The Second Madam emerged from the warm side chamber.

The Grand Madam gently shook her head toward her: “Old habits die hard. Once he returns, Gan Shi will shed a few tears, and I’m afraid he’ll change his mind again. I think my words were nothing more than going in one ear and out the other.”

The Second Madam smiled and sat down beside the Grand Madam, offering comfort: “But at least you’ve made your meaning clear. Whether or not he listens — that’s the Third Master’s own affair.”

The Grand Madam gave a slight nod.

The Second Madam then smiled and changed the subject: “I heard from Nanny Du that Her Highness the Empress intends to bestow two jade ruyi scepters upon Zhen Jie’er as dowry gifts — has there been any word about when they’ll be sent down?”

The Grand Madam was also tired of the Third Household’s matters and had no wish to dwell on them. Hearing this, she smiled and said: “She plans to send them down on the fifteenth of the eighth month.” Her expression then became somewhat wistful. “It will be the last Mid-Autumn Festival Zhen Jie’er spends at home.”

“When daughters grow up, they must always leave home eventually.” The Second Madam speared a piece of sweet melon with her chopsticks and offered it to the Grand Madam. “Look at me — I live more comfortably than I ever did in my own family’s home. And look at you — children and grandchildren filling the hall. Marriage is indeed a blessed thing.”

The Grand Madam brightened, smiling as she reached out to take her by the shoulder: “Come, let us go and look at Zhen Jie’er’s dowry.”

The Second Madam quickly helped the Grand Madam put on her shoes and supported her as they made their way to Eleventh Young Madam’s quarters.

“Old Fourth gave twenty thousand taels of silver to Eleventh Young Madam first for the dowry preparations.” The Grand Madam and the Second Madam strolled leisurely along the covered walkway, with Zhi Hong and several maids and matrons following at a distance behind them. “Eleventh Young Madam handed everything over entirely to Wen Shi.” At this point, the Grand Madam broke into a pleased smile. “You know what Wen Shi is like. She’s afraid of having anything attached to her name. After receiving Eleventh Young Madam’s silver, she not only worked herself to the bone helping prepare Zhen Jie’er’s dowry, but fearing anyone might say the trousseau had flaws and that she had pocketed the money, she kept the accounts crystal clear and even put in a good deal of her own personal funds. I find this the best quality in Eleventh Young Madam — she knows how to make use of people!”

The Second Madam smiled and said: “In this world, everything depends on people. Otherwise, why would there be the story of the Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains? Knowing how to use people well — there is no greater talent than that.”

The two of them chatted and laughed as they entered Eleventh Young Madam’s courtyard.

Eleventh Young Madam had already received word and came forward to greet them.

The Grand Madam smiled and looked around: “Where is Jin Ge’er!”

Before the words had fully left her mouth, Jin Ge’er came running out in his little vest: “Grandmother, Grandmother, I want to eat ice!” He threw himself against the Grand Madam.

The Grand Madam laughed heartily and took Jin Ge’er’s hand, scolding him fondly: “Who is attending to him? How could they let him run out dressed in just a little vest?”

Hong Wen and A’jin, who had hurried after Jin Ge’er, stood there trembling with fear.

The Grand Madam did not pursue the matter, but bent down to ask Jin Ge’er: “What sort of ice do you want to eat?”

Jin Ge’er said nothing, pressing close against the Grand Madam’s side, his eyes fixed longingly on Eleventh Young Madam.

The Grand Madam then asked Eleventh Young Madam: “What is all this about?”

Eleventh Young Madam looked at her son’s expression and felt rather at a loss for whether to laugh or cry. She said: “Mother, pay him no mind — he finds the weather hot and wanted A’jin and the others to chip off pieces from the ice blocks cooling the room for him to eat!”

The Grand Madam let out an “aiyoh” upon hearing this and quickly said: “That simply won’t do. He’ll upset his stomach.” She thought for a moment, then said: “I think this would be best — tomorrow I’ll take Jin Ge’er to the West Mountain villa to escape the heat. This weather really is far too hot!”

This year was no hotter than years past, and in past years the Grand Madam had never spoken of going to the West Mountain villa to escape the heat. It was plainly her doting heart for Jin Ge’er showing.

