The group had just taken their seats when the curtain to the west side room was lifted.

The Fifth Madam supported the Grand Madam as they walked in ahead.

The Fifth Madam’s smile was radiant as a flower, though the Grand Madam’s expression carried a certain sternness.

The Xu brothers followed behind. Xu Lingyi’s complexion was iron-grey, while Fifth Master Xu Lingkuan trailed two careful steps behind his elder brother, looking utterly dejected.

The Third Madam spotted them at once and hurried forward.

“Mother,” she said, taking hold of the Grand Madam’s other arm, then turned to beam at the Fifth Madam with a cheerful cry of “Fifth sister-in-law.”

The Fifth Madam greeted the Third Madam with unruffled composure. “Third sister-in-law, why have you only just arrived? We’ve been waiting ages!”

The Third Madam laughed heartily. “I came early enough. But hearing you were all discussing something, I sat with Fourth sister-in-law for a while.” Her manner carried a distinct air of gleeful anticipation, like someone watching a ship capsize from the Yellow Crane Tower.

A flicker of contempt crossed the Fifth Madam’s eyes. Smiling still, she guided the Grand Madam toward the east side room.

The Eleventh Young Miss and Third Master came forward to pay their respects to the Grand Madam. After the siblings and sisters-in-law had exchanged greetings, they arranged themselves by seniority and sat down, and the maids began serving the dishes.

Everyone ate in quiet stillness, the only sound the soft clink of porcelain.

After the meal, the household gathered as usual to escort the Grand Madam to the east side room.

The Grand Madam suddenly stopped in the middle of the hall.

“It’s getting late. Everyone should go their own way!” She looked toward the Fifth Madam. “Especially Danyang — she’s staying in the rear garden, and the path isn’t easy.”

“Don’t worry, Mother. Fifth Master will see me home.” The Fifth Madam smiled, glancing toward Fifth Master.

Fifth Master immediately stepped forward to support his wife. “Mother, we’ll head back first.” He had the look of someone eager to make a swift escape.

The Grand Madam’s gaze darkened as she watched them. Her lips parted slightly as if to speak, but the Fifth Madam was already saying, “Mother, we’ll be off then!” — shielding the Fifth Master with her words.

“Go on, then.” The Grand Madam’s voice carried a trace of weariness.

Fifth Master heard it, and concern flickered across his face. But the Fifth Madam was already walking toward the door. He took his wife’s arm, glanced back several times, and finally left with her.

The moment they were gone, the atmosphere lightened instantly.

Xu Siqin grinned and pulled Xu Siyu along to take their leave. The Grand Madam gave them careful instructions; the Third Madam bustled over to fuss with reminders to “take care on the road,” then took a cloak from a maid and personally fastened it around Xu Siqin. Xu Siyu watched with barely contained amusement, until Xu Siqin looked thoroughly flustered. The Third Master stepped in to spare his son the embarrassment. “All right, all right. He’s not a child anymore. He can look after himself.” Meanwhile, Xu Sijian had pulled Zhun Ge’er aside, and the two were whispering animatedly together, while Zhen Jie’er watched them with a smile. The scene was warm and lively.

The Eleventh Young Miss noticed that Xu Lingyi was standing some distance away, his expression cool and austere. Thinking of how he had not had a moment alone with the Grand Madam since the Xiaolan affair came to light, she quietly made her way over. “My lord, I’ll head back first. Why don’t you keep Mother company for a while?”

The suggestion was precisely what Xu Lingyi had hoped for. He nodded. “Take care on the way.”

“Please don’t worry, my lord.” The Eleventh Young Miss smiled warmly. “Your concubine knows what to do.”

After seeing Xu Siqin and Xu Siyu off, the Third Master and Third Madam departed as well, taking Xu Sijian with them.

Zhun Ge had quite taken to Xu Sijian and saw him all the way to the gate before Zhen Jie’er led him off to bed.

The room now held only the Grand Madam, Xu Lingyi, and the Eleventh Young Miss.

The Grand Madam’s expression grew solemn. Without a word, she went into the inner chamber.

The Eleventh Young Miss exchanged a glance with Xu Lingyi, and the two followed her in side by side.

