The New Year of the third year of the Xining reign was notably more festive for the Xu household than in previous years.

First, Xu Lingyi was granted the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, becoming the first man in all of the Great Zhou dynasty to hold both a title among the Three Tutors and one among the Three Excellencies simultaneously. Then, after more than twenty years spent in the Imperial Guards, Xu Lingkuan was promoted to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Five Districts Constabulary — a position that, while concerned chiefly with miscellaneous affairs, was a genuine rank-three post. And when the lanterns of the fifteenth-day Lantern Festival came down, Xu Sijian was further awarded the hereditary title of Brigade Vice Commander of the fourth rank.

A constant stream of carriages hung with silver hydra-dragon sashes and plain-colored lion-head sashes on blue-grey curtains arrived one after another at the gate of the Xu Mansion.

Xu Sijin rubbed his head in bewilderment: “It’s already the middle of the second month — why are there still so many people?”

He was dressed in a dark crow-blue coarse cloth robe and had traveled day and night without rest, arriving dusty and road-worn. Though he looked somewhat travel-faded, his eyes were bright and sharp, his brows carrying a trace of dignified authority — clearly not an ordinary man. He had drawn glances all along the road as he came.

“Hasn’t word gone out that my lord, Fifth Master, and Seventh Young Master have all been promoted?” Chang’an said, his face breaking into a happy smile at the sight of the familiar black-lacquered copper-studded main gate of the Xu Mansion. “These must be people come to offer their congratulations!”

He was leading Xu Sijin’s horse. Though dressed identically to Xu Sijin, where Xu Sijin’s bearing was easy and self-assured, Chang’an’s manner held a certain careful attentiveness. Both men were tall and handsome, yet the eyes of those around them would invariably fall on Xu Sijin first.

Someone spotted Xu Sijin almost immediately.

“Sixth Young Master, Sixth Young Master—!” The estate manager on duty at the gate dropped the stewards and attendants who had been presenting calling cards with fawning smiles, and came running over at once. “Why, it really is the Sixth Young Master!” The man spoke as he hurried to bow to Xu Sijin, then gave himself a little tap on the mouth. “Look at this mouth of mine — the moment I see your lordship I’m so pleased I can barely speak properly. We can’t be calling him ‘Sixth Young Master’ anymore — the proper form of address now is ‘Marquis Wujin.'” He bowed again to Xu Sijin. “This servant wishes your lordship a belated New Year’s greeting — may all be auspicious, and may you rise higher with every step!”

Before he had even finished, the gate attendants who heard the commotion all came running over as well.

“My lord, this servant is Gou Fu — New Year’s greetings to you, my lord!”

“My lord, this servant is Ji Xiang! Do you remember me, my lord? My elder sister serves Lady Fourth — New Year’s greetings to you, my lord!”

The whole scene was a noisy, spirited commotion, like a busy market.

Xu Sijin laughed heartily and instructed Chang’an: “Give them all something!”

Chang’an, smiling, brought out the ready-prepared embroidered pouches — decorated with the “all things go well” pattern and set aside expressly for tipping the servants — and handed one to each person he encountered.

“Why, isn’t this Chang’an, son of Steward Wan’s household?” someone exclaimed. “He really does carry himself differently — being in my lord’s service. If we’d met on the street, you wouldn’t even recognize him!”

Chang’an smiled faintly and said nothing.

The stewards and attendants who had come to deliver calling cards were all sharp-eyed individuals. They gathered around, and once the Xu household servants had quieted down somewhat, they straightened their lapels and came forward to bow to Xu Sijin.

Xu Sijin exchanged courteous words with each of them.

Alert manservants had already sprinted off to carry the news to the Grand Madam, Eleventh Madam, and Xu Lingyi.

Before long, Head Steward Bai, Xu Sizhun, Xu Sijie, and the others had all come out to welcome him.

“Sixth Brother!” Xu Sizhun’s face was full of delighted surprise. “Weren’t you supposed to be back in the latter part of the second month? How have you arrived home by the tenth?”

