Hearing Shiyiniang mention “having the Fang Family’s elders come forward to set things straight,” Fang Ji understood that she was trying to frame everything he had done as nothing more than the rash blunder of a junior.

Something clicked in his mind.

This was the Xu Family offering the Fang Family a way down.

The condition was that the Fang Family must apologize to the Xu Family and acknowledge that his behavior had been a breach of courtesy. The Fang Family, having entrusted this matter to him, had already had the same calculation in mind. As long as the Xu Family agreed not to divorce his sister, the Fang Family was willing to acknowledge the fault. But if the Xu Family did not divorce her, that would mean acknowledging that all the talk of his sister bringing misfortune upon her husband was complete nonsense. Could the Xu Family accept that?

Fang Ji needed a promise.

“Of all virtues, filial piety comes first — and filial piety begins with compliance.” Shiyiniang’s words carried a gently teasing edge, and he could not well respond with stiff rigidity. Fang Ji smiled and said: “‘Yet when a parent is in the wrong, to remonstrate and urge them to change’ is also the words of the sages. Which makes it all rather difficult to resolve decisively!”

The atmosphere relaxed, and felt considerably lighter.

Third Madam was Fang Shi’s mother-in-law, so of course Fang Shi owed her filial respect.

By saying this, Fang Ji was essentially pressing her for a clear answer — he wanted to know what the Xu Family intended to do about the rumors of Fang Shi bringing misfortune upon her husband. But the Dowager Matriarch was still waiting for news from Huzhou, and at this moment she could not give Fang Ji a definitive reply.

Shiyiniang had no choice but to smile: “Mister Fang the Tan Hua is indeed the Emperor’s own chosen Tan Hua — quoting the classics with such ease. That is truly admirable. If only our second young master could one day attain the same learning as Mister Fang!”

She was spinning pleasantries with Fang Ji, neither conceding nor advancing.

Fang Ji could not help feeling a trace of disappointment.

But he also knew that a matter of this gravity could not be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction in just one or two meetings. The fact that the Xu Family was willing to sit down and discuss things with the Fang Family meant the Fang Family at least had an opening. If the Fang Family truly wished his sister to separate from her husband, why would they have gone to such lengths to marry her into Yanjing in the first place? Every member of the family hoped his sister could live well. Especially their late grandmother — even on her deathbed she had been blaming herself for having let thoughts of a match with the Hu boy take hold just because he was good-looking, without any regard for the boy’s young age…

His family had put this matter in his hands. He could not afford to make a mess of it.

He gathered himself and exchanged pleasantries with Shiyiniang: “Your second young master studies under Master Jiang at Jinxi Academy — his learning advances daily. A great future surely awaits him…”

The two of them traded words, smiling and seemingly at ease, while each harbored their own thoughts.

One would not yield to asking the elders to come forward and apologize without first receiving a promise; the other could not give a promise without a word from the Dowager Matriarch.

Whether yes or no — the decision rested entirely with the Xu Family.

There was no further point in pressing on.

Shiyiniang called Zhuxiang in to refresh the tea.

This was the signal she had agreed upon with Xu Siyu.

When she called Zhuxiang in to pour tea, it meant the conversation had reached an impasse — and it was time for Xu Siyu to take the stage.

Shortly after, a little maid came in to announce: “Fourth Madam, Second Young Master requests to be received!”

The conversation was thus interrupted.

Xu Siyu invited Fang Ji to come and sit with him in his rooms.

Fang Ji understood well enough. This matter ultimately required Xu Lingyi to make the final decision.

He smiled, rose, took his leave, and went with Xu Siyu.

Shiyiniang then went to the Dowager Matriarch’s rooms.

Mindful that Third Master was being roasted over hot coals at this very moment, she did not dare repeat what Fang Ji had said about him. She only spoke of the Fang Family’s intentions.

Compared to her anger the last time, the Dowager Matriarch’s response this time was very calm. She gave a light nod and turned to the topic of going to the Medicine King Temple on the eighth: “…We should bring Jin Ge’er along as well.” The Dowager Matriarch’s eyes crinkled with delight at the thought. “Have Fourth Son send extra guards. This will be Jin Ge’er’s very first outing!”

