When the Grand Matriarch said she was leaving the management of Luo Yuanniang’s accompanying household staff to her own discretion, she felt no particular surprise. After all, the people who had come with Luo Yuanniang were her dowry attendants from the Luo Family. After Yuanniang’s passing, they should rightfully have passed to Zhun Ge’er by inheritance. Now that Zhun Ge’er was still young, and someone else was in charge of them, it was inevitable that idle talk would arise. Since she herself was both Zhun Ge’er’s stepmother and his maternal aunt, there was no one more fitting to entrust them to than her — it saved trouble and spared worry.

She smiled, nodded in agreement, and said, “I’ll go back presently and meet with Elder Sister’s accompanying staff. As for how to arrange matters, I’ll come again to seek your guidance.”

The Grand Matriarch nodded.

A small maidservant entered to report: “Third Madam has arrived.”

“Let her in!” the Grand Matriarch responded with a smile. Eleventh Young Lady personally went to lift the curtain.

Third Madam entered, accompanied by a maidservant wearing a jacket of blue-green silk brocade, who was carrying several account ledgers in her arms.

Eleventh Young Lady could not help but glance at the maidservant. She had clear, attractive features — and was, quite unexpectedly, Qiuling, the same girl who had asked her in the back garden that day whether she was tired.

“Third Sister-in-Law!” After exchanging greetings with Third Madam, Eleventh Young Lady gave Qiuling a small nod.

But Qiuling’s expression showed a trace of awkwardness; she lowered her eyelids somewhat uneasily. Was it a change in status that made her act this way? Yet she did not think Qiuling was that sort of person. If she were, she would not have followed after her that day to ask.

Eleventh Young Lady found it curious. But Third Madam had already taken her hand warmly: “Oh my, how can I let the Fourth Young Madam put herself to such trouble!”

She was new here — it was better to do more of these things like pouring tea, lifting curtains, and welcoming guests.

“Third Sister-in-Law is too kind!” she replied with a smile, then stepped back to stand behind the Grand Matriarch, yielding the seat at the head of the eastern kang that she had occupied to Third Madam.

Third Madam hesitated, but ultimately did not sit, and stood instead before the Grand Matriarch.

The Grand Matriarch smiled and asked Third Madam, “Is there something troubling you?”

Third Madam glanced at Eleventh Young Lady, seemingly on the verge of speaking yet holding back.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled pleasantly toward the Grand Matriarch: “If there is nothing else requiring me, Mother, I shall take my leave first.”

The Grand Matriarch nodded with a smile: “If you find yourself with nothing to do this afternoon, come here and play mahjong with me.”

Playing mahjong inevitably meant wagering, and wagering meant matters of interest. It would be most unwise to fall into yet another circle of dispute before she had fully understood the dynamics within the household. Moreover, once started, she feared she would be expected to accompany the Grand Matriarch at mahjong regularly, which would interfere with her own affairs. Yet she could not refuse the Grand Matriarch outright, so the best course would be to play the fool at the mahjong table until the Grand Matriarch of her own accord gave up on her.

With that thought barely finished, Eleventh Young Lady had already smiled and said, “Very well. I don’t know how to play at all. This will be a perfect chance to learn from you, Grand Matriarch.”

The Grand Matriarch laughed: “Off you go then! There must be quite a pile of matters waiting for you back in the courtyard.”

Eleventh Young Lady curtsied in farewell. She was just about to withdraw when Third Madam called after her, haltingly: “To speak the truth, this matter concerns Fourth Young Madam as well. You’ve only just entered the household, and I worry it may cause you discomfort to hear it — yet if I don’t say it, I don’t know what to do…”

Eleventh Young Lady caught a flicker of surprise pass through the Grand Matriarch’s eyes.

Clearly, this was something the Grand Matriarch had not known about.

Eleventh Young Lady replied with a mild smile, “Just as Third Sister-in-Law says, I have only just arrived, and there are many rules I do not yet know. If I have unknowingly caused any offense, I ask Third Sister-in-Law to please instruct me.”

The Grand Matriarch gave a small approving nod at these words.

