The Grand Madam was indeed put in fine spirits by Shiyiniang’s playful remark. She ate more than half a bowl of congee, and by the time the egg cakes were ready, the Grand Madam had them packed into a paper box to be eaten in the carriage on the way.

One bite each, and truly no lip needed — they were so small.

The Grand Madam told her, “When we were your age, the fashion was to draw a single-stroke brow. But Ziyu — that’s Madam Huang — had a square face, and she refused to attend any gatherings during that time.”

Shiyiniang found this amusing. “Did you know Madam Huang from childhood?”

The Grand Madam nodded. “When my father was the judicial commissioner of Shaanxi, her father was the administrative commissioner of Shaanxi. When my father was serving as the Minister of Justice, her father was serving as the Minister of Works. Our two families lived side by side for ten years. Then I married into the Yongping Marquis Mansion, and she married into the Yongchang Marquis Mansion. We were both only daughters, neither of us from Yanjing originally, and both married into eminent households — we’ve remained as close as sisters ever since.”

No wonder no one from the Grand Madam’s family had come for the wedding.

The Grand Madam seemed to read Shiyiniang’s thoughts, and smiled as she looked at her. “Perhaps it is because my own family is small and thinly populated that I have always, since childhood, envied families with many brothers and sisters — and have always hoped most dearly for a flourishing line of descendants.” Her words made Shiyiniang’s face flush entirely red. The Grand Madam laughed and changed the subject. “I notice you don’t care for lapis lazuli or rubies — but you seem quite fond of coral and amber and such.”

Away from the topic of descendants, Shiyiniang relaxed considerably. She smiled and said, “I’m still young — things like that would overwhelm me. It’s not that I dislike them.”

The two talked and laughed together, and before long they arrived at the Zhongshan Marquis Mansion.

Shiyiniang’s attire immediately drew the attention of those present.

Third Madam Huang even took her hand and examined her from all sides, asking, “Was this bracelet a gift from the Empress?”

Shiyiniang smiled. “I strung it together myself when I had nothing else to do.”

Third Madam Huang exclaimed in admiration.

Madam Liang said to the Grand Madam with a smile, “Only the Fourth Madam could wear such colors. Another person might achieve the same understated elegance, but not this kind of graceful dignity.”

The Grand Madam looked at Shiyiniang — standing among Third Madam Huang, Lin Da’nainai, and Lady Zhou with a soft smile, poised and unhurried — and her eyes were full of warmth.

When the midday meal was over and the guests went to see the Tang bride, Shiyiniang drew even more notice from the young ladies who had come to see her off.

“Wearing lake-blue in winter!”

“Look at that bracelet.”

“A kingfisher-green skirt embroidered with oil-green intertwining vines.”

“Does anyone know who she is?”

“I heard she’s the Marchioness of Yongping.”

“The newly married one?”

“She was originally the Marquis of Yongping’s Fourth Madam — a concubine-born younger sister of Qiao Lianfang…”

The voices gradually dropped, and glances of envy followed.

For a while, the discussion was entirely about the Marchioness of Yongping, of the Luo family.

Tall trees catch the wind; others will always have something to say.

Shiyiniang remained completely unaffected by every curious or scrutinizing gaze. Once the wedding ceremony concluded, she and the Grand Madam set out for home early.

The one to come and welcome them back was the Third Madam.

Seeing Shiyiniang, she blinked in mild surprise. “Fourth Sister-in-law looks remarkably beautiful today.”

Shiyiniang smiled. “It’s a wedding I was attending!”

The Third Madam nodded, then gave her another look or two before she curtsied in greeting to the Grand Madam. “The Marquis and the Fifth Master haven’t returned from their duties yet. The Third Master is in his study. You’ve come back quite early today.”

The Grand Madam smiled. “Age catches up with a person — too much excitement wears me out. Better to come home earlier.” She accepted the Third Madam’s arm and went inside, while Nanny Du and the others attended her as she changed and freshened up.

The Third Madam turned to Shiyiniang with a smile. “The New Year is almost here, and you’re not exactly occupied with anything — why not help me with the New Year preparations?”

