The matter of land enclosure had not yet been resolved, and the military situation in Xuantong Prefecture had become critical. No one could guarantee that someone might not turn their designs on the Grand Madam. Having the Grand Madam follow the Second Madam to stay at the West Mountain Villa for a while would be a convenient way to sidestep both matters.

“Thank you, Second Sister-in-law!” Xu Lingyi bowed to the Second Madam. “Then I shall trouble Second Sister-in-law to attend upon Mother at the West Mountain Villa for a while.”

The Second Madam nodded, then turned and went back inside.

“Let Xu Sijie and Ying Niang take Ting Ge’er and Zhuang Ge’er along to stay there for a few days as well,” Shiyiniang said, walking side by side with Xu Lingyi along the flagstone corridor. “It will be livelier that way!”

“Arrange it as you see fit,” Xu Lingyi said. “I may be very busy in the coming days.” He then mused: “The sooner this is done, the better — it should not be delayed.”

Shiyiniang agreed and, upon returning home, summoned Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie along with their wives: “Sijie and Ying Niang are to take the children and accompany the Grand Madam and Second Elder Madam to the West Mountain Villa; Sizhun is to go to the Second Elder Madam and inquire about the auspicious date for departure, and make all the arrangements for the move to West Mountain; Susu is to stay at home and help me receive guests; Ying Niang is to help the children pack their trunks.” Having said this, she gave the two of them additional instructions separately: “Sizhun, assign more guards to the West Mountain Villa — do not let anyone disturb the Grand Madam; Sijie, stay by the Grand Madam’s side and keep her well entertained, so she does not grow restless and wish to come back!”

News of Elder Chen’s proposal to reclaim the granted lands from the noble and aristocratic families had already spread throughout all of Yanjing. They too had been worried about this — without the granted lands, only those with official posts or noble titles would receive annual stipends. Those with neither post nor title would receive nothing. That being the case, among the Xu Family, only Xu Lingyi, Xu Lingkuan, Xu Sizhun, and Xu Sijin would receive stipends. Income would be reduced by at least nine-tenths — to say nothing of those households that had only a single title to their name.

All of Yanjing had its eyes fixed on what Zhou Shizheng and Xu Lingyi would say. Even those with the least political acuity knew that this was no easy matter to handle.

Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie both acknowledged their instructions and went to see to their respective tasks.

The Grand Madam, hearing only that the Second Madam wished to go and that Ying Niang — who loved to talk — would be coming along, together with Ting Ge’er and Zhuang Ge’er, immediately smiled and agreed.

The Second Madam moved swiftly and decisively, setting the date of departure for two days hence.

Packing the trunks, drawing up the list of maidservants, daughter-in-law attendants, older servants, kitchen staff, and night-watch servants to accompany them — Jiang Shi was run off her feet. By the time she had finally seen the Grand Madam’s party off, she then had to reorganize the night-watch servants, the sweeping maidservants and servants for each room. She had barely caught her breath when the mistresses in charge of household affairs from Yongchang Marquis Manor, Weinbei Marquis Manor, Zhongshan Marquis Manor, Dingguo Duke Manor, and even the Fifth Madam’s own Dingnan Marquis Manor as well as the Wang Family’s Zhennan Marquis Manor — with whom they were not usually on close terms — began dropping by one after another. Arranging tea and refreshments, receiving them at dinner, seeing them off, accompanying and attending to the young daughters-in-law who had come to pay their respects on behalf of their mothers-in-law — Jiang Shi’s feet never touched the ground. Yet from the stray words and phrases that fell within earshot, she gathered the gist of the matter — military affairs in the northwest had grown critical, military provisions were running short, and the Emperor had resolved to reclaim the granted lands of all noble and aristocratic families to fund military expenses. The mistresses were discreetly feeling out one another’s intentions, seeking to have the various marquises and earls submit memorials to the throne simultaneously, presenting the appearance of collective outrage.

“Do not worry, Tang Madam,” Shiyiniang repeated firmly, “this is not a matter for any single household. Even if our Marquis were ordinarily disinclined to concern himself with such things, he cannot remain silent on this matter.”

Tang Madam sighed: “This time, these cabinet elders have gone too far. Is this not cutting off our very means of livelihood?”

“Even a rabbit will bite when cornered. All the more so when someone is cutting off our means of livelihood.” The wife of the Zhennan Prince’s heir, frail as a skeleton yet still perfectly capable of speech, gave a cold smile. “The Emperor says military affairs in the northwest are critical and the national treasury is empty — yet Chen Zixiang has brought in reform after reform, year after year. How has it come to this, that the national treasury is empty? And now we are expected to clean up the mess on his behalf — where in the world is there such a convenient arrangement?”

