Rulan’s return banquet after her wedding was a lively affair, with six tables set both inside and out. Not only did a great many relatives and friends attend, but even Molan and her husband, as well as Kang Yima, had come. The Old Madam was markedly displeased. During the meal, she fixed a cold, pointed gaze on Wang Shi for some time, until Wang Shi was too cowed to lift her head. Kang Yima sat beside Wang Shi, wearing as always an expression of gentle and charming composure.

After the meal, the Old Madam and Wang Shi drew Rulan aside for a few words about how married life was treating her, after which the sisters went off on their own to talk and take tea.

Molan and Rulan each went first to their own old rooms to reminisce for a while, then gathered together in Minglan’s Mucang Studio. At the sight of these two rivals descending upon her own quarters, Minglan’s heart immediately lurched — yet she could do nothing but steel herself and have Danju serve tea.

The tea was a fragrant Changqing melon slice variety; steeped twice over, it turned a lovely shade of clear jade green. Molan was dressed in a thin lake-blue silk robe, vivid and graceful in the early spring sunlight. She gazed at the pale white porcelain tea bowl, a shadow of literary melancholy in her eyes. She said languidly: “Sooner or later, all our courtyards will be occupied by others. Only I did not expect it to empty out so quickly — not even pausing to linger. In the end, we really are water poured out.”

After Molan’s marriage, Shanyue Pavilion had been gradually cleared out, with only a small maidservant left to look after and clean it. The laughter-filled embroidery chambers of the past now stood empty and silent. Taoran Pavilion had begun to be cleared as well, though there had not yet been time to finish.

The moment Rulan laid eyes on Molan, she bristled like a fighting cock, every feather on end, ready for battle. At Molan’s words she immediately prepared a sharp retort — but Minglan quickly cut in with a smile: “Our eldest sister-in-law is about to have her second child, and both our brothers will be taking wives soon. Once we’ve all left, these rooms are only natural to give to the little nephews and nieces in time. The family flourishing and growing — is that not a fine thing?”

Molan studied Minglan for a moment, then smiled lightly: “Sixth Sister has become more and more adept with her words. No wonder she managed to marry into such a distinguished family. Among all our sisters, I dare say you are the most fortunate.”

Minglan immediately assumed a prim and proper expression: “In matters of marriage, your younger sister only knows to follow the instructions of our parents and elders.”

Rulan barely stifled a laugh and at once chimed in: “Quite right! In matters of marriage, one must naturally follow the wishes of one’s parents — one couldn’t possibly act on one’s own initiative.” Minglan could not help glancing at her. It was abundantly clear this person had entirely forgotten how her own husband had come about.

Molan managed to keep her expression remarkably composed, smiled, and said: “Both younger sisters are quite right. … By the way, the Palace Examination for Fifth Sister’s husband is concluded — what plans does he have next?”

A faint blush rose in Rulan’s cheeks, brightening her composed face with the unmistakable glow of a new bride. Joy showed in every corner of her eyes and brows. Minglan tilted her head and let her imagination drift — apparently the, ahem, marital life was going quite harmoniously.

“…He will first enter the Hanlin Academy for the preparatory period, and then look for a suitable posting. Who knows how things will unfold.” Rulan’s cheeks were flushed like rouge, and she looked thoroughly proud of herself. Though her husband had not been awarded the top rank like Changbai, being admitted to the Hanlin Academy meant his official career would not suffer for it.

Molan’s eyes shifted subtly. She gave a sweetly affected smile: “How difficult can that be? You need only go and ask Sixth Sister nicely — never mind a county magistrate or a prefect, even a higher post might not be out of reach!”

Rulan’s face changed at once, staring at Molan with furious resentment. Minglan hastily snapped back from her wandering thoughts and schooled her face into an expression of the utmost dignity and solemnity: “Fourth Sister, please don’t speak nonsense. The appointments of the Six Ministries are a matter of national governance and the selection of talent — one cannot make light of such things. If someone were to overhear Fourth Sister speaking like this, they might think that Fourth Sister’s husband’s family obtained their positions through favor-seeking as well!”

This time it was Molan’s face that changed. Rulan laughed with delight behind her handkerchief.

