“Elder Brother!” Fang Shi could not hide her exasperation. “You’ve already sat three times. The first time you said the cold weather kept you from sleeping properly; the second time you said the food disagreed with your stomach and left you dizzy with hunger…”

“You’re so young, yet you nag just like Mother!” Fang Ji cut his younger sister off in haste. “Can’t I simply promise to do my very best this time?”

Fang Shi knew her elder brother’s temperament was one that responded to gentle encouragement rather than pressure. She said, “If Elder Brother applies himself properly and passes the jinshi examination, Aunt will have nothing more to say — and then you can do whatever you please. Isn’t that far better?” — and did not dare press him further. She then asked after the family at home.

“Everyone is well!” Fang Ji had no desire to dwell on such matters either, and smiled: “Second Younger Sister has set the eighteenth day of the fourth month as her wedding date; Third Younger Sister is engaged to a young man from the Jiang family of Dongyang — a collateral branch, and a modest household, but his grandfather and father were both scholars, and he himself, young as he is, already has a fine reputation for his writing. As for Second Younger Brother, his studies have also greatly improved…”

The siblings went on talking at length, Fang Shi alternating between tears and laughter, until Qiuyu came to say “the Marquis has set out a banquet in the outer courtyard to receive Young Master Fang,” and only then did she see Fang Ji out the door.

Eleventh Young Madam sent someone to invite Fang Shi for a conversation: “I hear Young Master Fang has arrived. If he has not yet settled on lodgings, why not stay in the Congrong Hall here in the mansion? Or if he finds the Congrong Hall too close to the street and too noisy, I can have Steward Bai prepare the Songzhen Pavilion beside Shuangfu Courtyard as well.”

“Da’saozi is the niece of Deputy Minister Liu, and Elder Brother stays at Deputy Minister Liu’s private residence whenever he comes to the capital.” Fang Shi offered her thanks again and again and replied: “Thank you so much for Aunt’s consideration. But Elder Brother moved into Deputy Minister Liu’s private residence just yesterday — it would seem abrupt to move out again just like that.” She declined the offer graciously.

Eleventh Young Madam said something to the effect of “do speak up if there is anything you need help with,” and on the day of the Lantern Festival, invited Fang Ji to come to the mansion for a meal.

Fang Ji had passed the provincial examination at eighteen and had since hovered on the threshold of the metropolitan degree without crossing it. He appeared magnanimous and composed on the surface, but there ran through him a certain pride that looked down on the ordinary world. Xu Siqin found it difficult to get a word in edgewise with him. Xu Siyu, however, earned his genuine regard — after they became acquainted, Fang Ji invited Xu Siqin and Xu Siyu to visit him at his lodgings several times, introduced some of his friends to Xu Siyu, and — learning that Xu Siqin had set the fourth day of the second month as his moving day — voiced his approval, remarking privately to Fang Shi: “It’s no bad thing to be able to live an honest, settled life. And you’re educated enough yourself. If you can’t instruct a husband, at least you can instruct your children.”

As a result, his attitude toward Xu Siqin took on a new respect that had not been there at their first meeting.

Xu Siqin could not fathom the reason, and only felt that this brother-in-law of his was erratic and difficult to deal with — he used the busyness of the move as an excuse, and of every three invitations from Fang Ji, declined one. Gradually, it was Fang Ji who grew closer to Xu Siyu.

By the end of the third month, the General-in-Command of Fujian, Li Zhong, and his son were escorted under guard to the capital, the affair came fully to light, and the city was in an uproar.

Fang Ji and the other scholars who had come to the capital for the examinations were stirred to outrage, drew up a ten-thousand-word petition to submit to the Emperor, and demanded that Li Zhong be put to death.

Eleventh Young Madam was greatly worried, and hurriedly sounded out Xu Lingyi: “…As for General Li’s situation — what does the Emperor intend?”

“That depends on what the Emperor has in mind.” Xu Lingyi received the cup of hot tea she handed him. “If he wants to implicate the Qu family, he will naturally make a great deal of this affair with General Li. If he does not intend to move against the Qu family for now, he will naturally let the matter be smoothed over and done with.”

“Then in the Marquis’s estimation, would the Emperor take action against the Qu family at this juncture?” Eleventh Young Madam mused. “It does seem a fine opportunity.”

“It is indeed a fine opportunity.” Xu Lingyi smiled. “We’ll see what the Emperor makes of it.”

