The Third Madam was dressed in a deep crimson coat woven through with gold brocade, her hair swept into a high bun, adorned with kingfisher-feather hairpins and large jade flowers. She was radiant and lively — three years away had, if anything, made her look younger.
“…As you can see, the inlay is the finest Hetian jade, with several diamonds set in as well.” She spoke as she placed a pair of pure gold double-longevity hairpins into Yuban’s hands. “The Third Master specially commissioned them from Xi’an Prefecture through a contact. They may not have the delicate craftsmanship of Yanjing pieces, but they represent the Third Master’s heartfelt regard.”
The Grand Madam smiled and nodded, instructing Yuban to store them in the mirror chest. “How thoughtful of him.”
Hearing this, the Third Madam’s smile grew even more radiant. She took several bolts of brilliantly colored fabric and offered them to Shiyiniang and the Fifth Madam. “These are the famous Shu brocades. We don’t use much of it here, but they use a great deal of it in Xi’an Prefecture. I selected a few of the most fashionable patterns especially — for my two sisters-in-law to have made into short jackets.”
Shiyiniang and the Fifth Madam smiled and offered their thanks.
A small maidservant came in to announce: “The Marquis and the Third Master have arrived!”
Knowing that the Third Master and Third Madam had returned, Xu Lingyi had waited at the outer courtyard’s ceremonial gate for the Third Master, while Shiyiniang had met the Third Madam at the hanging-flower gate and escorted her inside. The two Xu brothers went to the study in the outer courtyard to talk, while the two sisters-in-law proceeded to the Grand Madam’s quarters. The Third Madam presented the gifts she had brought from Shanyang to each person in turn.
“Bring them in quickly!” The Grand Madam laughed warmly at the announcement, her expression full of anticipation.
Ge Jin hurried to lift the door curtain. Xu Lingyi and the Third Master — wearing the official-green seventh-rank county magistrate’s robe — walked in together.
“Mother!” The Fifth Master knelt and kowtowed three times to the Grand Madam. Xu Lingyi stepped forward to support his elder brother. “How is your health?”
“Well, well, well.” The Grand Madam smiled warmly and took the Third Master’s hand. “With your Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother looking after me, I am perfectly well.” She then asked after the Third Master’s duties at his posting.
A small maidservant brought a grand armchair and set it beside the kang. The Third Master sat down and answered the Grand Madam’s questions in careful detail. Upon learning that the Third Master had received an “excellent” rating in his performance review, the Grand Madam’s smile grew even broader. “This is wonderful, just wonderful. You are Her Majesty the Empress’s brother — when you go out into the world, you must bring honor to her name.”
The Third Madam, standing to one side, let a few traces of pride show on her face.
“I have always kept your words close to my heart, Mother,” said the Third Master. “Whether managing household affairs at home or serving as an official abroad, one must always conduct oneself with integrity and propriety.”
The Grand Madam nodded repeatedly, then asked, “Why has the Fifth One not returned yet?”
The Fifth Madam quickly replied, “I have already sent someone to call for him. Judging by the hour, he should be back any moment now.”
Her words had barely fallen when a small maidservant announced from behind the curtain, “The Fifth Master has returned!” Before the sound had even faded, the curtain was swept aside, a gust of cold air swept through the room, and Xu Lingkuan came dashing in like a flash.
“Third Brother!” He grinned and clapped the Third Master on the shoulder.
The Third Master swayed slightly and teased him: “Three years, and you haven’t grown up at all.”
Xu Lingkuan grinned sheepishly.
Little Xin Jie’er, cradled in the arms of her wet nurse, spotted him and called out loudly, “Father, Father!”
Xu Lingkuan walked over and tugged gently at Xin Jie’er’s little hand, then smiled at the Fifth Madam standing nearby.
Nanny Du came in. “My lord Marquis, Grand Madam — the banquet is ready.”
The Third Master helped the Grand Madam down from the kang and followed half a step behind her as he attended her toward the eastern side chamber. Xu Lingyi and Xu Lingkuan followed close behind. Xu Siqin and Xu Siyu walked alongside the Third Madam. Shiyiniang and Zhen Jie’er walked together; behind them came Nanny Gu carrying Jin Ge’er, with Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie flanking her on either side. Xu Sizhun had returned to Fallen Leaf Mountain after the Lantern Festival. The Fifth Madam and the wet nurse carrying Xin Jie’er brought up the rear. The great procession, sweeping and lively, filed into the eastern side chamber, where seats were arranged according to rank and precedence. They shared a warm, lively meal together, then moved to the western side chamber for tea.