“I pushed the pace!” Xu Sijin laughed. He greeted Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie, then gestured to the seven or eight carriages behind him. “Everything on there is for the family. Have someone sort it out — I’m going ahead to see Mother and Grandmother first!”

“Leave it to the young masters!” Head Steward Bai considerately stepped forward. “Chang’an and I can handle things here!”

Xu Sijin nodded, gave Chang’an a word of instruction — “Hand the things over to Head Steward Bai, and go rest yourself — your family is thinking of you too” — and then walked side by side with Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie toward the rear courtyard.

“So — how have things been? You did all right in Guizhou?” Xu Sijie asked with a smile. “Judging by your energy, you seem in fine spirits!”

“But of course,” Xu Sijin replied. “Do I look like someone who comes off badly?”

Before the words had fully left his lips, two figures came running toward them. “Sixth Brother, Sixth Brother—!”

It was Xu Sijian and Xu Sicheng.

“Little Seven, Little Eight!” Xu Sijin strode forward and warmly slung an arm around Xu Sijian’s shoulder. “I was afraid you might have already set off for Henan and would be gone — I didn’t expect to find you still at home. I hear you’ve been granted the hereditary post of Brigade Vice Commander. Congratulations!” He released him and looked him up and down with a teasing smile. “Well, well — a few days apart and a man is worthy of a second look.” Then laughed and said, “Later I’ll set up a celebratory table for you at Chunxi Restaurant.” He swept his gaze over Xu Sizhun, Xu Sijie, and Xu Sicheng in turn and said with an easy generosity, “Everyone come along as company — we won’t leave until we’ve drunk our fill.” A certain gravity befitting a man of high rank showed itself in him without effort.

The younger brother who had only yesterday needed looking after seemed to have suddenly grown much taller — not only had the wing Xu Sizhun had once extended over him been made to feel very small, but there was even the faint hint that it might now be extended the other way. The sudden shift made Xu Sizhun uneasy, and he watched his younger brother with a complicated expression, momentarily silent.

Xu Sicheng, by contrast, looked at Xu Sijin with pure admiration.

Once Sixth Brother came to the capital for his official selection appointment, he would be going to Guizhou with Sixth Brother. Sixth Brother was open and upright, a true man in every sense — he wanted to be like Sixth Brother.

“‘Won’t leave until we’ve drunk our fill,’ indeed!” Xu Sijie laughed, calling Xu Sijin to order. “You just be careful Mother doesn’t find out and lose her temper!”

Xu Sijin gave a cheerful laugh.

Two men in their forties wearing fourth-rank military official robes came walking over. They bowed to the group, saying, “Isn’t this the Heir and the Seventh Young Master—” then their gaze landed on Xu Sijin, and they could not help but give a small start. They hurried to speak: “Commander Xu — we hadn’t expected to run into you here! You’ve just returned from Guizhou, have you?” They quickly introduced themselves: “I am Zhou Jing, Associate Commandant of the West Mountain Camp — I used to serve alongside Commander Lin. This is my good friend Sun Ming, Commandant of the Northern City of the Five Districts Constabulary.”

Xu Sijin smiled and nodded.

Zhou Jing eagerly extended an invitation: “We couldn’t have arranged a better meeting — clearly we were fated to have this connection with you, Commander. If you don’t find it beneath you, perhaps one day Sun brother and I could host a welcome-home dinner for you at Chunxi Restaurant. We would be most honored if you would give us the opportunity.” He added: “We both came up through the Imperial Guards — we are good friends of your esteemed Fifth Uncle, and we’re here today to congratulate Commander Xu on his promotion!”

“We shall see when the time comes,” Xu Sijin replied with an easygoing smile. “My selection appointment is set for the middle of the third month. I came back early precisely to spend a few more days in attendance upon my elders.” The warmth appropriate between colleagues was there, as was the composed restraint of a man of rank.

“Of course, of course!” The two men responded with respectful deference, though they could not quite conceal the disappointment in their eyes.

More figures were approaching unhurriedly from that direction — and whoever they were, they were dressed in the red robes of senior officials, with what appeared to be Xu Lingkuan walking alongside them as an escort.

