The warm winter midday sunlight fell gently over the Eastern Palace gates. Most of those who had entered the palace for the morning audience had already departed. The several Imperial Guards on duty stood ramrod straight, yet their expressions had grown slack and easy — they gazed with mild boredom at Xu Lingkuan not far away, who was chatting animatedly with a few colleagues.

When someone approached, the guards collected themselves, restoring their former sharp composure.

Yet the Grand Dowager and Eleven wore expressions full of puzzled suspicion.

Xu Lingkuan was all smiles, exchanging pleasantries with his companions, while Fifth Madam and Nanny Gu — who was holding Jin Ge’er bundled in a grey squirrel-fur cloak — stood at the palace gates. But there was no sign of Xu Lingyi anywhere.

Both the Grand Dowager and Eleven were perplexed. The Grand Dowager turned her head, just about to say something to Eleven, when Xu Lingkuan — unable to see either of them — lowered his voice and said a few words to his colleagues.

His colleagues glanced toward the Grand Dowager, bowed in respectful salute, and departed together.

Xu Lingkuan strode over with broad steps.

Fifth Madam, having noticed them, followed the direction of Xu Lingkuan’s colleagues’ gaze and only then discovered that the Grand Dowager and Eleven had come out through the Eastern Gate.

“Mother!” She hurried forward to meet them.

Nanny Gu, seeing this, also carried Jin Ge’er over.

Fifth Madam took the Grand Dowager’s arm. “Are you all right?”

A flicker of anxious urgency passed through the Grand Dowager’s eyes. She raised her gaze and caught sight of the inner attendants who had come out behind them, then relaxed her brow into a gentle smile, her expression kindly and amiable.

“Where is your Fourth Brother?” Her voice was unhurried and serene, utterly composed.

“His Majesty bestowed many gifts upon Jin Ge’er,” Xu Lingkuan replied with a smile as he walked over. “Fourth Brother went with the attendants to sign the papers at the Imperial Household Department.”

The tension in both the Grand Dowager and Eleven’s expressions eased at once. The Grand Dowager’s smile grew even more placid and serene, while Eleven’s steps became light and buoyant as she moved to Nanny Gu’s side and whispered, “Is Jin Ge’er all right?”

“He’s sleeping soundly!” Nanny Gu quickly replied.

Eleven lifted the edge of the cloak and looked at her son.

Jin Ge’er’s little face was flushed a rosy red, his expression peaceful and content. The anxious unease she had been carrying in her heart finally quieted somewhat.

Over to one side, an inner attendant had already stepped forward to bow respectfully to Xu Lingkuan and Fifth Madam: “Master Xu, Commandery Princess — what a fortunate coincidence. Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Crown Princess have also bestowed many gifts upon the Sixth Young Master… The weather is cold, yet we must ask the Grand Dowager, Master Xu, the Marquise of Yongping, and the Commandery Princess to wait a little while. Once the Marquis arrives and signs the papers at the Imperial Household Department, there will still be time to leave the palace then.”

Xu Lingkuan bowed to the attendant: “Thank you for your patience, Honored Eunuch.” As he spoke, he reached into his sleeve and pressed two embroidered pouches into the hands of the two attendants.

The two attendants’ smiles grew even more deferential and humble, one of them even striking up a pleasant conversation: “The Sixth Young Master really is quite the lovely child. Her Majesty the Empress was so very fond of him — she said she still remembered when the news of his birth was reported to the palace. Our Lady put her palms together and recited several utterances of praise, and even had Honored Attendant Huang go to the shrine to light three sticks of incense.”

“You flatter us, Eunuch,” the Grand Dowager replied with a warm laugh. “He’s decent-looking enough. And he is obedient — eats when he’s full, sleeps when he’s fed, and never cries through the night…”

While they were exchanging this pleasant talk, another attendant suddenly called out, “The Marquis is coming!”

Everyone quickly looked toward the palace gate, and there came Xu Lingyi — striding forward in his seven-ridged ceremonial crown and his crimson python robe.

His expression was cold and stern, his gaze sharp and cutting. There was not a trace of joy about him; if anything, he appeared exceedingly grave.

“Fourth Brother!” Xu Lingkuan called out with some hesitation.

