After sending off Xu Siyu, Chief Steward Bai began putting the outer courtyard’s Mude Hall in order. That was the residence of every successive Heir. It had stood empty ever since Xu Ling’an married, and though people had kept it swept and clean, it had not been inhabited for over ten years. The moment one stepped inside, a bone-chilling cold struck the air. Beyond that, certain fixtures needed repair and replacement. Chief Steward Bai made a point of discussing the matter with Eleventh Young Madam.

The Grand Madam, however, sent Nanny Du to summon Eleventh Young Madam.

“I think there is no great urgency to the matter of moving,” the Grand Madam said hesitantly, watching Zhun Ge’er — whose complexion was still somewhat pale — seated on the kang being fed lotus seed and lily bulb gruel by Weizi. “At the very least, one should wait until after summer. Even mildly warm mung bean soup I dare not give him now.”

Since the day Zhun Ge’er had suffered dizziness and vomiting, at the Heir’s investiture banquet he had accompanied Xu Lingyi in making the rounds of toasts, and the Marquis Yongchang had coaxed him into eating half a piece of braised pork belly. He had felt unwell upon returning home ever since, saying he had no appetite for anything. He had fasted for four or five days before improving somewhat.

This child had been reared far too delicately.

Eleventh Young Madam was also worried, and naturally nodded in agreement.

The Grand Madam raised the matter of Eleventh Young Madam’s own move. “Chuailun Water Pavilion is a fine place to spend the summer — I think you should also wait until after summer to move.”

Xu Sijie was living alone in Lijing Pavilion; Zhen Jie’er was making four trips a day back and forth between Shaohua Courtyard and Chuailun Water Pavilion; and with no covered corridors to shield her, the girl’s face was sunburned scarlet…

“I will go ahead and follow the Marquis’s wishes and move in a couple of days,” Eleventh Young Madam declined tactfully.

“Since you have both already decided, then choose an auspicious day and move,” the Grand Madam said without insisting. But a flicker of disappointment crossed the depths of her eyes.

Eleventh Young Madam saw it clearly. She understood that the Grand Madam wished to give her and Xu Lingyi more time together. Yet she could not quite bring herself to take that step. She could only avert her gaze from the Grand Madam’s eyes, ostrich-like.

After she left, the Grand Madam sighed to Nanny Du, “I had hoped there would be good news. But it turns out they are simply moving back.”

“These things cannot be rushed,” Nanny Du said with a smile, spearing a slice of peeled fragrant melon with a bamboo skewer and handing it to the Grand Madam. “And moving back is good too — better than being scattered about without any proper order.”

The Grand Madam nodded slowly and said no more. On the day Eleventh Young Madam officially moved, she made a point of going over to see.

Eleventh Young Madam had already discussed things with Xu Lingyi. Xu Lingyi’s study was moved to the east wing room beside the main bedchamber; the west wing room was given to Xu Sijie; Zhen Jie’er would move to Lijing Pavilion. Should Xu Siyu return, he would live in the outer courtyard.

The Grand Madam listened and smiled. “Zhen Jie’er is grown — it is time she had a courtyard of her own. You have all thought this through carefully.” She also observed the maids and matrons flowing through the courtyard like a weaving loom, yet calm and unhurried. A look of satisfaction appeared in her eyes. She exchanged a few pleasantries with Eleventh Young Madam, then took Nanny Du and returned to her own courtyard.

Eleventh Young Madam directed the maids in arranging the rooms and sorting through the trunks. She also happened to catch the sixth day of the sixth month, and took the opportunity to air out the winter clothing. She was kept busy for four or five days before things finally settled down. On the twelfth, it was Zhun Ge’er’s birthday. Because he had only recently recovered from the fright, the Grand Madam worried that entertaining guests would be too boisterous and clamorous, and instructed the kitchen to prepare assorted longevity noodles, intending to have the family gather together to eat a bowl of longevity noodles and leave it at that. But unexpected visitors arrived at the door.

