Xu Lingyi said all of this with remarkable ease, and yet Shiyiniang had no idea how to respond.

What did “obedient” mean? What did “not obedient” mean? A person’s entire fate might be changed from that single word.

Xu Lingyi saw that she had been silent for quite some time and assumed she did not know who to choose. He smiled and said, “There is no hurry with this — take your time.”

Shiyiniang agreed, and after turning the matter over in her mind for several days, decided to first ask Xu Siyu himself what he thought.

The question caught Xu Siyu entirely off guard. However composed and self-contained he was, he was still a fifteen-year-old boy, and his face turned bright red. He stammered and could not get a single word out.

Shiyiniang looked at him with a quiet, faint smile and said, with intent behind her words, “Young couples are said to be the most devoted to each other — often because that is the first feeling that moves the heart. Your father also says there is no hurry. Take your time to think about it. When you have made up your mind, just send word to me.” She then lifted her teacup in the gesture of seeing him out.

Xu Siyu walked out of the courtyard with his thoughts in disarray, and immediately came face to face with Zhen Jie’er, who was walking toward him with her maidservant Xiao Li, the two of them chatting softly with bright smiles. He quickly collected himself and greeted Zhen Jie’er.

Zhen Jie’er looked a little shy. “Mother says Second Elder Brother is not going back to Le’an until after New Year — is that right?”

Xu Siyu smiled and nodded. “What is it? Do you have something you want me to bring to Le’an?”

Ever since the Ninth Miss of the Jiang family had come to visit, Shiyiniang had been sending clothing and food over to Le’an each year, and the Ninth Miss of the Jiang family would in turn send over shoes and socks she had “made herself.” Shiyiniang had passed the task of returning these courtesies to Zhen Jie’er. Over time, through these exchanges, and as the Ninth Miss of the Jiang family grew older, the two girls had begun corresponding by letter.

Zhen Jie’er’s cheeks grew faintly pink. The maidservant Xiao Li spoke up beside her with a smile: “The tenth day of the tenth month is the Sixth Young Master’s first anniversary, the twenty-fifth is the Second Young Master’s birthday, and come the eleventh month, our Young Miss will have her coming-of-age ceremony. If the Second Young Master is also at home, our Young Miss says it will be even livelier than the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

After her coming-of-age ceremony, Zhen Jie’er would be married. This might well be the last birthday she would celebrate in the Xu household. Because of the mourning period, Xu Siyu had stayed in Yanjing; and with Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian having returned from Shanyang, it would be a true reunion for all the siblings.

A touch of wistfulness came over Xu Siyu, but he smiled and nodded. “I will certainly bring a generous gift for my younger sister!”

“Who wants Second Elder Brother’s generous gift.” Zhen Jie’er looked at Xu Siyu with a very earnest gaze. “I only hope Second Elder Brother will not forget me, and will come to see me when the chance arises.”

Xu Siyu gave a firm nod.

A group of steward-matrons in silk and silver came walking over, talking and laughing. Now and then one of them raised her voice a notch or two, and they could be heard saying, “The Sixth Young Master’s bathing ceremony, full-month celebration, and hundredth-day celebration were all held with just close family and friends — this first birthday celebration likely will not be a grand affair either!”

“Fourth Madam is a gentle, unassuming sort — she hates all the noise of drums and music — so naturally she would not want a grand celebration. But the Marquis would also have to agree!”

“The Marquis has never concerned himself with household matters — naturally he would defer to Fourth Madam!”

Someone laughed. “Fourth Madam said the Sixth Young Master is too young — clean, warm, and well-dressed is all that matters. And yet what happened? When the Elder Young Master was married, the Marquis said the Sixth Young Master simply could not be dressed shabbily, and ordered four silk crane-feathered cloaks in different colors to be made at once. Fourth Madam said not a word about it. But when a father dotes on his son, what mother would not be pleased? Have you not noticed, these past few days the Sixth Young Master has been refusing to eat vegetable porridge and insisting on only milk — and Nanny Gu has not even dared press him!”

Xu Siyu and Zhen Jie’er exchanged an involuntary glance.

The group of steward-matrons had already noticed the two of them and came forward to greet them.

Over the past two years, Zhen Jie’er had been managing household affairs on Shiyiniang’s behalf, and the matrons all showed her an added measure of respect.

