“My lord,” Shiyiniang said, looking at Xu Lingyi with some concern, “what does His Majesty mean by this? Not only has he bestowed upon Jin Ge’er a hereditary post without diminishment, but it’s specifically the Filial Mausoleum Guard — a position reserved for imperial relatives…”

“Are we not imperial relatives?” Xu Lingyi was clearly in fine spirits, first making a lighthearted remark, then lowering his voice, “It’s nothing. Times are different from before. His Majesty’s gaze spans all under heaven — I am no longer someone he needs to be wary of.” He then let out a hearty laugh. “I’d say His Majesty is playing the Pei Gong’s sword dance, while his true aim lies elsewhere.”

His true aim lies elsewhere — in other words, there was another agenda at play. But whatever the agenda, using Jin Ge’er as bait made one feel, however vaguely, that this was not entirely a good thing.

“What has my lord discerned?” Shiyiniang mused aloud. “Your concubine cannot make anything of it at all.”

“It’s perfectly normal that you cannot.” Xu Lingyi teased her. “If even you could see through it, how would His Majesty ever maneuver those court officials?”

“Oh?” Shiyiniang raised an eyebrow, deciding to play along with him. “The way my lord speaks, it rather sounds like you’re praising yourself. His Majesty has managed to outmaneuver all those court officials, yet our very own lord saw right through it — tsk, tsk, tsk, our lord is truly formidable!”

Xu Lingyi couldn’t help but laugh, and pulled Shiyiniang close affectionately before saying, “You’re usually such a sharp person — why has your mind gone dull today? Think it through carefully. Why would this whole affair be so peculiar?”

Peculiar?

A flash of insight struck Shiyiniang’s mind, and her expression immediately darkened. “Could it be… that His Majesty wishes Jin Ge’er to wed the Princess?”

His Majesty’s casual manner, Her Ladyship the Empress’s composure… and the Princess’s age. Only this explanation made sense.

“You’ve guessed half of it,” Xu Lingyi said with a smile. “Princesses are generally difficult to marry off, and the First Princess has already come of age. If they don’t discuss the consort arrangement soon, it will be too late. But as for whether it’s specifically the First Princess he intends for Jin Ge’er — that may not necessarily be so.”

Since this concerned her son’s future happiness, Shiyiniang set aside their banter and pressed Xu Lingyi urgently: “My lord, please speak plainly!”

“If the intention were truly to have Jin Ge’er wed the Princess, the very first step would be to quietly send word through someone close to our family — otherwise, if our Jin Ge’er were already betrothed, wouldn’t that be a tremendous embarrassment? Since there has been no prior word at all, His Majesty must have other designs for the First Princess’s marriage.” Xu Lingyi spoke unhurriedly. “Consider this: the Princess is freely permitted to move between the inner and outer palace. Because Jin Ge’er can keep her company at play, a single word of the Princess’s displeasure caused someone His Majesty has long been guarding against — the youngest son of the Marquis Yongping — to suddenly be viewed with great favor. And on top of that, he was bestowed a hereditary post as commander of the Filial Mausoleum Guard. Just think — what a tremendous grace that is…”

“Your concubine understands now!” Before Xu Lingyi could finish, Shiyiniang’s expression already showed barely concealed excitement. “When others see this, they will think the First Princess is extraordinarily favored — so if someone were to truly become her consort, would the fortune and glory not be boundless? His Majesty is building prestige for the First Princess’s marriage prospects. And moreover, these benefits have been bestowed upon our household. It truly is killing two birds with one stone!”

“Very good, very good!” Xu Lingyi put on an expression of exaggerated relief. “At last a moment of brilliance!”

“My lord!” Shiyiniang laughed, unable to help herself. “Can you not be serious for once?” Then her smile faded. “In that case, what about Jin Ge’er? Should we send word for him to return? And should we still send him to the border garrison?”