Seeing that things had gone far enough, and not wishing to humiliate Molan too thoroughly, Minglan quickly changed the subject: “It was such a lively occasion when Fifth Sister married. It’s a real pity Fourth Sister couldn’t come. What a shame!”

A strange expression crossed Molan’s face — a blend of satisfaction and irritation — before she smoothed it into calm: “There was a matter at home… It concerned Wan Yiniang. I could not get away.”

Minglan was still puzzling over who Wan Yiniang might be, but Rulan caught on instantly and followed up with eager curiosity: “Did Wan Yiniang give birth? Boy or girl?” Molan raised her teacup and sipped slowly with a composed smile: “She gave birth before the new year — a girl.” Her smile was strained, and she withheld one further detail: just the day before, the doctor’s examination had revealed that Chun Ge was pregnant again.

Rulan let out a breath, her face falling with undisguised disappointment. Minglan finally placed the name — so Wan Yiniang was none other than the young lady Chun Ge.

Molan set down her teacup, leisurely pressing the corner of her mouth with her handkerchief, and with an expression of caring sorrow said: “The doctor also said that because the delivery was difficult, Wan Yiniang may face some hardship in future childbirths. What a pity…”

“Why was the delivery difficult?” Rulan asked.

Molan sighed softly: “The doctor said the baby was rather large…”

A cold chill gripped Minglan’s heart. She had heard talk around the household: that Molan had been a model of virtue and consideration toward Chun Ge in the Liang household, fussing over her warmth and cold, attending her daily with bird’s nest soup and ginseng, serving three full meals of delicacies each day, even dipping into her own dowry funds to supplement the care — so much so that everyone praised her generosity.

Yet Minglan remembered clearly: the late Wei Yiniang had died precisely because the baby was too large, compounded by consuming cold food which triggered early labor, and the failure to summon a midwife in time — and that had cost her her life.

Minglan lowered her head and had nothing more to say.

Rulan naturally did not understand the implication, and finding the subject uninteresting, hit upon a new topic: “Sixth Sister, why has Kang Yima come again? Didn’t Mother say she was never to set foot in this house again?”

Minglan sighed: “It was your wedding that gave Kang Yima an excuse to turn up again. I didn’t see it myself, but I heard she was in the room crying and talking for quite a while. It seems… well… that Cousin Yuan isn’t getting on very well at the Wang Family. In the end, they are blood sisters — and she softened again at last.”

“What happened to Yuan’er?”

“What’s wrong with her? What happened?”

Molan and Rulan, in a rare moment of perfect accord, zeroed in on the key question simultaneously, said it together, then glanced at each other with slight embarrassment and coughed twice, both looking at Minglan expectantly.

Minglan was rendered speechless. She gathered her thoughts and said: “It seems that Cousin Yuan — well, she’s Cousin Sister-in-law now — had some sort of falling-out with our maternal aunt, or some such thing. Our aunt lost her temper and had several of the maidservants and older female servants around Cousin Yuan beaten and sold off. Our maternal grandmother was also displeased, and made Cousin Yuan learn proper etiquette, ordered her to copy out Women’s Precepts several times over as punishment, and required her to stand at attention in the old lady’s presence daily. If she wasn’t well-behaved, she was even denied meals… That’s what Kang Yima was saying.”

Rulan immediately relaxed into a look of perfect serenity, positively smug: “Just as I said! Cousin Yuan has always had a hot and impulsive temperament — she is nowhere near ready to be a proper daughter-in-law. Of course our aunt would have no patience for her!”

Minglan sighed: “Never mind the others, but I’ve heard the Old Madam say that our maternal grandmother is a woman of great fairness and generosity. If even she has become displeased, then I fear it truly is Cousin Sister-in-law’s fault.”

Molan curled the corner of her mouth in a faint expression of disdain. Her eyes turned, and an idea formed. She suddenly heaved a long, sorrowful sigh, brimming with grief: “Cousin Yuan has done wrong and still has the chance to repent — but alas… that Yiniang of mine… I hear she cannot eat or sleep properly in the estate. Now that we’ve all left and been married, and she has been punished, who knows when she will be allowed to return. Sixth Sister, now that you hold such an honored position, could you perhaps put in a good word before the Old Madam and Father?” As she spoke, her eyes glistened with gathering tears.

