He had already said he was scared, yet his mother still wanted him to go apologize?

“Mother…” Jin Ge’er stared with wide eyes, biting his lip hard.

Outside the door, the sounds suddenly fell silent. Shiyiniang’s hand rested on the latticework of the ice-crack patterned partition screen.

Mother and son — one inside, one outside — stood facing each other through the door panel.

With a roaring crash, heavy rain was driven sideways by a fierce wind, sweeping in like ocean waves, one surge rising higher than the last. The trees in the courtyard thrashed wildly, their moaning cries cutting through the pitch-black night, filling the heart with dread.

“Mother, Mother!” Fear had won out completely. Jin Ge’er could hold back no longer. He pounded on the door with all his might. “I’ll go apologize to Master Pang, I’ll go apologize to Master Pang…” Even as he said the words, he broke into broken, heaving sobs.

Shiyiniang let out a long, slow breath, and only then realized she was drenched in sweat, her entire body limp and aching as though she had just traversed a mountain range.

She drew a deep breath, doing her best to make her movements appear composed and unhurried, and opened the door.

“Mother!” A familiar small figure threw itself into Shiyiniang’s arms. “Mother…” Wrapping both arms around her neck, he wept in broken, gasping cries.

Shiyiniang held that small body tightly against her.

Hupo’s eyes glistened with moisture. Standing in the main hall, she dabbed the corners of her eyes and called out loudly toward the entrance: “Light the lanterns! Quickly, light the lanterns!”

Outside came cheering.

The great red lanterns lit up one by one, illuminating the excited faces of the crowd.

“You must never do anything like this again!” Shiyiniang released Jin Ge’er, who had finally stopped crying.

“Mm!” Jin Ge’er nodded with a trembling lower lip, the teardrops on his face sparkling like crystals in the lamplight.

Shiyiniang gently patted her son’s head.

Hupo came in carrying a red lacquered, gold-painted tray with a crabapple flower design. “Madam, Sixth Young Master, have some ginger soup.” She added, “The hot water is already prepared.”

Shiyiniang smiled, nodding slightly to Hupo, then helped Jin Ge’er drink his ginger soup. “Once you’ve bathed, we’ll go apologize to Master Pang together.”

Jin Ge’er’s stomach was growling with hunger, but he dared not say a word, and nodded obediently.

Shiyiniang called for Hongwen and A’jin to come in and help Jin Ge’er bathe.

Zhuxiang walked in with a smile. “Madam, a message has already been sent to the Marquis. Dinner is also ready and can be served whenever you wish.”

“Please serve dinner to the Grand Madam and the Marquis first!” Shiyiniang said. “Jin Ge’er and I will go make our apologies to Master Pang and come back to eat afterward.”

Zhuxiang smiled and went to the study.

“I said all along that our Jin Ge’er is not the kind of child who refuses to be reasoned with.” The Grand Madam let out a long sigh of relief, and even the sound of the rain seemed considerably more pleasant to her ears. “I must go see him.” The old lady murmured to herself, “I wonder how the child is doing right now?”

Nanny Du heard this and stepped forward to support the Grand Madam. “And dinner?”

But Xu Lingyi moved ahead of Nanny Du and took the Grand Madam’s arm first. “The rain outside is still coming down hard. The ground is slippery and wet — mind your step. Let me accompany you over there!”

He must be thinking of the boy too.

The Grand Madam smiled, then instructed Nanny Du: “Have dinner set up at Shiyiniang’s place! It’ll be a good chance to keep our Jin Ge’er company. After a punishment this severe, there’s no telling how wretched the poor child must be feeling.” So saying, supported by Xu Lingyi, she went out the door.

Hupo and the others were tidying the wash room, and hearing the movement, hurried out to receive them. “Marquis, Grand Madam — Madam and the Sixth Young Master have gone to Master Pang’s quarters.”

The two were taken aback and exchanged a surprised glance.

“No need to rush like this, surely!” The Grand Madam looked out at the rain still falling in sheets.

Xu Lingyi thought of the conflict between the Grand Madam and Shiyiniang just a moment ago, and quickly said: “Today’s business should be settled today. Better to put this matter to rest as soon as possible!”

