“Fifth Brother wants to sit for the imperial examinations?” Xu Siyu was somewhat surprised. The hand holding his handkerchief paused in mid-air, and the water dripped from his face down his cheeks, falling onto the fresh white Songjiang cotton inner robe he had just changed into — still marked with creases from being folded — while from the corner of his eye, his gaze came to rest on his wife’s face, which wore a gentle and composed expression.

They had been married for nearly two years, but the time they had actually spent together amounted to no more than five short months. Although they exchanged letters every month, seeing her husband again still made Xiang Shi very nervous.

Would he think today’s clothes too bright and showy? When everyone had gone up to greet him just now, she had feared that her father-in-law and mother-in-law would think her forward, and had stood quietly behind her mother-in-law the whole time. It was only when her mother-in-law invited her to greet him that she had finally gone forward with a curtsy. She wondered if he would misread this as her being too cold toward him.

Her heart was fluttering, and she could only steady herself by speaking of familiar things.

“Yes!” She received the sapphire-blue plain Hangzhou silk straight-cut robe from the maidservant, her voice coming out a little taut. “Mother even went personally to Gongxian Hutong and asked our uncle to recommend a private tutor for Fifth Uncle… These days, Fifth Uncle is studying diligently late into every night!”

“The path of the imperial examinations is very demanding,” Xu Siyu said pensively. “But that Fifth Brother has such determination — I find it admirable.” As he said this, he thought of having seen Xu Sizhun at their grandmother’s just now. “I heard from Fourth Brother that he has already begun helping Father with household affairs. Father has been at leisure these days — teaching Sixth Brother calligraphy and playing chess with him…”

“Mm.” Xiang Shi helped Xu Siyu into his robe. “Many of the managers and manservants have said that Fourth Uncle has a benevolent heart and is warm and gentle with people.”

In the past he had only thought this younger brother timid and small-natured. He had not expected that after several years apart, he had already won the allegiance of the household managers and manservants.

Xu Siyu paused for a moment.

Xiang Shi had already come over to help him dress.

Xu Siyu quickly came back to himself.

Coming back this time, he felt things very deeply.

The brothers who had once been young and inexperienced — in what seemed like the blink of an eye — had all grown up. Xu Sijie in particular had actually, just like himself, chosen the path of officialdom.

“My dear, Mother-in-law, knowing that you would be returning to sit the provincial examination, was afraid the heat might trouble you. She had Dripping Willow Water Pavilion prepared long ago.” Xiang Shi continued to help Xu Siyu dress as she spoke in a low voice. “She said it is cool there and that you can study in comfort. At the start of summer she asked me to move there. I thought that since my father-in-law and mother-in-law were still living in the original rooms, it would not be fitting for a daughter-in-law to take the comfortable quarters for herself, and so I held off. I was waiting for you to come back and make the decision…”

“Since it is Mother’s intention, let us move there,” he said readily. It was a kindness from his mother, and he accepted it gladly.

“Then I shall inform Mother and have the maidservants pack the trunks.” Xiang Shi said, “You should still go and thank Mother-in-law in person. Truth be told, Mother-in-law has taken great care of me these two years. To say nothing of requiring me to stand on ceremony — she has not even once raised her voice at me. Even a mother who bore you herself could not do better.”

While the two of them were talking, a young maidservant came in: “Second Young Master, Second Young Mistress, a maidservant has come from the Grand Madam’s side to say that the banquet has been laid, and she invites you and the Second Young Mistress to come and take your seats.”

“What are you looking at?” Eleventh Lady was sitting before her dressing table, pinning up her hair. Through the mirror, she could just see Xu Lingyi, who was seated on the large kang by the window. “Is that a letter from Master Jiang?”

Xu Lingyi set down the letter. “No, it is from Father-in-law Xiang.”

Eleventh Lady turned around. “What does it say? Is it about Yuhe’s provincial examination?”

“Yes.” Xu Lingyi came over and sat on the brocade stool beside Eleventh Lady’s dressing table, lowering his voice. “He is asking me to find out who this year’s chief examiner and associate examiner will be, and to send word to him by fast horse. Catering to the examiner’s preferences is what matters!”

Eleventh Lady was somewhat surprised.

