“The eighth day of the fourth month is the Buddha’s birthday. All the great temples will be holding bathing-the-Buddha ceremonies and vegetarian feasts. We haven’t been back to Yanjing in so many years. The fourth month is such fine and pleasant weather — I’d like to take the children out to see something of the world and broaden their horizons. I wondered whether Grand Madam might be going out for a stroll at that time?” Madam Xiang asked Grand Madam with a smile.

“The eighth day of the fourth month?” Grand Madam drew out the end of her words and glanced at Eleventh Young Madam with a questioning look. “We usually go to pay our respects at the Medicine King Temple. But this year, the fourth month brings Yuan Madam’s mourning rites, so I’m not quite sure whether there will be time.”

The mourning rites fell on the nineteenth of the fourth month. Even accounting for how busy things might be, it would not affect the eighth, which was the Buddha’s birthday. Moreover, Grand Madam was the elder — there was no question of a senior family member attending a junior’s memorial observance. Grand Madam’s behavior was entirely a way of asking Eleventh Young Madam’s opinion.

Madam Xiang had come with an unfriendly air, and now she was apparently here to revive the topic of a marriage arrangement — and that alone made Eleventh Young Madam’s mind go in an uncomfortable direction. She suspected Madam Xiang was here under reluctant pressure from Master Xiang, with no real intention behind it. She would not be the one to decide. A child’s marriage ought to be decided by their parents; grandparents could only offer suggestions and were not positioned to intervene directly. Yet out of filial respect, if grandparents had arranged a match, the parents would generally comply. Grand Madam’s behavior just now had clearly handed the decision over to her.

She thought of Grand Madam’s earlier clear preference for a match with the Xiang family, then thought of Xu Lingyi’s stance, and decided it was best to leave the matter for Grand Madam and Xu Lingyi to discuss between themselves. After all, this concerned Xu Siyu’s future. They knew the situation and had thought it through more carefully than she had — they were in a far better position to judge.

“These days I have been spinning in every direction, and in a few days comes the one-month celebration for my Fifth Elder Sister’s eldest son…” Eleventh Young Madam said apologetically. “If Madam Xiang hadn’t mentioned the eighth day of the fourth month, I might have quite forgotten. As it is—” She looked toward Grand Madam, “—Mother, whatever arrangements you have in mind, just tell me and I will see to it. His Lordship can arrange the carriages for you.”

She had handed the decision back to Grand Madam.

Madam Xiang, having spent so many years accompanying Master Xiang in his official postings and regularly socializing with the wives of his subordinates and superiors, naturally understood what lay between the lines.

She looked down, sipping her tea in small, unhurried mouthfuls, appearing all composure on the surface while inwardly alert, her ears keenly tuned to what Grand Madam would say.

Grand Madam, however, was mildly startled to hear Eleventh Young Madam bring up Xu Lingyi just then.

As things stood — because the Xiang family had gone back and forth on the matter — everyone had assumed the marriage arrangement was at an end. No one had imagined Madam Xiang would personally call, let alone take the initiative to propose a viewing. Mother and son had not sat down to discuss it together, and had not even told each other their thoughts on the matter. Eleventh Young Madam was not one to invoke Xu Lingyi’s name without good reason. This caused Grand Madam to wonder — could Xu Lingyi have changed his mind, put off by the Xiang family’s airs?

The thought flashed through her, and Grand Madam felt she too could not express a view.

She smiled. “It’s still early days — we’ll see how things stand when the time comes.” Then she turned the conversation to the matter of Master Xiang’s new posting. “…You left without a word to anyone. You know your family’s daughter-in-law has become ever more reclusive these past few years — she didn’t mention a word of it either. If I hadn’t heard about it from His Lordship, I never would have known her brother-in-law had already set out.”

Madam Xiang, seeing that she had come of her own accord to raise the matter, only for the Xu family to let it lie, felt considerable displeasure. But remembering her eldest sister-in-law’s instructions, she swallowed it down and replied pleasantly, “Those days I was at my sister-in-law’s bedside nursing her through her illness. Our old advisor had grown old and gone back to his hometown, and my husband was busy hunting for a new one, as well as seeing to his official robes — it was all bustle and chaos from morning to night. He only managed to stop by and pay his respects to His Lordship. Next time he returns, I’ll make sure he comes and sits with Grand Madam for a proper chat.”

