Shiyiniang did not even glance at the bundle. Instead, she smiled at Luo Zhensheng: “Elder Brother, these are Elder Sister’s properties — they are to be kept for Zhun Ge’er in the future. And I, for my part, know nothing of these business matters. Please, Elder Brother, take over the management.”

Before arriving, Luo Zhensheng had intended to persuade Shiyiniang to let him look over the accounts. Not that he suspected her of any ill intent — he simply felt that, given her young age, she might not be able to hold her ground over time and could end up being deceived by Lu Yonggui. And Elder Sister-in-law, on hearing from Hupo that Lu Yonggui had returned and that Shiyiniang wanted the two of them to discuss what to do about Yuan Niang’s properties, had a vague sense that, given Shiyiniang’s cleverness, this was surely more than a matter of bearing witness. Yet she had not imagined that Shiyiniang would hand everything over to Luo Zhensheng to manage — and do so with such decisiveness.

For a moment, the couple both sat there taken aback.

Nanny Tao’s face lit up with unconcealed delight.

Her own nephew, after all. Far better the property go to Luo Zhensheng’s hands than remain in Shiyiniang’s — a hundred times, a thousand times better!

But Lu Yonggui’s gaze flickered.

In fact he had returned at the end of the eighth month, intending to attend Xu Lingyi’s wedding. But Nanny Tao had stopped him: “…You know better than anyone how much property the first young mistress left behind. There will always be those who look at such wealth and feel tempted. Don’t be in a hurry — lie low for now. Take this time to put the accounts in order — one set to show her, and one set to keep for the Marquis to audit.”

He happened to have some private business to attend to at the time, and after years of running about on Yuan Niang’s behalf, he had saved a little money of his own. Unsure of the new mistress’s temperament and character, he had entertained thoughts of leaving. So he had agreed and gone along with the plan.

But now, at their very first meeting, Shiyiniang had handed over management of the properties to Luo Zhensheng — and he could not help but regard her with new eyes.

Such breadth of mind — even most men would not possess it!

He could not help but look at Shiyiniang more carefully.

She was no more than thirteen or fourteen years of age, wearing a plain apricot-yellow robe, her skin luminous as snow. She was tall and slender, her large eyes clear and warm, serene and tranquil — a pleasure to look upon.

She pushed the bundle on the square table toward him and smiled: “Elder Brother, though it may be an unreasonable request, please accept it for Zhun Ge’er’s sake.”

Luo Zhensheng hesitated. Elder Sister-in-law, seated just below him, had already smiled: “How can this do? It ought to be you who oversees it…”

“Sister-in-law.” Shiyiniang smiled. “I truly know nothing of these business matters. If I manage it, I fear that despite good intentions I would be unable to cope, and might end up harming Zhun Ge’er’s inheritance.”

“Very well.” Luo Zhensheng’s expression was resolute. “I will take charge of these properties. The accounts will be managed by Shiyiniang. That way, we can keep each other in check.”

Shiyiniang was relieved.

Luo Zhensheng was, in the end, a man of integrity.

The matter was settled thus.

Luo Zhensheng and Lu Yonggui went through the accounts together in front of everyone.

Shiyiniang watched as Lu Yonggui’s fingers flew over the abacus, and listened as he reported on the accounts year by year — how he had grown the properties Yuan Niang had left behind from a mere twenty thousand taels to the current sum of one hundred and sixty thousand taels, with two thousand taels coming in annually. She could not help but nod inwardly.

To say nothing of anything else — just the people Yuan Niang had left behind: Nanny Tao within the household, Lu Yonggui without — they alone inspired admiration.

The group worked through the afternoon, and at last a rough picture emerged.

Shiyiniang let out a breath of relief and had Hupo make fresh tea for everyone. She smiled: “Thanks to Steward Lu’s facility with the abacus, otherwise there’s no telling how long these accounts would have taken.”

Lu Yonggui quickly replied: “Madam is too kind. A trifling skill, nothing more.”

Just then Xu Lingyi returned.

