Yes, the more chaotic the Qu Family became, the better.

But what was one to do with the feelings of the heart?

Shiyiniang fell silent.

Xu Lingyi smiled and consoled her: “I have this matter well in hand. I cannot speak to other things, but ensuring that the Qu Family’s candidates are eliminated from consideration is certainly no problem.” Then a flicker of melancholy passed across his brow. “After all, she was the Crown Prince’s first wife.”

Only upon hearing that did Shiyiniang’s heart settle. She went with Xu Lingyi to the Old Madam’s quarters.

Xu Lingkuan and the Fifth Madam had already arrived and were holding Xin Jie’er up for the Old Madam to see as she sat upon the kang.

When they saw the two enter, the Second Madam rose and yielded her seat beside the Old Madam, while Zhen Jie’er nearby fixed her gaze upon Shiyiniang.

Shiyiniang showed no outward reaction and exchanged greetings with everyone, then held Xin Jie’er for a moment. When Xu Siyu and Zhun Ge returned from the schoolroom, everyone gathered around the Old Madam and made their way to the eastern side chamber.

Shiyiniang deliberately fell a few steps behind.

Zhen Jie’er noticed and slowed her own pace.

The two of them drifted to the rear.

“What is it?” Shiyiniang asked her in a low voice.

Zhen Jie’er hesitated for a moment, then said: “Hui Jie’er has invited me to come play at her house.”

Shiyiniang’s mind turned quickly. “Does your Second Aunt not agree?”

“My lessons these past few days have not been very good.” Zhen Jie’er lowered her eyelids slightly.

“I understand.” Shiyiniang smiled. “Go eat dinner now.”

Zhen Jie’er brightened and followed happily behind Shiyiniang into the eastern side chamber.

After dinner, everyone gathered in the western side chamber for tea. Shiyiniang asked after Zhen Jie’er’s studies.

The Second Madam said: “The Book of Songs instruction has reached the Minor Odes. I have also taught her watercolor painting these past few days when there was time. Since my quarters and Fifth Sister-in-law’s are separated only by a flower wall, and the elevation is rather higher on my side, she has not been practicing the qin these days.”

The Fifth Madam, hearing this, cast her a grateful glance.

She was probably afraid of startling the child.

Shiyiniang reflected on this and smiled: “Zhen Jie’er has been attentive to her studies, I trust?”

The Second Madam looked at Zhen Jie’er with a faint, distant smile.

Zhen Jie’er bowed her head a little uncertainly.

“She has always been diligent.”

Shiyiniang smiled and nodded at Zhen Jie’er warmly: “That is good then, that is very good.” Her manner was genuinely pleased.

Yet the corner of the Second Madam’s mouth curved with a barely perceptible smile.

The Fifth Madam then laughed from the side: “Fourth Sister-in-law, have no worries! Second Sister-in-law’s learning is excellent. When our Xin Jie’er grows up, she too shall study under Second Aunt.” So saying, she patted the sleeping infant in the wet nurse’s arms. “Is that not right, Xin Jie’er?”

Shiyiniang smiled and nodded, then said: “Before Zhen Jie’er moved to Second Sister-in-law’s quarters, I had left her several embroidery tasks. Knowing that Second Sister-in-law was teaching her lessons, I had told her that if the lessons became too demanding, the embroidery could be set aside for a time. Who would have thought that in these past few days she had completed all the embroidery pieces I had given her and even came to ask me for new patterns. I simply wanted to inquire about her situation. If the embroidery had interfered with her studies, I was prepared to suspend her needlework for a time.” She then turned to Zhen Jie’er and said: “Since your Second Aunt says your lessons are going well, I am reassured.”

Zhen Jie’er was bewildered.

Her mother had given her no such embroidery tasks at all.

Thinking back to the request she had made just moments ago, she dimly sensed a connection. She could not help but nod and say: “I shall heed Mother’s instructions.”

The Old Madam laughed merrily: “In the blink of an eye our Zhen Jie’er has grown into a young lady. She can both read and write and knows her needlework and embroidery.”

Everyone laughed along with her.

Only Zhun Ge’s smile was somewhat strained.

Shiyiniang sighed inwardly and hoped that Master Zhao would agree to come and take up residence as a tutor.