Xu Lingyi’s gaze fell upon the Grand Dowager and Eleven.

His expression softened slightly.

The two attendants quickly stepped forward, bowed, and stated their purpose.

Xu Lingyi gave a slight nod, exchanged a brief word with the Grand Dowager, and went with the two attendants to the Imperial Household Department.

Eleven and the others waited for nearly half a shichen — their stomachs all growling with hunger — before Xu Lingyi finally emerged.

“Old Four — come ride with me!” the Grand Dowager said at once.

Xu Lingyi, hearing this, took the Grand Dowager’s arm and led her out through the palace gates.

The Xu household’s black lacquered flat-top carriage was already waiting at the gate. The Grand Dowager and Xu Lingyi boarded the first carriage; Eleven and Nanny Gu took the second; Xu Lingkuan and Fifth Madam took the last. Escorted by their entourage, the procession set off at a steady clip toward Lotus Lane.

“Do you know what the Emperor said?” Eleven asked Nanny Gu quietly. “You held the Sixth Young Master when he was brought before His Majesty.”

“I don’t know!” Nanny Gu’s legs had been trembling the whole time. Now, seated in the carriage, she felt as though her body had come apart at the seams — utterly drained of strength. “The eunuchs inside told me to wait at the hall entrance. The Sixth Young Master was carried in by an eunuch surnamed He, and it was this same Eunuch He who carried him back out.”

Eleven pondered a moment. “Then how is it that you did not go to bid farewell to Her Majesty the Empress before leaving?”

Nanny Gu recalled: “I stood outside and waited a long while. The Third Prince and the First Princess arrived. After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Eunuch He carried the Sixth Young Master out. Then after a little while, the Marquis and Fifth Master came out, with two attendants following behind.” At this point she paused slightly. “The Marquis’s complexion at that moment was very poor. Fifth Master was all smiles though — he even tapped the Sixth Young Master’s nose and called him a little wealthy man or something of the sort. The Sixth Young Master had been sleeping; Fifth Master’s noise woke him, and he wrinkled his brow and cried out twice. When the Marquis heard it, his expression darkened even further. He told Fifth Master to go find the Grand Dowager.

“Fifth Master startled and said: ‘The Grand Dowager is with Her Majesty the Empress. Shall we go pay our respects and take our leave?’

“The Marquis said not a word — he simply turned and walked out.

“I had no choice but to follow the Marquis as he walked out.

“The two attendants called after the Marquis twice from behind, but seeing he paid no attention, they followed us all the way to the Eastern Gate.

“The Marquis found me a spot out of the wind and told me to stand there holding the Sixth Young Master. The two attendants, seeing that the Marquis looked displeased, meekly stood beside us.

“After quite a while, Fifth Master and Fifth Madam arrived. They said Her Majesty the Empress was still speaking with the Grand Dowager and yourself, and that he had already sent a young eunuch to inform them.

“The Marquis, upon hearing this, told Fifth Madam to keep watch over the Sixth Young Master and me — and went with the two attendants to the Imperial Household Department!”

Eleven felt even more confused than before.

What on earth had happened? Xu Lingyi seemed to be laying blame even at the Empress’s feet.

After what seemed an age, they finally returned to the mansion. Once they descended from the carriage, Xu Lingyi appeared composed enough — but it was the Grand Dowager whose expression was now grave and somber.

Eleven found this puzzling, and together with Fifth Madam she helped the Grand Dowager into the small green-curtained oil carriage, accompanying her back to her apartments.

“You are all tired. Go and rest,” the Grand Dowager told her sons and daughters-in-law, instructing Nanny Du to help her change her clothes. “Tomorrow you all have relatives to visit.” Then she instructed Jade Tablet: “Go call Second Madam over — it is the New Year, and she is sitting all alone in cold, desolate Shaohua Courtyard… the two of us can keep each other company!”

“Mother, that’s not quite right.” Xu Lingkuan, hearing this, plopped down cheekily at the Grand Dowager’s side. “The more people the merrier. Just the two of you — is that not still cold and desolate?” He went on with enthusiasm: “Why don’t we all keep you company and play cards?”

