The paint on Xu Sizhun’s new quarters had barely dried when Luo Zhensheng arrived to escort Luo Da Nainai and the others to Yanjing.

“…Third Concubine remained in Yuhang to look after the Eldest Master. Seventh Young Master, Fourth Young Mistress, Fifth Concubine, Sixth Concubine, and several of the young masters and young misses all made the journey.”

Shiyiniang was overjoyed.

She and Fifth Concubine had not seen each other for nine years, and the last time she had seen Luo Zhenhong, he had still been in swaddling clothes.

“Quickly take my calling card to Gongxian Hutong,” Shiyiniang said, rising to her feet with barely concealed excitement. “I will go to see them tomorrow.”

Hupo went off at once in acknowledgment.

Shiyiniang cupped Jin Ge’er’s face in her hands and gave him two loud kisses on the cheek. “Your maternal grandmother and your little maternal uncle have come!”

“Then can we go and visit Uncle’s house?” Jin Ge’er’s face lit up. “I want to eat Uncle’s mutton flatbread.”

“Yes, yes, indeed!” Shiyiniang, quite forgetting to scold Jin Ge’er for his greediness, said with a radiant smile: “We’ll go to your uncle’s house to visit.”

Xu Lingyi looked on in amusement, shaking his head gently, and instructed the household affairs office to prepare gifts for delivery to Gongxian Hutong.

At lamp-lighting time, Hupo returned. “The eldest young mistress is in the middle of unpacking her trunks, and she is very pleased to hear that you will come tomorrow. She says to come early, and she will have the kitchen prepare the vinasse fish you love most.”

Shiyiniang hurried to draw her aside: “Did you see Fifth Concubine and Seventh Young Master?”

“I saw them!” Hupo said with a smile. “The eldest young mistress herself pointed out Seventh Young Master to me.” Her smile grew even more radiant. “Seventh Young Master looks five or six parts like you, my lady — he was wearing a light moon-white silk straight-hemmed robe and a solid gold neck ring, just like the Golden Boy before Guanyin Bodhisattva. Not only is he handsome and fine-looking, but his manners are completely proper — one glance tells you he is the young scholar of a wealthy and noble household. When Seventh Young Master learned that I was the one you had sent to deliver your calling card, he asked me to convey his regards to you. Just as I was about to leave, Fifth Concubine heard the news and came rushing over. She held my hands and asked after you at length, and even rewarded me with a silver ingot.” She pulled from her sleeve a small silver ingot that looked to weigh at least a tael. “Shanhu married into the household of the eldest young mistress’s personal attendant, and is now the eldest young mistress’s closest personal attendant. It was she who saw me to the door. I heard from her that after Seventh Young Master returned to Yuhang, he was raised in the eldest young mistress’s own quarters. The eldest young mistress treats Seventh Young Master exactly the same as Young Master Mao, Young Master Geng, and Young Master Kang — he began his education at five years old, and he has now nearly finished reading the Youxue. Not only can he compose poetry, he can write formal essays as well!”

Luo Zhensheng’s second son was named Luo Jiageng, and the third son born to Concubine Wang was named Luo Jiakang.

Shiyiniang heard this with a mixture of surprise and delight.

Her surprise was that she had not expected Luo Da Nainai to raise Luo Zhenhong in her own quarters; her delight was that Fifth Concubine and her younger brother were both doing far better in the Luo household than she had imagined.

She instructed Hupo: “Open my trunks. I want to select some of the imperial tribute silks gifted from the palace to have made into garments for the nieces and nephews.” Then, feeling that these gifts were too light, she added: “Bring the jewelry case as well — I will choose a few pieces of jewelry to give to the two sisters-in-law.” Then she went to Xu Lingyi’s quarters and selected several fine inkstones from Duanzhou and brushes from Huzhou.

“It is fortunate they only come once every several years,” Xu Lingyi said, looking on with amusement at her enthusiasm, and teasing her: “Otherwise, the household’s entire fortune would be emptied out.”

Shiyiniang was in high spirits and sparred back playfully.

“What, do you begrudge it?” She sent a gaze like clear autumn water sweeping past him. “Surely our illustrious Marquis Yongping, renowned throughout Yanjing, could not be so faint-hearted when it comes to a little generosity?” And in those words was a quality of liquid, shimmering charm.

