“…The eighth day of the fourth month is a great Buddhist observance. Every temple and monastery will be distributing medicines, and the crowds will be dense and clamorous.” Second Madam said slowly, cradling her teacup. “But every year, the trip to the Medicine King Temple to offer incense has been made because Second Master suddenly passed away — and Mother carries that fear in her heart, wanting to ask the Medicine King to bless the family with peace and well-being. I have come to discuss this with His Lordship and Younger Sister-in-law. If Mother truly wishes to go to the Medicine King Temple this year, we as the younger generation naturally would not dream of going against her wishes. But if she were to go to another temple instead, I hope His Lordship and Younger Sister-in-law would help persuade her otherwise.”

Eleventh Young Madam stared at Second Madam with barely concealed astonishment.

Was she saying she did not support this marriage arrangement?

But had she not been the one working most actively to make it happen? How had things changed so completely?

Eleventh Young Madam could not help but glance at Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi’s expression remained steady. He gave a slight nod. “I understand Second Sister-in-law’s meaning.”

Second Madam glanced at Eleventh Young Madam with a small nod and rose to take her leave.

Eleventh Young Madam accompanied her to the door.

Jiexiang immediately fell in step behind.

“Madam,” she said in a low voice, “what did His Lordship say?”

Second Madam said nothing. She walked upright and composed along the covered corridor. Every maid and nanny who caught sight of her stepped respectfully aside and curtseyed in greeting.

She came to an abrupt stop at a bend in the covered corridor.

“With eldest sister-in-law behaving as she has — going back on her word — if Rounuo were to marry in now, I fear she would find it difficult to earn the genuine fondness of Grand Madam, His Lordship, and Fourth Sister-in-law.” Second Madam said quietly, her gaze resting on the pomegranate tree beyond the railing, its branches thick with green leaves. “Rather than that, it is perhaps no bad thing to let matters rest here.”

Jiexiang could not help but let out a quiet sigh. “If only eldest madam had gone to Ciyuan Temple from the start — it would have spared you from being caught in the middle, Madam, and Second Miss from being put in a difficult position as well!”

“If she had that kind of steadiness, my mother would not have been goaded into such a state by her.” Second Madam’s face bore not a trace of warmth. “I had been thinking of intervening and taking her affairs in hand — but when she heard I had returned to my family’s home, she promptly sent a manservant to use my father’s name as a pretext and summon Eldest Brother away. Not wanting to put Eldest Brother in a difficult position, I told him the family was holding a memorial ceremony for Yuan Madam and needed my help, and that was how I persuaded him to go to the Gao family home…” She smiled, a touch of self-mockery in her expression. “What I fear most now is that Grand Madam and His Lordship might, out of regard for me, agree to the marriage against their better judgment. Now that I have made my position clear, she may do as she pleases.” With that, she turned and walked toward Shaohua Courtyard.

On the other side, Eleventh Young Madam had held back, about to say something.

Xu Lingyi smiled. “What did you want to say?”

Eleventh Young Madam gave him a sidelong look. “His Lordship has a mirror-clear understanding of the whole thing — what need is there for me to say it?”

Xu Lingyi burst out laughing.

After a moment, his expression turned serious. “Second Sister-in-law is a woman of her word above all else. Madam Xiang’s habit of going back and forth is no doubt something she finds deeply contemptible. And yet she is her own sister-in-law — so she was afraid we might misunderstand her motives, and came to make her position clear in her own tactful way.” He added, “Weren’t you just now worried about how to explain things to Mother? I think you might as well tell her what Second Sister-in-law said. Without that concern weighing on her, Mother should be able to set her mind at ease.”

Eleventh Young Madam nodded. She took the opportunity, while helping Grand Madam settle in for her afternoon rest, to tell her about the matter along with Xu Lingyi’s view.

Grand Madam listened, and a faint wistfulness crossed her face. “After you left, Yizhen said as much to me as well. I still felt some uncertainty. Who could have known she would go to find you both. It seems her mind is firmly made up. In that case, let Fifth Son go to the Medicine King Temple in my place this year — and let us make our position plainly clear to the Xiang family.”

