It was hardly a pleasant subject.

Shiyiniang smiled and gestured toward the begonia-shaped pea cakes arranged on the low table beside the kang: “Sister, do try some — they are made from this year’s fresh pea flour.” Then she added, “You must come early in a few days, Sister.”

In a few days’ time, Jin Ge’er’s first birthday celebration would be held.

“Of course, of course.” Madam Zhou agreed readily. Her eyes fell on the pea cakes — their color a brilliant, luminous gold, radiant and translucent. Her appetite was piqued at once, and she took a piece. It was sweet and refreshing, and her spirits lifted a little; a faint smile rose to her face. “I also brought something for Jin Ge’er on this visit.” She then drew from her sleeve a large red pouch embroidered with white cranes in flight, and said, “For Jin Ge’er to use at his grabbing ceremony.”

With Madam Zhou present, Shiyiniang did not open it, but felt its weight as she took it — heavy in the hand. She smiled and thanked her, then steered the conversation toward the recent weather: “…There are even late osmanthus flowers still blooming. The weather is as warm as early spring. At this rate, who knows whether there will be any snow this year.”

“There are years without snow, too.” Madam Zhou, a native of Yanjing, smiled and said, “I’ve heard the elders say that in the third year of Jianwu, the winter passed without a single snowfall.”

“Then the harvest must have suffered.” Shiyiniang said with a smile, and continued chatting idly with Madam Zhou — when Fang Shi arrived.

Shiyiniang quickly had the young maidservant invite her in, then introduced her to Madam Zhou.

“The daughters-in-law in your household — truly each one lovelier than the last.” Madam Zhou took Fang Shi’s hand and praised her warmly. Fang Shi was a little embarrassed, yet she thanked Madam Zhou with graceful composure. Madam Zhou nodded approvingly and asked Fang Shi in detail about what she read and how she spent her time; the two fell into easy and animated conversation.

During this time, Fang Shi’s personal maidservant passed by the curtained doorway several times — yet Fang Shi took no notice. Shiyiniang likewise pretended not to see.

When Madam Zhou felt she had stayed long enough, she rose to take her leave.

Shiyiniang accompanied her to bid farewell to the Grand Madam.

Fang Shi kept them company as well.

After seeing Madam Zhou off, Fang Shi accompanied Shiyiniang back to the main chamber.

“Grandmother-in-law has been away from the mansion for some years, and there is much to attend to — I cannot easily leave. With Sixth Uncle’s first birthday coming up, I finally had a chance to come and sit with you, Aunt.” She smiled and gestured for her personal maidservant to bring over a small, unlacquered box of cold-hued birch wood. “This is a small token of goodwill from my husband and myself — I hope you won’t think it too modest.”

Shiyiniang accepted it with a smile: “We are family — there is no need for such formality.”

“It is merely a small addition to what Sixth Uncle already has in abundance.” Fang Shi said a few words of self-deprecation, then rose and took her leave.

Shiyiniang had Zhuxiang see her out, then called Qiu Yu over to ask: “What was the First Young Mistress’s maidservant looking for her about just now?”

“Third Madam had someone come to ask — why does delivering a gift take so long?”

Shiyiniang was somewhat taken aback.

She had not expected Third Madam to be so exacting with Fang Shi. Yet from the way Fang Shi had conducted herself just now, it was clear she was not the type to be easily manipulated or pushed around without any backbone. This pair of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law would likely have some adjusting to do. Best to keep her distance from the Third Branch from now on.

Having made up her mind, she opened the box Fang Shi had sent over.

Inside lay a volume of the Elementary Learning. Its cover was blue, its pages yellowed, its corners gently curled — it looked somewhat worn with age. She opened it: the text throughout was written in official script, the strokes square and rounded, dignified and graceful, with a quality at once plain and full of character — clearly the hand of a master calligrapher.

Shiyiniang was moved.

This was unmistakably an ancient text.

Gold has its price, but an ancient text is beyond price.

Did Third Madam know the value of this book? If she did, how could she bear to part with it? And if she did not — then what had Fang Shi told her?

