Lin Niangzi was quite composed about it. Drawing on words Chu Linlang had once said to her, she expressed the view that the quarrels of men in officialdom had nothing to do with the sisters of the inner households. The men could go and fight amongst themselves — these sisters of different surnames ought to get along well.

These words immediately drew praise from all the ladies present, who said that Lin Niangzi had real generosity of spirit, and that this was exactly how women should behave toward one another.

But those who knew Lin Niangzi’s temperament were well aware that this woman, just like her husband, would repay every grudge to the last drop and never forget a slight.

No one could quite fathom what methods Chu Linlang had used to coax Lin Niangzi into making peace with her.

When Lin Niangzi heard that Chu Linlang had opened a tavern, she was very interested and asked Madam Chu in some detail about the expected daily revenue and the like. Chu Linlang, in turn, took the opportunity to ask after the recent circumstances of Lord Zhang Xian in the capital.

After the general pleasantries had gone on for a little while, someone proposed the rules for a poetry club, and several of the more literate wives gathered together to draw lots and compose poems for the group to appreciate.

Chu Linlang was a capable drinker but made a wide circle around anything involving composing poetry, lest she expose her shortcomings. Madam He, the Governor’s wife, had no love for poetry either, and pulled Chu Linlang aside for a private chat.

“I heard — Old Madam Zhou went behind your back and took a concubine for your husband…”

The Governor’s wife set out the opening and then said no more, holding an air of one who lays a brick to draw out jade, waiting for Chu Linlang to pour out her grievances.

Chu Linlang gave a faint smile: “What do you mean, ‘behind my back’? Mother did mention it to me — and I’m hardly one to know how to pick and choose, so I simply let Mother decide. You know how it is — Sui’an is no longer young, and it’s only right that the family should have an heir.”

The Governor’s wife had failed to extract anything, and was somewhat disappointed, finding Chu Linlang too slippery — apparently unwilling to confide in her.

After all she had done, always guiding her and treating her as one of her own.

But before Madam He could let her expression cool, Chu Linlang leaned in close and lowered her voice: “Besides, I have no energy to spare for those warblers and swallows — have you heard? After the Sixth Imperial Prince returned to the capital, the Emperor gave him a thorough dressing-down in court!”

The Governor’s wife nodded, casting a meaningful look at Chu Linlang: “You just heard that from Lin Niangzi, didn’t you? When did you get this close to her? That husband of hers has merely had a glimpse of the capital, and yet Lin Niangzi treats his letters home like classified documents — she won’t even tell me the details!”

This was entirely in keeping with the Zhang family’s style of conduct, since Zhang Xian had been dispatched from the capital and considered himself a cut above the local officials, never having thought much of his colleagues on the ground.

Before Chu Linlang could offer any explanation, Madam He gave a cold laugh: “Actually, this is no great secret. Whether or not Lin Niangzi chooses to say anything, my husband had already found out long ago. That Sixth Imperial Prince — he has never been particularly favored in the palace. He is so young, yet he pursued his task with such rash impatience, killing so many people — the Emperor has to give the court ministers some kind of accounting, doesn’t he? A young boy handed the Imperial Sword — that’s not something to be taken lightly. As it stands, the Sixth Imperial Prince has been demoted to Ji Prefecture to manage the dredging of river silt. Our Lianzhou is finally at peace. Amitabha — another day, you must come with me to the temple to burn incense and fulfill my vow.”

Since the Sixth Imperial Prince had been punished, it meant that the winds blowing in from the capital in recent days had shifted, and there was no longer any need to fear scrutiny from above — small wonder the Governor’s wife felt she could breathe again.

Chu Linlang seized the moment to ask: “And… has that academician of the Sixth Imperial Prince’s been punished alongside him?”

The Governor’s wife said: “Lord Situ? He is no longer an academician now — he has been dispatched to the Ministry of Personnel. His rank there is not particularly high either. Hard to say whether it’s a promotion or a demotion. Why did you suddenly think to ask about him?”

Chu Linlang smiled and said: “Just a bit of curiosity. You know, he is rather good-looking — so how has he managed to go this long without taking a wife?”

The moment the conversation veered into the territory of marriage and such idle chatter, the Governor’s wife’s eyes lit up, and before long they had drifted onto the question of whether Lord Situ had a preference for men.

When Chu Linlang returned, she found that Zhou Sui’an, who had gone to the official office in the morning, had also come back.