“Is the Young Miss going to see Fourth Madam, or coming from Fourth Madam’s rooms?”

“I am going to see Mother.” Zhen Jie’er’s smile carried a composed, gently authoritative dignity — something Xu Siyu was not accustomed to seeing in her.

His eyes dimmed slightly. He exchanged a few more words with Zhen Jie’er, then watched as she was escorted by those matrons — all much older than herself — into the main courtyard, surrounded by their fawning attention.

The maidservant Xiang Zhu saw him standing there in hesitation and smiled. “Second Young Master, I just saw the Elder Young Madam accompanying the Third Madam to the Grand Madam’s quarters.”

Since Xu Siqin was living in the main rooms behind the hall, her meaning was that if he had nowhere else to go, he might drop in on Xu Siqin for a visit.

Xu Siyu thought of the tender, devoted gaze Madam Fang had given Xu Siqin, and suddenly felt that calling on Xu Siqin uninvited would no longer be quite appropriate. Yet he did not want to return to his own rooms either.

Taking in a new girl… but if his wife came through the door, what then would become of her? Would she end up like his birth mother? Or like the two bed-warmers in Fifth Uncle’s household — dismissed to a country estate and married off to some tenant?

His mind was a tangle.

And he could not simply go on standing there.

After some thought, he said quietly, “I will go see Second Aunt.”

Xiang Zhu smiled and agreed, leading the way ahead of him.

When they arrived at the Second Madam’s quarters, Jie Xiang came out to block them at the door. “The Second Madam did not sleep at all last night… Second Young Master, please come back in a few days.”

“What has happened?” Xu Siyu asked, startled.

“The Second Madam has been observing the stars these past few days,” Jie Xiang replied with a smile. “The Elder Young Madam came to call on the Second Madam a couple of days ago and was not received either.”

Xu Siyu relaxed, and said, “As long as Second Aunt is in good health, I am at ease.” Still reluctant to leave, he had Jie Xiang brew a pot of tea, and sat quietly in the bamboo grove.

A young woman in a bright red vest and clear blue skirt passed along the small path beside the bamboo grove.

Xiang Zhu, with nothing to do but stand there idly, said with a smile, “Second Young Master, that is Qiao Yiniang’s personal maid, Sister Xiu Yuan!”

Xu Siyu acknowledged with a casual sound.

Xiang Zhu continued, “I hear Sister Xiu Yuan, like Sister Jie Xiang, wishes to become a lay Buddhist devotee. She went to petition Fourth Madam, and Fourth Madam at first refused. But Sister Xiu Yuan cut off a lock of her hair to demonstrate her resolve, so Fourth Madam allowed her to take Reverend Ji Ning as her teacher. Now she and Sister Jie Xiang have become quite close.”

The woman who had just passed had bright, almond-shaped eyes and peach blossom cheeks — quite a striking beauty. Outside this household she would have been exceptional. Within it, however, she was nothing out of the ordinary.

Xu Siyu gazed at the swaying bamboo and fell into a reverie.

On the other side of the courtyard, Zhuxiang had just seen a steward-matron out the door.

Zhen Jie’er and Shiyiniang went and sat down in the inner room.

“Mother, about Sixth Brother’s first birthday celebration…”

“Same as the hundredth-day celebration,” Shiyiniang said, finishing the sentence with a smile.

Zhen Jie’er thought of how, just now, those steward-matrons had one after another been urging Shiyiniang to hold a grand affair, and could not help pressing her lips together.

Shiyiniang said this with her mouth, but inside she worried that Xu Lingyi might not agree. She was not particularly eager to dwell on the topic, and smiled as she turned the conversation to Zhen Jie’er’s coming-of-age ceremony. “I have asked Master Jian to make your ceremonial gown. It will not be ready until the end of the tenth month. When it is done, please have a look — and if anything needs to be altered, let me know.”

Zhen Jie’er knew that Shiyiniang had been making preparations on her behalf, and had even dimly heard that Shiyiniang had submitted a request to enter the palace these past few days, seeking to obtain a bestowal from Her Majesty the Empress on her behalf. She felt somewhat anxious at all this and said softly, “Whatever Mother decides is fine.”

“I may decide, but it still has to be something you like.”