Rulan let out a cold laugh and said with contempt: “Once a married daughter, a sister should best stay out of her family’s affairs and look after her own patch. I have heard that things are going rather badly for the Liang Family — imperial reprimands issued twice in succession. A perfectly fine household, and now heaven knows what cursed star has moved in to bring such unbroken misfortune!”

Molan flushed scarlet with mortified fury, and bit back: “I may be nothing, but however little I am worth, I sustain myself and my husband through honest effort. Unlike certain people who keep a man and his entire household fed off their dowry. They do say a daughter is a losing investment!”

“What did you say?!”

“Plain speech — can Fifth Sister not understand it?”

— Minglan looked up at the ceiling in silent despair.

Her final gathering with her sisters before her wedding ended with Molan and Rulan parting in discord. The damage report afterward: two teacups lost, one tea saucer, and a matching pair of pastry plates.

“That was close, so very close!” Danju pressed her hands to her chest. “Luckily I was quick — the moment I spotted Fourth Young Madam and Fifth Young Madam coming, I whisked away that set of begonia agate Jiao-leaf tea ware the Old Madam had just sent over. …Only poor Little Xiaotao got a terrible fright — she had just poured herself a cup and I snatched the teapot and cup right out of her hands. Ha — don’t be cross with me for breaking your things, Little Xiaotao.”

Little Xiaotao wiped the table slowly, looking a little sheepish: “Well… actually… I was using your teacup.”

Minglan: …

In the days before the wedding, the Old Madam summoned the estate stewards who would accompany Minglan as dowry staff and had Minglan meet each of them one by one.

“You have all served me for a good many years. Let me say plainly: do not put on airs with your mistress on account of your seniority. If any one of you steps out of line, Sixth Young Lady may deal with you on the spot. I will give not an inch of face.”

A row of people knelt below. The square-faced older man at the center came forward and kowtowed hastily: “Old Madam, what words are these! From this day forth, the young miss is our highest authority. How could we dare show any disrespect!”

The Old Madam nodded in approval: “You are a sensible man. Tend to your affairs well, and Minglan will not treat you badly.”

Then Old Cui, along with his two sons Cui Ping and Cui An, kowtowed to Minglan. Minglan acknowledged them with a nod.

Old Cui was not truly very old — not yet fifty — but years of exposure to the sun had left his face deeply tanned and weathered. He had considerable skill in managing farmland and agricultural matters, and his two sons looked broad-handed and sturdy — one helping his father oversee the fields, the other tending the fruit trees on the wooded hillside. Beyond them were two other attendants: one named Liu Manggui, quick-witted and capable, with a smile always ready at his lips; the other named Ji Qiang, who spoke with a stammer and still had traces of soil under his fingernails. Upon closer inquiry, he turned out to be Luzhi’s brother.

Minglan was quite astonished. The two siblings could not have been more different.

“My mother died young. My elder brother was honest and simple — always being bullied. Every difficult, dirty, back-breaking task was pushed onto him, and whenever something went wrong, he was used as the scapegoat. If not for Nanny Fang, I don’t know whether he would even have survived.” Luzhi recalled the past in a subdued tone. “He’s already twenty-five and still hasn’t found a wife.”

“That explains why Luzhi is so formidable,” the little maidservant Cuixiu laughed.

“Formidable? The word is ‘seasoned,'” Qinsang corrected gently with a smile, poking Cuixiu on the forehead. “When we arrive at the young master’s household, you mustn’t go around speaking carelessly. Not only would it reflect poorly on our young lady, people would think the Sheng Family has raised servants without manners.”

Little Cuixiu nodded, rubbing her forehead, then said: “But what a shame… Yancao’s elder sister and Jiu’er’s elder sister can’t come with us. We’ve all been together for so many years — it just feels like something is missing.”

Ruomei gave a faint cold laugh: “Those two are both blessed — they have people looking after them very tenderly. What business is it of yours to worry?”