Everyone rose to pay their respects.

He looked at the tidied account books and said with a faint smile: “The accounts are settled.”

“They are.” Luo Zhensheng, mindful that this also concerned Zhun Ge’er’s wellbeing, smiled and told Xu Lingyi of Shiyiniang’s decision. “…And I myself am rather careless in my ways. So the accounts will still be kept by Shiyiniang — I will help manage the day-to-day external affairs.”

Xu Lingyi listened, then looked at Shiyiniang long and deeply. He made no further comment on the matter, and simply invited Luo Zhensheng to stay for dinner. The Grand Madam’s household also sent word asking them to stay for the meal. Lu Yonggui and Nanny Tao withdrew, Luo Zhensheng and Elder Sister-in-law went with Xu Lingyi to pay their respects to the Grand Madam, and the Xu brothers entertained Luo Zhensheng in the outer courtyard pavilion, while Elder Sister-in-law remained in the Grand Madam’s quarters for the meal.

During dinner, Third Madam kept casting glances at Shiyiniang. Thinking of the “business” Third Madam had mentioned, Shiyiniang took the opportunity with everyone present to announce openly that she would manage the accounts and Luo Zhensheng would manage the properties — to forestall any designs Third Madam might have on them: “…I am young, and with Elder Brother watching over things, nothing too serious should go wrong.”

The Grand Madam inwardly approved.

Fifth Madam’s gaze toward Shiyiniang took on a certain gravity.

Only Third Madam gave a slight curl of her lip, looking thoroughly dismissive.

After dinner, Elder Sister-in-law played with Zhun Ge’er for a while. When Luo Zhensheng came from the outer banquet to pay his respects to the Grand Madam, husband and wife together took their leave.

Shiyiniang and Xu Lingyi walked them out.

She intentionally fell a few steps behind and said in a low voice to Elder Sister-in-law: “…Opening a dried-fruit shop is a very good idea. But business involves money, and among close relatives, it would be a great pity if it caused any rift. Yet to say it plainly to Fifth Sister would risk embarrassing her. I was hoping Sister-in-law might smooth things over. If Fifth Sister needs any help from me, I will not refuse — but as for investing in the venture, please count me out.”

Elder Sister-in-law nodded repeatedly and took Shiyiniang’s hands in hers: “You and I think alike. Fifth Young Mistress also invited me in. I think the business isn’t large to begin with, and with three families pulling in four directions, trouble would be sure to follow. My thinking is — if she truly wants to open this dried-fruit shop, we each put in fifty taels, call it a loan or a gift as you like, and consider it helping her along.”

Shiyiniang groaned inwardly.

This was exactly what Hupo had foretold.

In the left hand, out the right!

But could she refuse?

She had no choice but to nod. “Sister-in-law’s idea is excellent. When the time comes, sound out Fifth Sister’s feelings first, then send word to me.”

Elder Sister-in-law nodded. Shiyiniang saw her to the ornamental gate, watched the carriage depart, and then returned inside with Xu Lingyi.

On the way back, Xu Lingyi saw that her spirits were somewhat low. “Letting you manage the accounts and Zhensheng manage the properties — was that your idea or his?”

Shiyiniang heard the slight edge in his tone and looked at him in some surprise, then said quietly: “It was my idea.”

If it was her own idea, why did she look so dejected?

Xu Lingyi thought of the day of their third-day return visit — how the First Madam had reproved her without any consideration for her feelings.

A daughter obeys her father while in her father’s home; when married, she obeys her husband. She had been a daughter of the Luo family — now she was a wife of the Xu family.

With these thoughts, a coolness settled in the set of his brows.

Shiyiniang looked up and was taken aback.

Was he displeased?

Surely not?

He was not the sort of man who said one thing and meant another. Since he had said he would not interfere, he would not interfere. So why speak of it now like this?

She held her patience and explained: “These are the properties Elder Sister left for Zhun Ge’er. Zhun Ge’er is still very young, and I know nothing at all about business. Although there is Lu Yonggui, he is ultimately a steward — if I were in the wrong about something, how would he dare tell me plainly? With Elder Brother now helping to oversee things, and the two of us keeping each other in check — even if mistakes are made, they won’t spiral into something irreparable.”

