The Xu household bustled with activity.

Xu Lingkuan, Xu Sizhun, and Xu Sijie were all in the outer courtyard helping to receive guests, while Fifth Madam and Ying Niang assisted Shiyiniang in receiving guests in the inner courtyard. Jiang Shi arranged the banquet, directing the maids to serve tea and pour water, while the nannies settled the visiting maids and matrons in for rest. It was not until the night curfew that everyone gradually dispersed, and a measure of quiet was restored.

Shiyiniang leaned against the large bolster pillow by the window, feeling somewhat weary on her feet. Hupo came in carrying a steaming bowl of warm goat’s milk. “Madam, the Marquis has kept Lord Wang in the small study to talk — by the looks of it, they won’t be finished anytime soon. Fifth Madam has gone with Third Madam, the eldest young mistress, and Third Young Mistress to pay their respects to the Grand Madam, and should be heading back after that. If you are tired, you should rest first.” She smiled as she spoke. “Everyone knows you are carrying now — even if some matters were not attended to perfectly, it could hardly be called a breach of courtesy.”

Having just woken, Shiyiniang had immediately received the news of Jin Ge’er being conferred the title of Earl — the Princess of Jiangdu, Madam Zhou, Third Mistress Huang, and others had arrived one after another, leaving her not even a moment to ask questions in detail. There were many things she did not understand and had been meaning to ask Hupo. Hearing this, she smiled and pointed to the brocade footstool beside the bed. “You have been busy all day — rest for a while too. We can have a proper talk.”

Hupo smiled and agreed, sitting down on the brocade footstool. She idly picked up the rattan basket beneath the kang table that held needlework, and carefully smoothed out several tangled threads, tying them into slip knots before placing them back in the basket.

Shiyiniang then asked about Chang’an: “…Have you heard any news of him?”

At the time, her mind had been entirely on Jin Ge’er, and she had not had the chance to ask about him.

“Chang’an has truly benefited from our Sixth Young Master this time,” Hupo said with a smile. “It is said he stayed by Sixth Young Master’s side throughout — when the Duoyan were captured, he was there as well. The Marquis of Xining commended him for his loyalty and faithfulness, and personally submitted a merit report on his behalf, recommending him for the rank of Qianhu. His Majesty has already approved it. Once the presentation of captives at the Meridian Gate is complete, the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War will issue the formal documents, and from then on we shall all have to address Chang’an as Lord Qianhu.” She then laughed. “And Master Gong too — he has been conferred the rank of Baihu, and can return home in glory to enjoy his retirement. As for our First Young Master’s husband, having secured such a future for Master Gong, he will truly be a man of great influence in Cangzhou from now on!”

Everyone had survived and come away with bright futures ahead of them, and Shiyiniang felt her spirits lift along with theirs.

“That is wonderful, truly wonderful!” she said with a smile. “If something had happened to Chang’an, how would I ever have faced Binju?” Then she added, “Is she doing well?”

Even if Binju had not known before, the moment Shiyiniang had instructed Hupo to send Wan Daxian along with her to Yulin, Binju would certainly have known.

“When Binju heard that Sixth Young Master had gone missing and that there was no word from Chang’an, she wept for an entire day and night,” Hupo said. “Once she had recovered somewhat, she went to Ciyuan Temple and knelt before the Bodhisattva, praying for the Bodhisattva’s blessing to keep Sixth Young Master and Chang’an safe. The abbess Ji Ning learned of this and came out to console her, saying that Sixth Young Master was destined for great fortune, and that with Chang’an at his side, they would surely escape danger and return safely. This only made Binju’s devotion grow deeper — not only did she take up a vegetarian diet, she also made a vow that if Sixth Young Master and Chang’an returned home safe and sound, she would donate five hundred taels as incense oil money and hold a forty-nine-day memorial ceremony.” She smiled as she continued. “Yesterday, when word came, Binju was so overjoyed she could barely speak straight. She came to inquire after you, but you had not yet awakened. She said she still needed to go to Ciyuan Temple to fulfill her vow, and went there first, saying she would come to pay her respects to you first thing tomorrow morning.”

As a mother herself, Shiyiniang naturally understood Binju’s feelings perfectly.

She smiled and instructed Hupo: “Tomorrow, prepare a five-hundred-tael banknote. When Binju comes, have her take it to Ciyuan Temple on my behalf — it will be my addition to the incense oil donation.”

