“Have him come in quickly.” Without waiting for Xu Lingyi to give the order, Shiyiniang had already spoken.

The young servant ran off.

“Yu Ge’er probably guessed that Jin Ge’er would be setting out these next few days.” Shiyiniang smiled. “When Yu Ge’er’s wife sent someone to bring us water chestnuts and lotus seeds a few days ago, she made no mention of sending anything to Jin Ge’er.”

Brothers should be harmonious and support one another.

Xu Lingyi nodded.

The young servant led in two matrons; one of them was Lady Xiang’s personal attendant, Nanny Xiang.

The two matrons respectfully paid their respects and congratulated Xu Lingyi and Shiyiniang with great joy.

“We only learned a few days ago that the Sixth Young Master had become Military Commissioner of Guizhou — our Second Young Master couldn’t have been happier. He sent us to the capital overnight, and we just barely made it inside the city before sundown.” Nanny Xiang said, smiling as she presented with both hands a small box wrapped in blue silk. “This is the travel gift our Second Young Master is sending to the Sixth Young Master, with wishes for the Sixth Young Master’s glorious career and smooth sailing in all things.” She then offered a bundle. “These are several autumn garments that our Second Young Madam made for the Sixth Young Master. She says she was in a hurry and apologizes if anything is not quite right, asking the Sixth Young Master to be forgiving.”

Leng Xiang stepped forward to take them. Shiyiniang had Han Xiao bring a small stool for each of the two matrons to sit on, and asked after the family’s affairs.

Hearing that Xu Siyu and his household had settled comfortably into life in Jiaxing, and that in the sixth month when Jiaxing Prefecture was struck by heavy rains, Xu Siyu had organized able-bodied men to reinforce the river embankments and been commended for his efforts — and that the Prefect had gradually come to regard him with greater esteem — Shiyiniang felt genuinely happy for him. “It’s getting late — you two rest here at the mansion tonight. Tomorrow morning, go and pay your respects to the Grand Lady and the Second Madam as well, and let them share in the joy.”

The two matrons smiled and said “yes,” then followed Leng Xiang out.

Xu Lingyi asked after Xu Sijin. “…Why isn’t he back yet? I still have things to discuss with him.”

Although the Board of Personnel had granted an extension, if he delayed any further, there would be no time to reach Guizhou. Tomorrow morning, after paying respects at the ancestral hall, Xu Sijin would set out for Guizhou. Shiyiniang had been about to go check on the state of the luggage preparations when she heard this, and she said, “Chang’an sent word in. He said Jin Ge’er wants to spend this evening gathering with Sun Xun and the others and will be back a little later. Is there something my lord needs to discuss with him? Would you like to come along with me to take a look?” As she spoke, she told Han Xiao to bring along the things sent by Xu Siyu and his wife.

“That sounds good!” Xu Lingyi thought it over and went with Shiyiniang to Qingyin Residence.

A Jin and Sui Feng were in the midst of checking over things. Seeing Xu Lingyi and Shiyiniang, the two of them quickly put aside their ledger and came forward to pay their respects.

“Haven’t you finished packing?” Xu Lingyi said.

“Everything is packed!” A Jin smiled. “This servant was afraid something might have been left out, so I went through it with Sui Feng again.”

This time, both A Jin and Sui Feng were going with Xu Sijin to Guizhou.

Shiyiniang saw all those trunks and cases, thought of her son’s imminent departure, and her mood suddenly dropped. “Who knows when he’ll be back.”

Xu Lingyi comforted her. “He’s a third-rank official now — every year he’ll come to the capital for the annual review. That’s so much better than when he was in Guizhou before.”

Thinking of it that way, Shiyiniang let out a long breath, and her spirits lifted a little.

Xu Lingyi sat down with her on the wide kang by the window to wait for Xu Sijin.

“Old Marquis Sun came to speak with me today about letting Cheng Ge’er go along with Jin Ge’er to Guizhou!”

She would have made the same choice herself. Shiyiniang had already guessed as much, and she mused, “And Shen Ge’er? Is he to stay at home?”

“Old Marquis Sun wants to send him to the Henan Regional Military Commission,” Xu Lingyi said. “Old Marquis Sun once had oversight of the Central Military Commission and still has old connections in Henan, and besides, the Henan Military Commissioner is someone I also have a certain acquaintance with… Let him go there and be tempered for a few years, genuinely learn some real skills, and then enter the Western Mountain Camp afterward.”

That would be a good arrangement.

