On the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Fifth Prince was moved to Huangye Mountain outside the city for temporary interment, accompanied by princely honor guards along the entire route. On the sixth, the Fifth Prince was posthumously honored with the title “Mourned and Keen Prince.” Both high and low officials, as well as the inner and outer titled ladies, brought the mourning rites to a close.

During this period, Second Sister-in-law met with Her Majesty the Empress once more.

Her Majesty the Empress gave no indication either way, and said not a word on the matter.

Second Sister-in-law could not help but feel anxious.

“This foolish child.” The Grand Dowager dabbed at the corners of her eyes.

Xu Lingyi was silent for a long while.

“Let it be as Her Majesty the Empress wishes.”

Second Sister-in-law seemed to want to say something more, but in the end only said, “In that case, I ask that my lord make preparations early.”

Xu Lingyi nodded, and began frequently summoning his advisors at the Banyue Pavilion.

Shiyiniang, meanwhile, transcribed “The Valley Wind” from the Book of Odes — one chi wide, two chi long — and embroidered it onto gauze silk to make a folding screen.

This was inspired by First Madam’s embroidered longevity screen for the Grand Dowager. She had intended to use it to entice Hui Jie’er into taking an interest in embroidery. What she had not expected was that Zhen Jie’er should catch sight of it and be utterly captivated as well, asking again and again, “Is this the double-faced embroidery for which the Xianling Pavilion is renowned throughout the land?”

Shiyiniang nodded. “Help me sort the threads, will you?”

Zhen Jie’er gladly agreed. When she went to the Grand Dowager’s quarters for dinner, she brought up the matter: “…The threads must be separated so finely — as thin as a strand of hair. Mother’s Dongqing is especially skilled at this.”

The Grand Dowager smiled and nodded. “With such an excellent teacher nearby, remember to learn from her.”

Everyone laughed.

Second Sister-in-law also said, “I can manage shoes and socks well enough, but when it comes to embroidery, I am altogether ordinary. Zhen Jie’er, you must study earnestly and learn from your mother.”

Seeing that everyone was encouraging her to learn embroidery from Shiyiniang, Zhen Jie’er had no more hesitation, and smiled happily all evening long. So much so that even Zhun Ge remarked, “I want to help elder sister sort the threads too.”

“Sort what threads!” Second Sister-in-law said with a light laugh. “After the new year, we will find you a teacher, and you can go study in the outer courtyard with your elder brothers.”

Everyone began talking about the matter of a teacher.

Shiyiniang thought of Teacher Zhao, and felt a pang of regret — if only the family’s resident tutor were someone on her side of things.

“I think you should find a moment to write to Master Deng, and ask him to recommend a teacher.” The Grand Dowager mulled it over. “Although Master Deng has now retired and is at home, he spent over thirty years in the Hanlin Academy, and once served as the Emperor’s own tutor — that is surely better than us groping about in the dark.”

Xu Lingyi said, “I wrote to Master Deng last month. He replied that nowadays there are many who deceive the world with false reputations, and few who are truly devoted to scholarship… From the tone of it, it seems there is genuinely no suitable candidate.”

“Master Deng, having become the Emperor’s teacher, is now held in ever greater reverence,” Second Sister-in-law said evenly. “In his eyes, the scholars of the world have all become rather middling.”

The Xu Family mother and son fell silent.

On the way home, Shiyiniang attended to Xu Lingyi and saw him to bed, then spread her own separate bedding.

“What is the matter?”

These past few days they had slept under the same covers — why were they sleeping apart again?

Xu Lingyi was puzzled.

He had not crossed that distance himself.

Shiyiniang’s face flushed faintly. “I… my monthly time has come…” Her voice was barely audible. “There is a smell of blood… I did not want to make you uncomfortable.”

Xu Lingyi could not help but rub her head. “Foolish.” He pulled her into his covers, then pressed his hand over her abdomen. “Does it hurt?”

Shiyiniang took a moment to understand.

Xu Lingyi was asking whether she suffered from menstrual pain.

She was quite unsettled. “I am perfectly well. Nothing feels wrong at all.”

“Why is the timing so irregular?” Xu Lingyi said softly.

“I don’t know.” When she had been younger, irregular timing was to be expected. Later, Dongqing had spoken of it to Nanny Xu, and Nanny Xu had said to wait and see for two years. But before those two years were up, she had already married into this household… For medical consultations, the Xu Family called upon imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau, which required either a special imperial favor or having an acquainted physician come privately — every time it was an elaborate affair. How could she, having only just arrived, have the nerve to make such a fuss over this…

“Tomorrow I will have the imperial physician come to examine you.” And there it was — a physician summoned before the words had even faded.