Better safe than sorry — and what was more, even if Xu Siyu did participate in this affair, he would be nothing more than someone shouting slogans in a crowd. If it succeeded, the credit would have nothing to do with him; if it failed, he might still be swept up in the consequences.

Eleventh Young Madam therefore kept Xu Siyu confined at home: “Your younger brother-in-law will be arriving in the capital soon. We’ll be hosting the Shao family here, and I’ll need someone to attend to things. Zhun Ge’er is young — if you stay by his side and help him along, we won’t have to worry about anything being overlooked or any breach of courtesy.”

Teacher Jiang hoped to obtain the examination topics for this sitting, as well as the papers of the top ten candidates and the top three finalists of the palace examination — and had asked Xu Siyu to find a way to copy them out and bring them back to Le’an after the spring examinations were over. She had to keep Xu Siyu at home at least until the examination day, when those students sitting the spring examinations would finally settle down.

Xu Sizhun was somewhat surprised, but replied respectfully “yes,” and first went with Steward Zhao to meet Shao Zhongran and the others from the Shao family who had come to the capital for the examinations at the city gate. He then accompanied them to the Shao family’s residence in the capital, sent for food from Chunxi Tower, and stayed to help the Shao party rest and settle in. The following day, he used Xu Lingyi’s visiting card to invite the Shao family to the mansion for a banquet and wash away the dust of travel. Following Eleventh Young Madam’s instructions, he also sent Shao Zhongran clothing and remedies such as cooling ointments. The Shao family in turn invited Xu Siyu and Xu Sizhun to a reciprocal gathering — and so, one exchange following another, it was already the third day of the third month. Only then did he find the opportunity to go and call on Fang Ji.

“So your eldest younger sister’s husband comes from the Shao family of Cangzhou.” Fang Ji had previously received Xu Siyu’s letter, knowing he had been occupied these days receiving a brother-in-law who had come to the capital for the military examinations. Now, meeting in person, Fang Ji asked with great interest: “Their family has produced several renowned wandering swordsmen — figures as elusive as dragons seen only in glimpses. Some day when you have a moment, help me arrange an introduction.”

Xu Siyu agreed at once, then anxiously asked after the ten-thousand-word petition that had been weighing on his mind.

“Li Zhong’s affair has implicated the Jinhai Marquis Qu family.” Fang Ji’s eyes lit up with animation as he described it. “The Emperor has already dispatched his trusted official, Lord Wang Li, as imperial envoy to oversee affairs in Fujian. He will set out immediately.”

Xu Siyu could not help but feel his spirits lift: “This means those who were wrongly killed can now have their grievances cleared at last!”

“What a pity you weren’t there at the time.” Fang Ji’s face was alight. “When we stormed into the Ministry of Rites, those people were thrown into a complete panic… ” His expression then dimmed. “They are all senior court officials — yet they behaved like marketplace fishwives, every last one of them ashen-faced, some even hiding beneath their writing desks.” He shook his head with deep feeling.

“You stormed into the Ministry of Rites?” Xu Siyu was thoroughly astonished.

Fang Ji nodded: “If the Great Zhou continues to employ such men, the future of the realm is cause for concern.”

But Xu Siyu had suddenly thought of what Eleventh Young Madam had had him doing these past several days… He rose hastily to his feet: “The family is entertaining guests at present and I cannot linger. Knowing that all the brothers are well, I shall take my leave first. When the examinations begin in a few days, I will come again to see the brothers off.”

Fang Ji had also heard of Marquis Yongping Manor’s renowned third-of-the-third-month banquets. After a few courteous words, he personally saw him out the door.

At that very moment, Eleventh Young Madam was murmuring to Lady Zhou.

“…Li Zhong has confessed to everything. Ancheng used her connections to clear Li Ji’s name. Li Zhong will likely not escape with his life.”

To purchase the chance to go on living with a father’s life. Li Ji would likely carry this guilt with him for the rest of his days. Yet if he had not accepted this chance, the Li family might have collapsed entirely, or even fallen into ruin. By accepting it, the Princess Ancheng, for the sake of her daughter, would extend her protection to him, and he might still, at least in some measure, offer what help he could to those of his family.

Eleventh Young Madam felt a deep pang of sorrow.

Lady Zhou also let out a sigh: “Li Zhong was too reckless.”

