Borrow Steward Bai’s name?

As the saying goes, “Even a seventh-rank official stands before a prime minister’s gate.” Steward Bai was the chief steward of the Xu household. Even a high provincial official would show him considerable courtesy. Would this not be using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

Eleventh Miss was about to decline, but then thought of Xu Lingyi’s expression just moments ago — and the words on her lips changed. “With Steward Bai to act on our behalf, it will naturally be half the effort for twice the result.”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Steward Bai requested admittance.

Xu Lingyi had him come in. A young maid placed a small stool just inside the door, and Steward Bai sat on half of it. Xu Lingyi then explained the purpose for which he had been summoned, but said nothing of the matter of money.

Eleventh Miss felt a quiet relief.

She did not want her dowry holdings mixed up with the Marquis’s estate, for fear it would get around that the bridal goods shop had been given to her by Xu Lingyi.

Steward Bai, now understanding the purpose, could not conceal a flash of surprise that crossed his face — but he quickly let it pass and offered a sincere smile. “The Marquis and Madam think well of me to entrust this to me. Once Madam’s shop premises are confirmed, I will go and have a word with the people at the Shuntian Prefecture and the Five Precinct Commander’s Office. I guarantee no one will come to cause trouble.”

Xu Lingyi gave a nod. Steward Bai withdrew.

Qiao Lianfang came.

“The weather has been so dry lately. I made some water chestnut and pear soup with my own hands for Madam to clear away some of the inner fire.” As she spoke, she turned and, with both hands, lifted a white glazed porcelain stewing pot from the red lacquer tray with plum-blossom painting held by Xiu Yuan, and presented it to Eleventh Miss. “This is my first time making it — I don’t know if it will suit Madam’s taste.” Then she gently pinched the lid of the stewing pot and gave it a light stir with a silver apricot-blossom long spoon. “Madam, won’t you try some?”

Eleventh Miss looked at her eager, earnest gaze, and for a long moment found herself at a loss for words.

Why had Qiao Lianfang suddenly become so attentive?

She glanced over at Xu Lingyi, sitting across from her, and saw a brief flash of bewilderment in his eyes as well.

“I’ve already had several cups of tea over at Master Jian’s, and then shared another cup with the Marquis,” Eleventh Miss said, smiling, and called for Hupo. “Set it aside in the kitchen for now, and bring it to me when it’s a bit later.”

Hupo acknowledged and took it away.

Qiao Lianfang then sat down and chatted idly with Eleventh Miss.

“Madam’s needlework is so fine, and yet every day you find time to go study under Master Jian. Madam, if you don’t think me too dull, might you take me along the next time you go? I would like to take the chance to learn a thing or two from Master Jian.”

“Perhaps a little later,” Eleventh Miss said with a smile. “Master Jian may be rather occupied these next few days.”

And will be even more occupied after that — so occupied there will be no time to teach you. She thought to herself.

Qiao Lianfang showed a look of disappointment. “I wonder when I might receive Master Jian’s guidance. I was even planning to sew Madam a little garment!”

Eleventh Miss listened and broke into a light sweat. “Master Jian will not be leaving anytime soon. There will be chances later.”

Just as she said this, Qin Yiniang arrived.

Catching sight of Qiao Lianfang, Qin Yiniang’s eyes flickered briefly with surprise. Then she quickly dropped her gaze, and with quiet deference presented her respects to Eleventh Miss and Xu Lingyi. From the hands of her maid Cui’er, she took a bundle and offered it to Lvyun, who stood behind Eleventh Miss. “These are six pairs of shoes and one layered skirt that I have made for Madam these past days.” She kept her eyes lowered, her voice soft as a moth, giving an impression of great humility.

“Thank you, Qin Yiniang,” said Eleventh Miss, indicating that a brocade stool be brought for her.

Qin Yiniang gave thanks and sat down with care, perching on half the stool.

Wen Yiniang arrived.

She looked in at the full room and stood momentarily taken aback. Then, composing herself after a moment, she said, “Madam’s quarters are quite lively today!”

Eleventh Miss saw the maid behind Wen Yiniang carrying a mottled bamboo hand warmer, and had a stool with brocade cushion brought for her. “Why are you carrying a hand warmer?”

Wen Yiniang quickly set the hand warmer down on the low kang table and smiled. “Just look at the workmanship — is it not lovely?”

It was oval-shaped, no bigger than a large bowl, lacquered with a clear varnish, the purple speckles crisp and distinct — small and dainty, quite charming.