“Jin Ge’er must receive the imperial decree in person, so he will certainly have to come back,” Xu Lingyi said gravely. “As for whether to send him to the garrison afterward—” he pondered this “—once the Princess’s consort selection begins in earnest, Jin Ge’er will have no further part in it. Besides, the Filial Mausoleum Guard requires neither daily attendance nor active duty. We simply carry on as we would.” His tone at the end carried a note of firm resolution. “This matter — I will handle it. There is no need for you to worry.”

Shiyiniang gave a gentle nod. “I only fear that with such a post, he will idle his days away and a perfectly good child will be wasted by indolence.”

“I know.” Xu Lingyi took Shiyiniang’s hand. “Don’t worry. It is better to teach a man to fish than to give him fish. I have it in hand.”

Shiyiniang’s heart eased, and she went with Xu Lingyi to the Grand Matriarch’s quarters.

The Grand Matriarch was in the midst of vividly recounting the events of that day to Second Madam, Jiang Shi, and the others: “…you did not see their faces — every single one of them looked as though they wished that Commander post had fallen to their own household.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Ying Niang said, “Grandmother, does this not mean we should open a flowing banquet to celebrate grandly?”

“Yes, we must celebrate, we must!” The Grand Matriarch nodded repeatedly. “Our Jin Ge’er is a blessed child. I need not worry for him any longer.” Her voice, at the end, carried a faint note of wistful emotion.

“It is Mother who is blessed,” Second Madam said softly, comforting the Grand Matriarch. “Third Elder Brother, Fifth Uncle, Qin Ge’er, Jian Ge’er, and Zhun Ge’er have all received grace and distinction through their family connection — and now Jin Ge’er as well. With such splendor in full bloom, the best days are still ahead of you.”

The Grand Matriarch was greatly pleased and nodded continuously.

Xu Sizhun, watching nearby and eager to join in, said, “Grandmother, I’ll go write a letter telling Second Elder Brother right away. And someone should be sent to the household at Sanjing Hutong as well to pass on the news. This is truly a joyous occasion!”

“There is no such rush,” Xu Lingyi’s voice rang out through the room. Those who had been absorbed in the discussion only now noticed his arrival with Shiyiniang, and rose to greet him with proper salutations. Xu Lingyi gave a nod and sat down beside the Grand Matriarch in one of the grand master’s chairs, with Shiyiniang at his side. “We should wait until the imperial decree is formally issued. The hereditary conferral without diminishment must still pass through the Grand Secretariat for deliberation. Though they will not overturn His Majesty’s word, there are certain formalities to be observed.”

“Better to be steady,” the Grand Matriarch said, though she immediately turned to instruct Shiyiniang: “You must quickly have a fourth-rank Commander’s official court robe made for Jin Ge’er. Once he receives the imperial decree, he will need to enter the palace to offer thanks.”

Shiyiniang smiled and assented.

The Grand Matriarch’s conversation circled back to Jin Ge’er’s bestowment: “His Majesty’s verbal decree on the day of the Ten Thousand Sages Festival — we could hardly keep that concealed even if we wished to. And to think, our Jin Ge’er is only twelve this year. A twelve-year-old Commander — throughout the entire Great Zhou dynasty, I daresay this is a first.” The old woman’s expression was touched with pride; she clearly took great delight in saying this. “When the time comes, we must hold a grand banquet, and invite all three of Yanjing’s great opera troupes to perform…” At this, she gave a soft sound of recollection and turned to Shiyiniang. “Remember this — the silver ingots for the guests’ gifts should be cast to five thousand taels’ worth. Everyone who comes shall receive a gift. It shall come from my personal savings…”

“There is no need for so much!” Shiyiniang was startled — this was well beyond the ordinary scale of such things. “And we cannot draw on your personal savings. Allow us to bear the cost.”

“Yours is yours, and mine is mine.” The Grand Matriarch was displeased. “This is my gift to the guests…”

While the Grand Matriarch spoke on, Fifth Madam’s expression grew somewhat distant.

A twelve-year-old Commander was certainly rare, but this was a vast world full of extraordinary things. Her own son-in-law, for instance, had inherited his post at the age of one. Both were fourth rank — who could say no one else had achieved the same as her son-in-law?