The maidservant Bisi pressed her small hand over her mouth, laughing in a sweet, coy manner: “Jiu’er goes without saying — Nanny Liu never intended for her to accompany anyone as a dowry servant. She was only placed in our courtyard to enjoy a few comfortable years. As for Yancao — her mother was afraid she’d go to the husband’s household and suffer hardship, so she hurried off to Nanny Fang early on and sought permission to arrange a match for her instead. But who could have foreseen: our young lady’s marital home is far grander than her own family’s house! Now that she wants to change her mind, it’s too late. And who is our young lady? What does she not see through?!”

Danju, hearing their talk grow increasingly inappropriate, put on a stern expression and scolded: “Are matters concerning our mistress for the likes of us to discuss?! Our young lady was being kind — she had no wish to separate a mother and child from each other. And besides, I hear that the family Yancao’s parents have found for her is quite a good match — that is why she was left behind. What nonsense are you talking?! … As Qinsang just said, once we go to the new household, everyone must be careful with their words and guard their mouths. Don’t go letting those gossipy sorts get hold of anything to wag their tongues about. You all know our young lady’s temperament — she is not soft or easy to push around!”

Danju was the senior maidservant of the courtyard and kept order over the other young women on a daily basis. Though she was naturally easygoing and kind, she had accumulated a certain quiet authority over the years. Bisi pouted and held her tongue, and Ruomei too lowered her head in silence.

Little Cuixiu was small but sharp-witted. Seeing the atmosphere turn stiff, she quickly went over and tugged at Danju’s sleeve, coaxing: “Dear elder sister, there’s something I don’t understand — could you explain it to me? … I’ve heard that when the eldest young lady married, she only brought four maidservants with her. And the fourth young lady also only brought four when she left. So why are the fifth young lady and our young lady bringing so many more?”

Danju drew back the corner of her mouth into a smile and said: “How could those situations be the same? The eldest young lady’s husband and the fourth young lady’s husband both come from established noble families — those households lack for nothing. Sending too many maidservants along would only cause friction. The fifth young lady’s husband comes from a scholarly family with a simple household — having more people along is useful for serving the family. As for our young lady… I heard from Nanny Fang that that General Gu has established his own household separately. The household is newly set up, and there aren’t yet many reliable servants — which is why you, little one, get to come along and see a bit of the wider world.”

Little Xiaotao, who had been energetically gnawing at a peach for some time, finally looked up. Juice glistened at the corners of her mouth. She asked blankly: “But… I heard that our young lady’s wedding is being held at the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion?”

Danju turned and laughed: “The ceremony is held there, yes — but after paying respects to the ancestors and elders, they will return to the Governor-General’s mansion to live.”

Everyone let out a collective sound of understanding, enlightened at last. Then a look of delight spread across every face — with no elders presiding, the Governor-General’s mansion would surely be Minglan’s own domain to manage. Their own days there would be far more comfortable as well.

On the tenth day of the month, the sky had barely begun to lighten when the wife of Old General Bo hurried over. Danju promptly presented two large red envelopes, repeatedly saying “thank you for your trouble.” The maidservant beside Old Madam Bo accepted them with practiced ease.

The moment she caught sight of Minglan, Old Madam Bo’s face broke into a warm smile: “Very good — a child with a fortune to her name. What a family of accumulated blessings — all the children and sons-in-law have turned out well!”

Wang Shi smiled with gracious delight and returned several phrases of “many thanks for the auspicious words.”

After Minglan’s ceremonial bath, she was seated before the dressing mirror and dressed with great care. Old Madam Bo’s hands, despite her age, were remarkably steady. She performed the facial threading swiftly and with a sure touch — before Minglan had time for more than a few yelps of discomfort, a thick layer of fragrant face cream was being applied, followed by four or five coats of white powder, smoothed on as though plastering a wall, then brow-shaping and rouge.

Minglan sat in resigned acceptance. Once it was done, she had no inclination to look in the mirror. Having witnessed her sisters’ weddings before, she knew very well that at this moment she probably looked like a dough ball with rouge painted on.

