At the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, the northern wind rose sharp and sudden. Because the country was still in a period of national mourning, Molan’s coming-of-age ceremony was extremely simple. Wang Shi invited only a few official ladies she was on particularly good terms with, had a new outfit made, and set up two tables as a token gesture. Lin Yiniang felt her daughter had been done a disservice, but she also knew that the crackdown in recent times had been very severe — even the powerful and noble households had been chastised. How could the Sheng family dare to make an extravagant display?

For this, Lin Yiniang wept piteously before Sheng Hong all night — at once understanding and aggrieved. Sheng Hong’s heart softened, and he set aside two taels of silver for Molan to purchase a full set of solid gold hairpieces and headwear. Judging by how generously Sheng Hong reached into his pocket, the services Lin Yiniang rendered that evening must have gone considerably beyond mere weeping.

The capital was nothing like Dengzhou or Quanzhou — the moment winter set in, the cold was dry and bone-piercing. The maids and matrons in the household changed one after another into their bulky winter clothes; seen through the pale white air, everyone looked like bundled clusters of people. This kind of cold was exactly what Minglan disliked most about going out. How much more pleasant it was to curl up on the kang clutching a warm handwarmer and let her mind wander. But things did not go as she wished.

A letter had arrived from Grandmother, saying Great-Uncle had only a few days left. Molan was on the verge of having her marriage discussed and could not attend a funeral — it would be inauspicious. Rulan had “most unfortunately” come down with a cold. Changfeng needed to prepare for his examinations. Hai Shi had to look after little Quan Ge’er. Sheng Hong counted on his fingers and went through the household — and so he called Minglan to pack her things and set out with Changdong ahead of the others.

Looking at the small young daughter standing before him, Sheng Hong felt a sudden pang of guilt. He thought of his decades of brotherhood with Sheng Wei — the man sent wagonloads of silver and yearly gifts to him every year without fail. Now the man’s mother was dying, and all he could send were his youngest daughter and son. It was somewhat…

“This seems… perhaps not quite right. Let me go there myself.” Sheng Hong wavered.

“Father, your concerns — I understand all of them,” Changbai rose and bowed respectfully to his father. “The situation is still uncertain at this point, and besides, the new Emperor has only just ascended the throne — this is precisely the time when the Bureau of Censorate has the greatest opportunity to make its mark. Father should not take leave at a time like this. Let Sixth Sister and Fourth Brother go first to show filial respect; when the time comes… it will not be too late for me to then request leave to pay my respects.”

Sheng Hong sighed softly. He knew that Changbai, as an archivist in the Hanlin Academy with a leisurely position, could take the occasional leave without much concern — but he himself, as a Left Assistant Censor of the fourth rank, could hardly justify taking leave over his aunt’s illness and death. He would be censured for overstepping.

Changbai read his father’s expression, knowing his temperament, and added: “Father need not feel too guilty. Second Cousin has already applied for leave and returned home. Should Great-Uncle truly pass on, he will have to observe the full three years of mourning — at that time, Father can offer more assistance and support.”

At this, Sheng Hong’s furrowed brow at last smoothed. He turned to face Minglan and Changdong. “When do you plan to depart?”

Minglan rose and replied respectfully: “To answer Father, Elder Cousin Changwu has already arranged carriages and boats. He will come for me and Fourth Brother in five days.”

Sheng Hong nodded, then assumed a stern expression to admonish them: “When you arrive in Youyang, you must be careful in your speech and conduct. No mischief, no foolishness. Do not cause trouble for Great-Uncle and his household. Look after Grandmother well, and do not let her tire herself. You must listen to Elder Cousin.”

Minglan and Changdong bowed their heads in assent. Hearing their young, tender voices, Sheng Hong sighed again. Wang Shi, sitting to one side, smiled at them with amiability and gave a few instructions — “Do not leave the carriage unattended,” “Do not run about on the boat,” “Do not lean against the ship’s rail,” “Do not show yourselves openly” — and at last added one final word to Minglan: “You are the elder. On the road, keep an eye on little Changdong.”

