Before long the room had filled with people all over again. The Marchioness of Zhongqin was particularly eager in greeting Shiyiniang, who exchanged a few polite words with her and the Fifth Madam before finding an excuse to step out of the bridal chamber.

It was already past midnight. Both women were feeling somewhat tired. They exchanged a few more words and then each returned to their own quarters.

But Shiyiniang had barely set foot on the steps leading into the main courtyard when Yupan from the old Madam’s side came hurrying over.

“Fourth Madam,” she said, slightly out of breath, “the old Madam asks that you come — she says there are a few things she wishes to say.”

Shiyiniang went with her to the old Madam’s quarters.

The old Madam’s room was still brightly lit. In the lamplight, the lines of weariness on her face were plainly visible.

Shiyiniang came forward and paid her respects. The old Madam had already dismissed the attendants from her side and in a low voice asked Shiyiniang: “What is the new bride like?”

So that was what she had been worrying about!

Shiyiniang looked at the old Madam’s eyes, at the crow’s feet etched at their corners as though carved there, and felt that the old Madam had aged a great deal since she had first come to know her.

She could not help taking the old Madam’s hand and speaking quietly: “For now, she seems quite acceptable.” Then she told the old Madam in full detail what she had seen and heard — “…her appearance is pleasant, she has read widely, and her manner is composed and assured…” she thought of the two personal matrons, “…she is not the sort of young woman who has never seen the wider world…” then she thought of the eldest sister-in-law, “…nor is she likely to come from a family that will simply swallow any grievance in silence.”

The old Madam remained untroubled by this. “It would not matter who the Third daughter-in-law brought into this household — even the most even-tempered person would gain a measure of sharpness after some time with her.” But the great weight on her heart had eased, and she let out a long slow breath. “Then all that remains is to see whether any complications arise the morning after next!”

The auspicious hour had been set late. By the time the guests were seen off, it was nearly dawn. With the bride-meeting ceremony first thing the next morning, the wedding night had been arranged for the following evening. If the morning after the wedding night passed without incident, this would prove to be a good match.

Shiyiniang nodded and reassured the old Madam: “Please do not worry — nothing will go wrong.” She added: “I see that you look quite weary. Why not rest a little later tomorrow morning? I will be rising early to go to the hall for the bride-meeting ceremony — if anything comes up, the head matron can come to me for direction.”

“No need!” The old Madam laughed, a faint gleam of mischief in her smile. “You are not the one to hold them in check. Leave that to me. Go and get some rest yourself. Looking after my Jin Ge’er is what matters most.”

Though the old Madam was good to Sizhun, there was always a faint shadow of pity in it. With Jin Ge’er, the pity was less — and in its place, a genuine and whole-hearted delight.

As for how Xu Siqin’s wedding expenses were being handled within the household, Shiyiniang was not certain — Xu Lingyi would not concern himself with such things, the old Madam had said nothing, and Shiyiniang herself would not dare bring it up without good reason, lest someone think she was prying and hoarding over every last detail. Now, hearing the old Madam’s tone, it seemed she had come to a head-on with the Third Madam. Which made it all the more impossible for Shiyiniang to inquire.

She offered to help the old Madam settle in for the night, but the old Madam waved her hand: “Nanny Du and I still have things to discuss — off you go. And do not let the Fourth Master drink so much wine — he is no longer young, and too much wine is bad for the body.”

Shiyiniang respectfully acknowledged this and withdrew. She then instructed Zhuxiang: “…Find out how the costs for the young master’s wedding are being allocated.”

The next morning, Xu Siyu, Xu Sizhun, Xu Sijie, Zhen Jie’er, Wen Yiniang, and Qiao Yiniang were at the door to pay their respects at first light. Shiyiniang, dressed in her finest, received their courtesies and was escorted by a large retinue of maids and matrons to the smaller reception hall adjoining the main hall — where Xu Siqin and Fang Shi were to meet the family.

She had barely taken her place when the Fifth Madam arrived with Xin Jie’er and Shen Ge’er.

Xin Jie’er immediately broke away from her wet nurse and ran over to take Jin Ge’er’s hand. Jin Ge’er gave her a couple of cheeky grins and promptly grew bored, dropped her hand, and twisted around to look at the large red character for “happiness” posted on the center wall.

