Early spring, the fourth month. The winter snows had long since melted. The flower buds at the tips of the branches were beginning to peek out their heads. Yet on the floor still sat a large silver-gilt double-longevity double-eared tripod censer, quietly burning fine silver-thread charcoal within, warming the room to a gentle coziness. On the small lotus-carved pear-wood side table at the head of the bed were arranged four bowls of medicinal soup — all in pale blue palace kiln porcelain with a floating-pattern beauty design. Beside the bed stood a low chair draped with a black leopard-spotted fur cushion, upon which sat a middle-aged man in splendid robes, his expression mild, a short beard at his chin.
“…Heng’er has been in there a full day and night. I wonder how he has done?” A woman’s voice came from within the bed curtains.
Master Qi said, “Heng’er has applied himself diligently this time. These past months he has worked day and night over his books. He is certain to win a place in the examinations. You need not worry yourself so — attending to your health is what matters most. You have not been without medicine a single day this whole winter, and because of your illness, we did not even properly celebrate the New Year.”
Pingning Junzhu rested against a thick brocade cushion embroidered with golden threads in a peony pattern. Her complexion was sallow, her cheekbones sharp and prominent, her face worn and haggard — nothing remained of her former vivid spirit. She said weakly, “Heng’er is resentful of me.”
“You are imagining things. What grudge could a mother and son hold against each other that would last past a single night?” Master Qi comforted her. “The rebellion earlier in the year caused considerable deaths and injuries across all the ministries. The Hanlin Academy and the Cabinet, sitting so close to the palace, were almost gutted. It is precisely because of this that His Majesty opened a special examination early in the year. For Heng’er to study day and night in hopes of earning a degree — that is only right.”
Pingning Junzhu gave a long, plaintive sigh. “Do not try to pacify me. Heng’er is counted among the finest in looks and talent in all the capital. Wherever he goes, people make much of him. And now he is a widower on top of everything else — not to mention being pointed at and mocked for no fault of his own. When it comes down to it, all of this is my doing.”
Master Qi said nothing. Privately, he thought to himself that his wife had not actually been wrong — she had simply bet on the right side but run into bad luck.
Pingning Junzhu’s eyes went red, and she choked as she spoke. “When the Rong girl’s trouble began, I already sensed something was off — but by then… it was already too late to back away. After the Junzhu entered our household, I disliked her as well — imperious, reckless with human lives, no blessing upon our family. And yet I still pressed Heng’er to be close to her! But… even so, I never imagined she would come to such a terrible end!”
As she spoke, Pingning Junzhu dissolved into quiet weeping. Master Qi had no remedy for it, and only gently patted his wife’s hand. The Junzhu pressed her handkerchief over her face, and said in a low voice, “These past months, I have often dreamed of the day Rong Xian broke into the palace. Those rebel soldiers with murder in their eyes, sword tips still dripping with blood. The palace maids crying out and crushing against each other trying to retreat. The Sixth Prince’s consort and the Junzhu being dragged away before my very eyes…” A look of fear she could not mask flickered in her gaze. She said in bewilderment, “Only then did I realize — behind what I thought was a brilliant match, there had been lives owed all along.”
She leaned into her husband and could not stop the tears from rolling down her face.
Master Qi and the Junzhu had been husband and wife since their youth. Though they had their share of quarrels and disputes in the ordinary course of things, seeing his wife so helpless now, his heart softened. He spoke to her in a gentle and patient tone. “The Sixth Prince’s consort and her daughter dared to act in such a manner — which tells you just what manner of man the Sixth Prince himself was in his territory. His Majesty was furious and stripped him of his title of Prince of Second Rank, reducing him to the status of an idle clansman. And had it not been for the consort being left alone and without an heir, His Majesty would have revoked even the adopted succession. Lady Rong and the淑妃 took their own lives. After the Fourth Prince was put to death, his children were all demoted to commoner status. Ah… ten years of struggle, and in one morning, it all came to nothing. So many noble families and titled households throughout the capital have been implicated — and yet His Majesty, in his wisdom, has treated your father’s household and ours with considerable generosity. We should… try to make our peace with it.”
