Qingchuang Ji was a distinctive establishment, and naturally the tea served there was more refined than anywhere else. With a freshly unsealed batch, those who were the first to taste it were being granted considerable honor — how could the noblewomen not be delighted?

The group gathered their skirts and settled into a private room. One of the straight-latticed windows facing the river had been opened halfway. A warming brazier glowed inside, and there was not the slightest chill — even when cool air drifted in through the window, the two temperatures blended together, and the effect was rather refreshing.

A maidservant dedicated to preparing tea carried in the twelve tea utensils and arranged them neatly along the long table. The guests sat at one end while the maidservant ground and sifted the tea at the other. The most important aspect of a fine tea ceremony was not merely the final taste, but the pleasure of watching the entire whisking process. Each rise and fall of the maidservant’s well-trained hands, each turn of her wrists, carried a serene and graceful beauty. One could not help but feel a restlessness within — yet watching this performance, the heart grew inexplicably calm. The mistresses of households, ordinarily busy and harried, found themselves experiencing once more the unhurried tranquility of their girlhood years, and as they watched, a great many feelings stirred within them.

The maidservant performed the seven-infusion whisking method. Yun Pan stood to the side watching with a smile. Once the tea had been divided into each small cup, she personally presented each one to her guests, saying pleasantly: “This is a tea that has been stored for three years. When it was sealed, it was wrapped in gauze, with layers of tea leaves and purple basil leaves alternating together. It has been kept until this year to be brought out for honored guests — truly the finest moment to do so. Please, ladies, have a taste and tell me what you think.”

Everyone raised their cups to sample it. The Green Snow Bud differed from ordinary teas — the whisked liquor was apricot-yellow, with fine downy hairs dissolved into the water, shimmering faintly amid layers of frothy mist.

The Countess of Xin’an County praised it generously and with sincere appreciation: “This Green Snow Bud is so rare. It is said that tea aged one year is tea, but tea aged three years becomes medicine. Today we have truly tasted a fine tea, and it is all thanks to the first snowfall, which brought us the chance to see the Duchess in person. We usually only hear that the lady is of exalted station and most dignified — who would have thought she would be so amiable, not finding us too coarse, willing to accompany us here.”

Yun Pan said: “My lady, you flatter me. I opened this shop precisely to make the acquaintance of ladies like yourselves. Today I came out to view the snow scenery, and it happens that you are among the very first honored guests — of course I must receive you properly.”

As they spoke, a maidservant brought in almond pudding, soft sweetmeats both large and small, and preserved plum blossoms. Several plates of exquisitely crafted refreshments were placed before them, pleasing to the eye even at a glance.

Everyone rolled back their sleeves to taste the tea, and amid smiles and idle conversation, Yun Pan said: “A moment ago, the Countess mentioned that the wife of the Junior Surveillance Commissioner has a connection to the Geng Military Commissioner’s household. As everyone knows, I have only the one sister-in-law, and the whole family dotes on her dearly. I worry that once she enters her husband’s home, she may not be able to please the elders there — and the elders, for the sake of her family’s dignity, may not be able to say anything directly, so over time resentments might form. My thought was that if the Commissioner’s wife happens to know something of the Geng household’s situation, perhaps she might give us a few pointers. I could then go back and advise the Commandery Princess, so that after she enters the household, she might avoid offending the elders.”

This was a self-deprecating way of putting it. The Commissioner’s wife said: “The Duchess is truly too considerate. The Commandery Princess is marrying down to wed the Geng family’s third son — the elders in that household would be overjoyed before anything else. How could they possibly find fault with a Commandery Princess?”

The Censor’s wife laughed at this. “You may think that, but the elders of their household may not. I’ve heard that the Geng family’s Elder Madam is extremely strict — didn’t they say recently that even a relative who showed the slightest breach of propriety was dressed down to her face? The Commandery Princess is marrying down, so at first they’ll certainly give her some deference, but who can say what comes after time passes?”

The Commissioner’s wife found herself in a difficult position after being contradicted by her friend like this. “The two families have already announced their betrothal — saying all this now, I’ll end up pleasing no one on either side…”

Hearing her say this, Yun Pan surmised that there must be some inside information. Even setting other things aside, learning who was who and what temperaments they had in the household would be useful preparation for Hui Cun. She said: “My lady need not worry. What is said here today goes no further than this door. I, too, love my sister-in-law dearly — she was raised in seclusion and simply does not know how to navigate dealings with outsiders. I have heard… the Geng household is quite large, with three brothers and four or five sisters, quite unlike our own family, which is small and where everyone dotes on her.”

