The fourth month in the capital — this year, an unusual stretch of persistent drizzling rain. It was late spring, and the whole city’s greenery lay veiled beneath a soft haze, lending it, for once, something of the misty, rain-soaked mood of Jiangnan.

The north could not grow tall bamboo — the climate would not permit it. Yet one could grow refined ornamental bamboo, upright and graceful in its joints, its virtue unbroken by snow and frost.

In the misty rain, it called to mind the verse: “The green bamboo half-sheathes its shoots; new sprigs just peek above the wall.”

Concubine Shen had something weighing on her heart. With Pei Bingyuan away, and unable to speak of it to the Old Madam, she could only come to Zhaolu Courtyard to share a word or two with Lin Shi. She said with worry: “The Shangshu manor has always kept its distance from us, yet the Second Old Madam came quietly and without announcement. Zhu’er is only an illegitimate girl — what would warrant her making the trip in person? These past few days, my eyelid has been twitching incessantly. I’m afraid some complication may arise.”

Lin Shi, too, sensed something was amiss, though she could not guess what the Shangshu manor’s intentions might be.

She consoled Concubine Shen: “According to what is written in my husband’s letter, Li Sanlang has already returned to the capital. By my reckoning, it shouldn’t be more than a few days before Madam Li comes to pay a visit and take a look. As long as the betrothal gifts are accepted, the matter will be settled.”

Concubine Shen’s heart eased a little, and she said gratefully: “All these years, Madam has gone to such trouble on our behalf.”

They were still in the middle of their conversation that morning when, after midday, the Li family’s calling card arrived — saying that Madam Li would come to call the following day. The worry that had been suspended in Concubine Shen’s heart finally settled.

When the Old Madam learned of this, her expression was not quite approving — though she did not fly into outright anger. It was plain she was dissatisfied with this match. She rebuked: “Zhu’er looks so outstanding — even if she is an illegitimate daughter, she need not go to the family of some petty official. When her future husband comes back here, compared alongside the two sisters’ husbands, won’t it look embarrassing?”

“Zhu’er is an illegitimate daughter — she simply cannot be compared to the two sisters.” Concubine Shen replied.

Later, when the Old Madam heard from Lin Shi that this was Pei Bingyuan’s decision, her expression softened somewhat. She added: “Since this is Bingyuan’s doing, I shan’t bother myself with it — let me have some peace. You handle the receiving of guests tomorrow, Shizhen. A family of mere minor officials isn’t worth me going to any great trouble.” The dignity of an Earl’s consort was not to be stirred for just any visitor.

What was owed in terms of status still had to be maintained.

“Yes.” Lin Shi replied — at least this hurdle with the Old Madam had been cleared.

The following day, Madam Li arrived at the Earl’s manor: a woman of over fifty, plainly but neatly dressed, her manner composed, with a smile that appeared at just the right moments.

Madam Li followed the servants all the way to the reception hall. Lin Shi came out to greet her, smiling warmly: “I’ve long heard that in the Li family of the southern part of the city, all three sons are scholars — each more accomplished than the last. I have wanted to become acquainted for some time, and today I’ve finally had the chance.”

When Madam Li saw Lin Shi, she adopted a flattering demeanor and said with a cheerful laugh: “This old woman extends her greetings to the Madam of the Earl’s manor. How true it is that rumor falls short of seeing in person — the Earl’s manor truly is vast and magnificent.” Then, as an afterthought, she added: “This old woman walked quite a long way before finally reaching the reception hall.”

Lin Shi felt a small jolt in her heart and a slight discomfort within. A vague feeling told her this woman was not a simple character. She covered it over by instructing servants to bring tea.

After the two of them sat down, the conversation that followed was somewhat more normal: nothing more than Madam Li expressing gratitude to the county magistrate for his care of her youngest son over the past months, while Lin Shi praised the third Li son for his learning and diligence, saying he would surely make something of himself in the future — that sort of thing.

The real matter remained unspoken.

Madam Li’s thoughts were well-concealed — Lin Shi had already caught a glimpse of this from the earlier exchange. So Lin Shi kept smiling pleasantly throughout the idle conversation, without once bringing up the subject of the marriage alliance — or Zhu Jie’er.

