Such an outstanding result was beyond what anyone had expected, and the joy spread like wildfire throughout every corner of the household. Prominent stewards and matrons raced to offer congratulations to Xu Lingyi, the Grand Madam, Eleventh Lady, and Xiang Shi. The Grand Madam’s, Eleventh Lady’s, and Xiang Shi’s delight was plain to imagine — anyone who came to congratulate them received a gift of silver without exception. Only at Xu Lingyi’s side was there merely a light nod, which left those who came to offer congratulations inwardly alarmed, unsure whether they had flattered him at the right moment or at precisely the wrong one. Like a flame doused by water, their enthusiasm died at once, and what had been intended as half an incense stick’s worth of flattering speech was compressed into two or three sentences before they shuffled away in deflation. Others who had witnessed this naturally didn’t mention it at all.

The quiet restraint of the outer courtyard quickly dampened the mood within the inner courtyard as well; the servants’ cheerful chatter gradually quieted, and the festive atmosphere grew thin.

“You’re truly not happy?” Eleventh Lady entered the inner room to find Xu Lingyi reclining alone on the large kang by the window, reading. She sat down beside him with a smile. “I don’t believe it for a moment.” Then she said, “Whatever is the Marquis putting on this kind of expression for?”

The seriousness on Xu Lingyi’s face melted gradually, like snow under sunlight: “You saw it yourself — every one of them wore the look of someone dying to announce this to the whole world. If I gave them a smile on top of that, it would be like pouring oil onto a fire — who knows how out of hand it would get. He’s only a provincial graduate now; whether he passes the metropolitan examination is another matter entirely. If others saw all this fuss, they’d say Siyu was getting ahead of himself. Besides, Siyu is no longer a young man — he’s been traveling between Yule and Yanjing these past years, and even made a trip to Jiangnan. If he still can’t see beyond the surface of things, I’d say my cold reception is well-deserved.”

Eleventh Lady didn’t know quite what to say.

The dynamic between Xu Lingyi and Xu Siyu was the classic pattern of feudal father and son.

“The Marquis’s expectations of Siyu are too high,” she said gently. “You could at least give him a smile or send him some token to hint at your feelings. All this guessing back and forth — only a saint could get it right every time.”

“If he’s going to pursue an official career, the first thing he needs to learn is how to read his superiors’ intentions,” Xu Lingyi replied unmoved. “If he can’t even recognize the people closest to him for what they are, then I’d say — even if he does pass the metropolitan examination — he’d better stay in the Hanlin Academy compiling books and records, rather than getting used by others and then singing their praises. That would be a disgrace to me.”

“Isn’t the Marquis being rather too severe?” Eleventh Lady said. “Everyone needs somewhere to let their guard down. If even the family you’re bound to by blood requires the same careful watchfulness as the outside world, where does anyone get to rest?”

Xu Lingyi said nothing, fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject: “I think you’ll be kept busy these next few days. Now that Siyu has passed, you should pay a personal visit to both the Jiang Family and the Xiang Family. And when Lady Zhou and the others hear the news, they’ll surely be coming to offer their congratulations.”

Seeing that he didn’t want to discuss it further, Eleventh Lady had no wish to press it — she didn’t want to make herself seem like a nagging wife.

“The Marquis need not worry — I’ve already instructed the head matrons to prepare gifts and congratulatory silver,” she said with a smile. “I plan to go to the Jiang Family first thing tomorrow morning, and to the Xiang Family in the afternoon.”

Xu Lingyi nodded and turned toward the study: “I need to write letters to Master Jiang in Yue’an and to Lord Xiang in Hubei — first to thank them, and then to ask their thoughts on what Siyu should do next: whether it’s better to sit for the spring metropolitan examination now, or to study for several more years and take it later.” His voice slowed slightly. “Fourth place in the county examination… the spring metropolitan examination takes one or two hundred candidates in the top two tiers… if he happens not to pass…”

If he didn’t pass, either he would fail outright, or he would place in the third tier — the *tongjiinshi* category.