“Large households are simply like that — nothing to worry about particularly. Each courtyard manages its own affairs with the doors closed.” The Commissioner’s wife set down her cup and said: “The Commandery Princess is betrothed to the third son. Being the youngest, he is deeply cherished by the Elder Madam. She has long been saying that no one less than imperial nobility would be worthy of her third grandson — and now she has gotten her wish, having truly secured a princess of the imperial house as his bride.”

The Censor’s wife could not help but snort. “Well, isn’t she grand — as if the third grandson were a living dragon.”

The Commissioner’s wife gave a slight curl of her lip, and from this expression alone it was clear she harbored her own dissatisfaction with the Geng family.

To speak plainly: if the elders of a household were fair and proper, there was nothing wrong with marrying into a large family — many members meant a flourishing clan. But if the elders were unreasonable people, that was another matter entirely. When the beam above is crooked, the beams below will inevitably slant as well.

Yun Pan hesitated for a moment, then said: “I also heard something else — that the Elder Madam was so partial to her grandson that she arranged a bedchamber maid for him at quite an early age.”

The Commissioner’s wife smiled awkwardly. “The Old Madam said that a man would do well to learn such things early — nothing wrong with that.”

The Countess of Xin’an was taken aback. “And she wasn’t afraid of having an illegitimate son first? With that sort of situation, how could they still aim to marry a Commandery Princess?”

“The Old Madam has many ways of managing things. If something like that truly happened, she’d surely have a different line of reasoning ready — that the Geng family is flourishing and all of it is to her grandson’s credit.” The Commissioner’s wife opened up, pouring out what was truly on her mind, and shook her head: “I have truly never seen an elder like this one. A matriarch of an old family also holds an official court title — she should be managing the household’s affairs and guiding her children and grandchildren properly. Yet who could have known she does everything wrong that can be done wrong. When that bedchamber maid was brought into the courtyard, the third son was still so young — once he had a plaything, naturally he became completely absorbed in it day and night, and as a result he spoiled this bedchamber maid so outrageously that she carried herself almost like a proper young mistress. When his parents tried to intervene, before they could even open their mouths, the Elder Madam would scold them into silence — who would dare say another word? Those of us who speak behind closed doors often say that for the third son to amount to anything, we fear we’ll have to wait until the Elder Madam departs this world.”

The other two ladies listening clicked their tongues. “This Elder Madam — if she wanted to indulge her grandson, there were so many other things she could give him. Why a bedchamber maid?”

Such things were common enough, but in the eyes of women, they were ultimately not a matter of dignity. Yun Pan said: “Some time ago, the Commandery Princess also became aware of this and originally wanted to break off the engagement, but the third Geng son said he had already sent the person away…” She continued to observe the Commissioner’s wife’s expression as she spoke, probing carefully: “In your ladyship’s opinion, will he be able to devote himself faithfully to our Commandery Princess going forward?”

But the Commissioner’s wife said nothing. She vaguely raised her cup and sipped her tea, her expression wavering, and said indifferently: “Since he gave his word, perhaps he can manage it — one never knows.”

Yun Pan had been smiling until this moment, and here she felt a premonition that something was very wrong.

Anxiety rose in her heart. She took the teacup from the maidservant’s hands and refilled the Commissioner’s wife’s cup herself, then spoke sincerely: “If my lady knows the truth of the matter, please speak plainly. Marriage determines a girl’s entire life — it is not something to trifle with. If my lady tells me honestly today, she will forever be a benefactress to our family. Whether or not the Commandery Princess ultimately marries the third Geng son, I will hold my lady in gratitude for the rest of my life.”

Since things had come to this point, drawing closer to the Weiguo Duke’s household was surely preferable to maintaining a lukewarm connection with those cousins.

The Commissioner’s wife hesitated for a moment and was about to put on a show of reluctance, but the Countess of Xin’an and the Censor’s wife could not wait and urged her on: “It’s not as if they’re a close connection — have you already forgotten how their household looked down on you? The Duchess has said all this already — what are you still hedging for? If you know what’s going on inside and don’t tell the truth, thereby ruining a girl’s entire life, can your conscience be at ease?”

