Hearing this, Yang Shi kneaded a Hangzhou white crepe silk handkerchief into a crumpled ball.

Nanny Yang could only comfort her: “With such a thing befalling the Yang Family, both young ladies are naturally heartbroken — it is only natural that the Third Young Madam Tang should fall ill…”

Before she had finished her words, Yang Shi had already slowly shaken her head: “The Zhongshan Marquis household is an old family of the gentry, and they need only flatter the Emperor to maintain their position. For that reason, they are calculating in their dealings and even somewhat ostentatious. The Third Young Madam Tang’s falling ill the very moment the Yang Family met with disaster is the clearest proof of that. The Liang household, on the other hand, is a family of scholars — they value family character and reputation. Even if there is grievance or displeasure, they will keep it hidden and address it gradually. Both Elder Sisters have most likely been cast aside by their husbands’ families…” Saying this, she felt a bitterness in her mouth.

“Surely not!” Nanny Yang painted over the grim reality: “Yiniang thinks too much. I have already asked that person to make more careful inquiries — to find out exactly what illness the Third Young Madam Tang has, and what the Third Young Madam of the Liang household has been occupying herself with these days…”

At a time like this, false hope was the most lethal of things!

Yang Shi waved her hand and said no more.

Nanny Yang withdrew with a heavy heart.

* * *

Qiao Lianfang, meanwhile, was sitting on pins and needles.

Her mother had come to tell her that the Yang Family had been raided, and the Qiao household had been thrown into a complete panic, with Madam Qiao even thinking of coming to find Xu Lingyi in person. Her mother told her that a daughter who has married out is like water poured from a bucket — done and gone — and the Qiao household had not even stood up for her at the time of her entry into this household. If Madam Qiao came to see her, she should simply stand aside and take no part. She also said that many noble and meritorious families in Yanjing had been swept up in the affair, and there was no telling whether the Xu household itself might not be in danger. If she were to go to Xu Lingyi at a time like this on account of the Qiao Family’s troubles, it would only make Xu Lingyi displeased with her. She urged her, no matter what, not to act rashly.

But the news Xiuyuan had gathered today was very unfavorable.

Word had it that the Court of Judicial Review had seized twenty or thirty boxes of account books from the Yang household. The Yang Family had not only cultivated connections with officials in the provinces and used their power to oppress the weak — they had also charged unlawful interest and engaged in exploitative lending. Not only had households of the gentry such as the Cheng Duke’s estate and the Zhongshan Marquis household been drawn in, but even officials at court were in a state of self-preservation and alarm. Wind and crane calls filled Yanjing — the entire court and capital were on edge.

“Should we not go and see the Marquis?” Xiuyuan, seeing Qiao Lianfang sitting there in silence, quietly offered the suggestion.

Qiao Lianfang started.

Xiuyuan had already explained: “That day when you met the Third Madam at the rear gate, along the way you passed people from the needlework room and the laundry room, and you even sat for tea in the gatekeeper woman’s quarters. These people are all accustomed to fawning on the powerful and treading on those beneath them — I dare say the word has already reached the Mistress’s ears. We might as well go openly and ask the Marquis ourselves…” She then tried to persuade Qiao Lianfang: “The Marquis does not come; Yiniang does not go — at this rate, where will it end? Surely you cannot expect the Marquis to come and offer you an apology? The Mistress has just given birth to the young master and the Marquis dotes on him — he goes to see him every day before his heart is settled. But the days are long. How long can he keep looking — one year, two years? Surely not ten or even eight years? Yiniang must think about her own future too!”

Qiao Lianfang thought of Xu Lingyi’s cold expression, pursed her lips, and said nothing.

Knowing her temperament, Xiuyuan could only let out a soft sigh. She helped her through her afternoon rest, left a small maid to keep watch at her side, and slipped out herself, quiet as a shadow.

The small courtyard was four-square and neat, the grounds as clean and tidy as ever. The hibiscus tree by the steps had grown considerably stouter since the day she had first arrived, yet the former liveliness was gone, replaced by a deeper stillness.

These days — one day was like any other day, one month like any other month. Time seemed to have congealed into frost.

At the gate, Yinqiao’s soft laughter rang out — bright and unguarded, almost impertinent.

