“Very good, very good!” Chun Sheng said. “Everything I have said today, the elders of my household know about — they even specifically told me to look carefully at all the young ladies in attendance. As long as Madam Mei gives this word, this matter is more than halfway done.”

She went on at great length about all of Zhao Zhongyan’s virtues — his outstanding character, his upstanding conduct — lamenting only that today was not his day off, or she would immediately dispatch someone home to send word so that a meeting could be arranged that very afternoon.

Her urgency made Mei Fen and Yun Pan exchange a glance and smile.

Yun Pan said, “There is no rush. My shop is opening today, and this evening I have also arranged a banquet at Ban Tower, inviting everyone. If A’Jie is busy playing matchmaker, the two of you will both miss that gathering.”

Chun Sheng grinned broadly. “That is just my nature — my nanny even jokes that I must labor very quickly when the time comes to give birth.”

Everyone exchanged a few more pleasantries, but it was hardly fitting to keep a woman with such a large belly standing around talking for so long. Yun Pan called Qin Dan over and instructed her to take the Defense Commissioner’s wife and her attendants inside to rest.

After Chun Sheng had gone, Yun Pan finally had a proper chance to speak with Mei Fen. She took her hand and said, “A’Jie, making He Xiao’s reputation a complete ruin — that was enormously gratifying. I have been so busy these past days I was not able to come to the estate to see you, but I knew you must be doing very well. Just now, when Defense Commissioner’s wife put in a word on her brother-in-law’s behalf, I expected you would not agree — yet you actually gave your consent. The change in you, A’Jie, truly makes me look at you with new eyes.”

Mei Fen felt a touch helpless about it. “It is also because the Defense Commissioner’s wife was able to see my heart that she was so warmly eager to act as my matchmaker. If it had been someone else, they might well have found me as frightening as a fierce demoness. I have also thought about it — whether to become a Daoist nun and be done with everything. But then I think of Father and A’Niang, and that for the rest of their lives they would endure people talking about them behind their backs, and I feel that would be too selfish of me. And besides, I am truly unable to sever my ties to the mortal world. There are so many things I still care about, so many people — and above all, I am so fond of hearing all the gossip of daily life…” She laughed with a faint flush of embarrassment. “You see what a busy-body I am — how could I ever quiet my heart and enter the Way?”

That she could face her own heart so openly and honestly — that in itself was already the best possible outcome. Yun Pan smiled. “Just so — I, too, find that this mortal world has so many interesting people and things in it that I cannot bear to give them up. Take this shop of mine, for instance: it may be open now, but the little troubles ahead will surely be endless. If A’Jie is willing, come and help me run it. In a while I also plan to open a rental shop for carriages and such. If A’Jie is willing to invest, we can go into business together — the two of us as partners. What do you think?”

Mei Fen was immediately excited at the idea, and clapped her hands in agreement. “I have some idle funds on hand — I can put them in as capital. Whether or not I marry in the end is a small matter. Being able to have a business of my own to manage — even after marriage, I need not live in dependence on a man.”

To have ambitions like theirs, in times such as these, likely marked them as peculiar — but both sisters felt the future was bright before them, and their hearts opened wide as the sky.

Still, though Yun Pan concealed it well, a shadow of worry would sometimes pass across her face. Mid-conversation she would suddenly fall silent.

Mei Fen noticed, and said quietly, “Is there something troubling you? Even if I can do nothing to help, you might speak of it, and I can at least offer a word to ease your mind.”

Yun Pan knew she could not hide it from her. She took her hand and drew her to sit on the stone bench along the covered walkway, then lowered her head and said, “A few days ago, the eldest legitimate son of Duke Chengguo passed away. The Grand Madam at home is urging us to have children quickly, and between her words and her silences, it seems as though she intends to bring concubines into the Duke of Wei’s household.”

Mei Fen wrinkled her brow deeply. “That is far too hasty — you have only been married a little over a month. What grounds are there for rushing to fill the household with people so quickly?”

Yun Pan managed a thin smile. “It is all because the Li family’s line is thin. The Grand Madam is thinking ahead, wanting to put several concubines in place to help the Duke of Wei branch the family tree.”

At times like this, Mei Fen truly felt that these old women were insufferably difficult — as though they themselves had never been young. She asked Yun Pan, “What do you think in your own heart?”

The corners of Yun Pan’s lips pressed slightly downward. “A’Jie — I sometimes hate myself for being so spineless. Before I left my parents’ home, I had it all worked out: it was merely moving to a different place to live. As long as I held fast to my own heart, whatever others did was their affair. But the longer we have spent together, the more this possessive feeling has grown in me — I no longer want to share my husband with anyone else. Is that — is that wrong of me? Is it improper? Does it mean I do not care for his future and his prospects? If I hold onto him selfishly regardless of everything, will I become one of those jealous wives people talk about, gossiped about wherever I go?”

