Xu Lingyi spent the entire day receiving a constant stream of visitors. Even his midday and evening meals were taken in the outer courtyard.

Shiyiniang followed her usual routine and went first to the Dowager Marchioness’s quarters.

Third Madam had arrived early and was chatting brightly with the Dowager Marchioness, who appeared in poor spirits and listened with only half her attention.

When Shiyiniang came in, the Dowager Marchioness dismissed Third Madam and kept Shiyiniang for a conversation.

“…That child truly has a pair of phoenix eyes?” She spoke as if she still could not quite believe it was real.

Shiyiniang nodded. Wishing to speak up for Fengqing in front of the Dowager Marchioness, she told her about the injuries on his body.

The Dowager Marchioness was silent for a long while, but when she finally spoke, she turned to the subject of Zhun Ge: “…He is to begin his formal schooling with the New Year in the spring. I have asked Weizi to accompany him to the warm chamber to practice his brushstrokes.”

Seeing that the Dowager Marchioness was deliberately sidestepping the matter, Shiyiniang did not press the point, and followed along with what she said: “Starting to hold a brush early is good — otherwise, when the teacher comes, the child won’t understand anything and might be frightened off learning altogether.”

“Precisely.” The Dowager Marchioness smiled. “Young children — once they have a head start, they only grow more eager to learn. Fourth Elder Brother’s idea is to engage a private tutor specifically for Qin’er, Siyu, and Sijian, with Zhun Ge attending lessons alongside his three elder brothers. But I think it would be better to go to the clan school. Those three boys are considerably older, after all, and are studying much more advanced material. If Zhun Ge goes along, he’ll be overshadowed at every turn, and I worry it might leave him feeling daunted…” And so she turned to the topic of the children’s schooling.

Shiyiniang kept her company for a while, then accompanied her to look in on Zhun Ge, and finally saw the Dowager Marchioness off to her prayer hall before going to Fengqing’s quarters.

Binju came out to meet her: “Madam, everything has been packed. We can set off at any time.”

She had stayed the previous night at Banyuepan with Dongqing.

Shiyiniang nodded and went with her to the bedchamber.

Fengqing had been changed into a rosy-pink worn silk padded jacket belonging to Nanyong’s daughter Niuer. His face and hands were washed clean, his lips rosy and his teeth white, giving him the look of a girl — remarkably delicate and lovely. Dongqing was crouching beside him, saying something to him in a low voice. Hearing movement, he lifted his eyes, saw Shiyiniang, and immediately grabbed the food box beside him, clutching it to his chest and eyeing her with guarded wariness.

Dongqing knew Shiyiniang had come in and quickly rose to curtsy, with a rueful smile: “Madam, Binju and I have been trying to persuade Young Master Fengqing to put down the food box for ages, but he simply won’t do it. He carries it with him wherever he goes. We are quite at a loss.”

Binju quickly added from the side: “Exactly, Madam. We’ve both tried.”

“Are there still pastries in the box?” Shiyiniang considered, then asked.

Binju nodded: “There’s still a packet of donkey rolls, a packet of aiwowo, and a packet of pea cakes.”

This poor child — truly frightened by hunger.

Shiyiniang sighed: “Take the pastries out of the box, and he’ll naturally let it go of his own accord.” Then she told them that Fengqing would be staying in the mansion for the New Year: “…For now, he’ll stay at Banyuepan. Binju, come by every few days to look in on things and lend a hand.” She also gave them a careful reminder: “There is a well and a river nearby. You must be vigilant — never let Young Master Fengqing out of your sight for a moment.”

Both gave a respectful acknowledgment. Binju even broke into a bright smile: “Second Madam is at West Mountain, and the rules and formalities there are strict — Sister Dongqing was worried yesterday that we might make a mistake in protocol. It’s a relief not to have to go after all.”

Dongqing’s face turned slightly pink: “I was just afraid of bringing shame on Madam.”

Shiyiniang could understand their unease.

Second Madam had an air of refinement and nobility about her that made most people feel inadequate in her presence.

