The Old Madam asked after Seamstress Jian. “…Why not invite her to our household? She could lead our embroidery maids — I have heard that you often sketch out clothing designs for them to make, and sometimes they cannot get them quite right. If Seamstress Jian were here, it would save you some trouble.”

Shiyiniang’s everyday attire was quite simple, but when receiving guests she would dress with some care, and when calling on others… since her marriage into Marquis Yongping’s mansion, she had not worn the same outfit twice. This had been a habit of hers from before — she distinguished between formal and informal occasions. For informal wear, comfort came first; for formal occasions, it was elegance and beauty. She had noticed that the women of the Xu household had extensive wardrobes, and this had gradually allowed her old habit to reassert itself. She had not expected that the Old Madam would notice.

Shiyiniang smiled. “Yanjing is rather cold. I am not sure whether Seamstress Jian would be willing to come. I will have someone send word to Hangzhou.”

The Old Madam smiled and nodded. “What a pity the family has so few children. If Seamstress Jian were to come, she could also teach the young misses needlework.”

In truth, inviting Seamstress Jian to Yanjing was something Shiyiniang had long kept in mind. Not that Hangzhou was not agreeable — Hangzhou was, after all, Seamstress Jian’s hometown, and in those days people generally felt their hometown was best; going elsewhere to earn a living meant leaving home and family behind. She also had a steady clientele there. But if she could come to Yanjing to gild her reputation and then return, her standing would be considerably higher. There had been no opportunity to arrange it before, but now that the Old Madam had brought it up, Shiyiniang resolved to ask Luo Zhengxing to carry a message to Seamstress Jian as soon as they returned from Marquis Zhongqin’s mansion.

The Old Madam spoke of the undergarment Shiyiniang had made for her a few days prior. “The embroidered peonies looked so real. It is a good thing it is an inner garment — if it were worn on the outside, people would surely laugh at me!”

“So long as you like it!” Shiyiniang said with a smile. “It was only a few blossoms embroidered along the cuffs and hem — what is there to laugh about?”

“Best to leave such things to the embroidery maids in future,” the Old Madam said. “It strains the eyes.”

“If I am too busy I simply will not make them for you,” Shiyiniang replied. “These past days have been rather quiet, so I made one for you.”

The two chatted and laughed their way to Marquis Zhongqin’s mansion.

Knowing they had come to present gifts for Seventh Miss’s upcoming wedding, the staff at the Gan family’s reception office sent someone at once to inform Madam Gan, while the servants respectfully welcomed the two ladies inside.

Both households were of the marquis rank, so their residences were built to much the same plan — there was no sense of unfamiliarity. Shiyiniang took the Old Madam’s arm, and they made their way to the side courtyard east of the main hall.

They had barely reached the courtyard gate when they saw a cluster of maids and Nannies surrounding Madam Gan as she came out to meet them.

She wore a jacket of deep red patterned all over with gold, her refined face touched with traces of weariness. From a distance, she was already smiling and calling out to the Old Madam. “You have come!” She greeted them and led the two ladies to the main room.

“You must be busy with Lantian’s wedding,” the Old Madam said warmly, looking at Madam Gan. “You must also rest and take care of yourself.”

Madam Gan smiled with gratitude. “It is mainly that I worry over everything needlessly.”

They exchanged pleasantries. A young maid brought tea.

Nanny Song passed the gift list to a Nanny at Madam Gan’s side. Madam Gan said a few courteous words. During that time, two separate groups of steward Nannies came to consult Madam Gan on matters concerning Lantian’s wedding. Then a young maid entered to announce, “Madam Yongchang has arrived!”

“What a happy coincidence!” The Old Madam said in delighted surprise.

“What a wonderful affinity you both share,” Madam Gan also laughed as she rose to welcome Madam Huang inside.

Accompanying Madam Huang was Third Young Madam Huang. Everyone exchanged a round of warm greetings before rising to go and visit Lantian.

Shiyiniang noticed that Lantian’s rooms were in the small courtyard to the east of the main house, and she was quietly taken aback.

She had not expected her living quarters to be this small.

