Xu Lingyi listened with some bewilderment, and said: “Then Third Brother had better not intervene at all — it’s an inner household matter, and it really isn’t proper for you to be always stepping in.”

The Third Master sighed at this, and said: “Do you think I wish to? But if I don’t step in, the household would have even less peace. I’m not sure why — your Third Sister-in-law and Qin Ge’er’s wife seem to have no natural affinity. One wants to go east, the other goes west. And Qin Ge’er’s wife speaks and acts in ways that are often actually quite reasonable…” Shaking his head, he continued: “Fortunately Jian Ge’er’s wife is an easygoing sort — whatever your Third Sister-in-law says, she just smiles and listens, and is all warmth and affection with Qin Ge’er’s wife too. Otherwise the household would long since have fallen into utter chaos.” He added: “Still, Mother truly has fine judgment — I find that Jian Ge’er’s wife has something of Fourth Sister-in-law’s character, very honest and kind in her dealings with people.” Saying this, he thought of how Fang Shi managed the household’s domestic affairs — not only were matters great and small all handled with care and thoroughness, with relatives praising her virtue and good sense all around, but no matter how unreasonable his wife’s demands might be, she always spoke gently to dissuade her, never putting on airs. By those standards she was a filial daughter-in-law indeed. To speak so of Fang Shi seemed somewhat harsh. He changed the subject: “Today I came about Zhen Jie’er’s marriage — let’s not say anything more to dampen the spirits. By the way, for Zhen Jie’er’s wedding, are people coming from the Nanjing side?”

Xu Lingyi saw that his elder brother’s words contradicted themselves, and knew he was either covering for the Third Sister-in-law or covering for the eldest daughter-in-law. But whether it was the former or the latter, he managed not even his own inner quarters, let alone the Third Brother’s household. He was naturally content to let the Third Master change the subject.

“They should be arriving any day now!” Xu Lingyi said. “I’ve already sent stewards to receive them.”

The Third Master gave a slight nod and smiled: “Perhaps, come spring, we might go to Nanjing for a visit. Now that I think of it, I only went once as a child with Father. They have a restaurant over that way, built on a riverside pavilion — something called ‘Flowing Cup’ — with a signature dish called ‘Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea,’ made by packing fresh water chestnuts, lotus seeds, and the like directly in ice…”

The two of them sat there chatting about far-flung things. Not far away, in the Fifth Madam’s room, Xin Jie’er was clutching two cats and refusing to let them go: “Suifeng said Jin Ge’er doesn’t want them…”

The Fifth Madam nearly fainted: “Just because he doesn’t want them, you went and picked them up? Hurry and give them back to Jin Ge’er.”

“Won’t give them back!” Xin Jie’er held on tighter, and the two little cats were squeezed so hard they began meowing piteously.

The Fifth Madam’s face went sallow. Seeing Huo Xiang standing there, she snapped: “Well, go and take those cats away!”

Huo Xiang didn’t dare, and edged forward reluctantly, her eyes seeking help from Nanny Shi.

Nanny Shi thought for a moment, then smiled and crouched down in front of Xin Jie’er.

Xin Jie’er warily stepped back two paces.

Nanny Shi could only smile wryly. She said gently: “Does Second Miss like these two cats very much?”

Xin Jie’er nodded vigorously.

“Then what if we keep two of our own — would that be all right?”

Xin Jie’er looked at the fluffy little creatures in her arms and shook her head: “I just want Bai Bai and Lv Lv!”

Bai Bai and Lv Lv — the names she had given the two cats.

“Let’s keep two that look exactly like Bai Bai and Lv Lv, shall we?” Nanny Shi coaxed patiently. “These two cats were fetched by the Grand Madam from Madam Huang’s home. Madam Huang’s family still has two just like them. If Second Miss wants them, we can go and bring those two over — would that do?”

“Yes!” Xin Jie’er heard this and said happily: “Then I’ll have lots of cats!” But she showed no intention of returning Bai Bai and Lv Lv.