Xu Sijin felt a sudden internal alarm.

Red official robes meant at least third rank — and with Xu Lingkuan in attendance, this person was certainly someone with real power. If he were to run into them now, there would be no avoiding a long round of pleasantries.

He wanted to see his mother as soon as possible!

The thought had barely formed when Xu Sijin was already casting a meaningful look at Xu Sizhun, signaling him to step forward and entertain this Zhou Jing and Sun Ming, while simultaneously smiling at the two men and saying, “Gentlemen, I’ve only just come through the gate and haven’t had a chance yet to pay my respects to my father and mother — I’ll have to beg your pardon.”

Those two men were shrewd enough themselves. Without waiting for Xu Sizhun to say a word, they said, “Marquis Wujin, please go on ahead — we were just about to take our leave as well!”

Watching the red-robed figure draw ever closer, Xu Sijin exchanged a couple of quick words, left his older and younger brothers behind, and walked briskly toward the main courtyard.

Xu Sizhun and the others stood momentarily speechless, and already Xu Lingkuan’s voice could be heard nearby: “Wasn’t that Jin Ge’er just now—”

The brothers quickly turned to respond in the affirmative — but Xu Sijin had already slipped through the inner decorative gate, nearly colliding head-on with Nanny Song, who was just coming out to go and look for news of him.

“Oh my!” Nanny Song, overcome with excitement, grabbed hold of Xu Sijin. “The Madam has been thinking of you—!”

Better to get to Mother’s room quickly before someone else could stop him!

“I know, I know!” Without waiting for her to finish, Xu Sijin was already striding rapidly toward the main room.

Nanny Song followed behind him with a beaming smile.

Though it was early spring, the weather in Yanjing was still quite cold. The Begonia and grapevine in the courtyard had not yet put out any new green — the branches were bare and sparse. Yet to Xu Sijin’s eyes, they looked wonderfully familiar and dear.

A young maidservant announced in a loud, bright voice that the “Sixth Young Master” had returned and held the curtain aside for him.

Eleventh Madam walked out at once.

“Jin Ge’er!” Her eyes brimmed with tears of joy.

“Mother!” Xu Sijin wrapped his arms around her. “You’ve been well?”

“I’m very well, very well!” Eleventh Madam held her son in turn.

From behind them came the soft sound of a cough.

“Now that you’re back, come in and sit down.”

Xu Sijin followed the sound and saw his father’s face — somewhat stern, but with a flash of joy passing across it.

“Father!” He stepped forward to bow to Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi gave a cool nod and turned to enter the room.

Father was just the same as always.

No matter how glad he was to see you, he still had to keep that straight face.

Xu Sijin pulled a face at his mother.

Eleventh Madam glared at him.

He pressed his lips together and followed his father inside.

Father and son sat down on the large heated platform bed by the window in the west side chamber, and Eleventh Madam personally poured tea for them both.

“Let me, let me!” Xu Sijin quickly stood and took the tea from his mother’s hands, his gaze resting on her face. He noticed that she looked a little fuller than when he had left, her complexion healthier and more radiant.

He was just thinking of teasing her about it when a sound like a cat’s thin mewing — the soft crying of an infant — came from the inner room.

Eleventh Madam gave him an apologetic smile and said softly, “It’s your little sister!” Then hurried into the inner room.

Xu Sijin was momentarily struck dumb. “A little sister!”

Why had no one told him.

Xu Lingyi made a rather uncomfortable sound in his throat.

Xu Sijin leapt to his feet. “Father, when did you take a concubine?” He stared at his father with wide phoenix-shaped eyes.

Xu Lingyi was completely at a loss for words.

“Otherwise, where would my little sister have come from?” Xu Sijin continued.

“What on earth are you talking about?” Eleventh Madam came out of the inner room carrying her sixty-two-day-old daughter, saying with fond exasperation, “She’s your full younger sister!”

Xu Sijin’s face was a picture of astonishment. He pointed at Eleventh Madam: “You — when did you give birth to a sister? I — how did I not know about this?” As he spoke, however, his eyes drifted of their own accord to the red damask swaddling cloth in Eleventh Madam’s arms — the one embroidered all over with playing children in cut-silk work.