Xin Jie’er stood there in mild awkwardness, not knowing what to do with herself. Xu Sizhun had already stepped forward to ask her: “Why did we not see you at yesterday’s banquet? There were sesame rice balls rolled in toasted sesame — filled with osmanthus paste. I thought you would certainly like them, so I had Bilu send some over. Did you have any?”

Xin Jie’er’s expression softened upon hearing this. She gave a light, sweet smile, her childish voice carrying a thread of delight: “Wet nurse said they were made with glutinous rice and would only let me have half. They were exactly as wonderful as Fourth Brother said!”

Xu Sizhun was pleased, and the two cousins bent their heads together, chatting away in lowered voices.

Xu Siyu’s gaze had come to rest on Jin Ge’er.

Jin Ge’er was dressed in a deep crimson robe of cut silk, with a pattern of five bats surrounding clouds and round flower clusters. He wore white silk trousers, and a solid-gold “May All Go Well” locket hung from a necklace at his chest. Powder-smooth and jade-fair, his large dark eyes shining bright, he looked like a gilded child attendant before the Bodhisattva Guanyin. When his gaze met Xu Siyu’s, he broke into a grin — but did not linger long; his attention was quickly caught by the multi-strand red lanterns swaying overhead, trailing their long tassels.

The corner of Xu Siyu’s mouth curved upward imperceptibly, a faint smile appearing.

Zhen Jie’er then held Xu Sijie’s hand and stayed close behind Shiyiniang as they welcomed Madam Hong, Madam Fu, and Madam Ding the Third from Nanjing. Madam Hong and Madam Fu had each brought their eldest daughters-in-law; they had not seen each other in years, so there was naturally much catching up and recognizing of faces to be done. In the midst of this lively exchange, the Third Madam came in smiling, accompanied by the Marchioness of Zhongqin, as well as several aunts and maternal cousins of the Gan family.

Marchioness Gan laughed and went to stand among Shiyiniang and the other sisters-in-law, leaving the Third Madam’s own blood relatives off to one side. The Third Madam’s eldest sisters-in-law could not help pursing their lips — but at that moment they looked over to see the Marquis Yongping himself walking in, flanked by Marquis Zhongqin, Xu Lingkuan, several maternal uncles and sons-in-law of the Gan family, and Xu Sijian.

The small hall broke into a cheerful buzz.

The company arranged itself by gender, the men on one side and the women on the other. Then Old Gan led Xu Siqin and Fang Shi forward.

The new couple first paid their respects to Xu Lingyi and the others. Xu Lingyi, standing in for the Third Master, presented a pair of solid-gold dragon-and-phoenix bracelets as the greeting gift. The rest offered words of congratulation about a marriage of mutual respect and harmony, and then proceeded to the side hall on the right where the women and children were seated.

The Third Madam, watching her son and daughter-in-law bow before her, felt tears well in her eyes. She accepted the shoes and socks that Fang Shi had made, praising them repeatedly until Fang Shi’s face went deep red. Qiu Ling promptly held out a gold-traced crimson lacquered box.

Fang Shi accepted it with both hands. Every eye in the room now turned to Shiyiniang, as the most senior woman present.

Shiyiniang was looking at the hairpin the Third Madam wore on her head — solid gold, set with imperial jade, ruby, cat’s-eye stone, and pearls as small as lotus seeds, shaped like a phoenix. She gave a slight nod, took the gold-traced crimson lacquered box from Qiuyu’s hands and was about to present it — when the Fifth Madam suddenly said with a laugh: “Wait, wait. Since we are meeting family today, we all stay and do it properly. One at a time.”

Everyone turned to look at the Fifth Madam.

Shiyiniang’s hand paused mid-motion and she drew it back.

“Third Sister-in-law has taken such a lovely bride — I wonder if it is truly as pleasing inside as it looks, or only for show?” The Fifth Madam smiled behind her sleeve. “Words count for nothing — only what we can see today tells the truth. So what exactly has she given as the greeting gift?” She motioned to Qiu Ling to open the box. “Seeing is believing.”

A faint smile passed over the Third Madam’s face — three parts composure, seven parts self-satisfaction.