The Fifth Madam was beside herself: “Stop reasoning with her. Hurry and give those cats back to Jin Ge’er… it’s not as though they’re something rare. The Crown Princess used to keep several when she was at her family’s home.” She then instructed Nanny Shi: “Take my calling card and make a trip to the Princess Fucheng’s mansion — ask the Princess for two.”  She added: “Are we supposed to go pick up whatever Jin Ge’er doesn’t want?”

The whole trouble was precisely that these were Jin Ge’er’s cast-offs!

Seeing that the Fifth Madam was in the heat of anger, Nanny Shi dared not say more words of comfort, smiled and agreed, then tried to persuade Xin Jie’er to put the cats down.

Xin Jie’er absolutely refused, and Nanny Shi dared not use force.

The two of them remained at a standoff.

The Fifth Madam, watching, went over herself to grab the two cats. Xin Jie’er shrieked and bolted out the door. The Fifth Madam gave chase.

Coming toward them was a tall, imposing figure.

Xin Jie’er was startled and quickly looked up to see a face as fine-featured as jade.

“Father, Father!” She burst into delighted cries and flung herself toward him. “Mother wants to give the cats to Jin Ge’er!”

Xu Lingkuan laughed and scooped up his daughter, and said to the Fifth Madam who had come chasing after: “What is all this? She’s just a child who doesn’t know better — explain it to her slowly. Is there any need to get yourself so worked up?”

The Fifth Madam was struck speechless with exasperation. She quickly rattled through the whole affair: “…She found them amusing and just took them home. But these were specially fetched by Mother for Jin Ge’er…”

“Didn’t he say he doesn’t want them?” Xu Lingkuan saw nothing wrong with it. “Then let them be for our Xin Jie’er. It’s not as though we snatched something from him.”

Xin Jie’er happily cried out “Father!”

The Fifth Madam looked at her husband’s blithely unconcerned expression and was for a long while unable to say a word.

The one who had sparked all this commotion was at this very moment lying quite contentedly in the warm chamber of the Grand Madam’s inner room.

The Grand Madam was perched with her spectacles on, reading a few lines, then taking them off to look at Jin Ge’er.

The Second Madam walked in to find the Grand Madam cradling a hand-warmer to warm her hands.

“We haven’t even reached the tenth month yet!” The Second Madam smiled and greeted the Grand Madam with a bow. “Mind you don’t overheat yourself!”

“I look at Jin Ge’er’s cheeks all rosy and plump — I want to feel whether he’s too hot!” The Grand Madam set the hand-warmer aside for Yu Ban standing nearby, then with her warmed hands patted Jin Ge’er gently on the back. “My hands are cold — I don’t want to startle him awake.” She then gestured for the Second Madam to sit beside her.

The Second Madam thought of how when Xu Sizhun was small, the Grand Madam had done exactly the same. She could not help but smile: “Mother is so attentive!”

The Grand Madam chuckled: “Looking after Zhun Ge’er, who was frail and needed constant watching, made it a habit. Now looking after Jin Ge’er, I find this child truly easy to care for.” She then affectionately stroked Jin Ge’er’s forehead.

Disturbed in his sleep, Jin Ge’er puckered his little mouth and turned over.

His endearing little look made both the Grand Madam and the Second Madam laugh.

These past days Eleventh Young Madam had been busy, and the Grand Madam, afraid that Nanny Gu and the others might not look after him adequately, had kept Jin Ge’er by her own side. The Second Madam had been living a topsy-turvy schedule of late — and for a woman who set great store by preserving her health, the principle being spring to grow, summer to flourish, autumn to harvest, winter to store, the rhythms of daily life ought to follow the seasons. With autumn now arrived, it was naturally time to recuperate and build up reserves for winter. She set aside the business at hand for now, and often came to sit and chat with the Grand Madam. She was seeing Jin Ge’er more and more frequently as a result.

“Has everything been settled for Zhen Jie’er?” she smiled, lifting her teacup for a sip.

