That evening, Minglan’s nominal father and mother came to visit the injured party. Wang Shi cupped Minglan’s small face in her hands, her gaze so tender and loving it practically dripped with warmth — enough to make Minglan’s heart flutter with apprehension. Sheng Hong, for his part, was genuinely moved with tenderness and spoke many kind and concerned words. In return, Minglan blinked back tears and softly ventured a few words defending Molan’s behavior — partly hoping Sheng Hong wouldn’t remain too angry, partly suggesting that Molan probably hadn’t meant it, that it had all been a misunderstanding, and so forth. Sheng Hong was greatly touched, and felt that his children’s upbringing had not been a complete failure after all. He stroked his beard and praised Minglan effusively for several minutes.

Minglan quietly repented inwardly. But there was nothing to be done — leaders always liked this sort of gentle, virtuous, forbearing manner. Everything was a matter of survival.

Exactly what Hai Shi said to Wang Shi that night remained unknown, but the next day Wang Shi pleaded illness and took to her bed, handing all household management over to Hai Shi. Hai Shi first had every serving woman who had pushed and jostled at Mu Cang Study that day brought before her and given twenty strokes of the rod apiece. Then Liu Kun’s wife led a group of women in a sweep of their quarters and turned up quantities of gold, silver, and valuables. Hai Shi charged them with embezzlement of household property and threatened to hand them over to the authorities for investigation. The servants below panicked and began immediately to point fingers and push blame onto each other. As one thread was pulled, the whole web came unraveled — nearly all of Lin Yiniang’s most trusted and favored stewards and serving women were implicated. Hai Shi sorted them by severity: maidservants were either married off or sold; the rest were sent to the estate.

In a single day, the entire staff of Lin Qi Pavilion had been replaced from top to bottom. When Lin Yiniang tried to come out wailing in protest, Hai Shi merely smiled and said mildly, “We also found quite a few improper items in Xia Xian’s family’s quarters. But considering she is Yiniang’s most capable attendant, I chose not to report it to the Master.” The maidservant Xue Niang, who was supporting Lin Yiniang at the time, immediately went chalk-white and dropped straight to her knees. Lin Yiniang trembled with rage but dared not make any further scene.

Ruomei came back from gathering information outside and reported everything to Minglan: “Lin Yiniang is now left with only Xia Xian’s family and Ma Gui’s family — all the others have been dismissed. Things are somewhat better in Fourth Young Master’s quarters and Fourth Young Miss’s quarters; only the most sharp-tongued and troublesome maidservants were turned out. When they saw me coming, they all begged me to help them hide some valuables, afraid that First Young Madam might work herself up again and come back for another sweep. I took a few inconsequential items from the two or three girls who seemed genuinely honest and trustworthy; I ignored all the rest. If you think this was not proper, I can return them.”

Minglan was curled up on the heated platform, resting her arm on the low table. “No need for that. I expect First Elder Sister-in-Law won’t bother with another sweep.” Hai Shi’s purpose had only been to consolidate authority over the Sheng Mansion. Molan was almost married off, so there was no point making an enemy of her. As for Changfeng, with his father and mother already managing him, it was hardly Hai Shi’s place as his eldest sister-in-law to add more words.

Just then, someone came from outside — Xique, the maidservant from Rulan’s quarters — to say that Minglan was leaving the following day, and Rulan wished to see her before she went. Before Minglan could say a word, Ruomei said indignantly, “What an air Fifth Young Miss has! Sending her sister off, she can’t even come herself — she sends a messenger instead and asks us to go over to her. What kind of etiquette is that?”

Xique said awkwardly, “Our Young Miss has come down with a cold…”

As soon as the words were out, everyone from Minglan on down — Ruomei, Danju, and Yancao — stifled laughter behind their sleeves. Only Xiaotao remained perfectly blank and said plainly, “If she has a cold, why would she summon our Young Miss over? What if she catches it? Being ill on the journey is the worst thing imaginable!”

Xique was quite at a loss. She was a quick-witted girl; she leaned over to Minglan’s ear and said softly, “These past two days, the mansion has been such a stir, and our Young Miss is stuck inside absolutely bursting with curiosity, poor thing. Think of us maidservants who are suffering for it — please go over just this once.”

