On the eighteenth day of the third month, the First Master rose before dawn. He offered prayers at the ancestral altar and gave a few words of advice about what to keep in mind during the examinations. Then he, the First Madam, the First Young Mistress, Fifth Miss, Tenth Miss, Eleventh Miss, and a whole retinue of maids and matrons saw Luo Zhensheng off at the front gate.

The carriage and horses had long been readied outside. The manservants carrying lanterns helped Luo Zhensheng into the carriage, and even after it disappeared from sight, the First Madam remained standing there, straining to see.

“Let’s go back,” said the First Master with a smile. “There are still a few days yet!”

In the imperial examination of the Great Zhou dynasty, three sessions were held consecutively, and Luo Zhensheng would not finish until the twenty-first.

The First Madam nodded and returned to the room with the First Master. Along the way, she kept muttering: “I wonder if there’s anyone looking after Young Master Qian.”

“Stop worrying so much!” said the First Master. “These things depend on man’s effort but are ultimately decided by Heaven. Otherwise, why would so many brilliant and learned scholars have ever failed the examinations?”

The First Madam found the reasoning sound and stopped her murmuring. But after finishing breakfast, she began reciting sutras. The First Young Mistress was also anxious and joined the First Madam in her recitations.

Everyone in the household moved about in hushed silence, treading softly.

When lunchtime came, the Fourth Young Master, Luo Zhensheng, arrived.

The First Master’s expression cooled by three degrees upon hearing this. When Luo Zhensheng entered, he flung the chopsticks in his hand at the young man’s face: “…So you finally deigned to show up. Your elder brother is sitting the examinations today. Did you know that?”

Sixteen-year-old Luo Zhensheng was in the midst of adolescence — tall, pale, and slight, always slouching as though he couldn’t stand straight, which gave him a timid and hesitant air.

Seeing his father’s fury, he was immediately frightened into pallor, standing there in a daze, not knowing what to do.

The First Madam shot Nanny Xu a meaningful glance from the side, then rose with a smile to mediate: “All right, all right. The child has never traveled far before — arriving a few days late is nothing unusual. Today is a good day for Zhensheng, so don’t lose your temper and risk…” She swallowed the words “inviting bad luck” and switched to saying, “…something unsuitable.”

The First Master shot Luo Zhensheng one more glare. The First Madam quickly instructed Wu Xiaoquan, who stood nearby — the one who had gone to Tongzhou to bring Luo Zhensheng back: “The Fourth Young Master has been on the road and must be tired. Go and have lunch.”

Luo Zhensheng hurried to bow to both the First Master and the First Madam before being led away by Wu Xiaoquan.

Over at Fifth Miss’s courtyard, she had already received word and sent her maid Ziwei to meet him: “Fourth Young Master, you’ve finally come!”

But Luo Zhensheng urgently grabbed Ziwei by the hand: “Ziwei, quickly go tell Fifth Sister — Dijin has fallen ill.”

Ziwei was startled. She looked at Luo Zhensheng, who was drenched in sweat, and acknowledged the message before hurrying off to Fifth Miss.

Dijin was two years older than Luo Zhensheng. She had served at his side since childhood, fiercely loyal to him, and was the person Third Yiniang and Fifth Miss trusted most. Now, hearing she was ill, Fifth Miss grew anxious too and quickly slipped on her shoes and climbed down from the kang: “Where is the Fourth Young Master staying?”

“In the east wing of the main courtyard!” Ziwei said hesitantly.

Fifth Miss slowed her movements. She thought for a moment, then said: “Go and see what’s troubling Dijin. I have some Lily Lung-Consolidating Pills, Zhishi Stagnation-Resolving Pills, Wuling Pills here…”

Ziwei acknowledged and went to check on Dijin.

Dijin’s face was pallid and she lay listless in bed: “It’s all my fault for delaying the Fourth Young Master’s journey. I’m not seriously ill — please tell Fifth Miss it’s just seasickness.”

Ziwei saw that she was only low in spirits and offered a few comforting words before returning to Fifth Miss.

Fifth Miss was still a little worried and had Ziwei bring some Lily Lung-Consolidating Pills.

As they came and went, Eleventh Miss also received word and sent Hupo to inquire, who came back saying: “Dijin has seasickness too.”

Eleventh Miss had Hupo send over a packet of Longjing tea: “Drinking something mild will help her feel more comfortable.”