“Steward Zhao is personally handling all the matters for the journey to Cangzhou.” The Grand Madam smiled. “The Shao family’s people have also arrived in Yanjing. The auspicious hour has been set at the beginning of the chen hour.”

The Second Madam listened, thought for a moment, and smiled: “Then I’ll go and see Zhen Jie’er.”

She was a widow, and could not appear on the main wedding day.

The Grand Madam had Nanny Du accompany the Second Madam to Zhen Jie’er’s room.

Zhen Jie’er’s everyday belongings had already been put away — only in the inner room were a few necessities still remaining, giving the space a somewhat empty, sparse feel.

She blushed as she brought the Second Madam tea.

The Second Madam looked at this girl who had grown up before her eyes, and her expression grew wistful.

She took Zhen Jie’er’s hand.

“Your parents love you as the apple of their eye and have arranged everything perfectly for you. Any further words from me would be superfluous.” Saying this, she handed Zhen Jie’er a crimson-lacquered box. “The Snowpeak Scholar of Cangzhou is today’s greatest Confucian master, deeply versed in calendrical studies. When your Second Uncle was alive, we once stayed as guests in his Plucking Stars Retreat and met him a number of times. Though his manner is stern, he is magnanimous and upright — a person one can turn to. Inside is one of your Second Uncle’s calling cards. The style of the card was even designed by the Snowpeak Scholar himself. As the saying goes, a close neighbor is worth more than a distant relative. If you ever find yourself in difficult straits, take this card and seek him out.” She added with a smile: “Though of course it is best if you never need to use it.”

This must have been something that Second Uncle left for Second Aunt.

Zhen Jie’er’s eyes grew a little wet at the corners. Looking at the faint lines at the corners of the Second Madam’s eyes and thinking of the quiet chill of Shaoxue Courtyard, she reached out and took the Second Madam’s hand in return. After a moment’s hesitation, she said softly: “Second Aunt, you should have someone by your side too. And in time there would be Jin Ge’er and Shen Ge’er to keep you company!”

The Second Madam was slightly taken aback, and then smiled.

Ever since the Nanjing side had declined the Grand Madam’s proposal, no one had raised the matter again.

In the stillness of the night, she had not been without her own reflections. But whenever she thought of this child who would live in this world under her husband’s son’s name, she felt, for reasons she could not quite name, a faint unease — afraid the child would not be clever enough, not excellent enough, and would damage her husband’s reputation…

The thought flashed through her mind, and in her imagination arose the image of Jin Ge’er gazing at her with his bright, long-lashed eyes. Her voice unconsciously softened: “You need not worry about me. This matter — I will think it over carefully!”

Seeing the Second Madam’s warm and gentle smile, Zhen Jie’er felt the tension ease from her heart, and smiled along with her.

The two of them spoke for a while — mostly the Second Madam advising, and Zhen Jie’er listening. Then a young maid came in: “First Miss, the Fourth Madam has come!”

Zhen Jie’er’s face flushed crimson in an instant.

By custom, on the evening before a daughter’s wedding, her mother would stay with her — both to impart the ways of husband and wife, and to speak words close to the heart.

She quickly stood up: “Please invite Mother in!”

Saying this, she took a few steps forward, intending to go out to receive her, but then remembering she was a bride-to-be, and that such eager haste might invite laughter. She drew her foot back and sat again on the kang, only then feeling this showed a lack of proper respect toward Eleventh Young Madam…for a moment she was quite at a loss, unable to sit still.

The Second Madam, watching her in this young maiden’s flutter, could not help but laugh.

Zhen Jie’er only felt her face burning hot.

Eleventh Young Madam lifted the curtain and entered.

Seeing the Second Madam there, she was somewhat surprised. She stepped forward with a smile and offered her greetings.

The Second Madam returned the greeting, then rose and took her leave: “You two have your private words to share. I’ll go back first!”

Eleventh Young Madam saw her to the door, then turned back into Zhen Jie’er’s inner room.

Zhen Jie’er haltingly invited Eleventh Young Madam to sit. And Eleventh Young Madam, looking at Zhen Jie’er, found her own face flushing red as well.