Seeing this, Third Madam’s expression turned a touch sheepish: “It is like this. As Fourth Young Madam knows, Fifth Young Madam is with child. The Imperial Astronomy Bureau has calculated that this is inauspicious for those born in the Year of the Ox. I had Qiuling make a register of all the people in the household born in the Year of the Ox. As for Fourth Young Madam’s quarters…” As she said this, she glanced over at the Grand Matriarch.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled faintly. Before the betrothal gifts are exchanged, both families discuss the bride price — the husband’s family presents a list of properties to be assigned to the husband, and the bride’s family presents a list of the dowry to the husband’s family. It seemed Third Madam had made a point of looking into her own people beforehand. Dongqing was born in the Year of the Ox!

If everyone in all branches of the household had to avoid contact, she could hardly be the sole exception; yet if it was only her branch being singled out, this matter would not be so easily settled.

She glanced at the Grand Matriarch.

She saw the Grand Matriarch’s expression waver with uncertainty.

Having gauged the Grand Matriarch’s position in her heart, Eleventh Young Lady smiled: “Could it be that there are people in my quarters who were born in the Year of the Ox?”

Third Madam smiled and nodded, taking an account ledger from Qiuling: “It seems there are four. One is Dongqing, who serves at your side. Another is Chang Jiuhe from the accompanying staff. Then there is Wan Daxian, the eldest son of Wan Yizong, and Liu Shengchun, the second son of Liu Yuanrui.”

In other words, out of her five groups of people, four were affected.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled: “The matter of heirs is of the utmost importance; these people should naturally be sent away in accordance with proper custom. Third Sister-in-Law may give me the list, and I will hand the people over to you accordingly.” She added, “Only, I do not know where these people will be sent. As it happens, I myself have two courtyard properties included in my dowry. If they prove useful, Third Sister-in-Law need only say the word.”

Third Madam smiled at this: “It hasn’t yet come to the point of touching properties under the Young Madams’ names…”

“This remark of Eleventh Young Lady’s has just reminded me,” the Grand Matriarch suddenly interjected, cutting Third Madam off. “Yizhen’s quarters also have maidservants born in the Year of the Ox. Although it is for Fifth’s sake that these people must avoid contact, if word gets out, others might think we are driving people away.”

“Mother!” Third Madam’s expression turned somewhat anxious. “That is not what I meant at all…”

The Grand Matriarch waved her hand. “There is no need to be anxious. This was originally my idea — you were simply following orders. It’s just that I did not think it through carefully at first and did not foresee that so many people would be involved. I think it best that each branch handles its own people accordingly. That way, no branch will be left shorthanded and unable to function.”

With things spoken to this point, no one dared object. Third Madam immediately replied with a smile, “Yes,” and instructed Qiuling, “Give Fourth Madam the names of the Ox-year people in her quarters.”

Qiuling quietly answered “yes,” but the look she gave Eleventh Young Lady was somehow different.

Without a word, Eleventh Young Lady accepted with a smile the slip of paper that had evidently been prepared in advance and tucked inside the account ledger, then took her leave of the Grand Matriarch: “…This is a matter of the first importance. I shall go and arrange for these people at once.”

The Grand Matriarch, seeing that she had neither complained nor made difficulties but had simply and decisively set about the task, smiled with satisfaction: “Off you go!”

Eleventh Young Lady then left the Grand Matriarch’s courtyard with Hupo in tow.

Only then did Hupo speak: “Madam, are you really going to send all those people away? Those four branches of accompanying staff came all the way from Yuhang — we know nothing about them. If we do this, people might later assume we were afraid of Third Branch’s people…”

“I know!” Eleventh Young Lady said with a laugh, “But things always have their good side as well as their bad. This might even turn out to be a good thing!” As she said so, she glanced with a smile toward the residence of Fifth Young Madam.

—

When they returned to her rooms, Nanny Tao was still waiting there.

Eleventh Young Lady decided to let her wait a little longer. She called Hupo to summon her several groups of accompanying staff.

Hupo went at once and brought the four groups in together.

With four groups — four families — all crowding in at once, the room was immediately packed full.

Aside from Jiang Bingzheng and a woman wearing a jacket of parrot-green Lucheng satin who both stole glances around the room, the others all stood with heads bowed and eyes lowered, not moving a muscle.

