Is there not a line of verse: “Though born of the same root, why do we burn each other so urgently.” Frankly speaking, compared to Tenth Miss, they had only rolled from the floor onto a bamboo mat — risen by no more than the width of a single strip. That was precisely why Eleventh Miss was so tolerant toward Tenth Miss. Yet Hupo, it seemed, was one who stirred up trouble, unsettling everyone around her.

Binju went to Eleventh Miss’s quarters with resentment and anger in her heart, and happened to arrive just as Hupo was telling Eleventh Miss about the garments: “…yours and Fifth Miss’s are being made first. Tenth Miss’s haven’t started yet. I just don’t know whether Twelfth Miss will be made after yours, or after Tenth Miss’s.”

Eleventh Miss’s eyes were clear and bright, and she only smiled. Binju’s face had gone pale; the goodwill she had felt toward Hupo on the evening of the banquet in the warm sitting room evaporated entirely.

Dongqing saw that the situation was not right, and found a task for Binju: “I need to help Miss sort the embroidery threads for the purses — Binju, please go to Nanny Xu’s quarters. Miss has been sitting up through the night to embroider the screen, and the silver-frost charcoal is running low. Ask her to allocate us some more.”

Binju had no choice but to nod and go.

Eleventh Miss picked up her needle and thread, signaling that she was about to begin embroidering.

Hupo appeared not to notice, and instead took the fire tongs and poked at the charcoal in the brazier before saying with a smile: “I also heard that these past few days Tenth Miss has been copying Buddhist sutras for First Madam — she hopes to finish before the new year so that First Madam can bring them to Ci’an Temple on the ninth day of the first month, the birthday of Guanyin Bodhisattva, to be offered before the Bodhisattva!”

Eleventh Miss was mildly surprised: “Then at First Yiniang’s quarters…”

“From what Shanhu elder sister said, it was precisely because First Yiniang asked Tenth Miss to copy the sutras that Tenth Miss thought of First Madam, who is also a devout Buddhist.” Hupo smiled. “Tenth Miss even said that when she was young, First Madam spoiled her, and she didn’t understand then. Now that she’s grown and has studied with a tutor, she has come to truly appreciate First Madam’s kindness. First Madam said in response that ‘reading makes one wise,’ and that Tenth Miss now knows what is good.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Eleventh Miss’s eyes: “She said all this directly in front of First Madam?”

Hupo added two pieces of charcoal to the brazier and smiled: “Of course she said it in front of First Madam. Shanhu elder sister was right there in attendance!”

Who would have thought that Tenth Sister had actually begun to lower herself to flatter First Madam. Only — resorting to prayer at the last moment, was it not a little too late?

While Eleventh Miss was turning this over in her mind, Hupo continued: “Come to think of it, First Madam’s quarters have been quite lively these days. Fifth Miss stays by First Madam’s side from morning to night; Tenth Miss comes and goes to join in every now and then; and even Twelfth Miss has been making her rounds more often than usual — after paying her morning and evening respects, she often stays to chat with her two elder sisters, making First Madam laugh so happily she can hardly close her mouth.”

Eleventh Miss was taken aback, and then laughed bitterly.

So she was still a prized commodity even now…

Hupo carefully studied Eleventh Miss’s expression, while her mouth kept on: “The sky isn’t getting any earlier — I’ll go and see whether Qiuju has brought the food. Miss has been working so hard; at the very least you should have something nice to eat. And this afternoon I’ll make another trip to Sister Liu’s quarters to see when they plan to make Tenth Miss’s garments… so that we too can be prepared!”

Eleventh Miss broke into a laugh: “Indeed — so that we too can be prepared.”

Hupo’s eyes lit up brilliantly, sparkling like stars on a summer night: “Miss, then I’ll go and get ready!”

Eleventh Miss nodded.

Hupo stepped out with a light tread, and Zhuxiang arrived.

She curtsied and announced: “Miss, Fifth Yiniang has come!”

Eleventh Miss was quite surprised.