Failing outright was simple enough — he could simply try again. But if he were to pass as a *tongjiinshi*… though all were technically within the same class, the difference was like that between a principal wife and a concubine, with treatment that was worlds apart.

This was no small matter.

Eleventh Lady saw Xu Lingyi out the door, and was just considering whether to find the imperial gift of the Four Depository Ink Treasures in gilded lettering — given by the palace at New Year’s — to present to Xu Siyu as a congratulatory gift, when Xu Siyu arrived.

“Your father is in the study!” she said with a smile, without even sitting down.

But Xu Siyu said: “It’s Mother I came to see.”

Eleventh Lady was startled. “You came to see me?”

Xu Siyu nodded.

Eleventh Lady invited Xu Siyu to sit in the western side room.

Xu Siyu produced a small narrow-necked vial with a glass enamel and gilded twisted-wire stopper: “This morning I heard from Xiang Shi that Sixth Brother was bitten by insects near Huai’an, and a red sore the size of an elm coin appeared on his face. This was given to me by Father-in-law when I was visiting — he said it was highly effective for insect bites. Mother, please have someone contact the steward’s office and send it to Yangzhou via the Ministry of War’s six-hundred-li express courier.”

Eleventh Lady had only learned of this that morning from Luo Zhensheng’s letter. Jin Ge’er’s letter hadn’t mentioned a word of it. Although Luo Zhensheng’s letter was full of apology, saying he had failed to look after Jin Ge’er properly, and also informed her that he had already engaged a well-known local physician to treat him and that the sore had largely subsided — she was still very worried. She had sent Hupo to inquire at Doctor Liu’s, and had also had Qiuyu and the others search through every topical medication in the household for reducing swelling. Xiang Shi had come with Ying Ying to pay her respects that morning and may have overheard something.

She did not refuse.

Hubei was rife with mosquitoes, and Lord Xiang served as Hubei’s Regional Administrator. If it was something Lord Xiang had given, and Xu Siyu said it was effective, it likely was.

“Don’t tell the Grand Madam about this,” Eleventh Lady said, taking the vial. “I don’t want her to worry.”

Xu Siyu replied immediately: “Mother, please be at ease — I’ve already warned Ying Ying’s mother as well.”

Just then, Hupo came in carrying a black lacquered box.

“What did Doctor Liu say?” Eleventh Lady immediately stepped forward.

Xu Siyu followed close behind.

Hupo opened the box: “Doctor Liu says that if the Sixth Young Master has only one red sore, use the powder in the yellow bottle; if there are several small sores clustered together, use the brown bottle; if the sores have developed blister-like formations, use the white bottle…”

“Wait a moment,” Eleventh Lady said, seeing seven or eight bottles, and instructed Qiuyu: “Go grind some ink for me.” Then she said to Hupo: “I’ll write down what you’re saying, and send it along with the box, so they can follow Doctor Liu’s instructions on which remedy to use.”

Qiuyu went to do so, and Hupo agreed at once.

“Mother, let me write it,” Xu Siyu, who had been standing nearby, quickly offered. “You rest. I have nothing else to do anyway!”

Eleventh Lady did not refuse his kindness. Hupo dictated, Xu Siyu recorded, and the glass vial Xu Siyu had brought was packed together in the box. Steward Zhao was dispatched with all haste to deliver it to Jin Ge’er.

Xu Siyu took the initiative to ask for a cup of tea.

Eleventh Lady assumed he had something to say to her. But to her surprise, his lips moved several times, and in the end he rose to take his leave without saying a word.

She thought of Xu Lingyi’s coldness.

“Your father is writing letters to Master Jiang and Lord Xiang at this very moment,” Eleventh Lady said carefully, “to discuss your plans for the spring examination.”

