The following day, Shiyiniang brought eight kinds of gifts and went to Sixiang Hutong.

Fifth Lady was directing the household servants in packing up trunks and boxes. Seeing her arrive, she had Zhuo Tao tidy up the large heated bed in the east room and go to talk over there.

“…I had planned to send someone to you this afternoon. I did not expect you to come first. As it happens, I have a few matters I need to entrust to you.” She then called in a couple with honest, dependable faces who were standing opposite. “This is Qian Ercai and his wife. Old husband’s clansman. After we leave, this house will be placed in their care. For anything that comes up that is too far for us to decide promptly, let Qian Ercai’s wife go and inform you. And please come and look in from time to time.” She added, “I had originally planned to entrust everything to Elder Brother, but Second Sister-in-law is away, and that Wang Yiniang — I just do not feel easy about her. I hope Eleventh Sister can help and lend a hand.”

What Fifth Lady truly feared was someone making off with her valuables.

“I will speak to the stewards at home,” Shiyiniang said with a smile, “and have them come by regularly.”

Fifth Lady nodded and drew her into the inner room, where they discussed what to take along, and kept her for the midday meal, after which Shiyiniang returned to Lotus Flower Lane.

Grand Madam, however, was not at home.

Shiyiniang was somewhat taken aback.

She had been perfectly fine when Shiyiniang left in the morning — how was it that she had gone out just like that?

“Did Grand Madam not say anything when she left?” Shiyiniang asked Yuban.

Yuban shook her head lightly. “Grand Madam recited her sutras in the prayer hall as usual, but when she came out, she suddenly announced she was going to Red Lantern Hutong to pay a visit to Old Marquis Sun. She left me and Zhihong behind at home and went with only Nanny Du to attend her.”

For no apparent reason, why would she go to see Fifth Madam’s father?

Shiyiniang returned to her room in a state of puzzlement. She had barely sat down when a young maidservant came in: “Madam, the First Young Mistress from Sanjing Hutong has come!”

“Third Brother’s affairs have benefitted greatly from Fourth Uncle and Fifth Uncle’s care.” Fang Shi sat properly on the grand master’s chair and said with respectful deference, “On the instructions of my father-in-law, I have come specifically to offer my thanks to the two Aunts.” She had the attendants carry in gift boxes, then produced two garments of raw silk. “These were made for Sixth Uncle. The needlework is not skilled — I hope Fourth Aunt will not think poorly of them.”

Shiyiniang smiled and had Zhuxiang put them away, then asked after affairs on the Sanjing Hutong side.

“Father-in-law and Mother-in-law are both very pleased,” Fang Shi said with a smile. “Mother-in-law intended to come in person to offer thanks, but relatives of Mother-in-law’s family heard the news and came today to offer their congratulations, and Father-in-law had also to go with Fifth Master to the Ministry of War to handle some formalities — so I was sent in their place.” She added, “Jian Ge’er had wanted to come along as well, but Mother-in-law said he is fifteen now, and that it would not do to have him running so freely in and out of the inner quarters — people might say he behaves without propriety. So he was kept at home.”

News spoken of yesterday, and already known to the Gan Family by today?

Either it was a deflection, or Third Madam could not hold herself back and had sent someone to report to the Gan Family overnight.

Shiyiniang gave a faint smile and asked Fang Shi: “Have you been over to see Fifth Madam’s side yet?”

Fang Shi looked slightly uneasy and explained: “When I first came to Fourth Aunt’s side, I was told that Fourth Aunt had gone to Sixiang Hutong. So I went to Fifth Aunt’s side first instead…”

Shiyiniang smiled and nodded, then said: “Your Second Uncle’s Wife — you ought to pay her a visit as well. I hear that she transcribed a copy of a text called the Jingzhou Zhan and sent it to the Imperial Observatory.”

Fang Shi startled.

Shiyiniang had already smiled and lifted her teacup. “I only just returned from outside, and you have your mother-in-law’s instructions to keep as well. I shall not detain you then. Do come and visit another day.”

Fang Shi quickly rose to take her leave.

Shiyiniang had assumed that Fang Shi, having heard her hint, would go and call on Second Madam. But in the days that followed, there was no movement at all from Fang Shi’s side. She could not help but wonder inwardly — was it possible she had expressed herself too obliquely, and Fang Shi had simply not understood?

