Since matters had turned out this way, things became much easier to handle.

Taking advantage of Wenzhu’s visit to collect her New Year’s reward, Eleventh Young Lady kept her behind for a private talk.

“…You are older than Second Young Master, and being a girl, you are more attentive to detail. There are certain things I can only entrust to you.” She dismissed the attendants from the room. “A goose passing by leaves behind its call; a person passing through leaves behind their name. Second Young Master is in Le’an — with Teacher Jiang above him and his fellow students and classmates around him. You must watch carefully and make absolutely certain that Second Young Master does not stray from the right path. If he were to go wrong, his entire future would be destroyed. And all of you who follow at his side would lose face just the same!”

Wenzhu’s face flushed deep purple-red as she listened. She immediately dropped to her knees before Eleventh Young Lady. “Madam, I swear…”

“I trust you.” Eleventh Young Lady cut her off and took her by the hand. “That is precisely why I am telling you this quietly. So long as one’s position is righteous and one’s name is legitimate, one may stand tall and speak boldly. You are a clever woman — you should understand what I mean.”

Wenzhu’s heart was thrown into utter confusion. She could only nod blankly in reply, and then a gust of cold air struck her face — it was only then that she realized she had somehow already walked out of the Madam’s courtyard without knowing it.

Seeing that Wenzhu was a woman of understanding, Eleventh Young Lady let out a quiet breath of relief and turned her full attention to preparations for the Spring Festival.

On the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, they offered sacrifices to the Kitchen God, changed the paired couplets and peachwood charms, swept away the dust, and hung lanterns and decorations to welcome the new year.

Eleventh Young Lady enlisted Wen Yiniang and set her to work alongside Hupo in distributing the New Year’s red envelopes to each household.

Wen Yiniang noticed that Lvyun had prepared a bowl of brown sugar water for Eleventh Young Lady and let out a soft sigh. Returning to her room, she said to Qiuhong: “There are those who may surpass others in strength, but none can surpass fate. Look at our Madam — she has every advantage imaginable, yet the matter of children comes with such difficulty. She must feel some small unease within.”

Hupo, too, was quietly anxious.

On New Year’s Eve, when she went to pay her respects before the Bodhisattva, she quietly made a vow to observe a vegetarian diet on the first and fifteenth of the first lunar month.

Eleventh Young Lady only felt somewhat weary.

First had come all the preparations for the New Year. Then on the first day of the new year, she rose early and went to the palace to pay her New Year’s respects. Marchioness Yongping’s Madam Huang, Madam Lin, and several others had come to accompany the Grand Dowager Lady in a game of cards. While Eleventh Young Lady was not required to stand in attendance at the side, she could not very well retreat to her room either. Only by evening did she at last have the opportunity to wash up and bathe.

Xu Lingyi had a succession of four or five braziers lit at a single order.

“Would you rather be clean, or would you rather be alive?”

The room was warm as spring, but also stifling.

Eleventh Young Lady coughed as she laughed and said, “I would rather be clean!”

Xu Lingyi could do nothing about it. He had the braziers moved out and replaced with thick quilts, drawing her into his embrace to sleep.

“Thankfully you need not go out these next few days. The Luo Family is in Yuhang — there is no need to visit relatives on the second or third day of the new year. You may simply rest well at home. If Mother asks after you, just say you are feeling a little unwell.”

Eleventh Young Lady nodded, curled up in his arms, and before long had fallen into a deep and heavy sleep.

Xu Lingyi looked upon her serene and peaceful face and could not help but smile. He pressed a kiss to her cheek, then blew out the lamp and settled in to rest.

On the second day of the new year, Xu Lingyi went alone to call briefly on Yu Yiqing and Qian Ming. From the third day onward, he began receiving New Year’s visitors in the outer courtyard.

Eleventh Young Lady was happy to steal a moment of leisure amidst all the bustle. Together with Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie, she roasted broad beans over a brazier of silver-frost charcoal. Not until the fourth day, when she felt more herself again, did she change into a small padded jacket of red tapestry-silk and settle in to receive guests at home. Visitors came and went, laughter and conversation flowed freely, and before long, the Lantern Festival arrived.

After viewing the lanterns and taking down the festive red lanterns of the holiday, Eleventh Young Lady paid a call to the Zhongqin Earl’s residence.

Madame Gan, the Grand Dowager Lady, instructed a young maidservant to bring out two crocks of preserved garlic.

“When I was a girl at home, this was one of my greatest skills. The late Earl disliked the smell of it, so I had not made any for a number of years. This winter, with time on my hands and nothing else to do, I made over a dozen crocks all at once. One is for you, and one is for Master Jian. Taste them and tell me how my craft holds up.”

