Shi’yiniang felt she could no longer let Jin Ge’er continue on like this — it was time to have a proper talk with him.

Indulgence in wine, women, and worldly pleasures was something many grown adults could not resist, let alone a child of thirteen.

She went to Qingyin Residence.

The courtyard was quiet. A’jin was in the east side room directing several newly arrived young maids with their needlework when she heard that Shi’yiniang had come. She set down the maids at once and hurried out.

“Jin Ge’er still hasn’t come back?” Shi’yiniang gazed at the sky darkening bit by bit, a trace of worry rising between her brows.

“Not yet!” A’jin answered respectfully and ushered Shi’yiniang into the inner chamber.

After tea and refreshments were served, Shi’yiniang dismissed the attendants around her and kept only A’jin to speak with.

“These past few days, what time does Jin Ge’er usually come home?”

“He doesn’t return until the second watch.” A’jin hesitated for a moment, but decided to tell the truth. “A few times he came back just before dawn. He washed his face and then went off to Xiumu Courtyard again.”

“Has he been drinking?”

“These past few days he comes back reeking of wine…” A’jin’s reply was tactfully worded.

Shi’yiniang thought of something else, and her expression stiffened slightly. “Does he smell of rouge and powder as well?”

A’jin gave a gentle nod.

The hand Shi’yiniang had resting on the low kang table clenched tightly into a fist. Her face went cold and stern in a way that made one uneasy. After a long silence she said, “I will wait here for Jin Ge’er. All of you go about your duties.”

A’jin murmured her assent and withdrew.

The light faded little by little until the room was completely dark.

A coarse serving woman came in with a basket holding candles, smiling as she entered. A’jin said something softly, and outside all fell quiet — only the sounds of lanterns being fetched and hung could be heard… Clusters of deep crimson light soon filtered through the latticed windows.

Dark furniture, red light — heavy and stifling.

Shi’yiniang dozed off leaning against the large bolster pillow.

She did not know how much time passed before she suddenly woke.

The room had no lamp burning and was utterly silent, yet a fur wrap had been draped over her.

She stirred.

Xu Lingyi’s voice, tinged with helpless resignation, sounded in the room: “You’re awake.”

Shi’yiniang sat up. “What hour is it?”

“Almost the third watch.” Xu Lingyi said quietly, then called for a young maid to light the lamp.

“Never mind that.” Shi’yiniang leaned back against the bolster. “I’d like to sit quietly like this for a while.”

“You still need to eat.” Xu Lingyi rustled beside her and took hold of her hand. “Eat something, then we’ll wait for Jin Ge’er together.”

Shi’yiniang pulled her hand free from Xu Lingyi’s. “My lord must have known long ago that Jin Ge’er has been living a life of debauchery outside.” She fixed him with a cold stare. “Jin Ge’er is barely any age at all, and he has already taken to drinking…” She had thought of other things — though she had no proof — but after a moment’s consideration, she swallowed the words that had reached her lips. Her heart, however, felt far from hopeful. “If this goes on, can this child come to any good?”

“It’s not as grave as you make it sound.” Whenever anything concerned Jin Ge’er, Shi’yiniang would grow anxious — Xu Lingyi understood this. He smiled and tried to reason with her. “Jin Ge’er is not the sort of child who doesn’t know where to draw a line. When he comes back, we’ll sit down and ask him properly.” With that, he shifted course. “Besides, he is not small any longer — we cannot keep him shut up at home for the rest of his life. Going out to broaden his horizons is no bad thing.”

In Shi’yiniang’s eyes, her son was still a child just leaving primary school; in Xu Lingyi’s eyes, the boy would be getting married in a couple of years. With such different views, neither could convince the other.

Shi’yiniang pressed her lips together. “I have made up my mind — Jin Ge’er shall not marry until he is past twenty.”

Xu Lingyi was taken aback.

