Returning to Lotus Blossom Lane, Eleventh Young Mistress first went to pay her respects to the Grand Madam.

The Grand Madam lay smiling and at ease on the large kang by the window, watching Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie coax little Xi Jie’er — who was just beginning to toddle — with large red apples. The room rang with laughter, bright and lively.

Eleventh Young Mistress was puzzled.

Fifth Young Mistress-in-law was not ordinarily fond of Xi Jie’er and Xu Sijie being together to play, yet today…

The thought had barely crossed her mind when Xu Sijie had already flung himself forward: ‘Mother, Mother!’

Eleventh Young Mistress quickly composed herself and smiled, stroking his hair. She looked up and called out ‘Mother’ to the Grand Madam.

‘You are back!’ said the Grand Madam, smiling and sitting up straight.

Xu Sizhun abandoned Xi Jie’er and came running over as well: ‘Mother, why did you come back so late?’ There was a note of gentle complaint in his tone. ‘You were gone all day and we did not get to hear you listen to us play the flute — we learned a new piece today with Master Zhao.’

‘Is that so?’ Eleventh Young Mistress bent down, smiling warmly at Xu Sizhun as she looked at him. ‘How dreadful of me. I went to visit Gan Grand Madam and missed hearing your new piece. Would you play it for me early tomorrow morning instead?’

Xu Sizhun wanted to play it for Eleventh Young Mistress right then and there, and hearing this, he hesitated a little. But Xu Sijie thought everything Eleventh Young Mistress said was wonderful, and clapped his hands: ‘All right, all right!’ Xu Sizhun, unable to insist, gave a reluctant nod.

Meanwhile, little Xi Jie’er, who had just been the center of everyone’s attention, found herself suddenly left in the cold. She stood there, tilting her head to look first at the Grand Madam, who was smiling warmly at Eleventh Young Mistress, then turned to glance at her own wet nurse standing respectfully to one side, and finally let her gaze rest on Eleventh Young Mistress, who was surrounded by the two brothers. Her lips crumpled — and with a wail, she burst into aggrieved tears.

Everyone was taken aback.

Xi Jie’er’s wet nurse had already rushed forward in two quick strides and lifted her up: ‘Young Miss, Young Miss…’ She soothed her softly.

It was only then that Eleventh Young Mistress noticed that Fifth Young Mistress-in-law and Nanny Shi were nowhere to be seen.

Xi Jie’er was Fifth Young Mistress-in-law’s first child, and because her health had never been robust, Fifth Young Mistress-in-law kept an even closer watch on her, rarely leaving her side. If something came up and she could not keep the child with her, she would always send Nanny Shi — the one she trusted most — to attend her in the meantime…

No wonder the three children had ended up playing together.

She had no idea what urgent matter had called Fifth Young Mistress-in-law away.

While Eleventh Young Mistress was still turning it over in her mind, Xi Jie’er had already twisted in her wet nurse’s arms and called out ‘Elder Brother’ to Xu Sizhun, with every sign of demanding him.

Xu Sizhun, seeing this, quickly ran over and took Xi Jie’er by the hand.

Xi Jie’er quieted, and buried herself against the wet nurse’s shoulder, her crying fading to soft hiccupping sobs.

‘Oh my!’ the wet nurse laughed. ‘So it seems our Young Miss likes the Fourth Young Master best of all!’ Her tone was not without a touch of flattery.

Xu Sizhun lowered his head, looking a little self-conscious.

Everyone laughed.

Eleventh Young Mistress went forward and paid her respects to the Grand Madam.

The Grand Madam nodded with a smile and gestured to the kang cushion opposite her for Eleventh Young Mistress to sit. A young maidservant brought tea. ‘How is Fuzhen?’

‘She is well,’ said Eleventh Young Mistress with a smile as she sat down. ‘Though her spirits are still a little subdued, her color is much better than before.’

‘She is young, and the days ahead of her are long.’ The Grand Madam heard this and gave a soft sigh. ‘As long as she recovers slowly, that is what matters.’

The Grand Madam was herself a widow, and naturally had many feelings of her own to draw from.

Eleventh Young Mistress, not wishing to stir any sadness in the Grand Madam, smiled and shifted the subject: ‘How is it that I do not see Fifth Sister-in-law?’

‘She has a slight fever,’ the Grand Madam said with a smile. ‘She was afraid of passing the illness to the child, and so she has had Xi Jie’er stay in my room for a few days.’

