Eleventh Young Madam quietly recounted the details of the event to the Grand Madam. The Grand Madam listened with a suppressed smile and then instructed the maids to set out the meal.

Xu Siyu hurried over to support the Grand Madam as they made their way to the eastern side chamber.

The Grand Madam asked Xu Siyu, “The Third Month Third Festival this year was originally arranged for your sake — do you have any classmates or close friends you would like to invite?”

“No one!” Xu Siyu said with a smile. “All of your grandson’s classmates and close friends are back in Le’an.”

Fifth Madam smiled upon hearing this and said, “Just a couple of days ago, the eldest grandson of the Zhennnan Prefect’s household came to invite you for a spring outing. What, are you not planning to invite him back?”

Xu Siyu smiled and replied, “Teacher Jiang originally instructed me to return to An’le once the county examination was over, so as not to fall behind in my studies. I have already delayed my return to An’le, and I cannot afford to further neglect my studies — I shall be at home reading these next few days just the same. If I agree to the Zhennnan Prefect’s eldest grandson’s invitation, I am afraid more invitations will follow. Rather than spending my time on such matters, it would be better to stay home and read a few more pages.” He wore the air of someone who preferred not to socialize widely.

Fifth Madam was somewhat taken aback.

Second Madam’s eyes held a faint trace of quiet amusement.

The Grand Madam nodded in approval: “Our Siyu speaks sensibly.”

As she spoke, everyone settled into their seats in a circle, and the maids moved about softly, laying out the food and dishes.

The assembled company fell silent and each bowed their heads to eat. The room filled only with the gentle clinking of porcelain.

After the meal, the group moved to the western side chamber for tea.

Large red ruffled gauze lanterns hung down from the ceiling beams, casting a warm, festive glow across everyone’s faces.

Xu Siyu recounted what he had seen and heard along the way. The Grand Madam and the children listened with rapt delight. Second Madam held her teacup and sipped quietly without a word. Zhen Jie’er, following Eleventh Young Madam’s lead, attended to the guests, urging them to drink tea and eat the refreshments and fruit. Fifth Madam seemed somewhat distracted, from time to time pressing her hand against Xin Jie’er’s forehead and in a low voice asking the wet nurse about Xin Jie’er’s condition — the child had coughed a few times earlier.

The room held a measure of cheerful commotion, yet it was warm and lively all the same.

As the sky gradually darkened, Second Madam rose and took her leave.

The Grand Madam kept Eleventh Young Madam back to attend her as she settled for the night, and the rest dispersed.

“Put your heart at ease and go rest.” The Grand Madam comforted Eleventh Young Madam. “Princess Fucheng was also quite a handful in her younger years, but as she has grown older, her temper has mellowed considerably. If the Empress Dowager goes too far, Princess Fucheng will not simply endure it. The fourth son is not truly slow-witted either — he understands the proper manner of advance and retreat. And then there is the Emperor — the Emperor is not confused when it comes to matters of importance.”

She must have noticed that Xu Lingyi had not yet returned, and feared that Eleventh Young Madam was worried.

Eleventh Young Madam smiled and murmured her assent. She helped the Grand Madam settle her bedcovers, extinguished the octagonal palace lantern at the bedside, moved the gourd-shaped palace lantern from the low table on the kang to the small table beside the standing floor lamp, and then, upon seeing Wei Zi come in carrying bedding, finally returned to her own courtyard.

The wind of early spring night still carried the lingering chill of winter. A crescent moon hung in the sky above the hushed and tranquil Yongping Marquis Residence. Large red lanterns swayed beneath the eaves in the breeze, like mischievous children at play — seemingly on the verge of collision, then parting again, bobbing in ceaseless, joyful motion.

Eleventh Young Madam tucked her cloak more snugly about her and quickened her steps into the main hall.

The young maids hurried forward to help her change clothes and freshen up.

After changing into her everyday dress, Eleventh Young Madam leaned comfortably against the bolster pillow on the large kang by the window and savored a cup of chrysanthemum tea, considering whether to wait up for Xu Lingyi’s return, when a young maid came running in: “Chief Steward Bai is here!”

At this hour!

Eleventh Young Madam thought of Xu Lingyi, still in the palace… A flicker of alarm she herself did not notice crossed her expression. She instructed the young maid to invite Chief Steward Bai in, and with a cloak draped over her shoulders, went out to the main hall.