It was the first time Mei Fen had ever seen her in such a state of confusion. The Yun Pan she knew was always the clearest-headed one, the person who knew exactly how each of her steps should be taken. Seeing her like this now, Mei Fen felt her own heart ache in sympathy. It seemed that every woman who lived her marriage with her whole heart would sooner or later face this very predicament.

“Have you spoken of what is in your heart to the Duke of Wei?” Mei Fen said. “What does he think about all this? Rather than tormenting yourself alone, it would be better to hear his view.”

Yun Pan looked somewhat aggrieved. “I dare not… I dare not let him see this unreasonable side of me. I am afraid that if I lose my temper and make a scene, it will disappoint him, and in the end I will lose even his respect.”

Mei Fen was astonished. “When did you become so timid?”

But as soon as she said it, she realized she had not truly placed herself in Yun Pan’s position to think about it.

Her parents’ marriage had always been the worst possible example. She had long feared following in her mother’s footsteps — she could surrender anything, but not her dignity. In matters of the heart, to rage and make a scene was the most unsightly thing one could do. In the end, even one’s face was lost, and yet one still could not hold the person’s heart. She was afraid of carelessly becoming that kind of person — and the more afraid she was, the more cautiously she moved, always treading on thin ice.

Mei Fen bit her lip and pondered for a long moment before saying at last, “I still think you should have a proper talk with him. Not to speak of your own feelings, but simply to listen to his. If he has no intention of taking concubines, then you will have been troubling yourself over nothing. And if he does have that intention…” She looked at her with a rueful expression. “Then just accept your fate — you have married nothing but a commonplace man.”

Yun Pan had been feeling sad, but that last remark made her laugh despite herself. She pulled Mei Fen into a hug and said, “A’Jie, seeing this decisive new version of you, I am truly overjoyed. Before, whenever I met with something difficult, I could only talk it over with Nanny Yao and the others. Now I can discuss things with you — A’Jie can help me think things through and plan.”

She was the most gifted person with words. With just this one sigh of feeling, Mei Fen felt a small, warm swell of pride rise up in her, and she reddened a little and asked, “Am I truly of use? Can I really help you out of your troubles?”

Yun Pan said yes. “Take what you just said — ‘nothing but a commonplace man.’ I had been telling myself exactly the same thing before. It seems we think alike without prior consultation. Since that is the case, I will find the right moment to discuss it with him. After all, a protracted pain is worse than a swift one. Keeping it locked inside can only make me ill.”

Her words had barely fallen when another carriage stopped at the door. Yun Pan stood up to look — Jin Shengyu and the General’s wife had arrived. She turned and murmured quietly to Mei Fen, “A’Jie mentioned she admired the second Miss Jin, didn’t she? She is here now — let me introduce you.”

So she went forward and called out, “Auntie,” and after the exchange of pleasantries, she smiled and said, “Auntie must have been very busy these days preparing for the wedding — I have not been able to help at all and have only added to your troubles instead.”

Since the day Yun Pan had come to her door with Liu Yinniang’s deed of sale, Jin Shengyu had known they were of one mind. Since someone treated you with true sincerity, what reason was there not to respond in kind? She took her hand warmly and said, “This is exactly the occasion to make sure everyone sees us properly. There are those who like to wag their tongues behind our backs, and a great many unpleasant words have been said. At times like this, we must let them see how well you and I get along — so they end up slapping their own mouths, and naturally will settle down after that.”

Yun Pan gave a small nod. “Thank goodness for Auntie’s open-mindedness — those idle tongues need not be taken to heart.”

Jin Shengyu said, “Life is one’s own to live. If I heeded what others said, how would I manage your father’s affairs?” She turned and sized Mei Fen up. “And this young lady is…”

Yun Pan said, “I was just about to introduce her to Auntie. This is the young lady of Duke Shuguo’s household — my cousin, Mei Fen. She knows all that happened at home and deeply admires Auntie’s swift and decisive action.”

Jin Shengyu, hearing of her background, looked her over more carefully still. “The legitimate daughter of Duke Shuguo — I know of her. She exposed the false talent of that Luoyang genius. Goodness — this news has been the talk of everyone in the capital! I never imagined that He the Third, who had such an unrivaled reputation, should turn out to be a counterfeit! But at least the truth has come out. It means one less hypocrite in the official world — if that sort of person were to rise smoothly to high office, Heaven truly would have no eyes.”

