In the two days that followed, Kang Uncle by marriage and Wang Old Madam came to the door one after another. Changbai sent word to Minglan: Father, Elder Brother, and your husband are handling things out front — you need only stay and care for Grandmother. The above complete sentence was the collaborative result of Hanniu and Hai Shi’s combined powers of imagination.

Minglan was not a person who liked to meddle in everything. She promptly and agreeably stayed put in the Sheng’an Hall, keeping the elder madam company with lighthearted little stories, reading a volume or two of Buddhist sutras at the bedside, and only occasionally asking for news brought in from outside.

According to reports from Xiaotao, Old Master Sheng Hong’s performance over these two days was quite admirable.

When Kang Uncle by marriage came, he was the picture of deflated exhaustion, speaking endlessly of wishing to settle things quietly, saying one really could not allow the Wang family to have a daughter who had been repudiated — how would the Wang family show its face? — and asking Kang Uncle by marriage to take Kang Yima home. Kang Uncle by marriage was utterly alarmed, fearing that his wretched wife would make one of her n-th miraculous comebacks from the brink of disaster. He swore fervently on his very life that he proactively demanded she be sent to the Bureau of Strict Discipline, then turned and fled at a trot.

When Wang Old Madam came, Sheng Hong launched into an indignant, righteous performance, opening with the words of the Sages and closing with the justice of heaven and earth, citing chapter and verse, until he spoke with tears streaming down his face — even nearly breaking completely with the Wang family — but insisting that Kang Wang Shi had to receive her punishment regardless.

Especially pivotal was Wang Shi sweeping out with head held high, with all the bearing of a martyr, to declare her willingness to spend ten years doing penance in the family shrine as an expression of atonement. Wang Old Madam was just about to say a few more words when her daughter had already swept off with a face of ice, not even willing to glance back at her old mother.

Wang Old Madam had no choice but to capitulate. Knowing that this matter was now beyond reversing, she finally nodded her consent.

In the summer heat, standing guard at doors and beneath windows was a most uncomfortable business. During the break in between, while Xiaotao was treating Hanniu to a bowl of chilled mung bean soup, she casually extracted a few details about Changbai and his wife.

“…In these two days, the eldest young master has spoken only five and a half sentences inside the room.” Hanniu described the hardships of his working life with great feeling. “Yuchai, who serves by the eldest young mistress’s side, says it will clear up in four days — but I think it won’t be better in ten days or half a month.” How is a person supposed to live like this! Wahhh.

On the third day, the family gathered at the Sheng mansion, and all the arrangements were finalized. Wang Old Madam agreed to send her daughter into the Bureau of Strict Discipline; Kang Uncle by marriage in turn guaranteed he would in no way shortchange the children born of the legitimate wife; Sheng Hong in turn guaranteed he would continue to treat the several nephews with generosity as before.

That very afternoon, everyone had the horses harnessed and carriages hitched, and, choosing deliberately roundabout and secluded side roads, made their way to the Imperial Household Department. The eunuch in charge of the Bureau of Strict Discipline was a man who had seen everything. Moreover, Gu Tingye had already made his arrangements two days prior. He asked no questions about what offense Kang Wang Shi had committed, simply had the maternal family and the husband’s family both affix their seals and signatures to the document, then announced in a muted, drawn-out voice that the matter was settled and could no longer be changed.

Kang Yima — stuffed in the mouth and tied up like a bundle — was thrown into a carriage. They went along a narrow, broken-down lane overgrown with weeds on either side, flanked by tall, soaring grey-brick walls, with a faint glimpse of vermillion walls and yellow tiles in the far distance.

She still did not know what had happened. It was only when she was dragged by several gaunt and expressionless coarse-clothed servant women through a secluded black-lacquered gate and brought into a crude and gloomy room that she began to struggle, letting out low cries. The Wang family, uneasy, had followed along inside.

Wang Old Madam said through tearful eyes: “Child, this place is the Bureau of Strict Discipline. Conduct yourself well here — I will come often…”

The words struck like a muffled thunderclap directly beside her ear. Everything spoken after that, Kang Wang Shi could no longer hear clearly — the Bureau of Strict Discipline? She had been pampered and cherished her whole life — how could she live in a place worse than animals were kept?!

