The night watch drum had just sounded the hour of Xu. The Sheng Mansion in Quanzhou was gradually lighting up its lanterns one by one. In the main hall of the western courtyard’s primary residence sat an elderly woman with hair streaked white, prayer beads wound around her hands, her clothing plain and simple — entirely at odds with the opulent elegance that surrounded her. Seated in the lower position of the room at this moment was none other than the master of the Sheng Mansion himself: Sheng Hong.

“Thanks be to our ancestors’ blessings — my performance review this term was rated Excellent, and the official decree of promotion should arrive by the end of the month.” It was early summer, and Sheng Hong wore a thin rust-colored silk summer robe, his manner thoroughly respectful as he spoke.

“It wasn’t for nothing, all those years you spent toiling away out here. Rising above the sixth rank is the hardest step of all — now that you’ve cleared this hurdle, you can truly be counted among the middle-ranked officials. Do you have any sense yet of where this promotion will take you?”

The Old Madam of the Sheng Family spoke in an even, unhurried tone, without a ripple of emotion.

“Uncle Geng has already written to inform me — it should be the position of Prefect of Dengzhou.” Sheng Hong had always been a cautious man by nature, yet even he could not help letting a flash of joy show through as he said these words.

“Well, that truly calls for congratulations, Master. The post of prefect has long been held by those of the senior fifth rank, yet here you are, a full sixth-rank official appointed to govern an entire prefecture — this is not only the accumulated virtue of our ancestors at work, but also much thanks owed to those who have smoothed the way on your behalf.” The Old Madam said.

“That goes without saying. The gift lists for the several uncles and elder relatives in the capital have already been drafted — I ask that Mother look them over.” Sheng Hong drew several plain sheets of paper from his sleeve and passed them to the maidservant standing in attendance nearby.

“Master, you have grown ever more seasoned and judicious in handling affairs these past years — you may make your own decisions on this. But do keep one principle always in mind: a gentleman’s friendship is as pure and clear as water. Silver must be spent with proper measure, and the observance of courtesy must be thorough — neither subservient nor overbearing, yet warm and familiar. Those distinguished elders have spent their entire lives navigating the official world; every single one of them has been tempered into a man with eyes sharp as fire. Their care and protection of you over these years has been due in part to the old friendship from when your father was still alive, and in part because you yourself have striven hard enough to merit their efforts.” The Old Madam grew somewhat short of breath after speaking at such length. Nanny Fang, who stood at her side, immediately raised a teacup to her lips, while her other hand gently rubbed the Old Madam’s back in slow, soothing strokes.

Seeing this, Sheng Hong’s face filled with alarm, and he said urgently: “Mother, please, above all else, take care of your health. Whatever I am today, I owe entirely to Mother’s upbringing. Had Mother not shown such righteousness and generosity back then, I would be no more than a man muddling through his days in some rural backwater. I still have so many years of filial duty left to pay.”

The Old Madam said nothing, seeming to drift somewhere far away in thought. After a long moment: “It was nothing as grand as righteousness. I merely fulfilled the bond of husband and wife with your father — I could not bear for his grave to stand cold and desolate after a hundred years. Fortunately… you have, at least, turned out to be a man who strives forward.” Her voice grew faint, trailing gradually into silence.

Sheng Hong did not dare respond. The hall fell into a solemn quiet. After a moment, he said: “Mother is in the prime of her years — surely great blessings and prosperity still stretch long before you. Please set your mind at ease and tend well to your health.” As he spoke, he glanced around the room and could not help frowning. “Mother’s quarters here are also far too austere — it gives the impression of a nun’s hermitage, which is quite unnecessary. Mother, please hear your son on this: even common elderly ladies who observe vegetarian fasting and pay devotion to Buddha still keep their surroundings lively and cheerful. Why must Mother subject herself to such austerity? Should others see this, they may well think your son is failing in his filial duties.”

The Old Madam said: “Liveliness resides within the heart. If the heart grows barren, all the decoration in the world is useless — nothing more than a deaf man’s ears: ornaments and nothing else.”

Sheng Hong said quietly: “It is all your son’s fault, for failing to keep his wife in proper check.”

The Old Madam said: “Do not blame yourself. Your filial heart, I know well. And do not fault your wife either — I am not her true mother-in-law, so there is no point in putting on airs. Her coming to pay respects every three days wearies her and vexes me both. Nor need you worry that anyone will accuse you of being unfilial. I had a certain reputation in my earlier years, and no small number of people know my temperament. By keeping some distance between us, everyone is actually more comfortable.”