Seeing Wang Shi so kind and gentle toward this daughter of the lesser branch, Sheng Hong turned his head and gave Wang Shi a look of satisfaction.

When she returned, Minglan gathered everyone in her rooms and gave instructions one by one about what to look after in the courtyard during her absence. Then she called Danju and Xiaotao and went to the Shou’an Hall. The matrons guarding the courtyard all stepped aside the moment they saw it was Minglan. She went straight into the inner room and had Danju take from a tall black lacquered mother-of-pearl inlaid wardrobe a ginger-yellow mink-trimmed winter hat, a large fur coat lined with black-and-gray squirrel fur, and a dark brown cut-silk squirrel-fur cloak, along with various other winter garments. Xiaotao helped fold and pack them all together.

Minglan went around to the back of Grandmother’s bed, unfastened a key from the band of her skirt, and opened several large trunks secured with heavy locks. She took out a large parcel of silver and a stack of banknotes. Thinking it over — she herself was about to travel, and this place could not be left safe and unattended — she decisively took the entire stack of property deeds from inside and gathered them all into the small pouch she carried with her.

Over the next several days, Minglan was busy packing up her belongings. Xiaotao was not one for modesty, and proceeded to pack gold, pearls, jade, and precious gems into the trunks with great enthusiasm. Minglan couldn’t help laughing at her. “This time we’re going to… Well, bring more silver pieces and accessories instead. With so many treasures — what if we’re robbed?”

Xiaotao was very serious: “To ransom you.”

Minglan: …

Danju had just finished gathering two inkstones and a few brushes together when Luzhi lifted the curtain and entered with a smile: “The wife of the Yongchang Marquis has come. She’s asking for Young Miss.” As she spoke, she gave a meaningful blink.

“Are Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister going too?” Minglan noticed something odd in Luzhi’s expression.

“No — just Young Miss alone. Madam says the Marquis Lady happened to be paying a visit to her family home today and, knowing Young Miss is leaving tomorrow, stopped by especially to see her.” Luzhi’s face was bright with the honor of it all. “Young Miss, go quickly.”

Danju and Xiaotao, who knew about the He family matter, exchanged a glance — their expressions grew a little heavy.

In the past half-year, Madam Liang had come to the Sheng household on two occasions, but both times with others in company. The first time, she had come with Hualan accompanying the Shou Shan Duchess and herself; the second time, she had come along with several other official ladies. In truth, the connection between the Sheng household and the Yongchang Marquis Mansion was little more than a distant collateral relationship — there was no real need for regular contact. Because of this pattern of visits, the household had quietly begun to murmur that the Yongchang Marquis Lady was coming to look over a future daughter-in-law. This had given Lin Yiniang ideas; she began frequently prompting Molan to go forward and make a good impression.

Yet Madam Liang was cautious and precise in her manner — her words revealed not a single hint of her intentions. Not even Wang Shi could quite get a read on her. On the Sheng side, Wang Shi maintained her dignity and would not be the first to raise the subject of marriage; she also played the part of someone who understood nothing, and said nothing, simply having one of the “Lan” daughters come out each time to meet the guest before the visit ended.

On her first visit, Madam Liang had been cool to everyone — she mostly sat in quiet while Wang Shi and the others chatted and laughed freely; she would occasionally add a word to join in, but that was all. As for Molan’s warm overtures, Madam Liang received them all with only a mild smile and never engaged further, leaving Molan to endure the awkwardness of reaching out to find no one to meet her hand, several times in front of everyone.

By the second visit, however, Madam Liang showed clear warmth toward Minglan — from the moment she sat down, she drew Minglan into conversation with gentle attention, and her manner toward Wang Shi had grown correspondingly more cordial. Molan ground her teeth; she very much wished she could say outright “Minglan is already promised to the He family” — but for a young unmarried girl to announce another girl’s private betrothal before outside guests would ruin her own name as well.

