Fifth Madam received the letter and immediately came to find Shiyiniang. “Well? Wasn’t my idea a good one?” she said with a look of great self-satisfaction. “When I accompanied her to see the physician that time, even the physician said she shouldn’t be so anxious. I think having no children was all because she was worrying herself too much.” She then said: “Fourth Elder Sister, why don’t you look out a few of the garments Jin Ge’er wore as a baby? I’ll find a couple that Shen Ge’er wore as a baby, and have that nanny bring them all back to Gao Qing. It will be a blessing to help her give birth to a son this time.” When she finished, she even pressed her palms together in prayer and murmured “Amitabha.”

Shiyiniang couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.

Fifth Madam promptly urged her to go and find the garments.

“She was found to be with child in the ninth month, so the birth will be in summer.” Shiyiniang said with a smile, and selected two slightly larger white garments of Songjiang three-shuttle cloth. “Jin Ge’er was born in winter, so these clothes might be too small by the time they’d be needed.”

“Oh!” Fifth Madam laughed. “It’s just for good luck. Whether she wears them is entirely up to her.” As she spoke, she spotted a small padded jacket of bright red cut-silk with a hundred-children-at-play design in the chest, and bent over to pick it up for a look. “This jacket is so beautiful — I don’t recall it at all…” Before she could finish, her expression changed entirely. She planted one hand on her hip. “Fourth Elder Sister, I think I’m going into labor!”

“Wasn’t it supposed to be around the middle of the month?” Shiyiniang’s heart gave a lurch, but she composed herself quickly. She helped Fifth Madam to the armchair upholstered in bright-red brocade cushion beside her, then directed Qiu Yu and Fang Xi to fetch the midwife and call for the covered sedan chair respectively. She also called for Nanny Song to stay at home and watch Jin Ge’er. Shiyiniang herself went along to accompany Fifth Madam to her chambers.

By the time the lamps were lit that evening, Fifth Madam had given birth smoothly to her second son.

While eating glutinous rice wine with poached eggs, Fifth Madam said with mock-exasperation: “Tell Seventh Sister — it’s entirely because of her that I went into labor early.”

Shiyiniang held the plump, fair baby and laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll write to her right away.”

While they were speaking, the Grand Madam, who had received the news, came to see her.

At the sight of the little grandson who had not yet opened his eyes, the elderly woman was so overjoyed she could hardly contain herself. “Look at him — he looks just like Jin Ge’er!”

Shiyiniang felt somewhat torn between laughter and tears.

The Grand Madam had Jin Ge’er on the tip of her tongue at all times, and occasionally let slips like this one show through.

Shiyiniang quickly said: “Yes indeed, he looks just like our Jin Ge’er when he was born — sturdy and strong.” Then she asked loudly: “Nanny Shi — has Fifth Master not returned yet?”

Nanny Shi was an astute and perceptive woman. She immediately smiled and said: “Someone has already been sent to wait at the palace gate. I’ll send someone to hurry them along.” She also asked Fifth Madam: “Ma’am, would you prefer someone to go and report the news to the Hongjing Hutong household right now, or first thing tomorrow morning?”

Old Marquis Sun’s great regret in life had been having no sons. When Shen Ge’er was born, he had set propriety aside and come in person to the household on the day of the third-day washing ceremony to see his grandson. This time, Fifth Madam had given birth to yet another son — one could only imagine how delighted Old Marquis Sun would be.

“Go now and tell my father.” Fifth Madam couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear at the very thought.

Shiyiniang suggested: “While you’re at it, perhaps also send word to Sanjing Hutong?” She then discussed the third-day washing ceremony with Fifth Madam. “…What do you think would be best? That way I can also go ahead and settle on the menu.”

It was winter, and on top of that the New Year was nearly upon them. Many shops had already closed their doors, and some items simply could not be bought even with money. But Fifth Madam had always been tender with her children, and was also a woman who cared deeply about appearances. Whenever her branch of the household held an event, she always had to strive to earn admiring praise. She thought for a moment and said: “I’d like to have a course of leaf mustard or spinach on the menu — I wonder if that can be found.”

Fresh vegetables were scarce in the northern winters, let alone spinach, which was harvested in spring.

“I’ll speak to the stewards when I get back,” Shiyiniang said. “We’ll see if we can find some in the greenhouse nurseries at Fengtai. If not, what do you think of using white radish or small cucumbers? We have quite a stock of those at home set aside for the New Year.”