Sheng Hong said quickly: “What is Mother saying? What do you mean by ‘not her true mother-in-law’? Mother was Father’s wife, taken through proper betrothal rites — you are my legitimate mother, and moreover, you are the one who gave me a second chance at life. For all these reasons and more, any failing lies with your son and his wife. Mother must never speak this way.”

The Old Madam seemed to grow somewhat impatient and gave a slight wave of her hand. “These trivial domestic matters, Master need not trouble himself over. Rather, with promotion imminent, you had best concentrate on settling affairs in order. During your years serving as Deputy Prefect of Quanzhou, you have cultivated many connections with people of insight and worth. Before your departure, you must be sure to fulfill all proper courtesies with them. We all move within the same official circles — those not seen today will be seen tomorrow. Do not let the hearts of your colleagues grow cold. It is always best to part on good terms.”

“Mother is absolutely right — I had been thinking the same. When I first arrived in Quanzhou, I recall finding the climate of this southern land insufferably hot and the people’s ways rather rough. I thought it little better than a half-civilized frontier. Yet who could have foreseen — the weather here is favorable, the common people honest and simple, and with the coast close at hand, there is the benefit of fishing and salt trade and the convenience of maritime commerce. Though not as prosperous as the Jiangnan region, the common people here enjoy substantial livelihoods. After living here these past years, I find I have grown rather reluctant to leave.” Sheng Hong said with a quiet smile.

The Old Madam also smiled. “That is true enough. I have lived in the north all my life, and even the finest Jiangnan would hold no appeal for me. Yet somehow, I have grown accustomed to this Quanzhou. Here, the mountains are high and the Emperor is far away — life moves at a pleasant, unhurried pace. Before we set out, sell off this grand estate and purchase a smaller country property with a good landscape — nothing conspicuous, but a place to settle into in old age.”

“An excellent plan — I think it absolutely splendid. I’ll see to it straightaway.” Sheng Hong said, smiling.

The Old Madam kept extremely strict discipline, and throughout this entire exchange, not a single sound had come from any of the maids or serving women filling the room. Mother and son had been conversing for some time. Sheng Hong moved his lips several times as if to raise some matter, only to pull back each time. The room fell cold and quiet again. The Old Madam glanced at him. She lifted her teacup and gently stirred the tea leaves. Nanny Fang, ever sharp-eyed, quietly called out to the maids and serving women in the room to step outside, personally shooing everyone toward the side chamber. She gave quiet instructions to several of the first-tier senior maids, then returned to the main room to attend to the Old Madam — arriving just in time to hear the Old Madam speaking: “…So you have finally brought yourself to say it. I had nearly thought you meant to hide it from this old woman until her dying day.”

Sheng Hong stood with head bowed, his face filled with trepidation. “I bitterly regret not heeding Mother’s counsel when it was given. That matters have come to such a pass is entirely due to your son’s want of virtue — bringing such disorder upon this household.”

“Merely disorder upon the household?” The Old Madam raised her voice slightly. “I had not thought you could be so muddled and blind. Do you not realize this matter could grow into something of grave consequence?”

Sheng Hong gave a start and folded his hands in a respectful bow. “I beg Mother to instruct me.”

The Old Madam straightened herself up from the soft rosewood daybed. “I had made it my practice not to interfere in household affairs, and I had no wish to speak out and make myself a nuisance. Whichever woman you favored had nothing to do with me, and I never once meddled in the quarrels and intrigues within your quarters. But these past years, you have grown increasingly improper in your conduct. Go and ask around — what household of any standing treats a concubine the way you have treated her? Giving her face and personal funds, giving her estates and shops — she now has children of both sorts, and lacks nothing but the formal title. There is not a single thing in which she falls short of a true first wife! By failing to observe the proper distinction between primary and secondary wives, you have overturned all proper hierarchy — is that not sowing the seeds of household ruin? And now — now at last, a life has been lost. One body, two deaths — a bloody tragedy. And what do you have to say for yourself?”

Sheng Hong’s face was suffused with shame, and he bowed repeatedly. “Mother’s reprimand is entirely just. It is all your son’s fault — your son has been foolish. I always thought of her as someone who, alone and without support, sought shelter under my roof — a truly pitiable circumstance. She could have been a proper wife to someone outside, yet she chose to become a secondary wife to me instead. I could not help but feel a certain tenderness toward her. On top of that, she came from Mother’s side of the household, which gave her somewhat more standing than an ordinary concubine. I never thought that by indulging her, I was in fact harming her — allowing her to grow ever more presumptuous and overstepping. Your son truly acknowledges his error.”

