Eleventh Lady and Xu Sijie came out of the resting room, chatting and laughing, but did not see Jin Ge’er. Knowing that Xu Lingyi had taken him to the small study in the outer courtyard, Xu Sijie tugged at Eleventh Lady’s sleeve with a somewhat bashful look. “Mother…”

Sitting for the imperial examinations was not only a matter of Xu Sijie’s future — for the Xu Family, it was also a significant affair. It was impossible not to consult Xu Lingyi. Although Xu Sijie had appeared full of confidence before Eleventh Lady, when it came to actually facing Xu Lingyi, he still felt a little uncertain.

Eleventh Lady smiled. “I’ll accompany you to speak with your father.”

There were some things Xu Sijie would need to learn to face on his own, little by little.

He drew a long, deep breath, spent some time steeling himself inwardly, and then gave Eleventh Lady a nod — a look of resolute determination had already appeared on his face.

Eleventh Lady observed this with quiet approval and went with him to the small study in the outer courtyard.

Xu Lingyi was reclining at an angle in his leisure chair, the jade pendant at his waist hanging in mid-air, swaying back and forth like a pendulum with the rocking of the chair.

“Wuchang!” “Jingzhou!” “Xiangyang!”… He called out place names at random, and Jin Ge’er, who was sprawled face-down over a map of the nine provinces, stuck his bottom up in the air as he searched for each one.

“What on earth are you two doing?” Eleventh Lady was given quite a fright.

“Mother!” Jin Ge’er jumped to his feet. “Father and I are playing a game of finding places!” He pulled Eleventh Lady over in front of the map. “Look, this is a map — a map of Great Zhou!” Then he tilted his head and asked, “Mother, do you know what a ‘map’ is?” He explained carefully, “It means all the mountains and rivers of Great Zhou are drawn on this picture at a scale of one to one hundred thousand.” Then he added, “Do you know what one to one hundred thousand means?” As he said this, he held up his index finger. “Look, my finger is only this long, but this length on the map represents one hundred thousand fingers put together…”

“Alright, alright!” At some point Xu Lingyi had walked over. He patted Jin Ge’er on the head. “Stop showing off in front of your mother. Your mother not only knows what a map is — she also has a copy of the Comprehensive Gazetteer of Great Zhou’s Nine Regions. Where is Wuchang? How far is it from Yanjing? What rivers run alongside it? Which counties does it govern? All of it is written out clearly.”

Jin Ge’er stared wide-eyed at Eleventh Lady, a hint of awe creeping into his gaze.

Eleventh Lady shot Xu Lingyi a sideways glance, then said gently to her son, “Mother does have such a book. But having the book and being able to recite its contents backwards are two entirely different things…”

Jin Ge’er let out an “oh,” his expression becoming one of sudden enlightenment.

“I know, I know!” he exclaimed. “It’s like me reading the Elementary Studies — some characters I recognize, some I don’t. Some places I know, some I don’t.”

Everyone found what he said amusing and burst out laughing.

“Was I wrong?” Jin Ge’er muttered, looking a little disgruntled.

“You were absolutely right.” Xu Lingyi looked at his son, a pride in his eyes that Eleventh Lady couldn’t quite understand. “So you must memorize every single place name. That way, when someone mentions a location, you won’t give an answer that misses the point entirely.”

Jin Ge’er nodded very earnestly.

Eleventh Lady, meanwhile, exchanged a look with Xu Sijie, signaling that Xu Lingyi was in a fine mood at this moment — there was no better time to bring up the matter.

Xu Sijie understood, but as this was the first time he had ever made a request directly before Xu Lingyi, he still felt a bit nervous. He adjusted his composure before saying in a low voice, “Father, I… I have something I wish to discuss with you!” His voice trembled faintly.

A flicker of surprise crossed Xu Lingyi’s eyes. Noticing that Eleventh Lady had accompanied Xu Sijie, he composed his expression and assumed an air of attentive listening. Yet the habitual severity that naturally showed between his brows caused Xu Sijie to suddenly grow flustered.