“It is not for that reason that I grieve.” Pingning Junzhu lightly wiped away her tears and shook her head. “I grew up inside the palace — I understand how things work there. His Majesty may still treat us well for now, but his body grows weaker with each passing day. Whatever the rights and wrongs of it, we have been drawn into this affair. When one ruler falls another rises, and from now on… I fear we will not enjoy the same imperial favor as before.”
At this, Master Qi could not help but sigh heavily. “Truly, human planning is no match for the workings of Heaven! Who could ever have imagined that in the end it would be the Eighth Prince?”
“Has it truly been settled on him?” Pingning Junzhu hesitated — she no longer dared to be certain of anything.
Master Qi helped his wife settle back against the cushion, smiling bitterly as he said, “His Majesty has already issued the decree naming Consort Li as Empress and Defei as Imperial Noble Consort. The naming of Defei is meant to offer comfort for the grief of losing a son. But that Consort Li — she came from the Laundry Bureau, barely elevated through bearing a single child. His Majesty has never favored her, and she has been practically living out her days on the edge of the Cold Palace. From all of this, it is clear enough to anyone with eyes what His Majesty intends. Besides, His Majesty has already summoned the Eighth Prince to the capital.”
Pingning Junzhu was silent for a long while, then let out a long sigh. “His Majesty never thought much of that mother and son. And yet now… Alas — what man can contend against Heaven’s will? A nation depends upon an experienced ruler. The remaining princes are all still very young. There is only him.” She paused. “I recall that the Eighth Prince’s territory is far away on the Sichuan border. When can he possibly arrive in the capital?”
“The roads through Sichuan are treacherous. A month at the very least,” Master Qi said. Then he moved a little closer to his wife and said warmly, “Which is all the more reason you must take good care of yourself. If Heng’er passes the examination this time, you will need your strength to arrange things for him.”
At the thought of her son’s future, Pingning Junzhu suddenly felt a surge of energy. She pushed herself up from the cushion, and a flicker of sharpness crossed her eyes. Then she sighed again. “That Heng’er — I can’t imagine who he takes after. He is so stubbornly single-minded.”
“What has your son done to displease you now?” Master Qi smiled.
Pingning Junzhu gazed at the sandalwood bed canopy carved with a pattern of a hundred grandsons and stone pomegranates, and said wearily, “When His Majesty announced the special examination at the start of the year, I thought of Heng’er’s long friendship with Sheng Changbai of the Sheng family, and asked him to visit Changbai more often and speak with him about the examination curriculum. But instead, Heng’er chose to stand outside the Hanlin Academy in the bitter cold and wait for him, rather than call on the Sheng household.”
“Why on earth?” Master Qi was puzzled.
Pingning Junzhu cast her husband a sideways glance. “Think carefully about the maidservant the Junzhu had beaten to death. Whose eyes did she look like?”
Master Qi thought for a moment, then said a quiet, “Ah,” pressing his hand to his forehead. “I always wondered why the Junzhu’s choice of maidservants for Heng’er were all so dull and plain. I could not understand how he managed to take a fancy to that one particular fawning girl — could it be that Heng’er still has feelings for the Sheng family daughter?”
The Junzhu gave a noncommittal nod and said with resignation, “Thank goodness Minglan rarely appeared in public. Had the Junzhu ever caught sight of her, she might well have grown suspicious… What is it? What are you thinking?”
She reached out and tugged at her husband’s sleeve.
Master Qi had been sitting with his head bowed, staring intently at the purple-gold copper brazier on the floor. The tug at his sleeve startled him out of his thoughts. He quickly said, “Just now I was thinking — Sheng Hong truly has good fortune. Old Secretary Lu normally seems hard of hearing and muddleheaded, as if he neither knows nor cares about anything. Yet at the critical moment, his mind turned razor sharp. Not only did he bring all his subordinates through the ordeal completely unharmed — not a single classified document or record from the Ministry of Works was damaged either. After the upheaval, His Majesty commended the Ministry of Works staff for ‘maintaining composure in the face of crisis.’ The old Secretary himself was even elevated to the Cabinet, and Sheng Hong was promoted to Left Metropolitan Censor at the fourth rank, senior grade.”