Although… Bao Ge’er did have a truly discerning eye. With this brand of all-standardizing bridal cosmetics reducing every face to the same mold, he could still tell Bao Jie’er apart from Lin Mei’er. Oh, Bao Jie’er, Bao Jie’er — if you had only piled on a few more layers of powder, you might have managed to muddle through the wedding night, and at least gotten Baoyu into bed first. It would have spared a whole crowd of people with nothing better to do from sitting around with solemn academic expressions, endlessly debating “whether Baochai’s was a sexless marriage” as though it were a matter of grave scholarly inquiry.

What followed was, for Minglan, a blur. Something heavy was pressed down onto her head, and the slightest movement set it chiming and jingling in every direction, as though her neck had immediately shortened by an inch.

She ate a few spoonfuls of sweetened bird’s nest and red date porridge, then a large crowd of women — young, middle-aged, and older — swept into the room and poured forth a torrent of auspicious greetings. Minglan was required to do nothing at all except sit with her head bowed in modest silence. Little Xiaotao stood nearby holding a small ceramic pot of confections and dried ginseng slices, ready for whenever they might be needed. Danju busied herself keeping careful watch over Minglan’s belongings, determined that not a single item should go missing.

By and by — though Minglan had no clear sense of how much time had passed — there came a great burst of noise outside: the wedding procession had arrived.

Gu Tingye, dressed in brilliant red wedding garments, rode a tall, fine horse. To his left was the freshly minted Marquis of Weibei, Shen Congxing; to his right was the Grand Scholar of the Wuying Palace, the elder Qiu Shu — also the newly crowned top graduate of the examinations. Behind them rode the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Zheng Jun, together with the brothers Zheng Jou and Zheng Jun — brothers-in-law of the Empress herself.

Changbai stood at the gate, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. Very well, very well. Military elites and new noble families, the Emperor’s own relatives by marriage — the full set had arrived.

The customary blocking of the groom duly began.

Liang Han had barely begun to expound on his personal insights regarding the use of the long spear when young General Zheng immediately rolled up his sleeves and declared himself very willing to appreciate those insights through hands-on experience.

The brother-in-law cleared his throat and proposed two questions to test the groom. Qiu Shu answered without hesitation, displaying easy brilliance. The brother-in-law sensibly quit while ahead, and the two new-minted examination graduates struck up a warm conversation, falling immediately into “back when the Palace Examination was held, it was such and such…” — though the Palace Examination had been only days ago and hardly needed reminiscing. The failed candidate Changfeng looked on in quiet dejection nearby.

Yuan’s brother-in-law was the most tactful of all. Behind his scrupulously upright face, he slipped quietly to the edge of the gate and eased the latch open without anyone noticing. A signal passed — Gu Tingye saw it instantly and let out a low whistle. His men, receiving the order, charged forward with a great shout. The gates of the Sheng Mansion duly fell.

Changbai summed up the situation in a closing remark: “Upper couplet — there were traitors within; the will to fight was insufficiently firm. Lower couplet — the enemy without was formidable; their cunning and ferocity were extreme. Horizontal scroll: thunder has come, rain has fallen — everyone go home, put the laundry away, and get some sleep.”

Little Changdong, standing by his legs, softly stroked the red envelope that had been pressed into his hand moments ago. The faint whisper of a banknote from within murmured a quiet eloquence about the deep affections of his new sixth brother-in-law. He could not help saying: “But Elder Brother, you didn’t help to hold the gate just now either!”

The others may have been less than enthusiastic, but they had at least gone through the motions. Changbai alone had stood to one side, looking every bit the stone pillar.

Changbai remained perfectly composed, his hands folded in his sleeves, as he said slowly: “Because Sixth Sister’s husband sent me a painting — ‘Fishing on the Black River’ by Qian Xiu.”

“What?!” Changdong’s mouth fell open. He stammered: “Then, then… but you just said those other brothers-in-law…”

Changbai assumed an expression of the utmost moral gravity and patiently enlightened his younger brother: “I accepted the painting, and therefore it would not have been right for me to stand in the way. What has that to do with anything I said about the others? Changdong, you must remember this: in all things, one must first distinguish right from wrong before acting.”

Having delivered these words with perfect composure, he turned and walked slowly away, his robes flowing gently behind him, carrying all the graceful ease of the celebrated scholars of the Wei and Jin dynasties.

Changdong remained behind, staring after him, his face filled with unalloyed admiration.