*In his day, the Marquis’s silver spear — though one would not dare say it swept through all one hundred and eighty thousand Imperial Guards — was rarely met with a match…*
Shiyiniang felt as though sweat were beginning to bead at her temples.
When had any of this happened?
She had never heard of it before, let alone seen Xu Lingyi wielding a blade or a spear…
While she was still turning this over in her mind, she heard the First Master ask, “The Marquis wishes to resign — what does the Dowager Lady say?” His tone was hesitant.
The Dowager Lady naturally approved.
But Shiyiniang’s impression of this father of hers had never gone beyond affable, dashing, and tender toward women. Anything beyond that — she genuinely did not know him. How could she speak plainly?
She answered vaguely. “The Dowager Lady has said nothing particular. Things at home are as they have always been.”
The First Master paused. “As they have always been?”
Shiyiniang nodded. “Only that she is concerned about the Marquis’s health, and has often summoned me to inquire after him.”
The First Master’s brow drew into a tighter knot. He clasped his hands behind his back and began to pace the room.
Luo Zhensheng looked on and murmured quietly, “Father, Eleventh Sister has come today as a guest…”
The First Master heard this and let out a sigh. “You are right. She is only a woman — what would she know of these things? I have been too anxious. Several censors have submitted memorials asking the Emperor to issue a general amnesty on the occasion of the Imperial Birthday celebrations. The Emperor not only agreed but also pardoned the northern bandit chief Yu Zhongting and the southern pirate Wang Jiubao… it is most troubling.”
Luo Zhensheng gave Shiyiniang a look that indicated she could take her leave, and at the same time tried to reassure the First Master. “Father, the realm is at peace. A small-time figure like Wang Jiubao — what sort of trouble could he really stir up? And besides, there is still the Marquis of Jinghai…”
“Which is precisely why I am worried.” The First Master’s expression turned bitter. “The Qu family and the Wang family have been locked in a struggle for generations — one on the side of the law, one beyond it. Those in the court do not understand, but I served in Fujian and felt it keenly. If the Wang family’s men are truly permitted to come ashore, all the years of service the Qu family has rendered, the great meritorious deeds they have accomplished in defending the Great Zhou — would it not make a mockery of all that? What I fear most is that the Qu family will lose heart and walk away from it all. Then the south would truly descend into chaos. The common people would be displaced and homeless once more… Yet here I am, without post or rank, unable to submit a memorial to the Emperor. I can only seek the Marquis’s help…” His voice trailed off at the end, already heavy with helpless resignation.
Shiyiniang truly did not know what to say.
The First Master wanted Xu Lingyi to undo the very situation that Xu Lingyi himself had arranged.
She was even more worried that the First Master might act rashly on his own.
If even the First Master could see the dangers involved, could the grand scholars of the Inner Cabinet not see them? Could the Emperor not see them? When all was said and done, whether this situation had come to pass because of Xu Lingyi’s stratagem or because it had aligned perfectly with the Emperor’s own wishes — nobody could say for certain at this point. If the First Master blundered about without understanding any of it, he might bring great calamity upon himself.
It was clear that Xu Lingyi would have to pay a visit.
At the very least, he needed to persuade the First Master not to meddle and cause further complications.
With this in mind, she said quietly, “First Master, since the Marquis has been unwell — perhaps Elder Brother ought to go and call on him as well.”
The First Master looked somewhat sheepish. “I thought it was only a rumor… I had no idea he was truly ill.” He then instructed Luo Zhensheng, “Go and call on him tomorrow.”
Luo Zhensheng bowed in acknowledgment. Shiyiniang took the opportunity to excuse herself.
Coming out the door, she found Sixth Yiniang approaching with a tea bowl.
“Eleventh Young Mistress,” Sixth Yiniang greeted her warmly, then lowered her voice. “The First Master has said that since the First Mistress is ill, all household affairs are to be managed by the First Mistress’s wife. As for matters in our quarters, he has asked Fifth Yiniang and me to help carry the load. Now, I am the later arrival — how could I compare to Fifth Yiniang? Naturally I should defer to her in everything. But Fifth Yiniang says she has taken refuge in the Buddha, and must recite and copy sutras every day, and fast on the first and fifteenth of each month. She asks me to help manage things. I thought about it and agreed — I would handle the minor day-to-day affairs, and for anything significant, I would of course consult Fifth Yiniang. That way, the worldly affairs of the household would not disturb Fifth Yiniang’s practice.”