Xu Lingyi’s heart was moved without restraint. He came and stood behind her, wrapping both hands around her slender waist, leaning close and gently breathing in the scent at her neck. “So you know it is a splurge yourself, do you? Whenever someone is splurging, there is bound to be a little pain in the heart. You ought to find some way to put my heart at ease…” The atmosphere between them had grown decidedly suggestive.

Shiyiniang blinked her eyes, then turned around, her soft arms resting lightly on Xu Lingyi’s shoulders.

“My lord,” she said, looking at him sidelong, “however would you have your humble consort comfort you?” Her voice was soft enough to drip honey, and her bright, gleaming eyes held a trace of mischief.

Xu Lingyi suppressed a quiet inward laugh.

After so many years as husband and wife, if Shiyiniang truly had the audacity to dally with him in his study — with a row of manservants and maidservants standing just the other side of the paneled screens — she would not be his Shiyiniang at all.

“Let me think…” he said meditatively, “…sing me a little song? Or perhaps…” He fixed his gaze on the full, alluring curves of her chest, made more conspicuous by the way she leaned back. “…dance a foreign dance?”

“Your humble consort can do neither,” Shiyiniang sighed. “Whatever is to be done?”

“Then I shall teach you to sing!” Xu Lingyi said, and with that, he hummed a few bars softly in her ear. Shiyiniang’s entire face turned crimson. “Wherever did you learn that, my lord?” — and she admitted defeat.

Xu Lingyi watched her slightly flustered figure and laughed out loud.

—

The very next morning, Shiyiniang dressed herself carefully, took her leave of the Grand Madam, and went with Xu Lingyi and the children to Gongxian Hutong.

After not meeting for several years, Luo Da Nainai had grown considerably fuller and looked distinctly more matronly. Luo Si Nainai was not as fine-featured as Luo Da Nainai, yet she had aged more lightly, and looked much the same as before.

All three women stood before the hanging flower gate and broke into laughter at once. It was only when Luo Zhensheng gave a heavy cough that they composed themselves somewhat.

“This is Seventh Younger Brother!” He gently nudged a child standing at his side, introducing him to Xu Lingyi and Shiyiniang. “This is Marquis Yongping, and this is Eleventh Aunt.”

“My lord Marquis!” the child greeted respectfully, and then: “Eleventh Elder Sister!”

Xu Lingyi gave a slight nod, and Shiyiniang, looking at the boy whose features bore seven or eight parts resemblance to Fifth Concubine, felt her eyes grow wet. She lifted her head to search among the crowd for Fifth Concubine.

“Fifth Concubine is resting in the back house,” Luo Si Nainai said quietly at her ear. “She said she will come to see you once the Marquis has gone to take his seat.”

This way, she could avoid Xu Lingyi altogether.

Shiyiniang could not hold back her tears.

Jin Ge’er was frightened, and quickly flung himself into Shiyiniang’s arms.

“Goodness, this is a happy reunion — why tears?” Luo Da Nainai hurriedly produced a handkerchief to wipe Shiyiniang’s tears, yet could not prevent her own tears from falling.

“These women, they simply cannot hold themselves together,” Luo Zhensheng said dismissively, yet somehow his own voice carried a note of barely suppressed emotion.

Everyone burst out laughing.

Luo Jiamao was now a grown young man, and had been betrothed to the daughter of a former prefect of Hangzhou — now retired from office and returned home — by the name of Zhou. The wedding was set for the following spring. Luo Jiageng and Luo Jiakang were meeting each other for the first time; both had inherited the pale complexion of the Luo family and their fine, handsome looks. Standing together, Luo Jiamao was composed, Luo Jiageng was open and generous, and somehow looking at them they seemed to carry a few additional measures of ease and refinement compared to Luo Jiakang and Luo Zhenhong.

Shiyiniang inwardly let out a quiet sigh. Her gaze drifted to the little girl nestled close to Luo Si Nainai’s side.

“Ying Niang, is it?”

Ying Niang had also grown into a young lady and resembled Luo Si Nainai even more than before. While she was not a striking beauty, there was a quality of serene and radiant clarity in her brows and eyes that made anyone who saw her feel at ease.

“Eleventh Aunt!” She smiled and stepped forward to curtsy.

“Ying Niang, do you still remember me?” Xu Lingyi asked her with a smile.