In the end it was Madam Li who could not hold out and took the initiative. She set down her teacup and said, as though laughing at herself: “My Shuisheng is no longer young, and I’ve long been pressing him to go and look at this family’s daughter or that family’s daughter. But the children’s marriages are ultimately the parents’ decision — there’s no need for him to rush about on his own.”

Then she continued: “This time, when he returned from his practical training, he said he wanted to seek a young lady from the Earl’s manor. I thought to myself — the Earl’s manor is such a high and grand household, how could people like us from a minor official’s family ever hope to reach so high? Even if my son did work diligently and earned some favor from the county magistrate — the county magistrate’s fourth daughter won’t be of age for another two years anyway. There’s no urgency. I told him not to have such wishful thoughts…”

“Clunk” — a muffled sound. Lin Shi had set her teacup down deliberately on the table with a restrained force, cutting Madam Li off mid-sentence.

Lin Shi had by now seen through everything. After Li Sanlang returned to the capital and told his family of his intentions, he must have been flatly refused by his mother — who would not allow him to marry an illegitimate daughter. But Madam Li, long accustomed to the careful ways of the capital, had made today’s visit precisely to extricate herself from the situation without offending the Earl’s manor.

Lin Shi’s anger flared up inside. To begin with, Zhu Jie’er and Li Sanlang had only exchanged a glance in passing — a first impression, nothing more. No one had said or done anything improper. For a match to fall through was common enough, and a quiet private word of notice would have been perfectly sufficient. What angered Lin Shi was that Li Sanlang had let things go on day after day without so much as a hint, until today’s situation had been allowed to develop.

He was apparently a spineless man with no backbone. She had misjudged him entirely. What a wretched business.

And somehow, for no good reason, he had dragged the fourth young lady of the Earl’s manor into it.

Thinking of this, Lin Shi’s voice turned cold with a cutting edge: “Madam Li has a point — the Earl’s manor may not be of any particularly high standing, but at the end of the day it is a noble household, and indeed not just anyone can aspire to it. Moreover, what Madam Li has just been speaking of — those are your own household’s private affairs. Dragging the young ladies of our Earl’s manor into it is hardly appropriate. I’d ask you to mind your words in the future. A young gentleman making a fool of himself matters little — but our young ladies must keep their names unsullied.”

Madam Li’s neck shrank back. Only now did she realize that the Lin Shi who had been all smiles was a formidable woman. She apologized repeatedly: “I beg Madam’s forgiveness — this old woman has a clumsy, blundering tongue, and spoke wildly without thinking.”

Lin Shi knew this match was already beyond saving, and had no desire to waste more breath on her. She said: “I am weary. Madam Li, please see yourself out.” With those words, Nanny Shen had already stepped forward with a look of barely-concealed disdain to show the guest out.

Madam Li stood to go. Just before leaving, she murmured: “The tea here at the Earl’s manor truly is fine. It’s a pity that this old woman is used to coarse things and can’t appreciate such good taste — and likely won’t have the chance to enjoy it again.”

“If Madam Li has a liking for coarse tea, there is plenty of it on the street to the west — she can buy a few liang to take home and try.”

“Madam is quite right.”

A match that had seemed to have one foot already through the door had fallen through just like that. Lin Shi’s expression was troubled and uncertain — she was not angry about the match itself, nor was she worried that Zhu Jie’er would be unable to find someone. What troubled her was that this Li mother-and-son pair had created a mess that left both Lin Shi and Concubine Shen in a far more difficult position than before.

With this match fallen through, if the Old Madam had other ideas — how were they to deflect them? If the Shangshu manor harbored some malicious intent, how would they deal with that?

At this moment, Concubine Shen came out from the back entrance of the main hall with Zhu Jie’er. The two of them had heard everything from behind. Zhu Jie’er’s eyes were reddened — she had clearly already wept — but the tear stains had been wiped clean and dry. Her eyes held a resolute look of pride and stubbornness, rather than the weeping, pear-blossom-in-rain sort of grief.