Eleventh Young Madam glanced at the blazing sun overhead and smiled: “Mother, these days are at their hottest. We’re drenched in sweat just sitting indoors — how much worse would it be to travel on the road? I think it would not be too late to wait for a day when the weather cools a little before going.” Then she called to Jin Ge’er: “Won’t you greet your Second Aunt.”

Jin Ge’er, seeing his mother’s stern expression as she called to him, timidly called out “Second Aunt.”

The Second Madam smiled gently and gave a small nod, then also advised the Grand Madam: “Fourth Sister-in-law makes a good point. Just looking at this kind of sun, none of us would want to go out — let alone you, who are getting on in years and would find the journey by carriage especially taxing!”

Jin Ge’er, though he did not understand what was so good about the West Mountain villa, was perceptive enough to read the situation. He knew the Grand Madam was taking his side, while his mother and Second Aunt stood on the other. He immediately gave the Grand Madam’s sleeve a gentle tug.

The Grand Madam looked down and saw a pair of bright, dark eyes gazing up at her with full concentration, filled with dependence and trust.

The old lady’s heart, which had just been persuaded, immediately wavered again. She said to Eleventh Young Madam and the Second Madam: “If we wait until the weather cools, what heat is there left to escape? If we’re going, we should go within these next few days.”

Under such circumstances, Eleventh Young Madam saw no point in saying more, and simply set the matter aside, smiling as she invited the Grand Madam inside to sit: “…It’s much cooler in here!”

The Grand Madam took Jin Ge’er by the hand and entered the main room.

Jin Ge’er, seeing his mother was no longer pressing the matter, brightened immediately, and happily followed the Grand Madam to sit on the large kang bed by the window.

After tea was served, the Grand Madam stated her purpose, and the group went to look at Zhen Jie’er’s dowry.

Looking at the things filling three large rooms to the brim, the Grand Madam smiled with satisfaction: “Once Her Highness the Empress’s jade ruyi scepters arrive, it will be absolutely perfect.” She then asked about Xu Lingyi: “…What is he up to?”

Eleventh Young Madam had not yet had the chance to reply when Jin Ge’er already called out loudly: “Father is painting!”

The Grand Madam and the Second Madam were both taken aback.

Eleventh Young Madam, however, regretted having brought this little troublemaker along.

Since entering the sixth month, Xu Lingyi had begun drawing picture books for Jin Ge’er. The old ways held to the principle of “doting on grandchildren but not on one’s own children.” If the Grand Madam and the Second Madam knew of it, who could say what they would think!

She quickly smiled and said: “The head managers of some of the shops came up to the capital early. The Marquis has been busy these past few days meeting with the various managers!”

When Old Fourth was in a bad mood, he liked to paint in the Banyue Pond study. Could something have happened, and her son was hiding it from her for fear she would worry?

The Grand Madam showed nothing on her face, and affectionately stroked Jin Ge’er’s head, smiling: “So Father has been painting, has he?”

Jin Ge’er knew his father was drawing picture books for him — there had even been a few times when he had been held in his lap, given a brush, and allowed to scribble freely. He had loved it very much.

Hearing his grandmother ask about it, his face could not help but show a gleam of pride. He took the Grand Madam’s hand: “Painting!”

The Grand Madam smiled and followed Jin Ge’er to the study.

Jin Ge’er let go of the Grand Madam’s hand, scrambled up the large kang bed by the window with swift, nimble movements, and pulled several sheets of drawing paper out from under the kang table to present to the Grand Madam: “Father drew them — they’re mine!”

The Grand Madam was startled at first, but then took them and looked, and could not help but laugh.

“怡真, you look too!” she said.

The Second Madam took the drawing paper and glanced at it, breaking into a smile as well: “I didn’t expect the Marquis to have the leisure to paint such things!”

Eleventh Young Madam did not know whether the Grand Madam and the Second Madam would tease Xu Lingyi about this.

Thinking of how every time Xu Lingyi drew these pictures for Jin Ge’er, he would always dismiss the attendants nearby…

Eleventh Young Madam smiled and said: “This one was at your concubine’s earnest request. The Marquis truly could not refuse, and so drew a few for Jin Ge’er.”

