Returning from the bustling Medicine King Temple, it was already dusk.

Shiyiniang could not help but let out a long breath. Fifth Madam was also somewhat exhausted, yet the Grand Madam and Second Madam were the two who chatted with great enthusiasm about the ritual ceremony at the Medicine King Temple. Seeing Shiyiniang and Fifth Madam forcing themselves to stay alert as they poured tea to one side, Grand Madam laughed and pointed at the two of them, saying to Second Madam, “Look at them — both raised amid silk and splendor. They can’t endure even the slightest bit of hardship.”

Shiyiniang pressed her lips into a smile.

Fifth Madam, however, was not having it. “Listen to you — as though you came from some lakeside village yourself.”

Second Madam looked on and laughed. “You came to appreciate the deeper meaning, while they came simply to watch the spectacle. Of course they don’t know how grand today’s ceremony truly was.”

Grand Madam nodded repeatedly. “Those two are far better suited for Ciyuan Temple!”

Everyone in the room burst into laughter.

Grand Madam wore a face full of smiles and waved her hand at the two of them. “Go on, both of you! Having Yizhen here to keep me company is enough!”

Both Shiyiniang and Fifth Madam felt a little embarrassed.

Fifth Madam edged over and perched herself on the edge of the heated brick bed beside Grand Madam, pouting and just about to act coquettish, when a young maidservant came in to report: “Grand Madam, Third Master has returned. He is waiting outside.”

The smile on Grand Madam’s face slowly faded.

The atmosphere in the room turned cold.

Fifth Madam immediately became well-behaved and stood up. “Mother, then I shall take my leave first. Early tomorrow morning I will bring Xin Jie’er and Shen Ge’er to pay their respects to you!”

Grand Madam gave a soft sound of acknowledgment.

Shiyiniang also quickly rose, curtseyed to Grand Madam, and walked out the door one after another with Fifth Madam.

The older servants were just about to light the lamps.

Third Master stood beneath the eaves.

The violet-gold medallion flowers on his sapphire-blue straight-cut robe shimmered brilliantly in the lamplight.

Shiyiniang and Fifth Madam curtseyed together in greeting, and the children followed suit with a respectful call of “Third Uncle.”

Third Master’s smile, though as honest and guileless as ever, carried a touch of desolation. He greeted them: “Sister-in-law has returned from accompanying Mother to the Medicine King Temple!”

“Yes!” Fifth Madam smiled and answered before Shiyiniang could, saying, “Mother said she is a little tired and has asked us to go rest first!”

A hint of awkwardness crept into Third Master’s smile. “You have been out all day — of course you should head back and rest early…” At that very moment, a young maidservant standing on the steps called out cheerfully: “Third Master, Grand Madam invites you in!” Upon hearing this, Third Master gave the two women a quick nod, lifted the hem of his robe, and strode briskly into the main hall.

Fifth Madam then tugged at Shiyiniang’s sleeve. “Why has Third Master suddenly returned to Yanjing at this time? You must know something!”

This matter could not be kept secret — its exposure was only a matter of time.

Shiyiniang gave a concise account of how things had unfolded.

Fifth Madam listened, her eyes darting about, and then she spotted Yuban leading the several maidservants who had been attending inside out of the room.

She suddenly let out a cry, clutched her waist with one hand and grabbed Shiyiniang’s hand with the other. “My back — I think I may have wrenched it getting out of the carriage just now…” She called out to a young maidservant standing beneath the eaves: “Go quickly, tell Hexiang to bring a small bamboo sedan chair.” Then, putting on an air of having just noticed Yuban, she said, “Oh, why have all of you come out?” Without waiting for Yuban’s reply, she turned to Shiyiniang and said, “Fourth Sister-in-law, help me inside to sit for a while, won’t you? I truly cannot stand any longer. My back feels as though it has been snapped in two.”

Shiyiniang watched her inwardly amused.

She clearly wanted to find out what Grand Madam would say to Third Master.

Shiyiniang was also a little curious. Thinking it over, she simply supported Fifth Madam along. “Since you have wrenched your back, you should have said something sooner — how could you endure it in silence like that?” She instructed Yuban: “Miss, send a young maidservant to let Zhuxiang know — have Zhuxiang bring over the safflower oil the Marquis presented a couple of days ago. I will rub it on Fifth Madam for her.”

