Over at Eleventh Young Lady’s quarters, each day passed in a blur — eating was the first order of business, sleeping the second. There was no attention left for anything else.

The Grand Dowager Lady consulted with Nanny Du: “I think we should forgo the opera performances this year, and instead invite a few female storytellers to come and narrate tales at home. We must not startle the child.”

“That is an excellent idea, Grand Dowager Lady.” Nanny Du had a separate concern, however. “But as for Fourth Madam — when the time comes and she does not appear, we will need to find some suitable explanation.”

“There is nothing difficult about that.” The Grand Dowager Lady smiled. “We will only invite the few households we are regularly acquainted with, and simply say that Eleventh Young Lady is unwell. Those with genuine concern will want to look in on her, but once the storytellers begin, everyone will naturally come over to the Dianchun Hall. She can continue to rest undisturbed — it will not cause any trouble.”

Nanny Du smiled and said: “Then we will host only on the third day of the third month — first a meal in the flower hall, then the storytelling performance, and the guests will disperse when the lamps are lit.”

“Very well.” The Grand Dowager Lady smiled and nodded, then spoke of Eleventh Young Lady: “I had not expected her pregnancy to be so difficult. You should go and look in on her when you have a moment, with nothing particular to do. Tell Nanny Song to keep a good supply of sour and sweet things prepared.” She added: “Call Nanny Tian and Nanny Wan in — when the time comes, we will need them to go and attend to her for a few days.”

Nanny Du smiled and agreed, then went off to make the arrangements. When she came back to report, however, she found the Grand Dowager Lady had already instructed Ge Jin to begin going through the storage trunks.

“I have reckoned the date to be in the autumn.” The Grand Dowager Lady indicated several bolts of Songjiang triple-weave cloth, white as jade. “When the time comes, we will make two small swaddling wraps from these, and make several squares of nappy cloth from whatever is left. The fabric is fine and smooth and warm.”

She then said: “I am afraid these few bolts may not be enough. I have already told Yupan to go and open my storeroom.”

Nanny Du was momentarily at a loss for what to say.

These were tribute goods bestowed from the palace — whole bolts and lengths of fine cloth — and here they were, being cut up to make swaddling wraps and nappy squares for a child not yet born…

Yet seeing that the Grand Dowager Lady was in high spirits, Nanny Du could not bring herself to pour cold water on the moment directly. She smiled and said: “I think that instead of wraps, we might use the cloth to make small garments…”

Before Nanny Du had finished speaking, the Grand Dowager Lady had already waved her hand aside. “Small garments are all to be made from Suzhou and Hangzhou’s lake silk…”

While they were speaking, Yupan arrived with four or five small maidservants, each carrying armfuls of various fabric bolts.

The Grand Dowager Lady called Nanny Du over to take a look: “What do you think of these?”

Nanny Du saw there were great-loop cotton weaves in deep blue, silk cotton from Tangqi, Wang Dian satin from Wang Dian town, and painted gauze… all plain-faced fabrics, so smooth to the touch they put eggshell to shame. She could not help but worry quietly to herself — fearing both that this was a misdiagnosis on Eleventh Young Lady’s part, and that the child might turn out to be a girl… She kept her smile in place, however, and said: “At the very least, do save a few bolts for yourself.”

“More comes in from the palace every year,” the Grand Dowager Lady said with a laugh. “I could not possibly wear it all.” And with that, she turned and went into the inner room, leaving the maids to go on sorting through things out here.

Nanny Du hurried after her. Only once they were inside did the Grand Dowager Lady lower her voice and say: “When Eleventh Young Lady came into this household, I looked carefully over the things her family gave her. What the First Madam sent — though it appeared varied and abundant and dazzling to the eye — was all cloth for outer garments. Not a single piece of fine inner-garment fabric among them. I must take this opportunity to help her make good on what she lacked.”

Outer garment fabrics, of course, went toward making outer garments — beautiful things, things that could be seen and admired; if anyone asked, one would have to answer: “This was part of my dowry from home.” But inner-garment fabrics — made into underrobes and intimate wear — no matter how fine, there would never be anyone to remark on them.

The First Madam was, after all, Eleventh Young Lady’s stepmother. Nanny Du could not very well say anything to her credit, so she only smiled and said: “Shall I have them put everything into trunks first and send them over once the other matter is confirmed?”

“I have already told Yupan.” The Grand Dowager Lady settled onto the platform and took her seat. “I also need to go to the needlework room and select a few women with nimble, careful hands to start making the little garments. Padded cotton trousers especially — several pairs will be needed.”