Shiyiniang deliberated. “Tomorrow is the Laba Festival. The palace will be sending down Laba porridge that must be offered up. And I have already asked Nanny Du to come and pierce Zhen Jie’er’s ears.”

“None of that is more important than this.” Xu Lingyi said. “Set it all aside and let the physician come first — that takes precedence.”

“I am afraid it will be inauspicious to still be taking medicine in the first month of the new year.” Shiyiniang worried that the Grand Dowager might consider it an ill omen. “Besides, tomorrow is the Laba Festival. Why not wait until after the first month has passed?”

“By the time spring comes, Third Brother will be leaving, and you will only be busier.” Xu Lingyi was very firm. “This is decided.”

Unable to refuse any further, Shiyiniang answered softly. Xu Lingyi leaned over to blow out the lamp, and the two settled down to sleep.

Early the next morning, after sending Xu Lingyi off, Zhen Jie’er came to pay her respects to Shiyiniang. No sooner had she taken her seat than the three Yiniangs arrived. After a few words of conversation, Shiyiniang took Zhen Jie’er with her to the Grand Dowager’s quarters.

Third Sister-in-law was with the Grand Dowager, discussing the arrangements for the Laba Festival. Second Sister-in-law sat nearby, holding a cup of hot tea and listening.

Seeing the two of them come in, the Grand Dowager beckoned them over to sit down. “You might as well listen in as well.”

Shiyiniang answered respectfully, “Yes.” Zhen Jie’er’s cheeks turned faintly pink.

After they had exchanged greetings with Third Sister-in-law, everyone sat down according to seniority, and Third Sister-in-law glanced at Shiyiniang before continuing from where she had left off: “…Wanxiang is in charge of it. The cooking began last night. Following the usual custom, once the porridge sent as a gift from the palace has been presented as an offering in the prayer hall, it will then be offered to the courtyard trees, the wells, and the stoves. As for the Laba porridge to be delivered to the Yongchang Marquis household, the Loyal and Diligent Earl household, the Weibei Marquis household, and the others — following the precedent of prior years, the porridge containers will be lined with preserved fruits, lychee meat, longan meat, peach kernels, and pine nuts arranged in auspicious patterns, and they are to be dispatched before seven in the morning. The Laba garlic and the pickled cabbage have also been prepared — we are only waiting for the Laba porridge to be eaten before beginning.”

The Grand Dowager gave a slight nod and instructed, “Do not forget to send people to Nanhai to harvest the ice.”

Third Sister-in-law smiled. “Have no fear — it will not be forgotten. Otherwise, next summer there will be no iced sour plum juice in the house, and someone will not hear the end of it.” She cast a smiling glance at Second Sister-in-law.

The Grand Dowager looked toward Second Sister-in-law and let out a quiet sigh. “You really will not stay? The new year is almost upon us…”

On the eleventh, after Second Sister-in-law attended the Fifth Prince’s “first memorial rites,” she would return to Xishan — on that day, everyone was to gather at the altar to read the memorial text, pour libations, and perform the rites.

She smiled. “When the spring warmth arrives in a few days, I will invite you to come to my place for an outing.” She declined the Grand Dowager’s invitation to stay with tactful grace.

The Grand Dowager’s eyes dimmed, and she instructed Third Sister-in-law, “Whatever is prepared here at home, prepare a set for Xishan as well.”

Third Sister-in-law seemed to have anticipated this, and smiled. “I have already had it prepared. Second Sister-in-law’s share will certainly not be left out when the time comes.”

Second Sister-in-law gave Third Sister-in-law a faint smile. “Many thanks for Third Sister-in-law’s thoughtfulness.”

“Second Sister-in-law, what are you saying — this is my duty.”

As the two exchanged pleasantries, a young manservant entered to report, “The Imperial Physician Dr. Liu has arrived.”

Everyone was taken aback.

Xu Lingyi had wasted no time — he had summoned the imperial physician first thing in the morning.

Shiyiniang was caught off guard, and had no choice but to steel herself and rise. “I have been feeling a little unwell.”

The Grand Dowager immediately said, “Where do you feel unwell? Why did you not say something? You have been running back and forth in front of me these past two days!”

Shiyiniang’s face turned crimson, and she had no idea what to say.