She began wailing frantically, and the servant woman beside her had just yanked the cloth from her mouth when she screamed like a madwoman: “How could you send your own daughter to a place like this?! What kind of mother are you?! And what kind of brother are you?! Do you want me dead?! What heartless people — watching the Sheng family prosper and not caring whether your own flesh and blood lives or dies!”

Her eyes were bloodshot, her fury bordering on derangement — like a savage beast about to rend someone limb from limb. She frightened the Wang family into stepping back in unison.

“You won’t save me — then why did you bother giving birth to me?! You kept my father under lock and key, yet always demanded I be a virtuous, proper woman. I didn’t suit you, so you discarded me! You are not my mother — you heartless, wolf-hearted, dog-lunged…”

Her own younger daughter harbored hatred for her; now her eldest daughter rained down such venomous curses — Wang Old Madam at last could bear it no longer. She coughed up a mouthful of dark red blood and collapsed limply. Wang Uncle caught her with a single arm, calling out repeatedly in alarm. Seeing his mother unconscious, her face the color of gold foil, he turned in fury on his sister: “Mother has worried herself to pieces over you, and you repay her like this?! I am no longer your elder brother! From this day forward, you are no longer my sister!”

With that, he lifted his old mother onto his back and walked out. The room dissolved into chaos. By the time it had settled and everyone had filed out, a middle-aged female official in plain clothes slowly emerged from the corner of the room, her voice chill and ominous: “So blatantly unfilial and undutiful — she is overdue for a proper lesson in conduct.”

Kang Wang Shi opened her mouth to hurl more abuse, but the female official reached out and struck her two sharp blows across the face, hard enough to set her ears ringing. She still refused to yield and managed two syllables of “cheap slave girl” before the official took a thin wooden board passed to her by the servant woman at her side, and dealt Kang Wang Shi blow after blow across the cheeks — a dozen or more in a row — until both sides of her face swelled high and red with blood pooling beneath the surface, her lips cracked and bleeding.

“If your mouth is not obedient, I will continue. Let’s see which is harder — your nature, or my board.” The official’s face remained expressionless.

Kang Wang Shi’s half-numb face throbbed with pain, and she nearly fainted on the spot. Bound so securely she could not move, she clenched her teeth: “If I am to be degraded and humiliated like this, I would rather die!”

The official was utterly unmoved and said coldly: “I advise you not to try the routine of seeking death. Many have died in this place — one more would not be remarkable.” Of course, it was better that she lived — one more body meant one more set of offerings.

She turned and walked out. Four coarse, stout, rough-looking servant women surged in, quickly stripped Kang Wang Shi inside and out of everything she was wearing, confiscated all the fine silk garments, then threw down a set of coarse cloth clothing. Kang Wang Shi was furious with shame and humiliation, but lacked the courage to walk out unclothed. She suppressed the pain across her face, letting out silent curses under her breath, and grudgingly pulled on the musty-smelling fabric.

The four walls and windows were sealed tight. The silence pressed in until it was enough to make one panic. Kang Wang Shi grew more and more afraid. Was she truly going to be trapped in this wretched place for the rest of her life? No, she would not. She would definitely find a way out. She had faced so many desperate moments in her earlier years, and always managed to get through. This time would be the same! No one was going to bully her — she was the eldest legitimate daughter of the Lanxi Wang family!

Just then, a creak — the door opened halfway, and a middle-aged woman came in. Kang Wang Shi’s eyes lit up, and she hurried forward to seize her hands: “Dear sister-in-law, you have finally come, I…”

Wang Aunt gently shook free of her grip, cast a satisfied look over the elder sister-in-law’s ruined face and roughspun clothing, and said in an unhurried tone: “I have come to bid you farewell. My mother-in-law was going to say this herself, but you have upset her to the point of near death, and I have come in her place.”

Kang Wang Shi wept: “I lost my head just now and ended up insulting Mother! Beg Mother to come see me — I will bow my head and apologize… Elder Brother must be furious with me too — beg sister-in-law to put in some good words on my behalf, find a way to get me out…”

“Ha, how can sister-in-law be joking — you are learned and accomplished, how can you not know the rules of the Bureau of Strict Discipline? Once in, without an imperial edict, who has ever gotten out? Are you asking us to come and storm the palace for you?”

