At just a quarter before the start of the evening hour, Xu Siqin, Xu Siyu, and Xu Sijian arrived.

Zhen Jie’er glanced at the three Xu brothers, then at Shiyiniang standing to one side with a warm smile, and immediately understood — so that was why the Grand Madam had kept Third Elder Brother and Third Elder Sister-in-Law occupied with a card game of leaf tiles…

She had no chance to thank Shiyiniang before Xu Sijian was already calling out at the top of his voice, “Elder Sister’s room has been decorated so beautifully!”

Xu Siqin also stepped forward to bow to Zhen Jie’er. “Congratulations on your new home, younger sister.” He presented her with a couplet he had written himself as a housewarming gift; Xu Siyu offered a set of moon-white qin tassels. Seeing the others give their gifts, Xu Sijian produced his own — a pair of cloisonné enamel dishes with yellow ground and red flowers.

“What do you think?” he said with no small measure of pride. “A new design from the Imperial Household Department this year. Handsome, aren’t they?” He then slanted a sideways glance at Zhun Ge. “Elder Sister is moving house — what gift did you bring?”

The whole affair had been kept secret from Zhun Ge, so naturally he had prepared nothing.

Hearing Xu Sijian say this, his face flushed crimson, his eyes reddened, and he was on the verge of tears.

Shiyiniang calmly produced a crystal paperweight. “Isn’t this Zhun Ge’s gift?”

Zhun Ge looked at it and immediately dashed over to clutch the crystal paperweight to his chest. “This is my gift for Elder Sister!”

Xu Sijian, of course, knew perfectly well the gift had not been prepared by Zhun Ge — he was merely teasing — but he played along with an exaggerated inspection of it. “Not as good as mine — that style of yours is out of fashion.”

Zhun Ge pouted at this, staring up at Shiyiniang with a face full of grievance, clearly expecting her to come to his defense.

Shiyiniang smiled. “It may not be the newest design, but just look at this crystal — luminous and translucent, it is of the finest quality.”

Zhun Ge immediately piped up, “Right, right, right! The finest quality!”

Just as Xu Sijian looked set to say more, Shiyiniang, seeing that this could go on indefinitely, laughed and scooped Zhun Ge up. “Eldest Brother brought us a couplet — let’s go hang it up so the room looks even more festive.”

Zhun Ge threw his arms around Shiyiniang’s neck and bellowed, “We’re going to hang the couplet, it’s New Year, we’re going to hang the couplet!”

“This couplet is being hung to celebrate Elder Sister’s new home,” Shiyiniang corrected him. “It is not a New Year’s couplet.”

Saying this, she carried him out of the room.

A sharp-eyed little maid had already fetched a stool and prepared some paste; she unrolled the couplet and pasted it to the door.

The upper line read: “Pear blossoms drifting, brocade covers the courtyard.” The lower line read: “Laughter and voices fill the hall with guests.”

The verses themselves were rather unremarkable, but the calligraphy was upright and forceful, with genuine skill behind it — which surprised Shiyiniang more than a little.

“Is Eldest Young Master practicing in the style of Ouyang Xun’s ‘Nine Palaces’ tablet?”

Xu Siqin looked a little embarrassed. “It is not very good — Fourth Aunt will have a laugh at me.”

Shiyiniang smiled. “Avoiding the dense for the open, the treacherous for the plain, the distant for the near — there is already something of the spirit in it.”

Xu Siqin looked astonished.

“Then in Mother’s esteemed opinion, where does it still fall short?” Xu Siyu, who had not said a word until now, suddenly spoke, his gaze flickering sharply.

Shiyiniang smiled lightly. “The Ouyang style demands a brush held steady and upright, with the force distributed across horizontal and vertical strokes with careful gradations of weight. Eldest Young Master’s character is naturally upright — the vigor is more than sufficient, but the measured restraint and controlled settling are still wanting.”

Xu Siqin stared with his mouth open. “My teacher says the same thing.”

Xu Siyu said nothing, but the gaze he directed at Shiyiniang was deep and distant.

Shiyiniang paid Xu Siyu no attention.

With a child of such a calculating disposition, the best approach was to respond to all with constancy.

She smiled at Xu Siqin. “Calligraphy is not the work of a single day. Eldest Young Master need only devote more time to practice and improvement will naturally follow.”

