Xu Lingyi had not returned all night. Eleventh Young Madam understood perfectly well — even setting aside the fact that the Emperor had already reconciled his differences with Xu Lingyi, the Emperor would never resort to something as crude as summoning a man to the palace to ambush him. And since the Empress Dowager wished to form a connection by marriage with the Xu family, she would never harm Xu Lingyi either. He was in the palace, but perfectly safe. Yet she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

At times she thought: this man holds high rank and considerable power, possesses a fair measure of cunning and strategy, yet is frequently constrained by others and has very little freedom. At other times she thought: what absolute freedom exists in this world? It is merely a matter of degree — compared to others, one is simply a bit more comfortable. At other times still she thought: when all is said and done, this is a problem of the system. If one cannot change the wider environment, one must find ways to adapt as best one can, and strive for the greatest possible freedom. Everyone rushes about desperately in pursuit of this… As she turned these thoughts over, she began to find her own ruminations faintly ridiculous — she was being quite unusually given to melancholy.

And so she drifted, restless and fitful, until dawn broke in a haze.

Hupo came in to help her dress.

“Has the Marquis returned?” There were many things she felt needed to be discussed with Xu Lingyi, and she feared he might have come back in the night and retired somewhere else without her knowing.

Hupo, noticing that Eleventh Young Madam appeared rather out of sorts, said carefully: “The Marquis has not returned. And no message has come out from the palace!”

Eleventh Young Madam gave a nod and rose to wash and dress.

The three concubines came to pay their morning respects.

Qin Yiniang appeared awkward and somewhat ill at ease. Wen Yiniang, departing from her usual garrulous manner, seemed subdued and quiet. Qiao Lianfang studied Eleventh Young Madam’s expression, and several times seemed on the verge of speaking before holding back.

From the look of things, everyone had apparently already heard the news.

The children were also staying in this part of the residence. Rather than let them speculate and stir up an atmosphere of tension, it was better to address the matter openly, so that everyone would have a clear sense of where things stood. Besides, in no more than ten or so days, the new person would be arriving.

“Last evening I received a decree.” Eleventh Young Madam swept her gaze over the three concubines and said unhurriedly: “The Empress Dowager has bestowed upon the Marquis, as a concubine-attendant, the third daughter of Yang Zhong — cousin-kinsman of the Jianninghou.”

Before she had finished speaking, the expressions of all three concubines shifted at once.

Qin Yiniang’s face held a look of shocked disbelief. Wen Yiniang appeared startled. Qiao Lianfang went white as paper, her eyes fixed on Eleventh Young Madam in a blank stare: “So then it is real!” Her tone was that of a woman who could not bring herself to believe it.

“It is naturally real.” Eleventh Young Madam said calmly. “The new person will be entering the household on the twelfth of the third month.”

“And the Marquis?” She stared with wide eyes. “What does the Marquis say?”

Whether it was from poor sleep the night before that her vision was playing tricks on her, or whether it was truly so — Eleventh Young Madam had the feeling that Qiao Lianfang’s dainty, well-proportioned figure seemed to sway.

“The Marquis is in the palace.” Eleventh Young Madam said. “The Marquis and I have not yet met. However, now that the decree has been issued, this matter may be considered settled.”

Qiao Lianfang made no reply. She bit her red lips with her pearlescent teeth until they turned white.

Just then, Nanny of the south quarters brought Xu Sijie in to pay his respects, and Xu Sizhun, Zhen Jie’er, and Xu Siyu arrived one after another.

Eleventh Young Madam thought for a moment, then told the children in gentle, measured terms of the matter of Xu Lingyi taking a new concubine.

Xu Siyu, as was his custom, stood quietly to one side without a word. Zhen Jie’er bowed her head and twisted her fingers together. Xu Sizhun appeared composed, and even asked Eleventh Young Madam: “On that day, should we ask Teacher Zhao for leave?”

The “we” he referred to meant himself and Xu Sijie.

Xu Sijie understood none of this at all and sat obediently in place. Hearing his elder brother say “we,” he opened his wide eyes and looked curiously back and forth between Xu Sizhun and Eleventh Young Madam.

She was, after all, a respectable young woman of good family, and was moreover bestowed by the Empress Dowager — the proper rites and ceremonies would certainly need to be observed. Most likely a few tables of banquet would be hosted, inviting relatives, friends, and old associates for a cup of wine.

