“In name, the affairs were entrusted to Tao Mama,” Wen Yiniang said, “but in practice, Tao Mama spent most of her time helping the late Fourth Madam battle those management matrons, or else tending to the late Fourth Madam’s health — for at that time, though the late Fourth Madam had suffered a miscarriage nearly a year before, her body had not recovered properly. Her cycles would come early one month and late the next, sometimes dragging on for ten days or half a month. Tao Mama was frantic with worry over it. As for our affairs, she would look in on us only every few days. When there was anything to convey, she would have the matrons the late Fourth Madam had placed in our respective rooms pass the message along.”

In other words, the several concubines were simply left to fend for themselves like cattle put out to pasture.

Shiyiniang pondered, then said, “Then how did Tong Yiniang come to miscarry?”

“I am not entirely clear on the details,” Wen Yiniang said candidly. “I can only tell you what I knew at the time.”

She cast her mind back. “I remember it was the third lunar month of Jianwu fifty-three. Because the Second Young Master had suddenly died, the Senior Madam changed her plans and went to the Medicine King Temple to make offerings on the eighth day of the fourth month. Early that morning, when we concubines went to pay our respects to the late Fourth Madam, she and Tao Mama were in the midst of discussing how to arrange the carriages and horses for the temple visit. Tao Mama suggested that the late Fourth Madam accompany the Senior Madam to the Medicine King Temple and pray for her own peace and wellbeing. The late Fourth Madam seemed tempted by the idea, but was worried that if she went there would be no one at home to manage the household. She hesitated. Tao Mama patted her chest and declared she could handle things at home. Only then did the late Fourth Madam make up her mind to join the Senior Madam at the Medicine King Temple.”

“Tao Mama went off in high spirits to the outer courtyard to inform the staff and arrange the carriages. We concubines served the late Fourth Madam her morning meal. The late Fourth Madam was in a fine mood that morning — she noticed that Tong Yiniang’s belly was pointed and said it might well be a boy, then rewarded Tong Yiniang and Qin Yiniang each with a plate of pine-nut cake. After the meal, she even had a little stool brought for us to sit on, and took a lively interest in asking after the children…”

Shiyiniang suddenly interrupted Wen Yiniang: “She gave Tong Yiniang and Qin Yiniang pine-nut cake — what did she give Wen Yiniang?”

Wen Yiniang’s expression flickered with slight embarrassment. “I was with child at the time, and my wet nurse had told me not to eat things indiscriminately. I was also afraid of giving people the wrong idea. When in front of others I simply claimed I had no appetite. As time passed, no one pressed me to eat.”

She was afraid someone might tamper with her food, no doubt.

Given Yuan Niang’s keen intelligence, it would have been impossible for her not to see through it. And having seen through it, given her own character, she could not possibly stoop to openly tormenting a concubine.

Shiyiniang smiled faintly.

Wen Yiniang did not deny it, and chose her words carefully. “The late Fourth Madam had quite a temper. She had not been in the household long before she had Tong Yiniang and Qin Yiniang trained to obedience. I had newly arrived and could not help being somewhat on my guard.” Her expression grew just slightly abashed.

Shiyiniang understood, and gave a small nod. “What happened after that?”

“I was very hungry at the time, so I made an excuse of feeling unwell and returned to my room. When I came to serve the midday meal, I found the entire atmosphere had changed completely — the late Fourth Madam was sitting cross-legged on the large kang beneath the window, her hand on the low table clenched in a tight fist, staring at Tao Mama, who stood before her, with a face as still and dark as deep water. As for Tao Mama, her face had gone iron-grey, the corners of her mouth twitching incessantly — she wore the look of one who had been outraged to her very limits. Tong Yiniang and Qin Yiniang stood side by side beside the floor-to-ceiling screen partition, as if treading on thin ice, not daring to utter a single sound. I could see the situation was not right, but did not know what had happened. I was casting about for something to say when I saw Tong Yiniang give me a slight look.” Wen Yiniang’s eyes grew subtly dim, and she sighed, soft as a spring breeze. “Biyu — that was Tong Yiniang — was not only beautiful in appearance; she was also warm-natured toward people. It was just that her temperament was too gentle and yielding…” She broke off, as though the words would not come, or could not be accurately put into words.

