The Grand Madam hurriedly patted her on the back to help her breathe.

After quite some time, Yuan Niang finally stopped coughing.

She opened her palm — in the center of her hand lay a clot of dark red blood.

The First Madam looked on in alarm, yet her face betrayed no shock. She quickly called the maidservants over to clean Yuan Niang up, while with her lips she comforted her. “It’s all right, it’s all right. This is stagnant energy pressing on your heart — now that it’s come up, you’ll recover quickly.”

And Yuan Niang, gazing at the blood in the palm of her hand, let a single tear fall from the corner of her eye.

“It’s all right, it’s all right.” The Grand Madam comforted her, though with somewhat faltering conviction. “This is stagnant energy pressing on your heart — once it comes up, you’ll be fine.”

The quick-witted maidservants had already brought water forward — some knelt to hold the copper basin, others crouched to ease off her bracelets, and with light, careful hands they washed her clean.

Yuan Niang’s personal maidservant, Lv’e, stepped forward with tears in her eyes to offer her tea. “Mistress, please rinse your mouth!”

Yuan Niang let herself be attended to in a daze, drinking the tea, then lying back down with a blank and vacant expression as the maidservants settled her once more.

Looking at this daughter-in-law who lay so utterly without life, the Grand Madam could not help but feel a pang in her heart, and her thoughts drifted back to when Yuan Niang had first come into the household.

A small face the size of a palm, luminous as jade, her gaze clear and bright when she looked at people. When Xiao Si turned his eyes toward her, her own would shimmer with a warm, joyful light… When had that light finally faded away? When the child miscarried, she had been heartbroken, yet she still comforted Xiao Si; when Wen Shi was taken as a concubine, she had been unhappy, but at times she would still regard Xiao Si with a teasing, playful look; when told she might never bear another child, she had been grief-stricken, yet like a reed she had bent but not broken… When had it been, exactly?

It seemed to have been after Yi Zhen moved to Shaohua Courtyard. After An’er’s death, Yi Zhen had continued to live in the main room. She had several times proposed moving to Shaohua Courtyard in the back garden, but Xiao Si had each time stopped her. Then someone introduced Yuan Niang to a feng shui reader, who said that the place where Yuan Niang lived was incompatible with her birth characters, which was why she had difficulty conceiving, and advised her to move to the position of Kun, which would be favorable for children. The Kun position in the Xu household was precisely the main room. Yi Zhen, upon hearing this, had insisted on moving out. After that, the two of them were rarely seen going out together, and later, when Xiao Si went off to war, the two of them had hardly spoken at all.

The Grand Madam’s eyes stung. She watched as Lv’e finished attending to Yuan Niang and stepped back — and then Yuan Niang suddenly sat bolt upright. She seized the Grand Madam’s arm in a tight grip, as though clutching a lifeline. “Mother, Mother, I cannot leave Zhun Ge behind — I cannot leave Zhun Ge behind… Save my Zhun Ge… Do you remember? The physicians said I could never conceive again, and neither you nor I believed them — you sought out doctors everywhere for me. Every sort of traveling physician, you received with courtesy. Every manner of thing — scorpions, toads — I tried them all. At last I conceived Zhun Ge, and you brought me to the temple to give thanks to the Bodhisattva. It was cold in the temple at night, and fearing I might catch a chill, you tucked my feet into the folds of your robe…”

The Grand Madam could no longer hold herself together. Tears rolled down like beads.

She thought of her eldest son, who had died in infancy; her second son, who had left this world without leaving anything behind. Zhun Ge was Yuan Niang’s own flesh and blood, and he was also the grandchild she cherished most.

“You can rest easy — rest easy. I will help raise him. He will live by my side!” The Grand Madam covered her face and wept.

But Yuan Niang let out a startled cry. “Mother, why has it suddenly gone dark? ” As she spoke, her hands groped blindly in the air. “Mother, Mother, where are you?”

The Grand Madam moved to take her daughter-in-law’s hand, but someone was there before her, already clasping Yuan Niang’s hand. “All is well. Lie still and you’ll be all right.”

The voice was warm and steady, carrying a calm, composed strength that instantly quieted Yuan Niang.

“My lord, my lord…” She clutched that warm hand tight, not knowing her own grip was pitifully weak.

“It’s me.” Xu Lingyi’s voice was as composed as ever, no different from any other day.

The Grand Madam quickly stood and gave her son room to sit, then directed the maidservants to bring the calming medicine.

Xu Lingyi received it himself and said quietly, “The medicine is ready. Drink it and sleep well. When you wake, all will be better.”

