In the first month of the second year of the Chongde reign, the imperially appointed Regional Military Commander Gu Tingye led three thousand infantry and one thousand cavalry southward from the capital’s outskirts. At Luqiao in Yangxian County, Shandong, he set an ambush — driving cavalry in slashing, crisscrossing strikes through the rebel forces — and with the speed of thunder before one can cover one’s ears, cut off thirty thousand rebel soldiers from both front and rear, throwing the rebels into chaos. King Jing thereupon led his vanguard elite forces in a rapid dash northward, making directly for Zhuangzhou.

In the second month of the same year, Gu Tingye divided half his troops to join with the Zhuangzhou garrison forces in holding off the enemy. He himself led light cavalry and continued south, riding day and night without rest, arriving first at a critical chokepoint along the routed army’s only escape route. He set an ambush in Lingyan Valley south of Xuzhou, and relying on the advantage of terrain, surrounded a force far outnumbering his own, annihilating more than thirteen thousand routed rebel soldiers and capturing the traitorous Prince of Tan alive. He then ordered the commanders of the Yuezhou and Maolong garrison units to sweep up the remnants.

By the end of the month, Gu Tingye led his army northward again. He joined forces with General Shen Congxing — the younger brother of Empress Shen — and the combined army struck King Jing’s remaining forces outside Zhuangzhou. King Jing was routed; his remnants fled in all directions. From that point on, garrison units and regional military commissioners throughout the realm opened their city gates one by one to wipe out the remaining rebel forces. By the fourth month of the second year of the Chongde reign, King Jing, having fled to Mount Xiaoshang, was assassinated by his own guard, who presented his head to the court. The rebellion known as the Jing-Tan Uprising, which had lasted nearly half a year, was over.

…

By the fifth month, spring had come and the flowers were in bloom. The river channels were clear and peaceful. The roving bandits across all regions had gradually been suppressed. Sheng Lao brought Minglan and Changdong aboard a boat to return to the capital. Their arrival had been amid upheaval; their departure was in calm. The weather was warm, and the riverbanks were bright with red flowers and green willows. The clear sky was filled with swallows returning from the north. The scenery was beautiful, and the mood of the journey was utterly different from before.

The three of them often sat together in the cabin rooms on the second level of the large boat, setting a kettle of fragrant tea to brew, laying out several small dishes of fruit, opening the windows to watch the scenery, and talking and laughing cheerfully. They watched the busy boatmen on both banks, and the cargo workers loading and unloading without pause, and it seemed as though the upheaval of the past few months had never happened at all.

“Changdong, once you have finished this cup of tea, go back to your room and read. Do not come out again until we reach home — and do your work properly.” Sheng Lao sat on the soft couch, face turned to look at the scenery outside.

Little Changdong’s small face flushed. Minglan spoke up in his defense: “Grandmother, Fourth Brother has not let a day pass without his books this whole time. No matter how chaotic things were outside, he always sat and read.”

“I know,” Sheng Lao said evenly. “Your father told me — he had planned to have Changdong sit the Children’s Examination this past second month as a practice run, but who could have anticipated this whole rebellion breaking out? He missed a chance to test himself.”

Minglan cast a sympathetic glance at little Changdong — only twelve years old, the poor little bean sprout. Little Changdong also sat quietly, having put down his teacup, and gave Minglan a pitiful look. Sheng Lao paid no attention to the silent exchange between the two siblings, and continued: “Having missed this year’s Children’s Examination, his father may well feel displeased when he returns home. It is only a matter of days before we arrive — last-minute cramming is better than nothing.”

Little Changdong, who knew what was good for him, understood the Elder was giving him a reminder. He bowed respectfully and went back to his cabin to read. Minglan watched his retreating figure and sighed with a shake of her head: “One exhausts one’s eyes poring over every book of poetry — yet in old age discovers that all those years of reading were for nothing. Ah…”

The Elder let out a heavy harrumph. Minglan hastily added: “Yet even from youth one should begin to brush the pen — so that one may know that dabbling in ink and letters has its own heart and meaning.”

The Elder’s lips curved slightly. “What honeyed words! As if all those books were read just so you could talk glibly. Are all the trunks and luggage packed? Don’t forget to put labels on everything.”

Minglan nodded, then peeled half an orange for the Elder and pushed the segments into her mouth one by one, smiling: “Of course — I spent several nights packing. The coming-of-age gifts for Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister have all been sorted out, along with gifts for Sister-in-law.”

