The Baoxin Hall name truly wasn’t a very well-known hall designation. The Yang family’s main branch used their commandery title as their hall name—Baoji Hall Yang and Tianshui Hall Gui were both renowned clans in the northwest. However, Grand Old Master had settled and taken root alone in Jiangnan, and in the blink of an eye it had been over twenty years. He’d grown somewhat estranged from the main family and had only adopted the Baoxin Hall designation in the past decade. Jiangnan officials knew it well enough, but outside the three Jiangnan provinces, this hall name wasn’t so resounding. Throughout the journey, those who failed to recognize Mount Tai could all be forgiven.

But as relatives of several degrees, for the Xu family not to know this hall name was simply too discourteous. Ancient times valued the two characters of propriety above all else. Discourtesy was already quite a serious offense. Put more seriously, this showed the Xu family had somewhat arrogant intentions.

Grand Madam’s brow twitched several times, but she actually calmed down and looked toward Seventh Miss, giving her a somewhat urging glance.

Since Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss had successively married out, only Seventh Miss remained among the daughters at home. Over the past year or so, Grand Madam could be said to heed Seventh Miss’s every word—social exchanges, household necessities, personnel appointments… So many matters were decided by Seventh Miss on her behalf.

Seventh Miss also remained composed and instructed Lidong: “Ask Father what he means—should we announce our names and dispel this misunderstanding? Also, have the boat woman ask which young master or madam of the Xu family is on that pleasure boat.”

Lady Xu’s poor health was nothing new—though she wasn’t bedridden, taking a boat for a long journey was pure fantasy. Old Madam Ni was over seventy—when she traveled, it involved far more than this arrangement. The people on the pleasure boat opposite must be Xu family juniors, and only juniors would act so ostentatiously.

Lidong returned shortly with a reply. “Master says for such a small matter, there’s no need to distinguish right from wrong. We’re all relatives—just let the Xu family’s pleasure boat pass… He also said we shouldn’t talk too much or reveal our identity, lest the Xu family learn of it and have to come apologize, wasting even more time.”

She pursed her lips, rarely showing a trace of disdain. “Just now I had the junior maids go out to listen to the voices from the other side… These Xu family people really are loud and boisterous. From what I heard, the other side is the Xu family’s Fourth Young Madam returning from incense offering at her natal home. She’s rushing to enter the city tonight to attend to Old Madam—apparently it’s a matter of utmost importance that cannot be delayed in the slightest… Ah, truly the sharp tongues of capital people are the most hurtful. Every single word was unpleasant—this servant doesn’t dare repeat it to Madam!”

Grand Madam forced out a smile, waved her hand dismissively, and said lightly: “Ah, the common folk who grew up at the foot of the imperial city—what haven’t they seen? It’s inevitable they’d be somewhat shrewd.”

Though she said this, everyone could see the anger beneath that smile.

Seventh Yiniang and Twelfth Yiniang looked at each other—for a moment neither knew what to say. Given the Yang family’s position in Jiangnan, they hadn’t suffered such indignity in many years.

Seventh Miss had to step in to soothe Grand Madam. “These are all trivial matters. Mother, don’t take it to heart. We should first think about how to properly arrange all these trunks we’ve brought.”

Land in the capital was worth its weight in gold. Imperial Tutor Qin, despite his honored position as tutor, had lived his entire life in a small three-courtyard residence in Lesser Shiyong Ward. His two sons and three daughters were all arranged in the east and west side rooms, living even more cramped than the Yang family’s maids. When they came out to establish themselves independently, they all went overboard loving large houses. Grand Madam had originally planned to find a large compound with a garden in the northeast of the capital, but unexpectedly His Majesty showed special favor and bestowed a house right at the foot of the imperial city. Speaking of it, it was only two alleys from the Qin family, but the space wasn’t that large—just a three-courtyard, three-section quadrangle without east and west cross-courtyards. It was like the Jiangnan Governor’s residence with Hundred Fragrance Garden cut off, leaving only the pitiful three main courtyards.

The Yang family had many people. Though Grand Madam simply left all the yiniangs in Jiangnan, she’d still brought over a hundred servants to the capital, and these were already streamlined again and again. How to arrange so many people in a three-courtyard residence had already worried several white hairs onto Grand Madam’s head, not to mention the mountain-high trunks… Just organizing the household goods would consume an entire month.

How could Grand Madam not understand Seventh Miss’s meaning? She took the opportunity to step down. “If there weren’t just three masters in the household, I truly couldn’t imagine how to live in this courtyard… But it’s His Majesty’s bestowal, convenient for your father to attend court every three days and meetings every five days…”

Talking and laughing, they managed to smooth over this unpleasant episode.