Shiyiniang gave a gentle nod.

Xu Lingkuan and his wife arrived.

Xu Lingyi and Shiyiniang exchanged a glance.

“They must have come about Cheng Ge’er!” Xu Lingyi smiled, and he and Shiyiniang went to the reception hall.

“I hadn’t expected Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law to be here too!” Xu Lingkuan said with a cheerful smile, greeting his elder brother and sister-in-law. Everyone sat down with laughter; A Jin and the young maids brought out tea and refreshments. The Fifth Madam tactfully asked after Xu Sijin: “How is it that he’s not at home? Didn’t you say he’s leaving tomorrow?”

Shiyiniang explained the situation.

The Fifth Madam was about to ask something further, but Xu Lingkuan felt that such formalities were unnecessary between brothers. Without waiting for the Fifth Madam to speak, he went straight to the point with Xu Lingyi. “…Cheng Ge’er is not like Shen Ge’er — he’s only twelve years old this year. Even when he’s living in the outer courtyard he runs into the inner quarters every other day. And Jin Ge’er is newly arrived in Guizhou — he’ll have a great deal on his plate and won’t be able to keep an eye on Cheng Ge’er every day. I think it would be better to let Cheng Ge’er wait until after the New Year to go. By then Jin Ge’er will have settled in, Cheng Ge’er will be better prepared, and we can also get Shen Ge’er’s matters sorted out first.”

Xu Lingyi naturally agreed.

The Fifth Madam let out a long sigh. “…As our elders used to say, hardship is a whole life, and ease is also a whole life — all is decided by fate. These two children of mine, when there’s a smooth road right there, they’d rather go scrambling up a mountain. I have no say in it — I can only pray to the Bodhisattva that heaven rewards those who strive, and that their hardship won’t have been in vain.” Her tone carried layers of helplessness, despondence, and sorrow.

Shiyiniang thought of her own hesitation and struggle over Jin Ge’er’s future, and how similar it felt to what the Fifth Madam was feeling now. She comforted her, “Who isn’t? Back then I was also so reluctant to let go — but now, watching my child grow up day by day, seeing him not only able to take care of himself but able to look after the family as well, I feel so grateful, so glad the decision was made the way it was. Fifth Sister-in-law, don’t worry — Shen Ge’er and Cheng Ge’er are both clever, spirited boys. After seeing a bit more of the world outside, they’ll only become more sensible and more obedient with time.”

“Let’s hope so.” The Fifth Madam nodded, and at last a flicker of hope showed on her face. “Once Cheng Ge’er is there, I hope Jin Ge’er will guide and teach him well.” Her tone was very sincere — clearly words straight from the heart.

Shiyiniang felt a swell of feeling.

At her core, the Fifth Madam had always carried a certain pride. Were it not for her sons’ sake, she would never have set that pride aside. But this was just the way of mothers everywhere!

Xu Lingkuan felt the Fifth Madam was worrying needlessly, and before Shiyiniang could reply, he said with a laugh, “Jin Ge’er is his elder brother — of course he’ll teach Cheng Ge’er well. Stop talking such nonsense.”

The Fifth Madam was speechless with exasperation.

Shiyiniang, worried the two of them might start bickering in front of her, quickly smiled and said to Xu Lingkuan, “Fifth Uncle, are you free tomorrow? If you have nothing pressing, the Marquis would like to ask you to come and see Jin Ge’er off.”

Xu Lingyi had not planned to see his son off — he was the boy’s father, after all; and besides, he believed that if Jin Ge’er could capture the Doyan leader and bring him back, a trip to Guizhou was well within his abilities. He had not made any arrangements to see him off, and hearing Shiyiniang take this initiative, he couldn’t help but glance at her.

Xu Lingkuan had been scheduled to be on night duty tomorrow. The commander of the Imperial Guard, knowing that his nephew had been enfeoffed as Viscount of Wujin and appointed Military Commissioner of Guizhou, had specially given him a few days’ leave to attend to family matters at home.

He was delighted, feeling this was his sister-in-law giving him face. For now that Xu Sijin was a third-rank official who governed one region, as the elder generation going to see him off, all those whose rank was higher or lower than Xu Lingkuan’s would have to bow and greet him, and defer to his expression — just thinking about that scene made him feel pleasantly heady.

“I’m free, I’m free!” He no longer noticed the small details and said with a broad smile. “I’ll be over at the hour of Mao tomorrow, and accompany Jin Ge’er together to the ancestral hall.”

