Nanny Yang was inevitably worried: “I think we should still call a physician.”

Yang Yiniang’s brow arched, and she raised her voice sharply: “When I tell you to go and borrow medicinal oil from Wen Yiniang, go and borrow it — why all this talk?”

Seeing her lose her temper, Nanny Yang’s expression fell. She lowered her head and answered yes, then curtseyed and withdrew.

Yang Yiniang watched her go and could not help but feel a pang of regret. But very quickly, that emotion was replaced by the restlessness welling up inside her.

What was to be done now?

Surely she was not truly going to go to some temple to keep watch over an ancient Buddha’s lamp?

As long as people were present, strife was unavoidable. Only those sheltered young misses raised in inner chambers, ignorant of the ways of the world, would think that a Buddhist hall was a place of quiet and peace. A niece of a convicted official with no patron behind her — going to a place like that, would she not be like a drift of duckweed, to be pushed about by anyone? There were temples that kept to serious cultivation, like the Great Awakening Temple…

That thought flashed through her and she shuddered.

That would be even worse than staying in the Xu household. At least in the Xu household, she would never want for food or clothing, and her life would be protected.

At that thought, her hands clenched tightly into fists.

She had to find a way…

* * *

The covered walkway was hung with great red lanterns. The night breeze drifted through, yet they hung motionless — a scene of tranquil stillness.

Xu Lingyi and Eleventh walked side by side.

Hupo was resting at home, and Zhuxiang had become the head maid in charge. By the look of things, Xu Lingyi would most likely be spending the night here. Tomorrow morning Zhuxiang would still need to organize the young maids to attend to Xu Lingyi’s morning ablutions, oversee the small kitchen’s preparation of breakfast, and instruct the maids to gather the spring cedar shoots — she would have to be up before the third watch, and unlike Eleventh, who could sleep until the end of the second morning watch.

Thinking of this, Eleventh turned and glanced at the maids and matrons quietly following behind them, then said: “I am going to take a walk in the courtyard with the Marquis. Leave just Qiuyu and two young maids to attend — everyone else may go and rest.”

He had always privately felt that the maids and matrons around Eleventh were on the few side. But today he found her instructions perfectly timed.

Xu Lingyi smiled as he waited for Eleventh to settle the maids and matrons, then walked along with her, chatting as they went.

“A few days ago I received a letter from Zhensheng saying he had already set out. By my reckoning, he should be arriving these days.”

“Steward Bai has already sent people to the Tongzhou wharf to meet him.” Eleventh smiled. “The Fourth Sister-in-law has also had the main rooms tidied up, and the serving maids, errand boys, and all other attendants have been arranged.”

Speaking of the Fourth Young Madam, Xu Lingyi smiled and said: “How is it I haven’t seen Ying Jie’er about these past few days?”

After the New Year, the Fourth Young Madam had come over several times — sometimes to see Jin Ge’er, sometimes to bring food and clothing — and every visit she brought Ying Jie’er. Xu Lingyi was very fond of her.

“The weather has been fine lately, and the Fourth Sister-in-law has taken Ying Jie’er out to enjoy the spring scenery,” Eleventh said with a smile. “She says they’ll return to Yuhang once Elder Brother arrives in the capital — Father doesn’t manage household affairs now, First Sister-in-law is with child, and little Hong Ge’er is still small. They must go back and help First Sister-in-law with the household, so she can have some rest. By next year when Elder Brother completes his period of study, whether he stays in the capital or is posted elsewhere, there must always be someone at home. The chance to come to Yanjing again after that will be rare. So she’s taking the opportunity to show Ying Jie’er something of the world.”

Xu Lingyi nodded: “Then you should prepare a generous parting gift.”

“I’ve been working on that these past two days,” Eleventh said with a smile. “Father’s, the concubines’, First Sister-in-law’s, Hong Ge’er’s and Shu Ge’er’s… It will probably take two carriages to carry everything.”

Xu Lingyi stopped walking and turned to look at Eleventh.

The red lantern light cast a rosy warmth across her face, suffusing it with a gentle glow.

He could not help but take her hand: “Have you been feeling better lately?”