Xu Siqin nodded several times.

It was cold outside, and there were several children with her, so Shiyiniang quickly smiled and ushered everyone back inside. “We have Buddha Jumps Over the Wall today — with abalone, sea cucumber, shark’s fin, fish maw…” She turned, and found Zhen Jie’er standing there gazing at her with luminous eyes.

“What is it?” Shiyiniang asked with a smile.

Zhen Jie’er smiled and shook her head. Xu Sijian, standing nearby, said, “Fourth Aunt is so impressive. Besides embroidery, she also knows calligraphy.”

Seeing the open and unconcealed astonishment on his face, Shiyiniang felt her own spirits lift. She teased him playfully. “Do you know what I am most skilled at?”

The words had barely left her mouth when the courtyard fell silent — so quiet that even the soft rustle of snow slipping from the treetops was clearly audible.

Xu Sijian shook his head, then added stubbornly, “Is it cooking?”

Shiyiniang flicked a glance at Xu Siyu.

He was gazing at her with an expression of solemn gravity.

Shiyiniang said with perfect seriousness, “I am most skilled at writing legal petitions.”

Xu Sijian burst out laughing. “Fourth Aunt is so amusing!”

Xu Siqin also laughed. “Third Brother has finally met his match!”

Zhen Jie’er, smiling brightly, took Zhun Ge by the hand, ready to follow Shiyiniang inside.

Only Xu Siyu stood watching Shiyiniang with an entirely earnest expression.

Shiyiniang felt a small tremor in her heart.

This child was exceptionally perceptive and meticulous.

Instinctively, she did not like him.

She felt as though he was always lurking in the shadows, watching others — while all one could ever see of him were those inscrutable, ambiguous eyes.

“All right, all right.” Nanny Du was also concerned about the children catching a chill. “Come inside quickly — the food will go cold.”

Everyone trooped inside with laughter and made themselves comfortable in the southern side room.

A table had already been laid there. Shiyiniang saw them seated, then smiled. “I shall go to the Grand Madam’s place to join in the fun. You young ones stay here and make merry!”

Everyone was taken aback. Zhen Jie’er looked a little uneasy. “Mother, it’s already so late — why don’t you eat with us first before going?”

Shiyiniang laughed. “I can’t bear all the noise — I have no wish to be pestered by you lot here.” She insisted and went off to the Grand Madam’s rooms, leaving the space entirely to the young people and letting Zhen Jie’er take the role of hostess to receive them.

The Grand Madam was having dinner in the company of the Third Master and Third Lady, and was visibly surprised to see Shiyiniang arrive.

“Even the mother has made herself scarce — how could I be the exception?” Shiyiniang smiled as she removed her cloak.

The Grand Madam laughed. “You are quite the magnanimous mother!”

Shiyiniang smiled. “What is there to worry about? Qin Ge is good-natured, Siyu Ge is clever, Jian Ge is spirited and generous, Zhen Jie’er is sensible, and Zhun Ge is guileless — and besides, Nanny Du and Nanny Tao are keeping watch.” She stepped forward and curtsied to the Grand Madam, then exchanged greetings with the Third Master and Third Lady.

The Third Master and Third Lady, hearing Shiyiniang praise their children, were plainly delighted.

The Grand Madam chuckled warmly. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Not yet!” Shiyiniang laughed. “Which is why I rushed over here — I did not want to be left with nothing at all.”

Hearing this, the Grand Madam quickly had a seat added and a bowl and chopsticks laid out, and called Wei Zi to go to the kitchen: “…Have a braised fish in wine lees prepared for the Fourth Lady — it is her favorite!”

Shiyiniang thanked her promptly, then sent Hupo over to Zhen Jie’er’s side to check on things before sitting down to eat with the Grand Madam. By the time the meal was nearly finished, Hupo returned to report: “…The First Miss and the Young Masters are enjoying their meal very much. They had the kitchen send over some potatoes, and asked the maids to bring in a warming brazier — they say they want to roast potatoes.”

The Third Lady was alarmed to hear this. “What if someone gets burned? This will not do at all!” She made to rise and go over.

The Grand Madam stopped her and asked Hupo, “Are the maids and servants all there to attend to them?”