“The decree only arrived last night, and none of this has yet been decided.” Eleventh Young Madam smiled. “Once it has been settled, I will let you all know.” She then asked whether the children had eaten, and they all said they had. Eleventh Young Madam raised her teacup: “Everyone may disperse. If there is anything, I will give everyone prior notice.”

Xu Siyu clasped his hands in a bow and withdrew.

Qin Yiniang, seeing this, quickly bent her knees in a bow to Eleventh Young Madam: “Then I shall return to my room to make clothes for Fifth Young Master.” And she followed close on Xu Siyu’s heels out the door.

Zhen Jie’er cast a worried glance at Eleventh Young Madam and went into the eastern side room.

Eleventh Young Madam’s room had a heated floor, and there was also a warm wall. Since the first snowfall of the previous year, Eleventh Young Madam had had her flower stands moved into the eastern side room, so Zhen Jie’er could do her embroidery there.

Xu Sizhun then took Xu Sijie by the hand: “Mother, we are going to Twin Lotus Courtyard.”

Young maids bustled about, some carrying food boxes, others holding school bags. The room grew lively with commotion.

Wen Yiniang gave a smiling bow toward Eleventh Young Madam and withdrew.

Eleventh Young Madam stepped down from the kang, intending as usual to see the two brothers to the door, but she noticed Qiao Lianfang standing there with a hesitant expression — as though wanting to leave yet unwilling to go. Eleventh Young Madam caught Hupo’s eye, then smilingly escorted the two brothers to the courtyard gate, and went directly to the front main hall to attend to household affairs.

Before long, Qiao Lianfang requested to see her.

One of the household management matrons looked on with curiosity.

A flicker of unease crossed Qiao Lianfang’s eyes. She greeted Eleventh Young Madam with a respectful bow and said in a low voice: “My lady, I have heard that a celebration is being planned for Second Young Master’s matters during the Third Month Third Festival, and now a new person is also coming in. You must have a great many things to attend to. If there is anything, my lady may instruct me freely. I would like to lend my lady some assistance.”

She just wants to find out early what sort of person the new arrival is, most likely.

Eleventh Young Madam inclined her head slightly and said: “If there is anything, I shall give Qiao Yiniang instructions!”

Qiao Lianfang could not help but hesitate. Seeing that Eleventh Young Madam had already turned her head to speak to one of the household management matrons, she finally withdrew.

She had barely left when a young maid came running in: “My lady, my lady, Madam Zhou is here!”

Eleventh Young Madam felt a lift of quiet pleasure in her heart.

The previous day, judging from Xu Lingyi’s tone, he had also encouraged Princess Fucheng to enter the palace. Could it be that news had come from that quarter?

She rose and went to the ornamental gate to receive her.

She had only just passed through the courtyard gate when she saw Madam Zhou descending from a small blue-curtained oil carriage.

Her face was drawn tight, and she was dressed in a rich crimson robe woven all over with gold, with her hair arranged in a round bun and pinned with gold hairpins and jade clasps, a belt of green jade about her waist, and a silent-step pendant of white mutton-fat jade hanging from it. She was dressed very formally and grandly — as if going to attend a banquet at someone’s home.

Or perhaps she had just come back from the palace?

Eleventh Young Madam reflected on this and quickly went forward to exchange greetings with Madam Zhou.

But Madam Zhou took her by the hand and led her straight into the room.

She walked with great strides, and Eleventh Young Madam had to hurry several steps to match her pace.

“All of you, withdraw!” As soon as Madam Zhou entered the room, she issued orders as though she were the mistress of the house, directing Eleventh Young Madam’s maids: “Go and wait in the covered walkway!”

Seeing that Madam Zhou’s complexion was poor and her voice faintly shot through with agitation, Eleventh Young Madam, not knowing what had happened, felt her own heart tighten as well. She quickly caught Lv Yun’s eye and dismissed the attendants at her side.

The moment the lattice doors closed, Madam Zhou leapt up: “Shameless, brazen creature — as though she had never laid eyes on a man in her life, chasing and pressing to send someone off…”

Eleventh Young Madam, hearing such coarse words from her, was so startled she jumped, and began to suspect Zhou Shizheng had become entangled in some romantic trouble outside. She quickly said: “What has happened?”