First, Master Jiang sent someone with two volumes of annotated editions of The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean from the previous dynasty as a birthday gift for Zhun Ge’er. Then Madam Luo the Elder sent someone with a set of deep-red grass-cloth straight-collar robes and a set of moon-white kudzu-cloth Taoist robe. Seventh Young Madam sent over a half-foot-high jade carving of five bats holding a peach. Fourth Young Madam sent a pair of fragrant cloud gauze beaded lotus flower sachets. Madam Huang sent a boxwood-carved brush holder depicting a diligent farming scene.

The Grand Madam looked at it all with a helpless smile. “We are the ones who have been remiss in our etiquette!”

“Our household has been busy, and they are all close family — I am sure they understand,” Eleventh Young Madam consoled the Grand Madam, then turned to arrange with Hupo the thank-you gifts to send to each household.

Madam Li — the mother of Li Ji — came to call.

Eleventh Young Madam was a little surprised.

If the visit was to congratulate Zhun Ge’er on his birthday, then Madam Li’s information was far too well-connected — in ancient times, people believed birth dates and birth characters determined one’s destiny and were not lightly shared with others. If it was coincidental, then this sudden unannounced visit must have some purpose. If it was on account of Li Ji’s marriage prospects, she should have sent someone to speak to Eleventh Young Madam on her behalf rather than coming in person to face Eleventh Young Madam directly, leaving neither party any room to maneuver…

She found this strange, and instructed Hupo, “Show Madam Li to the main hall in my courtyard.” Then she changed her clothes and went to the main hall.

Madam Li had brought a birthday gift for Zhun Ge’er.

“My husband is a rough man who only knows coarse affairs. He has long had Zhun Ge’er’s birthday in mind. However, because your esteemed sister-in-law has not been well, we felt it would not be right to trouble you too often. This time I heard from my husband that you, Madam, are exceedingly kind and gracious. So he personally selected this item, then urged me again and again to bring it over. Although I myself felt it was not a fitting gift, when I thought of how my husband had sent someone all the way to Shanxi especially to fetch it, and considered it was a token of his sincerity, I simply could not bring myself to decline. I had no choice but to come anyway. Please, Madam, take our husband’s sincerity into account and do not refuse.”

Eleventh Young Madam looked at that gleaming, solid pure gold, three-inch miniature tiger, and felt perspiration at her temples.

“I am deeply grateful for the kind intentions of Master Li and Madam Li…”

She had barely begun when Madam Li cut her off. “Madam, please hear me out…”

“Madam Li, please hear me out.” Eleventh Young Madam raised her voice slightly, overriding Madam Li’s words. “This is the Heir’s birthday, yet we have not hosted any guests. When all is said and done, it is because the Heir has suffered from deficiency since childhood, his constitution fragile and his body weak. We fear the blessing and prosperity of such gifts may be excessive and do more harm than good. This item I truly dare not accept. Master Li and my lord the Marquis were once fellow officials — Master Li knows that our Marquis has few heirs. If you pass along these words, I believe Master Li will understand this wife’s earnest concern.”

Eleventh Young Madam’s reason for declining was so dignified and proper that Madam Li truly had no grounds to press further.

A flash of vexation crossed the depths of her eyes.

Eleventh Young Madam noticed, and with a smile glanced at the red lacquered carved box holding the little pure gold tiger. “This box is perfectly square — neither too large nor too small — just right for storing spare seals, ink sticks, and the like. Just the other day the Heir was asking me if I could help have one made. Why not, Madam Li, gift the Heir this red lacquered carved box? At least it would be making the best use of the item.” She then signaled Hupo with her eyes to return the pure gold tiger to Madam Li and keep the box.

The way Madam Li looked at Eleventh Young Madam grew a shade more serious.

“It is entirely my own clumsiness. That you do not hold it against me, Madam, is already more than I can ask. What is more, you have only taken a fancy to one small box — please take it by all means. And when my husband asks, I can at least say I made up for my blunder.” She smiled somewhat stiffly.

“The greatest virtue of a gift is that it is a perfect fit,” Eleventh Young Madam said with a smile. “You have sent the Heir exactly what he wanted — what could be better than that? Even if Master Li comes to hear of it, he can only say that Madam has handled things in a way that puts his mind at ease.” After a few more pleasantries, Eleventh Young Madam rose and took Madam Li by the hand. “It is rare for you and Master Li to think of our Heir. Now that you are here, please stay and eat a bowl of longevity noodles before you go.”