Eleventh Young Lady had Hupo call the roll according to the register.

She took note of the parrot-green Lucheng satin-clad woman as Liu Yuanrui’s wife.

She also noticed Wan Yizong’s eldest son, Wan Daxian — a young man of smart and tidy appearance, with an honest face, the same age as Dongqing.

Eleventh Young Lady kept four people — Jiang Bingzheng and three others — to speak with her.

“…So all those born in the Year of the Ox are to temporarily relocate to the estate in the countryside.”

Jiang Bingzheng immediately said, “Madam, that won’t do at all. If we let them push us around like this now, how will we manage things in the future?”

Eleventh Young Lady gave a slight, smiling nod: “Then what is your idea?”

Jiang Bingzheng immediately smiled and said, “I am a foolish man with no ideas of my own. In all things I defer to Madam’s judgment. Wherever Madam bids me go east, I shall never go west; wherever Madam bids me go west, I shall never go east.” He then turned to the three behind him: “Isn’t that right?”

Liu Yuanrui and Chang Jiuhe nodded repeatedly. Wan Yizong alone simply lowered his head.

Eleventh Young Lady dismissed Jiang Bingzheng, Liu Yuanrui, and Chang Jiuhe, and kept Wan Yizong to speak with her.

“What is your opinion?”

Wan Yizong was visibly startled. He was silent for a long while, then with the air of a man steeling himself to a painful necessity, he lowered his voice and said, “We are newcomers here. It is still better to follow the crowd.”

She had noticed that he kept his fingernails clean — that spoke to a man of strict self-discipline. That he could say what he had just said spoke to a man of practical good sense.

Eleventh Young Lady was very pleased with him. She asked, “Why did you choose to become one of my accompanying staff?”

The whole family’s clothing was clean, neat, and appropriately dressed. She believed he had done well enough for himself back where he came from.

Wan Yizong replied respectfully, “There are more opportunities in Yanjing!”

“Oh? And what sort of opportunities do you mean?”

Wan Yizong said, “In Jiangnan, the land is scarce, and families who need someone to manage their farmland are even scarcer. I have three sons — if they learned a trade, they might end up classed as the lowly artisan caste. The north is different; great estates of thousands of acres are common everywhere. So I followed along.”

His voice was steady and calm, yet the glistening beads of sweat on his forehead betrayed his nerves.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled slightly and asked him, “I only know that my dowry included two farmsteads — one of more than five hundred acres and one of more than three hundred acres, both near Wanping. But I do not know what crops are grown on these two estates, what the seasonal yields are, or whose fields they adjoin. Can you report back to me on all this within five days? Is there any difficulty in doing so?”

Wan Yizong raised his head and stared at Eleventh Young Lady in astonishment. Only after a long moment did he say, “This servant obeys.”

Eleventh Young Lady lifted her teacup; he bowed and withdrew.

“Do I not have a four-courtyard house in the north of the city?” She gave instructions to Hupo: “Have Dongqing take some money and go over there to temporarily house everyone — and then we can work out later which people will be assigned where!”

Hupo hesitated: “Do you not also want to call Jiang Bingzheng and the others in to ask them the same? Otherwise, Wan Yizong alone might become the target of everyone’s resentment…”

That was precisely the point — only by making him the target of everyone’s resentment would he understand that he could only survive by staying close to her.

Eleventh Young Lady laughed: “Not for now. Let us first see how Wan Yizong conducts himself!”

Hupo naturally dared say no more. She called Nanny Tao in, then went to relay Eleventh Young Lady’s instructions to Dongqing.

From the Grand Matriarch’s manner of speaking, it seemed that for now the people Yuanniang had left behind were all under Nanny Tao’s management. For one thing, Nanny Tao was not a proper mistress and could not make certain decisions on her own; for another, Third Madam was now running the household — unlike before, when Yuanniang had still been alive to keep watch at her side, now she was managing things alone. When a new emperor ascends, he brings his own court — lucrative positions such as purchasing agent must long since have been replaced with her own people. A woman like Nanny Tao might only draw two taels a month in wages, and so could others in similar positions. Without other sources of income, living on wages alone would be a hardship indeed.

The reason she was so eager to see her now went without saying.