Several days passed like this. Grand Madam went one day to Lady Wei Bei Hou Lin’s home, the next to Lady Yong Chang Hou Huang’s, and on another day even paid a call on Lady Zhong Shan Hou Tang’s — which caused considerable bewilderment all around.

Xu Siyu came to bid farewell to Xu Lingyi and Shiyiniang.

“I have finished organizing the materials my teacher assigned.” He stood straight-backed before Xu Lingyi, his smile warm and bright. “It has been more than a year since I last received my teacher’s instruction. I wish to return to Le’an as soon as possible.”

Xu Siyu’s eager and proactive manner pleased Xu Lingyi greatly. “Then set out, and come back in the ninth month. We will be sending Zhen Jie’er off to Cangzhou then.”

Xu Siyu bowed and answered: “Yes.”

When he was about to leave, Xu Lingyi had Xu Sizhun take Xu Sijie and Jin Ge’er to see him off.

Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian, having heard, also came.

“Once you have arrived, have someone write us a letter.” Xu Siqin urged him; Xu Sijian, absorbed in the excitement of his imminent posting to the Imperial Guard’s Banner Commander’s unit, clapped his chest heartily. “Next time Second Brother returns, I will host a banquet at Chunxi Tower to welcome you back.”

Xu Siyu burst into laughter and ruffled Jin Ge’er’s head.

Jin Ge’er, too young to understand the sadness of parting, no sooner had Xu Siyu departed than he was demanding that Xu Sijie take him to play kicking ball.

Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian saw Xu Siyu off beyond the city gates. Xu Sizhun then cheerfully invited Xu Sijie and Jin Ge’er back to his own courtyard. “…It is more spacious over there. Father’s gift of the manservant Wang Shu is also skilled at kicking ball.”

Xu Sijie had not been over to Xu Sizhun’s quarters for some time and was of course willing. The group made their way toward where Xu Sizhun lived and spotted Steward Zhao hurrying toward the study hall with a calling card in hand. Seeing Xu Sizhun and the others, he quickly stopped to pay his respects.

Xu Sizhun smiled and asked him: “Who has come?”

Steward Zhao replied: “Elder Master Fang of Huzhou has arrived.”

“Who is Elder Master Fang of Huzhou?” Xu Sijie looked at Xu Sizhun with puzzled eyes.

“He is from First Sister-in-law’s family!” Xu Sizhun said, then asked Steward Zhao further: “Only, I wonder — in what relation is this Elder Master Fang to First Sister-in-law?”

“He is the First Young Mistress’s First Uncle,” Steward Zhao said with a smile. “He formerly served as a Censor. He later resigned and returned to Huzhou. This time he has brought Fang Tan Hua to call upon the Marquis.”

As they spoke, Jin Ge’er had already grown impatient. “Kicking ball, kicking ball!”

Xu Sizhun quickly excused himself from Steward Zhao and took his two younger brothers back to his own courtyard.

Later, Xu Sijie recounted this to Shiyiniang.

Shiyiniang quietly calculated the days — from Huzhou to here by fast horse would take twenty some days, which meant the Fang Family had been preparing for some time already. Still, the first uncle of the Fang Family coming in person to make apologies came as a small surprise to Shiyiniang.

By the time of the evening meal, Xu Lingyi sent someone to inform Shiyiniang that he would be hosting a banquet for Elder Master Fang and would not be returning for dinner.

After her evening meal, Shiyiniang took the children to pay their evening respects to Grand Madam.

Grand Madam seemed a little distracted. Upon hearing the news she only gave an indifferent “mn,” stroked and kissed Jin Ge’er, asked after Xu Sizhun’s lessons, then lifted her teacup.

When Shiyiniang was leading the children out of the room, she happened to meet Nanny Du coming out of the east side room, a calendar in hand.

Shiyiniang smiled. “What is this for?”

Nanny Du smiled back. “Grand Madam said she wants to look through what auspicious days are coming up.”

There were auspicious days for setting out on journeys, and auspicious days for weddings. What auspicious days was Grand Madam looking for?

Shiyiniang returned to her room. Xu Sijie was practicing his characters at the small table on the heated bed while she sat to one side, telling stories to Jin Ge’er. She saw Xu Sijie off, settled Jin Ge’er to sleep, and it was only then that Xu Lingyi returned.