Lantian, upon seeing Shiyiniang, could not help but widen her eyes.

Shiyiniang smiled gently at her.

Only then did Lantian collect herself and step forward to greet the guests with a bow.

Everyone sat down in the hall, laughing and talking.

The Old Madam took Lantian’s hand; Madam Huang offered many words of blessing.

Though Lantian listened with composure and grace, her face flushed red and she could not stop it.

The Old Madam looked on with a fond laugh. “All right, all right, I won’t tease you any further. I’ll leave Shiyiniang here to keep you company and chat, while we go and sit with your mother.” And so she and Madam Gan and the others returned to Madam Gan’s rooms.

Gan Lantian then smiled and looked Shiyiniang up and down.

“What is it?” Shiyiniang also looked herself over, worried something might be amiss.

“You look lovely,” Gan Lantian said with a smile.

Shiyiniang accepted the compliment gracefully. She brought up a prior matter. “You had specifically sent an invitation card asking me to your banquet, but unfortunately I was unable to come. I have felt badly about it ever since.”

“Oh!” Gan Lantian waved it off without a second thought. “Coming would only have meant eating and drinking. Nothing more.” She then took her hand and led her into the inner chamber. “You rarely visit — let us have a proper conversation.”

The maids were in the midst of organizing boxes and trunks.

Lantian said modestly, “It is a bit chaotic here.”

Shiyiniang quickly replied, “My place is under renovation. Even more chaotic than this.”

“Your family has so few people and you are still building!” Gan Lantian and Shiyiniang settled on the kang by the window. “Unlike our household — four generations without dividing the family, all crowded together; there is hardly room to stretch one’s legs.” She laughed at her own predicament.

No wonder her rooms were so small!

Shiyiniang reached into her sleeve and produced a small embroidered pouch for Lantian. “A few Southern Pearls. When you find a setting you like, you can have them made into jewelry.”

Lantian accepted it with a smile and thanked Shiyiniang.

A young maid brought tea.

Lantian asked after Shiniang. “…How is she now?”

Shiyiniang said, “The last time I saw her was during her late husband’s forty-ninth-day ceremony.” She then reflected for a moment and told her the truth. “We were never particularly close as children, and she is not very willing to see me.”

Lantian nodded with genuine understanding. “That spring banquet, I could see it then too. Some things are simply a matter of affinity.” Her tone was easy and generous.

A warmth settled in Shiyiniang’s heart. She asked after Cao’e. “…Where is the Third Miss? I do not see her.”

The words had barely left her mouth when the curtain was abruptly swept aside and a woman in a deep pink jacket walked in.

Shiyiniang looked up — it was Cao’e.

She held several garments in her arms and, as she walked, continued to scold without pause. “You are about to be married off — how can you be so careless? These are all fine Hangzhou silk garments. Even if you no longer care for them yourself, you could give them to the maids to wear…” She glanced up, noticed Shiyiniang sitting in the room, and quickly stopped herself, smiling. “Marchioness Yongping has come!”

Shiyiniang rose to greet her. Lantian, seated nearby, stifled a laugh. “Just call her Shiyiniang! Addressing her so formally makes her sound ancient.”

Cao’e’s face fell at this. “There you go, talking nonsense again.” She then turned to Shiyiniang with an apologetic expression. “Please do not take it to heart, Marchioness Yongping. My Seventh Sister has always been direct to a fault.”

Shiyiniang found herself envying the warmth between Lantian and Cao’e — even their bickering and scolding carried affection. She smiled. “Third Miss, please just call me Shiyiniang. We knew each other before I was married, after all.”

Cao’e still seemed a little hesitant.

Lantian laughed aloud. “You see? Even Shiyiniang herself does not want it!”

Cao’e shot her a glare, and had just called out “Shiyiniang” when sounds of commotion outside drifted in. Cao’e’s expression immediately darkened. She instructed a maid, “Go and see what is happening. Have the Nannies deal with it.”

The young maid assented with a trace of anxiety and went out.

Cao’e quickly turned to Shiyiniang to explain. “The household has much to manage these days — the maids and Nannies are bound to be a little restless.”

