After Xin Jie’er’s full moon celebration, the Fifth Madam could not wait to move back from Zhaozhang Hall to her original courtyard, and only then did she and Xu Lingkuan take the child back to visit her maternal family. When they returned that evening, Xin Jie’er was covered from head to toe in colorful silk threads. The Old Madam held her, laughing with delight, counting the threads to tease her: “…Look at how much our old Marquis loves our little Xin Jie’er!”

When a child goes to the maternal family for the first time after the full moon celebration, if the child is a girl, every relative and friend of the maternal family presents her with a strand of colorful silk thread. The number of threads represents how many people from the maternal family came to offer their congratulations.

The Fifth Madam smiled and said: “I heard that when Xin Jie’er came back, even aunts and sisters-in-law several generations removed all returned — it was quite lively!”

The Old Madam smiled and nodded.

The Second Madam, sitting across from the Old Madam, took the opportunity to hold the child — although the Old Madam was well-preserved for her age, she was getting on in years. Holding the child for a little while was fine, but holding her for a long time would likely be tiring.

The Old Madam did not insist, and turned to speak with Shi’yiniang, who was standing nearby, about the Third Month Third Festival: “…Every year at this time, we have to invite them over for some merriment. This year, with so many things happening in the household.” She glanced at the Fifth Madam. “We should all the more invite people over to liven things up and dispel any ill fortune.”

Was she referring to the sudden deaths of Xiao Lan and her child?

“I was just thinking of discussing this very matter with Mother.” Shi’yiniang said softly. “I have been looking through the household account books from previous years and noticed this has always been a regular expenditure. I wanted to ask Mother how we should handle it this year.”

The implication was clear — should they hold a grand celebration this year?

The Second Madam gave a soft, deliberate cough.

The Old Madam looked toward her: “What is your opinion?”

The Second Madam said gently: “The child has only just passed her full moon — I think it would be best to follow the same practice as in previous years.”

The ancients believed in the will of Heaven, holding that every person’s fortune, wealth, longevity, and happiness were fixed quantities determined at birth. They also placed great importance on the balance of yin and yang — when yin flourishes, yang wanes; when yin surges, yang withers. If the established order were carelessly disrupted, it could under the laws of yin and yang create a situation of great wealth but short life.

Her meaning was that the child was still too young — excessive lavishness would upset the balance of her heavenly destiny and invite misfortune.

The Fifth Madam had originally wished to hold a grand celebration. First, as the Old Madam had said, to bring good fortune. Second, because this was the first Girls’ Festival since her daughter’s birth — although the household’s standard expenses had fixed amounts, and Shi’yiniang had followed precedent by providing fifty taels of silver for Xin Jie’er’s full moon, with other expenses borne by themselves, they were not without means. For their daughter’s sake, spending a little more was well worth it.

Yet the moment she heard the Second Madam’s words, she immediately changed her mind.

“Second Sister-in-law’s thinking is most thorough. Mother, let us do as Second Sister-in-law suggests?”

The Old Madam inwardly agreed with the Second Madam as well. She had not immediately expressed her opinion earlier, fearing the Fifth Madam might take it amiss. Now that everyone was in agreement, the Old Madam gave a slight nod and instructed Shi’yiniang: “Then follow the practice of previous years.”

Shi’yiniang acknowledged the instruction just as Xu Lingyi and Xu Lingkuan arrived together.

After the customary exchange of greetings, Xu Lingkuan immediately took his daughter into his arms: “Did she cry today?” he asked the Fifth Madam.

The Fifth Madam moved to her husband’s side, gazing at her daughter with a warm smile: “Who would dare make her cry!”

Xu Lingkuan’s face broke into a broad grin: “A baby cries when she is uncomfortable.” — meaning the child had been well looked after today.

Everyone laughed.

Xu Lingyi’s gaze settled on Shi’yiniang.