“The Third One and his wife have come rushing back from a long journey — they must be weary from the road.” The Grand Madam sat down, drank a few sips of tea, and then set down her cup. “Let us all retire for the evening. It will give the Third One a chance to speak with the boys. If there is anything else to discuss, it can wait until tomorrow.”
Everyone responded in unison, “Yes,” and filed out in turn.
Xu Lingkuan called out to the Third Master: “Bai Xixiang is performing a private opera recital at the Listening to the Orioles Pavilion. Third Brother, if you don’t need to report for duty at the ministry these next few days, why not come along? If you’re not in a rush, I’ll host a welcome banquet for you at the Listening to the Orioles Pavilion tomorrow at noon.” He then grinned and looked over at Xu Lingyi. “Fourth Brother can keep us company!”
The Third Master glanced at the Third Madam, then said, “I came back a few days early precisely to spend time with my brothers.”
“Settled then!” said Xu Lingkuan, and headed back to his rooms with the Fifth Madam.
Xu Lingning and Xu Lingkuan strolled off slowly toward the east, laughing as they went.
“…When you were still at home, you had dealings with the clerks and officials at the Ministry of Personnel — they may hold low rank and humble positions, but they are extremely well-versed in the ministry’s regulations and procedures. While you still have these two days before formally submitting your documents, it would be in your interest to privately cultivate good relations with them.” Xu Lingyi spoke quietly into the Third Master’s ear, offering counsel. “As for Elder Cabinet Minister Chen, I will go and pay him my respects.”
Elder Cabinet Minister Chen served as the Grand Scholar of the Hall of Literary Profundity and concurrently as the Minister of Personnel.
Xu Lingning nodded, but he had a different concern on his mind. “I have heard that the Emperor has been looking to crack down on corrupt practices in the Ministry of Personnel these days… Will it cause problems if we approach things through Elder Cabinet Minister Chen’s connections?”
“Third Brother is only seeking to remain in his current post — not to be promoted,” Xu Lingyi said lightly. “Besides, Third Brother has received an ‘excellent’ rating. Doing someone a small courtesy that costs nothing — no one is going to turn that down.”
The Third Madam had been walking silently beside Shiyiniang the entire time, a step behind her husband and brother-in-law. At Xu Lingyi’s words, she exhaled in relief. Her spirits lifted, and noticing that the two boys were walking some distance behind them, she lowered her voice and brought up the matter closest to her heart: “Has any progress been made on Zhen Jie’er’s betrothal?”
“There’s still plenty of time!” Shiyiniang laughed. “At the earliest, it won’t be until next year.”
“I never thought you’d actually keep Zhen Jie’er at home until she was sixteen!” the Third Madam said with a laugh. “Though it works out well — it means everything won’t be piling up at once.” She then continued, “A few days ago, I had Old Gan Quan pass along a message to you — she should have delivered it. The county magistrate Fang’s second daughter is only two years younger than his eldest. Because the eldest daughter’s marriage has never been settled, the second daughter’s prospects have been delayed along with it. The two families have discussed the matter, and we plan to hold the wedding this coming September. That way, the Fang family’s second daughter can start receiving marriage proposals sooner. Besides, our Qin Ge’er is no longer young — once he is married, he can focus his mind entirely on his studies, and perhaps one day even pass the imperial examinations and become a Presented Scholar.” She smiled. “That is also why the Third Master and I hurried back so urgently.”
So soon!
Still, Qin Ge’er truly was not young anymore…
“September — the season when the sky is crisp and high, and osmanthus fills the air with fragrance,” Shiyiniang smiled. “It is the finest time of year for a wedding. Just now, the Grand Madam and the Fifth Madam were both present — why did you not say a word, Third Sister? It would have been lovely for everyone to share in the joy.”
“Because the children were all there,” the Third Madam replied with a laugh. “Besides, I had originally planned to tell the Grand Madam first thing tomorrow morning anyway. I wouldn’t want the Grand Madam to say I was small-minded and couldn’t keep a secret — going about showing off just because I had found a good daughter-in-law!”
