“It’s likely because we sent ginseng over this morning, and the First Young Mistress is returning the courtesy.” Nanny Xu reassured Madam, then personally went to welcome Nanny Tao inside.

Nanny Tao had indeed brought several boxes of pastries, and greeted Madam with a smile: “To thank Madam for the ginseng.”

Nanny Xu took the boxes and, deliberately making herself scarce, went to the east side room to set down the pastries.

Nanny Tao seized the opportunity to lean close and speak to Madam in a low voice: “Madam says that the wife of Jiang Gui has returned to Yanjing early this morning. She asks that you bring the young misses to Huguo Temple tomorrow to light incense.”

They were to be looked over, weren’t they?

Madam had great confidence in the appearances of her several concubine-born daughters. She nodded: “Understood!”

Having accomplished her purpose, Nanny Tao chatted idly for a moment before rising to take her leave: “…These past couple of days, Madam has a great deal on her hands.”

Madam naturally understood, and did not detain her. She gave her twenty taels of silver as a gratuity and had Nanny Xu see her out the door. When Nanny Xu returned, Madam gave her further instructions: “Tomorrow I will take the three young misses to Huguo Temple to burn incense. Go and inform First Young Mistress.”

Nanny Xu acknowledged the order and went off.

When she returned to report, she was all smiles: “…That schoolmate of the Young Master’s is truly a character. When he heard we were going to Huguo Temple in the morning, he very enthusiastically said he wanted to come along. He even said that after sponging off meals at our house for so long, he couldn’t offer much help, but leading the way and knowing the directions was more than within his abilities.”

Madam listened and laughed: “That’s quite an eager fellow. Could it be that a full belly dulls one’s sharp edges?”

“That Master Qian does cut quite a fine figure,” Nanny Xu smiled and said, “though his eyes are a bit too quick and lively — not as steady and composed as our Master Xing.”

The two chatted a while longer, then settled back down to go over the accounts.

—

Over at the Xu Mansion, the Dowager Madam had just taken her seat. The tea in her hand had not yet reached her lips when Xu Lingyi arrived.

The Dowager Madam looked at the tea in her hand, then looked at her son seated across from her, and could not help but laugh: “I haven’t seen you in such a rush in many years.”

Xu Lingyi gave a faint smile.

The Dowager Madam then instructed those around her: “I have something to say to the Marquis!”

The maids curtsied in acknowledgment and filed out one by one.

The Dowager Madam teased her son: “Didn’t you say that if there was no definite word from the Jiang Family by this morning, the matter of the marriage alliance should not be raised again? What’s this? Are you afraid I’ve made a mess of things?”

“What a thing to say.” Xu Lingyi smiled: “Madam Huang has been your close companion since childhood — someone you’ve grown up with. You love talking with her, and she knows our family’s situation well, which is precisely why I asked her to act as go-between and go through the formalities for Zhun Ge’s matter. What is there for me to worry about? I came specifically because I saw you had returned at this hour, and wanted to look in on you.”

“At least you have some filial feeling.” The Dowager Madam nodded slightly at this: “Madam Huang did invite me to stay for an afternoon of mahjong, but I had things on my mind, so I came home.”

Xu Lingyi was slightly taken aback, and studied his mother’s expression carefully: “Has something happened?”

“Guess who I ran into at Yongchang Marquis’s residence?” The Dowager Madam smiled, watching her son.

Xu Lingyi thought for a moment, then said hesitantly: “Surely you didn’t run into someone from the Jiang Family?”

The Dowager Madam’s expression fell with disappointment: “You child, you really are… a little too straightforward! Can’t you let me have a little fun?”

Xu Lingyi’s eyes lit up at once: “So you did, in fact, meet someone from the Jiang Family at Yongchang Marquis’s residence? Who did the Jiang Family send to see you? Was it Madam Jiang, or a head stewardess?”

“Neither.” The Dowager Madam shook her head: “It was a house advisor from the Jiang Family, a man surnamed Lu.”

