The very next morning, Nanny Song arrived.

She appeared to be in her late thirties — of medium height, fair-complexioned, and delicately featured. When she smiled, a dimple appeared on her left cheek, making her seem immediately warm and approachable.

“The Grand Dowager recommended you,” Shiyiniang said with a smile. “The Marquis also agreed. From now on, I shall have to rely on Nanny’s good judgment in all matters concerning my quarters.”

Nanny Song said repeatedly that she was unworthy.

Shiyiniang called the maidservants in to be introduced to her, then had Hupo brief her on the plans for the move over the coming days, and asked her to follow Hupo’s lead for the time being. “…We can make further arrangements once we’ve settled in.”

Nanny Song curtsied her acknowledgment and stepped out with Hupo.

Lvyun came in. “Madam, Abbess Jining has arrived!”

She was wearing a plain stone-blue Hangzhou silk monastic robe and greeted Shiyiniang with a serene, composed expression, pressing her palms together in salutation. “Fourth Madam, how have you been keeping? When I came to the mansion a few days ago, the Grand Dowager specifically asked me to make a peace talisman for the Fourth Madam.”

Shiyiniang knew of this.

The Grand Dowager had had peace talismans made for everyone in the household.

Not wishing to become closely involved with this person, but equally unwilling to offend her, Shiyiniang politely had tea brought for her.

The Abbess took a sip of tea and smiled, casting an appreciative eye over the neatly stacked trunks and boxes in the east side chamber. “Is the Madam sorting through seasonal clothing?”

Shiyiniang answered vaguely and made a few exchanges in idle conversation, then accompanied her to the Fifth Madam’s quarters.

The Fifth Madam had been waiting for Jining. After greeting Shiyiniang, she immediately said, “I followed the Abbess’s instructions and placed prayer paper by Xin Jie’er’s bed. For these three days I have burned nine sticks of incense before the Bodhisattva at noon and midnight. I am only waiting for the Abbess to come and perform the full rites.”

At the time the Xu household had been holding an opera performance. Dianchun Hall was also close to where the Fifth Madam lived. If Jining had proposed doing ritual prayers then, how would she have explained its urgency to the Grand Dowager? Without saying anything, the Grand Dowager would likely have thought the Fifth Madam was being somewhat inconsiderate of the occasion. If she said something, the matter would inevitably be investigated, and the story of the child being frightened due to the Fifth Madam’s inattention would come out. Even if the Grand Dowager had agreed — with an opera going on in one part of the house and ritual prayers in another, what would the visiting ladies have thought? And if she had not agreed, and something had happened to Xin Jie’er — who would bear the blame?

Jining had proposed only that the Fifth Madam burn incense at fixed hours. In so doing, she had extricated herself from a difficult position, and at the same time soothed the Fifth Madam’s urgency.

No wonder the fragrant smoke at Ciyuan Temple never ceased — Jining’s mastery of the world’s ways had a great deal to do with it.

Shiyiniang turned this over quietly in her mind. Meanwhile Jining, having heard the Fifth Madam’s words, gave a satisfied nod and said, “With so many honored guests in the house those days, performing the rites rashly might have stirred up those malevolent forces. Better to first soothe them with incense, and then conduct the rites to drive them out.”

The Fifth Madam looked momentarily startled, then knitted her brows and said, “Abbess, I feel that merely driving them out may have no lasting effect. Could you not bind them instead?”

Jining hesitated. “This… a monastic should be moved by compassion…”

Before she could finish, the Fifth Madam said, “Abbess, I do this only for Xin Jie’er. If there is any karmic retribution, let it fall upon me alone. I will not allow it to trouble our girl any further. Tell me how many people are needed for the scripture recitations, and how much in offerings is required. I will not be lacking by a single coin.” She then called to her maidservant He Ye, “Bring out the payment for the thousand copies of the ‘Pure Heart Mantra’ that the Abbess helped carve and print last time.”

He Ye acknowledged and went out.

Jining demurred. “Why the hurry, Fifth Madam? I am hardly going to run away on you!”

“How could I have you both do the work and pay for the materials yourself?” said the Fifth Madam. She then asked Jining, “While you’re at it, please also prepare some tablets of peace and blessings for us.”

