That night the brothers talked until very late. Worried that Fifth Madam would be anxious, Eleventh Miss specially sent Hupo to reassure her.

Fifth Madam was leaning against the large kang bed by the window, doing needlework with Nanny Shi keeping her company, waiting for Xu Lingkuan to return. When she heard that he would not be back until very late, the corner of her brow lifted ever so slightly. She smiled and said: “In all the years since I married into this family, this is the first time the Marquis has ever sat my husband down for a heart-to-heart talk. Truly rare indeed! Go and tell Fourth Sister-in-Law for me — I won’t wait for Fifth Master. Please ask Fourth Sister-in-Law to see to him, and let my husband spend the night in Fourth Master’s study. The cold is bitter; coming and going in the middle of the night, catching a chill is no small matter.”

Hupo heard the double meaning behind these words but acted as though she understood none of it. She curtsied with a smile and was seen out by Fifth Madam’s maids.

As soon as she was gone, Fifth Madam’s composure crumbled: “What does this mean? Something happened in their household, and they called my husband in — what for?” She gave a cold laugh. “I certainly don’t believe the Marquis could say anything truly heartfelt to my husband!”

Nanny Shi’s eyelid twitched at this. She immediately smiled and said: “With something like this happening in the household, who else would the Marquis speak to if not Fifth Master? They are brothers born of the same mother, after all.”

Fifth Madam considered this for a moment. “I watched closely, and something wasn’t right. You didn’t see it. When the Grand Dowager brought up that child, Fifth Master was so agitated. It was as though…” The words trailed off and her heart lurched. “…as though this matter had a great deal to do with him personally…”

The Marquis keeping a mistress outside — others might believe it, but Nanny Shi did not.

Setting aside all else, when their old Marquis had married his daughter into the Xu family, it was not only because Xu Lingkuan was the youngest son of the household, gentle in nature and handsome in appearance — what he valued even more was the brotherly harmony within the Xu family; the Marquis of Yongping’s military brilliance, outstanding abilities, and upright conduct, so that his daughter would have a great tree to shelter under. Their old Marquis had never once misjudged a person!

Turning Fifth Madam’s words over in her mind, Nanny Shi’s face went somewhat pale.

She had entered the Household of the Marquis of Dingnan at seven years old to serve, and had seen and heard so much over the years that she had long since understood: what the truth might be did not matter — what mattered was the result.

Since the Grand Dowager had declared this child to be the Marquis of Yongping’s, then this child was the Marquis of Yongping’s. Full stop.

There must be no more complications.

One had to remember: Danyang cared most about face. If the whole family knew and only she was kept in the dark… those with an understanding heart would say the family had been sparing her feelings. Those without one might take it as having been deliberately looked down upon and used — *we’re all daughters-in-law here, why am I the one being trampled underfoot to make someone else look like a paragon of virtue?*

Nanny Shi steeled herself inwardly, and a few traces of a smile appeared on her face: “What has come over you? You never used to think so much.”

“It’s not that I’m overthinking.” Fifth Madam furrowed her brow, slipping into a pensive expression. “There is something not right about this. Fifth Master’s most revered person is the Grand Dowager; the person he is most afraid of is the Marquis.” She looked at Nanny Shi. “So why would he suddenly find the nerve to jump out and interrupt while the Grand Dowager was speaking? And Eleventh Miss — her ability to read the wind and act accordingly is second to none. She always acts on the Grand Dowager’s cues. Today she was also very strange, actually speaking up before the Marquis did!”

Nanny Shi grew more alarmed with every word, yet the smile on her face became more and more brilliant: “The way I see it, you’re quite wrong about that!”

Fifth Madam tilted her brow and gave her a look that said *go on*.

“The way I see it, our Fifth Master holds the Grand Dowager in the greatest filial piety, but his deepest respect is reserved for the Marquis.” Nanny Shi smiled. “Do you remember? Shortly after you married in, one day you made a joking remark about the Marquis, and Fifth Master immediately lost his temper on the spot… You know how Fifth Master’s nature is always very mild and even-tempered…”

Fifth Madam gave a slight start, and the memory came back to her.