Before the Grand Dowager could respond, Xu Lingyi cut in and stopped Xu Lingkuan: “Mother has been tired all day. Let us all disperse for now — let her rest properly.”

Xu Lingkuan could not help feeling a little awkward.

Fifth Madam tugged at Xu Lingkuan’s sleeve: “Mother, then we shall come to see you again shortly.”

The Grand Dowager smiled and nodded.

Everyone bowed and withdrew.

“When are you leaving?” Fifth Madam asked Eleven.

This year, Luo Zhensheng and Luo Fourth Madam were spending the New Year in Yanjing. Eleven would be taking the children to Bowstring Lane to offer New Year greetings.

“I’ll set off after paying my morning respects to the Grand Dowager,” Eleven replied with a smile.

Since marrying into the Xu household, rain or shine, Eleven had always gone to pay her respects to the Grand Dowager at a quarter to the hour of Chen. Fifth Madam did not ask about the time, and simply smiled: “That’s fine — I’ll pay my respects to the Grand Dowager early too. We can go back together.”

“Wonderful!” Eleven nodded with a smile, and returned to the main house with Xu Lingyi.

As soon as they entered the door, Xu Lingyi’s face darkened. He ordered Hupo in a sharp voice, “Go — bring Jin Ge’er here!”

Hupo had no idea what had happened and hurried off to the warm side-chamber.

Eleven was just about to help Xu Lingyi change his clothes when she saw this scene and her heart lurched: “My Lord — what has happened?” Her nerves pulled taut.

Xu Lingyi made no reply. His expression was frigid.

Eleven was anxious, just about to ask again, when Nanny Gu came over carrying the sleeping Jin Ge’er.

Without a word, Xu Lingyi took Jin Ge’er from her arms, placed him on the heated sleeping platform, and began undressing him.

Jin Ge’er was startled awake and burst into loud wailing.

“My Lord, what are you doing?” Eleven rushed over. “Take care — the child will catch a chill!”

But Xu Lingyi was unmoved. His face was set like stone. With swift, efficient movements, he had the boy stripped bare in no time at all, and then began to carefully examine the child’s body.

Eleven quickly removed her jacket and wrapped it around the child, her voice sharp: “My Lord, if you have something to say, say it properly. The child is young — if he catches the cold, that is no small matter…” Over to one side, Nanny Gu, seeing this, quickly draped the cloak Eleven had just removed over Eleven’s shoulders.

But Xu Lingyi had seized Jin Ge’er’s exposed little leg to examine it, and only then did he relent.

Eleven’s brow furrowed tightly. She was about to demand an explanation when she looked up and saw Xu Lingyi let out a long, relieved sigh, as though a great burden had been lifted.

Thinking of his strange behavior in the palace, Eleven could not help but grip his arm and call out firmly, “My Lord.”

“Nothing wrong, nothing wrong!” Xu Lingyi finally responded to Eleven. He patted her hand. “Just now in Qianqing Palace, His Majesty was holding Jin Ge’er when the First Princess suddenly rushed over. His Majesty was caught off guard — Jin Ge’er hit his side against the armrest of the throne… he cried out immediately. Eunuch He carried him aside to soothe him for a good while, and I did not know if anything had been injured.”

Eleven’s heart clenched in alarm as well. She checked the child over from head to toe, found no external injuries, and only then did she stop. She wanted to scold Xu Lingyi a little, but seeing the worry plain on his face, she swallowed back the words on the tip of her tongue. An unbidden thought rose in her mind: was it really only because of this that Xu Lingyi had worn such a grim face the entire way back?

Then why had the Grand Dowager looked so somber after descending from the carriage?

She wanted to ask carefully, but Jin Ge’er in her arms was wailing as though his heart would break, and he was still undressed — and outside, a page boy was reporting through the screen that “the Imperial Household Department has sent the gifts bestowed by His Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress, and Her Highness the Crown Princess.” Xu Lingyi kissed Jin Ge’er’s cheek and told her, “You dress the child quickly. I’ll go take a look. Then I’ll have a physician come and examine Jin Ge’er more carefully…”

Eleven could only say “yes,” and first helped Nanny Gu dress Jin Ge’er, then took turns trying various ways to soothe her loudly wailing son.

—