Concubine Shen’s face, by contrast, showed more worry.

Zhu Jie’er came before Lin Shi, knelt, and said: “Daughter is grateful to Mother for going to such great lengths and trouble for Zhu’er’s sake.” She was a sensible child.

“You foolish child — what is this.” Lin Shi quickly helped Zhu Jie’er to her feet, feeling deep compassion for her in her heart. She said: “This time it was I who did not investigate carefully enough, who did not think things through thoroughly — and so you suffered such a great wrong. This is my fault. Don’t hold it against me.”

“Mother gave everything she had — how could there be any fault? The fault lies with me for misjudging him.” Zhu Jie’er replied with stubborn resolve. “I watched Li Sanlang running up and down the embankment without letting up, and thought him a man of backbone and responsibility. Who could have known that at home he hadn’t even half a mind of his own, unable to stand his ground. He is a man without backbone.”

She continued: “A man with no backbone, a mother-in-law so difficult — even if I had married into that household, I would never have lived in peace.”

Concubine Shen also said: “Zhu’er is right. The Madam had Zhu’er’s best interests at heart — she feels it sincerely and is truly grateful.”

……

Concubine Shen and Zhu Jie’er returned together to Fengyu Pavilion.

The beans, the sieve, and the porcelain jar that had been put away in the storage room were brought back out by Zhu Jie’er. Without a word, without crying, she sat down by the window and, head bowed, began to pick the beans one by one.

A handful of red ones, a handful of green ones, poured into two separate earthenware jars with a soft, dry shushing sound.

How could Concubine Shen bear to watch her daughter like this? She reached out and gently wrapped her fingers around Zhu Jie’er’s wrist, stilling her hands, and drew Zhu Jie’er into her arms, softly stroking her back.

Not a word of comfort.

Zhu Jie’er could hold it in no longer. She sobbed and wept freely in her mother’s embrace — and after some time, wiped her tears dry and said: “Daughter cried this out — not because of this match. It’s not worth a single coin, and it has nothing to do with legitimate or illegitimate birth. If I speak of envy — compared to the two elder sisters and little Ying Jie’er, it is my younger brother that daughter envies most.”

Zhu Jie’er continued, her voice still broken with tears: “Younger brother studies day and night, working hard and making every effort forward. He can seek out a future for himself, become the one Mother and I can lean on, become the pride of the Earl’s manor — and I am glad for him. But what about me? I work hard too. I am eager to learn too. Every subject the female tutor taught, I studied with care. And in the end, whether I live well or not still depends on a marriage — on who I marry. All my hard work amounts to nothing. Daughter truly cannot help envying, envying younger brother so much. Mother — can you tell me, is what daughter thinks this way wrong?”

Concubine Shen had never known that picking beans was what Zhu Jie’er did to quiet thoughts like these.

She did not know the answer either.

After a long silence, Concubine Shen said gently: “Zhu’er — you know of Mother’s background. Mother was sold to a trafficker by her own family when she was very young, and then sent into the Ning household to be a servant. Mother only ever knew to be cautious, to make no mistakes, to be content with her station — that was the only way to survive. To scheme inch by inch to move upward. What you speak of just now — Mother never once thought of it, let alone knowing the answer. But, Zhu’er, your position is different from Mother’s. Even as an illegitimate daughter, you are still a mistress of this household. Perhaps one day, you will come to know the answers that Mother does not.”

“Mother, do you truly mean that?” Zhu Jie’er raised her head to ask.

“Of course I mean it. Has Mother ever deceived you or your younger brother?”

The words the two of them were saying were heard, every single one, by Jin Ge’er, who was reviewing his lessons in the adjacent room. They made him sad too.

……

……

In the days that followed, Jin Ge’er was constantly distracted during lessons, and often made mistakes when answering the tutor’s questions. He was punished repeatedly, and his coursework doubled.

Pei Shaohuai spent every day with his younger brother, and his mind was a little more perceptive than most. He could naturally see that his younger brother had something weighing on him.

