Shiyiniang changed into a plain, unassuming dress, took leave of the Grand Madam together with Luo Zhensheng, and went to Gongxian Hutong.
The First Madam was waiting at the ornate gate, wearing a moon-white jacket. The corners of her eyes were faintly red, and when she saw Shiyiniang, she began to cry before she could say a word: “How could something like this have happened?” Then, realizing it was not the place for such talk, she quickly took out a handkerchief and dabbed the corners of her eyes.
Shiyiniang smiled ruefully, let Luo Zhensheng lead the way, and went together with the First Madam to the main hall.
The First Master was seated at the bedside of the First Mistress. Qian Ming and Fifth Miss were sitting on the kang by the window. Luo Zhensheng and the Fourth Madam stood behind the First Master. Everyone wore grim expressions, and the atmosphere was rather heavy.
When Shiyiniang entered, the First Master looked up and cast his eyes over her. “You’re here.” His mood was flat and dispirited. The First Mistress, on the other hand, wore a blank expression and seemed to look right through Shiyiniang as if she weren’t there, her thoughts drifting somewhere far away.
Luo Zhensheng and Shiyiniang went forward in turn to pay their respects to the First Master and the First Mistress.
Fifth Miss came over and took Shiyiniang’s hand. “What is to be done? And with not even a child to show for it.”
The Fourth Madam, however, carried over a brocade stool: “Eleventh Honored Young Madam, have you eaten? Come sit and rest your feet.” She then moved over a master’s chair for Luo Zhensheng, who had come in with Shiyiniang.
Fifth Miss then caught herself and looked a little sheepish. “Look at me, so caught up worrying about Tenth Sister that I forgot to ask whether Eleventh Sister has eaten…”
This was no time for such pleasantries.
Shiyiniang immediately said: “I knew everyone would be busy, so I ate before I came.”
Fifth Miss nodded.
The First Master then spoke: “Now that everyone is here. Zhensheng, you went to the Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate’s office — tell us, what exactly happened?”
Luo Zhensheng recounted the matter from beginning to end.
The First Master’s expression grew worse and worse as he listened. By the end, he was letting out one cold laugh after another: “…It is plain as day that Ren Kun killed a man and had his personal servant take the blame. I have seen this kind of thing many times.” He then instructed Shiyiniang: “Since the Wang Family’s honored daughter wishes to see you, when the time comes, have a proper talk with her. No matter what, we cannot let Ren Kun go unpunished like this.”
Shiyiniang quietly acknowledged with a “yes.”
Qian Ming, however, seemed to want to say something but held back.
The First Master didn’t notice, but the First Mistress, who had seemed lost in her own world all this time, suddenly spoke: “Lis… listen to Qian Ming.” Though the words came with effort, they were clear.
Everyone was startled, and their gazes fell on Qian Ming.
Qian Ming himself was quite taken aback and stood speechless for a long moment.
The First Master thought of Qian Ming’s sharp mind and understood. “That’s right, that’s right. Zichun, you have always been quick-witted. How do you see this matter?”
Fifth Miss brightened, looking at her husband with a glow of pride.
Luo Zhensheng had brought Qian Ming along precisely for the principle that three ordinary minds together are worth one great strategist — but since the First Master had not spoken first, it was not his place to presume. Now that both the First Master and the First Mistress had invited Qian Ming to offer his views, he was naturally glad to see it. He said: “Brother-in-law, let us set aside for now how Tenth Sister’s husband died. Just her situation alone is likely to need our help in devising a way through this critical juncture. Everyone here is family. Speak your mind directly. Father and Mother have never treated you as an outsider.”
Qian Ming was, after all, a son-in-law, and naturally had his reservations. But in his heart, he was genuinely eager to get involved in this matter. He knew this affair touched not only on the Duke of Chengguo’s estate and the Wang Family of Yuhang, but also the Jiang Family of Le’an, Princess Chang’ning, the Xu Family of Marquis Yongping, and could even extend to the Jiang Family of Dongyang. To others, this was something to steer well clear of. But to him, it was an opportunity. If he handled it well, he could make a name for himself in the eyes of all these families. And if things turned out badly, was there not Marquis Yongping standing in front as a shield?