When the Old Madam heard the latter part of his words, she gave a soft, cold laugh but said nothing, lifting her teacup and blowing gently on the surface. Seeing this, Nanny Fang stepped forward and said: “Master is benevolent by nature — the Old Madam knows this as well as anyone. This matter has been left unaddressed for some years now, and without speaking it through plainly, the household will never find its footing going forward. It is not the Old Madam’s place, as an elder, to say certain things directly. Allow this old servant to presume a little today and speak plainly with Master on her behalf. I trust Master will not hold it against me.”

Seeing Nanny Fang speak up, Sheng Hong immediately said: “What kind of talk is that, Nanny? You have devoted yourself wholeheartedly to the Sheng Family for so many years, serving Mother with your whole heart — to me, you are no different from a member of my own family. Please, speak freely.”

Nanny Fang declined the courtesy with a respectful side-step and then said: “Then this old woman will take the liberty. Lin Yiniang’s mother and the Old Madam were acquainted during their girlhood — though even at the time, it amounted to no more than a few chance meetings, not so close as some of the other girlhood companions. After each married, they had absolutely no contact. I have served the Old Madam since I was small, so I know this matter more clearly than anyone. Later, when her husband’s family engaged in misconduct and got themselves into serious trouble — the family did not suffer execution or confiscation of property, but their standing collapsed entirely. That year, Lin Yiniang’s father died of illness, and with no sons to depend upon, the mother found herself with no one to rely upon. She led a bleak existence with her daughter at her side. On her deathbed, she sought out the Old Madam and begged her — on the basis of their old girlhood acquaintance — to please look after her daughter in some measure. Her relatives were all wolves in human form, and she feared they would ruin the girl. The Old Madam, being a devout and compassionate soul, agreed at once and brought Lin Yiniang into the household. In those years, our Old Madam treated her as no less than a beloved daughter — the finest in food, clothing, and daily necessities were all given to her, and the Old Madam spoke daily of arranging a proper dowry and finding her a good husband.”

At these words, Sheng Hong’s face flushed slightly, and a look of shame crossed his features. Nanny Fang sighed softly and continued: “Who could have foreseen that this young Miss Lin would prove to be a woman of very strong will of her own? Several households were proposed on her behalf, and she refused every one of them — yet all the while, she had quietly been carrying on an intimate involvement with Master. This old woman has no refinement in her speech, so Master must not take offense. The entire matter was entirely concealed from our Old Madam. It was not until Madam came weeping in fury to the Old Madam’s door that the Old Madam first learned that the girl she had raised under her own roof had conducted herself in such an improper manner.”

Sheng Hong was overcome with shame — his face scarlet, unable to speak a word.

Nanny Fang said in a gentle tone: “Originally, Madam and the Old Madam were not as they are today. When Madam first came to this household as a bride, the two of them were warm and cordial with each other. But once that incident came to light, it seemed as though our Old Madam had deliberately arranged to embarrass Madam — as though she had raised a young woman specifically to secure a concubine for Master. And then, Master, you took Lin Yiniang in as your concubine. And then Lin Yiniang bore children, and her daily life grew grander than Madam’s own. Madam inevitably directed all her resentment toward the Old Madam and grew distant from her in all dealings. The Old Madam’s heart grew thoroughly cold.”

With a thud, Sheng Hong dropped straight to his knees before the Old Madam, tears streaming down his face. “Your son deserves ten thousand deaths — for bringing all this unhappiness upon Mother, for causing Mother to carry such grievances in her heart with nowhere to voice them. Your son is unfilial. Your son is unfilial.”

As he said this, he knocked his head to the ground repeatedly. The Old Madam closed her eyes, then lifted a hand toward Nanny Fang. Nanny Fang hurried to help Sheng Hong to his feet. Sheng Hong refused to rise, continuing to prostrate himself and beg forgiveness. The Old Madam said: “First get up. These are inner household matters that a grown man like you could not have fully seen through. Get up — between mother and son, there are no grudges that last past nightfall.”

Only then did Sheng Hong rise. His forehead was already red and swollen. The Old Madam sighed. “I know as well — when you were small, you and Chun Yiniang depended on each other to get through difficult days. Life was not easy for you. At that time, I could barely manage to look after my own son, and so I remained unaware of the underhanded and shameful conduct of the servants — I let you suffer. And then, your wife is not a woman of broad generosity, which is why you have always feared that Lin Yiniang and Feng Ge’er would be wronged and bullied by the servants. Giving them property and land to secure their position — how could I not understand the good intentions behind that? And so I closed my eyes and sealed my mouth, pretending for these past years to be deaf and blind — no more than a living ghost.”

