“The length is just right.” Eleventh Miss examined them carefully for a good while. “Then I will head back now — Mother bestowed Hupo upon me today, and I have not yet had a chance to see her. I do not know how things are in my room. I must go and check. Once the cords are knotted, I will have Dongqing bring them to you.”

First Yiniang did not try to detain her. She nodded with a smile and saw her to the door.

But just as Eleventh Miss stepped across the threshold, Second Yiniang said, with perfectly measured indifference, “Come to think of it, it is rather strange. The Zhun Ge that our First Young Miss bore is a legitimate son — he is four years old now, and yet he is still not the heir apparent. Can it be that our First Young Miss’s husband wishes to follow the ways of the imperial family, setting aside seniority in favor of worthiness, setting aside legitimacy in favor of talent…”

Eleventh Miss’s step faltered.

—

At this time, Fifth Miss had already returned to Jiao Garden and was speaking with Lian Qiao.

“…Madam Senior Mistress said the wild mushroom and wild pigeon soup was well made, and hearing that Fourth Young Master has had little appetite these past few days, she had me bring some over to him.”

Fifth Miss smiled. “Did my Fourth Younger Brother enjoy it?”

Lian Qiao smiled. “When it is a gift from Madam Senior Mistress, of course he enjoyed it.”

Fifth Miss sighed. “My Fourth Brother has no one truly attentive at his side… If there were someone like Lian Qiao Jiejie who knows his every comfort and need, he would not fall ill every few days like this.” As she spoke, she lightly placed the candied plum she had been holding between her lips.

Lian Qiao’s heart gave a wild flutter.

To rise from a third-tier maid to become Madam Senior Mistress’s closest personal attendant — that had not been easy. She had no wish to simply be paired off with some manservant, then spend the rest of her life watching her sons become manservants and her daughters become maids… Among the young masters of the household, First Young Master already had attendants who had served him since childhood, not to mention that First Young Mistress had brought four more with her when she married in. Second Young Master had died young. Third Young Master was the legitimate son of the Second Branch, so it was hardly her place — from the First Branch — to ingratiate herself there. Fifth Young Master and Sixth Young Master of the Third Branch were eight and five years old respectively. That left only Fourth Young Master who, although he was a concubine-born son, was someone Madam Senior Mistress would not neglect her reputation over — when the household divided, she would give him at least a share of something. Besides, Fourth Young Master was gentle in nature and considerate toward the maids around him, and had once even personally made rouge as a gift for his senior maid Di Jin… As for the appearance and conduct of all the maids throughout the household, she knew she could not compare with Dongqing from Eleventh Miss’s room — but surely she could not be inferior to that Di Jin with her sparse brows and plain face?

She felt an involuntary rush of excitement that flushed her cheeks crimson.

Fourth Young Master and his elder sister Fifth Miss were the closest of all the siblings. She had been making frequent visits to Fifth Miss’s quarters these past two years for no other purpose than this — hoping that when the time came, Fifth Miss might help make the arrangements… She had not expected Fifth Miss to give the opening today.

“How could I compare with Di Jin Jiejie,” said Lian Qiao. Her large, luminous eyes fixed unblinking on Fifth Miss, as if searching her expression for some clue. “With her at Fourth Young Master’s side, what could you possibly have to worry about?”

The corner of Fifth Miss’s mouth moved slightly, as though she had something to say but did not quite know how to say it.

Ziwei, who was standing nearby, gave a light cough and gestured toward the teacup at Lian Qiao’s elbow. “Lian Qiao Jiejie, do have some tea — it is Da Hong Pao, a gift from Madam Senior Mistress.”

At the sound of Ziwei’s cough, Fifth Miss’s expression shifted, and she let go of the subject of Fourth Young Master entirely, following Ziwei’s lead instead. “Lian Qiao Jiejie, do try the tea and see how you find it.”