Though he had been itching to speak, he had kept his silence all along, waiting for the right moment to open his mouth. Now that Luo Zhensheng had laid it out so explicitly, he naturally slid right along with the opening. He made a show of pondering for a moment before giving voice to words he had already mapped out in his mind: “I think this matter is quite complex. In my view, as Tenth Sister’s family by birth, we must decide — do we first pursue the perpetrator? Or do we first find a way to shore up Tenth Sister’s position… Wang Lang is dead, and the Wang Family’s people are deep in grief right now, no doubt in a state of turmoil. Once they calm down, I fear they will soon begin deliberating over the matter of the widowed daughter-in-law and the matter of succession.”
The room fell into a brief silence.
Qian Ming had spoken in very roundabout terms, yet everyone understood plainly enough — he was advising everyone not to worry about who killed Wang Lang for the moment, but to first secure Tenth Sister’s position.
“But Wang Lang…” The First Master was still somewhat hesitant.
Luo Zhensheng, however, thought of how Wang Lang had met his death, and felt a surge of indignation. Seeing his father’s uncertain stance, and also recalling Xu Lingyi’s advice to keep an eye on the First Master and not let anyone exploit him, he set aside the usual deference and cut in: “How Wang Lang died is a matter for the Shuntian Prefecture and the Wang Family. As Tenth Sister’s family by birth, our natural concern is Tenth Sister’s life going forward.”
That was exactly the line Qian Ming had been waiting for.
Whether it was the Duke of Chengguo’s estate or Princess Chang’ning — neither could be provoked, yet neither could they remain silent in this matter. If they acted recklessly without purpose, they might end up offending both the Duke of Chengguo’s estate and Princess Chang’ning, and still leave Tenth Sister’s situation without resolution. The dead were already dead. Far better to look after the living, and first secure Tenth Sister’s position.
“In that case, my view is that we go today to pay our respects, observing no more than the proper courtesies.” Qian Ming said calmly. “Give Tenth Sister peace of mind. As for what happens next, we wait to see what the Wang Family’s intentions are.”
Luo Zhensheng looked over at the First Master.
The First Master hesitated for quite some time before giving a light nod.
The stone that had been weighing on everyone’s hearts finally settled.
“Then let us make our preparations and go to the Wang Family now.” Luo Zhensheng rose to his feet.
Everyone followed suit.
The First Madam, however, said: “Fifth Miss is with child. It would be better for her to stay home and keep Mother company.”
The First Master nodded, then suddenly turned to Shiyiniang: “Since you are here, go and look in on your Yiniang. She has been asking after you these past few days.”
Shiyiniang couldn’t help but glance over at the First Mistress.
She saw the First Mistress clamp her eyes shut, her face ashen.
Shiyiniang dared not delay and quietly acknowledged with a “yes,” then went to Fifth Yiniang’s quarters.
Fifth Yiniang was naturally overjoyed to see her: “I am perfectly well. You needn’t worry. Sixth Sister has been looking after me most attentively. Shanhu comes to see me often too. And Fourth Madam has been helping me sew a small winter jacket…” As she spoke, a note of sadness crept into her expression. “To think that Tenth Miss is so young and already a widow. Even with a mountain of gold and silver, life will be hard for her. You are both in Yanjing — whenever you have a moment, go and see her.”
“I know.” Shiyiniang, seeing that Fifth Yiniang’s spirits were much better than the last time, felt relieved. Thinking of Tenth Sister’s feelings toward herself, she answered in vague terms. “We are about to go to the Wang Family to pay our condolences, and Father specifically asked me to come see you. I cannot stay long. If there is anything you need or anything you’re missing, have Sixth Yiniang bring word to me.”
“Then you go quickly.” Fifth Yiniang nodded and walked her to the door. “You are the younger one — don’t keep people waiting.”
Shiyiniang hurried back to the main hall, and together with everyone, went to the ornate gate to take the carriages.
The Luo Family had only one carriage. Fifth Miss had come by hired sedan chair. Shiyiniang, following the Xu Family custom, traveled with her maidservants, so she had a large carriage with a smaller carriage in attendance. Those going to the Wang Family included Luo Zhensheng, Luo Zhensheng, Qian Ming, the First Madam, Shiyiniang, and the Fourth Madam. If couples were paired together for carriages, Shiyiniang and Qian Ming would each be left without a partner, meaning they would have to be divided by gender instead.