Was it that the listener was Yuan Niang’s younger sister and so certain things felt inconvenient to say? Or was it that she had no way to put into words precisely what she felt for Tong Yiniang?

Shiyiniang lifted her teacup and sipped — and only then realized the tea had long since gone cold.

“I saw the look she gave, and quietly stepped aside,” Wen Yiniang said in a lowered voice. “The moment I was settled, the late Fourth Madam suddenly swept a cold glance over me and instructed Tao Mama to serve the meal. Tao Mama looked most reluctant; after a long moment she murmured ‘Yes’ and withdrew. Tong Yiniang, seeing this, quickly stepped forward and poured a fresh, hot cup of tea for the late Fourth Madam. After drinking it, the late Fourth Madam’s colour improved somewhat, and the atmosphere eased a little. I took the opportunity to say a few light-hearted things. Just then Tao Mama came directing the coarse-duty matrons to bring in the midday meal. We helped set the chopsticks in place, and the late Fourth Madam waved her hand and told us to withdraw, keeping only Tao Mama to speak with her privately.”

“I quietly asked Tong Yiniang what had happened.”

“Tong Yiniang told me that when Tao Mama had gone to the outer courtyard to arrange the carriages and horses for the eighth, the manager in charge of carriages kept saying a few of the vehicles had broken axles that had not yet been repaired, then that the coachmen were short-handed and Steward Bai had not yet taken on new ones — one excuse after another, generally meaning they could not assemble the carriages that were needed. Tao Mama had no choice but to go to Steward Bai. Steward Bai personally brought his own personal attendant to the stables to select horses and inspect the carriages, and only then was the carriage matter settled.”

“But just then, the godmother personally invited by the Marquis — the Senior Madam’s cousin — arrived. The two old sisters had not seen each other for decades, and had much catching up to do. The Senior Madam naturally wished to invite this cousin to make the outing to the Medicine King Temple together. But this meant several additional carriages would be needed. The late Fourth Madam, thinking that procuring a few more carriages would require another round of trouble, returned to her rooms and told Tao Mama she would not go to the Medicine King Temple after all.”

“Tao Mama disagreed. She said that if someone was not to go, it ought to be the widowed Second Madam or the pregnant Third Madam — it certainly should not be the lady managing the household. She also said that if the late Fourth Madam did not feel comfortable saying this to the Second Madam herself, she would go and say it on her behalf.”

“The late Fourth Madam grew anxious at that. She said: if the Second Madam were to ask why she was being kept from going, could they really say there weren’t enough carriages? The Second Madam had managed the inner household affairs and helped the Senior Madam oversee the outer courtyard — she knew the family’s situation better than anyone. If that came out, would she not be laughed to scorn — a madam of the Yongping Marquis household who cannot even commandeer a few carriages from her own household?”

“Tao Mama thought there was sense in this, and proposed instead that the Third Madam not go. The late Fourth Madam rejected this as well. She said the Third Madam was the most petty of people — she would not tolerate the slightest slight. If she knew everyone else had gone out to an outing and she alone had been left behind, she would go straight to the Senior Madam to make a scene. And then when the Senior Madam asked questions, it would be even more humiliating.”

“Tao Mama grew anxious too. She said: great as heaven and earth may be, nothing is greater than bearing an heir. Could this matter really just be let go?”

“At those words, the late Fourth Madam’s expression changed drastically. She said nothing for a long while, then ultimately decided not to go.”

“Tao Mama then began venting her indignation on behalf of the late Fourth Madam.”

“So my elder sister and Tao Mama were both upset over this matter?” Shiyiniang asked Wen Yiniang.