Shi’yiniang had already continued: “Did you not say that when one practices internal martial arts, it is best to have a solid foundation before taking a wife? Not to mention, you have set three trials for Jin Ge’er — he cannot return until he has passed them. If he marries too young and his wife cannot follow him out, would that not be doing a disservice to the girl?” As she spoke, she had already thought through how she would advise Jin Ge’er later, and a faint smile touched her face. “I think this matter is settled. We will look for a match for him when he turns eighteen. The formal betrothal, setting the date, preparing for the wedding — all that takes a year or two at the very least. By then Jin Ge’er will be back as well. It would be a perfect reunion for the whole household.”

To marry after twenty — that was rather too late.

But Xu Lingyi knew better than anyone that Shi’yiniang was in the middle of her anger, and that opposing her now would be most unwise. Yet his word was his bond — whatever he agreed to, he would be obliged to carry out. He could only speak in vague terms: “We’ll speak of this matter later. The pressing thing now is to eat. Once I find a way to have Jin Ge’er return to Jiayuguan, we can sit down and discuss it properly — there is no hurry.”

His words brought another matter to Shi’yiniang’s mind.

On the first of the month, when she had gone to pay her respects to the Empress, Her Highness had asked her: “Which do you think is better — the Western Camp at West Mountain, or the Imperial Guard?”

The Empress surely would not have asked without reason. The most likely explanation was that she intended to place Jin Ge’er at one of the two posts. If it came to that, Jin Ge’er would have to remain in the capital.

She hoped to have her son near her, but she hoped even more that he would first pass Xu Lingyi’s trials — that he would first acquire the ability to take care of himself — before settling in Yanjing.

“I have heard relatives speak of both — they say both are excellent postings.” Since the Empress had not spoken to her directly about this, Shi’yiniang could only respond in keeping with what had been said. “However, I am a woman confined to the inner quarters and know little of matters outside. I would need to defer to my lord’s judgment.”

The Empress had appeared satisfied with her answer, gave a gentle nod, and turned to speak with Princess Changning.

Now, hearing Xu Lingyi say he would find a way to send Jin Ge’er out of the capital, Shi’yiniang felt her mood lift somewhat. “I do not wish to eat. My lord ought to go and rest as well. I will wait here for Jin Ge’er myself — with you here, it will not be easy for the two of us to talk, mother and son.”

“What does waiting for Jin Ge’er have to do with eating?” Xu Lingyi laughed. “Don’t be like a child, sulking with yourself.”

The two of them each held their ground, and in the end each gave a little — Shi’yiniang drank half a small bowl of congee, and Xu Lingyi went to rest in the outer study.

At the first quarter of the second watch, sounds finally stirred outside the door.

Shi’yiniang scrambled upright and pressed herself against the window lattice. In the deep crimson glow of the lanterns hanging from the eaves, she saw Jin Ge’er stumbling in, propped up by Chang’an.

She quickly straightened herself and sat up properly, waiting for Jin Ge’er to come in.

But after waiting a good while, Jin Ge’er still had not entered.

Curious, she peered out through the window.

A’jin must have given instructions, for there were not many people in the courtyard. Chang’an had disappeared somewhere, and Jin Ge’er sat alone on the steps of the main room, head in his hands. A’jin, with a young maid beside her, was crouching next to him saying something, and every now and then she would lift her gaze toward the inner chamber.

Shi’yiniang thought for a moment, then slipped out quietly.

A’jin was turning to instruct the young maid: “…Quick, find a way to wring out a cold cloth for the Sixth Young Master to wipe his face. If Madam sees him like this, I’m afraid she’ll be even more upset.”

The young maid was about to go, then looked up and saw Shi’yiniang. She let out a gasp and froze where she stood.

A’jin immediately realised. She quickly nudged Jin Ge’er. “Sixth Young Master, Sixth Young Master — Madam is here…”

Jin Ge’er raised his head, his gaze hazy and unfocused. “Mother… where is my mother?”