Eleventh Young Madam nodded and went back to inform Xu Lingyi. Xu Lingyi sent word to summon Xu Lingkuan and told him to go to the Medicine King Temple on Grand Madam’s behalf on the eighth. When Xu Lingkuan heard this, he was so startled he feared Grand Madam had taken ill — he went rushing to Grand Madam’s rooms and looked her over from head to toe. Seeing her in perfectly good health, he finally went away with an easy mind and returned to Red Lantern Lane. When Madam Xiang learned that Grand Madam would not be attending the temple fair on the eighth, she paid another visit.

“Every year at this time you go to the Medicine King Temple to offer incense. Surely it can’t be because of my rudeness at Ciyuan Temple — surely you haven’t taken offense and decided not to go?” Madam Xiang said directly.

Grand Madam naturally could not say “yes,” and replied tactfully, “I simply feel the years catching up with me — the carriage ride is tiring, and that is why I am staying home.”

At that, Madam Xiang’s expression fell. She said quietly, “Grand Madam, you need not spare my feelings. I know that everyone blames me for acting recklessly. Even our family’s daughter-in-law — she has grown noticeably cooler toward me because of all this.” Her eyes reddened at the corners. “But I feel so wronged as well!” And with that, she pulled out her handkerchief and began to weep in soft, helpless sobs.

Eleventh Young Madam quickly dismissed the serving attendants and poured her a cup of hot tea.

Madam Xiang quietly thanked her, and through her sniffles said, “I had thought — if I came to offer you an apology, and then took the initiative to propose a viewing, that would put things right again. Who would have thought that you truly are displeased with me. I suppose I have no choice now but to tell you this shameful thing.” She raised her eyes to Grand Madam. “Do you know why I did not go to Ciyuan Temple?” Without waiting for Grand Madam’s response, she continued, “My husband and our family’s daughter-in-law settled the marriage between themselves, without consulting me once!”

Eleventh Young Madam stared at Madam Xiang in disbelief.

How could one situation after another be so alike?

Grand Madam, too, was greatly taken aback.

Madam Xiang pressed the handkerchief to the corners of her eyes. “I am the lawful, properly wedded wife of the Xiang family, married through matchmakers and proper rites. Rounuo is the precious daughter I carried for ten months and raised with my own hands. And yet my husband did not ask my opinion — not a single word — and simply settled the matter. I ask you, how could I not be furious?” She looked deeply aggrieved. “And this sort of thing was not the first or second time. I had endured it before, but this time — this time, I truly could not swallow it. In a fit of anger, I took the children and went back to my family’s home.”

Grand Madam, turning over all that had happened these past days, found that it did fit together. She comforted her. “In this matter, Master Xiang was in the wrong.”

“Exactly!” Madam Xiang said, as though she had finally found someone who understood her, and looked at Grand Madam with grateful eyes. “When my eldest sister-in-law back home found out, she was so upset she fell ill herself. And with my heart full of grievances, I started quarreling with my husband. I didn’t even see him off when he left for his posting…” She paused. “And that is why, when you asked me about his departure last time, I couldn’t even answer you.”

Eleventh Young Madam and Grand Madam both stared, eyes wide open.

She hadn’t even seen him off when he left for his posting… that was truly going too far.

Madam Xiang looked abashed. “I know I handled that rather badly. But I was so caught up in my anger at the time — I couldn’t see straight. Later, my eldest sister-in-law gave me a thorough scolding, and that is what brought me to my senses. I came at once to apologize to Grand Madam and our family’s daughter-in-law.” Her voice grew quieter as she went on. “It was all such an embarrassing affair — when I came last time, I couldn’t bring myself to explain it fully. And now I learn that you will not be going to the Medicine King Temple this year…” She flushed deeply with shame. “It is all my fault, every last bit of it. I only ask that Grand Madam, for the sake of our family’s daughter-in-law, forgive me this once. Please — tomorrow, let me be the host and invite you to our home for a humble meal.”

