Madam Zhou lowered her voice and laughed: “Didn’t I tell you? I asked you to save a place for me. Now do you know what a headache it is?”

Eleventh Young Lady smiled sheepishly.

Madam Zhou looked at her, then laughed and nudged Eleventh Young Lady with her elbow: “We are both mothers — I know your concerns, even if others don’t. What’s more, Zhen Jie’er is the Marquis’s only daughter, raised in the Grand Matriarch’s own quarters since childhood. If you are agreeable, find a time and I will bring him for you to have a look!” As she said this, she covered her mouth with a laugh. “And it won’t be selling you a pig in a poke!” — in one sentence she dismissed all the other families.

She looked up just then to see Madam Li walking over.

“So you are here!” she smiled. “I was just coming to watch the excitement as well.”

Madam Zhou and Eleventh Young Lady said nothing further, and went with Madam Li to the rear wing room that had been prepared as the bridal chamber.

Madam Li then leaned close to Eleventh Young Lady’s ear: “Speaking of which, Elder Chen is also chief among all officials, yet look at these rooms…” She then smiled. “Compared to our household, it falls short. At least our master knows to acquire some properties for the children. The daughter’s dowry goes without saying — for the two sons, he has each set up a three-courtyard residence on Cassia Tree Hutong. Separate entrances, yet close together. No quarrelling over small things, but a source of support in larger matters.” The implication was clear.

Eleventh Young Lady did not know how to respond and simply offered a few words of praise about General Li’s foresight.

“…Not that I am boasting. Our master may not be particularly gifted in officialdom, but as a provider, he gives one complete peace of mind. The family has an inherited military post — that goes to the eldest son. But both children are equally dear to him, and he has pushed the second son harder in both studies and martial arts than the eldest.” Madam Li’s face took on a look of pride. “He passed the martial licentiate examination at twelve — this autumn he will take the provincial military examination!” She added, “I will not make other claims, but if he were to establish his own household independently, his parents would have absolutely no worry about his ability to forge his own path!”

Eleventh Young Lady had never previously asked about the situation of General Li’s second son, precisely because she feared that once she engaged in conversation it would be difficult to disengage. Now hearing Madam Li describe him, she felt an inward start of surprise. Just as she was about to say something polite, a young maidservant came in to call everyone to the reception hall: “…The banquet is beginning.”

The guests made their way back to the reception hall in small groups.

Returning home, she first inquired about Xin Jie’s illness. Learning that the child had stopped coughing after taking the medicine, she then recounted what had happened at Elder Chen’s family wedding banquet.

The Grand Matriarch was quite surprised to hear that General Li’s second son would be sitting the military examination that autumn. After a moment of reflection, she said: “Send word to Chief Steward Bai and have someone look into the Li Family’s background.”

Eleventh Young Lady acknowledged.

The Grand Matriarch then said: “As for Madam Zhou’s side, sooner is better than later — take advantage of the Fourth Son’s absence to go and have a look. You can wait until the Fourth Son returns before giving a reply.”

Eleventh Young Lady discussed with the Grand Matriarch: “What if we set it for two days from now — the Dragon Boat Festival is nearly upon us.”

The Grand Matriarch nodded and said: “Send Nanny Song to give Madam Zhou a reply tomorrow!”

Eleventh Young Lady acknowledged. The Grand Matriarch smiled and urged her to go rest: “…You have been busy all day and are still running about for Zhen Jie’er’s affairs.”

“This is part of my duty,” Eleventh Young Lady smiled and exchanged a few courteous words with the Grand Matriarch before returning to the Hanging Line Water Pavilion.

The foot-tall account books were stacked up in a neat, tidy pile. Hupo said quietly: “In just one afternoon, Wen Yiniang finished reconciling the accounts.” She then handed Eleventh Young Lady a piece of plain writing paper. “This is what Wen Yiniang wrote. Which expenditures are excessive, which entries are missing signed receipts — it is all written here.” She then let out a sigh of admiration: “Wen Yiniang’s skill with the abacus is truly impressive. I think there are few among the outer courtyard managers of our mansion who could match her.”

“Is that so?” Eleventh Young Lady smiled and took the account books to look through.