White radish or small cucumbers would be perfectly respectable. Fifth Madam did not agonize over the matter, and said with a smile: “That works! Fourth Elder Sister can help make all the decisions. Everyone spoke so well of Shen Ge’er’s first-birthday celebration last time!”

Everyone laughed and chatted together, and the matter was settled. When Xu Lingkuan returned and picked up the baby, he couldn’t stop smiling, and after much deliberation through the night, he gave the child the name “Cheng.”

“Cheng — faithfulness, a mark of a gentleman!”

The Grand Madam said repeatedly what a fine name it was.

Shiyiniang, meanwhile, was busy trying to procure spinach.

Fortunately, Steward Bai was exceedingly capable. That very afternoon he sent over an entire basket.

Shiyiniang calculated that there was still some left over. She had Nanny Song wrap two portions in waxed paper, and sent one to the Gongyuan Hutong household and the other to the Grand Madam Gan’s household.

That evening, Nanny Song returned, bringing garments and food that Grand Madam Gan had made for Jin Ge’er. In a low voice she also said to Shiyiniang: “A letter has come from the eldest young madam back in Yuhang. She is asking for the eldest young master to be sent back to Yuhang come spring. That way Concubine Wang can focus all her attention on caring for the eldest young master. Concubine Wang’s eyes were red when she came out to collect the vegetables — one look and you could tell she had been crying.”

Shiyiniang was inwardly startled.

This past spring, Luo Zhenzhen’s concubine had given birth to a son — the fifth in the “jia” generation of the Luo Family. As he was a son born of a concubine, there had been no formal celebration, and only Fourth Sister, Fifth Sister, and Shiyiniang had gone to see him and present a meeting gift.

“Who told you?” she couldn’t help asking. “And what did my elder brother say?”

Husband and wife separated, while the person at his side was someone with whom he shared daily life and the warmth of close companionship, who had now borne him a son — Shiyiniang was worried, afraid that this might drive a wedge between Luo Zhenzhen and his wife.

Nanny Song said: “Nanny Hang told me. From the tone of Nanny Hang’s words, the eldest young master has already agreed.”

Shiyiniang let out a quiet breath. “Make a note of it,” she said. “When the time comes, don’t forget to remind me — I’ll want to send some things back to Yuhang too.”

Shiyiniang sat quietly for a while before rousing herself and going to the reception hall, where she called in the several household manager nannies and arranged the details of Cheng Ge’er’s third-day washing ceremony.

As the year was drawing to a close and every household was busy, guests arrived, ate, and dispersed as soon as the banquet was over. The full-month celebration was also on the eighth day of the first month — right in the middle of the time when every household was hosting and exchanging New Year visits. Fifth Madam discussed the matter with Shiyiniang. “…The hundredth-day celebration simply must be properly observed — I can’t let it be less than what we did for his elder sister and elder brothers.”

Shiyiniang understood Fifth Madam’s desire to be even-handed with all her children, and said with a smile: “Of course! By then it will be around mid-third-month — the grass will be growing and the orioles flying, a beautiful time of year. We can also take the occasion to have a merry celebration.”

Fifth Madam then thought of Seventh Sister. “What a pity she can’t come.” She then let out an exclamation and said: “How forgetful of me. In the tenth month, Siyu is getting married — we can send an invitation to Seventh Sister then to come for the wedding banquet…”

Shiyiniang poured cold water on the idea. “The baby will still be so young by then — Seventh Elder Sister would never be willing to bring an infant along for such a long journey.”

“True!” Fifth Madam couldn’t help but feel somewhat deflated.

Nanny Song came in with a smile, paid her respects to Fifth Madam, and asked Shiyiniang for her instructions: “What is to be done with the things in Fifth Young Master’s workroom? It’s only a three-room courtyard over there.”

Shiyiniang thought for a moment and said: “First let Fifth Young Master go and look around himself. Whatever he wants to take with him, pack it up first. As for where things are to be stored, I’ll discuss it with the Marquis and let you know.”

Fifth Madam, having lost her interest in the conversation, took advantage of the pause to rise and take her leave. “Since you have things to take care of, I won’t keep you. I’ll come back in a few days and we can discuss the arrangements for Cheng Ge’er’s hundredth-day celebration.”