Grand Madam laughed warmly. “I shall look forward to hearing about the scenery of Huguang from your husband.”

They exchanged a few more words of conversation before Madam Xiang rose and made to go to Second Madam’s quarters. “Our family’s daughter-in-law went out of her way to come and visit when my sister-in-law was ill. Now that she’s well and has nothing to worry about, I thought I ought to let her know — so she needn’t go on worrying.”

“Madam Xiang, you are too kind!” Grand Madam leaned back without seeing her out. “Do stay for the midday meal before you go — there’s no hurry!”

Madam Xiang politely declined twice, and Eleventh Young Madam accompanied her to Second Madam’s quarters.

Second Madam was visibly startled to see Madam Xiang arrive.

Madam Xiang smiled. “Last time, it was so good of you to come and call during the illness. Now that my sister-in-law has recovered, I specially came to thank you. And I thought I would stop by and see whether Grand Madam might be free on the eighth day of the fourth month. We haven’t been back to Yanjing in so many years and I’d like to take the children to a temple, let them see something of Yanjing’s splendor and abundance — but I’m not sure which temple has the most lively crowds these days, and I was hoping to make the visit together with Grand Madam.”

Second Madam’s brow gave the slightest furrow. “Grand Madam usually only goes to pay her respects at the Medicine King Temple. If you simply want to take the children somewhere lively, that one is a bit out of the way. The places with real crowds are the Xiangguo Temple and White Cloud Monastery. Eldest Sister-in-law went there in earlier years, too. On the eighth day of the fourth month, both temples offer free medicines and incense to visitors, and the crowds are enormous. With your husband away from home, Eldest Sister-in-law — if she plans to go — would do well to bring plenty of attendants.”

Madam Xiang smiled upon hearing this. “You know how it is — with your eldest brother away from home, that’s exactly why I was hoping to go together with Grand Madam.”

Second Madam said nothing. A faint displeasure crossed her face.

Eleventh Young Madam saw that the atmosphere was turning, and promptly seized the moment to take her leave.

Second Madam offered a few polite words and accompanied Eleventh Young Madam to the door.

Eleventh Young Madam went to Grand Madam’s quarters.

Grand Madam was waiting for her.

“Well?” The old lady took Eleventh Young Madam’s hand. “Do you feel there is something not quite right about all this?”

Eleventh Young Madam relayed Xu Lingyi’s words to Grand Madam, then added, “…A marriage ought to be founded on goodwill between the two families. But as things stand now… we also worry that if the Xiang family were to send their young daughter over with reluctance on their part, then should the slightest rift arise between the couple in the future, the resentment in their hearts would only run deeper. I thought, since His Lordship thinks so carefully and moves in the world beyond these walls, his considerations likely go deeper than mine. So I thought I ought to ask His Lordship’s opinion before saying anything.”

Nothing pleased a mother-in-law more than a daughter-in-law who deferred to her son in all things.

Grand Madam’s eyes curved into a warm crescent. “You are quite right, you are quite right. This matter — you discuss it with Fourth Son yourself! Whenever you decide where to go for incense, just let me know.”

Eleventh Young Madam had no intention of accommodating the Xiang family.

The two households were relatives, after all. If the Xiang family had genuine intentions, there were any number of occasions for a meeting. They could even invite the Xu family’s womenfolk over to visit.

The eighth day of the fourth month was a major Buddhist celebration — she could well imagine how crowded and clamorous it would be that day. She had no wish to see Grand Madam making her way through the throngs for the sake of the younger generation.

“If Mother is planning to go out this year as usual, we’ll naturally still go to the Medicine King Temple.” Eleventh Young Madam smiled. “Madam Xiang also said she only wants to take the children out to see the liveliness. In that case, it hardly matters where one goes for that — and this way, no one has to push and squeeze through all those crowds!”

This suited Grand Madam even better. Yet as she looked at the calm, still quality of Eleventh Young Madam’s expression, she felt a flicker of concern. “Don’t you want to go and see for yourself?” As soon as the words were out, she realized anew just how singular Eleventh Young Madam was — though she was a married woman now, managing Yongping Marquis’s household, she was really only a few years older than Zhen Jie’er, and yet she had never once gone out simply to enjoy some liveliness or seek out something curious.

