On the way back to their quarters, Eleventh Young Miss asked Xu Lingyi: “What did the Zhu family send?” Her smile was bright, her interest quite evident.

“The gift inventory is at the accounts office,” Xu Lingyi said, calling over a nearby maidservant to send for Steward Bai. “Ask and you’ll know.”

Steward Bai had just finished personally overseeing the manservants loading the carriage. Hearing Xu Lingyi wanted the gift list, he thought for a moment, then went to the accounts office himself to fetch it. He also had the return gift list retrieved, and then made his way quickly to the main rooms.

“…Ten jin of white sugar, ten jin of brown sugar, ten jin of lotus seeds, ten jin of white wood ear fungus, ten jin of black wood ear fungus, two jin of black pepper, two jin of white pepper…” Eleventh Young Miss smiled. “All the New Year provisions covered — just bring a pot and you could start cooking.”

Xu Lingyi also laughed: “Let me have a look.” He took the list.

Steward Bai, who had been standing deferentially with his head lowered, produced another gift list from his sleeve: “My Lady, here is our return gift list.”

Lvyun, standing to the side, took it and handed it to Eleventh Young Miss, who unfolded it: “…Ten jin of tangyuan pastry, ten jin of pea cake, ten jin of poria cake, ten jin of crabapple preserves, ten jin of jujube preserves, ten jin of pear preserves…” All famous Yanjing specialties, yet none worth very much in coin.

She was inwardly somewhat taken aback.

Steward Bai, who had been watching Eleventh Young Miss from the corner of his eye, smiled: “My Lady, the Zhu family’s gifts were all local specialties, totaling around two hundred taels in value. I thought to myself: since the other party had gone to such trouble, sending ordinary things in return would seem disrespectful. So I specially selected an assortment of Yanjing specialties of comparable value to send back. It is also a token of goodwill from our household.”

Two hundred taels… For Fourth Miss, Fifth Miss, Tenth Miss, herself, Elder Brother, Third Elder Brother, and Fourth Elder Brother — that came to one thousand four hundred taels in all… Eleventh Young Miss felt a rush of heat. Yet from Steward Bai’s tone, it seemed the Xu household had indeed returned gifts of equivalent value.

With Xu Lingyi present, she naturally had to give Steward Bai face.

“Steward Bai has always been thorough and dependable,” Eleventh Young Miss smiled, as Lvyun passed the return gift list back respectfully to Steward Bai. “Each of us sisters is in a different place. Exchanging local specialties is most fitting — both households get to taste something fresh.”

Steward Bai discreetly glanced at Xu Lingyi — and seeing him give a slight nod, his heart lit up at once, as though a lamp had been kindled inside him.

“My Lady is too generous with her praise. This is simply this old servant’s duty. Having done it for decades, there is no reason to make mistakes.” He answered Eleventh Young Miss’s words respectfully.

“You need not be modest,” Xu Lingyi said, handing the Zhu family’s gift list back to Steward Bai. “You have indeed earned my Lady’s praise.”

A smile spread irrepressibly across Steward Bai’s face: “This is entirely owing to my Lord’s guidance. This old servant has only worked diligently to avoid any major errors.”

What a person — what a way of speaking! He was truly something remarkable.

Eleventh Young Miss admired him inwardly.

If not for the pressing matter of Fengqing at hand, she would have genuinely liked to use this opportunity to become better acquainted with Steward Bai.

“You have been diligent, and what has it to do with me?” Xu Lingyi smiled — a rare occurrence — in a rare moment of light humor with Steward Bai, then called for Linbo: “Go with Steward Bai to Half-Moon Pond and see to things there.”

He was letting Linbo inform Steward Bai about the child, of course.

Eleventh Young Miss thought as much, and then heard Xu Lingyi instruct Linbo: “While you’re at it, have my everyday belongings moved to My Lady’s rooms.”

Moving his everyday belongings to her quarters…

Her expression went slightly rigid. Was this not a case of a stone dropped on one’s own foot?

Linbo respectfully assented and led Steward Bai out.

Yet Steward Bai glanced back at Eleventh Young Miss before withdrawing.

Xu Lingyi then gave Eleventh Young Miss an apologetic smile: “The child is staying at Half-Moon Pond, and his eating, drinking, and other needs will inevitably require Steward Bai’s involvement. And then there are his injuries to see to…”

Was he explaining why he had sent Linbo to bring Steward Bai to Half-Moon Pond?

