The room was bright.

Ying Niang stood turned to one side — her jet-black hair pinned up in a bun, wearing a lake-green lined jacket and a plain indigo Hunan-silk skirt, gold willow-leaf earrings swaying from her earlobes. From across the room, they caught the light in glints of gold, like a cluster of sunlight fallen into the world.

Facing her stood Xu Sijie, a full head taller.

He wore a purple-aubergine Hangzhou silk straight-cut robe with a connected-diamond pattern, his handsome brows drawn tightly together, his clear eyes full of concern.

“I’ve already asked for leave from my teacher. It’s fine.” Xu Sijie’s voice, cool and melodious, was kept deliberately low. “But Eldest Cousin — you’ve been here all along looking after Mother…” He paused with a faint look of guilt. “It should be my turn now. Eldest Cousin, please go rest.”

Ying Niang listened and gave a soft laugh — then immediately remembered Shiyiniang was still asleep, and quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. After a moment, she said: “She is your mother, yes — and is she not my aunt? It’s not the dead of night and I’m not dropping off from fatigue, nor have I been sitting up for days on end without a wink of sleep. What’s the need to take turns? Fifth Cousin had better get back to the academy. Seeing you study hard is what would make your mother happiest — a thousand, ten thousand times better than you sitting here idle.”

Xu Sijie could not help looking abashed.

He had passed the prefectural examination in the second month, and Shiyiniang had been so pleased she had made him two garments with her own hands, and sent him a “Top Scholar and First” inkstone as a gift.

“Go on, go on!” Ying Niang said with a smile. “I’m right here.”

Xu Sijie hesitated, glancing over toward Shiyiniang.

Shiyiniang felt rather as though she were eavesdropping, and instinctively closed her eyes.

“Well… all right then,” Xu Sijie said at last. “If Mother wakes up, ask her properly where she feels unwell. Whether we should send for a physician. If you can’t decide, send a servant boy to Elder Dou’s house. Father will have heard Mother is unwell and will certainly rush back.”

“Understood.” Ying Niang smiled, looking ever so slightly impatient with his fussing.

Xu Sijie noticed her tone. He stood there looking at her, with an air that said he wasn’t leaving until she gave her word.

“Aren’t Fourth Cousin and Fourth Cousin’s wife right here?” After a moment, Ying Niang said with a hint of helplessness. “Why go the long way round? Today is Elder Dou’s birthday — if we go bothering them, won’t that be embarrassing? Besides,” she paused, “even if Fourth Cousin and his wife can’t decide, there’s still Fifth Auntie and the Second Elder Madam, isn’t there? Go to your studies. I know what to do.” Her tone had the air of dismissing him.

Xu Sijie’s face flushed red, but he had to admit Ying Niang’s reasoning was sound.

“Well… then I’ll be going. When Mother wakes up, remember to send word to me.” He delivered his instructions, then made his exit from the inner chamber with slightly undignified haste.

Ying Niang watched his retreating back and pressed her lips together to hide her smile.

Her maid Wan Xiang immediately whispered, “Miss, this is not home — and the Fifth Young Master is not our family’s Master Kang, who grew up with your scolding and is used to it. Please mind your words.”

“It’s fine,” Ying Niang said with a smile. “He has a good temper, he won’t take it to heart. Even Fourth Cousin, Second Cousin’s wife, and all the way to the elder cousins-in-law at Sanjing Lane — they’re all very easy-going people. Don’t worry.”

She spoke with absolute certainty, without mentioning Jiang Shi.

A spark of curiosity rose in Shiyiniang, and she opened her eyes — just in time to hear that maid say urgently, “My dear Miss, we are in your aunt’s room. If your aunt hears you speaking ill of people behind their backs like this, she’ll surely be displeased.”

Ying Niang looked rather embarrassed and laughed, putting an arm around Wan Xiang’s shoulder. “All right, all right, can’t I admit I was wrong?” But her heart was uneasy, and as she spoke she glanced over at Shiyiniang — and met Shiyiniang’s gaze dead on.