Ever since she had taken charge of the household affairs, Shi’yiniang spent most of her time at the West Flower Hall, and even when she was home, the steward mammas would frequently come seeking instructions. Although he was idle at home, the two of them actually spent less time together than before, and no longer had the tranquility they once shared — this very day, they had only exchanged a few words at breakfast.

He looked at her now: she wore a peach-red thin jacket and stood beside the Old Madam. Her dark hair was wound in a simple bun, with only a small Southern Pearl earring hanging at each ear. She stood there quietly, calm and composed as the pearl at her ear, possessed of a serene and still beauty.

Sensing someone watching her, Shi’yiniang turned her face, and saw Xu Lingyi standing at the doorway in the distance.

He wore a plain, domestic-style deep blue Hangzhou silk robe, his hands clasped behind his back, his posture upright. The gaze he fixed on her was bright and keen, yet carried an undercurrent of winter-like warmth, making his expression softer than usual by several degrees.

Shi’yiniang was momentarily startled.

After Wang Jiubao entered the capital, visitors came frequently to call on Xu Lingyi. He deflected them all by claiming a recurrence of his foot ailment, and refused to see anyone except a few old friends like Wang Li and Ma Zuowen. He had been cooping himself up at Half-Moon Pond painting and practicing calligraphy. Today, for reasons unknown, he had gone to the outer courtyard after breakfast, and was only now returning.

Could something pleasant have happened?

She pondered, gazing at him with some puzzlement.

Shi’yiniang had a pair of beautiful eyes — clear and bright, black and white sharply defined, like a spring flowing through a mountain gorge, pure enough to make one’s heart clear at the sight of them. Yet at times they were like stars in the night sky, glittering and flickering with an inexplicable light that left one guessing…

Xu Lingyi studied Shi’yiniang carefully.

Shi’yiniang felt somewhat ill at ease.

His gaze was too intent.

What would others think if they noticed?

She quickly turned her face away, eyes lowered, composing herself, and then heard a burst of laughter from nearby, along with Xu Lingkuan’s voice asking Xu Lingyi: “Fourth Brother, what do you think?” His tone carried two parts probing, two parts careful caution.

Noticing that Shi’yiniang had turned away and was now sitting with studied composure, her expression carefully neutral, and recalling the flustered glance she had shot him just a moment before — Xu Lingyi smiled inwardly. Though he sensed something amiss in his younger brother’s tone, his mind was in too light a mood to be composed, and words slipped from his lips before he could stop them: “You all decide! It makes no difference to me.”

Xu Lingkuan’s mouth fell open, and for a long moment he could not speak.

On the other side, the Fifth Madam was already laughing coquettishly: “Mother, you heard it with your own ears — Fourth Brother has agreed! We shall start on the second day of the month and continue through the fourth. The Deyin Troupe, the Changsheng Troupe, and the Jiexiang Society — one troupe each day.” Her excitement grew as she spoke. “We shall invite Zhou Dehui, Geng Changsheng, and Bai Xixiang all to perform. This will be a once-in-a-hundred-years occasion in the theater world!”

“Fourth son is remarkably agreeable today!” The Old Madam’s gaze moved back and forth between Xu Lingyi and Shi’yiniang, her smile so wide that her eyes were nearly closed.

Xu Lingyi now understood what Xu Lingkuan had been asking, and his body stiffened slightly before quickly resuming its usual composed ease: “It is rare for everyone to be in such high spirits.”

The Old Madam smiled and nodded in agreement.

The Second Madam, however, glanced thoughtfully at Xu Lingyi with a slight smile.

The one who had once called Xu Lingkuan’s ways a waste of talent was none other than himself — and now he was the same one agreeing to let Xu Lingkuan invite theater troupes to perform three consecutive days of private shows at home. Xu Lingyi felt rather uncomfortable, and without any visible change in expression, shifted the subject: “Today, I looked at the almanac with Steward Bai. The tenth day of the third month is an auspicious date. I intend to break ground for construction that day. The sooner the repairs are done, the sooner we can move in and spend the summer there.”

