On the twentieth of May, Gong Dongning joined forces with Ouyang Ming. On the twenty-second, Gong Dongning officially took command of the seal from Ouyang Ming, while Ouyang Ming withdrew with ten thousand troops to the garrison at Datong, not far from Yanjing. On the twenty-fifth, Gong Dongning reorganized his forces and led one hundred and twenty thousand troops to surround Xuantong so completely that not even water could pass through. On the twenty-seventh, Gong Dongning ordered the assault to begin. On the twenty-sixth — the very next day — Xuantong fell. More than thirty thousand Tartars were captured, over nine thousand killed, and more than three thousand horses seized. However, the Tartar leader Duoyan managed to flee northwest under the escort of a thousand cavalry. Even so, when the news spread, both court and common people erupted in jubilation. Officials submitted memorial after memorial urging that Gong Dongning be promoted and enfeoffed, and that he be permitted to present prisoners at the Meridian Gate to display the might of the Great Zhou dynasty.

“By the sound of it, the war is essentially over.” Eleventh Madam set down her needlework and looked at Xu Lingyi with a bright smile. “Xu Sijin will be returning to the capital soon.”

“If the Emperor approves Gong Dongning’s prisoner presentation at the Meridian Gate, Xu Sijin will certainly need to come back with him. Whether he will be stationed outside the city or enter the city together with Gong Dongning remains to be seen. But either way, a quiet visit should not be any problem.” Xu Lingyi was also in good spirits. As he spoke, he sat down beside Eleventh Madam and looked at the white silk stretched over the embroidery frame. “Has this embroidered character screen been in the works for many years? How is it still not finished?”

“I embroider a few stitches whenever I have time.” Eleventh Madam pressed her lips together, smiling.

Xu Lingyi found it vaguely familiar, but gave it no particular thought. He picked up the half-finished cup of tea from Eleventh Madam’s side and took a sip. “I always knew Gong Dongning was a bold and capable fighter — I hadn’t expected him to be this shrewd as well.” He sounded genuinely impressed.

Now that she knew her son was safe, and Gong Dongning was her son’s superior, Eleventh Madam was naturally very interested in his affairs. “How so?”

Xu Lingyi smiled. “Duoyan fled northwest, and Gong Dongning did not order a pursuit. There are fifty thousand Sichuan troops garrisoned in Ganzhou — and Gong Dongning gave no orders to encircle and annihilate them either. It is plainly obvious he is leaving that loose end for Ouyang Ming to clean up. Which goes to show that when it comes to discerning the Emperor’s intentions, he manages quite well. I had originally worried about whether he would fit in once he came to Yanjing, but now I see I was overthinking things.” As he spoke, his mind turned to Prince Yong — together they had gotten involved with a silver mine. Now that Gong Dongning was coming to the capital, Prince Yong would surely extend him plenty of favor. And as for choosing the new Guizhou General, Prince Yong would certainly have a hand in that as well.

“By these lights, Gong Dongning might be called a late bloomer,” Eleventh Madam said with a smile. “It goes to show that opportunity counts for a great deal in a person’s life.”

Xu Lingyi nodded. He was just about to share a few examples from the military when a manservant came running in. “My lord, an urgent eight-hundred-li dispatch from Xuantong Prefecture.”

Everyone in the outer courtyard knew Xu Sijin was currently with Gong Dongning, so an urgent express from Xuantong was not something they dared delay for even a moment.

Xu Lingyi, who had been keeping a constant watch on the Xuantong campaign, said immediately, “Bring it here.” He sat and read it over.

Eleventh Madam leaned in.

After no more than a glance, her expression changed completely. “What does this mean?”

The smile vanished from Xu Lingyi’s face as well, replaced by a grave, weighty look.

The manservant, seeing something was wrong, quietly and carefully slipped away. Lenxiang and the other attendants exchanged glances and followed suit.

The room fell silent.

“It appears the Emperor wishes Xu Sijin to seize this opportunity to accumulate some military merit,” Xu Lingyi said, his sigh clearly audible. “Only the scope of it is rather too large — I fear it will be too much for Xu Sijin to bear.”