The Grand Madam did not press the point further. With Hupo’s assistance, she settled onto the large kang by the window and began asking after Jin Ge’er’s condition. “…Has he sneezed? Has he coughed? Is there anything wrong with him?”

“Not at all!” Hupo smiled and presented the Grand Madam with a cup of hot tea. “Madam was also worried the Sixth Young Master might catch cold, so she specially instructed him to have a hot bath!”

The two fell into conversation, while Xu Lingyi sat nearby, ears quietly attentive.

“Madam!” Master Pang cast a quick glance at the elegant, beautiful, and self-possessed woman before him. His face flushed crimson. “There is no need for this, truly no need. The Sixth Young Master did not mean any harm.” He looked rather flustered. “Besides, the Marquis, the Grand Madam, and the Fifth Madam have all already paid for my treatment.”

“The medical expenses are one thing,” Shiyiniang’s voice was pleasant — neither too loud nor too soft, neither too hurried nor too slow — carrying a composed, unhurried quality that was a pleasure to hear. “He made a mistake, so he must still offer Master his apology.” As she spoke, she gave Jin Ge’er an encouraging smile.

Jin Ge’er looked at Master Pang’s rugged face and recalled the severity of his usual gaze. He clenched his fists tightly, his lips moving — but even after struggling for a long while, he could not force out a single word.

For a child of noble birth like him, when had he ever humbled himself like this? That the adults in his family were willing to condescend to bring a child here to make an apology had already given Master Pang more than enough face — the man ought to know what was good for him.

Master Pang was perceptive beneath his rough exterior. He stepped forward warmly, draping an arm around Jin Ge’er’s shoulder, and said with a smile: “Master already understands what you mean. A man who can acknowledge and correct his mistakes is a true man of character.” He then let out a couple of hearty chuckles in an attempt to lighten the mood. “Only, remember to come to Xiumu Courtyard for your lessons a little earlier tomorrow. The place felt rather empty without you today.” He was helping Jin Ge’er save face.

Jin Ge’er breathed a sigh of relief, and turned to look at Shiyiniang.

But Shiyiniang gently shook her head, and said to Master Pang: “Jin Ge’er has been confined to quarters by his father. He still has two days before he can return to lessons!”

Master Pang was quite surprised.

Compensating for medical treatment, then confinement to quarters, and now coming in person to make a formal apology… it was clear that the Xu family ran a strict household when it came to the children!

“So it seems I won’t be seeing the Sixth Young Master for another two days!”

Shiyiniang smiled, glancing at Jin Ge’er.

Jin Ge’er steeled himself. In a voice that was barely above a whisper, he managed at last: “Master, I was wrong. I will never do this again.” The words were faint, but they came out.

“Think nothing of it, think nothing of it!” Master Pang waved his hands immediately. “Look at me — I’m perfectly fine, aren’t I? It’s all settled now, all settled.” He added, “The Sixth Young Master is a straightforward and honest young man. Now that we have talked it out, let’s never speak of this again — otherwise I really will have to take offense.” With that, he put on a mock expression of displeasure.

Jin Ge’er exhaled in relief, his expression lightening considerably.

Shiyiniang then said a few words along the lines of “I hope Master Pang will continue to take good care of Jin Ge’er going forward — if he makes trouble, please do not hesitate to send a servant to let me know,” then took Jin Ge’er’s hand and left.

The rain seemed to have eased a little. The bluestone paving had been washed clean, gleaming brilliantly in the glow of the great red lanterns.

Shiyiniang and Jin Ge’er walked along the covered corridor back toward the inner courtyard.

“It wasn’t so very hard to say sorry after all, was it?” she asked Jin Ge’er with a smile. “And Master Pang didn’t lose his temper with you, did he?”

Thinking of how it had felt like a fish-bone lodged in his throat before he said the words, and how light-hearted he felt afterward, Jin Ge’er was a little embarrassed. He lowered his head and gave a soft “mm.”

Ever since he had yielded, he had become somewhat tentative and cautious in front of Shiyiniang.

But that would swing too far in the other direction.

Shiyiniang thought this over, then stopped walking and embraced her son affectionately, just as she always did: “Still, Jin Ge’er did very well just now. Mother is very proud!”

