After seeing off the full house of guests, Shi’yiniang still needed to go over the tally of dishes and vessels with the steward mammas and make preparations for the following day’s banquet.

It was the beginning of the hour of pig and she was just about to retire when Nanny Shi, from the Fifth Madam’s side, came with a flustered expression: “Please, Fourth Madam, send someone to Ciyuan Temple to summon Master Jining — our Xin Jie’er will not eat, will not drink, and will not stop crying!”

How could this be?

Shi’yiniang quickly had Hupo take her own authority tablet and go with Nanny Shi to the outer courtyard: “…And send someone to fetch an Imperial Physician as well.”

Hupo and Nanny Shi acknowledged this and left. Shi’yiniang took Lvyun and went to the Fifth Madam’s quarters.

Even before she reached the covered walkway, she could already hear the Fifth Madam’s tearful voice: “…What shall we do? What shall we do?”

Xu Lingkuan, being a man, appeared steadier: “Nanny Shi has already gone to fetch Master Jining — there will be nothing to worry about.”

Upon entering the room, the Fifth Madam was pacing continuously with Xin Jie’er in her arms, murmuring soothing words like “little darling,” while Xu Lingkuan sat in a tall armchair to the side, his expression grave, though an undercurrent of anxiety was visible in his bearing.

“Fourth Sister-in-law is here!” He rose and greeted Shi’yiniang, his manner subdued.

The Fifth Madam also looked up briefly to nod at Shi’yiniang: “Fourth Sister-in-law.”

Shi’yiniang leaned in to look at the child: “How is she?”

The baby seemed to have exhausted herself from crying, and was now making small, mewling sounds in her swaddling, her face tinged with a purplish color.

“She simply cannot be soothed,” the Fifth Madam said, and tears fell again.

Shi’yiniang had no idea what to suggest: “Should we not ask an experienced older mamma to come and have a look?”

The Fifth Madam said nothing, lowering her head slightly, as though she had not heard.

Shi’yiniang’s brow furrowed gently as she weighed whether to say it again, when a young maid announced: “Second Madam has arrived.”

The Fifth Madam’s brow immediately cleared at the words, and she went forward with the child in her arms.

The curtain was drawn aside, and the Second Madam entered, dressed in a azure lotus-colored cloud-patterned brocade outer robe.

Her dark hair was wound in a casual bun, with not a single ornament on her person. Her brow was furrowed, her expression stern, and the moment she stepped through the door she asked: “Where is the wet nurse?” Her voice was not loud, yet it carried its own air of authority.

A plump, fair-skinned young woman nearby went pale as paper. She heard this and quickly said: “I have been eating only what the household’s menu prescribes…” Then she burst into tears as well: “I truly have not touched anything I should not have!”

“Enough of that — weeping and wailing, it harms the liver and stomach. How are you to nurse the child.” She quietly reprimanded the wet nurse, then took the child from the Fifth Madam’s arms, studied her carefully for a moment, and asked: “Has a physician been summoned?”

The Fifth Madam’s lips parted slightly, and she looked hesitantly toward Shi’yiniang.

The Second Madam seemed only just then to notice her presence, and gave a nod: “Fourth Sister-in-law is here as well.”

Shi’yiniang said gently, “Second Sister-in-law,” and explained: “Hupo took my authority tablet and went with Nanny Shi to the outer courtyard. I asked them to also request an Imperial Physician to come and examine Xin Jie’er.”

The Second Madam nodded, her expression easing somewhat, and began patting the child’s back rather stiffly to soothe her.

Seeing her movements were awkward, the Fifth Madam took the child back: “Second Sister-in-law, please have a seat.”

Only then did everyone exchange proper greetings, and settled themselves by rank in the inner room. A young maid served tea. Everyone drank their tea and waited for Master Jining or the Imperial Physician to arrive.

Before the expected visitors came, it was Xu Lingyi who arrived first.

“I heard the child was unwell?” His expression was severe.

“We have no idea why she will not stop crying.” The moment Xu Lingkuan saw Xu Lingyi, he steadied considerably, and his voice took on several more degrees of confidence.

Xu Lingyi went to look at the child: “Has a physician been summoned?”

“Yes!” Xu Lingkuan quickly said: “Fourth Sister-in-law helped summon a physician.” He hesitated for a moment, then added: “And Master Jining has also been sent for.”