The Second Madam set the drawing paper she held back under the kang table and gave a faint smile, while the Grand Madam had already taken Jin Ge’er into her arms.

“Your father once commanded thousands of soldiers and horses — wise and mighty, resolute and courageous. He was a figure so imposing that a single furrow of his brow could make the earth tremble.” The old lady’s tone carried a faint note of wistfulness. “Now, however, he is a tiger stranded on flat ground, able only to stay at home in idleness, dealing with the managers who handle mundane affairs.” She then laughed. “It is fortunate that you are here. Without you, your father’s days would truly be difficult indeed.” She then pressed a kiss to Jin Ge’er’s cheek. “Our Jin Ge’er is truly a blessed child.” She helped Jin Ge’er down from the kang, took him by the hand, and led him away with lively steps: “Let us go and drink mung bean soup.”

Watching the Grand Madam’s pine-straight figure and Jin Ge’er’s bouncing, skipping steps, Eleventh Young Madam felt, inexplicably, a pang of melancholy. Her expression drifted for a moment before she smiled and looked at the Second Madam, gesturing for her to return to the main room with her. Because of this, she did not notice that the Second Madam’s gaze had just moments ago been lingering on the drawing paper beneath the kang table.

The Third Master returned home with his head drooping. He saw the Third Madam sitting on the large kang bed by the window, holding an account ledger and reading from it in a low voice, while Gan Laoquan’s wife sat on a small stool at the kang’s edge working the abacus, and Xing Jiao stood behind the Third Madam, fanning her with a banana-leaf fan.

Seeing him enter, Xing Jiao quickly assisted the Third Madam down from the kang.

“What did Mother summon you for?”

These days, with everything going wrong, the Third Madam could not help but speak with a note of grievance.

The Third Master first said out of habit “Nothing in particular,” then immediately thought of the Grand Madam’s words and felt somewhat uneasy. He deflected by turning the question back on the Third Madam: “What are you doing?”

The Third Madam could tell her husband was evading again, but with Gan Laoquan’s wife present, she could not press further. Feeling a touch of displeasure, she said: “I’m going over Jin Family’s dowry list to calculate just how much of a trousseau Jin Family is sending this time!”

No matter how many items the trousseau contained, it could never surpass Fang Shi’s!

To sit and calculate like this in front of a servant woman was beneath one’s dignity.

Mother was right — all these years he had only thought of how difficult things were for his wife, without considering whether her conduct was right or wrong.

The thought flashed through his mind, and he found himself straightening up involuntarily. He waved at Gan Laoquan’s wife: “You may all withdraw! I have something to say to Madam!”

Gan Laoquan’s wife and Xing Jiao quickly curtsied and withdrew.

The Third Madam looked at him with puzzlement: “What’s happened?”

“Nothing much!” The Third Master sat down on the kang and said: “The Jin Family girl has not yet come through the door, and here you are calculating her dowry. If the dowry is generous, all well and good — but if it isn’t, won’t that give those servants something to gossip about behind closed doors? How would that leave Jian Ge’er able to hold his head up? If you truly want to tally this up, the two of us can close the door and work it out between ourselves!”

The Third Madam’s face flushed crimson as she heard this. She muttered a few words under her breath, but feeling deep down that she was in the wrong, she did not say anything in rebuttal.

The Third Master’s spirits lifted noticeably.

He felt the Grand Madam’s words did indeed carry some weight.

He gave a soft cough and explained the Grand Madam’s instructions about letting the Fourth Household receive the gift money: “…I think Mother’s words make sense. What if we hand the matter of collecting gift money over to the mansion’s accounts office? Those who bring gift money will see it, and they’ll understand what it’s about. That way, when we don’t return the gifts in kind, it will seem perfectly natural.”

The Third Madam listened and quietly worked through the figures in her mind, then gave a small nod: “Then let the accounts office handle collecting the gift money at that time!”

It had not occurred to him that a matter that had worried him for several days would be resolved so simply.

The Third Master could not help but break into a grin.

—