Minglan held a mouthful of tea, pressed her lips together in a smile, shot a glance at her own maidservants, then rose laughing and told Yancao to fetch her clothes. Xique finally breathed a sigh of relief. Danju retrieved a small white porcelain jar, no bigger than a thumb, from inside and pressed it into Xique’s sleeve with a smile. “Sister, don’t mind our little group. Our Young Miss is generous and indulgent, so she lets these little rascals get away with their chatter. This is clam balm — the best thing for chapping hands and face in cold weather. If Sister doesn’t mind, please take it.”

Xique’s smile broadened. “Everyone says Sixth Young Miss is the kindest to her maidservants. I’m a brazen sort, so I won’t stand on ceremony.”

Minglan followed Xique around Mountain Moon Residence, walked a short while, and arrived at Tao Ran Pavilion. Inside, she found Rulan lounging against the head of her bed with rosy cheeks, a cloth strip tied across her forehead in a show of illness. The moment Rulan saw Minglan, she called out loudly, “What took you so long? Did you need a fourth invitation? I heard you only got slapped on the face — don’t tell me your legs are broken too.”

Minglan opened her eyes wide. “Clearly Fifth Sister is gravely ill. I should leave at once — being ill on the journey would be dreadful.”

Rulan immediately cried out, terrified Minglan might actually go. Xique laughed, pushed Minglan over, and said apologetically, “Young Miss, at least you’ve come all this way — please don’t tease our Young Miss.” She turned to Rulan and said, “Young Miss, just now when I went to Mu Cang Study, Sixth Young Miss was very busy. And she’s injured too — the fact that she came at all is saying something.” Rulan puffed out her cheeks and said nothing.

Minglan reluctantly settled herself at the edge of Rulan’s bed and said with a stern face, “There’s nothing for it — the lightly wounded must yield to the severely ill. I had to come!”

Rulan laughed, turned Minglan’s face toward her, and studied it from every angle. She clicked her tongue. “No wonder your coloring looked odd — you’ve powdered over it. Oh, the palm print is still there, you know.”

Minglan sighed. “Hardly fit to go walking about with a hand-shaped mark on my face, so I had to use powder.”

Rulan said indignantly, “Sister-in-Law is formidable, that’s true — but she was too soft. They dared to be that insolent, and she still didn’t deal with them harshly. Leaving them comfortable and well-fed — why bother sparing that household any face?”

Minglan thought for a moment, then said lightly, “Sister-in-Law is merciful. And that is a good thing. Besides… she has her own considerations.”

In inner-household affairs, unless you could strike one decisive, finishing blow, wounding a snake without killing it only led to it striking back. Today, Lin Yiniang had not been locked in her courtyard, nor driven from the mansion — she was still Sheng Hong’s concubine. If Sheng Hong spent a single night in her quarters, things might change all over again. Leaving room in her actions meant Lin Yiniang, even if she wished to lodge a complaint, would have nothing to say. And Sheng Hong would see his daughter-in-law as generous and kind-hearted rather than petty and cruel.

Rulan gave a long, despondent sigh and wrinkled her brow. “I hate things being like this. If you like something, say so; if you don’t, say so. Why must everyone always be putting on a performance?”

Minglan touched the cloth strip across Rulan’s forehead and gave a quiet sigh as well. Then Rulan brightened up and grabbed Minglan’s hand eagerly. “This time when you go, bring me back some osmanthus oil — the uncolored kind. I’ve been using it for over a year now, and look at my hair; it’s so much better than before.”

Minglan stared, then pointed at Rulan. “The reason for this trip is… the Old Master and Grandmother are crying their eyes out, and you have the nerve to be thinking about your hair? I couldn’t possibly ask for something like that with a straight face!”

Rulan was accustomed to getting whatever she wanted, and scowled when Minglan refused. Then she caught sight of Minglan’s face, and her eyes darted sideways. “It’s only a few bottles of oil. You get them for me, and I’ll tell you something that will really delight you. You’ll definitely be pleased.”

In truth, Minglan still had a few bottles herself — she simply couldn’t stand Rulan’s selfish, self-absorbed manner. Hearing this, she asked curiously, “What could possibly delight me?”

Rulan leaned over with a look of grand conspiracy and whispered, “Do you know what sort of man Fourth Sister is going to marry?” Minglan shook her head. How would she know? It wasn’t as though anyone here had any inside network.

