The match between Xu Sizhun and Ninth Miss Jiang had been spoken of for so many years that both the Xu Family and the Jiang Family had long prepared themselves inwardly. Even Yuan Baozhu’s family — the wet nurse assigned to accompany Ninth Miss Jiang to her new home — had stopped returning to Le’an after sending the New Year gifts.
“…They say she is helping Madam Jiang prepare for Ninth Miss Jiang’s wedding.” The Jiang Family had received Madam Huang the Third with warmth and ceremony. Madam Huang the Third felt that, with both families being so sincere, the rest would surely go smoothly. She sat comfortably side by side with Eleventh Lady on the large kang by the window, sipping the fragrant West Lake Dragon Well tea. “From Madam Jiang’s tone, it sounds as though Vice Minister of Rites Wang Zixin and Master Jiang are close friends. The Jiang Family would like to ask Minister Wang to serve as the matchmaker.”
Eleventh Lady nudged the small dish of elm-seed cakes toward Madam Huang the Third. “Then the wedding of our heir, I leave in Elder Sister’s hands.”
“Leave it to me, leave it to me.” Madam Huang the Third tasted an elm-seed cake. “My goodness — these cakes have the same elm seeds in them, so why are they so much more fragrant than ours? We simply cannot make them taste this way at home.”
“Since Elder Sister likes them, I’ll have someone make a fresh batch for you to take home.” Eleventh Lady called Hupo in and had her instruct the kitchen to make some right away, then turned back to continue talking with Madam Huang the Third. “So, Elder Sister, whom do you think would be suitable for us to ask as our matchmaker?”
This question was asked with some finesse.
Madam Huang the Third was a capable person, well-versed in the etiquette of weddings and funerals. Given the friendship between the Xu and Huang families, having her help negotiate the betrothal gifts for Xu Sizhun’s wedding was the most fitting arrangement. But since Madam Huang the Third had been asked to facilitate the match, it would not do, when it came time for the actual wedding, to leave aside her husband — the Yongchang Marquis heir. Yet Xu Sizhun was also an heir, which made having the Yongchang Marquis heir serve as matchmaker rather unsuitable — his rank was a shade too low. On the other hand, not asking Madam Huang the Third to handle the negotiations might leave her feeling somewhat put out, should she learn of it.
Fortunately, Madam Huang the Third was a perceptive person, and she understood the intricacy of the situation as soon as she thought it over.
“I have someone in mind — I don’t know what my younger sister thinks?” She smiled. “What about the Duke of Dingguo? He is of the elder generation, a man of restrained and steady disposition. He does not socialize widely, yet his conduct is upright and admirable, and people hold him in great respect. I think if he were to come forward, nothing could be more fitting.”
Eleventh Lady gave an approving nod on hearing this.
Just last evening, when she had brought the matter up with Xu Lingyi, Xu Lingyi had also mentioned the Duke of Dingguo.
“Elder Sister always thinks of everything.” She smiled. “The Marquis and I have been troubled over exactly this matter.” As she said this, she took Madam Huang the Third by the arm. “Since Elder Sister is here, do not be in a hurry to leave. Why not come with me to look at the new rooms we have prepared for Zhun Ge’er? If there is anything I have overlooked, Elder Sister can point it out. I do not want to make a fool of myself.”
Xu Sizhun was an heir with a formal rank, and his wedding would follow a prescribed set of protocols — unlike Zhen Jie’er’s marriage or the wedding for Xu Siyu, where following common customs sufficed.
Madam Huang the Third was warm-hearted by nature. Hearing Eleventh Lady say this, she followed her out of the main room with a cheerful smile. “I would have wanted to join in the excitement even without an invitation — let alone now that you have asked. Just don’t complain if I talk too much.”
The two of them chatted and laughed as they left through the back gate of the main courtyard, and found themselves face to face with the front gate of Yuan Niang’s former residence.
