Binju’s eldest son Chang’an had been given his name by the Grand Madam herself. He was one year older than Jin Ge’er. He took after Wan Daxian in his features — square, even-set eyes and brows — though his complexion was somewhat dark. For a child his age he was tall and sturdy. He pressed his lips together and held tightly to three-year-old Chang Shun’s hand, his expression carrying a faint unease. He was not the same lively, animated child he had been on previous visits to pay his respects to Shi’er Niang.

“What is this?” Shi’er Niang smiled and beckoned both Chang’an and Chang Shun over. “Last year you were feeding birds with Sui Feng, and now you won’t even say a word!”

Every New Year, Shi’er Niang was so occupied with affairs that Binju, Hupo, and the others would wait until the eighteenth of the first month, after the Lantern Festival, to come and pay their respects. And because of Chang Shun, Binju always brought both children along on each visit.

“He follows his grandfather around all day — watching the forest, gathering firewood, spreading manure, catching insects. He’s growing quieter and quieter.” Binju stroked her son’s head and said softly, “Go on and bow to Madam.”

Chang’an reddened, and taking Chang Shun with him went to kowtow to Shi’er Niang, only to be stopped by her. “You already paid your respects just now — there is no need to kowtow again.” Then she offered them both a handful of sweets and said gently, “Would you like to go to the garden and find Sui Feng to play?” Her gaze, however, rested on Chang Shun beside Chang’an.

The child was a little thin, but the small face was rosy under a fair complexion, and the eyes were bright and lively, full of energy. It was clear Binju had lavished great care on this child.

Chang Shun’s eyes lit up at the offer; he opened his eyes wide and looked to his brother, with every appearance of very much wanting to go.

Chang’an hesitated for a moment, then shook his head gently at Chang Shun, and looked up at Shi’er Niang. Though he seemed a little shy, his voice was clear and steady: “In answer to Madam, my brother and I will stay here and keep our mother company.”

Shi’er Niang was somewhat surprised.

Perhaps because he had grown up on the country estate, Chang’an was very fond of coming to the back garden of the Xu household. In particular, he was drawn to Sui Feng’s corner, where all manner of small animals were kept; on every previous visit he would linger there for a long time, and it was only when Binju came to call him away that he would follow his mother home with reluctance.

Binju, thinking of Chang Shun, assumed that Shi’er Niang had something she wished to say to her. Even with Hupo present, she told the boys to go: “Since Madam says you may go, then go. But remember not to play roughly with Sui Feng, keep an eye on your brother, and don’t let him break any of the Sixth Young Master’s things.”

Chang’an listened and replied obediently, “Yes.” He then gave Shi’er Niang a bow, took his brother’s hand, and followed the little maid out of the room.

Shi’er Niang asked a little maid to bring a stool for Binju, and inquired after her due date and how she was feeling, and they settled into easy domestic conversation.

Binju realized at once that she had misread the situation.

Madam had simply been afraid that the children might feel ill at ease in her presence.

An uneasiness crept over her.

Madam treated them with warmth and courtesy — that was Madam’s kindness. If they took advantage of that and began putting on airs before their mistress, others would notice, and they would laugh not only at Madam for having no authority in her own household, but also at them for being presumptuous and overstepping themselves.

She must find a moment to call the two children back.

Chang’an had grown up among the forests and hills; though he was quite good with the birds and dogs, those animals in the Xu household’s back garden were after all the Sixth Young Master’s belongings. Without the Sixth Young Master’s permission, freely taking hold of them was not something one ought to do.

In the midst of these thoughts, she heard Jin Ge’er’s curious voice drifting in from outside the window: “Aren’t you Chang’an? Why are you standing under the eaves of our house?”

Shi’er Niang heard it too.

No one had expected that instead of going to the back garden, the two boys had stopped under the eaves just outside. Everyone quietly lent an ear, wanting to hear how Chang’an would answer.

A hush fell over the inner room — so still that a dropped pin might have been heard.

