First Young Madam accompanied them through the noon meal.

Though Marquis Yongping’s mansion and Marquis Zhongqin’s mansion were both in Yanjing, one lay on the western side of the city and the other in the east; traveling between them required crossing West Main Street and East Main Street, a journey of well over an hour each way. The Old Madam had originally planned to spend the whole day at the Gan household. But when Madam Gan remained absent throughout, she understood that something must have happened within the family. Even so, one could not simply leave immediately after eating. Exchanging a glance with Madam Huang, she allowed First Young Madam to accompany them to Madam Gan’s sitting room for tea before finally rising to take her leave.

First Young Madam kept urging them to stay while simultaneously sending someone to fetch Madam Gan.

Madam Gan arrived in a hurry.

The redness at the corners of her eyes had deepened, and the fatigue in her expression was more visible than before. She smiled and tried to keep her guests.

Just then, members of Madam Gan’s natal family arrived as well — led by the sister-in-law they had met at the Fifth Prince’s funeral. Another round of pleasantries was inevitable. Madam Gan arranged for First Young Madam to take them to see Lantian, while the Old Madam and Madam Huang on this side firmly insisted on departing. Madam Gan hesitated briefly, then pressed no further and politely escorted the female members of the Xu and Huang households to the inner gate.

Madam Huang shooed Third Young Madam Huang away. “…Go and squeeze in with Shiyiniang, and let us old sisters have a chat.” She pulled the Old Madam toward her own carriage.

Marquis Yongchang’s mansion was to the southwest of the city — broadly speaking in the same direction as the Xu household. Even so, they would likely need to switch carriages partway. It was a little inconvenient. But the two older ladies were close friends and naturally wanted to talk together when they met. Shiyiniang understood perfectly and smiled in agreement. Third Young Madam Huang, however, muttered, “Mother always treats me like excess baggage.”

The Old Madam laughed at this and remarked to Madam Huang, “Our Third Young Madam has such a fine temperament, and she is so filial too.”

“If she did not have that going for her, I would not take her along wherever I go.”

Madam Huang offered a sideways compliment to Third Young Madam Huang, then laughing, she and the Old Madam boarded the Huang household’s carriage. Shiyiniang and Third Young Madam Huang, seeing this, climbed into the Xu household’s carriage. The two carriages drove out of Marquis Zhongqin’s mansion one after the other.

Shiyiniang passed a bolster cushion to Third Young Madam Huang. “Sister, please lean back and rest.”

Third Young Madam Huang accepted without ceremony and reclined against it.

Shiyiniang poured her tea with her own hands.

The Huang and Xu households had always been on good terms, and though Shiyiniang was quiet, she had always treated Third Young Madam Huang with courteous deference, which had left a favorable impression on her. She also thought of how Shiyiniang was only two years older than her eldest son, and felt an even warmer affection for her. Sipping her tea without the least restraint, she began telling Shiyiniang about the Gan household’s situation.

“…Among them, the Gan and Weibei Marquis households live in the most cramped quarters. But the Weibei Marquis household — each of the sons is capable and accomplished, each more formidable than the last; every one of them has used their wives’ names to set up private property elsewhere, all while keeping an eye on the family’s communal assets, fearing the old Marquis might secretly favor one son over another. That is why none of them will agree to divide the household. The Gan family is quite the opposite. Not a single son has amounted to much — there is nothing to divide even if they wanted to. It truly is Madam Gan’s doing — though she is a second wife, she has a gentle temperament and is adept at managing people and situations. Without her, the household would be in even greater disarray. Looking at things today, it is most likely one of the other branches has started causing trouble again. Otherwise Madam Gan would not look so beleaguered, and First Young Madam would not look so thrilled.”

Since Marquis Zhongqin’s mansion was Third Madam’s natal home, Shiyiniang did not feel it was her place to offer any opinion — she only pressed her lips together in a smile.