He had not gone to the new concubine’s courtyard, but was lying on Chu Linlang’s bed.

It had never once occurred to Chu Linlang that the day would come when seeing her husband would make her feel awkward.

At this point, putting on the airs of a little girl nursing her jealousy seemed pointless — even to her own eyes. So she took a deep breath and asked as if nothing had happened: “Why are you back so early — have you already gone to pay your respects to Mother?”

Zhou Sui’an had prepared himself for Chu Linlang to cry and make a scene with him.

But Madam Chu had not followed any predictable course at all — she was behaving as though nothing had happened, as though in all seven years of their marriage, it had never been she who wept and sulked and nursed her jealousies.

He felt as if Madam Chu had changed overnight — yet whether this change was for better or worse, he could not quite say.

That day, he had intended to stay in Chu Linlang’s room, but Chu Linlang used the excuse that her head was spinning and she had a bit of a cough, and was afraid of passing her illness to him, asking Zhou Sui’an to go spend the night in the new concubine’s room for the time being.

This had been a habit formed back in Zhou Sui’an’s studying days. Chu Linlang, always worried about disrupting her husband’s reading, would sleep apart from him whenever she was unwell.

Only back then, Zhou Sui’an would sleep in the study. Now, it seemed, there was a more comfortable and agreeable place to go.

Zhou Sui’an, seeing Chu Linlang’s flushed cheeks, was still somewhat worried and insisted on staying.

But just then a matron came to call, saying that Zhao Shi was in young Miss Hu’s room and wanted Zhou Sui’an to come over as well.

Zhou Sui’an could do nothing but rise and leave, and in the end did not return to Chu Linlang’s bedroom.

Dongxue, seeing the fever beginning to rise on the First Mistress’s face as evening fell, was so angry she wanted to go stand outside young Miss Hu’s room and shout abuse — but Chu Linlang called her back, saying she would just sleep it off and that there was no need to stir up trouble.

But not all in the Zhou household were glad to see the new arrival. The younger sister, Zhou Xiuling, felt that her mother had gone too far in not giving her sister-in-law any face.

The very next morning, when she heard that her sister-in-law was unwell, she had a maid wrap up some medicine she had found effective herself and brought it in person.

The moment she stepped inside, she found that someone was already attending at the bedside. The new concubine Hu Shi, it turned out, had seen Zhou Sui’an off to his duties and had come over early, personally cooking a shrimp congee to bring to the First Mistress.

Zhou Xiuling thought this concubine at least had some sense — she knew to show proper respect to the First Mistress.

With her present, Zhou Xiuling could not very well say anything else, and only complained that her brother was not considerate enough — the First Mistress was running a high fever with both cheeks flushed red, and he could not even bring himself to ask for a day off to keep her company.

Chu Linlang said this was only a minor illness and two doses of medicine would set her right, asking her young sister-in-law not to worry on her account.

After drinking her medicine, Chu Linlang felt her spirits much improved, and sent both her young sister-in-law and young Miss Hu away. She changed her clothes herself, and then, with her maids in tow, went back out again.

Even with a slight cold, life had to go on, and money still had to be earned.

Chu Linlang had bought the old wine shop before, had it refurbished, and it was about to reopen in another day. She had to keep a close eye on things and inspect everything herself before she could feel at ease. Having heard that a few of the freshly lacquered tables had not yet been brought back, Chu Linlang decided to go to the carpenter’s shop outside the city to check on them, and also to pick out another wooden chest for herself to store money in.

But she had barely gone past the city gates and through the fork in the road when Chu Linlang felt a sudden urge to use the privy. She had the coachman pull the carriage to the side of the road, and, attended by Xia He, went into the woods to relieve herself. After washing her hands with the copper flask she had brought with her, she returned to the carriage.

Xia He and the coachman also needed to attend to their own needs and went their separate ways to either side of the road.

Chu Linlang returned to the carriage alone. She had just lifted the carriage curtain when something felt wrong — why was the blanket she had left inside heaped up so strangely in one spot?

In the moment she stood there uncertain, the blanket suddenly flew up, and a large hand clamped firmly over her mouth, stifling every sound before it could emerge.

Chu Linlang knew she had encountered an assailant. Though she could make no sound, she extended her leg and prepared to kick against the carriage wall, to bring the coachman and maid hurrying over.

