Madam Zhou took the Eleventh Young Miss by the hand and led her toward the table, where she immediately spotted Madam Huang’s Third Young Mistress and pointed at her with a laugh. “I was wondering where you’d gotten to — here you are, hiding in this corner. You see me arrive and don’t even say hello.”

Madam Huang’s Third Young Mistress was already on her feet with a smile. “I was waiting right here — waiting for you and Fourth Madam to finish your conversation so it would be my turn.” She stepped back from her seat and curtsied to Madam Zhou.

Madam Zhou returned the curtsy.

Elder Madam Lin also rose and greeted Madam Zhou.

Madam Zhou returned the greeting and took Elder Madam Lin’s hand with a smile. “I was just asking about Mingyuan’s marriage, and here you are!”

Elder Madam Lin smiled wryly. “We’ve looked through every respectable household in Yanjing, and Mingyuan hasn’t been satisfied with any of them. If you happen to know of someone suitable, elder sister, please do keep Mingyuan in mind.”

“Naturally, naturally,” Madam Zhou said readily — but her gaze slipped sideways to the Eleventh Young Miss for just a moment.

The Eleventh Young Miss could not help a small, inward sigh.

What on earth is all this?

Madam Huang’s Third Young Mistress saw it all and smiled, inviting Madam Zhou to sit. The maids brought tea; the Tang Madam gave the order for the meal to begin. Maids in bright reds and greens glided in with gracious smiles, carrying dish after dish.

The Tang family still had guests in the side reception room. The Tang Fourth Young Mistress left Third Young Mistress Yang to assist at this table, and once all the dishes were served, she excused herself and went to the side room. The Tang Madam played host, offering toasts and pressing food on her guests — all quite lively.

After the meal, they moved to the warm alcove behind the flower hall for tea. The Tang Madam asked whether they preferred cards or listening to a storyteller.

Everyone looked to the Grand Madam. The Grand Madam turned to ask the Tang bride’s aunts by marriage beside her: “Cards or theatre?”

The Tang Madam’s family in Lintong were themselves a household of standing — they had produced a prefect and a vice-commissioner in their time — but measured against the assembled company, they fell considerably short. The eldest aunt immediately deferred. “We have no particular preference — anything at all!”

The Grand Madam smiled and asked those around her. Everyone said they had no preference either.

“Then let us play cards,” the Grand Madam said with a smile. “At my age, I find too much noise difficult.”

The Tang Madam, noting that the older guests were in the majority, nodded with a smile and called the maids to set up several card tables. Bamboo sparrow tiles were brought out. Madam Zheng, the Grand Madam, Madam Huang, and Madam Lin sat at one table; Madam Liang, Madam Qiao, one of the Tang bride’s aunts by marriage, and one of her aunts by blood sat at another; Madam Li took the seat to the Grand Madam’s left to watch the play; Madam Gan and Madam Zhou sat together, and with Elder Madam Lin and another of the Tang bride’s aunts, made up a third table.

The Eleventh Young Miss sat to the Grand Madam’s right, Madam Huang’s Third Young Mistress to Madam Huang’s left, and the two of them ended up sitting side by side. From time to time, they exchanged a few quiet words on the merits of the play. The Eleventh Young Miss was no expert in this, and mostly listened to Madam Huang’s Third Young Mistress explain. She gradually discovered that mahjong held a great many subtleties, no less intricate than a problem in advanced mathematics. As she began to make sense of it, she found herself genuinely interested. Seeing that the Eleventh Young Miss was not merely making polite conversation, Madam Huang’s Third Young Mistress grew more animated in her explanations.

Madam Huang, finding her daughter-in-law too chatty, grumbled, “The two of you — go and open your own table.” This gave the Eleventh Young Miss such a fright that she waved her hands frantically. “I can’t play, I can’t play!”

Madam Huang’s Third Young Mistress flushed, and did not dare say another word.

A reception matron came over, escorting a woman in a blue-green brocade long-sleeved gown.

The Eleventh Young Miss looked up — and it was Madam Jiang Bai’s wife.

Because of Yuan Shi’s passing and Zhun Ge’s period of mourning, the two families had only exchanged the horoscope cards. It remained to be seen whether the match would proceed once the mourning period was over.

As she was turning this over in her mind, Madam Jiang had already smiled and stepped forward to pay her respects to the Grand Madam. “I heard you were here and came to pay my compliments.”