When she finally seized an opportunity — one of the ladies began speaking of consulting physicians who couldn’t seem to help — Molan quickly broke in: “The old woman of the He family of Bai Shi Tan is from a family of physicians herself! Our Grandmother is closest with her, and always asks Sixth Sister to accompany her on visits.”

At that, Wang Shi’s tea bowl had come down on the table with a sound, and not another person in the room picked up the thread — some bent their heads to their tea, others continued their own conversations. Molan felt a little abashed, and stopped showing off with poetry. She lowered her head and applied herself to flattering and serving: pouring tea, passing dishes, and charming the assembled ladies into bursts of laughter, who declared Wang Shi most blessed. Even Madam Liang said a few kind words. Molan was just beginning to feel pleased with herself when Madam Liang said lightly, as if in passing: “The fourth daughter of your household must have reached the coming-of-age by now. One ought to see about a proper match for her soon — don’t let time slip by.”

That one quiet remark left Molan’s eyes turning red.

After the guests had dispersed and each of the daughters had returned to her rooms, Molan allowed herself a cold laugh in front of the two younger sisters: “What sort of distinguished family is that anyway? The Yongchang Marquis household has so many branches. With the estate divided again and again, what would actually remain in any one person’s hands?”

In the dead of winter, Rulan smiled with the brilliance of spring: “Sister is quite right.” After all, Wang Shi had hinted that her future husband’s family would be very wealthy.

Minglan did not join in.

Today marked the third visit from the wife of the Yongchang Marquis.

The maid held open the curtain. Minglan dipped slightly and turned sideways — from her left shoulder to her waist, from her skirt to the tips of her feet, a single line of composure flowed through her, as still and graceful as water in a quiet channel. Her features were pleasing and harmonious, like a serene spring flowing gently. The woman seated beside Wang Shi, Madam Liang, let a glimmer of unmistakable admiration pass through her eyes.

Minglan lowered herself in a formal curtsy to both Wang Shi and Madam Liang. She noticed a box sitting open before Wang Shi — it appeared to contain something soft and furry — and heard Wang Shi speaking in a tone of some surprise: “Madam, you are far too generous — how could I accept all this?”

Madam Liang said, unhurried: “My family on my mother’s side is from the north, where it is bitterly cold. But the furs there are fine and good — they send some down every year. I’ve selected a few pelts to bring over. Very rough things; please don’t think poorly of them.”

Wang Shi waved her hand in protest, laughing: “What are you saying? These are the finest furs I’ve ever laid eyes on. Today we are truly benefiting from Madam’s grace. I’ll have to have a very serious word with the seamstresses — we must take the utmost care and not spoil such wonderful material. Ah… Minglan, don’t just stand there — quickly, come and thank Madam.”

Minglan thought privately that the fur wasn’t entirely hers anyway, but she stepped forward and expressed her thanks with proper courtesy. Madam Liang did not move from where she sat, only looked at Minglan with warmth — and what seemed like a trace of tenderness: “Going out in such cold weather, you must take care of yourself. Dress warmly.”

For someone as reserved as she was, those words were already very gentle.

Minglan smiled openly. “Minglan thanks Madam for her kind reminder. I’ve been given a lovely fur jacket — even the deepest cold won’t trouble me.” In truth, that jacket had been Rulan’s — measured for her in spring by the seamstresses — but by winter Rulan had grown taller, and the jacket no longer fit.

Seeing Madam Liang smile in Minglan’s direction, Wang Shi felt very pleased and playfully scolded: “You tactless child — the Madam has just sent over these fine pelts, and there you are boasting about your own jacket. Won’t people laugh at you?”

Minglan lowered her head with a demure flush of color on her cheeks.

After Madam Liang had departed, Minglan felt a sinking, uneasy weight in her heart. The deliberate private meetings, the unmistakably pointed show of concern, and Wang Shi’s unusually warm manner — it seemed as though the matter had already been decided. Minglan walked slowly back to Mu Cang Zhai with a furrowed brow, and found Changdong already there. Xiaotao was standing nearby with a long-suffering face, holding out a bowl of hot tea for him. The moment Changdong saw Minglan, he beamed: “Sixth Sister — this is only the third cup of tea today, and you’ve finally come back. I put in for leave from the school today.”

