On an autumn evening, the moonlight was bright and clear, falling light and easy through the latticework of the windows and scattering across the pale blue floor tiles — all stillness and quiet.

Gazing at the brilliant red brocade wedding dress hanging on the garment stand, Eleventh Miss felt not the slightest inclination to sleep.

Tomorrow she would marry into the Xu Family. Had she truly prepared herself?

She turned over restlessly.

Wu Xiaoquan had come from Yuhang to Yanjing not only for the matter of Luo Zhensheng’s wedding, but also for hers — since her dowry included two farmsteads and two residences, First Madam had asked Wu Xiaoquan to bring four families of household retainers from the old home in Yuhang. One of them was a man named Jiang Bingzheng, said to be Nanny Jiang’s younger brother-in-law, just past thirty; another was Liu Yuanrui, about the same age as Jiang Bingzheng; another was Wan Yizong, thirty-eight years old; and the last was Chang Jiuhe, thirty-two.

Wu Xiaoquan’s wife had once told her, not without a note of pride, that she herself had helped select these four families. Wan Yizong and Chang Jiuhe were both skilled farmers; Jiang Bingzheng had once worked as the manager of the Luo Family’s shop in Hangzhou, but had fallen afoul of Steward Tao, who oversaw the Luo Family’s business in Hangzhou, and been sent down to the farmstead. Steward Tao was the grand-uncle of Nanny Tao — who had served the First Miss — and was an extremely cunning and treacherous man; even Nanny Tao had to be on her guard against him, and so on… As for Liu Yuanrui, he was a thoroughly honest man, and good at farm work; the primary reason for selecting him was that his wife was an excellent cook — whenever there was a major occasion on the farmstead, such as the Start of Spring or the Autumn Harvest, Liu Yuanrui’s wife always served as head cook, and was very capable. In the future, Liu Yuanrui’s family could be put in charge of the residence, so that whenever she came to stay, there would be someone to look after her food and comfort.

Eleventh Miss thanked Wu Xiaoquan’s wife warmly, but did not go to meet those four families. Instead she asked Hupo: “…Are you acquainted with any of them?”

Hupo thought for a moment: “I know Liu Yuanrui. He was originally a steward on the farmstead, an honest man through and through. Later, he was pushed out by…” Here she paused. “By a nephew of Nanny Xu’s. If not for his wife’s capability — she had made a connection with Wu Xiaoquan’s wife — he might not have been able to hold his footing on the farmstead at all. But his wife is a fine cook, and is often called upon to help with banquets for weddings and funerals. As for Jiang Bingzheng, I don’t know him personally, but I’ve heard of him. It is said he is very quick and resourceful. In those years, he even tried to compete with Steward Tao for the position of head manager of Hangzhou — but later, when he was found to have privately misappropriated payment for goods, Steward Tao had him sent down to the farmstead. If not for Steward Wu’s protection, First Madam would have had him driven out long ago.” Then she hesitated for a moment. “He cannot do farmwork at all — even on the farmstead, he is the kind who works three days and loafs two. And yet because of his connection to Steward Wu, no one can do anything about him…”

Eleventh Miss was puzzled: “Why does Wu Xiaoquan protect him?”

Hupo smiled: “He married Steward Wu’s niece.”

On one side, Nanny Jiang; on the other, Wu Xiaoquan. He had also competed with Steward Tao. This Jiang Bingzheng’s connections were rather tangled. Still, to have been selected, everyone should have something to recommend them. Take Liu Yuanrui’s wife, for instance — her husband’s position had been taken by Nanny Xu’s nephew, and yet she had still managed to make a connection with Wu Xiaoquan’s wife, and had in the end been sent all the way to Yanjing as a retainer’s wife…

Eleventh Miss gave a quiet nod.

“I have never heard of Wan Yizong or Chang Jiuhe at all,” Hupo said. “Should I go and make some inquiries? Liu Yuanrui’s wife would likely know.”

They were none of them young anymore — and character shows itself in the face. Once she met them, she would know what kind of people they were.

Eleventh Miss smiled: “Never mind. This is only Wu Xiaoquan’s wife’s account of things. Who knows how Mother will arrange matters.”

