Shiyiniang was greatly startled.

This early? And today was the twenty-seventh of the twelfth month. Could something have happened to Fifth Yiniang? Or to First Madam…

She quickly told the young maid: “Please invite him in at once.” Her mind in turmoil, she changed into a water-blue brocade padded robe embroidered with ten auspicious roses and went to the reception hall.

Seeing it was Shiyiniang who came out, Luo Zhensheng’s expression visibly relaxed, but then he asked: “And the Marquis?”

Not wanting to get into the household affairs, Shiyiniang gave a vague answer: “The Marquis did not sleep here last night.”

Luo Zhensheng assumed Xu Lingyi had spent the night in a concubine’s room, and said: “I have something to say to you.” He put heavy emphasis on the word “you.”

Shiyiniang led Luo Zhensheng to the sitting room in the east side chamber. Once the young maids had served tea, she dismissed all the attendants from her side.

“There is something you need to listen to carefully,” Luo Zhensheng said, his expression very grave. “Don’t cry out, and don’t lose your head.”

If anything, being told that made Shiyiniang compose herself all the more.

“Please speak, Elder Brother.”

Luo Zhensheng looked at her steadily: “Yesterday, I went with several fellow graduates to visit our teacher, and in the course of it, I heard someone say that the Marquis has an illegitimate son…”

“The Marquis has an illegitimate son?” Shiyiniang stared at Luo Zhensheng in stunned disbelief. “Who told you this? What exactly was said?”

The words were out of her mouth before she realized what a foolish question she had asked.

Luo Zhensheng was not the sort to pursue gossip. The fact that even he had heard this — and moreover had heard it while visiting their teacher with fellow graduates — meant the story had already spread everywhere, known to all. It had been barely two days since the affair with Fengqing came to light. In a world without the internet, without television, and with the would-be buyer being a member of the Qu family — who had spread the rumor was already self-evident. As for what was being said — of course, everything was framed in the most damaging way possible for Xu Lingyi’s reputation. Since the matter had been exposed, even if they could not strike at the root, at least they could make him suffer a small torment.

“It’s being passed around widely!” Luo Zhensheng could not go through it all one by one. “At the time, my teacher — Under-Minister of Rites, Official Yu — was present and did not contradict it.” Since Official Yu was known for his integrity and directness, he would never allow his students to spread falsehoods unchecked. Luo Zhensheng took this as confirmation of the story’s truth. “They are saying that three years ago, when the Marquis was suppressing the rebellion in Miao territory, a camp entertainer who had warmed his bed became pregnant, and was secretly brought back to Yanjing afterwards, where she gave birth to a son. When calculated, the timing is consistent. Because his first wife was gravely ill, the child has been kept outside all this time…” The best course of action for a man in such circumstances was precisely to keep the child outside.

He gave a brief account, then fixed his gaze on Shiyiniang: “I heard the Marquis has already brought the child home. Did you know about this?”

Shiyiniang had no way of answering.

Up to now, Xu Lingyi’s instructions to her had been to keep this from everyone for the time being.

Luo Zhensheng was not surprised to see his younger sister silent.

After all, Shiyiniang had not been married into the Xu family for very long. Naturally, something as weighty as the matter of heirs would first have to be discussed with the Dowager Marchioness…

“Eleventh Sister,” he said gravely, looking steadily at her, “now that you know about this — if the Dowager Marchioness and the Marquis both intend for the child to be formally recognized into the family. What will you do?”

Shiyiniang felt a jolt of realization.

How had she forgotten about this angle? Now that the Luo family had already heard such a rumor, they would naturally take precautions. For Luo Zhensheng to come this early in the morning, in all likelihood it was for this very matter.

She looked at him calmly: “Naturally, I will defer to the Dowager Marchioness and the Marquis.”

Luo Zhensheng nodded, and a gleam of approval passed through his eyes: “It is good that you understand the situation.”

Had Luo Zhensheng come all this way at the crack of dawn just to tell her that one sentence? Or had he simply not understood the meaning she had hidden beneath her words?

Confusion flickered through Shiyiniang’s heart, when Luo Zhensheng had already lowered his voice to instruct her: “But there is one thing you must never agree to under any circumstances.”

So there was more to come.

She kept her composure, looking at him earnestly: “Please instruct me, Elder Brother.”

“No matter what, you must never let the child be placed under your name.” Luo Zhensheng fixed his gaze on Shiyiniang, word by word: “The Marquis wishing to bring the child home — that is human nature. But if the child is placed under your name, he gains the status of being born of the principal wife, and in this household, he would stand second only to Zhun Ge. Zhun Ge taking precedence over him is natural, no issue there. But you are still young, and in time you will have your own children…” He paused. “You cannot let him take the standing that belongs to your own children.”

This child was no relation to the Luo family, and the Luo family having such concerns was entirely understandable. Shiyiniang could see the logic of it. And she agreed with it. If Fengqing were placed under her name, he would face not only the suspicion of the legitimate son Zhun Ge, but also the wariness of the eldest concubine’s son Xu Siyu. If one day these children came to conflict over the marquisate and turned against one another within the family, the first one to suffer would be Fengqing.

What a relief that Xu Lingyi had no such intention!

Shiyiniang let out a long quiet breath.

Then she thought — since the Qu family had deliberately spread the rumor, Xu Lingyi would also hear about it very soon. How would he handle this matter? Sending the child to West Mountain or back to the ancestral home would only have the look of a cover-up, and would defeat the purpose of concealment. In all likelihood, the child would probably end up staying in the mansion after all. And that was fine. In any case, the Dowager Marchioness was still in good health, and it would be a while before this household divided. Given Fifth Madam’s temperament, she would most likely ignore this child — in which case, if they chose a few honest, good-hearted people to care for him, he should gradually be able to put the pain of his past behind him.

