That evening, after the lamp was blown out, Eleventh Young Mistress spoke with Xu Lingyi in the dark. “…I have already been married over a month now… I was thinking — Qin Yiniang arranged for the eleventh to the fifteenth of each month, Wen Yiniang for the sixteenth to the twentieth, and Qiao Yiniang for the twenty-first to the twenty-fifth. What does the Marquis think?”

Xu Lingyi thought of how her monthly time fell at the end of the month, and of her discomfort — and felt that he was beginning to understand, in a vague sort of way.

Although she had followed the household custom of giving each Yiniang five nights, and had placed herself in the period most conducive to conception — her own time also fell within those same days… She simply did not want to share his bed anymore, did she?

He felt a faint flicker of displeasure, but it passed quickly.

What he hoped for was that Eleventh Young Mistress would give him several sons — that was what mattered most.

“The household arrangements are yours to manage,” he said, indifferently. Then he asked after Qiao Yiniang’s illness. “…Why hasn’t she recovered yet?”

“We’ve switched to Imperial Physician Wu from the Imperial Medical Office,” Eleventh Young Mistress said with a smile. “She’s only just taken the first dose of medicine — it will probably take a few more before we can see any improvement.”

“If she doesn’t improve, have her mother come and keep her company for a while,” Xu Lingyi said. “She has only a widowed mother.”

“I understand,” Eleventh Young Mistress replied respectfully. “First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll send someone to invite Madam Qiao to come and visit.”

Xu Lingyi gave a satisfied “mm” and turned over to sleep.

Eleventh Young Mistress let out a quiet breath of relief.

Each sleeping under their own quilt, exchanging a few words about household matters — there was a warmth to it, like neighbors passing the time, that put her at ease. She fell asleep quickly.

The next morning, after seeing Xu Lingyi off to court, Eleventh Young Mistress specifically asked Nanny Tao to summon the three Yiniangss.

Qin Yiniang and Wen Yiniang arrived one after the other. The former wore a jacket of pale grey squirrel fur in a blue-violet hue, with a silver-gilt jade hairpin in her hair. After paying her respects, she stood there in a somewhat wooden manner. The latter came in wearing a peach-red sable jacket with a jadeite ornament in her hair and vivid red gemstone earrings, entering with a bright smile and a word of greeting for everyone.

“Madam, that jacket you’re wearing today is absolutely beautiful,” she exclaimed admiringly. “That’s this spring’s tribute fabric, isn’t it. I wanted to get some for ages and never managed to. Only Madam has such a generous touch.”

It was the jacket Eleventh Young Mistress had newly made for her trousseau — a blue-green brocade with the pattern of a hundred children at play across the sleeves. The snow had started falling suddenly, and she had put it on that morning.

She was momentarily at a loss for words.

With someone like this, it was hard not to like her even if you wanted to.

Eleventh Young Mistress smiled lightly. “Is there anything even Third Master of the Wen family can’t get his hands on?” Her tone carried a faint note of playful teasing, and the atmosphere in the room instantly came to life.

“The Wen family has nothing but a bit of idle money!” Wen Yiniang smiled and dipped into a curtsy for Eleventh Young Mistress, growing a little bolder. “All learning and all arts are practiced in hope of serving the emperor. When it comes to the finest things, those are all in the palace. Our family couldn’t catch up if we rode galloping horses!”

Eleventh Young Mistress laughed and bantered back, “Then you’d have to ride the Heavenly Steeds of the West to catch up.”

“And even those are imperial tribute — no amount of money could buy them!” She smiled and played along with Eleventh Young Mistress.

The mood in the room lightened considerably.

Qin Yiniang, seeing Hupo carry in the tea, immediately rose to serve it to Eleventh Young Mistress.

Wen Yiniang had been chatting with Eleventh Young Mistress quite attentively for some time when Qiao Lianfang finally arrived.

She wore her hair in a cascading coil style, adorned with three small twin-lotus flowers no larger than a fingernail. Her jacket was a plain white figured-satin one, and her eyes carried a subtle mist, her figure swaying like a willow — even the legendary beauty Xi Shi might have seemed three parts less delicate by comparison.

“Madam.” She curtsied to Eleventh Young Mistress, but her eyes met hers without a trace of deference. “Did you want me for something?”

Not even a hint of humility.

Qin Yiniang looked visibly anxious, exchanging urgent glances with Qiao Lianfang. Wen Yiniang, in complete contrast to her earlier chattiness, kept her eyes fixed on the toes of her shoes, as if she had neither seen nor heard a thing.

Eleventh Young Mistress was entirely unperturbed.

