Madam Lin looked on and smiled: “These two — they’re like blood sisters.”

Eleventh Miss laughed: “Our two households are neighbors. I never expected the girls would have such a bond as well.”

“Who would say otherwise!” Madam Lin agreed with a smile, and led Eleventh Miss and Zhen Jie’er to see Madam Lin the elder.

Madam Lin the elder was dressed in an amber-colored plain Hangzhou silk jacket, waiting in the main hall. Seeing the two of them enter, she came forward smiling warmly.

Eleventh Miss quickly curtsied with Zhen Jie’er to Madam Lin the elder.

Madam Lin the elder took Eleventh Miss by the hand: “You are a rare visitor.” She then looked at Zhen Jie’er. “It’s not even two months since we last met, and you seem to have grown even taller!”

Zhen Jie’er’s face flushed slightly.

Madam Lin the elder had already walked inside with Eleventh Miss.

They took their seats in order of seniority. A small maidservant served tea and refreshments. Eleventh Miss presented several handkerchiefs, Madam Lin the elder asked after the Matriarch’s health, and then raised her teacup: “Stay for lunch.”

Eleventh Miss respectfully answered “yes,” and brought Zhen Jie’er to Madam Lin’s room.

Madam Lin served pre-Qingming Longjing tea to receive Eleventh Miss.

As she sipped her tea, Eleventh Miss mentioned the gift Hui Jie’er had sent: “…I had heard before that Hui Jie’er was accomplished in calligraphy and painting, but I never imagined she could also make Sichuan fans. The fans she sent to our Zhen Jie’er — even tribute items might not surpass them. The moonlit tuberose scene in particular — the concept is fresh and original, and what she painted was the tuberose in full bloom at midnight. Without careful observation, one could never imagine it. It could not have been conjured from nothing.” She smiled at Hui Jie’er warmly. “She is truly considerate!”

Hui Jie’er was the cherished daughter of the household, and did things without constraint. Zhen Jie’er was different — for her, the slightest misstep could bring lasting ruin. She had originally encouraged Zhen Jie’er to spend more time with Hui Jie’er in hopes of giving Zhen Jie’er a suitable companion her own age.

What she feared most was that the two girls, both unaware, might do something untoward without realizing it, and that someone with ill intentions might take advantage of the oversight to ruin a reputation…

Thinking this, Eleventh Miss’s gaze toward Hui Jie’er carried a trace of scrutiny.

Madam Lin, hearing Eleventh Miss praise her daughter, quickly said modestly: “She just likes to do things in a haphazard way.”

But Hui Jie’er’s conscience was pricking her.

Under Eleventh Miss’s gaze, her face suddenly flushed crimson.

Zhen Jie’er, thinking Hui Jie’er was simply embarrassed by the praise, smiled fondly at her, her expression radiating vicarious pride.

Eleventh Miss saw it all clearly. Without changing her manner, she smiled at Madam Lin: “I actually came today with another matter I’d like to ask of Hui Jie’er.”

Madam Lin was rather surprised. “What could the Xu Madam possibly need from Hui Jie’er?”

Eleventh Miss smiled: “I found that tuberose painting so truly beautiful that I would like to ask Hui Jie’er to paint another for me to use as an embroidery pattern — I’d like to embroider a tuberose folding screen.” Then she smiled at Hui Jie’er: “I don’t know if Hui Jie’er might have the time?”

Madam Lin heard this and was greatly interested.

She knew her daughter’s paintings were good. If Eleventh Miss were to embroider it into a folding screen — it might bring the girl considerable renown.

So before her daughter could say a word, she was already saying eagerly: “She spends every day fiddling with this and that — of course she has the time!” She also instructed her daughter: “Just paint another one based on that fan!”

But Hui Jie’er’s expression was awkward. Her face was thoroughly red, and after a long moment she finally said haltingly: “That… that fan face wasn’t painted by me…”

Everyone in the room was taken aback.

Hui Jie’er looked mortified.

