Xu Lingyi’s feelings of melancholy lasted only one evening. By the next morning, he had returned to his usual calm and composed self. He stuffed many pouches filled with silver ingots into Shiyiniang’s hands: “Don’t hold back. When it’s time to tip, tip generously. Don’t make things difficult for yourself and the child.”

Shiyiniang nodded repeatedly, then carried Jin Ge’er into the palace.

Eunuch Huang, a female official serving beside Her Majesty the Empress, met them at the Eastern Gate.

At the sight of Jin Ge’er — round-faced and tiger-like, with sharp and lively eyes — she could not help but pat the child’s head. “The Sixth Young Master is truly a fine-looking child!”

“You flatter him, Honored One!” Shiyiniang exchanged pleasantries with her as they made their way to Kunning Palace.

They had barely entered the palace gate when they came face to face with a little palace maid hurrying along. Upon seeing them, she gave Eunuch Huang a hasty bow and rushed off toward the rear hall where Her Majesty resided.

It was a most discourteous display.

Shiyiniang was rather surprised.

Eunuch Huang quickly smiled and explained: “That is a palace maid from the First Princess’s household.” She went on to say, “The First Princess heard that the Sixth Young Master was coming today and spent last night here in Kunning Palace. She must have grown impatient waiting and sent her attendant to find out when he would arrive.”

Shiyiniang inwardly groaned.

The palace was a place of strict propriety and established customs, where unexpected situations were rare and things were, relatively speaking, safer. But if one happened to encounter a young princess who was willful and disregarded the rules — what might happen was anyone’s guess.

She steeled herself and followed Eunuch Huang to the warm inner chamber.

Her Majesty the Empress was seated on the imperial throne, dressed in a casual scallion-green embroidered robe with full sleeves. Beside her sat the First Princess, clad in a deep red silk-brocade jacket. She sat with her back perfectly straight, hands folded neatly in her lap, the corners of her lips curved upward, her brow graced with a warm and amiable smile — the very picture of poise and grace, regal and refined in every way. This surprised Shiyiniang greatly. Yet the surprise did not last long — as she knelt in greeting before the Empress, she noticed that the First Princess’s feet, hidden beneath her pleated skirt, were swinging back and forth with idle restlessness.

It was clear that, young as she was, the First Princess had already absorbed much from her surroundings and learned to conceal her true feelings.

A faint smile rose to Shiyiniang’s lips. Then she heard the Empress’s gentle voice: “Bring a seat for the Marchioness of Yongping!”

Shiyiniang quickly composed herself, curtsied in thanks, and settled herself half-perched on the brocade stool.

The Empress then instructed Eunuch Huang: “Bring the Sixth Young Master over so I can have a look at him!” Her voice carried an unmistakable note of anticipation.

Even as an Empress, in this moment she was simply an aunt whose heart ached for her nephew.

Shiyiniang felt greatly reassured, and with a smile handed Jin Ge’er over to Eunuch Huang.

Eunuch Huang carried Jin Ge’er before the Empress.

The Empress, however, reached out and took the child into her own arms, studying him with great care.

Jin Ge’er was not afraid of strangers. He tilted his little head and fixed his large, dark, glistening eyes steadily upon the Empress’s face — as though puzzling over who exactly this person before him might be.

The Empress’s heart all but melted at the sight.

“Look at this little one.” She laughed softly, stroking the top of Jin Ge’er’s head with great tenderness. “What a fine child.” Her tone was utterly sincere; it was plain to see how very fond of Jin Ge’er she was.

The First Princess stretched her neck, craning to get a better look.

Eunuch Huang, meanwhile, offered her compliments in a perfectly natural manner: “Indeed — at first glance one might not notice it quite so much. But now that his features have fully grown into themselves, he is the very image of Marquis Yongping. And he bears quite a resemblance to our Third Imperial Prince as well.”

The Empress’s expression softened further at these words. She smiled and nodded: “The bond between maternal cousins is as close as bone and sinew — of course they resemble one another.” As she spoke, she stroked the top of Jin Ge’er’s head again.

The First Princess, whose bright eyes had been fixed eagerly on Jin Ge’er, tugged at the Empress’s sleeve and called softly, “Imperial Mother, Imperial Mother,” — apparently pleading for something.

