“Ask me to act as matchmaker?” Xu Lingyi was somewhat taken aback, then immediately laughed. “Very well! Have Yiqing buy me a proper meal first, then we can talk.”

Shiyiniang rarely saw Xu Lingyi in such a teasing mood, and laughed as she had someone carry a reply back to Fourth Elder Sister. The very next morning, first thing, Yu Yiqing sent an invitation card asking Xu Lingyi to dine at the Chunxi Restaurant, with Wang Li and Scholar Jin as the accompanying guests.

Xu Lingyi returned and said: “I truly didn’t expect it — Yiqing has some savings of her own. For her eldest son’s wedding, she is planning to spend five thousand taels of silver on the betrothal gifts.”

Shiyiniang laughed and teased him: “Let that be a lesson for underestimating the people from my maternal family!”

Xu Lingyi burst out laughing.

He came to sit at the edge of the kang and smoothed the few strands of dark hair that had fallen across her cheek back behind her ear, then said in a gentle voice: “How are you feeling today?”

“Not bad!” Shiyiniang glanced at Hupo, Lvyun, and the other maidservants who stood nearby with slight smiles, affecting to see nothing, and felt a touch of embarrassment. “I was a little uncomfortable in the morning. In the afternoon I spent the time chatting and doing needlework with Hupo and the others, so it was all right.”

Xu Lingyi listened, reflected for a moment, and said: “Then when you have nothing to do, find a few more people to come and chat with you. If you don’t dwell on it, perhaps it will be easier.”

Shiyiniang nodded, then told him about what had happened in his absence. “Mother had Nanny Du send over two trunks of lengths of cloth, saying it was for making the child’s small garments and diaper cloths. When I looked, everything was whole bolts of painted silk and great-loop brocade…” She hesitated, not knowing what to do about it.

“Since she has given them to you, keep them for now,” Xu Lingyi said with a smile. “Mother is getting on in years and dotes on small children. Just a few days ago she also sent Xin Jie’er a bolt of crimson peony brocade and a bolt of rose-red chrysanthemum and begonia brocade.”

Hearing that everyone had received something, Shiyiniang breathed easier — though she still privately felt it was far too lavish for a baby’s things. She decided to set them aside and make use of them gradually over time.

A junior maidservant came in and announced: “My lord, my lady — the Grand Dowager has sent over some yam and date-paste cakes.”

Shiyiniang quickly had the maidservant bring them in.

Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie had returned from school.

Spotting the yam and date-paste cakes, their eyes lit up. Then they saw Xu Lingyi’s expression of stern propriety and promptly bowed their heads respectfully.

Shiyiniang found this amusing and instructed both of them: “Quickly go wash your hands so you can eat the cakes!”

Both boys immediately brightened, and scrambled to be the first to wash their hands.

Xu Lingyi looked on, seeming on the verge of speaking.

Shiyiniang paid him no mind and told Hupo to put some yam and date-paste cakes on a gilded small dish for them to eat.

There had not been many to begin with, and the two boys ate with relish, quickly reaching the bottom of the dish.

Xu Sizhun said: “Mother, let’s make poria cakes tomorrow!”

“Toon blossom flatbreads are good,” Xu Sijie offered a differing view. “Mother’s toon blossom flatbreads taste better than the poria cakes!”

Shiyiniang wiped the corner of Xu Sijie’s mouth and laughed: “We’ll make both. Tomorrow we’ll make poria cakes and toon blossom flatbreads.” Then she asked them: “Did Elder Brother and Third Brother go to class with you today?”

Xu Sijie nodded: “Master Zhao taught Elder Brother and Third Brother ‘The Great Learning,’ and taught us from ‘Preliminary Studies.'”

Xu Sizhun, hearing this, put in: “Elder Brother says Master Zhao is deeply learned!”

Xu Sijie then said: “Elder Brother didn’t come back with us — he said he wanted to come with Second Brother. Third Brother heard that and followed along too.”

The two boys talked over each other, making no effort to hide their mild grievance toward Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian, who had attended class with them but then abandoned them to go seek out Xu Siyu.

Shiyiniang laughed and said: “Elder Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother are all near the same age, so naturally they enjoy each other’s company. You and Fourth Brother are near the same age — aren’t the two of you always together as well?”