“Very pretty indeed,” said Eleventh Miss, puzzled.

Purchases of hand warmers and the like were the responsibility of the stewards in the outer courtyard. The inner household only needed to report how many were required, and the outer courtyard would replenish them around the time of the Frost’s Descent, according to the numbers given. This was not the kind of thing that needed to be brought before Eleventh Miss.

“This is a new style that Li’s Shop released this year,” said Wen Yiniang with a smile. “I wanted to buy a pair for the eldest young mistress — but I was afraid her future husband’s family might think it too plain and modest. So I brought it for you to take a look, and ask your opinion.”

“Just go ahead and get her various styles of all kinds,” said Eleventh Miss with a smile. “Bamboo is the gentleman among plants — perhaps her future husband will find it refined and elegant.”

“With Madam’s word on it, I am at ease,” said Wen Yiniang, beaming from ear to ear. “I’ll have Li’s make five pieces, then — and have Li’s carve ‘fortune, prosperity, longevity, happiness, and nobility’ into them!”

Wen Yiniang never forgot her auspicious phrases.

Eleventh Miss barely suppressed a laugh. “I think it looks rather nice just as it is…”

But her words were not yet finished when there came a suppressed laugh from somewhere in the room.

Everyone looked toward the sound, and saw Qiao Lianfang’s face flushed crimson, her hand clamped over her mouth.

“I — I—” Caught under everyone’s gaze, she flushed scarlet to the roots of her hair, at a loss, and looked toward Xu Lingyi.

But she found Xu Lingyi holding the mottled bamboo hand warmer in his hands, examining it.

“Is this the new style Li’s Shop put out this year?” He lifted his head and looked at Eleventh Miss. “Let’s order a few for ourselves as well.” He seemed not to have paid much attention to anything else.

Eleventh Miss agreed.

Xu Lingyi had already said to Wen Yiniang, “Leave the bamboo as it is — there’s no need to carve any characters on it.”

Wen Yiniang saw that although his words expressed mild displeasure, his tone was still reasonably even — and moreover, this was a matter decided on Zhen Jie’er’s behalf. She immediately smiled and said, “Yes,” and left the hand warmer with Eleventh Miss. “Madam, please keep this one for your own use. Since the Marquis says our household is ordering a batch as well, this one can be counted as a sample for trying out.”

After all, it was public money they would be spending. No discount would be given, but the person going to place the order could walk away with one for free.

What a businessperson’s habit — she had mastered every trick of the trade.

Eleventh Miss could not help but laugh.

But Xu Lingyi instructed Eleventh Miss, “When the time comes, remember to count the cost of this hand warmer and settle it with Li’s as well.”

Wen Yiniang’s smile froze on her face, and a brief silence fell over the room.

One does not strike a person in the face. Yet Xu Lingyi had given Wen Yiniang no face at all.

Eleventh Miss inwardly sighed, and stepped in to smooth things over. “I know the Marquis dislikes taking advantage of merchants. But in truth, we have been wanting to order some items from Li’s for Zhen Jie’er, and Li’s, learning of this, has been insisting on presenting a piece as a gift — which we have always declined. They offered it again quite sincerely. So Wen Yiniang took the opportunity to graciously accept on their behalf. But since the Marquis has spoken, we will settle the cost of this hand warmer with Li’s when the time comes.”

Wen Yiniang, now recollected, forced a smile. “Yes, Marquis. We will settle the cost of this hand warmer with Li’s when the time comes.” Her gaze, however, carried a trace of gratitude as it fell briefly on Eleventh Miss.

Xu Lingyi gave a mild nod.

Eleventh Miss then smilingly told Lvyun, “Go with Yiniang and work out how many hand warmers we need to order in total — so we can let the outer courtyard’s stewards know.”

“Just buy a few for Mother, yourself, and Fifth Sister-in-law,” Xu Lingyi said lightly. “This kind of bamboo warmer is fine to hold and play with in one’s hands, but when it comes to keeping warm, ceramic is far better.”

Seated quietly to one side all along like an invisible presence, Qin Yiniang suddenly raised her head sharply at these words. A look of alarm crossed her face as she glanced at Eleventh Miss, then quickly lowered her eyes again.

No one else in the room seemed to notice her reaction.

Eleventh Miss was already puzzling over Xu Lingyi’s inconsistency.

