The Shuguo Duke’s household began its preparations, conducted entirely according to the arrangements originally made for Mei Fen. But since this match had been brokered by the Empress Dowager herself, several additional items had to be added out of respect — and so the undertaking was truly grand in scale.

Mei Fen, having stepped out of the world’s concerns, was quite happy to busy herself on Yun Pan’s behalf — selecting jewelry, choosing garments, picking the maidservants and matrons who would accompany her, even scrutinizing which shop’s rouge and eyebrow pigments were to be used.

Yun Pan sat at the table with her sleeves bound back by a cloth loop, head tilted, carefully carving her walnut house. In a spare moment, she glanced at Mei Fen, who was deliberating among several shades of deep blue-green eyebrow pigment, and said with a smile, “A’Jie doesn’t go out — how would she know which region’s spiral-pattern pigment blends better?”

Mei Fen said of course she would know. “Even without leaving the house, I use plenty of fine things — I can tell at a glance which one spreads color more smoothly.” Then, noticing Yun Pan using a fine silk-bladed knife to carve the silhouette of a guqin, and gold thread stretched taut for the strings, she frowned. “You only need to satisfy them — why are you taking this so seriously? You are working by lamplight late into the night. Be careful not to strain your eyes — you will not be able to read later.”

Yun Pan smiled. “Since I promised, I must do it with care before I can bear to give it away. Otherwise, the person takes it with one hand and discards it with the other, accepting the kindness only to throw it away — what a shameful thing for both of us.”

Her way of thinking was simply different from Mei Fen’s. If it were Mei Fen, she would have felt so offended by having something she gave be thrown away that she could never face the person again — the last thing she would be thinking of was whether the other party was made to feel their gratitude was wasted.

Mei Fen slid over and sat beside Yun Pan, idly flipping through the prepared walnut shells. “One, two, three, four, five… five more and you’re done?”

Yun Pan said yes. “Each one has to be different, so when they exchange and admire each other’s, they will always find something new — and they will know I put real thought into it, not just filling the count with anything.”

Mei Fen gave a long sigh. “That is precisely why I have no wish to go out and make acquaintances — the etiquette alone is more than I can manage.” She paused in thought. “When Uncle and Liu Shi were turned away the other day — I wonder if they will make trouble at the wedding banquet.”

Yun Pan snapped shut a walnut whose window she had just opened — this one was made differently from the usual, fastened with a tiny gold-wire clasp. She told Qin Dan to fetch a small brocade box, carefully placed the walnut inside, and then instructed, “Send this to the Duke of Weiguo’s household, and ask the gatekeepers to deliver it to the Commandery Princess.”

The Duke of Weiguo had a younger sister, Li Hui Cun, fifteen years old this year, enfeoffed as the Commandery Princess of Kaiyang. She had happened to be away from the capital when the banquet was held at the Chief Councilor’s household — it was said she had gone to her maternal uncle’s home. Nearly every noble young lady in the capital now had one of her qian kun walnut houses, and to leave out the little sister-in-law would invite ill feeling. Even if she cared nothing for such small trinkets and set it aside after receiving it, that was still better than never having received one at all.

As for her father and Liu Shi, Yun Pan was not troubled. “They need to mind their dignity — they will not do anything too outrageous. After all, they have three children to think about.”

Mei Fen propped her chin in her hand and sighed. “Why must the world always have such troublesome small people, and yet there is nothing to be done about them?”

Yun Pan smiled. “We’ll see about that in a little while. Once the wedding is settled, I will have my own way of putting that household in order.”

A girl who had not yet left her family could not do certain things — but it was precisely because of this conviction in her heart that she did not feel marrying was such a bad thing at all. Being a married woman was more convenient than being an unmarried daughter in many respects.

Mei Fen was herself too timid for such things, but loved to hear stories of others getting their just deserts. She kept pressing: “What is your plan? Tell me first!”

Yun Pan turned her tweezers in her fingers, smiled and bowed her head, set a tiny finished incense burner onto the little table inside the walnut, and said evasively, “I haven’t thought of anything yet. Once I have, A’Jie will be the first to hear.”

And on Liu Shi’s side — her ear was burning, and she rubbed it again and again, sitting in the round-backed chair, her thoughts miles away.

Thinking back on her recent ordeal made her blood simmer with hatred. She had gone calling at that household and had nearly been beaten out the door by that Madam Ming. She had assumed that the mistress of a Duke’s household, elder sister to the deceased Lady, and a woman of two people born from the same door, could not possibly be as different as night and day from her sister — but as it turned out, she was quite wrong.

That Madam Ming — she was nothing but a fierce and violent shrew. No wonder people said the Shuguo Duke’s household had strict family values: of course it did, ruled by such a woman. Taking it upon herself to have people tied up and thrown out — as if Liu Shi were one of her own Xiang family servants to be disciplined! It had been her own foolishness to walk into such humiliation. If she had only thought things through differently, she would not have ended up in such a wretched state.