Wang Aunt covered her mouth and laughed.

Kang Wang Shi shook her sister-in-law forcefully by the arm and said frantically: “Then have Elder Brother go petition the Emperor!”

Wang Aunt laughed even harder: “Oh my, what a bold demand from sister-in-law. But what a pity — your family’s officials are just lowly sesame-and-mung-bean-sized men. Even a routine imperial audience is not easily obtained, to say nothing of opening your mouth to ask for a special imperial favor.”

Kang Wang Shi cried out in fury: “My father was a seasoned court elder, with his spirit tablet enshrined in the Hall of Eminent Ministers — can the Emperor not show me grace?!”

“One dynasty, one generation of ministers. Sister-in-law, do look at what year it is. And besides — the official surnamed Gao who was punished by law a few years ago: wasn’t his father also a seasoned court elder?” Wang Aunt replied coolly.

Kang Wang Shi sagged, releasing her grip in shock and dread: “Is there truly no one who can go to petition the Emperor?”

Wang Aunt said indifferently: “Among our relatives, only two people can speak before the Emperor. One is the Marquis Gu, and the other is the Old Prince of Anyang. But…” she smiled, “sister-in-law — do you think the sixth girl of the Sheng family would ask her husband to go petition for your release? Or that your own concubine-born daughter is hoping for you to come out?”

Minglan’s utter loathing for her, Kang Wang Shi still had some awareness of. She could only hope feebly: “The deed of ownership for Yiniang Jin is still in my hands — if that wretched girl dares to disobey, I’ll sell her mother!”

Wang Aunt found the whole thing immensely amusing and shook her head with a laugh: “Don’t be so preoccupied with selling other people. As for your trusted attendants — from Qi Mama on down, not one of them has been left behind. In these past two days they are all being dispatched to the border regions of Yunnan.”

“Why is that?”

Wang Aunt said: “Do you think the Wang family would keep around people who know what happened here? Besides — these servants not only failed to dissuade you from wrongdoing, they helped and encouraged you at every turn. My mother-in-law is now venting all her wrath on them.”

Kang Wang Shi had exhausted her options. She stamped her feet and began to throw herself about, flinging her tangled hair wildly: “I don’t care, I don’t care — I will definitely get out! Have Mother find a way, have Elder Brother find a way — send money, promise people positions, go entreat Father’s old friends while he was alive…”

Wang Aunt cut off her torrent of nonsense: “Stop dreaming. You will never get out. Sister-in-law, do you think about how you ended up in here?” She gave a cold smile and said with contempt: “When this news first reached us, your husband in-law came in a fury and was ready to write a letter of repudiation on the spot, or settle things with a length of white silk. The Sheng family also refused to let it go. In the end, for the sake of the Wang family’s dignity — and your life — the only path was to send you in here.”

Kang Wang Shi said resentfully: “I knew it — Mother did it all for the Wang family’s dignity. The Kang family could repudiate me if they pleased; I could have lived without the Kang family, and anything would be better than suffering like this.”

“The Wang family has more than just you. Mother has other children and grandchildren to consider. And do stop flattering yourself — do you truly think yourself a golden phoenix, heaven’s favored daughter?”

Wang Aunt laughed coldly. What a thing. No sense of her own place in the world.

Kang Wang Shi raised her head bitterly: “Sister-in-law is having a marvelous time right now, I’m sure — delighted to see me in such a wretched state.”

“You are not wrong.” Wang Aunt freely admitted it.

Kang Wang Shi said with fury: “You…!”

“Everyone said the Wang family was a good match — a gentle and amiable mother-in-law and husband, a wonderful family. Who would have thought I’d end up with you as a sister-in-law like this?” Wang Aunt smoothed her hair at the temples, and beneath her calm expression lay years of long-suppressed resentment. “…I knew very early that my future husband’s family had two daughters. I had no sisters of my own and always thought of befriending you both as though you were my own younger sisters, living in harmony together. But from the day I stepped through the door, you started stirring up trouble before my mother-in-law, picking fault with me at every turn and making me observe all the household rituals — and going before your elder brother to stir up strife. You thought I didn’t know… hmm, I knew all of it. But there was nothing I could do; I had no choice but to work hard at winning your favor — even the maids and servant women around you.”

