The Empress Dowager seemed only at that moment to notice the Grand Dowager and Shiyiniang. She said in surprise, “Grand Dowager, you have come — why was no one sent to inform me?” And then she reprimanded those beside her. “The Grand Dowager is the mother-in-law of the current Emperor. How can she be compared to ordinary outer titled ladies? From now on, when the Grand Dowager seeks an audience, let her be announced directly — there is no need to keep her waiting.”

An attendant immediately stepped forward and answered, “Yes.”

The Grand Dowager promptly knelt and kowtowed in thanks, and Shiyiniang, following behind the Grand Dowager, naturally did the same.

The Empress Dowager came forward herself and took the Grand Dowager’s hand. “I too have been hoping that the Grand Dowager would come into the palace for a good long talk.” She looked very moved. “The number of those who can speak freely before me grows fewer with each passing year. One cannot help but feel the weight of age.” Then she proposed returning to the Kunning Palace: “Let us sit and chat for a while.”

The Grand Dowager answered respectfully, “Yes,” and followed the Empress Dowager to the eastern warm room where Her Majesty the Empress was resting.

The Empress Dowager and Her Majesty the Empress sat down according to their stations. The Grand Dowager was given a brocade stool, while Shiyiniang stood behind the Grand Dowager. The Grand Dowager inquired after Her Majesty the Empress’s illness. “…When I heard the Emperor’s decree, I was anxious all night.”

“I am fine.” Her Majesty the Empress reassured the Grand Dowager. “It is only a mild chill — a little discomfort. After taking Dr. Liu’s medicine, I am much better.”

The Empress Dowager also smiled. “Grand Dowager, there is no need to worry. I come every day to visit the Empress. Yesterday she still had some coughing, but this morning I heard none.”

The Grand Dowager nodded and said politely, “With the Empress Dowager by Her Majesty the Empress’s side, I am sure she will recover very soon.”

The Empress Dowager looked toward Her Majesty the Empress and smiled, then shifted the subject. “How is Danyang? I heard she was unwell a few days ago.”

The Grand Dowager said, “She is a young child, and this is her first pregnancy — she doesn’t quite know better…”

The two chatted about household matters. Shiyiniang stood dutifully behind the Grand Dowager, her eyes drifting toward Her Majesty the Empress.

She wore a smile, and her manner was as warm as ever — but her wandering gaze betrayed that her heart was elsewhere.

This could not go on.

A person need not fear a bodily affliction — what was to be feared was an affliction of the heart.

If she continued in this listless manner, it was plainly because she had something weighing on her. If she were an ordinary woman, she could pour out her grievances to a close friend, and once her anger passed, she would feel better. But she was the mother of the nation, and not a single movement or gesture could afford the slightest impropriety. Sometimes even a single careless word might be seized upon and magnified to no end — let alone matters touching upon the dignity of the Emperor and Empress, and the secrets of the imperial family. These she could not breathe to anyone… The Emperor styled himself “solitary” — and was not the Empress equally so?

At this thought, Shiyiniang lifted her head and looked boldly and directly at Her Majesty the Empress.

In time, Her Majesty the Empress felt it, and following the sensation, looked over — and saw her fourteen-year-old sister-in-law blinking at her.

Her Majesty the Empress was briefly taken aback.

She opened her eyes wide and looked again.

Shiyiniang gave Her Majesty the Empress a faint smile.

A flash of surprise passed through Her Majesty the Empress’s eyes, but very quickly composure was restored.

When there was a pause in the conversation between the Empress Dowager and the Grand Dowager, Her Majesty the Empress brought up the subject of Shiyiniang with the Grand Dowager: “…I heard that the Marchioness of Yongping has been unwell. After that I myself took ill, so I did not summon Dr. Liu to ask about it. Has the cause been determined?”

This was not a question she ought to answer.

Shiyiniang lowered her head.

The Grand Dowager said, “Her monthly time is always irregular. Dr. Liu was asked to take her pulse.”

“Oh my!” the Empress Dowager said. “This is a serious matter. It must not be taken lightly.”

“Quite right.” The Grand Dowager gave a wry smile. “She is now taking medicine to address it.”

Her Majesty the Empress then beckoned Shiyiniang over: “Come with me to the eastern side room.” She left all those attending her behind in the main hall.

Shiyiniang obediently curtsied and answered, “Yes,” then followed Her Majesty the Empress to the eastern side room.

