“His Majesty was silent for a long while. I petitioned three times to resign, and in the end he agreed.” Xu Lingyi’s expression was perfectly composed. “He also asked, since the Third Brother wished for an outside posting, whether the rank ought not to be too low — and would serving in the Jiangzhe region as a prefect do? I told him that the appointment itself was of small importance; the main thing was that the family could be separated without anyone losing face. A prefectship in Jiangzhe might draw censure from the censors. It would be better to post him somewhere unassuming, as a small county magistrate. His Majesty said nothing. By the look of him, he did not seem opposed. The matter will most likely go through.”
And in this manner, His Majesty had, in his understated way, also tacitly consented to Xu Lingyi’s resignation.
She was still turning this over in her mind when a young maid came in to report, “The Fifth Master requests an audience.”
“What does he want, at this hour?” Xu Lingyi was taken aback. He frowned and asked Luo Shiyiniang, “Has he been at home these days? Has he gone out at all?”
The poor Fifth Master — Xu Lingyi’s reflexes where he was concerned had him thinking of trouble the very moment his name was mentioned. But recalling the Fifth Master’s odd behavior earlier when the fiddler had come asking to see him, Luo Shiyiniang found her own thoughts drifting in the same direction.
She quickly relayed the incident to Xu Lingyi: “…I am not sure whether this is what it concerns.”
Xu Lingyi’s expression turned stony. He went at once to the east side room.
Luo Shiyiniang did not know whether Xu Lingyi intended to spend the night on her side. After some consideration, she went ahead and made the bed up as she normally would. She had just finished when Xu Lingyi came striding back in, visibly irate.
“You are back so quickly,” she said, keeping her face pleasant as though she had noticed nothing. “Shall I attend to you while you wash up, My Lord?”
Xu Lingyi did not reply, but paced about the room in circles.
“That one with no sense at all — I wonder when he’ll ever amount to something.”
Luo Shiyiniang knew he was speaking of the Fifth Master, and said with a smile, “Marquis, you were just saying the same of Zhun Ge — that you had been away on campaign early on, and then consumed by court affairs, leaving him with insufficient guidance, which is what led to his meek disposition. The Fifth Master is no different. He lost his father young, and with his older brothers each caught up in their own affairs, there was no one to properly guide him. Now that you are about to leave office, you will have far more time at home. Why not use this opportunity to have a proper conversation with the Fifth Master? Always greeting him with a stern face like this — he will not dare to come to you with his troubles, and by the time things have gotten out of hand, you will still be the one who has to go and sort out the mess. Far better to keep things cordial between you: if something comes up, he will come and discuss it with you in time, and you can guide him on what is right and what is not. In time, he will know better.”
“How old is he!” Xu Lingyi said, barely containing his exasperation. “And I still have to tell him how to conduct himself. When I was his age, I was already pacifying unrest in the border regions. I had over a dozen seasoned generals under my command, and I knew nothing — yet in front of them all I couldn’t let a breath of uncertainty show. Half the night I’d be learning from the junior clerks how to allocate military rations and provisions, and by morning I was on my feet again to deal with the day’s affairs…”
“If everyone were like the Marquis, what a world that would be,” said Luo Shiyiniang with a bright smile.
All the fight went out of Xu Lingyi, and he sank in low spirits onto the edge of the bed.
Luo Shiyiniang called for the young maids to bring in hot water.
“Soak your feet, Marquis. Whatever has happened can be talked over calmly. Even if you scold him a thousand times over — the matter still has to be resolved.”
Xu Lingyi leaned back against the large bolster. “I know that too. It’s just — he is so hopeless. How else could things have come to this at home…”
“Which is exactly why I say we cannot let the Third Master and the Third Madam leave with grievances in their hearts.” Luo Shiyiniang took the copper basin from the maid and set it at Xu Lingyi’s feet, then helped him off with his boots. “And then there are the two children. In the future, our Zhun Ge will need people in his corner.”
Xu Lingyi said nothing, and let Luo Shiyiniang soak his feet.
—
On the Grand Madam’s side, the Grand Madam was also asking Nanny Du, “Have you found out?”
