“Yes!” Xu Lingyi answered without a moment’s hesitation.
His readiness was startling to Shiyiniang. She had to remind herself that Jin Ge’er, for all his growing up, had never once left Xu Lingyi’s field of sight — and even she herself had needed two days of deliberation to reach this decision.
“I understand your worry.” Xu Lingyi looked at her steadily. “Sometimes I’m afraid too. Afraid the decision I’ve made is wrong. Afraid I’ve over-estimated Jin Ge’er’s gift out of wishful thinking. Afraid Jin Ge’er’s joy and eagerness is just the passing excitement of something new. But what I’m more afraid of is that he might be an eagle we’ve raised as a goose — that when he wants to fly, he finds he can’t, while others treat him as an eagle and come after him accordingly…” His eyes glimmered with moisture.
Shiyiniang’s tears fell in silence.
Had she not felt this same contradiction herself… hoping her child could earn the world’s respect by staying true to his own nature, while also hoping he would not have to suffer too much hardship, take too many wrong turns, or go through too many changes of fortune.
“Let Zhensheng take him to Jiangnan to see the world,” Xu Lingyi said, using his sleeve to gently wipe away Shiyiniang’s tears. “At the very least, he’ll come to know the difference between the misty rains of Jiangnan and the winds of the great desert. He’ll know there is another kind of landscape in this world.” Then he suddenly laughed. “Who knows — he might find himself so captivated by all the differences in this world that he decides to grow up and go to Liaodong instead.”
If that were so… Shiyiniang thought about it and felt almost amused, a faint smile touching the corners of her lips.
“Why do we always assume our Jin Ge’er will end up in some remote and desolate place?” she said, with mild exasperation, though her voice had grown considerably softer. “Who knows — our Jin Ge’er might decide to just stay in Hangzhou and never leave!”
“Hangzhou isn’t bad!” Xu Lingyi said, easy and unperturbed. “As they say, above is Heaven, below is Suzhou and Hangzhou. Besides, the goods of Jiangnan all travel north through Hangzhou — the Grand Canal Guild’s main headquarters is established right there. Never mind anything else: just the annual fees the Canal Guild pays out in gratuities alone is enough for the river inspection posts to live in comfort. The Inspection Commandancy post is a modest one, but the perks are substantial!”
The appointment, dismissal, and evaluation of Inspection Commandancy posts all fell under the Ministry of War.
“Why is it all you ever think about, day and night, is getting Jin Ge’er into the military!” Shiyiniang was both exasperated and amused. “You were just talking about letting Elder Brother take Jin Ge’er to Jiangnan, and before the words had even settled, your mind was already on the Inspection Commandancy? I’d sooner have our Jin Ge’er go to the West Mountain Camp than let him go to the Inspection Commandancy. Meeting a vessel that comes along and putting on airs to extort tribute from them, then bowing and scraping to flatter superiors whenever they come by…” In her previous life she had never had any patience for those toll-collecting roadblockers.
“Ah, so you look down on the Inspection Commandancy,” Xu Lingyi said, rubbing his chin with a thoughtful frown. “The nearest place to Hangzhou in that case would be… the Grand Canal Supervisorate… it’s in Huai’an. But the Grand Canal Supervisor is rank 3A. Starting off as the Grand Canal Supervisor right from the beginning… that’s a little difficult.” He shook his head slightly, as if genuinely troubled.
If, after all this, Shiyiniang still didn’t understand that Xu Lingyi was teasing her, she would have been rather obtuse indeed.
“Who said anything about the Grand Canal Supervisorate?” She pulled her hand free from his. “I had no idea when the Ministry of Personnel became something you could carry in your pocket, my Lord!”
Xu Lingyi laughed loudly. “Has your mood lifted?” he asked gently.
This exchange had dissolved the sulk she’d been nursing, and her spirits were naturally much improved. Thinking back on how for the past two days he had kept looking for chances to speak with her while she had paid him no mind — and how when he did say something, she had jabbed back twice as hard — Shiyiniang felt she had been rather petty, and her expression softened with a hint of embarrassment. “I know I ought to have spoken properly with my Lord — I shouldn’t have just kept sulking…”
“Aren’t we talking properly right now?” Xu Lingyi said before she had even finished. “And besides — if you won’t be unreasonable with me, who else would you be unreasonable with?”