Chen Zixiang was Elder Chen’s given name.

Tang Madam said nothing, but her eyes flickered.

The wife of the Zhennan Prince’s heir shot Tang Madam a quick sidelong glance, then smiled and rose to take her leave: “I have your word now, Madam, and can go back and account to our Marquis. I shall take my leave first. Whenever you are free, do come and sit with us. After all, our two families are also relations by marriage.”

Shiyiniang smiled in agreement and personally accompanied the wife of the Zhennan Prince’s heir to the gate.

On her way back, Tang Madam also rose to take her leave: “Our Marquis’s thought is to wait until there is a victory report from Xuantong and submit the memorial at that moment — when the Emperor is in good spirits, things will be easier.” She added: “I also need to stop by Zhou Madam’s to sit for a while.”

“You should certainly go, you should certainly go.” Shiyiniang saw her to the door. “I will also pass the Madam’s words along to our Marquis.”

Tang Madam inclined her head in acknowledgment and left.

Jiang Shi helped Shiyiniang to a seat in the inner chamber, then hesitated: “Mother, as Wang Madam said, the court has been introducing new policies frequently in recent years — it was not any different under the late Emperor, and the nation has grown prosperous and the people strong, all owing to Elder Chen. Now the Emperor says the national treasury is empty — perhaps that is just a pretext? If the Emperor has truly made up his mind…will submitting memorials be of any use?”

Shiyiniang smiled: “Before Wang Madam said all this, had you thought of it yourself?”

Her mother-in-law’s manner was as mild and gentle as a soft breeze.

Jiang Shi gathered her courage: “I had thought of it too!”

“You see — you thought of it, Wang Madam thought of it, and of course everyone else thought of it as well.” Shiyiniang smiled. “Then why are they all still sending their mistresses to visit, making private arrangements among themselves? Is it not because they are all waiting to see which household cannot hold out and will be the first to step forward and cause a stir? As for our household — we have always kept to the middle path. We never go ahead of others, nor do we fall behind them. Yet how to step forward at precisely the right moment — that is an art in itself.” She continued: “Susu, remember what I say. Our household is among the noble and aristocratic families. So long as no grave errors are made, this wealth and honor will endure, flourishing for a long time to come. We are not an official’s household that places stock in dying by remonstrance — even if none of our descendants hold official positions, by maintaining such a reputation we can still command respect.”

Jiang Shi broke into a cold sweat and acknowledged the instruction with a respectful bow.

Commander Liu Hong of the Five Military Commands’ Rear Command was given the title of Grand General for the Campaign to Pacify the West and led one hundred thousand troops toward Xuantong to join Fan Weigang in resisting the enemy. As if Heaven itself were mocking the noble and aristocratic families scurrying about in a frenzy like ants on a hot griddle, one after another for half a month, the reports from Xuantong brought only disastrous news.

The son of Princess Changning, Ren Kun, was the first to strike — impeaching Elder Chen for deceiving the Emperor and concealing the truth, asking how it could be that after implementing the new policies the national treasury had run empty, and demanding the restoration of the old tea tax collection system. Then Zhongshan Marquis followed, impeaching Ministry of Finance Vice Minister Li Ting for corruption and embezzlement. Then came the Prince Consort of Princess Suiping, impeaching Ministry of Finance Supervising Secretary Xing An for accepting bribes and graft… Elder Chen, Li Ting, and Xing An all submitted memorials in rebuttal… The Emperor received the news that Xuantong had fallen… Right then and there, he threw the memorial at the face of Princess Suiping’s Prince Consort: “While I am exhausting my every effort to preserve the ancestral domain, you are squabbling here over petty private interests!” He then immediately issued an imperial decree: before the Start of Winter, all granted lands of noble and aristocratic households would be confiscated. When the news came out, the noble and aristocratic families erupted in uproar. Several Grand Princesses dressed themselves in mourning garments and wailed outside the Eastern Gate, demanding to go to the Ancestral Hall to weep before the late Emperor… Yanjing was thrown into great clamor and turmoil, with hearts everywhere unsettled and adrift.

For several days running, Xu Lingyi would sit up against the headboard after Shiyiniang fell asleep, staring blankly, watching the window outside go from pitch black to the faint first light of dawn.

As if Shiyiniang could truly sleep.