She smiled and gave them some encouragement: “Just do what you do, and what is there to worry about?” Then she urged them on: “Take the pastries out of the food box, repack them in a paper container, and let Fengqing carry that with him.” With a sigh, she stroked Fengqing’s head: “Once he has food every day, things won’t be like this anymore.”

Dongqing and Binju let their smiles fade as they looked at Fengqing with compassion.

Fengqing, seeing everyone looking at him, gripped the food box even tighter.

Shiyiniang could not help a small sigh. She crouched down to straighten his collar, and told him of the change in plan — that he would not be going to West Mountain for now: “…You must be good and stay here with Dongqing. If you want to go somewhere and play, don’t wander off on your own — tell Dongqing, and let her take you.”

Fengqing could not quite follow all of Shiyiniang’s explanations. What he understood was simply that he would go on living here.

He nodded at Shiyiniang so eagerly his head nearly blurred, his smile as brilliant and warm as the summer sun in June. He reached into the food box and pulled out an aiwowo to give to Shiyiniang.

Shiyiniang declined, but Fengqing absolutely insisted on pressing it into her hands: “Delicious!” Shiyiniang had no choice but to take a small bite, then used the opportunity to transfer the pastries from the food box into a paper container. She gave Fengqing, Dongqing, and Binju another round of careful instructions before heading over to Third Madam’s quarters.

All the matters that needed to be arranged had already been delegated, and now it was simply a matter of handling unexpected developments. Third Madam was actually less busy than usual these days.

She invited Shiyiniang to sit across from her and lowered her voice: “What kept you? Is Mother all right? She looked to me as though her color weren’t too well!” The tone held a subtle undercurrent of probing.

Shiyiniang gave a vague, noncommittal reply, exchanged some words about New Year preparations, then made an excuse and returned to her own quarters. She asked Lvyun to bring the embroidery frame to the kang and settled down to embroider the decorative screen.

She had only just put in a few stitches when a young maid came to announce: “The Fifth Young Madam from the Imperial College has arrived.”

Shiyiniang was momentarily surprised.

For some reason — whether out of a wish to avoid certain things, or because the pregnancy made it inconvenient to go out — ever since Shiyiniang had married into the Xu family, Fifth Sister had never once come to visit. And Shiyiniang herself, having a mother-in-law above and a husband below, rarely had the freedom to go out, so she had not gone to see Fifth Sister either.

She thought of Luo Zhensheng’s early-morning visit… Could Fifth Sister have heard something too?

Shiyiniang pondered this and told the young maid: “Quickly, invite her to the east side chamber for tea.”

She then went to the dressing table to tidy her appearance before going to the east side chamber.

Fifth Sister was dressed in a bright red wide-sleeved jacket embroidered with fully bloomed peonies. She was more full-figured than the last time they met, which only made her look more vivid and radiant.

“Fifth Sister!” Shiyiniang smiled and curtsied.

Ziyuan supported the ungainly Fifth Sister as she bent her knees slightly in return.

Shiyiniang stepped forward to take her arm and help her to the large kang by the window. A young maid brought tea and Shiyiniang personally took it and served it to her, then sat down across from her.

“What brings Sister here today? And where is Brother-in-law — why didn’t he come along?”

“I wanted to come,” Fifth Sister said, pointing at her slightly rounded belly, “but this one wouldn’t allow it.” Then she added: “With the New Year coming, there are calls to make at Prince Shun’s household, at Vice Minister Du of the Ministry of Works, at the Sacrificial Offering Supervisor of the Imperial College… Your brother-in-law is run off his feet.”There was a barely concealed note of pride in her tone.

Shiyiniang smiled and played along: “Even so, with the wind so sharp these past few days even if there’s been no snow, Sister should remind Brother-in-law to take care of his health.”

“Of course.” Fifth Sister’s expression carried a measure of self-satisfaction. “Your brother-in-law is still a child at heart. What he wears, what he eats — I have to manage it all myself. Even when I want a moment’s rest and let Ziyuan attend to him, he won’t have it…” She spoke of her happy married life with a touch of shyness about her brow.

