The news arrived so suddenly that Eleventh Miss was taken aback.

Xu Lingyi had already asked: “Whose daughter has been selected?” His voice was calm, seemingly very composed.

Linbo said quietly: “The granddaughter of Princess Fucheng, the eldest daughter of Gentleman Zhou Shizhen.”

“Fang Jie’er!” Eleventh Miss could not help giving a quiet cry of surprise.

There had not been the slightest hint of this beforehand, and neither the Ministry of Rites nor the Imperial Clan Court seemed to have put Fang Jie’er’s name forward.

Xu Lingyi’s expression was very calm, but his eyelids lowered and he said nothing for a long while.

Eleventh Miss looked at him and could not help asking quietly: “What is it?”

“The Zhou family has always been the imperial clan’s family of marriage alliance.” Xu Lingyi raised his eyes to look at her. “For the Emperor to do this — it is already remarkable.”

Zhou Shizhen was the Emperor’s cousin, and also a close childhood friend of Xu Lingyi’s. The Emperor had chosen the daughter of someone closely connected to the Xu family to be the consort of his eldest son. Whether this was done out of filial love for his son, not wishing to make things difficult for the First Imperial Prince; or out of brotherly-in-law affection, leaving a thin thread of connection; or simply because the Emperor genuinely felt the Zhou family was the most fitting — whatever the reason, this outcome was the best the Xu family could have hoped for.

Eleventh Miss nodded.

Xu Lingyi smiled and looked at her: “This way, you no longer need to feel troubled.”

“Troubled about what?” Eleventh Miss asked, puzzled.

“Weren’t you unwilling about the Wang family’s son?” Xu Lingyi smiled. “Now that the two families are to be joined again so soon, it would be a bit too conspicuous. You have every justification to decline this match.”

Had it been that obvious?

Eleventh Miss felt rather abashed.

If the young woman from the Wang family who was three years older than the son was truly nothing more than an ordinary friend, whoever had gone to gather information would never have specifically drawn attention to her existence…

She could not help feeling a little sheepish: “It seems tomorrow I must go not only to congratulate Mistress Zhou, but also to pour a bucket of cold water over her.”

Xu Lingyi laughed. He glanced back at the outer study with its tightly shut screen door and said: “Those two will probably be a while. Let us find somewhere to sit.”

Eleventh Miss nodded, leaving only Mufu to wait by the door, and followed Xu Lingyi through the side lane beside the outer study into a small courtyard.

Bluestone paving, a Chinese toon tree in the center that would take two arms to encircle. Three rooms of main hall. White walls and grey tiles, black lacquered floor-to-ceiling columns. Simple and unadorned, with a deep stillness about it.

Eleventh Miss looked around in all directions.

“What is this place?”

“The outer study!” Xu Lingyi smiled.

A boy of seven or eight ran out from the rooms to bow in greeting, then ducked back in and held the curtain open for them.

Xu Lingyi led Eleventh Miss into the main hall.

All three rooms had been opened into one wide reception hall. In the central room hung a landscape painting of high mountains and flowing water; a large black lacquered writing desk, beside it a black lacquered low-legged prunus-lattice arhat bed, a meditation chair, and two armchairs; along both sides, antique shelves crowded with books enough to fill the rafters, and large blue-and-white porcelain jars bristling with rolled paintings.

Xu Lingyi pointed to the arhat bed and said “sit” to Eleventh Miss, then instructed the small boy: “Use the Yuquan Mountain water. Da Hong Pao.”

The boy acknowledged and trotted out.

Eleventh Miss looked about with curiosity.

She had always assumed the outer study was Xu Lingyi’s office — primarily for receiving important guests. She had not expected there to be a genuine study here, apparently with a rich collection of books that seemed to exceed even what was in the Half-Moon Pond.

“The Half-Moon Pond is my personal study.” Xu Lingyi said by way of explanation. “This is the outer study of the Marquises of Yongping through the generations.”

That explained it.

Two small boys entered, one carrying a small red clay brazier, the other bearing a lotus-leaf shaped tray-boat with purple clay tea ware.