At that very moment, a low and familiar voice sounded close to her ear: “Madam Chu, do not be alarmed — it is I…”

Following the man’s arm as it curved around her, Chu Linlang turned her head ever so slightly, and found herself looking at a handsome profile hanging right beside her ear.

Situ Sheng? Was he not supposed to have returned to the capital with the Sixth Imperial Prince? How had he suddenly appeared inside her own carriage?

Before Chu Linlang could think any further, she quickly became aware that something was wrong. Why was there such a heavy, cloying smell of blood coming from this Situ Sheng?

Situ Sheng said in a low voice: “I have come down to the countryside on official business in plain clothes, and encountered assailants. I saw that it was a carriage from the Zhou household and climbed in to hide… They are searching everywhere for me. I ask that Madam not raise an alarm, to avoid drawing them here.”

Even so, the hand that covered Chu Linlang’s mouth showed not the slightest relaxation of its grip. Chu Linlang quickly blinked to signal him that she understood.

Only then did Situ Sheng loosen his hand, releasing Chu Linlang from his iron-locked arms.

And it was only then that Chu Linlang could see clearly: Situ Sheng’s right arm was soaked in blood, with a gaping wound gushing steadily. He was losing too much blood — a man could die from that!

Seeing this, she set aside all consideration of propriety between men and women, immediately stripped off his sash, and bound it tightly around his upper arm to slow the bleeding.

She also said quietly: “I’ll have the coachman drive us back to the city at once. Can you… hold on?”

Situ Sheng was not surprised by Chu Linlang’s composure. This woman had been bold since she was small — a minor scene like this was not enough to rattle her.

But returning to the city right now would be far more dangerous than not, so as he let Chu Linlang bind his wound, he asked: “Where was Madam headed just now?”

Chu Linlang said under her breath: “To the carpenter’s shop in the village ahead.”

Because they were so close, Chu Linlang’s dark hair — fragrant with osmanthus oil — was heaped right beneath Situ Sheng’s nose, and that scent twined around him without restraint.

Situ Sheng kept his gaze fixed straight ahead and was silent for a moment before saying: “Let us go to the carpenter’s shop first — I cannot return to the city just yet.”

Chu Linlang looked up at him, quickly weighing the situation in her mind.

It was not anything else she was worried about — only the prospect of Lord Situ dying in her carriage. If that happened, a married woman discovered alone with a handsome male corpse — she would not be able to explain herself even if she had a thousand mouths.

Situ Sheng seemed to guess what she was thinking, and the corners of his mouth curved faintly: “Madam, please be quick. I can still hold on. If we delay any longer, I fear it will reflect poorly on your reputation.”

This man truly was no decent creature! If he were a gentleman of virtue, he would let the blood drain out of him before he would climb into a married woman’s carriage!

Chu Linlang adjusted her expression and said a few words of insincere comfort — that Lord Situ was a man of good fortune and heaven would keep him safe — and then, following his instructions, climbed out of the carriage and used a cloth handkerchief to clean up the blood around the carriage.

She then took the blood-soaked rags and dripped the stained blood along the opposite side of the road leading into the city.

The road was covered in wheel ruts from carriages going in all directions. If the assailants came in pursuit, they would likely assume the wounded man had boarded some carriage headed for the city.

Once all of this was done, the coachman and the others had also returned. Chu Linlang did not allow Xia He to enter the carriage interior, and had her sit outside instead.

For the rest of the journey, Chu Linlang sat as if on a bed of needles — apart from Zhou Sui’an, she had never been this close to any man outside her family. The carriage jolted and swayed, and several times she nearly slid directly into Situ Sheng’s arms.

By her count, this was the second time this man had jumped into her carriage. The first time had nearly cost her her head — this time looked to be no less perilous. She could not imagine who would have the audacity to attempt to assassinate a court official!

Thinking this, she curled her feet in as much as possible to avoid touching the man, and fished out the tortoise shell she kept tucked in her breast, and began to shake it.

This tortoise shell had been used long enough — it really ought to be replaced. It had absolutely no power to soothe a troubled heart.

She shook it three times in a row, and each time it came up as an ominous sign. Not ready to give up, Chu Linlang kept shaking, hoping to eventually shake out a sign of danger turning to fortune.

Situ Sheng watched her flicking her wrist, addicted to it as a gambler rattling dice — and could not help giving a faint laugh. Then, pale-faced, he closed his eyes, still wearing that half-dead, listless air of his.

—