Nanny Du smiled and agreed, placing a bolster pillow behind the Grand Dowager Lady’s back and pouring her tea. “I will go and choose people tomorrow.”

Fifth Lady and Xin Jie’er arrived.

The Grand Dowager Lady smiled and drew Xin Jie’er into her arms. She had Nanny Du bring out some of the plum blossom cakes that the palace had sent over the past few days.

Fifth Lady looked at the maids passing back and forth in a busy stream and laughed. “What are you doing in here? It looks like moving house.”

The Grand Dowager Lady broke off a small piece of the plum blossom cake and placed it in Xin Jie’er’s mouth, then smiled and said: “Just clearing out some things that have been sitting for years. What ought to be given away will be given away, and what ought to be distributed among you can be distributed.”

Fifth Lady laughed, leaned against the Grand Dowager Lady’s arm, and said: “Then give Xin Jie’er and me a bolt of the large red tapestry silk to make a cloak.”

“It is only just spring, and you are already thinking of winter,” the Grand Dowager Lady said with a laugh, and flicked a finger lightly at her forehead.

Fifth Lady leaned her head to the side at the touch and giggled.

Xin Jie’er, who was eating her cake, laughed along from the side.

A little maidservant came in: “Madam, First Young Master and Third Young Master have returned!”

“Bring them in quickly, bring them in quickly!” The Grand Dowager Lady was overjoyed. “Were they not expected in mid-third-month? How have they arrived before the end of the second month?”

Fifth Lady smiled. “With favorable winds and smooth waters, one arrives more quickly.”

Her words had barely faded when Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian came in, lifting the curtain as they entered.

Both wore gowns of cocoon silk in deep blue with dark crimson floral medallions. Compared to when he had left Yanjing, the seventeen-year-old Xu Siqin had filled out considerably, and there was a greater composure settled about his brow and eyes. The fourteen-year-old Xu Sijian had nearly caught up with Xu Siqin in height, and his expression remained as lively as ever, his eyes just as keen and darting.

The two stepped forward and paid their respects. Xu Sijian immediately ran up to the Grand Dowager Lady and tugged at her sleeve. “Grandmother, how are you keeping? I have missed you so terribly!”

The Grand Dowager Lady burst into hearty laughter.

“Yu Ge is also here in Yanjing now — the two of you can get back to your old mischief together.”

Xu Siqin stood to one side and only smiled. Xu Sijian put on a very solemn face and said: “I have grown up now — I would not do such things. And if Second Brother were to try climbing rooftops and pulling off tiles, I would certainly counsel him earnestly against being so naughty.”

The whole room collapsed into laughter.

Xu Sijian noticed a little girl dressed all in pink and jade seated in Fifth Lady’s arms, and knew she must be Fifth Uncle’s cherished daughter. He pointed at Xin Jie’er and laughed. “Is this Second Little Sister?”

Xin Jie’er, seeing a stranger, had already retreated into her mother’s arms and was peeking out cautiously from there.

Fifth Lady saw this and smiled, instructing Xin Jie’er: “Quickly, call out Third Elder Brother.”

Xin Jie’er hastily called out “Third Elder Brother” once, and then buried her face in Fifth Lady’s arms.

Xu Sijian, finding it very amusing, reached over to hold Xin Jie’er’s finger and pointed at Xu Siqin. “This is Elder Brother!”

Xin Jie’er was startled and pulled her finger back into her mother’s arms, buried her head, and refused to acknowledge him.

Xu Siqin, seeing that Fifth Lady made no effort to compel the child to greet him, understood she was greatly indulged and spoiled, and quickly rebuked his younger brother: “Behaving with so little regard for your elders in front of Grandmother!”

Xu Sijian took no offense and just looked at his elder brother with a cheerful, easy-going laugh.

Fifth Lady coaxed Xin Jie’er to call out a greeting. Xin Jie’er, unwilling to raise her head, mumbled a muffled “Elder Brother.”

Xu Siqin, not wishing to make things awkward for the adults, smiled and answered.

The Grand Dowager Lady looked on and pointed to the brocade stools a maidservant had brought over: “You sit down and talk too!”

The two brothers sat, and the maids brought tea and refreshments. The Grand Dowager Lady asked after Third Master and Third Madam.

