The news of Magistrate Fang resigning his post Eleventh Young Miss had also heard — but that Madam Fang was coming north with her son to visit Fang Shi, she was hearing for the first time. The tidings surprised her not a little. “The First Young Mistress’s due date is at the end of the ninth month or beginning of the tenth — why is Madam Fang making the journey north at a time like this? The weather is so hot — if she suffers a heatstroke, that is no small matter.”

The Fifth Madam pressed her lips together in a smile. “As things stand now, it is the Third Sister-in-law who manages Sanjing Alley. The First Young Mistress is focused entirely on resting quietly at home through her pregnancy. In the fifth month, when the Gan Family held a wedding, I heard the Third Madam sent a glass folding screen as a gift — one that people say is identical to a piece from the First Young Mistress’s dowry. By my reckoning, that news would have reached Huzhou by now. Madam Fang has come at just the right moment!”

Eleventh Young Miss’s brow creased slightly. “No matter how foolish the Third Sister-in-law can be, she cannot be that foolish. Who is spreading this talk everywhere?”

“Whoever is spreading it — our First Young Mistress has been married in Yanjing for two years now, and her family misses her and wants to come and see her. That is entirely natural.” Given what the Fang Family had done over the matter of Fang Shi’s supposed ill luck in marriage, the Fifth Madam was fairly certain that Madam Fang’s arrival would stir up quite a storm in Sanjing Alley. “My concern is Nanny Tian — I don’t know if she will be able to come back in time for my delivery.”

So that was what it was about.

The Fifth Madam’s due date and Fang Shi’s were only two or three months apart. The first three months of an infant’s life were the most critical in terms of care. Asking for Nanny Tian back was not entirely unreasonable — but since the nanny had been sent there in the first place, calling her back after barely making an appearance would seem rather cold-hearted. And since it was Eleventh Young Miss who had sent her over, it was to Eleventh Young Miss that the Fifth Madam naturally had to apply.

“What do you think of Nanny Wan’s daughter-in-law in my household?” Eleventh Young Miss said tactfully. “She is Nanny Wan’s own daughter-in-law, and very capable with children. Just look at our Jin Ge’er and you can judge for yourself.” Then she added, “The Fifth Sister-in-law knows more than I do about what goes on in Sanjing Alley, and the Fifth Sister-in-law is a perceptive person. You also understand in your heart the purpose behind Mother’s decision to send Nanny Tian over there — otherwise, you would never have agreed to let Nanny Tian go in the first place. Since Mother’s intent is to protect the First Young Mistress, it really ought to be at least until the child has reached its first birthday…”

All of this the Fifth Madam also understood full well. Both Nanny Wan and Nanny Tian were women of advancing years — tasks like holding the baby and changing cloth were all done by the wet nurses and the younger serving maids. Nanny Wan’s role was simply to supervise. It made no difference whether Nanny Tian was there or not. In truth, she simply wanted another capable person sent to serve by her side — whenever a daughter-in-law of the household was with child, the Grand Madam had always dispatched two people to attend her. Now that Eleventh Young Miss was in charge of the household, and the Grand Madam doted on Jin Ge’er as something precious beyond measure, all the serving matrons had grown more careful and deferential than ever before in the presence of that mother and son. If she, carrying what might be a second son, had only one person sent to serve her, those people would surely begin speculating wildly and stirring up trouble.

Seeing that her aim had been achieved, the Fifth Madam smiled. “How could I not understand Fourth Sister-in-law’s difficulty? It is only that Shen Ge’er is not yet weaned, and now I am expecting again — my heart is pulled in two directions at once. I only hope to have as many capable and reliable people around me as possible. Since Fourth Sister-in-law is willing to part with her, I certainly won’t stand on ceremony!”

Good — the Fifth Madam had agreed.

“We are sisters-in-law, living under the same roof. Saying such things between us would not be right!” Eleventh Young Miss exchanged polite words with her, and then noticed a small maid’s figure flickering past outside the bamboo-gauze curtain. She paid it no mind and continued talking with the Fifth Madam.

The small maid’s figure flitted past a second time.

With a guest present, only something urgent would prompt a maid to behave so. This was not an urgent matter, so the maid had not dared come in directly.

Eleventh Young Miss was on the verge of calling the maid in to ask, when the Fifth Madam rose to take her leave. Eleventh Young Miss urged her to rest a while. “The sun is too strong — there is no harm in going a little later.”

