Madam Xiang heard this and immediately leapt up. “What help could she possibly offer? It would be a wonder if she did not stir up trouble instead! The current Marchioness of Yongping is Luo Yuan Niang’s younger sister! And that daughter-in-law of ours is famously at odds with Luo Yuan Niang. You should know that Luo Yuan Niang was no pushover herself. How good could her younger sister possibly be?”
Madam Gao lowered her head and fell into quiet thought.
Madam Xiang both adored and feared this sister-in-law of hers. Seeing the change in her expression, she gently tugged at her sister-in-law’s sleeve. “Elder Sister…”
Madam Gao looked up and saw Madam Xiang’s timid, apprehensive gaze, and laughed. “It is nothing, nothing. There are just a few things I need to think through a little more.” She was still reassuring her when a young maid entered carefully and reported, “The master says that if Madam has anything more to instruct the Young Miss, he will go ahead to the Old Master’s study first.”
Madam Xiang heard this and immediately stood. “Elder Sister, it is getting late — I will head back now.”
But Madam Gao took Madam Xiang’s hand and stopped her, then turned to the young maid. “Go and tell the master that today the Young Miss will not be returning. Let him go back first.”
“Elder Sister!” Madam Xiang was taken aback.
Madam Gao paid no heed and continued directly. “As for the young masters and misses, they will remain here as well. It has been years since Old Master last saw his grandchildren and grandnieces. Since we are in Yanjing, they should keep the Old Master company and let him enjoy himself.”
Madam Xiang looked at her elder sister-in-law in astonishment — she had just been telling her she should not bring the children back to her natal home over every little matter, and now she was suddenly keeping her and the children here?
The young maid, naturally, listened to the mistress of the house. A little afraid of the Young Miss’s temper, she immediately curtsied and withdrew.
Madam Gao then said to Madam Xiang at a measured pace. “When I said you were in the wrong before, I meant that you should not rush back to your natal home with the children every time something happens, and then take your household’s affairs and lay them out for others to see. As for keeping you here now — it is because your husband did not handle this properly either. Even if he had his heart set on betrothing Rou’ne to Xu Siyu, he should have discussed it with you first before giving your family’s daughter a reply. He should not have gone ahead and settled the matter directly with your family’s daughter without consulting you.”
Madam Xiang could not see what difference that made, and said meekly, “…Would that not still be the same thing?”
Madam Gao was beside herself. “Thank heaven your father married you into the Xiang family. Had you gone to any other family, you would have been picked clean without a bone left.” Seeing Madam Xiang with her head hanging down, she was both exasperated and amused. “All right, let this matter be. You stay here and rest easy. If anything needs to be done, I will step in.”
Madam Xiang had always admired this elder sister-in-law of hers most deeply. Hearing this, she immediately brightened. “Good Elder Sister, then I will stay here for a few days. Being around him just makes me angry.”
Madam Gao laughed helplessly. “Oh, when will you ever grow up?”
Madam Xiang hooked her arm through Madam Gao’s in an affectionate pout. “Is that not what I have an Elder Sister for?”
That evening, Madam Gao’s husband reproached her. “Why did you keep Little Sister here? Word gets out, and it will not look well.”
“What is ill-looking about it?” Madam Gao helped her husband change his clothes. “Did we not say that I was ill? My little sister-in-law practically grew up at my knee. Now that I am ill, she has brought the children to see me at her natal home — what could be wrong with that?”
“And the Xu household…” Master Gao pondered. “If he were not born of a bondmaid, the match would not be a bad one.”
“There is no need to worry,” Madam Gao said without concern. “What kind of woman do you think the Xu Old Madam is? All she needs is a graceful way out of this. Besides, whether or not this marriage goes through at all — I think it still needs careful consideration. At the very least, someone needs to make it clear to that daughter-in-law of the Xiang family who exactly is the true mistress of the Xiang household!”
Master Gao’s head began to throb at the sound of all these women’s complicated maneuverings. He gave only a single reminder: “Even if the marriage falls through, do not go and make enemies of the entire Xu family.”
“Does Old Master still not trust me?” Madam Gao assured him. “I know what I am doing.” She then called for the young maid to bring water for her husband to wash his face.
Master Gao said no more. Husband and wife retired for the night.
But Shiyiniang had not yet retired. She and Nanny Song, Hupo, Lvyun, and the others were in Yuan Niang’s courtyard; Nanny Tao stood at the back with her hands folded.
These days she managed Yuan Niang’s courtyard, and Shiyiniang had told her to come to her own rooms on the first and the eleventh of each month to receive instructions.
“Tomorrow we hold the water-and-land memorial rites here. Even though those coming are monastics, certain precautions should still be observed.” She instructed Nanny Song. “The guests coming and going will be your responsibility — bring a few sharp-minded steward Nannies to manage them. Hupo will be in charge of the maids pouring tea and serving refreshments. Lvyun will take Hongxiu, Yanrong, and the others to remain by my side to attend to the ladies. As for the room’s utensils and furnishings…” Shiyiniang looked to Nanny Tao. “Those will be Nanny Tao’s responsibility.”
No one showed any sign of surprise. They curtsied in unison and acknowledged their instructions.
Satisfied that everything was in order, Shiyiniang led Nanny Song and the others back to her own courtyard. The next morning she rose early, paid her respects to the Old Madam, and then began attending to the memorial rites. By lamplight that evening, with things more or less settled, she went to the Old Madam’s rooms.
The Old Madam quickly had Nanny Du bring out a mutton soup for her. “You must take care of yourself. For whatever needs doing, leave it to the steward Nannies. And the helpers sent from the outer courtyard — they are all experienced and can be relied upon.”