Chief Steward Bai’s complexion was somewhat ashen. He hurried forward and made his bow: “My lady, an imperial decree has arrived — the Empress Dowager’s decree!”

A faint unease rose quietly within Eleventh Young Madam’s heart.

“Understood.”

She then instructed the young maids to go inform the Grand Madam, Second Madam, and Fifth Madam, while she herself called for Hupo, returned to her room to change into her formal ceremonial attire, and hurried to the Grand Madam’s residence.

In the stillness of the night, the main gate of the Yongping Marquis Residence swung slowly open with a dull, grinding creak of the gate pivot, and the lights of the inner courtyard came on one by one as the great gate opened. Before long, the entire estate was ablaze with lamplight.

The Grand Madam’s expression was grave and composed: “The fourth son has not yet returned?”

“He has not!” Eleventh Young Madam had barely opened her mouth when Second Madam spoke first: “Mother need not be troubled. If the matter concerned the Marquis, it would surely be an imperial decree from the Emperor, not the Empress Dowager’s decree.”

The Grand Madam gave a nod. Fifth Madam stepped forward to support the Grand Madam, and the assembled party made their way to the courtyard before the small reception hall behind the main hall.

The envoy bearing the decree was the head eunuch of the Ci’ning Palace. Upon seeing the inner household ladies of the Xu residence, a flicker of embarrassment crossed his features. He bowed toward the Grand Madam, then unrolled the bright yellow silk brocade embroidered with five-colored phoenix patterns.

“The third daughter of Yang Zhong, cousin-kinsman of the Jianninghou — raised from girlhood in the rites and teachings, long known for her quiet virtue and refinement, descended of a distinguished household, her fine reputation reaching within the inner chambers — is hereby bestowed upon Yongping Marquis Xu Lingyi as a concubine-attendant. The auspicious date is set for the twelfth of the third month.”

The soft, mellifluous voice fell like a stone into deep water — without a ripple of sound.

The eunuch shifted uncomfortably and gave a soft, deliberate cough, then called out “Grand Madam” in a tone that seemed to appeal for help.

The Grand Madam’s complexion had gone somewhat pale. She knelt there with both hands pressing on her knees, and for a long while did not rise.

Fifth Madam’s expression flashed with a trace of consternation. She hastily rose to help the Grand Madam to her feet.

Second Madam’s expression became faintly stern.

The decree had already been issued — could one refuse to receive it? And kneeling in this fashion could not resolve anything either. If word reached the Empress Dowager’s ears, it would only add another offense to their name.

She reached out to pull Eleventh Young Madam forward.

This was a matter of the fourth branch. Only if she received the decree would the Grand Madam be able to reconcile herself to it.

But just as she raised her hand, the Eleventh Young Madam kneeling before her had already gracefully risen to her feet.

“You have taken the trouble to come, Honored Eunuch.” Eleventh Young Madam stepped forward with a smile and received the decree. She caught Chief Steward Bai’s eye with a glance where he knelt at the gate. “The Marquis is still in the palace, and the Fifth Master is presently on duty. I can only ask that the Honored Eunuch be so gracious as to step into the side hall for a cup of tea.”

The eunuch upon hearing this let out a great breath of relief, like a man finally rid of a hot coal. He handed the decree over to Eleventh Young Madam and first stepped forward to bow toward the Grand Madam: “Grand Madam, the hour grows late — I must return to the palace to report. Another day I shall come to pay my respects to the Grand Madam.” Without waiting for the Grand Madam to reply, he bowed toward Eleventh Young Madam as well: “Yongping Marchioness, I shall take my leave.” With those words he caught the eye of the young eunuch attending him, and with a lift of his foot, walked out of the small courtyard.

Chief Steward Bai hastily followed alongside him, bowing as they walked, and slipped something into the eunuch’s attendant’s hand.

Connected as this matter was to the life and death and honor of the Yang family after the Empress Dowager’s passing, the Empress Dowager would not yield. On this point Eleventh Young Madam had long been prepared. It is the unknown that always fills one with anxiety and dread. In the instant the decree was heard, she felt a quiet calm and lightness — as though the other shoe had finally dropped.

Thinking of the Grand Madam’s pallor, Eleventh Young Madam turned and took her other arm: “Mother, let me accompany you back.”

The Grand Madam gripped tight the hand Eleventh Young Madam had placed on her arm and gave a faint nod.

Fifth Madam immediately and deferentially released her hold and stepped quietly to one side.