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and had Lvyun take them away.

“The shop is planning to open on the eighteenth of the first month.” She discussed the matter with Madame Gan. “Master Jian would like to recruit a few more experienced hands, specifically to work on embroidered rank badges.”

“You and the others may decide such matters on your own.” Madame Gan laughed. “When my elder brother came to visit over the New Year, and learned that we had been making money, the way he looked at me was entirely different.” She laughed with great delight. “I felt so pleased with myself inside. Just the day before, my sister-in-law even came to consult me about my niece’s marriage prospects — as if I had suddenly become a capable and accomplished person.”

Eleventh Young Lady laughed heartily.

Madame Gan then made a request of Eleventh Young Lady: “That niece of mine — she turns twelve this year, and is commendable in both looks and character. If you happen to come across anyone suitable, do keep an eye out for her.”

Eleventh Young Lady thought of the principal wife of the Lin household: “The Shao Family has many sons, but they are far away in Cangzhou.” Then she thought of Madam Zhou. “The Wang Family is also quite prosperous in members.”

“Please do make some inquiries on my behalf. When the time comes, my sister-in-law will look into things carefully herself.”

The two women chatted at length about idle matters, and Eleventh Young Lady stayed for the midday meal at Madame Gan’s residence before taking her leave.

She had not expected to find Madam Zhou already waiting in the room on her return.

“I do not fare well at home, and yet there is nowhere else for me to go,” she said. She was dressed in a decorative jacket of ten-patterned brocade in peacock blue, with large ruby ear-drops at her ears that shimmered brilliantly, casting a glow of cheerful radiance across her face. “I was afraid people would ask me questions.”

From all appearances, there was nothing grief-stricken about her at all.

Eleventh Young Lady invited her into the inner chamber for a private word: “What has happened exactly?”

Madam Zhou pursed her lips in a smile.

Though there was no one else in the room, she still lowered her voice by several degrees: “That man in our household actually had the audacity to try bribing the nannies at my side. I played along with his scheme and simply allowed her to draw close to my lord husband at will. The result — just yesterday, it was confirmed that she has conceived.” As she spoke, the corners of her eyes lifted with a bright gleam. “Now that the Princess knows, my lord husband will certainly not escape a thorough dressing-down. I was afraid that when the moment came, he might find it difficult to save face, so I deliberately came away to give him space.”

Eleventh Young Lady was somewhat taken aback. She had not anticipated that Madam Zhou’s “plan already in place” would amount to this.

“And the child…” she could not help but murmur.

“That depends on what the Princess decides to do!” Madam Zhou said indifferently, lifting her teacup to take a sip. “This Iron Goddess of Mercy is quite fine to drink.” She praised the tea first, then continued: “Remove the child and keep the mother — and she will never be able to bear children again.” A cold and icy gleam flickered in the depths of Madam Zhou’s eyes. Childbirth in ancient times was already fraught with peril, and a forced termination of pregnancy carried even greater risk of something going wrong. “Keep the child and remove the mother —” a mocking smile brushed across the corners of Madam Zhou’s lips, “— and I shall raise that child into whatever I see fit.”

Eleventh Young Lady let out a quiet, inward sigh and changed the subject: “Some wild geese arrived from the old family estate. Sister, won’t you stay for the evening meal?”

“Of course!” Madam Zhou was in fine spirits and laughed. “First let me go pay my respects to the Grand Dowager Lady, and then the two of us can have a good, long talk.”

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and accompanied her to sit with the Grand Dowager Lady, then returned and mentioned the matter of Madame Gan’s niece of marriageable age. Madam Zhou readily agreed to keep her eyes open on their behalf. After the evening meal, Eleventh Young Lady saw her to the hanging flower gate and watched the carriage disappear into the distance before turning back to her room.

Not many days later, word came from the Zhou household.

Yang Shi had suffered a miscarriage that led to a hemorrhage, and she had died.

“Who told you this?” The Yang Shi of the Xu household went pale as a sheet the moment she heard. She clutched Nanny Yang’s hand tightly.

“One of the little maidservants from Wen Yiniang’s room,” Nanny Yang replied, her eyes glistening with tears. “A nanny from the Zhou household had come to call, and Wen Yiniang happened to be in the Madam’s room helping with the accounts.”