Rulan began whispering her intelligence in a low, excited voice. “I heard the scholar’s family is terribly poor. He lost his father when he was young; his mother is harsh and spiteful; his brothers are useless! And his character is indecisive and weak-willed. The one thing that can be said in his favor — the only thing — is that he is honest! Just wait and see how she manages with a mother-in-law like that, and brothers-in-law on top of it!”

“Surely it can’t be that bad? Whoever Father approves of is bound to be at least decent.” Minglan was not particularly stirred.

Well, of course — a scholar was only one step away from the jinshi examination. If his family circumstances had been comfortable and his personal qualities outstanding, there would have been no shortage of high officials and nobles in the capital with legitimate or secondary daughters to spare, not a single one of whom would have been a fourth-ranked official’s secondary daughter. Never mind Yan Jing — even if Li Yu had opened up his search to the whole of the capital, could he truly have failed to find a better family than the Shengs? It was simply that the Li family was afraid of choosing a wife from an unknown background, only to find later that she was demanding and difficult, her natal family a constant source of interference, and the daughter-in-law proud and unmanageable — a worse bargain than it was worth.

Seeing that Minglan was not sharing her enthusiasm, Rulan was thoroughly deflated. She drew out her displeasure with a long face. Minglan laughed and coaxed her along. “All right, I promise I will get you your osmanthus oil!”

The very next day at first light, Changwu came with six or seven large carts to collect the travelers. Sheng Hong gave Changwu a careful last-minute briefing. Yun’er was already with child — some five or six months along. Wang Shi held her niece’s hand and went through a long list of instructions and cautions. After quite a while of all this, Minglan and Changdong at last bowed their farewells to their parents. Hai Shi accompanied them to the gate and, when no one was looking, pressed a banknote into Minglan’s hand. She then said warmly to Changwu and Yun’er, “I have never gone back to the old home since coming into this household, and I truly ought to be making this trip myself — but with things as they are here, I cannot get away. I’m sorry to impose on Sixth Young Miss and Fourth Young Brother. Second Cousin and Yun’er Sister, please don’t take offense, and when you see the Great Uncle and Great Aunt, be sure to offer my apologies on my behalf.”

Changwu assured her quickly. Minglan nodded as well, and with a child’s playfulness said with a grin, “Great Uncle and Great Aunt are the most good-natured people in the world. Even if they’re a little upset right now, the moment they lay eyes on a round, chubby little grandchild, all their anger will be gone.”

Everyone around them laughed. Hai Shi shook her head and half-scolded her affectionately: “This child!” Yun’er flushed red and laughed into her handkerchief. Changwu had been looking grim, but at those words he also broke into a reluctant smile.

Once they were inside the carriages, the wheels began to roll. Changdong had been hoping to ride alongside Changwu on horseback, and clung stubbornly to his brother until he wore him down and got his way. Left with no choice, he rode while Minglan settled into the carriage, and the two of them peered and craned their necks at the scenery as it passed. Yun’er had been somewhat uneasy in the carriage at first, but as she listened to Minglan and her younger brother chat and laugh, her mood gradually lifted.

Changwu had been traveling away from home since childhood, and when it came to lodging and making arrangements on the road, he was supremely capable — each day’s food and rest stops were sorted without a hitch; he never missed a suitable resting place. As for Yun’er, she watched quietly from the side: she did not see Minglan give any elaborate orders to her servants, and yet the maidservants went about making up beds, stoking the brazier, warming the platform, sorting the dressing table and clothes; the matrons asked for hot water, heated food, and scalded the cups, bowls, and dishes, and served at mealtimes. Though there was no elder present, everything was conducted properly and in good order. When there were minor frictions with other travelers staying at the same lodging houses, Minglan would speak calmly to smooth things over, have her people step aside, press a little more silver into hands, and end things peacefully.

Once, Luzhi got into a few words of argument with a servant from some official’s entourage that was also staying there, and came back in a huff: “They’re only from a prefectural administrator’s household, strutting around dropping some Marquis’s name like that. Who do they think they are?”

Minglan said with a half-laugh, half-sigh, “What can be done? You ladies have a mistress with only so many abilities. There will always be someone higher up the ladder. The only way to fully satisfy our Luzhi would be to send her straight into the palace to wait upon Her Majesty the Empress — then you could swagger however you liked!”