Lian Qiao felt a wave of vexation inwardly and cursed Ziwei’s meddling. Fifth Miss had clearly been on the verge of saying something, and now that she had interrupted, Fifth Miss would certainly not raise the matter of Fourth Young Master again… Such a perfect opportunity, and Ziwei had to go and ruin it. If she were not Fifth Miss’s senior maid, close enough in age to Fifth Miss that she would certainly follow her to her future husband’s household, Lian Qiao would have truly suspected that Ziwei harbored the same intentions as herself. Though come to think of it, that was not impossible either. Madam Senior Mistress was said to cherish Fifth Miss dearly, yet if she truly cared for her, she ought to have started seeking a match for Fifth Miss the moment Old Master fell ill — Fifth Miss had already come of age, and once the three years of mourning were over, she would be eighteen and considered an old maid… Which suggested that Madam Senior Mistress did not necessarily regard Fifth Miss as her own flesh and blood in her heart. If she herself could arrive at this conclusion, Ziwei should be able to as well. Rather than following Fifth Miss and not knowing whether one would end up with a lame husband or a pockmarked one, it was far better to make plans early and attach oneself to Fourth Young Master.

The thought flashed through her, and Lian Qiao’s feelings toward Ziwei shifted from resentment to something closer to hatred.

If Ziwei truly had such intentions, today was absolutely not the moment to be speaking up.

She also remembered that she still had duties to attend to. If Madam Senior Mistress asked after her and found she had not yet returned, people might assume she had lingered at Fourth Young Master’s quarters — and that would not look well at all.

She exchanged a few polite words with Fifth Miss and stood to take her leave. “…I must not let Madam Senior Mistress find me absent when she calls.”

Fifth Miss personally walked her to the door of the room. “Lian Qiao Jiejie has things to attend to — I will not keep you. We shall sit together again when you have leisure.”

Lian Qiao exchanged a few courteous words, and from not far away came the faint sound of weeping and commotion.

She paused, surprised.

Ziwei smiled. “It is Ziwei Jiejie giving a new young maid a talking-to. I do not know what it is about — the young ones coming in nowadays are nothing like we were. Back in our day, even if an elder sister said only a word or two, we would take it to heart and never dare forget. Now it is quite different — like bean curd dropped in an ash bin, you cannot brush it off and you cannot knock it off. One wrong move and they carry on as though their lives are forfeit. I truly do not know how to manage them at all.” She sounded genuinely exasperated.

“Who can say otherwise.” Lian Qiao felt her tension ease, and she smiled as she walked out with Ziwei. “You would not believe it — the new maid Shuang He in our room actually quarreled with Nanny Yao… Unthinkable in our day. And when you think about it, these past two years Nanny Xu has not been quite what she was — the new people she brings in have gotten one more willful than the last. Even First Young Mistress mentioned it once, saying that Nanny Xu’s age is showing in how she trains people.”

“But you, Jiejie, serve in Madam Senior Mistress’s own rooms — your insight is beyond the rest of ours.” Ziwei smiled. “Not like us — the moment we catch sight of Nanny Xu, we go weak in the knees, and have no mind left to notice such things…”

Chatting as they went, Ziwei saw Lian Qiao out of Jiao Garden.

Back inside, Fifth Miss had already summoned Ziwei.

“…You are the senior maid in my room, and it is only right to discipline the younger ones when they misbehave. Only, the location is close to the main quarters. Qiu Ling was already sent out due to illness, and if there is another mishap, it will be difficult to explain to Madam Senior Mistress. What is more, her brother holds a position in the accounts room.”

“Young Miss’s words are correct.” Ziwei’s manner was deferential. “This servant did not think it through. However, it was only a few slaps. If we keep an eye on her these next few days, she will not go running off to gossip.”

Fifth Miss nodded and gave a few more instructions before dismissing Ziwei.

After a while, Ziwei came back.

She relayed to Fifth Miss everything Lian Qiao had said to her: “…It would seem that First Young Mistress is not entirely satisfied with Nanny Xu.” Then she thought of Lian Qiao’s restless, ambitious eyes. “Fifth Miss, do you really intend to let Lian Qiao go serve Fourth Young Master?” She poured fresh tea and set the cup at Fifth Miss’s side. “She has such a strong character, and she has served beside Madam Senior Mistress — if she were to go to Fourth Young Master’s quarters, I’m afraid…”

“When did I ever say she was to go to Fourth Young Master’s quarters?” Fifth Miss lifted her cup and drank, her unhurried air the very image of Madam Senior Mistress — though she did not realize it herself. “And besides, she is Madam Senior Mistress’s maid. Even First Master himself has no say over her arrangements, let alone me.”

