“Since this is the Marquis’s study, it would not be proper for me to move about freely in here — I can only trouble the Marquis and Madam to come to the reception room.” Zhu Anping bowed apologetically to Xu Lingyi. “I ask the Marquis and Madam to forgive me.” Then he bowed again to Eleventh Miss.
Eleventh Miss, seeing Seventh Miss sitting to one side with a blush of shy happiness on her face, could not help but smile. She returned the courtesy with a half-curtsy.
Xu Lingyi had already clasped his hands: “Brother Zhu, there is no need for such formality.” Then he indicated the armchairs behind: “Let us all sit and talk.”
“Please call me Anping, my lord.” Zhu Anping smiled and took a seat at the secondary place. “By seniority in age, you are older than I am.”
Xu Lingyi smiled slightly: “Since that is the case, I won’t stand on ceremony with you.” And sat down in the host’s seat.
Seventh Miss, who had been sitting demurely at the lower seat beside Zhu Anping, saw this and shot a glance toward Eleventh Miss, who was sitting directly across from her — a look of distinct dissatisfaction.
Eleventh Miss thought of Seventh Miss’s earlier remark about calling Xu Lingyi “brother-in-law”… If Zhu Anping truly called him that, she wondered what expression Xu Lingyi would make.
At the thought, a glimmer of mischief flickered in her eyes, like brilliant fireworks — bright with a thread of playfulness. Then, afraid Xu Lingyi might notice, she quickly pressed her lips together, looked down, and straightened her collar. When the young maidservant had served the tea and refreshments, she finally raised her head, smoothed her hair at the temples, and sat properly.
Yanrong had already led the attending servants from the room. Zhu Anping was in the midst of expressing his gratitude to Xu Lingyi: “…Along the way, my wife was fortunate to have the Marquis’s protection and arrived safely in Yanjing. Since then she has been in the Madam’s care — I am truly grateful beyond words.”
Seventh Miss raised an eyebrow at that.
Eleventh Miss found it amusing; Xu Lingyi had not noticed — partly because it would be improper to observe one’s sister-in-law too closely, and partly because he was exchanging pleasantries with Zhu Anping.
“We are family by marriage — to speak of such things is to be too formal.”
“I am the one who has been too ceremonious.” Zhu Anping acknowledged with a few words of reply, then said with a serious expression: “Since the Marquis and Madam are not outsiders, some things need not be concealed — otherwise it would only seem distant.” At this point, he glanced at Seventh Miss.
Seventh Miss gave a slight nod.
It was clear that what Zhu Anping was about to say had been agreed upon between the two of them.
“…I am the only son of my family. We have been married for some time now, and there has been no news of children. The elders at home are naturally anxious. Since we happen to be in Yanjing, we thought to take the opportunity to visit a temple where Guanyin Bodhisattva is enshrined, and also to seek out a renowned physician to have our pulses read.”
Eleventh Miss gave a small nod.
“But I am not very familiar with Yanjing.” Zhu Anping rose as he said this, and bowed toward Eleventh Miss with eyes lowered. “I would like to trouble Madam to guide us.”
If she agreed, Eleventh Miss would inevitably need to go out of the mansion frequently in the coming days — and there was still Zhen Jie’er’s marriage matter and the visit with the Jiang family to contend with.
As she returned the bow, Eleventh Miss glanced toward Xu Lingyi.
Xu Lingyi, for his part, did not hesitate for even a moment: “This is well within her duties — Anping need not stand on ceremony. Only, I do not know what arrangements you have in mind? It would help us prepare the carriages and guards accordingly.”
Zhu Anping’s heart leapt with quiet joy at the words.