“I have.” Nanny Du said. “The Fifth Master learned to sing opera from this Liu Huifang — never formally as a disciple, but the Fifth Master made a grand promise to provide Liu Huifang with two hundred taels a year as a living allowance for his old age. After the Fifth Master married, he and this Liu fellow had no further contact, but he still sent two hundred taels every year through an intermediary. Liu Huifang took that two hundred taels and spent it on drinking and loose women, and never bothered the Fifth Master in all that time. But this year the snow has been heavy, grain prices in Yanjing have shot up several times over, and he says he can no longer get by. So he came to ask the Fifth Master for a little more, and had the shamefulness to say it could simply be deducted from next year’s allowance.”
The Grand Madam trembled with anger. “How did I raise such a worthless son!”
Nanny Du quickly soothed her: “But the Fifth Master knew he had done wrong — otherwise, he would not have gradually cut off all contact over the years.” She added, “I hear the Fifth Master has just gone to find the Marquis. With the Marquis handling it, you need not worry.”
The Grand Madam let out a helpless sigh.
—
The Fifth Master returned to his quarters to find the Fifth Madam already asleep. He washed up in her room, then shuffled in wearing only his slippers and burrowed under the Fifth Madam’s covers.
The Fifth Madam was roused awake and gave a start of fright. “What’s gotten into you? I am with child — I cannot attend to you…”
The Fifth Master said nothing, and reached out to rest his hand on the rounded curve of his wife’s belly.
“What is it?” the Fifth Madam said softly. “Shall I call Xiaomei to come and attend to you in my room…”
“I’m not always thinking about that.” The Fifth Master muttered, “No need.”
The Fifth Madam smiled. “I only worry that you’ll be uncomfortable.”
The Fifth Master said nothing.
The Fifth Madam knew his ways. She called to the maid on night duty to put out the lamp, then rustled and settled down beside him, nestling into her husband’s arms. She was just drifting into a drowsy half-sleep when she heard her husband murmur softly into the darkness: “Danyang… you treat me the best of anyone. Everyone else just wants my money, or wants to use the influence of my fourth brother… Danyang, only you treat me the best…”
In the darkness, the Fifth Madam breathed an enormous sigh of relief.
So this dissolute creature still had some conscience after all — he knew who was good to him.
The Dowager Consort had been right.
All men are children at heart. It is simply a matter of how a woman manages them…
She fell asleep with a small smile on her lips.
—
Though the episode of Liu Huifang had caused a stir across the various households, it had not disrupted the ordinary flow of life within the Xu Mansion.
Xu Lingyi visited the palace once to call upon the Empress, then submitted a formal petition to resign on the eighteenth day of the twelfth month. His Majesty did not approve it, but granted him leave to recuperate at home for a period of time. Imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy began to come in groups of two and three to Marquis Yongping’s mansion, issuing prescription after prescription — yet none dared claim they could cure Xu Lingyi’s ailment. Luo Shiyiniang waited upon them when they called, stepped aside as required when they came to examine him, took their prescriptions and sent servants to have the medicines prepared, and received in turn a steady stream of visitors come to check on his health — men from the Five Military Commands, from the Ministry of War, old associates from families of established standing — until she was run off her feet. Fortunately, the Festival of Ten Thousand Longevities arrived shortly afterward, and everyone had to enter the palace to offer their congratulations, and the Xu Mansion finally had some peace.
As it was not a major milestone birthday, court was suspended only on the day of the festival itself, and fourth-rank and above civil officials as well as the ladies of the inner court entered the palace to offer their felicitations.
The Empress’s spirits were visibly much improved. She was speaking with the Imperial Princess and others, and upon seeing Luo Shiyiniang, had a female official summon her forward.
“The weather is cold — you must dress warmly.”
Luo Shiyiniang was momentarily startled. Looking around at the other ladies of rank dressed just as she was, she understood at once — the Empress was expressing her personal concern for her.
She curtseyed respectfully, her manner no different from how she had always presented herself before Her Highness: “Many thanks for Your Highness’s gracious consideration.”
The Empress studied her for a moment, then gave a nod and resumed her conversation with the Imperial Princess at her side.