A gleam of admiration appeared in Xu Lingyi’s eyes: “I didn’t expect it — this Jiang Bai actually has moves like this.”

Rather than directly sending someone to pass a message to himself, he had instead had his household advisor pay a visit to the Dowager Madam during her call at Yongchang Marquis’s residence. For one, it expressed how seriously he regarded this marriage; for another, it took the opportunity to convey a message: our Jiang Family has the standing to measure itself against the Xu Family.

And since he had positioned himself as an equal, this meant he wished to negotiate conditions!

His smile grew pleased.

How could one not be delighted at having such an ally!

“What did the Jiang Family’s visitor say?”

The Dowager Madam saw the look of self-satisfaction on her son’s face and could not resist raining on his parade: “That Master Lu said that while Jiang Bai very much hopes to form this bond with our family, he is after all only the uncle — he still needs to discuss the matter with Jiang Song.”

“That goes without saying.” Xu Lingyi was unperturbed: “The Jiang Family has kept itself distant from the center of power these past years. The only one capable of reading the court’s currents is probably Jiang Bai alone. His proposal to form a marriage alliance with our family will certainly stir up considerable waves within the Jiang household — naturally he needs time to maneuver. Then there is Jiang Song, who resigned his official seal and left in those days; he must harbor some grievance toward the court. Asking him now to give his daughter in marriage into our family will be no simple matter. On the whole, however, I am well satisfied with Jiang Bai’s response. At the very least, he has made his position known to us. As for whether it comes to fruition — that depends on his abilities. If he can persuade the Jiang Family, I shall be delighted to see it through; if he cannot, I have at least given him the opportunity.”

He spoke at length, his tone measured and his manner composed, with an air of serene assurance that suffused his bearing. The Dowager Madam could not help but let out a sigh: “How could the Jiang Family ever think to make common cause with someone like you?”

Xu Lingyi was briefly taken aback, then burst into hearty laughter: “Mother, you think too highly of the Jiang Family’s virtue. Don’t forget — on what foundations did the Jiang Family build itself? What they call an ‘Imperial Tutor’ is, plainly speaking, nothing more than a powerful minister. If Jiang Bai had not been stuck in the position of Chief Academician for fourteen years without budging, and if three of the Emperor’s seven princes were not born of the Empress, would Jiang Bai have ever resolved to strike?”

“I know.” The Dowager Madam said gravely: “What I’m thinking is that the Jiang Family has always maintained a neutral stance at court. With this marriage alliance, they will inevitably be labeled as belonging to the Empress’s faction. Given the great price the Jiang Family is paying, I fear their demands will be enormous in return — more than we can bear!”

“What is there that we cannot bear!” Xu Lingyi laughed: “Does he wish to be Imperial Tutor again? The Emperor has seven sons — who knows where the flower will fall? Even if I wished it, he would not dare. Does he wish to enter the Grand Secretariat? Judging by the decisiveness he has shown in the matter of Zhun Ge’s marriage, he is more than capable of the position. Even if I were to recommend him, it would not be against the interests of the state!”

His words made the Dowager Madam unable to suppress a laugh: “By that reckoning, it sounds as though Jiang Bai has made quite a losing bargain.”

“Not necessarily.” Xu Lingyi smiled: “In his late years, the former Emperor was fond of flattery and fawning from his ministers. Jiang Bai, being a man of the Jiang clan, could never conduct himself in such a manner. So every time the late Emperor summoned him, he would do the opposite — he would put on a stern face and lecture His Majesty on the ways of the ancient sages. Over time, everyone came to know Jiang Bai as an upright gentleman who spoke frankly and dared to remonstrate. So when the present Emperor ascended the throne, though Jiang Bai wished to align himself with the imperial will, his reputation for virtue preceded him… An alliance with our family is as good as gaining an opportunity to change course without sacrificing his dignity. With his ability, a swift rise is only a matter of time. By comparison, it is we who have come out the worse.”