Sheng Wei and Sheng Yun were born businesspeople — sharp at making money and just as generous with it. The coming-of-age gift Sheng Lao had originally brought for Ran was a pair of silver cups with lotus petal inlays of jade. What they then gave Molan in lieu of a belated coming-of-age gift was a gold phoenix hairpin threaded with pearls, worked in the filigree style. For Rulan’s coming-of-age gift that same month, they gave a gold hairpin chased with plum blossoms and set with rubies. For Minglan, they gave a pair of gold Eight Trigrams cups worked in filigree and inlaid with precious gems and jade. And they also sent numerous items of value to both Wang Shi and Hai Shi.

Worth mentioning also was what happened some time later: once the refugees gradually dispersed and the great households began visiting one another socially again, Eldest Aunt-in-law Li Shi’s maternal uncle paid frequent calls. Every time, he would take Minglan’s hands and look her over from her embroidered shoes to the drops hanging from her earlobes, praising without pause. Before leaving on one visit, he pressed a pair of white jade round bracelets into Minglan’s hands — beautiful jade, with a faint translucency shimmering beneath the surface.

Minglan had refused outright, since in this era a young lady could not casually accept gifts from others. But when Eldest Aunt-in-law Li Shi spoke up and called it simply an elder’s gift upon first meeting, Minglan accepted.

“I hear that the Li family’s young master Yü is currently studying at the Songshan Academy, and is doing very well. He is set to sit the Autumn Examinations this year.” Sheng Lao spoke unhurriedly. “It is a pity Molan could not wait — otherwise I think he would be quite a good match.”

Wang Shi had made it quite plain she was no longer willing to keep Molan waiting, and had no intention of holding off on Molan’s marriage until Li Yü passed the examination. Minglan had no idea how negotiations over Molan’s match with that licentiate were going by now. Thinking of her own affairs, she quickly leaned close to the Elder and whispered: “Grandmother, that Yongchang Marquis household — your granddaughter is determined not to go there, absolutely not.”

The Elder gave her an amused glare and said with a straight face: “They haven’t said a single word yet! Stop flattering yourself!”

Minglan said sheepishly: “I am only being prepared for all eventualities. If nothing comes of it, all the better — but if something does…” She bit her lip, then threw herself against the Elder’s knee, put on a woebegone face, and said: “If they truly insist on making a match, Grandmother, you must stand firm! With your granddaughter’s meager weight, I am no match for those people in there — one exchange and I would be done for!”

The Elder glared at her and scolded: “What kind of thing is a young lady talking about, opening your mouth and closing it like that! Your elders have their own plans for your marriage. Stay put and behave! We will certainly not do you harm.”

Minglan fawned, rubbing her cheek against the Elder’s neck and laughing goofily.

Once little Changdong had gone through the books he had brought, Minglan and the others reached shore. The three of them descended from the boat in fine spirits, and saw that the steward Laifu had already arrived at the dock with a retinue of household servants waiting. They changed to carriages and set off rumbling toward the capital. Several days of travel brought them to the city gates. Quite unexpectedly, Hai Shi herself had come to meet them.

Both Sheng Lao and Minglan felt it was somewhat unusual, but gave no outward sign. The front carriage was a large, steady vehicle with a flat roof of blue silk edged with bronze hanging lanterns at the corners. When they changed over, several servant women quietly and pointedly ushered little Changdong and Minglan toward the carriage behind. Sheng Lao glanced at Hai Shi and saw that her complexion was a dull yellow and her expression worn and haggard.

“Let your sixth younger sister come along too,” Sheng Lao said evenly. “She will be having her coming-of-age ceremony in a few months — she ought to hear what there is to hear.”

Hai Shi dipped her head, a faint flush coming to her face, then called a servant woman to help Minglan up into this carriage as well.

After their travel documents were inspected at the city gate, the several Sheng family carriages slowly made their way toward Sheng Mansion.

“Speak, then. What has happened at home?” The Elder leaned her back against a large autumn-green cloud-patterned brocade bolster cushion. Minglan moved close and straightened the pillow and quilt underneath, then took some blended incense from the small chest beside her and dropped it into the incense burner.

Hai Shi’s expression was relatively composed, but the exhaustion in her voice could not be hidden. She thought for a moment: “This matter…I had originally thought to write a letter to the Elder, but the Master had calculated the timing and said that since you had already set out, there was no sense in sending a hasty letter and letting others know of the affair.”

The Elder’s half-closed eyes snapped open. She cut straight to the heart of the matter: “Has something happened to your sisters-in-law? Which one?”

Hai Shi blinked in surprise, then her eyes reddened and she choked out: “Nothing can be concealed from the Elder…it is…it is…Fourth Younger Sister.”

“No roundabout talking — speak quickly! Say it all before we reach the mansion!” The Elder’s nature was like ginger and cinnamon — all the more pungent with age.