“Has the Empress Dowager not just as good as delivered a concubine-attendant to your household for nothing?” Madam Zhou said coldly.

The news had spread so quickly!

Eleventh Young Madam gave a slight nod.

Madam Zhou already continued with a mocking edge in her voice: “She has also sent one to that man of mine as well!”

This was the last thing Eleventh Young Madam had expected.

She could not conceal her astonishment as she looked at Madam Zhou: “She sent one to Lord Zhou as well?”

Madam Zhou nodded, the veins at her temples faintly swollen.

“She even speaks of ‘a household of distinguished name, trained in the ways of righteousness’ — what sort of ‘distinguished name’ does this Yang family have? If you pull out their family tree and trace it back three generations, I dare say you would find nothing but ‘the Three Sovereigns, Five Emperors, Xia, Shang, and Zhou’ — and they have the gall to speak of a ‘distinguished name.’ ” She was so furious her chest heaved with every breath. “I had not known until now that sending one’s daughter to be another man’s concubine was what is meant by ‘trained in the ways of righteousness.’ I truly must weep a few tears on behalf of all the empresses and imperial consorts of every dynasty in history…”

The tone of the Empress Dowager’s decree read like the appointment of an inner court consort. It was no wonder Madam Zhou spoke this way.

Seeing her face flushed crimson with rage, Eleventh Young Madam quickly poured a warm cup of tea and pressed it into her hands: “Elder Sister Zhou, do sit down and drink a cup of tea. It is not worth making yourself ill over people of that sort!”

Madam Zhou sat down with a huff and drank a mouthful of tea. Only then did she notice that Eleventh Young Madam appeared entirely composed. Her thoughts shifted, and she said: “I wonder if you are yet aware of who the Empress Dowager has bestowed upon the Marquis and upon that man of mine?”

Eleventh Young Madam recalled the wording of the decree — “cousin-kinsman of the Jianninghou, Yang Zhong” — and replied: “A collateral branch of the Yang family, I would imagine?”

Madam Zhou nodded, and her voice was noticeably steadier than before: “I had people make inquiries. Both of them were selected by the Jianninghou from among his own clan — originally they were being prepared to be sent into the palace. For several years now, they have been expressly given tuition at home in poetry, the qin, calligraphy, and painting, not to mention they have also been trained in song and dance…” At this point she paused briefly. “You tell me — what respectable family’s daughter would know these things? And a woman who knows these things — how could she ever enter a household like ours? You are also a perceptive person. Having someone of that kind beside you, with a name and a status and all that entails — over the long years to come, there is no telling what trouble she might stir up.”

“One cannot defy the decree.” Eleventh Young Madam said. “One can only ‘meet water with earth, and soldiers with arms’ — take things one step at a time and see.”

“I know that better than anyone!” Madam Zhou’s spirits sank. “It is simply that in my heart I truly cannot swallow this. From last night when I received the decree until now, this fury has not been able to settle.”

Even though one might say that the Yang women relied on the Empress Dowager’s power — the Empress Dowager’s condition, and the Emperor’s attitude toward this matter, were both critical. Yet the Yang family had dared to force such a union upon others by such forceful means, evidently placing a great deal of confidence in these two Yang women.

Eleventh Young Madam could not help but ask: “And what is Lord Zhou’s position in this?”

“He accompanied the Princess into the palace yesterday and has not returned until now!” Madam Zhou let out a sigh.

Eleventh Young Madam’s heart stirred at hearing this.

The Imperial Palace’s forbidden army answered directly to the Emperor. That someone like Princess Fucheng, Xu Lingyi, and even Zhou Shizheng should all be kept overnight in the palace — without the Emperor’s consent, this was absolutely impossible.

She thought of the Emperor’s several refusals of the Empress Dowager.

Could this be the Emperor’s intention?

No — if it were the Emperor’s intention, why was it the Empress Dowager’s decree?

Thoughts tumbled over one another, and her conversation with Madam Zhou became rather distracted and absent-minded. Madam Zhou, having vented herself in this way, was feeling considerably better. After talking with Eleventh Young Madam for a while, she rose and took her leave.

Eleventh Young Madam saw her to the ornamental gate.

She had only just returned to her seat in the main hall when Xu Lingyi came home.