Shi’er Niang and Bin Ju had not seen each other for some time, and she kept Bin Ju for dinner. They had barely sat down when Wan Da Xian came rushing in.

Bin Ju’s heart tightened.

Wan Da Xian was by nature always careful and composed. Even knowing she had come into the household to see Shi’er Niang, if there were something to report, he would not come barging in like this without ceremony… Could something major have happened?

Shi’er Niang was equally surprised. She quickly instructed a little maid: “Please invite Steward Wan in.”

The little maid went at once.

An anxious look appeared between Bin Ju’s brows.

“Do not worry.” Shi’er Niang reassured her. “Whatever it is, we will think of a solution together.”

Bin Ju felt greatly steadied.

With Shi’er Niang in charge, no matter how big the matter, a way could always be found.

When Wan Da Xian came in, his expression was somewhat grave. He bowed respectfully to Shi’er Niang and called out “Fourth Madam” with a smile — a smile that looked a little forced.

Shi’er Niang dismissed the little maids from the room.

Wan Da Xian visibly relaxed.

He drew from inside his lapel a small dark-red velvet pouch: “Madam, please take a look.”

Bin Ju quickly took it and opened it in front of Shi’er Niang.

The two drew a sharp breath in unison.

An entire pouch of pearls — every one as large as a longan fruit, gleaming with a dazzling luster that made the eyes difficult to hold open.

Pearls of this quality — let alone a whole pouch of them — even sold individually, each one could fetch forty or fifty taels of silver.

Could this be the Wang family?

The thought flashed through Shi’er Niang’s mind.

Had they not taken to diving for pearls after settling in Liaodong?

Bin Ju exclaimed: “Where did you get these?”

“After Chang Shun was gone, my father and mother set up a cenotaph for him near the orchard by our house.” Wan Da Xian said with a rueful smile. “Father was tired and sat in front of the grave to drink some water. A man who claimed to be a traveling merchant said he had lost his way and asked my father for directions. My father helped him find the road, and the man asked to be given some tea. My father didn’t think much of it at the time. The next day, going up the hill, he found this pouch when he reached for the willow basket. He waited at the grave for four or five days, but no one came to ask about it. There was no way to keep waiting indefinitely, so he called me back to discuss what to do.” He looked toward Shi’er Niang. “I brought the things here. It is for Madam to decide what to do with them.”

“Since they are unclaimed, and they have fallen to your family, it must be Heaven’s will.” Shi’er Niang said. “Keep them. If the owner ever comes back to your family asking for them, just send them to me.”

Wan Da Xian and Bin Ju exchanged a glance. Wan Da Xian was somewhat ill at ease; Bin Ju too was a little uncertain.

Both of them were honest people. Even if the things had been found, they could not rest easy accepting them.

“Have no worries!” Shi’er Niang reminded them. “It is said that the Wang family is now the largest horse caravan in Liaodong. If someday someone were to leave tiger hides or wolf hides at your door, simply keep those too.”

The two understood at once.

Bin Ju said: “Then I will want them even less.” Her eyes shimmered with tears once more. “I was never expecting him to return to begin with.”

Wan Da Xian’s expression too grew somber.

“Nor did I ever imagine it would come to this.” Shi’er Niang could not help letting out a quiet sigh. “Keep the things as a remembrance.”

Both nodded.

Since Wan Da Xian had come, she did not keep Bin Ju for dinner after all. But she still had to keep up appearances for Bin Ju’s sake.

Shi’er Niang sent a full table of dishes home with the two of them.

That evening when Xu Lingyi returned, Shi’er Niang told him the whole matter.

“The Wang family still has a conscience.” Xu Lingyi nodded. He said no more about it, and moved on to speak of the imperial birthday celebrations in the eleventh month: “…His Majesty turns fifty this year — a milestone birthday. From what Shun Wang is saying, it is to be celebrated in grand style. The Han scholar at the Hanlin Academy went so far as to submit a memorial to that effect. I am told that when His Majesty read it several times, in the end, though he left the memorial without a ruling, he placed it on the table in plain sight when he summoned several Grand Elders for a discussion. I think we had best prepare the birthday gift early, so that when the time comes the finest things are still available to purchase.”