Entry by entry, item by item, all clearly recorded.

She gave a slight nod and asked Hupo to send for Wen Yiniang.

Nanny Song came in to report: “…The items have been delivered. Madam Jiang says many thanks for your kind thoughts. Madam Jiang and the Ninth Young Lady will arrive before the Dragon Boat Festival.”

Only now did Eleventh Young Lady learn that Commander Jiang Song’s daughter ranked ninth among the family’s children.

She gave a slight nod, and asked Nanny Song to make a trip to Princess Fucheng’s residence the next day: “…Tell Madam Zhou that the Dragon Boat Festival is in a few days — the day after tomorrow is the only time I can get free. Otherwise, I would have to wait until after the sixth day of the sixth month, when everyone has dried their clothes and finally has some rest.”

Though Nanny Song did not know what this was about, she respectfully acknowledged and withdrew.

Eleventh Young Lady sat down and, while drinking tea, carefully turned through the account books once more.

A young maidservant came to announce: “Wen Yiniang is here!”

Eleventh Young Lady invited her in and asked her to sit.

Wen Yiniang looked somewhat anxious and uneasy: “I only calculated against the receipts that bore signed seals — I am not sure if that is correct.”

She meant that if there were additional accounts to submit, Eleventh Young Lady would need to find someone to bring the signed receipts.

It was no wonder she came from a merchant family — she was well versed in all the unspoken rules of accounts.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled: “I had a look, and there is nothing amiss.” She then asked Hupo to put the books away. “Tomorrow morning we will reconcile them with the managing Nannies, then submit them to the accounts office.”

Wen Yiniang was somewhat taken aback.

This approach of Eleventh Young Lady’s was essentially reporting exact spending without keeping any reserve.

She could not help lowering her voice to remind her: “The outer courtyard allocates funds each year based on what the inner courtyard spent the previous year. If there is too large a surplus this year, I am afraid future allocations to the inner courtyard may be set lower than in previous years. If one year there is a drought or flood and grain and produce prices rise, there may not be enough to manage. Going to ask the outer courtyard for more money then, and others will think we are simply overspending.” Overspending would mean Eleventh Young Lady was not managing the household well.

Her words, in every way, were thinking on Eleventh Young Lady’s behalf. Yet Eleventh Young Lady felt that rather than allowing the managers below to each pocket what they could, it was better to bring everything out in the open. This was not something the two of them could settle between themselves.

“You make a valid point,” Eleventh Young Lady smiled. “But as the matter is significant, I think it is best to wait until the Marquis returns and discuss it properly with him before making any decisions.”

Wen Yiniang looked as though she still wished to say something, then held back.

Eleventh Young Lady changed the subject and told her about what happened at the Chen family event.

Wen Yiniang listened attentively: “So, Madam will be meeting with the Wang Family people the day after tomorrow!”

“Yes.” Eleventh Young Lady said. “No matter what, we must have a look at what Madam Zhou has arranged.”

Wen Yiniang also understood this matter needed to be handled carefully. She refilled Eleventh Young Lady’s teacup and offered it to her: “Madam has truly worked so hard!” Her tone was very sincere.

Eleventh Young Lady accepted the teacup and said: “There is still one matter I would like to ask Wen Yiniang’s help with.”

Wen Yiniang quickly said: “Madam, please instruct me!”

“I have long heard that Wen Yiniang is skilled with the abacus. I would like you to help me review all the inner household accounts from these past few days, and then see what each category of expenditure accounts for, and how they have changed year to year.”

Wen Yiniang heard this and immediately recognized that Eleventh Young Lady was speaking the language of someone who truly understood such matters. But managing household accounts was the prerogative of the principal wife. Today was one thing — Eleventh Young Lady needed to attend the wedding banquet and had to reconcile the outer courtyard accounts at short notice — but reviewing several years of inner household accounts… Her expression wavered with uncertainty.

Seeing this, Eleventh Young Lady said quietly: “A single tree does not make a forest. And this is where Wen Yiniang’s strengths lie.” She spoke with complete sincerity.

Wen Yiniang thought for a good while, then said with resolve: “Since Madam is willing to entrust this to this servant, I will do my utmost.”