That day, when class was dismissed and they went back to the Earl’s manor, at the parting of their ways Pei Shaohuai said to his younger brother: “The way you look — all glum and dispirited, not wanting tea or food…”

Jin Ge’er had his head down and was walking straight ahead back toward his own courtyard. He came to his senses after a moment, turned around, and asked: “What was it Elder Brother was just saying about some tea and some food?”

“I said you look weighed down by worries and have no heart for tea or food.” Pei Shaohuai repeated.

“Weighed down by worries — that is true.” Jin Ge’er replied. “Tea and food — if it were sweet tea and a good meal, I could manage a little.”

“Come to my courtyard and tell me about it.”

Jin Ge’er followed Pei Shaohuai back, and recounted everything he had overheard — the words his mother and elder sister had spoken — telling it all to his elder brother. After years of living side by side, he trusted and looked up to his elder brother very much.

“Elder Brother, hearing Sister say she envies me — I don’t know why, but I feel such enormous pressure. And there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Even with the insights Pei Shaohuai carried from his previous life, this was not a question he could answer cleanly. He knew Zhu Jie’er was not wrong — but this world would not permit her to be right. People who were correct often found themselves going against the current of the world.

Pei Shaohuai had no real ability right now, and he did not dare speak wild words about changing the world. He could only first put his younger brother at ease, and said: “Younger brother Jin carries a share of Third Sister’s envy — all the more reason to cherish it. If you were to waste this opportunity to study, wouldn’t that be a betrayal of Third Sister’s hopes? I only know this: if you succeed, her heart will surely feel somewhat better.”

“What Elder Brother says does seem quite reasonable.” Jin Ge’er thought about it, then asked: “But I can’t help always thinking about this — what should I do?”

“Why not find a blank notebook, write down everything you are feeling inside, and look back on it often, to encourage yourself.”

“Mm mm.” Jin Ge’er gave a firm, resolute nod.

……

On the fifteenth day, Pei Shaohuai was at home for his rest day when he received a calling card from the Shangshu manor, saying that his second cousin Pei Shaoyu wished to come to congratulate him on passing the prefecture examination and to discuss their studies together.

Pei Shaohuai had passed the prefecture examination last year — what was there to congratulate him on at this late date? Pei Shaohuai already suspected this second cousin had another purpose in coming, and thinking of how Pei Shaoyu had repeatedly asked about the two female cousins at the Earl’s manor, he found the whole thing strange no matter how he looked at it.

So Pei Shaohuai had his mother take Zhu Jie’er and Ying Jie’er to visit somewhere else in advance.

Pei Shaohuai knew that this second cousin of his was already twenty years old and in no great rush to wed. He had been sitting the examinations all along, but unfortunately had never been able to pass the academy examination. Though his scholarship was mediocre, he was quite gifted with words and willing to put himself forward. Through the “Zhu Xian Academy” — his bamboo-themed study hall — he had cultivated close ties with the sons of many wealthy and prominent families in the capital.

He was a man who could be useful to anyone, in any situation.

The visitor was not well-intentioned. He would need to be on his guard.

And indeed — Pei Shaoyu did not come alone. He brought with him a man of around thirty, elaborately and richly dressed, exuding an air of costly nobility.

Pei Shaoyu introduced him to Pei Shaohuai: “This is the World Heir of the Anping Commandery, a relation you and I share — you may address him as I do, as your brother-in-law.”

Deliberately trying to draw them closer.

Pei Shaohuai immediately recalled that his female cousin — the eldest legitimate granddaughter of the Shangshu manor, Pei Ruotang — had been wed to the World Heir of the Anping Commandery Prince’s manor as his wife, and had borne him two young daughters. This World Heir must surely be the man now standing before him.

There were no shortage of Commandery Princes. But those able to remain in the capital were few.

Pei Shaohuai gave a slight bow, keeping his distance, and said: “Greetings, World Heir.”

“We are family — no need for such formality.” The World Heir’s voice was somewhat low and resonant. He also said: “I hear you passed the prefecture examination at such a young age. A rare talent indeed.”

“It was only luck — the World Heir flatters me.”