Hupo said nothing more.

Eleventh Miss then thought of another matter.

The day before, Nanny Xu had told her that First Madam would allow her to bring four maids when she left.

She thought it over, called Dongqing in to join her and Hupo, then dismissed Hupo and spoke alone with Dongqing: “It may be that only four can go with me in the end. What do you think would be best?”

Dongqing was startled to hear this, bowed her head, and was silent for a long while before she spoke: “Miss, in the name of all the years I have served you — please, please find me a proper match before you go.” As she said it, tears fell soundlessly, forming a small damp patch on the hem of her skirt.

Eleventh Miss let out a quiet sigh.

Dongqing must have assumed that she was in a difficult position, and had deliberately spoken plainly to give her some forewarning.

“Do not worry — you will be the first one I take with me.” She smiled to put Dongqing’s anxiety at ease. “I will not let you fall into Nanny Yao’s hands.”

Dongqing nodded through her tears: “Miss, I will repay your kindness as an ox or a horse in my next life.”

“What use would I have for an ox or a horse?” Eleventh Miss could not help but laugh.

Then she called Binju in.

Binju was very forthright: “Of course I would find a way to keep Hupo behind.” She even offered a suggestion: “Miss, why not do as we did before — give Hupo something to make her stomach upset…”

Eleventh Miss could not help but laugh: “That won’t do!”

“Then what can we do?” She furrowed her brow. “I feel uncomfortable just looking at her.” She thought for a moment, then told Eleventh Miss about the time Hupo had gone to Tenth Miss’s room to show off. “…You always tell us to be patient. But she went and got conceited over a few pieces of clothing. I’m afraid she’ll cause trouble for you.”

“I understand,” Eleventh Miss said with a smile and a nod. “I will keep this in mind and handle it as I see fit.”

Binju let out a breath of relief.

Eleventh Miss then asked Qiuju.

Qiuju thought for a moment, then looked at her steadily: “Miss, let me be the one to stay behind.”

Eleventh Miss was very surprised.

Qiuju smiled: “I want to go back to Yuhang. My mother, father, and my brothers and sisters are all there.”

She knows what to say and when to say it, and knows what she wants… Eleventh Miss felt a sudden pang — she was reluctant to let her go.

She reached out and took her hand: “Is there anything you particularly want?”

Qiuju quietly breathed out in relief.

Though she knew that her mistress was not a petty or narrow-minded person, to simply be let go just like that still surprised her.

She smiled: “I would like to learn Miss’s double-sided embroidery.”

By any measure of time or circumstance, this was not possible.

Eleventh Miss considered for a moment, then said: “I will arrange with Steward Wu to have you sent to the Hangzhou residence to work. And I will write a letter of introduction to Teacher Jian — you may take my letter and find Teacher Jian. As for whether you learn it or not, that will be up to your own fortune.”

Qiuju immediately knelt and kowtowed three times: “Miss, I will remember your great kindness and generosity for the rest of my life.”

What she meant was that she was grateful to Eleventh Miss for letting her return to Yuhang to be with her parents.

As the parting drew near, Eleventh Miss realized that Qiuju had all along been a pearl — and a pity that she had not discovered it sooner.

With a faint trace of regret, she called Zhuxiang to ask: “…Who do you think I should take — the four of them, that is?”

Zhuxiang’s face was filled with shock.

She was a junior maid who had always merely trailed behind Qiuju or Binju — to be asked something like this was naturally unexpected.

Eleventh Miss smiled: “You were introduced by Fifth Yiniang. I cannot leave you behind at home. But going to the Xu household, we will all be strangers in an unfamiliar place, and there will surely be many things to contend with. If you few cannot pull together as one, I fear I will find it very difficult to find my footing there. By asking each of you, I have a sense of things in my own mind.”

Zhuxiang hung her head, twisting her fingers together, and said nothing for a long while.

Eleventh Miss did not press her, and sipped her tea in silence.

After quite some time, Zhuxiang spoke, softly and carefully: “Leave… leave Qiuju behind. She still has her mother, father, and brothers and sisters in Yuhang.”

