“You would not dare? What exactly would you not dare?” The Grand Dowager pointed at Xu Lingkuan, the tip of her finger trembling.

The Grand Dowager was doing nothing more than trying to stop Xu Lingkuan from speaking the truth and ruining everything.

Eleventh Miss’s mind turned swiftly. She stepped forward at once: “Mother, Fifth Uncle spoke without thinking — please don’t be angry. Mind your health.” As she spoke, she gave Fifth Madam a glance, signaling her to help plead on Xu Lingkuan’s behalf — Fifth Madam was with child, and in this situation, the Grand Dowager would have every reason to give her some consideration, allowing everyone to step back from the confrontation gracefully.

Fifth Madam was momentarily startled.

By now all of Yanjing had heard the gossip — that the Marquis of Yongping kept a mistress outside and had even fathered a son with her. Though the woman’s identity shifted with every telling, sometimes called a camp courtesan, sometimes an opera singer, with some even claiming she was a female chieftain from the Miao borderlands — as far as Fifth Madam was concerned, it was simply that the First Madam had been a poor wife, making the household so cold and cheerless that the Marquis had developed thoughts of keeping a hidden beauty elsewhere. Otherwise, why keep her outside? He could have simply brought her in under a different title; would the First Madam have dared to refuse? He must have worried that once brought in, she would become a second Qiu Luo — someone who had been enchanting, clever, and quick-witted before becoming a concubine, only to turn dull and wooden afterward. A man takes a concubine for heirs, or for beauty. The First Madam had been too good at turning every concubine into something resembling a proper wife — what amusement was left for a man in that? Of course other thoughts would follow… But even granted all that — what business was it of Xu Lingkuan’s to be so agitated? This was the Fourth Branch’s private affair! How could it possibly fall to him, a younger brother, to interfere?

Her mind was full of confusion, yet in this situation she could neither ask nor show it. She knew full well that when a husband and wife were at odds, even the neighbors would take liberties. If she showed any discord with Xu Lingkuan before others, it would not only be the Grand Dowager — even the sisters-in-law would begin to think less of her. For a woman without her husband’s protection, no matter how capable she might be, she could never overcome the ways of the world.

The thought flashed through her, and Fifth Madam’s face had already taken on a pained expression. She stepped forward and was on the verge of kneeling: “Mother, please don’t let this harm your health. It’s all my husband who speaks without thinking…”

She had barely begun to lower herself when Eleventh Miss took her by the arm and lifted her up: “You are carrying a child — you must not do this!” She then turned a pleading look toward the Grand Dowager.

Third Madam jolted, realized what was happening, and quickly stepped forward to put in a good word for Xu Lingkuan: “Quite right, Mother — please, for appearances’ sake if nothing else, spare Fifth Uncle this once! He knows he was wrong too.”

The Grand Dowager’s true aim had only been to make Xu Lingkuan hold his tongue. Seeing everyone plead for him, she allowed her expression to soften slightly.

Xu Lingyi saw this at once and sternly commanded: “Get up this instant! Stand to one side and listen properly, and do not interrupt again.”

Third Madam, upon hearing this, glanced toward Xu Lingyi — wanting to smile, yet not quite daring to — her expression turning rather peculiar.

Third Master’s heart clenched with anxiety.

The whole affair today was plainly the Grand Dowager finding a pretext for Xu Lingyi, seizing the opportunity to bring the child into the family openly. Anyone who stood in the way would be courting disaster. His wife had better not go crashing into this without knowing what was at stake.

He quickly tugged at Third Madam’s sleeve and said meaningfully: “Mother makes all decisions here — what nonsense are you spouting?”

Third Madam couldn’t help but want to laugh again.

But she caught sight of her husband’s face full of anxious worry, and forced herself to hold it back.

They really had quite an imagination!

