“Aunt!” Xu Siyu bowed respectfully to the Fifth Madam.

The Fifth Madam gazed at her nephew standing before her — his face a little thin, yet as refined and graceful as jade standing in the wind — and could not help but silently praise him in her heart, looking at Xu Siyu with fresh eyes.

“In the blink of an eye, Siyu has grown into a man,” she said with a smile. “I thought you weren’t going to sit for the prefectural examination this year — I never expected you’d rush back in such scorching heat!”

Xu Siyu replied respectfully, “Teacher Jiang said I had fallen behind on a great deal of my studies and kept me several extra days. That is why I returned so late.”

The Fifth Madam smiled faintly, teasing him, “No wonder you look so confident!”

Xu Siyu laughed and said, “In literature there is no first place, just as in martial arts there is no second. Until the very end, no one can know the outcome.” His manner was humble yet not without confidence.

The Fifth Madam’s expression softened with admiration. She turned her head to the Grand Madam and said, “Siyu grows more and more eloquent with each passing day! It shows that when a child is grown, he truly ought to go out and see the world!”

“Easy for you to say,” the Grand Madam scolded lightly. “These past few years Siyu has been going back and forth — who knows how hard it has been on him.” Then she turned to Xu Siyu and said, “Pay no mind to your Fifth Aunt. Go and rest now! You’ve lost a whole size.” Her tone carried a touch of tender concern.

Xu Siyu bowed and was just about to take his leave when the Second Madam arrived.

“I thought you weren’t going to sit for the prefectural examination this year — I never expected you would come back at this time,” she said. Though her expression was cool, her concern still overflowed. “Has something happened?”

A flicker of gratitude crossed Xu Siyu’s face, and he promptly recounted the whole matter again: “…I had been planning to come greet Second Aunt a little later!”

“Come tomorrow morning instead,” the Second Madam said. “As it happens, I have a few things I want to ask you.”

In the morning, it would be cooler.

Xu Siyu lowered his head and replied respectfully, “Yes.”

The Grand Madam looked on and laughed, “All right, all right — go and rest! That’s enough questions from all of you. Whatever there is to say, say it tomorrow. Let the child have a proper rest!”

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and agreed, then had Nanny Song see Xu Siyu out of the inner courtyard. She then consulted with the Grand Madam: “Tomorrow at noon, shall we invite all the children here for a meal? It would be a welcoming dinner for Siyu’s return!”

“Certainly!” the Grand Madam said with a smile. “Invite Qin Ge and Jian Ge along with their wives as well. Let everyone be merry together!”

“In that case, why not go to the Drooping Line Water Pavilion?” the Fifth Madam said with a smile. “It’s cooler over there, and the children can fish and row boats. We could also play a round of tiles.”

The Grand Madam laughed heartily at that: “It’s true what they say — birds of a feather flock together. You’ve followed Fifth Son for all these years, and whatever else you may not have learned, when it comes to eating, drinking, and making merry — I’d say you are first among all the sisters-in-law.”

“Mother…” The Fifth Madam tugged at the Grand Madam’s sleeve with a coy pout.

The Grand Madam chuckled warmly, then said to Eleventh Young Lady, “Then it’s settled — we’ll set the family banquet at the Drooping Line Water Pavilion!”

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and nodded, accompanied the Grand Madam in conversation for a while, then rose and took her leave to go make arrangements for the following day’s banquet.

Yet no sooner had she stepped out of the Grand Madam’s courtyard than someone called out to her from behind: “Fourth Sister-in-Law!”

In this household, besides the Second Madam, who else would address her as “sister-in-law”?

Eleventh Young Lady turned around and saw the Second Madam hurrying across the courtyard toward her.

She smiled and called out, “Second Elder Sister.”

The Second Madam smiled faintly and said, “There is something I’d like to ask Fourth Sister-in-Law’s help with…” As she spoke, she glanced in the direction of the main courtyard. “My quarters are too far. Let’s go to yours to talk.”

Eleventh Young Lady was rather surprised. Knowing that the Second Madam had a rather haughty disposition and was not someone who easily asked others for “help,” she smiled and accompanied the Second Madam to the flower hall in the main courtyard. She had the maids bring chilled mulberry tea, dismissed the attendants, and then said, “Second Elder Sister, what matter brings you to me?”

