A better prospect?

Dongqing shook her head, looking somewhat at a loss: “I was so focused on how to avoid being matched with Nanny Yao’s nephew… I haven’t made any plans at all.”

“Then follow Madam’s arrangements,” Zhuxiang said gently. “Madam wouldn’t harm you.”

Dongqing thought of how the Eleventh Young Madam had once maneuvered around Nanny Yao on her behalf.

“Yes.” She nodded firmly. “Madam has always treated me very well.”

Zhuxiang thought of the rumors someone had once murmured in her ear, hesitated a moment, then said, “Besides, Dongqing, you’re getting on in years — it’s better to marry Wan Daxian now than to be arbitrarily assigned some junior attendant later on. At least with him, you know what you’re getting.”

Dongqing hadn’t even considered that angle.

She sat still for a long while before returning to her room.

The next day she reported back to Hupo: “I will leave it entirely in Madam’s hands.”

The Eleventh Young Madam was inwardly puzzled: *How did she change her mind so quickly?* She added, “This is a lifelong matter. If she’s unwilling, I can find someone suitable from the outer courtyard for her instead. There’s no need to force anything.”

Hupo smiled: “Who could possibly be unwilling? She simply didn’t want to leave Madam’s side. Nothing outside can compare to life here in the household. And to go be a daughter-in-law — you have to manage your parents-in-law’s moods, and then your brothers-in-law’s and sisters-in-law’s on top of it.”

The Eleventh Young Madam laughed: “As if I would send her back to Wan Yizong to farm the land. Never mind now, when she’s serving me here in the household — even back at the Luo Mansion, there would have been no reason to make her work the fields.” She then had Hupo call Dongqing in: “I’ll arrange a position for her here in the household going forward.”

Dongqing came in flushed scarlet from head to toe, twisting and fidgeting with embarrassment.

The Eleventh Young Madam, seeing that she didn’t appear unwilling, finally felt at ease.

“You may be a member of our household, but your mother and father raised you — now that you’re to be married, you should send word to them as well. There are no auspicious dates left this year, so we’ll have to wait until after the Fifth Madam gives birth in the second month of next year and then select a fortunate day to hold the wedding.”

Dongqing’s face turned so red it looked as though blood might drip from it. Her response came out barely above a whisper: “Yes.”

Just as they were speaking, a junior maid came in to announce: “Madam, the First Young Miss has arrived.”

Seeing that Dongqing was thoroughly overcome with embarrassment, the Eleventh Young Madam smiled and said, “You may go and rest now.” Only then did she have the junior maid invite Zhen Jie’er in.

The two crossed paths as they came and went — Dongqing gave Zhen Jie’er a hasty curtsy and hurried off.

Zhen Jie’er found it strange: “What’s the matter with her?” In the usual way of things, Dongqing was careful and proper and showed her great respect.

“Nothing, nothing.” The Eleventh Young Madam smiled and changed the subject. “Have you finished packing your things?”

Zhen Jie’er came forward to pay her respects: “Everything is packed. I came especially to take my leave of Mother.”

Seeing that only the Eleventh Young Madam was in the room, she very much wanted to ask where Father had gone — but thinking of the several Yiniangs in the household, she swallowed the words and made no mention of Xu Lingyi at all.

The Eleventh Young Madam hadn’t expected Zhen Jie’er to come so early — Xu Lingyi hadn’t come over yet. Then another matter came to her, and she asked: “Did you send someone to inform Hui Jie’er?”

They were neighbors, and families would call on one another over the New Year. Since Zhen Jie’er and Hui Jie’er were close, it was only right to greet Hui Jie’er before departing — a mark of respect between friends.

The decision had been made in a hurry, and Zhen Jie’er had neither had the opportunity nor the standing to send anyone to the Marquis of Weibei’s household. That was precisely why she had risen early to come see the Eleventh Young Madam.

“I was just hoping to ask Mother to send someone in my stead.”

The Eleventh Young Madam had Hupo fetch the household token and sent Lvyun to call Nanny Tao: “…Have her make a trip to the Marquis of Weibei’s household.”

Zhen Jie’er quickly added: “Please also have Nanny Tao pass a message to Hui Jie’er — ask her whether she prefers the fragrance of jasmine or tuberose, and I’ll bring her back some floral water when I return.”

The Second Madam was skilled at making such things, and Zhen Jie’er would have no difficulty obtaining them.