No wonder Sixth Yiniang had been so active today — with the First Mistress’s wife managing the household, there was no way she could extend her reach into the First Master’s quarters anyway.
As for managing the minor affairs herself and consulting Fifth Yiniang on major ones — Shiyiniang could not help but find this quietly amusing. With the First Mistress’s wife overseeing the household, what major matter would ever fall to Sixth Yiniang to decide? Still, it was all for the better. She was not an official wife after all; even if the First Master had granted her some authority, the more senior matrons and stewards might not have given her face regardless. That Fifth Yiniang had been so clear-headed about this put Shiyiniang’s mind considerably at ease.
She smiled. “The able carry the heavier burden. Fifth Yiniang has a gentle and yielding nature. In future, should anything arise, I hope Sixth Yiniang will take good care of her.”
“Fifth Yiniang and I have always been as close as sisters,” said Sixth Yiniang, as though Shiyiniang had just made her some kind of promise — she beamed with pleasure. “We shall naturally consult each other and manage things harmoniously.” Then, with a smile that was not quite a smile, she looked at Shiyiniang and added, “Like last night — the First Master rested in Fifth Yiniang’s room, so I stayed to attend the First Mistress. Whatever she needed — tea, water — I made sure not to trouble Fifth Yiniang or the First Master in the slightest.” With that, she called brightly through the curtain, “First Master, it is your concubine Wancui bringing tea for you and First Young Master.”
“Come in,” came the First Master’s voice from behind the curtain, somewhat distracted.
Sixth Yiniang gave Shiyiniang a smile, lifted the curtain, and entered the study.
*The First Master rested in Fifth Yiniang’s room… the First Mistress needed tea and water…*
A concubine who had kept her place of favor for ten years beneath the very eyes of the First Wife was not someone Shiyiniang could afford to take lightly, nor to dismiss her words carelessly.
She stared at the swaying curtain, her heart quietly on guard.
So long as she herself held a firm footing in the Xu household, the people at the Luo household would not make things too difficult for Fifth Yiniang. Sixth Yiniang was a different matter — Twelfth Miss was still a seed scattered in the wind, with no telling where she might land. And First Brother, whether by age or by standing, was the undisputed heir to the family — nothing could stop that now. With the First Mistress’s wife there, and Sixth Yiniang as clever and sharp as she was, why would she put herself forward as a target?
Shiyiniang was worried. She feared Sixth Yiniang had some scheme in mind, with Fifth Yiniang unwittingly cast as the instrument.
—
Just as she stepped under the eaves of the main room, the First Mistress’s wife lifted the curtain and came out, coming face to face with Shiyiniang.
The First Mistress’s wife smiled. “I was just coming to find you. What did Father want with you?”
Shiyiniang answered briefly, “Nothing much — just asking why the Marquis had requested to resign.”
The First Mistress’s wife’s expression shifted slightly. She drew Shiyiniang to one side, into a small side room. “What is the real reason the Marquis is resigning?” She asked with concern. “I heard Qian Ming say that people outside have been spreading rumors — saying that the Marquis’s merit has grown too great and overshadowed the throne, and so…” While she spoke, she watched Shiyiniang’s face closely for any reaction.
Such a rumor was actually circulating?
If it reached the wrong ears and found its way to the Emperor, it could stir up yet more trouble.
Shiyiniang said with a touch of exasperation, “Who has been saying such nonsense? The Marquis truly does have a foot condition. I soak his feet for him every evening.”
The First Mistress’s wife visibly relaxed. “It’s those students at the Imperial Academy — they love nothing better than to gossip about affairs of state.”
This was something she needed to mention to Xu Lingyi.
