“She wishes to receive one of her family members — in my room?” Shiyiniang looked at Qiuyu, who had come to relay the message, and smiled faintly.

Qiuyu lowered her head: “That is what Yang Yiniang said.”

Shiyiniang gave a mild smile and said: “Please tell Yang Yiniang to meet her guest in the flower reception room beside the Hanging Flower Gate.”

Qiuyu breathed a quiet sigh of relief and promptly replied with a respectful “Yes,” but then showed a trace of hesitation: “Mistress… if this man called Dabao has come to pass messages on behalf of the Yang Family…”

“Even if that is the case, the Marquis must know of it already,” Shiyiniang said mildly. “You need only go and deliver the message.” She said nothing further.

Qiuyu naturally did not dare ask more. She curtsied and withdrew.

Shiyiniang sat quietly for a moment.

It was a time of great uncertainty, and while the household appeared no different from usual, Xiulian had told her that the guards’ yard had suspended its days off. With something like this having occurred, Xu Lingyi could not possibly be unaware of it, and the guards’ yard could not have let Nanny Yang go and claim kinship of her own accord. Since that was the case, she would keep herself out of it!

With that thought, she smiled and rose to go to the warm inner chamber.

Whether because Shiyiniang so often encouraged Jin Ge’er to practice rolling over, or for some other reason, Jin Ge’er could now roll over with great ease, and even string one roll after another without stopping. Nanny Gu alone could no longer keep up with him, and A’jin and Hongwen were required to attend him every single moment.

When she entered, Jin Ge’er was lifting his little head and pressing himself up on his hands on the kang surface. Seeing his mother, he broke into a wide grin.

Shiyiniang smiled and went forward to scoop the child up, asking softly: “And what is Jin Ge’er doing?”

Jin Ge’er kicked and bounced in her arms.

A’jin quickly said: “The young master won’t be held — he wants to be put down on the kang to play.”

“Is that so!” Shiyiniang smiled and kissed her son’s cheek, smiling so broadly she could not contain it. “How can you be such a little rascal!”

Jin Ge’er, as though he understood his mother was speaking to him, laughed and laughed at Shiyiniang, making little sounds of ‘oh, oh, oh.’

* * *

Yang Shi, standing under the eaves, felt her color shift slightly: “The Mistress has asked me to meet the visitor in the flower reception room by the Hanging Flower Gate?” Which was to say, the Mistress had no wish whatsoever to know what Dabao said to her!

Was this ignorance, or the disdain of one who simply did not care?

Suddenly her thoughts were thrown into disarray.

Qiuyu had no way of knowing what was running through Yang Shi’s mind. She only felt that Yang Shi’s request to meet this Dabao in Shiyiniang’s main room was somewhat overstepping herself. Seeing Yang Shi’s expression turn unfavorable, she smiled all the more brightly: “The Mistress sent me with those words. She also asked me to bring you a message: ‘Since Yiniang has family who have come to call, please make them welcome. The Mistress has already instructed the kitchen, stable yard, and accounts room — Yiniang need only send someone to say the word, and the guest feast, the cart for departure, and the parting gratuity will all be ready.'”

Yang Shi was about to say something more, but Qiuyu had already spoken on: “The Mistress also asked me to take the Third Month Third day guest list to the Grand Madam’s place. I must tend to my duties first — if you have anything further, please speak with Yumei. I must go now!” So saying, she bent her knees in a curtsey, and flanked by two small maids, went off toward the Grand Madam’s quarters.

Nanny Yang watched Qiuyu’s departing figure and could not help but murmur: “Yiniang, what… what is to be done?”

“Since the Mistress has already given her word,” Yang Shi said, a trace of cool in her brow and eyes, “we will do as she has said.”

Nanny Yang seemed about to say something more, but Yang Shi had already turned and walked toward the Hanging Flower Gate.

The small flower reception room there was used on ordinary days to receive steward women of standing from other households, and was simply yet handsomely furnished.

