Eleventh Young Lady touched her forehead — which was perfectly dry — and said with a slight stammer: “No, no need. There is Nanny Gu to help…” But before she could finish her words, Xu Lingyi had already spoken calmly yet firmly: “Then that is settled,” cutting her off.

Qiuyu dared not hesitate, and quickly called the little maidservants in to attend to Xu Lingyi’s grooming.

Nanny Tian then spoke to Eleventh Young Lady with earnest and repeated counsel: “Your health must come first. In certain matters, my lady must not simply yield to the marquis’s inclinations. If it truly will not do, then summon Wen Yiniang to come serve — that amounts to the same thing.”

Eleventh Young Lady was at a loss for words. Yet she felt, deep down, a vague sense that Xu Lingyi would not act in such a manner… She raised her eyes and saw Nanny Gu arranging bedding and blankets on the beauty couch, and quickly instructed Fangxi: “Put up a folding screen to block the view.”

In great households, it was customary for a close-attending maidservant to be present when the mistress and master of the house were together at night. But Eleventh Young Lady’s temperament was somewhat peculiar — regardless of whether Xu Lingyi was resting in the room, she never liked having the night-watch maidservant sleep in the same room as herself. Everyone had grown accustomed to this long ago. Fangxi directed several of the coarser-work maidservants to bring in the four-paneled aromatic wood screen carved with scenes of the four seasons and auspicious wishes from the east side room.

Amid the room full of black lacquered furnishings, it looked rather out of place.

“I recall there is a black lacquered ivory-carved screen depicting ‘the hundred ailments warded off’ in the storeroom,” said Eleventh Young Lady. “Find it tomorrow and have it brought in to replace this one.”

Fangxi smiled and acknowledged the instruction. Xu Lingyi came out of the dressing room: “What is being found to replace something?”

So many words this evening.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled: “This aromatic wood screen looks out of place here. I am having them find a black lacquered one from the storeroom to replace it.”

Xu Lingyi gave a slight nod and sat on the edge of the bed to look at Jin Ge’er: “Don’t you think he’s growing fairer by the day?”

Eleventh Young Lady looked carefully.

His features had certainly opened up considerably since he was first born, but as for growing fairer — she really could not see it.

“I see him every day before my eyes, so I haven’t noticed,” she said diplomatically.

“That is precisely why I say he is growing fairer by the day,” Xu Lingyi said with even greater certainty. He smiled and patted the child’s hair, then took off his outer robe and got into bed. “Let Jin Ge’er sleep between us,” he said, clearly very fond of the child.

“What if we accidentally crush him in the night?” Eleventh Young Lady demurred gently. “Better to let him sleep beside me.”

“Then he can sleep beside me,” Xu Lingyi said in a low voice. “No wonder you keep getting thinner and thinner — the way I see it, you simply haven’t been sleeping properly. I wager you haven’t been getting a full night’s rest.” Without troubling himself as to whether Eleventh Young Lady agreed or not, he lifted the child and placed him at his own side.

Eleventh Young Lady propped herself up on one elbow: “Be careful!”

“Have no fear.” Xu Lingyi placed Jin Ge’er at the side of his own pillow, just as Eleventh Young Lady had done. “When I was on campaign, I slept fully armored, with my sword tucked under my pillow, waking at the slightest rustle. The barest sound would rouse me.” So saying, he pressed Eleventh Young Lady back down gently. “Just sleep soundly now.”

Eleventh Young Lady was still a little uneasy, and kept repeating her cautions: “Then do keep an eye on things.”

“Just sleep,” said Xu Lingyi, tucking the quilt in around her. “Don’t let your mind wander.”

Eleventh Young Lady had no choice but to close her eyes.

Xu Lingyi glanced from the corner of his eye and saw his son at the edge of the pillow. He found it so delightful that he turned fully onto his side to look at him.

Skin as smooth as porcelain, faint soft brows, a small straight nose… The longer he looked, the more endearing he found him. He simply sat up quietly, making as little sound as possible.