The Fifth Madam smiled. “I slipped away while Shen Ge’er was napping. If he wakes and doesn’t see me, he’ll be crying and making a fuss again!”

She could not have said whose genes the boy had inherited — Xin Jie’er had been the same way as a small child. The moment she could not find the Fifth Madam, she would wail until the sky seemed to fall. By the time she reached four years old, that habit had somehow disappeared on its own without explanation. Now Shen Ge’er was the same way…

Eleventh Young Miss walked her to the courtyard gate before turning back, and asked Qiuyu, who was on duty, “Was something the matter?”

“It was Chajing — a young maid from Jin Ge’er’s side,” Qiuyu said with a smile. “Most likely Nanny Gu sent her to check when the Sixth Young Master might wake up!”

Just as she said this, Nanny Gu came in. “I knew the Fifth Madam was here — I hadn’t let the little maid come over!”

Qiuyu’s face fell. She went and called Chajing to question her.

Chajing was one of the minor, unranked maids assigned to Jin Ge’er’s service. She spent most of her time working in the outer rooms, and now that she had come into the inner chamber, she was visibly trembling with nerves. “It was Suifeng who asked me to come and look…”

That Suifeng again!

Eleventh Young Miss was just about to press for details when a young maid came in to announce: “Madam, Suifeng requests an audience!”

Suifeng was only twelve years old. His looks were ordinary enough, but he had a pair of exceptionally bright eyes — quiet, yet quick and perceptive.

He bowed to Eleventh Young Miss. “A few days ago the Grand Madam gave the Sixth Young Master a pair of orioles. The Sixth Young Master is very fond of them, feeds them himself every day, and each morning has me carry the birdcage out to the rear garden to air the birds…”

Eleventh Young Miss knew this already.

Ever since the time Suifeng had made the peacock spread its tail, he had remained one of Xu Lingyi’s personal attendants — but was now also tasked specifically with caring for Jin Ge’er’s pets. When the Grand Madam gifted the pair of orioles to Jin Ge’er, Suifeng had immediately gone to the Grand Madam’s specialist matron for advice on how to feed and care for them. He had quickly mastered the birds’ habits, and every day he carried the cage out to air them.

“A couple of days ago, I came across the Second Young Miss on her way to the warm room to pick flowers.” He kept his eyes lowered. “The Second Young Miss heard the orioles singing so beautifully and was very taken with them. She asked me to give the birds to her. The elder maids around the Second Young Miss could see it was I who was holding the birdcage, and spent a long while coaxing her against the idea. The Second Young Miss was quite displeased and left the garden with a stiff expression. I thought of how the Sixth Young Master enjoys spending time with these orioles every day, and I also recalled that the Sixth Young Master had given the pair of cats the Grand Madam gifted him to the Second Young Miss. I feared there might be some misunderstanding between the Sixth Young Master and the Second Young Miss over these birds. I thought and thought about it, and came to ask for the Madam’s guidance. The elder maids, however, said that the Madam was in conversation with the Fifth Madam…” He paused slightly at this point and looked at Eleventh Young Miss with something left unspoken in his eyes.

Eleventh Young Miss had, however, understood.

Just as before, Xin Jie’er had once again set her sights on Jin Ge’er’s pets. Unlike the last time — when she had wanted the cat and Jin Ge’er had not been attached to it — this time she wanted the orioles, which Jin Ge’er very much loved. Suifeng, seeing the Fifth Madam paying a visit at this particular moment, had mistakenly assumed she had come on Xin Jie’er’s behalf to ask for the orioles. He was worried that if Jin Ge’er refused, there would be friction between the two households.

She could not help but study Suifeng more carefully.

Qiuyu and the other maids stood with their hands at their sides, not daring to make even a sound.

What Suifeng had done was, generously interpreted, a concern that the matter of the orioles might cause ill feeling between Xin Jie’er and Jin Ge’er. Viewed more critically, he had inserted himself into affairs between the Fourth and Fifth households — overstepping his place entirely.

For a moment, the room fell so silent one could have heard a pin drop.

The weight of that stillness pressed down on Suifeng until he found it hard to breathe.

A trace of apprehension showed on his face.

Eleventh Young Miss asked him quietly, “What family do you come from? Who are the people at home?”

Speaking aloud — it helps ease a person’s anxiety.

Suifeng’s expression eased slightly, and he quickly replied, “In answer to the Madam, this servant’s father was a farmhand on the estate. He passed away when I was three years old. My mother raised me and my younger sister on her own. The estate steward took pity on our hardship and recommended me to come and serve in the household. By now, this servant has been in the mansion for four years.”