When messages are passed through intermediaries, misunderstandings are all too easy. The Eleventh Young Madam simply said, “It would be better if Zhen Jie’er wrote a letter for Nanny Tao to deliver.”

Zhen Jie’er thought this an excellent idea.

The Eleventh Young Madam had Hongxiu attend to Zhen Jie’er in the east side room while she wrote, then herself instructed Hupo to go find someone: “…Tell him that Zhen Jie’er has already arrived and will be away until after the Lantern Festival. We’ll be going to the Grand Madam’s shortly — tell him to come quickly so Zhen Jie’er can take her leave of him properly.”

Hupo went off to do so.

The Eleventh Young Madam waited a while. Hupo came back and reported: “Qiao Yiniang says the Marquis is not with her. I asked the night attendants, and they say the Marquis left before dawn.”

“Could he be at Banyue Pond?” the Eleventh Young Madam wondered aloud. “Go look. Zhen Jie’er can’t very well leave without saying goodbye to him.”

Hupo nodded and went out to search.

By then Zhen Jie’er had finished her letter, and instructions to Nanny Tao had been given. The Eleventh Young Madam sat and chatted with Zhen Jie’er a while longer — but time was growing short, Hupo still hadn’t returned, and they truly could not wait any longer. She had no choice but to take Zhen Jie’er to the Grand Madam’s quarters.

The Grand Madam was busy with Nanny Du going through the pile of large and small bundles on the kang. When she saw them come in, she pointed to the packages one by one: “…These are sweets, these are candied fruits, these are sundry items…” All of it was food. She added, “If you find yourself wanting something to eat, just send someone back to say so, and I’ll have it prepared and sent over right away.”

Zhen Jie’er felt her eyes growing warm: “Grandmother…”

This was the first time in her life she would not be spending the New Year at home…

Before the words were even out, Xu Siqin, Xu Siyu, and Xu Sijian came walking in with cheerful smiles — they had come to see Zhen Jie’er off. Then Zhun Ge’er’s wet nurse arrived carrying Zhun Ge’er; the Third Madam and the Fifth Madam happened to meet on the way and entered together. The room filled with lively chatter and laughter, and the small shadow of sadness that had just begun to form in Zhen Jie’er’s heart was swept entirely away.

When a junior maid came in to announce “the carriage is ready,” the Grand Madam insisted on personally seeing Zhen Jie’er to the Chuihua Gate. No one dared to delay — they all crowded around the Grand Madam and Zhen Jie’er, who supported her arm, and made their way together to the gate.

At the Chuihua Gate, they encountered Xu Lingyi.

Everyone was startled.

The Eleventh Young Madam was even more surprised — Xu Lingyi had apparently not been in the inner courtyard at all.

What on earth had taken him to the outer courtyard so early in the morning?

But with so many people around, it wasn’t the moment to ask such things. She smiled and stepped forward to greet him: “My Lord, we are just seeing Zhen Jie’er off to the Western Hills.”

Xu Lingyi gave a slight nod, stepped forward to pay his respects to the Grand Madam, then turned an expression of mild detachment toward Zhen Jie’er and said simply, “Once you are there, obey your Second Aunt.”

Yet Zhen Jie’er appeared deeply moved, the corners of her eyes glistening with moisture.

She respectfully dipped into a half-curtsy before Xu Lingyi: “This child will heed Father’s instruction. Please take good care of yourself, Father.”

Xu Lingyi gave a calm nod. Xu Siqin and the others each stepped forward to pay their respects to him.

The big chestnut horse held by a groom pawed the ground impatiently.

The Grand Madam then instructed Zhen Jie’er, “Off you go. I’ll send someone to bring you home on the morning of the eighteenth day of the first month.”

The coarse-duty servant woman accompanying the carriage quickly set out the mounting step. Tears brimmed in Zhen Jie’er’s eyes, and the Grand Madam drew a handkerchief from her sleeve to dab the corners of her own.

The Third Madam stepped forward quickly: “The hour is getting late — Zhen Jie’er should be getting into the carriage. The Second Young Madam has known since early this morning and is surely counting the time waiting. If it gets too late, who knows how worried she’ll be.”

Zhen Jie’er nodded repeatedly, then bowed to the Grand Madam: “Grandmother, since Sijian will not be here to attend you, please take great care of yourself.”