At this the Commissioner’s wife made up her mind, settled herself, and spoke: “A cat that has tasted fish can ever really break that habit? I’ve seen that bedchamber maid — a coquettish little creature. She receives the monthly allowance of a concubine in the household, and once there is a proper mistress, she is certainly due to be elevated to a concubine’s position. I’m not saying anything wrong, but for a Commandery Princess of such standing — once she enters the household, is she really going to compete for favor with that sort of lowly creature?”

The Censor’s wife asked with curiosity: “But didn’t they say she was sent away?”

“Sent away?” The Commissioner’s wife gave a short laugh. “Last time I heard from someone in the second son’s household, this bedchamber maid is a clever one — when she learned the third son had become betrothed, she clung to him all the more. She had been drinking fertility-preventing medicine before, but this time she simply stopped taking it altogether. Last month, word was that there were signs of movement in her belly. Could the Geng household really fail to protect their own descendants? The so-called ‘sending away’ is nothing more than sending her to a country estate to carry the pregnancy — once the Commandery Princess has entered the household, the thing will be a done deal. Then both mother and child will be brought back, and what will the Commandery Princess be able to do but accept them?”

Yun Pan listened, and her heart went half-cold. “Is it truly only a temporary arrangement to the country estate? Is she truly with child?”

The Commissioner’s wife confirmed it was so. “Though of course this is known only within the family. Even though I have told the Duchess, I would also ask that you not mention my name outside. After all, we do have a family connection to the Geng family, and if there is an uproar, it will be difficult for me to explain on that side.”

Yun Pan inclined her head. “Naturally. My lady has spoken so forthrightly today and has truly saved our family — how could I be so ungrateful.” She paused and asked again: “In that case, which estate have they sent her to — does my lady happen to know?”

The Commissioner’s wife said: “It must not be too far. A woman with child cannot endure long journeys by boat or carriage, so it would be one of the nearby places. If the Duchess wishes to verify this, simply send someone to inquire at each one. As long as you can find the person herself, the matter will become perfectly clear.”

In any case, the Censor’s wife and the Countess of Xin’an looked at each other in astonishment at what they had heard, and said: “Isn’t the Geng family blatantly setting a trap? The Commandery Princess is such a fine girl — if she truly married them while being kept in the dark, would she not be driven to misery later? The Duchess may love and protect her, but how can she protect her for a lifetime? In the end, one must live one’s own life. In the future she would have to watch that little family living in perfect harmony while she becomes the outsider. And if the third Geng son turns out to be a foolish man, and he goes so far as to favor the concubine over the proper wife — when you think about it carefully, who could bear such humiliation?”

This story sounded so very familiar. When she paused to reflect, was this not exactly what had happened to her mother all those years ago?

Bitterness deepened in Yun Pan’s heart. No matter what, she could not allow Hui Cun to fall into this trap. If the Geng family had their way, it would be as she had said last night in her story of the famous painting — a fine treasure, brought to ruin in the end by wretched and base people.

After taking her leave of the private room, she sat alone for a while, lost in thought. She weighed whether or not she should go back and tell Hui Cun everything, yet she also worried that a girl caught in the throes of love might not be easily persuaded, and might turn against her instead, which would be worse.

Nanny Yao mulled it over repeatedly beside her, and finally said: “My lady need not tell the Commandery Princess outright, but you must at least inform the Princess Consort. These days the third Geng son keeps seeking to meet the Commandery Princess — we absolutely cannot allow the Commandery Princess to go out alone with him again. A person so full of scheming and devious intentions — is it not easy to deceive a girl with no experience of the world? If the Commandery Princess is taken advantage of, then this marriage, even if it ought not to go forward, may have to go forward regardless.”

Yun Pan agreed. “That is my thought as well — for now, it is better not to say anything directly to the Commandery Princess. Wait until the investigation is clear, then let her decide for herself whether to marry or not. But we must act quickly — there are only about ten more days until the wedding date… The bedchamber maid’s name is Xu Xiangning. As for which of the Geng family’s estates and properties could accommodate someone — that is not impossible to look into.” She thought for a moment and said: “Find a way to make contact with their household servants and offer them some benefit — that would make the investigation faster.”