Shiyiniang was caught off guard.
Meeting his smiling eyes, her heart was at once sour and sweet — for a moment, she could not find words.
Xu Lingyi then said, “By the way — has there been any word from Yuhang about Jie Ge’er’s matter?”
“Oh!” Shiyiniang quickly said, “Not yet. But by the count of days, we should hear something within the next day or two.”
Xu Lingyi nodded, his expression settling into seriousness. “Then let’s wait for word from Yuhang. I’ll go to the Ministry of Personnel to arrange for Zhensheng to take leave — the excuse being that he’s sending Ying Niang back to Yuhang — and have Jin Ge’er go along for the trip to Jiangnan. As for how to arrange things…” He thought for a moment. “I’ll explain the full intention to Zhensheng. Then write a letter to Assistant Minister Xiang — he has many old friends and former colleagues, and with Zhensheng’s reputation, a word from him in the right places should be enough to let Jin Ge’er see something of how the Jiangnan officialdom operates.”
Shiyiniang thought this a fine plan, but was worried about Luo Zhensheng. “This would take up a great deal of his time, wouldn’t it? Would it hold back Elder Brother’s career?”
“Right now he’s just waiting out his seniority,” Xu Lingyi said with a smile. “This would be a fine opportunity to go out and about — he might even gain something unexpected.”
True. All those connections made along the way — never mind whether there was any real affinity — at the very least, he would become a familiar face.
“If time allows, it would be best to take Jin Ge’er to visit places like the White Deer Grotto Academy and the Maoshan Academy,” she mused. “Let him see how others study and absorb a sense of what those academies embody.”
“Excellent!” Now that the decision was made, it was worth planning properly. “Tell me which other places you’d like, and once we’ve sorted that out, I can go discuss it with Zhensheng.”
“I mainly want him to meet the scholars of Jiangnan. As for the rest, I haven’t thought carefully yet. Does my Lord have any thoughts?”
“Since you want him to meet Jiangnan scholars, he must not miss a visit to Master Wang Baizhou — the great Neo-Confucian scholar who has settled in Fuyang. I believe Wang Li’s teacher and Master Wang Baizhou are old family friends. I’ll ask Wang Li to write a letter tomorrow, and Zhensheng can take it with him when he goes…”
Husband and wife sat side by side on the beauty’s couch, speaking softly together. From the nearby clump of jade hairpin flowers, occasional cricket song drifted through the air — the night felt peaceful and still.
Once the Senior Madam’s birthday had passed, the letter from Yuhang arrived.
After that conversation Luo Zhensheng had had, the Luo family’s consent to the match was hardly surprising news.
The Senior Madam was all smiles, and urged Shiyiniang: “Then set a date early. Jie Ge’er can study with a settled heart, and you’ll have someone to keep you company.” She also cautioned Nanny Du: “Ying Niang is still living here in our house. Mind none of you breathe a word. It would put the child in an awkward position — and if any idle gossip gets out, I will most certainly not show mercy.”
“You can rest easy!” Nanny Du saw the Senior Madam was in good spirits, and made an exaggerated face to coax a laugh from her. “I guarantee not a single syllable will slip out.”
There was no one else in the room — the Senior Madam and Shiyiniang both laughed.
“Elder Brother’s intention is to take a few days’ leave — partly to go back for a visit, and partly to send Ying Niang home. Once he returns from Yuhang, he’ll formally begin the betrothal discussions.” Shiyiniang smiled. “I was thinking the two children are both young — Ying Niang in particular has not yet come of age, and my Fourth Sister-in-law is sure to be reluctant to part with her. There’s no rush; it will be fine to begin the discussions when Elder Brother returns. What do you think?”
“You young people handle it!” the Senior Madam said with a smile. “I’ll have the red packets ready and simply wait to receive my grandaughter-in-law’s tea!”