Shiyiniang was taken aback.

“I’ll speak to Mother about it,” the Third Madam continued with a smile. “After all, the New Year is an important affair. If you can manage all the formalities and customs of the new year celebrations, everyday household matters will be the easiest thing in the world afterward.” There was an encouraging note in her voice.

In a flash of sudden clarity, Shiyiniang understood.

The Third Madam had decided to go with the Third Master to his posting.

She was afraid that with no one to take over the management of the household, the Grand Madam might insist on keeping her behind.

Shiyiniang felt a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

She and Xu Lingyi had been worried the Third Madam might refuse to go — while the Third Madam was worried she might not be allowed to. The only thing she did not know was what arrangements the couple intended to make for Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian.

Just then, Zhen Jie’er and Zhun Ge came to pay their respects, having heard of the return.

Both looked startled when they saw Shiyiniang’s appearance.

After paying their respects, Zhen Jie’er kept her eyes fixed on the tassels at Shiyiniang’s wrist, her expression full of curiosity.

It was a pity the tourmaline bracelet was far too valuable — not suitable as a gift to a child like Zhen Jie’er. Otherwise she could have given it to her to play with. The thought flashed through her mind, and a plan followed at once: she could thread a bracelet for Zhen Jie’er using pearls — and keep this one to be gifted to the girl on her wedding day as a bridal supplement.

Just as she was thinking this, the Grand Madam came from the washroom, freshened and bright-eyed. Seeing Shiyiniang still there, she smiled and said, “You’ve been out all day, you must be tired — go home and rest. You needn’t come back this evening.”

A day out always left one feeling dusty all over. Shiyiniang smiled and said yes, then returned to her own courtyard.

As she entered, Binju said, “Wen Yiniang’s maid Qiu Hong has been over several times to see if you were back yet.”

“Wen Yiniang has something to tell me!” Shiyiniang smiled, shedding her cloak and letting Lvyun attend to her as she went to the washroom.

Binju followed after her. “She says the Third Master of the Wen family has come to the capital to bring New Year gifts, and the Third Madam of the Wen family came along as well. They wish to pay their respects to you. The Wen family steward has been waiting at the gatehouse for a reply.”

She didn’t know enough about the dealings between the Xu and Wen families to say anything — better to ask Xu Lingyi first.

“Tell them that today is too late, it’s not a convenient time. We can discuss it tomorrow.”

Binju went off to convey the message.

Shiyiniang washed her hair and bathed, and it was nearly two full hours by the time she was done. She came out wrapped in a fur coat — and startled at the sight of Xu Lingyi lounging sideways on the large kang in the inner room, reading a book.

“When did the Marquis arrive? He should have sent someone to say.”

Xu Lingyi glanced up, said, “I’ve been here a little while,” then lowered his gaze back to the book. But he spoke without looking up, “Are you planning to grow narcissus?”

“Oh!” Shiyiniang replied, her eyes drifting toward a few sprigs of narcissus on the windowsill. “I’m seeing if they might bloom indoors the same way they do in the hothouse.”

Xu Lingyi gave a sound of acknowledgment, then said, “Go and wring out your hair. I have something to say to you.”

Shiyiniang went at once to sit at the dressing table, where several maids set to work wringing and drying her hair with some urgency. It was half-dry in short order. She wrapped it in a loose bun, dismissed the maids, and sat down across from Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi then set down his book. “That Wan Daxian you mentioned — is he literate?”

“He is!” Shiyiniang was startled.

It seemed her strategy had taken effect. And Xu Lingyi had already begun making arrangements in the outer court.

She knew this was the truly important matter, yet her eyes drifted involuntarily to the cover of the book.

It was a copy of the Collected Annotations on the Four Books.

“The New Year is coming and the administrative office will be busy,” Xu Lingyi said calmly. “I’m planning to add a few errand runners for the time being. Have him go over as well.”

The administrative office handled all the receiving and greeting duties of the household — receiving visitors, announcing guests, entertaining callers. It was a post with quite a bit of profit attached to it. But Wan Daxian was an honest, hardworking man; placed in such a position, his strengths might never come to light. The people in her hand were few, and each one had to be cultivated according to their nature — she needed every one of them capable of standing on their own.