Qiu Yu, meanwhile, seeing Shiyiniang hold the book in thought for a long while, assumed she was a little displeased with what Fang Shi had brought, and said with a gentle smile: “My Lady, look at what Madam Zhou sent…”

Shiyiniang gave a soft “oh,” roused herself, and said: “Let me see it.”

Qiu Yu smiled and passed the pouch over.

Inside sat a solid gold statue of the God of Wealth.

No wonder it had felt so heavy. By the looks of it, it was a good twenty-some taels.

Shiyiniang gave a quiet laugh and handed it to Qiu Yu: “Set it aside for the Sixth Young Master’s grabbing ceremony.” Then she lowered her voice and gave Qiu Yu a few quiet instructions.

Qiu Yu went off at once, and returned toward dusk with her report: “…Third Madam said that she would send a gift for the Sixth Young Master’s first birthday herself — the First Young Mistress is a newly wed bride and need not present a separate gift; she is to attend the banquet with Third Madam. But the First Young Mistress replied that the First Young Master is now a grown man with a family of his own. Since they live under the same roof as you, having her simply attend alongside Third Madam would lead people to say the First Young Master does not know how to conduct himself. Third Madam thought it over and said — if she wished to give a gift, she could do so, but according to custom: at a hundredth-day celebration one sends gold and silver locks and such objects; at a first birthday, one sends food or toys. She told her to send over a rattle drum or similar things. But the First Young Mistress replied that she had seen the Sixth Young Master’s playthings and there were many of them — sending something like that might be looked down upon. Since this is a first birthday, there would naturally be a grabbing ceremony, and it would be better to send something suitable for that occasion — the Grand Madam would be pleased to hear of it too. Then she discussed it further with Third Madam: should they go to Duobao Pavilion to purchase a set of the Four Treasures of the Study, or should they choose two books from the First Young Mistress’s dowry to send over? The moment Third Madam heard this, she immediately said to choose from the First Young Mistress’s dowry. And so the First Young Mistress sent over a book.”

Shiyiniang listened with her mouth hanging slightly open.

Was this not a battle of wills between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law?

That evening, when she went to pay her respects to the Grand Madam, she encountered Fang Shi there. Shiyiniang offered her thanks with deliberate tact: “…I had thought to use it for Jin Ge’er’s grabbing ceremony, but I feared the child, not knowing its worth, might damage it carelessly. I plan to keep it until Jin Ge’er is older and has a proper study to put it in. For the grabbing ceremony, I’ll simply pick any book at random from my husband’s study!”

Third Madam, hearing this, looked somewhat displeased, and said: “It is only a book — if it gets damaged, let Jin Ge’er go to the First Young Mistress and choose another one. I think there’s no need to go to all that trouble. Just use the book Qin Ge’er sent for the grabbing ceremony — it shows the brotherly affection of Jin Ge’er’s eldest brother.”

The finer the objects laid out for a grabbing ceremony, the better — and if one could use gifts sent by relatives and friends, it showed that those gifts surpassed even what the family itself had prepared, which was considered a great honor for the givers. By saying what she did, Third Madam was hoping that everyone would know her son had sent a fine and generous gift for Jin Ge’er’s first birthday.

The Grand Madam naturally wished for harmony between siblings, and upon hearing this, said with a tone of interest, “Oh? Qin Ge’er sent something for Jin Ge’er’s grabbing ceremony?” — as though quite taken with the idea.

Shiyiniang’s expression flickered with a moment of hesitation.

If Third Madam came to know the true worth of the ancient text, would she take her anger out on Fang Shi?

She said carefully: “He sent a book.” And said no more than that.

The Grand Madam was a sharp woman. She asked no further, and turned the conversation to the arrangements for the banquet, instructing Third Madam: “Since you are at home, please help receive the guests that day — your Fourth Sister-in-law is not in the best of health, and Fifth Sister-in-law still has little Shen Ge’er who cannot be left. And have Qin Ge’er’s wife accompany you, so she can meet some people.” She then went on to discuss the banquet menu.

Third Madam had wanted to say more on the previous matter, but seeing that the Grand Madam had moved on and given her instructions to attend to, she had no choice but to let it go. She gathered herself and answered the Grand Madam’s questions.