That man — did he not know how stern his face looked when he turned serious?

Eleventh Lady could not help grumbling inwardly, and offered Xu Sijie an encouraging smile.

Xu Sijie looked at her, and his heart gradually steadied. Though his speech was slow and still tinged with a measure of timidity, he expressed his wish to sit for the imperial examinations clearly enough.

Xu Lingyi raised his head and looked toward Eleventh Lady, unable to conceal his astonishment.

“Sijie spoke to me about it,” Eleventh Lady said composedly. “I am in favor — since he has such determination, why not let him try? Who can say how things will turn out? Is there not the saying, ‘Su Laoquan did not begin his studies in earnest until twenty-seven’? Our Sijie is only twelve this year.” As she said this, she smiled again at Xu Sijie.

Within Xu Sijie’s heart, a little more courage took root.

“Father, please let me try!” His tone was sincere. “I will apply myself diligently…”

Even if he failed the examinations, he had at least thought of making his own way in the world. That was far better than being idle and good-for-nothing, spending every day in nothing but eating, drinking, and pleasure…

“Very well!” Xu Lingyi made up his mind at once. “Whatever you need, go directly to Steward Bai.” Thinking of how reserved Xu Sijie’s nature was, he added, “Or you can go to your mother — it is the same!”

“Thank you, Father! Thank you, Father!” Xu Sijie was overjoyed — this was not merely a matter of studying; it was his father’s affirmation of his decision. “I will definitely study hard…” He was so moved he had become a little incoherent.

Xu Lingyi could not help feeling a wave of emotion.

When he had first brought the boy home, he had only planned to raise him with adequate food and clothing, then find him some sort of post when he was grown, help him start a family — that would have been sufficient account to give Xu Lingkuan. He had never expected that this child, quiet and unassuming as he was, would suddenly show such ambition.

He found himself saying, “You have grown up, and now you must conduct yourself as a grown man does. Since you have made this decision, you must not give up halfway. No matter what difficulties you face, you must persevere. As your parents, we will certainly support you — but the rest depends on your own fortune…”

Xu Sijie listened respectfully, nodding again and again, and pledged to Xu Lingyi, “Father, rest assured. I will study just as diligently as Second Brother.” Then he wanted to go to Shuangfu Courtyard to find Teacher Zhao. “I want to tell the teacher about this…” He looked rather eager to see Teacher Zhao at once.

To Xu Sijie, Teacher Zhao was both a good mentor and a trusted friend.

Xu Lingyi smiled and nodded. “Go on, then!”

Xu Sijie went off to Shuangfu Courtyard in high spirits.

Jin Ge’er, however, tugged at Xu Lingyi’s sleeve. “Father, if Fifth Brother is going to sit for the examinations like Second Brother and study for the jinshi degree, does that mean he has to go to Le’an to study? And when I’m grown up, will I have to go to Le’an to study too?” He looked rather worried.

Xu Lingyi was momentarily taken aback, then laughed. “Why? Do you not want to go to Le’an to study?”

“Then — then can I bring Changshun, Suifeng, Huang Xiaomao, Liu Erwu, and all the others with me to Le’an? And Yiyi and Erer too — I want to bring them all along!”

Xu Lingyi burst out laughing, but his gaze had drifted to Eleventh Lady. “I was thinking of asking Zhensheng to help find Sijie a private tutor who is well-versed in learning. What do you think?”

From the moment Xu Sijie had spoken of sitting the imperial examinations, Eleventh Lady had already been thinking about this.

Teacher Zhao’s character and scholarship were certainly fine, but he was more adept at teaching poetry and belles-lettres. When it came to policy essays and the eight-legged essay, it would likely be better to seek a more specialized teacher. She had also considered sending Xu Sijie to Le’an. For one thing, Le’an was far away, and she was a little reluctant to part with him; for another, Xu Sijie’s situation was different from Xu Siyu’s. When Xu Lingyi had sent Xu Siyu to Le’an, it had primarily been to formally establish the teacher-student bond between Xu Siyu and Master Jiang, and to draw Xu Siyu closer to Xu Sizhun. Otherwise, in a city as large as Yanjing, where could one not find a tutor capable of guiding Xu Siyu in his examination studies?