“I remember!” Ying Niang replied with a smile, thoroughly unabashed. “Eleventh Aunt’s home has a pomegranate tree. When I was small, I wanted to pick pomegranate blossoms but couldn’t reach them, and it was the Marquis who lifted me up.”

Xu Lingyi turned his head and smiled at Shiyiniang. “What a fine memory!” He looked genuinely pleased.

Luo Zhensheng and his wife, seeing that Ying Niang had won Xu Lingyi’s favor, were also very happy. Luo Si Nainai pointed to a little girl of five or six standing beside Ying Niang: “This is Hui Niang.” Then she indicated a little boy of about one year being held in the arms of a wet nurse: “And this is Du Ge’er!”

After giving birth to Ying Niang and Hui Niang, she had had no further pregnancies; Du Ge’er had been born to Luo Zhensheng’s concubine Yi Liu.

Shiyiniang then introduced the Xu family children to the Luo family.

Everyone chatted and laughed for a while before going inside to sit down.

Shier Niang and Wang Ze arrived with their children.

The room was lively all over again. Sixth Concubine, in particular, cupped the faces of Shier Niang’s two children in her hands, so overcome with emotion she seemed at a loss for words.

“What a pity that Fifth Elder Sister has gone to be with her husband’s family — otherwise it would be even more lively!” Shier Niang remarked wistfully.

“We are not returning to Yuhang until after the new year,” Luo Da Nainai said with a smile. “Write to her and ask her to come back to Yanjing to celebrate the new year.”

“Wonderful, wonderful!” Shier Niang was delighted.

Xu Lingyi suddenly stood up: “How is it that Fifth Concubine is nowhere to be seen?”

Every voice in the room cut off as abruptly as if severed by a blade. All eyes turned to Luo Zhensheng.

“Fifth Concubine has had a touch of difficulty adjusting to the local climate.” He gave a light cough. “She is resting in her room…”

Xu Lingyi glanced at Shiyiniang, then said evenly: “Then we ought to go and pay our respects to Fifth Concubine — and bring the children to pay her a visit as well.”

Shiyiniang’s nose stung, and her tears surged up.

“Very well!” Her vision was somewhat blurred as she followed Xu Lingyi to see Fifth Concubine — she saw Xu Lingyi pay his respects to Fifth Concubine, saw Fifth Concubine retreat in a startled fluster, saw Jin Ge’er call out “Maternal Grandmother,” saw Fifth Concubine press a handkerchief to her face and weep silently…

“Now, now, do stop crying!” Xu Lingyi looked at Shiyiniang with a mixture of helplessness and laughter. “If you keep on, your eyes will swell up like peaches.”

“I am simply… happy to be with family,” Shiyiniang said, wiping at the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief, the tears falling again as though they could never all be wiped away.

Shiyiniang was rarely moved to such emotion.

Xu Lingyi smiled and let out a sigh, pulling her into his arms.

Shiyiniang leaned her head on his shoulder. In the dimly lit carriage on the way home, she rustled softly and found his hand.

Xu Lingyi clasped her hand firmly in return, and tenderly kissed her cheek.

In the carriage, there was silence, yet it was a silence of peace and perfect tranquility.

—

“So Fifth Concubine has come too!” The Grand Madam smiled warmly, gazing at Jin Ge’er.

“Yes!” Jin Ge’er’s face shone with excitement. “She looks so much like Mother! She smells wonderful, and her voice is so soft and gentle, and… and she made so many clothes for me, and fed me watermelon…”

The Grand Madam chuckled heartily.

Xu Lingyi, standing to one side, smiled and said: “Mother, since Concubine has come, we cannot be too remiss in our welcome. I see the lotus blossoms on Biyi Lake are in full bloom these past few days — perhaps we could choose a day, have the eldest young mistress accompany her, and invite her to come and sit with us here at home. What do you think?”

The Grand Madam was somewhat surprised.

Shiyiniang held her breath without realizing it.

“Of course!” The Grand Madam reflected for a moment, then smiled. “I say, why wait for a good day when today will do just as well? Let us make our preparations tomorrow, and the day after — how does that sound?” The last words were addressed to Shiyiniang.

“Wonderful!” Shiyiniang nodded, smiling, the corners of her eyes glistening with moisture.

—