The Second Madam lifted her teacup and took a sip, then said quietly, “The matter of my maternal nephew Yijia — Fourth Sister-in-Law must have heard something of it?”

Eleventh Young Lady was quite surprised, not knowing why she was bringing this up. She replied guardedly, “I’ve heard a little here and there.”

The Second Madam let out a soft sigh. “I’d like to ask Fourth Sister-in-Law to help find a match for our Yijia.”

Eleventh Young Lady looked at the Second Madam, unable to conceal her astonishment.

The Second Madam had already continued, “I know this is no easy matter.” Her expression darkened slightly. “My sister-in-law has worn herself to the bone over Yijia’s marriage with nothing to show for it. I’ve seen the matches you found for Zhen Jie’er and Twelfth Young Lady — both were very well-suited — and so I’d like to ask you to help find a match for Yijia.”

Eleventh Young Lady’s face took on a difficult expression.

Lady Xiang had spent years worrying over her son’s marriage without finding a suitable match — clearly her standards were very high and she was very particular. It would not be easy to make decisions on behalf of someone like that…

She thought of the time the Second Madam had acted as matchmaker for Xu Siyu.

She still didn’t know whether this was the Second Madam’s own idea, or Lady Xiang’s. If it were the latter, that would be understandable — among relatives, speaking up when there’s a suitable match is only natural. But if it were the former…

Seeing her hesitate, the Second Madam misunderstood her reluctance as being on account of Yijia’s reputation for being a curse to his wives. She said, “If there is a suitable family, Fourth Sister-in-Law need not hide it from them. I simply cannot bring myself to believe that every person in this world believes in such strange superstitious tales!” Her voice had grown somewhat firm toward the end.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled bitterly.

With an attitude this forceful, even if a suitable match were found, it would likely still be difficult.

She gently reminded the Second Madam, “I only worry I won’t be able to find someone Lady Xiang will be satisfied with, and end up disappointing her instead.”

The Second Madam was a perceptive woman and understood immediately. After a moment of silence, she said, “You know, Yijia once had a betrothal with the second daughter of Academician Han’s family. After their second daughter passed away, Yijia entered into another engagement — the small gift-exchange had barely been done when that young woman died suddenly from illness.” Her voice grew heavy. “Yijia’s reputation for being a curse to his wives spread from there. My sister-in-law was so distraught she had to recuperate for the better part of a year before she recovered. Knowing that Yijia’s marriage would be difficult to arrange, she decided to first settle Rounuo and Rouqian’s marriages. After much difficulty, a suitable family was found — but when they came to look, they took a liking to the lively and spirited Rouqian instead.”

They had come to arrange a match for the elder sister, yet took a fancy to the younger one…

Eleventh Young Lady could not help but sit up straighter, her expression growing somewhat grave.

“My sister-in-law naturally refused,” the Second Madam said. “And Rouqian was consumed with guilt. Fortunately, Rounuo is a sensible child — she said that it was that family who had no sense of propriety, and how could one blame her younger sister? Only then did Rouqian feel a little better.” As she spoke, a faint smile appeared on her face.

Eleventh Young Lady nodded gently.

That the second young lady of the Xiang family could think of it that way was truly remarkable.

“But this left a thorn in my sister-in-law’s heart,” the Second Madam said. “She first settled Rouqian’s engagement. Then when she turned back to arrange Rounuo’s marriage, Rounuo was already sixteen, and with Yijia’s situation entangled in the middle — my sister-in-law has been pulled in every direction. These past two years, she has worried herself so much that her hair has gone white.

“Roujin also worried about her younger sister’s marriage. When she was wed, I went back to drink the wedding wine, and she specially sent her personal attendant to find me and explain the whole matter — she wanted me to help find Rounuo a good match. That was how I came to learn all the details.