She recalled that not long after she first awoke, on some night she had been startled awake by the sound of weeping. When she opened her eyes, she found a remarkably beautiful woman in a white trailing gown sitting at the edge of her bed, wiping tears from her face. She had been utterly stupefied at the time — nearly convinced something uncanny had happened again, and too frightened to move. It was only after she heard the woman’s exchange with Dongqing that she realized this woman was none other than Lv Shi, her birth mother in this present life.

Seeing that she dared only creep about in secret to show any concern for her daughter, Eleventh Miss felt an immediate rush of pity for this poor, delicate woman who inspired tenderness in all who saw her.

Later, she also saw Fifth Yiniang cutting her gold ornaments into tiny pieces and passing them to Dongqing, asking Dongqing to use them to purchase precious medicinal supplements such as ginseng and bird’s nest for her recovery — which moved her even more deeply.

So, once she had come to understand her own circumstances and First Madam’s character, she kept a certain distance from Fifth Yiniang.

She had no desire to anger First Madam and bring trouble upon this weak-willed, rootless woman. And Fifth Yiniang, ever since she sensed the distance Eleventh Miss had put between them, though her expression had grown subdued, nonetheless cooperated with her decision without the slightest complaint — she would never set foot in Eleventh Miss’s quarters unless there was something specific to attend to.

For her to come now, there must be some matter.

“Please invite Yiniang in at once!” Though inwardly anxious, not a trace of it showed on Eleventh Miss’s face, and she instructed Zhuxiang with a serene smile.

Zhuxiang hurried to invite Fifth Yiniang inside.

Dongqing stepped forward to greet her. Fifth Yiniang acknowledged her with a somewhat distracted nod, then asked Eleventh Miss: “How much longer before this screen of yours is finished?”

Seeing her look of deep worry, Eleventh Miss was briefly puzzled and said: “Yiniang, do you need me to help with some embroidery work?”

“No, no!” Fifth Yiniang quickly denied it, but then fell into a manner of wanting to speak yet holding back.

Eleventh Miss cast a meaningful glance at Dongqing.

Dongqing smiled and led Zhuxiang away: “I’ll go make Yiniang a cup of tea.”

Fifth Yiniang gave an absent nod. When the two had withdrawn, without waiting for Eleventh Miss to speak, she said: “You are far too honest — you always end up worse off for it.”

Eleventh Miss listened, feeling rather at a loss.

“You stay home every day embroidering this screen of yours, while Fifth Miss and Tenth Miss keep First Madam company at her side… you need to be more careful!”

When it came to cleverness, there were probably few in the household more slow-witted than Fifth Yiniang!

Eleventh Miss couldn’t help but laugh despite herself.

Who would have thought that even Fifth Yiniang, who had always kept herself apart from the affairs of the household, knew that Fifth Miss and Tenth Miss had been winning great favor with First Madam during this period, and was now fretting on her behalf…

Fifth Yiniang saw her laughing and said with a hint of reproach: “Don’t go treating my words as nothing. Everything I say, I say for your own good.” As she spoke, her eyes reddened. “When I think of it — it’s all my fault. Such a clever and capable person as you, and yet you ended up in my womb…”

It’s not as though I had any say in the matter!

Eleventh Miss quickly produced a handkerchief and dried Fifth Yiniang’s tears, comforting her: “Listen to Yiniang. If I hadn’t ended up in your womb, how would I be enjoying such good days now. Don’t cry anymore. I know everything you’ve said. And when you think about it, embroidering the screen is itself an act of filial piety. First Madam is a discerning person — she will surely understand my intentions.”

Fifth Yiniang’s mood improved considerably at this. She said: “That is true — First Madam has a mind like a clear mirror. What is good, what is not; what is wrong, what is right — she has always seen it all with perfect clarity.”

Her birth mother had always held her adoptive mother in very high regard, and Eleventh Miss had long since grown accustomed to this. She comforted Fifth Yiniang a little more; Fifth Yiniang drank the hot tea Dongqing had brought and felt considerably better, then rose to take her leave.