Nanny Tao entered with a smile, holding a stack of account ledgers in her arms.

She curtsied to Eleventh Young Lady: “Madam!” Her expression was perfectly composed.

Eleventh Young Lady gave a small nod and had a maidservant bring a low stool for her.

Nanny Tao sat, and a small maidservant brought tea. She then offered the account ledgers to Eleventh Young Lady: “These are the ledgers the Grand Matriarch placed in my keeping after the First Young Mistress passed on. Now that you are here, Madam, they naturally pass to you. Please have a look.”

Eleventh Young Lady did not take the ledgers. She smiled and said, “Since the Grand Matriarch entrusted them to you, continue to manage them for the time being!”

Nanny Tao was taken aback, but then understood what Eleventh Young Lady meant.

She did not wish to involve herself in Zhun Ge’er’s affairs.

Nanny Tao’s face flushed red with barely suppressed anger; her whole body trembled. Yet she dared not tear away all pretense, and so she tried to coax with pleasant words: “Fourth Madam, I am, after all, merely a servant. Managing what the First Young Mistress left behind — it is without proper name or justification. Unlike you, Madam — you are the mistress. A single word from you carries the weight of ten words from the likes of us…”

Yuanniang had been gone for over a year, and she herself had only just married in. Eleventh Young Lady had already begun to suspect that Nanny Tao could no longer keep the people under her in check. Now, hearing the tone of this, she was all the more certain.

She smiled openly and said, “Could it be that someone has been talking behind your back? Or that someone is refusing to take orders?”

Nanny Tao was startled. She stared at Eleventh Young Lady.

Had not the First Madam said she was young and understood nothing, and that it would be enough to manage her with a few kind words? How is it she seems to know everything? Or perhaps someone beside her has been coaching her? That didn’t seem right either. To prevent those old nannies who, emboldened by their age and long experience, might stir up Eleventh Young Lady’s ambitions, the First Madam had deliberately arranged no accompanying nanny in the dowry. Could the First Madam have misjudged?

Her thoughts were in turmoil, yet she watched as Eleventh Young Lady calmly lifted her teacup and took an unhurried sip.

The posture was beautiful, the expression perfectly at ease. Yet the more Nanny Tao watched, the more anxious she felt inside.

Eleventh Young Lady was clearly playing a waiting game — the way she looked, she must have gotten wind of something!

But the situation gave her no choice. Eleventh Young Lady could take over the affairs Yuanniang had left behind at any time she pleased; with the things still in her own hands, any mishap would be her own problem. But she herself could not afford to wait. That wretched Wanxiang was pushing her from every side, stirring up all the people below to follow suit. If this dragged on, drawing the Grand Matriarch’s attention would be the least of her worries — if Third Madam found out and used this as an excuse to target the people who had once followed the First Young Mistress, that would be far worse.

No matter what, there was still the First Madam standing behind Eleventh Young Lady…

The thought flickered past in an instant. Nanny Tao had made up her mind.

“Madam has eyes as keen as a hawk.” Her smile carried a trace of flattery. “By rights, as you have only just entered the household, I should not be troubling you so early with these trifling matters. But that little minx Wanxiang has driven me to such a desperate pass that I have no choice but to come and beg your help.”

Now that was more like it.

Eleventh Young Lady inwardly nodded with approval.

Before her marriage, she had made inquiries. When Yuanniang came to the household as a bride, she had brought four senior maidservants, two nannies, four groups of accompanying household staff, two courtyard properties, and two farmsteads. The four maidservants had all since been married off. One of them, called Wanxiang, had been Yuanniang’s particular favourite; she had been wed to a young manservant in the Xu household named Chen Xu, who had no parents, and the couple now managed the kitchen — Chen Xu handled the purchasing, and Wanxiang oversaw the operations. Of the two nannies, one was Nanny Tao herself, who had been Yuanniang’s wet nurse; the other had died of illness over ten years ago. The two courtyard properties were both three-courtyard compounds — one on Sitiao Lane and one on Shibei Lane, both near the Six Ministries District — and together they collected over two hundred taels in annual rent. The two farmsteads were both in Daxing County: one with six thousand acres, managed by Nanny Tao’s son Tao Cheng; and one with two thousand acres, managed by another accompanying staff member named Gao Nian.