“My mother came to pay her respects to Madam.” Chang’an’s tone was even, his voice neither too high nor too low, his words clear and unhurried. “Madam and my mother are talking, so we are waiting here for her to come out.” He paused briefly, then said, “Sixth Young Master, may I pay my respects to you.”

Shi’er Niang quickly leaned toward the window to look. She saw Chang’an taking Chang Shun with him, preparing to bow to Jin Ge’er.

Jin Ge’er paid no mind to the bow being performed and grabbed Chang’an’s hand with delight: “Perfect timing — Seventh Brother and I have been wanting to play kickball! Fourth Brother went out with Father, and Fifth Brother has to practice his characters. Come play with us.” With that, he made to pull Chang’an along.

But Chang’an slipped free of Jin Ge’er’s grasp and with quiet insistence finished the bow he had begun. Then he said, “I don’t know how to play kickball. I’ll just fetch the ball for the Young Master.”

Jin Ge’er stared wide-eyed. “What do you mean you don’t know how to play? Last time you came you played with me!”

He looked as though a sudden understanding had dawned. “You must have gone home and not practiced — so you’ve forgotten. Never mind — when you leave today I’ll give you one to take home, so you can practice, and the next time you come to pay your respects to my mother, you can play kickball with me.” Quite pleased with his own idea, he immediately instructed his page boy Huang Xiaomao, “Go and get Chang’an a ball.”

Chang’an was astonished.

Huang Xiaomao had already gone off at the command.

Chang’an watched Huang Xiaomao’s retreating figure, his lips stirring, but he said nothing in the end, and quietly thanked Jin Ge’er.

Jin Ge’er said, “Then you can come and play kickball with us now!”

Chang’an still shook his head gently: “Sixth Young Master, I need to stay here and wait for my mother to come out.”

“Just have a little maid pass word to her!” Jin Ge’er said, growing somewhat impatient.

Chang’an said, “I also have my brother to look after.”

Jin Ge’er turned to his own page A’jin. “You help Chang’an look after Chang Shun.” Then he said, “Come on, Seventh Brother is waiting in the back garden.”

Chang’an shook free of Jin Ge’er’s hand one more time. “I… I cannot go.”

Jin Ge’er’s eyes went wide, astonishment written all over his face.

This was the first time in his life that anyone had refused him in such a way.

Chang’an looked down.

Chang Shun, frightened by Jin Ge’er’s expression, burrowed into his brother’s arms.

Chang’an quickly reached to comfort and hold Chang Shun.

“Madam, this child — his grandfather has raised him too stubborn!” Binju, standing at the bed and craning to look out, flushed scarlet with embarrassment. “I’ll go speak to him right now.”

Shi’er Niang watched, and felt something stir within her. She waved a hand at Binju: “Don’t. Let us wait and see how he handles it.”

“You… you… you…” Jin Ge’er was so flustered his small face turned purple. “I am inviting you, and you still won’t come and play with me…” He spun about in frustration, then demanded of Chang’an, “Are you going or not?”

His whole manner said: if you don’t, you’ll be sorry.

Chang’an said in a low voice, “My grandfather told me — when coming to pay Madam’s respects, keep to proper conduct: do not look about curiously, do not run around…”

Jin Ge’er had no patience for any of this, and cut him off before he was done, fixing him with a hard stare and demanding, “Are you going or not?” — his expression darkening.

His mother had once told him: when he met the Sixth Young Master, he must be most respectful and deferential.

Chang’an’s expression wavered.

Before he could finish deliberating, Jin Ge’er had already sprung up on his toes and was shouting at Liu Erwu: “Tie him up and give him ten strokes of the board — let’s see if he’ll behave then!”

Never mind Liu Erwu — even the others in the room were startled into a daze by these words.

Binju quickly said, “Madam, I’ll go and apologize to the Sixth Young Master on his behalf.”