All in all, it was a fortunate thing. Mei Fen had only just taken her first steps into this circle, and whether it was Chun Sheng or Jin Shengyu, both had praised her lavishly. Such a beginning was invigorating for Mei Fen, and gave her the courage to raise her head and face the scrutinizing eyes of more people.

As for Yun Pan’s business — it was already showing signs of flourishing. The hollowed walnuts with miniature figures inside had captured the attention of every lady in the capital for two or three months, and now that the time had come to make them oneself, who could bear to miss the chance? So several of the private rooms had already been reserved in advance. There were too many people today for anyone to settle down quietly, but once the opening celebrations were past, they could invite three or five close friends to come together and try their hands — that would be a whole other delightful kind of ladies’ pastime.

Of course, the more prosperous the business, the more laborious the work. By evening, after hosting a banquet for everyone at Ban Tower, Yun Pan was so exhausted by the time the guests dispersed that she could barely lift her hands and feet.

Since the banquet was for ladies only, Li Chenjian could not attend in person, and had no choice but to wait in the carriage outside for the gathering to end. He watched as the last few elegant guests boarded their carriages, and Yun Pan stood beneath the lantern light with her composed smile, seeing them off. Such a small person — only sixteen, and yet thrust into ripeness like this. His heart ached for her, though there was nothing he could do to help.

He bent down from the carriage and stepped out, standing on the opposite side of the street and smiling as he watched her, waiting only for her to have a free moment and look over.

Sure enough, when she turned her gaze and noticed him, her joy was immediate. “When did the Duke arrive?”

He crossed the street, stepping around the passing pedestrians, and came to her side, looking down at her. “I have been here a while. There were many young ladies inside — it would not have been appropriate for me to walk in unannounced, so I waited in the carriage for you.”

He always described things lightly. “A while” — knowing him, it was probably no less than one or two hours.

On the way home, he let her lean against his shoulder and asked softly, “Are you tired?”

She gave a vague murmur of assent. “It is fortunate that those close to me were there to help — Auntie, Sister Mei Fen, and Auntie Jin… Without them, I would have been exhausted beyond all bearing today.”

He sighed and gently patted her shoulder. “You made it through. Get a proper rest tomorrow.”

That round little face of hers nuzzled against his shoulder. Half-closing her eyes, she said, “Tomorrow is the first day of real business. I still need to go and hold things together — I cannot just drop everything and walk away. But Cousin Mei Fen said she would come and help… You have no idea how capable she has become.”

Li Chenjian smiled quietly to himself, thinking: you only know to praise other people’s capabilities, yet have no idea how capable you yourself are.

She was exhausted, her mind growing hazy. She dozed a little on the road, and by the time they reached home, she could hardly even keep her eyes open, her feet stumbling as she walked.

He gave an amused laugh, then scooped her up sideways in his arms. At this she actually jolted awake and said, “Careful — someone might see.”

Let them see — the estate was full of guards and escorts, and none of them would miss it. But no rule said that Li Chenjian, the Duke of Wei — outwardly proper and composed in everyone’s eyes — could not carry his own wife in the privacy of his own home. So he said with complete ease, and with warmth, “Just lean on me and rest.”

From the front courtyard to Xu Zhou, it was quite a long walk. She worried again for his health. “You will wear yourself out.”

He glanced down at her. “If you are worried about that, then hold on to me properly.”

Hearing this, Yun Pan immediately and obediently looped her arms around his neck, thinking to herself: it is rare to be able to be like this, so let it be so!

She pressed her face close to his neck. The fragrance of orchid and chrysanthemum, warmed by the heat of his skin, became all the richer and more mellow. She liked this scent — she liked the fragrance on him. In the past she had preferred the scent of fruits, but now, with him as her constant companion, she had become devoted to the scents of grass and wood.

Being carried all the way home had dispersed her drowsiness, though, and once back in the bedchamber she had no desire to move. She had been managing things on her feet all day outdoors, and her body was covered in dust. In the end she forced herself to rouse enough to wash and change, and when she finally collapsed back onto the bed, she lamented that her limbs no longer felt like her own.

Her head had barely touched the pillow — she ought to have fallen asleep. But something was still weighing on her heart, and sleep would not come. The lamplight beyond the screen was extinguished. Soft footsteps approached. She lay curled against the pillow, watching, and when she saw him treading lightly toward her, she called out, “Duke.”

At that, he no longer needed to be quiet, and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Why are you not asleep yet? Were you not exhausted?”