Maids and Nannies were people too; it was impossible for them to remain perfectly quiet at all times. Cao’e was perhaps embarrassed that such a scene should be witnessed by a guest.

Shiyiniang was just about to say something to smooth things over when the young maid came back, lifting the curtain to enter.

Her face was rather pale. She entered and glanced at Shiyiniang, then hesitated, stopping short of speaking.

Shiyiniang immediately rose to take her leave. “…I only wanted to come and see you. On the day of your wedding, I may have to attend a joyous occasion at the Liang family and might not be able to come and see you off.”

Cao’e glanced at the maid, her own expression difficult, yet she forced a smile and tried to keep Shiyiniang. “Please stay a little longer.”

Lantian, however, smiled and said, “You are a daughter-in-law in another household now — we would not hold you here. The next time I host a banquet, you absolutely must come.”

“Of course, of course!” Shiyiniang said with a smile, and was seen out by the two sisters.

On the way, they passed two maids who were hurrying toward the east side courtyard with quick, anxious steps.

Shiyiniang noticed but thought nothing of it — this was, after all, the Gan family’s private affair. She made as though she had not seen, and went to find Madam Gan’s rooms.

Third Young Madam Huang was saying something that had the Old Madam and Madam Huang laughing heartily, but Madam Gan was nowhere to be seen. Seeing Shiyiniang return, the Old Madam smiled. “Done talking so soon?”

“She is busy too. I did not want to linger.”

The Old Madam gave a slight nod.

Third Young Madam Huang then took her hand. “What a beautiful outfit.”

The Old Madam pressed her lips together in a smile, looking rather pleased with herself.

Madam Huang laughed. “Still the same as ever — always needing to be one step ahead of everyone else. Now that you are too old to manage it yourself, you have your daughter-in-law showing off for you.”

The Old Madam and Madam Huang were on very easy, familiar terms. The Old Madam laughed and said to Shiyiniang, “You must make Third Young Madam Huang a dress one of these days, so her mother-in-law will stop looking at you with envy.”

“Oh my!” Third Young Madam Huang laughed, giving an exaggerated swivel of her waist. “What could possibly look good on a barrel like me!”

Even those among the serving staff could not help pressing their lips together to hide their laughter.

Third Young Madam Huang seemed to feel the atmosphere was not quite dramatic enough, and heaved a forlorn sigh, in a voice just low enough to seem private yet perfectly audible to all. “A couple of years ago, my husband used to call me a teapot. But in just two or three years, I seem to have become a barrel.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

The Gan family’s First Young Madam arrived.

She came in smiling, greeting everyone warmly, her eyes and brows brimming with a barely-suppressed delight she could not quite conceal — she seemed even more jubilant than Madam Gan herself. A stranger might have thought it was her own daughter getting married.

“From far off I heard such laughter, and wondered who had such talent. It turns out it is Third Young Madam Huang!” The Gan family’s First Young Madam complimented Third Young Madam Huang the moment she stepped in, warmer than on any previous occasion. As she spoke, she bowed in greeting to the Old Madam and Madam Huang. “No wonder both ladies always bring these two along wherever they go — one is a smiling Maitreya, and the other a flower that understands speech.” She also praised Shiyiniang. “And look at this ensemble! You will not find another like it in all of Yanjing.”

The Old Madam smiled at this. “What a way with words you have. I always thought the Fourth Madam of the Tang family could talk — but it seems our Gan family has been hiding a First Young Madam all along!”

The Gan family’s First Young Madam laughed heartily behind her sleeve, looking utterly delighted.

Third Young Madam Huang and Shiyiniang stepped forward to greet First Young Madam with a bow.

First Young Madam then invited the four of them to the flower hall for a meal. “Mother has a few more small matters to attend to — I will offer a toast in her stead.”

The household had a daughter about to be married, but there were stewards for the outside matters and Nannies for within, with daughters-in-law at hand as well. Though Madam Gan’s absence was a little curious, everyone had managed their own household affairs and knew that unexpected matters arose from time to time. Without further inquiry, they followed First Young Madam, smiling and chattering, into the flower hall.

—