He was a military man by background and had wide acquaintances. He had met many company commanders and brigade generals, and had encountered even the highest military officers. He knew the temperament of these men well — with stern faces they could conduct massacre and plunder worse than bandits; take money and deliver nothing; even silence men with a blade and not bat an eye. Let alone Xu Lingyi, a great general who had fought in real battles. So when he heard from Seventh Miss how she had encountered him on the road, he felt both alarm and relief in equal measure. Alarm — because Seventh Miss had been reckless in the extreme: traveling with a fortune in gold, parading it openly on the road, and even having the audacity to talk back to an official. Relief — because it was Xu Lingyi she had encountered. At least he had sent men to offer silver for the horses — and though Seventh Miss had suffered some physical discomfort, it was this very incident that had led to their recognition and an escort the rest of the way. Otherwise, Seventh Miss would likely not have made it a hundred li before being followed. Losing money would have been the least of it — if someone had gotten hold of her… His blood had run cold at the thought.
And Seventh Miss had recounted it all to him with smug satisfaction — describing how she had spoken insolently to Xu Lingyi, and how Xu Lingyi had been completely helpless before her… He had felt both exasperated and amused.
If not for the family connection, how would Xu Lingyi have endured so much from her?
A thought flickered across his mind.
Even as a relative, Xu Lingyi need not have accommodated her so thoroughly. He could simply have deposited Seventh Miss at Gongxian Hutong or Laojuntang Hutong. But not only had he not abandoned her — he had endured her moods and, at her insistence, brought her back to the Marquis of Yongping’s mansion… With his rank and standing, could he have been afraid that the Luo or Zhu family would come to call him to account? There was only one possibility — the Marquis of Yongping, Xu Lingyi, held his wife in very high regard. He worried that Seventh Miss, who appeared willful and impulsive, might harbor resentment and afterward say things to his wife that would plant seeds of discord between husband and wife.
Then, when he met Xu Lingyi in person — Xu Lingyi had received him with exceptional courtesy: meeting him in the study, personally hosting a banquet for him. Over drinks, the words between the lines had carried a gentle encouragement to reconcile. And early the very next morning, arrangements had been made for the husband and wife to meet…
Zhu Anping felt his surmise was not without basis. And it was this that had prompted his testing words earlier.
Not assigning a household steward to stay by his side — but directly placing Xu family carriages and guards at his disposal. In another sense, Xu Lingyi was not merely treating them as relatives in passing, but receiving them as honored guests.
He suppressed the joy in his heart and smiled: “How could I presume to make use of the Marquis’s carriages and guards? Having the Marquis assign us a steward would be more than sufficient.” His manner was easy and generous. “We are only going to visit a few temples.”
“You are not familiar with Yanjing, and my wife is also one who rarely goes out.” Xu Lingyi said. “It will be more convenient to use my carriages and guards.”
The words had been made quite plain.
Zhu Anping declined no further, smiled his thanks, and stated his plans: “…There are several brothers-in-law I have yet to meet — I plan to call on them tomorrow. When Tenth Brother-in-Law passed away I sent offerings but have yet to pay my respects in person — that too must be attended to. It will take three to five days altogether. After that, I await Madam’s arrangements.”
Xu Lingyi looked at Eleventh Miss, seeking her opinion.
“I have a few pressing matters to deal with on my end.” Eleventh Miss smiled. “I won’t be joining you when you visit family. In the meantime, I’ll take the opportunity to make inquiries about a physician for you — so that when you’ve finished your visiting, you can set your minds at ease and see the doctor.”
Zhu Anping nodded, smiling: “Then I will trouble Madam.”
Eleventh Miss felt Zhu Anping was being somewhat overly formal with her, but considering it was their first meeting and they were not yet well acquainted, she did not give it much thought.
Xu Lingyi said: “In that case, let us have the Cong Xiang Pavilion in the outer courtyard prepared — there is a side gate right outside, so it will be easy for you to come and go.”
Zhu Anping gave a light cough at that and said: “Thank you for the Marquis’s kindness. I was just about to raise this very matter.” His tone paused briefly, and he glanced at Seventh Miss. “Since we are here, we may be staying in Yanjing for quite some time. With all the business of consulting physicians and purchasing medicines, there will be a great deal of inconvenience. I would like to ask the Marquis to help us find a small house for purchase somewhere nearby. Firstly, we’d have the shelter of a great tree close at hand, making it convenient to seek help if needed. Secondly, living nearby, the sisters can visit back and forth and it will be livelier.”