Luzhi blushed. Just then Xiaotao came trotting back in with a look of great satisfaction, reporting that another group of a Minister’s household women had arrived, and that they had ties to Duke Lianguo; the prefectural administrator’s servants immediately vacated the best room. The small group of maidservants inside all laughed softly. After that, Minglan became even more careful in disciplining her servants: she would not allow them to stir up trouble; whenever the girls went out even one step, a stout manservant had to accompany them.

After watching for several days, Yun’er could no longer hold back. At night she said to her husband, “No wonder your mother always talks about Minglan needing a good and prestigious match. Look at her — she’s like a little child in size, yet she manages everything so clearly and precisely, without the slightest muddle. And she has such an open-minded temperament. I feel ashamed of myself by comparison. With that face of hers, and no full brother of her own — if she had been born of the right mother, ah — well, that is fate.” Changwu put his arm around his wife and smiled. “Nonsense. In my eyes, you are the best of all.”

Yun’er laughed and gave her husband a thump.

After traveling for several more days, they finally reached the river crossing. Changwu had already hired a large, two-story vermilion tung-lacquered wooden vessel. He then invited Yun’er and Minglan to board together. No matter how sturdy one’s constitution, the weariness of many days of traveling had taken its toll: the moment she boarded, Yun’er lay down to rest and recover. Minglan sat with her and chatted for a while, then crept quietly away once she had fallen asleep.

The boat was steadier than the carriages, and Yun’er was actually able to sleep, unlike in the previous days when she could never quite settle. From then on, Minglan kept an eye on Yun’er’s medicine and rest, kept her company and entertained her with conversation, and when not occupied with that, she hauled Changdong away from the ship’s railing and sat him back down with his books.

“When we traveled from Quanzhou to Dengzhou, whether in carriage or on boat, Elder Brother never let go of his books for a single moment. Look at yourself — have you so much as touched a book these past few days?”

Changdong was diligent by nature, but he was a child at heart. This was the first time he had ever been this free — Sheng Hong, Wang Shi, and Xiang Yiniang were all absent, and Changwu and his wife barely managed him — and he had gradually shed his studious habits. At Minglan’s words, he drooped his ears and went back to his reading.

Yun’er watched this and laughed softly. “Sixth Young Sister is quite the force. No doubt one day she’ll be just as effective in driving her husband to success.” Minglan rolled her eyes at her. “Go ahead and laugh. Just wait until you have yours — aren’t you going to push that child to study and win top honors?”

Yun’er pretended to swat at her, inwardly delighted, for she very much hoped for a son.

Over the following days, the water ran smooth, the boat ran steady, and the north wind filled the sails until they billowed plumply, carrying the vessel swiftly along. They passed through Shizhou, Jining, Shangzhou, and Huaiyin one by one. Changwu happily announced to everyone that at this rate, they would arrive in roughly four more days.

That evening the wind died and the water stilled. Changwu had the boat anchored midstream for the night, and procured some fresh river delicacies from fishermen along the shore. He lit a river hot pot and called his younger siblings to eat together. Yun’er sat contentedly with them, smiling and scooping up some fish congee from the side. Changwu and the two younger ones, however, worked their way through five or six baskets of fish and shrimp — blanched, salt-and-pepper fried, braised red, charcoal-grilled — the whole boat filled with the fragrant smell of seafood. Minglan in particular seemed to have a personal grudge against the river crabs and went at them with unrestrained ferocity. It took Yun’er intervening and forcibly taking the plate away out of concern for her digestion before Minglan finally stopped, with a disgruntled air. Changdong sat across from her, holding the eight-piece crab-dismantling set, looking utterly bewildered.

Eating crab inevitably calls for some warm rice wine to ward off the cold. Changwu drank until he was pleasantly tipsy and retired early with Yun’er. The small maidservants were also half-giddy from drinking and went off to sleep in quick succession. But Minglan called young Changdong to come to her room. The moment he stepped inside, Minglan’s expression changed entirely — grave and composed. She carefully shut the window and door.

Changdong didn’t understand, but he was an obedient boy, and he followed Minglan to sit at the innermost stool. Minglan said with a serious face: “These last few days there’s never been a good moment, and it’s been impossible to speak with people always around. Fortunately you don’t care for crab, so you haven’t been drinking — now tell me everything you found out for me, one item at a time.”