Xu Lingyi’s brow contracted slightly at that, and after a long pause gave an “mm.” He then asked: “Does Mother know yet?”

“We did not dare disturb Mother.” Xu Lingkuan answered, and invited Xu Lingyi to sit on the heatable bed in the outer room adjacent to the inner chamber.

Hupo and Nanny Shi came back to report: “Steward Bai has already dispatched people to make the request.”

Everyone then sat and waited. In the meanwhile, Shi’yiniang quietly instructed Lvyun: “Go back to our quarters and tell Mammas Tian and Wan what is happening here. They have plenty of experience — see if there are any home remedies.”

Lvyun hesitated: “This is, after all, the Fifth Branch’s matter…” meaning it was best not to interfere.

“It is simply a precaution.” Shi’yiniang murmured.

Seeing that Shi’yiniang knew what she was doing, Lvyun slipped away quietly.

Mammas Tian and Wan considered the matter for some time and said: “We fear that today, with the noise and commotion of the private theatrical performance — the drums and gongs — the child has been given a fright. It would be best to give her some calming medicine and burn two sheets of prayer paper to honor the various spirits who may have passed by. She should be fine in a day or two.”

Lvyun thought of how the Fifth Madam had spent the entire day carrying the child and moving among all the assembled ladies and young madams, and found this very plausible. She quietly reported back to Shi’yiniang.

Thinking of the way the Fifth Madam had paid no heed to her suggestion earlier, Shi’yiniang suspected she already knew perfectly well in her own heart — that she had frightened the child by taking her to the performance — and was too ashamed to say so.

For now she set aside her puzzlement, and took turns with the Fifth Madam holding and soothing Xin Jie’er. Then Master Jining arrived.

Entering and seeing Xu Lingyi, her expression faltered briefly and she went forward somewhat awkwardly to bow to him: “The Marquis is here as well?”

Xu Lingyi did not acknowledge her, and took a sip of his tea. Xu Lingkuan then led Master Jining into the inner room.

Master Jining went in and declared that the child had encountered a wandering spirit, and that a ritual was needed — she must print one thousand copies of the *Sutra for the Purification of the Heart* to distribute to passersby to accumulate merit, and she also requested the Fifth Madam to move to a secluded location.

The Fifth Madam, wishing only for the child to recover, agreed to everything.

Master Jining borrowed the Old Madam’s prayer hall to pay obeisance to the Bodhisattva, and wrote out the prayer paper with cinnabar and yellow paper she had brought with her.

Imperial Physician Liu arrived.

Xu Lingyi went personally to receive him at the door: “Please have a look and tell us what exactly has happened.”

The wet nurse brought the child out.

Imperial Physician Liu inquired carefully about the situation and wrote out a calming prescription for the child.

Nanny Shi took the prescription, and though she sent someone to fill it, her manner was not particularly urgent. Shi’yiniang understood perfectly.

She summoned Master Jining and asked: “Is there anything in particular that must be observed when burning the prayer paper?” And she also reminded her: “Should the rest of us perhaps withdraw?”

A gleam of delight flashed in Master Jining’s eyes, though her voice remained unhurried: “Persons of great standing need not fear such things — even spirits and immortals must give way to them. But today Xin Jie’er has been afflicted by malevolent forces, and those demons and ghosts are growing brazen, not knowing their place. Once I subdue and suppress these troublemakers, peace and safety will be restored to all the noble persons here.”

All eyes then turned to Xu Lingyi.

He was a man who had inherited the title. According to such monks and nuns, he was a man of Heaven-ordained destiny — in terms of rank and protection, none present surpassed him. He was the one most capable of warding off evil spirits.

A look of pleading appeared in the Fifth Madam’s eyes.

Xu Lingkuan’s gaze toward his elder brother grew tinged with unease.

“Marquis, since Xin Jie’er’s illness has a clear origin and cause, you need not worry any further. Tomorrow there are still guests to receive. You and Fourth Sister-in-law should both retire early. I will stay here and keep watch.” The Second Madam, who had been sitting quietly to one side, spoke up suddenly.

The Fifth Madam heard this as if it were an imperial decree, and quickly said: “Yes. Fourth Brother, you and Fourth Sister-in-law should go back and rest. Second Sister-in-law is here.”

Xu Lingyi reflected briefly, then nodded at Shi’yiniang. He rose and said: “Then we will leave first. If anything comes up, send word to us.”