Shi’yiniang’s temper flared. She stepped forward and grabbed him by the arm. “How old are you, taking up drinking like others…”

Before she could finish, Jin Ge’er threw his arms around her. “Mother, Mother…” he said, just like a small child. “My head hurts, my head hurts!”

Shi’yiniang’s heart softened for a moment — then she caught the reek of wine all over him, and her heart hardened again. “Look at the state of you — what kind of conduct is this!” She pushed Jin Ge’er away as she spoke.

He was far too drunk — his footing already unsteady. He couldn’t withstand even this light shove and landed squarely on the ground.

Shi’yiniang could not bear to watch. She reached to pull him up. “Quickly, get up — the ground is cold, you’ll catch a chill.” It was only then that she noticed Jin Ge’er was wearing only a cotton robe; his fur jacket had been left somewhere. She tightened her grip. “Get up now.”

But Jin Ge’er sat on the ground and would not rise.

“Mother… I… I want to go back to Jiayuguan.” He lifted his eyes to look at her, his gaze direct and steady. “I don’t like this… spending every day drinking and making a spectacle of oneself… wasting time… there’s no meaning to any of it… I want to go back to Jiayuguan… I still haven’t fulfilled the bet I made with Father… ‘A white horse adorned with golden reins, galloping together toward the northwest. If you ask whose son he is…'” He had not finished speaking when he suddenly bent over and began to retch.

Shi’yiniang was struck motionless for a moment.

A’jin quickly crouched down beside him. “Sixth Young Master!” She paid no heed to the foul smell of the vomit and hurriedly produced a handkerchief to wipe his mouth.

“Jin Ge’er!” Shi’yiniang also crouched down and gently rubbed his back.

Jin Ge’er retched again.

Chang’an walked in carrying a large soup bowl.

“The sobering broth is here!” Before he had finished speaking, he hurried over, thrust the large bowl into the hands of the bewildered young maid, and said, “Madam, don’t worry — once the Sixth Young Master has finished vomiting, he’ll be better.” He then added, “Today it was all Master Xie’s fault. He invited Commander Lin from the Western Camp at West Mountain, and this Lin said he had once served under the Marquis. He insisted on drinking with the Sixth Young Master, and when the Sixth Young Master declined, he said the Sixth Young Master was looking down on him. The Sixth Young Master had no choice but to drink…”

By the time Chang’an finished speaking, Jin Ge’er had already finished vomiting. He leaned limply against a window panel, eyes closed, his expression one of great suffering.

“Madam, my arms are strong — let me help the Sixth Young Master back to his room.” Chang’an crouched there, waiting for Shi’yiniang to give the word.

Shi’yiniang understood and stepped to the side with a nod.

Chang’an hauled Jin Ge’er up and carried him to his bed. He turned to A’jin: “Quickly fetch a copper basin — from the looks of him, he’ll likely need to vomit again shortly.” Then: “Pour a cup of clean water for the Sixth Young Master to rinse his mouth with — he’ll be more comfortable. And call a few of the young maids to help change his clothes, then light a stick of hundred-flower incense to clear the smell…” He had thought of everything.

A’jin called out her agreement, turned to go — and came face to face with Xu Lingyi walking in.

“What’s this? Had too much to drink?” He spoke as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

Chang’an quickly stepped back to one side.

“Too much to drink is an understatement.” Shi’yiniang looked at her son clutching his chest and heaved a sigh. “He is completely drunk.”

“It’s nothing, nothing.” Xu Lingyi laughed. “What man has not gotten drunk a few times? Go and rest — I’m here now.” With that, he noticed Jin Ge’er struggling to sit up, and immediately helped brace him over the side of the bed as the boy retched again.

“Go on and rest,” Xu Lingyi told Shi’yiniang. “Mind you don’t get a whiff of this.”

There was no way Shi’yiniang could rest.

The lamps in each room of Qingyin Residence lit up one by one, and only after more than half a shichen of commotion did they gradually go out.

—