“How could this have happened?” Yang Shi stared blankly at Nanny Yang, murmuring to herself in a daze. “Fifth Sister was so clever a woman — how could she have come to such an end…” As she spoke, the image of Qiao Lianfang’s vacant, lifeless gaze suddenly surfaced in her mind. Yang Shi started up in a flurry of alarm and distress. “Nanny, Nanny — where is that pattern of mine, the Hundred Infants at Play design? Please find it for me quickly. I want to embroider a small padded jacket for the Madam…”

Eleventh Young Lady set down the needlework in her hands and stifled a yawn. Her voice was drowsy and languid as she asked Xu Lingyi: “What did Third Master have to say?”

“He spoke of Qin Ge and Jian Ge.” Xu Lingyi put away the letter and looked up. He saw that Eleventh Young Lady’s eyes carried a weariness she could not conceal. “There are no good teachers in Shanyang, and the two boys’ studies have suffered for it these past two years. He wishes to send them back to Yanjing to continue their schooling.” Then he reached out and touched her forehead. “What is the matter? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?” His tone was very gentle.

Eleventh Young Lady could not help but stifle another yawn. “I don’t know why, but ever since the New Year, I have felt weary without pause.”

“Spring fatigue, spring fatigue,” Xu Lingyi heard her out and laughed. “When spring arrives, it is only natural to feel more sleepy.” Then in a gentle voice he added, “Leave whatever needs doing to the maidservants. Go to rest early tonight.”

Eleventh Young Lady nodded, curled herself into Xu Lingyi’s embrace, and before long had fallen fast asleep.

Xu Lingyi gazed at her serene, peaceful face and could not help but smile. He pressed a kiss to her cheek, then at last blew out the lamp and settled in for the night.

The following afternoon, Imperial Physician Liu arrived.

“The Marquis said that Madam has not been feeling well, and sent me to come and have a look.”

Through the gauze bed-curtain, with a handkerchief laid over the wrist for propriety, he took her pulse by the standard method. Imperial Physician Liu smiled and said: “Madam’s pulse is deep, steady, and strong. It may simply be the arrival of spring bringing on sleepiness.”

Xu Lingyi felt his worry ease.

Taking advantage of a stretch of fine weather, Eleventh Young Lady had the little maidservants bring out the examination basket, the examination curtain, and the small pouches for carrying food — all of which had accompanied Xu Siyu to the examination grounds the previous year — and set them in order.

Xu Lingyi saw this and laughed. “He will not sit for the examination until the fourth month. It is a little early to be preparing these things now.”

“The weather has been so fine these past few days.” Eleventh Young Lady saw that he was unconvinced and smiled. “Besides, these same items went with him into the examination hall last year, and he passed the county examination without any trouble. So I kept them all carefully — this year I mean to use the same ones again, to carry forward a little of last year’s good fortune.”

The husband and wife stood together in the spring breeze, exchanging a few words, when Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie arrived.

The two boys bowed respectfully to Xu Lingyi and then pressed close to Eleventh Young Lady’s side.

One said: “Our teacher says that the plans of a year are laid in spring. So tomorrow he is taking us to climb West Mountain, and then he will speak to us about what we hope to accomplish this year.”

The other said: “Mother, we are going to climb West Mountain with our teacher — he said we should bring food along. Will you make us some Chinese toon leaf cakes?”

Eleventh Young Lady drew the smaller one into her arms and smiled at the older one. “The two of you write out a list of everything you wish to bring, and I will prepare things according to your list.”

The two children cheered and bounded inside.

Eleventh Young Lady was left pleasantly intoxicated by the spring breeze. She covered her mouth and stifled a yawn.

Xu Lingyi watched her, and something stirred quietly within him.

It was already the second day of the second month, and there had still been no sign of any movement from Eleventh Young Lady…

The thought had no sooner arisen than he felt as though he were being fried in a pot of hot oil — and yet he could not let it show on his face.

Had her monthly cycle simply been delayed? Or was it…

“Let us go back inside.” He held back the urge to take her by the arm. “It will not do to be so perpetually sleepy.”

Eleventh Young Lady laughed. “It is barely past the beginning of the rooster hour — how could I possibly retire so early?”

Xu Lingyi thought for a moment, then said: “Then why not go and sit with Mother for a while, and then this evening we need not go there for dinner? You can retire early tonight.” He said it as though offering a suggestion, yet without waiting for Eleventh Young Lady’s reply, he had already called for Hupo to look after Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie and set off toward the Grand Dowager Lady’s quarters.

Eleventh Young Lady considered that it was a kindness on his part and followed along. They sat with the Grand Dowager Lady for a little while, then returned home, where she had her supper and fell headlong into a sleep that lasted through till daylight. Then, in an uncharacteristic break from her habits, she drank a bowl of millet porridge, ate two meat-filled steamed buns, and found herself fully restored and lively again.

Xu Lingyi watched her and sighed inwardly.

It seemed he had guessed wrong after all…

—