Yuan Niang and the First Madam fell into sorrow, and the mood in the room shifted at once.

Zhun Ge poked his head out from his mother’s embrace, gazing at the First Madam with wide, clear, innocent eyes, as though he couldn’t understand why his grandmother had suddenly burst into tears for no reason at all.

Fifth Miss’s gaze swept over the room. She pulled out a handkerchief and stepped forward to offer it to the First Madam. “Today is a reunion between mother and daughter — a joyous occasion. Why, Mother, are you letting yourself feel sad?”

Hearing this, the First Madam broke into a tearful laugh. She took the handkerchief and dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “Look at me, growing more fragile with age.”

Yet that smile was still a little strained.

At the corners of Yuan Niang’s eyes, something glistened. “Mother is here with her daughter. What need is there for all these proprieties?”

The First Madam nodded.

Maids came in carrying water for the First Madam and Yuan Niang to wash their faces. Yuan Niang had her own attendants to see to her. On the First Madam’s side, Eleventh Miss held the basin while Fifth Miss helped roll back her sleeves and remove her bracelets.

Once their faces were washed, Yuan Niang instructed a maid, “Bring out the palace powder the Empress bestowed last time.”

The maid answered with a “Yes” and quickly returned carrying a small cloisonné enamel box with a floral reserve design.

“Mother, do try it — it’s from the Imperial Household Department,” Yuan Niang said with a smile. “I never use these things myself, so I don’t know whether they’re any good. If you find it agreeable, I’ll have a few more boxes sent over to you.”

A small maid hurried over, holding up a dressing mirror.

The First Madam took the powder box — a pale yellow base with intricate sky-blue patterns, delicate and understated.

“Truly worthy of an imperially-made object.” She turned it over in her hands a few times before gently twisting open the lid.

At once, a clean and elegant fragrance of jasmine burst forth, drifting lightly through the entire room, refreshing the mind of anyone who caught its scent.

Eleventh Miss was moved. She couldn’t help stealing a glance at the box.

The powder inside was a pale yellow…

She raised an eyebrow slightly.

In modern cosmetics, adding just a touch of yellow tint to a foundation and applying it to the face could make sallow skin appear luminous and clear… The women of the Luo family all used pure white powder — and not only that, they believed the whiter the better… These were two entirely different philosophies.

Imperially-made goods truly surpassed what was available on the market by more than just a little.

Lost in these reflections, she watched as the First Madam had already dusted the powder onto her face.

Just as Eleventh Miss had anticipated, the powdered complexion was natural and soft, making the First Madam look a full five years younger in an instant.

Fifth Miss stood to one side, clicking her tongue in admiration, a flash of envy crossing the depths of her eyes. Even Nanny Xu wore an expression of unmistakable surprise.

Yuan Niang smiled and instructed a maid, “Tomorrow, go and tell the purchasing steward Song that the palace powder the Empress bestowed last time was excellent — have him send a few more boxes in.”

The maid curtsied in acknowledgment, but the First Madam was already waving her hand. “No need, no need. Why incur a debt of gratitude over a few boxes of palace powder?”

Yuan Niang smiled. “It’s nothing to worry about. The one presently overseeing the Imperial Household Department is Prince Shun, who grew up alongside the Marquis from childhood — they are on very familiar terms.”

The First Madam was still in the midst of declining when a little maid announced from beyond the screen, “My Lady, Wen Yiniang has come!”

Yuan Niang was momentarily startled, then smiled. “Her informants are quick to act… Show her in!” There was no trace of grief or resentment in her expression — only calm naturalness, as though she had just heard word of a favorite neighbor come to call.

The First Madam regarded her daughter with some puzzlement and lowered her voice. “That is the Wen family from Yangzhou…”

Yuan Niang nodded and smiled. “Mother should meet her as well. They are both from the Jiangnan region. Though the Wen family built their fortune on salt distribution licenses, their silk trade has also done quite well these past few years. Knowing one more person opens one more door. Should the opportunity arise, send Wu Xiaoquan to make a trip to Yangzhou — out of consideration for me, the Wen family will certainly receive him with proper courtesy!”