Nanny Yao acknowledged this and went to carry out the order. Just as she reached the door, she nearly collided with Mei Fen coming in, and immediately laughed: “Oh my goodness, my young lady, you’ve come at last! Our mistress has been talking about you for quite some time.” She guided her inside, smiling: “Please come in, my lady, the mistress is in the private room. You two have a chat first — I’ll be back to wait on you once I’ve finished my errand.”

Mei Fen stepped into “The Golden Knife and Ivory Hands” and looked back to see Nanny Yao hurrying off in great haste, then asked Yun Pan: “What errand did Nanny receive? On such a bitterly cold day, to be busy like this.”

Yun Pan rose to lead her to a seat and glossed over the matter vaguely, saying only: “I was beginning to think A’Jie had forgotten — I didn’t expect you to actually come.”

Mei Fen teased her: “I’m not so old that I would forget something this important. I come by whenever I’m free — would I really not come on the occasion of the first snow?” As she spoke, she gestured for Babao to set down the food box she had brought, then called for a grill, and herself rolled up her sleeves with a wrist loop, opened the food box, and began to arrange the dishes on the low table.

On the silver platter, slices of red meat of even thickness lay upon snow-white ice. Fine white fat was threaded through the meat’s grain, glistening at a glance.

Yun Pan asked: “What kind of meat is this? Venison?”

Mei Fen said: “Water deer. Yesterday father and Zhao Zhongyan went hunting in the countryside — they caught no small game at all, only this single water deer. The plan had been to send it to you today, but when we opened the door and saw the heavy snow, I guessed you would certainly be here, so I brought it along, and we can roast it together.”

The ladies of the capital were extraordinarily attentive to their way of living. Any of them who had no worries of food or clothing possessed the refinement to transform daily life into a poem.

Snow fell outside the window, while inside, a brazier was set up to roast meat. A bottle of Qionye from Pan Lou’s establishment was brought out as well — a mouthful of water deer meat and a mouthful of fine wine. There was truly no more pleasant moment in all of life.

The two of them ate and drank at leisure. In the midst of it, Mei Fen also asked after Yun Pan’s father, saying: “It’s been about two months since Aunt Jin entered the household — is everything well at the Marquis’s estate?”

Yun Pan said everything was well. “These days we’ve managed to get the three younger siblings out from under Liu Yinniang’s hand. Jiang Mi reports to her courtyard every day after school to give an account of his studies. Xue Pan and Yu Pan have had proper tutoring nannies brought in to instruct them in rules and deportment. With her managing the household, Liu Yinniang will never be able to stir up trouble again.”

Mei Fen felt greatly satisfied. “There are truly such capable people in this world. Father was completely led astray by that little woman before — and yet now she’s been utterly put in her place.”

Yun Pan listened, took a sip of wine, and said: “It truly wasn’t easy, though. Two new concubines were selected, and they’ve recently been formally presented. Even though they keep father from going to Liu Yinniang’s quarters anymore, being a wife who arranges concubines for her own husband is never a joyful business. Fortunately Aunt Jin doesn’t care about father — otherwise, how wretched her heart would be.”

Mei Fen laughed at this. “So you’re grateful that she doesn’t care about your father.”

Yun Pan laughed too. “A man like father — only those who invest their heart in him end up worse off. Aunt Jin came solely to manage the household, and that is all — it is just as well, since without feeling any love for him, she won’t feel any pain.”

The two of them chatted idly back and forth. The room was suffused with the rich fragrance of meat and wine. Buffeted by the bitter cold outside, this first snow day had, in the midst of unhurried ease, let a warmth of human feeling seep through.

Because it had been snowing all day, business outside had not been going smoothly, and the people Nanny Yao had dispatched gave no word back for several hours.

After returning from Qingchuang Ji, Yun Pan walked along the wooden corridor. Many people were coming and going along it, and the snow tracked in from outside had soaked into the wood, mottling it in patches. When she finally entered the main room, it was warm and cozy inside. After changing her clothes, she wrapped herself in a quilt, sat by the brazier, and asked whether the Duke had returned.

Lv Tan said: “The Duke came back for a moment and then went out again. He said he would likely return late tonight and asked that the mistress need not wait up for him.”