Was she perhaps a little too composed for her age?

“Why don’t we go to Xiangguo Temple this year?” Grand Madam said a little uncertainly. “There will be a temple fair around that time…”

Eleventh Young Madam had seen more than her share of such festivity. Even if certain things were not from her own lived experience, she had encountered them through other means.

She replied tactfully, “When you have people pressing in from all sides, even the finest scenery loses its charm. And besides, there is so much to attend to at home.”

Grand Madam, thinking of the mourning rites for Yuan Madam just around the corner, assumed she was simply not in the mood, and said, “Then let us plan to go next year!”

Eleventh Young Madam smiled in agreement, and instructed Lvyun to ask the kitchen to prepare a table of food for Madam Xiang’s visit, when a junior maid came in to announce, “Second Madam and Eldest Madam Xiang have arrived!”

So soon!

Grand Madam and Eleventh Young Madam glanced simultaneously at the self-striking clock on the mantel.

Less than half an hour.

Eleventh Young Madam had just risen to go receive the guests when Second Madam was already escorting Madam Xiang through the door.

“I’ve just come back from home.” Second Madam said, her expression neutral. “There is a pile of matters waiting for me at home to deal with. I’ll take my leave today, and come another day to pay my respects to Mother.” Madam Xiang also smiled and gave Grand Madam a curtsy. “I’ll come again in a few days to pay my respects to Grand Madam!”

Grand Madam and Eleventh Young Madam offered a few words of invitation for her to stay. Seeing that Madam Xiang was clearly set on leaving, Eleventh Young Madam and Second Madam together saw her to the inner gate.

The two walked back to Grand Madam’s room in silence.

Second Madam did not touch upon Madam Xiang’s visit at all. She stayed with Grand Madam, talking about pleasant, cultivated things — gathering tea leaves, tending to flowers. Eleventh Young Madam guessed she might have something she wished to say to Grand Madam privately, and made her excuses to leave, citing things to attend to, and returned to her own courtyard.

Nanny Song had already brought the little infant clothes from the needlework staff for Fifth Sister’s baby.

Eleventh Young Madam picked up one piece and looked it over.

So tiny, and yet it was made exactly like an adult’s garment — sleeves, collar, piping trim, not a single detail missing. It looked just like a doll’s outfit.

Eleventh Young Madam could not resist unfolding them one by one for a look.

She was still examining them when Xu Lingyi came home.

Everyone curtseyed to greet him.

“What are you all doing?” He picked up one of the little garments. “Who are these for?”

Eleventh Young Madam smiled. “For Fifth Elder Sister’s eldest son!”

Xu Lingyi held the garment up and turned it over, examining it with curiosity. “It’s so small — can anyone actually wear this?” He even held it up against himself to try.

Eleventh Young Madam had no idea either, and laughed. “The needlework staff made them — surely they’ll fit.”

Xu Lingyi nodded, turning it over in his hands for a while before finally setting it down.

Nanny Song and the others quickly gathered up the little garments and put them away.

Eleventh Young Madam welcomed Xu Lingyi to the seat on the kang by the window, offered him a cup of warm tea, and told him the reason behind Madam Xiang’s visit.

Xu Lingyi’s brow gave the slightest furrow. “What did Mother say?”

“Mother left it for us to decide together.” Eleventh Young Madam replied. “But earlier, I had the impression Mother was quite in favor of the match. Perhaps it would be worth hearing her thoughts before we say anything.”

Xu Lingyi, however, said, “Since Mother has asked us to decide, there’s no need to ask her opinion on this. Like mother, like daughter. Madam Xiang doesn’t know when to mind herself — even if this Second Miss of the Xiang family were as mild and docile as they come, she can only be that way to a limited degree. I say we put this matter aside for now. We are seeking a family to bond with through marriage — not to make enemies. Are they really expecting Mother to suffer through their games and antics as well?” His tone by the end had turned cool and pointed.

When a husband and wife were in disagreement, it really did cause considerable trouble.

Eleventh Young Madam nodded and sought his view. “And Mother?”

Xu Lingyi was about to reply when a junior maid came in to announce, “His Lordship, Madam — Second Madam has come!”

—