Sheng Hong wept. “How could any of this be connected to the Old Madam? It is all your son’s want of virtue. Mother’s heart sees as clearly as a mirror — every word you have spoken reaches to the very core of your son. I was simply afraid that Madam… and so I indulged her too much, and in doing so, broke with proper conduct. Your son deserves ten thousand deaths.”

“Enough of this ‘ten thousand deaths, ten thousand deaths’ — if you die, what will we widowed women and fatherless children have to depend upon?” The Old Madam signaled to Nanny Fang to bring a chair over for Sheng Hong, and together they helped the still-tearful Sheng Hong to sit down.

After Nanny Fang had brought Sheng Hong a hot damp cloth, helped him wash his face, and served fresh tea, the Old Madam continued: “Leaving aside all matters of principle and natural feeling — have you not stopped to consider your own situation? You have just passed thirty years of age. Your official career, while not entirely without turbulence, has proceeded without any serious setbacks. Of those who passed the imperial examinations alongside you, how many have progressed as smoothly as you have? How many are still grinding away in bitter waiting? Those who look upon you with envy — those watching for any fault they might seize upon — they are not few in number. And Wei Yiniang was not some maidservant purchased by our family. She too came from a decent family background — one that had long kept to farming and study in the Jiangnan region. She had originally been destined to become someone’s proper wife. Had her family not met with misfortune, she would never have consented to become a concubine no matter how poor she grew. And now she has been in this household barely five years before dying such a wretched death. If someone with ill intent were to seize upon this matter as a weapon — instigating her family to create a scene and memorializing against you for mismanaging your household and disregarding a human life — would you still be able to receive your promotion without a hitch?”

Sheng Hong’s heart lurched, and beads of cold sweat broke out across his forehead. “It is thanks to Mother’s clear-headedness that the Wei family was quickly placated — otherwise your son would have had no end of trouble.”

“The Wei family are decent people. When they received news of Wei Yiniang’s death, they did not make a great fuss. They only wanted to bring her remains back for burial themselves. I naturally would not allow that. They refused to accept the additional silver I offered — they said they had no face to take money stained with their daughter’s suffering. They only asked that I take good care of that little girl, and said they would be grateful beyond measure. The bleakness of that family — the sight of it grieved me.”

The Old Madam drew out a handkerchief and dabbed at the corners of her eyes. Nanny Fang herself came in from outside carrying a teapot to refill the cups, carefully topping up both delicate celadon teacups with their floating relief patterns and then replacing their lids with attentive care. She too sighed deeply as she said: “Wei Yiniang was a decent-hearted woman, and the little girl she raised is pitiable. Since the day her mother passed, that child burned with fever for two straight days — burning until she was muddled and confused. In the days since she came through it, she has been in a dazed stupor, not a complete coherent word spoken. The day I went to look in on her at the Old Madam’s instruction — I found the serving women and maids outside laughing and playing together without a care, while there was not a single person inside attending to the child. I walked in and found the little girl had gotten out of bed herself to pour water to drink! A child no more than four or five years old, too small to reach the tabletop — climbing up on a small footstool, standing on her tiptoes to cup a teabowl in her hands and drink from it. Truly a pitiful sight!” Nanny Fang also began to dab at her eyes.

Sheng Hong thought of Wei Yiniang’s gentle and kind nature, and his heart was pierced with anguish. He said with deep remorse: “I had intended to send her to Madam’s care, but these past few days Ru Niang has also fallen ill, and Madam’s household has been in a state of chaotic busyness as well. I had thought to wait a few more days until Madam had a moment’s respite.”

The Old Madam steadied her breathing and said slowly: “What moment’s respite? Does she expect to hold the little girl in her arms personally or carry her on her back? With maids and serving women in abundance, one need only give instructions and the servants will carry them out — it requires no more than a small measure of attention and effort. She keeps putting it off and declining to take in the little girl — I suspect she is playing coy.”

Sheng Hong stood up stiffly, not daring to respond. The Old Madam gave him a glance, her voice carrying a slight edge of coldness. “You dare not say a word to her, and indeed you have no standing to. It is simply because you yourself have not stood on upright ground — she catches you at every turn and leaves you unable to reply. You first broke with proper conduct yourself, indulging a concubine until she had no sense of proper hierarchy — conducting herself with all the trappings and bearing of the first wife. I can well imagine what your wife said — ‘What is this? When everything was fine, the concubine raised the children herself. Now that the birth mother has died, you suddenly remember that I am the nominal first wife?’ No wonder Madam was angered. Everything from before — I will stay out of all of it. I only have two questions for you, and I want honest answers.”