She had never feared a direct affront — what she feared were smiles concealing a blade.

“It isn’t just you I’ve asked to come.” Her expression remained mild as she took a sip of tea, then directed Hupo to bring three small stools. “Everyone, please sit.”

Qin Yiniang thanked her and sat down. Wen Yiniang perched half-seated on her stool. Qiao Lianfang settled herself with effortless poise.

Every time Eleventh Young Mistress saw that elegance emanating from the very bones of Qiao Lianfang, she felt a pang, like watching a great tower fall — and perhaps that was exactly why she could be so tolerant of her inappropriate behavior.

“I discussed something with the Marquis yesterday, and wanted to share it with everyone.” She smiled and explained the schedule she had arranged for each person’s nights of attendance.

Qin Yiniang quickly agreed. Wen Yiniang, as was her custom, smiled and praised Eleventh Young Mistress with words like “masterful housekeeping” and “gracious and magnanimous.” Qiao Lianfang, however, kept her head lowered and said nothing.

Eleventh Young Mistress asked her, “After taking Imperial Physician Wu’s medicine, do you feel any better?”

Qiao Lianfang’s voice was distant. “A little better.”

But looking at her increasingly gaunt face, Eleventh Young Mistress shook her head gently and said, “The Marquis asked me to invite Madam Qiao to the mansion today to keep you company. The two of you can have a proper talk.”

Qiao Lianfang looked up at her sharply, her gaze blazing.

“The Marquis…” A glimmer of moisture seemed to shimmer at the corners of her eyes.

“The Marquis is worried about you,” Eleventh Young Mistress said with a smile. “You need to rest and recover quickly.”

Qiao Lianfang’s lips parted and closed, and for quite a long moment she choked on her words and could not speak.

Already losing her composure over something like this.

Eleventh Young Mistress looked down and sipped her tea, while from the corner of her eye she observed Qin Yiniang and Wen Yiniang.

Wen Yiniang’s expression was perfectly placid — no joy, no resentment — as though she had long since anticipated exactly this turn of events. Qin Yiniang, on the other hand, was watching Qiao Lianfang with a warm little smile, as though Qiao Lianfang receiving Xu Lingyi’s concern was something that made her genuinely happy as well.

Why could the two of them not be as transparent as Qiao Lianfang — so that you could see their true feelings at a glance…

Eleventh Young Mistress felt somewhat helpless.

“You may all go now,” Eleventh Young Mistress said with a smile as she rose. “I also need to go and pay my respects to the Grand Madam.”

The three of them escorted her respectfully out of the courtyard.

Eleventh Young Mistress went to the Grand Madam’s rooms and, finding an opportune moment, quietly told the Grand Madam about the arrangements she had made: “…I’m not entirely sure whether it is appropriate or not.”

Color rose in her cheeks.

The Grand Madam laughed softly, and the look she gave Eleventh Young Mistress was full of heartfelt approval.

“You’ve thought of things this way — that puts my mind at ease,” she said, taking Eleventh Young Mistress’s hand and settling onto the heated bed. “You must understand — other women are like flowers. Now and then one or two cultivate themselves into something more refined, but even so, they are only flower spirits — they cannot enter the celestial realm or join the immortal ranks. What they fear most is a single talisman from a Taoist priest. There’s no need to quibble with them over every little thing.”

This was a way of putting it that Eleventh Young Mistress had never heard before, and she could not help but smile. She agreed with the Grand Madam, “You are quite right, Mother.”

The Grand Madam smiled, well pleased.

Just then, the Third Madam came in. “What was Fourth Sister-in-law saying, to make Mother so happy?”

“Oh!” the Grand Madam said with a smile. “We were just talking about the snow — I was thinking of going to have a look at the back garden.”

“It’s rare that Second Sister-in-law isn’t here, and Mother is still in such good spirits,” the Third Madam said with a smile. “Let me have a palanquin prepared to take you to the back garden!”

This was plainly nothing more than the Grand Madam’s deflection. Eleventh Young Mistress said gently at once, “The snow is falling hard outside, Mother — you’d best wait until it eases a little before going. Otherwise, all you’d see would be flurries of snowflakes — there wouldn’t be much to look at.”

The Grand Madam nodded. “As you say.”

A cold glint passed through the Third Madam’s eyes.

…

When she returned to her rooms, Lvyun came to report at once, “Madam, Madam Qiao has arrived.”

Eleventh Young Mistress nodded, went inside to change her clothes, and then Nanny Hang — the First Young Madam’s attendant — arrived.