With the year’s end approaching, his official duties seemed to grow more and more pressing. On a day of such heavy snow, she had been hoping he might come home early, yet he had been detained by affairs outside.

With him absent, she was at leisure. Incense burned on the table. The room was warm and still, and she grew somewhat drowsy.

Just as she was on the verge of slipping into sleep, she heard footsteps outside. She forced her eyes open, and Nanny Yao appeared before her, speaking in a hushed voice: “My lady, the young manservant who was dispatched has sent word back. They say the person is at an estate in Pinggu, about twenty li away. But with the bitter cold and frozen roads, they cannot travel there to verify this right now, so they’ve come back first to inform my lady.”

Yun Pan said good. “Still find a way to go and confirm it — only then will we know how to proceed.” Then, with some indignation, she added: “This Geng gentleman is truly so tenderhearted — he couldn’t even bring himself to send her further away. How could he not bring her back in the future?”

Nanny Yao sighed. “To meet a family so unreasonable as this — there will be no end of miserable affairs. Fortunately the inside story was discovered today. The Commandery Princess has such a gentle and good-natured temperament — how could she possibly outmaneuver their scheming? By the time the thing is done and cannot be undone, they would have all the advantage, and if the Commandery Princess were to be too soft-hearted, it would suit them perfectly — before long, an illegitimate son would be raised as a legitimate one.”

Yun Pan was deeply vexed. There was no sleeping now. She rose and draped her cloak over her shoulders, then went to the Princess Consort’s Xunchu n Hall.

The Princess Consort had nothing to do and was playing cards with the maidservants. When she saw Yun Pan enter, she smiled at once: “My dear, come so early? The mutton hot pot isn’t even set up yet.”

Yun Pan said: “The Duke will likely return late tonight — I’ll come back and keep mother company for dinner.” She settled in beside the Princess Consort, glanced at the cards in her hand, and asked: “Has Hui Cun not gotten up yet?”

The Princess Consort said: “She caught a cold. I went to check on her this morning — she was sitting in her bed and sneezed five or six times. By now she’s taken medicine to bring on a sweat and is still bundled up.”

Yun Pan made a sound of acknowledgment and said nothing more.

But the Princess Consort noticed her hesitation, turned her head, and asked: “What’s the matter? Is there something you want to tell me?” As she spoke, she set down her cards and waved the maidservants away to take the small table with them.

The two of them, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, sat face to face on the embroidered cushions. The Princess Consort studied her expression. Yun Pan still seemed to hesitate, unable to bring herself to speak, which made the Princess Consort quite anxious. “Whatever is the matter — is there something you cannot say in front of me?”

Only then did Yun Pan speak: “If I tell this to mother, it will seem as though I am trying to undo someone’s marriage. Yet now that I know of this matter, I cannot pretend otherwise — that would be to ruin my sister-in-law’s entire life.”

She then told the Princess Consort everything the Commissioner’s wife had said, word for word, and concluded: “I don’t want my sister-in-law to suffer in silence. I’m telling mother first, and once the people I sent to investigate return with a reliable confirmation, I’ll discuss it with my sister-in-law.”

The Princess Consort heard all this and went pale with fury. She struck the small rosewood table and ground out through clenched teeth: “Is the Geng family taking advantage of our old Prince’s absence — deliberately bullying us, widows and orphans? They have set such an enormous trap, intending to lead our Hui Er into it!” As she spoke, she began to weep. “Those wretched scoundrels — if the Prince were still here, would they dare? Would they dare!”

It had been snowing all day, stirring up so many of the Princess Consort’s memories, and her spirits had already been somewhat heavy. Now, with this piece of news added on top, she was all the more heartbroken.

Yun Pan could only do her best to comfort her. “Mother, please don’t worry. When the Duke returns, we’ll deliberate carefully.”

The Princess Consort was ordinarily tranquil in her ways, but when her temper rose, there was no holding it back. She said through gritted teeth: “What is there to deliberate? Hui Cun is an imperially bestowed Commandery Princess — can it truly be that there are no good families wishing to seek her hand in marriage? First there was this trouble, then another, and it is not even the wedding yet — what will it be like after? My view is: return the Geng family’s betrothal gifts exactly as they were sent, and call off this marriage entirely. There is nothing further to discuss.”