Dijin thanked Eleventh Miss for the kind gesture. Hupo sat there and chatted idly with her for a while. At one point, a young maid brought in noodle broth, but just one whiff of it made Dijin feel ill. She grew dizzy and drowsy again. Seeing this, Hupo took her leave. She returned and told Eleventh Miss: “…Something happened at home, and Fifth Yiniang cried often at first. Later, Wu Xiaoquan’s wife frequently came to comfort Fifth Yiniang. By the time Dijin and the others arrived, Fifth Yiniang was much better and had begun observing a strict vegetarian fast under the guidance of a monk from Ci’an Temple.”

A shadow crossed Eleventh Miss’s eyes.

Fifth Yiniang was not yet thirty years old!

Hupo understood that Eleventh Miss was worried about her birth mother — but what use was worry, unless she could somehow arrange a marriage for her…

The thought startled even herself, and she fled from it, hastily changing the subject: “Miss, the Fourth Young Master has gone to report to the First Master. I wonder how the First Master will deal with him?”

“Things being as they are, it will amount to no more than a scolding,” Eleventh Miss answered briskly. Then she called for her needlework.

Seeing this, Hupo said no more. She pulled up a small stool beside Eleventh Miss and helped make the shoes and socks for Fifth Miss’s trousseau — the First Young Mistress had brought a list and asked everyone in Eleventh Miss’s room to sew according to it.

As Eleventh Miss had predicted, the First Master gave Luo Zhensheng a thorough tongue-lashing, after which much of his anger dissipated. But seeing the boy’s cowering and cringing manner, he heaved a long sigh and sent him away.

Luo Zhensheng then went to see Fifth Miss.

Fifth Miss could not help but lecture him: “…You could have left someone in Tongzhou to look after Dijin and come yourself straightaway — instead you dragged things out for days. Father only threw a chopstick at you; you got off lightly.”

Luo Zhensheng mumbled and nodded in meek agreement.

Fifth Miss shook her head at the sight of him, then laughed: “When will you ever stop making people worry?” She then asked, “How is Third Yiniang?”

Luo Zhensheng smiled: “Not long after you all left, she caught a slight chill. I went to the Hangzhou prefecture to hire a physician to see Yiniang, and also used the finest ginseng and bird’s nest — her illness cleared up quickly.”

Fifth Miss’s eyes went wide: “Why would you go all the way to the Hangzhou prefecture for a physician when there are doctors right here in Yuhang? And the finest ginseng and bird’s nest — did you take them from the storeroom, or buy them outside? If you took them from the storeroom, did you replenish them before coming?”

Luo Zhensheng heard his sister’s words and could not help but feel a little disheartened. He said in a low voice: “Why do you have to say the same things as Yiniang…”

Fifth Miss gave the table a light slap: “Where did that ginseng and bird’s nest come from?”

Luo Zhensheng flinched and quickly said: “From the storeroom. But Yiniang replenished everything for me.”

Only then did Fifth Miss let out a breath of relief. Then a rosy blush rose to her cheeks: “Just behave yourself and don’t stir up trouble. If your brother-in-law passes the examinations with distinction this time, I’ll have him take you along to his post and have you serve as a kind of secretary or advisor… You won’t have to be so constrained anymore.”

Luo Zhensheng was startled: “Which brother-in-law? Fourth Sister’s husband? If he wanted an advisor, he’d only ask Third Brother — how would it ever come to me?”

Ziwei, standing to one side, covered her mouth and laughed: “It’s our own Miss! Our Miss was betrothed just a few days ago. The young gentleman is a classmate of the First Young Master’s from the Imperial Academy, and he’s also sitting the metropolitan examinations today.”

Luo Zhensheng brightened with excitement: “Really? Really! That is wonderful news!”

Fifth Miss smiled without a word.

As the siblings were rejoicing, a young maid from Luo Zhensheng’s side came in: “Fourth Young Master, Dijin just vomited again.”

Luo Zhensheng’s face immediately filled with alarm. He hastily said a few words to his sister — “I’ll come see you again shortly” — and followed the maid away.

Fifth Miss watched him go and frowned: “That Dijin — since when has she become so delicate?”

Just as she was speaking, Ziwei came in: “Miss, the people from Marquis Yongping’s mansion have come again to invite the First Madam.”

