Three bays, five rafters, a gatehouse with gilded beast-face knockers.

Shiyiniang lifted a narrow gap in the carriage curtain and peered quietly outside.

The gates of the Duke of Maoguo’s residence stood wide open. A few black lacquered flat-topped carriages were parked sparsely out front. An elderly man was directing several young servants in blue to set up mourning drapes on the gateposts, climbing up on ladders to do it. Seeing a carriage approaching, he rose on his tiptoes to look, and then hurried over.

Linbo stepped forward to present the calling card.

The old man took one look and immediately bowed to Linbo with both hands clasped, then summoned two of the servants still hanging mourning drapes to remove the threshold bar at the side entrance. Shiyiniang’s carriage and those carrying the other female guests of the Luo family entered the outer courtyard directly, while Xu Lingyi, Luo Zhensheng, Qian Ming, and the other men stepped down from their carriages and were escorted by the old man into the main hall.

The outer courtyard of the Duke of Maoguo’s residence was spacious. Seven or eight young servants were setting up a mourning tent there, while many others had retreated under the eaves or into corners, chatting idly — the whole scene loose and disorderly.

Wang Lang’s body had been brought back the afternoon before last, and by now, the preparation for the funeral rites had still not been properly arranged.

Shiyiniang shook her head faintly and let the curtain fall.

Even if Tenth Sister had the ability to run this household, she would be a single beam trying to hold up a collapsing house — it would be a near impossible task.

The one who came to meet them was Yuan Baozhu’s wife.

She wore a plain dark qing-colored unadorned jacket, with her black hair pinned up in a simple coiled bun. Only a small white silk magnolia flower was fastened at her temple. She looked neat and capable, and highly efficient. She came forward respectfully to greet them all with a bow, then led them first to pay their respects to the Old Madam Wang — who lay bedridden, her expression already clouded — and afterward brought them to Tenth Sister’s rooms.

Fourth Sister-in-law, who presumably knew more of the Wang family’s affairs, quietly asked Yuan Baozhu’s wife, “Is Jiang Furen well?”

Yuan Baozhu’s wife replied without betraying any expression: “Madam has been overcome with grief and has also taken a chill. She is currently resting with the First Master. The First Madam is looking after her, and her son and daughter are attending at the bedside. She should make a full recovery within a few days.”

Fourth Sister-in-law heard this and sighed deeply, then turned to Shiyiniang and remarked: “Just a few days ago it was cold enough to need furs, but today with the sun out, you can barely wear a padded jacket. No wonder people have been falling ill.”

Before coming to the Wang family’s residence, the Luo family’s female relatives had first stopped at the Xu household to call on Shiyiniang. She had kept them for breakfast, and they had all come here together after.

“Fortunately, our Eleventh Sister-in-law is young — she has the constitution for it,” Third Sister-in-law remarked with a smile. “She had some ginger broth and wrapped herself up, and it was enough to sweat it out.”

Shiyiniang smiled faintly, and without making it obvious, slowed her pace slightly so that Luo Da’nainai took the lead position, and she followed behind Fourth Sister-in-law as they entered Tenth Sister’s courtyard.

Tenth Sister, Jin Lian, and Yin Ping had all changed into pale white jackets with white flowers in their hair. Jin Lian and Yin Ping both had red and swollen eyes, haggard complexions, and subdued expressions as they poured and served tea for the visitors.

Luo Da’nainai looked at them and sighed.

Both of them had been taken in by Wang Lang. Tenth Sister at least had the right to observe mourning. They had no name or standing — their futures were uncertain.

Tenth Sister sat cross-legged on the large kang by the window, staring blankly out at nothing, not acknowledging anyone.

After a few exchanges of words with no reply forthcoming, the awkwardness began to settle over everyone.

Fourth Sister-in-law stepped in to ease the tension: “After all that has happened, Tenth Sister-in-law must be exhausted. Shall we go and sit in the hall?”

There were no objections. They moved to the hall and took their seats, and conversation turned to idle talk.

“…With all of them leaving around the same time, there’s still no movement from our Seventh Sister’s belly!” Third Sister-in-law said, thinking of Seventh Sister, who had married away to Shandong. Fifth Sister-in-law had not come today.