“Oh?” Eleventh Young Miss was a little surprised. “You have a younger sister?”

Suifeng replied respectfully, “She was not yet born when my father died.”

Eleventh Young Miss was silent for a moment, then said, “I have heard what you have said. You may go.”

She said nothing about how the matter would be handled.

Suifeng felt a stab of anxiety.

If the Second Young Miss were to come asking for the birds, what was he to do?

There were things he did not dare say in the Madam’s presence.

When the Second Young Miss left, she had made it clear: if the Sixth Young Master refused to give them, she would send the Fifth Madam to ask for them on her behalf!

And yet everyone in the household knew the Sixth Young Master’s temperament. If something of his was given away, he would cry hard enough to shake the heavens — and the Grand Madam would find some way to stop the crying. Just as last time, even the Marquis was summoned and given a stern talking-to. Let alone Suifeng, the lowly attendant tasked with looking after the birds and beasts.

He would surely face a reckoning he could not wriggle out of.

No wonder people said that wealth and honor were all won at the edge of risk.

Those on the outside saw the household stewards dressed in fine silk and satin — but they did not know that a single wrong word could send a person tumbling from the heights into the mud.

His expression dimmed slightly. He bowed in silence and withdrew.

Meanwhile, across the way, the Fifth Madam had flung an entire cup of tea straight at Xin Jie’er’s maid Bibo.

“So this is how you serve the Young Miss.” The heat made even small irritations flare up easily. “Those birds were given to the Sixth Young Master by the Grand Madam. They are a gift from an elder — it cannot be declined. Instead of properly dissuading her, you actually let the Second Young Miss say such things!”

Bibo had already dropped to her knees, knocking her head on the ground in rapid succession.

The pale skin of her forehead had quickly gone red and swollen.

Xin Jie’er, who had been crying beside her, saw this and sobbed out, “But it was Grandmother’s to begin with — it’s not like it’s Jin Ge’er’s…”

The Fifth Madam shot a sharp look at Xin Jie’er’s wet nurse.

“Grandmother gave it to Jin Ge’er — so it is Jin Ge’er’s. Just as if someone gave you a golden necklace, it would then be yours. No one else would simply take it!” Then, holding her temper in check, she gathered Xin Jie’er into her arms and spoke to her softly. “You love that little bronze mirror Grandmother gave you, don’t you? What if Jin Ge’er saw it and wanted it too — what would you do?”

Xin Jie’er quickly replied, “That is mine!”

“Exactly!” The Fifth Madam seized the moment to teach her daughter. “Those birds are Jin Ge’er’s. How can you take what belongs to Jin Ge’er?”

Xin Jie’er lowered her head. But then the memory of how beautifully the orioles sang, how pretty they looked — lovelier than any of the ones hanging under her grandfather’s eaves — rose up in her heart, and the longing surged up in her, impossible to suppress.

“Couldn’t Mother just ask Jin Ge’er to give them to me?” She said it with a willful air. “Then wouldn’t they become mine?”

“Nonsense!” the Fifth Madam scolded. “A person of virtue does not covet what another loves. How can you ask for Jin Ge’er’s things!”

Seeing that her mother not only refused to take her side but was loudly reprimanding her, Xin Jie’er’s stubborn streak rose. “I want those orioles, I want them…”

“No!” the Fifth Madam said firmly. “Other people’s things — we do not ask for them!”

“Mother!” Xin Jie’er burst into tears. “I want the orioles too, I want the orioles…”

“I said no and that is final!” The Fifth Madam’s patience was exhausted.

She told Xin Jie’er’s wet nurse, “Take her away.”

Xin Jie’er heard this and immediately flung her arms around the Fifth Madam’s legs. “Mother, I want the orioles, I want the orioles…”

Maids and nannies gathered around on all sides — some coaxing, some soothing — but not one of them dared go and forcibly lift Xin Jie’er away.

Xin Jie’er, seeing this, cried even louder.

The Fifth Madam’s face had gone red with fury.

At that chaotic moment, Xu Lingkuan walked in.

“Oh my, what is all this about!”

Xin Jie’er heard his voice and immediately abandoned her mother, flinging herself into her father’s arms. “Father, Father, I want the orioles!”

“What is this all about?” Xu Lingkuan saw his daughter’s face covered in tears and quickly said, “You want a pair of orioles? Is that really worth crying over?” Then he added, “Father will get you a pair. And the very finest!”

—