Hupo quickly replied, “Nanny Du and Nanny Tao are standing guard without leaving for even a moment, and the First Miss and Young Masters have not dismissed their own attendants.”

The Grand Madam nodded. “They are all sensible children.” She instructed Hupo, “Go keep an eye on things over there and report to us immediately if anything happens.”

Hupo acknowledged the order and left.

“Children jumping and playing about is perfectly normal — there is no need to make a fuss.” The Grand Madam said mildly to the Third Lady.

The Third Lady dared not argue, and assented with a somewhat forced “Yes.”

The Grand Madam suddenly changed the subject. “I see that things here at home are more or less in order now. Starting tomorrow, let Shiyiniang help you with managing the household.”

It was a sudden decision. Though it had been the Third Lady herself who had proposed this arrangement, and she had been looking forward to Shiyiniang taking over so that she could join her husband at his post — even so, the abruptness of it still took her slightly aback.

“The La Ba Festival is almost upon us.” The Grand Madam’s tone was at once resolving and commanding. “One thing follows another in this household. In previous years there was Yi Zhen to help — this year there is only you. At a time like this, with Shiyiniang still sitting idle at home, am I to push you out to manage everything alone?”

The Third Lady smiled and assented at once. “Mother has thought of everything.”

The Grand Madam nodded, and everyone lowered their heads and resumed eating.

After dinner, they moved to the western side room for tea.

Shiyiniang personally took the cup of tea a little maid had brought in and handed it to the Grand Madam, then stood with a smile and made to take her leave. “The Young Masters must be at the study hall early tomorrow morning, and at this hour they would normally be dispersing. Even if tonight is a happy occasion, things should not go without limit.”

The Grand Madam agreed wholeheartedly and nodded. “Go on then.”

Shiyiniang took her leave of the Grand Madam and returned to the courtyard. The eastern side room was still lively — she could hear the sounds of Xu Sijian and Zhun Ge tussling from quite a distance away.

She walked inside with a smile.

The children’s cheeks were all flushed a rosy red, and every face wore an expression of delight and contentment.

“Why has Fourth Aunt come now?” Xu Siqin, seated facing the main hall, was the first to spot Shiyiniang and quickly stepped forward to bow.

Shiyiniang smiled and nodded at him. “I have come to send my guests on their way — you still have to be at the study hall early tomorrow morning!”

Xu Sijian let out a loud groan. “Fourth Aunt, while it is true that these are men’s matters, when men cannot manage, women must find a way — won’t you put in a word with Fourth Uncle? Let us close the study hall for the winter like other families do, and reopen it after the start of spring.”

Shiyiniang laughed. “A true man, and when he meets with difficulty, he runs from it? That is not what Fourth Aunt likes to see. Come now, up you get — go pay your respects to the Grand Madam and then head home to rest. At New Year, you are welcome to come and play to your heart’s content.”

Though Xu Sijian loved to joke, he was not someone who did not know what mattered. He muttered a few words of protest but in the end said nothing more.

Shiyiniang led the children to pay their respects to the Grand Madam. By the time she and Zhen Jie’er made their way back, it was already past a quarter after the start of the first night watch. Shiyiniang was so tired she wanted nothing more than to climb into bed, and Zhen Jie’er moved to attend to her. Shiyiniang quickly waved her off toward the door. “Go rest yourself — I have Hupo and the others here, I do not need you to attend me, and I won’t need you to in the future either.”

She felt as though she were some black-hearted landlord exploiting child labor.

Zhen Jie’er, seeing Shiyiniang’s firm manner, respectfully curtsied to her and withdrew.

Shiyiniang sat at the dressing table while Binju and the others helped her remove her makeup. The next morning she rose early, leading Zhen Jie’er to pay her respects to the Grand Madam. The Grand Madam kept Zhen Jie’er and Zhun Ge behind as company, and took Shiyiniang to the Third Lady’s quarters, where, in front of nearly twenty head stewardesses of the household, she said with casual understatement: “…With the New Year approaching, the Third Lady has too much to manage alone — the Fourth Lady will come and assist the Third Lady as a helping hand.” Yet no one dared to treat Shiyiniang coldly on account of the Grand Madam’s offhand tone; they all turned toward Shiyiniang with smiles that ranged from fawning to eager to warmly welcoming.

—