Eleventh Young Lady could sense there was something irregular about the situation. But seeing how Luo Fourth Young Madam looked, she doubted much would be gotten out of her, so she let it go and moved to ordinary household conversation: “Is Fifth Yiniang well?”

Luo Zhensheng held little standing in the family. It would be better for certain things to wait until Luo Zhensheng came to Yanjing in person to speak with Eleventh Young Lady directly.

Luo Fourth Young Madam also had no wish to say more, and at the mention of Fifth Yiniang gladly shifted the subject with a smile: “Yiniang is well. Every day she stays home looking after Sixth Younger Brother, doing her needlework, and occasionally going to the temple with Sixth Yiniang to offer prayers.” At that point she gave a sudden exclamation: “Goodness, I was so caught up in my joy at seeing Jin Ge’er that I quite forgot about this.” She passed Jin Ge’er to wet nurse Gu standing nearby, and drew out a small rose-red sachet in the shape of a crabapple flower, which she handed to Eleventh Young Lady. “Fifth Yiniang sought a protective amulet for you at the Ci’an Temple, and asked me to bring it. May it bless you and the child with safety and good fortune in all things.” She then smiled: “Though the amulet is a little late in arriving, it has been delivered at last, and it is a token of the heart.”

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and thanked her as she accepted it.

The petals of the crabapple flower were layered one over another, their veins clearly defined, lifelike and vivid.

She placed the sachet solemnly beneath her pillow, then asked about the family news.

“Father made the acquaintance of a Taoist this past spring and, for reasons I cannot fully explain, took to the doctrines of the Yellow Emperor and Laozi. By summer he had moved out to live at the farm estate, where he also set up a furnace to refine elixirs, and has left all household matters entirely in others’ hands. Elder Brother tried to persuade him several times, to no avail, and has had to let Father be. Third Yiniang feared Father would have no one to care for him out on the estate, and followed him there. Sixth Yiniang remained behind to help Fifth Yiniang look after Seventh Younger Brother, and engaged a needlework teacher to come to the house and supervise Twelfth Younger Sister’s embroidery. The whole burden of managing the household has fallen squarely onto Elder Sister-in-Law.”

Twelfth Young Lady, who had been sitting quietly nearby without a word, flushed at this and dropped her gaze bashfully to her teacup.

Eleventh Young Lady, seeing her in this shy, girlish manner, pressed her lips together in a smile.

“Your Fourth Brother is not made for scholarly pursuits, so Elder Brother put him to work with Steward Wu managing the household’s practical affairs,” Luo Fourth Young Madam continued with a smile. “You know your Fourth Brother’s character — loyal and honest, not daring to be careless in the slightest with anything Elder Brother entrusts to him. These past two years he has managed without any mishaps, and I have been able to stay quietly at home and look after Ying Niang.” As she said this, her gaze had already turned soft and fond, settling on Ying Niang, who was sitting on a small stool eating a flaky pastry.

Ying Niang looked like the Luo family — fair skin, large almond eyes — and bore a notable resemblance to Twelfth Young Lady, sitting just beside her.

Eleventh Young Lady asked her with a smile: “Is the pastry good?”

Ying Niang nodded: “Good!”

Her voice was bright and resonant, just like Luo Fourth Young Madam’s.

Eleventh Young Lady laughed.

Luo Fourth Young Madam looked a touch embarrassed: “She has been running wild at home. I try to get her to lower her voice, but it never takes.”

“A girl with an open and cheerful nature is a good thing,” Eleventh Young Lady said. The daughters of the Luo family had always been stifled.

“You are her relative and of course you say so, cousin,” Luo Fourth Young Madam said with fond reproach. “She will need to marry someday. What mother-in-law would enjoy such a lively, boisterous nature?”

“She is still so small — teaching her gradually is the thing. One cannot grow plump all in a single mouthful.”

As the two talked, a junior maid came in and announced: “Madam, the First Young Lady is here!”

Twelfth Young Lady’s eyes lit up at once.

The days she had spent living in Yanjing had painted a bright and vivid color across the quiet gray of her life, and had changed her fate and her life’s path from that point forward. Those people, those events — she would never forget them, not for the rest of her life.

She could not help rising to her feet.

She saw the curtain sweep open, and Zhen Jie’er walked in with a radiant smile.

“The moment I heard that Fourth Maternal Aunt and Twelfth Aunt had arrived, I came straight over.”

