In the depths of her heart, Eleventh Miss let out a soft, quiet sigh, and spoke in a low voice to remind Xu Lingyi, “There is an attendant boy over there.”
A flicker of reluctance crossed Xu Lingyi’s brow. He turned and called out to the boy, “What is it?”
His voice was calm and commanding.
Eleventh Miss was certain his expression had already returned to its usual composed and temperate look.
“My lord!” The attendant boy ran over breathlessly. “Word has come from the palace — Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has just passed away.”
Eleventh Miss’s heart gave a sudden lurch, and she reached out and gripped Xu Lingyi’s sleeve.
Xu Lingyi turned his hand over and clasped hers.
Warm. Wide. Steady.
“Where is Linbo?” he asked in a settled voice, and Eleventh Miss, too, slowly grew calm — a quiet, lingering sadness settling over her.
After so long, the end had finally come. So much scheming and calculation, all turned to nothing in the end…
“Several lords from the capital garrison who came to pay their respects to my lord have not yet departed,” the attendant boy said respectfully. “The palace messenger said that fearing it would be late and the palace gates would be locked by the time they returned, Linbo accompanied the palace messenger out through a side gate of the temple.”
Eleventh Miss noted that this attendant boy spoke in a clear and orderly fashion — a striking contrast to his earlier agitation — and could not help but look at him a moment longer.
Xu Lingyi had already turned and was quietly instructing her in a low voice. “You go back first. The palace mourning announcement will not come this quickly. We will return to the city at the original time. Do not make this known for now — no need to cast a shadow over everyone’s spirits.”
Eleventh Miss agreed.
There was nothing to be gained by knowing a moment sooner.
She nodded and made her way back to the side chambers by the same route, with Nanny Song and Hupo in attendance.
The Grand Madam and Second Madam were still in conversation. Fifth Madam and the children were still in cheerful play. Everything looked just as it had when she left. When they saw her come in, everyone simply smiled and exchanged a word with her. It was clear her absence had not drawn much attention from anyone.
Eleventh Miss let out a long breath, sat with the Grand Madam for a few words, and then, at the appointed hour, had the things packed up and the party departed from the Temple of National Protection.
Xu Lingyi, Xu Lingkuan, and Master Zhao rode alongside on horseback. When they came upon a fine view, the men would rein in their horses and pause to comment. Xu Lingyi’s expression showed no sign of anything amiss.
When they returned to Lotus Flower Lane, the palace mourning announcement had already arrived.
Even with prior preparation in her heart, the Grand Madam could not help but let out a long sigh upon hearing the news. “…Only forty-four this year!”
“Life and death have their fated hour, wealth and honor lie in heaven’s will,” Second Madam consoled the Grand Madam. “This, too, is one’s allotted fortune.” She added, “The Empress Dowager, when all is said and done, was a woman of good fortune.”
The Grand Madam listened and gave a slight nod, saying softly, “The Empress Dowager was of humble birth, ordinary in appearance, with no exceptional virtue — yet she was raised to Empress because she had borne no son, then came to have an Emperor for a filial son, who yielded to her in all things and indulged her at every turn… When one thinks of it this way, she was indeed a fortunate person.” As she spoke, she thought of the overbearing Marquis of Jianning and the Earl of Shouchang, and could not help but look toward Xu Lingyi.
What she saw was Xu Lingyi speaking in a low voice to Eleventh Miss: “…Have everything with any color swapped out overnight. Be sure it is all done and in order by tomorrow morning.”
Eleventh Miss answered softly, took her leave of the Grand Madam, and returned to her own courtyard, where she sent people to summon the matron managers, hastily ate her evening meal, and then instructed Hupo to go inform Yang Yiniang of the news. Once the managers had assembled, she began to assign their various duties.
Yang Yiniang, the moment she heard, threw herself over the cushions on the daybed and burst into loud, heaving sobs, giving Hupo quite a fright.
Nanny Yang, afraid that Hupo would take offense, pressed two pieces of broken silver into Hupo’s hand while explaining, “Our lady has been overcome with grief — please do be patient with her, miss.”