Hupo smiled and agreed.

Shiyiniang then asked after Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu.

The moment Hupo heard this, her expression fell.

Shiyiniang’s heart gave a sudden lurch: “What happened? Did something happen to the two of them…?”

Hupo gave a slight nod, her eyes already glistening with unshed tears. “It is said that when they reached a place called Qiziba, they…” Her voice trailed off halfway through, and fearing it would grieve Shiyiniang, she sniffled and quickly went on, “The Marquis has already sent Steward Zhao to the families of Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu. He sent a thousand taels of silver to each family, and also said that in the future, if any members of the Liu or Huang families wish to enter service at the household, they shall be given priority, and if they ever encounter any difficulties, they may come and seek out Head Steward Bai.”

Shiyiniang felt a pang in her heart, and tears fell uncontrolled. “From now on, keep the affairs of the Liu family and the Huang family in mind. If the outer courtyard has not made proper arrangements for them, come and tell me.”

Hupo nodded again and again. Seeing that Shiyiniang’s tears fell even as she wiped them away, she quickly turned and wrung out a warm cloth, then brought it over and handed it to Shiyiniang, trying to say something that might cheer her. “While you were sleeping, His Majesty came by!”

Shiyiniang recalled the words she had heard in that half-waking, half-dreaming state.

So it had not been her mind playing tricks on her after all.

“When word spread that Sixth Young Master had gone missing, His Majesty grew anxious as well,” Hupo said softly, taking the cloth back from Shiyiniang’s hand. “He even traveled incognito and came in person to see the Marquis. When he heard that you had fallen unconscious and would not wake, and that the Marquis was caring for you, His Majesty set aside all formality and went directly into the hall — and it is said he even offered the Marquis an apology.” She shared the amusing story that had been circulating through the household. “Head Steward Bai was asking the Marquis yesterday whether the teacup His Majesty had drunk from and the chair he had sat in should be placed in the ancestral hall as relics!”

But Shiyiniang could not bring herself to laugh. She leaned against the bolster pillow, feeling a quiet sense of melancholy.

Seeing this, Hupo too set aside her smile and asked softly: “Madam, shall I have the young maids bring water for you to wash up? The weather is rather warm — a bath would help you feel cooler and more refreshed.”

Shiyiniang nodded. Hupo quietly instructed the maids to come and attend to her, then helped with changing her clothes and making the bed, staying by her side until Shiyiniang had settled in for the night. Only then did she take up her needlework and sit down to sew by the light of the standing lantern in the hall.

When the third watch drum sounded, Xu Lingyi finally returned.

Hupo hurried to greet him.

“How was Madam today?” Since Shiyiniang had woken, the two of them had not had a proper chance to speak, and Xu Lingyi asked Hupo.

“At noon she had a bowl of bird’s nest porridge, and in the evening a bowl of red rice congee, along with two vegetable buns.”

If she was eating, that was a good sign.

Xu Lingyi went into the room.

Shiyiniang lay on her side, sleeping.

The lamplight fell on her face, luminous as white jade — a serene and tranquil beauty, nothing like the previous days when, even with the sleep-inducing incense lit, she would still sob in her dreams.

He stood looking at her, a great weight lifting from his shoulders. He washed up, then moved carefully and quietly to the bed. He wanted to hold her as he usually did, but feared waking her — and if she woke and asked about Jin Ge’er… if he answered honestly, she would likely lie awake again; if he did not answer, then when Jin Ge’er returned, she would feel he had deceived her. He turned it over and over in his mind, then finally spread out the bedding beside her, and slipped in gently.

Shiyiniang slept lightly. The moment Xu Lingyi got into bed, she stirred and woke.

First he had concealed the news about Jin Ge’er, and then when Jin Ge’er was safe, he had said not a single word of explanation before retreating to the outer courtyard. And now, returned to the room, he kept to his own side as though separated by a river — each sleeping apart…

Thinking this, she let out a cold, inward scoff, and deliberately paid him no attention.

The next morning, when Shiyiniang rose from bed, Xu Lingyi had already been up for some time. Without waiting for her, he was seated on the large kang by the western side room window, eating breakfast. Seeing her come in, he said with cool indifference, “You are awake,” then instructed her: “While you were unconscious, both the Empress Dowager and the Empress sent palace attendants to inquire after you. The Princess of Jiangdu, the Princess Consort of Prince Yong, and the Princess Consort of Prince Shun all came in person to visit you. Now that Jin Ge’er is safe, you should go and pay your respects to each of them in turn.”