“Master Jiang has said the same thing,” Xu Lingyi went on, his voice dropping even lower. “Only, Master Jiang has been out of officialdom for so many years now that he is a little unfamiliar with those people. What the examiner likes and prefers, we will have to find out ourselves. But from Father-in-law Xiang’s tone, it sounds as though he only needs us to find out who the chief examiner is, and he can then find out everything about the examiner’s tastes himself!”

Such things were unpredictable, and Eleventh Lady could not say much. “Either way, they both want you to find out. You might as well look into it.”

Xu Lingyi nodded, and for several days running he went out, but always returned before the afternoon to check Jin Ge’er’s calligraphy. Seeing that his father took it so seriously, Jin Ge’er took it seriously too, and completed his schoolwork with meticulous care.

The provincial examination was to be held on the ninth day of the eighth month, but it was not until the end of the seventh month that it was announced that a Deputy Minister of Works and the Education Commissioner of Shuntian Prefecture would serve as the examiners.

On the evening of the eighth day, just before the city gates were closed, an attendant of Senior Official Xiang arrived at the Xu Mansion in haste.

“The Master says: Deputy Minister Liu admires the spirit of the Wei and Jin dynasties, and is fond of the saying: ‘In times of chaos, only strict governance can settle the hearts of the people; in times of prosperity, only benevolence can stabilize human nature.'”

Xu Lingyi relayed the message to Xu Siyu personally.

Xu Siyu closed his study door and sat alone, carefully turning Senior Official Xiang’s words over in his mind.

The following day, every member of the Xu household rose early. They paid their respects at the ancestral hall, offered incense and kowtowed to the Xu family ancestors, and then Xu Siyu picked up the examination basket and provisions that Eleventh Lady had prepared for him and set off for the examination grounds.

After sitting all three rounds, Xu Siyu felt he had performed well. As it happened, the Mid-Autumn Festival was also upon them, and the whole family gathered at Qiongling Mountain Villa to admire the moon and eat mooncakes.

Xu Sijie consulted Xu Siyu about matters relating to the imperial examinations, while Xu Siqin and Xu Sizhun sat nearby and listened with great interest.

Fang Shi, Xiang Shi, Eleventh Lady, and the other women sat together with the Grand Madam, chatting about domestic matters.

Jin Ge’er and Shen Ge’er were jumping and scrambling all over the place, which made Cheng Ge’er envious enough to clamor to stop being held by the Fifth Madam and to go play with his two older brothers.

Xin Jie’er, meanwhile, stood with a straight face and reprimanded Shen Ge’er: “All you know is having fun for yourself.”

Shen Ge’er giggled and dashed away with Jin Ge’er. Xin Jie’er was so furious she stamped her feet. The adults, watching, found it delightful and burst into laughter.

Qiongling Mountain Villa was filled with cheer and laughter, lively beyond measure.

Jin Ge’er wanted to go back to his room to sleep. “I have to get up first thing tomorrow morning to practice my horse stance!” he said, stifling a yawn.

Hearing this, Eleventh Lady was overcome with joy. She scooped Jin Ge’er up and kissed him on both cheeks. “Mother will take you back!”

Hearing this, Shen Ge’er clamored to go back too.

The Grand Madam had just been gleefully engaged in a riddle-guessing game with Xu Sizhun, Eleventh Lady, the Fifth Madam, Fang Shi, and the others, but now the game could not go on. The Grand Madam smiled and said, “Then let us all call it an evening!” Her tone held a note of reluctance.

Xu Sizhun then suggested that Jin Ge’er stay on, saying to Eleventh Lady, “Mother, let Jin Ge’er play a little longer before leaving. Once you leave, the Grand Madam’s gathering will break up as well. It is rare for everyone to be in such high spirits.” He added, “If absolutely necessary, he can rest for a day tomorrow and start his horse stance training again the day after.”

The Grand Madam did not prevent Xu Sizhun from pressing them to stay, clearly also wanting everyone to linger a little longer.

Shen Ge’er looked over at Jin Ge’er, who scrunched up his little face plaintively. “But I can’t! Master Pang said that martial training cannot be put aside for even a day. If you skip a day, all your previous effort is wasted. I need to go to sleep.” So saying, he tugged at his mother’s hand in a coaxing way, urging Eleventh Lady to hurry up and leave.