Shiyiniang’s heart gave a sudden lurch.

Could it be that the Empress had invited Jin Ge’er to the palace at the First Princess’s request?

The thought had barely flashed through her mind when she saw the Empress give a gentle shake of her head and say softly, “You are still too young — you won’t be able to hold Jin Ge’er properly.”

Shiyiniang’s heart eased somewhat.

But the First Princess was not ready to give up. She continued to tug at the Empress’s sleeve. “Imperial Mother, Imperial Mother…”

The Empress shook her head with gentle firmness: “Furong, that is not allowed. You must understand — Jin Ge’er is your uncle’s son, not just anyone. You must cherish him and treat him well.”

“Imperial Mother, Imperial Mother…” The First Princess pouted her lips and gazed up at the Empress with a piteous expression.

A flicker of hesitation passed through the Empress’s eyes.

Sensing that things were taking an unfavorable turn, Shiyiniang was just about to rise to her feet when Eunuch Huang, who stood beside the Empress, spoke up: “Your Majesty, the First Princess is simply deeply fond of her little cousin. Won’t you allow the First Princess to hold the Sixth Young Master for just a moment? We are all right here watching — nothing will go wrong.” She then turned and asked Shiyiniang with a smile, “What does the Marchioness of Yongping think?”

“Eunuch Huang is right,” Shiyiniang replied with a mild smile. “Only — the First Princess is still young and her arms are small, while Jin Ge’er is quite a plump little fellow. I would hate for the First Princess to strain herself.”

Everyone in the room paused for a moment, glancing toward the Empress.

The Empress gave a slight nod, and a brief look of gratification crossed her eyes. She handed Jin Ge’er back to Eunuch Huang and gestured for her to return the child to Shiyiniang.

The weight that had been pressing on Shiyiniang’s heart at last lifted.

Eunuch Huang stepped forward with a smile, bending down to take Jin Ge’er into her arms — when all at once the First Princess leapt down from the brocade stool, darted forward, and wrapped her arms around Jin Ge’er’s waist: “I’ll carry him to the Marchioness of Yongping.” And with that, she began pulling Jin Ge’er from the Empress’s arms.

Jin Ge’er’s body tilted forward, and he tumbled against the First Princess’s shoulder.

The Empress quickly clasped Jin Ge’er to herself and reprimanded the First Princess in a low but firm voice: “Furong, do not be so unruly!”

Jin Ge’er’s body swung back and he nestled snugly into the Empress’s arms.

Then the First Princess let out a sudden wail and began to cry. As she wept, she pressed her hands to her ears and pressed her face against Jin Ge’er: “Imperial Mother, it hurts — it hurts so much!”

The color drained from every face in the room.

Eunuch Huang, who stood beside the Empress, immediately crouched down: “Your Highness, where does it hurt?”

The Empress asked with urgent concern: “Furong, whatever is the matter?”

Shiyiniang, seeing the First Princess cry out in pain and fall against Jin Ge’er, was greatly alarmed. Without a moment’s hesitation, she crossed the room in two swift strides, arriving at the Empress’s side at the same moment as the First Princess’s wet nurse — and found Jin Ge’er’s tiny finger hooked through the First Princess’s solid gold crescent-moon earring.

“Jin Ge’er!” Shiyiniang quickly grabbed Jin Ge’er’s hand, afraid that if he kept squirming, he would tear the First Princess’s earlobe.

Eunuch Huang and the others noticed it too.

The Empress stroked the First Princess’s head to soothe her: “Be still, Furong — Jin Ge’er’s finger is caught in your earring.”

The First Princess dared not move again, and lay sobbing across the Empress’s knees.

Eunuch Huang then carefully began working Jin Ge’er’s finger free from the earring.

But the moment she applied a little force, Jin Ge’er let out a loud wail, and his soft little finger immediately turned red.

Shiyiniang’s heart twisted in anguish: “Eunuch Huang, we must find another way — Jin Ge’er’s finger is stuck in the earring!”

Eunuch Huang was now caught in a dilemma — to pull, or not to pull — and stood frozen in place, at a loss for what to do.

