Hupo startled slightly, and hesitated: “Madam, are you saying Yi Yiniang did not tell the truth?”

“Truth or lies hardly matters now,” Shiyiniang said placidly. “So long as it helps my lord find the evidence, that is enough.”

Hupo nodded and said: “Madam, you should sleep. It will be daylight soon. The Dowager was up all night tossing and turning, and tomorrow the Fourth Young Master’s side will likely need your attention as well. If you’re worried about what happens with Qin Yiniang, I’ll stay here and keep watch. If anything stirs, I’ll wake you at once.”

“You rest a while too,” Shiyiniang said, settling in. “My lord is careful and thorough. Since he has brought Fifth Elder Brother with him to Qin Yiniang’s quarters, he must have some measure of confidence. We will simply wait for news from that side.”

Hupo was exhausted but dared not sleep; she persisted in keeping watch beside her.

Shiyiniang thought that if Qin Yiniang’s sorcery business came to light tomorrow, there would be no end to what would need doing. Besides, Hupo had been up all night — letting her sleep properly in the daytime would make up for it. So she said no more, closed her eyes, and gradually drifted off.

Wen Yiniang, meanwhile, had kept one ear pressed toward the commotion in the front courtyard. Only when sounds finally came from that direction did her long-suspended heart at last settle.

She had always kept a sharp eye on money. That Yi Yiniang’s daily expenses were all covered by the communal household accounts, and that she had no children of her own, yet needed Qin Yiniang to supplement her income — that had been Wen Yiniang’s first thought: Yi Yiniang had been swindling Qin Yiniang. So when she saw Yi Yiniang, she could not help but watch her a little more carefully than usual. When she then noticed that Yi Yiniang’s food, clothing, and general comforts were all markedly more lavish than they appeared in public, she felt increasingly certain of her suspicion, and quietly kept watch.

But what she found when she looked — to her own surprise — was rather alarming.

The Daoist healer Zhu was not only the one Yi Yiniang had introduced to Qin Yiniang; Qin Yiniang had also been showering Zhu with gifts that far exceeded her own means.

As the old saying goes: anything that goes beyond the ordinary is suspicious.

Some things had given her cause to wonder…

Deep in thought, she heard the commotion in the front courtyard grow louder.

Wen Yiniang murmured to herself: “By the look of it, I played this move correctly. From the Madam’s perspective, what I’ve done today might well count as aid delivered in a time of need.” Her heart settled contentedly at the thought.

She nudged Donghong, who had fallen fast asleep leaning against the edge of her bed: “It’s getting late — go and sleep properly.”

Donghong rubbed her bleary eyes and stood.

Ever since she had carried Wen Yiniang’s message to the Madam, Wen Yiniang had been — inexplicably — somewhat on edge, and seemed to be waiting for something; she simply would not go to sleep. As a result, Donghong had had no choice but to sit beside her and keep her company. As they talked, and talked some more, she had somehow dozed off without realizing it.

Donghong murmured her assent, spread out her bedding at the foot of the kang, and lay down — and was asleep in an instant.

Shiyiniang felt as though she had barely closed her eyes when Hupo shook her awake.

“Madam, my lord and Fifth Elder Brother are back!” she whispered in her ear.

Shiyiniang jolted fully awake: “Where are they?”

“Gone to the Dowager’s chambers.”

Gone to discuss how to proceed, then?

Qin Yiniang was, after all, the birth mother of Xu Siyu. If this matter truly involved her, no matter what was done behind closed doors, there would still need to be a respectable, above-board explanation for public consumption.

Shiyiniang turned it over in her mind, yawning, and asked Hupo: “What hour is it now?”

Hupo ran to check the floor-standing clock: “A quarter to the first watch of Mao.”

Shiyiniang exclaimed: “They’re back already!”

Hupo, fearing Shiyiniang was anxious, said: “Should I go and take a look?”