The Old Madam then brought up the matter of going to Cisource Temple to offer incense in a few days: “…At that time, let Yizhen and Shiyiniang accompany me.”

The fifth young master and his wife had not yet heard the news of the Empress’s pregnancy and now showed expressions of delight. The Fifth Madam pouted: “Mother, I want to go too!”

“You stay home and watch over Xin Jie’er.” The Old Madam said with fond indulgence. “We shall set out at the first watch of midnight. Your body has not yet fully recovered. The cold wind would not do you good.”

The Fifth Madam pressed the matter no further.

The Old Madam then kept Xu Lingyi behind to speak with him.

The others paid their respects and dispersed.

Shiyiniang returned to her quarters and called for Nanny Song: “Make thorough inquiries. These past days, what things have the servants from Weibei Marquis Mansion sent to Hui Jie’er, and what messages have they passed to our eldest young miss?”

Nanny Song’s eyes flashed.

Trust those you employ and do not employ those you mistrust. Shiyiniang did not conceal her purpose: “The eldest young miss has always been of a gentle disposition. Second Sister-in-law does not approve of her visiting Weibei Marquis Mansion as a guest, yet she has come to petition me directly. I heard recently that the Shao Family of Cangzhou, the maternal family of Lin First Madam, has had a group of young men come to stay. Fang Jie’er is fearless, but Zhen Jie’er is different. Should something happen, the blame would fall entirely on our Zhen Jie’er. Better to be watchful.”

Nanny Song replied in a low voice: “Madam, have no worry. I understand.”

Shiyiniang still had more to say, but Xu Lingyi returned.

She nodded at Nanny Song and went to attend to Xu Lingyi as he changed his clothing.

After washing and grooming, Xu Lingyi sat before the large kang by the window in the inner room. He took up the bird’s-eye map of the Xu Mansion from the small table on the kang and said as he looked it over: “Mother says the fengshui of Fifth Brother’s present quarters is poor and wants me to build him a new courtyard… but where would there be space?” He furrowed his brow. “In front is Dingguo Duke’s Mansion, to the right is Weibei Marquis Mansion, to the left is the city wall by the Tai Pool… The rear garden that the Princess Imperial had three thousand laborers build over two months—would we really have to fell trees and build over it?”

Shiyiniang moved a lamp closer and sat down beside him: “What about behind the garden?”

“That is Lotus Lane.” Xu Lingyi smiled ruefully. “Most of it is ancestral property. Even if it stood empty, they would not sell it. And it would not be safe.”

Shiyiniang too found the matter troublesome.

Third Master had left, but without formally separating from the household, so his rooms naturally had to be kept for him. The rooms where Yuanniang had lived she wished to keep for Zhun Ge’s wedding in the future. The Fifth Madam had moved out of Zhaozhuang Hall, and she would certainly never live in Liufang Bower or Nongxiang Courtyard. That left Lijing Pavilion. The rear garden, though expansive, had its hills and vistas, pavilions and pathways all carrying the marks of years, a natural and quiet plainness that had grown old with time. To fell the grove and build upon it would truly be a great pity.

She could not help saying: “In another year or two, Siyu will need to marry as well.”

“Then we shall make it clear to Fifth Brother.” Xu Lingyi thought it over. “They move to Lijing Pavilion, and when Siyu marries in the future, he will live in Fifth Brother’s current courtyard. That way, Siyu will be closer to you, which also makes it convenient for him to pay his morning and evening respects.”

Shiyiniang felt that the Fifth Madam’s sense that the fengshui was poor in their current quarters was mainly a matter of the heart. She nodded: “Then the Marquis must speak clearly with Fifth Brother. Otherwise there will be complications. And there is still Second Sister-in-law to consider. We cannot leave her dignity with nowhere to stand.”

Xu Lingyi nodded: “I shall make it clear to Fifth Brother and his wife.”

The weight in Shiyiniang’s chest lifted. Thinking of the difficulty she had just seen on Xu Lingyi’s face, she could not help laughing: “Such a grand marquis mansion, and yet the rooms are so scarce.”