Eleventh Madam hesitated a moment: “You were out fighting the northern tribes during those days, weren’t you?” She carried the daughter closer so her son could see her. “You came home for only two days and then left again — there was never a right moment to tell you.”

Xu Sijin puffed out his lips in displeasure.

Opportunities were made by people, not delivered from heaven. Yet as Eleventh Madam drew near, his gaze moved of its own accord to the infant’s face — that little girl lying in the swaddling cloth, looking up at him with wide, dark, round eyes.

She was so small.

Her face was probably no bigger than the palm of his hand.

Her hair was as dark as midnight, her lips as red as cherries, her skin smooth and fair as fresh snow — and those eyes looking up at him were something altogether special. Perhaps it was because she had just been crying, but they still held a trace of moisture, clear and limpid as a spring in the mountain ravines, making one’s heart feel instantly cleansed and still.

Xu Sijin could not help but stretch out a finger to touch her cheek.

But the calluses on his fingertip looked so rough against the backdrop of her delicate, near-translucent skin.

His hand drew back involuntarily.

For the first time in his life he was afraid of hurting someone — afraid that he, with his roughness, might damage that softness and tenderness of hers — and he felt something like awe come over him.

Eleventh Madam smiled gently to herself.

Both father and son were the same.

To this day, Xu Lingyi still had not dared to hold his daughter, terrified of carelessly dropping her as though she were made of porcelain. Unlike Jin Ge’er — who was the sort to toss a child up in the air without a second thought.

She held the daughter a little closer toward her son. “Would you like to hold her?”

“No, no!” Xu Sijin backed away two full steps and felt as though perspiration might be forming on his forehead.

Xu Lingyi felt exactly the same way, and hastily came to his son’s rescue: “All right — you’ve just arrived, you’re covered in road dust. Go wash up first, and we’ll go together to see your grandmother.”

Xu Sijin breathed a sigh of relief. He stole another couple of glances at his little sister, then straightened up and assented with a bow.

From outside, a sudden clamor broke out.

The people inside the room were somewhat taken aback.

The noise grew louder, drawing nearer and nearer to the main room, until one could faintly make out words like “you cannot go in.”

Eleventh Madam’s brow furrowed slightly.

Someone pushed the curtain aside and entered.

“Xu Sijin, you promised you would take me to see your home — how could you just hand me off to those estate managers!”

A girl of eleven or twelve stood there, bright and vivid, in front of Xu Lingyi and Eleventh Madam.

The couple was utterly dumbfounded.

Young as she was, the girl had delicate features and lively eyes. Her hair was done up in a double-spiral bun. She wore a sapphire-blue vest embroidered with peach blossoms, and around her neck hung a pair of ox-horn pendants fashioned from silver. Though very pretty, they looked slightly out of place.

Yet neither of them was an ordinary person — both recognized the pendants at once. That pair of ox-horn ornaments was Miao silverwork.

This little girl was, in all likelihood, Miao.

The two exchanged a glance, then looked toward Xu Sijin.

Xu Sijin’s expression showed displeasure, yet his bearing remained perfectly composed. “A’mu, did I not tell you to wait outside while I informed my parents — after which I would naturally introduce you? This is Yanjing, not Guizhou. And you did promise me you would follow local customs.”

The girl addressed as A’mu showed immediate remorse. She lowered her head and murmured, “It was your family’s estate managers — they said I wasn’t allowed inside the house, and that I couldn’t even stay in the kitchen, and that they were going to arrange for me to stay at another place called Jinyu Lane—” She looked up as she spoke, her eyes misty with tears as she gazed at Xu Sijin. “I — I was frightened!”

Xu Sijin gave her a somewhat helpless look, then, with the air of a man anxious to prevent any misunderstanding in his parents’ minds, quickly explained to his mother: “Mother, this is Miss A’mu — daughter of Sha Bao, the local chieftain of Sinan. During my time in Guizhou, Sha Bao was of great help to me. When I set out for the capital this time, A’mu insisted she wanted to see Yanjing, so I brought her along—”

Before Xu Lingyi or Eleventh Madam could say anything, A’mu had already darted forward and, in a somewhat unpracticed fashion, performed a bow and called out “Uncle” and “Auntie.”