The Grand Madam had already been helped up onto the heated platform by Nanny Du.

The Eleventh Young Miss stepped forward with a smile, draped the black fox-fur vest the Grand Madam habitually wore over her shoulders, and said softly, “I still need to look more carefully at those calling cards Mother gave me. I’ll be on my way.”

The Grand Madam paused briefly. She likely had words for Xu Lingyi, so she did not press the Eleventh Young Miss to stay. After a moment’s thought, she told Nanny Du to see her home.

The Eleventh Young Miss quickly declined. “It’s quite late, and I have maids and matrons with me. Mother needn’t worry.”

The Grand Madam looked weary. “Good child, do put my mind at ease.”

Xu Lingyi added, “Let Nanny Du see you back.”

At this point, to refuse further would seem fussy. The Eleventh Young Miss smiled her thanks to the Grand Madam and went out, accompanied by Nanny Du.

Outside, the snow had stopped, but the sky remained blanketed in dark clouds. Gusts of bone-piercing cold swept through, sending flurries of snowflakes swirling through the air like silver powder dancing in the night.

“Fourth Madam, do be careful.” Nanny Du personally took hold of the Eleventh Young Miss’s arm to steady her.

The Eleventh Young Miss would not hear of being supported. She turned her wrist and took hold of Nanny Du’s hand instead. “Nanny, you be careful too.”

Nanny Du looked down at their joined hands and smiled quietly, then walked the Eleventh Young Miss back to her courtyard.

“Nanny, please come in for a cup of tea before you go,” the Eleventh Young Miss said, keeping her. “The cold is quite bitter tonight.”

“I can’t leave the Grand Madam without someone to attend her.” Nanny Du declined politely. “I’ll come another day to trouble Fourth Madam.”

The Eleventh Young Miss smiled and asked Hupo to see Nanny Du back.

As she turned, a shadow flickered near the inner gate.

By the light of the red lanterns hanging under the eaves, the Eleventh Young Miss caught the distinctive, clean-white gleam of silk and damask.

She called out sharply. “Who’s lurking about over there?”

Maids immediately went forward and pulled the figure into the light.

A woman of medium height, draped in a dark embroidered cloak — a gust of wind caught the lining, sending the silken fabric billowing outward.

“Xiuyuan, what are you doing here?” The Eleventh Young Miss stared in feigned surprise at the maid before her — almond eyes, rosy cheeks — then assumed an expression of sudden comprehension. “You’re waiting for the Marquis, aren’t you? Go back and tell Qiao Yiniang that the Marquis has matters to attend to and will return later. Make sure someone is arranged to keep watch through the night.” She added a firm reprimand: “In the future, if there’s anything to report, go directly to Hupo. Do not skulk about like this again — you’re not some girl from a humble household.”

Xiuyuan flushed scarlet from ear to ear and answered in a low voice, “Yes.”

The Eleventh Young Miss had meant to reprimand her in Nanny Du’s presence, but had no wish to press it too far. She said lightly with a teasing smile, “All right, go along now. Your Qiao Yiniang will be anxious waiting. In this freezing cold, if you fall ill, I’ll have to send a young maid to look after you.”

Xiuyuan was too mortified to lift her head. She could only murmur her assent and turn to leave as if granted a pardon.

Beside them, Nanny Du gave a nearly imperceptible nod.

The Eleventh Young Miss walked a few steps with Nanny Du. “Take care on the way, Nanny.”

After a brief exchange of parting words, Nanny Du was helped back by Hupo to the Grand Madam’s quarters.

The Eleventh Young Miss exhaled with relief and stepped quickly inside.

The underfloor heating had warmed the room thoroughly. Warmth rushed to meet her, mingled with the delicate fragrance of wintersweet blossoms.

She drew a long breath, and felt the tension ease from every pore of her body.

Lvyun and Shuangyu hurried forward to help her off with her cloak, brought hot water for her to wash her face and hands, and attended to her as she freshened up.

When the Eleventh Young Miss had finished and settled into the warm alcove behind the bed, Hupo had already returned from seeing Nanny Du off and was waiting for her there.