Seventh Miss listened and nodded with evident enthusiasm.
In ancient times there were customs about this — medicines one was taking could not casually be brought into another person’s home, for fear of “passing the illness.”
“Then I’ll have the stewards look into it.” Xu Lingyi, hearing this, could not press the invitation further. “For now, please stay here with us at ease.”
Zhu Anping thanked him with a smile, then proposed visiting the Grand Madam.
Everyone made their way over to the Grand Madam’s quarters with smiles.
Zhu Anping’s gifts: for the Grand Madam, a mutton-fat jade back-scratcher and a sandalwood prayer bead bracelet; for Xu Siyu, a Duan inkstone; for Zhun Ge, a pair of crystal stone paperweights; for Xu Sijie, a purple sandalwood tumbler toy; for Zhen Jie’er, a set of Changzhou wooden combs; for Xu Lingkuan, a brushpot carved in the Three Friends of Winter design with matching tray; for Fifth Madam, a pair of gold-and-jade hairpins; for Xin Jie’er, a hand-rattle with a red lacquered and cloisonné-enamel handle.
The Grand Madam was visibly pleased. She instructed Xu Lingyi to keep Zhu Anping company. It happened that Xu Lingkuan had returned just the previous night after standing night watch in the palace — the moment he saw the brushpot, he turned it over to find a notch two inches from the bottom, and the tray could be inverted over the opening to make a cricket warmer. Knowing he had met someone who truly understood such things, he hurried over to express his gratitude, and accompanied everyone to the outer courtyard.
The Grand Madam kept Seventh Miss to dine, and Fifth Madam came to sit with them.
Eleventh Miss instructed Yanrong to take the household token to the outer courtyard and have Head Steward Bai send people to prepare the Cong Xiang Pavilion. Turning back, she found Seventh Miss and Fifth Madam sitting side by side, Seventh Miss already offering suggestions: “…I see it’s about the same situation as with Xin Jie’er. I’ll send someone to ask at once.”
Fifth Madam, beaming with hope, said eagerly: “Going back and forth would take the better part of a month. Better to bring the person here directly. If there’s something to be done, do it — if not, give them some silver so they haven’t made the trip for nothing.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” Seventh Miss smiled. “I was just afraid Fifth Madam would think it too forward and not want to say so.”
“Goodness, what’s there to hesitate about!” Fifth Madam laughed. “Your heart is in the right place.” Then with warm enthusiasm: “If you want to visit a temple, it has to be Ciyuan Temple. That is the sanctum of Guanyin Bodhisattva. I was several years into my marriage here without any news either — it was Abbess Jining I prayed to. Though I’ve also heard that Daoist Master Changchun is very efficacious. I don’t practice the Daoist faith myself, and his requirements are quite exacting, so I’ve never tried. You might as well go to Ciyuan Temple and seek out Abbess Jining first — if that doesn’t work, there’s always Daoist Master Changchun.”
Seventh Miss listened and nodded repeatedly: “My Eleventh Sister has been a homebody since childhood — as a girl she followed our great-uncle to Fujian, and then came back to Yuhang for the mourning period. She probably knows Yanjing even less well than I do. I have heard of Abbess Jining and Daoist Master Changchun by reputation, and I once accompanied my mother to the temple fair at Ciyuan Temple. I just hadn’t heard that Abbess Jining also specialized in such matters.”
“But of course.” Fifth Madam chuckled. “When you were still in your maiden home, how would you have known about these things? Before I married, I even watched Daoist Master Changchun perform an exorcism! These things — you only learn about them after marriage.”
The two of them were getting along famously.
Eleventh Miss listened and could not help pressing her hand to her forehead. She could not bring herself to intervene, but could only pray silently that these two together would not cause some incident. In particular — that whatever well-meaning impulse regarding Xin Jie’er they had might not end up doing more harm than good.
—