According to Gong Dongning’s letter, a palace eunuch serving as military supervisor had received a secret imperial edict commanding Gong Dongning to designate Xu Sijin as Deputy Commander and dispatch him alongside Ouyang Ming — who was garrisoned at Datong — to encircle and pursue the fleeing Duoyan.

The overall situation was settled. To the west, the Sichuan regional forces and the Ganzhou garrisons were already in position. Duoyan had only a thousand troops at his side, while Ouyang Ming commanded ten thousand. Moreover, Duoyan as the Tartar leader would be a prize of enormous significance whether captured or killed — a first-class achievement. That Ouyang Ming was one thing, for he had served as the Grand General of the Western Expedition. But Xu Sijin — to say nothing of leading troops, from the start of the war to this very moment, he had never so much as set foot on a battlefield, serving merely as a secretary beside Gong Dongning. Neither his experience nor his standing was sufficient to serve as Ouyang Ming’s deputy.

This was nothing short of naked credit-snatching.

Even someone with no knowledge of military strategy could hear it for what it was — let alone the battle-hardened generals of the Five Military Commissions and the cunning ministers of the court.

The censors were not to be trifled with.

If from the very start one boldly displayed the intent to seize another’s merit, the warriors who had shed blood and risked their lives would certainly resent it — yet at least that audacious honesty would be a kind of sincerity. This, however, was dishonesty layered over dishonesty, something even more contemptible.

Once a man’s character was called into question, how could Xu Sijin ever establish himself in the military thereafter? Even if one day he rose to be a regional general, how would he command the loyalty of his soldiers?

“Is the Emperor helping Xu Sijin, or harming him?” Eleventh Madam said, bitterness at the corners of her mouth. “And since it is a secret edict, can we simply pretend not to know? Is it not said that a general in the field need not obey every command from the ruler?”

“That is not very likely.” Xu Lingyi shook his head. “Gong Dongning is about to come to the capital — he would not risk displeasing the Emperor at this critical moment. His writing to me is simply to inform me, to give me an explanation and account for himself.”

“So Gong Dongning also feels this arrangement is somewhat improper?” Eleventh Madam said evenly.

Xu Lingyi said nothing.

Eleventh Madam suddenly felt a frustration rise within her. “Is there truly no other way? We cannot simply watch helplessly as Xu Sijin goes off to the northwest with Ouyang Ming, can we?”

Xu Lingyi thought for a moment, then said, “Go to the Princess of Jiangdu’s residence. Speak with the Princess and see if she can persuade the Emperor. Since it is a secret edict, there is room to quietly appoint someone else in its place.” He added, “I’ll write to Gong Dongning and ask him to delay a few days.”

Eleventh Madam thought this was a good plan — she even thought that if the Princess could not make headway, she would go directly to the palace to petition the Empress. Whatever it took, she could not allow Xu Sijin to follow along.

But when she went to see the Princess, the Princess smiled. “I knew Auntie would come to me!” The smile carried a small note of pride.

Eleventh Madam was taken aback. “Can it be that it was the Princess who…”

“Third Imperial Brother said,” the Princess nodded, “that since Uncle, out of concern for his reputation before history, would not look after Xu Sijin himself, we would do it in his place.” Her eyes curved into smiling crescents. “When Imperial Brother spoke to the Emperor, the Emperor was reluctant at first — he said Xu Sijin was too young and wished to give him only the rank of a hundred-commander. It was I who went to the palace and petitioned Mother Consort, and Mother Consort who personally spoke to the Emperor — only then did he agree.” She took Eleventh Madam’s arm. “Auntie has come at just the right time. With the war not going well recently, the palace has been on edge. Now that the great matter is settled, Mother Consort and Her Majesty the Empress are both relieved. They have summoned me and Third Imperial Sister-in-law to the palace for a visit. Come with me — you can also pay your respects to Mother Consort and Her Majesty, and you may even see Third Imperial Sister-in-law. Actually, it was Third Imperial Sister-in-law who thought of the idea of having me go to the palace to ask Mother Consort to petition the Emperor — otherwise, what would we know of such things?”