“No!” Shiyiniang stopped her firmly. “At this moment my lord is in discussion with the Dowager. If you go poking about, it would look like prying — that would be entirely improper.” Then, after a pause, she said: “I must make the most of the time and sleep. My lord will come when he comes — wake me then.”

Hupo assented, and was just about to tuck the blankets around Shiyiniang when from outside came the swift sound of boots and Xu Lingkuan’s farewell: “…Then I’ll take my leave first.”

Had they settled things so quickly?

Shiyiniang was astonished and sat up.

From outside already came Xu Lingyi’s measured, unhurried farewell to the departing guest: “Mind your step.”

Impossible to read any emotion in it.

Xu Lingkuan replied, and with the sound of the door closing, Xu Lingyi entered the eastern side chamber.

Seeing that Shiyiniang was not yet asleep, he showed no surprise. He thought that at such a moment, even the steadfast Dowager was waiting on the outcome — how much more so Shiyiniang. He told Hupo to fetch water so he could change, his expression as cold and authoritative as it always was.

Hupo quickly curtsied her assent and withdrew.

Xu Lingyi came and sat beside Shiyiniang on the chaise longue.

Shiyiniang had only just called out “My lord” when Xu Lingyi held up his hand, saying in a low, solemn voice: “Everything has been found. She cannot be kept here any longer. As for how to handle the matter — we shall discuss it tomorrow.” In just a few words, he seemed to have aged several years in an instant, as though he had been holding himself together until this moment, and now that he had finally relaxed, he had returned to how he truly looked.

After all, she was someone who had served beside him for over a decade. To have come to this point — how could there not be some grief?

Shiyiniang could not help but take his hand. “My lord has been up all night — please rest quickly. Whatever there is, we can think on it tomorrow.” Her voice was softer than even she had expected.

This was the first time Shiyiniang had taken his hand so directly of her own accord.

Xu Lingyi looked at the soft, pale little hand resting in his palm. For some reason, the weight in his heart suddenly felt lighter. His thumb moved gently over the fine, delicate skin — like congealed fat — in slow, careful strokes, before he quietly closed his hand around hers. “You rest early too. Be careful the child in your belly doesn’t start fussing at you.”

At that reminder, Shiyiniang suddenly realized: from the time the incident broke out until now, the child had not troubled her once.

The thought flickered through her mind; already the smile was spreading uncontrollably to the corners of her eyes and brows. “This child — I don’t know whether it’s bold or well-behaved, knowing we had matters to tend to and staying completely quiet, not making a fuss at all.” As she spoke, her hand had settled on her abdomen.

The smile that spilled from her brows and eyes was soft and gentle, like a flower blooming in the third month of spring, tender and flushed with a trace of shyness.

Perhaps because of the difference between men and women, Xu Lingyi was considerably more cool-headed and rational than Shiyiniang.

His first thought went to that kick from Xu Sizhun… and a sharp pain flashed through his heart. He gently drew his wife into his arms.

“Truly!” His hand came to rest over Shiyiniang’s hand. “Most likely takes after the mother — gentle and well-behaved.” As he spoke, his mind’s eye had already begun to sketch, unbidden, the image of a small figure resembling a tiny version of Shiyiniang. His expression softened all at once. He imagined the little one would be just as adorably guileless — sitting in his lap at three or five years old to practice calligraphy, and then, arms aching and unwilling to write anymore, looking up at him with eyes brimming with unshed tears, tugging at his sleeve and coaxing him with a pout… his heart went soft as though steeped in warm syrup, tender and melting. He pressed his face against Shiyiniang’s and murmured: “Let’s have a daughter first… a little sweetheart who keeps close to her father’s heart, and then a son…” The gloom of a moment ago was cast far into the ninth heaven, and his mood brightened suddenly.

Shiyiniang burst out laughing.

Xu Lingyi, mildly displeased, gave her hand a little pinch.

