Upon returning from the Xiang family, Eleventh Young Lady immediately began making preparations for the mourning-release ceremony for First Young Mistress. It was right at this time that Luo Zhensheng came to call.

“Elder Brother!” Eleventh Young Lady hurried forward to greet him. “What brings you here?”

“I brought Teacher Zhao to meet the Marquis!” Luo Zhensheng said with a smile. “I also came to see how you are. To let you know, so you won’t keep sending people to check on me every few days.”

“Teacher Zhao has come!” Eleventh Young Lady’s face lit up with joy the moment she heard this. Setting aside her elder brother’s teasing, she pressed eagerly, “What did the Marquis say?”

“The two of them are in the middle of talking now,” Luo Zhensheng said. “By the look of things, it should go through!”

“That’s wonderful, that’s truly wonderful!” Eleventh Young Lady invited Luo Zhensheng to sit on the large kang by the window in the eastern side room. “You simply don’t know — Zhun Ge has made not a bit of progress these past few days, and it has driven the Marquis to distraction. Just yesterday he was guiding him through writing his characters by hand. Zhun Ge was so nervous his grip on the brush kept slipping. If I hadn’t been there to redirect things, the Marquis’s temper would have flared again… Now that Teacher Zhao has come, at the very least things cannot be any worse than they are now!”

Luo Zhensheng nodded. “That this could be arranged at all is largely thanks to Elder Grand Secretary Liu. Had it not been for his personally written letter, I doubt we could have moved Teacher Zhao.”

The moment she heard this, Eleventh Young Lady said, “I must write Third Aunt a letter of thanks right away. And send along some local specialties from Yanjing as well.”

Luo Zhensheng, seeing how perceptive and worldly she had become, smiled and said, “A scholar who has been away for three days must be regarded with new eyes. I never imagined that the Eleventh Sister who once knew nothing of household affairs could now hold her own independently.”

Eleventh Young Lady felt a quiet inward wariness at this and quickly replied, “All of this is thanks to the matriarch’s excellent guidance!” Then she instructed a little maidservant to bring in some fruit. “…The green plums were sent by Official Chen.”

“Oh?” Luo Zhensheng’s interest was piqued. “That Official Chen who is leasing land from you?”

Seeing that she had successfully steered the conversation, Eleventh Young Lady smiled and nodded. “The very same.”

“And already in the first year there is produce from the land!”

“Of course not,” Eleventh Young Lady laughed. “They are from Official Chen’s own fields. He picked some for us to taste something fresh.”

Just then, a manservant came in to relay a message: “The Marquis requests that the young master come to the outer study!”

Luo Zhensheng took his leave of Eleventh Young Lady.

Even though they had gone to such great lengths to invite Teacher Zhao, whether or not Xu Lingyi was satisfied was still another question. Eleventh Young Lady immediately dispatched Nanny Song to go and gather news.

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Nanny Song came back.

“The Marquis has kept Teacher Zhao to dine in the reception hall,” she reported with a beaming smile. “He has also asked the chief steward Bai to have the Shuangfu Courtyard beside the outer study cleaned and prepared as a study for the Fourth Young Master.”

Eleventh Young Lady breathed a sigh of relief.

That evening, when Xu Lingyi returned, she asked him, “Does this Teacher Zhao truly live up to his reputation?”

“From what I can see so far, he seems quite good,” Xu Lingyi said with measured reserve. “But then, if he could earn the esteem of Elder Grand Secretary Liu, his character and learning cannot be too far off the mark!”

To receive even this much praise was already an auspicious start.

Eleventh Young Lady set half her worries to rest.

Xu Lingyi spoke with her about the children. “After the mourning-release ceremony, we shall have Zhun Ge formally take Teacher Zhao as his master and begin his studies. As for Siyu — once Mother’s birthday celebrations are over, we will send him to Le’an.”

Eleventh Young Lady could not help but ask, “Does Siyu know about this?”

“Not yet,” Xu Lingyi said. “We will tell him after Zhun Ge’s ceremony. It will give him a few days to adjust himself.”

A period of transition would be for the best.

Eleventh Young Lady let out a quiet inward sigh. After Zhun Ge had met Teacher Zhao, she privately asked him, “What sort of person is Teacher Zhao?”

At the question, Zhun Ge’s face broke into a smile. “Teacher is very kind to me.”

Eleventh Young Lady felt reassured. Smiling, she gently patted Zhun Ge’s head.

Then Qin Yiniang came to visit.