The Xu family’s young madam had great airs—her disembarkation alone took one or two hours in splendor. By the time the Yang family boat docked, night had already fallen. Several blue-robed attendants had already taken a small sampan over to report to Second Master. Within moments, oil-cloth canopies and two-person sedan chairs were all prepared. The womenfolk disembarked first, took the small sedan chairs to rest at the guest lodge, while the trunks were managed by others.

Seventh Miss merely washed up briefly before coming out to meet Second Master.

Second Master had also lost considerable weight these past years. Judging by his attire, he looked exactly like a down-and-out Hanlin scholar who didn’t care for his appearance, though his spirit was increasingly vigorous. Reuniting with Grand Old Master after long separation, both were full of emotion and had already sat facing each other sampling several cups of clear tea. Grand Madam sat alongside, smiling as she called Min Brother—among the three brothers, he was the one accompanying Second Master to Tongzhou to receive them—to sit beside her, asking him about household trivialities at length. If Seventh Miss didn’t know the truth, she might also be moved by this scene of family harmony before her.

She properly paid her respects to Second Master, who gave Seventh Miss several extra glances before laughing: “Seventh Miss has also grown up. Looking at her appearance, she’s actually more beautiful than Eighth Miss!”

Eighth Miss had been betrothed last year and married off to Shanxi at the beginning of this year. This marriage was personally arranged by Second Master. Fragrance Yiniang had been sent back to the northwest to keep Second Madam company last winter.

Seventh Miss naturally wouldn’t take Second Master’s words seriously. She just smiled and went to pay respects to Min Brother. The two siblings smiled at each other, and Min Brother also praised Seventh Miss: “As you get older, your eyes become more spirited—they almost seem able to speak.”

This provoked Grand Madam to laugh directly. “You make your sister sound like a demon. You deserve a beating.”

Min Brother then smoothly asked Grand Madam: “After coming to the capital this time, you’ll settle Seventh Sister’s marriage, won’t you?”

“I’m currently in mourning, so it’s not appropriate to attend banquets.” Grand Madam frowned slightly. “But your sister is already fifteen. If we delay further, marriage prospects won’t be so easy to discuss…” She avoided the main point, never directly answering Min Brother’s question.

Over there, Second Master was sighing with Grand Old Master: “In these four or five years since we parted, the court has truly been turbulent with winds and clouds—one group singing while another takes the stage, not a moment’s peace. Though younger brother is in the capital, I’ve remained outside the vortex, unlike elder brother who was in the situation facing danger at every step. Sometimes when I think of it, even I feel anxious for you. It’s fortunate elder brother could navigate it all!”

Though these words were polite, they carried some sincerity. Grand Old Master followed with a sigh. “It’s all been taking things step by step…”

This wasn’t their own home, so speech required extra caution. Grand Old Master swallowed back the second half of this statement.

From the fifth month of the twenty-fourth year of Zhaoming when Prince Lu raised his banner in Shandong, the court’s turmoil had truly never ceased. At that time Prince Lu came with great momentum, first capturing Jinan, then taking Linzi. Shandong had effectively lost control. He also had warships built under the pretext of the Southern Seas Navy, sailing straight from Shandong up to Tianjin and Gu, clearly intending to capture the capital and reenact the Yongle precedent. At that time, overnight rumors spread throughout the north that His Majesty had been poisoned by the Crown Prince. Popular sentiment inevitably wavered. The situation was truly unprecedentedly dangerous.

Unexpectedly, when this rumor reached the capital, His Majesty, who hadn’t attended court for two or three months, held an additional court session the very next day, appearing before the assembled ministers full of vigor and vitality. The rumor naturally collapsed without attack. Prince Lu simply disregarded everything and forcefully attacked the capital. If not for His Majesty urgently ordering General Niu Debao to return from Xuande with reinforcements, and having Duke Pingguo and his son lead the Imperial Guards to defend the capital region, the capital would have nearly fallen to Prince Lu.

But at precisely this time, the Northern Rong also stirred restlessly with undying treacherous hearts, intending to scheme for Xuande. Niu Debao only dared divide two thousand troops to return as reinforcements, while the forces around Tianshui and Baoji were all constrained…

This hard battle lasted three months. The Eldest Imperial Prince was finally captured after his provisions went wrong and he was defeated. Then came a horrifying great purge. Officials throughout the court who had any contact with the Eldest Imperial Prince were either killed or imprisoned. Even now over a hundred were still suffering in the prison. The Eldest Imperial Prince accused people randomly—the Xu family, Gui family, Yang family, Qin family were all implicated. His Majesty vomited blood several times in rage. The chaos continued until the third month of the twenty-fifth year of Zhaoming when His Majesty ordered the Eldest Imperial Prince’s death by suicide. Only then did this chaotic situation seem to near conclusion.