“That Elder Master Fang — what a drinker!” His face had gone quite red.

Shiyiniang quickly poured cool water for him to wash his face. “What was discussed?”

“Apologies and explanations,” Xu Lingyi said, wiping his face and feeling much better for it. “He also brought gifts for you.”

“Then let us go and speak to Mother first thing tomorrow morning.” Shiyiniang smiled and helped him fetch his change of clothes. “On Third Sister-in-law’s side, it will still have to be Mother who speaks for things to be resolved.”

Xu Lingyi nodded. Once he had washed and freshened up, he handed Shiyiniang the gift the Fang Family had brought for her — a hairpin of Hetian jade carved in the shape of a narcissus. The flower stem was as fine as a hair, and the flower itself was exquisitely delicate and lifelike — clearly no ordinary piece.

“This fine a gift?” Shiyiniang was genuinely surprised.

“What is this compared to the rest?” Xu Lingyi said with a smile as he got into bed. “Do you know what the Fang Family sent Second Sister-in-law?”

From his tone alone, it was clear something extraordinary was involved.

Shiyiniang’s heart stirred. “What was sent to Second Sister-in-law?”

“A book called the Kaiyuan Zhanjing,” Xu Lingyi said. “At first I did not know what it was. After looking through the book, I learned it is a treatise on celestial phenomena. What the Fang Family sent Second Sister-in-law was only three of its volumes. But I am told that even those three volumes are exceptionally rare — of immeasurable worth.” He then mused, “What made the Fang Family suddenly think to send Second Sister-in-law a book like this? It seems rather too lavish a gift.”

Had Fang Shi not heeded her suggestion to call on Second Madam because she did not have a suitable gift for the occasion? Or did she feel that paying tribute to Second Madam in this manner was more fitting?

Shiyiniang smiled. “Fine swords belong with heroes, and rouge with beauties. Perhaps the Fang Family felt that such a thing would only be put to its true use in the hands of someone like Second Sister-in-law, someone who could truly appreciate its worth.”

“Perhaps so!” Xu Lingyi had not fully resolved the puzzlement in his heart, yet could find no explanation for it either. He laughed and chatted idly with Shiyiniang. “Had it been sent to me, I would not even have known what it was. I might have simply tucked it away and forgotten about it.”

Shiyiniang nodded. “Perhaps the Fang Family wished to express the depth of their sincerity in this way.”

“I saw no sincerity in it,” Xu Lingyi said with a laugh. “To Grand Madam, the Fang Family sent a one-foot-tall ink jade carved statue of the Old Man of Longevity; to me, a Longquan sword; to Xiao Wu, a zither made by Lei Xiao; to Fifth Sister-in-law, a length of mutton-fat jade carved as a bamboo-joint pendant… We knew nothing of the Fang Family, while the Fang Family knew everything about us. Being caught on the back foot at every turn was entirely to be expected. Had the Fang Family not been set against dissolving the marriage from the start, who knows how far things might have escalated.”

So the Fang Family had long prepared for every contingency.

Shiyiniang did not wish to say more on the matter, fearing it might stoke resentment toward the Fang Family in Xu Lingyi and cause things to become unstable again.

“Tomorrow — shall I speak to Mother, or will my lord?” She changed the subject.

“You go and speak to Mother,” Xu Lingyi said. “Mother entrusted this matter to you in the first place.”

“Very well,” Shiyiniang said with a smile. “I will go to speak with Mother after breakfast tomorrow!”

After the morning meal, Shiyiniang went to Grand Madam.

Grand Madam seemed somewhat absentminded. Upon hearing that Elder Master Fang had come with Fang Ji to offer apologies, she only gave a distracted “mn.” When Shiyiniang produced the gift the Fang Family had sent, Grand Madam merely glanced once at the ink jade Old Man of Longevity resting in its bright red velvet box and told Yuban to put it away. She spent a little time playing with Jin Ge’er, then lifted her teacup.

Shiyiniang led the children out.

Coming toward her was Nanny Du, just stepping out from the east side room, a calendar still in hand.

“What is this for?” Shiyiniang asked with a smile.

“Grand Madam says she wishes to look up which days are auspicious — auspicious hours and auspicious days,” Nanny Du replied with a smile.

There were auspicious days for setting out on a journey, and auspicious days for a wedding. What auspicious days was Grand Madam looking to find?

—