Luo Shiyiniang stood deferentially to one side and listened to the conversation around her. Once the banquet for the Festival of Ten Thousand Longevities began, she took her seat alongside the others as expected. During the acrobatic performances, she attended the Grand Madam at her side. In every movement and gesture, there was not the slightest overstepping of her place.
The Empress watched her and gave a quiet nod of approval, saying privately to Chief Attendant Huang: “I once felt she was of too low a birth and too young — that the Marquis had been short-changed. Now I see that it was we who were narrow-minded.”
Chief Attendant Huang smiled: “Your Highness had not misjudged her either. It is simply that no one could have anticipated the Marquis’s fortune in marrying such a perceptive and understanding companion.”
The two were still speaking when an inner attendant announced in a loud voice: “His Majesty arrives!”
The Empress straightened her robes and stepped forward to receive him. Before she could bow, His Majesty had already taken her hand. He dismissed the attendants at his side and led the Empress to the east side room to speak privately.
“Have you heard about the fourth one’s matter?”
The Empress nodded, and replied without hesitation: “He came to the palace a few days ago and told me himself. I too feel it is the right course of action. I had been preparing to speak with Your Majesty about it after the festival.”
His Majesty’s expression showed a trace of surprise.
The Empress sighed. “You know his character. Even with something weighing on him, he swallows it all down alone. In their early years, he and Yuanniang made such a difficult go of things, and with hardly any children. The Second Brother died young, and though the Second Sister-in-law has the talent of Cai Wenji, her standing as a widow prevents her from being of much practical help at home. The Third Brother is honest-natured, but the Third Sister-in-law is strong-willed — there has been talk of dividing the household for years, and it has made the family restless and unsettled. As for the Fifth Brother — I need say no more; Your Majesty knows.” Her voice slowed. “All these years, the whole household has rested on the fourth one alone. He keeps up a good front before Your Majesty, but I was told by his wife that every night he must soak his knees in hot water — and sometimes, no matter how hot, it is never hot enough, until the skin is scalded raw.” Tears welled in her eyes. “To speak plainly, he is an heir of a distinguished house, a man who holds second rank. Others like him — let alone men of his standing — not one of them does not live in silks and comfort, surrounded by fine carriages and beautiful attendants. And yet he has never enjoyed a single day of ease. Your Majesty, please — let him rest.”
Seeing the Empress weep, His Majesty moved quickly to console her. “I know, I know. All these years, he has borne much hardship.”
“He and Your Majesty are both sovereign and subject, and brothers by marriage.” The Empress drew out a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. “That he serves you and you look out for him — it is as it should be. But I have been thinking — what the fourth one said when he came to me that day also had merit. Before, it was the demands of circumstance, leaving no choice. But now you are the father of ten thousand subjects, sovereign of all under heaven. Every land beneath the sky belongs to you; every person within its bounds is your servant. The border regions are pacified, the northwest is at peace. You mean to be a great ruler whose name endures through the ages — and for what lies ahead, that is a matter for the civil ministers. He has read little, and beyond fighting battles, he cannot be of much other use to you. To be a careful and dutiful subject, and to set an example for those who fancy themselves meritorious by virtue of their role in your accession — that much he can still do.”
These words truly struck at the very center of His Majesty’s heart.
He wished to be a ruler for the ages, and so he must handle the civil ministers well. But those who had placed him on the throne were all military men, and he most feared they would use their past deeds to obstruct his reforms…
His Majesty was deeply moved as he listened. “Still, one cannot let him simply resign from office like that…”
“Your Majesty is confused.” The Empress said with gentle reproach. “As long as you are here, so is he. With your golden bowl to count on, is there any fear he will go without? Otherwise, with only his abilities, how could a man of twenty-seven have risen to the rank of Junior Preceptor of the Crown Prince? The fourth one still has that much self-awareness. Let him resign. While he can still do so in the fullness of his achievements — better that than one day, through some careless misstep, all the hard-won reputation he has built comes crashing down. He would lose face. And that too would be a blow to yours.”
His Majesty, who had entered the room weighed down with worry, broke into a hearty laugh.
—