Yuan Baozhu’s wife had a point. She had only just entered the household, and there would be many more people to attend to in the future. Using white fox fur to make hats for her father-in-law and Sixth Uncle was certainly distinctive, but if she did that now, what would she give when the Grand Madam had a milestone birthday, or when her father-in-law and mother-in-law celebrated theirs?

Jiang Shi grew anxious at the thought. Yet every time she raised the matter, Xu Sizhun simply smiled and told her not to worry about such things. She could not get another word out of him. She sent her maids to quietly make inquiries, and word came back that Xu Sizhun had not been in the outer courtyard these past few days — all household affairs had been handed over to Steward Bai, and even Steward Bai did not know what he was up to.

What on earth was he doing?

Jiang Shi grew rather restless. It happened that the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching and gifts needed to be sent, so she volunteered to Eleventh Lady: “Why don’t I make the trip to Sixiang Hutong myself?”

Third Madam had fallen ill again.

Eleventh Lady had visited once and did not go again.

Long illness wears out the most devoted child. Everyone in the household knew it was not a real illness. Some pretended not to hear; others went through the motions of paying their respects.

“You are with child,” Eleventh Lady said, refusing without a second thought. “Let your Second Sister-in-law go instead.”

“It’s nothing,” Jiang Shi said with a smile. “I am perfectly well. Second Sister-in-law still has to go to Gongxian Hutong to visit Fourth Aunt and Fifth Aunt…”

She simply wants to go out and get some air!

Ever since Jiang Shi had fallen pregnant, Xu Sizhun would not let her do this and would not let her go there. Had Wan San’s wife not said that such confinement made for difficult deliveries, Xu Sizhun would likely have insisted that Jiang Shi stay in bed every single day.

“Then go,” Eleventh Lady said with a smile. “Only be careful. Do not disturb the baby.”

Jiang Shi said “yes” with delight and set off for Sixiang Hutong.

Jin Shi was in the courtyard playing with her two children, surrounded by maids, wives, and matrons — all smiling as they attended to her. Though there was no raucous laughter, there was not the faintest shadow of gloom either. It was clear that no one took Third Madam’s illness very seriously.

Seeing Jiang Shi arrive, Jin Shi quickly had the two children come forward to pay their respects, then invited her inside to sit.

“Elder Sister-in-law is in Mother-in-law’s room attending to her. By the look of the hour, she should be out any moment now,” Jin Shi said, and personally poured her a cup of hot tea.

Whenever Third Madam had come off worse in some dispute with Fang Shi, she would take to her bed and make Fang Shi wait upon her in her sickness. This was an open secret in the household, and no one would say it aloud.

“In that case, let me go and pay my respects to Third Aunt as well,” Jiang Shi said, rising to her feet.

“You are with child — best wait until my mother-in-law has recovered,” Jin Shi said, keeping her back.

Even if the illness was feigned, the proper forms still had to be observed. Being pregnant, she was not suited to visit the sick.

Jiang Shi did not press the matter, and fell into casual conversation with Jin Shi. “I heard from my husband that Third Elder Brother has been transferred to the Five City Infantry Command? Has he taken up the post?”

“He takes up the post after the Dragon Boat Festival,” Jin Shi said, her eyes curving into happy crescents at the words. “He has been appointed Commander of the Southern City — only a sixth-rank official, but at least he is in charge of his own district. Nothing like being in the palace, which sounds impressive but means being at everyone’s beck and call at every turn.” She had the air of someone thoroughly proud of her husband. Then, recalling that Jiang Shi was the legitimate wife of the main branch, she smiled and added, “Truth be told, my husband owes it all to Fourth Uncle’s patronage. Without that connection, why would his superior have singled him out from so many others for the Infantry Command? These past two days my husband has been managing the handover and giving thanks to colleagues — he has been run off his feet. He was thinking that since Fourth Uncle’s household is family, he would wait a few days before coming to pay his respects to the Grand Madam and Fourth Aunt.”

Jiang Shi knew Jin Shi’s words were said out of courtesy.