“Oh my!” Her face turned crimson. She looked thoroughly mortified. “When did Auntie wake up?”

Shiyiniang did not want to make things awkward for her. She smiled. “I was half-asleep and heard someone quarreling, and woke up.”

Ying Niang pressed her lips together in a smile, eyes bright and sparkling with obvious delight.

“Auntie, would you like some water?” She hurried forward to help Shiyiniang up.

Shiyiniang sat up on her own. “That would be lovely — pour me a cup.”

Ying Niang agreed, and Wan Xiang had already poured a cup of warm water and brought it over.

Shiyiniang took the cup and casually glanced around the room — only Ying Niang and her maid were there.

“Fourth Cousin’s wife, Nanny Song, and Nanny Guan’s wife all had matters to attend to,” Ying Niang immediately said. “Only I was free, so I stayed to keep you company.” She then looked serious. “Nanny Guan’s wife said you were feeling unwell. Where do you feel unwell? A headache? A heaviness in your chest?”

“Nothing is wrong,” Shiyiniang said with a smile, taking a sip of water. “The weather these days — too thick a quilt and you overheat, too thin a quilt and you’re cold. I just didn’t sleep well last night.”

Ying Niang studied Shiyiniang carefully for a moment, and seeing her colour was excellent, let out a breath of relief.

“Fourth Cousin’s wife came with something to ask you, but Nanny Guan’s wife said you were resting. Fourth Cousin’s wife was a little worried and came to check on you, but all those steward’s wives were waiting for her word. She was afraid they’d disturb you, so she had Baozhu pass on messages for her. Just then I happened to come over to bring Auntie some flowers, and I saw Baozhu running about in a sweat. So I volunteered to stay and look after you.” Before Shiyiniang could speak, Ying Niang said with a smile, “Auntie, please don’t scold me for taking matters into my own hands. I was worried about causing delays for tomorrow’s trip to the Medicine King Temple.”

What a perceptive child.

Shiyiniang smiled faintly. She wanted to ask what Xu Sijie had been doing here, but remembering she had told him she had only just woken when Ying Niang was apologizing, she swallowed the question and said with a smile: “I’m fine — nothing serious. Send someone to tell your Fourth Cousin’s wife not to worry.”

Just as she said this, Madam Xiang arrived, carrying the baby.

“Mother, I heard you weren’t feeling well. Where do you feel unwell?”

“I’m fine.” The trouble with having visitors was having to repeat the same answer over and over.

Little Ying Ying squirmed in the wet nurse’s arms, reaching out for Shiyiniang.

Shiyiniang took the baby and set her down on the kang. She immediately crawled toward the window and stretched her hand out toward the goldfish.

Madam Xiang was startled and scrambled up onto the kang to pull the child back, but Shiyiniang had already gently gathered Ying Ying up and moved her aside.

Xu Sizhun and Jiang Shi arrived.

“Mother, Sese told me you were unwell.” His expression was somewhat anxious. “Where do you feel unwell?”

Though Ying Niang was here looking after things, she was after all a guest.

Jiang Shi was uneasy, and the moment she stepped out the door had sent someone to bring word to Xu Sizhun in the outer courtyard.

“Nothing is the matter with me,” Shiyiniang said with a smile, asking her to sit down. “I was just about to send someone to let you know.” She gestured to the armchairs and had them sit, then asked Jiang Shi about the preparations for tomorrow’s trip to the Medicine King Temple.

Jiang Shi saw that Shiyiniang’s complexion was rosy as she leaned back against the large headrest pillow, and the knot in her chest finally untied. She answered Shiyiniang’s questions carefully and thoroughly.

Ying Niang withdrew quietly.

Both Xu Sizhun and Madam Xiang listened attentively. Only the oblivious little Ying Ying kept cooing and babbling beside them, apparently thinking Jiang Shi was talking to her. Madam Xiang quickly carried the child out.

Shiyiniang gave a slight nod. She had entrusted two tasks to Jiang Shi, and both had been well executed.