Pingning Junzhu looked dismal. “And not only that. Madam Wang has lately been in the most radiant of spirits, one good thing following another. Her eldest son was promoted to Archivist, her nephew was made a company commander, and her son-in-law continued in his position as Deputy Commander. And look over there — those are the red hard-boiled eggs she sent two days ago, a double portion. Last month her eldest daughter gave birth to a healthy baby boy, and this month her daughter-in-law has also given birth — and it is a boy as well!” Her voice could not entirely conceal the sourness she felt.
On the round table inlaid with marble and rosewood in a ruyi pattern sat a plate of vivid red celebratory eggs. Master Qi looked over at them, a feeling of quiet reflection coming over him. He turned to his wife and said, “At the end of next month will be the first-year death anniversary of the old Ningyuan Marquis. Will you be attending?”
Pingning Junzhu looked at the plate of eggs, a trace of wistfulness in her eyes, and said, “No. We are barely within the five degrees of kinship — sending a memorial gift is enough. And come to think of it, it has already been more than a year since Tingye’s wife passed.” She let out a heavy sigh and said with indignation, “Poor old Uncle, careful his entire life — and in the end, it was his grandson who dragged the family into that mess. Tingyu’s health is already poor, and he had to endure this catastrophe on top of everything. The whole family now lives in constant dread, terrified that someone will submit a report against them and they’ll lose their title and their home at once.”
Master Qi listened and felt uncomfortable. Looking again at the red eggs, a different thought began to take shape. “…Since Heng’er still has feelings for the Sheng family daughter, why don’t you go and raise the matter? I think it would be quite a fine match. What do you think?”
Pingning Junzhu let out a long, dismissive hum. “Too late. The family already has plans for her.”
Master Qi said in surprise, “You have already made inquiries?” The Qi family and their son had had quite enough misfortune as it was — adding a rejected proposal on top of it all would truly be heaping snow on frost.
“How could I be so reckless!” Pingning Junzhu could see what her husband was thinking and quickly reassured him. “Madam Wang is a straightforward person — a word or two and she told me everything without realizing it. Her legitimate daughter is expected to be matched with her maternal cousin — a marriage keeping the alliance within the family — though that is not yet settled and we shall have to wait and see. As for Minglan, the Old Madam arranged that long ago. There is a young man from a branch of the He family of Baishi Pond.”
Master Qi could not conceal his disappointment. Thinking of his son’s lost and silent expression, he hesitated. “In that case… there is still one more daughter. What about her?”
“Pah.” The Junzhu gave a soft, disdainful little spit and frowned at her husband. “No matter how low Heng’er’s prospects may have fallen, he need not settle for a concubine-born daughter. If I were not doing it for Minglan — that child raised at the Old Madam’s side, impeccable in character and appearance — you think I would bother? It is entirely because I feel I have let my son down once, and want to give him something he truly wants.”
Master Qi was quiet for a long while before saying, “When the time comes and a family is found, take a good look. And do ask Heng’er’s opinion. He must be willing — that is what matters.”
The Junzhu, seeing how much her husband ached for their son, could not help but add, “I have heard that the Sheng family has not yet formally exchanged pledges with the He family. And with the Sheng household riding high on good fortune right now — there may well be a change of plans.”
Indeed, even a household riding high on good fortune can have its share of bad news.
“Mother, please reconsider. You are not young anymore — it is not good for you to make such a journey back and forth.” Sheng Hong had not yet changed out of his official robes. The moment he finished at the office, he came directly to Shouan Hall. Below him already sat Wang Shi and the children.
The Old Madam shook her head stubbornly, her fingers turning a string of agarwood prayer beads over and over. “We have been sisters-in-law together, the two of us, with decades of kinship between us. Now that she is failing, how can I simply cast that aside?”
Sheng Hong furrowed his brow and looked toward Taisheng, who was sitting there ill at ease. “What is the situation with Aunt’s health, exactly?”