Concubine Tong had been dead for more than ten years, and now of all times she had appeared in the Marquis’s dream asking him to raise a child under her name to carry on her incense offerings. One only ever heard of a primary wife who died without a son having a child raised under her name to offer incense — never had one heard of a concubine being treated the same as a wife with a son adopted into her name. If they cared so deeply for her, why had they not looked into the matter properly back then and simply let the First Madam have her way and dismiss the whole thing? And now, after all this time, they were going to raise a son under her name…

At this thought, she couldn’t help but glance at Eleventh Miss.

She really was clever and accommodating. Quietly, without a word, she let the Marquis do as he wished. After all, she had had no one to teach her. A man is like a child — if you slap him, you must also offer a sweet date. If you indulge him in everything, he will gradually stop taking you seriously. But if you only strike and scold him, he will gradually grow fearful and grow distant from you.

Still — this was ultimately the Fourth Branch’s affair, and none of her concern. Once the New Year passed, she would leave the capital with her husband and children, free from a mother-in-law’s interference above and free from sisters-in-law’s gossip below, living the comfortable life of an official’s wife. Siqin and Sijian would be proper officials’ sons — respectable and dignified, giving her real grounds to negotiate for their marriages.

At the thought of this, she couldn’t help but furrow her brow slightly.

When visiting her maternal family to deliver New Year gifts, she had heard that her eldest sister-in-law had set her sights on the eldest son of the Wang Family of Marquis Zhennan — and upon learning of Third Madam’s own intentions, had actually suggested pairing her third illegitimate daughter with Siqin.

The thought flashed through her, and a trace of cold disdain crept into Third Madam’s expression.

Truly a case of looking down on others. Once Third Master had spent a few years in office and gained experience, seeking the Empress’s favor to become a Vice Minister or a Minister was not out of the question. By then, let’s see what face you’ll show me.

Third Madam was lost in her wandering thoughts when Third Master had already helped Xu Lingkuan to his feet.

“Speak your mind calmly,” he advised his younger brother. “Mother has always treasured you dearly — keeping you in her mouth lest you dissolve, cradling you in her hands lest you fall. You must not break her heart.”

“I…” Pushed from all sides, Xu Lingkuan was momentarily at a loss for words.

The Grand Dowager could see that he still didn’t understand the situation. She knew the only course now was to act decisively. Fortunately, she had already made plans…

She gave two deliberate coughs.

The room fell silent at once, and all eyes turned to her.

“Weizi.” The Grand Dowager called a maid in at full volume. “Go tell Nanny Du to come in.”

Weizi called out her acknowledgment from behind the curtain. A moment later she personally lifted the curtain as Nanny Du walked in carrying Fengqing.

Everyone’s expression turned alert.

One breath ago they had been speaking of raising a child under Concubine Tong’s name; the very next breath the child was brought before them all. It was plainly a prearranged arrangement.

Then everyone looked at the child.

He was staring at the assembled crowd with wide, long phoenix eyes, filled with fright.

When his gaze landed on two familiar figures, his eyes lit up at once; he looked toward Xu Lingyi and Eleventh Miss with eager expectation.

Xu Lingyi was still focused on Xu Lingkuan, whose behavior today had been so unusual as to give him no small cause for concern, and he had not noticed any of this. Eleventh Miss, however, had, and she gave Fengqing a warm, reassuring smile, signaling him not to be afraid.

Fengqing squirmed in Nanny Du’s arms. Seeing Eleventh Miss shake her head slightly at him, he instinctively sensed her displeasure, and forced himself to endure his fear — remaining in the arms of Nanny Du, who had grown somewhat cool toward him ever since he had nearly bitten her.

“This is the child.” The Grand Dowager came straight to the point, her words precise and economical. “He is three years old this year. Among his male cousins he ranks fifth. As a warning from past mistakes. The Marquis has given him the name Sijie…”

What a name he had been given!

Eleventh Miss couldn’t help but look at Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi was watching Xu Lingkuan — whose complexion had just shifted — with a cold and stern expression.

As for Fifth Madam, who had been studying her husband from the corner of her eye, her brow furrowed ever so slightly, barely perceptibly.

“…and Eleventh Miss shall take responsibility for raising and educating him.” With that, the Grand Dowager lifted her teacup. “It grows late. Everyone may take their leave.”