As for Jiang Heng — having suffered such a loss in public, there was nothing to be done. In terms of official rank, he was below the Shuguo Duke. In terms of influence, he was a noble of the seventh rank, while the Shuguo Duke had once commanded troops, and nearly every military officer of note in the capital had some connection to him, however distant. Civil means were useless. Military means were beyond reach. And even if he had been mistreated, there was no avenue for recourse. Whether one had been wronged or not, there was no path to justice.

So one of them brooded in the bedchamber, and one stewed in the study, until it was Xue Pan who came out with the key insight: “What is the point of arguing with them? The Shuguo Duke’s household is waiting for Elder Sister’s match to add luster to their name. The Duke of Weiguo may not be willing to misrecognize his father-in-law. If it became a dispute, he is a Duke of name and standing — the foundation of all virtue is filial piety and brotherly love. To have taken a wife who refuses to acknowledge her own father would not do the Duke of Weiguo’s reputation any good either.”

Liu Shi heard this and suddenly had an idea. She rose and had a maidservant prepare a cool drink, then crossed through the wooden corridor to the east, making her way into Jiang Heng’s study.

Jiang Heng was nominally reading, but his mind was in chaos and he could take nothing in. Hearing footsteps, he lifted his eyes slightly. He had been sitting facing the door, and now turned half away from it — in that single motion alone, one could read his unspoken resentment of Liu Shi.

How could Liu Shi not know his mind? She had no choice but to press forward, and said in a gentle voice, “Master, the weather is so sultry — I had the household brew some herbal cooling water for you to clear the heat.”

Jiang Heng said nothing, and turned himself a little further away, holding his scroll up toward the light from the window.

Liu Shi was out of ideas. Knitting her brows, she said, “I know the Master is still blaming me. I was rash and presumptuous — volunteering to go to the Shuguo Duke’s household and walk into humiliation, bringing dishonor to the Master. But I did it all for the Master’s sake. Who could have expected the Shuguo Madam to be so unreasonable? I bowed, I apologized, I knocked my head on the floor — and still she would not let us bring the young lady back. As I see it, the young lady’s refusal to return to Youzhou is not necessarily her own wish — the Shuguo Madam is deliberately standing in the way.”

She said all of this, and Jiang Heng sat like an immovable monk — not even a flicker of movement. Liu Shi, finding this tiresome, picked up the teacup. “Master, there is no point in being upset with me. Better to think about how to speak to the young lady. After all, a father and daughter’s bond cannot be cut — but that Shuguo Duke’s household stands like an iron barrel with no way in…” She set the cup before him and probed, “What we want is for the Duke of Weiguo to accept us as family. Why not go directly to the Duke of Weiguo and say what needs to be said? If he shares their view of things, then we accept it and let go entirely — as though we never had a daughter at all.”

But going to the Duke of Weiguo was another gamble — another position of vulnerability. The Shuguo household was impenetrable, but would confronting the Duke of Weiguo outright be of any use?

Jiang Heng looked at her with doubt. “The Duke of Weiguo is a man of great affairs — what with Xizhou and the Bodyguard Directorate. I wonder whether he would even listen to something as domestic as this.”

Liu Shi said, “How could he not? Our young lady’s match was arranged by the Empress Dowager. The Kaiguo Marquis household has name and standing — in what way are we lacking? Why should we go around the real party and bang on that broken drum at the Shuguo household instead?”

Put that way, she had a point. They had served in the same court for years — the Duke of Weiguo had always been a courteous and principled gentleman. He had never dared dream of such a connection before, but now that this marriage was a settled matter, there was nothing to shrink from.

That glimmer of hope rekindled in Jiang Heng’s brow. Liu Shi, seeing he had the resolve to make one last attempt, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Whatever happened, they had to stabilize Yun Pan first — present a surface of reconciliation. Afterwards, there would be opportunities for frequent contact. That Duke of Weiguo had come to Youzhou to oversee disaster relief some time back, and Liu Shi had caught a distant glimpse of him from outside — truly a man of commanding presence and exceptional appearance. Yun Pan might not be someone destined for great fortune. A person’s life could hold many misfortunes and ailments — perhaps someday she would follow her mother’s fate and be gone in an instant. With such an excellent match already there, perhaps Yu Pan or Xue Pan could step in and ride the favorable wind. Then, with herself running the Kaiguo Marquis household and her own daughter as Duchess, that label of “wine-seller woman” — who in the world would still dare invoke it?

So she had to push Jiang Heng to go. This was the last route left. If it truly failed, she would have to find her own way forward.

