Shiyiniang was somewhat surprised. She smiled and said, “My niece from my maiden family has arrived. Let Fifth Madam know that once we’ve paid our respects to the Grand Madam, we’ll head over to her place.”

Upon hearing this, the maid hastily offered her congratulations and said with a smile, “Our Madam was asking just a couple of days ago when the eldest young miss from the main family would be coming. How perfect — I’ll go and report it to our Madam now. Goodness knows how pleased she’ll be when she hears.” She then added, “Fourth Madam, please do let me first pay my respects to the eldest young miss before I go back! Otherwise, when our Madam finds out I turned straight around without doing so, she’ll scold me for not knowing my manners!”

She was using Fifth Madam’s name to elevate Yingniang’s standing. Shiyiniang smiled but made no move to stop her.

Before long, Yingniang had washed up and dressed herself.

She had arranged her hair in two simple double-spiral buns, each fastened with a pearl circlet. She wore a grass-green robe edged with moonwhite trimming, paired with a white embroidered skirt. Nothing particularly striking, yet dignified and appropriate.

Shiyiniang smiled and accompanied her to the Grand Madam’s quarters.

Little Yingying, now past her first birthday, had learned to walk while holding onto things. The Grand Madam had her placed on the kang, where she was toddling along, bracing herself against the low table.

When she saw Shiyiniang, she raised her soft, rosy little face and called out “Grandmother,” though her pronunciation was off — the first syllable came out muffled, while the second rang out clearly, making it sound as though she was calling “Mother,” which sent everyone into laughter.

“The first time I met your aunt, she was just about your age,” the Grand Madam said, holding Yingniang’s hand. “In the blink of an eye, all of you have grown so big. I’ve gotten old too.” Her voice trailed off wistfully.

“Confucius said that at sixty, one’s ear is attuned to truth, and at seventy, one may follow one’s heart’s desire without transgressing what is right,” Yingniang said with a smile. “We all look on with envy!”

The Grand Madam burst out laughing. “You little one — you’ve actually read Confucius!” She nodded approvingly, clearly very pleased. “Stay here and dine with me this evening. I’ll have your cousin Xin keep you company.” She then pointed to Xiang Shi: “You stay too.” Then she called for someone to fetch Jiang Shi. “Bring little Ting Ge along as well. Come and dine together.”

Yingniang seized the moment to glance at Shiyiniang.

Seeing Shiyiniang give her a gentle smile, she smiled and answered, “Yes.”

The Grand Madam, upon seeing this, said with mild reproach, “You needn’t look to her. I’m the one keeping you here — she wouldn’t dare refuse me.”

The Shiyiniang of today was nothing like the Shiyiniang of years past. Having managed the affairs of Marquis Yongping’s household for ten years, there was only the Grand Madam who would dare speak to her like this to her face.

Everyone in the room burst into another round of laughter.

“The Grand Madam is so terribly partial!” Someone laughed and lifted the door curtain as they entered. “All her thoughts are for Fourth Sister-in-law’s sons and daughters-in-law — and here I am, not yet dined either!”

Everyone turned toward the voice. A young woman in a rose-red robe woven all over with gold thread, her hair dressed in a peony chignon, walked in with a bright smile.

Yingniang noticed the tourmaline bead bracelet on her wrist — each bead the size of a fingernail, every one a clear and vivid azure — utterly extraordinary in quality. She knew at once that this must be Fifth Madam of Marquis Yongping’s household.

After Shiyiniang made the introduction, Yingniang smiled and performed a small curtsy, calling out “Fifth Madam.”

Fifth Madam then gestured to the girl following behind her: “This is your Second Cousin Sister!” Then she pointed to Cheng Ge’er: “And this is your Eighth Cousin Brother.”

The two young girls exchanged their greetings, but Cheng Ge’er tugged at Yingniang’s sleeve and asked, “Eldest Cousin Sister, did you come by boat or by carriage?”

Yingniang was briefly taken aback, then smiled and replied, “I took a carriage to Hangzhou, then a boat from Hangzhou to Tongzhou, and then a carriage again to Yanjing.”

Cheng Ge’er’s eyes shone with undisguised envy.