Shi’er Niang stopped her once more. “Children’s matters are for children to sort out. We adults had best not interfere.” She stayed where she was, watching.

Binju sent a helpless look at Hupo.

Hupo did not know Shi’er Niang’s intentions either, and could only spread her hands helplessly at Binju.

Binju dared not speak, but stood trembling beside Shi’er Niang, watching with a heart full of dread.

Liu Erwu froze for a moment, then quickly collected himself; he cast a glance at Huang Xiaomao, raised his voice in reply, and began very slowly rolling up his sleeves, shouting all the while: “How dare you refuse our Sixth Young Master!”

Huang Xiaomao caught on too.

They were under Madam’s very eaves. Making this much noise, Madam would certainly hear and come out to look. However she chose to handle it from there would be in her hands.

He mimicked Liu Erwu, rolling up his sleeves, and bellowed: “Our Sixth Young Master does you the honor of asking you to play, and you have the nerve to refuse. See if we don’t tie you up and give you a good ten strokes.”

Concern clouds the mind.

In her heart, Binju found herself blaming the grandfather. Day in and day out, all he talked to Chang’an about was knowing one’s place — yet wasn’t accompanying the young master during playtime also part of a servant’s place? If those ten strokes were really laid on… Her heart clenched as though a knife were turning in it. The tears were already pressing in her eyes. But the corner of her gaze caught Madam’s figure, and she dared not let them fall.

Hupo, watching, tiptoed over, drew Binju by the sleeve, pointed toward Shi’er Niang sitting cross-legged on the bed gazing outward, then shook her head with a silent smile.

Binju’s eyes held a flicker of confusion.

Hupo sighed inwardly.

This Binju — from head to toe, she was missing a certain sharpness.

She had no choice but to lean close and whisper, swift and low: “How could Madam possibly stand by and watch Chang’an get beaten!”

The words were like a lamp lit in darkness. Binju drew a long breath, and her heart at last found a measure of steadiness. She went up on her toes and looked out in the direction Shi’er Niang was watching.

Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu had been putting on their performance for some time, yet no sound came from the main room. Both began to grow quietly anxious — yet neither dared to disobey Jin Ge’er’s command. They stepped forward and grabbed Chang’an by the arms, lowering their voices: “Just admit you were wrong. The Sixth Young Master is not an unreasonable person!”

Chang’an’s expression grew unsettled. Chang Shun, seeing it, clutched his brother’s waist and began to cry, kicking at Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu all the while: “Don’t bully my brother! Don’t bully my brother!”

Thankfully, Chang Shun was used to being pampered and coddled by Binju, and had not much strength in him — otherwise Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu, instead of tying someone up, might have found themselves on the receiving end of a beating.

Chang’an immediately called to his brother, “Stop hitting people — or I’ll never take you out to play again.”

Chang Shun then burst into loud wailing.

Jin Ge’er looked at Chang’an, who stood quietly while Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu held his arms, then looked at Chang Shun crying and carrying on, and a hesitant look crossed his face. “If… if you agree to play with me, I won’t have them beat you.” His tone had grown a little uncertain.

Chang’an, though the son of a servant woman, was no ordinary boy. The Yongping Marquis household was a name of great standing; Wan Daxian was an esteemed steward of the household; his mother Binju had served Shi’er Niang closely; his second uncle managed the Xu family’s Baoding estate and had married the niece of Steward Zhao from the accounts office; his aunt served as senior maid in Xu Sijie’s quarters. The Wan family, moreover, had always conducted themselves with courtesy and restraint, and were well-regarded by all. He walked with more dignity than most children his age. He had never been treated in this manner — and a trace of fear had crept in.

“I… my grandfather said I must not play with the young master,” he murmured, repeating the words of his grandfather Wan Yizong. “He said there is a hierarchy between those above and those below, and the rules of conduct must not be broken… without rules, there can be no order…” As he repeated his grandfather’s words, his resolve began to grow steadier. “I’ll just fetch the ball for the Young Master.”