Learning that Nanny Tao wished to go to Bowstring Lane to visit the ailing Elder Madam, Eleventh Miss not only agreed readily but also sent a carriage to take her there.

Seventh Younger Sister brought Nanny Mu along.

“These days we have been much obliged to the Marquis’s care. You and I are sisters, so I need not say more. But to the Elder Madam and Fifth Madam, I cannot fail to offer my thanks in person. Zhu Anping and I have discussed it: we will have a chef from Chunxi Tower prepare a banquet, and invite the Elder Madam, Fifth Madam, and the children to come to Congxiang Pavilion tomorrow for a lively gathering—it would fulfill my wish.”

Seventh Younger Sister and Zhu Anping had been paying visits and calling on friends, worshipping at temples; with Eleventh Miss busy receiving Lady Jiang, Seventh Younger Sister had also put off mentioning the banquet at Congxiang Pavilion for the Elder Madam and Fifth Madam. No one had expected the matter of finding a physician to be resolved so quickly. Now that she was about to begin taking medicine, she could no longer stay at the Xu household. Yet finding a place to live near the Xu household was not something that money alone could arrange. Seventh Younger Sister’s situation could not wait. After much deliberation, Zhu Anping had bought a three-courtyard residence near where Fourth Madam lived, and planned to move within the next few days. Seventh Younger Sister then set her mind on inviting the Elder Madam and Fifth Madam to Congxiang Pavilion for a gathering before they left.

Eleventh Miss understood her meaning and accompanied her to the Elder Madam’s quarters.

The weather had grown warm; people felt languid and dispirited. Seventh Younger Sister had given such a sincere invitation that the Elder Madam smiled and agreed. The next day she went with Eleventh Miss, Fifth Madam, and the children to Congxiang Pavilion.

Congxiang Pavilion—true to its name—was planted with many kinds of grasses, trees, and flowers. The crystal braised pork knuckle from Chunxi Tower was famed throughout the capital. Seventh Younger Sister set out the banquet in the main hall; the six-panel snowflake-patterned folding doors stood wide open. Outside, flowers bloomed in glorious abundance; inside, a gentle breeze moved softly through the hall. Everyone drank Jinhua wine, talking and laughing, and was greatly at ease.

After lunch, several people moved to the east wing room to play cards.

A young maidservant came running in to report: “First Mistress from Bowstring Lane has arrived!”

“Well, she could not have come at a better time.” The Elder Madam smiled warmly, and quickly told the young maidservant to escort the guest in.

Luo First Mistress had not expected Seventh Younger Sister to be holding a banquet for the Xu family ladies, and her expression showed a flicker of unease. She smiled and paid her respects to the Elder Madam, and was kept by the Elder Madam at the card table: “…Eleventh Miss’s card-playing is too poor—she dithers between plays and holds everyone up. You come instead!”

Eleventh Miss was more than happy to yield, quickly giving up her seat to Luo First Mistress and taking a place to one side to watch the game.

Seventh Younger Sister then brought over mung bean water for Luo First Mistress to refresh herself. Several people happily played cards the whole afternoon. Luo First Mistress stayed for the evening meal before rising to take her leave, only then finding the chance to exchange a few private words with Eleventh Miss as she was being seen to the door.

“I hear the Marquis has been occupied these past few days with the matter of naming Zhun Ge as heir designate?”

Luo First Mistress had made a point of coming to see her. This was not merely to keep the Elder Madam company at cards.

Thinking of Nanny Tao’s visit to Bowstring Lane the day before, Eleventh Miss had already dimly guessed something of it. She smiled and said: “Everyone knows by now!”

Luo First Mistress gave a composed smile and asked carefully: “Then, what plans does Eleventh Young Madam have?”

Since she had come under orders, she needed to ask clearly before she could report back.

Eleventh Miss made her position plain: “Zhun Ge is the legitimate son born of the first wife—by law and by right, he ought to inherit the family estate. The petition to name him heir designate is entirely as it should be.”

Luo First Mistress showed a touch of awkwardness upon hearing this. “I heard from Mother that by custom, once Zhun Ge is named heir designate, he will need to live in a separate courtyard of his own. I wonder what plans Eleventh Young Madam has?”

Although Eleventh Miss had long since come to terms with the reason she had married into the Xu household—to care for Zhun Ge—hearing these words now, for some reason she still felt a small, sharp sting, like an ant’s bite, in her heart.

