Jin Ge’er and the Old Madam were in the storeroom.

“This one is beautiful!” He pointed to a pomegranate from among a long row of lacquered boxes.

The pomegranate was no larger than a fist, its rind carved from jade, its flesh composed of rubies, with a tiny white butterfly carved from ivory perched atop it — altogether utterly charming.

The Old Madam laughed merrily and told Yuban: “Have this one packed up.” Then she bent down and said softly to Jin Ge’er, “Is there another beautiful one?”

Jin Ge’er looked around and pointed to a Maitreya Buddha about three inches tall.

The Maitreya was jet-black — it was impossible to tell what material it was made of. Bare-chested, round-bellied, with a beaming, contented smile and an air of pure joy.

The Old Madam told Yuban: “Pack that one up as well.”

Yuban smiled and answered “Yes.”

The Second Madam couldn’t help saying, “Mother, Jin Ge’er is still very young. These are far too valuable. If you want to give him something, wait until he is a little older and reward him then.”

“It’s perfectly all right,” said the Old Madam, waving it off. “Our Jin Ge’er is not the sort of child who doesn’t know the weight of things,” she added, hugging Jin Ge’er and planting a kiss on him, then smiling at him affectionately. “Isn’t that right, Jin Ge’er!”

Jin Ge’er nodded repeatedly.

The Old Madam asked him gently, “Take a look — is there anything else you like?”

Jin Ge’er’s eyes began roaming among the lacquered boxes.

The Second Madam looked at the two of them absorbed together with great interest, and could only shake her head with a helpless smile.

By the time Xu Lingyi and Shiyiniang arrived, the Old Madam was reclining at an angle on the eastern side of the large kang by the window in the west side chamber. Xin Jie’er was sitting obediently at the Old Madam’s side, and the Second Madam was seated in the grand armchair at the edge of the kang. The black lacquer inlaid mother-of-pearl bird-and-flower kang table that had been in the middle of the large kang had been moved aside, and the nearly eight-month-old Cheng Ge’er was sitting there. Jin Ge’er and Xun Ge’er stood at opposite ends of the western kang — one holding a pellet drum, the other clapping his hands.

“Come to me, come to me!” The two of them called out to Cheng Ge’er back and forth.

Cheng Ge’er’s large round black eyes looked wide open, darting between his familiar brothers and the pellet drum in Jin Ge’er’s hand, looking entirely uncertain about what to do. The Old Madam laughed and laughed.

Fifth Lady, standing at the edge of the kang, rubbed her second son’s black hair with an air of fond exasperation: “Silly boy!”

Taking advantage of this, Cheng Ge’er crawled into his mother’s arms, then pointed at Jin Ge’er and babbled for a long while, as if he were asking Fifth Lady to help him get the pellet drum back.

Xu Lingkuan had already stepped forward with a smile to greet Xu Lingyi and Shiyiniang: “Fourth Brother, Fourth Sister-in-law!”

Xu Lingyi smiled at his younger brother: “No duty roster today!”

“That’s right!” Xu Lingkuan bowed to Xu Lingyi and Shiyiniang. “His Majesty went to the western mountain retreat and has not yet returned. Those of us left behind in Yanjing have nothing much to do. The weather has been so hot that Vice Commander Liu has adjusted the shifts — everyone does three days on and four days off. Everyone is glad of the lighter burden.”

His Majesty had taken the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the rest of the imperial family to the western mountain palace in the middle of the sixth month. The Grand Secretariat ministers and the officials of the Six Ministries had all followed along, turning the originally quiet and spacious Western Hills overnight into a place thronging with carriages and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.

While they were speaking, all the adults and children at the edge of the kang had already looked over. The moment Xu Lingkuan finished speaking, Jin Ge’er leaped up: “Father! Mother!”

The Old Madam also smiled warmly at them: “You’ve come!”

Xu Lingyi and Shiyiniang answered respectfully, stepped forward to pay their respects to the Old Madam, the sisters-in-law exchanged greetings, Zhihong led two young maidservants in to pour tea, Jin Ge’er wanted to climb down from the kang, and Yuban hurried over to help him with his shoes. On the other side, Cheng Ge’er also saw this and demanded to be helped down from the kang, and Yuban went to help Cheng Ge’er with his shoes as well. Adults and children filled the room with happy commotion, yet it carried a sense of warm and cozy liveliness.