Yuban quickly answered “yes,” sent a young maidservant off with the message, then stepped forward to support Fifth Madam.

The nimble young maidservants at once set to lifting curtains and offering words of concern.

Fifth Madam quickly said: “Don’t alarm Grand Madam — we don’t want her worrying.”

Everyone then relaxed, and with Yuban supporting her, they made their way into the main hall.

The main hall was unlit and dim.

Nanny Du, who was keeping watch in the hall, looked on with some bewilderment.

Yuban murmured something to her quietly, then immediately withdrew.

Fifth Madam understood well the principle of keeping things from one’s superiors while allowing those below to know.

She winked at Nanny Du, smiling as she quickly made her way to the western side room.

“I want to hear what Mother is saying.” Fifth Madam lifted the curtain of the inner chamber and peered inside.

Nanny Du did not stop her — as daughters-in-law of equal standing, since Grand Madam had not asked Second Madam to leave, she would not mind the other two daughters-in-law knowing either.

She watched Fifth Madam’s retreating figure with an indulgent gaze and shook her head, sighing helplessly to Shiyiniang: “Fifth Madam is already a mother, and still so childlike…”

Before Nanny Du’s words had even finished, there was suddenly a loud crash of something being thrown in the inner chamber, followed by Grand Madam’s furious reprimand: “You are still speaking such nonsense here! Xu Lingning, I have not yet gone senile — and even if I had, your petty little tricks would hardly escape me…”

A thunderous fury, entirely unexpected.

Shiyiniang and Nanny Du looked at each other in astonishment. Without a word between them, both quickly stepped into the western side room and crowded beside Fifth Madam to peer inside.

The inner chamber had been lit.

Due to the angle, they could not see Grand Madam seated on the heated bed, but they could see Third Master kneeling on the floor — his face and head drenched, his hair, eyebrows, and shoulders covered in tea leaves, and rolling beside his knees was Grand Madam’s beloved cloisonné enamel bird-and-flower teacup.

“Mother, I have not hidden anything from you. This matter is my fault. You may beat me or scold me as you wish. I only beg that you do not harm your own health out of anger!”

As he spoke, he began to kowtow.

The sound of “thump, thump, thump” echoed through the quiet room, weighing heavily on the heart of all who heard it.

“Yizhen!” After a long while, Grand Madam’s voice rang out again. “Go and fetch your Third Brother a basin of water to wash his face.” The old woman’s voice carried a note of weariness. “Third Son, you may also rise. All these years I have treated you as my own flesh and blood — scolding you when you needed scolding, beating you when you needed beating. You have suffered your fair share of grievances…”

Shiyiniang’s heart gave a start upon hearing this.

To treat someone as one’s own child — if there was beating, there was beating; if there was scolding, there was scolding. Why then would the word “grievances” be spoken? Grand Madam clearly harbored some resentment in her heart. Hearing this, Third Master would surely feel anxious and ill at ease…

Lost in these thoughts, she saw Third Master’s expression change drastically.

“Mother,” he cut Grand Madam off, his words urgent and hurried, “I have never once felt aggrieved. Your kindness to me is as great as a mountain. Beating me and scolding me — it was all for my own good…”

As he spoke, the slightly cool and detached voice of Second Madam sounded in the room: “Third Uncle. Wipe your face before you speak. Mother has sent everyone else away precisely because she did not wish you to lose face. If you were to walk out looking like this, would that not be letting Mother’s thoughtfulness go to waste?”

Third Master answered with a shame-filled “yes” and rose to wash his face.

Grand Madam then said: “You have been traveling hard these past days and must be tired. Go back to Sanjing Hutong and rest early. In a few days, I will summon you to speak again.”

From her tone, the audience was over.

So as not to be discovered by Grand Madam, the three of them quickly withdrew from the western side room. Shiyiniang and Fifth Madam went further still, stepping out of the main hall entirely.

