If even Hupo could see what the Dowager Madam had in mind, it would hardly escape Shi’yiniang and those who had served the Dowager Madam for many years.

Shi’yiniang felt a twinge of unease.

By rights, now that Zhen Jie’er was growing up, she ought to have her own separate courtyard. Shi’yiniang’s reasons for keeping her close were twofold: a genuine affection for the girl and a wish to cultivate some warmth between them, and an opportunity to draw Zhun Ge in along with her. She had never intended to keep her in the main rooms permanently — not least because the east courtyard still housed several Yiniangs, and the Marquis coming and going there would be inconvenient. Fifth Madam was meanwhile observing a zodiac avoidance, and no suitable arrangement had presented itself. Shi’yiniang had been thinking that after the following summer, once Fifth Madam had recovered from her confinement, she could find a nice spot in the garden and set Zhen Jie’er up with her own independent quarters. She had not expected the Dowager Madam to respond with such sweeping largesse.

She could not help but call out: “Mother…” yet found she had no idea how to explain herself.

The Dowager Madam smiled warmly and patted her hand, a look of full understanding in her eyes: “Don’t worry. The cost of the construction is on me.”

Everyone present broke into laughter.

Shi’yiniang could only set her plans aside for the moment. Just then a junior maid came in to announce: “A matron from the household of Marquis Weibei, sent by First Young Mistress Lin, has come to pay her respects to Fourth Madam.”

The Dowager Madam smiled: “Go and see to your guest. I’ll take a stroll around the courtyard with Zhen Jie’er and Zhun Ge.”

Shi’yiniang complied and went to receive them.

The two matrons from the Lin household had come to deliver an invitation for Zhen Jie’er.

“Our Young Mistress invites the honored Young Mistress of this household to come and admire the plum blossoms.”

Shi’yiniang accepted the card with a smile: “We will certainly attend.” She rewarded the two matrons and went to the east wing room.

The Dowager Madam was pointing at the central hanging on the main wall: “…For a child’s room, don’t use landscapes. Flowers and birds are better — they look lively.” When she saw Shi’yiniang enter, she looked toward her.

Shi’yiniang quickly held out the card: “First Young Mistress Lin has invited our Zhen Jie’er to come and admire the snow!”

Zhen Jie’er was momentarily taken aback.

She had not expected Huijie’er to be as good as her word… and that no one in the Lin family had put a stop to it either!

For a moment she felt a pang of envy. Then she worried that Shi’yiniang might refuse, which would wound Huijie’er’s feelings and perhaps end their friendship entirely. And she feared that even if Shi’yiniang agreed out of courtesy with reluctance in her heart, going under those circumstances would carry no dignity. She turned the matter over and over in her mind, and her eyes drifted, quite involuntarily, toward Shi’yiniang.

Shi’yiniang looked back at her with a smile: “Our Zhen Jie’er has admirers already.”

The Xu brothers had been lively and mischievous when they were small — it was only because one thing after another had happened in the family that they had been keeping Zhen Jie’er confined at home. The Marquis of Weibei was a family of longstanding friendship. It would be good for Zhen Jie’er to get out more and spend time with Huijie’er from the Lin family.

“Then make the arrangements — have Nanny Du accompany her when the time comes,” the Dowager Madam instructed Shi’yiniang.

Shi’yiniang agreed with a smile right away.

Zhen Jie’er, seeing that everyone was warmly in favor of her going, let a smile reach her eyes at last.

Zhun Ge clamored from the side: “I want to go too!”

Zhen Jie’er looked troubled.

To bring him along — Huijie’er had not invited him, and showing up with an extra guest would not look well. But not to bring him — she feared Zhun Ge would make a scene and spoil the mood for the Dowager Madam and Shi’yiniang.

Shi’yiniang saw it all plainly and smiled: “This is a gathering for young ladies. What business has a young man like you there? How about I send for Siyu to play with you instead?”

The Dowager Madam raised an eyebrow at that.

But Zhun Ge had already called out: “I want to play with Third Elder Brother!”

“Then you must stay with me and behave,” Shi’yiniang said.

Zhun Ge nodded immediately: “I want to go horseback riding with Third Elder Brother!”

Shi’yiniang smiled: “I’d very much like to see where Sijian manages to find you a horse!”

Everyone laughed.