Eleventh Miss was moved inwardly, but smiled: “Qiuju has been with me since she entered the household. I am a little reluctant to part with her. It is rather Hupo…”

Before she had even finished speaking, Zhuxiang had already raised her head.

Her large eyes were full of alarm: “You absolutely must not… First Madam will never agree… Fifth Yiniang is still in Yuhang. If you will not have me, please send me back to Yuhang — Fifth Yiniang needs someone to wait on her.”

Eleventh Miss looked at her with a smile: “I understand.”

Zhuxiang added: “Miss, please rest assured — I will not breathe a word of this to anyone.”

Eleventh Miss’s smile deepened.

A few days later, First Madam summoned her to meet the four retainer families.

That Jiang Bingzheng was indeed as Hupo had described — a sharp-witted man, his eyes very bright and quick. He and Liu Yuanrui, Wan Yizong, and Chang Jiuhe stood at the entrance. The other three kept their heads respectfully bowed and dared not look up; Jiang Bingzheng, however, darted his gaze in Eleventh Miss’s direction several times.

Eleventh Miss observed the four men’s hands carefully.

Jiang Bingzheng’s hands were smooth and neat — not at all the hands of a farmer.

The hands of Liu Yuanrui, Wan Yizong, and Chang Jiuhe were all large-knuckled and rough-skinned. But Wan Yizong’s were different from Liu Yuanrui’s and Chang Jiuhe’s — Wan Yizong’s hands were scrubbed very clean; Liu Yuanrui and Chang Jiuhe still had traces of soil in the creases of their nails.

Thinking over all of this, she turned over again.

The soft rustle of fabric against fabric sounded very loud in the still of the quiet night.

“Miss, are you asleep?” came the voice of Hupo, keeping watch on the sleeping board beside the bed.

“Not yet.” Eleventh Miss said softly.

Usually at a time like this, Hupo had something to say to her.

She waited a little while, and sure enough, Hupo spoke: “The Marquis being as he is — that is already as much as heaven could grant.” Her voice was so soft it was barely there, as though it might melt into the moonlight. “I often hear it said, the grandest feast must one day end…” Her tone carried a deep undercurrent of probing uncertainty. “And they say, the higher you climb, the harder the fall… The Marquis — is not that sort of person, is he?”

Xu Lingyi had returned victorious, and the Emperor had once again proposed to confer an additional title upon him. Xu Lingyi had written a long and gracious letter of thanks, and declined once more in courteous terms. The Emperor then bestowed upon Xu Lingyi ten thousand taels of gold and ten acres of fertile land.

First Madam upon hearing this only gave a cold laugh.

The eldest master let out a sigh and said a single word: “A pity.”

And yet — Hupo had such a way of seeing things?

A thought that had long been circling in Eleventh Miss’s mind rose to the surface once more.

Eleventh Miss turned onto her side, resting her head on her arm, looking at Hupo lying on the sleeping board: “Do you know why Mother gave you to me?”

“I don’t.” Hupo’s heart gave a start. “I have wondered too. All my sisters are so clever. Perhaps she felt I was too thick-headed, and so sent me away.” She turned her face toward Eleventh Miss, her gaze flickering in the darkness, unreadable.

“I don’t know either.” Eleventh Miss smiled. “But since she chose you, there is certainly a purpose behind it. What I want to ask you now is — are you willing to follow me?”

Not asking whether she was willing to go with her to the Xu household. Asking whether she was willing to follow her… There was a fundamental difference.

“You do not need to answer me now.” Eleventh Miss settled back down. “Think it over properly and answer me later.”

Was there any alternative but to go?

She had never once had a choice.

She had entered the household as a maid — that was her parents’ decision. Being placed with First Madam — that was Nanny Xu’s decision. Being moved to Eleventh Miss’s rooms — that was First Madam’s decision… And yet she understood that she could only ever be of one mind. A woman pledged twice brings no good end; a heart divided between two masters leads to no good end either.

Hupo smiled: “Of course I will follow Miss.” Her voice was unhurried, carrying a quiet note of gravity.

In the darkness, Eleventh Miss’s lips curved slightly upward. She turned over and went to sleep: “Remember what you have said.”