Nan Yong’s wife quickly came forward to urge them: “Fourth Young Master, Fifth Young Master, please rest a moment before kicking again!”

The two were indeed fairly tired, and followed Nan Yong’s wife to sit in a nearby pavilion. Chaxiang and Xiuer hurried forward to attend to them, one pouring warm water for them to wet their throats, another taking up a handkerchief to dab their backs.

Xu Sizhun needed to use the lavatory.

The privy was beside the flower wall, and from the Biyi Sluice one had to pass through a narrow stone-paved path flanked on both sides by towering old trees whose trunks could barely be encircled by two arms together.

A small maid ran ahead to light two sticks of orchid-fragrance incense. Chaxiang accompanied Xu Sizhun to the privy.

Xu Sizhun, seated inside, could hear the soft swishing sound of someone sweeping the ground draw nearer outside.

Two women were carrying on a desultory conversation as they worked.

“…So from what you say, everyone went except Ji Ting’s wife?”

“Yes,” the other replied. “The one who started it was Nanny Yu, the storeroom manager.”

“Really?” The first speaker’s voice was full of astonishment. “Has she not always held herself above the rest? How is it that this time she was actually the one to take the initiative and invite everyone to offer birthday wishes to Fourth Madam?”

“She does not hold herself above the rest — she reads which way the wind is blowing,” the other laughed. “Now that Fourth Madam is with child and has done things properly by sending Nanny Tao to the farm estate, who would still dare hold herself above the Madam?” A note of admiration crept into the voice. “Of all the senior maids, young matrons, and managing nannies in this household, the one I respect most is Ji Ting’s wife. Back in the day, when everyone was falling over themselves to get close to Second Madam, someone suggested to Ji Ting’s wife that she seize the chance — since Second Madam loved flowers and plants — and find a way to get Ji Ting a managerial post. She was unhurried and composed about it; she said Ji Ting only knew how to grow flowers, and even if he was put to other tasks, he would not do them well. So from start to finish she said not a word. Later, when the former Fourth Madam was in charge of the household, everyone rushed to get close to her too. She was the same as before — neither servile nor overbearing, doing whatever was hers to do…”

It was as though a thousand bees were buzzing around his ears. Xu Sizhun could not concentrate, and what the two women said afterward he could not recall at all.

“Chaxiang!” He took hold of Chaxiang’s hand. “Is what they said true?”

Chaxiang was a second-rank maid from the Grand Matriarch’s side, specially transferred by the Grand Matriarch to attend on Xu Sizhun. Hearing him ask this, she quickly replied: “How could any of that be true. Fourth Young Master should not heed their chatter. Was it not said already — it is because Tao Cheng had a fall and broke his leg, and Nanny Tao needs to go and look after him for a while…”

“That is not right!” Chaxiang’s answer came too smoothly, and Xu Sizhun instinctively felt something hollow and unconvincing about it. “One winter, Tao Cheng fell into a river and nearly drowned. Nanny Tao stayed in her room and gave him a thorough scolding, yet said nothing about going to look after him…” His gaze was full of confusion. “Why is it that this time she needs to go and look after Tao Cheng?”

Chaxiang was taken aback. “When we take up service in a household, we belong to the household. We cannot allow family matters to interfere with our duties there. Now Fourth Madam, out of consideration for all that Nanny Tao did in serving the late Fourth Madam, is treating her with special indulgence — she has granted Nanny Tao leave to go and see her son…”

Xu Sizhun furrowed his brows. “When Mother was alive, she treated Nanny Tao very well too. She even had me call Nanny Tao ‘Nanny’…”

Chaxiang had not expected the usually obliging Xu Sizhun to keep pressing on this subject. Before he had even finished speaking, she broke in with a smile: “And that is precisely why Fourth Madam holds Nanny Tao in such high regard.” Fearing he might ask more questions she could not answer, she hastily changed the subject. “Fourth Young Master, let us hurry back to the Biyi Sluice. Fifth Young Master is still waiting over there. It is the fourth month — the sun drops and the cold comes up at once, and you are wearing only a lined jacket, while your cloak is still at Fourth Madam’s quarters!”