Taisheng had grown considerably taller in the years since they last met. The short, chubby little boy had gradually begun to take on the shape of a young man. He wore an expression of apology, rose to his feet, bowed respectfully to Sheng Hong, and said quietly, “Uncle, please forgive us. Since the new year, Grandmother has been looking worse and worse. The family has brought in a retired physician named Bai, and even he says there are only a few months left at most. Once the news leaked out, relatives from the Fang household began coming around day after day in shifts — first saying that the late master had left valuables in Grandmother’s keeping and demanding their share of the silver; then saying they wanted to come and manage the household on behalf of our eldest uncle. The old master himself is also getting on in years — he sometimes just sits down in the house and refuses to leave. Everyone is afraid something might happen to him if they try to move him… it has truly become unmanageable.”
Sheng Hong listened and sighed deeply. He then turned to the Old Madam. “But if anything should happen to you while you are there, how could we ever forgive ourselves?”
Changwu, who was sitting nearby, flushed with shame at once and immediately knelt before Sheng Hong. He raised his eyes and spoke earnestly. “This nephew is unfilial. When Grandmother is unwell, he who is her grandson cannot be at her side to serve her — and yet burdens the two elders with the journey instead. This time… Taisheng my cousin will escort Grandmother there, and once she arrives, my mother will look after her with every care. Please set your mind at ease, Uncle.”
Wang Shi’s face was full of reluctance, and she muttered under her breath.
Before Sheng Hong could say anything more, the Old Madam set down her prayer beads, gave a light wave of her hand, and sighed. “There is no need to say more. My mind is made up. We depart tomorrow.” She paused, then softened her voice as she looked at Sheng Hong’s worried face below her. “I know your hearts are full of filial concern. But there is a time and priority to all things. These old bones of mine can still walk — let me make this one journey. Besides… this time the capital was thrown into chaos, yet our family came through without harm. Not only that, but you and Changbai and Changwu all received promotions. That is partly due to your own carefulness and prudence, but also due to the grace of the divine and the protection of our ancestors. Because of this, we must all the more be good to others and accumulate virtue and merit — especially when it is a matter of family.”
Sheng Hong and Wang Shi exchanged a glance, and neither spoke further. After a little more conversation, Changbai escorted Changwu and Taisheng out. Minglan, seeing that the matter was decided, stood up and all but patted her own chest as she made her pledge to Sheng Hong. “Father, do not worry. You have me. On this journey, I will take good care of Grandmother.”
But to her surprise, the Old Madam shook her head. “No. You are not coming this time.”
Minglan was taken completely aback. Over all these years, she and the Old Madam had been virtually inseparable. The thought of parting now was unbearable — but before she could even open her mouth, the Old Madam turned to Wang Shi and said, by way of an explanation and instruction, “Minglan is growing older. It is not proper for her to always be living away from the main household, or to be traipsing about here and there. I will go to Yuyang first. If my old sister-in-law… then we can have the child come later.”
Wang Shi rose and respectfully acknowledged the instruction. The Old Madam then said, “Changbai’s wife has just recently given birth and is still in confinement. There is much to manage in the household — you will need to see to it all.” She then looked at Minglan’s small, sorrowful face and could not help adding, “The Sixth Child has never been out of my sight since she was small. She is an innocent soul and I worry greatly. Keep a closer eye on her — don’t let her get into mischief.”
Wang Shi understood perfectly well what the Old Madam meant, and smiled pleasantly. “Listen to Grandmother. I think Minglan is wonderful — more sensible than both her elder sisters.” The Old Madam nodded. “I am counting on your care.”
Molan, watching all this, felt a pang of sourness in her heart. She put on a sweet smile and said, “Grandmother, your heart is truly partial. You only worry about Sixth Sister? Are Fifth Sister and I simply without anyone to love or care for us?”
Rulan also felt some displeasure, but had no desire to be used as Molan’s weapon. She said, “Sixth Sister is the youngest — of course Grandmother is most anxious about her. Though… it is true that Grandmother does love Sixth Sister the most.” She pouted as she said it.
The Old Madam smiled and said nothing. Sheng Hong knit his brow and reprimanded them. “Who taught you such manners? Grandmother leaves tomorrow — instead of thinking of her health and comfort, you think only of yourselves!”
The two sisters immediately bowed their heads and fell silent.