She could not help but straighten her back and say: “Zhun Ge has grown up under the Elder Madam’s care. Once the heir designate position is formally conferred, I imagine the Elder Madam and the Marquis will both have their own arrangements. As for myself—naturally I hope that Nanny Tao will be able to go to Zhun Ge’s courtyard to serve as managing nanny. She was, after all, First Elder Sister’s wet nurse, and has watched Zhun Ge grow up. Only, since the imperial decree has not yet come down, speaking of these things at this point is perhaps a little premature!”

Luo First Mistress, seeing that Eleventh Miss’s expression had grown solemn, felt all the more awkward: “Eleventh Young Madam is right. It is indeed a little early to be saying these things.” She then quickly took her leave of Eleventh Miss.

Hupo watched the Luo household carriage depart and felt distinctly indignant.

“This Nanny Tao—always so restless and overreaching. I think she deserves to be put in her place once and for all.”

“There is no need for that,” Eleventh Miss said evenly. “She was originally left behind by Elder Sister to care for Zhun Ge. If Zhun Ge comes to have his own separate quarters, it is only natural that she follow. Besides, Nanny Tao is a shrewd and capable woman—with her by Zhun Ge’s side, she can shoulder some of the responsibility for me.”

Hupo knew Eleventh Miss was right. But thinking of how Nanny Tao had emerged unscathed from the whole affair of Dongqing, and was now stirring up the Luo household to send its first mistress to admonish Eleventh Miss—she still felt a deep disquiet, and was about to say more when she raised her head and saw several young manservants escorting Xu Lingyi, dressed in his court robes, walking this way.

He had gone to court to meet with the Emperor today.

Hupo quickly dropped the subject and fell in behind Eleventh Miss to pay her respects to Xu Lingyi.

“Why are you standing out here talking?” Xu Lingyi said with a smile.

“Just seen Elder Sister-in-law off!”

Xu Lingyi knew that Seventh Younger Sister had invited guests today, thought nothing of it, and walked with Eleventh Miss back to the Trailing Vines Water Pavilion.

“Has there been any progress on Zhun Ge’s matter?” Eleventh Miss asked with concern along the way.

“The Emperor has approved it,” Xu Lingyi said. “We need only wait for the Ministry of Rites to add the red seal of approval to the memorial.”

“So quickly!” Eleventh Miss was a little surprised. “I thought it would drag on for several more days.”

“Speed or delay—it is all a matter of one word,” Xu Lingyi said with a smile. “When the Emperor gives the signal, the Ministry of Rites naturally moves quickly. When the Emperor says nothing, the Ministry of Rites naturally takes its time. What’s more, Zhun Ge is the legitimate son of the first wife, with no dispute over the matter.”

Eleventh Miss nodded: “Then should we not begin preparing for the formal betrothal with Zhun Ge?”

Xu Lingyi nodded: “As for our side, I plan to ask Prince Shun to act as matchmaker—what do you think?”

“If Prince Shun agrees, that would be the very best outcome.”

The two spoke as they entered the rooms, and Xu Lingyi drew several sheets of letter-paper from his robe and handed them to Eleventh Miss: “Have a look. This is the report from the men sent to Cangzhou.” Then he went to the dressing room to wash up.

Eleventh Miss sat at the large kang near the window and read the contents carefully.

The letter-paper stated that the branch of the Shao family that Shao Zhongran came from had always had few male descendants—his great-grandfather and grandfather had each been only children; it was only his father’s generation that finally produced two brothers; and in Shao Zhongran’s own generation, counting all paternal cousins, there were still only three young men, with Shao Zhongran being the eldest. He had one younger blood brother and one paternal cousin. His father had attained the rank of martial licentiate, was very adept at managing practical affairs, and the family was in comfortable circumstances. His mother came from a prominent Cangzhou household.

Eleventh Miss was somewhat surprised.

She had not expected Shao Zhongran’s father to be so capable in financial matters.

When Xu Lingyi had finished his ablutions, Eleventh Miss consulted with him: “I think we should let Wen Yiniang hear about this too. These days she has been worried about Zhen Jie’er’s situation without end.”

Xu Lingyi heard this, and a flicker of hesitation passed through his eyes. After a while he said: “There is no harm in letting her hear it. Only you must not be too soft-hearted and allow her to interfere in Zhen Jie’er’s marriage. That would only drag the Wen family entanglements into things.”

