eyes: “So Deputy Minister Zhuo has that intention as well?”

Eleventh Young Lady smiled: “Deputy Minister Zhuo and our Marquis are on close personal terms, and his eldest son happens to be about the same age as our Zhen Jie’er. It came up in conversation.”

Just then, someone entered and announced with a smile: “The bridal procession is about to set out outside.”

Some ladies went smiling to watch. The room grew lively and noisy, making quiet conversation difficult to follow. The two exchanged a glance and a smile, dropped the subject, and both looked toward the doorway.

Madam Zhou, who had just been whispering with someone, pulled Eleventh Young Lady by the hand: “Come, let’s go have a look!” and gave her a meaningful look.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled wryly and followed her out of the reception hall.

Madam Zhou stopped just outside the reception hall doorway and smiled: “Madam Li also wishes to wed Zhen Jie’er?”

Eleventh Young Lady did not conceal this from her and nodded, saying: “Not only the Li Family — the Zhuo Family, who came to congratulate the Grand Matriarch on her birthday last time, also has this intention!”

—