Shiyiniang smiled and said, “This Wan Daxian is too straightforward and honest — I’m afraid he may not be suited for a demanding role like that. If you truly wish to use him, it might suit him better to be placed in the ancestral hall. Helping to manage the ritual vessels would match his temperament.”

It was certainly an undemanding post — but it required absolute trustworthiness. Otherwise, if someone stole the ritual vessels and sold them, no amount of punishment afterward could bring back what had already been lost.

Xu Lingyi listened and gave a nod.

That Shiyiniang would suggest this so confidently meant Wan Daxian was indeed a deeply loyal man.

He pondered for a moment. “The ancestral hall may seem simple enough, but the person overseeing the offerings must be thoroughly versed in the rites of ancestor veneration. He may not be suited.”

Shiyiniang smiled. “Your concubine hadn’t thought that far ahead. The Marquis is far more thorough in these matters.”

Xu Lingyi, however, kept his expression neutral and sat thinking for a moment. “What if we place him in the document office? They also need a few extra errand runners there.”

She had not expected Xu Lingyi to make a move on such a scale. He clearly had decided to reshuffle the whole deck.

The document office was a reasonable choice too — an honest man doing solid work would sit well with him.

Shiyiniang smiled. “I’ll send word to him now. Tomorrow morning I’ll have him come to thank you in person.”

“He’s only going in as an errand runner — what is there to thank?” Xu Lingyi laughed. “There’s no need.”

Shiyiniang, still feeling a residue of embarrassment from that morning, smiled and let it pass, then brought up the matter of the Third Madam of the Wen family wishing to pay her a courtesy call. “… I wasn’t sure whether to see her or not. I thought I’d ask for the Marquis’s guidance.”

Xu Lingyi considered it carefully. “The Wen family are merchants, after all. They think only in terms of maximum return on minimum investment. Better not to see her.”

Shiyiniang was surprised.

She had assumed that though Xu Lingyi held no fondness for the Wen family, they were still among the most significant merchants in the Great Zhou — some degree of courtesy would be observed. Moreover, the Wen family had sent their legitimate daughter to the Xu household as a concubine — and the Xu family had accepted. That in itself was a gesture of bowing and submission. And yet time had passed, and now Xu Lingyi seemed reluctant to have much to do with the Wen family at all.

She did not understand, but she respected Xu Lingyi’s decision.

After all, he was the master of this household.

“Understood,” Shiyiniang said with a smile. “I’ll send a reply tomorrow.”

Xu Lingyi nodded, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his eyes.

Shiyiniang, seeing that the things that needed to be discussed had all been discussed, and noticing the sky growing gradually darker, smiled and asked, “Shall the Marquis have dinner served now, or a little later?”

Xu Lingyi glanced out the window and saw that the great red lanterns under the eaves had been lit. “Have it served now.”

Shiyiniang called for the maids to set out the meal and stood to one side attending him.

Xu Lingyi smiled as he looked at her. “You came back so early, I thought you hadn’t eaten.”

“The bride’s auspicious hour was at the beginning of shen, so the meal was a little early.”

Xu Lingyi ate his dinner alone, then went to Qiao Lianfang’s quarters.

Shiyiniang took out the name cards the Grand Madam had given her and went through the names again — she needed to know every one of them by heart.

The next day, when Qin Yiniang and Wen Yiniang came to pay their morning respects to Shiyiniang, Shiyiniang kept Wen Yiniang behind to speak with her and gracefully declined the Wen family’s request.

Wen Yiniang’s face went a little pale, and she said in a low voice, “The Luo and Wen families are both from Jiangnan — strangers in Yanjing, with no one to rely on. We should look out for one another. We’re practically neighbors, and there are many business ventures we could cooperate on. Why should Madam hold back simply because the Wen family are merchants? You should know that merchants value integrity above all else — what is promised is never broken.”

Shiyiniang felt a quiet jolt of surprise.

Every word Wen Yiniang spoke seemed to carry a hidden meaning.

—