Knowing she had something on her mind, Shiyiniang made no attempt to detain her, said goodbye with a smile, and saw her out the door. Then she went to Xu Sijie’s workroom.

The things inside were all neat and orderly. The air carried a slightly cool, quiet quality, as though no one had been in for some days.

She had been busy this past stretch of time, attending and hosting gatherings. Having seen yesterday, on the occasion of the Lantern Festival, that Xu Sijie had made a rabbit lantern for both Jin Ge’er and Shen Ge’er, she couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

Nan Yong’s wife, who had heard the news and hurried over, dropping her packing, quickly explained: “The rabbit lanterns for Sixth Young Master and Fifth Young Master were made ahead of time. These days over the New Year, with Teacher Zhao having gone home to his old village, Fifth Young Master does little more than occasionally play his flute. Most of the time he’s been with Fourth Young Master.”

During the New Year period, Shiyiniang had encouraged Xu Sizhun to host spring visits.

Xu Sizhun had seemed at a loss at first, but quickly brightened and grew eager. “All right, all right! Han Jian is also hosting spring visits at home. He even sent me an invitation — but I was afraid Father would be displeased, so I didn’t go…” His voice trailed off gradually. Thinking of what Shiyiniang had told him about needing to be bolder, his expression became uncertain. “I was looking at how Father never hosts large-scale banquets himself.” He quickly added, for fear of being scolded by Shiyiniang: “Even at Sixth Younger Brother’s full-month celebration, it was nothing like how it was for Second Younger Sister or Seventh Younger Brother’s…”

Explaining Xu Lingyi’s conduct would be too complicated, and it was not the right moment.

“Then let’s go and ask the Marquis,” Shiyiniang said gently. “If he agrees, we’ll send out invitations for spring guests. If he doesn’t agree, we’ll leave it.”

Xu Sizhun was still somewhat hesitant. “What if Father is displeased…”

“If we don’t try, how will we know whether your father will agree or not?” Shiyiniang encouraged him. “I’ll go with you. I’ll wait for you right outside the study.”

Xu Sizhun heard this, and his eyes lit up. He went with Shiyiniang to Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi listened as his son made his request in a halting, fumbling way, and felt a quiet warmth in his heart.

He could give his son a name and a station, but whether that name and station could be upheld was something Xu Sizhun would have to achieve on his own.

Seeing that his son had suddenly come into his own and begun to understand the importance of friendships, Xu Lingyi not only agreed without hesitation but also dispatched Steward Zhao to assist him with the hosting of guests.

Xu Sizhun was so overwhelmed he could barely believe it. He drifted out the door in a daze, and only upon seeing Shiyiniang did it feel real to him. He ran to Shiyiniang. “Father agreed, Father agreed — he’s even sending Steward Zhao to help me host the guests.”

His face was flushed deep red with excitement.

“You see — opening your mouth wasn’t as frightening as all that, was it?” Shiyiniang said with a warm smile.

Xu Sizhun nodded vigorously.

“All right, let us begin preparing for the spring gathering.” Shiyiniang put on a look of great energy and spirit. “First draw up the guest list, then send out the invitations. Have the attendant boys who usually go out with you inquire about what each guest enjoys eating, and I’ll help you arrange the food and wine.”

Xu Sizhun nodded repeatedly, chattering away. “I know, I know! Wang Yun doesn’t eat sweets, Dou Jing loves fish, Han Jian takes his tea with flowers…” His upturned face was radiant, as if it could chase away the cold of winter.

What a genuinely attentive and thoughtful child Xu Sizhun truly was.

Shiyiniang smiled and lifted her gaze, only to see Xu Lingyi standing behind the window, watching them with a quiet smile on his face.

She caught his eye at that moment, raised an eyebrow at him with a look that said “you see — it’s all your fault,” drew Xu Sizhun close by the shoulder, and walked away from the outer study.

The spring gathering that followed was a great success.

Xu Sizhun ran over to Shiyiniang’s quarters afterward and told her every detail, large and small. By the hour of Hai he still didn’t want to leave — which drove Jin Ge’er, who couldn’t hear any of the story, to glare at him repeatedly.

Thinking of all this, Shiyiniang couldn’t help but smile. “Let the two brothers play together. Teacher Zhao will be back in a few days — there won’t be leisure time like this again.”