Even though Xu Sijian’s superior had indeed acted out of deference to Xu Lingyi, if Xu Sijian himself were not capable, no one would have extended such a favor. When word of it reached Marquis Yongping’s residence, even Xu Lingyi had been somewhat surprised, and had laughed and said, “That boy is not bad.”

“Third Elder Brother has his own abilities,” Jiang Shi said, and at that moment someone lifted the curtain and entered with a smile, saying, “Who’s being praised for their abilities?”

Jiang Shi looked up to see a young woman walk in — tall and graceful as jade, wearing a ginger-yellow silk-wadded jacket and a dark green vest.

“Elder Sister-in-law!” she said with a smile, stepping forward to greet her. The three sisters-in-law sat down and talked for a while. When they learned that Jiang Shi had come to deliver festival gifts, Fang Shi accompanied her to the rear courtyard to check the gift inventory.

Did Mother-in-law not say the matrons who came with the cart could handle this sort of thing?

Could it be that Third Aunt had thought up yet another way to make trouble for Elder Sister-in-law?

Jiang Shi turned this over in her mind as she followed Fang Shi to the rear courtyard.

But Fang Shi drew her aside into a small side room.

“Out with it,” she said with a smile, sitting down side by side with Jiang Shi on the carved daybed. “What have you come to see me about?”

Jiang Shi stared at her in surprise.

Fang Shi pressed her lips together in a smile. “You come all this way to deliver the festival gifts while you are carrying a child — if it is not because you have something you need to talk to me about, what else could it be? Go on, tell me what has happened.”

Jiang Shi could not help laughing a little sheepishly.

Since the day Fang Shi had helped Xu Sizhun out of a difficult situation, she had taken a liking to her. The more she saw of Fang Shi after that, the more she felt she was an open and straightforward person, very much to her own nature, and the two had gradually grown closer.

She had only meant to come out for a walk and clear her head. Fang Shi’s candor was such that if she said nothing now, she would seem rather stiff and guarded herself.

Jiang Shi told Fang Shi in roundabout terms what had been happening these past few days.

Fang Shi covered her mouth with her sleeve as she laughed. “This is not so difficult. Since Fourth Uncle did not even want Fourth Aunt to know, Second Uncle must have heard about it from some other source — and even then, it was only that he might return in winter. There is no need to be so anxious. Better to wait and see.”

“You are right!” Jiang Shi’s eyes lit up. “How foolish of me.” The furrow between her brows relaxed. “Even if Father-in-law does return in winter, I can always send some medicinal tonics over after they are back — there is no rush to give Father-in-law and Sixth Brother something to restore their health after the journey.”

She reached out and took Fang Shi’s hand. “I am so glad to have Elder Sister-in-law’s guidance.”

In word and deed, one must always know where to draw the line — come too close and you become a nuisance; hold too far back and you invite resentment.

“I think you are a new bride trying too hard to make a good impression, which is why you cannot help worrying about gains and losses,” Fang Shi said with a smile, shifting the subject. “Have you thought about how you want to spend the Dragon Boat Festival this year?”

“I hear there are plans to set out a banquet in the main hall.” Some things were better left unsaid at length. Jiang Shi smiled and talked with Fang Shi of ordinary household matters.

A small maid came in to announce: “Young Mistress, Young Master says he will be back in the next day or two. He had a servant bring you some things.”

Jiang Shi was startled. “Is Elder Brother-in-law not at home?”

Fang Shi smiled. “Your Elder Brother-in-law has nothing much to do at home. Last spring I turned over my dowry estate to him to manage. He goes out four times a year to collect the accounts, and sometimes trades goods between the north and south — a bit of buying and selling to supplement the household.” She said it modestly, but judging by how freely Fang Shi spent money, this little trade must have been quite profitable.

Jiang Shi smiled as a servant lad carried in a red lacquered box gilded with gold.

“Young Master says this is for you, Young Mistress. The gifts for the Master, the Mistress, Third Young Master, and Third Young Mistress will come back with the cart.”

Fang Shi asked the servant lad, “Why did the Young Master not come back with you?”

The servant lad smiled. “Young Master still has two accounts he has not finished collecting. He was afraid the Young Mistress would worry, so he sent me ahead to let the Young Mistress know.”