The Fourth Madam smiled and said: “How about this — First Brother and First Sister-in-Law in one carriage, Shiyiniang and I in one, and Fifth Brother-in-Law with our Fourth Master in one?”
This arrangement made a great deal of sense.
No one raised any objection. The Fourth Madam helped Shiyiniang up into the carriage. The Luo Family’s carriage went in front, Shiyiniang’s large carriage in the middle, and the smaller carriage at the rear, and the party set off for the Wang Family.
Along the way, the Fourth Madam chatted with Shiyiniang.
“Tenth Honored Young Madam’s hardship lies precisely in having married into a ducal household!”
Shiyiniang thought of how the Fourth Madam had just now proactively stepped forward to arrange the seating order, and had helped her up into the carriage herself — it stirred something in her. She knew the Fourth Madam had something she wished to say.
One gives a peach and receives a plum in return.
Since she had shown consideration and been warm toward her in front of Yiniang, Shiyiniang could not very well embarrass her in return.
Shiyiniang smiled at the Fourth Madam, adopting an attentive, listening posture.
The Fourth Madam smiled: “In a ducal household, what matters most is heirs, and more than that — the noble title.” She spoke as if with a deeper meaning. “Now that Tenth Sister’s husband is gone, and no heir was left behind — what happens next will most likely, in the end, have to be brought to the Marquis. Eleventh Honored Young Madam would do well to prepare a position on this early.”
Shiyiniang froze.
She had not expected the Fourth Madam to say something like this.
Shiyiniang had thought it through carefully the day before.
No matter the era, strength speaks. Only if the Luo Family could secure for Tenth Sister the right to adopt an heir would they have any say over whom Tenth Sister adopted, how the adoption was carried out. If the Luo Family could not secure this right, whatever was said would be in vain. Tenth Sister’s fate would forever be at the mercy of others.
Qian Ming had timely reminded everyone of the need to clarify what the Luo Family’s objective was in this matter. The Fourth Madam had stated plainly how the matter might be resolved.
Each one more clever than the last, each one calmer in a crisis, each one more thorough in their thinking.
Shiyiniang couldn’t help but look up and appraise the Fourth Madam.
The Fourth Madam was watching her in return, a smile in her eyes.
The best way to speak with a clever person was to be forthright.
“The trouble is, the Marquis was only just stripped of his post by the Emperor yesterday.” On this matter, Shiyiniang had no certainty herself.
Xu Lingyi cared more about his family’s standing than almost anything else. At this juncture when he was keeping a low profile, he would most likely not stick his neck out for Tenth Sister — all the more so given the grudge between the Xu Family and the Wang Family that stood between them.
This was the first time the Fourth Madam had heard about the dismissal. Her face showed astonishment.
Shiyiniang gave her a rueful smile and a confirming nod. “The Marquis was stripped of his post by the Emperor yesterday.”
As Shiyiniang’s words settled, the Fourth Madam’s composure was already restored.
“Thirty years the river flows east, forty years it flows west. Do not be downhearted, Honored Young Madam.” She immediately offered comfort. “While the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn. What’s more, the Marquis is still young, and the Princes are at the age when they are growing fast. There will be many opportunities ahead.” Then she added: “I hear the Marquis has a foot ailment. This is precisely a good time for him to rest and recuperate. And Honored Young Madam will no longer need to suffer the hardship of rising at the drum’s call. It is really a fine thing.”
If before Shiyiniang had felt that the Fourth Madam, whose maiden name was Zhou, was no simple woman, she now looked at her with entirely fresh eyes.
Such worldly ease in her manner, such perfectly chosen words. That Luo Zhensheng had found a wife like her was truly the fortune of a previous life.
Shiyiniang thought of Luo Zhensheng’s incompetence and felt both regret and pity for him.
“Thank you, Fourth Sister-in-Law!” She thanked the Fourth Madam with genuine sincerity. “I feel the same way. Let the Marquis take this opportunity to rest and recuperate properly.”
—