Knowing that Fifth Miss had no intention of acquiring Lian Qiao, Ziwei felt a quiet wave of relief.

The person Fifth Miss could truly depend on was Fourth Young Master. Yet Fourth Young Master was famously soft-hearted, and if someone like Lian Qiao were to enter the picture, it would likely be to Jiao Garden’s detriment…

But Fifth Miss’s thoughts had already turned to another matter. She hesitated. “What do you think Lian Qiao meant by what she said?”

Ziwei considered. “Could it be that First Young Miss’s health…” she murmured. “Which would be why Madam Senior Mistress sent Nanny Xu to Ci’an Temple… and why she wants to print the Lotus Sutra?”

“That is likely.” Fifth Miss said thoughtfully. “Father has been gone barely a month, and yet a letter has already arrived so quickly. Aside from Elder Sister’s situation, I can think of nothing else it could be. And besides, she has been ill ever since she gave birth to Zhun Ge. If that is indeed the case, then what does Madam Senior Mistress intend to do?”

—

Wu Xiaoquan’s wife was using a handkerchief to set the peeled tangerine segments in a gilded dish, and had taken up a long, slender silver pick to remove the white pith as she always did, when Madam Senior Mistress suddenly waved her off. “Leave it be. At my age, I am not what I once was — a little pith will help settle my breath.” With that, she let out a long sigh.

“What a thing to say, Madam Senior Mistress.” Wu Xiaoquan’s wife set the dish at her side as she was bid. “You are still young, and First Young Mistress still needs your guidance… You must not speak of being old at a time like this.”

Madam Senior Mistress smiled and gave an instruction to Luo Qiao, who stood behind her. “All of you, step down.”

Luo Qiao and the others withdrew.

When the room was empty, Wu Xiaoquan’s wife smiled and said, “The two young misses talked things through together well. Looking at the screen designs, Eleventh Miss did not say anything in particular, but Fifth Miss felt that the zebrawood paired with boxwood was not quite right. I thought Fifth Miss made a fair point, and Eleventh Miss also said to first write the characters out according to the measurements and begin the embroidery — the stand and frame could be made at the end, and if Fifth Miss’s preferred timber became available by then, there would be time enough to switch…”

Before she could finish, Madam Senior Mistress had already waved her hand to indicate she need not continue. “Just tell me — between the two young misses, which one is better suited to take charge of the embroidered screen?”

“Fifth Miss, naturally.” Wu Xiaoquan’s wife smiled. “When I arrived, Fifth Miss had a whole spread of designs on her table and was letting Eleventh Miss choose from among them.”

“Oh?” Madam Senior Mistress raised her brows. “And which one did Eleventh Miss choose?”

Wu Xiaoquan’s wife smiled. “Eleventh Miss seemed unable to make up her mind and let Fifth Miss come to Madam Senior Mistress to decide.”

“And Fifth Miss herself? Which one did she like best?”

“The one with the large character in the center.” Wu Xiaoquan’s wife smiled. “She said, it has both large and small script — what could be more fitting?”

Both large and small script — what could be more fitting indeed. Fitting to show off just how fine her large characters were, no doubt.

Madam Senior Mistress laughed coldly to herself. “A pity, then, that Second Yiniang said her large characters lacked propriety.”

“Still, Madam Senior Mistress and Second Yiniang have the keenest eye.” Wu Xiaoquan’s wife’s eyes darted about as she smiled. “A servant like me cannot tell the difference. I was just the same as Fifth Miss — I also thought the one with the large character in the center was the finest! Though at least I have someone to keep me company in my poor judgment.”

“Oh?” Madam Senior Mistress smiled at Wu Xiaoquan’s wife.

Wu Xiaoquan’s wife felt a jolt of alarm.

Yet having said this much, she could only clench her teeth and press on.

“Why, Eleventh Miss, of course!” she smiled. “At least I managed to pick out the good one in the end — Eleventh Miss, though, thought everything looked fine.”

—