“How can we compare ourselves to the sisters who serve beside the Mistress?” Her voice carried a trace of flattery. “The steward Manager Wan, who married Binju, is now a second-rank steward of the accounts room. The steward Manager Guan, who married Hupo, is working at the largest grain and oil shop in the capital. And the steward Manager Cao, who married Yanrong, has just gone to work in the household affairs office. Even the sisters beside the Senior Yiniang are far beyond us…”

Immediately, someone hushed her in a low voice: “What nonsense are you talking about? Is that ‘Senior’ prefix something anyone can freely attach? What sort of propriety did they teach you when you first entered this household — how is it you do not even know this?” It was Donghong’s voice.

“Oh my!” Yinqiao’s laughter carried an unmistakable tone of flattery. “No wonder my mother told me when I came in to learn well from the sisters who serve Wen Yiniang — how to speak and how to conduct oneself. Just look at this mouth of mine. Thank you, Elder Sister, for the correction — I will never dare do it again.” She then swiftly changed the subject: “Where are you off to, Elder Sister? I am idle at the moment — if it is some other errand, do let me save you the trouble and run it for you. There are some snacks here too — Elder Sister, do taste them, see what you like.”

Xiuyuan opened her mouth, about to call Yinqiao back — but the breath lodged in her chest and she could not give it voice for a long moment. Then she heard Donghong say: “Thank you for your kind offer. I am carrying out Yiniang’s orders and going to see whether the Mistress is in her rooms. For any other errand, I would take up your offer, and ask you to go in my place. But this matter cannot be delayed — you sit here first, and I will be back shortly.”

“Let me see you off, Elder Sister!”

Saying so, the sound of light, faint footsteps followed.

Sycophant — fawning on those in power and bullying those who are not!

The maids waiting upon Yiniang were getting worse with each new one that arrived!

After Yiniang was gone, what would become of Yiniang?

At this thought, she could not help but stand there in a daze beneath the eaves.

Go — but where to go? The Qiao household was in disarray. Even the Third Madam, who had been widowed for years and had come to comfort Yiniang last time, had let slip that the Qiao Family still had three hundred mu of ancestral land in Daxing County… Leaving the Xu household, where else could she go?

In a flash of sudden clarity, she thought of Jiexiang!

Jiexiang was already middle-aged, yet she too had stayed on in the Xu household!

* * *

“The Mistress is not in her room?” Wen Yiniang was a little disappointed.

Donghong smiled: “It seems the Madam of the Yongchang Marquis household, Madam Huang, has come. The Grand Madam specially had Yubi send for the Mistress to go over, saying she wished to discuss the arrangements for the Third Month Third day gathering!”

Hosting a Third Month Third gathering while hearts were in turmoil everywhere outside — what a time for it!

Wen Yiniang was quite surprised.

But she had been turning things over in her mind for days on end. If she did not seize this one resolve while it still held, she feared that in time she would never again find the reckless courage for it.

Thinking of this, she simply stood up: “Then let us wait for the Mistress in the main room!”

Donghong assented, and helped Wen Yiniang change into fresh clothes.

Wen Yiniang stood beneath the eaves of the main room for a full two hours before Shiyiniang returned.

“For anything that comes up, have a small maid come and inform me,” she said, ushering Wen Yiniang inside. “Good thing the weather is clear today — if wind and rain had come on, you might have caught a chill. That would never do.”

Shiyiniang was, as always, gentle and measured.

For some reason, Wen Yiniang felt a faint prickling at the tip of her nose. She smiled and sat down on the small stool beside the kang, then said softly: “Mistress, I have come this time to ask a favor of you.”

No matter what the reason, since Xu Lingyi had already established a position, her conduct must not stray beyond its bounds.

Shiyiniang said: “Tell me what it is.”

Wen Yiniang’s smile gradually faded, and with a composed expression she said: “I wish to send Qiuhong’s father to make a trip to Yangzhou on my behalf — I ask for your gracious consent, Mistress.”

On one side was her mother, on the other her brothers and sisters-in-law. For even someone in her own position, this would be an agonizing decision to make… Could this be called cutting off one’s arm to save oneself?

Shiyiniang felt a quiet admiration, and said in a low voice: “Would you like me to send someone along to escort him?”