The memory of those days of humiliation brought wave after wave of old resentment to the surface.

“That year, I had just given birth to You’s elder sister when you stirred up my mother-in-law to have a second concubine brought in for my husband. I wept in secret so many times, waking in the night from sheer terror. Fortunately your elder brother has a generous nature, and my mother-in-law was still fairly reasonable, so they did not listen to your suggestion. Ha — and that made you unhappy, didn’t it. … You have always been like this: everyone had to listen to you, defer to you, hold you above their heads. Anyone who showed even a trace of defiance had to face your temper. An unmarried younger sister poking her nose into the bedroom affairs of an elder brother and his wife — this was truly something I’d never heard of before, and I certainly saw it with my own eyes.”

The muscles in Kang Wang Shi’s cheeks twitched several times — she had never taken this sister-in-law seriously. Yet it turned out…

“Thousand blessings and ten thousand prayers, you finally left the household to be married. But who would have thought…” Wang Aunt looked at her with contempt. “You saw my white jade Guanyin figurine set on a lotus base — the one my mother painstakingly climbed and prostrated herself at every step all the way up Fengxia Mountain to pray for. You said you wanted it, just like that; and you said if you didn’t get it, you would not go through with the marriage, and I still had to smile and present it to you with both hands. Thank heaven and earth — I did eventually have You. But from that day forward, I truly hated you from the bottom of my heart.”

She suddenly raised her voice: “People who don’t offend me, I don’t offend. Yuan’er had no way to act against me — but I had plenty of opportunities. I had someone find an excellent concoction from a certain establishment, and had it administered to Yuan’er. For this life, she will never bear children!”

Kang Wang Shi let out a sharp cry and lunged at her with ten pointed fingers. But her steps were unsteady and she stumbled forward — Wang Aunt pushed her off with one hand, and she fell heavily to the ground. Kang Wang Shi could only weep: “That was all my idea! If you had a grievance, you could very well have gone and complained to Mother-in-law and had us properly punished — there was no need to go after a child!”

Wang Aunt laughed: “And what good would complaining have done? My mother-in-law always favored you — it took the full force of the Sheng family, throwing their entire household into it, to finally get you in here. Sister-in-law’s abilities are formidable; I did not dare to be careless.”

“I will tell Mother everything about what you have done, you poisonous woman!”

Wang Aunt smiled: “The Bureau of Strict Discipline opens its doors for outside visitors only once a year, in the first month of the new year. By that time, the whole family will have long since followed your elder brother to his new posting away from the capital. Your elder brother can’t stay in the capital, but he’s managed to arrange a pleasant enough place — somewhere in the warm and gentle south, which happens to be ideal for recuperating from an illness. Barring any unexpected events, it should be another two terms.”

She lowered her voice, her eyes full of composed smiles: “This visit, my mother-in-law was made so unwell by you that her color was as pale as paper. The physicians say her condition is grave — all her old ailments have flared back up at once. Do you think, seven or eight years from now, she will still be alive? Or — do you think, by then, she will still have the energy to act?”

An icy chill spread all the way to Kang Yima’s heart. She sat on the ground, helpless as a trapped beast with no recourse — she knew Wang Old Madam’s health all too well; her constitution had been deteriorating for years. It was precisely because she feared her mother’s days were numbered that she had been desperate to act quickly while someone was still there to shield her, before the time when she would be left utterly without support and unable to move a single step. She had not expected to stumble on this iron wall — all the fault of that Sheng family girl who refused to let it go, insisting on a thorough investigation.

Wang Aunt picked up Kang Yima’s hand and made a tutting sound: “Sister-in-law keeps her hands so beautifully — at this age, still like a young girl’s, soft and white. Alas — from now on there will be firewood to chop, clothes to wash, rough work to do. Once the chilblains come, once the calluses form… tsk, tsk, what a pity.”