Eleventh let him hold it and nodded with a smile: “Eating two liang of bird’s nest every day — if that doesn’t help, there’s truly nothing more to be done!”

There was lamplight reflected in her eyes, brilliantly luminous.

Xu Lingyi moved a step closer, wanting to draw her into his arms, but from the corner of his eye he caught sight of Qiuyu following at a distance, and after a brief consideration he let it go. He took his thumb and stroked the back of her hand instead: “If anything feels wrong, say so at once. Don’t endure it in silence. Ginseng and bird’s nest are nothing rare — if the physician says they are beneficial, then even if you dislike them, treat them as medicine and eat them every day.”

Eleventh smiled and nodded. Her large almond eyes narrowed slightly, and a childlike, candid joy spread openly across her brows and eyes, so warm to look upon that something stirred in Xu Lingyi’s heart, and unbidden, a trace of amusement came into his eyes.

“In a few days, Physician Liu will come for a follow-up visit.” His tone, touched by feeling, was as soft and gentle as the morning breeze in spring. “I’ve heard that the herb sanqi is good for you. Ask him about it. If it can be used, I’ll have someone bring some sanqi up from Yunnan.”

“Bird’s nest is already quite enough,” Eleventh said, then paused briefly, stepped forward, and took Xu Lingyi’s arm. She said with a bright smile, “Simmered in chicken broth with mushrooms, made into a winter melon cup — it’s all very good.”

Eleventh this evening was quite unlike her usual self. She seemed particularly happy, particularly lively — and, moreover, noticeably bolder.

Xu Lingyi was a little surprised, but more than that, he was pleased.

He liked this atmosphere where even the air felt lighter.

Xu Lingyi’s hand settled gently over hers where it rested on his arm.

“I had forgotten,” he said with a light laugh. “You were born in Fujian and grew up in Yuhang — you’ve always had a fondness for seafood. Ma Zuowen is in Fujian now. I’ll write and ask him to send us some abalone. Then you can make a monk jumps over the wall dish and let Mother have a taste as well.”

The Grand Madam had grown up in the north and did not care for seafood.

Eleventh said nothing, but rested her head against Xu Lingyi’s arm.

* * *

Nanny Yang poured medicinal oil into her palm and rubbed it warm, then barely touched it to the swollen mound of Yang Yiniang’s ankle before Yang Yiniang drew in a sharp breath of cold air. Nanny Yang’s hand could not help but hesitate.

But Yang Yiniang set her teeth: “You can’t catch the cub without going into the tiger’s den. If your heart isn’t in it, Nanny, this injury will never heal.”

How could Nanny Yang not understand? After a brief hesitation, she kneaded with full force.

Yang Yiniang’s forehead was covered in sweat from the pain. Yet strangely, her heart felt a faint, buried steadiness — as though the solitary walk through the moonlight, the hiding in the grass, the humiliation of Xu Lingyi’s disdainful expression — all of it was borrowing the pain of this moment to transform from something half-real and half-dreamlike into a memory carved bone-deep.

She clung tightly to the corner of the low table, lips pressed shut, enduring the torment without a sound. Only this way could she feel some relief.

Nanny Yang, watching Yang Yiniang force herself to endure, felt her heart ache. She thought back and forth over it, talking idly in an effort to distract her.

“When I went over, Wen Yiniang had not yet retired. She was quite startled to hear that you had twisted your foot, and kept asking me how it had happened. I told her you had turned it on a step. Wen Yiniang wanted to come and see you herself, but I stopped her.”

Wen Yiniang was sharp and capable — summoning her here would indeed not be a good thing.

Yang Yiniang made no reply.

Nanny Yang went on: “I said it was too late and we didn’t want to disturb the Madam. Wen Yiniang let the matter rest. She had Dongqing find this bottle of medicinal oil for me. Said it was the best red-flower oil, brought back from Guangdong by someone on her behalf.”

Wen Yiniang always had fine things on hand.

Yang Yiniang nodded.

“I thanked her again and again,” Nanny Yang continued, not relaxing the pressure of her hands. “Wen Yiniang then had Dongqing see me to the door. She also said she would come to see you first thing tomorrow morning.”

