The very next morning, while Eleventh Madam and Xu Lingyi were having breakfast, Denghua came rushing in. “My lord, there is a letter from General Gong!”

Xu Lingyi quickly took it, glanced it over, and his expression turned bitter. “The day before yesterday, early morning, Duoyan’s whereabouts were spotted near Yulin. He has already dispatched Ouyang Ming with ten thousand troops toward Yulin — Xu Sijin, as Deputy Commander, went along. Elder Grand Secretary Chen — there is no need to go.”

The further west one went, the closer to the grasslands and the further from Datong — the greater the chance that Duoyan would make it out. If the pursuit was not pressed now, there might not be another opportunity.

They had tried to stop Xu Sijin, yet still been a step too late.

Eleventh Madam let out a long sigh. “Man proposes, heaven disposes. Let us hope Xu Sijin understands his situation and cooperates well with Ouyang Ming — with Ouyang Ming in the forefront, others will have less reason to focus their attention on him.”

In contrast to the Emperor’s conspicuous protection of Ouyang Ming, Xu Sijin’s role was the more low-key one.

Xu Lingyi felt the same way, and he looked at her with an expression of approval. “After breakfast, I’ll pay a visit to Wang Li. There are some matters that are more conveniently handled by people like him.”

Eleventh Madam nodded, keeping close watch on the news coming in from the direction of Yulin.

On the second day of the sixth month, Ouyang Ming’s forces caught up with Duoyan near the Qin River, not far from Yulin. Just as Ouyang Ming was certain Duoyan was all but in his grasp, over twenty thousand Tartar cavalry suddenly poured out…

Xu Lingyi’s knuckles turned white where he gripped the letter. “Twenty thousand Tartars… Does that mean the Tartars who fled Datong never returned to the grasslands at all — that they had been hiding in the vicinity of Datong all along, waiting for the right moment to strike?”

The man who had come to report to Xu Lingyi was Hu San, one of Gong Dongning’s most trusted personal attendants — a man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, steady and composed, deeply trusted by Gong Dongning. Xu Lingyi’s gaze pressed down on him so heavily he could barely breathe. Hu San gave a labored nod, not daring to look at Xu Lingyi’s expression.

“What is the situation now?” After a long silence, Xu Lingyi asked Hu San.

Hu San weighed his words carefully. “Commander Ouyang has killed eight thousand of the enemy and sustained serious wounds himself — he is now unconscious.” His voice was low but his account was clear and orderly. “Director Xu led the three thousand Yulin garrison troops in pursuit.” At this point, the image of Gong Dongning’s ashen face at the moment of his departure suddenly surfaced in Hu San’s mind, and Gong Dongning’s hoarse voice rang in his ears: “…Marquis Yongping showed me kindness that amounted to giving me new life, and yet I have failed to protect the youngest and most beloved son he entrusted to me — I have lost the boy entirely. Were it not for my military orders still binding me, I would have gone to Yanjing myself to confess my fault to Director Xu on my knees. When you arrive, kowtow to Director Xu on my behalf, and tell him — once I hand over the commander’s seal, I will go before him to beg his forgiveness. Whatever punishment he sees fit to mete out, whether it be beating or scolding, I accept without the slightest resentment.” Hu San gave an involuntary shudder, then pressed on, “My lord, our Commander has dispatched the most capable fighting officer, Lieutenant Commander Li, along with every last cavalry soldier in the army to give chase. With any luck, good news should arrive in a matter of days…”

Before he had finished speaking, Xu Lingyi raised a hand and slowly waved it toward him. “Though it was an ambush that led to defeat, the defeat stands. Only the capture of Duoyan can redeem it. Even if Lieutenant Commander Li chases after him, Xu Sijin will not come back with them.”

Hu San looked up at Xu Lingyi in surprise.

Xu Lingyi’s face was expressionless, yet a flicker of grief and anguish passed through his eyes.