That explained why the three children had come to play together.

The medical care in those days was so limited. Even the smallest chill could take a person’s life.

Eleventh Young Mistress felt a pang of worry: ‘What does the physician say? Is it serious?’

‘Imperial Physician Liu says a few doses of medicine will put her right,’ the Grand Madam said with a smile. ‘I sent Nanny Du to look in on her. They said she has taken her medicine and broken a good sweat, and has just lain down to rest.’

‘Then I shall go and see her tomorrow.’

Just as they were speaking, the bright, bell-clear laughter of the children drifted over.

Eleventh Young Mistress and the Grand Madam both turned toward the sound, and saw three small heads clustered together, each taking turns pulling on a little toy of a pecking hen, playing with unrestrained delight.

Looking upon the children’s pure and innocent smiles, both of them found their own lips curving into a smile.

The Grand Madam then took Eleventh Young Mistress’s hand: ‘I am getting on in years now — my only wish is to enjoy my grandchildren and spend my remaining days in peace. From now on, if there are guests to receive, except for old friends of mine like Lady Huang, you can see to them on my behalf. No need to bring them to me.’

Eleventh Young Mistress was quite surprised — and moved, more than anything else.

She knew the Grand Madam had no affection for the Yang family, but the Empress Dowager was still alive, and the Yang family and the Xu family moved in the same social circles — unavoidably crossing paths, heads up at one turn and tails up the next — and appearances still had to be maintained to some degree. This was also one of the reasons she had chosen to absent herself when the Lady of the Marquis of Jianning had come calling, wishing by this means to give the Yang family a gentle and indirect reminder. She had not expected the Grand Madam to support her so unreservedly — not the slightest trace of difficulty or reproach in her manner, and she had moreover entrusted the Xu household’s external social affairs entirely to her hands.

‘Mother!’ Eleventh Young Mistress instinctively clasped the Grand Madam’s hand in return.

The Grand Madam smiled, eyes crinkling warmly, and patted her hand: ‘Very well, very well — let us not speak of all that. You spent an entire afternoon at Fuzhen’s, what did you two talk about? What is the situation in the Gan family now? The lord and lady of the Gan family sent someone yesterday morning to set a date with me and invite me to hear an opera at their new house!’

Eleventh Young Mistress needed the Grand Madam to be informed, and did not stand on ceremony with her. She kept the Grand Madam’s warm gesture in her heart and picked out some of the more interesting matters to share.

When the Grand Madam heard that Madam Gan had come of her own accord to ask to perform morning and evening obeisance before Gan Grand Madam, she gave a measured nod: ‘To love one’s own elders and then extend that love to others; to care for one’s own young and then extend that care to others. If she can truly extend her own feelings outward and follow through on what she has said, the Gan family will not be a complete and utter ruin.’ When she heard that officials had come to the embroidery shop to order court robes, she was even more delighted on their behalf: ‘…They must properly thank His Highness the Shun Prince. And then speak with him again and see whether there might be more business of this kind — and that going forward he should remember to look after your shop. In business, the first two years are always the hardest. Once those two years are past, things will be easier.’

Eleventh Young Mistress smiled and assented. Noticing that Xi Jie’er, still laughing, was beginning to yawn between her giggles — worried that working the child into too high a state of excitement might make it difficult for her to sleep — she rose with a smile to take her leave.

The Grand Madam, bearing in mind that she had spent the whole day visiting at another’s home, did not urge her to stay, and had Nanny Du see her and Xu Sijie out the door.

Back in her own rooms, Xu Lingyi had already washed up and retired, lying propped on the bed reading. Seeing her return, he smiled and asked: ‘Well? After spending a whole day in private conversation with Gan Grand Madam, has your mood improved?’

As though she had gone off in a sulk.

Eleventh Young Mistress was momentarily exasperated — yet she smiled calmly at Xu Lingyi: ‘Among the five cardinal relationships, friendship is one. Sunzi held that there are three kinds of friendship worth having and three kinds that bring ruin, saying that because friendship touches on the whole of one’s life, it must not be taken lightly. This concubine has done nothing more than follow the sages’ teachings in going to visit an upright friend and a sincere friend — naturally one’s mood would improve.’

Xu Lingyi burst out laughing at that.

Eleventh Young Mistress turned away to wash and change, paying him no further attention.