Shiyiniang’s internal clock had long since been reset. Though she had gotten almost no sleep through the night, come the start of the Mao hour, she was awake again.

Hupo was sitting on the small stool at the foot of the chaise longue, stifling a yawn.

Since they were staying in the Dowager’s quarters, sharing a bed would have been improper, and Xu Lingyi had gone to sleep in Xu Sizhun’s room.

She smiled and called out “Hupo,” instructing her to fetch water and help her wash and dress. Then she added: “When you go back to the main chamber later, ask Zhuxiang to bring over fresh sets of clothes for me and my lord. You stay in the room and rest — no need to come wait on me here.”

Investigating the fright that had befallen Xu Sizhun had been difficult enough; dealing with the aftermath would be even harder. Shiyiniang was carrying a child, and had slept only in fitful snatches through the night — she needed someone sharp and full of energy to attend and manage things for her. Hupo did not refuse, and after helping Shiyiniang wash and dress, handed her over to Zhuxiang and Lvyun.

Zhuxiang sent Lvyun to deliver Xu Lingyi’s clothes, then helped Shiyiniang dress while saying quietly: “Yanrong is still detained in the room. Though my lord and Fifth Elder Brother searched Qin Yiniang’s courtyard again last night, they left no one there to keep watch afterward, so the people in Qin Yiniang’s room are still free to come and go.” The words carried a note of worry for Yanrong’s situation.

“It’s all right,” Shiyiniang reassured her. “Yanrong is from our rooms. My lord won’t let our people become tangled up in this matter.”

That settled Zhuxiang’s mind entirely. She was about to say something more when a sharp cry suddenly rang out from the Dowager’s inner chamber.

Shiyiniang’s face changed: “That’s Zhun Ge.”

Without stopping to fasten the ties of her outer jacket, she hurried to the inner chamber.

The Dowager was holding the struggling Xu Sizhun in her arms and coaxing him: “Good child, Grandmother is right here!” Yuban stood to one side helping, her arms wrapped around Xu Sizhun’s legs.

The old woman had already done her hair but was in her under-robe, clearly having rushed over mid-dressing at the sound of the commotion.

Shiyiniang hurried over and stopped three paces from Xu Sizhun: “Mother, should we call Zhun Ge’s wet nurse into the household?”

After Xu Sizhun began his studies, Xu Lingyi had worried that those serving around him would indulge and spoil him, so he had replaced all those who had previously attended him — the wet nurse included, who had been sent out of the household.

The Dowager nodded and quickly told Nanny Du to go and fetch Xu Sizhun’s wet nurse to the household. Then she turned to Shiyiniang: “You needn’t concern yourself with things here. Rest properly.” As she spoke, Xu Lingyi had already arrived.

He was wearing the casual robe Zhuxiang had brought him, his expression grave. He stepped forward and took Xu Sizhun from the Dowager: “Mother, let me.”

The Dowager exhaled in relief and sat at the foot of the kang.

Nanny Ge brought in medicine.

Xu Lingyi held Xu Sizhun’s chin still while a seasoned matron in the room helped administer the medicine.

Xu Sizhun thrashed for the duration of half a stick of incense, then gradually quieted and fell back into a heavy, drowsy sleep.

Xu Lingyi and the Dowager alike — everyone’s face bore a troubled expression.

Xu Sizhun’s condition was clearly far more serious than anyone had imagined.

In the silence, Xu Lingyi stood. “Let us eat first. There are still many matters to see to afterward.”

Though his eyes still held traces of shadow, his bearing had already recovered its habitual composure.

The Dowager sighed, leaned on Yuban’s arm, and went into the inner chamber.

Zhuxiang stepped forward quickly to fasten Shiyiniang’s jacket ties.

A little maid slipped cautiously in to report: “My lord, Madam — the Second Madam has arrived!”

Second Madam, ever brisk and to the point, came in and immediately asked: “How is Zhun Ge now?”