As they spoke, a young maidservant came in to report, “The Elder Young Madam has arrived!”

Since the wedding, Madam Fang had spent most of her time attending to the Third Madam, and the rare occasions when they crossed paths were at the times of paying respects to the Grand Madam. This was the first time she had come alone like this.

Shiyiniang quickly invited her to sit in the west side room’s parlor, and had the maids bring tea and refreshments.

Madam Fang and Zhen Jie’er exchanged greetings, then sat down in the armchair before the kang.

“Mother has some business to discuss with Grandmother. I am on my own, so I came to sit with Fourth Aunt for a while!” She smiled shyly and glanced at Zhen Jie’er. “I hope I have not disturbed Fourth Aunt and Elder Sister?”

“We were just chatting idly. Your coming only makes things livelier — there is no question of disturbing anyone,” Shiyiniang said warmly, then asked her whether she had settled in, and what she liked to do to pass the time.

Madam Fang answered the first question with only a simple “I have settled in quite well,” then spoke at greater length about the second. “At home, I would do needlework, read, practice calligraphy, tend flowers and plants. My temperament is somewhat restless, so I never quite mastered any of these. I heard long ago that Fourth Aunt’s needlework is exceptional, and that she has a gift for growing flowers. I have been hoping for an opportunity to ask for her guidance — I only wondered whether Fourth Aunt might find me too clumsy.”

She presented herself as a neighbor extending an olive branch, clearly seeking warmth and kinship.

They were family, after all — a closeness built on exchanges and affection was entirely natural.

“Siqin’s wife is far too modest!” Shiyiniang laughed. “You are welcome to come whenever you like. Though I am afraid that when you see my rather ordinary needlework and my rather unremarkable flowers and plants, you will be greatly disappointed!”

“It is Aunt who is being too modest!” Madam Fang replied with a smile. “I noticed two pots of noble orchids in Mother’s room. I was told they came from the greenhouse, and knew at once that Aunt must be someone with a true love for flowers and plants. I happen to enjoy growing orchids myself. With Aunt saying this, I almost do not dare bring it up anymore.”

In ancient times, growing orchids was not only a mark of refined taste — it also required a considerable investment of time, effort, and resources. That the Fang family had cultivated such an interest in their daughter left Shiyiniang rather surprised. She studied Madam Fang more carefully.

Madam Fang allowed the scrutiny with perfect composure and smiled. “It is a pity that we came in such a hurry this time that I could not bring a few pots of orchids along for Aunt to see. I shall have to wait until someone from home comes to Yanjing next year and send a few pots along then!”

For her to say such a thing after having seen Shiyiniang’s greenhouse — she must have some truly rare specimens in her own collection.

Shiyiniang smiled her thanks, and after a little more pleasant conversation, a maidservant Shiyiniang did not recognize flitted past outside the curtained doorway. Madam Fang smiled and rose to take her leave.

Zhen Jie’er saw the guest out on Shiyiniang’s behalf.

Shiyiniang asked Qiu Yu, “Was that the Elder Young Madam’s maidservant outside just now?”

“Yes!” Qiu Yu replied with a smile. “She said she feared that, should the Third Madam return and the Elder Young Madam not be there, the Third Madam might feel slighted — so she stayed outside to keep watch and could alert the Elder Young Madam the moment the Third Madam returned.”

Shiyiniang nodded, and from then on instructed that whenever Madam Fang came to call and her personal maidservant needed to come in to pass a message, there was no need to stop her.

That evening, when Xu Lingyi returned, he brought up the matter of the Third branch household.

“Third Elder Brother has written to me,” he said, settling himself against the headboard and idly running his hand through Shiyiniang’s hair. “He says he has no one at his side to look after him, and that after Jijin Ge’er’s first birthday celebration, he would like me to arrange for someone to escort Third Sister-in-law to Shanyang. As for Siqin and Sijian, he has already engaged a senior scholar who once served in the Hanlin Academy to take up a teaching post at the residence on Sanjing Lane. He would like them to move there. With Madam Fang managing the inner household, the two brothers would also have someone to look after them.”

Was this not more or less the same as dividing the household?

It had come so quickly that Shiyiniang felt a strange sense of unreality.

“Does Third Sister-in-law know?” she asked.

—