So that was why he had been so anxious to ask what Wen Yiniang had said the other time.

Eleventh Miss assented. Early the next morning she called Wen Yiniang over.

Wen Yiniang heard the news with a flash of pleasure and said: “Young Master Shao’s father is only thirty-eight years of age this year.”

Eleventh Miss did not follow.

Wen Yiniang smiled: “When a couple is poor, every hardship is multiplied. Young Master Shao’s father is skilled in practical affairs and in the prime of his years—the Shao family will not have to worry about money for at least twenty years. If the match with Young Master Shao is settled, what kind of life could they not live well?”

Eleventh Miss barely managed to suppress her laughter.

She recounted this to Xu Lingyi afterward. Xu Lingyi made a cold sound and said: “That woman—always preoccupied with such things!” And yet he could not deny that Wen Yiniang had a point. Even so, to settle on a match with the Shao family just like that—in his heart he still felt it was a shame to pass over a young man as exceptional as Li Ji.

While he was still wavering, the imperial decree naming Zhun Ge as heir designate came down.

When Xu Lingyi received the imperial decree, his expression was very composed. Xu Lingkuan, on the other hand, was overjoyed; he hoisted Zhun Ge up over his head and spun him around twice: “Zhun Ge—you’re the heir designate now!”

Zhun Ge was so frightened his face went white. He gripped Xu Lingkuan’s arms with both hands and choked out: “Fifth Uncle!”

Fifth Madam stood beside him and pinched Xu Lingkuan’s arm: “Are you trying to frighten Zhun Ge to death?”

The Elder Madam also grew anxious: “Put him down quickly, put him down!”

Xu Lingkuan set Zhun Ge down with an embarrassed laugh.

Zhen Jie’er quickly went forward and asked: “How are you?”

Zhun Ge’s face was white as paper; he forced a smile and shook his head at Zhen Jie’er.

Eleventh Miss looked around for Xu Siyu.

He stood alone and far away at the corner of the courtyard beneath a camphor tree. Against the backdrop of the tree trunk—too wide for two arms to encircle—his small frame looked slight and solitary.

She was hesitating whether to call out to him when from the other side came Zhen Jie’er’s alarmed cry: “Zhun Ge! Zhun Ge!”

Eleventh Miss turned her head and saw Zhun Ge crouching on the ground, retching.

Terrible—it seemed the fright from moments ago had been too much for him.

The thought flashed through her mind even as she was already running toward Zhun Ge.

But Xu Lingyi was faster. Before she could get near, he had already gathered Zhun Ge in his arms and was calling for a physician.

The whole courtyard fell into a panic.

Xu Lingkuan was deeply flustered: “Fourth Elder Brother, I didn’t know…”

“This is not the moment for that!” Xu Lingyi looked at him calmly, then instructed Eleventh Miss: “Call the attendants who serve at Zhun Ge’s side. We are going to the outer study.”

They had received the decree in the main reception hall, and the outer study was nearer from there.

Everyone followed Xu Lingyi quickly to the outer study.

Xu Lingyi set Zhun Ge down on the daybed in the reception room.

Fifth Madam, quick-thinking as ever, placed a small stool at the head of the bed and invited the Elder Madam to sit; but the Elder Madam gave the seat to Second Madam instead: “You take his pulse first!”

Second Madam sat down without ceremony. Her slender fingers rested on the cunkou pulse position of Zhun Ge’s left wrist.

“I’m all right,” Zhun Ge said weakly from where he lay. “I’m all right. My head just feels a little dizzy.”

All eyes in the room turned toward Second Madam.

Not a sound could be heard—as if a needle dropped would ring out clearly.

Second Madam released his left hand, took his right, and then nodded to those in the room: “Nothing serious. It seems the fright was too much just now.”

A wave of overlapping sighs of relief rose and subsided across the room.

Fifth Madam poked Xu Lingkuan and said toward Xu Lingyi: “Fourth Elder Brother, it is entirely our husband’s fault for not knowing his own strength. I think he ought to be the one to host the celebration banquet for Zhun Ge’s naming as heir designate!”

Xu Lingkuan heard this and nodded his head rapidly like a pecking sparrow: “I’ll pay for it, I’ll pay for it!”