Several gazes drifted — some toward Shiyiniang, some toward Fourth Sister-in-law.

Shiyiniang feigned ignorance. Fourth Sister-in-law flushed and stumbled over her words, hastily deflecting: “I hear Fifth Younger Brother is being matched? They are seeking a young niece from Third Aunt’s family.”

A few days prior, Third Madam Liu Shi had written to the First Master with the news, hinting that he might release some funds from the household accounts. Since the First Master had retired from his post, the income from the Luo family’s shops had fallen considerably, and the First Madam’s long illness had drained funds with all the costs of physicians and medicine. Da’nainai had scraped together five hundred taels in bank notes and had them sent over.

This was the first Shiyiniang and the others had heard of it. Fourth Sister-in-law looked to Luo Da’nainai in surprise.

Luo Da’nainai confirmed it: “The exchange of birth characters is to take place in mid-April.”

“A lean camel is still bigger than a horse. The Liu family has been officials for generations. Fifth Younger Brother is a fortunate one.”

At last, the conversation had shifted elsewhere.

Fourth Sister-in-law let out a long breath, then glanced over to find Shiyiniang smiling at her.

She felt slightly embarrassed and lowered her gaze.

Just then, a young maid came to invite them for tea in the flower hall.

Shiyiniang took the opportunity to rise and excuse herself.

The others urged her to stay for a moment, but seeing her mind was made up, they did not insist. Shiyiniang sent Lvyun ahead to let Xu Lingyi know, then left with Hongxiu, Yanrong, and the others and returned to the Xu household.

The Dowager Marchioness’s rooms were full of laughter and merriment. After Shiyiniang paid her respects, several children came forward with bright smiles to bow.

Hui Jie’er was dressed in a small scarlet jacket patterned with tea roses and butterflies in embroidered brocade, wearing a solid-gold western floral necklace set with a pigeon-egg-sized emerald pendant. She stood there gracefully — like a richly fragrant peony in full bloom.

“Aunt, I heard you went to pay respects at the Duke of Maoguo’s residence,” she said brightly. “I was just feeling sad that I would not see you, and then here you are.”

“Hui Jie’er is too kind,” Shiyiniang said with a smile. “I have not yet thanked Hui Jie’er for the warm welcome you showed our Zhen Jie’er last time.”

“Aunt, please do not stand on ceremony,” Hui Jie’er said with a laugh. “We are neighbors — it is only right that we visit back and forth often.” Her manner of speaking was quite proper — quite different from the impression Shiyiniang had carried. Perhaps a year had passed and she had grown.

Shiyiniang exchanged a few pleasantries and stayed for the midday meal with the Dowager Marchioness, then brought Hui Jie’er, Zhen Jie’er, Twelfth Sister, Zhun Ge, and Xu Sijie back to her own courtyard — Xu Siqin, Xu Siyu, and Xu Sijian were not included, on account of their age.

The moment Hui Jie’er stepped inside, she noticed the embroidery frame resting on the kang.

“This is…” Her eyes lit up with interest.

But Twelfth Sister had already walked over with long strides: “Eleventh Sister, is this the ‘Valley Wind’ piece you have been working on? I heard from Sixth Yiniang that when you were living at home, you once embroidered a Hundred Longevity design.”

She wore an apricot-yellow jacket with a bean-green lined skirt, and without Sixth Yiniang by her side, she seemed more open and spirited than usual — quite likeable.

“When I was unmarried, I had more time,” Shiyiniang said vaguely. “I do not have time for it now.”

Zhen Jie’er heard this and came over as well: “It has only been a few days, and Mother has already added another character.”

She wore a pale white damask jacket with a blue-green lined skirt, standing slender and composed, tranquil as a white lotus.

“I only work on it now and then,” Shiyiniang said with a smile, gesturing for them all to sit on the kang and asking the young maids to bring out fruits to serve.

Twelfth Sister carefully smoothed her skirt before sitting. Hui Jie’er sat without a care, pulled a pillow into her arms, and said, “How long have you been working on this, Aunt?”

Shiyiniang lifted the smallest child, Xu Sijie, up onto the kang. “Two or three months, I believe.”