“The Fifth Young Mistress’s shop is set to open on the tenth day of the eleventh month, and the First Young Madam asks whether the Eleventh Young Mistress will be free that day.”

“I won’t go myself,” Eleventh Young Mistress smiled. “I’ll mention it to the Marquis at the time and see whether he wants to send a household steward over.”

Nanny Hang smiled when she heard that. “The Eleventh Young Mistress always thinks of everything.”

Eleventh Young Mistress asked after the First Madam’s health. “Is she any better?”

“A great deal better.” She also said, “Word came by letter from Yuhang — the Fourth Young Master’s new wife has been brought home. She’s said to be quite beautiful and very dignified in her manner. The First Master is very pleased.”

“That’s good to hear.” Eleventh Young Mistress exchanged a few more pleasantries with her, then had Hupo bring the fifty taels already set aside and give it to her. “This is my small gesture — please have my elder sister-in-law bring it along.”

Nanny Hang at once demurred. “The First Young Madam says she has advanced the fifty taels for now — whenever you come to visit, you can bring it back then. There’s no hurry.”

Eleventh Young Mistress was taken aback.

Nanny Hang continued, “It isn’t that I’m unwilling to take it. It’s simply that the First Young Madam told me several times over. I truly do not dare to accept it.”

Eleventh Young Mistress’s heart was a mixture of feelings. She chatted a little more with Nanny Hang, then had Hupo give her a few coins of loose silver and saw her out.

Hupo sighed, “The First Young Madam truly has a thoughtful heart.”

Eleventh Young Mistress let out a long, quiet sigh and set aside the small dejection she had just felt. “It’s all right. Once we find our way to some income, I’ll repay her double.”

Hupo brightened at this too, and chimed in cheerfully beside Eleventh Young Mistress. “Madam, at any rate, we have the thousand taels from the Marquis, and your fifty taels each month — and in a few days the three hundred taels from the rented hillside land should be coming in as well. The Second Madam is also at the West Mountain Villa, so you don’t need to worry. We can wait until summer to make the floral water — there’s no hurry.”

Eleventh Young Mistress nodded. “Just keep pressing Jiang Bingzheng for a reply!”

Hupo acknowledged and left. Eleventh Young Mistress sat on the heated bed with Dongqing, doing needlework.

Nanny Hang returned: “Eleventh Young Mistress, our First Young Madam asked me to let you know — Tenth Young Mistress has suffered a miscarriage. The First Young Madam has already prepared what needs to be sent. She asks when you might be free to go and visit Tenth Young Mistress together.”

Eleventh Young Mistress heard this and her heart lurched. She immediately jumped down from the bed. “I’ll go and let Mother know at once.”

Dongqing called for Binju to come and help her into warmer clothes; Zhuxiang took Nanny Hang to the side room to rest; Lvyun and Hongxiu — one supporting Eleventh Young Mistress by the arm and the other holding the umbrella — accompanied her to the Grand Madam’s quarters.

When the Grand Madam heard what the matter was, she said at once, “Go quickly.” She also had Nanny Du prepare some notoginseng, gastrodia, and other medicinal herbs to send along. “Tell her to rest well, and whatever she does, not to cry — she must take care of herself. She is still young; there will be other chances.” Her words were spoken with genuine feeling.

Eleventh Young Mistress, thinking of how both the Second Madam and Yuan Niang had suffered miscarriages with their first pregnancies, could understand what the Grand Madam must be feeling. She murmured an obedient “yes” and then, bringing the medicinal herbs, went to Bowstring Lane.

“Fifth Young Mistress is with child, and I was afraid some things might be inauspicious — so I’ve asked her not to come,” the First Young Madam said when she heard her arrive. She immediately had Xingling help her dress and put on her accessories. “I know you’re both young and don’t know about these things. Rice wine, eggs, black-boned chicken — I’ve prepared three portions of each. Don’t waste time saying anything to me — go and pay your respects to Mother first, and then we’ll set off to Duke Maoguo’s mansion. The snow is heavy, and if we leave too late, the roads will be icy and slippery.” She personally pushed her out the door.

Eleventh Young Mistress was deeply grateful.

In a situation like this, even if she didn’t know what to bring, surely there would be a capable nanny by her side who did? For the First Young Madam to say it this way was plainly a way of sparing her any embarrassment. And judging by Nanny Hang’s manner, she didn’t seem to be aware of her predicament — and yet Nanny Hang was the First Young Madam’s most trusted attendant. For Eleventh Young Mistress to push back and forth now would be far too precious.

She curtsied gratefully to the First Young Madam, then followed Nanny Hang to the First Madam’s rooms.

—