Changdong jolted sharply. He knew what Minglan was asking about. He had been holding it all in for a long time — he’d wanted to say it back in the Sheng Mansion, but the incident with Molan had intervened. Then they’d rushed onto the carriages and there had always been people present. Minglan was extremely cautious and would never allow more than a word to be said in front of others, so she had commanded Changdong to say nothing.

Almost half a year ago, Minglan had pieced together fragments from Nanny Qian’s words and learned that Wang Shi had been discussing marriage arrangements with Princess Pingning and the Marchioness of Yongchang at a banquet at the Duke Qi household. From that time, Minglan had quietly taken notice. She had a vague inkling that Wang Shi was aiming for a match with the Qi or Liang families.

By Wang Shi’s logic, any good opportunity would not be wasted on Molan — which left only Rulan and herself. Going by the quality of the prospective match and matching it to birth order, Minglan had arrived at a conclusion she very much didn’t want to reach: Wang Shi was probably hoping to marry her to Liang Han.

Minglan’s heart had been suspended in mid-air ever since. Before, she had been perfectly at ease — because she trusted the Old Madam’s judgment. She had met He Hong and felt he was someone she could build a life with. But now… forgive her, it wasn’t that she didn’t trust Wang Shi — it was simply that Wang Shi would never give a moment’s thought to her marital happiness.

Yet marriage was always decided by one’s parents. Even the late Senior Yan of the Yu family had been a blood grandfather to Yan Ran, and even he had almost failed to resist Elder Yu’s pressure. If the match with the Liang family would genuinely benefit the Sheng household — good for Sheng Hong, for Changbai, for the entire family — and no obvious fault could be found with it, what could the Old Madam say?

It was the first time Minglan had felt uncertain and adrift. She knew nothing about that man. So she had secretly asked Danju to use a visit to see family at the estate as cover for gathering information. But the maidservants in the inner quarters, especially those attending on young misses, were closely watched to prevent any inappropriate communications. One or two such trips yielded almost nothing useful — only that Liang Han had no serious offenses on record, had not beaten anyone to death, had no known romantic entanglements, no inclinations toward the same sex, and nothing unusual about his household.

Minglan was still uneasy. Later it was Ruomei who reminded her: Changdong’s study class included sons of scholarly gentry families as well as sons from the capital’s noble and official households. And as everyone knew, the Liang family had connections and branches stretching in every direction — not particularly illustrious, but rich in gossip. Minglan asked Changdong to make inquiries. Young Changdong was honest and slow-spoken, and such people were usually not guarded against. Day after day, quietly and patiently, circling and probing, he had worked at it for a full half year, and at last had assembled a fairly clear picture.

Liang Han was spontaneous and bold, easygoing in manner, warm-hearted and fiercely loyal to his companions and close friends. Because the Marchioness of Yongchang kept a strict hand, he was clean of entanglements aside from two household attendants. But several months ago, things in the Liang household had started going wrong. The reason was that the secondary eldest daughter-in-law of Yongchang Marquis had brought a young woman into the household.

“She’s the secondary daughter of the secondary sister of the first cousin on the maternal side of the Liang Household’s eldest daughter-in-law.” Changdong was reciting this carefully, counting the steps on his short fingers. “Her name is something like Chun Ge.”

Minglan immediately burst out laughing. So it was “Spring Boy.”

Miss Chun Ge was of course utterly beautiful, and evidently possessed of considerable skill and cunning as well — somehow, right under the Marchioness of Yongchang’s nose, she and Liang Han had become involved. The eldest daughter-in-law of the Liang household went weeping to the Marchioness demanding an explanation.

A secondary daughter of the secondary sister of a first cousin of a daughter-in-law — the Marchioness would never lower herself to look favorably on such a background and such behavior. Even as a concubine, she refused. Miss Chun Ge was fiercely spirited: she declared that if the Liang household didn’t give her an answer, she would dash her head against the door of Yongchang Marquis Mansion itself, and spend her last breath ensuring all of the capital knew how pitiless and ruthless the Liang family was.