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and nodded. The following day, after reconciling the month’s accounts with the managing Nannies, she had Hupo bring all three years of account books from the mansion back to the water pavilion, and set Wen Yiniang and Hupo to reconciling accounts in the east chamber, while she herself sat in the pavilion’s east chamber doing needlework with Zhen Jie’er.

Zhen Jie’er looked up several times as if about to say something to Eleventh Young Lady, but each time she caught sight of Eleventh Young Lady’s calm and serene expression, she held back.

Eleventh Young Lady noticed but pretended not to.

One must learn to make the most of one’s strengths.

Mathematics had never been Eleventh Young Lady’s strong suit — had it been, she would have chosen to study accounting all those years ago. With such a talented accountant as Wen Yiniang right before her, unused, it would be pointless to sit there herself clicking away at an abacus… She was far better off embroidering and drinking tea.

The thought had barely passed when Yan Rong was already directing young maidservants to bring in a tray of peaches, plums, cherries, and cut fragrant melon.

The peaches were imperial palace gifts — honeydew peaches, every one as large as a small fist, of a quality simply not available outside the palace.

Eleventh Young Lady asked Yan Rong to bring some to Wen Yiniang and Hupo working in the east chamber, then sat with Zhen Jie’er to wash their hands and eat cherries.

Binju arrived.

Eleventh Young Lady quickly beckoned her over to share the fruit.

Binju had her hair done in a round bun, wearing the pearl flower Eleventh Young Lady had gifted her and a lotus-pink Hangzhou silk short robe. She stepped forward to bow to Eleventh Young Lady and Zhen Jie’er, then sat down on a small stool to one side.

“How is your embroidery coming along?” Eleventh Young Lady passed a peach to her.

Binju thanked her and accepted it with a smile: “Just started. It is a pair of magpies on a plum branch — I have only just embroidered the twisted plum branches.”

“That is quite quick progress.” Eleventh Young Lady smiled.

Binju smiled and nodded: “The mansion provides free lunch, so I only need to cook two meals a day, morning and evening.”

The two chatted idly.

Zhen Jie’er ate a few pieces of melon and then went back to her embroidery.

Eleventh Young Lady then turned to Binju: “I would like you to come into the mansion to help me teach Zhen Jie’er needlework.”

“Me?” Binju was quite surprised. “I am nowhere near as skillful as Madam.”

“I have too many things to attend to and cannot teach her with undivided attention,” Eleventh Young Lady said. “I would like you to guide Zhen Jie’er. Come after breakfast and leave at mid-afternoon, with lunch provided as well, and you may bring your own embroidery along. That way your household affairs won’t be affected either. One tael of silver per month. What do you think?”

“What a curious question for Madam to ask,” Binju smiled at hearing this. “If Madam has an errand for me, just say the word. Only I have not learned even a tenth of Madam’s craft — I am afraid I might hold the First Young Lady back.”

Binju had, after all, married and was now another family’s daughter-in-law. Eleventh Young Lady’s true intention was to be able to help her, while also solving her own difficulty.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled: “Still, go home and discuss it with Daxian…”

But before her words had even finished, Binju was already laughing: “What is there to discuss about this? Naturally everything is as Madam sees fit!” — and now it was Eleventh Young Lady who was at a momentary loss for words.

Binju went home and told Wan Daxian.

Wan Daxian was somewhat worried: “Are you up to this? Don’t embarrass Madam. The First Young Lady is the young lady of the Yongping Marquis Mansion — she is not our little Xi’er.”

Binju smiled: “Though I may not match Madam, in this whole mansion, besides Elder Sister Dongqing, there is no one else who surpasses me!” But as the words fell, her expression turned a little awkward.

Wan Daxian froze, his lips parting slightly, as if he wished to say something, yet looked entirely at a loss for what to say.

The room fell quiet. Both of them felt slightly uneasy, and the atmosphere became a little strange.

Without any coordination, both looked over at each other and asked in unison: “Have you eaten yet?”

As the words fell, Wan Daxian and Binju could not help but look at each other and smile.

The small awkwardness of just a moment ago dissolved completely.

Binju quickly said: “I will go make dinner!”

“I will go stoke the fire,” Wan Daxian said, and followed his wife to the kitchen.

—