The eighth day of the fourth month was the Buddha’s birthday. Every temple would be thick with incense and worshippers; half the city would be enveloped in drifting smoke. Shiyiniang had been to the Medicine King Temple herself — the incense would make you cough without stopping. Jin Ge’er was still so young. How could he endure a scene like that?

Shiyiniang said hesitantly: “There will be such crowds that day — all the noise and commotion — what if it frightens Jin Ge’er? Perhaps we should choose another day to take him?”

“You have a point,” the Dowager Matriarch said, somewhat deflated. “All sorts of people go on that day. I once saw a man there with a snake.” She gestured with her hands to show its size. “As thick as a bowl, coiled right around him — enough to give anyone a fright. We mustn’t let our Jin Ge’er see something like that.”

“Then let us go on the sixteenth,” Shiyiniang said, not wishing to disappoint the old lady too much. “The fourteenth is the Imperial Eldest Grandson’s first birthday celebration. For the sixteenth, we can bring Zhen Jie’er, Siyu, Zhun Ge’er, Sijie, and Xin Jie’er and Shen Ge’er — and from the third branch, Qin Ge’er and his wife and Sijian. Won’t that be lively!”

“Wonderful!” The Dowager Matriarch loved the feeling of grandchildren gathered all around her, and was immediately animated. “Have Fourth Son send plenty of guards. We will go to Ciyuan Temple — no, not Ciyuan Temple, we always go to Ciyuan Temple. This time let us go to Yungju Temple.” Then she asked Shiyiniang: “Do you know Yungju Temple?”

Shiyiniang shook her head promptly: “I have never heard of it before.”

“It is outside the city. It enshrines a relic of Shakyamuni Buddha.” The Dowager Matriarch’s eyes softened with pleasure, and she shed the quiet heaviness of the past few days. “Very peaceful. The temple is large and beautiful. Ancient trees so wide you cannot wrap your arms around them stand in every direction. Jin Ge’er and the others will certainly love it.”

These past several days the old lady’s spirits had been low. Shiyiniang joined in her enthusiasm and said cheerfully: “Wonderful, wonderful — we will go and enjoy the occasion with you.” The topic shifted smoothly from the Medicine King Temple to Yungju Temple on the sixteenth.

When Xu Lingyi heard, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders: “I always felt that Mother must already know about Third Brother’s situation. If she is in the mood to go out for an outing, that is all to the good. Only remember to keep a close watch on Jin Ge’er. That boy cannot be taken your eyes off for even a moment.”

Shiyiniang smiled: “There is still Siyu, is there not?”

Xu Lingyi could not help laughing. “You certainly know how to make use of people.”

“He is the elder brother!” Shiyiniang pressed her lips together in a smile.

Her large, bright almond eyes sparkled and danced, their light reaching all the way into Xu Lingyi’s heart.

He could not help but reach out and touch her cheek. His mouth, however, said: “What should we give the Imperial Eldest Grandson for his birthday?”

Xu Lingyi’s voice was low and warm, his gaze as he looked at her steady and sincere.

Shiyiniang felt only a deep and quiet peace in her heart. She closed her eyes and leaned naturally into his embrace: “I defer to my lord.”

From outside came the bright and clear sound of Jin Ge’er’s laughter.

Xu Lingyi knew it was Xu Sijie leading Jin Ge’er in a game of kickball, and reckoning that the boy would not tire for at least another hour or more — and that Jin Ge’er had been sleeping in their bed every night these days — his three parts of desire became ten.

He bit gently on the soft curve of Shiyiniang’s ear and said in a low voice: “Truly — you will do whatever I say?” As he spoke, he had already lifted her bodily in his arms and was moving toward the bed with its hanging great red gauze curtains…

The little maid who had come to ask whether they wished to take the evening meal in the Dowager Matriarch’s rooms or at home stood at the door of the inner chamber for a good long while before finally receiving Xu Lingyi’s response: “We will eat at home.”

Shiyiniang hurriedly composed herself, straightening her clothing with somewhat flustered hands, and said hesitantly: “Should we not go to Mother’s rooms to eat? Did you not still need to speak with Mother about Third Master’s affairs?”

Xu Lingyi picked up the small hand mirror from under the pillow and held it up for her to see: “In this state, how can you go to Mother’s rooms?”