The front gate of Yuan Niang’s former residence stood wide open. Maidservants and servant women moved in a steady stream — some carrying trunks and boxes, others holding flower stands, others with empty hands. Though the activity was constant and every figure moved with purpose, those going out kept to the left and those coming in kept to the right, all in orderly procession.
Madam Huang the Third nodded inwardly in quiet approval.
It appeared that Eleventh Lady was preparing to give Xu Sizhun Yuan Niang’s former residence as his bridal chamber. That being the case, the place would inevitably need to be renovated. Any traces Yuan Niang had left behind could thus be thoroughly erased without anyone having cause for complaint — after all, one could hardly let the dead occupy the living’s place. And the new occupant was Yuan Niang’s own flesh and blood, at that.
“Elder Sister left quite a few things here,” Eleventh Lady said, as she and Madam Huang the Third strolled slowly through the gate. The maidservants and servant women, seeing them from a distance, quickly stepped aside to clear a path. “I had them tidy everything up first, so that once the craftsmen come in to renovate, they can move everything back.”
“That is the right way to do it.” Madam Huang the Third smiled. “Those craftsmen — who knows where they come from? If one of them has light fingers and walks off with something, even if the item is recovered, the thought of it having passed through those grubby hands would be infuriating, even if the person were beaten for it…” She spoke as she looked around the rooms.
The drapes and hangings of the covered walkway and the second courtyard had all been taken down. The space was bare and empty. In the main hall of the third courtyard — the one where Yuan Niang had originally lived — a young woman and an older matron stood directing maidservants and servant women in moving things.
Seeing them enter, the two hurried forward to pay their respects.
Madam Huang the Third found both their faces familiar, and could not help asking, “These two are…”
Eleventh Lady smiled and pointed to the younger one. “Elder Sister may not recognize her — this is Weizi, who serves the Grand Madam!” She pointed to the older one. “This is Matron Hang, who accompanied my Elder Sister-in-law as part of her household.” Then she added, “The household does not have enough hands, so I asked these two to help me take inventory of Elder Sister’s belongings.”
This was sensible enough.
It would prevent anyone from claiming that things had gone missing or been swapped out.
Madam Huang the Third gave an approving nod and continued with Eleventh Lady toward the fourth courtyard. “Has your Elder Sister-in-law come from Yuhang?”
“Not yet!” Eleventh Lady smiled. “She said she would set off once Zhun Ge’er’s wedding date is fixed.” In her heart she was already thinking of the Fifth Concubine and Luo Zhenhong — who had only been in swaddling clothes when she last saw him — and wondering whether, from what Luo Zhensheng had said, they would all come to Yanjing together.
While Eleventh Lady was speaking with Madam Huang the Third, Xu Sizhun was across the way, wiping his eyes together with Tao Cheng, who was kneeling before him.
“Steward Tao is truly something — every time he sees our Fourth Young Master, he ends up making our Fourth Young Master shed tears.” Wang Shu handed Xu Sizhun a handkerchief, grumbling at Tao Cheng in a tone that was half-genuine and half-teasing.
Tao Cheng quickly raised his head and replaced his tears with a smile that looked even worse than weeping. “It is all my fault, all my fault. I have made the Young Heir sad.” He rose and bowed to Wang Shu. “Wang Brother is right. I will never do so again.”
Xu Sizhun, feeling somewhat apologetic, quickly said, “Matron Tao was my mother’s wet nurse. You are like a brother to me. Wang Shu, you must not speak to Steward Tao so rudely.”
“I would not dare, I would not dare.” Tao Cheng bowed to Xu Sizhun with great unease.
Wang Shu had been given by Xu Lingyi and had by now earned Xu Sizhun’s trust over the years. He was certainly not afraid of Tao Cheng, a steward who managed a distant estate. But what ought to be done still could not be neglected in the slightest.