Xu Sizhun was unmoved. He listened carefully, but outside there was only the rustle of wind through the treetops — no other sound to be heard at all.

He felt a pang of disappointment, gathered himself, and walked slowly back to the Biyi Sluice with Chaxiang.

The pavilion stood empty, only the scarlet cushions remaining on the stone benches alongside a tabletop strewn with clutter. The attendants who served Xu Sijie were nowhere to be seen; in their place, the previously empty open ground was now ringed by maids, young matrons, and serving women. With each high arc of the colorful cuju ball, cheers rang out — far more lively than before.

Xu Sizhun was astonished.

Chaxiang had already spotted a tall, slender figure.

“Fourth Young Master — it is Fifth Master.” Her eyes and brows were full of delight. “Fifth Master is playing cuju!”

She took his hand and began squeezing through the crowd.

Everyone, seeing it was the two young masters and their attendant, parted to make way.

Xu Sizhun then saw Xu Lingkuan execute a perfect “Buddha’s Crown Jewel,” heading the cuju high into the air, and then looked over at Xu Sijie, who stood there with his mouth hanging open in stunned admiration.

Xu Lingkuan heard the commotion, glanced sideways, and seeing it was Xu Sizhun, pulled off a “Dryland Fish Catch” — tossing the cuju up into the air — and waved him over: “Come, I will show you how it’s done.”

On any other occasion, Xu Sizhun would have run over in high spirits without a second thought. But this time, with what he had just overheard still weighing on his mind, he hesitated for a moment before walking over.

Xu Lingkuan bent down with a smile and looked at him. “What is the matter? You seem a little unhappy today.”

“I am fine!” Xu Sizhun was uncomfortable telling a lie to an adult. “I am just a little tired today!”

Xu Lingkuan would not think of pressing him, and laughed as he tossed the cuju to a nearby manservant. “Then go home and rest early. Fifth Uncle will play with you again tomorrow.”

Xu Sizhun gave a forced smile and agreed, then took Xu Sijie’s hand and headed back toward Eleventh Young Lady’s quarters.

The onlookers naturally dispersed as well.

Xu Sijie was still savoring the sight he had just witnessed, chattering as they walked: “Fourth Brother, let us play cuju again tomorrow! Fifth Uncle is so good — you weren’t there just now, but I saw his elbow give a flick and the cuju went soaring way up high…”

Xu Sizhun responded distractedly, and the two brothers entered the courtyard.

The managing nannies were filing out from the main room in clusters of two and three. Seeing the two brothers coming, they all smiled and greeted them warmly.

Xu Sizhun looked at their faces, and his eyes went momentarily dim. He turned and bolted toward the main room.

Everyone was taken aback.

“Still a child, after all,” someone laughed.

“Without ten or eight years of tempering, how could he settle down,” someone else agreed.

And with that, still chatting, the group made their way out of the courtyard gate.

Eleventh Young Lady had a junior maid open all the windows in the room.

Some of the managing nannies were smokers, and they always carried a faint smell on them.

Xu Sizhun burst in. “Mother, let us bring Nanny Tao back!”

“What is this about?” Eleventh Young Lady was taken aback. “Why do you suddenly want to bring Nanny Tao back?”

“I miss Nanny Tao!” Xu Sizhun said. “Nanny Tao is all alone at the farm estate — she won’t get to eat the Eight-Treasure rice dumplings from here!”

Eleventh Young Lady laughed. “She is at the farm estate — they make Eight-Treasure rice dumplings there too…” She had not finished the sentence before she pressed her hand over her mouth.

Lvyun and the others promptly swung into action — some fetching the basin, others pouring warm water — attending to Eleventh Young Lady in a busy yet unflurried manner.

Xu Sizhun felt he had so many things to say, yet every person around him came and went without a single one paying him any attention.