The Grand Madam smiled and nodded: “I have your mother, your Third Aunt, and your Fifth Aunt to attend me. Go to the Western Hills and keep your Second Aunt company without a worry.”

Zhen Jie’er curtsied to everyone, said “I’m off then,” and was helped into the carriage by Xiao Li.

The servant woman accompanying the carriage quickly put away the mounting step, gave a quick curtsy to the Grand Madam, then climbed up to the driver’s perch and called to the groom, “Move on!”

The groom nodded and led the horse outward.

The window curtain was lifted, and through the green gauze window one could just make out Zhen Jie’er’s face, reluctant to let go.

Everyone watched as she departed, then rode in the covered green-curtained small oil carriages to the Grand Madam’s rooms. After much coaxing, the Grand Madam at last recovered her spirits and turned to ask Xu Lingyi: “And you — what were you doing so early in the morning?”

“Ah!” He said quite offhandedly, “Fan Weigang sent someone to deliver a letter — asking after my leg.”

If that were truly the case, why not remain lying in bed and have the messenger sent in, rather than go to the outer courtyard in person…

The Eleventh Young Madam was full of suspicion.

A flicker of puzzlement crossed the Grand Madam’s eyes as well.

But neither of them asked further. The Grand Madam moved on, turning to the Third Madam: “Are the preparations for the year-end sweeping all in order? Have the couplets and door charms all been got ready?”

The Third Madam smiled: “Please don’t worry — everything is prepared. You only need to get the New Year’s money ready!”

The Grand Madam was tickled into a fit of laughter.

A junior maid came in to report: “Third Madam, the flowers from Fengtai have arrived.”

The weather this year had been especially cold, and the household’s own greenhouse had not produced enough flowers, so some had been ordered from Fengtai.

The Third Madam rose: “Let me go have a look.” She turned back to the Eleventh Young Madam: “Fourth Sister-in-law, come with me — you should have a sense of which flowers go where.”

The Eleventh Young Madam glanced toward the Grand Madam.

The Grand Madam gave a faint nod: “Go ahead.”

Only then did the Eleventh Young Madam follow the Third Madam, curtsying to the Grand Madam as they left together.

That left Xu Lingyi — the elder brother-in-law — and the Fifth Madam — a younger sister-in-law — alone in the room. As it would be improper for her to linger, the Fifth Madam rose and took her leave of the Grand Madam: “…I’d like to go lie down.”

The Grand Madam could hardly keep her. She had Nanny Du see the Fifth Madam out, then sent Weizi to take the younger generation off to the east side room, leaving herself to speak privately with Xu Lingyi.

The Fifth Madam returned to her own room and also had a private conversation with her maid, Shi Mama.

“Well? Is there any news from Yi Yiniang in the Third Branch’s household?”

Shi Mama lowered her voice: “Yi Yiniang herself isn’t entirely clear on the details. But the Third Madam has been packing her things these past few days — it looks as though she may be moving out.”

“Moving out?” The Fifth Madam stopped in her tracks, her eyes flickering with confusion. “The Grand Madam is still here — it’s impossible that the family would be dividing.”

“That’s exactly what makes it so strange.” Shi Mama was equally baffled. “And have you noticed how the Third Madam has been toward the Fourth Madam? — She seems to be teaching her household management in all earnestness.”

The Fifth Madam nodded slowly, her expression growing somewhat grave: “I feel unsettled in my heart. I keep feeling as though something is about to happen.”

Shi Mama took in her words and then said, “Ah — now that you mention it, there is one more thing!”

The Fifth Madam’s interest was piqued: “What is it?”

“I heard from Yi Yiniang that yesterday, when the Third Madam learned that Xian Jie’er was observing the Pox Deity, she specifically took the young master with her to pay a visit. But when she arrived, the maid outside the room of the matron of the Gan family’s First Young Master blocked her at the door — saying the First Young Madam was busy attending to the girl and couldn’t receive visitors. Yet a moment later, they let in the young master of the Marquis Zhennan Wang family, who had come to inquire after the patient… The Third Madam couldn’t maintain her composure and left without even staying for tea.”

The Third Branch had always been fond of putting on an impressive front, and the Fifth Madam paid this no great mind — but another matter caught her attention: “The young master of the Wang family of Marquis Zhennan? Lady Zhou’s nephew?”

Shi Mama nodded with a smile: “Precisely.”

The Fifth Madam covered her mouth and laughed.

—