Having paid her respects to Luo Fourth Young Madam and Twelfth Young Lady, she immediately took Twelfth Young Lady’s hand: “When did you and Fourth Maternal Aunt arrive? Was the journey all right? Are Grandfather, Elder Maternal Uncle, Elder Maternal Aunt, and the Younger Uncles all well?” Then noticing Ying Niang, she smiled: “Is this Elder Cousin? She is so beautiful!”

She said all this in a single breath, in a rush that left one not quite knowing where to begin in answering — but it conveyed plainly how warm and eager she was.

Twelfth Young Lady’s smile became wide and genuine: “We arrived yesterday. We came first thing this morning to see Eleventh Sister. Everyone at home is well.” She beckoned to Ying Niang: “Come, come and greet your Elder Cousin.”

Ying Niang tilted her head back to look up at Zhen Jie’er, and said with alarm: “You are so tall!”

Everyone was reduced to laughter.

Zhen Jie’er’s cheeks reddened slightly. She untied a mutton-fat jade pendant worn at her waist and pressed it into Ying Niang’s hands: “This is a greeting gift for you.”

Ying Niang did not dare take it and looked at Luo Fourth Young Madam. Only when Luo Fourth Young Madam gave a slight nod did she smile and accept the jade pendant, and thank Zhen Jie’er for it.

The Dowager Marchioness’s personal maid Yuban arrived: “Fourth Madam, the Dowager Marchioness has heard that the maternal family’s young madam has come, and invites the young madam, the young lady, and the Elder Young Miss to come and have a visit.”

Eleventh Young Lady was not in a position to accompany them. She smiled and instructed Zhen Jie’er: “Go with Fourth Maternal Aunt and Ying Niang.” Then she said to Luo Fourth Young Madam: “Come back and have lunch with us.”

Luo Fourth Young Madam smiled and agreed, and went to the Dowager Marchioness’s rooms.

Gifts and introductions were exchanged, old acquaintances were renewed, and they talked pleasantly until it was nearly noon, when Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie finished school.

The Dowager Marchioness beckoned the two brothers over: “Come and meet your Fourth Maternal Aunt, Twelfth Aunt, and Elder Cousin.”  She said to Ying Niang: “And this is your Fourth Elder Cousin and Fifth Elder Cousin.”

Xu Sizhun still remembered Luo Fourth Young Madam and Twelfth Young Lady, but was seeing Ying Niang for the first time. Xu Sijie had no recollection of any of them whatsoever; and by comparison, Ying Niang, being younger than him, naturally became the focus of his attention. Without meaning to, both brothers let their gaze settle on Ying Niang at the same moment.

She wore her hair in double buns, and was dressed in a small padded jacket of deep red with embroidered peony flowers. Around her neck hung a necklace of pure gold in an auspicious ruyi cloud design, and on her wrists were bracelets of pure gold inscribed with blessings for a long life. Her round little face was as fair and smooth as the petal of a tuberose flower, and her large almond eyes were bright and clear as still water. She was entirely and utterly adorable.

Ying Niang was not shy. Seeing Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie looking at her, she smiled and called out loudly, “Fourth Elder Cousin, Fifth Elder Cousin!” Her bright, ringing voice gave both brothers a slight start of embarrassment, yet pleased them at the same time, and both wore smiles that carried just a trace of sheepishness.

The Dowager Marchioness kept Luo Fourth Young Madam and the others for the meal, and said with a smile: “I know very well that Eleventh Young Lady has certainly kept you for lunch too. Let me send word to her — have lunch here with me at midday, and go to her in the evening.”

One does not decline an elder’s invitation. What is more, the Dowager Marchioness was showing the Luo family a great deal of honor.

Luo Fourth Young Madam smiled and said she would, and took her meal in the Dowager Marchioness’s rooms.

Ying Niang fed herself with her own spoon, without dropping a single grain of rice on the table. She ate her greens, she ate her meat. This formed a striking contrast with Xin Jie’er’s spoiled ways.

Xu Sizhun watched her with considerable interest.

After the meal, Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie stayed in the Dowager Marchioness’s rooms for their afternoon nap, while Luo Fourth Young Madam and the others went to Eleventh Young Lady’s rooms.

Ying Niang’s upper and lower eyelids were battling each other; she drooped against her wet nurse, half asleep.

Eleventh Young Lady had wet nurse Gu bring Ying Niang to the inner chamber to rest, and arranged for Luo Fourth Young Madam to nap in the west side room.

“It is not summer, and I am no small child,” Luo Fourth Young Madam said with a smile. “We see each other so rarely — let me stay and talk with you a while!”