She shifted inward to make room, and lay on her side, propped against the pillow. “I wanted to speak with you.”

He listened, then lay down on his side, gazing at her attentively in the dim light.

Yun Pan turned things over carefully in her mind. If she asked him directly whether he wanted to take concubines, how was he supposed to answer? And if he actually did have that in mind, would it not be uncomfortable for them both? So she circled around it and brought up Geng Fangzhi instead. “Geng Fangzhi promised Hui Cun that for the rest of his life there would only be Hui Cun alone — do you think those words can be believed?”

He was silent for a moment before saying, “Whether they are true or not depends entirely on each person’s heart. If in the future he is able to remain unmoved, then perhaps he really will have only Hui Cun. But a man who already had a chamber consort before marriage — words that come out of such a man’s mouth are best taken with a measure of doubt rather than accepted as gospel.”

Yes — in the years of youth, especially for young men of noble birth such as these, how many women were eager to attach themselves to them? To remain resolute in one’s heart when young and impetuous was not easy, and the slightest temptation could lead one to be pulled along by the nose. So those who did not entangle themselves in romantic debts before marriage were men of firm inner conviction.

Yun Pan curled herself up a little and asked again, “Then what is Hui Cun to do? If Geng Fangzhi takes concubines in the future, will that not break her heart?”

This question was of great importance. She asked it with her heart in her throat — for his answer would be enough to reveal his own heart.

He remained calm and unhurried. “One should never place one’s hopes too easily in another person. I told her long ago — to rest one’s hopes on someone else leaves at least a fifty-fifty chance of ending up brokenhearted. But now she has sunk in of her own accord, and no one can wake her from outside. She may be my sister, but even as her elder brother and sister-in-law, we can only do our part in reminding her — we cannot arrange her life for her.”

He said this, then studied her face carefully. Her eyes moved with a shifting light, like moonlight shattered across the ground — and he knew right away that all her talk had only been a way to probe his thoughts.

Yun Pan was a little dazed. She murmured to herself, “Today Geng Fangzhi invited her out on an excursion, and she went — she missed even my shop opening for it. By the time she comes back, she will surely be even more hopelessly drawn in. A man who once had a chamber consort is probably well-practiced in the art of captivating young women.” She paused, then said, “Tomorrow I must go and find out how she is feeling… Tell her not to place her hopes too high, so that she will not be disappointed.”

These words were spoken to herself. She had understood his meaning. Yes — how could she ever have fantasized that a man of a Duke’s rank would spend his entire life with only one wife? She had been foolish to let it consume her thoughts for days on end. But now that she had seen clearly, her heart settled down, and drowsiness began to creep over her. She yawned and said, “Let us sleep.”

She was sometimes excessively composed — she seemed to never cry or make a fuss, and never quite knew how to coax anyone.

He still remembered that day of the earthquake in Youzhou. He had been visiting a neighboring county on an inspection, and when a carrier pigeon from the court arrived commanding him to survey the disaster, he had ridden without pause for two full hours before reaching Youzhou. He had barely settled in when, amid the rubble, he came across her.

Caught in the rain, completely soaked, yet still striving to maintain her composure — a girl like her was outside anything he had known before. He had observed her through a hanging curtain: she was very beautiful, but at the time he had a betrothal in place. Their brief encounter had been no more than a chance passing on the broad sea of life, leaving little impression on his heart.

Later, when Duke Shuguo’s legitimate daughter broke off the engagement, the court made a match they could not refuse. Only then did he recall the girl he had met in the pouring rain… Fate was a strange thing, and had somehow brought her back to his side.

He had no chamber consort. He had no taste for the company of women at his side while he worked. With a clean and unclouded heart, he had waited only for a wife who would truly suit him. He had never imagined the woman he ended up marrying would be her. When the court issued the decree, his heart had lurched unmistakably twice, and for the first time he found himself looking forward to marriage.

Now she was his wife — seasoned yet endearingly artless, composed in the face of both favor and slight, and yet always as though treading on thin ice. Her inner world was complex. He felt there were things he ought to say to her — to tell her that he had no craving for other women, that he craved only her. But he did not know how to begin. He watched her turn away and present him with her back, and a faint sense of loss came over him. After a long silence, he said, “Madam — there is something I would like to say to you as well.”

Yun Pan tilted her head back slightly. Talk of seeing clearly, of not caring — all of it was self-deception. Though what came next might well be all about the greater picture and greater considerations, she still wanted to hear it.

She rolled back slowly to face him, and asked, “What would the Duke like to say?”

In the dimness, he fixed his eyes steadily on her. “Those words of Geng Fangzhi’s — I would like to try them too.”