“What was all that about? What was Xiuyuan doing at the gate?” The Eleventh Young Miss loosened her hair and reclined against a large ginger-yellow bolster pillow, a deep red all-over-gold embroidered vest draped over her, her eyes moving over the calling cards the Grand Madam had given her. She asked Hupo in an even tone, “Don’t tell me you don’t know anything about it.”

Hupo pressed her lips together and smiled with self-satisfaction. “She’d been sneaking around all day, asking whether the Marquis had returned. She hadn’t counted on Nanny Du being the one to walk you back. If it had been the Marquis instead…” There was a distinct note of regret in her voice.

*Crack.* The Eleventh Young Miss’s palm struck the low table beside her.

“So you instructed the matrons on night duty to let her stand watch at the gate!”

Her gaze was razor sharp; her expression, cold as frost.

Hupo’s heart lurched with alarm. She rushed to explain. “I — I—”

“And you think you have nothing to answer for!” the Eleventh Young Miss cut her off, her face severe, before she had the chance to say a word — a preemptive accusation laid down in a single blow.

“No, no, I don’t — I don’t think that…” Under that thunderous severity, Hupo had never felt so rattled. Yet buried beneath her panic was a dim sense that what she had done was not wrong, and with it, a swell of grievance and indignation. “Madam…”

The Eleventh Young Miss gave her no opening.

“Do you know why the Grand Madam dotes exclusively on the Second Madam? Do you know why the Third Madam, knowing full well she is only managing the household temporarily, still skims a profit from everything that passes through? Do you know what has been happening in the Fifth household? Do you know how the Marquis regards his three concubines? Do you know why, of all the great merchant families in the realm, only the Wen family managed to marry a legitimate daughter into the Xu family?” Question followed question like a volley of arrows, each one impossible to answer in a few words. Hupo’s thoughts grew more tangled with every breath — and then the Eleventh Young Miss suddenly raised her voice. “Do you know?”

Already reeling from the rapid succession of questions, Hupo stared blankly and instinctively shook her head. “This servant does not know!”

“You don’t know.” The Eleventh Young Miss’s voice was laden with weariness and disappointment. “And yet, knowing nothing, you take charge of my household — and make decisions on my behalf!”

The weariness and the disappointment struck Hupo like needles, piercing straight to her heart.

The Eleventh Young Miss had always been generous with her praise. On the rare occasions when she and Dongqing had disagreed, though the Eleventh Young Miss said nothing outright, she would quietly allow the household maids and matrons to follow Hupo’s judgment… Remembering this, Hupo felt a cold tremor run through her.

No, no, no… She and Dongqing were not the same. Dongqing had served the Eleventh Young Miss from the time she returned from Fujian. She herself had been given to her by the First Madam.

She sank straight to her knees. “Madam, I will never dare to do so again.” Her voice was threaded with despair and pleading.

The path ahead was uncertain, and who knew what awaited her still. She could not travel it alone — she needed people she could rely on. The Luo family, or Nanny Tao, both leaned more toward Zhun Ge. A matron like Xiang Pozi had limited reach. And among the Xu household’s people, those of real ability had long since been claimed by the various branches; most of what remained were mediocre. The only ones she could truly depend on were the maids at her side. Yet Dongqing was not suited for this sort of thing, Binju was not the right fit for it, Zhuxiang was too young — only Hupo truly satisfied her. But there remained the complication of her connection to the First Madam, which meant she would need to find a way to win Hupo over completely.

If she were being honest, the incident with Xiuyuan’s spying was something she could have handled the same way she had when Qin Yiniang had come to intercept Xu Lingyi on the road — by simply ignoring it. They were not operating on the same level. As long as they did not cross the line, she was happy to turn a blind eye and let a bit of liveliness into the household; it made life easier for everyone. But Hupo had acted on her own authority, without so much as a word to her, and arranged to have Xiuyuan delivered right to her doorstep for her to step on — and it was precisely this presumption that was the problem. It happened to give her the perfect opening.

If she wanted Hupo to remember this lesson, half measures would not do.

The Eleventh Young Miss looked at the bright beads of sweat on Hupo’s brow and judged that enough had been said.

She let out a long breath and extended her hand. “Come. Sit beside me.”

Hupo looked at that pale hand and rose to her feet almost against her own will.

—