Eleventh Sister thought this over and felt it made sense. She gave a slight nod.

Seeing this, Xu Lingyi smiled and ruffled her hair. “It’s getting late. Get some sleep soon—tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and we’ll be keeping the night watch.”

Eleventh Sister smiled, handed the letter to Qiu Yu, and asked her to give it to the head steward Bai to arrange delivery to Yuhang. Then she and Xu Lingyi returned to their room to rest.

The next day was New Year’s Eve. The main gates of the Xu estate were thrown wide open, with door gods, couplets, and hanging plaques all set in place.

After breakfast, Xu Lingyi went to Sixiang Lane and was back by mid-morning.

“I spoke to Zichun,” he said, changing his clothes in preparation for going to the Old Marquise’s. “From Zichun’s reaction, it does seem he knew nothing of this. I’ll leave it to the two of them to sort things out between themselves. Just make sure word doesn’t get back to the Wang Family and put Twelfth Sister in an awkward position.”

Eleventh Sister was rather surprised.

In her heart, she had always believed that Fifth Sister had become the way she was because of her marriage to Qian Ming.

Looking at it now, perhaps she herself had been somewhat one-sided in her thinking.

A scene from her years in Yuhang floated into Eleventh Sister’s mind—Fifth Sister’s study: a large room with only a black-lacquered painting table covered in rubbings by famous masters, and a black-lacquered reclining couch draped with a half-worn silk cushion.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, the Old Marquise led the family to the ancestral hall to pay their respects. Jin Ge’er, still too young, was carried back to the main room by Nanny Gu. Xu Siqin, Xu Siyu, Xu Sijian, Xu Sizhun, and Xu Sijie were led by Xu Lingkuan to set off fireworks in the courtyard; Zhen Jie’er and Xin Jie’er joined their mothers, following the Old Marquise to eat dumplings and keep the night watch inside.

The Old Marquise was getting on in years and barely held out until midnight before retiring to her room. Second Madam returned to Xinhua Courtyard. Fifth Madam handed the sleeping Xin Jie’er to Nanny Shi, then took Zhen Jie’er outside to watch Xu Lingkuan and the others set off fireworks. Eleventh Sister and Xu Lingyi, both thinking of Jin Ge’er, headed back to their room first.

“What’s the plan for tomorrow?” Eleventh Sister and Xu Lingyi discussed the specific itinerary for the next day. “Should the child stay with you or with me?”

“With you,” Xu Lingyi said. “We’ll be waiting in the palace forecourt. If the child gets hungry or soils himself, there won’t be anywhere to feed him or change him. You’ll be in the side hall, which is for women’s quarters. Also,” he added, “I’ve made arrangements with the palace. If the Empress summons you before you enter the main hall to offer your greetings, then everything is straightforward. What I’m concerned about is if the Empress is too busy that day and receives you only after the formal greetings in the main hall. Only those of proper rank can enter the main hall, so Nanny Gu certainly won’t be permitted inside. In that case, palace attendants will escort Nanny Gu and the child to a warm side room to wait. After you leave the main hall, you and the child will wait in the side room together.”

Eleventh Sister acknowledged the arrangements. The following morning, dressed according to her rank, she took Jin Ge’er in her arms and left Nanny Du in charge at home. The whole party set off in procession for the palace.

Palace Attendant Lei Gonggong from the Empress’s side had been waiting at the palace gates.

“…Saying that as the weather is cold and she fears the Sixth Young Master will catch a chill, she asks the Old Marquise and the Marchioness of Yongping to bring the child directly to the Palace of Maternal Tranquility when they enter the palace.”

This was precisely what both husband and wife had hoped for.

Nanny Gu carried the child, Eleventh Sister supported the Old Marquise, and they went to see the Empress.

The inner consorts were waiting outside the hall to offer New Year’s greetings to the Empress. When Eleventh Sister came in with the child, the imperial consorts all looked over, and someone murmured quietly: “Do you see her? The one in the pink Yun brocade cloak—that’s the Marchioness of Yongping.”

Palace etiquette was strict and Eleventh Sister did not dare to look back. She left Nanny Gu waiting outside and carried the child with the Old Marquise into the warm side room.

The Empress was dressed in ceremonial robes, seated upright on her throne. Palace attendants and maidservants were serving her bird’s nest porridge.