Xu Siqin answered each question in turn. He said that Third Master had served with integrity and frugality in Shanyang and was well regarded by the people; his relations with his superiors were also well managed. Third Madam had opened a rice shop, and over the years there had been losses as well as gains, but the work had been quite demanding, so she had closed the shop before the new year. Gan Laoquan had escorted them back to Yanjing, presenting Xu Lingyi’s name card along the way, and they had traveled the entire journey in peace and without incident, arriving in Yanjing ahead of schedule.

The Grand Dowager Lady listened and nodded repeatedly, then asked: “Have you seen your Fourth Uncle yet?”

Xu Siqin replied respectfully: “We came straight here to pay our respects to Grandmother the moment we climbed down from the carriage. We have not yet seen Fourth Uncle.”

Properly speaking, they should first have gone to the outer courtyard to pay their respects to Xu Lingyi, who would then have informed them of the arrangements he had made for them. They would then have entered the inner quarters to pay their respects to the Grand Dowager Lady, the Madams, and the Aunts. But Steward Bai had told them that Eleventh Young Lady had been unwell these past days, and that Xu Lingyi had been staying in the inner courtyard throughout. Being no longer small children, and not knowing the nature of Eleventh Young Lady’s illness, they had not felt it appropriate to go directly to Eleventh Young Lady’s quarters. So they had come first to the Grand Dowager Lady’s rooms. When the Grand Dowager Lady asked, they were afraid she would learn that Xu Lingyi was spending his days in Eleventh Young Lady’s quarters, and so Xu Siqin had answered vaguely.

In other words, they had not yet met him at all!

Xu Lingyi had told the Grand Dowager Lady about the children’s return and had made arrangements for them — but this was, after all, a matter for the men to handle, and the Grand Dowager Lady could not step in on their behalf. She instructed Nanny Du: “Go and accompany the two Young Masters to see the Marquis.” To Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian she said: “Now that you are back, go and pay your respects to your Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt as well. Then come back to me for the evening meal.”

The two brothers bowed and answered “yes,” then followed Nanny Du to Eleventh Young Lady’s quarters.

Xu Lingyi shifted, and Eleventh Young Lady, who had been dozing against him, woke immediately.

“Qin Ge and Jian Ge are back,” Xu Lingyi said, patting Eleventh Young Lady’s forehead lightly. “I will go and see to them. I will be right back.”

Eleventh Young Lady sat up. “The children have come from far away — the least I can do is receive them properly.”

Xu Lingyi’s expression was uncertain.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled. “I will simply sit in the east antechamber and let the children come to pay their respects to me. That will be enough.”

Xu Lingyi considered for a moment, nodded, and waited while Eleventh Young Lady put on a small padded jacket. Then he carried her to the east antechamber and settled her on the platform there before going to the main hall.

Hupo and the others came forward to comb and arrange Eleventh Young Lady’s hair.

Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian entered and paid their respects to Eleventh Young Lady.

“I have been counting the days until your return!” Eleventh Young Lady smiled as she looked the two brothers over. “Two years apart, and you have both become grown men.” Then, looking at Xu Sijian: “What a pity that your Fourth and Fifth Younger Brothers have gone to school — otherwise, I cannot imagine how pleased they would be.”

The two brothers saw that Eleventh Young Lady was propped against the large bolster pillow on the platform, and though her face carried a smile, she could not conceal the fatigue beneath it. Both were quietly taken aback. Xu Sijian, in particular, thought of how vibrant and spirited Eleventh Young Lady had been when she used to tease him in the past, and could not hold back his concern. “Fourth Aunt,” he blurted out, “what has happened to you?”

Eleventh Young Lady felt a flicker of awkwardness and said with a smile, “I have not been feeling well of late,” then changed the subject and asked after Third Master and Third Madam.

Xu Siqin, afraid that Xu Sijian might say something else unsuitable, shot his younger brother a warning look to signal that he should hold his tongue, and exchanged a few pleasantries with Eleventh Young Lady.

Eleventh Young Lady could not help but feel a small pang.

Xu Sijian had not changed much, but Xu Siqin had become far more worldly-wise than before.

For some reason, this made her think of the changes she had seen in Xu Siyu.

They exchanged a few more words of light conversation. Hearing that all had been well in Shanyang, and that the Grand Dowager Lady had invited them to stay for the evening meal, Eleventh Young Lady smiled and lifted her teacup in the gesture of dismissal.

“When Zhun Ge and Jie Ge finish school, they will come to see you.”

The brothers knew they ought not linger further, and rose to take their leave.