Fang Shi’s concern eased. She gave the servant lad a reward in silver. When she looked up and saw Jiang Shi smiling broadly at her, her face colored. “Your Elder Brother-in-law is just that sort of person,” she explained.

Jiang Shi looked pointedly at the box and smiled.

Fang Shi could not keep her composure.

“My, my — not a patch on Fourth Uncle, who makes lanterns for Fourth Sister-in-law with his own hands every evening.”

Jiang Shi also went scarlet.

The two teased each other back and forth until the hour grew late, and Jiang Shi rose and returned to Lotus Lane.

Xu Sizhun was talking with Wang Shu about something. When he saw her come in, he tossed Wang Shu a parting instruction — “Buy a thousand bolts and bring them back” — and came toward her with a smile. “You have been in the carriage for half the day. Are you all right?” He looked her up and down.

“I am perfectly fine,” Jiang Shi said. Her eyes fell on Wang Shu, who was holding a bolt of pale yellow gauze. “How did my husband come home so early today? Is there nothing pressing in the outer courtyard?”

These past few days, Xu Sizhun had been coming home quite early.

“Oh, Steward Bai handles the outer courtyard,” Xu Sizhun said breezily. He helped her settle onto the heated platform by the window. “I asked Wang Shu to buy a few bolts of gauze.”

“What do you need gauze for?” Jiang Shi said with a smile. “I still have some in the storeroom. If you need it, just tell Nanny Yuan to bring it out — there is no need to go and buy more.”

Jiang Shi pretended not to know anything.

“No need!” Xu Sizhun scratched his head, looking a little put out. “The gauze I want must be fine and light and supple — only the Han’s shop on East Main Street does custom orders. Ordinary gauze is all too thick.”

“What does my husband need such gauze for?” Jiang Shi asked with a smile.

“To make something,” Xu Sizhun said vaguely. “By the way, Elder Uncle’s household sent someone over — they say they will send cooling fans over tomorrow. You should prepare some tip money.”

This was Jiang Shi’s first Dragon Boat Festival since her wedding. By custom, the bride’s family sent fans and cool mats.

Jiang Shi agreed with a smile. “I still have things to attend to outside,” Xu Sizhun said. “I must be off.”

Was it not said that all outer courtyard affairs had been left to Steward Bai?

Jiang Shi thought for a moment, then called Wang Shu in. “What does Fourth Young Master want the gauze for?”

Wang Shu smiled and would not say. “You will know in time, Young Mistress.”

Jiang Shi raised a brow. “Is he making lanterns?”

Wang Shu laughed awkwardly.

“The fifth day of the fifth month is both the Dragon Boat Festival and Mother-in-law’s birthday — is my husband making a distinctive lantern as a gift for her?” Jiang Shi pressed.

Since the secret had been half-revealed, Wang Shu saw little point in hiding it further, and murmured, “Fourth Young Master told me not to tell anyone… he wanted to give everyone a pleasant surprise… it is not just one lantern — he has made nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine of them, to be hung throughout the rear garden. The Grand Madam and Fourth Madam are to be invited to Qiongling Villa to admire the lanterns…” His voice grew animated. “Those lanterns cost three taels of silver apiece, and he had white candles specially ordered from Wanxian in Sichuan. Fourth Young Master said they will shine brighter than the stars in the sky… with lanterns filling the whole courtyard, blossoms of fire and silver light, like the Milky Way pouring down from the heavens… the Grand Madam and Madam will surely love it…”

Jiang Shi said nothing. After a long while, she spoke: “You may go.” Her voice was low, laced with a quiet weariness.

Such a lavish gesture — the Grand Madam and Madam would surely be delighted. But why did Fourth Young Mistress look slightly displeased?

Wang Shu muttered to himself, said “yes” in a low voice, and withdrew.

Jiang Shi thought of Xu Siqin’s steadiness, of Xu Siyu’s tireless travels, of Xu Sijian’s diligence, of Xu Sijie’s hard work… and then she thought of Xu Sizhun. When Father-in-law returned and asked questions, what would Steward Bai say in reply?

So that was why she could find no peace.

A feeling of helplessness welled up inside Jiang Shi. She sat motionless in the armchair as dusk gradually closed in around her.

—