“His Majesty lacks for nothing.” Shi’er Niang said. “I think great care will need to go into the symbolic meaning of the gift.”

“I think so too.” Xu Lingyi said. “I am planning to call together the people from the accounts office and Scholar Zhao tomorrow to discuss what would be most fitting to send.” In the end, a standing screen of purple sandalwood with carved ivory panels depicting the Penglai immortals was sent as the birthday gift. It was not remarkable, but neither was it eccentric — solid and balanced in every way, entirely befitting the manner of the Marquis Yongping.

On the day of the imperial birthday celebration, as a gesture of consideration for the Grand Dowager, the Empress specifically instructed that after the morning audience, the Grand Dowager be taken to rest in the warm chamber beside the side hall.

“Fifth Sister-in-law, please stay and accompany the Grand Dowager here.” Shi’er Niang consulted with the Fifth Madam. “I will wait for the banquet in the side hall.” When the time came she would invite the Grand Dowager and the Fifth Madam to take their seats together.

Though it was an imperial favor, one could not take it too far. It would not do for her not to make an appearance.

The Fifth Madam nodded: “I will take good care of Mother.”

Suddenly a commotion came from outside.

“Marchioness Yongping! Marchioness Yongping!” Someone was calling her name and coming into the side hall.

Everyone in the room turned to look, and saw the Grand Princess in her crimson gold-embroidered ceremonial gown flutter in like a butterfly: “Where is Jin Ge’er?”

The three rose at once to bow to the Grand Princess.

The Grand Princess caught the Grand Dowager by the arm and steadied her: “Please sit down! There is no need for that — you do not want to end up being carried to the rear hall like Grand Dowager Zheng.”

The Grand Dowager was alarmed. “What has happened to Grand Dowager Zheng?”

“I am not sure!” the Grand Princess said. “Presumably nothing serious — otherwise the Imperial Physicians should have come back to report to the Empress. Then she asked Shi’er Niang: “Where has Jin Ge’er gone? I have been looking everywhere for him and he is not even at the Hall of Heavenly Intercourse.”

Shi’er Niang smiled. “He has gone out to travel and see the world.”

“How did I not know of this?” The Grand Princess cried in astonishment. “When did he leave? Where has he gone? When will he be back?”

“He is traveling through the northwest.” Shi’er Niang kept her answer vague. “As for exactly when he will return, that depends on the journey.”

The Grand Princess pouted: “No wonder he did not come to the palace to pay his respects at the Dragon Boat Festival or at Mid-Autumn — I had even planned to have him play football with me during the New Year!”

“That the Grand Princess would favor him with a game of football — that would be his great fortune.” Shi’er Niang smiled. “Allow me to write him a letter and see whether I can reach him. If I can, I will report back to Your Highness.”

The Grand Princess stamped her foot and strode off in a huff.

The Grand Dowager hurried to say: “Please go and find out how Grand Dowager Zheng is!”

Shi’er Niang agreed and went.

The side hall where the outer-rank ladies were resting was buzzing with low voices, all of them talking about Grand Dowager Zheng.

Shi’er Niang quietly sought out Huang Xian Ying. Before she could even open her mouth, a palace maid came hurrying past: “There is nothing to worry about. Grand Dowager Zheng only had a momentary shortness of breath and tightness in her chest — she is fine now.”

Huang Xian Ying let out a long breath of relief.

If anything had happened today, it would have been inauspicious no matter how one looked at it.

Shi’er Niang, having her news, went back and reported to the Grand Dowager.

The Grand Dowager took the Fifth Madam’s hand: “We should attend as few of these banquets as possible in the future.”

“Then shall I go and speak to the Empress?” The Fifth Madam smiled. “That way you will be able to rest comfortably at home.”

The Grand Dowager gave her tacit consent.

From the side hall came a burst of laughter, and someone called out loudly: “Where is the Marchioness Yongping? Where has she gone and hidden herself?”

Shi’er Niang was taken aback. She and the Fifth Madam exchanged a glance and went quickly over.

It was Tang Fourth Madam who had spoken.