Hai Shi took out her handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes, then spoke slowly: “Fourth Younger Sister had originally been confined to her rooms. Even her morning greetings had been excused. Thinking she was behaving herself, the family had been devoting its energy to arranging her marriage — a meeting with the licentiate’s family had been agreed upon. But then the military uprising broke out and travel became impossible, so it was postponed. We had just been waiting for the rebellion to be suppressed — and then last month…last month…”

Hai Shi’s eyes brimmed again. She wiped them quickly and continued: “Because the great uprising had been pacified and the capital had come through completely unscathed, many families in the city who had men serving in the military were going to temples and convents to offer incense in thanksgiving. That day, everything seemed perfectly normal. Then toward evening, a gatekeeper came to report that servants from the Yongchang Marquis household had brought Fourth Younger Sister back. We were immediately stunned. Your granddaughter hurried to Shanyue Residence to look — not a trace of Fourth Younger Sister to be found. Your granddaughter was furious, bound up the servants in the courtyard, and questioned them. It turned out Fourth Younger Sister had slipped out first thing that morning.”

Hai Shi let out a soft sob. By now, much of the management of the household had fallen to her; an incident like this must have brought her no small share of blame. Minglan could see the toll it had taken on Hai Shi, and moved close to gently rub her back and help her settle her breath.

Hai Shi cast a grateful glance at Minglan, then dried her tears and continued: “…I went to the gate to receive Fourth Younger Sister and brought her inside, and then made thorough inquiries. What I learned was this…Fourth Younger Sister had gone on her own initiative to the Longhua Temple on the Western Hill that morning. As it happened, the Honorable Liang Han was there at that same time, accompanying Madam Liang to offer incense. By some misfortune, Fourth Younger Sister slipped off the carriage and nearly rolled down the slope. The Honorable Liang Han happened to be riding nearby, and rescued her. In full view of a crowd of witnesses, Fourth Younger Sister was carried back in his arms.”

At this point, Hai Shi lowered her head. Minglan and the Elder exchanged a glance, both expressions deeply complicated — a mixture of emotions that was neither entirely glad nor entirely worried. For Minglan’s part, this meant she would not need to displease Sheng Hong and Wang Shi. For the Elder’s part, it saved a great deal of persuasion and argument. But for Sheng Mansion as a whole, this was not good news at all.

“For something like this to be carried off, there must have been coordination between those inside and outside. Have you found out who was involved?” The Elder fixed her gaze on Hai Shi and spoke slowly.

Hai Shi stopped crying and raised her head: “The moment the incident came to light, all the servants in Shanyue Residence were bound and family discipline was applied with force. From Yun Zai, who had taken Fourth Younger Sister’s place lying in the bed pretending to be ill, to the gatekeeper who had prepared the carriage — it took only a few strokes before everything pointed to Lin Yiniang. This time, the Master was truly furious. He gave Lin Yiniang and Fourth Younger Sister both a severe beating and had them locked in the storehouse, receiving only one meal a day.”

Minglan was quietly astonished in her heart. That Lin Yiniang really is something — quite the planner. First, she had to find out exactly when Madam Yongchang Marquis and her son intended to go offer incense, and by which route. Then she had to bribe an entire chain of servants inside and outside the household to cover for them. And then she needed to conceal the whole thing for an entire day. Determination and method — she truly is a formidable figure.

The Elder was also somewhat angered. Her chest rose and fell several times before she steadied herself. She asked again: “And what do they plan to do about that shameless creature?”

Hai Shi’s face fell ashen. She said quietly: “After the incident, there has been complete silence from the Yongchang Marquis household. Lin Yiniang knelt before the Master and wept day and night, saying over and over that she begged him to go and propose to the Yongchang Marquis household — otherwise, Fourth Younger Sister had only death as her option…and then he himself fell ill with anger.”

The Elder let out a faint, derisive sound: “So your mother-in-law has gone to pieces over this too. She has collapsed from something so minor. Where did all her spirit go? When one has the face to do something, one must have the guts to own it! What is there to fuss over her for?”

Hai Shi’s expression betrayed a trace of embarrassment, and she said quietly: “It was not this matter that caused her to fall ill.”

“What else is there?” the Elder asked simply.

Hai Shi twisted her handkerchief in her hands, then resolutely raised her face: “Grand Cabinet Chief Minister Shen’s household has taken a fancy to the second young master of Duke Qi’s household — that is, Junzhu Pingning’s son, Qi Heng — and has gone to formally propose the match. The Duke’s household has already accepted.”

The Elder’s lips curved slightly, and a sardonic light entered her eyes: “What of it? What does that have to do with our family?”

Hai Shi looked at the Elder with difficulty, and said with a stutter: “The Elder does not know — some days ago, Junzhu Pingning had let slip an intention to bring Fifth Younger Sister into the family as a wife for her son, and had shown a very favorable opinion of her. Though nothing was said explicitly, both sides had tacitly understood the arrangement. Yet who would have thought Junzhu Pingning would change her mind so completely! When someone went to ask about it, all the Junzhu said was one sentence: ‘How have things been resolved with your household’s Fourth Young Lady?'”