“Tomorrow’s affairs are in your hands,” Shiyiniang said with a smile. “Once all this is done, take a proper rest for a few days.”

Jiang Shi replied modestly. “You’re too kind, Mother. With Nanny Guan’s wife and Nanny Song’s help, all I did was give the orders.”

Shiyiniang thought back to the assured and fluent way Jiang Shi had just given her report — she had clearly put in real effort. Still smiling, she lifted her teacup in dismissal. “You’ve already passed everything down the line — go back to your room and rest. Build up your strength and be ready for the Medicine King Temple tomorrow.”

The two of them responded respectfully and went out. In the west antechamber they found Ying Niang sitting at the large kang by the window, cutting paper window flowers. Madam Xiang sat beside her with the baby for company.

“Fourth Cousin, Fourth Cousin’s wife — you’re heading back!” Ying Niang smiled and stood.

Jiang Shi smiled with a nod and cooed at little Ying Ying.

Xu Sizhun picked up one of the finished window flowers. “What is this pattern? Why are you cutting window flowers out of season like this?”

It was a magpie perched on a branch.

“Isn’t Xi’er from Fifth Cousin’s rooms about to get married?” Ying Niang said with a smile. “I have nothing to do — cutting a few window flowers to give to her.”

He knew about this. Head Steward Bai had only just mentioned bringing in a few new young maids to serve in Xu Sijie’s rooms.

“These are beautifully cut!” Xu Sizhun said with a laugh. “You might as well take charge of all our New Year window flowers from now on!”

“I certainly will not!” Ying Niang said, laughing and teasing him. “The mansion has so many windows — if I started cutting right now, I still wouldn’t finish by New Year. Besides, the sundry shop sells window flowers at three copper coins for five pieces. If I cut all these for you for nothing, isn’t that a loss for me?”

Xu Sizhun found her amusing. “So Eldest Cousin is fond of money. See money and she cuts, no money and she won’t.”

All three of them laughed.

“What’s got everyone in such good spirits!” Xu Sijie walked in from outside. “Has Mother woken up? Did she say where she felt unwell?” His gaze went first, directly, to Ying Niang.

“Mother says she’s fine,” Ying Niang said with a smile. “From what I could see, she’s simply tired and wanted to rest.”

Xu Sijie’s expression eased.

Xu Sizhun said curiously, “How did you know Mother was unwell?”

“I noticed lately that Mother seemed a little low in spirits,” he said. “I was worried. I told Master Chang and came to look in. I didn’t expect she actually was feeling under the weather.”

Xu Sizhun felt a twinge of shame.

He too had sensed their mother was not quite herself — yet it hadn’t occurred to him to come and see her.

Ying Niang noticed this clearly and quickly said, “Fourth Cousin, Fourth Cousin’s wife — why don’t we all stay and keep Auntie company for the evening meal later? More people make things more lively. Auntie’s mood might lift.”

“Yes, of course!” Xu Sizhun said at once. “We can bring Ting Ge’er over too.”

Having a child around would make the atmosphere all the warmer.

The matter agreed upon, everyone dispersed.

Xu Sijie and Ying Niang went into the inner chamber and sat talking with Shiyiniang for a long while, then waited for Jin Ge’er to come home from his lessons and had the midday meal together. In the afternoon, Xu Sijie and Jin Ge’er went back to their studies, while Shiyiniang and Ying Niang went through clothes and jewelry for the trip to the Medicine King Temple. In the evening, everyone gathered around the table for the meal together.

Xu Lingyi came home.

To find the room full of people — he was rather surprised.

“Father, you’re back!” Jin Ge’er was the first to spring forward, beaming as he ran to meet him.

Xu Lingyi smiled and put an arm around his son’s shoulder. Shiyiniang then stood. “Has my Lord eaten? If not, I’ll have the kitchen add a few more dishes.”

She was all smiles, and on the surface looked no different from her usual self. But those who knew her well could see clearly — her eyes were very cool.

Xu Lingyi smiled ruefully.

—