Hu San thought of the stories circulating in the army about Xu Lingyi’s resolute and decisive character, and felt deeply unsettled. Knowing he was overstepping, he nonetheless could not help himself. “My lord, that will not be so. Lieutenant Commander Li is not only fierce in battle — he has a way with words as well, and will surely be able to persuade Director Xu to return. It was for this very reason that our Commander sent him. Our Commander also said — the commanding officer on this expedition was Commander Ouyang. Director Xu was only the Deputy Commander. Even if there is fault, the fault lies with Commander Ouyang. Director Xu need only stay by our Commander’s side for a few years until things have quieted, and when matters stir again in the northwest, he can settle the score then and take back his honor.”

Under ordinary circumstances, Xu Lingyi would never have spoken to someone like Hu San in the way he was about to. But today, what had seemed a near-certain outcome had taken an unexpected turn mid-course — and there was still the matter of facing Eleventh Madam’s earnest, searching gaze when he went back inside. His composure slipped for a moment.

“You do not know him,” he said in halting tones. “Xu Sijin is a proud and unyielding child. As long as there is even a glimmer of hope, he will never give up. What is more, your Commander has sent Lieutenant Commander Li with every cavalry soldier in the army — how could Xu Sijin ever turn back?”

Hu San fell silent.

Having served beside Gong Dongning, he knew something of Xu Sijin’s temperament.

“All right — you’ve made a long and arduous journey. Go and get some rest.” Xu Lingyi waved his hand, bringing the conversation to a close.

Hu San bowed respectfully and withdrew with careful, soundless steps.

Xu Lingyi sat on the large kang by the study window, gazing blankly at the vivid green duckweed growing in the glazed flower basin on the sill. It was not until the light of day had nearly faded that he finally let out a long, slow breath, set the letter aside in the nearby box, rose from the kang, and started toward the door. After only a few steps, he turned back. He took the box with the letter inside and placed it in the least noticeable small compartment at the lower right of the display shelf, then went back to the main room.

Unlike the desolation of recent days, the main room was brightly lit tonight. Maidservants, married serving women, and elder serving women moved about with light, swift steps. The red lanterns cast their glow over everything, and the corners of every eye and brow carried a trace of festive cheer.

Xu Lingyi was taken aback.

Hanxiao was already coming out to meet him. “My lord, do come in quickly — Madam has been waiting for you for quite some time!”

Xu Lingyi’s heart clenched.

Could Eleventh Madam know what had happened?

The thought flickered and was gone — he told himself he was being overly anxious.

If Eleventh Madam knew about Xu Sijin, how could the whole household be filled with this air of celebration?

Collecting himself, he gave Hanxiao a faint nod and stepped with broad strides into the inner chamber.

Eleventh Madam was leaning against the bolster pillow by the window kang, speaking quietly and warmly to Hupo. At the sound of movement she turned her head, and a trace of shyness showed in her brow and eyes. “My lord, you are back.”

Hupo quickly rose, paid her respects to Xu Lingyi, and called Lenxiang in to help him change clothes.

Eleventh Madam lay on the bed without moving.

Xu Lingyi paused slightly, went over, and sat down on the edge of the bed. “What is the matter? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“No!” The color in Eleventh Madam’s face was a flushed rose, her expression a little unnatural. “I am quite well,” she added, “My lord, please do go and change. I’ll have the maidservants bring in the meal.”

From the corner of his eye, Xu Lingyi caught Hupo pressing her lips together to suppress a smile.

“What is going on?” Xu Lingyi looked at Hupo with suspicion.

Hupo glanced at Eleventh Madam, then smiled and dipped into a half-curtsy. “Congratulations to my lord and Madam — Madam has just been examined, and she is with child!”

With child…

Xu Lingyi was stunned for a long moment before the words registered. “Is — is that true?” His voice came out a little flustered.