Looking at all this, it seemed clear that Wanxiang and Gao Nian were dissatisfied that the Tao mother-and-son pair were managing Yuanniang’s estate without being able to turn any profit for them.

With an expression of composed neutrality, she said, “Tell me — what exactly has been going on?”

Nanny Tao then recounted the whole matter in careful detail to Eleventh Young Lady.

It was exactly as Eleventh Young Lady had surmised. Ever since Third Madam took over managing the household, she had first used the incident with the shad fish as a pretext to dismiss Chen Xu, then later, over the insufficient candles during Yuanniang’s funeral, had stripped Gao Nian’s eldest son Gao Pan of his post at the purchasing office. As for the others — the doorkeepers, the night watchmen, the garden caretakers — those dismissed were too numerous to count. Yet the Tao mother and son had not been touched in the slightest. Wanxiang had rallied all these displaced people together, and day after day they clamored to see Eleventh Young Lady.

Eleventh Young Lady smiled slightly: “Since they wish to see me, let them come.”

Nanny Tao smiled: “By rights, they should come to pay their respects to you. Only there are a few things I must tell you first, to spare you from being caught off guard.”

“Please speak, Nanny,” said Eleventh Young Lady with a smile.

“I imagine that Wanxiang, Gao Pan, and their group have all made up their minds to ask you to secure them positions. You must clench your teeth and not agree to that.”

Nanny Tao’s words gave Eleventh Young Lady the faintest surprise — she had expected Nanny Tao would try to persuade her to stand up for these people.

“Nearly all the income from the First Young Mistress’s dowry properties is now funneled through the farmstead that Tao Cheng manages. No matter how much those people clamor and make trouble, they cannot do much. You have only just arrived. The Grand Matriarch has given no instructions yet, and if you rush now to quarrel with Third Madam over those positions — well, if you win, people will say it was only to be expected, for you are the Marquis’s wife. But if you lose, it will be a great embarrassment.”

She paused as if catching herself in a slip of the tongue, then smiled: “I don’t mean to say you would lose. I mean that without the Marquis’s backing and the Grand Matriarch’s approval, your odds would not be favorable.”

“Nanny’s words make good sense.”

“So your most pressing task right now is to serve the Marquis well and serve the Grand Matriarch well. Other matters can be left for a later time.”

She was not called Yuanniang’s most capable nanny for nothing — her thinking was delicate and thorough.

A flash of appreciation passed through Eleventh Young Lady’s eyes: “I will do as Nanny suggests!”

She watched Nanny Tao’s whole bearing relax: “Then I shall have Wanxiang and the others come to kowtow to you!”

Eleventh Young Lady agreed.

Nanny Tao left the account ledgers behind: “These are the registers of the First Young Mistress’s people, along with the accounts I have been managing over this past year.”

Eleventh Young Lady then sent a small maidservant to fetch Hupo, and while waiting, she leafed through the ledgers.

The handwriting was uniform throughout — clearly a freshly copied version.

Just at that moment Hupo came in. Eleventh Young Lady handed the ledgers to her: “Look through these carefully. Make a note of all the names and how they are connected to one another. When the time comes, see if there is anyone capable of taking on important responsibilities.”

Hupo acknowledged and took the ledgers.

Eleventh Young Lady rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

To speak truthfully, Yuanniang had managed the household well in her years — her accompanying staff had grown and branched out, each member marrying into or being taken in marriage by some of the more senior household managers in the Xu Family. The most profitable purchasing posts were all held by her people; she had even managed to place two of her own in the accounts office. Even if Eleventh Young Lady had taken over from the beginning, she might not have done better.

After quite some time, Nanny Tao returned with five or six women and two men.

She introduced one of them, a woman with shrewd, sharp eyes: “This is Chen Xu’s wife, whose given name is Wanxiang. She now manages the kitchen.” She pointed to a tall, thin man: “This is Gao Pan. He was formerly in charge of incense, candles, and charcoal at the purchasing office.”

Which was to say: he presently had no post.

Eleventh Young Lady considered this silently.

Nanny Tao then introduced the others — all of them had formerly managed one thing or another, and all were now idle at home.