…

Meanwhile, in her rooms, Qiao Lianfang sat on the large kang by the window cradling a cup of hot tea, her expression caught in indecision: “The Dowager Madam is right in the main courtyard. Do we truly not need to go over? She used to be very fond of me…”

Xiuyuan lowered her voice and reasoned patiently: “Young Mistress, the past is the past. Besides, from the day you entered this household, the Dowager Madam has never once received you privately, nor said a word of personal warmth to you in front of others… Madam’s words were right. The only one you can rely on now is the Marquis. Whatever you do, don’t go against his wishes!”

Qiao Lianfang pressed her red lips together with her white teeth and said nothing.

Xiuyuan could see she had not yet come around — though if it were herself, she doubted she could come around in such a short time either. But when the Madam left, she had called her aside and spoken to her at length, impressing upon her the importance of looking after the young mistress well, or her own future would amount to nothing.

With all of that in mind, she had little choice but to persist: “Didn’t the Marquis say so himself that day — he told you to recover soon and go pay your respects to Madam according to custom. You were in low spirits knowing the Marquis wasn’t sleeping in the main rooms, and you gave in to impulse and played the qin for half the night. Madam said nothing at all, and yet when the Marquis left, he sent notice to Qin Yiniang and Wen Yiniang — everyone but you. It seems he’d already taken some displeasure.”

Qiao Lianfang gave a cool snort: “And what of it? I went first thing in the morning to explain myself to her, didn’t I? And in front of the Marquis, wasn’t she ever so careful and proper about having someone bring a brocade stool for me to sit and speak?”

Xiuyuan knew Qiao Lianfang was still being stubborn and chose not to argue, only saying with a smile: “Which is exactly why — Madam is cautious of the Marquis too. How much more ought you to be? The day you went to see Madam, wasn’t the Marquis pleased with you afterward?”

Qiao Lianfang said nothing, her expression shifting between emotions.

Seeing this, Xiuyuan pressed on: “Now look at Wen Yiniang. The Marquis goes to her room when he pleases and doesn’t when he doesn’t. But she’s been using his name to run business dealings on the outside and has made herself a tidy fortune. That’s what they mean by gaining some things while losing others. If you bow your head now and suffer a moment of lost face, the Marquis will see it and feel tender toward you — he’ll be even more devoted and kind to you. Isn’t that exactly what Madam said too? Get with child and bear a son quickly — then you’ll have something to lean on, and you’ll have a proper standing with the Marquis. Now look at Qin Yiniang — past her prime already, but the Marquis always remembers to include her. When it comes down to it, isn’t it all for the sake of Second Young Master’s standing?”

Qiao Lianfang sat with her head bent, twisting her fingers together, and slowly her expression softened.

Xiuyuan was pleased to see her words taking effect and said: “Young Mistress, shall I send Zhurui over to Qin Yiniang’s side to see what she’s up to? If she goes to pay her respects to the Dowager Madam, we’ll go too. If she doesn’t, we’ll pretend we don’t know anything either. After all, you’re still unwell!”

Qiao Lianfang gave a small, quiet nod.

Xiuyuan was relieved at last and immediately called for Zhurui to go and see what Qin Yiniang was about.

Zhurui returned shortly: “Qin Yiniang is with Third Household’s Yi Yiniang having a chat. It doesn’t look like she’s going anywhere.”

Xiuyuan smiled: “Young Mistress, let’s stay home then. Why go and have to read people’s faces.”

Qiao Lianfang nodded, then asked curiously: “What are Qin Yiniang and Yi Yiniang talking about?”

Zhurui smiled: “It sounds like they’re discussing how much incense oil money to donate to Ciyuan Temple next year. And Qin Yiniang says she wants to add fifty taels this year to have several amulets made for Second Young Master.”

Xiuyuan’s mind stirred at the thought of the grey squirrel fur coat Qin Yiniang had been wearing that day, and hearing Zhurui now mention the fifty-tael addition to the temple donation, she leaned in and quietly told Qiao Lianfang about both the coat and the donation: “…She’s a maidservant. How does she afford fur coats? How does she throw around fifty taels at a time? It’s all because she has the Marquis’s backing — all because she bore a son. Young Mistress, you really must think this through carefully.”

Qiao Lianfang’s expression shifted from shock to agitation, her face cycling through white and red before she finally said: “If she’s not going, then we’re not going!”