Having Luo Zhensheng — a former Hanlin academician — personally arrange a private tutor for Xu Sijie would be nothing short of ideal!

“Wonderful!” Eleventh Lady smiled. “Then I shall make a trip to Gongxian Hutong tomorrow. The sooner this matter is settled, the sooner Sijie can put his mind at ease and focus on his studies!”

The husband and wife settled the matter between them. The next day, one went to see Teacher Zhao while the other took Jin Ge’er to Gongxian Hutong.

Luo Zhensheng was absolutely delighted to see Jin Ge’er. He played with him for quite a while before he and Eleventh Lady turned to the matter at hand.

Upon hearing that it concerned finding a tutor for Xu Sijie, Luo Zhensheng was a little surprised. Although he readily agreed, he also cautioned Eleventh Lady: “In examination studies, three parts depend on the teacher, and seven parts depend on the student himself. Otherwise, how is it that so many failed scholars produce top examination graduates, and holders of the provincial degree produce jinshi scholars? You would do better to keep a close eye on him and make sure he works hard!”

“I know,” said Eleventh Lady — she herself had passed examination after examination before winning a full scholarship to study abroad. “But if the teacher’s learning is a little stronger, the student’s path will also be a little easier.”

The two of them exchanged some domestic news about Yuhang. Eleventh Lady stayed for the midday meal before returning to Gongxian Hutong with Jin Ge’er.

Xu Lingyi had just returned from the outer courtyard, where he had shared the noon meal with Teacher Zhao.

“Teacher Zhao also thinks it would be good to engage a separate private tutor for Sijie!” He had drunk a little and was in elevated spirits, and he scooped up Jin Ge’er and pressed several kisses on him, leaving Jin Ge’er yelping in protest. “This way, Teacher Zhao can devote his mornings entirely to Jin Ge’er and his afternoons entirely to Zhun Ge’er. Jin Ge’er’s progress will be able to move along more quickly too!”

Eleventh Lady wrung out a towel and used it to wipe Xu Lingyi’s face. Jin Ge’er seized the chance to run off.

“How much did you drink? Look how you’ve frightened the child!”

“I was happy!” Xu Lingyi smiled. As he handed the towel back to Eleventh Lady, he seized the opportunity to pull her, and Eleventh Lady tumbled into his arms. “Our Jin Ge’er can already read a map!” He said, then planted a firm kiss on Eleventh Lady’s face.

The attendants who had been serving in the room each lowered their eyes demurely and quietly withdrew.

“Acting like a drunken fool!” Eleventh Lady struggled free and stood up, picked up the sobering broth set to one side, and handed it to him. “Come to your senses!”

Xu Lingyi would not take it. His gaze fixed on her with burning intensity.

Eleventh Lady found it amusing.

She sat on the edge of the kang and fed it to him.

Xu Lingyi took hold of Eleventh Lady’s hand. “Moyan, from now on, let Jin Ge’er come to my study for his calligraphy practice.”

“Children need to form good habits from an early age,” Eleventh Lady said diplomatically. “Look at me — no matter how pressing matters may be, I always make sure Jin Ge’er finishes his schoolwork first. The Marquis has so many affairs to attend to — how would you find the time?”

“What affairs do I have? I am just running about uselessly.” Xu Lingyi gazed at Eleventh Lady, his expression quite earnest. “If Jin Ge’er comes to my room for his calligraphy practice, it would also give me some company.”

Eleventh Lady felt a pang in her heart upon hearing this.

Xu Lingyi was only thirty-six this year.

In her era, that would be the very prime of a man’s life…

“Well, we must be clear about this then!” Her voice softened involuntarily. “You mustn’t be like a fisherman who fishes for three days and dries his nets for two…”

—