The Grand Madam looked up and smiled broadly. “When did you arrive? Have you eaten?” Her manner was most warm and affectionate.

The Eleventh Young Miss took quiet note of this.

Thinking back to that first meeting with Madam Jiang — her low-key restraint — and seeing her now take the initiative to come and greet the Grand Madam, she clearly harbored deep hopes of forming a connection with the Xu family through marriage. And the Grand Madam’s evident warmth in return surely signaled an intention to resume the negotiations once the mourning period ended.

She heard Madam Jiang say with a smile, “I just arrived. We had guests at home, so I didn’t leave until after dinner.”

The Grand Madam nodded and gestured to the Eleventh Young Miss. “Have you two met? My fourth daughter-in-law.”

They had seen each other at Yuan Shi’s laying-in, but this was not the moment to say so.

The two women smiled and exchanged greetings. Madam Jiang said vaguely that they had met once before, then said, “I wouldn’t want to disturb everyone’s enjoyment. I have a few sisters to see in the side room. Seeing that you are in good health, I’m relieved. I’ll come again to visit you before I leave.” The Grand Madam nodded. The Eleventh Young Miss accompanied her to the door, and there she saw the household reception matron escorting another arrival — the Tenth Young Miss’s mother-in-law, the Grand Madam of the Duke of Mao’s household, Madam Wang.

She hurried forward and curtsied. “Grand Madam Wang.”

Madam Wang saw her and looked mildly surprised. “Your mother-in-law brought you along?”

The Eleventh Young Miss smiled. “Her ladyship is in the warm alcove playing cards!” She asked, “How is Tenth Sister?”

Madam Wang nodded. “She’s quite well. With the weather this cold, I didn’t bring her out today.”

The Tenth Young Miss likely wouldn’t have enjoyed this sort of occasion anyway. The Eleventh Young Miss nodded and smiled, and accompanied Madam Wang into the warm alcove.

Everyone offered their greetings in turn. The Grand Madam’s group stayed seated, while the Tang Madam, Madam Liang, and others rose to pay their respects to Madam Wang.

The Eleventh Young Miss had returned to the Grand Madam’s side. Madam Li leaned over to ask quietly, “Which household is this lady from?”

“The Grand Madam of Duke of Mao’s household.” She smiled. “My Tenth Sister married into their family.”

Madam Li heard this and was visibly startled, clearly wishing to say something but holding back.

The Eleventh Young Miss saw this and quietly sighed inwardly.

Madam Wang had already come over, and after the round of pleasantries, she addressed the Grand Madam directly with thanks. “…You were even kind enough to send over tonic medicine. Once she is a little better, I’ll have her come to the Xu household herself to thank you.”

“Madam Wang is far too gracious,” the Grand Madam said with a smile. “Whatever the circumstances, she is my fourth daughter-in-law’s elder sister — of course I would go to see her.” Her tone was perfectly courteous, though it carried a quality that kept a certain distance.

The Eleventh Young Miss recalled the calling cards the Grand Madam had given her — the Wang household had not been among them.

She had found this puzzling at the time. They moved in the same circles, so how could there be no contact between them… She still did not know what had happened to create this distance between the two families. Or perhaps it had something to do with the matter involving Wang Lang and Xu Lingkuan?

As she turned this over, Madam Zheng beside her inquired what had happened.

The Grand Madam smiled and said nothing. Madam Wang then related the Tenth Young Miss’s miscarriage.

Madam Zheng could not help but sigh in sympathy. “Young people don’t always understand — a first pregnancy so often ends in loss. Don’t grieve too much. She’s still young; with rest, she’ll recover. Think again later.”

Then she thought of the Fifth Madam and said, “How is Danyang faring?”

The Grand Madam’s face softened into a smile. “I had the Reverend Ji’an come to assess the feng shui. She’s moved to the rear garden now. When I look at her, her cheeks are rosy and she’s filling out more — I think she’s doing quite well.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Madam Zheng nodded, and went on to mention how the wife of the Vice Minister of Rites, Lord Wei, had delivered a pair of dragon-and-phoenix twins with her very first birth.

In an instant, everyone’s attention was drawn to this topic, and Madam Wang was left somewhat to the side.