After paying their respects to Eleventh Young Lady, Gao Pan was the first to speak, with some urgency: “Madam, you must stand up for us. We have served the Luo Family our whole lives. And just like that, Third Branch dismissed us all — that is an insult to the memory of the First Young Mistress, and it is also an insult to you.”

The others chimed in one after another, the mood growing agitated.

Eleventh Young Lady noticed, however, that a man named Yang Huizu and a woman referred to as Wei Lu’s wife had not said a word. According to Nanny Tao’s earlier introduction, this Yang Huizu had followed Yuanniang to the Xu household when he was barely in his teens and had formerly been stationed at the purchasing office overseeing cosmetics, seasonal clothing, and the like for the household maids, while Wei Lu’s wife had managed the night watch at the inner courtyard gates.

Eleventh Young Lady offered the group a few words of comfort, saying she had only just arrived and did not yet fully understand the situation, and that once she had a clearer picture she would address matters accordingly — then she sent them off.

The expressions on their faces could not quite conceal their disappointment.

Eleventh Young Lady then went with Nanny Tao to Yuanniang’s courtyard.

Everything was kept just as it had been when she was alive.

No doubt thanks to Nanny Tao’s efforts.

She had Hupo call the roll according to the list Nanny Tao had provided.

Yanhong, Lv’e, Jiangzi, and Baolan — the four senior maidservants. Meiqin, Zhuxiu, Guifen, and Shuizhi — the four second-rank maidservants. Then Fangfei, Taorui, and some twenty other third- and fourth-rank maidservants, along with ten or so matron servants — altogether over forty people.

Eleventh Young Lady discussed matters with Nanny Tao: “Help find good households for Yanhong and the other senior maids to marry out to. Then keep a few of the more capable and reliable ones to look after the courtyard — it should not be allowed to fall into neglect.”

Nanny Tao nodded. Thinking of the departed Yuanniang, her eyes glistened with a film of tears.

Seeing the hour was growing late, Eleventh Young Lady went to the Grand Matriarch’s quarters.

Third Madam and Fifth Young Madam were both there.

One was setting out chopsticks with the maidservants; the other was sitting closely and chatting warmly with the Grand Matriarch on the kang.

When they saw Eleventh Young Lady come in, both greeted her. The Grand Matriarch gestured toward the opposite kang: “I hear you have been busy all morning — you must be tired. Come and rest.”

“I hear”… from whom?

Eleventh Young Lady noticed Third Madam’s lips curved in a faint smile.

She paid her respects to the Grand Matriarch with a smile, then sat down on the kang and shared her plans with her: “…Maidservants like Yanhong and Lv’e are of considerable age. So I came to ask your opinion — would it be appropriate or not?”

“That would be a fine thing!” the Grand Matriarch said with a smile. “Proceed just so!”

Eleventh Young Lady replied with a respectful “Yes.” By then Third Madam had finished arranging the chopsticks.

The Grand Matriarch did not require her daughters-in-law to stand on ceremony at meals. She had Nanny Yao call Zhun Ge’er and Zhen Jie’er out. After the two children paid their respects to their elders, they all sat together around the table and had a warm and lively midday meal.

After the meal, the Grand Matriarch and the children went for their midday rest; the three daughters-in-law withdrew.

Fifth Young Madam took Eleventh Young Lady by the arm: “Shall we come to the Grand Matriarch’s quarters this afternoon to play mahjong?”

That morning the Grand Matriarch had also brought up playing mahjong — clearly she often gathered people for an afternoon game…

Eleventh Young Lady thought for a moment, then smiled: “I really don’t know how to play.”

Third Madam politely declined: “I haven’t that good fortune — there’s still a great pile of things waiting for me!”

Fifth Young Madam smiled at Eleventh Young Lady: “Never mind. I’ll teach you.”

Eleventh Young Lady smiled and agreed. Then they all went their separate ways.

On the way back, Eleventh Young Lady gave Hupo an instruction: “When you have a free moment, go and spend time with Nanny Tao. See what all those people are doing with themselves. This is a good opportunity to observe the character of each person. In particular, find out what Yang Huizu and Wei Lu’s wife have been up to since they left here.”

Hupo nodded and made a mental note.

—