Eleventh Miss rose to help.

But Xu Lingyi said: “Sit. Let me show you what I can do.”

From the tone of confident pride in his voice, Eleventh Miss knew he was a man of considerable expertise in this art. She settled back contentedly and watched him brew the tea.

The small purple clay teapot — the water came quickly to a boil.

Xu Lingyi used the first infusion to warm the cups, then poured the second infusion for her to taste.

A rich reddish-brown, the liquor brilliant in color, the flavor deep and lingering.

Eleventh Miss held it to her nose and inhaled, then took a small sip.

“Well?” Xu Lingyi asked. He lifted his own cup, inhaled deeply, and drank it off in one go.

Eleventh Miss saw the faint look of anticipation in his expression and decided that honesty was the better course: “It is very mellow and smooth. Beyond that, I’m afraid I don’t know enough to say more.”

Xu Lingyi was momentarily surprised, then burst into laughter: “Being able to taste the mellow smoothness is already quite something.” Then he asked: “What tea do you prefer?”

Seeing the pleasant atmosphere, Eleventh Miss smiled frankly: “I prefer red tea. With two spoonfuls of honey added if possible.”

“Honey in tea?” Xu Lingyi was quite taken aback, and raised an eyebrow. “Like Second Sister-in-Law — heating a stone and throwing it into the tea…”

That was more or less the right idea.

Eleventh Miss smiled and nodded.

From outside there came a sudden light and nimble sound of footsteps.

Both of them looked toward the door at the same moment.

Mufu’s voice came from beyond the curtain: “My lord, Madam — please come quickly! Master and First Mistress in there — it seems something is not quite right!” A faint undercurrent of anxiety threaded through her voice.

Eleventh Miss’s expression shifted: “What exactly has happened?”

Mufu was hesitant: “If you come and see, you’ll understand.”

“My lord, let me go take a look.” Eleventh Miss rose and gave a quick word of parting, lifted the curtain and went out with Mufu.

“Eleventh Miss…” Xu Lingyi could not stop her in time and had no choice but to follow.

Though he and Seventh Miss had made no effort to conceal their route back to Yanjing, for Zhu Anping to track her down and arrive only two days later — and then to present his calling card openly and call on him with perfect composure, without a single word asking him to have Eleventh Miss plead Seventh Miss’s case — showed that Zhu Anping was a man of pride and confidence. Such a person might be reasoned with behind closed doors. But before the eyes of all, even if he were in the wrong, he was unlikely to concede.

The thought flashed through his mind, and Xu Lingyi quickened his step.

He turned out of the side lane, however, and saw Eleventh Miss and Mufu both standing under the eaves.

He slowed his pace and heard the sound of Seventh Miss’s anguished sobbing and Zhu Anping’s voice, edged with anger: “…She did nothing more than pour me a cup of tea when no one was around — if you felt she had overstepped, you had every right to reprimand her. Instead you walked out without a word. Is that the bearing proper to a mistress of a household?” He spoke, and exhaustion crept into his voice. “If you had even the smallest feeling for me — if you thought of any of the kindness I’ve shown you — you wouldn’t use excuses like these to run away from home again and again.” His anger flared again: “Do you know — I was so worried you might come to harm on the road that I sent friends in every direction to search for you? And yet I could not explain why you had left. By now the whole of Shandong probably knows that Zhu Anping has wronged his wife and driven her back to her family.”

He was angry, but Seventh Miss was angrier still. She sobbed aloud: “You and Xiangyu have been carrying on behind my back — and you think you’re the one without fault?”

“What is it exactly between me and Xiangyu — can you not answer that in your own heart?” Zhu Anping’s voice was indignant. “If you couldn’t — why else would you refuse to hear a single word of explanation from me?”

“What is there between you two? How would I know!” The words rang with the unsteadiness of a guilty conscience.

Eleventh Miss stood there, bewildered.

From behind her came the quiet sound of footsteps.

She turned and saw Xu Lingyi approaching. She made a sign for silence.

