Coming out of the matriarch’s quarters, the sky was thick with stars.

Xu Lingkuan and the Fifth Madam went northward with Xin Jie’er in arms; Eleventh Young Lady, Xu Lingyi, the Second Madam, Zhen Jie’er, Xu Siyu, and Xu Sijie strolled unhurriedly toward the rear garden.

Xu Lingyi and Xu Siyu walked in front; the Second Madam and Eleventh Young Lady walked side by side; Zhen Jie’er followed a few steps behind; and Nan Yong’s wife carried Xu Sijie, bringing up the rear behind Zhen Jie’er.

The Second Madam suddenly turned and instructed Nan Yong’s wife, “Walking after a meal aids digestion. Put the Fifth Young Master down — let him move around as well.”

Xu Lingyi, Xu Siyu, and Zhen Jie’er all glanced toward Nan Yong’s wife.

Nan Yong’s wife, however, looked toward Eleventh Young Lady.

Eleventh Young Lady gave a small, silent nod.

Nan Yong’s wife smiled and agreed, setting Xu Sijie down on the ground.

Xu Sijie immediately trotted over to Eleventh Young Lady’s side and grabbed hold of her skirt.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and took his hand.

The Second Madam watched Xu Sijie fall in silently beside Eleventh Young Lady without a sound of protest, and a faint flicker of surprise crossed the depths of her eyes. “I would not have thought this child had grown so well-behaved.”

Nan Yong’s wife standing nearby pressed her lips together to suppress a smile.

The Fourth Madam had put a great deal of effort into helping the Fifth Young Master gradually shed some of his former bad habits.

Eleventh Young Lady patted Xu Sijie’s head and said, “He is quite well-behaved, as long as he has had enough to eat.” There was a quiet note of tender compassion in her voice that she herself did not notice.

The Second Madam nodded and said in a lowered voice to Eleventh Young Lady, turning to the matter of the matriarch’s birthday banquet, “…Has it been settled?”

“Everything follows the established custom from past years. Once the guest list is finalized, everything can proceed.”

“The guest list still hasn’t been finalized? Won’t that be cutting it too close?”

“It should be fine,” Eleventh Young Lady said with a smile. “I have arranged everything else already. Once I finalize the list tomorrow morning, sending out the invitations, arranging the dishes, and contacting the opera troupe can all be handled in one afternoon.”

The Second Madam’s expression shifted to one of mild surprise.

Eleventh Young Lady explained, “All the invited families are here in Yanjing, and there aren’t many of them — the reception office can manage it in one afternoon. The provisions shops we are ordering from are all well-established establishments in Yanjing. Whatever they do not carry, no other establishment is likely to have it either, so we simply provide them a list and let them prepare accordingly. As for the opera troupe — with Fifth Master taking care of it, and since we already have a proper stage right here at home, the troupe need only arrive half an hour early. Two days of preparation is more than sufficient.”

The Second Madam listened, and a look of genuine admiration showed in her eyes.

She instructed Zhen Jie’er, “You go ahead and take your Fifth Brother to play in front. He must find it dull walking this slowly with grown-ups.”

Zhen Jie’er agreed and went forward to take Xu Sijie’s hand.

Xu Sijie was still young after all, and following along at the measured pace of adults must have felt terribly monotonous to him. The moment Zhen Jie’er offered to take him to play, he grabbed her hand and began bouncing and skipping forward. Every so often he would reach out to swat at the small branches hanging along the walkway outside the covered corridor, visibly happy and lively.

Nan Yong’s wife and Xiao Li and the others hurried to follow after them. Xu Lingyi and Xu Siyu’s attention was also drawn over by him.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled, watching.

Then, close beside her ear, came the Second Madam’s voice — a little lower than usual. “Zhen Jie’er should be considering marriage proposals soon, should she not?”

Eleventh Young Lady understood all at once.

So the Second Madam’s sending Xu Sijie to the ground and directing Zhen Jie’er to take her brother — all of it had been so that she could have a few private words with Eleventh Young Lady that Zhen Jie’er ought not to hear.

She looked over with some surprise.

In the moonlight, the Second Madam’s expression was as clear and unhurried as white chrysanthemums.

“After the mourning-release ceremony, proposals should be considered for Zhen Jie’er,” she said quietly. “I think — once the matriarch’s birthday has passed, I will pause her lessons with me for the time being, and have Zhen Jie’er focus on learning needlework from you.”