The Old Madam watched with eyes crinkled into smiles.

After quite a while, everyone settled into their seats in proper order.

The Second Madam asked about Xu Lingkuan’s shift adjustment: “Didn’t His Majesty leave Grand Secretary Liang in the capital? With your shift being adjusted like this, did he not say anything?”

“Vice Commander Liu consulted Grand Secretary Liang beforehand,” said Xu Lingkuan with a smile. “Grand Secretary Liang said this was a matter for the Imperial Guard — he didn’t understand such things. He only knew that the post must not be left unmanned, and nothing untoward must happen.”

The Second Madam smiled: “No wonder people say Grand Secretary Liang is smooth and adaptable, handling all sides with ease. Though I’m afraid it may give someone a handle to use against him.”

Since this concerned Xu Lingkuan himself, Xu Lingyi couldn’t help tensing slightly upon hearing this, and quickly said, “A handle against whom? I simply go with the flow — I neither led the charge nor dragged my heels.”

Seeing Xu Lingkuan’s anxious expression, the Second Madam smiled: “I wasn’t referring to you. I meant Grand Secretary Liang.” She continued, “In years past, the older Grand Secretaries were advanced in age and approaching retirement. Wanting to leave a good impression on all sides, they naturally turned a blind eye to things from time to time. But now the newly appointed Grand Secretaries Dou and Wei are both in their prime, at the height of their ambitions. When nothing goes wrong, it’s all well and good, but if something does go amiss, Grand Secretary Liang may find himself with a great deal of explaining to do.”

Xu Lingkuan understood immediately. He couldn’t help frowning: “The country is at peace and the people are thriving — can they not spare us from stirring up trouble?”

“At peace?” The Second Madam smiled with a hint of skepticism. “I have heard that since the start of the sixth month, Japanese pirates have been repeatedly landing along the Fujian coast to pillage, burn, and kill. We live here in Yanjing, beneath the emperor’s very feet, at the heart of the capital — naturally we feel none of it. But the common people in Jiangnan live in deep suffering, so terrified of the pirates that they tremble at the mere mention of them…”

Seeing that the Second Madam’s words were growing ever more serious and the topic ever more far-reaching — and that it had all been touched off because of Fifth Lord — Fifth Lady smiled and interjected, “Oh my, matters like these naturally have His Majesty and all the officials to worry about. People like us just need to look after ourselves and not cause any trouble.” Then she smiled and asked Shiyiniang, “Why haven’t I seen Yu Ge’er and Zhun Ge’er?”

The Second Madam’s expression dimmed faintly, and she lowered her head over her teacup as if to conceal something. When she raised her head again, her face was serene as a light breeze and drifting clouds.

No one had noticed her momentary desolation.

The eyes of the Old Madam and the others had all fallen on Shiyiniang; Shiyiniang was at that moment bending her head to straighten Jin Ge’er’s collar. She smiled and looked up at the question: “I sent word for them to come straight here after dinner. By the time, they should be nearly here!”

The Old Madam then inquired about Xu Siyu’s examination: “…We ought to pick an auspicious day and offer some incense sticks before the Star of Literature” she said, turning to Xu Lingyi.

“I have already looked at the almanac,” said Xu Lingyi, who had clearly thought ahead. “There is an auspicious day coming up in two days. I was planning to go with Yu Ge’er.”

“I have a day off,” said Xu Lingkuan with a smile. “I’ll accompany Yu Ge’er on that trip as well!”

“Splendid!” said Xu Lingyi with a smile. “The scenery there is quite fine.”

While they were talking, the three brothers Xu Siyu arrived.

Fifth Lady remarked with surprise, “How did you all end up coming together?”

Xu Siyu was usually alone, while Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie were inseparable.

Xu Sizhun glanced at Xu Siyu and said, “It was Second Brother who invited us.”

“We’re all staying in the outer courtyard,” said Xu Siyu with a smile. “It was just a slight detour.” He tacitly confirmed what Xu Sizhun had said.

Xu Lingyi gave a slight nod.

The Old Madam beckoned the three brothers to be seated and asked Xu Sizhun: “Are your studies keeping you busy? Is there enough ice? Has that young Young Master Dou come to find you to play again lately?”