What had gotten into him today — first taking Wen Yiniang’s side, then overruling her own…

But she still smiled and agreed with a “yes.”

Xu Lingyi then stood. “I have something to attend to — I’ll step out for a moment.”

Those present all curtseyed and saw him to the door.

After Xu Lingyi had gone to the small study behind the outer study and dismissed the attendants within, he opened the hidden compartment of the curio shelf, took out a purple sandalwood box, and counted out ten banknotes.

Suddenly, a pair of eyes — sparkling like morning stars, full of life — surfaced in his mind.

That talk of Li’s having been insisting on presenting a piece as a gift, of graciously accepting on their behalf — it was complete and utter nonsense, spoken with a perfectly straight face.

And yet, for some reason, the moment he imagined her sitting there fabricating it all with such composure, the corners of his mouth curved, unbidden, into an arc of quiet amusement.

Xu Lingyi counted out ten more banknotes, then placed the box back in its spot. He found a small silk pouch, tucked the banknotes inside, casually picked up a book, and lay back in the reclining chair to read.

Reading in a reclining chair — one’s eyes would go blurry quickly. He was plainly lost in thought.

Linbo, who came in to attend to him, noticed, and smilingly poured Xu Lingyi a cup of Dahongpao tea.

Xu Lingyi sat up and drank his tea.

Linbo thought for a moment, then said softly with a smile, “Marquis, is Madam going to open a shop?”

“Mm,” Xu Lingyi replied absently.

Linbo, seeing that Xu Lingyi’s expression was mild and easy, felt a slight stirring of feeling within him. He said quietly and with a smile, “Marquis, will you not lend Madam a hand? When Scholar Qian went to Xuantong, General Fan came to inquire of you, and you said Scholar Qian’s family was not well-off — as long as he wasn’t trying to make something out of nothing, it was fine. How else would General Fan have helped Scholar Qian exchange those IOUs for cash? Now Madam is opening a shop, and it is only a small bridal goods shop at that. Why not the Marquis…”

“What nonsense is this!” Xu Lingyi’s gaze shot over like a sharp arrow. Linbo’s heart nearly stopped, and his whole body began to tremble. “Madam is managing her own dowry — what business is it of mine to interfere?”

Linbo’s forehead was drenched in sweat. He dropped at once to his knees before Xu Lingyi. “Marquis, I spoke in a muddle. I will never dare again.”

Xu Lingyi’s expression gradually softened. “Go.”

Linbo retreated in fear and trembling.

Xu Lingyi held his reclining chair and rocked it slowly for some time. Only when the sky began to darken did he make his unhurried way back to the main courtyard.

Eleventh Miss was alone on the kang, embroidering something she had been working on for the better part of a year and still had not finished.

“They’ve all left,” he said, sitting down on the kang.

Eleventh Miss set down her needlework, smiled, and said, “The Marquis is back.” Then she had the young maids tidy away the embroidery frame, pour water, and brew tea. When the children came in to pay their evening respects, they all went together to the Grand Madam’s quarters for dinner, then came back. When Eleventh Miss went to wash and prepare for bed, he tucked the silk pouch with the banknotes under the pillow.

The next morning, he said offhandedly, “I left a pouch under your pillow,” and went off to the outer courtyard.

Eleventh Miss opened the pouch. Inside were twenty thousand taels in banknotes.

She pressed a hand to her forehead and for a moment did not know what to do.

A young maid came in to report, “The woman from the Liu Yuanrui household is here.”

Eleventh Miss collected her thoughts and went to the western side room. She explained her purpose, and the woman from the Liu Yuanrui household was immediately all smiles.

“Madam, our Liu Yuanrui is an honest man — let him help with the driving. He can also help with all the rough work around the shop. As for the courtyard over by Fallen Leaf Hill, let our second son Shengchun help with looking after it. He is an honest boy too, and definitely won’t go wandering off.”

After the new year, Jiang Bingzheng came to take his leave of Eleventh Miss. He said he wanted to go back to Yuhang for a look — but in truth it was because the silver Eleventh Miss had given him was not enough, and she often had him doing errands. After weighing it all up, he decided to resign from his position with Eleventh Miss and devote himself entirely to serving as head shopkeeper at that silk and cloth store.

Eleventh Miss acted as though she knew nothing of this. She gave him twenty taels of silver, calling it travel expenses. Then, thinking that the area around Fallen Leaf Hill was rather isolated, she planned to have Liu Yuanrui keep watch over the courtyard there.

* * *