She stood up straight, walked slowly to the doorway, and turned: “Allow’er is a kind-hearted child and will have good fortune. The Sheng family will not give her a hard time, I imagine. As for Yuan’er… she conducts herself recklessly and arrogantly, which rather resembles a kind of madness. I will find a proper sanatorium to have her treated. Sister-in-law can rest easy — as long as I am alive, I will make certain she has good food and a comfortable life.”

One foot stepped out the door. From behind came Kang Wang Shi’s sobbing howl, laced through with a stream of vicious curses. The middle-aged female official drifted toward Wang Aunt like a specter, and said in a low, insinuating voice: “No need to trouble yourself — the customary rule is that family members may visit once a year, but rules are made by people. When the day comes, she can simply be reported as ‘indisposed and unable to come out,’ and that is that.”

The games of powerful and wealthy families were familiar to her by now, and each year she could count on a tidy addition to her income.

Wang Aunt smiled: “I shall have to trouble you then, sister. I will send the yearly offerings on time; and as for a few small gifts — please do not think them too meager.”

As long as she could hold on until Wang Old Madam passed away, even if Kang Jin and Allow’er eventually found out, it would no longer matter. What’s more, she had long since cleaned away every trace of evidence. With no proof and no witness, Kang Wang Shi’s ravings might very well find no one willing to believe her.

After so many years of forcing herself to endure, today she had finally avenged herself. What Wang Aunt felt was something entirely impossible to put into words.

Thinking that at last they had broken free of this demon that clung to them like a curse that could never be shaken off — that her husband would never again have to lower himself in humiliation to go and beg favors and smooth things over, that she would never again have to set aside money each year to fund that woman’s extravagance — even the blazing summer sun streaming directly onto her face did not bother her in the slightest. And there was still a daughter-in-law to consider. This time she intended to choose carefully; a slightly lower background was no matter, as long as she was upright in conduct and virtuous in character.

Walking out into the open, the Kang family had long since disappeared from sight; the Sheng family had also gone. And because of her mother-in-law’s sudden illness, her husband had gone ahead to escort her home. Wang Aunt rode in the other carriage, thought for a moment, and instead of going straight home, made a detour to the Sheng mansion.

Once inside, she found Wang Shi and offered her a good round of warm comfort and reassurance. Wang Shi was still frightened and full of pent-up grievances, her eyes swimming with tears as she thanked her: “I know sister-in-law has always treated me well. It is only my own blood elder sister who came to harm me.”

Wang Aunt let out a sigh. This younger sister-in-law, though disagreeable in temperament, had never been difficult with her during those years; she was simply headstrong and stubborn in a way that made her hard to like. But then there was her daughter Rulan — she had heard Rulan was growing steadily more steady and reliable these days. Ah, it would actually have been rather good to have taken Rulan into the family. What a shame that hateful person had ruined that match for her son.

Wang Shi blew her nose, still weeping: “My heartless wretched child — he told me to be ready to set off within the next two days, and even said… start sooner, return sooner, and fill up the ten years sooner!” He had even sent a calligraphy scroll inscribed with a date — “the twenty-fifth day of the xth month of the year x” — the day he had designated for her departure — and told her to hang it on the wall of the family shrine so she could see it at all times and keep track. That insufferable child had even said breezily that after ten years, she could come home half a month early to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival together.

Wahh — was this any way for a person to talk?!

At least Hai Shi had quietly told her: once the elder madam’s anger subsided and her heart softened, if she were to open her mouth herself, it was possible Wang Shi might be allowed to return a few years early. Hai Shi had also sent over a handmade blank notebook — snow-white silk paper, on which she had drawn perfectly straight, fine lines in ink, and asked her mother-in-law to use these years to learn more characters, practice calligraphy diligently, and copy out a few volumes of sutras to present to the elder madam as an expression of her remorse and repentance.

Wahh — daughters-in-law are truly wonderful. Both filial and considerate. What a shame she truly had no face to show before her right now.

There was more besides. Hui Jie’er had been raised in Wang Shi’s care since childhood and fell asleep every night clinging to her grandmother. A few days ago, Changbai had taken his daughter away from her room. The little granddaughter had grabbed at her grandmother’s clothes and wept, absolutely refusing to leave — and in the end had been pried away, one finger at a time, and carried off. Wang Shi had wept with a grief that felt like her heart had been torn apart. Only then did a truly shattering remorse come over her.