At this Hui Jie’er laughed behind her sleeve. “If I had this much time, I would rather pick up a brush and write out the *Lament of the Changmen Palace*. That would be simpler, I should think.”

Comparing the *Valley Wind* and the *Lament of the Changmen Palace* in the same breath… Hui Jie’er must certainly believe Shiyiniang was working on this to send a message — that needlework, beyond the making of clothes and embroidery, could also serve as a means of binding a husband’s heart.

Shiyiniang was momentarily caught off guard.

But since she had already made that assumption, why not simply go along with it?

“And so it is that Su Hui’s *Xuanji Tu* is admired by all,” Shiyiniang said with a smile, “while Chen Ajiao left behind only a reputation for jealousy.”

One had woven her love into cloth; the other had put it into writing. The same feeling, expressed two different ways, with entirely different outcomes.

Of course, things were never so simple — there was an element of sophistry to the argument. But for a girl as clever and yet somewhat self-assured as Hui Jie’er, it was exactly the right approach.

She grew thoughtful, and after that spoke very little. When she left, she even took two embroidered handkerchiefs with her.

Shiyiniang let out a quiet breath.

This society placed so many constraints on women. To live freely within it, sheer spirit alone was far from enough.

After she had seen her young guests off, Shiyiniang and Zhen Jie’er went to call on Fifth Madam.

Nanny Shi turned them away at the door, with careful tact: “…She cannot risk exposure to drafts. She has just drifted off to sleep.”

It must be because of Shiyiniang’s supposed illness — she was worried about contagion reaching the baby.

Shiyiniang quite understood.

If it were her, she would find some way to keep people out as well. But she had done her duty in calling. That was enough.

Shiyiniang did not press the matter. She asked after the baby with genuine concern.

Nanny Shi said with a smile: “Plump and rosy, eating and sleeping like clockwork. A very well-behaved little one — clearly an easy child to raise.”

After a few more words of praise, Shiyiniang rose to take her leave.

Nanny Shi saw her out of the courtyard, then turned and went back inside.

Fifth Madam lay in bed, looking radiant, pressing a cloth to her forehead. When she saw Nanny Shi come in, she pursed her lips. “Gone?”

“Gone,” Nanny Shi said with a smile, going over to look at the sleeping baby in the small bed beside them.

“She knows she is unwell, yet she cannot stay in her own rooms,” said Fifth Madam, with an air of disapproval. “Is she not making it awkward for everyone else?”

Nanny Shi, not wishing to deepen the friction between them, gave a vague reply and quickly changed the subject with a smile: “The Dowager Marchioness sent Weiwei with five *liang* of blood-swallow nest. I have already had the kitchen set it to stew. It should be ready before long.” This conveyed that the Dowager Marchioness’s care for Fifth Madam was equal. Then she added, “Just now, the Fifth Master sent one of his personal servants over to ask whether the young miss ate well today, slept well, whether she cried.” This told Fifth Madam that although the child was a girl, Xu Lingkuan was equally delighted.

At that, Fifth Madam broke into a smile.

Yet before the smile had faded from her face, a young maid burst in, white as a sheet with alarm: “Madam, something terrible — Xiaolan, Xiaolan — covered in blood…”

Fifth Madam shot upright. “Who did this?” But her gaze went straight to Nanny Shi.

Nanny Shi’s expression was one of pure shock. She asked the young maid, “Calm yourself and tell us clearly. What has happened?”

The young maid was trembling. “She was fine just a moment ago… she had a bowl of chicken broth… then suddenly said her stomach hurt… Xiaomei told her it was just too much food and told her to walk around to help with the digestion… before she even finished speaking… blood…”

Fifth Madam struck the side table beside her with a sharp crack of her palm. “Investigate this. Investigate it thoroughly. Find out who is responsible!”

Nanny Shi’s expression darkened as well.

Fifth Madam had only just given birth to the legitimate eldest daughter, and now the unborn child of the household’s expectant concubine had been lost… What would people think?

Even they themselves risked becoming the very sort of people they despised.

Her expression grave, she said, “Madam, leave this to me. I will go and see to it at once.”

—