The more people who knew, the greater the risk of word leaking — and correspondingly, the smaller the risk to herself.

Eleventh Young Miss smiled warmly at Xu Lingyi: “With Steward Bai’s assistance, I am genuinely relieved. Otherwise, some matters would truly have been difficult to manage.”

Xu Lingyi nodded, and was just about to say something when a young maidservant came in: “My Lord, My Lady, the Third Madam of the Qiao Family has arrived!”

Qiao Lianfang’s mother!

Eleventh Young Miss was startled and looked over at Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi was equally surprised, and looked back at Eleventh Young Miss.

Eleventh Young Miss’s mind turned swiftly. She smiled: “It is nearly New Year’s. The Third Madam Qiao must be worried about Qiao Yiniang and has come especially to look in on her.” She added: “But the household has everything provided — food, drink, and New Year money and clothing have all been distributed. The Third Madam Qiao is overworrying.”

Xu Lingyi said nothing to this, merely saying flatly “I’ll be inside first,” and went directly back to the inner room.

Eleventh Young Miss smiled slightly and instructed the young maidservant: “Please invite the Third Madam Qiao in.”

A mother’s heart is always with her child — she did not resent the Third Madam Qiao for coming to see Qiao Lianfang. The only condition was that she not meddle in the affairs of the Xu household, and not treat the Xu household as her own vegetable garden, to enter and exit as she pleased.

Before long, the young maidservant led the Third Madam Qiao in.

She wore a rich purple plain-weave flower-brocade padded jacket, her bearing as measured and composed as ever.

The two exchanged greetings. Before the Third Madam Qiao could speak, Eleventh Young Miss had already said pleasantly: “The Third Madam has come to see Qiao Yiniang, I take it?” She glanced at the self-striking clock standing in the east room. “My Lord and I are just about to go to the Grand Madam’s quarters. I won’t be seeing the Third Madam out afterward.” Perfectly courteous.

Since she had already allowed her in, there was no need to make things difficult — doing so would only make herself seem petty. Better to be generous and let her go see Qiao Lianfang.

The Third Madam Qiao was somewhat surprised at Eleventh Young Miss’s readiness, glanced toward the curtain of the inner room, and said with some deliberation: “Thank you, My Lady. Her constitution is delicate — previous winters have never been easy. I was worried, so I came to look in on her.”

“Oh!” Eleventh Young Miss gave a slight smile. “It may be because she has taken quite a few tonics this year that we haven’t heard of any illness. Third Madam, why not send over Qiao Yiniang’s old prescriptions from previous years? I will have an imperial physician look at them. Following the pattern of her chronic old ailments, I can have a few courses of medicinal preparations brewed and taken, to properly regulate her health. This way, falling ill every few days is really not ideal.”

The Third Madam Qiao heard this and laughed coldly inside.

Well, you clever Luo Eleventh Young Miss — all silk on the outside, a blade within!

You only want to use this as a means of leverage over me.

If I produce the old prescriptions, you will say that Lianfang’s constitution is too weak to bear children. If I cannot produce them, you will hint to others that Lianfang has been feigning illness.

You have your schemes going up over the wall — I have my own for coming over it.

Just recently the Old Madam Qiao had asked about Lianfang’s situation. Hearing that nothing had come of it yet, she had the imperial physicians open a special prescription for a restorative preparation for Lianfang’s health. When the time came, she would produce that prescription for Eleventh Young Miss to see, and let her find something to fault with that.

The thought flashed through her mind in an instant, and she smiled as she thanked Eleventh Young Miss: “Thank you, My Lady. I was just worrying over this very thing. Now that you’ve said this, I am reassured. I will go home and retrieve the old prescriptions Lianfang has always used and bring them over for you to review, so you may act accordingly.”

Quite a quick response!

Eleventh Young Miss returned with “Then I will trouble the Third Madam to have someone send them over some day,” and raised her teacup.

The Third Madam Qiao understood the signal to leave. She curtsied, then followed the young maidservant to Qiao Lianfang’s quarters.

Qiao Lianfang had received word early. She had Xiuyuan waiting at the door, and had herself brewed a fine pot of Tieguanyin and arranged a red-lacquered nine-compartment plum-blossom box with candied winter melon, peach preserves, and five-spiced melon seeds, waiting inside.