The two of them stood beneath the eaves and listened.

“I know this match was one I pressed for.” Zhu Anping’s voice suddenly grew calm. “Seventh Miss, stop crying. You’ve come all the way from Shandong to Yanjing, to the home of the Marquis of Yongping’s wife’s younger sister — you must have your own intentions. Since the opportunity presents itself, why not speak plainly to me? You know as well as I do — I, Zhu Anping, am not a petty man. Speak directly.”

A tremor of alarm went through Eleventh Miss.

From within the room came Seventh Miss’s frightened voice: “What — what do you mean by that?”

“Here in the Marquis of Yongping’s residence, before the Marquis himself, before your younger sister — whatever you wish, I will hear it.” Though Zhu Anping’s tone was composed, there was an implicit accusation that Seventh Miss was using her connections to exert pressure.

“What are you saying?” Seventh Miss leapt up. “Am I that kind of person?” She had forgotten to cry. “If I were, I’d have gotten rid of Xiangyu long ago…”

“Then why didn’t you get rid of Xiangyu?” Zhu Anping asked coldly.

“I — I…” Seventh Miss was tongue-tied.

“You are the mistress of the household — why is it that you dare not even dismiss a maid?” The questions came relentlessly.

“That is because — because…” Seventh Miss stammered.

“Is it because you don’t feel secure within yourself?” Zhu Anping said quietly. “Because there are no children, you cannot stand on firm ground. You know the maid has overstepped, but you cannot bring yourself to rebuke her openly…”

“That’s not true, it’s not like you say…” Seventh Miss protested loudly, then dissolved into quiet sobbing.

“Then what is it?” Zhu Anping pressed, and in his voice was a thread of tentative hope.

“It’s — it’s…” Seventh Miss could not bring herself to say it.

“Is it that you fear that without a child, I will take a woman into the household?” Zhu Anping suddenly asked.

Seventh Miss said nothing.

“I’ve already dismissed your mother-in-law’s people and my own mother’s people — what more would you have me do?”

Seventh Miss let out a cry and her weeping grew louder still.

“Stop crying.” Eleventh Miss heard Zhu Anping say, dismissive but not unkind. “I know what’s in your heart. Is it not just the matter of children? We’ll donate the money to have a golden statue cast for Guanyin Bodhisattva, or go to Putuosi to pray. There’s always a way.”

“Really?” Seventh Miss’s voice brightened — then became timid again. “What — what if that doesn’t work either?”

“If that doesn’t work!” Zhu Anping said. “I thought long and hard on the road. If it truly doesn’t work out, we’ll adopt one.” His voice grew resolute.

“A-adopt one?” Seventh Miss said in astonishment.

“Yes.” Zhu Anping’s voice lightened. “If you don’t like that, we’ll take one by transfer of family line. You have so many sisters — we’ll take one of your sisters’ children. You’ll be his aunt — he will surely be devoted to you.”

“Zhu Anping…” Seventh Miss burst into a fresh wave of tears.

The corners of Eleventh Miss’s eyes grew moist. She gently tugged at Xu Lingyi’s sleeve, and the two of them left the courtyard and went to the small study at the back.

“This Zhu Anping is not bad.” She took out her handkerchief and dabbed at the corner of her eye.

But Xu Lingyi was unimpressed: “A true man’s words should land with the weight of a stone. Even before women and children. The matter of heirs is not his alone — it is the concern of the entire clan. How can he make such a promise so lightly? If he cannot keep it, what then?”

“The sea changes and the world transforms — who can foresee what is to come?” Eleventh Miss said quietly. “At least in this moment, these are Zhu Anping’s true feelings. That is enough.”

Xu Lingyi looked at his wife in astonishment.

Eleventh Miss smiled faintly. She knew Xu Lingyi could not understand. She changed the subject: “That Mufu — all her chirping and chattering summoned us over here and ruined that pot of good tea. We should make Zhu Anping pay us back for it later.”

Her words had barely faded when Mufu came running: “My lord, Madam, Master and First Mistress are asking you both to come over.”

—