Xu Sijin was already in his teens. He had long since given up hope — to think that now, after all this time, it had happened. It carried the feeling of something lost and miraculously recovered, which made the joy all the sweeter.

“Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere?” His hand could not help but move toward her belly. “Is there anything you especially crave?”

He was thinking of how uncomfortable she had been when carrying Xu Sijin, and there was worry in his voice.

“No.” Eleventh Madam’s face was very red. “If Hupo hadn’t pointed it out, I wouldn’t have even thought of it — I’ve had all my worry tied up in Xu Sijin these past days.” At that thought, her expression grew serious. “As for Xu Sijin — has there been any news? By my reckoning, word should have arrived from Yulin by now.”

“Nothing has come in yet. The moment there is any news, I will come and tell you.” Xu Lingyi did his best to keep his voice as calm and even as usual. “Are you quite certain there is nothing troubling you?” He changed the subject, his hand gently stroking her belly. “Has Mother been told yet?” His voice was very tender.

Hupo watched, then quietly gestured to the other attendants in the room — they filed out one by one.

“Not yet.” Eleventh Madam lowered her gaze. “I don’t even know how to tell her… Zhuang Ge’er is already toddling about on his own…”

Xu Lingyi laughed and drew Eleventh Madam into his arms. “What is there to feel awkward about? There are plenty of cases where an uncle is younger than a nephew. It only means our family is prosperous with many descendants!”

When she heard him say “an uncle younger than a nephew,” Eleventh Madam said, “It could be a daughter, you know. When I was carrying Xu Sijin, there wasn’t a single comfortable day — but this one, I was already carrying without even knowing it.”

“A daughter would be wonderful!” Xu Lingyi said without concern. “A daughter is a mother’s little comforter — how dear a daughter would be.”

“I feel the same way!” Eleventh Madam’s voice was full of longing. “Surely it is the heavens taking pity on me, feeling that Xu Sijin is too naughty, and sending me a well-behaved one by way of compensation.”

Xu Lingyi laughed aloud, while inside his heart turned to ice.

Xu Sijin had gone into the grasslands in pursuit of Duoyan and was now missing without a trace… After all these years of longing, this child had finally come — not too early, not too late, but at precisely this moment, that Eleventh Madam had conceived. Was it truly the heavens taking pity on their empty nest and sending this as consolation?

The thought arose, and his heart felt as if it were being cut to pieces. Yet he could not let a single trace show before Eleventh Madam — he had to keep smiling and talking with her. “Just be careful that when Xu Sijin finds out, he comes to demand an explanation from us. He has never once thought of himself as naughty!”

At the thought of her son’s frowning, mortified face, Eleventh Madam burst into laughter, then worried, “What do you think — if Xu Sijin finds out he is about to have a little brother or sister, will he feel a little… left out?”

“Why would he feel left out?” Xu Lingyi asked, puzzled. “He will have a younger brother or sister to support him — how could that make him feel left out?”

Xu Sijin had always been showered with love. If there was now a younger sibling, her energy would inevitably be divided — her attention to him would lessen. But Xu Lingyi’s words also had truth in them. This was a world that prized having many children, and it was possible Xu Sijin might actually be delighted at the news.

“Should we write Xu Sijin a letter?” Eleventh Madam said with a smile. “Otherwise he’ll get quite a shock when he comes home.”

“Write it tomorrow,” Xu Lingyi said in an even tone. “Today, let us first eat, then go and pay our respects to Mother, then offer incense to our ancestors…”

Eleventh Madam nodded, but in her heart she was already turning over how best to break the news to Xu Sijin when he returned.

A few days later, everyone learned of Eleventh Madam’s pregnancy.

Madam Lin, Third Young Madam Huang, and Madam Zhou all came to call on her. Eleventh Madam was obliged to set out food and wine to receive them. The house saw a constant stream of visitors, and the days were quite lively.

But Eleventh Madam grew suspicious.

Not a single one of these visitors had asked after Xu Sijin.

—