Dabao had been beaten raw and bleeding — his head and hands were wrapped all around with rough white cloth strips.

“…When word got out that the Marquis had his household raided, a pack of ruffians and idlers set their eyes on our family. Not only have they come knocking to extort money time and again, they managed to dig up an old promissory note the Master once wrote somewhere. A debt of three taels of silver, and they want thirty thousand taels in interest on it. And all those headmen and village constables who used to call the Master their sworn brother — not a single one of them will acknowledge it now. The Master has nowhere to turn, so he has sent me to find the Young Lady, hoping the Young Lady will say a word to the Marquis and let those people have a taste of what is coming to them. Give our Master his dignity back.”

The two maids attending in the flower reception room lowered their heads and pressed their lips together in suppressed laughter.

Yang Shi’s face flushed crimson, yet not a single word of protest could she utter. She had Nanny Yang take Dabao away to eat.

Dabao, however, implored her: “Young Lady — about this matter — you must at least give me a word to take back. Otherwise the Master truly cannot go on living!”

Yang Shi was so furious her heart ached: “Tell him: debts must be paid — that is the way of the world. If he feels the interest is excessive, let him take it to the authorities and file a complaint!” With that, she flung her sleeve and walked away.

Nanny Yang hurried after her.

Yang Shi was so full of anger that her steps were twice their usual pace. She arrived home and lay on the bed with her hand pressed to her chest.

Nanny Yang saw how white her face had gone and quickly poured out a cup of hot tea and helped her drink it down.

Yang Shi’s tears streamed down in a rush.

Nanny Yang knew the bitterness in her heart, and said gently: “Whatever the ten thousand wrongs of it, he gave you life and raised you. Without him, there would be no you. And for all the hardship in those early years at home, he never did what so many others did in lean years — sell off the daughters…”

At this, Yang Shi buried her face in the pillow and wept.

Nanny Yang sat beside her and said nothing, only stroking her hair with a soft, tender hand.

After a long while, Yang Shi gradually quieted, then slowly sat up and straightened herself: “Nanny, have the small maids bring in water and help me wash and dress. Then go and look in at the main room and see whether the Marquis has returned!”

Nanny Yang knew she had come through it — she smiled and assented, going to tell the small maids to bring water, and to gauge the movements of Xu Lingyi.

* * *

When Shiyiniang heard what Dabao had come for, she too was somewhat taken aback.

Was this not the very image of rats deserting a sinking ship?

She gave a quiet sigh and instructed Qiuyu: “These past days I have been resting at home. When the Third Month Third day comes, Madam Zhou, Madam Huang the Third, and Madam Lin the First will certainly be coming to call on me. Go and tell Steward Ji’s wife that we should see what fine-colored flowers are in the greenhouse these days, and have a few pots moved in to brighten up my quarters as well. Then ask her to send two women who know their flowers with Nanny Song tomorrow to the Zhongqin Earl household — to see whether the Grand Madam Gan’s courtyard is lacking in any plantings or whether there are any spots that need tending.”

For the past several years, she had been sending people to tend to the flowers and trees in Grand Madam Gan’s courtyard.

Qiuyu replied and went off.

Zhuxiang, who was attending nearby, said: “Mistress, blood is thicker than water. Even though Yang Yiniang has always said that her family treated her badly, when something like this happens, she may well step forward and intercede on their behalf. You might consider speaking with the Marquis first — that way you could give Yang Yiniang a direct answer when the time comes, rather than having her go to the Marquis herself.”

The words were tactfully phrased, but the meaning lay within them.

It was nothing more than a fear that Xu Lingyi, moved by a beauty in distress, might soften — so better for Shiyiniang to speak with Xu Lingyi first, lend Yang Shi this favor herself, and let Yang Shi see just how great her own influence truly was.

But Shiyiniang only looked at her and smiled, saying: “I do not intend to help her in this.”

Zhuxiang was somewhat startled.

