The only son of Duke Maoguo, a proper legitimate wife…

Eleventh Miss had never believed that pies would fall from the sky!

She looked at Sixth Yiniang, her expression growing somewhat solemn.

Finally having moved the person before her, a flicker of relief passed through Sixth Yiniang’s eyes.

“When Madam spoke to the Master about it, the Master kept shaking his head. He said, although Duke Maoguo’s family has fallen on hard times these past years, they are after all a meritorious family from the founding of the Great Zhou dynasty. Even a rotting ship still has three catties of nails — how could they agree to take a concubine-born daughter as a daughter-in-law? There must be something unknown going on. One should not give one’s word lightly.”

Eleventh Miss was quite surprised.

All along, the Master had been nothing more than a name to her, a title. When she was in difficulty, he could not help. When she was helpless, she could not rely on him. When she was struggling, he could not offer support… In her memory, he was merely that person who gently asked whether she had eaten… She had never imagined that one day he would say such a thing!

“When Madam heard the Master say this, she gave a cold laugh. She said, of course it was because Wang Lang has a problem — that is precisely why Duke Maoguo had to lower his expectations, no longer seeking a girl of distinguished birth, only wanting one from an upstanding family with a gentle and virtuous disposition. But even so, ‘defects’ come in all grades and degrees. Those who are ugly are one grade; those useless good-for-nothings are another; those who are sickly and will not live long are yet another. Do you think I am the sort of person who rushes in without asking questions — who, the moment she hears someone is a duke, will insist on marrying her daughter off?… The Master heard this and became a little vexed. He said, if that is the case, then tell me — what grade of defect does the heir of Duke Maoguo’s household have?”

Eleventh Miss’s thumb stroked the vivid red plum blossom on the tea bowl.

“Madam covered her mouth with her sleeve and began to cry. She said, this was all out of Elder Sister’s kindness. Thinking that there are so many concubine-born younger sisters in the family, one must at least secure a respectable arrangement for them! It cannot always be marrying off to a concubine-born son, or becoming someone’s second wife, or being matched to a declining household… The Master heard this and his resolve wavered by three parts. He muttered that one should still inquire first. Madam glared at him. She said, the Xu family and the Wang family both live in Yanjing — what stir in the grass or rustle in the wind would they not know of? You stand here hemming and hawing and refusing, and for all you know they might not even want us! This is only Elder Sister’s own idea — as for what will actually come of it, we still need to send a matchmaker to sound out their intentions!”

“And then Father agreed?” Eleventh Miss set down her tea bowl, her expression calm.

Her manner made Sixth Yiniang pause briefly. After a moment, she said, “Yes. That is why the Master agreed. He told Madam, this is women’s business to begin with — if you think it is suitable, then it is settled!”

Eleventh Miss gave a slight nod, wearing the air of someone lost in thought.

There was none of the worry, fear, or anger that Sixth Yiniang had imagined… She found herself uncertain.

Steeling herself, Sixth Yiniang seized Eleventh Miss’s hand: “You foolish child, can you not see the dangers lurking in all this? Even a starved camel is larger than a horse. No matter how fallen the Duke Maoguo household may be, they are still a family of rank and privilege that draws its stipend on iron-sealed scrolls. Is there truly no woman in all of Yanjing who is ‘from an upstanding family and of gentle and virtuous disposition’ fit to be matched to the heir of their household? Our Luo Family, though illustrious, is only so within the few acres of Yuhang. In Yanjing, in the eyes of those great aristocratic houses, we are nothing but country bumpkins. If that young Master Wang’s defect were not serious, why would they look so far afield for a country wife?”

Different life experiences yield different perspectives, and different perspectives yield different choices…

All she sought was a place of shelter where she could breathe freely!

Compared to the complications of the Xu household, even if the young Master Wang was seeking a woman of unknown background on account of some ailment… weighing the two against each other, she felt she could accept that. When the time came, she would be a chaste widow daughter-in-law — as long as she kept to the rules and proper conduct, the Wang family, even if they did not respect her, would surely not make things difficult for her!

Eleventh Miss half-listened to Sixth Yiniang’s rambling, while turning over her own thoughts.

“You and Fifth Miss — it is one or the other. Either you marry into the Wang family or into the Xu family. The Luo Family is not what it once was; the Masters’ prospects in officialdom all depend on the Xu family now. If one of you could marry into the Xu family — think about it — from that point on, everyone in the Luo household, from the Master and Madam down to Nanny Xu and Nanny Yao, would not dare give you a cold look; they would be too busy fawning over you to manage it. Fifth Yiniang has suffered all her life — she too could finally hold her head up high. But if you marry into the Wang family: first, their background is unknown — who knows whether the man is simpleminded or an imbecile — and your entire life would be ruined; second, the Wang family is inferior to the Xu family in every way. In the future, when the Luo Family encounters difficulties, the Wang family will be of no use, and the Luo Family will think nothing of you as a daughter. Without your family to rely on, your in-laws will surely look down on you. At that point, you would cry out to Heaven and Heaven would not answer, cry out to the earth and the earth would not respond — you would not know a single day of comfort. Think further: what if it is Fifth Miss who marries in? Not only would all that glory go to her, but given her nature — always fawning upward and trampling downward — once she sees that neither your maternal family nor your husband’s family prospers, she will find ways to outshine you and put you beneath her in everything, and I fear she would add insult to injury when you are already down… If your days were difficult, what anguish would Fifth Yiniang feel watching that? Eleventh Miss, I regard you no differently than our own Twelfth Miss, which is why I was not afraid to offend you by saying all this. You must think carefully on what I have said. It will not have been in vain that I played the part of a meddler.”

The implication was clear: unless she married into the Xu family, she would be walking into a dead end.