Seeing the Old Marquise and Eleventh Sister enter, she rose before the two could even perform their bow.

“Quickly, let me see the child.” The warm side room filled with the tinkling of jade ornaments.

Nanny Huang stepped forward to take Jin Ge’er—who was bundled in his grey squirrel fur cloak—from Nanny Gu. The Old Marquise and Eleventh Sister took the opportunity to complete their bow. Palace attendants helped them rise and brought embroidered stools forward.

“This child truly resembles Fourth Brother.” The Empress gently stroked Jin Ge’er’s shaved little head and looked up at the Old Marquise and Eleventh Sister with a smile. “He must have a bold temperament too. Coming all this way, he shows not the slightest fear—fast asleep the whole time.”

Eleventh Sister felt a flush of private embarrassment.

Last night she and Xu Lingyi had barely lain down when Jin Ge’er fell asleep. She herself couldn’t hold out and had drifted off, while Xu Lingyi and Jin Ge’er had been up playing until the third watch of the night before finally settling down.

“He’s rather oblivious, that’s all,” she replied respectfully. “He eats and sleeps, sleeps and eats.”

“He’s barely a month old—eating and sleeping is exactly what he should be doing at this age.” The Empress smiled, as a palace attendant came in to report: “The Crown Princess has arrived.”

“Please show her in.” The Empress smiled and instructed the attendant, then said to the Old Marquise and Eleventh Sister, “Fang Jie’er is now six months along.”

“This is Your Highness’s great blessing,” the Old Marquise said.

Fang Jie’er then entered, supported by palace maids, her belly rounded with pregnancy.

She wore the four-panel phoenix crown and a sapphire-blue ceremonial robe embroidered with pheasants. The pregnancy had filled out her figure considerably, her face was round, her gaze tranquil, her bearing composed—she was the very picture of dignified composure.

The phrase “face like the full moon” rose unbidden in Eleventh Sister’s mind.

The Empress exempted her from the formal bow and had palace attendants bring an embroidered stool for her to sit on. Only then did Fang Jie’er smile at Eleventh Sister—and in that glance, the old mischievous light flickered back.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, Eleventh Sister felt a wave of relief.

The Empress then asked after Fang Jie’er’s daily routine and general welfare. Hearing that all was well, she smiled and nodded. She was just about to say something more when Lei Gonggong entered: “Your Highness, the hour has come.”

Eleventh Sister understood this was the signal for the Empress to ascend to her throne. She and the Old Marquise and Fang Jie’er all rose together.

The Empress hesitated briefly and then said to Eleventh Sister, “Have the wet nurse hold Jin Ge’er and wait here in the side room.”

Eleventh Sister knelt in gratitude, then supported the Old Marquise and followed behind the Empress and Fang Jie’er to the main hall.

First came the inner consorts’ formal greetings to the Empress, then the outer consorts’ audience—by the time all the ceremonies were concluded, it was well past noon. Everyone was exhausted. The Old Marquise was elderly and Eleventh Sister was still physically fragile, and both felt the strain more keenly than most. The colour had drained from both their faces. And yet they still had to go back to the side room for the child.

Fifth Madam then took the Old Marquise’s arm. “I’ll see you both to the door.”

Eleventh Sister cast a grateful look at Fifth Madam, and the two of them supported the Old Marquise from both sides toward the side room.

Jin Ge’er had just been carried off by He Gonggong to be presented to the Emperor.

The Empress smiled. “He’s even more impatient than I am.” She had tea and refreshments brought for the Old Marquise and Eleventh Sister. “At least have something in your stomachs.”

The Old Marquise drank two quick sips of hot tea before she felt herself recover. Eleventh Sister did not stand on ceremony and ate two pieces of pea cake one after another.

Fang Jie’er watched and smiled behind pressed lips.

The Third Prince and the Elder Princess came to pay their respects to the Empress.

“This is the Old Marquise of Yongping, and this is the Marchioness of Yongping,” the Empress said, holding the princess in her arms and gesturing to the Old Marquise and Eleventh Sister. “The Old Marquise is your maternal grandmother, and the Marchioness is your aunt. Make sure you remember that clearly.”