Minglan put on a stern expression. “Don’t celebrate too early. I’ve had Xiang Yiniang put away all your books. When we get there, you’ll still have to study properly.” She casually handed the silver mink hand-warmer Madam Liang had given to Danju and told her to pack it away into the trunks.

Changdong’s round, fair little face broke into a wide grin: “Sixth Sister, don’t go putting a bridle on me just yet — I’ve done something very important. After all these months, I’ve finally found out…”

He hadn’t even finished speaking when the thick padded brocade curtain at the door was yanked open with a swish. Molan stood there, her face rigid as iron, her hands balled into fists. Minglan instinctively stepped back a few paces, and quickly waved Changdong off with her hand behind her back, then sent a look to Xiaotao.

“Very well, very well!” Molan laughed coldly, stepping forward one pace at a time. “I really underestimated you — I didn’t know you were someone who ate from one bowl while eyeing the pot! The double-faced, scheming—” Her eyes were red-rimmed, as though fire were about to erupt from them. Several maids moved to intervene, but she shoved each one out and bolted the door behind her.

Minglan’s voice was low and steady: “Sister, mind what you say. If you don’t care about yourself, at least think of the family’s name.” She was not afraid of a fight — and might not even lose one — but for sisters of the same household to come to blows was a spectacle that, once spread abroad, would earn both of them the reputation of being vicious and cruel, regardless of who was in the right.

Molan’s face had twisted into something near savage. She raged: “You little wretch! You’ve always been the best at pinning grand hats on me! Today I’ll give you a taste of what you deserve!” She lunged forward, and with one sweep of her arm knocked the round table in the middle of the room over. The tea Changdong had just finished steeping crashed to the floor, a few hot drops splashing onto his cheek and the back of his hand.

Minglan had never imagined Molan could be this violent. She looked at Changdong, who was clutching his face and the back of his hand, her heart aching. She turned back to Molan with a quiet smile. “Fourth Sister truly excels in both the civil and the martial arts — one who can write fine poetry and overturn tables! Whatever wrong I may have done you, now that Sister has vented her anger, let it be done.”

But at that moment, Molan’s eyes landed on the silver mink hand-warmer, and her fury blazed even hotter. Her clear features contorted horribly as she jabbed her finger at Minglan and screamed: “You shameless little harlot! Talking so beautifully about plain and quiet days being best, about not competing — looking wholesome on the outside while being filthy and rotten inside, saying one thing and doing another, no better than a lowly…”

Changdong was too stunned to speak. Molan’s insults grew uglier and uglier, and gradually Grandmother began to be worked into them as well. Minglan’s face remained unchanged, but fire was burning in her eyes. Her voice only grew calmer: “It seems Fourth Sister has been possessed — daring to say anything, dirty or foul. I’m going to go get someone to have a look at Sister.” She had initially intended to let it go — but it seemed she would have to give some color after all.

She turned to walk toward the door, counting her steps deliberately. Just as she expected, footsteps came crashing behind her. Molan rushed over and threw Minglan to the ground, then swung a slap across her face. Minglan gritted her teeth and let it land against her cheek, angling her face to receive it. Before Changdong could even come to intervene, there came a sharp crack, and Molan stood momentarily dazed — she had only meant to vent her rage in words and smash up the room. But looking at Minglan’s jade-smooth features, malice surged up from somewhere deep inside her. She snatched up a shard of broken porcelain from the floor and slashed it toward Minglan’s face.

Minglan saw that her martyrdom act had been played out, and had no intention of suffering more. She braced both arms, shoved Molan away, then neatly hooked her foot around Molan’s ankle and brought her tumbling to the floor. Minglan touched her own burning cheek — she didn’t need a mirror to know there was a vivid red handprint on it; her skin was the sort that marked easily.