Xu Lingyi gave her a brief account of the situation, then led her to the kang where Xu Sizhun lay sleeping.

In just one night, the slight roundness Xu Sizhun had lately regained in his face had gone thin and drawn again.

Second Madam sat down on the edge of the kang, stroked Xu Sizhun’s forehead with affectionate sorrow, and asked Shiyiniang: “Where is Mother?”

Before she could finish, the Dowager emerged from the wash room: “Yizhen is here!” Her expression carried traces of weariness.

Second Madam hurried forward to support her.

The Dowager took her seat in the armchair beside the kang, saw Shiyiniang following quietly behind Xu Lingyi, and quickly pointed to the armchair opposite her: “You sit as well. You’re carrying a child — if you won’t think of yourself, at least think of the baby.” She asked too: “Are you hungry?” Without waiting for an answer, she turned to a little maid: “Go and have the women set out breakfast. The Fourth Madam must not go hungry.”

The little maid assented and went.

Everyone gathered around the Dowager.

Xu Lingkuan and his wife arrived.

Because Xu Sizhun was ill, Fifth Madam had not brought Xin Jie’er: “…for fear of disturbing Zhun Ge.”

It was more likely she feared Xu Sizhun’s state would frighten Xin Jie’er.

Everyone understood this well enough and thought nothing of it.

Xu Lingkuan looked at Xu Lingyi: “Fourth Elder Brother, let me take a few days’ leave. Whatever errands need running, I can help with those.”

“No need.” Xu Lingyi’s expression was stern. “You go about your duties as usual. Making a great fuss of it would only draw outsiders’ attention.”

Xu Lingkuan considered this briefly and quietly replied: “Yes,” adding: “Then Fourth Elder Brother — just give me word whenever anything is needed.”

Xu Lingyi gave an assenting sound. The Dowager, watching the two brothers consulting in such accord, and recalling Xu Lingkuan’s admirable conduct the previous night, let her expression ease into relief. She gave Xu Lingkuan a few words of instruction — “conduct yourself well at your post” and the like — and by then the servants had set out breakfast, and Nanny Du had returned: “The arrangements for the carriage to fetch the Fourth Young Master’s wet nurse have already been made!”

The Dowager gave a somewhat helpless nod, kept Nanny Du to look after Xu Sizhun, and the rest of the party went to the eastern side chamber to eat breakfast.

Xu Lingkuan had to go on duty, and Fifth Madam had no wish to be pulled into the thick of it. She exchanged a glance with Second Madam, but Second Madam showed no inclination to leave, so Fifth Madam did not press her, and made her farewells on the pretext that Xin Jie’er was still at home alone, leaving together with Xu Lingkuan.

Xu Lingyi then entrusted Shiyiniang to the Dowager’s care: “The business at the main chamber is not yet concluded. I will come and fetch Shiyiniang in two days, when things have settled down.”

“Go and attend to your affairs,” the Dowager quickly said. “I will look after things here.”

Xu Lingyi cast one long, deep look at Shiyiniang, then rose and took his leave of the Dowager.

The Dowager, Second Madam, and Shiyiniang went back to the inner chamber and settled on stools beside the kang. Second Madam finally said: “What exactly happened?” Then she told them of Fifth Madam’s visit to her.

The Dowager did not conceal anything from Second Madam and told her the whole story from beginning to end.

Hearing that sorcery implements had been found in Qin Yiniang’s room, Second Madam could not hide her horror: “Has she gone mad?” Thinking back on the occasional strange behavior Qin Yiniang had displayed in her presence over the years, she felt that it was, in a way, consistent with what she now knew — and could only give a quiet shake of her head. “Her audacity was truly extraordinary.”

“Who could say otherwise!” The Dowager smiled bitterly. “I always thought she was quiet and obedient. In the end it came down to too low a foundation. The slightest stirring, and the ambition ran loose. When all is said and done, it comes down to a thin fate — unable to bear such good fortune.”