She did not notice that her own expression had taken on a tinge of quiet envy.

The Xu household suppressed their joy and waited for the imperial decree, while Shiyiniang kept her ears turned toward news from outside.

Within a few days, emissaries from the Marquis Zhongshan household and the Marquis Zhennan household began discretely inquiring with Her Ladyship the Empress regarding the First Princess’s marriage prospects. Even the typically composed and low-profile Dingguo Ducal Household could not remain still — the Duchess herself paid Shiyiniang a personal visit and, in veiled terms, requested that she act as an intermediary.

The matter was of great importance. She consulted with Xu Lingyi: “Should I enter the palace?”

“Of course you should go,” Xu Lingyi said with a smile. “If you don’t, would you not be offending the Zheng Family? Besides, we cannot be the ones to decide such matters — whether it proceeds or not rests entirely with His Majesty and Her Ladyship the Empress. All I can do is pass along the message.”

Shiyiniang smiled, submitted her tablet requesting an audience, and entered the palace.

Her Ladyship the Empress was reclining on the daybed in the warm chamber, in the midst of a conversation with Huang Xianying, when she arrived. The Empress had a maidservant bring a brocade stool and place it beside the bed, then said, “You’ve come at just the right moment. The decree will be issued in ten days — can Jin Ge’er make it back in time?”

Shiyiniang calculated the days. “He should be able to.”

“Then let us say fifteen days hence,” the Empress said with a smile. “A little more time, and Jin Ge’er can make his journey at ease.” She added, “When he returns, have him come into the palace. The new year is nearly upon us, and I have additional rewards here for him.”

Shiyiniang promptly expressed gratitude on Jin Ge’er’s behalf.

The Empress then said with a smile, “Since you’ve come at a good time — I was just in the process of selecting a suitable match for the First Princess. Come listen and tell me what you think.” She then gestured for Huang Xianying to continue.

Shiyiniang had no opportunity to state her purpose, so she settled her mind and listened carefully as Huang Xianying presented the candidates.

There were some twenty-odd families who had expressed interest in the First Princess’s hand, all second or younger sons of noble households. Several of the young men were genuinely impressive.

The Empress appeared quite satisfied as well. When Huang Xianying finished speaking, she asked Shiyiniang, “What do you think — would it be better to establish the First Princess’s dowry lands in Huguang, with ten thousand mu of fine fields? Or in Shandong?”

Ten thousand mu, just like that — what a sweeping generosity.

“Each has its merits,” Shiyiniang said with a smile. “Huguang is the land of fish and rice, while Shandong is rich in its own abundance. Your concubine thinks either would be excellent.”

The Empress deliberated briefly, then said, “Let it be Huguang, then. A person cannot go without grain.”

She spoke in the same tone a person of the modern age might use to say, “A person cannot go without money.”

Then again, it was precisely the same thing.

In ancient times, with no banks and no insurance, owning land to sustain oneself in old age was the only true security.

Huang Xianying promptly noted it down with a smile.

Only then did the Empress ask Shiyiniang her purpose.

Shiyiniang conveyed the matter in tactful terms.

The Empress had Huang Xianying make note of it, then continued conversing with Shiyiniang about the First Princess’s dowry arrangements. When she saw that the hour was growing late, she even bestowed a meal upon her before allowing her to depart from the palace.

Upon returning home, no sooner had the carriage stopped than Hupo cried out: “My lady, my lady — the Sixth Young Master has returned!”

The resting Shiyiniang started and quickly lifted the curtain to look.

Inside the main gate of Marquis Yongping’s residence, several black-lacquered flat-topped carriages had drawn up. Chang’an, Jin Ge’er’s personal attendant, was directing a group of young manservants to carry boxes and trunks.

“Chang’an!” Hupo called out from her perch on the carriage footboard.

Chang’an trotted over at once, gave a hasty bow, and before either of them could speak, said, “The Sixth Young Master is presently with the Marquis in the study.”

Shiyiniang descended from the carriage and made her way to the study.

—