Eleventh Young Lady had the same idea in mind, but seeing how much care the Second Madam devoted to Zhen Jie’er’s studies, she had been wary of suggesting it lest the Second Madam misconstrue her meaning. She had been thinking of first sounding out the matriarch’s opinion… Since the Second Madam had raised it herself, Eleventh Young Lady naturally agreed without hesitation. “The last time at the marriage ceremony, Madam Zhou had already said she wished to serve as matchmaker — only, the mourning period was not yet over, so certain things could not be said plainly. I was also thinking about this matter. Whatever kind of mother-in-law Zhen Jie’er will have in the future, I cannot know — but whatever the case, being accomplished in needlework can only help her. It will never go wrong.”

The Second Madam nodded and said, “Then let us settle it this way. Every ten days she may come to me to practice her calligraphy; all other days she goes to you to learn needlework.”

“As Second Elder Sister-in-law thinks best,” Eleventh Young Lady said, feeling this arrangement was also quite suitable. Sitting at home doing needlework every single day would be difficult to endure for anyone.

The Second Madam gave a soft “mn,” stepped forward a few paces to Zhen Jie’er’s side, and said, “It is getting late. Let us go on ahead.”

Zhen Jie’er immediately handed Xu Sijie over to Nan Yong’s wife.

The Second Madam exchanged a word of farewell with Xu Lingyi, then took Zhen Jie’er with her through the gate of the rear garden and made her way toward the Shaohua Courtyard.

Xu Lingyi, Eleventh Young Lady, Xu Siyu, and Xu Sijie passed through the gate of the rear garden and turned east. Xu Lingyi went directly back to the Chuilun Water Pavilion; Eleventh Young Lady first saw Xu Sijie back to the Lijing Pavilion, then returned to the Chuilun Water Pavilion herself.

The moment she stepped inside, Xu Lingyi asked, “What is the matter with Zhen Jie’er?”

Eleventh Young Lady was momentarily taken aback.

Xu Lingyi said, “You and Second Sister-in-law sent Zhen Jie’er off on a pretext so you could speak privately — it must have been because the matter was not suitable for Zhen Jie’er’s ears. Has something come up?”

He is quite observant indeed!

“Nothing serious,” Eleventh Young Lady said with a smile and relayed the Second Madam’s meaning.

Xu Lingyi listened and smiled. “I was just about to speak with you about this very matter!” He then drew her to sit on the large kang by the window in the inner chamber. “Today Wang Li came by and said he wished to serve as a matchmaker for Zhen Jie’er.”

“Official Wang Li?” Eleventh Young Lady asked.

“Yes,” Xu Lingyi nodded.

Eleventh Young Lady immediately asked, “Which family is it?”

“Someone you know as well,” Xu Lingyi said. “It is the second son of Commander Li’s household.”

That Commander Li who does not allow concubines?

Eleventh Young Lady was quite surprised.

“Commander Li once served under my command — our two families know each other well enough.” Xu Lingyi mused, “It is just that Commander Li rose to prominence through his wife’s family connections, and I have also heard rumors, more than once, that he is exceedingly afraid of his wife. This matter would need to be very carefully considered.”

No wonder the Li family does not take concubines!

“There is no rush, after all,” Eleventh Young Lady smiled, and mentioned that Madam Zhou had also intended to serve as matchmaker for Zhen Jie’er. “…We can take our time choosing.”

Xu Lingyi looked at her, curious. “From what you’re saying, it sounds as though you are not particularly keen on the Li family?”

“That’s not quite it,” Eleventh Young Lady said with a smile. “It is just that if a mother-in-law rules the household with too strict a hand, a daughter-in-law cannot help but feel constrained.”

Xu Lingyi nodded slowly. “That is my feeling as well.” Then he said, “Let us wait and hear which family Madam Zhou has in mind, and go from there. Zhen Jie’er is not young anymore — this cannot be put off.”

“Whether the match is settled early or late, she will still be twelve,” Eleventh Young Lady said with a smile. “As long as it is settled before year’s end, that is all that is needed. You cannot eat hot tangyuan in a hurry.”

Xu Lingyi laughed.