Zhuxiang had been given to her by the Fifth Yiniang and was a consistently sharp and capable girl — Shiyiniang’s right-hand assistant. Shiyiniang said in a low voice: “From the way Dabao’s words were framed, you should already understand what sort of man Yang Shi’s father is. Rather than thinking of how to resolve the trouble, his one thought is to make those people look bad. Hearing it now, one might think he has suffered great wrong — but think a little more carefully, and on ordinary days he was likely the sort of local bully who rode roughshod over his neighbors. A man like that — why should I help him?”

Zhuxiang listened and gave a small nod, saying with a slight blush: “I was thinking that the Mistress has been doing everything in her power to help Wen Yiniang, and now Wen Yiniang shows seven or eight parts genuine loyalty to the Mistress in return…”

“Not every show of loyalty is worth accepting,” Shiyiniang murmured softly in reply, then smiled and returned to her usual tone: “Wen Yiniang and Yang Yiniang are different — the Wen Grand Madam’s suffering is on account of her son’s actions!”

Zhuxiang’s face had gone entirely red. She said quietly: “I… I understand now!”

Shiyiniang said no more, smiled, and changed the subject: “Is it truly the case that Hupo is lacking for nothing?”

Zhuxiang had just come back from Hupo’s.

“She really is not lacking for anything!” Zhuxiang said with a smile. “Hupo says, now that she is no longer working in the household, she still has the trousseau money the Mistress gave her, and Manager Guan has his wages, and there are no clothes or ornaments that need to be made or purchased, so by spending carefully, they will be comfortable for three to five years. And Binju has sent some of Chang’an’s worn-out old clothes over, and she has been doing needlework with Binju and selling it at the lucky goods shop. She asks the Mistress not to worry. When you are a little better in health in a few more days, she will come to see you.”

Of the maids she had seen married off, it was Guanqing who had the weakest ability — and so Hupo was the one she worried about most. Hearing Zhuxiang say this, she thought of finding a couple of Jin Ge’er’s garments to send over through Zhuxiang, but then reconsidered: the fabrics used for those were all exceedingly costly, and if she truly gave them to Hupo, Hupo might feel awkward dressing a child in them. In the end, she could only admonish Zhuxiang repeatedly: “You must not help Hupo cover things up. If there is anything, say it straight out!”

Zhuxiang smiled and promised earnestly.

Fangxi came in: “Mistress, Yang Yiniang has gone to the Half-Moon Lake Pavilion!”

Shiyiniang raised an eyebrow.

Zhuxiang had already grown composed: “Her nerve is something!”

Both women’s gazes, however, turned involuntarily toward Shiyiniang, awaiting her decision.

Shiyiniang slowly stood up: “Let us go and have a look.”

The path through the Half-Moon Lake Pavilion was very narrow. Even with a lantern, the sound of cloth tearing told Yang Shi that her new bean-green pleated skirt had likely been scored with several long slashes.

Someone called out sharply: “Who goes there!”

Yang Shi stopped, steadied her breathing, and said in a low voice: “I am Yang Shi. I ask this gentleman to announce me, saying that I have an urgent matter and wish to see the Marquis.”

The one who had called out was quiet for a moment, then said in a low voice: “Please wait, Yiniang — I will go and report to the Marquis at once!”

Yang Shi said ‘Thank you’ and stood in place with her back straight and her posture upright.

The fifteenth-day moon is fullest on the sixteenth — yet this year it had stretched to the twenty-fourth, now in waning, with no stars. Wind passed through the treetops in a soft rush of shifting shadows that whispered like a dark sea, lonely and desolate, and she dared not stir.

She had heard it said that the private studies of a powerful court minister such as Xu Lingyi were typically guarded inside and out by men of superior martial skill. One careless step and one might be mistaken for a would-be assassin and shot dead on the spot.

In former times, she had been a gift bestowed by the Empress Dowager. Now, she was nothing more than the niece of a condemned criminal.

If something went wrong, there would likely not even be anyone who remembered her!

With this thought, she felt the time passing even more unbearably.