Sheng Hong immediately said: “Please speak, Mother. Never mind two questions — even a thousand or ten thousand questions, there is not one I would refuse to answer.”

“First: this matter of Wei Yiniang — one body and two deaths — do you intend to let it pass over vaguely as if nothing happened? Or do you intend to demand that someone pay with their life?” The Old Madam’s gaze fixed itself firmly on Sheng Hong.

“I intend to account for it carefully and thoroughly. How can this household tolerate someone of such vicious and sinister character? She could poison Wei Yiniang and destroy my flesh and blood — a child fully formed — today; tomorrow she could move against others. How could the Sheng household contain such a person?” Sheng Hong answered through gritted teeth.

The Old Madam’s expression softened slightly. She paused a moment, then asked: “Good. Second: the current state of affairs in this household — where all hierarchy has broken down, with no distinction between primary and secondary — what do you intend to do about it?”

Sheng Hong drew a long breath. “Mother sees clearly. When I returned and saw Wei Yiniang’s body covered in blood — and that child, smothered to death in the womb — my heart was already crushed beneath guilt and grief. The servants dare to behave with such arrogance only because there are no strict rules to keep them in check. When the beam above is crooked, the beams below cannot be straight — the root of all this naturally lies with those at the top. I have resolved — I am absolutely determined — to restore proper discipline and order to this household.”

“Good. Good. These two words from you are all I needed to hear.” The Old Madam’s heart opened slightly. Knowing Sheng Hong’s character well, she said no more on the matter, simply nodding her head repeatedly. “If you wish to maintain your official career over the long term — if our Sheng family wishes to see our descendants flourish and multiply — the household must be governed with strict discipline. Ruin rises from within the walls of one’s own home, and many great noble families have fallen precisely because they first rotted from the inside out. We must take this as our lesson and warning.”

“Mother is absolutely right. These past days, your son has been consumed with worry over the performance review. Now that this great weight has been lifted from my mind, I will have the time to set things in order — beginning by dealing with the lot of maids and serving women who were present on the day Wei Yiniang went into labor.” Sheng Hong’s tone was calm, but the anger in his heart was plain to see.

“No — that cannot be done now.” The Old Madam’s flat refusal came as a surprise. Sheng Hong was taken aback. “Old Madam, why is that? Surely we are not going to let these insolent servants go unpunished?”

The Old Madam gave Sheng Hong a meaningful look. “You have served as Deputy Prefect of Quanzhou for several years — everyone here knows the ins and outs of this household. The ladies of the house have long had regular dealings with one another, and a great number of the maids, serving women, and other servants were purchased locally. If anything stirs within this household, how could the outside world fail to learn of it? Your relations with your colleagues here are largely cordial — but who can say there is not one among them who harbors a hidden resentment? If you have barely finished burying a concubine before turning around to conduct a sweeping purge of your household staff, is that not like placing a sign saying ‘Three Hundred Taels of Silver NOT Buried Here’ — making it plain to everyone that your household is in serious disorder?”

Sheng Hong was struck by a sudden realization and immediately agreed. “It is thanks to Mother’s timely reminder that your son has avoided a grave mistake. If we were to settle accounts here in Quanzhou — all the buying and selling of people that would entail — word would spread through the entire prefecture. But once we have traveled to Shandong, separated from all of this by the vast distance between south and north — whatever we do to deal with those insolent servants, what outsider would know anything of the internal details?”

“Precisely so. Therefore, at this moment you must not only avoid making any commotion — you must take active steps to keep the entire household stable. Make the journey to Dengzhou to take up your post in peace, without a ripple on the surface. Wait until the official decree has come down, until you have received your official seal, until our whole family has settled in Shandong — then you may deal with things at your own pace.”

“Mother sees all things clearly. Your son has not spoken with you so openly for many years — having done so today, my heart feels wonderfully unburdened. In matters of managing and governing the household going forward, I shall need to rely greatly on Mother. Madam ought to come to Mother more often to seek your guidance.”

“No need for that. I am already a person with one foot in the grave. Had this matter not grown into such a commotion, I would not have troubled myself with it at all. Let everything remain as before on my end — have your wife come to pay her respects three times a month, and that is sufficient. Your own affairs, manage yourselves. Your own household, govern by your own principles. I need only my Buddhist devotions and my simple vegetarian meals.”

The Old Madam seemed to grow somewhat weary. She leaned back against the cushion of the soft daybed and half-closed her eyes, her voice gradually fading. In the corner of the room, upon the sandalwood stand, sat a purple bronze incense burner in the shape of a qilin, silently breathing out its swirls of fragrant smoke.