Under the blue sky above, she should never have harbored such evil thoughts, should never have given rise to such wicked intentions. Now the Bodhisattva was punishing her for it.

Wang Aunt comforted Wang Shi, then had a maid lead her to the Sheng’an Hall.

After paying her respects to the Sheng elder madam, she could see some color returning to the elder madam’s complexion. She was reclining half-upright against the bed pillows, talking to little Quan. Hai Shi sat nearby holding an infant of just a few months, smiling and joining in the conversation. Changbai was at one side reprimanding his younger sister, his voice low, and the words not altogether audible.

Wang Aunt spoke sincerely and at length with genuinely felt wishes for a speedy recovery. Not knowing whether the elder madam was yet aware of the truth, she did not touch on the poisoning matter by so much as a single syllable. The Sheng elder madam wore a smiling, pleasant expression and chatted comfortably with her. Changbai, his younger sister, and Hai Shi also rose to return the greeting and exchanged words of goodwill. Seeing that the Sheng family treated her with the same warmth as always, Wang Aunt’s heart was at last put at ease. After exchanging a few more words, she took her leave.

Hai Shi was holding the child, so Changbai pulled Minglan along to see the guest off. Standing under the covered walkway, watching Wang Aunt’s figure recede into the distance, Changbai turned around and was about to speak. Minglan clutched her head with both hands and pleaded: “Elder Brother, please stop scolding me! I have already bowed and apologized to Father — what more do you want?”

Changbai kept a straight face: “The very fact that you say ‘what more do you want’ tells me you are not truly contrite. The Sage says…”

“I beg you, Elder Brother, I genuinely know I was wrong. I should not have acted so willfully in pushing the whole affair into the open, I should not have capriciously confined Aunt out of my own impulses, and I should not have had the audacity to go around capturing people on my own authority…”

“That is not correct — in all those things, you were not wrong.” Changbai said. “If I had been in your position, I would have done the same.”

Minglan stared at him in confusion: “Then… where did I go wrong?”

Changbai gave a sharp flick of his finger to Minglan’s forehead by way of a rap on the head, and lectured: “You were wrong to lean on the power of your husband’s household to defy Father and make him lose face before others. However much Father may be in the wrong, he is still your elder — and you opened your mouth to threaten him, closed your mouth to mock him. Is that the conduct befitting a daughter? Father is not an unreasonable person. If you had sat down with him properly and laid out the advantages and disadvantages, made the stakes and the risks clear to him, naturally father and daughter would have been of one mind in facing the situation together. To throw yourself into a scene of weeping, wailing, and carrying on as though life and death hung in the balance — where did your usual cleverness go? You only have an idle sort of cleverness to spare.”

Minglan was thoroughly lectured until she was covered in dust and ash, without a single word of rebuttal to offer. She muttered under her breath: “I’m nothing like as clever as Elder Brother. For Aunt to have poisoned someone — you can draw it from the imperial court all the way to the inner household, from the present moment all the way to decades ahead…”

Changbai’s eyes narrowed, and his finger moved to deliver another rap. Minglan’s neck drew into her shoulders, and she said hurriedly: “I’ve already admitted fault, haven’t I? I’ve been weeping and serving tea — Father isn’t even blaming me anymore!” In truth, Sheng Hong had simply decided to take the easy way out and let the matter drop.

While they were talking, Minglan suddenly felt a wave of nausea, and pressed her hand to her mouth as though about to vomit — but halfway through, nothing came up. By this time, the brother and sister had already returned inside the room. Physician Lin happened to be there, taking the elder madam’s pulse.

Changbai continued his lecture: “Does what I’m saying nauseate you that much?” Her attitude in acknowledging her wrongs was thoroughly lacking.

Minglan shook her head and waved her hand. It was Hai Shi who noticed something was off, and said with concern: “Younger Sister has had a poor complexion these past few days. With Physician Lin right here, we might as well have him take a look.”

The Sheng elder madam was full of worry and quickly beckoned Minglan to sit down.