Fifth Madam, meanwhile, seeing the Grand Madam and Third Madam deep in their back-and-forth, tugged quietly at Shiyiniang’s sleeve and whispered: “What are you two up to?”

Shiyiniang did not understand.

“What is the story with that book?” Fifth Madam asked with a sly smile. “Don’t tell me you deliberately suppressed the whole affair because you didn’t want Qin Ge’er and his wife stealing the limelight?”

Shiyiniang looked at her — that expression of someone watching a spectacle without any sense of how high the stage is — and did not dare tell her the truth. She simply pressed her lips together and smiled.

Fifth Madam’s eyes darted here and there, and she privately nudged the Grand Madam to ask.

The Grand Madam smiled and said: “I asked long ago. Shiyiniang said the First Young Mistress sent an ancient text for Jin Ge’er — far too precious, she feared it might be damaged.”

“Brothers who dwell in harmony, like the calyx and bloom of a flower.” Fifth Madam leaned cozily against the Grand Madam. “Such a fine thing ought to be put on display. Why hide it under cover of night? No wonder Third Sister-in-law was unhappy the other day — I would have been unhappy too, if I were her.”

The Grand Madam was too clever to be taken in by her. She smiled and said: “Fourth Sister-in-law has said that Third Sister-in-law may not even know the value of the ancient text. Their dispute, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, is for them to settle behind closed doors — we cannot let outsiders laugh at us.”

Fifth Madam covered her mouth and laughed.

Since the Grand Madam already knew there was friction between the two, yet had spoken of letting them “settle it behind closed doors,” it was plain she was content to watch the Third Branch’s drama unfold.

With that thought, Fifth Madam’s spirits rose considerably, and she felt as though the days ahead had suddenly become a great deal more interesting.

The day of Jin Ge’er’s first birthday arrived. Shiyiniang rose early, dressed Jin Ge’er in a small deep-red, five-bats-and-clouds embroidered brocade jacket, then followed the Grand Madam in offering incense to the Three Household Gods before making their way to the main hall.

They had barely taken their places when Madam Zhou arrived.

With her came Shier Niang.

Shiyiniang was somewhat surprised.

Madam Zhou smiled: “I come on behalf of my sister-in-law.”

The sister-in-law she referred to was Shier Niang’s mother-in-law.

To be treated with such care and consideration by one’s mother-in-law — it was plain that Shier Niang had already found her footing in the Wang household.

Shiyiniang was glad for her. She smiled and took Shier Niang’s hand: “This is truly your good fortune, our Shier Niang.”

“Indeed it is.” Madam Zhou smiled. “My sister-in-law never tires of singing her praises to everyone she meets — she says I made a splendid match for her nephew. I have become something of a celebrated matchmaker among her sisters-in-law, and several of them have come asking me to find matches for their own nephews.”

Shiyiniang smiled: “So long as we have not brought shame upon you, Sister, that is all that matters.”

Shier Niang, her cheeks flushed, listened to the two of them talk, when Huang Third Mistress arrived, supporting Madam Huang as they entered.

Everyone came forward to pay their respects, and Nanny Du accompanied Madam Tang and Fourth Mistress Tang in, laughing and chatting as they came.

There was a pleasant commotion as everyone greeted one another.

Then Madam Lin, First Mistress Lin, Madam Gan, and several others arrived in succession.

The head serving woman, seeing the auspicious hour draw near, brought out the large carved rosewood table the Grand Madam had selected from the storeroom, and arranged around it the Four Treasures of the Study, an abacus, a food box, a general’s helmet, a spinning top, wine-game tokens, and other objects.

Shier Niang tugged at Shiyiniang’s sleeve — Shiyiniang had been in conversation with Madam Huang — and whispered: “Eleventh Sister, why has Fourth Sister not arrived yet?”

With so many guests, Shiyiniang had not noticed until Shier Niang mentioned it. Now she felt a little uneasy — Si Niang was always steady and reliable in her ways; even if something prevented her from coming, she would have sent someone ahead to say so. A late arrival like this was something Shiyiniang had never encountered from her before.

“I’ll send someone to find out.”

The words had barely left her lips when Si Niang walked in.

—