Minglan leaned in over her, pinning Molan’s arm back in a smooth joint-lock. To anyone watching it would look like two sisters wrestling, no more. Minglan drew close and said softly: “I’ll tell you something. Your mother entered this household in the first month of the fourth year of Qianyuan — but your elder brother wasn’t born until the fifth month of that same year. As everyone knows, a child takes ten months to be born. Does Sister understand what that means?”

Molan’s face flooded crimson. She struggled desperately, curses pouring from her mouth, foul and unrelenting. Minglan continued in a smooth, unhurried voice: “Your mother is the one who is truly base. She is the one who says one thing and does another — living under Grandmother’s care, eating Grandmother’s food, using Grandmother’s things, shedding grateful tears all the while, then turning around and climbing into Father’s bed. Betraying her benefactor!”

At that moment, outside the door came a clear and sharp cry: “Grandmother! You’ve finally come!” It was the voice of Xiao Cuixiu.

Minglan immediately released Molan and jumped back several paces. The sound of urgent knocking and calling followed from outside. Changdong rushed to open the door. Wang Shi entered, took in the chaos — the room in disarray, fury written across Molan’s face, Minglan standing with head bowed and expression unreadable, a vivid handprint glowing on her face — and then saw Changdong’s cheeks and hands marked with several spots of red scalding.

Wang Shi erupted: “You’ve turned this place upside down!” She then rounded on the maids: “Are you all dead?! Hurry up and help Sixth Young Miss to rest!… Caihuan, go find Nanny Liu Kun and bring the household discipline cane! You others — hold Fourth Young Miss!”

Hearing “household discipline cane,” Molan’s expression finally shifted to something like frightened urgency.

Just then, a woman’s voice rang out from outside: “Sisters quarrel — and you don’t even ask a single question before calling for punishment?!”

Lin Yiniang swept in, wearing a light willow-colored brocade jacket, followed by Molan’s maid Zaiyun and a retinue of several more maids and matrons. Seeing her mother arrive, Molan gathered her courage in an instant, wrenched herself free from the maids who had come to restrain her, and darted to stand at Lin Yiniang’s side.

Wang Shi took one look at the mother and daughter and could not suppress a cold laugh: “What are you? How dare you crawl out here to make noise? Is this a place where you have any right to speak?”

Lin Yiniang smiled with a thin veneer of warmth. “I’ve survived nearly twenty years in this household. When a matter is unjust, can I not even say a word? Is someone afraid of what people might say?”

Wang Shi’s fury rose. She pointed at Molan: “Look at the daughter you’ve raised! Outrageous and unruly — striking and berating her younger siblings. Should she not be punished?”

Lin Yiniang covered her mouth with a coy laugh, bright as a silver bell: “Now that’s laughable. Little sisters squabble, and if there are a few shoves and pushes, that’s perfectly normal. This amounts to nothing more than a matter of giving each side twenty paddles apiece.”

Luzhi could hold back no longer and raised her voice: “Bah! Twenty apiece?! Fourth Young Miss struck our Young Miss hard enough to leave her face swollen, and Fourth Young Young Master’s hands and face have been scalded. Every one of us here has eyes — is there a single blind person among us who didn’t see what happened?!”

Lin Yiniang’s expression darkened and she snapped: “Impertinent little maid! What gives you the right to speak?!”

Molan poked her head out from behind and retorted: “You’re all Minglan’s people — one gang together. Nothing you say can be trusted. It was Minglan who struck first; I only gave a few back!”

Luzhi was about to plant her hands on her hips and make her retort, but Yancao grabbed her from behind, and she subsided in frustrated silence. At this point, Nanny Liu Kun had arrived, in time to hear Wang Shi shouting furiously: “I am the mistress of this household — I have every right to discipline my own children! What does it have to do with you? You are nothing but a servant in my house. Don’t think that because you have children, you now have power!” Nanny Liu Kun frowned — every single time it was the same: once Wang Shi’s temper flared, she was goaded into talking nonsense, and then the other side would embellish and add to it, and Wang Shi would come out worse for it.