Third Sister-in-law let out a gasp, her face full of delighted surprise. “Fourth Sister-in-law, don’t tell me you are…?”

“No, no.” Shiyiniang quickly explained, “I am just a little unwell.”

She knew the Grand Dowager hoped for the household to be lively and flourishing, and was afraid that Third Sister-in-law might mislead the Grand Dowager — the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment, and she feared the Grand Dowager would be hurt.

Even so, a flicker of disappointment still passed across the Grand Dowager’s face.

…

Imperial Physician Dr. Liu took Shiyiniang’s pulse through a cloth, and the Grand Dowager asked anxiously, “How is she?”

“She is still young, and her constitution is somewhat weak,” Dr. Liu replied with a smile. “A year or two of nourishment and she will be fine.”

The Grand Dowager let out a breath of relief. “That is good, that is good.”

She personally accompanied the sixty-something Dr. Liu out and had him write up a prescription, then instructed Nanny Du to hand the prescription to Chief Steward Bai: “Fill the prescription according to this formula, and bring it back for me to check before decocting it.”

Nanny Du went off to do so.

Shiyiniang felt very embarrassed — she had made even the Grand Dowager anxious, and had caused her to see to the matter personally.

The Grand Dowager, thinking Shiyiniang was upset because her monthly time had fallen out of the usual sequence, offered comfort: “It is nothing, nothing. Our family is not one of those impoverished households that cannot afford ginseng and bird’s nest.”

Shiyiniang was deeply grateful that the Grand Dowager could still offer reassurance under such circumstances, and quickly said, “I will take my medicine diligently.”

The Grand Dowager smiled and nodded. “Now that is the right attitude.”

Just as they were speaking, the Laba porridge sent as a gift from the palace arrived.

Everyone received the porridge, gave gifts to those who had brought it from the palace, performed the offerings according to the customary rites, and the whole household sat together to eat the porridge. Shiyiniang’s medicine then arrived.

The Grand Dowager scrutinized the prescription for a good while before handing the medicine over to Nanny Du: “Decoct it right here in my courtyard. Each day when Fourth Madam comes to pay her respects, see to it that she takes her medicine here.”

Nanny Du took it over with a smile, and Shiyiniang stepped forward to express her thanks to the Grand Dowager.

“Just take good care of yourself.” The Grand Dowager said. “There is no need to worry about anything else.” She then had Second Sister-in-law accompany her to rest after midday.

Shiyiniang invited Nanny Du to her own quarters, and used a thimble and thread to pierce Zhen Jie’er’s ears for her.

“Does it hurt?” she asked, watching Zhen Jie’er’s face drain of all color.

She herself had woken up in this life with already pierced ears, and in her previous life she had never had them pierced — so she had no idea what the sensation was like.

Zhen Jie’er shook her head. “It doesn’t hurt!”

Even if it did, there was nothing to be done. One had to think of avoiding being looked down upon by a future mother-in-law.

Shiyiniang gave Nanny Du a pair of solid gold bracelets, a pair of solid gold longevity-character hairpins inlaid with blue stone, and a pair of jadeite bracelets as a token of thanks.

Nanny Du accepted them without ceremony, thanked her with a smile, and took her leave.

Shiyiniang personally saw Nanny Du to the doorstep, then turned and went back inside to work on the embroidered screen with Zhen Jie’er.

It was a quarter-hour before the start of the you hour, and Xu Lingyi had still not returned, nor had he sent a manservant to say a word.

Could something have happened?

Feeling quite worried, Shiyiniang brought Zhen Jie’er with her to the Grand Dowager’s quarters.

After paying their respects, Second Sister-in-law immediately noticed that something was different about Zhen Jie’er, and with a smile opened her jewel chest and took out a small pair of red-gold pomegranate flower earrings to give her: “Before I knew it, our Zhen Jie’er has already become a young lady.”

The Grand Dowager noticed too, and smiled. “This must have been Shiyiniang’s idea again!”

Zhen Jie’er’s cheeks flushed faintly. “Mother said that piercing one’s ears on the Laba Festival is auspicious.”

The Grand Dowager had Weizi bring out a small pair of red-gold ginkgo leaf earrings for Zhen Jie’er. “Wear them in turns!”

Zhen Jie’er thanked her and accepted them.

Third Sister-in-law smiled. “I will make it up to you another day.”

Zhen Jie’er thanked her again all the same.

A young manservant came running in: “My lord has returned!”

—