Jin Ge’er looked up in surprise, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.

Shiyiniang smiled and gave him a firm, reassuring nod.

Watching her, the corners of his mouth slowly curved upward, and a small glimmer of his old bright and lively spirit returned to his eyes.

“Everyone makes mistakes!” Shiyiniang took his hand and walked on slowly. “When we make mistakes, we simply have to correct them…”

The dim, warm lamplight stretched their shadows long behind them.

The maids followed at a careful distance, stepping softly, fearful of treading upon the shadows of the two figures ahead.

The next day, the news that Jin Ge’er had gone to Master Pang to make a formal apology spread throughout the Xu Mansion.

In the grove after the rain, the grass was still damp and glistening.

Shen Ge’er’s pageboy lay sprawled in the bushes, while Shen Ge’er stood on the pageboy’s back to hurl pebbles at Jin Ge’er’s window lattice.

Half a day passed with no movement from the side room.

“How strange!” Shen Ge’er jumped down with the help of another pageboy. “Can it be that Sixth Brother was frightened out of his wits by Fourth Uncle?”

“Surely not?” the pageboy said quickly, eager to please. “Sixth Young Master has been confined to quarters, hasn’t he? Perhaps someone is in his room and it’s inconvenient for him to make a sound!”

A look of comprehension dawned on Shen Ge’er’s face. “Could Fourth Uncle be in his room? No — Fourth Uncle and my father went to Weibei Marquis’s mansion next door… could it be Fourth Aunt?” At this thought he laughed. “Come on, let’s go visit Sixth Brother…”

“Seventh Young Master…” The two pageboys quickly tried to stop him. “What if the Fourth Madam tells the Fifth Madam…”

They had slipped away without permission.

“She won’t!” Shen Ge’er said carelessly, already heading toward the back gate of the main courtyard. “Fourth Aunt never tells people about these things.” He talked as he walked. “And Fourth Aunt is the gentlest person around — her room is always full of good things to eat. If we go, there’ll definitely be pulled-sugar candy and rose paste cakes…”

The two pageboys dared not lag behind and answered with a word before trotting to keep up.

In the courtyard after the rain, the leaves on the trees were a lush, vivid green, and the air was filled with the fresh fragrance that only wet grass can carry.

“Seventh Young Master!” The maids and serving women they passed along the way curtseyed in turn and stepped to one side.

Shen Ge’er did not so much as glance at them, heading straight to Jin Ge’er’s side room.

A’jin caught his eye and said quietly: “The Fourth Madam is inside, supervising the Sixth Young Master’s calligraphy practice!”

Just the Fourth Aunt, not Fourth Uncle. Shen Ge’er wasn’t the least bit concerned. Grinning, he pushed his way in.

The room was very quiet. Shiyiniang sat beside the kang doing needlework, while Jin Ge’er sat at the kang table practicing calligraphy with copybooks.

Seeing Shen Ge’er, Jin Ge’er’s face lit up with delight.

“Seventh Brother!” He called out and was about to jump to his feet, but then caught sight of Shen Ge’er’s hands, both wrapped tightly in white cloth, and stared in astonishment. “What…?”

“Oh!” Shen Ge’er said, somewhat sheepishly. “I got a beating from my mother!”

Shen Ge’er had been beaten because of Master Pang’s incident too?

Jin Ge’er broke into a wide grin, but as his eye caught Shiyiniang sitting nearby, he wilted and sat back down. “I… I still have two pages of copybook practice left. Wait for me!”

His mother had said that whatever you do, you must focus. You must persevere. Once you have started, you must not give up halfway. In the old days, if Shen Ge’er came to see him, he would play with him first and only do his copybook practice when he was tired of playing. But now he didn’t quite dare…

Shiyiniang had heard about Shen Ge’er’s punishment early that morning and had gone to see him herself.

“Shen Ge’er is here!” She smiled and greeted him. “Go to the main hall first and have some fruit and pastries. Wait until Sixth Brother finishes his copybook practice, and then you two can play. How does that sound?”

Jin Ge’er’s behavior pleased her greatly.

In the past, she had always had to supervise him closely to make sure he finished his studies before going to play. Now he was disciplining himself — for whatever reason, this was no small step forward!

—