Third Young Madam Huang was in the midst of her point, speaking in the manner of a more experienced elder offering guidance to a junior. Seeing Shiyiniang only smile, she assumed she was skeptical and said, “You will understand the difference between the two households once Lantian is married! You should know that when the Lin family was marrying off their Fourth Miss a few years ago, the sisters-in-law all stood in a row — for every line of auspicious words called out in the ceremonial chant, each sister-in-law handed the bride a twenty-tael banknote, one banknote per line, banknotes flying through the air like paper. That scene — even now, at weddings and celebrations, people still bring it up. But when the Gan family has any sort of celebration, at mealtime everyone shows up, and when it comes time to produce money, your family watches mine, and mine watches yours, everyone afraid of contributing more while the others contribute less, afraid of being the one who loses out. When it comes down to it, it is simply a matter of having no money — unable to put on any kind of face.” She then brought up Lin Mingyuan. “…It has finally been settled!”

“Oh?” Shiyiniang was somewhat surprised.

Just a few days ago, Zhen Jie’er had said Lin Mingyuan’s marriage had not yet been arranged.

She asked with interest, “Who has the Lin family’s Fifth Miss been betrothed to?”

“The second son of Vice Minister Jiang of the Ministry of Justice,” Third Young Madam Huang said. “Three years younger than Mingyuan.”

“A woman three years older holds gold in store for her husband,” Shiyiniang said with a smile. “Older is just fine.”

Third Young Madam Huang nodded. “Mingyuan is not young anymore — if she kept being this selective, she might truly end up too late.”

“Has a wedding date been set?” Shiyiniang chatted idly with Third Young Madam Huang.

“The small betrothal ceremony was held a few days ago,” said Third Young Madam Huang. “I am told the Lin family would like to hold the wedding this year, while the Jiang family prefers next spring. In any case, it will be sometime around the turn of this year.” She then asked about Yuan Niang. “…Counting the days, this should be around your elder sister’s third anniversary. How are the preparations? Would you like my help?”

“Thank you, Sister.” Shiyiniang replied. “The household office has already made the arrangements. Master Fashang and Taoist Master Changchun have been invited, and starting from tomorrow, they will conduct seven continuous days of memorial rites.”

“Since it is not a natural death in old age, and there are still elders living in the household, having seven consecutive days of memorial rites is quite respectable,” said Third Young Madam Huang. “I will certainly come to pay my respects when the time comes.”

While the two were still talking, the carriage jolted, slowed, and gradually came to a stop.

Shiyiniang was puzzled. Third Young Madam Huang had already lifted the curtain to look out.

“Hmm,” she said with a laugh, “it looks as though Mother intends to rest her feet at your house!”

Shiyiniang craned over to look as well.

The carriage had indeed entered the Xu mansion.

“You are both very welcome — you have not visited in some time.” Shiyiniang, now the host, immediately extended her courteous invitation. “A few days ago, the Nanjing household sent some shad fish over. Let us all have a taste.”

“Then I will not stand on ceremony!” Third Young Madam Huang said with a laugh. The carriage came to a stop, and the party went laughing to the Old Madam’s rooms. Shiyiniang instructed the kitchen to prepare a soup using the shad fish sent by the Nanjing household’s First Young Madam, then kept Madam Huang and Third Young Madam Huang for the evening meal.

After seeing the guests off, Second Madam returned.

The Old Madam quickly pulled her to sit with her on the kang. “What kept you so late?”

“I am sorry to have made you worry,” Second Madam apologized with a smile, then came straight to the point. “My sister-in-law’s elder sister-in-law from her natal family has fallen ill. My brother and sister-in-law, along with the children, all hurried over. There was no time to send word ahead, and by the time someone went to Ciyuan Temple, we had already left.”

Madam Xiang’s natal family surname was Gao.

The Old Madam immediately asked, “And how is Madam Gao now?”

Second Madam replied, “It is still unclear. My brother and sister-in-law are still there. I plan to go again tomorrow and look in.”

“You should go,” the Old Madam said. “If anything comes of it, be sure to let me know.”

Second Madam smiled and assented.

The Old Madam asked with concern, “Have you eaten? We made shad fish soup today — let me have some brought out for you.” She called out for Nanny Du to bring a bowl.