“The studies are not too demanding,” said Xu Sizhun, answering respectfully one by one. “There is enough ice. Just yesterday Mother sent Zhuxiang to ask after us. Young Master Dou has gone to the Western Hills with Grand Secretary Dou, so he hasn’t been by these past few days.”

The Old Madam said with some feeling, turning to Xu Lingyi: “Who would have thought that Grand Secretary Dou, going to the Western Hills, would even bring his son along!”

There was a clear undertone in her words of “look at how other people raise their children.”

Xu Lingyi smiled with a touch of helplessness.

Shiyiniang, however, noticed that Xu Sijie, who had been very quiet since entering the room, was looking at Xu Sizhun with an expression of astonishment.

She looked at Xu Sizhun, whose expression remained perfectly composed, and fell into thoughtful reflection.

Everyone sat talking for a good half hour, and then the Second Madam rose to take her leave, and the rest dispersed along with her.

On the way back, Shiyiniang asked Xu Lingyi curiously, “How does Second Sister-in-law know so much about affairs at court?”

“When I was still in the old family seat, some news was not convenient to send directly to the potential imperial seat,” said Xu Lingyi in a low voice. “So Xiangyi would use the pretext of bringing me clothes to pass things to Second Sister-in-law, who would then use the pretext of paying her respects to the Empress to deliver them to the potential imperial seat. Later, as matters grew ever more numerous, there were situations where Second Sister-in-law found it inconvenient to appear personally. She arranged for one of her loyal and devoted attendants to help out at the estate management office. That attendant is no longer at the estate management office now, but she has a shrewder understanding of affairs than most. Sometimes when she comes to deliver revenues from the properties, she shares news of the outside world with Second Sister-in-law.”

“No wonder Second Sister-in-law knows everything…” Shiyiniang said with a smile, when from behind came the breathless, low voice of a woman: “Marquis! Fourth Madam!”

The two of them turned around and saw Yuban walking quickly toward them.

“Marquis! Fourth Madam!” She steadied her breath, curtseyed, and held out a deep purple-red pouch embroidered with peonies in gold thread. “This is something the Sixth Young Master left behind at the Old Madam’s place. The Old Madam has specially sent this servant to deliver it.”

Shiyiniang was somewhat surprised.

Jin Ge’er hadn’t brought anything with him when he went over…

Yuban continued, “The Old Madam is still waiting for this servant to return and attend to her evening toilette…”

Which was to say: please receive it so she could be on her way.

Shiyiniang took it with a mind full of bewilderment, telling Zhuxiang to accept the pouch.

The pouch seemed unexpectedly heavy — it took Zhuxiang by surprise, and she nearly dropped it when taking hold of it.

Shiyiniang was quietly astonished. She went back and opened the pouch.

A dazzling shimmer of pearls and gems swept toward her, brightening the entire room.

Xu Lingyi was taken aback: “This is…”

Shiyiniang smiled wryly: “Mother says this is what Jin Ge’er left behind there!”

Xu Lingyi’s brow furrowed slightly: “Why would Mother suddenly think to give Jin Ge’er so many things, every one of them extraordinarily precious… Could it be Mother’s health…” As he said it, his voice had already begun to tremble.

“I specifically asked Physician Liu to come and take everyone’s pulse at the start of autumn,” said Shiyiniang thoughtfully. “If Mother were unwell, someone of Physician Liu’s character — even if he did not tell this concubine, he would certainly have told the Marquis.” She suddenly thought of Fifth Lady’s visit, and described the situation at the time, “…Could it be because of this?”

Xu Lingyi was startled for a moment, then thought carefully: “That is indeed possible!” And then he burst into hearty laughter: “This boy — tight-fisted every day of his life, and yet when it truly matters, he still knows to show devotion to his elders. Well done, well done!” As the laughter gradually faded, he said with warmth, “Shiyiniang” — he put his arm around Shiyiniang’s shoulders — “it is you who taught him well.” He gazed at her with deep and earnest eyes, filled with a particular sincerity and tenderness that left Shiyiniang feeling somewhat flustered.

She gave a quiet little cough and answered with something entirely unrelated: “The Marquis mentioned it just now — this concubine was just worrying over who to send with Jin Ge’er to pick those tangerines.”

Xu Lingyi seemed slightly surprised, and a faint smile rose in his eyes: “With such an ideal candidate standing right before you, and you can’t even think to consider it properly!”

—