The Grand Madam then raised her head and looked at Second Madam and Fifth Madam. She said with firm composure: “Both of you go and rest. There is no need to accompany me in this commotion!”

These words were spoken with extraordinary impropriety.

Second Madam and Fifth Madam bowed their heads and assented in unison. They stood in place watching as the Grand Madam and Eleventh Young Madam, surrounded by a cluster of maids and matrons, gradually disappeared from view, before each going their separate ways.

Eleventh Young Madam observed the Grand Madam’s expression — she was clearly on the verge of speaking yet holding back — and not wishing to make things difficult for her, took the teacup from Nanny Du’s hands and offered it forward. “Whatever the Emperor’s intentions may be, whatever the Marquis’s intentions may be, now that the Empress Dowager’s decree has been issued, there is no conceivable reason for it to be retracted. Otherwise, what becomes of the imperial family’s dignity? What becomes of the honor and authority of the royal household? Mother need not worry about me — I know what matters, I shall tread carefully, and I will not allow outsiders to mock our Xu family.”

The Grand Madam took the teacup and set it aside. She was truly at a loss for words. She took Eleventh Young Madam’s hand and let out a long sigh: “You are a sensible and good child…” The rest of the words, however, could not be brought to her lips.

“Now that a new person has been bestowed and the date set so soon, there are many trifling matters still to be arranged. This is also my first time encountering something like this, and I am not certain of the customs and proprieties involved — I shall very likely need Mother’s guidance on many things.” Eleventh Young Madam smiled and rose to her feet. “Mother, let me see you to rest.”

The Grand Madam shook her head gently: “You go and rest. I shall finish this cup of tea before I sleep.”

For the Xu family, who had long sought to keep the Yang family at arm’s length, the arrival of a Yang woman through the door was hardly cause for celebration — and the news had come so suddenly. The Grand Madam, too, needed time to consider what lay ahead.

Eleventh Young Madam smiled and exchanged a few murmured words with the Grand Madam — the sort of “do sleep early” pleasantries — and was then seen out the door by Nanny Du.

Hupo noticed her mistress’s subtly grave expression and the frequent traces of deep thought that crossed her face. She lightened her own footsteps and watched sharply over the accompanying maids and matrons, fearing one of them might make some sound at this moment and disturb Eleventh Young Madam.

The group followed in silence behind Eleventh Young Madam, passing through the covered walkway, and came to a stop before the courtyard gate.

Eleventh Young Madam stood on the steps and surveyed the brilliantly lit courtyard. For a long while she made no sound.

In the vast courtyard, one heard only the soft rustle of the night wind through the treetops.

“My lady!” The courtyard gate stood in a draught — if she caught a chill, it would be terrible. And who knew if some scheming person might call it an illness born of grief, or feigned illness. Hupo crept forward carefully and called softly to Eleventh Young Madam: “Would you like me to fetch you a cloak?”

A tactful reminder about the wind.

Eleventh Young Madam gave an “Oh” and said: “No need. Let us go inside.”

Hupo let out a breath of relief.

Then she heard Eleventh Young Madam say: “Tell me — should the new person live separately somewhere of her own, or should she live with us? By rights, since she was bestowed by the Empress Dowager, she is unlike an ordinary concubine. It would be perfectly reasonable for her to live separately. In that case, the only options would be Flowing Fragrance Cottage, Mirror-Gazing Hall, or Warm Fragrance Pavilion on the western side of the garden. Flowing Fragrance Cottage is too close to water — that is not safe. Warm Fragrance Pavilion is too simple and sparse; people might say we are treating her with neglect… If she lives with us” — she glanced over the side rooms around the courtyard — “however you look at it, she is a concubine and cannot live in the front courtyard. The rear rooms? But then what about all of you? To live in the eastern small courtyard with the concubines — Wen Yiniang already occupies the first south-facing suite. Surely we cannot ask Wen Yiniang to move for her?” She breathed out slowly. “What a vexing business this is!”

What on earth is my lady thinking about? At a moment like this — not sending someone to find out what has happened in the palace? Whether the Marquis is safe? — and instead worrying about all of this!

Hupo, hearing this, was so exasperated she could not gather her wits for some time. At last she said quietly: “These matters should still be discussed with the Marquis before any decision is made!”

Eleventh Young Madam seemed not to grasp the implication behind Hupo’s words. She nodded: “Then we shall wait for the Marquis’s return before making a decision.” And with that, she walked briskly inside.