Jiang Heng also began to weigh his options. “The Duke of Weiguo has been away from the capital for several days, but I hear he returned these last two days. I also want to see for myself what his attitude toward me as his father-in-law is. If this matter remains unresolved, how awkward will my position at court be once they are married? He must at the very least receive me with a proper ceremony of respect — so that people know I am truly his father-in-law by right of the first wife.”

Having made up his mind, he set about preparing at once. Taking advantage of the slanting sun to avoid the worst of the heat, he rode on horseback back to the capital.

The capital had long since abolished the night curfew, and the night markets glowed as brilliantly as daylight. Entering the city gates, he was immediately hit by a waft of wine mingled with the scent of rouge. On both sides of the street, taverns hung their lanterns in an unbroken chain. Along the riverbanks, a lantern stood every twenty paces. The sounds of strings and song, the voices of men and women in laughter and talk, all flowed together into his ears — this sweltering summer night was like a jumble of fragrant spices toasted over a red-clay brazier, conjuring the capital’s finest splendor and refinement.

One could not ride a horse along the Imperial Avenue, so Jiang Heng led his horse by the reins, his attendant page following behind, as he made his way through the bustling crowds.

It was approaching midnight. Some banquet guests were already slipping away on pretexts. He had walked a stretch when he suddenly heard someone call out “Marquis Jiang.” Jiang Heng turned to look — it was the Duke of Chenguo and several court colleagues coming out of Liang’s pleasure garden. The Duke of Chenguo was about thirty, with a short beard already grown, and though he was imperial kin and a military man, he carried a scholar’s bearing. Seeing Jiang Heng he clasped his hands, “Marquis Jiang, looking road-weary — have you just arrived in the capital?”

Jiang Heng composed himself and returned the salute with a smile. “In this heat, it’s unbearable to travel in the day — better to come in the cool of night.” Then he glanced at the brilliantly lit tavern. “Which of you hosted this gathering tonight? It has broken up so early?”

The Duke of Chenguo said, “Marquis Jiang knows the one who set the banquet well — it was your son-in-law-to-be.” He smiled. “Ji Fu arrived back in the capital from Xizhou today and organized a gathering for everyone. I have drills early tomorrow morning, so I am taking my leave first… But Marquis Jiang, you have ridden through the night — why not step in and rest?”

Hearing it was the Duke of Weiguo who had organized the banquet, Jiang Heng felt inclined to go in and meet him. Especially at a drinking table, surrounded by flowers and music, the atmosphere tended to be warmer and easier to navigate. But he was wary of whether the Shuguo Duke was present — an encounter there would be awkward — and so he hesitated and asked, “I happen to have something to discuss with the Shuguo Duke — might he be in attendance?”

The Duke of Chenguo said he was not. “Tonight’s gathering is for the Bodyguard Directorate and the Palace Guard — only those of the two Directorates were invited. The Shuguo Duke was not sent an invitation.” He knew full well the situation beneath the surface, but to preserve Jiang Heng’s face, he said nothing more about it. He turned and gestured, personally leading Jiang Heng inside to a private chamber.

Jiang Heng arrived without warning, and those present were none the wiser. Entering the room, he saw a fashionably dressed courtesan at the head of the table, pouring wine and entertaining the officers.

The Duke of Weiguo sat with one arm resting on an armrest, the other hand holding a mutton-fat jade cup. Four square lanterns lit the corners of the chamber, illuminating his somewhat languid eyes. At the outer corners of his eyes was a point of quiet elegance that surpassed all others. He was speaking leisurely with the colleague at his side.

The Duke of Chenguo called out cheerfully, “Ji Fu, look who is here.” He gestured toward Jiang Heng. “I came out the door and happened to run into Marquis Jiang, who has just arrived in the capital after a night journey and is surely weary from the road — so I have invited him in for a cup.”

The Duke of Weiguo, ever one for proper courtesy, quickly rose and gave a bow. “I did not know Marquis Jiang had arrived — I was not able to come out and welcome you.” He gestured to the doorman, who immediately brought a cool-cushioned seat and set it down. He pulled back his sleeve and gestured to Jiang Heng. “Marquis Jiang, please be seated.”

The officials present, though not all from the same post, were mostly acquainted with one another, and there was a cheerful round of greetings. The Defense Commissioner of Youzhou, Zhao Zhongyun, a close friend of the Duke of Weiguo, teased, “We had just been saying we’d call over a few singing girls to compose verses, and Ji Fu was the one who said no. We asked him why, and he said he was about to be married — made us laugh ourselves to pieces. Thinking about it now, it’s a good thing we didn’t send for anyone — otherwise, being caught red-handed by Marquis Jiang would have been rather awkward, wouldn’t it?”