“This is such wonderful news. Never mind the Third Master and Third Madam as parents — even I, as an aunt, am delighted for Qin Ge’er’s sake,” Shiyiniang replied graciously. “How could the Grand Madam possibly say you were ‘small-minded’?” As she spoke, the Third Madam took hold of Shiyiniang’s hand. “Speaking of which, now that the subject has come up, I happen to have a matter I would like to discuss with you!”
Shiyiniang felt a prick of wariness.
The Third Madam — though a little shallow in matters of great consequence, she was absolutely shrewd when it came to smaller things. Xu Siqin was about to be married; what the household needed from this match, beyond property and wealth, was prestige. Even though Shiyiniang managed the household finances, these things were not hers to give away, and she might not necessarily be in a position to deliver.
“I wonder what matter Third Sister wishes to discuss with me?”
The Third Madam then took Shiyiniang’s hand. “I would like to ask you to act as matchmaker for our Jin Ge’er!”
Matchmaking could take several forms. One type was like when the eldest son of the Marquis of Zhennan and Yu Yiqing had acted as matchmakers for Wang Ze and Shiyiniang — where both parties had already agreed on all the terms, and a person of prestige was invited to grace the wedding in a ceremonial role, similar to a chief officiator in modern terms, with men typically being invited for this role. There was another type, such as when the wife of the Ministry of Justice’s attending secretary Huang Ren and the wife of the Fujian provincial administrator Minister Wang had acted as matchmakers for the Fifth Miss and Qian Ming — where one represented the bride’s side and the other the groom’s, negotiating the specifics of the betrothal gifts and dowry. Each family’s circumstances differed, and it was not uncommon for the bride’s side to feel the groom’s betrothal gifts were too meager, or the groom’s side to feel the bride’s dowry was insufficient. When such disputes arose, the matchmakers had to step in and negotiate on behalf of their respective parties… And if things were not handled well, and the groom’s or bride’s family grew resentful and the match fell through, the blame was often placed on the matchmakers, who would be accused of distorting the terms in their communications… This was also why most people had no fondness for the role of matchmaker.
Xu Siqin’s wedding date had already been set — so she could not possibly be inviting Shiyiniang to serve as the chief officiator; besides, in this era, there was no precedent for a woman to serve in that role. That meant the Third Madam wanted her to appear and negotiate the betrothal gifts and dowry terms with the Fang family’s matchmaker.
If it were anyone else, Shiyiniang might have been willing to try. But the person asking was the Third Madam — she was petty by nature, the kind of person who wanted to pluck a feather from every passing goose, always scheming to turn things that were not hers into her own. Never mind asking the bride’s family for a dowry through legitimate means — when that time came, she herself would have no face to go and demand such things from the Fang family on the Third Madam’s behalf!
However, since the Third Madam had already raised the matter, it would not do to simply refuse outright.
“Since giving birth to Jin Ge’er, my vitality has suffered greatly,” Shiyiniang said delicately. “Even the household affairs are being presided over by Mother. I am afraid that, when it comes to Qin Ge’er’s matter, my heart may be willing but my strength is not.” She then smiled and added, “However, our Marquis has frequently asked when Qin Ge’er will be getting married. If Third Sister could invite the Marquis to act as chief officiator for Qin Ge’er, the Marquis would surely be most gratified.”
If what the Third Madam truly sought was the prestige of the Yongping Marquis household, having Xu Lingyi serve as chief officiator would accomplish the same thing.
The Third Madam was visibly disappointed at this.
She thought for a moment, then said, “In that case, why not let my maternal family’s eldest niece-in-law come and assist you? For anything that needs attending to, she can do the running about. You would only need to speak with the Fang family’s matchmaker when the time comes and finalize the specific wedding date.” She was still unwilling to give up entirely.
Shiyiniang was even less inclined to agree now — who knew what the Third Madam was up to?
“In that case, I think it would be better to simply invite Third Sister’s maternal niece-in-law to serve as the matchmaker,” she said. “I have met that niece-in-law of yours — she is a capable and resourceful woman. Entrusting the matter to her, what could Third Sister possibly have to worry about?”
The Third Madam felt quite displeased inwardly. She said, “Since Fourth Sister-in-law finds it inconvenient, then we will speak of it another time,” and walked briskly forward, head held high, moving ahead of Shiyiniang.
—