Anyone would surely respond this way.
Hupo made no comment. She accepted the silver and offered a few words of consolation, then rose and took her leave.
Nanny Yang personally escorted Hupo out through the passageway of the eastern side courtyard before turning back inside.
Yang Yiniang had already straightened herself and was sitting upright, her face without a trace of tears.
“Is the Empress Dowager truly dead?” Her voice was cold and detached.
Nanny Yang was taken aback. “Hupo came on Madam’s orders to inform us — it should be true.”
“Then go out quickly and check,” Yang Yiniang said. “If the Empress Dowager has truly died, the noble families will be required to observe mourning. The lanterns will certainly be changed to white.”
Nanny Yang did not understand what was worth doubting in all this, but went quickly regardless, and returned before long to report: “The household staff has already begun hanging white lanterns and mourning cloth.”
Only then did Yang Yiniang let out a long breath, and a bright, luminous smile spread across her face.
“Lady.” Nanny Yang watched this with a start, and reminded her, “The Empress Dowager has passed away. You…”
“I know.” Yang Yiniang cut Nanny Yang off. Her eyes gleamed with sharp clarity, and she looked to be in high, vivid spirits. “If she had not died, I would truly have had no way.” She then gave Nanny Yang instructions with a smile. “Go quickly and find out where Madam is and what she is doing. And bring me some chili peppers.”
“What does my lady want them for?” Nanny Yang asked flatly.
She did not know why, but she suddenly felt a chill.
“Madam placed me in Wen Yiniang’s charge,” Yang Yiniang said, her eyes glittering with a sharp and knowing light. “Several times I asked Wen Yiniang to present my embroidery patterns to Madam, but Wen Yiniang turned a deaf ear and made every excuse to put me off. And I could not go around her to speak with Madam directly… Now that the Empress Dowager is dead, there could not be a better opportunity. Do not ask me more than you need to — even if I told you, you would not understand. Just do as I say.” She finished speaking, walked to the dressing table and sat down, carefully smoothed her hair, and said, “Go quickly and come back. I am waiting for your news.”
Nanny Yang’s heart was full of confusion, but she dared not delay, and did as Yang Yiniang instructed. She handed the chili peppers to Yang Yiniang, and said, “Madam is in the side room beside the main hall, waiting for the various matron managers to come report to her.”
Yang Yiniang nodded, squeezed the chili pepper water into her eyes, which immediately filled with tears. Blinking and wincing with pain, she rinsed her eyes with water, and by the time she could see clearly again, they were swollen and red.
She rose to her feet. “Let us go to Madam.”
Nanny Yang hesitated a moment, then supported Yang Yiniang as they made their way to Eleventh Miss.
Upon hearing that Yang Yiniang was requesting to see her, Eleventh Miss was somewhat surprised, unable to guess what she might want, and had a young maidservant bring her in.
To be beautiful, wear white mourning dress. Standing before Eleventh Miss in a plain, unadorned pale-white jacket and Hangzhou-white drawn-thread skirt, Yang Yiniang’s eyes were red and swollen, her expression full of sorrow and determination, like a white plum blossoming unafraid in the cold — and Eleventh Miss’s gaze caught on her for a moment.
Seeing Eleventh Miss, she crossed the room in two swift strides and knelt before her. “Madam, I dare to ask one thing of you. If you grant it, I will repay you as an ox or a horse in my next life.” With that, she began to knock her head to the floor.
Eleventh Miss’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. “Whatever you have to say, stand up and say it.”
As she spoke, Hupo had already stepped forward to help Yang Yiniang to her feet.
Yang Yiniang remained kneeling and would not rise, but when she spoke, not a word was wasted. “Madam, I ask you to send someone to my family home to find out what has become of my younger brother.”
Eleventh Miss felt a quiet shock inside, but did not let it show on her face. “Has something happened at home?”
Yang Yiniang steeled herself and said, after a long pause, “Our family was a branch of the clan. Later, my aunt praised me for being clever and quick-witted, and brought me into the main household to be raised and educated. I have not seen my younger brother for five or six years now, and I do not know whether he is alive or dead. I ask you to send someone to my family home to look in on my brother.” With that, she knocked her head to the floor again. “Madam, I beg of you.”