“Very good, very good, very good.” The Old Madam nodded repeatedly. “And where do you plan to stay in the meantime?”

With repairs underway, workmen would need to be brought in. Propriety forbade close contact between men and women, so the ladies of the household naturally could not remain there — they would need to move elsewhere.

Before Xu Lingyi could reply, the Old Madam continued: “I think you should move to the Fishing Pavilion. Although it is called a pavilion, your father in his lifetime enjoyed fishing there, and had a small three-room courtyard added behind it. Sijie can go and stay with Siyu at the Beautiful Scenery Pavilion. Zhen Jie’er can stay with me for a few days. The several concubines can move to the Yi Xiang Courtyard. As for the two of you — although not especially spacious, it is far from cramped.” The Old Madam looked at Shi’yiniang: “What do you think?”

The most spacious courtyard in the garden was Zhaozhang Hall — but that was where Xiao Lan and her child had died. Being asked to move there would leave her with some unease. The Shaohua Courtyard, on the other hand, was located by the Biyi Sluice, and the main path leading to Zhaozhang Hall faced the Shaohua Courtyard across the water, which would make it inconvenient for Xu Lingyi to come and go. The Old Madam’s arrangement was the best possible.

Shi’yiniang glanced at Xu Lingyi.

A matter such as this naturally required the head of the household’s agreement.

Xu Lingyi also found the Old Madam’s arrangement entirely sensible: “As Mother wishes.” He added: “I see that the sixth day of next month is auspicious for moving. Let us move on that day.”

The Old Madam nodded.

Shi’yiniang raised the matter of Zhen Jie’er: “…It would be better to let her stay with us. That way there is no need to trouble you on your end.”

“It is spring now, and the wind blowing off the water is quite chilly — rooms facing the water are not suitable for habitation.” The Old Madam was firm on this point: “We cannot very well have her living in the courtyard with you, can we?”

Zhen Jie’er was growing up, and with a whole entourage of maids and mammas, moving in would indeed be somewhat inconvenient. Yet troubling the Old Madam weighed on Shi’yiniang’s conscience.

“Let Zhen Jie’er stay with me,” the Second Madam, who had been sitting quietly without a word, suddenly said. “It will also be a good opportunity to check on her studies. See whether she has let them slip.”

The Old Madam considered briefly: “Very well — let Zhen Jie’er stay with you.”

And so the matter was settled.

When Xu Sijun and the others came to pay their respects and the Old Madam told them of the arrangement, Xu Siyu said nothing, Xu Sijie was still too young to have much reaction, and Zhen Jie’er was delighted. Only Zhun Ge’er tugged at the Old Madam’s sleeve and murmured: “Grandmother, let Elder Sister stay with us.”

Xu Lingyi’s brow furrowed: “Your sister is going to study the zither and practice calligraphy with Second Aunt — not to play.”

Zhun Ge was so frightened he pressed himself against the Old Madam’s side and dared not make a sound for a long time.

Seeing this, Xu Lingyi proceeded to test the boy on his studies.

Zhun Ge was currently attending the clan school together with Xu Siyu.

Attending to a son’s studies was both a father’s responsibility and his right — the women of the inner household had no say in the matter, including the Old Madam.

Zhun Ge stood trembling before Xu Lingyi and stumbled haltingly through a few passages from *Elementary Learning*.

Not only Xu Lingyi and the Second Madam, but even Shi’yiniang could tell that Zhun Ge was utterly out of sorts — the Second Madam and the Old Madam had gone over the *Elementary Learning* with him in advance, and he had recited it quite fluently, yet now, after only a few days at school, it seemed as though he had forgotten everything he had previously learned.

Xu Lingkuan watched him with tense anxiety.

The Fifth Madam patted her daughter, somewhat distracted.

The Second Madam wore a look of puzzlement.

The Old Madam looked on with worry.

Shi’yiniang could only exchange a glance with Hupo.

Hupo stepped out briefly, and then a young maid announced from beyond the curtain: “Old Madam, where shall dinner be served?”

—