With Li Zhong’s conviction, Lady Li’s figure would vanish from the banqueting scene as well…

Both women thought of Lady Li’s face — even her smiles carrying a quality of cautious, tentative guardedness — and fell into silence.

Outside, Lin Da’nainai’s hearty laughter rang out: “…The heated greenhouse at the Xu household — if it’s second in all of Yanjing, nobody would dare claim first place. I may not be the true mistress here, but I dare speak on behalf of the Fourth Madam of the Xu family — when the time comes, just send your maids and nannies along to ask for what you want. If the Fourth Madam so much as raises an eyebrow, the fault is entirely mine!”

Eleventh Young Madam and Lady Zhou both burst out laughing.

The mood in the room lifted at once.

“That Shao Shi — making all sorts of rash promises again.” Lady Zhou laughed as she rose. “Let’s go and have a look, or you may end up paying a very dear price.”

Eleventh Young Madam walked out alongside Lady Zhou with a smile. There she saw Lin Da’nainai accompanying a woman of around forty in a honey-gold all-over gold brocade jacket, talking together at the entrance of Dianchun Hall. Beside them stood Nainai Huang and six or seven other ladies.

The wife of Elder Dou.

Eleventh Young Madam went forward to greet her and introduced her to Lady Zhou.

“We have met before.” Lady Dou, seeing the two of them come out side by side from the side chamber, added an extra warmth to her smile. “At the wedding banquet of Lord Li’s eldest son. Does Lady Zhou remember?”

“How could I forget!” Lady Zhou smiled and exchanged courtesies with her.

Lady Dou’s gaze then settled on Eleventh Young Madam: “I have long heard that the Fourth Madam has a particular talent for cultivating flowers and plants. Coming today, I couldn’t help but ask about it…”

“You flatter me too much. Whatever is modest becomes fine in the telling.” Eleventh Young Madam replied courteously. “If Lady Dou does not mind, shall I accompany you to stroll through the garden?”

“Wonderful!” Lady Dou said eagerly. “I had precisely that wish, but felt it was not quite proper to raise.”

Eleventh Young Madam walked with her toward the greenhouse, introducing Fang Shi along the way: “This is my eldest nephew’s wife. She also has a love for flowers.”

Lady Dou nodded at Fang Shi, and Fang Shi promptly curtsied. Once they had entered the greenhouse, she took the initiative to explain the nature and habits of various flowers and plants, to which Lady Dou listened with repeated nods.

A little maid came in and spoke quietly to Eleventh Young Madam: “My Lady, the Second Young Master has come to see you.”

The Xu household’s third-of-the-third-month gathering invited only female guests. Xu Lingyi and the other men would keep away for the entire day. For Xu Siyu to come and see her at this moment — could something have happened with Fang Ji?

Without changing her expression, she gave a quiet sound of acknowledgment, found a moment to excuse herself, and left the greenhouse.

Xu Siyu was standing beneath a magnolia tree outside the greenhouse.

Petals, white as snow, drifted down to rest upon his shoulders above his azure changpao robe — still and quiet, as elegant as a painting in ink and wash.

Hearing movement, he looked up. His dark eyes shone with an unusual light that made his whole person seem somehow quite different from usual.

Eleventh Young Madam was momentarily taken aback. “What has happened?” she asked.

Meeting her candid gaze, the words that had been roiling in his mind like boiling water all the way home suddenly froze on the tip of his tongue.

Some things she had never said aloud. Yet she had been quietly doing them all along.

Xu Siyu suddenly smiled.

What did it matter, whether one asked or not?

She would not fail to act, simply because she had left it unspoken!

“Nothing at all!” He let out a long, slow breath, and all at once felt a weight lift from his shoulders. “Mother is entertaining guests. I thought I’d ask whether you needed me to look in on Sixth Younger Brother.”

Eleventh Young Madam thought of Jin Ge’er, who had pulled everything out and spread it across the heated kang in the warm chamber, and felt a headache coming on. “He’s in the warm chamber — if you have a moment, go and keep him company for a while.”

Xu Siyu bowed and withdrew.

He sat with Jin Ge’er as the child pulled everything out and then put it all back, pulled it out again, and put it all back again — over and over, until at last he grew tired, and Nanny Gu coaxed him to sleep. Only then did Xu Siyu settle into the grand armchair at the edge of the kang and gently stroke the child’s stiff black hair. He murmured something that no one nearby could quite make out.