“The Fifth Madam is one of our temple’s greatest patrons. Preparing tablets of peace and blessings is the least a poor nun can do.”

While they were speaking, He Ye came back with a heavily gold-speckled red envelope. “Abbess, this is the five hundred taels for the printing of the scriptures.”

Jining recited “Amitabha,” took the box, and set it casually on the tea table beside her. She smiled and looked around the room. “As for the matter of moving house that was mentioned last time… I have examined this room’s feng shui very carefully. With forest in front and hills behind, while it borders the Biyi River, it is not situated at the direct curve of the bow. The other locations I looked at were actually not as well-suited as this arrangement. I believe that performing the rites and adding a few objects will be quite sufficient.” She rose to go and inspect the inner chamber and Xin Jie’er’s sleeping area.

Shiyiniang took the opportunity to rise and make her excuses. “I have matters to see to. If anything comes up, Fifth Sister-in-law need only send word.”

The Fifth Madam, knowing she was busy, exchanged a few parting courtesies and did not press her to stay. Jining, however, walked her to the door of the room. “Safe travels, Fourth Madam!”

Shiyiniang returned the courtesy with a polite nod.

Back in her own quarters, Hupo was directing the maidservants in numbering the trunks and boxes. Seeing her return, she personally brought in a hot cup of tea. She lowered her voice. “So it’s been decided — Nanny Song will be in our quarters?”

“Why? Is there anything concerning about Nanny Song?” said Shiyiniang with a smile.

“No, no,” Hupo said quickly. “Nanny Song is very gracious to people — she speaks tactfully, and I can tell she is someone with a very measured mind.” She dropped her voice further. “It’s just that I had noticed, these past few days, that you kept calling in the wife of Liu Yuanrui to speak with you, so I thought…”

“I did have that in mind,” Shiyiniang admitted with a sigh. “Using the wife of Liu Yuanrui would naturally be better than using Nanny Song. But we have only recently joined this household — our roots are too shallow. Rather than relying on someone I brought with me, it is better to use someone who has long been part of the mansion. A person who knows many people here, who keeps well-informed, and who is thoroughly familiar with the workings of the household. I believe that is also why the Grand Dowager sent Nanny Song to my quarters. As for the wife of Liu Yuanrui — Jin Yu Lane will also need someone like her. And when the time comes, when you girls marry and the boys take wives, there must be somewhere for people to go.”

That last part left Hupo speechless and pink with embarrassment.

Shiyiniang went to Xu Sijie’s quarters.

He had just woken from his afternoon nap, his little face rosy with sleep. Nan Yong’s wife was crouching before him, helping put on his socks.

Seeing Shiyiniang come in, his eyes lit up and he called out “Mother!” in a loud, bright voice.

Nan Yong’s wife, Shuang Yu, and the others all curtsied to Shiyiniang.

Shiyiniang went over and scooped Xu Sijie into her arms, helping him with his shoes. “We’re moving tomorrow!”

Xu Sijie tilted his head. “Is Mother moving too?”

“Of course I am,” Shiyiniang said with a smile. “Mother is moving to the Waterside Pavilion. And Jin Ge’er will be living together with Second Elder Brother.”

Xu Sijie wriggled in her arms. “I want to live with Mother!”

“That’s exactly why we’re moving!” Shiyiniang laughed. “Once our side of the house is rebuilt, we’ll all move back. Then Jin Ge’er will live together with Mother, and Elder Sister, and Father, and the Yiniangs… all of us together!”

Xu Sijie nodded over and over. “I’ll live with Mother!”

Shiyiniang smiled and set him down on the ground, taking his hand. “Come — let’s go look at the rooms.”

Her only worry about moving had been that Xu Sijie might not adjust well.

Xu Sijie was delighted. He bounced along beside her to the rear garden.

Shiyiniang told him where she would be staying, where he would be staying, and how to walk from Lijing Pavilion to the Waterside Pavilion.

It was now the warm, bright season of spring, and Xu Sijie had shed his padded winter coat and was in a fresh new small jacket of water-green brocade. He broke free and ran with all his might from Lijing Pavilion to the Waterside Pavilion, then back again from the Waterside Pavilion to Lijing Pavilion — his laughter scattering along the path, lifting the spirits of Shiyiniang and everyone with her.