Eleventh Young Lady had meant to ask about Xu Siyu’s marriage prospects, but recalling that after they had returned from the Xiang family that day, neither the matriarch nor Xu Lingyi had brought up the subject — as though they had truly only attended an ordinary family banquet — the words rose to her lips and then sank back down.

The next day, Eleventh Young Lady went to the matriarch’s quarters early in the morning to present the finalized guest list for review.

The matriarch’s eyes lingered on Madam Xiang’s name for a long while. In the end, she returned the list to Eleventh Young Lady without altering a single entry. “Send the invitations out following this list.”

Eleventh Young Lady assented and withdrew, promptly dispatching Nanny Song to take the invitations to the reception office.

The reception office moved faster than she had anticipated.

By midday, word had come back that all the invitations had been delivered. From Fifth Master’s side, a manservant also came to report: “…The troupe leader of the Changsheng Troupe, Geng Changsheng, will come in person to perform at the private banquet.” Then Nanny Li brought over the menu. By the early afternoon, all preparations were in order. With everything in hand, Eleventh Young Lady settled onto the kang and took up the embroidery she had not yet finished — a Valley Wind motif.

Yan Rong was beside her helping to sort thread, and mentioned Qin Yiniang. “She had one of the little maidservants come to take your measurements, and has also selected several embroidery patterns — she says she is going to make you shoes while at home.”

“Never mind that,” Eleventh Young Lady said with a smile. “I could not bear to look at mediocre handiwork.”

Yan Rong laughed at this. “I had only heard that Madam’s needlework was fine, but had never seen it. Today, helping you sort thread, I finally understand — just in white alone, there are thirteen varieties. Even in our household’s sewing room, there are only three kinds of white, and that is already considered refined. Please let me attend upon you when you do needlework in the future! I could learn alongside you — and then when I go out eventually, I would have something to boast about.”

Eleventh Young Lady found it a little odd that this girl, who could be no more than thirteen or fourteen, was already speaking of “going out.”

A slight flush came to Yan Rong’s face. “Since I was small, I have been promised to my cousin. It was agreed I would leave service at twenty.” She said it as though making something clear.

Eleventh Young Lady’s thoughts turned in a moment, and she understood. She looked at the girl’s clear, pleasant features and smiled. “Is your cousin in service at this household?”

Yan Rong quickly answered, “My cousin is called Cao An. He currently works in the storehouse, running errands for Chief Steward Fan, who oversees all the gifts exchanged between households.”

Eleventh Young Lady gave a nod. “Understood.”

A flicker of quiet satisfaction crossed Yan Rong’s eyes.

Eleventh Young Lady noticed it, and it brought Binju to mind. She called Zhuxiang over and asked, “…Do you know what she has been up to?”

Zhuxiang smiled. “She is at home doing needlework every day!”

“And she has not come to see me!” Eleventh Young Lady remarked with a little pout.

Zhuxiang could not help covering her mouth to laugh. “Madam is so busy — even if Binju Sister came, she would barely get a word in!”

Eleventh Young Lady then said, “The sooner the sixth month comes, the better — then the house can return to its usual orderly ways!” She then asked Yan Rong to bring the silk threads the outer stewards had purchased the last couple of days and give them to Zhuxiang. “…They are all officially made thread, and though they cannot compare to what one finds at Caoxiu Embroidery or Lingxian Pavilion, the embroidery they produce is more vibrant than the ordinary kind. She has only just started working with the bridal shop, and is bound to take some losses in the beginning — she ought to put extra care into the quality of her materials.”

Only then did Yan Rong understand — the packet of thread had been purchased by Eleventh Young Lady especially for Binju.

“I shall use this as an excuse to cadge a meal from Binju Sister!” Zhuxiang said with a cheerful smile, took the thread, and went off to Binju’s place.

A little maidservant came in to report: “Madam, Nanny Wang from the household inventory office is here!”

Eleventh Young Lady went to the waterside pavilion.

“Madam.” The moment Nanny Wang caught sight of her, she drew herself halfway down. “The black lacquer mother-of-pearl inlay peony screen panel you instructed yesterday could not be found at the moment. I noticed there is a black lacquer ivory-carved peony screen panel in the storehouse, roughly the same size as the black lacquer mother-of-pearl one. If it would suit, we might use that one for now, while we continue looking after the matriarch’s birthday banquet is over?”