The Dowager Matriarch listened without a word.

Seeing that there was hope, Shiyiniang continued to persuade her: “Without such rumors, Fang Shi is exceptional in character, appearance, and refinement — one of the finest women to be found. She is a worthy match for our Qin Ge’er. If they truly separated, Fang Shi’s future would be difficult, and Qin Ge’er might not find another wife like her. ‘After the separation, each goes their own way in marriage and we part on good terms’ — only someone as hotheaded as Fang Ji could say such a thing. Is marriage really that simple? Besides, between first-wedded spouses who are devoted to each other, if one can see it through to the end, why change course midway?”

The Dowager Matriarch lowered her head and took a sip of tea.

Shiyiniang grew even more certain of what the Dowager Matriarch was thinking. She smiled and said, “Mother, why don’t we send someone to Huzhou to make inquiries, to find out whether what Fang Shi said is true or not? If she has been talking nonsense, then her character is clearly lacking as well. We can settle accounts with the Fang Family at that point. Then let us also have a skilled person carefully read the birth charts of Qin Ge’er and Fang Shi to see whether they are compatible or clash. I have heard people say that some women have an auspicious birth chart, and households with shallow blessings cannot hold them. It may well be that Fang Shi’s birth chart is of high station, and that her fate was always to marry into a noble family like our Xu Family, one related to the imperial household. Then I shall probe Fang Ji to see whether this was a momentary impulse on his part, or something the Fang Family had already planned. Mother, does this seem acceptable to you?”

“Then do as you say!” The Dowager Matriarch gave a faint nod, her gaze coming to rest on Xu Lingyi. “I will leave the matter of sending someone to Huzhou to you.” With that, she let out a long breath. “I am rather tired. You should all retire early as well.” There was a note of melancholy in her tone.

It was indeed the sort of affair that weighed on one’s spirits.

Shiyiniang and Xu Lingyi bowed and withdrew.

Nanny Du, who had been standing guard at the door, quickly called for Zhuxiang to carry a lamp and escort the two of them to the courtyard gate before turning back inside.

Only then did Xu Lingyi and his wife have the chance to speak privately.

“Did Qin Ge’er truly tell you he has no wish to divorce his wife?”

Shiyiniang said reproachfully, “Would I make it up?”

Xu Lingyi looked at her with a smile. He clearly did not believe her.

“If my lord does not believe me, go and ask Qin Ge’er himself!” Shiyiniang shot him a sideways glance.

Xu Lingyi sighed. He slowed his steps, walking shoulder to shoulder with Shiyiniang, strolling unhurriedly along the covered gallery hung with great red lanterns.

“I had thought that ‘reading ten thousand books is no match for traveling ten thousand miles.’ With Qin Ge’er having spent some time in Shanyang and seen the world along the way, it ought to have sharpened his mind. But looking at it now, the boy still lacks a certain quickness of wit.” He spoke slowly. “At a time like this, this is not simply a matter of a young couple quarreling and needing someone to step in with a word or two to smooth things over. This is now a dispute between two families, and yet he could come out with words like that.” There was a trace of disappointment in his manner.

Was it because of this that he had been frowning?

Shiyiniang also slowed her pace, walking with Xu Lingyi along the winding covered gallery. “One grows confused when one cares too deeply. My lord need not be too harsh on him.”

Ever since Xu Siyu had gone to Le’an, the difference between him and Xu Siqin had grown increasingly apparent. She could not tell whether it was that Xu Siqin had not yet encountered the circumstances that would spur his growth, or whether Master Jiang had invested a great deal of effort in Xu Siyu.

Seeing that Xu Lingyi was not entirely pleased, she smiled and changed the subject. “What is Mother planning? My lord should at least give me some indication. When I meet with the Fang Family, I need to know how to conduct myself.”

With that in mind, she brought up Xu Siyu’s affairs. “…The provincial examination is in August. Will Siyu be sitting for it?”

“We will have to wait until Siyu returns to Le’an before deciding,” Xu Lingyi said. “Master Jiang sent me a letter a few days ago, but it only reminded me to pay attention to the situation in Fujian. Beyond that, he said nothing.”

