“I think we’d better not go to Madam!” Even the usually steady Huang Xiaomao could no longer hold himself together. “Since the Marquis has spoken, if we go to Madam, we’ll only cause unpleasantness between the Marquis and Madam. Here’s what I think — we’ll do what we did at Jiayuguan: rent a place near Pingyi Post and live there, pretend we met by chance. If Sixth Young Master needs anything, we’ll be close enough to help. More people, more presence!”

“That’s a good idea!” Liu Erwu said. “When you’re not home, we have nothing to do anyway — we might as well go to Pingyi!”

“Let’s do as Sixth Young Master says.” As always, Chang’an was the last to speak. “Sixth Young Master has made many friends these past months. Once he leaves, those bonds will gradually fade. Yanjing is the imperial capital; Guizhou is remote. Having friends in Yanjing means there are people to help manage small matters. If we stay in Yanjing, we can go on his behalf during the New Year and seasonal festivals to send gifts and pay respects to the various gentlemen — that wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.”

Suifeng, Huang Xiaomao, and Liu Erwu exchanged glances — none of them had thought of this.

“But without Sixth Young Master at home, we’d have no one to serve either,” Huang Xiaomao still felt something wasn’t right. “We can’t go calling on the various gentlemen every single day. What would we do with our free time? Guard the house? Nanny Wan’s people do that. Sweep the floors? Nanny Wan’s people do that too. Stand night watch? The house guards handle that. Are we supposed to eat and sleep and sleep and eat like idle young masters? I still want to follow Sixth Young Master to Guizhou!”

Liu Erwu felt the same as Huang Xiaomao: “I feel better in my heart if I follow Sixth Young Master to Guizhou.”

Both of them came from farming families. What family keeps idle mouths to feed? Being idle meant the household had no use for you — and that meant being sent back to the farm estates. After all these years following Xu Sijin in study and martial training, they had long since lost their knowledge of farming, and had no taste for a life of toiling with their faces to the earth. They feared being sent back.

Suifeng hesitated: “We could also spend time socializing with the personal attendants of the various gentlemen — the closer you rub shoulders with people, the closer you become. How else do you think that Xie Laosan ended up getting a post as a door official at Shuntian Prefecture? It shows that making yourself seen around the young masters, whether there’s occasion or not, never does any harm. And there are still the birds and dogs Sixth Young Master left behind — someone needs to look after them too.”

Xie Laosan was from the same hometown as Xie Yan’s father, and had scraped by on two meager acres of land. Through some chance encounter he had met Xie Yan’s father, and by sheer stubbornness had cultivated the relationship as though they were kinsmen of the same clan, bringing local produce from the countryside on every holiday and occasion of joy or mourning in the Xie household. Xie’s father, feeling obliged, had happened to know of a vacancy for a door official at Shuntian Prefecture and recommended Xie Laosan for the post. Within a few years, Xie Laosan had acquired both fields and a house. A proper distant relative of the Xie family, seeing this and burning with envy, was met with Xie Yan’s derisive laugh: “You’re never around when it counts, I can barely remember your names — let alone arrange an official post for you.”

Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu heard this and fell silent.

A young manservant came in to report: “Sixth Young Master, the steward from Suiping Princess’s residence has come on the Prince Consort’s orders to deliver a gift.”

“I haven’t even left yet!” Xu Sijin laughed at the timing and went to the main reception hall.

The steward from Suiping Princess’s residence was a tall, lean man — a familiar face, and a sharp one.

He bowed respectfully, his face wreathed in smiles, and presented a red lacquered box containing the gift list with both hands: “A small token, nothing worthy of mention.” He added, “The Prince Consort says that once Young Master has set his departure date, he will personally host a farewell banquet for you.”

Chang’an quickly received the box, Xu Sijin said his thanks, and tea was served. Chang’an accompanied the steward out and, on Xu Sijin’s behalf, tipped him and went to inventory the gift. Xu Sijin returned to his room and, picking up where they had left off with Suifeng and the others, said: “Mother said A’jin will be released from service this year. Since I won’t be living at home anymore, the room really does need someone to manage things.”

A’jin was not yet betrothed, and the others had all more or less grown up together — hearing this so suddenly, all three were caught off guard.

Chang’an came rushing back in.

“Sixth Young Master,” he said — this steadiest of men now wearing a distinctly strange expression — “the Prince Consort of Suiping, in addition to the four treasures of the study, has also sent you… sent you two beautiful maidservants!”

“Beautiful maidservants?” Xu Sijin was dumbstruck.

“I was afraid Fourth Madam would be displeased if she found out, but the steward said that if we felt these two maids weren’t pretty enough, he’d send two more tomorrow. As for these two, we could deal with them however we saw fit.” Fine beads of sweat appeared on Chang’an’s forehead. “I… I could see those two maids looked no more than twelve or thirteen years old. When the steward said that, their faces went white with fright on the spot… But I couldn’t very well ask Young Master then and there, so I had no choice but to accept them.” He said this, then knelt down. “Sixth Young Master, this was entirely my fault — punish me as you see fit!”

That day when Eleventh had gently asked Xu Sijin whether he had been heeding his master’s instruction to abstain from women’s company while practicing internal martial arts, Chang’an, connecting that with the fact that all the maids around Xu Sijin had served him since childhood, had understood, in a vague way, what Eleventh’s intent was. Now that the Prince Consort of Suiping Princess had sent two beautiful maidservants — and it was he who had accepted them — how could he not be terrified?

Xu Sijin, too, was well aware of Eleventh’s stance on this matter.