Yuan Niang said nothing and let Xu Lingyi help her take the medicine.

Xu Lingyi settled her back against the pillows and tucked the bedding around her. As he was about to rise, Yuan Niang suddenly reached out and caught the hem of his robe. “My lord, am I going to die?”

Xu Lingyi was still for a long moment, then said, “Rest and recover. Don’t trouble yourself with such thoughts.”

“I know I won’t live much longer.” Her eyes were hollow and vacant, her voice carrying a small thread of serenity beneath its calm. “We have been husband and wife — I want to ask one thing of you…”

“Speak.” Xu Lingyi lowered his eyes.

“When I am gone, choose one of my sisters to be your new wife.”

Everyone in the room was stunned. The maidservants dared not even breathe. The room was as heavy and still as water sunken deep.

Xu Lingyi looked around at the maidservants, the young mistresses, the older women — all holding their breath in silence. His gaze grew faintly solemn. “Very well.”

Yuan Niang turned her head. Her hollow eyes drifted without focus.

“I have given you my word.” Xu Lingyi’s voice was very soft. “Now rest.”

The Grand Madam gazed at Yuan Niang’s calm, composed face, and for reasons she could not explain, the image of Eleventh Miss’s serene and gentle face suddenly rose in her mind.

Yuan Niang lay with her wide eyes open, straining to find Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi considered for a moment, then said, “Rest easy. I will discuss this matter with your mother.”

Yuan Niang, hearing this, slowly closed her eyes.

Xu Lingyi could see clearly what it meant. He let out a quiet sigh and instructed Nanny Tao, “Send someone to Bowstring Lane to ask the Luo Family’s First Madam to come.”

Nanny Tao went to carry out the order.

The corners of Yuan Niang’s mouth lifted. She smiled, tilted her head, and sank into a deep sleep.

Xu Lingyi watched his wife for a moment, then rose and offered his arm to the Grand Madam. “Mother, let me help you back.”

The Grand Madam nodded, and Yuan Niang was left in Nanny Tao’s care.

The two walked back in silence. Once in the Grand Madam’s chambers, the maidservants attended her as she changed and freshened herself, and mother and son settled on the large kang by the window of the west side room. After the maidservants served tea, Nanny Du sent all the attendants out of the room.

“Going to summon the in-law’s family at a time like this — isn’t that rather awkward?” The Grand Madam’s voice carried a note of hesitation.

Xu Lingyi gazed at the apricot tree beyond the glass window, now lush with green, and said levelly, “Given what she has said, she must have weighed it for a long while and thought it through at length. If I’m not mistaken, mother and daughter will have already settled on a candidate long ago, and were merely waiting for an opportunity to raise it with me.”

The Grand Madam showed no great surprise. She raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, calmly, “And what do you intend to do?”

“Mother should discuss it with the First Madam.” Xu Lingyi turned to look at his mother, his gaze deep and unreadable. “She fears Zhun Ge won’t grow up safely — and I am uneasy as well. Let it be as she wishes. Whoever she thinks is best, so be it.”

“You.” The Grand Madam looked at her son and shook her head. “Even if they are sisters — when the day comes for resentment to arise, it will arise just the same. She has chosen her own sister, but that’s no guarantee Zhun Ge will come to no harm. If it truly comes to the worst, and she cannot make it through, I think Zhun Ge had better come to me to be raised. He can keep Zhen Jie’er company as well.”

Xu Lingyi hesitated slightly. “At your age…”

“As if I’m going to be feeding him and watering him with my own hands. There are still wet nurses, maidservants, and women servants, are there not?” The Grand Madam laughed. “Besides, having him here would liven things up. I’d be more than happy.”

Seeing that his mother’s smile had reached her eyes, Xu Lingyi could not help but smile in return. “If you should ever feel tired — you mustn’t suffer in silence.”

The Grand Madam, seeing that her son had agreed, nodded, then said thoughtfully, “What do you think of Luo Family’s Eleventh Miss?”

Xu Lingyi paused. “The one who blocked Wen Yiniang at the door?”

The Grand Madam nodded. “I thought she seemed quite composed and steady.”

Xu Lingyi suddenly understood his mother’s intent, and was struck speechless. “She and Zhen Jie’er are nearly the same age!”

The Grand Madam gave a helpless smile. “There’s nothing to be done about it. The fifth daughter is the right age, but in my eyes she seems a bit flighty; the tenth daughter is quite pretty, but in my view she still has an air of childishness about her.”