Fifth Madam took Yingniang by the hand. “Never mind him. Ever since your Seventh Cousin Brother went on a trip, your Eighth Cousin Brother has been going on every day about when he’ll get to go out and travel just like the Seventh one.”

This was the Xu family’s domestic affairs, so Yingniang merely smiled quietly.

Everyone sat down according to seniority. Jiang Shi arrived, led by a wet nurse carrying Ting Ge’er in her arms.

Ever since Shiyiniang had said those words to her, Jiang Shi had fallen into a sudden silence. Dark circles had appeared beneath her eyes. Everyone assumed it was the child keeping her up; the Grand Madam had even said, “You’re young, and your health matters. If it comes to it, leave little Ting Ge’er with me for a few days.”

“At your age, not even Sixth Uncle ever disturbed your rest like this. It wouldn’t do to let Ting Ge’er trouble you,” she had gently declined. Yet she had been growing visibly thinner.

She greeted her elders with some stiffness, then exchanged a few pleasantries with Yingniang — neither overly warm nor overly distant — keeping a low profile throughout.

Yingniang watched her with quiet puzzlement.

When she had seen this Fourth Sister-in-law at the New Year celebrations the year before, she had been like a jewel among jewels — her speech bright and clear, her spirit radiant and full of life. Yet barely a year had passed; she had even given birth to the eldest legitimate grandson, which should have been cause for even greater joy. How was it that she now looked dispirited and melancholy, carrying an air of desolation?

Yingniang stepped forward with a smile to pay her respects. Jiang Shi slipped a tourmaline bracelet from her wrist and gave it to her as a gift for their first meeting.

The Grand Madam, seeing everyone gathered in cheerful harmony, smiled and called for Nanny Du to serve the meal.

Everyone escorted the Grand Madam into the east wing’s sitting and resting room.

After the evening meal, the younger generation clustered around the Grand Madam chatting away, while Fifth Madam made eyes at Shiyiniang. The two of them moved to stand by the latticed partition door between the main hall and the west side room — visible to anyone who glanced up from inside, and able to see the room themselves — giving the appearance of two elders stepping aside to leave the young ones room to talk.

“Someone has proposed a match for our Xin Jie’er. I can’t quite make up my mind, and I wanted to talk it over with you.” Her expression was hesitant.

Shiyiniang lowered her voice to match. “Tell me what you’re thinking, Fifth Sister-in-law.”

“…His surname is Lu, given name Xian. His father once served as Commander of the Right Cavalry Guard, and died in battle following Fourth Brother on the western campaign. An imperial edict awarded him the position of Associate Prefect of Tianjin Wei. By all accounts he’s fine-looking, skilled in both archery and horsemanship, and well-versed in classical learning. He’s already eighteen this year, but the people I sent to make inquiries came back saying this Young Master Lu has very high standards, and has been holding out for someone truly worthy. As for our Xin Jie’er — I won’t make other claims, but in terms of looks, she holds her own…” Fifth Madam glanced at Shiyiniang with a smile. “I’ve arranged with the matchmaker to take a look at him in a few days, and I’d like to ask Fourth Sister-in-law to come along and give her assessment — Fourth Sister-in-law has played matchmaker several times herself, after all, unlike me. She has experience.”

So that was what this was about.

“Of course!” Shiyiniang said with a smile. “Tianjin Wei is a major garrison post — Associate Prefect should be of the fifth rank, first grade. It would be a marriage away from home, yet Tianjin is only five or six days’ journey from Yanjing. The post road runs well, so travel back and forth is convenient. Young Master Lu is fine-looking, accomplished, and has inherited a rank…” She nodded. “He and our Xin Jie’er seem like a match made by heaven.”

Fifth Madam smiled, a look of quiet satisfaction in her eyes.

Two years of searching, and she had finally found a good match for her daughter.

“Fourth Sister-in-law, where do you think the meeting should be arranged — Xiangguo Temple or Ciyuan Temple?”

“What does the matchmaker suggest?” Shiyiniang smiled. “If there’s no strong preference, it may be best to follow the matchmaker’s arrangements.”

Fifth Madam shook her head with a smile. “I specifically don’t want to follow the matchmaker’s arrangements. Who knows what tricks they might be up to.” She then recounted a particular anecdote: “…On the day of the meeting, the young man rode up on horseback, and the young woman held a fan to cover the corner of her mouth. Come the wedding night, when the bridal veil was lifted, it turned out the woman had a wart at the corner of her mouth, and the man had a limp.”