The moment Shiyiniang saw the mirror, she thought of how he had just used it to… make her look… her face instantly blazed crimson. She reached out and snatched the mirror away and tossed it to one side. Yet she still forced herself to speak in a composed voice: “What is the matter with me? It is my lord who should go and change his clothes. Be careful when the children come in later and see you in such a state.”

“What is improper about my state?” Xu Lingyi said — and promptly turned and pinned Shiyiniang beneath him. “The conjugal duties of a husband and wife, perpetuating the family line, and maintaining the ancestral rites — nothing could be more proper. Tell me — what is so improper about me?”

His manner and tone were thoroughly suggestive.

He had just had her twice in a row — it was impossible he was ready again so soon… and yet her heart was flustered all the same: “My lord, please get up. Jin Ge’er has been out there playing for such a long time — he is bound to come in soon…”

As though to prove her words right, a tinkling of silver bells drifted in from beyond the window — and in this courtyard, apart from Shiyiniang herself, only Jin Ge’er was bold enough to wear ornaments that made a sound.

Xu Lingyi immediately rolled off the bed.

The sound of the bells drifted past the window and grew gradually more distant, mixed in with Jin Ge’er’s bright voice: “Brother, kick the ball!”

Shiyiniang could not help covering her mouth and laughing out loud.

The soft flesh beneath her large red embroidered undergarment trembled slightly, and Xu Lingyi’s mind went to the way it had looked when he held it in his hands — its snowy whiteness, its softness… his heart stirred, and through the fabric he bit down on that raised point.

There was a stinging sensation.

Shiyiniang cried out softly and pushed him away: “It is nearly time for dinner!”

Xu Lingyi looked up at her: “Call out to me!”

Shiyiniang blinked, then quickly understood.

She pretended not to comprehend, quickly rose and busied herself with her clothing, and called out a “My lord.”

Xu Lingyi came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her, murmuring close to her ear: “Like you did just now — call out to me once like that.”

Like just now… it was plainly he who had demanded it in the first place, was it not?

Shiyiniang ignored him, but her face, to her own annoyance, flushed red.

Xu Lingyi laughed softly, tightened his arms, and coaxed her gently: “Call out to me once!”

Shiyiniang put him off: “Later.”

Xu Lingyi was unwilling to let it go, and began pressing his lips softly along her neck… a tingling warmth brimmed up from somewhere deep inside Shiyiniang.

She quickly bit down on her lip.

From outside came Autumn Rain’s voice: “My lord, Madam — shall the evening meal be laid in the inner chamber or the western side chamber?”

Xu Lingyi did not answer — only devoted his full attention to pressing his lips to her shoulder.

Shiyiniang knew that this man was contrary in nature — though he paid those servants no mind, he would never let her lose face before them…

She let him carry on.

“Ah,” Xu Lingyi finally sighed, and called out loudly to Autumn Rain, “Lay it in the western side chamber,” then pressed his lips to her hair with something that felt like helpless resignation, and said: “Go tidy yourself — we are going for the evening meal.”

Shiyiniang, however, turned and buried herself in his arms, pressing her face against his chest, and called out in a muffled voice: “Dearest.”

She had given him what he wanted.

Xu Lingyi’s lips curved into a wide, satisfied smile.

—

On the eighth, the Dowager Matriarch led Second Madam, Shiyiniang, and Fifth Madam to the Medicine King Temple to offer incense. Third Madam also came.

“You should stay home and rest properly,” the Dowager Matriarch said, head lowered and adjusting the purple sandalwood prayer beads wound three times around her wrist, not looking at Third Madam. “Today is a sea of people. There is no need to jostle with the crowds and risk disturbing your rest — just when you have begun to recover, that would make things worse.” Then she turned and asked Fifth Madam: “Has Shen Ge’er been settled? Mind you don’t go out just to enjoy yourself and leave him with Fifth — a person like that is no fit caretaker for a child.”

Fifth Madam quickly stepped forward and gently took the Dowager Matriarch’s arm: “Mother, what a thing to say. Am I that sort of person? Nanny Shi has stayed home…” and in doing so neatly stepped between the Dowager Matriarch and Third Madam, blocking Third Madam from view.

The Dowager Matriarch gave a nod, and allowed the two of them to support her as she moved toward the door.

All the maids, nannies, and serving women in the room rustled and surged along behind them.

Leaving only Third Madam, standing alone in the middle of the reception hall.