Another round of boisterous laughter followed. In this day and age, there was no man who kept himself entirely pure — everyone saw through it well enough, exchanging knowing glances, quietly noting that Marquis Jiang himself kept a favored concubine who had taken over the role of the mistress of the household. What standing did he have to catch his son-in-law in the act? His own house was not in order.

Jiang Heng endured a round of idle pleasantries with them. His true aim was the Duke of Weiguo alone. The two of them sat close together, and the Duke treated him with great respect — personally filling his cup, chatting idly about the reconstruction of Youzhou. After the wine had gone around three times, Jiang Heng finally found his moment and sighed, “I will not hide it from you — I have not seen Si Si in many days.”

On such a matter, a son-in-law-to-be could not readily offer his opinion. The Duke of Weiguo considered for a moment and said, “That day when I went to pay a call at the Shuguo Duke’s household, I saw the young lady — the Shuguo Madam is caring for her very well. Marquis Jiang need not worry.”

But this was not a question of whether she was being cared for well — it was a question of the bride not returning to her proper paternal home before the wedding.

Jiang Heng fell silent. He could not very well lay out in full the humiliation he had suffered at the Xiang household, and so took an indirect route. “The Shuguo Madam loves Si Si, of course. But now that your wedding is approaching, a banquet must be held for the household. With Si Si at the Shuguo Duke’s household, things on my side are difficult to arrange. I had thought to bring Si Si home, but because of a previous misunderstanding, the Shuguo Madam has her complaints against me and will not even let me see Si Si for a moment… Between father and daughter, even if there is unhappiness, once it is spoken plainly, it passes. Surely we cannot let it drag on to the point of never seeing one another again — it would not look well to outsiders either.”

The Duke of Weiguo cast his eyes downward and made no comment. After a long pause he said gently, “I understand what Marquis Jiang means. However, this is not something I can decide — everything must first be asked of the young lady. I am a man who goes about outside, and she is in the inner chambers — it is not easy even for me to see her. Let me put it this way: please give me a day or two, and once I find an opportunity to ask the young lady, I will give Marquis Jiang an answer.”

Fortunately — fortunately — this son-in-law at least had good sense, and did not grab for everything at once like a woman. Jiang Heng’s heart finally had something to hold onto. Men, after all, had to make their way at court — for the sake of a smooth future together, the Duke of Weiguo would find a way to resolve this difficulty.

“In that case, I entrust everything to the Duke.” Spoken with full gravity, as though handing off court business.

The Duke of Weiguo agreed, and continued filling his cup and conversing with the others.

Jiang Heng watched him with great satisfaction. He thought to himself that men ought to conduct affairs with men — that earlier visit to the Shuguo Duke’s household to plead with Madam Ming had been the most foolish decision imaginable. Fortunately, Liu Yanqiao had been sharp enough to suggest going directly to the Duke of Weiguo. For the two of them, as husband and wife, to work it out between themselves — was that not a hundred times better than dealing with that shrew Madam Mingyue?

The banquet wore on until just before the hour of the ox, when the wine began to lose its savor. Then a courtesan struck her red ivory castanets and sang a verse of “Flowers Beyond the Wall” — something about spring breezes stripping the begonia blossoms, their petals drifting over the wall to the neighbor’s courtyard — which seemed to hold a trace of poetic feeling, and gave voice to a thread of quiet desolation in Jiang Heng’s heart.

The lanterns along the Imperial Avenue near and far grew hazy. The party, wrapped in the warmth of wine, made its way out through the corridor. Outside, the waiting pages rushed forward, and one quietly helped the Duke of Weiguo into his cloak. “It’s late in the night, young master — please don’t catch a chill.”

The Duke of Weiguo, though he now held his title and his former Liang Prince’s residence had been converted into a Duke’s household, was still addressed as “young master” by the attendants who served his daily needs, since his grandmother and mother still managed the household above him. In the bright moonlight, that young master truly had something of the clear and upright quality of orchid and osmanthus — he courteously saw Jiang Heng off first, then turned and boarded his own carriage.

The horse hooves struck the fragrant-cake brick road. A white gauze lantern was hung at the front of the carriage shaft, swaying gently.

Bi Xie, walking alongside to assist, heard two soft coughs from inside the carriage and quickly asked, “Young master, shall I bring some hot water?”

The person inside said no need. After a short while, he lifted the window curtain and called out, “Bi Xie — tomorrow, send a calling card to the Shuguo Duke’s household, and say that I will call on Miss Yun in the afternoon. Ask whether it is convenient for her.”

Bi Xie answered yes, then could not help but ask with curiosity, “Does the young master truly think the Shuguo Madam will agree to let Miss Yun return to the Kaiguo Marquis household?”

The person in the carriage answered lightly, “Since Marquis Jiang has come to my door, I cannot brush him off entirely. Once I have asked her intention — if she is unwilling to go back, we will find some middle way that satisfies everyone.”