The Empress too grew flustered: “What — what is to be done?”

Perhaps because concern had clouded their judgment, for a moment no one could think of a solution.

The distress among the adults spread to the two children, and both the First Princess and Jin Ge’er began crying in earnest.

It was the First Princess’s wet nurse who timidly ventured a suggestion from the side: “Perhaps — remove the earring?”

Eunuch Huang’s face brightened at once. She carefully unfastened the earring and slipped it free.

The First Princess threw herself, wailing, into the Empress’s arms, while Jin Ge’er, crying just as loudly, buried himself in Shiyiniang’s embrace.

The warm inner chamber filled with a chorus of overlapping, full-throated wails.

The Empress held the First Princess, and Shiyiniang walked back and forth patting Jin Ge’er — each soothing her own child.

Then Fang Jie’er arrived.

She looked at the First Princess sobbing softly in the Empress’s arms, then at Jin Ge’er, who lay against Shiyiniang’s shoulder with tears in his eyes and his little mouth pursed. She said in surprise: “What — what happened?”

“It is nothing, nothing.” Eunuch Huang made light of it all: “The Sixth Young Master accidentally got his finger caught in the First Princess’s earring. A false alarm, nothing more.”

Fang Jie’er had long since learned not to press with questions.

She smiled and went forward to comfort the First Princess.

The First Princess turned her face away, wanting only the Empress to hold her. The Empress was wholly occupied with soothing her daughter and said nothing further.

Fang Jie’er smiled, then turned and walked to Shiyiniang’s side.

Jin Ge’er turned his head to look at her, then moodily buried his face against Shiyiniang’s shoulder once more.

His eyes, washed clear by tears, were bright and transparent, as though her reflection were caught within them.

Fang Jie’er could not help but reach out and stroke Jin Ge’er’s head.

Shiyiniang smiled at her.

Eunuch Huang brought a brocade stool over for Fang Jie’er.

Shiyiniang was a little surprised.

Fang Jie’er whispered: “I am with child again!”

Shiyiniang took a moment to understand, and then, seeing that Fang Jie’er’s face bore not the slightest trace of joy — only a faint bitterness — her gaze grew quietly heavy. She reached out and pressed Fang Jie’er’s hand gently.

Fang Jie’er understood. She gave a small shake of her head and forced a smile, silently telling Shiyiniang not to worry on her behalf.

Shiyiniang thought for a moment, then said softly: “Let me have you hold Jin Ge’er for a little while!”

Fang Jie’er looked startled.

Shiyiniang smiled: “He brought good fortune when he accompanied Fifth Sister-in-law — she has her Shen Ge’er now. Perhaps he’ll bring you a son as well!”

A faint mist gathered at the corners of Fang Jie’er’s eyes. She reached out and gently took Jin Ge’er into her arms.

On the journey home, Xu Lingyi chided Shiyiniang: “You needn’t concern yourself with such matters.”

Shiyiniang tucked the blanket more snugly around the sleeping Jin Ge’er and said softly: “I was only trying to set her heart at ease. She has ten months ahead of her — if she remains as downcast as she was today for all that time, I fear she may fall ill before she ever delivers the child.”

Xu Lingyi said no more.

But as the carriage turned into Lotus Lane, he suddenly murmured quietly: “The Third Imperial Prince is no longer young. He should be betrothed soon.”

Shiyiniang was taken aback.

Something about these words, spoken at this particular moment, felt weighted with meaning she could not quite grasp.

She wanted to ask him about it, yet something held her back — a hesitation not unlike the feeling of a traveler drawing near home, fearful of what news might await. She was afraid of hearing a cold answer.

She was still mulling this over several days later when Madam Zhou came to call.

“You already know,” Madam Zhou said. Her makeup was immaculate and her dress splendid, yet she could not quite conceal a look of dejection. “We don’t know whether this child will be a boy or a girl, so our family hasn’t dared breathe a word of it to anyone.”

Shiyiniang could only offer comfort: “Sister, please don’t worry. The Crown Princess is a blessed person — her fortunes are sure to turn for the better.”

But Madam Zhou had no such confidence left.

She gave a bitter smile: “I can only hope so.”

—