Unexpectedly, barely into the fourth month, His Majesty suddenly passed away. The Crown Prince hastily succeeded to the throne and immediately began continuing the previous treason trials. Personnel changes throughout the court were frequent. Even among the cabinet elders, one retired due to age and one returned home. Grand Old Master also memorialized insisting on resigning from the Jiangnan Governor position… With several heavyweight figures’ positions changing, throughout court and country, everything was essentially in continuous minor earthquakes.

With difficulty, Grand Old Master entered the capital to be elevated to Grand Secretary and join the cabinet in governance. The Jiangnan Governor position was temporarily left vacant, with the three provincial administration commissioners each performing their duties. Officials and nobles in the prison who were innocent were released, those dismissed were dismissed, those exiled were exiled, those whose homes were confiscated had them confiscated. The harem consorts were also enfeoffed, and the meritorious officials who protected and supported were also rewarded… Entering this autumn, the court gradually stabilized and took on the proper appearance of the prosperous Zhaoming era.

“Next year the era name will change. His Majesty will certainly make more moves regarding personnel.” After the guest lodge served night refreshments and Second Master had exchanged several cups with Grand Old Master, he opened his heart: “To be honest with elder brother, I’ve been a Hanlin scholar for over ten years now, and I’ve truly grown rather tired of it…”

Grand Madam also praised Min Brother: “Presumably you handled all these affairs—I know your father, how could he be so meticulous? You, child, are becoming increasingly capable at worldly matters! But don’t forget that studying is important…”

In the autumn examinations of the twenty-fourth year of Zhaoming, among the three brothers of the second branch, only youngest brother Hong passed, while both older brothers failed.

Everyone ate a lively night meal together before retiring to rest. Early the next morning, Min Brother arranged three or four clean and pleasant oil-cloth carriages, loaded everyone in, and headed toward Beiping—the trunks had already departed earlier under the supervision of trusted stewards to be placed in the residence in the city. Brothers Da and Hong were waiting inside the city to receive them.

Though they traveled slowly, Tongzhou wasn’t far from Beiping after all. In just over half a day, Chaoyang Gate was already in sight.

Though heavy curtains hung low, the sounds of people outside gradually grew louder. Seventh Miss shared a carriage with Grand Madam. She could only regret not being able to lift the curtain and peek at the street scenes, but unexpectedly Grand Madam herself lifted a corner of the curtain and pointed things out for Seventh Miss to see: “This crispy flatbread shop outside Chaoyang Gate is the most famous. Plenty of people from all over the city rush out early to eat here—just a bowl of clear soy milk and two salt-and-pepper crispy flatbreads… Ah, from princes and nobles above to laborers who sell their strength below, everyone enjoys eating this way!”

When Seventh Miss looked carefully, she saw it was just a small street vendor outside Chaoyang Gate. No matter how she looked, she couldn’t see how this shop’s crispy flatbreads could be so famous their reputation reached into the inner chambers.

“You see that alley next to Chaoyang Gate by the city gate? Walk in and there’s the old established steamed bun shop—two for a catty, fair to young and old alike, and they’re just several degrees more fragrant and sweet than others.” But Grand Madam’s interest was piqued. As the carriage moved along, she explained the street scenes to Seventh Miss all the way: “I’ve loved eating this shop’s steamed buns since I was small, but the business is too good—if you don’t go early you can’t buy any at all. Coming from Lesser Shiyong Ward, you have to go around the entire imperial city… Back when your maternal grandmother was alive, afraid of spoiling me, she’d only send servants to make the half-hour round trip every two or three months to let me have a taste.”

Grand Madam’s voice dropped again. She took out her handkerchief to dab at her eyelids. “Later after your maternal grandmother passed away, Second Sister had already married out, Third Sister was in charge of the household. I thought Third Sister doted on me, so I made a fuss about wanting to eat them. Third Sister simply had servants go buy them every day. In less than half a month, she’d made me sick of them!”

Mentioning childhood memories, she couldn’t help but smile again. “Go into Pork Alley and you reach Lao Tiancheng—how many years has that old establishment been there? Most famous for pig’s head meat. Opens in the morning, and by noon there’s never any left unsold.”

She pointed things out to Seventh Miss again: “That entrance to the city just now was Chaoyang Gate Street. This is Inner Chongwu Gate Street. Beijing is square and orderly—the street names are easiest to remember. Now we’ve turned onto Zhengyang Gate Street—Zhengyang Gate Street is the liveliest. Look over there—go further in past Chessboard Street and you reach the Great Qin Gate. That’s where the Six Ministries, the Governor’s Office, the Yanyun Guards… these government offices are all in this area, around the foot of the imperial city. Your father will have to pass through Zhengyang Gate Street to attend court in the future, entering the imperial city through East Hua Gate—the foot of the imperial city is the liveliest. Though Lesser Shiyong Ward isn’t as convenient as Chengqing Ward or Mingzhao Ward, it can still be considered a good location. All the princes and high ministers live there. Your Qin family uncles live just two alleys over, but unfortunately both siblings are in mourning and it’s inconvenient to meet frequently…”

Imperial Tutor Qin had two sons in total. The eldest son was originally a Ministry of Rites Vice Minister. The second son was the Prefect of Xi’an. Because of Imperial Tutor Qin’s death, the second son had already returned home for mourning, but the eldest son was compelled to continue serving. Though he temporarily remained at his original position, given Imperial Tutor Qin’s relationship with His Majesty, after the first month of the new year he would certainly be promoted.