“I… I had originally planned to get up in the middle of the night,” she said, stumbling over her words, “but I accidentally slept through it. Then it rained several times in a row… Cousin Zhongryan found out, and offered to paint one for me… I had originally meant to copy it. But the fan ribs were made with the help of an imperial palace attendant belonging to Fang Jie’er’s family. They need several coats of lacquer applied in succession. The weather was good those few days, and if I didn’t settle on the fan face then, there wouldn’t be time. And you love tuberose best of all, so I just…” Her face was full of remorse. “I didn’t mean any harm…”

Madam Lin was somewhat dumbfounded.

But Eleventh Miss felt a wave of relief. The weight suspended in her heart dropped by more than half.

Zhen Jie’er was startled at first, but quickly let it go. Instead, she comforted Hui Jie’er: “That’s because you slept through the night! Otherwise you definitely would have painted the tuberose fan face yourself!”

Hui Jie’er felt even more distressed. She lowered her head and explained: “Cousin Zhongryan paints beautifully. Even copying it, I wasn’t fully confident. That’s why I made that impulsive decision…”

Zhen Jie’er quickly said: “It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter. That fan face really is very beautiful. Not just you — even I love it.” Saying this, she glanced worriedly at Eleventh Miss, fearing she might feel that Hui Jie’er had been insincere and grow displeased. She looked anxiously toward Eleventh Miss, her eyes filled with entreaty. “Mother likes it too!” She had the air of pleading on Hui Jie’er’s behalf.

Never mind that Zhen Jie’er was finding a way to let Hui Jie’er down gracefully — even without that, Eleventh Miss herself would have offered Hui Jie’er a way out.

“I thought the fan face was very well done,” she said with a smile. “I was even about to ask Zhen Jie’er if I could have it!”

Zhen Jie’er, seeing that Eleventh Miss had no intention of reproaching anyone, let out a long breath and smiled.

And Hui Jie’er, seeing that both Eleventh Miss and Zhen Jie’er held no grudge and had instead reassured her, felt a flash of gratitude in her eyes. Abashed, she said: “Then please wait a few days, Xu Auntie — I’ll paint a tuberose picture right away. It may not be as good as Cousin Zhongryan’s, but it won’t be too far off.”

She must have thought herself incapable of painting tuberose, yet wanted to please Zhen Jie’er — that was why she had thought to substitute it!

Eleventh Miss would certainly not make things difficult for her.

Thinking of Zhen Jie’er’s mention that Hui Jie’er’s courtyard had begonia growing in it, she smiled: “What makes the tuberose fan face so pleasing is precisely its originality of conception. In terms of artistry, the other fan faces are just as skillful. Why not paint begonia for me instead? I’m very fond of begonia myself.”

Zhen Jie’er nodded vigorously at this.

Hui Jie’er felt even more embarrassed, and said quietly: “I originally promised Zhen Jie’er a tuberose painting — I’ll still paint the tuberose.”

Eleventh Miss was about to offer further persuasion. But Madam Lin, who had been sitting quietly to one side saying nothing, suddenly smiled: “Let her paint the tuberose — it’s her own fault for being lazy in the first place.” She added: “And she still owes Zhen Jie’er a proper fan face.”

Hui Jie’er meekly agreed.

Madam Lin smiled and turned to Eleventh Miss: “Drink your tea, drink your tea. Fine pre-Qingming Longjing.” She cut off that topic.

Eleventh Miss raised her teacup with a smile, but noticed Madam Lin gazing at Hui Jie’er with a contemplative expression.

She nodded inwardly.

Madam Lin was, not for nothing, the mistress of the Weibei Marquis household.

She must also have perceived something.

Since that was the case, it was better to speak certain things plainly sooner rather than later. Otherwise Madam Lin might think she harbored resentment and had come specifically to question them.

Eleventh Miss took a sip of tea and smiled at Madam Lin: “With us two adults talking here, they’re bound to feel constrained — let them have their own conversation.”

Hui Jie’er had been feeling guilty already, and hearing Eleventh Miss say this, stood up at once and pulled Zhen Jie’er toward the door to leave.