Eleventh Young Lady had not fallen asleep to begin with. The moment he moved, she opened her eyes: “What is it?”

“Nothing.” Xu Lingyi smiled. Looking down, he found himself gazing into a pair of hazy, half-awake eyes — like the moon veiled in morning mist, serene and lovely — and his heart grew tranquil in turn. “I just find Jin Ge’er very amusing.” He had suddenly lost all desire to sleep, and thinking that the two of them had not spoken to each other quietly like this in quite some time, he reached casually for a large bolster pillow and settled it behind his back. “Why do you put Jin Ge’er at the very head of the pillow? Wouldn’t he be warmer tucked inside the quilt?”

Eleventh Young Lady did not quite know the answer herself.

She had simply seen it done when visiting friends and colleagues who had new babies — everyone did it that way. Thinking there must be a reason, she had followed the practice. Now that Xu Lingyi raised the question, she genuinely could not say, and after some thought replied: “Perhaps so that when the child opens his eyes, he will see his parents right away and not be frightened.” Her tone carried a trace of hesitation.

Xu Lingyi laughed.

No matter how reasonable and resolute a mother might be, when it came to matters concerning her child, she would always show a softer, more uncertain side.

He thought of the maidservant he had encountered while seeing off Imperial Physician Liu, and said softly: “What is actually happening over at Bowstring Alley? If it is nothing pressing, I can have Steward Bai look into it for you. You are in confinement now. I have heard it said that if one contracts an illness during confinement, it is very difficult to treat afterward. All the more so given your present condition. It would be best to trouble yourself as little as possible.”

Eleventh Young Lady had not anticipated that her own condition would be this serious. She turned onto her side, rested her head on her hand, and explained the full story — beginning and end — to Xu Lingyi: “…I am only serving as a go-between, nothing more. The Fourth Young Master’s wife is a capable woman. Whatever is ultimately decided will be her call.”

“Even as a go-between, how could you not be concerned?” Xu Lingyi smoothed a loose strand of dark hair away from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. “Leave this matter. Tomorrow I will write to the Shandong Military Commissioner. Zhensheng can take the letter and make a trip to Shandong in person. As for the matter of the residence,” he said quietly, “the best-situated shops and residences in Yanjing are in the hands of families who have lived here for generations. They all know one another — face and courtesy must be observed. If something is to be sold, it will never go through a broker; instead, word is sent quietly through friends to ask around, and the price will be fair. Prince Shun is well-connected and moves in wide circles. A few years ago, when the residences of Princess Chang Ning and the Zhong Qin Bo household came up for sale, he was the intermediary in both cases. With the year’s end approaching, this is the season when most people look to sell residences.” So saying, he laughed. “In truth, this can only be called good fortune for the Twelfth Yiniang.”

Connections truly were a resource.

“Thank you, my lord,” Eleventh Young Lady smiled. “Only — having the Shandong Military Commissioner help purchase land… would that not be using a great sword to kill a small chicken?”

Xu Lingyi smiled: “There are no battles being fought now. It gives him something to do.” Then, remembering something: “The Li family sent over an invitation card this afternoon — they are taking a bride on the twenty-sixth day of the tenth month.”

There were so many people with similar addresses that Eleventh Young Lady had to think for a moment before saying: “General Li from Fujian?”

Xu Lingyi nodded: “I thought that by then you would not yet be out of confinement, so I instructed Steward Zhao to go on your behalf.”

“I heard from Elder Sister Zhou last time that the Li family had hoped to have the bride brought home sooner, but Princess An Cheng felt it was inconvenient with Li Ji being in Fujian and had pushed the wedding to spring next year. Why has it been moved forward to before the year’s end so suddenly? Is something the matter?”

Xu Lingyi smiled: “In the summer, Li Ji surrounded and suppressed a band of Japanese pirates — over five thousand men. The Emperor specially issued an edict of commendation and promoted him to the position of Quanzhou Military Commissioner, the fourth-rank senior grade. He will be returning to the capital in a few days to present his thanks. Princess An Cheng pressed to have the wedding completed before he returns. So the decision came rather hastily.”

