Yes — say it, and you pull out the radish only to bring up the mud with it; say nothing, and Xu Lingyi must shoulder the blame.
Eleventh Miss’s words left the Empress sunk in thought.
For a moment, she did not know what was best to do.
Ask Xu Lingyi what he had in mind?
But what if the Emperor had other intentions in his heart?
Offer Xu Lingyi a suggestion?
The Emperor was right there behind the curtain listening. And now that rumors had arisen about harboring a Miao female chieftain as a mistress, the matter had touched on affairs of the court — not something a woman of the inner palace ought to involve herself in…
Turning it over every which way, there was no one to blame but the one who had started all this.
“It’s all Little Fifth’s fault for causing this trouble. You’ve all been made to suffer because of him!”
The Fifth Prince, however much he may have been at fault, was still the Empress’s younger brother. She might speak harshly of him herself, but Eleventh Miss could not afford to betray even a trace of grievance.
“Your Highness speaks too gravely.” Eleventh Miss said. “Fifth Master is young and fell into bad company. After this incident, his conduct will grow more measured with each passing year. Only, the rumors keep growing more outlandish, and the Marquis is a man of few words — I am quite frightened inside.”
The Empress smiled bitterly: “You need not be too worried.” She glanced toward the curtain again, and her next words of comfort to Eleventh Miss were spoken with only partial conviction: “The Marquis’s character is well known to everyone.”
Eleventh Miss’s expression fell into quiet dejection.
Seeing that matters had already been made sufficiently clear and fearful that continuing might give rise to yet further complications, the Empress asked after the Grand Madam’s health, and upon learning that all was well, raised her teacup.
Eleventh Miss rose at once to take her leave.
The Emperor stepped out from the inner chamber.
“Your Majesty, what is to be done?” The Empress looked at him in a daze of confusion. “To think that Little Fifth would do such a thing!”
The Emperor considered for a moment and said: “If things are as the Marquis Yongping’s wife described, I think it best to leave the matter for Marquis Yongping to handle himself. This is, after all, a matter for the Xu family — it would not be appropriate for you or me to intervene.”
The Empress said nothing.
It was not without reason, what he said.
Affairs of a clan were not for those of a different surname to interfere with.
She let out a long sigh, and suddenly found the warm chamber vast and bare, and somehow cold.
…
The Emperor, sheltered in the inner chamber yet able to hear every word of their conversation clearly. The Empress, guarded and seemingly helpless. And then those rumors, whose intent could only be called sinister. All of this, taken together, filled Eleventh Miss with deep unease.
Her heart racing for home, she made her way back to the Lotus Courtyard and hurried at once to the Grand Madam’s quarters.
Xu Lingyi had been waiting there all along.
When the junior maidservant had served tea, the Grand Madam immediately dismissed everyone in attendance and asked with barely contained urgency: “Why were you called into the palace? What was said?”
“About the child.” Eleventh Miss had no time to drink her tea. She told both the Grand Madam and Xu Lingyi everything that had occurred, leaving out not a single detail.
As they listened, both their expressions grew increasingly grave. By the end, the Grand Madam had gone deathly pale.
“Fourth Son, we must still ask for the Empress’s word on this. Only when we know what the Emperor truly intends can we act accordingly.”
“There is no need.” Xu Lingyi’s manner was somewhat cold. “The Emperor’s intentions are already perfectly clear.”
“But…”
“Mother.” A trace of weariness passed across Xu Lingyi’s brow. “I know you still cherish the memory of the Seventh Prince who used to come asking you for red-braised pork knuckle… but that is old history now.”
The Grand Madam turned her face away and said nothing.
A junior maidservant announced from beyond the curtain: “Grand Madam, Second Madam has returned!”
The three of them looked up in surprise.
The Grand Madam said quickly: “Please show her in.”
A woman in a moon-white silk narrow-sleeved jacket lifted the curtain and entered.
“Second Sister-in-law!” Eleventh Miss smiled in greeting.
“Fourth Sister-in-law.” Second Madam inclined her head toward Eleventh Miss, then went forward to pay her respects to the Grand Madam and Xu Lingyi.
“Yizhen, why have you come back?” The Grand Madam asked with concern. “Has something happened?” She glanced behind her. “And where is Zhen Jie’er? Didn’t she come back with you?”
“I heard certain rumors and rushed back.” Second Madam replied. “I was afraid Zhen Jie’er couldn’t bear the jolting journey, so I left her at West Mountain.”
The Grand Madam nodded: “Come sit on the heated bed — the weather is cold, be careful you don’t catch a chill.”
Second Madam did not stand on ceremony and seated herself on the heated bed.
Eleventh Miss went and brewed a cup of tea to bring in.
Second Madam was already talking with the Grand Madam: “…I thought about it all night. I believe this matter is connected to the Qu family.” She thanked Eleventh Miss as she accepted the tea, then continued: “If our family were to run into trouble, they would be the greatest beneficiaries.”
“Just as Second Sister-in-law says.” Xu Lingyi told Second Madam the full course of events and then relayed what had happened when Eleventh Miss entered the palace.