Eleventh Young Lady did not interact frequently with the various Yiniangs.

She instructed a little maidservant to invite her in.

Seeing Zhun Ge sitting on Eleventh Young Lady’s kang drinking goat’s milk, with Nanny Du and the others nowhere nearby, Qin Yiniang was quite startled. She stood there in a daze for a moment, then respectfully bent her knee in greeting to Eleventh Young Lady.

Eleventh Young Lady had a little maidservant bring her a small stool to sit on, and asked, “Is there something you need?”

Qin Yiniang thanked her and perched herself on the edge of the stool. “No, nothing in particular,” she said, her eyes darting over to Zhun Ge several times. “Just thought I would come sit with Madam for a while!”

Eleventh Young Lady felt that the distance presently between them suited her well, and had no wish to close it further. She replied tactfully, “If there is nothing you need, then I shall take Zhun Ge over to the matriarch’s.”

Qin Yiniang was taken aback and stood up awkwardly, her lips parting slightly as though she wished to say something but could not find the words.

Eleventh Young Lady lifted Zhun Ge down from the kang and took his hand, preparing to leave.

“Madam!” Qin Yiniang called after her, her face etched with anxiety.

Eleventh Young Lady turned to face her.

Qin Yiniang’s expression shifted through several changes of feeling. After a moment, she lowered her voice and said, “Madam, I have heard that the Marquis has engaged a very capable teacher… I just wanted to ask — will the Second Young Master also be going to the Shuangfu Courtyard to study?”

Word travels fast indeed.

Teacher Zhao had only been here two days, and Qin Yiniang already knew of it.

But certain things ought not to come from her own lips.

“That would be a question for the Marquis!”

At the mention of Xu Lingyi, Qin Yiniang looked ill at ease. She forced a smile and said, “I was just curious. There’s no need to trouble the Marquis!” Then she rose and took her leave.

Eleventh Young Lady led Zhun Ge over to the matriarch’s quarters.

The seamstresses from the sewing room were just in the middle of taking the matriarch’s measurements for new garments. Catching sight of Eleventh Young Lady coming in with Zhun Ge in tow, the matriarch hurriedly beckoned both of them over. “Come quickly and help me decide — is this Magpies on Plum Branches brocade prettier, or this Peonies and Butterflies Hangzhou silk?”

These were being made as new garments for the matriarch’s birthday celebration.

The Magpies on Plum Branches was a jujube red; the Peonies and Butterflies was a bright vermilion. For a birthday celebration, the bright vermilion was naturally the better choice.

“I think this one,” Eleventh Young Lady said, pointing to the bright vermilion Peonies and Butterflies Hangzhou silk.

“Is it not a bit too elaborate?” the matriarch wavered.

“A vivid color looks vibrant and lively — that is the spirit of the occasion!”

The matriarch nodded and settled on the bright vermilion Peonies and Butterflies Hangzhou silk. She then drew Eleventh Young Lady over to help her choose jewelry. The two of them whiled away the entire afternoon in the matriarch’s quarters.

When the nineteenth day arrived, monks and Taoist priests were invited to conduct the rites. The funerary white draperies were removed from First Young Mistress’s room, and the children were dressed in bright, cheerful colors. With that, the mourning-release ceremony was completed.

The following day, Xu Lingyi first led Zhun Ge to the Shuangfu Courtyard, where Zhun Ge formally took Teacher Zhao as his master and began his foundational studies. That afternoon, he summoned Xu Siyu to the study, and father and son remained closeted together inside the study all afternoon. When Xu Siyu emerged from the study, it was said his face was ashen white, and he walked with an unsteady, swaying gait.

By dusk, the entire household knew that Xu Siyu was to be sent to Le’an.

Qin Yiniang burst into Eleventh Young Lady’s room with her hair disheveled and unbound. “Madam, I beg you, I beg of you — the Second Young Master cannot go to Le’an.” She dropped to her knees the moment she entered and began to prostrate herself before Eleventh Young Lady, knocking her head against the floor.

The room echoed with the dull, heavy thuds.

Qin Yiniang’s fair forehead was instantly flushed red.

Nanny Song and Hupo hurried to lift her up from either side.

“What is Qin Yiniang doing?” Nanny Song glanced at Eleventh Young Lady, who sat on the kang with an expression of grave composure, and urged gently, “Is there nothing that cannot be said calmly? Why must you kneel on the ground and knock your head like this? If Madam does not agree, are you going to keep on knocking your head until she does?”