Wang Shi vented her fury; Lin Yiniang simply dug in and refused to admit to anything. Wang Shi grew so enraged that she ordered her maids and matrons to go and seize Molan — but Lin Yiniang had brought her own people, who showed no sign of backing down, and the two sides immediately began wrestling and grappling. Overlaid with Molan’s wretched wailing and Lin Yiniang’s shrill cry of “Quick — go and fetch the Master! She’s about to kill my daughter!” — Mu Cang Zhai had never been livelier.

Shortly after, Changfeng came rushing over and naturally stationed himself to defend Lin Yiniang and Molan. The various servants, given pause by his presence, fell into another round of noisy chaos. In the end, Wang Shi was half-steadied and half-carried by Nanny Liu Kun, who was the only person still capable of getting a word in edgewise.

Inside the room, Minglan listened to the whole spectacle and kept sighing — she really had half a mind to go out and coach Wang Shi a little. Wang Shi’s tactics were too simple and one-dimensional, too easily seen through by the opposing side; she lacked variation.

“Stop!” A clear, crisp female voice rang out. Everyone turned at once. Hai Shi stood at the courtyard entrance. Her cool, measured gaze swept the crowd without a single word of reproach. She first turned to Nanny Liu Kun and said: “Wang Shi is not feeling well. Nanny Liu, please help her back to rest.”

Nanny Liu Kun had been waiting for exactly those words. She immediately, with a mixture of firmness and gentleness, escorted Wang Shi away. Hai Shi watched until Wang Shi had left, then turned to look at Changfeng, and said lightly: “I have never heard of the men of an inner household having any business intervening in its affairs — except for the head of the household. You are a man of considerable education — perhaps you have found some principle of great learning to justify this? … Better to go back to your studies. The autumn examination next year is what matters.”

Changfeng’s face went crimson to his ears. He retreated, crestfallen.

Lin Yiniang saw that Hai Shi had managed to send people away one by one, and broke into a falsely bright smile: “A household of learned and cultured tradition indeed. The Elder Young Madam truly understands how things ought to be. How wise you are, knowing good from ill. Molan, do come thank Elder Sister-in-Law. Let us go.”

“Wait.” Hai Shi spoke suddenly. She turned to the maids standing nearby: “You two — go and escort Fourth Young Miss to my rooms, where she is to be seated. Not to leave for one moment; not even to blink.”

Lin Yiniang’s fine brows arched — she was about to speak, but Hai Shi got there first: “In another hour, the Master will be returning from his office. I have already had someone go and ask him to come back quickly. When he arrives, he will hear both sides and make a judgment. Sixth Young Miss has a handprint on her face — everyone here has already seen it. As for Fourth Young Miss… here is what I propose: bring her to my rooms; I will have the maids look after her carefully. Not one finger on her.” The last half-sentence was spoken with deliberate enunciation on each syllable. Lin Yiniang’s heart gave a lurch — she recognized a formidable opponent, and forced a laugh: “Is all this really necessary…”

Hai Shi cut her off cleanly: “If Fourth Young Miss is out of my sight and somehow sustains any injury, it will be impossible to explain later. Yiniang — if you insist on taking her away, then take her away.”

At that, the maid at Hai Shi’s side went forward to escort Molan. Molan’s heart was now genuinely frightened, and she turned to Lin Yiniang for rescue. The matrons and maids behind Lin Yiniang stirred restlessly. A thin arc of mockery curved at the corner of Hai Shi’s mouth. Her voice went cold: “Every single person in this courtyard today — not one of them will escape. Anyone who dares to pull or shove again — I will note your names down, each one. As for the rest… there are those here who are beyond my reach. But you lot—” Hai Shi gave a quiet, icy laugh. “To beat or to sell — I do believe I still have that authority. If I cannot deal with everyone, I can always make an example of a few ringleaders.”

Her tone carried a killing edge. Lin Yiniang froze in place. The maids and matrons exchanged glances — none of them wanted to be the one to stick their neck out first. Each one quietly drew back their hands and feet and behaved themselves.

Minglan nodded silently from where she stood.

Changbai Elder Brother still had the luck of a good wife.