Shiyiniang made a note of it. She was about to take the First Mistress’s wife by the arm and walk back inside together when the First Mistress’s wife said suddenly, “A few days ago, the Wang Old Madam sent for me…”
Her heart gave a start. Thinking of how neither of them had come today, she asked, “Has something happened with Tenth Sister?”
The First Mistress’s wife nodded. “Jin Mei has become with child. Tenth Sister hid her away at the Wang family’s villa outside the city. Tenth Brother-in-law was drinking and sent for Jin Mei and Yin Ping to keep him company, but when Jin Mei couldn’t be found, he demanded that Tenth Sister and Yin Ping both accompany him. Tenth Sister refused, and he accused her of being jealous, and gave her… another beating. When the Wang Old Madam tried to intervene, her left eye was caught by the force of his fist and swelled shut so badly she could not show her face in public. “
Shiyiniang felt a chill spread through her entire body.
“Then why keep Jin Mei hidden at all? Let him do as he pleases. After all, any child born would be a child of the Wang family — it’s the Wang family’s own line that would be cut off…” As she spoke, she began to tremble with anger. “The Wang Old Madam had you summoned for what? In the end, a daughter-in-law, however good, is never as dear as a son. She must have had you go to persuade Tenth Sister to let the matter rest.”
The First Mistress’s wife said nothing — her silence was confirmation enough.
“What is Tenth Sister’s position on all of this?” Shiyiniang asked, though she already knew the answer in her heart.
If Tenth Sister had wanted to make a scene, the First Mistress’s wife would not have pulled her aside to speak privately, and Luo Zhensheng, Luo Zhenda, and Luo Zhensheng’s brothers would already have gone to confront the Wang household.
“This kind of endurance will get her nowhere.” Shiyiniang was furious on Tenth Sister’s behalf. “Better to use this opportunity to speak plainly to the Wang family elders. Set out terms and move out to live separately. Jin Mei is already with child — if she gives birth to an heir who can be raised under Tenth Sister’s name, at least Tenth Sister will have something to depend on in her later years.” Then, thinking of Tenth Sister’s stubbornly proud nature, she asked with worry, “How is she holding up?”
“What can I say?” The First Mistress’s wife was deeply helpless. “When I went to see her, the Wang family’s people were in attendance the entire time. I had no opportunity to offer her any counsel at all.”
“Even so, we cannot simply allow the Wang family to go on mistreating her like this.” Shiyiniang was quietly indignant. “She is only sixteen years old this year — what does she know of the world?”
The First Mistress’s wife then thought of what Nanny Hang had reported about Shiyiniang — “…she agreed right away to come early the next morning, as though she had everything in hand.” She could not help but smile with genuine warmth. “Which is precisely why I sought out my sister to discuss it. To see what might be done. I have not yet told your Elder Brother, for fear he would grow anxious.”
Shiyiniang was always calm when it came to handling things.
“Let us find a way to get word to her, then. In the end, what matters most is what she herself wishes. If she disagrees with our plan, even if we manage to win her some ground, she may very well think we are trying to destroy her bond with the Wang family.”
She had seen enough of such situations.
The First Mistress’s wife nodded. “You are right, Sister. I shall find a way to send word to Tenth Sister right away. We can help her for a time, but not for a lifetime. The decision must ultimately be hers.”
Shiyiniang nodded.
Not wanting to dwell any longer on such tangled affairs, she asked after Fifth Elder Sister. “…How is her business going? She didn’t say anything about it when I saw her.”
With Fifth Elder Sister’s temperament, if business were going well, she would have boasted about it tenfold.
“She sold the shop a few days ago.” The First Mistress’s wife sounded genuinely regretful. “I advised her to hold on a little longer, but she wouldn’t listen. Said she had already lost over five hundred taels and she simply had to get out of it. As luck would have it, Lu Yonggui came by to settle accounts, and he helped her find a buyer. Even so, it was only because of the Yongping Marquis household’s reputation — she got three hundred taels for it.”
Shiyiniang shook her head involuntarily.
Fifth Elder Sister was too impulsive — that boded ill.
She then asked about the First Mistress. “…How has her condition suddenly worsened?”
—