He slipped quietly out.

He ran straight into Xu Sijie: “Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother, where are you going?”

If you have suffered a grievance, you must tell the Grand Matriarch and the Marquis so they can stand up for you…

He could not say why, but those words Nanny Tao had spoken before she left suddenly rose in his mind.

“I am going to find Grandmother!”

“Oh!” Xu Sijie scratched his head. “I… I have not yet paid my respects to Mother. Wait for me a moment, Fourth Brother!”

At this hour the two of them would normally go together to pay their respects to Eleventh Young Lady and then go together to the Grand Matriarch’s quarters for dinner.

Xu Sizhun gave a vague nod.

Xu Sijie ran off to pay his respects to Eleventh Young Lady.

Eleventh Young Lady was still indisposed.

Xu Sijie stood to one side, worried, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Xu Sizhun waited outside for a while and felt increasingly anxious, so he left word with Xu Sijie’s maid Xiuer and hurried off to the Grand Matriarch’s quarters.

“Grandmother, let us bring Nanny Tao back!” He threw himself into the Grand Matriarch’s arms as usual, wheedling and pleading. “I miss her!”

The Grand Matriarch gave an indulgent laugh. “Once Tao Cheng is better in a few days, it will not be too late to bring Nanny Tao back. Think about it — the Dragon Boat Festival is almost here. Surely we should let Nanny Tao spend the festival with her son Tao Cheng, mother and child together!”

“Grandmother, when the Dragon Boat Festival is over, will Nanny Tao be able to come back?” Xu Sizhun looked up at the Grand Matriarch, his eyes as clear and bright as a mirror.

The Grand Matriarch’s expression faltered slightly before smoothing back out. “She can only come back once Tao Cheng’s leg is better!”

“Grandmother, Grandmother, please send someone to bring Nanny Tao back,” Xu Sizhun begged. “If you tell her to come back, she would not dare refuse!”

The Grand Matriarch’s brows furrowed ever so slightly and just as quickly relaxed. “What has come over Zhun Ge today? To not even listen to your grandmother?” A note of strictness crept into her voice without her quite intending it. “Nanny Tao must wait until Tao Cheng is well before she returns to the household. You are a boy who has already started school, and unlike before, you must conduct yourself with composure and steadiness.”

Such a tone, such a rebuke — Xu Sizhun had never heard anything like it before.

His expression turned bewildered.

Has someone perhaps been saying things in front of Zhun Ge? I must call Chaxiang to ask.

The Grand Matriarch mused on this, then coaxed Xu Sizhun: “All right, quickly go and wash your hands — in a moment we shall have crispy roast duck!”

A nimble maid nearby stepped up and half-coaxed, half-guided Xu Sizhun away to wash his hands.

A royal blue enameled cloisonné basin painted with a hundred flowers was filled with clear water; all the blossoms that had been hard to make out before — the lilies, the honeysuckle, the tuberose — suddenly became vivid and distinct.

Xu Sizhun gently clenched the hand he had placed in the basin, and all those blossoms broke into scattered reflections, rippling slowly outward.

Should he tell his father?

He hesitated.

His father’s stern face rose before him — that cold, distant gaze…

Xu Sizhun could not help but shiver, and pressed his lips tightly together into a thin line.

When he finished washing his hands, the Grand Matriarch was still in conversation with Chaxiang. Yupan and the others attending him did not dare lead Xu Sizhun into the inner room, and brought out a loop string to play cat’s cradle with him at the large platform bed in the eastern side room.

Xu Sizhun shook his head. “I will go and see why Fifth Brother has not come yet.”

He trotted off outside.

Bisuo and Yuhua and the other maids in attendance took up a quick trot to follow him.

Yupan stared at the large red knotted cord in her hand. “What has come over Fourth Young Master today?”

Xu Sizhun ran in one breath all the way to the gate of the first Madam’s former residence before he stopped.

He drew several deep breaths until his breathing steadied, then slowly made his way toward the first Madam’s inner chamber.