The Grand Dowager was quite taken aback.

But the Empress Dowager watched this and smiled pleasantly.

It appeared that the Empress had on an impulse summoned her sister-in-law away to ask about the matter herself… The Xu Family had always had few heirs. Xu Lingyi, even now, had only one legitimate son, who moreover had been born with a deficiency. It was no wonder the Empress had heard the news and grown anxious.

The thought passed, and the Empress Dowager smiled and had people bring out almond and peanut dew. “It is freshly made in the kitchen — the taste is quite good.”

The Grand Dowager thanked her with a smile, but her heart remained with the Empress and Shiyiniang in the eastern side room.

…

Seated on the large kang beside the window, Her Majesty the Empress looked at Shiyiniang standing before her, at a loss for what to say.

Shiyiniang had certainly not gazed at her so boldly and smiled at her for no reason. But to discuss the rise and fall of the family, and the secrets of the bedchamber, with a young girl of barely fourteen who was no older than her own son — she was not so obtuse as that.

A look of hesitation showed on her face.

Shiyiniang saw it, and took the initiative. She lowered her head respectfully and said in a low voice, “This subject wife has had a minor ailment — not only did my lord take personal concern, but now I have troubled Your Majesty to inquire as well. In my heart I am truly ill at ease.” As she spoke, she curtsied and said, “When this subject wife had just married into the household, she looked at my lord’s imposing bearing and was very frightened.” Her cheeks flushed faintly as she recounted how Xu Lingyi had lain awake in the night worrying about the children, “…It was only then that I realized my lord is in truth one whose exterior is cold but whose heart is warm.” She then spoke of how Third Sister-in-law had taken advantage of the charitable rice distribution to replace good grain with moldy rice. “My lord was magnanimous and did not blame Third Master and Third Sister-in-law for their misconduct. Instead, he examined himself, went in person to the Fucheng Gate to sort out the matter, and then stayed up through the night to have a heart-to-heart talk with Third Master…” She then told Her Majesty the Empress about Third Master and Third Sister-in-law’s intentions, and about Xu Lingyi’s plan to resign his post and yield to Third Master, so as to preserve everyone’s dignity.

At first Her Majesty the Empress’s expression was cool and distant. But the more Shiyiniang spoke, the more intent her expression became, until when the words of resignation fell, her face showed open astonishment. “How has my brother never spoken of any of this to me?”

“My lord conducts himself with uprightness, and as this also involves the bonds of brotherhood and fraternal loyalty, had I not shared a room with my lord, I would never have been privy to the depth of his intentions.”

Her Majesty the Empress paused, then looked at Shiyiniang, her expression gentle. “Madam, it seems you are very attentive to my brother’s affairs.”

Shiyiniang broke into an inward sweat upon hearing this.

Yet she could not deny it.

“My lord stands high and upright in conduct — this subject wife holds him in the deepest admiration.” Having to speak such flattery about Xu Lingyi to his own elder sister, Shiyiniang could only swallow her misgivings and pile on the praise.

Her Majesty the Empress saw that although she appeared calm and composed, her cheeks were faintly flushed and the faintest trace of unease flickered in her eyes — and thought her to be striving hard to conceal her true feelings for Xu Lingyi. A hint of a smile came to her eyes.

“This subject wife is dull-witted, and has no capacity to concern herself with affairs of state. The only thing I can do is tend to my lord with all my heart in day-to-day matters, and spare him the burden of household concerns.” Shiyiniang said. “When the weather turns cold, to warm a handwarmer for my lord. When my lord is in low spirits, to tell him a few amusing things. To help care for Yu Ge, Zhen Jie’er, and Zhun Ge…”

Her Majesty the Empress listened, and her expression grew still. She murmured softly, “Spare him the burden of household concerns…”

Shiyiniang nodded, then told Her Majesty the Empress in detail of Xu Lingyi’s late-night reminiscences after the Fifth Prince’s death, recalling his childhood memories with her. “…He had that much feeling in his heart, yet could only speak of it to me in private. The next morning he still had to walk out the door as though nothing had happened. Watching him, this subject wife truly ached for him.” As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief and dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “And I worried all the more for Your Majesty the Empress and for His Majesty the Emperor — Your Majesty is not only a birth mother, but the mother of the nation; His Majesty is not only a birth father, but the ruler of the nation. Not only do the historians watch, but so do all the civil and military officials of the court. Compared to my lord’s circumstances, Your Majesty’s situation is a thousandfold more difficult.”