Having said so much, and given that she was Second Madam’s sister-in-law, Grand Madam hesitated and glanced at Eleventh Young Madam.

Seeing that Grand Madam had already relented inwardly, Eleventh Young Madam had nothing further to add. She smiled and gave Grand Madam a small nod, indicating she would follow Grand Madam’s lead.

Grand Madam felt a quiet ease settle over her.

After all, they were relatives — there was no need to hold on to grievances indefinitely.

She smiled. “Madam Xiang is too kind. But the household has kept me quite busy these days. Let us set another day.” She did not agree outright.

Madam Xiang was well versed in such diplomatic language. With sincere sincerity, she said, “I will be in Yanjing all year. You name the day.”

With such a humble, gracious manner, Grand Madam and Eleventh Young Madam could not very well refuse again. They settled on a visit to the Xiang residence three days hence.

Madam Xiang then leaned close to Grand Madam and said softly, “When you come, please do help persuade our family’s daughter-in-law to come along. She is still cross with me. When we last met, she was still speaking to me with a cold and cutting tone. I haven’t the nerve to go to her myself.”

Grand Madam gave a faint flicker of surprise and said, “As long as Madam Xiang doesn’t mind too many mouths at the table!”

Madam Xiang’s face immediately brightened. “Not at all, not at all — the more the merrier!” she said, again and again.

And so the matter was settled.

When Second Madam learned of it, her face was full of stunned disbelief. “They’ve invited us to come and dine at their house?”

Grand Madam nodded. “I could see that Madam Xiang was completely sincere, and so I agreed on your behalf.” There was a gentle note of reconciliation in her tone.

Second Madam remained silent.

When Eleventh Young Madam told Xu Lingyi about it, he looked a little put out.

Eleventh Young Madam naturally had no intention of dredging up old accounts — she simply asked him what they should do.

Xu Lingyi said after a pause, “Even if there are plans to be made, this is not the moment for them.” He was not particularly enthusiastic about it. “Let us simply treat it as an exchange of visits between relatives.”

Eleventh Young Madam nodded and went to report back to Grand Madam.

“That is for the best,” Grand Madam said. “This is actually the perfect time for a visit. We can observe the Xiang family’s two young daughters, and yet — since your Elder Sister has not yet come out of mourning — nothing can be said about the matter on grounds of both sentiment and propriety.” She reflected for a moment, and added, “Madam Xiang seems genuinely sincere this time.”

Eleventh Young Madam made a soft sound of agreement.

Grand Madam asked no more, and turned to the matter of the one-month celebration for Fifth Sister’s child. “…Has the little one been given a pet name?”

“He has!” Eleventh Young Madam smiled. “They say the child’s five elements are lacking in metal, so he’s been called Xin’a!”

Grand Madam broke into delighted laughter. “They really do have money to spare!”

“Indeed!” Eleventh Young Madam laughed along, and the two fell to talking about Fifth Sister’s child.

Meanwhile, Madam Gao was asking Madam Xiang, “Well? Were you able to invite them?”

Madam Xiang nodded. “I had to swallow a bit of pride!”

Madam Gao fixed her with a sharp look. “If you hadn’t been so reckless to begin with, would things have come to this?”

Madam Xiang was still defiant. “As if our Rounuo could only be married into the Xu family!”

“She can,” Madam Gao said. “But first you made the appointment and then ran off home with the children. Then when the family’s daughter-in-law came to call during my illness, you didn’t even have her announced and left her standing outside. When she returned to her family’s home, you borrowed your father’s name to summon her husband away. And when that husband left for his posting, you sent only Yijia to see him off…” She paused. “Once that husband learns that the Yongping Marquis’s family has declined the match, all of these accounts will be laid out and settled against you — in the lighter case, he’ll look at you sideways and make things difficult from that day forward. In the heavier case, he’ll leave you to your own devices in Yanjing without a second glance. So tell me — would you rather invite Grand Madam of the Xu family and the Marchioness of Yongping to your home for a meal and make your peace with your husband? Or would you rather go on living here in Yanjing, alone with the children and no one to turn to?”

Madam Xiang had nothing left to say.