The Luo family’s wealth consisted of farmland and silk shops. But the Luo family was, after all, a household that had built its legacy on poetry and learning, and would never have gone into trade at all had it not been for the unpredictability of harvests and the irresistibly tempting profits of the silk trade. And so, while the Luo family’s Yuande Silk was an old and reputable name in Jiangnan, it had always confined its business to the area around Hangzhou Prefecture without establishing branches elsewhere. Despite operating for several generations, it was no more than middling — better than some, not as good as others.

From the way Yuan Niang spoke, it sounded to Eleventh Miss almost as though she was urging the First Madam to use the Wen family’s influence to expand the business!

She couldn’t help feeling slightly taken aback.

The First Madam was equally surprised. “You mean…”

Yuan Niang smiled at her mother and said, “We’ll speak of this matter later.” She turned and instructed a maid, “Go and fetch my cloisonné enamel mirror-watch set with the cat’s eye stone, and bring it for Madam.”Then she explained to the First Madam, “Give it to her as a gift upon first meeting!”

Eleventh Miss fell into thought.

The First Madam was about to say something more when a sweet, lilting voice carried in from beyond the screen: “Sister, how I have longed for my in-law Madam’s arrival!”

In an instant, all eyes turned toward the screen. And there, stepping into the room, was a woman as dainty and delicate as a perfume sachet.

She wore a plain ginger-yellow short jacket, a madder-red folded-branch floral overrobe, and a white moonlight-colored embroidered hem skirt. Her dark hair was styled in a drooping chignon; on the left she wore a sprig of Western pearl and jade flowers, and on the right were inserted three solid gold pomegranate blossom hairpins. At her ears, solid gold earrings set with jadeite teardrop pendants trembled against her cheeks, making her complexion appear all the more snow-white and enchantingly beautiful.

Eleventh Miss’s eyes lit up.

What a beauty she was!

“First Madam, I am your servant Wen Shi, here to pay my respects!” Wen Shi smiled before she even spoke, her words bright and crisp. She stepped forward in a few quick strides and sank smoothly into a proper curtsy before the First Madam.

The smile on the First Madam’s face had already bloomed into fullness. “Please, rise, please rise. We are all family here — there is no need for such formality!” Nanny Xu handed over a red lacquer box gilded with gold. The First Madam could see at a glance that the lacquerwork was exquisite, the gilded floral motifs elegant and refined — it was not something from her own household. She understood at once that this must be the mirror-watch her daughter had just mentioned. Though somewhat displeased in her heart, she accepted it with a smile and passed it to Wen Shi. “Here, take it for your amusement!”

Wen Shi accepted it with a smile, her eyes making a quick sweep over the box before she passed it to the maid behind her. She then stepped forward with a smile to bow to Yuan Niang. “Sister, are you feeling any better?”

Yuan Niang’s smile reached all the way to her eyes. “Now that you’ve come, even if I weren’t better, I would be!”

Wen Yiniang’s face went pale with exaggerated alarm. “Sister, you mustn’t let the Marquis hear those words — otherwise, my life is forfeit. He’d surely send me off to Imperial Physician Wang to be made into broth…”

From within Yuan Niang’s arms, Zhun Ge suddenly piped up, “Yiniang, you got it wrong. Nanny Huang is the one who manages the kitchen…”

Yuan Niang burst into laughter.

Everyone else followed in laughter as well.

Only Zhun Ge looked around in bewilderment — first not knowing why everyone was laughing, and then, seeing them all laugh, shyly burrowing back into his mother’s arms.

Wen Yiniang stepped forward and crouched half-way before the bed, smiling at Zhun Ge. “Good Zhun Ge, if the Marquis asks, you must say exactly what you said just now — that Imperial Physician Wang has nothing to do with the kitchen, and that it’s Nanny Huang who manages it.”

Zhun Ge lifted his head and gave Wen Yiniang a solemn nod, then buried his face back in his mother’s arms.

Another round of laughter filled the room.

Perhaps because the laughter had come so frequently, Yuan Niang began to cough.

Wen Yiniang quickly moved forward to help Yuan Niang ease her breathing. She took the tea the maid had passed over, sipped a small amount from the lid to test it, and then settled onto the edge of the bed and helped Yuan Niang sit up to drink.

Her movements were completely practiced, without any hesitation — it was plain she had done this many times before.

Eleventh Miss’s gaze flickered slightly. Fifth Miss’s face, however, showed unmistakable surprise.