In the rear courtyard of the Gao household, Madam Xiang faced her elder sister-in-law Madam Gao with a look of shame. “It is all my fault for dragging you into this, and making you pretend to be ill…”

“Knowing it was wrong, how could you still carry on like that!” Madam Xiang was a late-in-life daughter of her family; Madam Gao was more than twenty years her senior, so that though they were formally sisters-in-law, they were in all ways like mother and daughter. “Look at the scene you have made — no wonder your husband lost his temper so badly today. How is he supposed to face anyone now? How is he supposed to show his face in the Xu household?”

“If he can’t, then he can’t,” Madam Xiang muttered under her breath, though her body gave a slight shrink.

“Still being stubborn!” Madam Gao found it both funny and exasperating. “Then why were you tugging at my sleeve when I was speaking to your husband?”

As she spoke, she let out a long sigh. “In another two years you will be someone’s mother-in-law yourself. If you carry on quarreling with your husband every few days like this, what will your daughter-in-law think? What will your in-laws say? If you will not think of yourself, at least think a little more of your children.”

“I am thinking of Rou’ne, which is precisely why I do not want to marry her to Xu Siyu!” Madam Xiang said loudly the moment she heard this.

“Very well — let me ask you, then. What exactly are you dissatisfied with about this match?”

“Xu Siyu was born of a bondmaid!” Madam Xiang said without hesitation. “Our Rou’ne is a legitimate daughter.”

“Then let me ask you this. What rank is your husband? What rank is the Marquis of Yongping?”

Madam Xiang was silent for a long moment.

Madam Gao pressed on. “Your husband holds the fourth rank; the Marquis of Yongping is a first-rank hereditary nobleman with an undiminished title, passed down through generations — a match for your family, would you say?”

Madam Xiang immediately said, “But Xu Siyu cannot inherit the marquisate.”

“If Xu Siyu could inherit the marquisate, do you think the Xu family would have proposed a match with the Xiang family?”

“How could that ever be?” Madam Xiang replied. “The Marquis has a legitimate son. And what is more, he has just taken a new wife.”

“I am speaking hypothetically,” Madam Gao sighed.

Madam Xiang’s expression stiffened for a moment, then she argued stubbornly. “In the end, our family’s daughter still did not marry into the Xu household!”

“Times change,” said Madam Gao. “Back then, the Xu family was not as prominent as it is today. Second Master greatly admired your family’s daughter for her learning and talents. With the late Emperor’s health failing in his final years, he had grown deeply suspicious of the princes, and equally wary of their maternal and marital kin. The Xu family was both a distinguished house and connected by marriage to an imperial prince, so they adopted the posture of proposing three times to your family’s daughter. What they valued was that the Xiang family was small in number and that your father-in-law was not affiliated with any faction. You thought they truly valued the Xiang family’s standing. Your father-in-law ultimately agreed to marry his daughter into the Xu household because he valued that the Xu family had a simple household with few complications, and that the Xu Second Master, being heir apparent, meant your family’s daughter would one day become the Marchioness of Yongping. Your father-in-law had made many enemies over the years and feared that after his death, trouble might befall his children. He went to great lengths to find Xiang a wife as well — valuing our family’s many brothers as future support in times of difficulty.”

Madam Xiang stared at her sister-in-law in astonishment. She had not expected that the “three proposals for the Xiang daughter,” still spoken of fondly to this day, was nothing more than a performance played out by mutual understanding between the Xiang and Xu households against a backdrop of political calculation.

Madam Gao brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen across Madam Xiang’s temple. “Some things cannot be judged by their surface. The twists and turns within run deep. Think of it this way — if Xu Siyu were born of a concubine, the Xu family might not have set their sights on Rou’ne at all. It is precisely because he was born of a bondmaid — too high for some matches, too low for others — that the Xu family would ask your family’s daughter to act as go-between. Your husband may not have handled this entirely well. But it is not as though he gave it no thought. Rou’ne has a gentle temperament, while your family’s daughter is a strong-willed person. Blood is thicker than water — she would never stand by and let Rou’ne suffer without lending her hand.”

—