“I will speak to the outer courtyard manager,” Eleventh Miss said, gesturing for Hupo to help her to her feet. “When there is word, Hupo will let you know.”
Yang Yiniang kowtowed three more times before standing. “Madam’s great kindness and virtue, I shall not forget for the rest of my life.” Her forehead was flushed a deep red.
Eleventh Miss looked at her forehead without speaking.
Yang Yiniang’s face filled with shame. “I ask Madam to forgive me for being so frightened and at a loss.”
She then followed Hupo and withdrew.
Eleventh Miss had Lvyun take a household tally and go to the outer courtyard to find Steward Bai, asking him to help look into the matter of Yang Yiniang’s family. That evening she also told Xu Lingyi of the affair.
Xu Lingyi, though quite surprised upon hearing it, asked no further questions, only urging her to rest early. “…Three consecutive days of palace visits ahead — do not exhaust yourself.”
Eleventh Miss smiled her assent, blew out the lamp, and lay down to sleep.
The next morning she dressed in full formal attire according to her rank and went to the palace. The wives of the Marquis of Jianning and the Earl of Shouchang had arrived early and were weeping as though they had lost their own parents. Seeing the Grand Madam and the others, they wept all the louder.
The Grand Madam paid them no attention, led the women of the household to offer incense, wept for a time, then was guided by the inner attendants to rest in the side hall. She conversed with familiar acquaintances for a while, had the midday meal, and in the afternoon wept once more before departing and returning to the mansion.
Yang Yiniang was waiting beneath the eaves.
When she saw Eleventh Miss and Xu Lingyi return, she stepped forward to greet them both with a bow, and lifted the door curtain to attend them inside. She remained standing outside the curtain, her demeanor respectful, but with a restrained and expectant hope underneath.
“Your family is in Hubei Province — there is no way word could come so quickly,” Eleventh Miss said. “You should go back first. The moment there is any news I will have someone tell you. So many years have already passed — there is no need to rush for this one moment.”
Yang Yiniang’s eyes filled with gratitude. She curtsied. “Thank you, Madam.”
And she left with Nanny Yang, moving somewhat unsteadily.
Eleventh Miss then continued entering the palace for two more days of mourning rites, and on the fourth day, together with the noble ladies of fourth rank and above in the capital, wept outside the Hall of Calmness and Nurturance for three more days. The Ministry of Rites set the mourning observances as follows: the Emperor and Empress to observe mourning for twenty-seven days in place of twenty-seven months; princesses, heirs apparent, and commandery princesses to observe major mourning for nine months; princes to observe minor mourning for five months; ducal and ministerial households to observe light mourning for three months; and common people to observe mourning for three days.
Xu Sizhun then led Xu Sijie in quietly putting away into storage the watermelon lanterns, sesame lanterns, fish-scale lanterns, and straw lanterns they had made in the preceding days — the success of the river lanterns had delighted the two brothers greatly, and they had made festival lanterns early in preparation for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Eleventh Miss smiled and put her arm around his shoulder. “We can bring them out for the New Year’s Festival and they will do just as well.”
Xu Sizhun smiled and looked up sideways at Eleventh Miss. “By then, let us make a turning-horse lantern too.”
“Wonderful!” Eleventh Miss said warmly, and patted his shoulder.
An attendant boy came running in. “A family letter has arrived from Second Young Master in Le’an.”
A thick bundle of papers.
Eleventh Miss brought Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie to the Grand Madam’s quarters.
There were letters for the Grand Madam, for Eleventh Miss, for Second Madam, and for Fifth Madam. The content was much the same throughout — all saying he was well, asking the family not to worry, and wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Grand Madam read hers and chuckled, praising that Xu Siyu’s calligraphy was getting better and better.
Eleventh Miss returned to her own room and had Xu Sizhun write a reply on her behalf.
Xu Sizhun was greatly pleased by this task. He worked on it for several days and even went to consult Master Zhao before setting the letter in final form and having it sent off to Le’an.