“No need!” Wen Yiniang’s eyes had grown a little moist at the corners. “This matter has only just begun — there is no need to draw the Marquis and the Mistress into it yet.”

Shiyiniang said nothing.

Wen Yiniang lowered her head and drank her tea.

The two sat in silence for a moment, neither knowing what to say.

A few days later, Qiuhong’s father quietly set out for Yangzhou. It came out that two Grand Secretaries had been detained in the Court of Judicial Review on suspicion of unlawful lending.

Xu Lingyi shut his doors to all visitors. Each noon he came to see Jin Ge’er, and each evening he rested at the Half-Moon Lake Pavilion, keeping only Linbo and Zhaoying to attend him.

Still, Shiyiniang asked him: “This year for the Third Month Third day, Mother would like to host family and friends as usual, and then put on a day of theatrical performances. Does the Marquis feel this is appropriate?”

Xu Lingyi laughed: “Never mind one day of theatrical performances — even three days straight, and the Emperor would only be pleased to hear of it!” His tone, too, carried a trace of quiet elation.

Only then did Shiyiniang set her heart at ease, and she said with a smile: “If those who end as they began are careful until the last, they will not fail in their affairs. A little caution never hurt anyone!”

Xu Lingyi listened and was silent for a moment, then smiled and pressed a kiss to her cheek: “I know.” His voice was warm and unhurried — gentle and deep, carrying a tender feeling that made Shiyiniang’s heart give a sudden leap.

* * *

Yang Shi’s heart also gave a sudden leap.

She gripped Nanny Yang’s hand tightly: “What did you say — Dabao has come to find me?”

Dabao was her family’s long-serving laborer — honest and dependable. Whenever anything important came up at home, they sent him to handle it.

Nanny Yang’s expression, too, had grown somewhat grave: “If the Mistress hadn’t had Zhuxiang pass word, I wouldn’t even have known. Apparently he has been hovering outside the gates for days, unable to find any way to get a message in. The guards’ yard even noticed him and gave him a beating. If he hadn’t been shouting that he was your kinsman, he would likely have been thrown into the river by now.”

“Then where is he now?” Yang Shi rose anxiously. “Has this matter reached the Marquis’s ears?”

“I do not know whether the Mistress has said anything to the Marquis,” Nanny Yang replied. “He is in the guards’ quarters. I went and claimed kinship, tucked a few taels of silver to their hands, and asked them to help find a physician. Then I hurried back to report to you.”

Yang Shi’s brows knitted tightly together: “Nanny, how could you be so careless — the Yang Family is now a desperate stray dog that everyone may humiliate at will. He has come to find me, and you did not first inform me. If the Marquis suspects that someone from the Yang Family has come to seek a favor… we would not be able to clear our names even if we jumped into the Yellow River!”

Nanny Yang, who had not thought so far at the time, heard this and could not help but stand there blankly: “Then… then what should be done?”

“We must make the best of a bad situation!” Yang Shi said gravely. “I will go at once and ask the Mistress, request her consent for me to see Dabao once. If the Mistress agrees, I will meet him right here in the Mistress’s main room. Whatever he says and however I respond — the people in the Mistress’s rooms can hear every word loud and clear!”

“But… what if it truly is the Marquis who sent him with a message…”

“Then all the more reason I cannot see him privately,” Yang Shi said with firm resolve. Her expression, at the corners of her eyes and brows, shed a measure of its radiance and took on something steelier, more unyielding. “From the moment I set foot through the Xu household gates, I have observed every rule and never once overstepped. The Marquis knows this in his heart. Heaven may do as it will; my mother may do as she wills. If the Yang Family’s people come seeking me, what power do I, a woman of the inner quarters, have to stop them?” At that, she fell suddenly silent.

She had always conducted herself with propriety and gravity. Now, faced with the ruin of her family, even those with hearts of iron and stone would soften somewhat, would they not?

Thinking of this, Yang Shi quietly instructed Nanny Yang: “Let us go and see the Mistress.”

Nanny Yang assented, but did not set off immediately. Instead she said: “If it truly is the Master who sent Dabao with a message…”

“All the better, then!” Yang Shi murmured. “Every time he has come to find me, there has never once been good news in it.”

Nanny Yang’s expression dimmed.