Although both women lived in the eastern smaller courtyard, they were at opposite ends of it — north and south — with two intervening courtyards between them. The path between them passed through the connecting passage leading to the rear servant’s quarters behind the main courtyard.

Yang Yiniang murmured: “Has the door to the connecting passage been closed?”

Nanny Yang thought for a moment: “It has.” She added, “Dongqing held the lantern high and walked me all the way to the door of Concubine Qin’s courtyard before turning back.”

The gate to Concubine Qin’s courtyard and the gate to Concubine Qiao’s courtyard stood diagonally across from the connecting passage on either side. Concubine Qin’s lantern had been taken in for the night, but Concubine Qiao’s still hung high and brightly. Nanny Yang could never have been mistaken.

Yang Yiniang’s brow drew tightly together.

Nanny Yang watched her and said softly: “What are you thinking about, Concubine?”

Yang Yiniang’s expression was grave and still, and she did not answer.

Nanny Yang sighed inwardly, lowered her head, and devoted herself entirely to working on Yang Yiniang’s ankle.

The night wind blew through, and a clump of green bamboo in the corner rustled softly.

* * *

Xu Lingyi bent his head and saw the pair of pure gold clove-flower earrings at Eleventh’s ear gleaming with golden light, resting still against her cheek — which shone white and fine as a white pear blossom’s petal, suffused with such delicacy that he almost seemed to smell the rich, intoxicating fragrance of spring flowers.

His heart was beating a little fast.

He glanced at Qiuyu, who had lowered her head and was standing at the turn of the covered walkway, pretending to see nothing. Xu Lingyi bent his head and said close to Eleventh’s ear: “Let’s go in.”

His rich, mellow voice carried a hint of warm suggestion.

Eleventh raised her head and cast a sidelong glance at Xu Lingyi. Her gaze was like the shimmering reflections of spring water.

“All right.”

Xu Lingyi felt his heart give a lurch.

He was stunned for a moment, and then took her hand and strode toward the main room.

* * *

A burning, scorching sensation crept from Yang Yiniang’s ankle all the way to her heart.

She abruptly rose to her feet: “Come, let us go to Wen Yiniang.”

Nanny Yang was caught entirely off guard and nearly toppled over.

“At this hour?” She stared in astonishment. “Your foot…”

“Never mind that, just help me to Wen Yiniang’s room.”

* * *

Eleventh buried her face against Xu Lingyi’s shoulder and clung tightly to his neck, refusing to let go no matter what — afraid that if he saw her, he would see her face blazing red.

Xu Lingyi laughed softly, making no effort to hide his delight.

In the courtyard she had dared to take hold of his arm, and once back in the room she had helped him change his clothes without a trace of awkwardness… He had thought it was simply that having become a mother had left her less constrained. Who would have known…

At that thought, warmth rose in him, and he could not help himself — he thrust forward with full force. A tingling, numbing pleasure wound back and forth through his body in spiraling circles, until a soft moan escaped from her lips… carrying a trace of delight, a trace of coy allure, as though in answer to his abandon — listening to it, even she herself blushed with shame… and yet her body was not under her control… and in her heart she resented him, knowing full well that she was… yet he only grew all the more uninhibited… She bit down hard on his shoulder.

Her body was so slender and fragile it seemed almost unreal — like a flower first blooming in spring, so delicate it left one astonished, afraid that a moment’s carelessness might ruin her, yet so utterly beguiling that one could not bear to let go, consumed by a longing to keep what one feared to lose. Then a sharp pain hit his shoulder.

He was slightly startled. He felt her body grow a little softer than before. He laughed, and simply let himself be all the more unreserved in her ear, teasing her: “Still have that much strength? I must have underestimated you.” His movements grew all the more wanton.

Eleventh felt as though breathing itself had become difficult.

She could not help but tilt her head back, gasping in great breaths.

“Xu Lingyi!”

Her voice held a faint note of entreaty.

Xu Lingyi raised his head and saw her glistening eyes, her vividly red lips…

He could not help but ask a question that even he had not expected: “Do you miss me?”