Physician Lin cheerfully settled one finger on her wrist. After a short while, a strange expression crossed his face. He glanced sideways at Minglan and continued listening to the pulse attentively. Seeing the physician take so long without speaking, the elder madam said anxiously: “What is it — what is it?”

Physician Lin stood, smiled gently, and bowed: “Congratulations, elder madam — the young mistress is with child.”

The room fell into complete silence. Changbai looked at the two fingers with which he had delivered the rap on the head. Hai Shi looked at Minglan’s perfectly flat abdomen. Little Quan looked at his small sleeping brother who lay curled like a piglet. Minglan sat by the window in a tilting chair, a look of completely oblivious, silly contentment on her face: “How far along is it?”

“Just over two months.” Physician Lin smiled wryly — he had never seen such a formidable expectant mother. “The pulse is steady and strong. There is no cause for concern, young mistress — it is merely that you have been somewhat overtaxed these recent days. A good period of rest will set everything right.” He gave a few further instructions, then bowed and withdrew from the room.

The Sheng elder madam sat in silence on the bed for a very long time. Then she suddenly erupted in fury, slapping the edge of the bed: “Get yourself home at once! Today! Right now!” She turned to Nanny Fang: “Go pack her things, the Marquis’s too! You will personally escort her back to the Marquis’s household, hand her over to Nanny Cui, and don’t let any mistakes happen!” She punched a soft pillow hard, pointed at Minglan, and cried: “You two — the husband and wife together — coming here to eat and sleep for free under false pretenses! If you dare linger so much as half a moment more, I’ll break your legs!”

Seeing that Grandmother was truly angry, Minglan hunched over, and obediently followed Nanny Fang out. Hai Shi smiled and took little Quan along after them. Left in the room were just grandmother and grandson — and a tiny infant sleeping on the kang who did not know when it had fallen asleep and would not know anything even when it woke.

“This infuriating little wretch!” The Sheng elder madam could hold it in no longer.

Changbai looked at his grandmother with a gentle smile. After a little while, he suddenly knelt down: “Barring any unexpected circumstances, this grandson should have his post renewed for another term. Once Grandmother has recovered, come with your grandson.”

The Sheng elder madam pondered in silence. Changbai said quietly: “Grandmother already knows everything, I think.” The elder madam smiled bitterly: “Nanny Fang couldn’t keep it from me. Alas — how fickle the human heart. Who would have thought that at my age, I would still encounter such a peculiar turn of fate.”

Changbai lifted his head: “Grandmother, come with your grandson to the posting. It is not as grand and bustling as the capital, but the people there are simple and honest, the mountains clear and the waters beautiful — the scenery has its own charm all of its own kind. Grandmother has always wanted to travel around — come with your grandson, then.”

The elder madam sighed: “The one who always wanted to travel around was not me — it was Nanny Kong. Her health was never good, and she left early. I always thought I should help her fulfill that wish.”

“Is that not all the more reason?” Changbai said. “My wife and I will be devoted in our care of you.”

Looking into her grandson’s clear and perceptive eyes, the elder madam let out a quiet, inner sigh.

She understood his meaning. She was a person who had never been able to tolerate sand in her eye. In this matter, Sheng Hong’s small calculations had genuinely made her quite uncomfortable. Rather than meeting and having to put on a performance of fond mother and dutiful son, it was better to simply step out of the way, and after several years, when they met again, what had passed would have faded from feeling.

“I’m afraid it would not look well once word gets out.” The father and son were connected in name and reputation — if Sheng Hong’s reputation suffered, Changbai could not escape being dragged down with him.

“Grandmother need not worry. We will simply say there is a renowned physician in that place, and your grandson has invited you to go seek medical attention.”

The elder madam laughed: “Be careful the story doesn’t get out of hand, and people actually come to your posting in search of this famous physician.”

Changbai smiled: “Then we will say the physician roams the four seas and wanders where he will, and after seeing Grandmother well, he wandered off again.”

The elder madam shook her head, laughing. And suddenly she felt her heart and chest open wide, and the past no longer seemed so vile and hateful.

Outside the door, Hanniu was listening with a head full of sweat: finished, finished — today the young master appears to have said quite a few words in the inner household again.