Quanzhou Military Commissioner, senior fourth rank.

Eleventh Young Lady said: “Young Master Li is only nineteen this year, is he not?” She seemed rather moved.

Xu Lingyi then smiled and tweaked her nose: “When I was nineteen, I was already commander of three armies!”

He was only saying it to spare her feelings and comfort her.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled: “How many people can compare themselves to my lord?”

“That is true!” Xu Lingyi teased her: “Standing in the golden throne hall and looking around — I was the youngest there among them all…”

As the two of them were laughing and talking, Jin Ge’er beside them woke up.

His bright ink-black eyes turned and turned for some time without anyone paying him any notice, and then — “Waah” — he burst into a loud cry.

Xu Lingyi, flustered and hurried, scooped the child up: “Is this crying for milk or for a change?”

Madam Gu, who had come running at the sound, called from behind the folding screen: “My lord, the Sixth Young Master wants milk!”

“Oh!” Xu Lingyi responded, and Eleventh Young Lady rose to take the child: “I’ll bring him to the wet nurse.”

“Allow me.” Xu Lingyi held the child, slipped on his shoes, and said, “You rest.” He passed the child to Madam Gu.

After the wet nurse had fed the child, Xu Lingyi took the child back up to bed: “How many times does he nurse each night?”

“Twice,” said Eleventh Young Lady. “Once during the hai hour, and once at the midpoint of the chou hour.”

Xu Lingyi quietly noted this in his mind. He coaxed the child in the manner of the wet nurses, and seeing the child fall asleep, placed him at the edge of the pillow. He smiled and said: “Quickly sleep now. Tomorrow morning the Fourth Young Master’s wife is still coming to visit. Don’t push through it if you’re tired — just lean back against the bolster pillow.”

“Your servant understands,” Eleventh Young Lady smiled, and thinking that Imperial Physician Liu would be coming to needle her again tomorrow, asked: “…Will my lord be present tomorrow as well?”

“I will naturally be present,” said Xu Lingyi. “You need not be afraid. Imperial Physician Liu is highly skilled in acupuncture and moxibustion.”

This, Eleventh Young Lady had gathered for herself.

“When giving you the needles, only Hupo will be in the room attending,” he added in a low voice. “Before the Grand Lady — I will say only that it is a diagnostic examination… If you see Mother, do not let anything slip.”

“Understood.” Eleventh Young Lady’s voice was soft and gentle, like the warmth of a spring breeze.

The next day, the Grand Lady and the Second Madam came to visit.

“Just rest and recover quietly,” said the Grand Lady, patting Eleventh Young Lady’s hand. “The household matters are all in my hands. Getting your health back is what matters most.”

The Second Madam said: “The worst thing with illness is a mistaken diagnosis. Now that the root of the problem is known, the remedy can be applied where needed. Do not be overly anxious.”

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and thanked the Second Madam.

Nanny Shi came in.

“The Grand Lady and the Second Madam are both here!” She curtseyed smilingly, and passed the red lacquered gold-painted case in her hand to Hupo. “Hearing that the Fourth Madam has not been keeping well, the Fifth Madam specially asked me to bring two hundred-year-old ginseng roots from home to nourish the Fourth Madam.” She added: “Our Fifth Madam was up early this morning and had originally planned to come and visit in person, attended by me. But as it happened she was feeling a little unwell, and so I had to come alone. I ask the Fourth Madam’s pardon.”

The Grand Lady immediately grew anxious: “What has happened to Dan Yang?”

But Nanny Shi’s expression — every corner of her eyes and brows — was brimming with joy: “Our madam is with child!”

“Oh my!” The Grand Lady was delighted. “What wonderful news.” Then she asked quickly: “When did this happen? Has a physician examined her?”

“Some time ago,” Nanny Shi smiled. “But this time is different from last time — last time there was a great commotion, but this time there has been not a sound. This morning a physician was only just consulted. Otherwise, who would dare say anything carelessly?”