The Tang Madam, seeing this, glanced around the room. She spotted Third Young Mistress Yang, who was watching the game beside Madam Zhou. The Tang Madam’s brow gave a quick, almost imperceptible furrow. Then she smiled and stepped forward, taking Madam Wang by the hand. “It’s been some days since we old friends have seen each other. How is Madam Jiang? I heard that her son-in-law opened the grain stores last month and earned commendation from the Emperor?”

Mention of her daughter and son-in-law put a smile across Madam Wang’s whole face. “Her husband is a diligent man. For Linér to have him — it is truly the fortune of a previous life.” The two of them sat down together on the low carved-lacquer bench at the side.

—

The carriage rolled slowly out of Zhongshan Marquis Manor. The Grand Madam let out a long breath. “What an exhausting day!”

The Eleventh Young Miss smiled and offered her a cup of hot tea. “Please have some tea.”

The Grand Madam took it and sipped, and a look of contentment settled on her face.

“Have a little rest,” the Eleventh Young Miss said, smiling as she tucked the white fox-fur lap blanket more snugly around the Grand Madam’s legs. “We’re still half an incense stick’s time from home. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

“I’ll sleep when we get home.” The Grand Madam smiled. “At my age, once I fall asleep in the carriage, I can’t wake up — and if I’m awake, I can’t sleep!” She looked at the Eleventh Young Miss. “Today was your formal debut. Tell me what you observed.”

The Eleventh Young Miss was caught off guard.

Her mind began moving quickly.

What did the Grand Madam want to know?

Whether she had grasped the relationships between the various households? Or the temperaments and characters of the people she had met?

She hesitated — and the Grand Madam smiled and prompted her. “If the Marquis were to ask you about today’s visit to Zhongshan Marquis Manor, what would you tell him?”

When speaking to men, one naturally spoke of politics, history, and affairs of state…

A thought moved through her, and she smiled. “The Tang Madam received us in the main reception room. Among the guests were familiar figures from households we often see — Madam Zheng of the Duke of Dingguo’s household, Madam Huang of Yongchang Marquis Manor, Madam Lin of Weibei Marquis Manor, and the others. Midday, we dined in the small flower hall behind the main reception room. But at the meal, there were two additional guests…”

The Grand Madam’s gaze flickered with quiet attention.

The Eleventh Young Miss knew she had guessed correctly.

Her smile grew more composed and assured.

“One was Madam Liang, wife of Grand Secretary of the Huagai Hall and Minister of Justice, Lord Liang. The other was Madam Li, wife of General Li Zhong of Shanxi. I understand that Marquis Jianning wished to marry his second daughter to Lord Liang’s eldest son — but the eldest son had already been betrothed to Madam Gan’s Seventh Miss of the Zhongqin Earl’s household, and the second son had already been betrothed to the second daughter of Zhejiang Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Lord Huang. So the second daughter of the Jianning Marquis household was married to Lord Liang’s third son instead. What is remarkable is that the betrothal between Lord Liang’s eldest son and Madam Gan’s Seventh Miss — this is the first time we’ve heard of it.”

She paused here and glanced at the Grand Madam.

The Grand Madam was watching her with a warm smile. Seeing the Eleventh Young Miss stop and look, she immediately reached over and took her hand. “Good child. You truly are a sharp one.” She looked at her with a face full of affection and gently stroked her head. “When you see the Marquis later, tell him exactly this.”

Men’s intentions are often revealed through the actions of the women in their households… The Grand Madam was hoping she would become another pair of eyes for Xu Lingyi.

This was a task she could handle — and moreover, it was something she herself had wished to achieve.

The Eleventh Young Miss nodded with genuine pleasure. “Mother, I understand.”

The Grand Madam nodded, her eyes full of quiet satisfaction.

As they spoke, the carriage had already arrived at Hehua Li.

Xu Lingyi and the Third Master had received word ahead of time and were there at the ornamental gate, leading their personal attendants, red lanterns held aloft to light the way.

The Grand Madam stepped down from the carriage and said, surprised, “Where is your Fifth Brother?”

Xu Lingyi replied, “The weather was cold, so I sent him home first. Fifth Sister-in-law is with child — she shouldn’t be without someone at her side.”

The Grand Madam nodded, and took the Eleventh Young Miss’s arm to be guided through the ornamental gate.

The Third Madam was waiting inside the gate with her maids.

The four of them, with a whole crowd of maids and matrons, surrounded the Grand Madam and escorted her back to her rooms.