This visit by Luo Fourth Young Madam and the others was primarily for the purpose of Twelfth Young Lady’s marriage. Luo Zhensheng had also entrusted her with looking after things on his behalf, so there was certainly something she needed to discuss.

Eleventh Young Lady nodded with a smile.

Zhen Jie’er then pulled Twelfth Young Lady along, wanting to take her to her own rooms: “I have embroidered a new peony screen panel and would love for Twelfth Aunt to come and have a look!”

She wanted to be alone with her and have a proper talk!

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and nodded: “Come back for the evening meal!”

Zhen Jie’er and Twelfth Young Lady smiled and agreed, then went out hand in hand.

Eleventh Young Lady waited until a junior maid had served tea and refreshments, then dismissed all the attendants from the room.

Luo Fourth Young Madam proceeded to discuss Twelfth Young Lady’s marriage: “…Elder Brother gave us five thousand taels in banknotes — enough for us to work with what we have and get Twelfth Younger Sister’s marriage settled. The Twelfth Son-in-Law’s family, though modest in means, is still a great and distinguished clan. And we ourselves have never gone through anything like this before. The money is not a great deal, but how should it be used? On what should it be spent? What things must be bought? What can be skipped? I hoped to hear your thoughts, Eleventh Cousin — that way, your Fourth Brother will know how to go about the purchasing, and we will not end up making a spectacle of things and embarrassing Twelfth Younger Sister.”

How generous!

Eleventh Young Lady was quietly moved.

She thought back to how the previous Madam had gone about marrying off her daughters in those years… it truly could not be compared. But five thousand taels of silver — if this were for any other household, it would be a truly abundant and generous dowry. Yet placed against the Wang Family, where there were sisters-in-law on the same level to compare against, it was not an especially large sum… though it was not a small one either.

Eleventh Young Lady considered this carefully and said: “I have no great experience in these matters either, and it would not be easy to say off the top of my head. How about this — let me make some careful inquiries over the next couple of days and give you a definite answer shortly. Then we can discuss together how best to proceed. What do you think, Fourth Sister-in-Law?”

Luo Fourth Young Madam said: “Then I will wait for Eleventh Cousin’s word.” She hesitated slightly and added: “There is also one other matter…” She seemed uncertain of how to begin.

Eleventh Young Lady considered a moment and said: “Sister-in-Law, is there something you would like me to handle?”

Luo Fourth Young Madam gave an awkward smile: “There is indeed a troublesome matter…” She then explained the background in full. “…According to Elder Brother’s intention, Twelfth Young Lady’s dowry should be in keeping with that given to Fifth Young Lady and Tenth Young Lady. Since the youngest girl tends to be treated a little more generously, and those of us who are elder brothers and sisters-in-law could also contribute a little extra, it would work out fine. But Sixth Yiniang disagrees. She brought you up as a comparison, saying that although both involve marrying off daughters, your dowry was more substantial. Twelfth Younger Sister may not dare to compare with you, but she should not be compared to Fifth Young Lady either.” She said this with a slightly reddened face and a lower voice. “In front of Father… Father, the very next morning, called Elder Brother in and set the figure at five thousand taels of silver.”

Eleventh Young Lady felt a flush of embarrassment.

“Elder Brother had no good way to refuse it,” said Luo Fourth Young Madam. “Then Sixth Yiniang said again that since Twelfth Younger Sister is marrying far from home, the fields and lands in the Jiangnan region would be of no use to her, and would need someone dispatched to manage them — was the Twelfth Son-in-Law really going to send someone to Jiangnan every year to collect the rent? Going there and back, even in a good harvest year there would be nothing left over, and in a disaster year they might actually be losing money. She absolutely insisted that Elder Brother produce five thousand taels in cash — and as luck would have it, Father took Sixth Yiniang’s side in this too. So the five thousand taels in banknotes were handed over. Then Sixth Yiniang said again that since the son-in-law’s family is poor, what is the use of fitting out so many tables and chairs? Use one thousand taels to purchase goods, and give Twelfth Younger Sister the rest as concealed pocket money.”

Concealed pocket money was not declared on the formal gift register.

Under Sixth Yiniang’s plan, in the eyes of everyone else, the Luo Family would have spent only one thousand taels marrying off a daughter.

“Elder Brother certainly would not agree to that?” Eleventh Young Lady had a vague sense of what was coming.

Luo Fourth Young Madam nodded: “Far from agreeing — he was so furious he gave Sixth Yiniang a thorough dressing-down.”

And yet Sixth Yiniang had still come along to the capital — which meant that Luo Zhensheng had ultimately been unable to get the better of Sixth Yiniang.

—