Xu Lingyi then spoke to Eleventh Lady about Xu Siyu’s children’s examination: “…The registration has already been submitted. The examination is on the twentieth of the second month. I will instruct Steward Zhao to accompany him. Food, brushes, and ink — none of that need concern you. You need only see him off on the day.”

Eleventh Lady agreed, and still made a small embroidered sachet inscribed with the words “Ascending Step by Step” to give to Xu Siyu.

When Xu Siyu came to pay his respects to Eleventh Lady, he thanked her with great formality. On the day of the examination he wore the sachet and made his way to the examination grounds.

When the examination was over, he felt he had done well. He went to the Shaohua Courtyard and spoke with Second Lady at length; when Second Lady came to pay her respects to the Grand Madam, she too said: “There should be no problems.”

Qin Yiniang was overjoyed at this and wanted to make Xu Siyu a set of clothes or some food, but had no time — having only just barely managed, per Eleventh Lady’s requirements, to finish Jie Ge’s shoes and stockings, Eleventh Lady had already asked her to make Xu Sijie’s summer garments.

But Cui’er was thinking of the bitter smile on Xu Siyu’s face when she had gone to bring him food.

“Cui’er, tell Yiniang that from now on there is no need to send me things, and no need to concern herself with me. Use that time to serve the lady properly and to serve the Marquis well. I will apply myself diligently to my studies. Tell her not to worry about me.”

Yet how could she bring herself to say such things to Qin Yiniang, who treated Second Young Master as the very lifeline of her existence?

Seeing Qin Yiniang furrowing her brow with worry, she could not help but counsel her: “Qin Niang, Second Young Master has been shut up studying so hard these past weeks. Now that the examination is over and it is early spring, surely he would want to go out and enjoy the season freely. Why not let Second Young Master rest and be at ease for a while? Otherwise he’ll be fretting over when you’re going to send things to him next.”

“You’re right!” Qin Yiniang quickly replied. “He really must have a proper rest. He has been working far too hard these days.”

Cui’er quietly let out a breath. Seeing Qin Yiniang’s expression shift to one of uncertainty, and afraid she might issue more difficult instructions, she smiled quickly: “We’re running low on the silver frost charcoal for the iron — I’ll go fetch some. And I’ll look in on whether Second Young Master is in or out!”

“Go quickly, go quickly.” Qin Yiniang’s face broke into a relieved smile. “If he’s gone out, ask where he’s gone and when he’ll be back. Find out what he’s been up to these past few days.”

Cui’er answered “yes” with a smile and went to the outer courtyard.

Xu Siyu had not gone out. He was at Second Lady’s quarters, and Wenzhu and the others were in the middle of packing things up.

Cui’er was astonished.

“…Second Young Master said that whether he passes or not, once the results are announced, we will return to Le’an.” Wenzhu smiled and invited Cui’er inside for tea. “Second Young Master has made an arrangement with Young Master Yu to go to Le’an’s Dafu Temple to pray on the eighth day of the fourth month. If we do not set off in early third month, we will not make it in time.”

Cui’er was silent for a long moment. She lowered her head over her tea, her gaze passing across Miyang and the others quietly packing the trunks, and noticed that Miyang was placing a plain blue Songjiang three-shuttle cloth robe into one of them.

“This — what is this…” She suddenly sprang to her feet, pointing at the robe, her hand beginning to tremble.

“This is the garment Second Young Master wore in Le’an.” Miyang looked up, her expression slightly low.

Cui’er looked at Wenzhu: “How — how could you let Second Young Master wear such clothing?” There was a note of reproach in her voice.

“What is wrong with wearing it!” Wenzhu’s clear, large eyes looked back at Cui’er with calm honesty. “Second Young Master said: if others can wear it, so can he.”