Xu Lingyi’s face took on a somewhat greenish tinge, though he managed a stiff nod in A’mu’s direction. Eleventh Madam too found the situation a little awkward, but thinking that this young girl had followed her son all the way from a distant land to Yanjing, and that Xu Lingyi’s expression was already looking grim, it would be too coldhearted to receive her with any further stiffness — and besides, from the way her son was behaving, it didn’t look as though there was anything sentimental between him and this girl.

“A guest who has come is a guest!” Eleventh Madam said pleasantly, and instructed Hupo: “Go and clear out the place where Jin Ge’er used to live, and have it prepared so Miss A’mu can rest there.”

A’mu, hearing this, immediately broke into a smile that curved her eyes into crescents, and called out to Eleventh Madam directly: “Auntie, you’re so kind!” Then boldly stepped forward to peer at the infant in Eleventh Madam’s arms. “Is this Commander Xu’s little sister? What a pretty thing she is! Although — she doesn’t look much like Commander Xu.” She looked carefully at Eleventh Madam. “She takes after Auntie. She’ll certainly be a great beauty when she grows up!”

Eleventh Madam, hearing someone praise her daughter, could not help but smile softly, saying, “A’mu is a pretty little girl herself.”

“Really?” A’mu’s face lit up at the words, and she touched her own cheek happily. “Auntie thinks I’m pretty too? My father says the same. But Commander Xu said that in his family there are girls like me all over the place — you could grab a whole handful of them.” There was a note of petulant complaint in her voice.

Eleventh Madam was hard-pressed not to laugh, and looked over at her son.

Xu Sijin was thoroughly embarrassed, and shot A’mu a severe glare. “Mother told you to go and rest — didn’t you understand? Why do you have so much to say for yourself!”

A’mu was not in the least intimidated. She pulled a face at Xu Sijin and told Eleventh Madam, “Auntie, once I’ve had a bath I’ll come back and help you look after Little Sister. I have seven nieces at home — I’m very good at looking after children.” Only then did she follow the visibly anxious Hupo out of the room.

Xu Sizhun immediately walked in. “Mother, Minister Lu has come to call on Fifth Uncle, and hearing that Sixth Brother is back, he would like to meet him!”

“And still he’s been caught!” Xu Sijin muttered under his breath, then bowed to his parents. “Father, Mother — I’ll be back shortly.”

Xu Lingyi, his mind thrown into disarray by the sudden appearance of A’mu, gave a cold “mm.”

Xu Sizhun hurriedly pulled Xu Sijin out the door.

“What were you thinking, bringing a Miao girl back with you?” he said in a low voice as they walked. “Father will absolutely never agree to you marrying a Miao woman.”

“Who said anything about marrying her!” Xu Sijin had a whole belly full of grievances too. “I only found out A’mu had hidden herself in my carriage when I was already leaving Guizhou. By the time she was discovered, she had gone five days and five nights without eating. When I sent people to escort her back she threatened to do away with herself, and she’s sharp enough that ordinary people simply can’t keep an eye on her. I genuinely worried something might happen to her. If it did, how could I face her father?” Having said that, he seemed to remember something, and quickly caught hold of Xu Sizhun’s sleeve. “Fourth Brother, you’re well acquainted with the prominent households of Yanjing, aren’t you?”

“More or less all of them,” Xu Sizhun said, looking at his younger brother with some bewilderment. “What are you planning?”

“Nothing, nothing!” Xu Sijin said, somewhat haltingly. “It’s just — it’s just that when I was coming into the city, I saw someone going in to offer incense, and — from behind the curtain of the carriage — I heard a very fine voice—” A faint, suspicious flush crept over his face. “And I went over to her carriage—”

Xu Sizhun was struck dumb. “You — you didn’t—”

The words were already out, and Xu Sijin felt a kind of release — that sense of “it’s out now, and nothing could make it worse.” He grinned and slung an arm around Xu Sizhun’s shoulder. “Fourth Brother, I’m out in a backwater like Guizhou, not like you — born in Yanjing, raised in Yanjing, knowing everyone in the city. Just help me this once. In return, I’ll get you some Guizhou Miao lanterns — guaranteed to be unlike anything you’ve ever seen in Yanjing!”