Madam Li did not decline and went with Eleventh Young Madam to the Grand Madam’s place.

The Grand Madam was also surprised by Madam Li’s arrival. When she heard from Eleventh Young Madam that Madam Li had sent a red lacquered carved box as a birthday gift for Zhun Ge’er, she smiled and with composure invited Madam Li to join them in the longevity noodles. Madam Li showed not the slightest self-consciousness in the roomful of Xu family ladies, ate the longevity noodles, chatted with the Grand Madam for a while, and then rose to take her leave.

Eleventh Young Madam walked her to the ornamental gate.

Along the way, Madam Li asked with apparent concern, “I heard from my husband that the Marquis encountered bandits while traveling in Shandong some days ago, and several guards died before he was able to escape with his life. Truly, the world is not at peace these days!”

Encountered bandits in Shandong?

A jolt of alarm went through Eleventh Young Madam’s heart.

Xu Lingyi had come home without saying a single word to her about it!

No wonder Seventh Young Madam said she had thought he was a bandit when she encountered him.

She had assumed he wore rough cloth garments when traveling to avoid drawing attention. She had assumed his haggard expression was from the weariness of the road…

Yet looking at Madam Li’s eyes, which held a note of scrutiny, Eleventh Young Madam dared not let a trace of her feelings show.

The fact that Master Li would tell Madam Li such things was itself telling. She had a creeping feeling that Madam Li’s visit today was not a simple social call.

Eleventh Young Madam replied evasively, “I am just a woman — these things are not for me to say.”

Madam Li could not help showing a flash of surprise.

Eleventh Young Madam’s composure was too remarkable.

Either she had known about this matter all along, or she had an exceedingly deep reserve. As Eleventh Young Madam herself had said, matters such as these were not for women to know. If Eleventh Young Madam knew, then there was only one possibility: Xu Lingyi had been injured. If she did not know… Madam Li’s smile stiffened briefly before smoothing itself out.

“Indeed not. I myself knew nothing of it. Had it not been for this time…” She said, then suddenly caught herself, and stopped. She then halted in her tracks and looked cautiously around her. Seeing the maids and matrons attending the two women all standing with hands at their sides a full ten feet away, she stepped forward and moved close to Eleventh Young Madam, lowering her voice. “I heard my husband say: first the Marquis encountered trouble in Shandong, then the Heir of Marquis Jinghai… disappeared without a trace, for no reason at all!”

Eleventh Young Madam’s head buzzed. She could no longer restrain herself, and surprise showed on her face.

Madam Li looked at her and gravely nodded her head, dropping her voice further still. “Not found among the living, nor a body among the dead.”

Eleventh Young Madam drew a deep breath before she could speak. “How could this be?”

She heard her own voice come out slightly hoarse.

“And so Fujian has erupted into chaos,” Madam Li glanced around once more, then continued. “Marquis Jinghai not only had people turn Fujian inside out searching, but also sent people as far as Shangrao, Lishui, and Meizhou to look. The panic this stirred among the common people of that entire region was tremendous. The Emperor heard of it and was furious as well. He is said to be on the verge of dismissing the Fujian Commander-in-Chief!”

Eleventh Young Madam’s mind was in turmoil.

What a coincidence!

First, Xu Lingyi is ambushed. Then, the Heir of Marquis Jinghai disappears.

She thought of the two consecutive nights Xu Lingyi had been out until dawn in recent days… and felt a chill run through her body… She made an effort to respond to Madam Li. “It is no wonder the Emperor is angry. This matter has too many ramifications!”

“Exactly, exactly!” Madam Li nodded repeatedly. “That Fujian Commander-in-Chief — to have let the Qu family carry on so recklessly! It seems his post as Commander-in-Chief is as good as gone.” She gave a soft sigh. “One wonders whom the Emperor will entrust with the important task of going to Fujian to sort out the mess?”

In this age, a woman’s virtue lay in the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. For a woman to discuss affairs of state was no different from a hen crowing at dawn… Yet Madam Li was not only discussing affairs of state, but doing so with someone who was neither her close friend nor intimate confidante.

A quiet alertness rose in Eleventh Young Madam’s heart, and she gave no answer.