“Second Young Master is still young — how can you simply go along with whatever he says. You should know, the lady assigned you to Second Young Master’s side to attend to him properly…”

“Cui’er,” Wenzhu cut her off. “We were very well in Le’an. Master Jiang referred to Second Young Master only as the descendant of an old acquaintance, and in front of others Second Young Master never showed the slightest arrogance. He wore the same clothes as his schoolmates, ate the same food, and when it was his turn on duty he swept the study hall and cleaned the latrines without a single complaint. Add to that his diligent study and his courteous, respectful manner, and there was not a single person at the academy — from the old man who kept the gate to Master Jiang himself — who did not take a liking to him. Second Young Master was very happy there. Please do not say anything in Yiniang’s presence that might stir up unnecessary trouble.”

Cui’er fell silent.

Even if she told Qin Yiniang, what could Qin Yiniang do but quietly weep a little?

Yet the thought of Second Young Master wearing Songjiang three-shuttle cloth left something unsettled in her heart, and her eyes grew damp at the corners.

“Cui’er.” Wenzhu then took her hand. “Second Young Master says: only by enduring the worst of hardship does one rise above all others. If Second Young Master has set his will on this, we who serve him should be glad for him. We must not speak carelessly and put him in a difficult position. The Young Heir, if he heard of it, would also be displeased.” As she spoke, she drew out a handkerchief and dabbed at Cui’er’s eyes.

Cui’er understood perfectly well by now, and nodded: “I understand. I will say nothing.”

Wenzhu smiled and refilled Cui’er’s tea.

Cui’er thought for a moment, then could not help asking: “Does Second Lady know?”

“She knows.” Wenzhu did not conceal it from Cui’er. “The day after Second Young Master returned, Second Lady came to see him. When she learned that he had been living exactly as his schoolmates, eating and sleeping alike, she praised Second Young Master for his determination.”

Cui’er had nothing more to say. She sat for a moment, then rose and took her leave.

But Wenzhu watched her retreating figure and gently shook her head.

Seeing this, Miyang said anxiously: “Wenzhu, are you worried that Cui’er will tell Yiniang about this?”

“Cui’er is a sensible woman.” Wenzhu shook her head lightly. “She will not tell Yiniang. I was only thinking…” She paused, turned, and saw that Taoliu, Lianjiao, and the others were all watching her with wide, innocent eyes, each one looking so young and fresh that she couldn’t help but smile. “I was only thinking how fortunate it was that I went with Second Young Master to Le’an, because otherwise I would never have known that the world is vast, and filled with many interesting people and many interesting things.”

Miyang and the others laughed, crowding in to embrace her and jostle her: “Sister went off to Le’an alone without taking us — how can she say such things now!”

Wenzhu only smiled.

But in her mind echoed the words Master Jiang had said to Second Young Master when they first arrived in Le’an: “…’When you have climbed to the summit, all the mountains below you will appear small.’ When you can understand these words, that is when you will understand why your father sent you here to study.”

She did not know what those lines of poetry had to do with Second Young Master being sent to the Jinxi Academy, but she had known since then only that with the Young Heir now in the household, Second Young Master’s prospects would be difficult going forward, and she had grieved for him. Yet after this journey back from Anle, she had come to understand something of what Master Jiang meant — within the walls of Marquis Yongping’s estate, grand as it was, everyone who was there, with their status and position, walked on eggshells, trembling and on guard at every turn. And yet in Anle, though they ate rough food and drank plain water, they could speak in loud voices and laugh without restraint…

With that thought, Wenzhu pressed her lips together in a smile.

They would be returning to Anle very soon!

And at that moment, in the main chambers, all was quiet save for the soft tick and click of the floor-standing clock’s gears turning in the eastern room.

Eleventh Lady sat cross-legged on the large kang by the window, and glancing up, saw Xu Sijie standing under the eaves.

He was dressed in a deep crimson robe with a cattail-leaf pattern, and his caretaker Nan Yong’s wife, full of warm fondness, was watching over him along with several young maids. He held a small transverse flute in his hands, and from time to time he would squeeze his face red trying to blow on it, then drop the flute and examine it with disappointment, then raise it again and try to blow, only to look even more crestfallen than before.