Eleventh Lady thought about it, then smiled and negotiated with Jin Ge’er. “How about this — Mother stays here to keep Grandmother company, and Father takes you back to rest. What do you say?”

Jin Ge’er, who liked nothing better than spending time with Xu Lingyi, immediately ran around to the other side of the screen and tugged at Xu Lingyi, who was in the middle of a conversation with Xu Lingkuan. “Father, take me back to sleep!”

Xu Lingyi had already heard the commotion from over there. In such a festive and lively scene, Jin Ge’er had taken the initiative to suggest going back to sleep. As a father, he felt both gratified and proud.

He happily agreed to Jin Ge’er’s request.

Hearing this, Shen Ge’er also clamored for Xu Lingkuan to take him back to sleep.

Xu Lingkuan looked on with some amusement. “You were alone at home and kept making a fuss to come here. Don’t go making that fuss again.”

Shen Ge’er puffed out his cheeks. “If Sixth Brother can, then I can too!”

“All right, then!” Xu Lingkuan said, and simply hoisted his son up onto his shoulders and made his way down Qiongling Mountain Villa.

Xu Sizhun watched and shook his head.

The Second Madam, however, stared thoughtfully at the retreating figures of Xu Lingyi and Jin Ge’er.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the results of the provincial examination came out.

Xu Siyu had failed again.

The Second Madam was mildly disappointed.

Xu Sijie could not help exclaiming, “Second Brother has such exceptional learning, and yet he still failed!”

“Good things take time!” Eleventh Lady said with a smile. “It seems our Yuhe still needs to put in more effort!”

Xu Siyu smiled with some embarrassment, and his spirits were low for several days.

Xu Lingyi took him to climb the Western Hills, and when they returned there were also letters from Master Jiang and Senior Official Xiang. Only then did his mood lift.

After spending the Double Ninth Festival at home, Xu Siyu prepared to return to Le’an.

The Grand Madam was reluctant to let him go. “Come back after the New Year before returning to Le’an! You have been away for three years — everyone at home has been missing you.”

“When Heaven is about to entrust a man with a great mission, it first tries his mind with suffering and wearies his sinews and bones with toil,” Xu Siyu said with a smile. “Grandmother, you must believe in me — I will certainly pass through all these trials Heaven sets before me.”

He was brimming with confidence, and the Grand Madam had no choice but to offer her encouragement.

Eleventh Lady, however, consulted Xu Lingyi: “Would it not be better to let Xiang Shi go to Le’an with him? A young couple — they cannot keep living apart like this indefinitely. Surely they cannot wait until the day he passes the jinshi examination before being reunited?”

“All right!” Xu Lingyi thought about it and said with a smile. “With his wife at his side to look after him, we can also rest a little easier!”

The Grand Madam, on hearing this, nodded repeatedly and privately said to Nanny Du, “This way, I might even gain a great-grandchild before long!”

Xiang Shi was naturally delighted, and went home to take her leave of her family. Xiang Tai-tai had complex feelings about it all. It was not within her power — nor would it be appropriate — to prevent her son-in-law from going to Le’an to pursue his studies. But her daughter had been married into the Xu Family for three years, all told, with nothing to show for it, and the worry and anxiety she felt was not something anyone else could imagine.

The day before Xu Siyu departed for Le’an, Xiang Tai-tai made a special trip to call on Eleventh Lady. She brought lengths of cloth and ornaments for the children, said many complimentary things in front of the Grand Madam, and stayed for the evening meal at the Xu Mansion before returning home. The next morning, she rose early and went together with her son to see her daughter and son-in-law off outside the city, and did not turn back until even the shadow of Xu Siyu and his wife’s carriage had disappeared from view.

Xu Sijie applied himself to his studies all the more diligently because of this.

In what seemed like no time, the fourteenth year of the Yonghe reign arrived.

“Ninth Miss Jiang should be having her coming-of-age ceremony this year,” Eleventh Lady said, discussing the matter of proposing a match to the Jiang Family with the Grand Madam after the third day of the third month had passed. “We should still ask Madam Huang the Third to act for us. Let her go to the Jiang Family to sound things out. That way we can begin making our own preparations for the wedding here.”

Eleventh Lady agreed with a smile, packed up eight boxes of gifts, and went to the Yongchang Marquis Mansion.

Madam Huang the Third agreed readily.

—