By this point, Pei Shaohuai had long since seen through the Shangshu manor’s intentions and was only thinking of how to manage the situation and get these two out the door as soon as possible. As for what to do after that, he had no plan yet — he could only take it one step at a time.

Pei Shaoyu inquired: “Where is Third Cousin Sister? It seems like quite a while since she’s been seen out and about — has something happened in the household?” Saying it directly to his face, treating Pei Shaohuai as a child of ten.

“My cousin must have seen wrong — Third Sister just went out with Mother today and isn’t home.” Pei Shaohuai replied, then asked: “Does my cousin have some private matter to discuss with Third Sister?”

The word “private” punctured Pei Shaoyu’s pretense and left him sheepish. He could only say: “I hear Third Cousin Sister’s skill at chess is exceptional. My brother-in-law here is also a lover of chess and was hoping to take this opportunity to pit himself against her.”

Pei Shaohuai said: “In my day-to-day games, I generally rank a cut above Third Sister — let me stand in for her.”

“This…” Pei Shaoyu was momentarily stumped.

But it was the World Heir who spoke first, saying: “Then let us play a game.”

Across the chessboard, black and white pieces encircled and enveloped one another. In truth, Pei Shaohuai’s chess was not very strong — he had been focused on his studies, and chess had never been his pursuit. He had merely used this as an excuse to intercept them.

In under a quarter of an hour, the black pieces had collapsed in total defeat.

The World Heir had lost interest and felt no desire to continue sparring with a boy of ten-odd years. He and Pei Shaoyu took their leave and departed.

……

When Lin Shi returned, Pei Shaohuai shared his suspicions with his mother. Lin Shi’s brow creased with worry and she murmured: “A figure of that standing — I’m afraid the Earl’s manor cannot easily send this particular ‘deity’ away.”

Had a match been settled earlier, there might have been a way to deflect things.

Lin Shi spent the night in thought and found no effective solution.

Yet the Second Old Madam came directly to the door, catching them completely off guard. The old woman bypassed everyone else and went straight to the Old Patriarch and Old Madam, and was in the main hall drawing up ties of kinship, with waves of laughter floating out from inside.

When the atmosphere had been suitably warmed, the Second Old Madam said: “Elder Brother, Elder Sister-in-law — between family, one speaks plainly. We rise and fall together, sharing each other’s glory and disgrace. So today I won’t hide anything either. When I came for Zhu Jie’er’s coming-of-age ceremony, I saw that she was composed and gracious, well-read and well-mannered, and I knew that Elder Brother and Elder Sister-in-law must have put great effort into raising her for her to have turned out so well — it shows the Earl’s manor has a deep foundation.”

The Old Patriarch and Old Madam were charmed into laughter.

“And that is when I thought — better to keep the good water in one’s own field. Such a fine girl deserves a fine marriage.” The Second Old Madam continued.

The Old Madam followed her lead and asked: “Does sister-in-law have a good family in mind? Let me hear it.”

“There is indeed a very fine one.” The Second Old Madam smiled, feeling it was already more than half done, and said: “It is none other than my granddaughter’s husband — the World Heir of the Anping Commandery Prince’s manor. Elder Sister-in-law, would you say that a house of imperial family, of imperial relatives, counts as very fine?”

“This…”

Even though it was imperial kin — asking their granddaughter to enter someone else’s household to bear children for the sake of the second branch — the Old Madam could not help but hesitate. After all, the Earl’s manor was the first branch, the main line.

The Second Old Madam quickly pressed on: “Since we’ve come this far, Elder Brother and Elder Sister-in-law understand my meaning — so I’ll be plain. When Ruotang bore her second child, her body was damaged. The physician said… well, never mind all that. In bringing Zhu Jie’er in as a concubine, although she would enter as a secondary wife, any children she bears would be registered as legitimate. Those children would become future World Heirs — surely Elder Sister-in-law can see what that means. The child born would be close to both our families — is that not a benefit to everyone?”

“Furthermore — sisters sharing the same husband in the inner quarters, the household in harmony — that would only be spoken of as a fine tale for ages to come. With a household of the Commandery Prince’s standing, who would dare look down on the Earl’s manor? Is that not so, Elder Sister-in-law?”