Shiyiniang then moved on to the main purpose of her visit. “Elder Brother’s return to Yuhang this time is mainly intended as a journey of sight and experience along the way. My Lord feels it’s a rare opportunity and would like Jin Ge’er to go along and broaden his horizons. But I feel Jin Ge’er is still young — to be away for most of a year is a bit worrying. My Lord says Jin Ge’er has even been to the northwest, and Jiangnan is a prosperous and peaceful land in a time of good order — what could possibly happen? And he’s ten years old now. If he can travel north and south to broaden his horizons, not only will he be more worldly, but his mind and bearing will open up too, and he’ll be more composed and steady in his manner. I listened to my Lord and found his reasoning sound, but then I didn’t know what to think, so I came to discuss it with you, Mother…”
The Senior Madam fell silent as she listened.
Precisely what Shiyiniang and Xu Lingyi had most feared was the Senior Madam’s objection.
She stole a glance at Nanny Du.
Nanny Du caught her meaning and laughed. “Goodness, our Sixth Young Master truly is a fortunate child! He just got back from a trip to the northwest with the Marquis, and now he’s off to Jiangnan with his uncle. I’ve lived nearly fifty-some years and at my farthest I only went back to the old home once with the Senior Madam. That just goes to show — our Sixth Young Master is destined to make something of himself…”
The Senior Madam sat upright with eyes half-closed, turning her sandalwood prayer beads without stopping, like a monk deep in meditation.
Shiyiniang was growing anxious.
Nanny Du pointed unobtrusively toward the northwest.
Shiyiniang thought for a moment before understanding — Nanny Du was telling her to ask the Second Madam to come and put in a word.
She just didn’t know whether the Second Madam would be willing to wade into this particular matter.
But if she didn’t settle the matter today, she didn’t know when another opportunity like this would come.
Shiyiniang immediately beckoned Hupo over and murmured a few words in her ear.
In less than the time it takes for half a stick of incense to burn, the Second Madam had arrived.
“Fourth Sister-in-law is here!” She greeted Shiyiniang with a mild smile. The Senior Madam opened her eyes. “What brings you here?”
“I came to borrow something from you,” the Second Madam said with a smile. “Are you in the middle of discussing something? Shall I come back later?” She made as if to take her leave.
“It’s nothing!” the Senior Madam quickly kept her. “We were just talking about Jin Ge’er — we’re almost done.”
Nanny Du had already said a great deal and dared not say more, but the thread could not be dropped. Shiyiniang explained the full situation from beginning to end.
“So that would mean he’s traveling with Master Luo, with Ying Niang there to look after him as well?” the Second Madam mused. “Master Luo is known for being sensible beyond his years, steady and careful in all things, and Ying Niang is gentle, thoughtful, and attentive — but still, he is a man and not as careful as a woman, and she is young and lacks authority. I think he’ll need a few capable attendants along.”
She had begun speaking with a look of approval, but as she listened on, a frown had crossed the Senior Madam’s face. Clearly the Senior Madam was not pleased with the Second Madam’s words either.
The Second Madam seemed not to notice, and continued to address Shiyiniang. “Looking at the people around you — Nanny Guan’s wife would be suitable, and Nanny Song would do as well. But if both of them go with Jin Ge’er to Yuhang, I’m afraid you’d have no capable hands left at your side. Fortunately, there is now the Fourth Young Master’s wife, and that Nanny Yuan Baozhu with her isn’t bad either. Between them, they can help Fourth Sister-in-law manage things here at home…”
Her manner and approach were exactly as they always were — not the slightest sign that she had been summoned. She kept raising requirements, and the requirements grew more and more exacting. By the time she reached “eighty guards, two official vessels, traveling under the Marquis Yongping’s calling card,” the Senior Madam’s expression had gradually begun to soften. And when the Senior Madam herself finally spoke the words “that won’t do either — they’re all just women from the inner household; at the very least a few capable stewards from the estate office must be sent along” — Shiyiniang let out a long, long breath of relief.