Xu Sijie thought it over, tilted his head toward Shiyiniang, and said: “Then Mother, you should have a little brother! If you have a little sister, she’ll certainly play with Second Sister and not play with us!”

The whole room burst into laughter.

Xu Siqin, Xu Siyu, and Xu Sijian came to pay their respects.

Xu Lingyi questioned Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian about their lessons that day.

Zhen Jie arrived.

Amid the roomful of boys, she leaned close to Shiyiniang’s side.

Shiyiniang smiled and took her hand, and together they listened as Xu Lingyi questioned Xu Siyu about his studies.

It was evident that Xu Siyu applied himself seriously to his schoolwork — not only did he speak fluently with well-chosen words, but something radiated from his brow that had never been there before: a powerful self-assurance that made him shimmer with brilliance, like a precious pearl casting its luster about, utterly captivating. The brothers Xu Siqin, Xu Sijian, Xu Sizhun, and Xu Sijie all held their breath, their gazes full of admiration.

Xu Lingyi was very pleased. Seeing the hour was late, he said a few words of encouragement about following Master Jiang diligently in their studies, then rose to go to the Grand Dowager’s quarters.

Shiyiniang saw them to the door.

Zhen Jie carefully and attentively supported her arm.

Xu Lingyi also said: “Rest indoors — don’t go moving about.”

“Lying on the kang all day, one does want to get up and walk around a little,” Shiyiniang replied, feeling that a pregnant woman needed moderate exercise too, and insisted on seeing them out the door.

Looking up, however, she saw Qin Yiniang standing beneath the eaves.

Everyone found this somewhat strange.

Qin Yiniang stepped forward with some alarm to bow in greeting, murmuring an explanation: “I thought the Marquis had already left… I was told he was still speaking with the young masters and did not dare to disturb, so I waited here for a while…”

Xu Lingyi glanced at Xu Siyu, and asked: “Is something the matter?” His voice was gentle.

Xu Siyu lowered his eyelids and stood quietly and still beside Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian, every trace of the brilliance from moments before now utterly gone.

“No — no, nothing!” Qin Yiniang said, and cast a beseeching look toward Shiyiniang. “I only came to look in on the Mistress!”

Shiyiniang smiled slightly and said: “The Marquis is hurrying to the Grand Dowager’s quarters. Yiniang, do come and sit inside.”

Xu Lingyi, hearing this, said a word to Shiyiniang — “Go in quickly” — then led the children to the Grand Dowager’s quarters.

Shiyiniang smiled her assent, watched Xu Lingyi and the others depart, then said warmly to Qin Yiniang: “Shall we speak inside?”

Qin Yiniang meekly followed Shiyiniang indoors.

“My lady!” She drew a triangular paper talisman folded from yellow paper from her bosom. “This is a peace talisman I sought on your behalf — hang it at the door, and it will safeguard peace and tranquility.”

Hang it at the door rather than place it in a sachet at the waist or tuck it beneath the pillow?

Shiyiniang smiled and had Hupo take it.

Seeing Shiyiniang’s air of mild inattention, Qin Yiniang quickly added: “This was consecrated by the reverend nun Jining!”

Shiyiniang’s gaze shifted subtly. “Are there any other particular instructions about this object?”

“None!” Qin Yiniang smiled. “You simply place it somewhere people pass through.”

Shiyiniang nodded and picked up her teacup.

Qin Yiniang rose and took her leave.

Shiyiniang instructed Hupo: “Take this and ask Reverend Nun Jining about it — say it was sent by Qin Yiniang, and that I don’t know how it should be used. Ask for her guidance.”

Hupo went off at once.

Lvyun came in to ask where evening supper should be served.

“Let us eat in the main hall.”

Shiyiniang’s sense of smell had grown keenly sensitive during her pregnancy, and when food was eaten near where she slept, she always felt as though the smell of cooking oil and smoke lingered long afterward.

Lvyun directed the older maidservants in bringing up the dishes.

Cold-dressed pea shoots, stir-fried baby cabbage, peanuts mixed with pine nuts, bean sprouts mixed with mung bean sprouts, fermented tofu skin stir-fried with black wood ear mushrooms… Though the whole table was vegetable dishes, the colors were vivid, refreshing to the eye.