After drinking the tea, Yuan Niang’s breathing settled. Wen Yiniang looked toward Fifth Miss and Eleventh Miss, who were standing at the bedside with expressions of concern. “These two must be Fifth Miss and Eleventh Miss?”

Yuan Niang smiled and nodded.

Wen Yiniang quickly looked the two of them over and stepped forward with a smile to take Fifth Miss’s hand. “The first time I met Sister, I thought I was looking at an immortal maiden. Yet Sister always said the younger sisters at home were the truly beautiful ones. Seeing you today, I find the reputation is entirely warranted.”

Fifth Miss quickly smiled back. “Sister has always shown great care for us younger sisters, and holds us dear to her heart — so of course she is partial. You must be laughing at her for it, Yiniang.”

Wen Yiniang’s eyes gleamed. “My, what a forthright young lady.” She turned back to look at Yuan Niang. “She quite suits my temperament.”

Yuan Niang chuckled warmly.

Wen Yiniang made a small gesture to her maid, who stepped forward carrying two boxes.

“I only just heard that the First Madam had brought two young misses to visit, and I came in rather a hurry — please don’t think the gifts too modest.”

Fifth Miss and Eleventh Miss thanked her and accepted the boxes.

Receiving a gift upon every first meeting — at this rate, she was quietly building up quite a small fortune…

Eleventh Miss gave a quiet, self-deprecating smile inwardly.

Another little maid announced from beyond the screen, “The Yaohuan from the Grand Madam’s quarters has arrived.”

One after another, they kept coming — truly like a grand gathering of notable figures!

Eleventh Miss couldn’t help widening her eyes.

“Please invite her in!” Yuan Niang said with a smile. And from around the screen stepped a tall, slender maid.

She looked to be about seventeen or eighteen, with a slender frame but a round, chubby face — like a big-headed doll, slightly out of proportion, yet utterly charming.

Taking in the roomful of people, she approached with a beaming smile and greeted everyone in turn, then said to the First Madam, “The Grand Madam specifically sent me to convey a message. She says: knowing that the Honored Madam was coming, she should by rights have come to welcome her in person. But as it happens, the Duchess of Duke Chengguo has arrived with her niece, and so she must trouble the Honored Madam to wait a little while. She asks that the Honored Madam please not take any offense.”

Eleventh Miss, who had been carefully watching Yuan Niang throughout, caught a fleeting flash of cold sharpness in her elder sister’s eyes before it vanished.

The First Madam had already replied with gracious courtesy, “The Grand Madam is my senior — it is I who should properly go and pay my respects to her. How could I allow her to come to me?” She hesitated slightly and added, “I wonder how much longer the Duchess of Chengguo intends to stay? Since I have already come, I could hardly leave without paying my respects to the Grand Madam…”

Before Yaohuan could answer, Yuan Niang had already smiled and said, “Mother, Mother-in-law is the hostess — it would not be fitting for her to abandon her guest and come to us. But you are a guest yourself. Naturally, a guest follows the host’s convenience. There is no reason you cannot go.” She then instructed the maid at her side, “Help me change my clothing.” — looking for all the world as though she intended to accompany the First Madam to call on the Grand Madam herself.

The First Madam fell into hesitation.

Her daughter’s health being what it was, having her come along would weigh on her heart; yet not having her come would be a breach of propriety.

For a moment, she found herself caught between two impossible choices.

Wen Yiniang watched, her gaze flickering. She smiled and said, “Sister, why don’t I accompany the First Madam instead? Otherwise, the Grand Madam will worry to see Sister disregarding her own health, and that will only cause her more distress.”

Yuan Niang considered this.

Wen Yiniang continued, “I’ll carry Zhun Ge and accompany the First Madam over.”

“Very well!” Yuan Niang smiled. “Have Zhun Ge convey my greetings to Mother in my stead.”

Wen Yiniang smiled. “Sister, rest easy — we will go and return shortly.”

Yuan Niang turned to her mother with a face full of apology, but before she could speak, the First Madam had already smiled and said, “Yiniang’s suggestion is a good one. Let Zhun Ge accompany me to see the Grand Madam.” She added, “You need not worry — with me by his side, I will certainly not let him catch a chill.”

Yuan Niang looked at her mother, and her gaze grew steadily more earnest. “Then I entrust Zhun Ge to your care.”

The First Madam gave a solemn nod.

—