“The situation in Fujian?” Shiyiniang was somewhat surprised. “What situation in Fujian?”

Xu Lingyi said quietly, “Master Jiang feels that personal likes and dislikes are a small matter, while the safety of the family is paramount. The Qu Family’s fall was too swift, and that does not bode well for our Xu Family either. He asked me to find a way to lend support to Jiang Yunfei.”

Shiyiniang was a little astonished. “Does my lord often discuss court affairs with Master Jiang?”

“We see eye to eye, so we speak of such things from time to time,” Xu Lingyi said with a smile. Sensing that the occasion was not suited to such a topic, he smiled and picked up the earlier thread of conversation: “Oh yes — Mother asked about Zhen Jie’er’s wedding date. She wants us to fix it soon.”

The results of the August military examinations would be out by then, and the Shao Family likely hoped for a double celebration, so the dates they had proposed were all in the ninth or tenth month. Shiyiniang was thinking that if Zhen Jie’er could marry a little later, it would be better to let her. She and Xu Lingyi had been planning to choose a date in October, if only to put on the appearance of a bride being sent off in a dignified manner, and intended to wait until the Shao Family’s matchmaker came to press them again before fixing the precise date. Now that Xu Lingyi was asking, she thought the Dowager Matriarch must have some instruction in mind. “Has Mother settled on an auspicious day?”

“Nothing of the sort,” Xu Lingyi said. “Mother simply wants to know sooner rather than later. She has a few things she would like to give Zhen Jie’er, and if the date is set, she can begin preparing in good time.”

“Then what does my lord think of the twelfth day of the tenth month?”

“That will do nicely,” Xu Lingyi said. “Cangzhou is five or six days’ journey from here. If we send the bridal party off at the beginning of the tenth month, they will arrive right on the twelfth. Both are even-numbered days — quite auspicious.”

As they talked, the two entered the courtyard gate.

Nanny Gu was standing in the middle of the courtyard, holding Jin Ge’er in her arms, while Xu Sijie stood nearby saying something to him.

Hearing the sound of movement, all three looked over. Jin Ge’er immediately struggled to get down and ran toward his parents. “Father! Mother!”

Xu Lingyi, afraid he might fall, quickly stepped forward and scooped up his son. “It is so late — why are you not asleep?”

Jin Ge’er pouted, his large phoenix eyes brimming with tears. He looked at Shiyiniang with great grievance: “Mother, tell a story!”

On the other side, Xu Sijie had already stepped forward and paid his respects to both of them. “Sixth Brother absolutely refused to let Mother tell him a story. So we came out to wait in the courtyard.”

Jin Ge’er had surely been making a fuss and Xu Sijie had been keeping him company to soothe him.

Shiyiniang gave Xu Sijie’s shoulder a gentle pat. “You still have the academy tomorrow. Go to sleep quickly.”

Xu Sijie smiled, bowed, and withdrew.

Xu Lingyi carried Jin Ge’er inside. That night he slept between the two of them, listening to Shiyiniang tell him the story of Chang’e Flying to the Moon.

After finally coaxing him to sleep, Xu Lingyi could not help but gently stroke his son’s head. “When he was small, he refused to sleep with you. Now that he is older, he has taken to sleeping with us.”

Shiyiniang smiled and blew out the lamp. “When he was small, he did not know any better. Now that he is older, he naturally wants to be close to his parents…” As she spoke, she felt a pair of hands reaching over in a rather bold manner.

She quickly caught hold of that hand. “No — the child is here…” Her voice was low and carried a trace of bashfulness.

Xu Lingyi turned and lay close against Shiyiniang. “The weather is getting warmer. Jin Ge’er is afraid of the heat — let him sleep on the inside.”

“You are making excuses!” Shiyiniang pushed his hand away.

Xu Lingyi retorted, “Do I still need to make excuses?”

Shiyiniang could not help but laugh.

Xu Lingyi said in a low voice, “Coax Jin Ge’er to sleep early tomorrow night.”