So it truly had been her own idea.

Xu Lingyi stopped walking. The look in his eyes as he regarded her deepened.

He had known she was young, but he had not imagined she possessed such breadth of mind and judgment.

Shiyiniang could not read his mood, and growing uneasy under his gaze, she quickly said: “My lord, please don’t worry — Elder Brother is not the sort of man who forgets righteousness for profit. I manage the accounts, he manages the properties — that was actually his suggestion. My original intention was simply to hand everything over to him entirely…”

“I know.” A slight curve came to Xu Lingyi’s lips. “What are you in such a rush about? I haven’t said anything.”

Haven’t said anything? If you had, it wouldn’t have been settled so easily…

Shiyiniang grumbled to herself.

“Tidy up your rooms tomorrow,” Xu Lingyi said suddenly. “I’ll have Steward Bai find a few matrons to come help you.”

Though spoken lightly, it carried the tone of a command.

Tidy the rooms? In what way? Did he mean for her to put away the large red gauze bed curtains and chair covers from the wedding?

She immediately assented: “I will tidy up tomorrow.”

Xu Lingyi nodded, then said mildly: “Among those matrons, there is one surnamed Xiang who knows how to remove facial hair, scrape the skin, and is familiar with the maids, wife-servants, and matrons in every household. Unfortunately she talks too much — Mother has never been pleased with her, so she’s never been given a proper position.”

Shiyiniang’s eyes lit up.

Xu Lingyi was truly formidable.

All the staff in her room were set by quota. If an extra person turned up without cause, everyone would speculate and inquire endlessly. Xu Lingyi’s way of doing it — using the pretext of needing matrons to help with something, and then letting people chat naturally — was a way to get information without it seeming intentional.

“…I’ll have Hupo let it be known that two of the matrons are not to my liking and I want to replace them.”

Xu Lingyi knew she had grasped his meaning, but that she had caught on so quickly… he could not help but raise an eyebrow, then he turned and went inside.

Shiyiniang hurried in after him. While Xia Yi was helping him change his clothes, she called Hupo aside and told her what had happened: “…At the right moment, let that Matron Xiang hear about my wanting to change some people. Might as well take the opportunity to tidy up the rooms at the same time.” She told Hupo in detail how she wanted the rooms rearranged.

Hupo nodded repeatedly, committing everything to memory.

The next day, when Steward Bai brought the women, Shiyiniang had Lvyun and Hongxiu lead the maids to replace the large red gauze bed curtains and chair covers with the plain slate-blue gauze curtains and chair covers ordinarily used in the Xu household. She directed several matrons to move the wedding gifts stored in the east side room to the back storeroom, where Binju tallied them and locked them away. The east main room was arranged as a sitting and resting area. Then the east side room was set up as a room for herself, Dongqing, Binju, and Zhuxiang to use, and their things were moved in.

Matron Xiang was indeed very talkative.

Everyone else worked in silence. Only she kept striking up conversation with Hupo — and so she was quick to learn that two matrons in Shiyiniang’s household were to be replaced.

At lunch, she edged up close to Hupo: “…Does Miss think I might be suitable?”

“Our Madam must give the word on things in this household!” Hupo said, noncommittally.

Matron Xiang smiled ingratiatingly: “But doesn’t Madam listen to what the misses say about who is good and who isn’t?”

Hupo merely smiled and said nothing.

By evening, Matron Xiang came to find Hupo, bringing two roast chickens: “…I hope Miss will put in a good word for me!”

Hupo then began to pour out her grievances to Matron Xiang: “…It’s not that our Madam can’t bear to let anyone go — it’s really that we ran into two who don’t know their place. If we don’t swap them out, won’t it reflect badly on everyone in our household?”

Matron Xiang said quickly: “Miss, don’t you worry — no one in this household knows more about how things work here than I do!”

—