Yes, that had indeed happened.

At the time they were still newly-weds, in the full flush of tender feeling… And it was precisely because of that incident that she understood what Fifth Master valued most… and then had everyone around her change her form of address to “Fifth Madam.”

Nanny Shi, reading the situation clearly, pressed deeper: “When all is said and done, the Marquis holds a position of great dignity. Keeping a woman outside and fathering a son — what does that even amount to? Yet somehow it’s been spread all over. For one, the Marquis holds enormous power and standing; for another, it’s precisely because he has always conducted himself with such severity and propriety that everyone finds it such a rare sight to catch. Old Marquis passed away early; in Fifth Master’s eyes, the Marquis is not only an elder brother but a father. What others might see as something trivial — if it concerns the Marquis, Fifth Master would be unable to bear it quietly inside. Feeling the urge to say a few words in the Marquis’s defense is perfectly natural. I see nothing unusual in any of this.”

“That’s not it.” No matter how Nanny Shi argued, Fifth Madam shook her head. “His manner made it plain he wanted to take all of this upon himself…”

“Well then, that proves the point exactly.” Not waiting for Fifth Madam to finish, Nanny Shi immediately cut in. “What kind of man is the Marquis? The Prince Tutor to the Crown Prince, Great Commander of the Five Military Commands, the great general who quelled the Miao uprising and pacified the Northwest. Fifth Master would probably rather this fall on himself than on the Marquis — anything rather than see the Marquis be pointed at and ridiculed!”

Hearing Nanny Shi put it this way, Fifth Madam — who had been so certain a moment before — began to waver.

This husband of hers had no shortage of faults, but his heart was genuinely good. If not for that, she could not have gone on living with him.

Nanny Shi, seeing an opening, decided to press further.

“The Marquis treats Fifth Master like a child needing correction on the regular. Never mind others — don’t you yourself feel unsettled watching it? This time, Fifth Master showed he was willing to take this responsibility onto himself; the Marquis must have been practically bursting with pride seeing that! How could he not want to go find Fifth Master for a good talk? Stop worrying yourself.” She paused, feeling this argument lacked enough force, and added: “If you’re still uncertain, on the second day of the New Year when we visit Red Lantern Lane, why not ask the old Marquis? He has traveled more roads than we’ve had meals of salt — if we can’t see it clearly, surely he can?”

“True!” Fifth Madam finally nodded. “Father has seen all there is to see; asking him will set things right!”

Only then did Nanny Shi let out a quiet breath of relief, and smilingly changed the subject: “Since Fifth Master is spending the night at the Marquis’s, you should rest early too. This needlework can be left to the maids; don’t strain your eyes.”

“It’s only a pair of small socks.” Fifth Madam laughed and set the needlework aside, letting Nanny Shi attend her as she settled into bed.

—

Exhausted to the core, Eleventh Miss fell into a deep sleep. The next morning she woke early and noticed that the bedding on the other side was without so much as a single crease, which gave her a small start.

Hupo, who was directing the junior maids to bring in wash water, quickly said with a smile: “Last night the Marquis and Fifth Master slept in the study!”

Talking by candlelight through the night? Judging by the signs, the two of them must have made peace and cleared the air.

Eleventh Miss smiled and let Hupo attend her as she got out of bed.

“Have the Marquis and Fifth Master risen yet?”

“Not yet.” Hupo smiled. “Lvyun, Hongxiu, Chunmo, and Xiayi have all been stationed over at the study to wait on them — rest assured, Madam.”

Eleventh Miss nodded and was about to go to the washroom to freshen up when Nanny Tao came hurrying in.

*She must have heard about Fifth Young Master,* Eleventh Miss thought, leaving her waiting in the reception hall. “Let her wait a moment.”

Hupo acknowledged this and went to pass the word. Eleventh Miss washed and freshened up, came out, sat down on the large kang by the window, and sipped half a cup of tea before having a junior maid show Nanny Tao in.

“Madam, I heard something yesterday — I’m not sure whether it’s true, so I’ve come to ask specially. To prevent the maids from not knowing the gravity of the matter and spreading the word carelessly.” Her phrasing was rather roundabout.