The corners of Eleventh Lady’s mouth curved upward.

Xu Sizhun was learning to play the transverse flute with Master Zhao, and Xu Sijie’s eyes had sparkled watching him. Whenever Xu Sizhun practiced, Xu Sijie would prop himself up on one elbow beside him and listen quietly. Seeing this, Master Zhao had crafted a little transverse flute and given it to Xu Sijie, teaching him a short musical phrase. Xu Sijie treated the flute as if it were the most wonderful toy in the world and set about imitating what he had been shown with great enthusiasm. But being so small, he could manage to produce a sound now and then, and far more often would squeeze his face red without managing any sound at all, which distressed him greatly. Yet he refused to give up, and every day after classes he came back and stood under the eaves, just as Xu Sizhun did, to practice his flute.

Nan Yong’s wife did not dare disturb Xu Sijie, and so every day she stood there beside him.

Eleventh Lady saw his face break into a wide smile and knew he had managed another note. Smiling to herself, she lowered her head and pressed the fine embroidery needle carefully against the last stitch. The needle slid through the thin gauze fabric…

A sound of light, quick little footsteps broke the quiet.

A small figure in deep crimson came rushing in from outside.

“Mother, Mother, listen, listen!”

Xu Sijie stood before the kang, breathing hard, then raised the flute to his lips.

“Wuu — wuu —” The flute let out two low, muffled sounds.

“Oh my!” Eleventh Lady quickly set down her embroidery needle, leaned forward, and pressed a kiss to Xu Sijie’s cheek. “Our Jie Ge has managed two notes!”

Xu Sijie was so excited his whole face was flushed, and he lifted the flute again: “I can keep blowing, keep blowing!”

Eleventh Lady scooped Xu Sijie up onto the kang. Nan Yong’s wife hurried forward and helped take off his shoes, and Eleventh Lady already had him cradled in her arms: “Our Jie Ge really is remarkable!”

Xu Sijie nodded eagerly, wriggled free and stood up, little body held perfectly straight, and blew the flute twice more.

Eleventh Lady clapped her hands.

Xu Sijie beamed with pride.

Eleventh Lady smiled and ruffled his hair. Xu Lingyi returned.

Hupo came in with a quiet step.

Eleventh Lady smiled and ruffled Xu Sijie’s hair, then asked her: “What is it?”

“The steward from the outer courtyard came to report that the banquet order from Chunxi Restaurant has been arranged,” she said with a smile. “They said it will be delivered punctually to the house at Sixiang Alley at the hour of You on the seventeenth of the third month.”

Fifth Elder Sister now lived at Sixiang Alley. The housewarming banquet that had originally been planned was cancelled following the passing of Elder Madam, but the gifts from Fourth Elder Sister, Seventh Elder Sister, Eleventh Lady, and the others had all been sent over. Fifth Elder Sister had sent four boxes of gifts in return as thanks, saying she would invite everyone over once the one-year mourning period had passed.

Eleventh Lady thought of Xu Siyu: “…The results should be posted tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is the day,” Hupo said with a smile. “I’ll go to the outer courtyard first thing in the morning to wait for word.”

Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded, then persuaded Xu Sijie to put down the flute and led him to the Grand Madam’s quarters for dinner.

Hupo rose early the next morning and went to the outer courtyard. At the start of the Hour of Si she came striding in: “My lady, Second Young Master has passed!”

Eleventh Lady was in the main front hall of the inner courtyard attending to household matters. The senior serving women standing nearby exchanged glances when they heard the news, but not one of them said a word of congratulation.

She found this rather amusing, and instructed Nanny Li, who oversaw the kitchen: “Add extra dishes today.” She then said to Hupo: “Go to the storeroom and fetch some silver ingots for gifts.”

Only then did the senior serving women rush forward one after another to congratulate Eleventh Lady.

—