Xiuyuan quickly agreed: “Young Mistress is right. How about I call in Zhurui and Zhue so we can play cards together?”

Qiao Lianfang nodded vigorously, and Xiuyuan went off to summon the two junior maids.

…

As the hour grew late, Shi’yiniang kept the Dowager Madam to stay for the midday meal, and the Dowager Madam agreed. Shi’yiniang sent someone to invite Third Madam to join them for some lively company. She then saw the Dowager Madam comfortably settled on the large kang in the west side room by the window and personally served her tea. Recalling how the Dowager Madam had raised an eyebrow when she mentioned sending for Xu Siyu to play with Zhun Ge, and seeing now that Zhen Jie’er and Zhun Ge were in the next room, curiously tapping at the goldfish she kept in the east side room, she leaned close and said quietly: “I was thinking — since Zhen Jie’er is moving tomorrow, all of First Young Master, Second Young Master, Third Young Master, and Zhun Ge are Zhen Jie’er’s brothers. I thought to gather them all and make a little celebration for her — children grow up so fast and the differences between boys and girls will make themselves felt before long. While there are still a couple of years left, let them spend as much time together as possible, so that even after they go their separate ways, the bond from childhood remains.”

The Dowager Madam nodded: “You’ve thought this through well. When Zhen Jie’er eventually marries, she’ll need brothers from her family to support her, and they’ll need a capable brother-in-law to rely on in return!”

Shi’yiniang smiled: “Precisely what you’ve said. I want it to be a surprise for Zhen Jie’er, so I haven’t said anything yet.” She then began discussing with the Dowager Madam what Zhen Jie’er should wear and what to bring for the Lin family visit, and who should accompany her… They talked through it all in detail until Third Madam arrived and they finally paused.

Third Madam, hearing that the Dowager Madam was staying to take her midday meal at Shi’yiniang’s quarters, promptly gave instructions to have the Dowager Madam’s dishes brought over, and attended attentively while the Dowager Madam ate, before they both escorted her, Zhen Jie’er, and Zhun Ge back to their rooms for the afternoon rest.

On the way back, Shi’yiniang told Third Madam about Zhen Jie’er’s upcoming visit to the Lin household at the end of the month: “…I’ll have to trouble Third Sister-in-law to send a carriage for her and assign some capable matrons to accompany her.”

Third Madam seemed rather surprised and readily agreed, her voice carrying a note of feeling: “So Zhen Jie’er is going to the Marquis of Weibei’s household as a guest!”

Shi’yiniang smiled: “The children grow up, and they find their own circles.”

Third Madam nodded, the two sisters-in-law exchanged a few more pleasant words, and then went their separate ways. But the news of Zhen Jie’er’s impending visit to the Marquis of Weibei’s household seemed to sprout wings and quickly reached everyone’s ears.

In her inner room, Wen Yiniang rummaged through her chests and called out to Qiuhong: “Do you think this string of southern pearls would still make a fitting gift?”

Qiuhong glanced over — each pearl the size of a fingernail, round and lustrous white, shimmering with five-color iridescence, breathtaking in their beauty.

“What are you…?” she asked, looking at Wen Yiniang in surprise.

Wen Yiniang thought for a moment and said: “Take this quietly to Zhen Jie’er. She can give it to First Young Mistress Lin as a meeting gift.” She then picked up a deep emerald jade pendant about an inch square: “And this for the Dowager Madam as a meeting gift.”

Qiuhong hesitated, gazing at the jade pendant — vivid as fresh bamboo after rain: “I’m afraid the meeting gifts will already be prepared by the Dowager Madam and Madam…”

Hearing those words, Wen Yiniang deflated like a pin-pricked balloon. She sat down heavily in the grand armchair, giving a self-deprecating smile: “You’re right. Even if I sent them along, they would be things of uncertain origin. They’d only cause trouble for Zhen Jie’er.”

Qiuhong looked on with a heavy heart and said quietly: “What if Fourth Madam presented them as coming from you? I’ve seen how Fourth Madam treats people — she seems quite kind-hearted…”

Wen Yiniang shook her head: “Everyone in this household seems kind-hearted.” She put the things away dispiritedly in the chest: “Well, at least this saves me from having to prepare meeting gifts. I’ve been spared a good sum of money.”

—