But whatever happened, she still worried about his future.

And Luo Zhensheng, seeing the faint desolation pass through Shiyiniang’s eyes, assumed she was worrying about what to do if Xu Lingyi asked her to place the child under her name — it was natural to be afraid of Xu Lingyi, given the commanding authority in his brow and Shiyiniang’s young age.

“Eleventh Sister,” he said slowly, “you have no need to worry. Know that since ancient times, taking in a child born of an outside woman has required two things: first, the consent of the clan, and second, the consent of the principal wife. The Xu family is small, and the Marquis already holds the position of family head, so the first condition is essentially void. As for the second — you are husband and wife, and a wife takes her husband as her sky. If the Marquis has this intention and you refuse him, the Marquis will lose face, and in time you will grow estranged, which would be an unhappy outcome over this one matter. Let me suggest something for you — see whether it will work.” He asked, but in reality had no intention of seeking her opinion, thinking she was not only young but of limited experience, and so stated his plan directly: “Is it not the case that the second household has no heir? If the Marquis raises this with you, I think it would be best to speak earnestly with the Marquis and suggest that the child be formally recognized into the second household’s line. You could also tell people that the child was taken in from a charitable home, or was picked up by chance — and that because the child has a pair of phoenix eyes remarkably like those of the Xu family, it felt like fate, and so he was brought home to continue the second household’s line. This way, you are free of the difficulty, and at the same time you take some of the burden off the Marquis. When the Marquis hears it, he is sure to be pleased.”

In terms of both sentiment and reason, this plan was remarkably thorough.

It was certainly not First Madam’s idea.

First Madam would never trouble herself over the state of her and Xu Lingyi’s relationship — the more strained things were between them, the harder it would be for her to conceive, and the more dependent she would be on Zhun Ge, which would only strengthen Zhun Ge’s standing. That was precisely what First Madam would have welcomed, so why would she advise her not to quarrel with Xu Lingyi over the child?

It seemed this was Luo Zhensheng’s own idea.

She could not help looking at him carefully and calling out softly: “Elder Brother.”

Luo Zhensheng smiled: “What is it?”

“Nothing,” Shiyiniang smiled too, her eyes bright as a rainbow after rain. “This child comes from such a humble background — I am afraid Second Sister-in-law may not agree.”

“It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t agree!” Luo Zhensheng said. “Placing him under one of the Yiniang’s names works just as well. Wen Yiniang has no son, does she? He can be placed under her name. Qiao Yiniang is young and beautiful — she is sure to have children in time. But the Jiang family and Qiao Yiniang are close, so Wen Yiniang will always feel insecure without a son. Give the child to her, and she will have something to contend against Qiao Yiniang with. If the plan with Second Madam doesn’t work out, you mention it to Wen Yiniang. Wen Yiniang is a clever woman — she will find a way on her own. You just stay out of it.”

Shiyiniang smiled and nodded: “I understand.”

Luo Zhensheng smiled: “Good. I’ve said all I came to say. Now I’ll see the Marquis and be on my way.”

Shiyiniang called a young maid to go and invite Xu Lingyi.

Luo Zhensheng said in surprise: “What — he’s in the Dowager Marchioness’s quarters?”

“The Dowager Marchioness was unwell last night, and kept the Marquis to speak with him.”

Luo Zhensheng heard this and grew thoughtful.

Could it be that mother and son had stayed up to discuss this very matter…

The thought had barely passed when the young maid sent to find Xu Lingyi came back: “Madam, the Marquis has returned!”

It seemed they had met him on the way.

Shiyiniang said “Oh,” and went with Luo Zhensheng to greet him.

Xu Lingyi, too, could not conceal his surprise at seeing Luo Zhensheng up so early: “Zhensheng, this early. Come, let’s sit inside.”

The two went to the east side chamber and sat down, and Shiyiniang went personally to brew tea and bring it in.

Luo Zhensheng was already telling Xu Lingyi about the rumors.

Xu Lingyi showed no surprise, and nodded: “I heard as well. You need not worry — I will handle this matter properly. I will not let Shiyiniang suffer any grievance.”

Luo Zhensheng relaxed at these words.

Xu Lingyi was a man who meant what he said. Since he had said he would not let Shiyiniang come to grief, he would certainly not place the child under her name.

With that assurance, the great weight lifted from Luo Zhensheng’s mind. He exchanged a few pleasantries with Xu Lingyi, then rose to take his leave: “…I am heading to a fellow graduate’s today for a meal.”

Xu Lingyi did not press him to stay, and saw him out the door, then came back inside with Shiyiniang to speak in the inner room.

“I only received word in the middle of last night. When the two sides were fighting over the child, Liu Huifang had already vanished. And the child had been kept like a cash cow, locked away and raised by him for years. After he fell on hard times, he cut off contact with most of his old friends, so very few people knew about this. When I brought the child back, I had already sent people to the charitable home to lay the groundwork — even if there are cracks in the story, enough voices saying the same thing will hold. The Qu family won’t be able to turn up anything.”

“Is the child still being sent to West Mountain?” Shiyiniang wanted a firm answer from Xu Lingyi. “If not, I should make some arrangements.”

“Go ahead and arrange things,” Xu Lingyi said. “Sending him back and forth is just plugging one’s ears while stealing the bell.”

So the child could stay after all.

Shiyiniang thought of Fengqing’s frightened, fawn-like eyes and felt a small sense of relief.

A young maid came in to announce: “Marquis, Official Zhou has arrived!”

Xu Lingyi gave a wry smile to Shiyiniang: “It seems the whole world knows.”

—