There were plenty of households less well-off than theirs where the masters kept concubines and bedchamber maids by the score. Setting aside his older brothers, even his father had only two elderly concubines…

He rubbed his head and said: “Then… just hand those two maids over to Mother. I’m leaving soon anyway — let her deal with them however she sees fit.”

Chang’an exhaled with relief and quickly said: “I’ll have someone bring the two young ladies to Madam’s quarters right away.”

Eleventh was in the side room next to the delivery room, keeping Ying Niang company, when word came that someone had sent Xu Sijin two beautiful maidservants. Even Ying Niang, who had been groaning softly in pain just moments before, couldn’t help breaking into a smile.

“First have Hupo settle them somewhere. I’ll deal with it once I’m done with Fifth Young Mistress’s matter.”

Mother was supremely skilled at settling scores after the fact…

With that in mind, Xu Sijin went to find Xu Lingyi: “Father, I’ve decided — I’ll take Chang’an with me. Suifeng stays home to help manage the everyday affairs on my behalf. Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu will go with Master Pang to Guizhou, find a place to stay in Chengfan Prefecture, be on hand to help if anything comes up, and I’ll be able to continue my martial training under Master Pang.”

Xu Lingyi asked no questions about the reasoning behind this arrangement — he simply nodded, trusting him completely: “Then I’ll get Chang’an entered into the military register first.”

Xu Sijin’s eyes brightened: “Father — that means you could also get Huang Xiaomao, Liu Erwu, and Suifeng registered too, couldn’t you?”

“Some things should not be rushed.” Xu Lingyi did not answer directly. “You also need to learn to be patient.”

“Yes, yes, wonderful!” Xu Sijin beamed, showing not the slightest intention of being patient. “This way I’ll have something concrete to offer them — a future they can see and touch. That’s worth far more than giving them silver or women.” At that, he mentioned the Prince Consort of Suiping Princess sending him the two beautiful maidservants.

“You say they’re beautiful — they must be pleasant to look at, then?” Xu Lingyi said casually, with a laugh. “How old are they?”

“I haven’t even laid eyes on them!” Xu Sijin felt his father was being far too casual and showed no understanding of his predicament. “I sent them straight to Mother,” he said, then muttered: “And Mother specifically asked me whether I’d been keeping away from women…”

“You’re still young — your mother was right to ask,” Xu Lingkuan said with a smile, clapping his son on the shoulder. “Train hard in your martial arts, and once you’ve made some real progress, your father will send you two beautiful maidservants as well!”

Xu Sijin thought of the courtesans on the painted pleasure boats — outwardly composed and refined, yet throwing coquettish glances when you least expected it — and curled his lip in distaste: “I don’t want any!”

Xu Lingyi was taken aback, then burst into hearty laughter.

Xu Sijin, deciding his father was utterly useless, stalked off in a huff.

Halfway there, he turned and went to the Grand Matriarch’s rooms instead.

“Two beautiful maidservants?” The Grand Matriarch gestured for the young maid reading sutras to her to withdraw, took Xu Sijin by the hand, and said in a low voice: “Think about it — a proper, well-bred girl: how could the Prince Consort of Suiping Princess simply give her away? They’re almost certainly from some house of pleasure, trained from childhood in entertainment and the arts of pleasing men. Women like that know nothing except what goes on in the bedchamber. They may all look lovely and speak in honeyed tones, but when real matters arise, they show their true colors — they don’t even know the difference between the Directorate of the Palace and the Directorate of Clothing, let alone help you make important decisions. They are nothing but gilded on the outside and worthless within. You are destined to do great things — if you have no discernment or self-discipline even over this, how will you manage capable and virtuous men in the future? You must know that men of true ability hold in the highest esteem those of upright character.” She then smiled and put her arm around Xu Sijin’s shoulder. “As for sending them to your mother to deal with… that was well done. Filial piety above all else — knowing to show respect to your mother makes me glad too.” She smiled with eyes full of warmth and looked at Xu Sijin. “If you truly want someone to attend to you at your side, our household has no shortage. Speak of none other — I think A’jin from your own quarters is perfectly suitable. What if I make the decision and take A’jin as your bedchamber maid before you leave for Guizhou?”

A’jin?

Xu Sijin stared blankly: “She… she’s served me since we were children — and she’s several years older than me!”

“Older is good — older women know how to be tender and considerate.” The Grand Matriarch dismissed the idea with a wave of her hand. “Having served you since childhood, she knows your character inside and out, and knows how to look after you!”

“I don’t want that!” Xu Sijin shook his head like a rattle-drum. “I still have to train in martial arts — I don’t want a bedchamber maid.”

The Grand Matriarch chuckled, clearly thinking this was just an excuse: “If you don’t fancy her, what about that Luzhu who recently came into your grandmother’s service? Only two years younger than you. I think she looks rather nice…”

That round-faced, pale little maid who looked like a steamed bun!

Xu Sijin felt his head beginning to ache.

It seemed coming to find the Grand Matriarch had also been a mistake. He needed to find a way out.

The thought had barely flashed through his mind when a young maid came dashing in, breathless with excitement: “Grand Matriarch! Grand Matriarch! Fifth Young Mistress has given birth — a young master!”

“Oh my!” The Grand Matriarch straightened up at once. “This is truly wonderful news! Quick — go tell Second Madam in the Buddhist hall where she’s copying sutras, and ask her to come with me to see Fifth Young Mistress.”

This boy — he had come at exactly the right moment!

Xu Sijin smiled so broadly his eyebrows curved, and quickly stepped forward to support the Grand Matriarch: “Grandmother, let me escort you!”

—