Xu Siyu smiled on hearing this: “Mother, please don’t worry. I understand Father’s intentions. I also have no wish for everyone to make a great fuss over something so small.” His expression was calm and composed.

It seemed she had been overthinking.

“I’m glad you understand!” Eleventh Lady said with a smile, and called for Hupo to bring the imperial Four Depository Ink Treasures in gilded lettering for Xu Siyu. “The Empress gave these to your father. I’ve used one piece — the color and luster are excellent. Take them and try them.”

Xu Siyu didn’t stand on ceremony. “I’ve been wondering what to give to my teacher and to Fang Ji. Having these ink treasures packed into fine black mother-of-pearl boxes and presented as gifts would be perfect.” Then he added, “Since you’ve already used one piece, Mother, a box has already been opened. Are there any remaining? Why not give them all to me?”

Four Depository Ink Treasures meant four pieces.

Eleventh Lady couldn’t help but smile. “There are three left — they’re all yours.”

Xu Siyu thanked her warmly, went home, and had several black mother-of-pearl boxes made up. Paired with the gilded lettering, they exuded classical elegance shot through with splendor — entirely befitting his station. He attended to his teachers and friends in turn, and before long, the Winter Solstice had arrived.

Letters came from both Master Jiang and Lord Xiang. With remarkable agreement, both men suggested, in tactful terms, that Xu Siyu wait three years before sitting the examination again. One wrote: “…while you are young, ground yourself in solid study. By the time you have reached thirty, your memory will have faded considerably, and what you can recite fluently will still be the books you read in your youth.” The other wrote: “…achieving fame early is all very well, but it breeds complacency and a tendency to reach too far, and one’s conduct carries an air of arrogance that often offends one’s superiors or colleagues without one even knowing it. Great accomplishments rarely follow.”

“Then he’ll sit for it three years hence,” Xu Lingyi decided at once.

Xu Siyu was not surprised by this outcome.

His father had not been willing to celebrate the fact that he had passed as a provincial graduate — of course he would be even less willing to have him press his advantage and sit for the metropolitan examination. He was more than content to return to the academy in Yue’an and devote himself to his studies.

He asked Eleventh Lady: “When is Sixth Brother coming back? I haven’t seen him in several years. He went to the northwest with Father, and then to Jiangnan with Uncle — he must have changed a great deal. When he sees me, he’ll probably not even recognize me.”

“He’ll be back before the Little New Year,” Eleventh Lady said. The moment she thought of being reunited with Jin Ge’er in just over a month, delight spilled from the corners of her eyes and eyebrows, impossible to contain. “The Marquis said for you to go back to Yue’an after the New Year — you’ll have time to see each other.”

Xu Siyu sounded surprised: “Is Uncle not returning to Yuhang for the New Year?”

“He’s not,” Eleventh Lady said, feeling a pang of guilt on Luo Zhensheng’s behalf. “Your great-uncle is spending the New Year in Yanjing.”

Barely had she finished speaking when Hupo came in with a thick stack of lists: “Madam, these are the preparations for the New Year. Please take a look!”

Xu Siyu quickly rose and took his leave.

Eleventh Lady carefully went through the lists, then pressed them with her Shoushan stone seal carved with three rams heralding the new spring, and Hupo took them to Jiang Shi, who would direct the head matrons to carry out the arrangements accordingly.

Watching Jiang Shi help her manage the household, not only diligent but growing increasingly capable, Eleventh Lady simply handed part of the New Year preparations over to her, keeping for herself only the supervision of the ancestral hall offerings and the visits to various households with New Year gifts. In years past she had been run off her feet during the New Year; but this year she found herself with a great deal of free time, which she spent with her maids, the young wives, and the matrons preparing and tidying Jin Ge’er’s rooms. Once the twelfth month began, she started stationing someone at the main gate to watch and wait.

On the third day after Laba congee had been eaten, Luo Zhensheng brought Jin Ge’er back to Hehua Li.

—