Grand Madam chattered all along the way: “This is Inner Xuanwu Gate Street, Minister Li’s Alley—the previous dynasty’s Li Dongyang lived in this alley. Turn the corner and we’re there…”

Seventh Miss had already spotted a quiet alley. There weren’t many households in the alley—only the eastern end had a red gate tightly locked, while the western end had a row of horses tethered. The copper studs on the red gate gleamed brightly. Several familiar attendants were already going in and out moving trunks—

She knew this was her new home.

#

Though the second branch spared no effort helping, moving was ultimately a tedious affair. Grand Madam had barely arrived before she couldn’t be bothered washing up or changing clothes. She took the inventory list with Seventh Miss and, bringing Medicine Nanny, Nanny Liang, and Nanny Wang, checked the valuables and trunks item by item—fortunately nothing was lost. After also arranging all the furniture that had been sent ahead with the boat, only then did she let Seventh Miss return to wash up.

In this three-courtyard residence, Grand Old Master naturally occupied the outer courtyard and both side courtyards. Grand Madam occupied the main courtyard. The two yiniangs were arranged separately in side courtyards. The rear courtyard was given to Seventh Miss, with the east and west side courtyards storing trunks. Speaking of it, everything was quite orderly, but so many things brought from Jiangnan all had to be organized inside. The two side courtyards of the rear section inevitably ended up completely packed. Even so, many valuable furnishings remained stored away without being displayed—everyone knew in their hearts that living in this small courtyard was only because Grand Old Master wanted to keep a low profile and didn’t wish to give colleagues grounds for criticism. Once they gained a foothold, they would change location.

As for land in the capital being worth its weight in gold… What a joke! Even the second branch, which only ate the first branch’s leftovers, had purchased a substantial residence in Greater Shiyong Ward. Would the first branch lack this bit of money?

It was only that this was an imperially bestowed residence—not living in it would be unjustifiable. Their foothold wasn’t yet stable, and for now it wasn’t good to act high-profile…

Perhaps because of this tacit understanding, Grand Madam had little enthusiasm for fixing up this house. The servants had already oiled the four walls, giving it somewhat the appearance of a new house, so she stopped being picky. But barely after eating, she pulled Seventh Miss to look at the capital’s geomancy maps, wanting to select a residence somewhere in the city.

This was tedious work. Though Seventh Miss had excellent patience, after looking for a while she felt somewhat drowsy. She guided Grand Madam not to rush selecting a house and asked: “Shouldn’t we write cards for relatives and friends?”

Grand Madam hurriedly remembered to go ask Grand Old Master for the cards. According to capital customs, newly arrived families would have husband and wife personally write visiting cards, which would be delivered door-to-door by respectable servants to pay respects—only then would propriety be complete.

Grand Old Master in the outer courtyard had already settled in. Within half a day, he sent over a stack of newly written visiting cards—nothing more than the Qin family, Xu family, Sun family and other relatives, plus the Jiao family, Lun family and other colleagues. Grand Madam then flipped through them while ordering Seventh Miss to write cards on her behalf.

This was work Seventh Miss could do with ease. She had just lowered her head and written a few lines when she heard Grand Madam make a sound of surprise.

Looking up, she saw this middle-aged noblewoman with an expression somewhere between a smile and not, passing over the visiting card in her hand.

“It seems your father, the older he gets, the less he can contain himself.” Grand Madam smiled, her face showing neither anger nor joy.

Seventh Miss looked carefully and only then discovered that in the signature, Grand Old Master hadn’t written his official name—he’d actually written the hall name. Though the four small characters “Baoxin Hall Yang” were written smoothly, the brush strokes revealed urgency and the ending strokes carried edge. Clearly when writing these characters, his heart held anger.

Over this past year and more, though the court experienced turbulent ups and downs, the Yang family’s inner residence had been quite peaceful. Seventh Miss had also rarely enjoyed comfortable days.

But they’d barely arrived in the capital, hadn’t even warmed their seats, yet the men of the outer residence already seemed intent on stirring up some turmoil in the inner residence.

Seventh Miss accepted the red-skinned visiting card from Grand Madam’s hand and fell into deep contemplation.