The couple breathed a collective sigh of relief, and without a trace of ceremony showed Xu Lingyi and Shi’yiniang to the door.

Xu Lingyi shook his head with a rueful smile.

They were afraid his presence would make it awkward to go ahead with things.

Shi’yiniang covered her mouth with her sleeve, laughing.

Xu Lingyi asked about how the day’s performance had gone: “…Was it all right?”

“Yes.” Shi’yiniang answered. “Madam Huang and the Third Young Madam Huang arrived first thing in the morning — Madam Huang was afraid I might be short-handed and kept the Third Young Madam Huang behind to help with receiving guests…” She chattered on to Xu Lingyi about Madam Qiao’s arrival that day and how she and Gan First Young Madam had put old grievances behind them with a smile, and very soon they were at their own courtyard gate.

Yan Rong and the others came hurrying to receive them, while Lvyun and Hongxiu led the young maids in attending to the two of them as they changed clothes and washed up.

Xu Lingyi asked about the wife of General Li: “Did you send her an invitation?”

“No.” Shi’yiniang changed into her sleep clothes of peach-red Hangzhou silk — a padded jacket. “This year is truly odd. We have always sent an invitation to Zhou’s elder sister in previous years, and Zhou’s elder sister’s family also has a spring banquet of their own, so nine times out of ten she does not come. This time she came. Most likely it is because today is the second day of the month. I wonder whether she will come tomorrow as well.” She then moved the lamp to the small footstool beside the bed. “As for Madam Li — I heard from the Tang family’s Fourth Madam that she has been taking her daughter around to quite a few spring banquets these days. The ones at Princess Fucheng’s and Zhou’s elder sister’s household are the ones she has visited most frequently. Looking at Li Da Miss’s age…” She climbed into bed and drew the lotus-hued porcelain-pattern brocade quilt over herself, looking at Xu Lingyi who was already lying inside: “She may well be seeking a marriage match for her daughter.”

Xu Lingyi did not smile, but gave a measured nod with a slight chill in his expression: “A few days ago, the Emperor summoned Prince Shun to have the Imperial Clan Court and the Board of Rites deliberate on the marriage of the Crown Prince. Though the formal decree has not yet been issued, word has already spread. And since the Lantern Festival, the Emperor has had the Crown Prince attending him at Qianqing Palace.” He let out a long sigh: “In the blink of an eye, the children have all come of age for marriage discussions.”

Shi’yiniang looked at him — his appearance young and handsome, yet his tone like that of an old man — and thought that in a couple of years he might well become a grandfather or a step-grandfather… She found the thought absurd and quickly turned to lie on her side.

In the lamplight, the peach-red silk satin cast her complexion into a glow like freshly fallen snow.

Xu Lingyi leaned down and breathed softly beside her ear, saying quietly: “Tired?”

Shi’yiniang closed her eyes, but her ears had turned red.

Xu Lingyi smiled and drew her into his arms.

Shi’yiniang clutched the front of her clothes, her face flushed like rosy clouds, and looked at him with a bashful, halting expression: “Blow… blow out the lamp first…”

Her eyes were like a still lake into which a stone had been cast — ripples spreading one after another in all directions, drawing him helplessly in.

In the darkness, mingled within the soft rustling of shifting garments, came Shi’yiniang’s intermittent, tender protests: “Can you not be a little gentler…”

Her small recuperation period had only just ended, and he had tried his luck once.

Quite a feeling of having tasted something and wanting more.

The only drawback was that Shi’yiniang had many requirements — this would not do, that was not right, he had to be gentle and tender — and not wishing to force her, he could only be patient and work things out with her.

“You are so delicate,” he could not help murmuring low.

From the other side came silence — she had turned her back to him and was clutching the edge of the quilt, not making a sound.

Xu Lingyi could feel that the skin pressed against his chest was smooth as silk, fine as congealed cream — stirring his appetite considerably. He said a few soft, coaxing words.

From the other side, her body softened slightly, though she still clutched the edge of the quilt.

He laughed inwardly, tightened his arms around her slender waist, and pressed forward.

From the other side came a startled cry, and a pair of shapely long legs kicked out toward him… which only made it all the more convenient for him to press his advantage, sweeping all before him. He could not help laughing quietly.

From the other side came her voice, half shy, half indignant, calling out: “Xu Lingyi.”

Xu Lingyi laughed even more loudly.