Shi’er Niang went forward and tapped her on the shoulder: “Calling out so loudly — you gave me a fright!”

Tang Fourth Madam laughed heartily.

Someone nearby said: “Congratulations to the Marchioness Yongping — His Majesty has spoken his golden words and conferred on your Sixth Young Master the post of Commander of the Xiaolin Guards, fourth rank, with the title hereditary and inalienable.”

Shi’er Niang’s heart gave a lurch.

The Xiaolin Guards — an institution specifically created to resolve the question of employment for the sons of imperial relatives and the consorts of princesses. Officially they were said to be guarding the imperial ancestral mausoleum, but in reality it was the household soldiers and platoon commanders who actually stood watch there. These hereditary, inalienable military officers merely put on their official robes and walked alongside when His Majesty went to pay his respects at the tombs — and with the palace having its own ancestral hall, the fasting hall, and the Heaven and Earth altars, His Majesty did not visit the imperial mausoleum even once in ten years. Those assigned to the Xiaolin Guards simply stayed at home every day collecting their stipends. They were even more idle than the Xishan Grand Camp. At least those at the Xishan Grand Camp had to reside at the camp and at least go through the motions of exercising and parading their troops; those in the Xiaolin Guards did not even need to sign in for roll call, and had absolutely nothing to do.

“Who told you this?” Her heart churned like waves in a storm. She had no idea what had happened, nor did she know how these words had come to be spoken. “I have never heard anything of the kind!”

“It just came from the inner study.” Tang Fourth Madam smiled. “Chief Eunuch He has already sent someone to draft the imperial edict for the Ministry of Personnel. In the next day or two the paperwork from the Ministry should have arrived.” She laughed aloud. “When the time comes, you must set out several tables of wine and give us all a proper feast.”

“If it is truly so, sister may say how many meals I will provide.” Shi’er Niang said. “Only I do not know how these words came to be circulated.”

“It is the truth!” The one speaking was the elder sister-in-law of Gan Grand Dowager. She smiled. “The Emperor was meeting with several high officials in the inner study when the Grand Princess had someone stop the Marquis Yongping to demand her man back. The Emperor learned that the Marquis Yongping had sent your Sixth Young Master to Jiayuguan, and issued an edict conferring on your Sixth Young Master the post of Commander of the Guards…”

Before she had finished speaking, the Grand Princess came sweeping in.

“Marchioness Yongping! Marchioness Yongping — please have Jin Ge’er found and brought back quickly.” She declared with great satisfaction. “Father Emperor has conferred on him the post of Commander of the Xiaolin Guards, fourth rank. Tell him to come back quickly and receive the imperial edict.”

Shi’er Niang’s thoughts were in a fog. She did not know what His Majesty’s intentions were, how His Majesty regarded Jin Ge’er going to Jiayuguan, what Xu Lingyi’s own thoughts were, or what plans he had.

All she could do was drop to her knees and give the Grand Princess her thanks.

The Grand Princess would not let her kneel, and clasped her hands: “Just remember to have him come back as quickly as possible. On the fourth day I have arranged with the imperial princes to play football at the East Garden. He simply must come — without him, I am sure to lose.”

Shi’er Niang respectfully replied, “Yes,” though her heart was bitter.

The Grand Princess left in high spirits. Huang Xian Ying came on the Empress’s behalf to invite her to speak.

“…The Emperor is the father of all people — in civil governance and martial achievement, his might reaches to every corner under heaven. Would he truly issue a random conferral simply because the Grand Princess said a word?” The Empress’s words were careful and measured. “The Marquis Yongping is the kind of man he is — His Majesty knows this very well in his heart. This time it was nothing more than taking advantage of the occasion of the imperial birthday to do what had already been intended. Go back and tell the Marquis Yongping to receive the edict with joy. In the palace — there is still me.”

Shi’er Niang looked at the Empress’s serene and gentle countenance and could not help thinking inwardly: I do not know whether you are truly up to the task… Yet she dared not be the least bit neglectful, and knelt to give her thanks.

The Empress smiled with satisfaction.

She took her hand: “Come — let us go to the main hall together. By the look of the hour, the banquet should be about to begin.”