At the mention of lanterns, something stirred in Xu Sizhun’s heart — but he quickly recovered and assumed a look of solemn severity. “Out of the question. There is the command of one’s parents and the words of a matchmaker. One must not engage in this kind of private exchange between parties.”

“Ah, but I’m at my wit’s end!” Xu Sijin tried to provoke Xu Sizhun. “You’re my brother — if you won’t help me with something this small, who will? And besides, it’s not as though I’m breaking off an existing engagement, and this Miss Wang hasn’t got a betrothed of her own either—”

“Miss Wang?” Xu Sizhun had caught the slip. “Which Miss Wang? You’ve already done your investigating, haven’t you?”

Xu Sijin gave a sly laugh. “She’s the elder daughter of your good friend Wang Yun’s father, Wang Daren!”

“Absolutely not!” Xu Sizhun shook his head so vigorously it was like a rattle drum. “Father said he wants to find you a daughter of a military family — and their family are civil officials. What’s more, Wang Daren is of humble origins, with only one son and one daughter and no powerful connections to speak of. Not only would Father never agree — I wouldn’t agree myself!”

“You won’t agree…” Xu Sijin crossed both arms over his chest and said slowly, “Well then, I suppose I’ll just have to call on them myself!”

“You — you—!” Xu Sizhun was at a complete loss for words. After stewing for a long while, he finally said, “Don’t you forget — you’re currently the Military Commissioner of Guizhou, a rank-three official. You’re not Sijian or Sicheng — they can get away with things because everyone thinks they’re still young and don’t know any better. If you make a laughingstock of yourself, where are Father and Mother supposed to put their faces?”

“Then help me!” Xu Sijin said, entirely untroubled. “Otherwise, how am I supposed to know what to do?”

This younger brother of his had been headstrong since he was small, and had gone from one success to the next as he grew. If he dug in his heels, it was entirely possible he would really march straight to the Wang family and make a case for himself. Xu Sizhun thought of how, when Xu Sijin was a child, their mother had left him outside in the wind and rain for two full hours and he had never once begged forgiveness, and felt a headache gathering behind his eyes. “Let me think, let me think carefully!” His tone had already softened.

A flash of cunning passed through the depths of Xu Sijin’s eyes. He laughed and slung his arm around Xu Sizhun’s shoulder. “Good brother — whether I get to be married or not rests entirely with you!”

Xu Sizhun’s mind suddenly conjured their father’s cold, stern face before him.

He couldn’t help but shudder.

Elsewhere, Xu Lingyi and Eleventh Madam were already anxiously pondering the problem of A’mu.

“As long as it’s someone our son loves, I’ll love them too,” Eleventh Madam said softly, patting her daughter. “But is A’mu willing to leave Guizhou? Jin Ge’er can’t stay in Guizhou his whole life.”

Daughter and son were entirely different temperaments — one mischievous, one gentle.

Xu Lingyi, meanwhile, was pacing back and forth in the room with his hands clasped behind his back. “What do you mean, ‘as long as he loves them’? He’s young — what does he know about love? This matter cannot be left entirely to his whims. Taking a Miao woman as his wife — I absolutely refuse to agree to it.”

“In this life, we have only a few short years. It is rare enough to meet someone whose heart aligns with your own. If Jin Ge’er loves her, I will give my blessing.” Eleventh Madam paid no heed to his anger, and unhurriedly carried her now-sleeping daughter into the inner room. “Didn’t you say that when it came to what kind of wife Jin Ge’er married, you would leave the choice to me?”

Xu Lingyi stared at his wife’s retreating figure, silent for a long while, turning over in his mind what scheme might possibly change her thinking — all the while completely unaware of the trouble that Xu Sizhun was running into on his end.

*(The End)*