But Madam Lin smiled: “Your Xu Auntie rarely comes to visit, and you’re not going to stay and attend to her — where do you think you’re going?” She then instructed her: “Take Zhen Jie’er to my inner chamber to sit.” She would not let them leave altogether, but kept them in sight.

Hui Jie’er pouted at this.

Madam Lin’s gaze cooled.

Eleventh Miss felt even more certain.

The last trace of concern dissolved.

With Madam Lin keeping watch, she could trust there would be no further ripples.

Hui Jie’er dared not defy her mother’s wishes. She curtsied to Eleventh Miss and went with Zhen Jie’er to the inner chamber.

Eleventh Miss then lowered her voice and spoke to Madam Lin: “This folding screen I want is for Zhen Jie’er — she’ll be leaving home to marry within the next two or three years. I’ve been thinking I should put together something meaningful for her trousseau. It happened that Hui Jie’er painted this tuberose fan face, and our Zhen Jie’er loves tuberose best of all — that’s what gave me the idea. I never expected to end up causing Hui Jie’er such trouble.” As she said this, she laughed.

Her smile was brilliant, and not a trace of any grievance was visible.

Madam Lin exhaled slowly.

Between her own visit to propose a match, and Hui Jie’er sending the fan — even without such intentions, the situation had taken on the appearance of having them. She inwardly scolded her nephew for his rash conduct, and felt grateful to Eleventh Miss for giving her this way out.

“This is also the reason I’m marrying her off to Cangzhou,” Madam Lin sighed. “You can’t call this girl foolish — whatever she learns, she grasps at once. But call her clever, and she manages to be completely thoughtless. I have no choice but to send her to my family home where people will look after her. Only blood relations will not hold such things against her.”

This was, in effect, an apology to Eleventh Miss.

Eleventh Miss quickly said: “She’s still young. Think of ourselves at that age — weren’t we just as impetuous? Give it a few more years and she’ll be fine!”

Madam Lin looked at her magnolia-white face, clear and unstained, and could not help smiling: “You’re only a few years older than our Hui Jie’er yourself!”

Eleventh Miss had forgotten that.

Her face flushed slightly, and she gave an embarrassed smile.

Madam Lin laughed behind her sleeve.

The mood became cheerful.

A small maidservant spoke from behind the curtain: “First Madam, Young Master Cousin has come!”

Madam Lin’s expression stiffened slightly upon hearing this.

Could this be the Zhongryan cousin Hui Jie’er had spoken of?

Eleventh Miss was inwardly startled.

Was this coincidence? Or, knowing she and Zhen Jie’er were visiting, had he come on purpose?

She rose and smiled: “Since you have a guest, I should step aside!”

Madam Lin also rose.

“My youngest brother has brought several of the family’s young men to Yanjing. First, for the matters of Mingyuan’s and Hui Jie’er’s marriage. Second, to come to Yanjing to make connections, in preparation for next year’s martial examination. Third, to bring the younger generation here to broaden their horizons, so they won’t be overwhelmed when it comes time for them to sit the examinations. Zhongryan is perceptive and steady in his conduct, and is not sitting for next year’s martial examination. So Father specifically assigned him to help my youngest brother with errands. I’m not sure what he’s come to discuss with me.”

Put this way, even if Shao Zhongryan had come with intention, the intention became incidental.

Madam Lin was evidently afraid she might misunderstand.

Eleventh Miss smiled and nodded: “He must have urgent business.”

She accepted Madam Lin’s explanation.

Madam Lin gave a slight nod.

Eleventh Miss stepped aside to the inner chamber.

Hui Jie’er and Zhen Jie’er were sitting shoulder to shoulder on the large kang by the window, whispering to each other.

Seeing Eleventh Miss enter, Hui Jie’er’s face reddened and she called out “Xu Auntie.”

Eleventh Miss noticed the inner chamber had glass windows, and sat down on the kang while saying with a smile: “Your cousin has come, so I’ve stepped in here for a moment.”

—