Eleventh Miss had her own ideas and did not argue further. She smiled and said, “I understand Yiniang’s good intentions. But my mind is in a muddle right now, and I cannot come to a decision so quickly. Please allow me some time to think it over!”

After all, she was still only a thirteen-year-old girl…

Sixth Yiniang felt reassured.

She squeezed Eleventh Miss’s soft hand and said quietly, “You must think quickly. This matter — who knows how long it can be kept quiet! Whoever seizes the advantage first will be one step ahead. You must not let Yiniang’s good intentions go to waste.”

Eleventh Miss gave a solemn nod and escorted Sixth Yiniang to the door.

As it happened, they ran into Nanny Xu at the doorway.

“Yiniang is here?” Nanny Xu’s gaze flickered. “Madam has been asking for you!”

Sixth Yiniang nodded with some anxiety, exchanged a quick word with Eleventh Miss, and hurried off.

Nanny Xu then asked Eleventh Miss, “What did Yiniang come looking for you about?”

Eleventh Miss smiled and said, “She was asking about Twelfth Sister!”

Nanny Xu nodded, and the wariness in her eyes instantly disappeared.

Perhaps it was the influence of Sixth Yiniang’s words earlier, but the look in Nanny Xu’s eyes made Eleventh Miss — who had always been clear-eyed about her own situation — feel a chill for the first time.

“Nanny, please come in and sit!” she invited Nanny Xu with a warm smile.

But Nanny Xu said, “No need. The Marquis has come, and Madam wishes you and Fifth Miss to freshen up and go pay your respects to the Marquis.”

Eleventh Miss was mildly startled, and Nanny Xu had already turned and gone toward Fifth Miss’s quarters.

Dongqing hurried and pulled Eleventh Miss back inside, calling for Binju to bring water for her to wash her face, while she herself rummaged through the wardrobe: “Miss, what should you wear? How about the tipsy-immortal-pink jacket that Madam had made for you when you arrived…”

“Could you calm down a little?” Eleventh Miss laughed. “That is a spring garment — do you want to freeze me?”

“Then how about the peach-red brocade short jacket with the hundred children at play design? It was a gift from Madam, so wearing it out would be quite presentable.”

“I have never been short of silks and satins,” Eleventh Miss teased her. “If Nanny Xu heard you say that, she would call you in for questioning — wanting to know what you had done with all my clothes.”

In good spirits, she exchanged a few more jokes with Dongqing, then instructed her to bring out her embroidery supplies: “Since there are a free day or two, let me make Zhun Ge a spring garment.”

Dongqing was delighted to hear this and went to bring out the rattan basket that held embroidery needles, hoops of various sizes, and other such things. Eleventh Miss, for her part, had Binju dress her hair in a chignon, changed into a plain apricot-yellow brocade jacket, put on a pair of pearl earrings, and went to the east wing to invite Fifth Miss: “…Let us go together.”

Fifth Miss had her hair dressed high, adorned with a gilt-gold swaying hairpin, large pearl-and-kingfisher-feather flowers, and wore a rose-purple auspicious-pattern brocade jacket. Her face was lightly powdered and blushed, and she looked radiant and captivating.

Seeing Eleventh Miss come to invite her, the corner of her mouth curved upward, and she broke into an extraordinarily alluring smile: “I will be ready in a moment.” She then instructed Ziwei: “Bring out some of the honey-preserved plums.”

Zhuotao and Sui’er were crouching there, painting Fifth Miss’s fingernails.

Eleventh Miss ate honey-preserved plums and waited until Fifth Miss had finished getting ready.

“The time was too short — this will have to do for now,” Sui’er said with a smile by way of explanation. “We had originally prepared for this evening.”

Fifth Miss examined her fingertips, blooming like peach blossoms, and smiled: “The color is a bit light… Add another careful coat this evening!”

Sui’er smiled and assented “Yes,” and together with Ziwei and the others escorted Fifth Miss and Eleventh Miss to the door.

Zhuotao kept her gaze lowered, following silently behind the other maids.

The two sisters went to Madam’s main room.

The room was utterly still; the servants within were silent as cicadas in autumn. Duweiemed expressionlessly at the two of them.

“Why have you only come now?” Madam’s voice sounded calm, yet it was like the sky before a violent storm — one could sense the restrained irritation beneath it.

Fifth Miss smiled and said, “I came together with my sister.”

This made it sound to the listener as though she had been delayed on account of Eleventh Miss.

Usually Eleventh Miss paid little heed when Fifth Miss said such things, but today it grated sharply on her ears.

This girl, at no matter what moment, never forgot to shift the blame onto someone else.

But she remained as before — showing an uneasy expression, staying silent.

Madam’s gaze swept over her, sharp as a blade’s edge, and she said quietly, “All of you — get out.”

Everyone in the room changed color at once, immediately lowering their heads, pretending they had neither heard nor seen.

Fifth Miss’s face went as white as paper. She and Eleventh Miss withdrew. Once outside, unable to resign herself, she seized Duweiby the arm: “Madam…”

Duwei glanced left and right; seeing that the maids standing beneath the eaves all stood with their hands at their sides in perfect, respectful stillness, she said in a low voice, “The Marquis had said he was coming to visit Madam, but the moment Madam appeared, the Marquis said he had affairs to attend to and had to leave… He sat for less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea…”

So she was in a bad temper because of that?

Something stirred in Eleventh Miss’s heart as she listened.

Hupo had brought back word that on the second day of the month, the Marquis had spent an entire afternoon in conversation with the Elder Young Master.

And Fifth Miss, after a brief moment of mild surprise, had a flash of vexation in her eyes. She looked at her own pink fingernails and complained, “And now my nails are not even properly done!”

—