“What is it they’re saying?” Eleventh Miss smiled and had a junior maid bring a footstool for Nanny Tao.

She perched on the edge of the footstool and then cautiously inquired about the matter of Xu Sijie: “…Is it true that he will be entered into the family register today after the ancestral rites?”

Eleventh Miss nodded and repeated the version of the story the Grand Dowager had crafted for public consumption, then added: “…He is being raised under Concubine Tong’s name, and will stay with me for now. The family in Bowstring Lane was consulted beforehand and had a say in the matter.”

Upon hearing that the Luo family was informed, Nanny Tao nodded and asked in a low voice: “And the child’s birth mother?”

It was plain she did not believe in the slightest that the child had been adopted from a charity home.

Eleventh Miss very much wanted to laugh.

It was truly the classic case of covering one’s ears while stealing a bell — and yet everyone had to maintain in unison that they had heard no bell at all.

“Since he was brought back from the charity home, he naturally has neither father nor mother.” Eleventh Miss was equally a member of the bell-not-heard party.

Nanny Tao was clearly very satisfied with this answer — no father, no mother, meaning the child’s birth mother could never possibly appear.

Her eyes shifted, and she asked in a voice barely above a whisper: “Would you not consider entrusting this child to me to raise? I have nothing much to occupy myself with these days.”

Eleventh Miss immediately thought of Luo Zhensheng… and declined without a moment’s hesitation: “That will depend on what the Marquis thinks.”

Nanny Tao seemed about to say more, but Nanny Nanrong’s wife came in to comb Eleventh Miss’s hair, and Nanny Tao had no choice but to withdraw.

This reminded Eleventh Miss of something. She asked Nanny Nanrong’s wife: “Would you like to be a managing nanny?”

Nanny Nanrong’s wife was taken aback.

A managing nanny in the Xu household received two taels of silver per month.

“I…” She hesitated, afraid she might not be up to it.

“Do you know how to look after children?” Seeing her hesitant and uncertain expression, Eleventh Miss smiled. “The Marquis has brought back a child to raise under Concubine Tong’s name, and his room is currently lacking a managing nanny. Go home and discuss it with your husband. Will it do or not — come and tell Hupo before the tenth day.”

Nanny Nanrong’s wife murmured her acknowledgment and drifted off in thought several times during the hair-combing.

After she left, Hupo couldn’t help but remark: “Nanny Nanrong’s wife is really too timid!”

“Being timid is good!” Thinking of Xu Sijie’s voice, clear and ringing as a golden oriole, Eleventh Miss let out a long breath. “Fifth Young Master needs someone steady and reliable by his side.”

Hupo smiled and helped Eleventh Miss into a jade-green cut-silk jacket with interlocking floral branches when the three concubines came to pay their morning respects.

Also accompanying them was Binju, who was carrying Xu Sijie.

Xu Sijie was dressed in a pink brocade crane-motif cloak, his hair done up in small tufts on either side of his head, his chin small and delicate, his eyes clear as autumn water — at first glance, he was the very image of a little girl.

He bowed to Eleventh Miss, copying the way Binju had shown him, then let his eyes dart about brightly — as though looking for someone.

Was he looking for Xu Lingyi?

Eleventh Miss found this rather amusing.

Binju was already explaining at the side: “…Concubine Qin came over while we were dressing Fifth Young Master, and asked us to come pay our respects together.”

Concubine Qin immediately rose and said: “I thought that since Fifth Young Master has just arrived in the household and may not yet know certain etiquettes, I asked Elder Sister Binju to carry Fifth Young Master along when they came to pay their respects to you.”

Her smile was a touch tentative, and beneath her eyes was a faint tinge of shadow.

After all, she was getting on in years — lack of sleep would show.

That must be it, Eleventh Miss thought, and glanced over at Concubine Wen.

Her complexion was rosy, her spirit refreshed, her energy bright — she appeared even more well-rested than Eleventh Miss herself.

It seemed the child’s arrival had not affected her in the slightest.

Eleventh Miss then looked toward Qiao Lianfang.

—