On the sixth, everyone moved according to Shiyiniang’s arrangements. At one point the Grand Dowager came by, accompanied by a cluster of attendants led by Nanny Du, and seeing that all was proceeding in calm and orderly fashion, she chatted a few words with Shiyiniang and returned to her quarters.

On the seventh, while everyone was still settling into the new surroundings, the Second Madam Xiang Shi’s elder brother and his wife arrived to visit the Xu household with their children.

“This is the Fourth Young Master’s wife. It’s your first meeting.” The Grand Dowager smiled warmly as she introduced Shiyiniang to the middle-aged woman dressed in a sapphire blue robe embroidered all over with five longevity medallions. Then she introduced the woman to Shiyiniang. “This is the Xiang family’s aunt by marriage — she has always followed her husband away on his posting. This year her husband returned to the capital for review, so she brought the children back to Yanjing for a visit.”

Shiyiniang stepped forward to greet Madam Xiang, naturally taking the opportunity to observe her.

Madam Xiang had a round, full face, eyes like autumn water, a rather tall build, and the additional fullness of middle age — standing there, she cut a formidable figure.

She smiled and introduced her three daughters. “This is my eldest, Rou Jin; second, Rou Ne; third, Rou Qian.”

Shiyiniang smiled and presented three small gifts of fine gold willow-leaf hairpins as tokens of greeting.

The three young ladies curtsied graciously to accept, and their gazes at Shiyiniang carried a thread of curiosity — something mildly surprised by how young and beautiful she was. Shiyiniang, for her part, observed the three Xiang daughters with considerable interest.

The eldest was fifteen, the second thirteen, the third eleven. Though still young, their characters were already taking shape. Possibly because Madam Xiang’s father-in-law was actually the Second Madam’s adoptive cousin, the eldest resembled the Second Madam — slender, tall, and of elegant, refined beauty, while the third had Madam Xiang’s facial features but a slight, delicate frame. At first glance, the two seemed to share no resemblance at all. The second daughter, on the other hand, had the elder sister’s build and the younger sister’s features — and standing beside either, the family resemblance was unmistakable. Moreover, the eldest carried herself with a quiet composure somewhat beyond her years; the youngest was all cheerful, open innocence; and the second fell between the two — gentle and composed, with a touch of sweetness.

“A few years have passed and those little ones I once held in your arms have grown into such graceful young ladies.” The Grand Dowager looked at the three Xiang daughters with evident feeling. “Your eldest boy must be seventeen by now?”

“What a memory you have, Grand Dowager,” said Madam Xiang with a gentle smile. “Yi Jia is seventeen this year.”

Yi Jia was Madam Xiang’s eldest son, presently accompanying his father on calls to Xu Lingyi in the outer courtyard.

The Grand Dowager asked with warm concern, “Has a match been arranged for him?”

“A compiler at the Hanlin Academy — a former classmate of my husband’s — had originally betrothed his second daughter to us. But the poor girl passed away last year from a pox illness.” A shadow crossed Madam Xiang’s face. “We thought to wait a couple more years before finding a match for Yi Jia.”

“How sad,” said the Grand Dowager, unable to suppress a sigh.

The older one gets, the more one is moved by the fragility of life.

The Second Madam quickly raised her tea bowl. “Sister-in-law, do try some. Pre-Qingming West Lake Dragon Well.”

Madam Xiang, understanding the gesture, smiled and shifted the conversation. “I had meant to come pay my respects to the Grand Dowager sooner. But on the one hand, my husband’s posting changed this year, and we did not have a definite word until just yesterday — I was afraid that if I came and you asked, you would worry on our behalf. On the other hand, I had come back to the capital to deal with some property matters. It turned out that as soon as word got out that we had a few old houses to sell, the real estate agents descended on the house in droves. We have been absolutely run off our feet — it really was not seemly to come call on the Grand Dowager in such a state.”

The Grand Dowager, hearing this, was indeed diverted.

“Oh? Your husband has been reassigned? Where will he be serving now?”

Madam Xiang said tactfully, “He has been appointed Prefect of Wuchang Prefecture.”