The Third Madam Qiao first asked Xiuyuan: “Does the Marquis treat your young mistress well?”

Xiuyuan smiled behind her sleeve: “Madam may rest easy. The Marquis treats our young mistress better than any other here in this courtyard.”

The Third Madam Qiao was relieved, and entered the room with Xiuyuan.

Qiao Lianfang quickly stepped forward in greeting, welcoming the Third Madam Qiao to the large kang by the window, and personally presented her mother with tea.

The Third Madam Qiao gazed through the glass window at the winter-green tree leaves outside in crisp, clear relief, and let out a long sigh: “This room of yours is no less fine than a proper young miss’s or madam’s room in the Qiao household.”

Qiao Lianfang smiled and offered her mother a piece of peach preserve on a toothpick: “Everyone here lives much the same.”

The Third Madam Qiao had just come from Eleventh Young Miss’s side, where the room was simply larger — in terms of refinement, it was indeed much the same.

She did not know that the three concubines’ quarters had originally been the courtyard of the Second Master’s bride from when he had first wed. The Xu household had once renovated it thoroughly. Afterward, since the Second Master had died young there, no one wished to move in — and Yuan Niang had bestowed it upon Qin Yiniang and Wen Yiniang as a special favor. When Qiao Lianfang entered the household, a room was simply partitioned off for her in the same place…

The Third Madam Qiao took a small bite of the peach preserve: “You asked me to come. What is the matter?”

A couple of days prior, Qiao Lianfang had bribed a coarse serving woman with one tael of silver to carry a verbal message to the Third Madam Qiao.

Hearing this, Qiao Lianfang’s face colored faintly, and she said in a low voice: “That year when Uncle returned from Xuantong, he brought back several fine gauze bed canopies. I was there at the time. Among them was one painted in the style of ink-wash landscapes — very beautiful. I would like Mother to help me obtain it.”

The Third Madam Qiao was taken aback: “What do you want that canopy for?” In her heart she thought: that canopy was like mist and rosy clouds; folded up, it was no bigger than a fist. Old Madam Qiao had always treated it as a treasure — she only brought it out once a year in the sixth month to air it in the sun. It would not be so easy to obtain.

In front of her mother, Qiao Lianfang was still somewhat embarrassed. She said with a slight blush: “The Marquis finds the gauze curtains stifling… The side of Eleventh Young Miss has already changed to fine kudzu cloth… I heard that Wen Yiniang’s side also has one canopy…” She spoke, and despite herself her tone carried a hint of disdain. “These people only know that kudzu cloth is fine — they think gauze is too sheer and gaudy, and call it vulgar. But they don’t understand that gauze woven into ink-wash paintings or calligraphy is the most refined and elegant of things…”

The Third Madam Qiao heard her and sighed: “Doing this in a way that sets you apart from Eleventh Young Miss… that is always too conspicuous.”

Qiao Lianfang was unconcerned: “She will never come to my room… Even if a maidservant reports it to her. This is my own belonging. And if the Marquis takes a liking to it — say I even gave it away to her — what of it? With the Marquis knowing, it would only make him think she had taken it by force. Would she treat me any differently whether or not I hang that canopy? It makes no difference.”

The Third Madam Qiao heard her daughter’s reasoning and found it had some logic, but the approach still felt improper. She suggested: “How about this — you first let the Marquis know. Say that you had no idea the Marquis found gauze curtains stifling. Tell him you have a fine gauze ink-wash canopy that you were very fond of in your own room — that Old Madam Qiao had it made especially for you to take with you when you came here. That you’ve always kept it packed at the bottom of your trunk and never dared hang it…”

Qiao Lianfang heard this and broke into a delighted smile: “Mother always thinks of everything.”

“This child of mine — truly never a moment’s peace.” The Third Madam Qiao, seeing her daughter break into her familiar, unreserved smile, felt her own heart lighten, and asked quietly: “The medicine I brought you last time — have you been taking it regularly?”

Qiao Lianfang’s face flushed faintly: “I have been taking it as you instructed!”

The Third Madam Qiao gently stroked her daughter’s head: “You need to bear a son early. Otherwise, your position here will always be uncertain.”

Qiao Lianfang said nothing, and looked down, fiddling with the hem of her garment — but the corners of her eyes and brows could not quite conceal her quiet delight.

—