When she came out, a few traces of a smile still lingered at the corners of Xu Lingyi’s brows. She pretended not to see, blew out the lamp, and lay down — only to be immediately drawn into Xu Lingyi’s arms.

‘Moyan, Moyan,’ he murmured softly with a sigh. ‘Little fool — stop tormenting yourself over nothing.’

Had she truly been too cautious and careful?

Eleventh Young Mistress was quite perplexed.

Two days later, Lady Zhou appeared without any advance notice.

‘The Lady of the Marquis of Jianning wants to come and call on me,’ she said, with a cool smile. ‘I used the excuse that I had already made an appointment with you today to go look at some things in the embroidery shop, and handed her over to the Princess.’

Eleventh Young Mistress was not surprised.

If the Lady of the Marquis of Jianning had come to call on her, she would naturally also go to call on Lady Zhou.

Lady Zhou saw that Eleventh Young Mistress’s expression was perfectly serene, and in a flash of understanding she said: ‘She came to see you too!’

Eleventh Young Mistress nodded and smiled: ‘I did just as you did — I avoided her!’

Lady Zhou gave a dismissive snort: ‘She really thinks quite a lot of herself! Running east and west about the city — I would quite like to see what good it does her!’

From that tone, it sounded as though she was rather displeased with what Princess Fucheng had said about ‘treating the Yang family as proper relatives.’

But this was after all a private matter, and Eleventh Young Mistress did not think it right to probe too deeply. She asked Lady Zhou: ‘Do you want to go to the embroidery shop and have a look?’

‘I did in fact come to you to buy some things,’ said Lady Zhou, and after a few more words, her tone gradually grew more even. ‘I have two close personal maids who are very dear to me — they are to be released from service in the next few days, and I intend to outfit them with a complete set of wedding dowry goods, since they have served me wholeheartedly and deserve no less.’

Her words gave Eleventh Young Mistress’s heart a sudden stir, and an idea began to take shape.

If it could be made so that the maids of every household considered it a mark of distinction to have their wedding trousseau ordered from their embroidery shop, then their shop would have truly established its own reputation and name.

The more she turned it over, the more she felt it was feasible. While she mulled it over in her mind, making a note to find an opportunity to consult with Master Jian and the two shop managers, she dressed herself properly and went with Lady Zhou to pay her respects to the Grand Madam, after which the two of them set off for the embroidery shop.

Lady Zhou lingered there for two full hours, selecting not only two complete sets of wedding goods but also purchasing several handkerchiefs for herself. It was plain to see she was quite satisfied with the embroidery shop’s handiwork.

When they came out, Eleventh Young Mistress assumed she would head straight back to the Princess’s mansion, but to her surprise Lady Zhou took her arm: ‘I have already put your name to good use and gotten out of the house for a visit — I may as well impose on you properly while I am at it. Come and take me back to your house for the evening meal!’

Shopping, complaining, and indulging oneself were all capable of lifting a low mood.

Eleventh Young Mistress understood her state of mind and smiled: ‘I was going to pull you home for the evening meal even if you had not said so!’

‘Then I will not stand on ceremony!’ Lady Zhou grinned and returned with Eleventh Young Mistress to Lotus Blossom Lane.

The two of them had just stepped down from the carriage at the latticed gate when Eleventh Young Mistress noticed a young manservant from Lady Zhou’s entourage come sprinting over.

‘My Lady — the Lady of the Marquis of Jianning has gone!’ he said between gasps. ‘The Princess, following the old customs for receiving family relations, had the Lady of the Marquis of Jianning stand in the center of the main hall’s courtyard to answer her.’ He paused for breath, his eyes lighting up with barely concealed glee. ‘The Lady of the Marquis of Jianning was so furious… The Princess’s chief attending maid said, the family’s relatives have always been received this way — surely it could not be changed on her account!’

Lady Zhou heard this and burst into laughter.

Still laughing, she shot Eleventh Young Mistress a rather pleased look: ‘Ours is a Princess’s mansion. Receiving a Lady of a Marquis household has one set of rules and decorum; receiving family relations has another. She did not wish to be a Lady of a Marquis household — she wanted to be the Princess’s relative — and naturally she could only be received by the rules for relatives.’

Only now did Eleventh Young Mistress grasp Princess Fucheng’s intention.

The Princess was a branch of the golden imperial tree, a scion of the imperial house — even the Prince Consort knelt before her, to say nothing of a family relation.

* * *