Qiu Ling smiled and opened the box.

Inside lay a full set of solid-gold hairpins in the “full pond of beauty” style. The design was somewhat old-fashioned, but amounted to perhaps five or six taels in weight.

The Third Madam’s eldest sister-in-law felt this greeting gift was acceptable, and smiled: “Well, what does the Fifth Madam think of that?”

“Not bad, not bad at all!” the Fifth Madam said with a smile.

Fang Shi lowered her head with a trace of embarrassment.

The Third Madam’s smile of self-satisfaction grew more pronounced.

All eyes turned once more to Shiyiniang.

Shiyiniang allowed a trace of hesitation to show.

The Third Madam’s eldest sister-in-law caught this and her eyes flickered. She smiled: “Fourth Madam, our family has been waiting!”

Shiyiniang heard this and smiled, then presented the box to Fang Shi. “A small token — niece-in-law, please do not think it too little.”

The Third Madam’s eldest sister-in-law, seeing that she did not open the box or display the gift before the assembly, assumed the contents must be nothing remarkable. She thought to herself that this family seemed inclined to give the minimum and no more, and gave a cold inward smile, saying immediately: “The Marchioness of Yongping’s greeting gift — surely we ought to have our eyes opened!”

Fang Shi caught a flicker of anxiety in her eyes upon hearing this, and glanced imploringly toward Xu Siqin.

Xu Siqin only stood to one side smiling.

His Fourth Aunt was always sincere and genuine in her dealings. Even if the gift was not costly, it was always clever and striking in its own way — he was not in the least worried.

Left with no alternative, Fang Shi’s expression dimmed slightly as she opened the box.

On the purple-red cotton-velvet lining lay a single solid-gold hairpin. The head was as wide as a bowl, carved in the pattern of phoenixes in flight. The phoenixes were vivid and alive, wrought with consummate skill, wings spread wide in full soar, gazing at one another as they wheeled through the clouds. The clouds layered upon each other in endless variation, encircling the phoenixes in shifting, interlocking forms. And because it was fashioned of newly worked gold, every cut surface caught the light in a blaze of brilliance that made the eyes ache to look upon.

Someone exclaimed aloud: “How beautiful!” Another mused: “This must weigh ten taels or more.”

“This… this is far too generous.” Fang Shi looked up at Shiyiniang as though she had been startled by heat.

“Phoenixes in flight, wing answering wing,” Shiyiniang said, smiling warmly at her. “Your Fourth Aunt wishes you both a lifetime together, white-haired and bound in heart.”

Fang Shi was moved.

The line came from the “Ode to Quan’a” in the Book of Songs, a verse traditionally used to bless a husband and wife in loving devotion and marital happiness. It was precisely the verse she had recited to herself again and again in the days before she was wed.

“Thank you, Fourth Auntie!” She sank into a deep curtsey.

Xu Siqin, having heard of the words the eldest sister-in-law had spoken when delivering the dowry, and now watching Fang Shi — who gave every impression of a woman steeped in learning — had quietly worried that she might carry herself with an air of superiority on account of her family’s literary distinction. Shiyiniang’s greeting gift, and Fang Shi’s sincere gratitude in response, allowed the anxiety he had been carrying to quietly dissolve — just as his Fifth Aunt’s teasing voice reached his ears: “Third Sister-in-law, this will not do. You are the mother-in-law — you cannot let your Fourth Sister-in-law outshine you. Quickly now — you must add something more for our niece-in-law. Come along.”

The Third Madam’s face stiffened. She was secretly pleased that Shiyiniang had done her credit, while at the same time resenting the Fifth Madam for being so thoroughly without tact. She was just about to offer a retort when the Fifth Madam had already opened her own box. “Mine is right here — the moment Third Sister-in-law adds to her gift for our niece-in-law, I will present mine at once.”

The room was instantly awash in the shimmer of jewels and gold.

Some drew in a sharp breath. Some stared with eyes gone wide. Some burst out in exclamations: “Truly, each one is more generous than the last.”

On the purple-red cotton-velvet lining rested a hair ornament — the size of a small cup, with a base of solid gold, and petals formed of rubies the size of a thumbnail, blazing with a dazzling, eye-catching brilliance.