Xu Lingyi looked on as such a small thing brought Xu Lingkuan this much happiness, and he felt his heart soften unexpectedly.

If someone had given Fifth Brother proper guidance from the start, he might have accomplished something worthwhile too.

He was considerably more indulgent with Xu Lingkuan than usual, smiling as he teased him, “Just make sure you don’t sleep through it!”

“Of course not!” Xu Lingkuan, seeing his elder brother banter with him, was visibly moved. “I may be a little muddled on the big things, but I’ve never slipped up on the small ones.”

Everyone couldn’t help but laugh.

The atmosphere was not just lively — it was genuinely warm.

“Look at you, still no dignity at your age!” the Fifth Madam said with an affectionate scold. Just then, Xu Sijin came back.

“What’s all this?” He had had a little too much to drink and scratched his head. “I was out and about from this morning — I didn’t do a single thing!”

This set everyone off in another wave of laughter.

The Fifth Madam even stepped forward to take Xu Sijin’s hand and said to Shiyiniang, “Thank goodness we’re still indoors — who would believe it out there? That the Military Commissioner of Guizhou, the great Lord Xu Sijin, could look like this!” She then called to A Jin to hurry and brew a strong pot of tea to help Xu Sijin sober up, and then told him the reason for their visit.

Xu Sijin let out a breath of relief and patted his chest. “As long as Seventh Brother and Eighth Brother can use me — just say the word!”

The Fifth Madam was very pleased with his attitude and nodded with a satisfied smile. When Xu Sijin had finished his tea, the whole group went together to the Grand Lady’s quarters.

The Grand Lady had long since prepared sobering soup and promptly ordered Lu Zhu to bring it in.

Xu Sijin, who had already been made to drink a full belly of tea, now faced a large bowl of soup. He managed to get it all down with great effort, and then the Grand Lady took his hands and asked him everything from who had come to see him off all the way to what time he had returned to the mansion. Xu Sijin answered each question in turn.

Xu Lingyi saw that the hour was growing late and suggested everyone retire for the night.

The Grand Lady looked at Jin Ge’er in the lamplight, standing there as graceful and magnificent as a jade tree — and thought that tomorrow he would be leaving for that remote land of rugged mountains, with no proper woman at his side to look after him. Shiyiniang always said his martial training wasn’t done yet and they should wait a little longer. The Grand Lady’s heart felt heavy with it. “Stay here and keep Grandmother company tonight — there are things I want to say to you.”

Xu Sijin looked at his grandmother, who had aged ten years in the few years since he had last seen her. His heart ached quietly, and he put on a cheerful air as he draped an arm around her shoulders. “I was hoping to stay and talk with Grandmother — I was just afraid Father wouldn’t allow it…”

“He wouldn’t dare!” the Grand Lady said, fixing Xu Lingyi with a stern look.

Xu Lingyi was delighted to see his son cheering his mother up and would have been the last person to interfere. He made a great show of helplessness and quietly withdrew.

The Grand Lady laughed with joy and lowered her voice to whisper to Xu Sijin, “Don’t you worry. If he dares say anything to you, come and tell me. I’ll send him to kneel in the ancestral hall!”

“Yes, yes!” Xu Sijin snickered, privately weighing whether to find some opportunity to go and lodge a complaint against his father to his grandmother…

Back home, Shiyiniang was a little tired, and she asked Leng Xiang to bring in warm water to soak her feet.

Xu Lingyi dismissed the servants around him and fetched a small stool to sit beside her, helping to massage her feet.

“Are you all right — it looks like your legs might be a little swollen.”

“Really?” Shiyiniang held the lamp over for a closer look and studied her legs for a long while without noticing anything unusual. “Could it be your eyes playing tricks?”

Xu Lingyi was still cautious. “Tomorrow you needn’t go to see Jin Ge’er off — he’s not unaware that you’re with child.”

Shiyiniang’s expression froze.

“What is it?” Xu Lingyi asked, looking at her with concern.

“I… I still haven’t told him…” Shiyiniang murmured. “I could never quite find the right moment…” And truthfully, she was a little embarrassed.

Xu Lingyi sat there, quite at a loss for words.

“How about tomorrow, when you take Jin Ge’er to the ancestral hall to pay respects, you tell him then?” Shiyiniang looked at Xu Lingyi.

Me, tell him?

Isn’t this the kind of thing that falls to the mother?

Xu Lingyi gave a vague, noncommittal sound of acknowledgment.