As before, Shiyiniang listened quietly, wearing a gracious smile, and occasionally put in a word or two to let her speak her fill.

Before long, the conversation turned to children.

Fifth Sister caught Shiyiniang’s eye and gestured for her to send the attendants out of the room.

Shiyiniang could see what this was about — Fifth Sister had clearly also heard the rumors.

She was just not sure whether Fifth Sister had come on her own initiative, or had been sent by Qian Ming.

Shiyiniang pondered this as she dismissed the servants.

“Eleventh Sister,” Fifth Sister looked at Shiyiniang with eyes full of sympathy, “are you aware that the Marquis has been keeping a woman on the outside, and she has borne him a son…”

Though the details differed slightly, the content was essentially the same story.

Since she and Fifth Sister had never found much common ground, Shiyiniang had no desire to say more than necessary. She simply said: “Elder Brother came first thing this morning. He has already told me everything.”

Fifth Sister was greatly taken aback.

The evening before, when Qian Ming had first gotten wind of the news, he had discussed it with her: “…Eleventh Sister is in the inner courtyard — she probably hasn’t heard yet. Tomorrow morning, first thing, you go to Marquis Yongping’s and bring her the news, have a good heart-to-heart with her.”

She remembered thinking: “How could something like this happen? We must tell Father and Elder Brother at once, so they can start making plans.”

“You!” Qian Ming had laughed. “You still do things without thinking them through.”

She had looked at him in confusion.

Qian Ming was already smiling: “Think about it — with something like this happening in the Xu household, most people would have nothing to offer. But you’re different. You and her grew up under the same roof. When we were setting up that dried fruit shop, the Marquis contributed both effort and money. If nothing else, out of gratitude, we ought to go and show our concern. On top of that, we’re planning to go into business with the Wen family, and there will be plenty of occasions in the future when we’ll need to call on Eleventh Sister’s help. This is an opportunity for you to get closer to her — it’s all advantage and no loss.”

She had been rather moved by this.

Qian Ming had struck up an acquaintance at a banquet with Third Young Master Wen. Wen Third Young Master, hearing that Qian Ming had married the fifth daughter of the Luo family, had been very warm. Later, upon learning that Qian Ming was short of funds, he had produced a receipt for five thousand bolts of grain owed by the Xuantong Commander: “I only need the salt certificates worth two thousand eight hundred bolts — the rest is yours.” Qian Ming had been surprised. Wen Third Young Master simply said: “Go home and think it over carefully.” Qian Ming had later made inquiries and learned that five thousand bolts of grain converted to salt certificates, after all the various gratuities along the way, would at best yield three thousand two hundred bolts. But with the Xuantong General to smooth the way, the losses could be held to five hundred bolts at most — and everything beyond that would be pure profit…

After the dried fruit shop venture, the losses had frightened her.

If they hadn’t cut their losses early and transferred the shop for a small gain, by the time the lease was up next year, the whole five hundred taels would likely have been swallowed whole.

This kind of business — all margin and no capital outlay — suited them perfectly.

Only, to make it work, they absolutely needed Xu Lingyi, who was on good terms with Xuantong General Fan Weigang, to speak up on their behalf. But they had never been able to find the right moment to raise it with Xu Lingyi, and so the matter had dragged on.

Now that the Xu household had run into this trouble, if Eleventh Sister knew about it, she would surely be at a loss. And then, once she stepped in to offer advice and counsel, Eleventh Sister was bound to feel grateful… and then she could bring up her own difficulty…

Yet once she thought of her father and elder brother, a twinge of unease came over her.

If she didn’t tell Father and Elder Brother, and something really did go wrong, what face would she have to go home?

As if reading her worry, Qian Ming pinched her delicate nose affectionately and laughed: “Silly girl! Father-in-law and Elder Brother-in-law — don’t I handle those? Once you’ve come back from the Lotus Flower Mansion, we’ll go together to Gongxian Hutong — it won’t be too late!”