As she spoke, a glimmer of moisture appeared at the corners of Her Majesty the Empress’s eyes.

As long as she could still shed tears — that was good.

Shiyiniang let out a small breath of relief, then knelt down. “This subject wife has been speaking recklessly, and has caused Your Majesty to feel distress!” And then she added, “If my lord were to find out, I do not know how deeply it would grieve him.”

Her Majesty the Empress looked at her, and said nothing.

But Shiyiniang had no time to sit in wordless silence.

Still kneeling, she said, “When I came, my lord asked me to bring Your Majesty a message. He said: you may do as you wish — there is no need to have regard for anything else. Whether as a subject or as your blood brother, even if it meant walking on blades and descending into fire, he would act as Your Majesty commands.”

Her Majesty the Empress’s gaze gradually grew burning as fire. She fixed Shiyiniang with her eyes and said, “And if I asked him to kill someone for me?”

Shiyiniang met Her Majesty the Empress’s gaze steadily, her face composed and serene, as if the Empress had asked merely about the weather. She answered without missing a beat, “My lord said — he has under his command both fierce warriors and cunning advisors. Whatever Your Majesty’s command, simply send a word through this subject wife and it will be done. Though they may be raking in fortunes through the Imperial Household Department, filling their coffers to overflowing and enriching themselves beyond measure, our Xu Family is not without our resources. Matching them in the making of money may be beyond us — but to cut off those people’s means of livelihood, to reduce everything to ruins in one fell move, is not beyond our reach.”

Her Majesty the Empress was silent for a long while, yet tears glistened at the corners of her eyes.

“Fourth Brother — still that same stubborn temper.” As she spoke, tears fell like rain. “Tell him not to act rashly.” She wept. “A step back opens up a sea of sky. They are earthen jars, but my blood brother is fine porcelain — if they collide and he breaks, no compensation could suffice. The Emperor, for now, still holds the debt of former kindness in his heart… But even a tiger does not devour its own cubs. The Emperor has his own judgment. My brother must on no account disrupt the Emperor’s greater scheme, and give cause for the enemy to laugh and those who love us to grieve.”

Shiyiniang looked at Her Majesty the Empress, astonished.

She had thought she would need to spend a great deal more effort yet. She had not expected…

Her Majesty the Empress had surely long since been clear in her own heart.

All she needed was a foothold and a moment to turn her mind around.

Her Majesty the Empress, seeing the surprise in Shiyiniang’s eyes, knew that her sudden change of heart had startled Shiyiniang.

Her heart felt an indistinct, hidden ache.

Yet also a measure of comfort.

What Shiyiniang had said was true. She had not come under orders to test her…

Fourth Brother had not changed.

He was still the same as before.

A smile broke across her face.

On a face streaked with tears, it looked so stricken.

Shiyiniang looked, and her eyes stung — tears filled them before she could stop them.

…

The two of them wept in silence, and when they emerged, both had red eyes. The Empress Dowager’s gaze wandered with a questioning look. She smiled. “What is this? How has our Marchioness of Yongping managed to make Her Majesty the Empress feel sad?”

At those words, Her Majesty the Empress’s tears fell again. “I don’t know what came over me — somehow my brother’s heir is proving so difficult to come by!”

The Empress Dowager heard this, and her eyes recovered their former warmth and delight. “The Marquis’s wife is still young — is that not so? In a few more years it will sort itself. If Your Majesty is truly worried, come spring next year when the selection of consorts is held, why not petition the Emperor and choose a few promising beauties to send to the Marquis. I should think the Grand Dowager would have a grandchild to hold by the spring after that!”

Shiyiniang heard this and suppressed a surge of inward shock, keeping her head lowered in silence — for above was Her Majesty the Empress, below was the Grand Dowager, and it was not yet her place to speak.

Her Majesty the Empress heard this and let out a long sigh. “Even if they are not born of the principal wife, they will always be of a lesser standing — however many there are, it is of no great use.”

The Empress Dowager was taken aback.

Her Majesty the Empress had already turned to the Grand Dowager. “The hour is getting late. Shortly, the Emperor will be coming to dine, so I will not keep you.”

The Grand Dowager rose without any change of expression, and she and Shiyiniang paid their respects and withdrew.