There was something worth noting in those words.

If the mistress did not agree, she would go on kowtowing indefinitely — it was nothing less than forcing the mistress to yield. How was this any different from those court officials who prostrated themselves before the golden throne in a death-or-compliance remonstrance?

“No, I didn’t — I wouldn’t!” Qin Yiniang shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her face like a rattle-drum’s clappers. Yet she offered little defense of herself, and instead sobbed, “Madam, the Second Young Master cannot go to Le’an. He is still so young — the farthest he has ever been is on a single trip to the Western Hills… Madam, Madam,” she struggled to move closer to Eleventh Young Lady, “the Second Young Master is an obedient and good child. In the future he will be just as filial to you as the Fourth Young Master… You saw it yourself — when you placed him under house confinement last time, he stayed within the courtyard without going anywhere at all. He even said that Madam did it all for his own good… Madam, I beg you!” As she spoke, her body began to sink downward, wanting to kneel again. “I will prostrate myself before you — I beg you, please do not send the Fourth Young Master to Le’an…”

On the other side of the room, Yan Rong was already tiptoeing her way out from behind the curtain.

“Enough!” Eleventh Young Lady’s voice came down sharply. “Disheveled and unkempt — what kind of conduct is this?” Then, in a stern tone, she said, “And where are the maidservants attending Qin Yiniang? How is it that not one of them thought to bring water so that Qin Yiniang might wash her face!”

Her expression was cold and severe, her bright eyes sharp as frost, and every person in the room felt a sudden tightening of the heart.

Lvyun standing nearby gave a startled jolt, immediately beckoned two little maidservants, and went herself to fetch the water.

Qin Yiniang stared at Eleventh Young Lady, whose every glance and expression carried a chill, and it took her a good long while to come back to her senses. But before she could open her mouth, Eleventh Young Lady had already instructed a little maidservant, “Bring Qin Yiniang a small stool.”

The little maidservant gave a trembling “yes” and carried a small stool in.

Eleventh Young Lady pointed to the stool. “Sit.”

Qin Yiniang was still a little dazed, but Nanny Song had already exchanged a glance with Hupo and, without ceremony, pushed her down onto the stool.

“Why are you unwilling for the Second Young Master to go to Le’an?” Eleventh Young Lady raised her teacup to her lips, took a measured sip, and spoke with unhurried deliberateness.

Qin Yiniang hesitated for a moment before saying in a low voice, “The Second Young Master is too young…”

Eleventh Young Lady cut her off. “Gan Luo was Grand Counselor at twelve. The current Grand Secretary Liang passed the county examination at twelve. The Second Young Master is hardly young by any measure!”

Qin Yiniang choked at this. After a long pause she managed, “Le’an is too far away…”

“A great man’s ambition spans all directions. One should walk the roads of the world and witness its myriad scenes. How can he be sheltered like a flower, raised in the inner courtyard without wind or rain? Then how will he be able to shield those of us who are women and dependents from the storms of life in the years to come?”

“But, but…” Qin Yiniang’s face turned scarlet with urgency, yet not a second word would come to her.

Eleventh Young Lady took another measured sip of tea and said calmly, “Does the Second Young Master know that you have come to see me?”

“He does not,” Qin Yiniang said blankly.

“In that case,” Eleventh Young Lady said with cool composure, “would it not be better for Qin Yiniang to first ask what the Second Young Master himself thinks? After all, the one going to Le’an is not Yiniang — it is the Second Young Master.”

Only then did Qin Yiniang begin to catch something beneath the words.

“Madam!” she said, her eyes darting to Eleventh Young Lady with an expression of alarm. “This is entirely my own idea…”

Eleventh Young Lady glanced at her.

“What Qin Yiniang has done today — overstepping in this way — those who know you will say you are a person of forthright temperament. Those who do not know you might well think this is the Second Young Master’s own wish. Moreover, sending the Second Young Master to Le’an is for his own benefit. That Jiang family has produced two imperial tutors. The Jinxi Academy where the Second Young Master is to go — its headmaster, Headmaster Jiang Song, was the top-ranked scholar in the forty-sixth year of the Jianwu reign. To have such a teacher instructing the Second Young Master is a rare and precious opportunity in his life. You did not even ask the Second Young Master a single question before making this scene — where does that leave his dignity?”

Qin Yiniang’s face alternated between red and white.

In the room, a sharp, sudden sound of alarm came from Hongxiu.

“The Marquis!”

—