Eleventh Miss personally escorted Fifth Yiniang out of Lvyun Tower, and looking up, she caught sight of Binju and Qiuju standing in an eight-sided pavilion at the top of a twelve-step staircase just outside Lvyun Tower, murmuring together — Qiuju’s expression was a little disdainful, while Binju’s was very grave.

Had Hupo not said she was going to urge Qiuju to bring the food? Why was Qiuju here talking with Binju instead?

She couldn’t help but look up at the sky.

Great masses of dark clouds drifted through the air like tattered floss, casting the light into dimness; there was no telling what hour it was.

The two of them also caught sight of Eleventh Miss, and came together to pay their respects to Fifth Yiniang.

Fifth Yiniang exchanged a few casual words with them, then was helped away by a junior maid. Qiuju also parted from Binju: “I’ll go fetch the food box!”

Binju made a signal with her eyes to Eleventh Miss, and said to Qiuju: “Go quickly!”

Qiuju acknowledged and departed. Binju then came to support Eleventh Miss as they walked back toward Lvyun Tower.

“Didn’t Hupo tell Qiuju to go fetch the food?”

“She did,” said Binju. “Only she ran into me and we chatted for a while.”

Eleventh Miss heard the candor in her reply and gave a small nod.

Binju had an open, bright, and warmhearted nature, fair and upright in everything she did. The longer one spent in her company, the more one liked her.

“Miss, I have something to tell you.”

A gleam of cheerful excitement flickered in her eyes, and seeing it, Eleventh Miss felt a surge of anticipation. She lowered her voice: “Is it about the Yiniangs…”

Binju nodded.

The two of them went back out of Lvyun Tower and stood in the pavilion where Binju and Qiuju had been talking moments before — the view from here was wide and open; anyone approaching could be spotted at a glance, making it impossible to be overheard.

“Qiuju went back and asked her mother.” Binju spoke gravely. “Her mother said that First Yiniang is a household-born servant. Her parents died early, and she was raised by an uncle. Later, when the uncle married and his new wife could not abide her, she found ways to enter the household as a servant. Because she was beautiful and had a gentle disposition, the late Grand Matriarch placed her in the First Master’s chambers. The people of the household, high and low, all liked her very much. Second Yiniang, on the other hand, came here as a refugee during a great flood in those years — she sold herself into bondage and entered the household. She was first set to sweeping in the outer courtyard. Somehow she came to be connected with the nephew of the former Head Steward, Niu Anli, who worked as a manager in the accounts office. Using Steward Niu’s influence, she was transferred from the outer courtyard to the inner courtyard’s flower nursery, where she was put in charge of the hothouse flowers. Within days, she found an opportunity to deliver flowers to the Grand Matriarch, caught the Grand Matriarch’s eye, and was transferred to the First Master’s chambers. The two of them spent five or six years in the First Master’s quarters, rising from third-rank maids to first-rank senior maids. When First Madam entered the household, she made the decision to take both of them as chamber maids.”

Niu Anli had been the predecessor of Wu Xiaoquan. After Wu Xiaoquan became Head Steward, Niu Anli requested to be released from servitude, and the entire family relocated to Yangzhou. But though Niu Anli had been gone from the Luo household for more than ten years, whenever the servants of the Luo mansion mentioned him, it was always with warmth in their voices. It was clear he had been well-liked within the household.

Yet Eleventh Miss listened with a slight furrow in her brow.

By this account, First Yiniang was rather straightforward, while Second Yiniang had a certain craftiness. But neither type was in short supply in the Luo mansion.

Quite ordinary, really.

“Miss, there is one more thing!” Binju lowered her voice considerably. “Qiuju said that her mother spoke of Second Yiniang with great contempt.”

Eleventh Miss’s attention sharpened: “Do you know why?”

“She said Second Yiniang was a fox spirit who brought ruin to Steward Niu’s nephew!”

Eleventh Miss stared at Binju in shock.

“Steward Niu’s nephew had been waiting for Second Yiniang to be released from service. But in the end, Second Yiniang was taken as a chamber maid by the First Master — and Steward Niu’s nephew, in a fit of rage, threw himself into a well! Qiuju’s mother also said that Steward Niu’s departure from the household was connected to this matter!”

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