“When I returned, I thought it over carefully. Rounuo is a daughter — for a woman, marriage is like a second birth. My sister-in-law will certainly be very careful and selective. Yijia is a son, and with these rumors attached to him — as long as the young woman comes from a respectable family and is of upright character, my sister-in-law will most likely not be too particular about anything else.” Reaching this point, the Second Madam wore a rather helpless expression. “These years I’ve secluded myself and rarely gone out — what would I know of the situations in various households? Mother is also getting on in years, and I truly cannot bear to burden her with this matter. I’ve thought it over from every angle, and have decided to ask Fourth Sister-in-Law to step forward on our behalf. If a match can be made for Yijia, it would relieve my sister-in-law of one burden — and then she could devote herself entirely to Rounuo’s affairs. As for whether it succeeds or not, that too depends on the fate between the two families.” Her voice trailed off with a sigh toward the end.

The Second Madam was someone cold on the outside yet warm at heart, wasn’t she?

Otherwise, she would not have quietly helped Fang Shi out of her predicament without a word.

With the Second Madam’s final sentence, Eleventh Young Lady smiled and agreed: “…Though I cannot promise I will definitely be able to satisfy Second Elder Sister!”

Whatever Eleventh Young Lady agreed to, she would do her best. Whether it succeeded or not — sometimes that was a matter of heaven’s will.

The Second Madam smiled and lifted her teacup toward her in a small gesture: “I thank Fourth Sister-in-Law here and now!”

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and raised her teacup to take a sip, accepting her gratitude.

Setting down her teacup, she asked about Xiang Yijia’s situation, when suddenly a commotion erupted outside the door.

Both women looked toward the entrance at the same time.

They watched as the split-bamboo curtain was knocked aside and swung back with a clatter against the door frame — a small figure burst in.

“Mother, Mother,” Jin Ge’er threw himself into Eleventh Young Lady’s arms, “my orioles, my orioles!”

He must have run all the way here, for he was covered in sweat, his little face flushed crimson, frantic and agitated.

Eleventh Young Lady signaled a nearby maid to wring out a cloth to wipe Jin Ge’er’s face, then said gently, “Your Second Grandaunt is here — why didn’t you call out a greeting?”

Jin Ge’er pouted, and called out with great reluctance, “Second Grandaunt.”

Seeing that Eleventh Young Lady had a household matter to attend to, the Second Madam smiled and nodded at Jin Ge’er, and was about to rise and take her leave when Eleventh Young Lady had already turned to look at Hongwen and A’jin, who had come rushing in behind him, breathlessly gasping, and said in a calm, measured tone: “What happened?”

Hongwen and A’jin exchanged a glance, then said softly, “Just now in the garden, we ran into Second Young Miss. The maid beside Second Young Miss was carrying a birdcage with two orioles inside…” Their voices gradually trailed off, their eyes carefully watching Eleventh Young Lady’s expression, “…the exact same as Sixth Young Master’s…”

Eleventh Young Lady was taken aback.

Jin Ge’er jumped up and down beside her: “Mine, mine…Grandmother gave them to me…”

Eleventh Young Lady understood.

“Silly child!” She smiled and helped wipe the sweat from Jin Ge’er’s face. “Why don’t you go check whether your birds are still there, and then you’ll know?”

The moment Eleventh Young Lady’s words fell, Jin Ge’er pushed her hands aside, turned, and ran out the door.

Hongwen and A’jin hastily gave a quick bow to Eleventh Young Lady and hurried after him.

The Second Madam took her leave with a smile.

Eleventh Young Lady saw her to the door.

Turning back around, she saw Jin Ge’er come running along the covered walkway.

“Mother, Mother,” his face was full of excitement, “my orioles, my orioles!”

Hongwen, who had followed behind, quickly added, “Sixth Young Master’s orioles are still hanging under the eaves of the back storage room!”

Eleventh Young Lady patted Jin Ge’er on the head, then reprimanded Hongwen and A’jin: “Jin Ge’er’s birds are in Suifeng’s care — who would casually give them away? Jin Ge’er is still young and doesn’t know better, so at times you need to think more on his behalf. It’s a good thing Jin Ge’er came to me — if he’d run to the Grand Madam’s instead, just think how awkward it would be if the Fifth Madam heard of it. You must think things through more carefully in future!”

Hongwen quickly lowered her head and replied, “Yes. We would never dare be so careless again!”

The younger A’jin, however, could not help muttering under her breath, “It was Second Young Miss — she said that pair of orioles were ones Fifth Master had obtained from Madam for her…and that since they had been given to her, they were hers now, and Sixth Young Master had no right to take them back…”

—