“Mother.” Xu Lingyi could not help but frown. He was about to say something when a young maidservant announced, “Grand Madam, Imperial Physician Liu from the Imperial Medical Academy has arrived.”

The Grand Madam glanced at her son and smiled. “Please show Imperial Physician Liu in.”

The maidservant went to comply, and before long returned leading in an old man with entirely white hair and beard.

“My respects to the Grand Madam.” The moment he stepped through the door, he bowed to the Grand Madam. Catching sight of Xu Lingyi, he bowed to him as well. “The Marquis is home as well!”

The Grand Madam raised her hand slightly. “Imperial Physician Liu need not stand on ceremony.” Xu Lingyi gave Imperial Physician Liu a brief nod.

A maidservant brought a stool for him. Imperial Physician Liu sat down and presented the prescription he had just written.

A maidservant at the side took it and passed it to the Grand Madam.

The Grand Madam put on her spectacles and lay back against the large bolster pillow to read it at length, then passed the prescription to Xu Lingyi.

“These are all tonics for replenishing blood and vital energy.” The Grand Madam’s expression grew somewhat grave.

Imperial Physician Liu glanced at Xu Lingyi and said quietly, “At this point, we can only leave it to fate and do what we can.”

The white sheet of paper bearing the prescription was crushed into a curve between Xu Lingyi’s fingers.

“Many thanks to Imperial Physician Liu.” His voice was flat and even. He instructed a maidservant to see the guest out.

Imperial Physician Liu rose, considered a moment, and said, “The Fourth Young Mistress requires quiet recuperation and must not be provoked into further anger.” Then he bowed his farewell to the Grand Madam and Xu Lingyi and withdrew.

Xu Lingyi then turned to his mother. “Do you think it would be possible to invite another physician to examine Yuan Niang?”

The Grand Madam sighed and gave a pained smile. “Imperial Physician Liu has overseen the Imperial Medical Academy for twenty years. What physician could I possibly find beyond that?”

Xu Lingyi was at a loss for words.

From outside came the sounds of a child’s laughter mingling with a young girl’s.

“Give it to me, give it to me!” Zhun Ge’s childish voice was filled with delight.

Xu Lingyi could not help but glance toward the window.

A large group of maidservants and women servants dressed in reds and greens surrounded Zhen Jie’er and Zhun Ge. Zhen Jie’er held something high above her head — it was impossible to tell what — and was teasing Zhun Ge with it. Zhun Ge stood on his tiptoes, straining to reach it no matter how he tried, and in his desperation kept circling around Zhen Jie’er.

A woman servant went over and said a few words, and both Zhen Jie’er and Zhun Ge’s laughter quieted. Zhen Jie’er then straightened Zhun Ge’s collar, and the two of them walked hand in hand in this direction.

The Grand Madam had seen them too. “Zhen Jie’er is a good child.”

“That is because you raised her well.” Xu Lingyi replied with neutral indifference, then turned to sit upright with proper composure.

The First Madam sighed and also turned to sit up properly.

From outside came the voices of maidservants announcing, “Grand Madam, Marquis — the eldest young miss and the fourth young master have come to pay their respects.”

“Come in.” The Grand Madam’s voice was warm and mild; Xu Lingyi’s expression, however, carried a measure of sternness.

Zhen Jie’er and Zhun Ge came in and respectfully greeted their grandmother and father.

The Grand Madam beckoned to Zhun Ge. “Come, come sit with Grandmother.”

Zhun Ge cast a glance at his father before taking small, hesitant steps toward the Grand Madam.

Xu Lingyi watched this and frowned slightly.

Zhun Ge’s steps grew even smaller.

Zhen Jie’er stood there as well, somewhat at a loss.

The Grand Madam observed this with a faint shake of her head and smiled. “If the Marquis has matters to attend to, please feel free to go ahead.”

Xu Lingyi seemed to want to say something, but after a moment’s thought, respectfully bowed to the Grand Madam, said “Yes,” and walked out.

Without Xu Lingyi present, Zhun Ge immediately brightened. He smiled and asked his grandmother, “Is Mother still sleeping? Has she woken up? Did she ask about me?”

Zhen Jie’er, having some grasp of the situation, looked at Zhun Ge with eyes full of compassion.

The Grand Madam laughed gently. “Yes, your mother is still sleeping. When she wakes, she will certainly ask about Zhun Ge. At that time, Nanny Tao will come here to carry you over to her!”

Zhun Ge pressed his lips together in a smile.

Then a young maidservant announced, “Grand Madam, the in-law’s family’s madam has arrived!”

—