“And remained upset for quite some time!” Wen Yiniang nodded. “In the afternoon, the matron in charge of needlework came to say that according to custom, in past years the fabrics for the autumn garments would have been ordered by this time. She asked how this year should be handled. If the managers in the outer courtyard were to help place the order, she would need the authorization token to go and speak with the outer courtyard; if the inner courtyard was ordering its own, it should place a deposit early. Otherwise, the autumn garments would not be ready in time.”

“It was a perfectly routine matter, but it provoked a fit of temper from the late Fourth Madam. Tong Yiniang and Qin Yiniang were too frightened to go near, so they sat in my room doing needlework. I noticed that Tong Yiniang’s colour was somewhat off and she looked quite weary. I invited her to lie down on my bed and rest a while. She said she was fine. Since we were all three of us with child, there were certain things I could not very well press. She said she was fine, so I didn’t press further. By evening twilight we three went together to attend the late Fourth Madam’s dinner, but Wanxiang — one of her maids — told us the late Fourth Madam was still going over accounts with Tao Mama and asked us to wait outside.”

“We waited until the lamps were lit and there was still no movement from the main room. I had been standing until my feet ached; Tong Yiniang and Qin Yiniang were no better off than I was, and would shift their weight from foot to foot from time to time. I could see this was no good, so I claimed my stomach hurt and needed to use the night-soil pot, and stayed in there resting for a good half-hour before coming back out.”

“But by then the late Fourth Madam was still going over accounts with Tao Mama. We stood there again, staring at each other, for quite some time. I could see that even the usually patient Tong Yiniang and Qin Yiniang were swaying on their feet. I was just about to hint to them that they too should step inside to use the facilities, when the main room door opened and Tao Mama came out instructing a little maid to bring in the evening meal. So I swallowed my words.”

“After supper, Tao Mama accompanied the late Fourth Madam to the Second Madam’s rooms, and we each returned to our own quarters.”

“I washed up and lay down. The matron who had come with me from Yangzhou sat on the edge of the kang keeping watch over me. She chatted with me as she worked needlework for the baby. Qin Yiniang came to borrow an embroidery pattern. I sat up in bed wrapped in my outer robe and talked with her while my matron went to look for the pattern. I asked Qin Yiniang what Tong Yiniang was doing. Qin Yiniang said Tong Yiniang felt a bit tired and had already gone to bed. I thought of all that standing we had done earlier and asked Qin Yiniang whether Tong Yiniang was all right. Qin Yiniang said that the matron the late Fourth Madam had sent over was in Tong Yiniang’s room to look after her, so there was nothing to worry about.”

Wen Yiniang’s expression grew faintly distant and unfocused.

“We were in the middle of talking when Qin Yiniang’s little maid came rushing over, her face drained white, saying Tong Yiniang was bleeding.”

“We were all terrified. Qin Yiniang turned and ran toward the room.”

“I wanted to go and see as well, but my matron grabbed me back.”

“She said: in the middle of the night like this, there was no way to fetch a physician. Tong Yiniang’s child was likely beyond saving. Everyone else was hurrying to wash their hands of it — I shouldn’t be foolish enough to jump headlong into the muddy water.”

Wen Yiniang lowered her head.

“I wavered for a long time. In my heart I still felt I could not live with myself. I shook off my matron’s hand, climbed up onto the large kang by the window, and knelt on the sill, peering out. I could see Qin Yiniang heading alone, in a great hurry, toward the main room.”

“The courtyard remained utterly still; no one came. My knees began to feel stiff from kneeling, so I sat down and tried to shift my position. Just then Tong Yiniang’s personal little maid came running over. Her face was wild with fear. She said Tong Yiniang’s bleeding would not stop, and even the matron the late Fourth Madam had placed in their room didn’t know what to do. She begged the matron who had come with me from Yangzhou to go over and take a look. My matron refused without a second thought. The little maid fell to her knees with a thud, right there on the ground. She begged me to send a little maid to find Qin Yiniang, saying Qin Yiniang had gone to fetch help and had not come back even now. She was also heavily pregnant herself — if something were to go wrong, every last person in that room would be done for.”

“My matron, without a word, pushed the little maid straight out the door.”

* * *