The Elder struck the armrest and cursed in fury: “That shameless thing — she has done nothing but bring disgrace upon this household!”

Minglan was also deeply low-spirited. What a wretched thing this ancient family clan system was. One girl loses face and all the other sisters go down with her. What did it have to do with her that Molan went out to flirt with someone?

Hai Shi was still speaking in halting, muddled fragments. The Elder grew impatient and said sharply: “Is there more? Say it all at once! This old set of bones can still take it!”

Hai Shi had originally been a composed and capable woman, but the past stretch of days had brought one sudden shock after another crashing down on her like thunder, and she had barely been able to catch her breath. She steadied herself, resolved to get it all out in one go: “After this incident with Fourth Younger Sister, the Yongchang Marquis household went completely silent. Lin Yiniang knelt before the Master day and night, weeping and crying that he must go and propose — or Fifth Younger Sister would have no path forward but death. His fury drove him into illness. And then — just as things were at this impasse — a letter arrived from Maternal Uncle Wang, saying that the Wang family’s younger cousin-brother and Kang Yun’er had become formally betrothed and that the small betrothal gifts had already been exchanged. …It was a tremendous shock. Someone was sent that very night on a fast horse to inquire in Fengtian. Maternal Uncle wrote back to say that since a noble son-in-law from a Duke’s household had already been secured, his own inadequate son would simply make his own match. The messenger also brought back a message from Wang Family Elder Mother, saying that the Elder Mother was also furious about it, and that with this kind of back-and-forth, what was the Wang family’s legitimate grandson being treated as? …The path with Junzhu Pingning had never been spoken of publicly — how had the Wang family in faraway Fengtian found out about it? …She had been holding in one breath, and so she went to confront Kang Maternal Aunt to argue the matter. She was sent back half-dead with fury, and that is truly when she fell ill.”

Minglan drew in a sharp breath. The reason Wang Shi had been so unyielding over Molan’s affair was precisely because she had her own family arranged for Rulan’s marriage — her own relatives, who would not stand on ceremony over such things. With Rulan’s marriage no longer a problem, Wang Shi had felt completely at ease. And then, completely unexpectedly, her own sister had cut in and stolen the hand she’d been dealt.

From Wang Family Elder Mother’s perspective — although she loved her daughter dearly, a grandson was ultimately closer kin. Wang Shi’s habit of picking and choosing endlessly had deeply wounded the Wang family’s pride. With Kang Maternal Aunt’s persistent efforts, and given that any of the girls was equally her granddaughter, the matter of Kang Yun’er’s lifelong happiness had been smoothly resolved in just this way.

Having heard all of this, the Elder no longer felt like speaking. She let out a long sigh, and looked at her small granddaughter sitting with bowed head, quietly massaging her legs. She suddenly felt a moment of relief — at least with the relationship between the He family’s Elder Mother and herself, and the friendship between herself and the two of them, Minglan’s marriage should not fall through, surely.

Ah…but this whole tangled mess — how was it ever going to be unraveled?

By now, Wang Shi must be longing to devour Lin Yiniang and her daughter alive.

“Setting all of that aside — is everything else at home all right?” the Elder said with tired voice, shifting slightly to one side.

Hai Shi put down her handkerchief and tried to produce a strained smile: “All well. Little Quan has cut his first teeth, and can now call out a few people’s names — you can have a look at him when we get home. …Oh, and also — this past New Year, your granddaughter-in-law, following the Elder’s instructions, sent New Year gifts to the He household as usual. Old Madam He’s temper has been better — she thanked us repeatedly. Not long ago, your granddaughter-in-law heard that the He family was looking for a suitable residence, as He Hong’s maternal uncle’s family has come to the capital. Your granddaughter-in-law happens to have a cousin’s wife whose family has just such a courtyard — two sections front and back, not very large, but tidy and in good order, needing no renovation before moving in. She had been waiting for the Elder to return before discussing it, to see whether it might be worth mentioning to the He family…”

Minglan’s hand paused in its motion. She raised her head and glanced at the Elder, and saw the faintest flicker of light in the Elder’s eyes.

He Hong’s mother had only one sister — so He Hong had only one maternal uncle. Over the years of dealings with the He family, Sheng Lao had come to know that He Hong’s mother felt a strong concern for the Cao family. One could only wonder whether the air and water of Liangzhou agreed with their health.

The Elder drew a long breath. Her fingers tightened around her prayer beads, the joints going faintly white. Things would have to be taken one at a time. She must summon up her full strength.