The three-year-old Elder Princess nodded obediently and repeated her mother’s words in her small, sweet voice: “The Old Marquise is my maternal grandmother, and the Marchioness is my aunt.” Then she blinked up at the Empress. “Does that mean they have to give me red envelopes?”

Everyone burst out laughing.

The Empress laughed and pinched her daughter’s cheek. “Where did you learn that? You’re a princess—so full of petty little habits!”

The Elder Princess cried out in mock pain, but her eyes were sparkling—clearly a little imp through and through.

The Old Marquise quickly produced a pouch stuffed with gold ingots, prepared well in advance, and handed it to the princess. “Yes, you do get a red envelope.” Then she gave one to the Fifth Prince, who stood nearby with a beaming smile. “It is this old woman’s small token of affection.”

The Third Prince was already fourteen this year, about the same height as Xu Siyu. The two cousins looked very much alike—only Xu Siyu appeared more refined and scholarly, while the Fifth Prince carried an air of distinguished nobility.

He accepted the red envelope with a smile.

Eleventh Sister also brought out her gift pouches.

The Elder Princess let out a cry of delight and ran to Fang Jie’er’s side. “Sister-in-law, there’s one for you too!”

Fang Jie’er smiled, patted her head, and also took out a red envelope.

The Elder Princess took it and ran off. “I’m going to find Father—he hasn’t given me a red envelope yet!”

“Furong,” the Empress called her daughter’s name. The Elder Princess turned and grinned at her mother, then kept running.

“Mother, don’t worry,” the Third Prince said, quickly making a bow before chasing the Elder Princess out of the warm side room. “I’ll accompany Imperial Sister. She won’t cause any trouble.”

The Empress sighed helplessly and said to the Old Marquise, “That child—she’s been terribly spoiled.”  Yet her tone was full of indulgence.

The Elder Princess had been born after the Fifth Prince’s death, bearing within her the Empress’s guilt over the Fifth Prince, and so was naturally showered with even more love.

The Old Marquise smiled. “The Elder Princess is clever, lively, and adorable—anyone who sees her would be delighted. That Her Highness dotes on her so is only the most natural thing in the world.”

The Empress then chatted with the Old Marquise and Eleventh Sister about the Elder Princess, and then asked in careful detail about Jin Ge’er’s situation.

After a good deal of unhurried conversation, neither the Elder Princess and the Third Prince had returned, nor had any palace attendant brought Jin Ge’er back.

Everyone couldn’t help growing a little anxious. The Empress in particular instructed Nanny Huang: “Go and see. It’s already past the noon meal hour.”

Nanny Huang acknowledged and went, only to return quickly.

“The Marquis had a palace attendant from beside His Majesty come and pass word—he said he and the Sixth Young Master are already waiting at the Eastern Gate. He asks the Old Marquise and the Marchioness of Yongping to proceed there directly after leaving the Palace of Maternal Tranquility.”

The Empress was rather dumbfounded. “How could he just take Jin Ge’er away without so much as coming to let anyone know!” And then she added, “I haven’t even given my gift and New Year’s money yet!”

The Old Marquise and Eleventh Sister also exchanged bewildered looks.

Eleventh Sister could only speculate—had Xu Lingyi and the Emperor parted on bad terms, and so he didn’t even want to see the Empress, and simply took the child and left the palace?

The Old Marquise had no idea what had happened either. She only wanted to see her son as soon as possible. Upon hearing the message, she rose and said, “The New Year isn’t truly over until the Lantern Festival. In a day or two, Eleventh Sister will bring Jin Ge’er back to the palace to offer New Year’s greetings to the Empress and the Crown Princess.”

Given all the complex palace protocols, and Jin Ge’er being so small, a palace visit was an ordeal. If something were to go wrong…

The Empress had no desire to risk a small gain at too great a cost.

She smiled and instructed Nanny Huang, “Send the things I prepared for Jin Ge’er.”

The unspoken meaning was: there was no need to come to the palace again.

Both the Old Marquise and Eleventh Sister let out a quiet breath of relief.

Fang Jie’er saw this and instructed her own attendant: “Send the things I prepared for Jin Ge’er along as well.”

The female official replied respectfully, “Yes, Your Highness.”

The Old Marquise and Eleventh Sister offered their thanks at suitable length before finally leaving the Palace of Maternal Tranquility.