Shiyiniang had just sat down and picked up her chopsticks when Hupo came in beaming, carrying a dish of piping-hot yam and date-paste cakes. “My lady, the Marquis had them sent over by Linbo.”

Her chopsticks halted in midair, then gently descended onto the red yam and date-paste cakes.

Hupo, seeing Shiyiniang eat two pieces in succession, thought that it being evening, digestion might be an issue, and smiled: “My lady, if you like these, I’ll have the small kitchen steam some in the steamer tray. You can take them out to eat whenever you feel like it.”

Shiyiniang nodded, ate two bites of pea shoots, and then had the table cleared.

Hupo brought in fresh tangerine juice.

Shiyiniang drank a mouthful. Then Wen Yiniang and Yang Shi came to pay their evening respects.

Knowing that Shiyiniang was with child, Wen Yiniang smiled warmly and offered congratulations. She presented gifts: a solid-gold necklace hung with an ‘everything as wished’ locket, a pair of solid-gold bracelets hung with climbing monkeys, and a pair of solid-gold bracelets hung with little bells. She then sat and talked for a good while, after which she resumed her old habits — apart from morning and evening greetings, and coming to ask instructions whenever matters concerning Zhen Jie arose, she rarely showed herself otherwise. Shiyiniang was a little curious and, on asking around, learned that Wen Yiniang had been staying in her room learning needlework from Qiu Hong.

Shiyiniang smiled and had someone bring an embroidered stool for them to sit on, then cast a glance past Wen Yiniang’s shoulder.

Wen Yiniang, sharp as a needle, knew that Shiyiniang was looking toward Yang Shi.

Since Shiyiniang’s pregnancy, Yang Shi had seemed low in spirits, and in these past few days her eyes showed red with exhaustion, giving her a look of extreme fatigue.

Though Shiyiniang had placed Yang Shi in her charge, Wen Yiniang had no wish to grow too close with Yang Shi. Seeing Yang Shi in this state, she did not venture even a pleasantry — behaved as if she had not noticed at all. This time was no different. She smiled and chatted about her needlework: “…I’ve embroidered several clusters of grapes, and I’m short of genuine purple thread. I’d like to ask the Mistress for a few lengths.”

Shiyiniang called Zhuxiang to find her several lengths of genuine purple embroidery thread: “Whatever you’re short of, just let me know.”

Wen Yiniang smiled and agreed. Then Qiao Lianfang came in to pay her respects.

Unlike her former arrogance, she had become somewhat withdrawn — keeping to herself, not much involved with the other concubines. But seeing Wen Yiniang, she still gave a courteous nod.

Shiyiniang invited her to sit down. She declined politely: “If the Mistress has no instructions for me, I will take my leave first.”

Shiyiniang did not press Qiao Lianfang to stay, and had Hupo see Qiao Lianfang out, then exchanged a few pleasantries with Wen Yiniang and Yang Yiniang and served them tea.

The two concubines took their leave.

Shiyiniang washed and prepared for bed.

Hupo, attending to one side, said quietly: “I’ve heard from the junior maidservants that Yang Yiniang seems to be embroidering something — the lamp in her room sometimes burns through the whole night.”

“Yang Yiniang is skilled at embroidery,” Shiyiniang said evenly. “Perhaps she is working on some large embroidery piece.” Then she changed the subject. “In a few days is Elder Sister’s death anniversary. There should be arrangements at the ancestral hall — go and see how they are progressing.”

Hupo respectfully answered “Yes,” and the next day went to inquire at the ancestral hall.

The steward in charge of the ancestral hall said with a smile: “Two days ago the Grand Dowager also sent someone to ask. I said that according to custom the paper gold and silver ingots, spirit money — five hundred of each — three animal sacrificial offerings, and three tables of formal feast offerings would be prepared. But no one came back from the Grand Dowager’s side with a word. So I have not been able to take it upon myself to decide.”

Shiyiniang reflected for a moment and said: “Then go and ask Nanny Du. It may be that, with so many affairs, the instruction simply slipped through.”

Hupo went to Nanny Du and returned with the report: “The Grand Dowager says she has been concerned about disturbing you, and has been deliberating over whether to request a water-and-land memorial ceremony. So the instructions about the offerings have not yet been given.”