Shiyiniang couldn’t help but laugh softly.

“You two, whispering away over there — what are you laughing about?” the Grand Madam called out with a smile. “Giggling away in that corner!”

“We’re telling jokes!” Fifth Madam and Shiyiniang exchanged an amused glance and walked back over. “One day we’ll tell them to you privately,” Fifth Madam said, returning to the Grand Madam’s side. Jiang Shi, who had been seated beside the Grand Madam, quickly rose to make room. Fifth Madam sat down without ceremony, took a small wooden mallet from a little maid’s hand, and began gently tapping the Grand Madam’s shoulders. “Can’t have those young maids eavesdropping.”

The Grand Madam chuckled warmly.

Shiyiniang turned to Jiang Shi: “Bao Zhu mentioned you haven’t been sleeping well lately. Are you feeling better? Shall I have a physician come to take a look?”

To have been admonished by one’s mother-in-law and then carry on looking visibly distressed rather than humbly accepting the lesson would surely imply the mother-in-law had been in the wrong.

Jiang Shi quickly replied, “I’m perfectly fine. It must be spring fatigue now that the season has turned.”

Shiyiniang smiled and nodded. “That’s good to hear. I was just thinking — the third day of the third month is coming up in a few days. It’s both the Girls’ Festival and Jie Ge’er’s birthday. His birthday is easy enough — as always, everyone gathers for a bowl of longevity noodles. But the Spring Banquet for the third of the third should be properly prepared. Jin Ge’er’s courtyard hasn’t been tidied up yet, and your father-in-law wrote to say he’ll be setting out for Yanjing in mid-March. I’d like to have Qingyin Residence put in order before he returns. If you’re feeling up to it, come help me organize the third-of-the-third banquet.”

“Mother-in-law!” Jiang Shi looked at Shiyiniang in bewildered surprise.

One cannot see Mount Lu for what it truly is when standing within it.

Shiyiniang’s meaning had been stated plainly enough. Once Jiang Shi thought it over carefully, she would surely be able to glimpse the truth of it. Yet with her maiden family on one side and her husband’s family on the other, she genuinely did not know how to proceed. In her mother-in-law’s presence, she had no choice but to remain silent.

What she had not expected was that her mother-in-law would be the first to break the impasse — and do so in front of so many people by inviting her to help organize the third-of-the-third Spring Banquet.

“So Old Fourth has truly set his departure for mid-March?” That entire exchange, and the Grand Madam had only caught this one remark. “He said the same in his letter to me. I thought he was just telling me what I wanted to hear.” She promptly beckoned Shiyiniang over. “They should be able to make it back in time for the Dragon Boat Festival, shouldn’t they? You’d better plan carefully how the festival should be celebrated. He hasn’t been home for the better part of a year!”

Shiyiniang smiled. “The Marquis wants to hurry back especially for your birthday. He’ll certainly be here by the Dragon Boat Festival. When the time comes, I’ll discuss with you how we should celebrate it.”

The Grand Madam nodded contentedly. “Tell them not to rush the journey — their health is what matters. As for my birthday, it doesn’t matter whether they make it back or not. I know he is devoted to me…” She went on for the better part of an hour.

Jiang Shi stood to one side, watching Shiyiniang’s serene and gentle expression, her heart a tangle of emotions.

Was this how her mother-in-law behaved — did it amount to a foretelling that she was about to formally hand over the household?

Hupo harbored the same concern: “Which matters should I bring to Fourth Young Madam for instructions? And which to you?”

“The Spring Banquet — how it should be run, how much to spend, how the money should be allocated — let Fourth Young Madam work out a plan,” Shiyiniang said with a smile. “Once I’ve reviewed it, you all can proceed accordingly. As for what to purchase, how to arrange the flower hall, how to set the menu — go and consult with Fourth Young Madam on all of that.” She then added, “Tell Wen Yiniang to copy out the household account books from recent years and pass them to Fourth Young Madam — that way, she’ll have a proper foundation when she acts.”

Hupo went off to carry out the instruction.

—