Shiyiniang inclined her head and replied, “Yes,” then sat down on the kang across from Xu Lingyi.

Leng Xiang promptly brought in a bowl of bird’s nest porridge.

A young manservant came running in: “My Lord, Prince Yong has arrived!”

Xu Lingyi appeared slightly taken aback and murmured, “This early?” He then gave the manservant a nod, quickly finished the two buns before him, and said to Shiyiniang, “Eat slowly,” before hurrying off to the outer courtyard.

Shiyiniang responded with a quiet “mm,” and continued her breakfast with a composed expression.

Wen Yiniang, face full of smiles, and Qiao Lianfang, whose expression was markedly detached, came to pay their morning respects.

“Our Sixth Young Master is truly extraordinary,” Wen Yiniang said, just as she always had — inclined to magnify one part of good news into five, heaping praise on Shiyiniang. “In my view, to be conferred the title of Earl at fifteen on the strength of military merit alone — aside from the founding heroes who followed the Emperor at the dynasty’s founding — our Sixth Young Master must be the first of his kind in all of the Great Zhou.”

Qiao Lianfang forced a thin smile and echoed: “Sixth Young Master is surely first of his kind.” Perhaps unaccustomed to speaking in such terms, her tone came out rather stiff.

Shiyiniang exchanged pleasantries with them courteously: “We must also credit our First Young Master’s husband for recommending Master Pang as his instructor — without him, how could Jin Ge’er have developed such exceptional martial skill?”

Wen Yiniang beamed like a flower in full bloom.

Jiang Shi and Ying Niang arrived with their children.

Yesterday there had been guests present and no opportunity to speak freely, but today it was all family, and everyone chattered and praised Jin Ge’er with such enthusiasm it felt as lively as New Year’s.

A young maid came in to announce: “Binju has arrived!”

As Shiyiniang’s personal attendant who had accompanied her into the Xu household upon marriage, Binju held a respected position within the household. Jiang Shi and Ying Niang alike treated her with a measure of deference, and smilingly congratulated her that Chang’an was soon to become a Qianhu. Her son had turned misfortune into fortune, and her joy was impossible to conceal — nor did she wish to conceal it. She thanked Shiyiniang for Jin Ge’er’s patronage and assistance, Shiyiniang asked her about the matter at Ciyuan Temple, Hupo produced the banknote — and amid laughter and warm conversation, a festive air was added to the room.

By afternoon, word came that the presentation of captives at the Meridian Gate had been set for the first day of the seventh month.

She would soon be able to see her son!

Shiyiniang, both startled and overjoyed, instructed A’jin and Suifeng to tidy the courtyard, summoned the seamstresses to make clothes for Jin Ge’er, and went with Hupo to the kitchen to have them start preparing ingredients such as abalone and sea cucumber well in advance, ready to host a fine feast when the time came. Jiang Shi attended to her every step, diligently hovering at her side.

Yuan Baozhu’s wife also wore a face full of delighted smiles.

Yuan Baozhu could not resist teasing his wife: “Got ten taels of silver in reward from the Grand Madam, and sure enough, your hands move a good deal quicker now!”

After the news broke that Jin Ge’er had been conferred the title of Earl, the senior stewards of consequence had each been rewarded twenty taels of silver, while those like Yuan Baozhu had each received ten.

“You and your single-track mind!” Yuan Baozhu’s wife said, shooting her husband a look. “I am happy for Fourth Young Mistress!” At that, her gaze softened considerably. “Now that Sixth Young Master has a title, he will naturally need to establish his own household in due course.”

This meant that the title of Marquis Yongping would be all but secured for Xu Sizhun.

Such words, however, could not be spoken plainly aloud.

Yuan Baozhu bantered with his wife: “You had better not forget — Madam still has one more in her belly!”

“Smaller than Ting Ge’er!” Yuan Baozhu’s wife laughed. “By the time that child grows up, our Young Lord will have long since established himself.” She paused and let out a soft sigh. “To think it would turn out like this — quite something!”

She said it with considerable feeling.

Yuan Baozhu said nothing.

A household in harmony prospers in all things. With each of the Xu brothers now set on their own promising path, the Xu family would only grow more flourishing in the days ahead.

—