Knowing it had not been the Emperor’s idea, Eleventh Madam felt a great stone lift from her heart. Yet looking at the Princess of Jiangdu’s eager, excited face, she knew there was nothing more she could say at this moment. Prince Yong, the Princess of Jiangdu, and the Princess Consort of Yong had all meant well. She had already thrown cold water on Prince Yong and the Princess once before by refusing to let Xu Sijin return to Yanjing — to refuse again would surely leave them feeling disheartened.

“Fortunately I dressed myself presentably today.” Eleventh Madam smiled. She thanked the Princess of Jiangdu and accompanied her into the palace.

The Empress Dowager said not a word about interceding on Xu Sijin’s behalf. Instead, she brought up his marriage. “…He is not young anymore. Why have you not stirred at all on the matter? The last time arrangements were being made for the Seventh Prince’s marriage, I thought the daughter of Kong Wenjie, the Hanlin Academy Lecturer, seemed very fine — and she and Xu Sijin are of similar age. One of these days I’ll summon her to the palace so you can take a look.”

“I wonder how old Miss Kong is this year?” Eleventh Madam said with a smile. “We consulted the fate charts for Xu Sijin’s marriage — it was said a girl three or four years younger would be best.”

In that way, Xu Sijin could marry a little later.

“Is that so?” The Empress Dowager seemed somewhat disappointed. “Miss Kong is the same age as Xu Sijin!”

The Empress’s daughter, Fang Jie’er, was also present, and she looked at Eleventh Madam with a smile. “Mother Consort, in that case, why not arrange Miss Kong for the Eighth Imperial Uncle? The Eighth Imperial Uncle is also of marriageable age.”

The Empress Dowager gave a slight nod and instructed Huang Xianying, “Tomorrow, invite the Song Noble Consort Dowager to come — let us hear her thoughts.”

Huang Xianying replied respectfully, “Yes,” and also glanced at Eleventh Madam.

Eleventh Madam felt a pang of unease.

Was everyone under the impression that this young woman was a fine match, and that she was being willfully stubborn and letting a good marriage slip away?

She thanked the Empress Dowager with some discomfort.

“Xu Sijin is one of my own maternal family.” The Empress Dowager said lightly, “His affairs naturally weigh on my heart.” She then asked after the Old Madam’s health.

The group made some pleasant small talk, and when Eleventh Madam saw that it was getting late, she rose to take her leave.

The Princess of Jiangdu was also departing for home.

The Empress Dowager and the Empress walked them out as far as the side room. Huang Xianying personally escorted them all the way to the palace gate.

Eleventh Madam first sent the Princess of Jiangdu respectfully on her way, then said her farewells to Huang Xianying, and delicately raised the matter of Miss Kong. “…Was I perhaps out of place in what I did?”

“The Empress Dowager is wholly determined to serve as matchmaker for Xu Sijin,” Huang Xianying said with a smile. “She had her eye on Miss Kong and was keeping her for the Sixth Young Master on the pretext that she was too young.” She gave a small laugh. “But since the Marchioness of Yongping says the Sixth Young Master is best suited to a girl three or four years younger, the Empress Dowager now has a better sense of what to look for — and will surely find one that meets the Marchioness’s approval in time.”

Eleventh Madam felt chastened.

“I would trouble you to offer a word of explanation before the Empress Dowager on my behalf.” She gave Huang Xianying a bow.

“The Marchioness need not give it another thought,” Huang Xianying said with a smile. “The Empress Dowager’s fondness for the Sixth Young Master runs down to her very bones.”

The palace gate was not the place for extended conversation. After a few words of courtesy, Eleventh Madam returned home to Lotus Flower Lane.

“Even the Princess of Jiangdu’s route has been exhausted. The Empress Dowager’s household will not yield either.”

She told Xu Lingyi what had transpired during the palace visit.

“The Emperor is most filially devoted to the Empress Dowager.” Xu Lingyi thought for some time, then said, “Tomorrow I will go and call on Elder Grand Secretary Chen — perhaps there is still a way to turn things around.”

“That is the only option left.”

Both husband and wife were preoccupied. It was well past midnight before they fell asleep.

—