Fifth Miss was visibly taken aback, murmuring to herself: “Can it be that there’s no more time to wait…”

…

The First Madam hurried after Yanhong to Yuanniang’s residence. The moment she stepped through the door, she was struck with a start.

The room was packed with people standing in perfect silence. The Third Lady, the Fifth Lady, and Wen Yiniang and the newly entered Qiao Yiniang were all present, every one of them pressing handkerchiefs to the corners of their eyes.

The First Madam’s heart lurched.

She was about to speak when Wei Zi, the senior matron of the Grand Dowager, came forward with a solemn expression: “First Madam, please follow me.” With that, she turned and walked toward the inner chamber.

The First Madam had no choice but to follow.

She saw the Grand Dowager seated on a brocade stool beside the bed, quietly shedding tears. Standing nearby was an inner attendant in a round-collared robe embroidered front and back with sunflower patterns.

When he saw the First Madam enter, a look of sympathy crossed the attendant’s eyes.

The First Madam already had some understanding of the situation. Her legs went soft and she could not make herself move forward.

Nanny Xu, with sharp eyes and quick hands, stepped forward to steady her.

At the sound of movement, the Grand Dowager rose. Gently dabbing the corners of her eyes, she said softly: “Honored kinswoman, please come and sit here.” Her voice was thick with grief.

The First Madam felt her whole body go weak. Supported by Nanny Xu, she stumbled to Yuanniang’s bedside: “Yuanniang, Yuanniang…”

Yuanniang’s face was white as a blank sheet. Her lips had turned ashen. She lay completely still, and even the rise and fall of her chest was barely perceptible.

The First Madam took hold of her daughter’s hand and had just called out “Yuanniang” when Yuanniang’s eyelids flickered and she opened her eyes.

They were eyes without focus — the gaze scattered, without life.

“Mother!” she called out softly.

The First Madam’s tears fell like rain: “Yes, yes, it’s me.”

The corners of Yuanniang’s mouth twitched. She tried to smile, but the smile did not come.

“When I am gone, please entrust Zhun Ge to my younger sister, Eleventh.” She spoke these words with sharp clarity, and then she began gasping for breath.

She was giving her final instructions…

The First Madam could not hold back her tears, yet she still managed to cry out loudly: “I understand, I understand!”

In an instant, the room inside and out was filled with the soft sound of weeping.

Yuanniang then called out with effort: “Lv Ye.”

Lv Ye answered “yes” through tears, then reached under Yuanniang’s pillow and drew out a carved red lacquer box.

“Give it to the honored attendant,” Yuanniang said, her voice thin as a gnat’s hum. “Please ask him to convey it to Her Majesty the Empress.”

Lv Ye respectfully handed it over.

The inner attendant bowed in acknowledgement. The room immediately fell silent, though one could still hear the faint sound of indrawn breath among those present. The attendant then said respectfully with a smile: “Madam, rest assured — I will make certain it is delivered.”

“It is a memorial I have written to Her Majesty the Empress,” Yuanniang said, the faintest curve at the corner of her lips. “I humbly ask that Her Majesty show compassion for a mother’s heart, given in love for her child.”

“Be at ease, be at ease,” said the Grand Dowager, weeping. “In this matter, I shall speak on your behalf.”

Yuanniang’s whole body relaxed: “Mother, I wish to see Zhun Ge!”

The Grand Dowager immediately instructed someone to bring Zhun Ge.

In a short while, the wet nurse carried Zhun Ge in.

Zhun Ge’s wide eyes darted about in a panic. Seeing his mother, he lunged forward and tried to throw himself at her.

The wet nurse dared not release him. Zhun Ge struggled: “Mama, Mama…”

Yuanniang raised her hand, and it fell again in midair.

The Grand Dowager sobbed softly: “Let him go…”

Only then did the wet nurse dare set Zhun Ge down on the floor.

Zhun Ge immediately trotted toward his mother.

“Mama, Mama…” He climbed nimbly onto her bed. “You’re not sleeping anymore?”

Yuanniang smiled: “I am going to sleep. But while I sleep, you must listen to your Eleventh Aunt.”

“Who is Eleventh Aunt?” Zhun Ge asked in confusion, tilting his head to look at his mother. “Why should I listen to her? Is it not enough for me to listen to Mama?”

The First Madam could no longer contain herself and broke into loud sobs.

—