Third Master immediately tugged at Third Madam’s sleeve and stood up with a smile, steering his two slightly dazed sons along: “Mother, we’ll take our leave then — tomorrow is New Year’s Eve and we still have the ancestral rites!”

Third Madam quickly agreed: “Yes, Mother. I must rise early tomorrow to arrange the New Year’s Eve dinner. We’ll take our leave now.”

The Grand Dowager nodded.

The two of them departed with their children, relieved as if reprieved from some sentence.

Fifth Madam looked at her husband, whose expression had gone somewhat blank, and gently nudged him with a smile: “Fifth Master, let’s go back too. The path through the back garden is not easy to walk in the dark.”

Xu Lingkuan seemed to rouse himself from a daze. He looked at Fengqing, opened his mouth as though to speak, then closed it again — making no move to leave.

“Fifth Sister-in-Law, I still have some matters to discuss with Fifth Brother,” Xu Lingyi said suddenly. “You go on ahead — he’ll be along shortly.”

“Fourth Brother…” Xu Lingkuan heard this and looked at Xu Lingyi, his expression complex.

Something wordless passed between the two men — a tacit understanding that could not be spoken.

Fifth Madam’s gaze shifted subtly, and she smiled: “Then I’ll go on ahead.” She then lowered her voice to remind Xu Lingkuan, “Mind your step on the way back, Fifth Master.”

Xu Lingkuan nodded somewhat absently.

Only then did Fifth Madam depart, smiling, surrounded by her maids and servants.

“Mother, why has he come to our home?” Zhun Ge’er’s clear, very puzzled voice suddenly rang out in the room. “Is he like Elder Sister — going to live with you too?”

Eleventh Miss felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her.

She had been so preoccupied with Xu Lingkuan that she had entirely forgotten about the two children!

She immediately looked toward Xu Siyu, who had made no sound — a child who was willing to speak was easy to communicate with; the one she truly worried about was the kind who kept everything bottled up inside.

Xu Siyu’s face had gone slightly pale. He stood with his eyes cast down, staring at the blue stone tiles beneath his feet — as though he himself had become one of those tiles, silent and submerged.

He was a few years older, more mature, and more given to thought.

What it meant for Fengqing — now ranked and renamed — was something he felt more keenly than anyone else… The character in Fengqing’s new name, “Jie,” carried the meaning of *admonishment*; his own name, “Yu,” meant *to convey* or *to understand*. Beyond the shared sympathy of fellow illegitimate sons, the deeper worry was likely how much of a place Xu Sijie held in Xu Lingyi’s heart…

Eleventh Miss stepped forward and patted Zhun Ge’er on the head, saying softly: “From this day on, he is your father’s adopted son — which makes him your brother. So he will live in our home, just like Zhen Jie’er, and stay in my courtyard. He is younger than you; from now on, treat him the way your brothers have treated you.”

Zhun Ge’er broke into a brilliant smile: “Can I have him pour my tea then?”

Eleventh Miss couldn’t help but laugh: “You may — but wait until he’s a bit older. Otherwise he’ll be scalded by the hot water.”

Zhun Ge’er nodded vigorously: “I’ll also give him my shuttlecock to kick.” With that, he went forward to take the hand of Fengqing — now renamed Xu Sijie — only to be shoved away. Fengqing shrank back into Nanny Du’s arms and gazed at Eleventh Miss with pleading eyes.

The Grand Dowager frowned slightly at this.

Eleventh Miss quickly took Xu Sijie from Nanny Du and held him in her own arms.

Given what he had been through, it was understandable that in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by strangers, he would be on guard — but not everyone would be so forgiving of his rudeness, particularly when he had rejected the goodwill of the legitimate son Xu Sizun so plainly.

“Zhun Ge’er,” she said with a smile. “Jie Ge’er has just arrived in our home, so he’s shy around strangers. Once he knows you better and understands you’re his older brother, he’ll want to play with you.” Then she smiled and asked Xu Sijie, “Isn’t that right?”

Xu Sijie said nothing, only tightened his arms around Eleventh Miss’s neck.

—