Listening as Changdong haltingly finished the account, Minglan drew a deep breath and sank back in her chair, staring at the ceiling in a daze. There it was — this confirmed everything she had feared. To speak honestly, she had never thought herself so precious or valuable as to warrant the Marchioness of Yongchang visiting repeatedly and presenting lavish gifts. A Marquis’s youngest legitimate son matched with the secondary daughter of a fourth-ranked official was already more than generous enough on their part.

So what exactly had made the Marchioness look upon her with such particular regard?

Minglan turned her head slightly. A simple elm dressing table stood against the wall, its diamond-shaped mirror polished to a clear, bright surface — positioned just right to reflect her face. Lustrous as a radiant pearl, luminous as a jade that seemed to glow from within. No wonder Molan had gone half-mad wanting to slash that face.

It was a dispiriting answer — but given her deficiencies in other respects, it was probably the most reasonable explanation.

The rest was easy to deduce.

After the incident, the Marchioness of Yongchang had acted decisively and agreed to accept Chun Ge as a concubine. But she insisted that Liang Han first take a proper wife. The two sides had been at an impasse for some time. The Marchioness could afford to wait; Miss Chun Ge could not. So Liang Han agreed to take a wife first.

The Marchioness was an astute woman. She knew that randomly choosing a high-ranking young lady would only make matters worse, not better. She already had a legitimate eldest son and a daughter-in-law of distinguished birth — she had no need of yet another good family connection in a daughter-in-law. She understood her son well: Liang Han was not a man of deep feeling; he had simply been caught by a beautiful and calculating woman. What she needed was to find a young woman more beautiful than Chun Ge, whose bearing, conversation, and manner could overshadow her entirely. Once this woman was brought into the household, if she managed to win back Liang Han’s affections, all the better. If not — as long as she held the advantage of propriety and the rules of the household, there would be no room for things to spiral out of control.

Miss Chun Ge was very beautiful. The Marchioness searched and searched, but never found anyone satisfactory. At that moment, Minglan appeared before her, and her eyes lit up. Over the following months, the Marchioness quietly learned more about Minglan and found herself increasingly pleased. A household of scholarly tradition, a capable father and elder brother — even if she was secondary-born, her upbringing and conduct were entirely to the Marchioness’s taste. And so she proceeded…

Minglan felt perfectly clear-minded about all of it. Strangely enough, she found she wasn’t even very angry. In good conscience, marrying into the Liang family was Minglan marrying above herself. Were it not for “Spring Boy,” how could it ever have been her turn? Even He Hong hadn’t been set upon her specifically — it was simply that Old Madam He and the Old Madam had old ties of friendship, and the two families had found each other agreeable.

Minglan felt, surprisingly, that she could now breathe easily. Like a helmsman who had been unable to see what dangers lay ahead in the fog — and then the fog lifted. Even knowing there were shallows and hidden reefs ahead, it was still a better feeling than the uncertainty that had gone before.

In truth, the problem of “Spring Boy” was not terribly severe. Looking at Lin Yiniang as an example was instructive enough: for the sons of official and noble families, any romantic feeling was transient — it was family, future, and heirs that were eternal. A wife in the Liang household, backed by propriety and convention, with her mother-in-law’s protection, plus some degree of personal appeal, strategy, and composure — over time, she would not need to fear the rival failing to topple. Unless Liang Han was the type who was iron-set on dying for a single person — then she could only count herself unfortunate. But the likelihood of that was very low.

Changdong watched Minglan anxiously. Though young, he had been without favor from an early age and had early on learned to read expressions and hold his tongue. He knew this was not good news for Minglan. He saw her leaning vacantly against the chair back, staring at the ceiling in a daze, and reached out uneasily to tug at her sleeve. Minglan came back to herself and smiled at Changdong. “It’s all right. Once we see the Old Madam, everything will be fine.”

Minglan weighed her own worth against what she’d learned — she might not be able to outmaneuver Miss Chun Ge. Better to let the Marchioness look elsewhere. Changdong had done outstanding work this time; with these details, even the Old Madam should be able to refuse with dignity. Wang Shi had been concealing the business with the He family from the Marchioness all along. As soon as the Old Madam returned, she need only say the matter was already settled, and the whole business would be over.

Lost in this train of thought, suddenly from far away there came a tremendous boom — the kind that made the entire surface of the water shudder. Minglan rocked in her chair before she could steady herself, then exchanged a wide-eyed look with Changdong, who was gripping his own chair.

— What had just happened?