Second Madam thought of Xu Siyu.

As a newborn, he had never cried or fussed, lying quietly on the kang and breaking into gurgling laughter whenever anyone came near. As he grew older and became mischievous, he was sent to her household — restless every moment, slumping over his books and falling asleep on the desk, and when she rapped his palm with a ruler, his lips would press into a stubborn, unyielding line, refusing to admit fault no matter what. Now, returned from Le’an, he gave her respectful morning greetings with the courtesy of a young gentleman, discussed his studies with composed refinement, all those joys and sorrows buried so deep in his eyes that one could easily miss them at a glance…

Her eyes suddenly felt a little dry.

With such a birth mother — how was he to bear it?

Second Madam lowered her head, blinked, and by the time she looked up again, was her usual self — serene and clear as an open sky.

“So Yanrong is still being held in the side room?” She turned to Shiyiniang. “The longer something like this lingers, the more gossip it breeds. Some people love nothing more than to watch a spectacle — they’ll conjure a drama out of thin air, let alone a situation where your own maid has genuinely been caught up in it. I think we must find a pretext quickly to release Yanrong.” Her tone was sincere, tinged with a small measure of worry. “And then there is Yi Yiniang. Word must be sent to Third Uncle by fast courier. Whatever else may be said of her, that she knew and did not report — on that count alone, she cannot be pardoned. Yet she did serve Third Uncle faithfully for some years, and though it is right for your mother-in-law to make the final decision, it is still fitting, in terms of human sentiment, to notify Third Uncle beforehand. As for how Yi Yiniang is to be dealt with, Third Uncle and Third Sister-in-Law must be consulted.”

Second Madam had thought everything through carefully, and Shiyiniang agreed with her approach. But these matters would need to be discussed with Xu Lingyi first.

“Second Sister-in-Law is right,” she said diplomatically. “My lord has already gone to attend to things. Besides, I was not entirely clear on what happened last night, and to speak carelessly might leave things out. Better to hear my lord’s thoughts.”

Second Madam, reading between the lines, understood that this topic was not suited for further discussion. She gave a smile and an easy “Very well then,” and smoothly changed the subject, turning with concern to the Dowager: “Mother, you’re getting on in years, and Fourth Sister-in-Law is expecting a child, and Fifth Sister-in-Law is still worried about Xin Jie’er. I have nothing particular to attend to — why don’t you and Fourth Sister-in-Law go and rest? I’ll sit here with Zhun Ge.”

The Dowager did not stand on ceremony with Second Madam and said: “All right then.” Then to Shiyiniang: “Go and sleep a little more. I’ll rest too. Let Yizhen keep an eye on Zhun Ge here.”

Shiyiniang, mindful of the baby in her womb, considered briefly, then smiled and said yes. She thanked Second Madam, and with Zhuxiang and Lvyun attending her, went to the eastern side chamber to sleep.

The Dowager retreated to the heated side chamber to rest.

Shiyiniang slept until she woke naturally — just in time for the noon meal.

Zhuxiang helped her wash and dress while saying quietly: “Hupo had a little maid come over with a message. She said my lord went to the main chamber first thing this morning, said not a word more than necessary, and had people release Yanrong. Then he had Chief Steward Bai send over several rough-work matrons to detain Yi Yiniang, wrote a letter, took out his personal visiting card, and sent someone using the official relay station’s express route — six hundred li urgent courier — to deliver it to Third Master far away in Shanyang. The whole household is talking, saying it was Yi Yiniang who frightened the Fourth Young Master. They’re also saying Yi Yiniang has no children of her own, was abandoned in Yanjing by Third Madam, and has gone a little unhinged — biting at anyone she comes across!”

Shiyiniang wiped a cold sweat from her brow: “And do the servants in the household actually believe that?”