“The Fourth Young Master is right to correct me. I will never dare again!” He stepped forward uneasily and bowed to Tao Cheng. “Steward Tao, I hope you will be magnanimous and not hold it against someone as lowly as a manservant like me!”
He stressed the word “manservant” with deliberate weight, hinting to Tao Cheng: do not think that just because the Fourth Young Master called you his brother, you truly are his brother. Let me carry this word to the Grand Madam or the Marquis, and you will have more trouble than you can handle.
Tao Cheng was not deaf to the implication.
This Wang Shu, young as he was, was slippery and impervious to persuasion. His ambitions were probably no small thing. And he himself was a mere estate manager — ordinarily he could not even get near the Young Heir. All these years, the only reason the Young Heir gave him a second glance was by virtue of old goodwill. If he offended Wang Shu, who was always at the Young Heir’s side whispering in his ear, the drip of water would wear through stone, and even that old goodwill might not hold.
His heart burned with resentment, but he forced it down.
“As Wang Brother says — I am merely a few years older than you…” he managed.
Xu Sizhun, seeing them exchanging courtesies back and forth, could not help waving his hand with a smile. “All right, stop going back and forth like that.” He instructed Wang Shu, “Go and weigh out one hundred taels of silver for Steward Tao.” Then he said to Tao Cheng, “Help me buy some spirit money and incense to offer at Matron Tao’s grave on my behalf. Tell her — tell her that I am going to be married…” As he said this, his face suddenly flushed red.
That much?
Wang Shu shot a glance at Tao Cheng.
This fellow — every time he came, he would weep for a while, and then the Young Heir would reward him with a large sum of silver. Who knew what he did with all that money?
He thought as much, but dared not let a trace of it show on his face. He bowed respectfully and withdrew.
“Young Heir, there is no need for so much!” Tao Cheng quickly said. “When I heard the news that you were to be married, I went to my mother’s grave that very day to offer my prayers…”
“They say this kind of thing must be done with one’s own silver to buy the spirit money,” Xu Sizhun said sincerely. “I cannot leave the mansion myself. Please go on my behalf.”
Just as they were speaking, Qiuyu, who served Eleventh Lady, came in.
“Fourth Young Master, Madam has asked me to inquire — do you have any engagements three days from now?”
Xu Sizhun quickly stood up and said, “Please tell Mother that I am at her disposal entirely.”
Qiuyu smiled and left.
Tao Cheng could not help but look puzzled.
Xu Sizhun then explained: “Mother says that since I am about to be married, three days from now she will invite the eldest uncle to come, together with Steward Bai and Steward Lu, to go through the things my mother left for me and formally hand them over to me.” He said with a somewhat sheepish smile, “In truth, all these years it has been Mother and Steward Lu managing everything. I listen to the accounts Steward Lu reports to me, and apart from a few years when the estate harvest was poor, the returns in other years have been quite good. I feel that even if everything is handed over to me, I probably could not manage it as well as Mother does. I asked her to continue managing it on my behalf, but Mother would not agree. She said I am grown up and need to learn to handle these things myself…” He smiled with slight embarrassment.
Was that Eleventh Lady really so good?
Tao Cheng was skeptical, and could not help saying, “In time you will be the Yongping Marquis — your mother’s small properties are naturally nothing in your eyes. But they represent your mother’s love and protection for you. You must never fail to honor your mother’s loving heart.”
Only if Xu Lingyi died could Xu Sizhun be the Yongping Marquis. With his father very much alive, hearing Tao Cheng speak this way left him feeling inwardly displeased.
“I am presently only the Yongping Marquis heir,” Xu Sizhun said, his brow faintly creasing as he corrected Tao Cheng. “In the future, you must not say things like ‘you will be the Yongping Marquis’ again.”
Tao Cheng silently cursed himself for his blunder and spent a long time making careful, humble amends, until Wang Shu came in with the silver. Not wanting to humiliate Tao Cheng entirely, Xu Sizhun’s expression finally softened, and he raised his teacup.
—