The Dowager Madam shook her head as she listened: “You men, you calculate everything — except the heartache of those closest to you!”

Xu Lingyi was briefly startled.

“Before I went to Yongchang Marquis’s residence, I went to see Yuan Niang.” The Dowager Madam’s tone turned wistful: “She is, after all, Zhun Ge’s mother. I thought this matter ought to be discussed with her…”

“Mother,” Xu Lingyi interrupted the Dowager Madam with very little ceremony, “how could you discuss such things with her? Surely you know her character by now. She has always only thought of herself, never of others…” The words had barely left his lips before he felt he had misspoken. A flash of vexation crossed his brow, and he demanded of his mother: “Did you tell her my intentions?”

“I did not!” The Dowager Madam, watching her son lose his composure, was somewhat displeased: “I was merely testing her, to see if she might change her mind.”

Seeing that his mother’s expression had turned unfavorable, Xu Lingyi knew he had handled himself poorly, and quickly deflected with a smile: “Mother, though Madam Huang is on good terms with you, we have still put her to considerable trouble, and the proper courtesies must be observed. What do you think of this — perhaps some day you might ask Madam Huang whether she has any suitable candidates, and mention that there is a position for a salt warehouse administrator under the Salt Transport Commission in Shandong? Though it carries no official rank, the administrator oversees all inspections of salt in and out of the warehouse — it is a very lucrative post. I will put in a word with the Ministry of Personnel.”

“That’s a classic carrot-after-the-stick.” The Dowager Madam laughed at this: “Rest easy — Madam Huang would not go about spreading things carelessly. But since you have this consideration, I will still pass your words along.” Then, becoming serious once more, she said: “Since you have this ability, why have you not arranged a position for your father-in-law? In its day, the Luo Family showed our family real kindness. Besides, we are all relatives — it does not reflect well to let people talk.”

Xu Lingyi could not help but furrow his brow: “Mother, please leave this matter alone. I have it in hand.”

“You’re afraid that if Yuan Niang comes up with some scheme of her own, you can hold this matter over her to negotiate, aren’t you?” The Dowager Madam spoke frankly: “I have no interest in whatever games the two of you play between yourselves, but you must not act recklessly where your father-in-law is concerned. If you won’t step forward, I will!” Her tone made it clear she would not relent unless Xu Lingyi agreed.

“There are things you don’t know about.” Xu Lingyi said with a measure of helplessness: “The Emperor has adopted Elder Academician Chen’s proposal to implement a new tea tax. Father-in-law has been consistently opposed to Academician Chen’s tea tax legislation… and this is also the Emperor’s intention. After some time has passed, I will raise the matter with the Emperor again. Please do not involve yourself in this.”

“Have you said any of this to your father-in-law?” The Dowager Madam was genuinely surprised by this turn of events, and seeing that her son clearly did not wish to say more, she said: “You should still let your father-in-law know where things stand. If he understands, he will know which things he can say and which he cannot going forward.”

“Of course I have spoken to him.” Xu Lingyi said: “Father-in-law, on the contrary, presented me with a great long list of examples — how Academician Chen’s policies are unworkable, how they burden the people and waste resources… and I could not speak more plainly with him, so I could only leave things as they are for now.”

“Then tell Yuan Niang.” The Dowager Madam reflected: “Let Yuan Niang persuade her father — they are father and daughter, so it will be easier for her than it would be for you.”

“What would be the point of saying that.” Xu Lingyi was dismissive: “More likely she’d think it was an excuse on my part to avoid helping her father. Differences in political views are everywhere — is it that a man cannot hold office if his views differ? It is plainly a matter of my vanity, of my not exerting myself fully to petition on his behalf. Otherwise, how could a man bearing the title of National Uncle fail to accomplish even this much!” By the time he finished speaking, his words had taken on a note of self-mockery.

The Dowager Madam listened, her expression dimming. She seemed about to say something, then thought better of it, and at last shook her head — the thought dissolving into a long, quiet sigh.

—