Zhou Shizheng had come to find Xu Lingyi two days earlier, accused him of failing to step forward at the crucial moment, and stormed off in fury without even waiting for Xu Lingyi’s explanation.

She had merely been feigning sleep, wanting to give Xu Lingyi some space to think.

Seeing him go through entire nights without sleep, she felt a pang of deep concern. She simply sat up, wrapped a robe around herself, and pulled the coverlet up: “Is the Marquis still thinking about Lord Zhou’s words?”

“No!” Xu Lingyi smiled and drew her into his arms. “We grew up together from childhood — he is simply trying to provoke me. If he were truly angry, he would stop speaking to me entirely, not come to the house to give me a scolding!”

Shiyiniang rested her head against his chest: “Then is it the matter of reclaiming the granted lands that is troubling you?”

“At a time like this, who still has the heart to deal with reclaiming granted lands?” Xu Lingyi shook his head gently. “As long as the war is not over, no one will be overseeing this matter. And as long as it has not yet begun, there is still room to ease the situation.”

Then it could only be the military situation in Xuantong.

Shiyiniang had no wish to raise it.

Every person had their reverse scale. For Xu Lingyi, military affairs were that reverse scale.

“Then what is the Marquis still troubled by?” She sat up, smiling as she gazed at him. “Marquis, please sleep! If you carry on like this, I cannot sleep well either!”

Xu Lingyi looked at her deeply, smiled, and agreed with a soft sound, lying down compliantly.

Shiyiniang wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

Xu Lingyi did not respond with his usual warmth, but stroked her hair idly, without rhythm.

Shiyiniang lay quietly against him, waiting for him to fall asleep — yet by the time the sounds of the small maidservants rising and washing outside reached them, Xu Lingyi had still not closed his eyes.

This could not go on!

Shiyiniang instructed Hupo to prepare some ginseng tea for Xu Lingyi and personally carried it to the study.

Xu Lingyi was somewhat surprised, and looked at her with a smile.

Shiyiniang had never been this attentive. She bowed her head and helped him tidy the writing desk, then told him: “Drink it quickly — once it cools it will have an unpleasant taste.”

Xu Lingyi settled into the nearby master chair and sipped the ginseng tea.

Denghua hurried in: “My lord, the Prince of Yong has arrived!”

Both husband and wife were somewhat taken aback.

At a time like this — what was he here for? Or perhaps he had been sent to convey a message on the Emperor’s behalf!

Xu Lingyi considered for a moment, then said to Shiyiniang: “I will go and return shortly!”

Shiyiniang saw Xu Lingyi to the study door.

“There is no need to be so courteous with me, Uncle.” The Prince of Yong wore a sapphire blue robe with plain cloud-and-dragon patterns, his pair of phoenix eyes bright as stars. He spoke as he laughed, and had already walked to the middle of the courtyard. “Opening the main gate is a great deal of trouble, and if the Emperor hears of it he’ll reprimand me for being idle and wandering about all day… Just let me in through the side gate!”

Xu Lingyi smiled and stepped forward to bow in greeting to the Prince of Yong.

The Prince of Yong did not wait for him to complete the bow but caught him by the arm: “Uncle, there is something I’d like to speak of — let us go inside!”

Xu Lingyi and the Prince of Yong went to the small study.

Shiyiniang had already withdrawn.

The Prince of Yong had also been coming by frequently of late, and was particularly fond of the chaise longue in Xu Lingyi’s study.

He settled into it with easy familiarity.

“Uncle, the Emperor has already issued a decree for Ouyang Ming to succeed Liu Hong as Grand General for the Campaign to Pacify the West and proceed to Xuantong without delay. Let us bring Jin Ge’er back — I will have a word with Ouyang. When the time comes, Jin Ge’er can help with the transport of military provisions and such. As for military merits, there will certainly be a share for him. Securing him a title of Marquis or Earl would be the simplest thing in the world.”

“This…would not be quite appropriate!” Xu Lingyi declined without a moment’s hesitation. “His mother would absolutely not allow him to go to Xuantong. I am grateful for your kind intentions, but they must await a future opportunity when I can ask the Prince to help devise a plan once more!”

The Prince of Yong was taken aback at that response, then laughed: “Uncle, you are afraid the battle might be lost, aren’t you?” He said this, then laughed again. “You can set your mind completely at ease. This time the Emperor has mobilized four hundred thousand troops from Shandong and Shanxi. Those Tartars number no more than eighty or ninety thousand — even if every man spat once, that alone would be enough to drown them all!”

—