That night, Minglan clung to Shouan Hall and pestered the Old Madam relentlessly, going around in circles and repeating herself. Usually this tactic worked quite well — but this time the Old Madam had made up her mind like iron. Minglan grumbled, “I don’t get carsick on carriages anymore. I’m used to boats too. Along the way I can keep you company and lift your spirits. And besides, isn’t Elder Uncle’s home still our own family? Everyone there is one of us…”
The Old Madam was torn between exasperation and amusement. She gave her granddaughter a sharp smack on the head, put on a stern face, and said, “You should also spend more time with your sister-in-law. Observe how she speaks and conducts herself — how much is measured, how much is seamless. And as for you? Clinging to me like this — what will you do when you’re married?” The more she thought about it, the more she worried. Her teacup and lid clinked anxiously together.
Minglan’s mouth pouted up high. Sulking, she muttered, “Then why not just come with me when I get married.”
The Old Madam could not hold herself together. She nearly spat out a mouthful of tea. She set down the teacup and went to pinch Minglan’s cheek, scolding, “If I had a softer heart, I should have beaten you far harder when you were small!”
Seeing that persuasion was hopeless, Minglan changed tactics and began enumerating instructions for the Old Madam’s health — don’t drink too much water at night, getting up often in the night makes it easy to catch a chill; don’t rush out too early in the morning, wait until the sun is out before going for a walk — rambling on at length. Finally Nanny Fang and Cuiwei came in and, hearing this, burst out laughing. “Truly, how things change in ten years! Now it is the young miss looking after the Old Madam. Before, it was always the Old Madam holding the young miss and going on and on at her — and now they have switched places.”
The Old Madam, ears going numb from all the nagging, unable to escape, could only sigh helplessly. “Did Taisheng not bring you a letter from Lan? Every time you get a letter from that girl you’re happy for half the day. Why don’t you go open it and read it?”
Minglan twisted her fingers together and simply dug in. Like a small, plump little squirrel, she burrowed against the Old Madam, rubbing her small head against her grandmother’s neck — rubbing and rubbing until the Old Madam was tickled into laughter. The two of them tugged and wrestled and played until they could hardly stop. Nanny Fang and Cuiwei watched, amused but not daring to laugh, and quietly withdrew. After quite some time, grandmother and granddaughter finally wore themselves out.
The Old Madam was left with her hair bun in disarray, but there was a kind of childlike happiness about her. She patted Minglan’s small hand and said, “No more nonsense. Listen to me properly.”
Minglan finally sat up straight and behaved. The Old Madam looked at her with great earnestness and said, “Ah… I had thought I would spend this lifetime without any blood of my own. And so I had made my peace with it. But then Heaven saw fit to send this little mischief-maker to keep me company, and has given me so much more to worry about.”
Minglan said nothing, only buried her head against the Old Madam’s arm and nestled close. The Old Madam’s heart was warm, her gaze tender. She held her granddaughter and rocked her gently, speaking in a slow, measured voice. “I had a willful and stubborn spirit from childhood, growing up with my parents’ doting, charging through life headlong — never knowing when to turn back, even when I had bled and bruised myself. Looking back now, it would have been better to have faced some hardship earlier. How long can your grandmother protect you? When you are married and gone, in truth you must depend on your sister-in-law and your sisters-in-law. I cannot keep you sheltered under my arm forever — a flower that has never weathered wind and rain cannot thrive. This time, stay and get along well with them. Do you hear me?”
Minglan raised her small head and nodded. But her eyes had grown a little wet. Her long eyelashes held a few drops of moisture, and her porcelain-white skin looked as though it might drip at any moment. The Old Madam’s heart ached most at this helpless, pitiable look of Minglan’s. She said fondly, “Without me here in front of you, they will feel freer to be themselves. Leaving aside everything else, they are both skilled at managing a household and keeping accounts. Your sister-in-law in particular has a mind like a finely cut jade — seven chambers and eight openings, missing nothing. Spend time with them and learn from them. Ehh… In another year or two, you will reach your coming-of-age ceremony.”
Minglan choked softly and said, “I cannot bear to part from Grandmother.”
The Old Madam held the girl close and only sighed.