—

The following morning, Third Madam came to pay her respects to the Dowager Matriarch. But the Dowager Matriarch and Second Madam had left for the Bureau of Astronomy before dawn.

Shiyiniang accompanied her as they sat in the reception hall.

Compared to the day before, Third Madam looked extremely haggard, and she spoke in a somewhat distracted manner.

Seeing that her condition was quite off, Shiyiniang had Xingjiao accompany her back to her room to rest. “…That courtyard has been kept tidy all along. Just have fresh bedding put on, and it will be ready.”

Third Madam did not refuse her suggestion. With Zhuxiang attending her and Xingjiao at her side, she returned to the courtyard she had formerly occupied.

Shiyiniang then kept back Xu Siyu, who had come to pay his respects. “Yesterday, Mister Fang the Tan Hua came to visit your father…” She told Xu Siyu what Fang Ji had come to say. “Your father is an elder — there are things he cannot properly ask. These next couple of days, Fang Ji is surely busy paying calls on his mentor’s household and his fellow examination graduates. Please go to Vice Minister Liu’s residence on my behalf and invite Mister Fang the Tan Hua to come and speak with me.”

Xu Siyu looked thoroughly bewildered. After a long moment he came back to himself and respectfully replied, “Yes,” then could not help but ask, “And what does Elder Brother say?”

Absolutely no divorce.

Though the stance he had displayed also gave his wife an answer, it went against his mother’s wishes.

Shiyiniang felt this was not something she herself should convey to Xu Siyu. “You should find a moment to visit Qin Ge’er as well and offer him some counsel.”

Xu Siyu acknowledged the request and departed. Nanny Song walked in.

“Madam, I have heard some unfavorable news, though I do not know whether it is true or not.” She leaned close and spoke quietly to Shiyiniang. “Xingjiao says that Third Master returned from Shanyang first thing this morning, quite suddenly — and brought back his official robes and official palanquin with him.”

No wonder Third Madam had arrived somewhat late.

From the look of things, something seemed to have gone rather wrong. If he had received a promotion, why would Third Master and Third Madam be so silent about it? And if he had not been promoted, bringing back the official robes and palanquin that represented his rank… could it be that he had no further need to go?

The thought made Shiyiniang break out in a cold sweat.

They were not the same kind of people, so they would not be brought together under the same roof. If it was truly a resignation, did he think hiding away in Sanjing Hutong would resolve things?

Shiyiniang instructed Nanny Song: “The palace has sent down some newly ripe cherries and white peaches as gifts. Take a share of each and go visit the eldest young mistress-in-law. While you are there, take note of whether Third Master is in his room.”

Nanny Song’s face showed great surprise, and it was quite some time before she closed her mouth and replied, “Yes.”

But before two cups of tea had passed, Nanny Song came hurrying back. “Madam, my lord and Third Master are in the outer study speaking together right now!”

So it seemed she had misjudged Third Master after all.

“Go and see what you can find out — the reason Third Master has returned to Yanjing.”

Nanny Song curtsied and withdrew.

Shiyiniang lay alone on the kang, turning things over in her mind for a good long while.

Nanny Song came rushing into the main courtyard with a slightly flustered expression.

“Madam, I have found out.” She spoke hurriedly. “It is said that Third Master lent money to someone and was impeached for it. His superior, out of consideration for my lord and Master Jiang, allowed Third Master to submit his own resignation. So Third Master resigned and came home.”

He had been exposed for lending money at high interest rates.

Shiyiniang felt that Third Master had always been cautious by nature, and would never do something like this — something that could damage his reputation and cost him his position.

She thought of Third Madam…

She was just wondering whether to go to Third Madam and probe for information when the Dowager Matriarch and Second Madam returned.

Shiyiniang quickly informed Third Madam, and the two of them went together to meet them at the inner gate.

When the Dowager Matriarch saw Third Madam, she said lightly, “So you have come.”

Third Madam hurried forward to help the Dowager Matriarch into the small green-curtained oiled carriage. But the Dowager Matriarch instead rested her hand on Second Madam’s shoulder and, with Second Madam’s support, stepped into the carriage.

—