“The Qu family’s reach is truly swift.” Second Madam said pensively. “They purchased the child and took him to Fujian, waiting until he was older to bring him back… By then, the several princes will all have come of age… The Qu family’s methods are not only ruthless — they are not thinking in terms of days or months. I fear they have arrangements in place that we know nothing of. I urge the Marquis to devote greater thought to this.”
The implication was that the Qu family had ambitions regarding the succession.
Xu Lingyi gave a slight nod, his expression hardening. “I was careless. If not for the child matter, and if not for someone from the Wang family happening to have eyes on the Qu family’s people, I might not have known about this until my entire household had fallen.”
“This too is the Marquis’s good fortune — that is why the Qu family’s scheme was exposed.” Second Madam said. “Before, we were in the open while they moved in the dark — naturally we suffered some losses. Now that we know what the Qu family intends, the Marquis can act with composure.”
“Second Sister-in-law may put her mind at ease. I will think this through carefully.” A look of resolve crossed Xu Lingyi’s eyes. “No one is thinking in terms of days or months. There is still a long road ahead.”
“In that case, I have a suggestion. I ask only that the Marquis hear me out.” As she spoke, she fixed her gaze on Xu Lingyi, waiting for him to respond.
“Please speak, Second Sister-in-law.” Xu Lingyi gave her his full attention, his posture that of one who listens carefully.
Second Madam cast a glance toward Eleventh Miss, then said with grave sincerity: “It might be better for the Marquis to formally acknowledge the child.”
The Grand Madam looked from Second Madam to Eleventh Miss, and seemed about to speak, but held back.
Xu Lingyi said nothing, his expression settling into one of deep thought.
Eleventh Miss, for her part, watched Xu Lingyi, her manner one of quiet deference.
For a moment, the room was so still one could have heard a pin drop.
“Everything Second Sister-in-law says is sound counsel.” After a long silence, Xu Lingyi raised his eyes to look at Second Madam. “Let me think it over carefully.” Then, with a lighter tone, he said: “Second Sister-in-law has rushed back from West Mountain and must not yet have had the midday meal. We have all been waiting here for Eleventh Miss to return from the palace and have not eaten either. Everyone must be hungry. Eleventh Miss — have the maids set out the meal.” With this, he clearly wished to say no more.
His gentle voice eased the tension in the room.
Eleventh Miss rose in obedience and went to call the maids to lay the meal. Behind her came Second Madam’s smiling voice: “The Marquis is most thoughtful. I really am hungry!”
…
Back in their room, Eleventh Miss quietly helped Xu Lingyi change his clothes.
“What is it? You haven’t said a word.” Xu Lingyi touched her head gently.
Eleventh Miss’s thoughts were somewhat tangled, and for a moment she didn’t know what to say.
“Are you frightened?” Xu Lingyi looked at her steadily, his dark eyes deep and still.
Eleventh Miss nodded — though it did not quite feel like fear; it was more like worry… Then she shook her head — to say she was not afraid was not quite right either; her hands had been trembling throughout the meal… She nodded again.
Xu Lingyi laughed.
He drew her into his arms.
“Don’t be afraid. I have a clear sense of what needs to be done.” Feeling that this reassurance was too thin, he added: “Second Sister-in-law makes a fair point, but not entirely. If the Emperor does not stand with us, things will be very difficult. But to follow what Second Sister-in-law proposes would be too aggressive. The best course is to find a way to bring the Emperor to our side…”
Eleventh Miss looked at him with some surprise.
Easy to say, yet so very hard to do. Otherwise, why would the saying exist: “When the birds are gone, the fine bow is put away”?
“When it comes down to it, the Emperor is wary of the Xu family’s power.” He lowered his voice. “If we can make the Emperor let his guard down, whatever schemes the Qu family is mounting will fall apart on their own.” His expression became composed and deliberate. “Second Sister-in-law’s words have given me a thought. What the Emperor fears most is a powerful minister who schemes and maneuvers for influence; what puts him most at ease is a loyal official who upholds propriety and keeps within his place. In a sense, though the Qu family has set a trap for us, they have also given us an opportunity to show ourselves.”
“The Marquis means…” So much had happened in so short a morning. Eleventh Miss’s nerves were still taut, and her mind had not yet fully recovered from the shock Second Madam had delivered. It was temporarily at a standstill.
Xu Lingyi smiled slightly: “Just as Second Sister-in-law says — if we openly argue the child’s case before everyone, or use the connections we’ve built over the years to forcibly suppress the rumor, we will only make the Emperor more uneasy. On the other hand, if we sit perfectly still, the Qu family might take it for a sign of weakness and make an even bolder move. The Emperor fears the Xu family growing too dominant, but would he truly allow the Qu family to become the one hand that covers the sky? To preserve that balance, he will be compelled to stand on our side.” His eyes narrowed slightly, and a cold, calculating smile crossed his face. “And if we handle this well, we may be able to resolve it once and for all…”
—