“Who knows if they believe it or not.” Zhuxiang fought to suppress a smile. “At any rate, everyone is talking about it — each person adding a sentence or two, all of them convinced they’re speaking the truth. The more they talk, the more outlandish it gets. Even something that happened the other day — Yi Yiniang punishing a little maid who broke a bowl by making her kneel in the courtyard — has been woven into the story: that Yi Yiniang wanted to act like a mistress of the house while Third Madam was away, that she had gone so far off that she made a fuss over the pettiest things. They’re also saying that once, Yi Yiniang had clearly told the kitchen to make her steamed eggs, the kitchen made them and sent them over, and she insisted she’d asked for fried quail instead, and went to cause a scene at the kitchen over it. Some are saying her mind must have been going even then!”

Silence, it seemed, truly could let rumours fly in all directions.

“And Qin Yiniang?” Shiyiniang said thoughtfully. “How has she been dealt with?”

“My lord has done nothing.” Zhuxiang’s face flashed with admiration. “Hupo says that this morning my lord had Nanny Song go and relay a message to the concubines: that the Fourth Young Master had received a fright, that the Madam was staying in the Dowager’s chambers to help care for him, and that the morning and evening greetings would be waived for the next few days. When Nanny Song reached Qin Yiniang’s courtyard, Qin Yiniang’s face was the color of wax, plasters stuck at her left and right temples, looking as though she’d been through a grave illness, aged ten years in one night. She seemed as skittish as a bird startled from a bow. She grabbed Nanny Song’s hand and said she was nearly at death’s door, begging Nanny Song to find a physician for her, and asking Nanny Song to get word to Second Young Master far away in Le’an — to have him come back and see her one last time.” Zhuxiang’s expression flickered somber. “And Cui’er — the moment Nanny Song stepped through the door, she clasped her in both arms, saying she knew nothing of what Qin Yiniang had done, let alone anything about her family. She begged Nanny Song to speak a word to the Madam on her behalf: that she would be grateful as a servant in this life and a horse or ox in the next if the Madam would but grant her a bowl of medicine to drink, and spare her family from being implicated.”

Shiyiniang listened in silence. After a long pause she said quietly: “Tell Cui’er — if there is any hope of being granted a bowl of medicine in the end, then right now she must say nothing at all.”

Zhuxiang nodded.

The two of them finished pinning up her hair and fastening her ornaments in silence, then went to the Dowager’s inner chamber.

Second Madam was sitting on the edge of the kang reading a book, and Xu Sizhun was still asleep.

When she came in, Second Madam set down her book, gestured to a stick of incense burning in the corner of the room, and came quietly forward: “Earlier, Zhun Ge was a little restless. Nanny Du held him and coaxed him for a long time. So I lit a stick of incense I make myself — for calming sleep.”

Shiyiniang nodded. Second Madam indicated they step outside to speak.

The two of them went and sat in the western side chamber.

“I’ve been thinking about it. It would be best to send word to Siyu as well.”

To say that Xu Siyu had grown up under Second Madam’s wing would not be an exaggeration. Now that Qin Yiniang had come to this, it was only natural that Second Madam thought of how to console Xu Siyu. Shiyiniang had been considering this herself. Now that Second Madam had raised the subject, she also wanted to hear Second Madam’s view.

She said carefully: “What is Second Sister-in-Law’s thinking?”

Second Madam pondered: “Siyu is not so young anymore, and he reads under Master Jiang’s tutelage. I believe this matter should be told to Siyu plainly, all of it. First, so that he is not left to turn over rumors and hearsay in private and let it damage the bond between him and my lord; second, so that he understands his own circumstances clearly — even if Qin Yiniang has whispered things in his ear over the years, they are all flowers in a mirror or the moon in water, and he would do better to settle his mind on his studies and find a way to establish himself through his own efforts. Third, since he is now in Le’an, if there are things he cannot make sense of, he can still seek counsel from Master Jiang. With Master Jiang to guide him, he need not fall into despondency and despair.”