The Old Madam was advanced in years and ate very plainly; mutton soup, though nourishing, was rich in flavor and had a distinctive smell, so the Old Madam did not eat it herself. It had plainly been prepared expressly for Shiyiniang.
Shiyiniang was genuinely moved. Though the taste was not to her liking, she ate a few pieces with a little preserved sugar. “Because I have been learning from everyone, it has not felt tiring.”
The Old Madam nodded in approval. “It is good to put in the effort and learn when you are young. Only when you are older will you have the standing to show off in front of the younger generation!”
“Quite right!” Shiyiniang laughed and chatted with the Old Madam for a few moments, then asked after Second Madam. “…Has she not returned yet?”
“She was back by noon,” the Old Madam replied. “She said Madam Xiang has gone to her natal family to care for her elder sister-in-law, and may be back in a few days.”
In this era, with medical knowledge as it was, illness was a serious matter. No one would joke about their own health. Once it was put in those terms, regardless of whether it was true or not, the Xu family had been given face.
“Should we perhaps send someone to inquire after Madam Xiang’s sister-in-law?” Shiyiniang asked the Old Madam.
The Old Madam replied, “By rights, now that we know, we should go and call. But given the circumstances right now, it would not be appropriate. I told Yizhen — let her bring a few things and go check on Madam Xiang’s sister-in-law. She and Madam Xiang are sisters-in-law, so her relationship is a little closer to theirs than ours.”
Shiyiniang nodded. The Old Madam, seeing that the hour was late, urged her to go and rest. Shiyiniang, thinking of how busy the next day would be, smiled, paid her respects to the Old Madam, and returned to her own courtyard first.
When the nineteenth day of the third month arrived — the day of the main memorial — Xu Lingkuan and Fifth Madam left Xie’er at Red Lantern Lane, and at first light they rode in the carriage back to the mansion, saying they had come to help. Xu Lingyi was greatly heartened and went with Xu Lingkuan to the outer courtyard. Shiyiniang and Fifth Madam, after paying their respects to the Old Madam, made their way to the main hall.
On the way, Shiyiniang thanked Fifth Madam.
Fifth Madam smiled. “After all, it is a matter of our own household.”
Sisters-in-law who could maintain such a relationship had done well enough.
Shiyiniang smiled at Fifth Madam.
As daylight grew, the relatives and friends of the Xu household began to arrive one after another. They offered incense, presented the three ritual offerings, and then some stayed for the noon meal while others begged leave and departed. Shiyiniang left Fifth Madam in the side flower hall to exchange pleasantries with the ladies who remained for the meal, while she herself stood under the eaves of the flower hall to bid farewell to those who had taken their leave. Those such as the wife of Elder Councilor Chen and the wife of Elder Councilor Liang required her to personally escort them to the inner gate.
By noon, Shiyiniang’s calves were already aching and swollen. She asked Lvyun, “Go and check whether the flower hall has started the meal.”
Lvyun assumed she was simply hungry after eating little that morning, and quickly said, “My lady, shall I go to the kitchen and fetch some snacks to tide you over?”
“What are you talking about!” Shiyiniang laughed. “Fewer guests are coming for the midday memorial now, and those staying for the meal will be seated — which means we finally have a moment to breathe. Find me somewhere to sit and help me knead my legs.”
Lvyun quickly moved to support her. “You sit here first; I will go and check the flower hall.”
Her words had barely fallen when a young maid came rushing over in a panic. “Fourth Madam, something has happened! Madam Gan of Marquis Zhongqin’s mansion has fainted!”
Shiyiniang was startled. There was no longer any thought of sore legs — she lifted her skirts and hurried toward the flower hall, calling to Lvyun as she went. “Quickly, tell General Steward Bai of the outer courtyard to send for an imperial physician at once.”
Lvyun, leaving formality behind, ran to the outer courtyard.
Yanrong accompanied Shiyiniang to the flower hall.
The meal had not yet been served. Everyone had gathered at the eastern corner of the room.
Shiyiniang hurried over.
Those who saw her quickly called out, “Please make way — Fourth Madam is here!”
The crowd parted, opening a path.
Shiyiniang saw Fifth Madam, her expression anxious, with Madam Gan half-supported in her arms.
Upon seeing Shiyiniang, she relaxed visibly, her expression easing a little. “Fourth Sister, just a moment ago while we were all talking, Madam Gan suddenly lost consciousness.”
Shiyiniang saw that Madam Gan’s face was as pale as paper and her lips had turned a dusky color. With no way to be certain what was wrong, and fearing it might be something like angina or a cerebral hemorrhage, she kept her composure and said calmly, “Madam Gan has been occupied with Lantian’s wedding these past two days, and then came to attend Elder Sister’s memorial rites — she has likely exhausted herself. Please keep supporting her, and I will find some snuff for her to smell.” She was stalling for time.
Before she had finished speaking, someone offered, “I have some snuff here.”
Shiyiniang quickly took it and waved the snuff box beneath Madam Gan’s nose.
Madam Gan let out a sneeze and opened her eyes.
Everyone exhaled in relief. “She is all right, she is all right!”
Shiyiniang immediately asked Madam Gan, “How do you feel?”
“I am fine,” Madam Gan said slowly, straightening herself in Fifth Madam’s arms and glancing at the people surrounding her. “Only a little tired.”
“You gave us quite a fright!” Third Young Madam Huang and the others said with relieved laughter.
Madam Gan smiled faintly.
Shiyiniang could see that her smile was strained and her face even paler than before — she was still very worried. “Why not let me help you rest in the side courtyard for a while?”
Madam Gan thought for a moment, then smiled. “I will trouble Fourth Madam, then.”
Yanrong, ever alert, took a young maid with her to go and prepare the room. Shiyiniang said a few words to the assembled ladies and then helped Madam Gan to the adjacent courtyard.
—