“I truly did not expect this. Even after something like this happened, Third Uncle still shields Third Aunt.” Fifth Madam said quietly to Shiyiniang. “From the sound of Mother’s words, the reason Third Uncle resigned from his post was entirely because Third Aunt lent money at exorbitant interest and seized the business of those idle gangs in Shanyang, which is what stirred up all this trouble.” Then she added, “It’s no wonder Third Aunt behaves so recklessly. If I had a husband who covered for me like that, I too would not know east from west!”

“Hearing you say that, I would have to speak up on Fifth Master’s behalf,” Shiyiniang teased her. “I wonder what more Fifth Master would have to do before our Fifth Madam could bring herself to be reckless?”

Fifth Madam’s face flushed. “Look at you — I thought you were so proper and reserved, and yet you say things like this.”

The two of them chatted as they stepped out into the courtyard.

Xu Lingkuan arrived, leading the older servants carrying a small bamboo sedan chair.

Beneath the glow of the red lanterns, Fifth Madam was as radiant as a spring blossom.

Shiyiniang gave a teasing smile. “Well, look at this — who might that be?”

Fifth Madam said nothing, but her eyes and brows were filled with tender affection.

Xu Lingkuan, seeing Fifth Madam standing there perfectly well, could not hide his bewilderment. “Was it not said that she had wrenched her back?”

Fifth Madam shot Shiyiniang a sideways glance and smiled. “Fourth Sister-in-law rubbed it for me — I feel much better now!”

Hearing this, Xu Lingkuan turned and bowed to Shiyiniang. “Many thanks, Fourth Sister-in-law!”

Shiyiniang accepted Xu Lingkuan’s bow with graceful composure. “Fifth Uncle, there is no need for such ceremony.” She smiled over at Fifth Madam.

Fifth Madam’s round eyes went wide in mock affront.

Third Master walked out, his expression dispirited.

“Third Brother,” Xu Lingkuan said, at once startled and pleased. “When did you return? Why was there no letter sent home ahead of time? Returning to the capital at this time — surely something important must have happened?”

Third Master had not expected to run into Xu Lingkuan here. He was momentarily taken aback, then smiled with an awkward laugh.

“I only just arrived,” he said, sidestepping the weightier matters. “Has Fifth Brother been well these past days?”

“I have been well!” Xu Lingkuan said cheerfully. “It’s just that a few days ago I nearly received a promotion to Provincial Commander…” He chatted away animatedly with Third Master.

Nanny Du came out.

“Fifth Master has arrived.” She smiled and gave Xu Lingkuan a bow, then gave Shiyiniang a slight nod. “Fourth Madam, Grand Madam invites you in.”

Shiyiniang answered and followed Nanny Du into the inner chamber.

The room had already been tidied. Grand Madam and Second Madam sat side by side on the large heated bed by the window; both wore expressions of calm composure, no different from when Shiyiniang had stepped out.

“Has there been no word yet from the Huzhou side?” Grand Madam did not ask Second Madam to leave before speaking.

“Word should arrive within the next day or two,” Shiyiniang replied respectfully.

Grand Madam nodded. “Keep a close watch on that side. The moment there is news, come and tell me at once.” She then lifted her teacup.

Shiyiniang murmured her acknowledgment and withdrew.

Xu Lingkuan and the others were no longer in the courtyard.

She made her way back to her own courtyard.

On the path she ran into Zhuxiang. “Madam, the medicine bottle was stored in the storeroom, which is why I was delayed…”

Shiyiniang waved her hand and smiled. “There is no need. Fifth Madam has already recovered.”

Zhuxiang breathed a sigh of relief and accompanied Shiyiniang back to the room.

“Madam,” Zhuxiang said quietly as they walked, “this morning, Second Madam sent Steward Ma from the management office to deliver a brocade box to the Imperial Observatory.”

Steward Ma had been promoted during Second Madam’s time as household manager — steady and capable, he was the most reliable man under Steward Zhao.

“Do you know what was inside?” Shiyiniang’s expression grew slightly grave.

“It is said to be a book,” Zhuxiang replied, “but what book, I do not know.”

Something stirred in Shiyiniang’s heart.

Sometimes, what moves people is not necessarily money or treasure. Especially not with scholars.

—