Xu Lingyi laughed heartily. Raising his eyes, he caught sight of a pair of bright eyes gleaming in the lamplight—like shimmering waves under a setting sun, warm and vivid, warming one’s heart along with them.

“Oh?” He gazed steadily at her. “You find it scarce.” His hand gently came to rest upon her face.

“N—no.” The familiar gaze, so nakedly direct in the lamplight, stripped of all concealment, made her flustered. She turned her face away. “I do not find it scarce.”

“Is that so?” Amid soft laughter, the bright white lamplight swept across her eyes like a shooting star.

She fell into a firm and steady embrace…

—

The eldest young miss of the Xiang Family placed the celadon blue bowl of lotus seed and lily congee on the small stool beside her mother’s bed: “Mother, do get up and eat at least a little. What is the use of quarreling with Father like this? Father will go on doing whatever he intends to do. You are only making yourself miserable.”

Madam Xiang, upon hearing this, let her tears fall once more: “I will absolutely not give Rou’na in marriage to the Xu Family!”

The eldest young miss of the Xiang Family could not but try to reason with her mother: “If you do not wish to see Second Sister married into the Xu Family, you must at least have proper grounds. On the strength of what you said—that the aunt harbors ill intentions, that she is of concubine birth, that she has no real talent or learning—I myself found it unconvincing, to say nothing of Grandfather. It is fortunate that you did not go back to Uncle’s household, otherwise Grandfather would surely have given you a stern lecture.”

Madam Xiang grew somewhat sheepish.

Her eldest daughter was precocious and had always been her husband’s favorite. She had never had much authority in front of this daughter.

Knowing that her daughter spoke the truth, she murmured helplessly: “Then—then what do you suggest?”

“Elder Brother is not yet betrothed, so Second Sister’s marriage can naturally be put off for a while.” The eldest young miss of the Xiang Family offered her mother a suggestion. “Could you not give this reply to Auntie?”

“No!” Madam Xiang objected at once. “You do not know your aunt. When she sets her mind to accomplishing something, it is always accomplished. If I told her what you suggest, she might open her mouth and take it upon herself to arrange your brother’s betrothal and yours as well! No, absolutely not.”

The eldest young miss of the Xiang Family fell into silence for a long time, then said: “Or perhaps you and Father might sit down and discuss properly how much betrothal gift to request from the Xu Family?”

“No!” Madam Xiang objected again. “If I were to haggle with the Xu Family over betrothal gifts, I would only demean myself and give people the impression I was selling my own daughter!”

The eldest young miss of the Xiang Family felt she had exhausted every idea at her disposal.

She could only instruct Madam Xiang’s personal attendant: “Take good care of Mother. I shall go and try to reason with Father.”

The attendant curtseyed with a “Yes, madam,” saw off the eldest young miss of the Xiang Family, then sat down by the bed and tried to comfort Madam Xiang: “Madam, the eldest young miss does not truly want you to send a rejection to First Madam, nor does she want you to go and negotiate betrothal gifts with the Xu Family. The eldest young miss means that since you are feeling uneasy at heart, it would be better to let Second Young Miss’s marriage be postponed a while and see how matters develop. After all, Second Young Miss is still young, and it is only a verbal agreement. The mourning period for the first Xu wife does not end until the fourth month. Surely we cannot simply sit here and wait until summer? That would be quite the laughingstock.”

Madam Xiang’s spirits lifted upon hearing this: “I was so rattled by the Master that I lost my wits. You are right. We are still to accompany the Master to his post. We cannot simply wait about for this marriage matter. What would people think?” So saying, she sat up. “Summon the maidservants. I wish to have my hair dressed. I am going to speak with the Master.”

The attendant let out a breath of relief and promptly called in the young maidservants to help Madam Xiang with her toilette.

She had barely changed her clothing when Master Xiang arrived.

Madam Xiang, keeping her eldest daughter’s words in mind, composed herself and sat where she was without moving.

Master Xiang looked at her and sighed: “Though the house here is fallen into disrepair over the years, it is still ancestral property and should not be sold at a loss. I shall set out for my post in a couple of days. You and the children will remain in Yanjing for the time being and have the house refurbished. Use this opportunity to settle the matter of Rou’na’s marriage.”

Madam Xiang sat there, utterly stunned.

—