Chapter 501

Chapter 507: Worries and Joys (Part 2)

Eleven Lady smiled upon hearing this and asked, "Has the elder madam mentioned which troupe she prefers?"

Though the elder madam consulted her out of respect for her authority as household mistress, she couldn’t disregard the elder’s preferences.

Yu Ban’s eyes lit up eagerly as she replied, "The elder madam said she wonders how Bai Xixiang sings!"

Eleven Lady nodded with a smile and went to see the elder madam.

"It’s usually Changsheng or Deyin Troupe—what do you think? Should we switch it up this year and invite the Jiexiang Society for a private performance? It would be a refreshing change..."

The elder madam smiled and nodded, then discussed with Eleven Lady: "Should the mandarin fish be steamed or braised? And for the flower hall, should we decorate with lilacs or crabapple blossoms..."

They spent the afternoon ironing out details for the Double Third Festival.

By evening, news came from Third Master Xu Lingning’s side—he had secured a reappointment as the magistrate of Shanyang County.

The elder madam beamed with pride, and Third Lady took the opportunity to suggest, "...The Ministry of Personnel’s appointment officer helped greatly. I’d like to invite his wife for a drink at our home on the Double Third Festival..."

The room fell silent.

The elder madam smiled, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said leisurely, "For us, it’s no trouble, but the chief clerk’s wife might find it troublesome—what to wear, what jewelry to choose, what gift to bring... It would require much thought. If you truly wish to show gratitude, why not order a banquet from Chunxi Tower and send it to them? That would be more practical..."

Third Lady flushed, mortified.

Fifth Lady shot her a knowing smirk before cheerfully clinging to the elder madam’s arm. "Mother, could you ask Fifth Young Master to let me go to Dianchun Hall to listen to the opera on the Double Third Festival..."

Tradition dictated pregnant women stay home.

The elder madam, knowing she was helping Third Lady save face, looked at her slightly rounded belly and gently bopped her forehead. "You should stay indoors and rest properly."

"Mother!" Fifth Lady shook the elder madam’s arm, whining playfully. "Please say yes..."

Xu Sijian and Xu Sizhun bit back giggles, while Zhenjie ran over to hug the elder madam’s other arm. Failing to reach it, she tugged at her sleeve instead and copied her mother’s sugary voice. "Mother, please say yes..."

The room erupted in laughter.

The elder madam gave Fifth Lady’s cheek a teasing pinch. "See how you’ve set such a mischievous example..."

Xu Sijie giggled.

Xu Siqin, however, burned with secondhand embarrassment at his mother’s inappropriate behavior and lowered his head.

On the day of the Double Third Festival, Madam Huang and Madam Lin arrived first as usual. Madam Huang sat with the elder madam, while Madam Lin pulled Eleven Lady aside to chat. "...The estate’s heir recently acquired a pair of red coral branches. Finding them rare, he asked me to bring them to you today—for good luck when redecorating..."

In ancient times, coral was a precious item, especially red coral. This was likely a gift of gratitude for Lord Xu’s assistance during the Yang family’s confiscation incident.

Eleven Lady put up a token protest before accepting with a smile.

Lady Lin and Madam Lin arrived.

"When will your Zhenjie marry?" Lady Lin crowed, bursting with energy. "Our Huijie’s three months along now!"

"Congratulations!" Eleven Lady and Madam Lin offered their well-wishes.

Lady Lin laughed with Madam Huang and the elder madam at her daughter-in-law’s excitement. "Look at her—she’s over the moon!"

"With such wonderful news, we’d be just as thrilled!" the elder madam replied, waving Lady Lin closer to ask for details. After seeing off the guests that evening, Eleven Lady saw the elder madam to bed. The elder madam couldn’t help but hesitate. "Perhaps we should arrange for Zhenjie to marry earlier..."

"At the earliest by the end of this year, at the latest by next spring..." Eleven Lady smiled. "It would be even better if Huijie gets familiar with Cangzhou first, so she can guide our Zhenjie when she goes."

The Grand Madame nodded and smiled. "Perhaps it's because I'm old now—I just want to see my descendants reunited sooner..." Her words sent a chill down Eleven Lady's spine.

"Mother, you mustn’t think like that..." she said as she helped the Grand Madame change into her resting clothes. "Our Jin Geer’s future wife is still waiting for your red packet..."

The Grand Madame chuckled. "Don’t worry, don’t worry, I’ve prepared it long ago! Jin Geer won’t be left out..." Then she brought up Madam Qiao. "...She hasn’t attended the spring banquet on March 3rd for two years. Back then, Cheng State Duke was serving as the Xuan-Tong commander, and Fourth Master had just returned from mourning in his hometown. I wonder why she’s absent again this time..."

"Perhaps she’s busy with family matters..." Eleven Lady had heard about it from Lord Xu. "They invested over two hundred thousand taels in usury with the Yang family. Now that the Yang family’s account books were burned at the Wu Men (Meridian Gate) by the Emperor’s order, the Qiao family not only lost everything but also owed debts. Creditors swarmed to demand repayment. With no money left, someone even stormed into their main hall and took away an ancestral bronze tripod. If the Shuntian Prefect’s men hadn’t arrived in time, even their three-by-two-foot red sandalwood incense table would’ve been carried off. These days, Cheng State Duke is dealing with all this—how could Madam Qiao have the mood to come drink and enjoy opera at our place?"

Since a large portion of the Yang family’s usury loans had been lent to officials from the Six Ministries, after Marquis Jianning and Earl of Shouchang were imprisoned, even the officials from the Court of Judicial Review hesitated to interrogate them. The Emperor simply ordered a public notice declaring the account books would be burned at the Meridian Gate that day.

The Grand Madame had heard of it, though not so thoroughly as Eleven Lady. She sighed. "When an army collapses, it collapses like a landslide. Managing a household is no different. I fear the Qiao family will suffer a heavy blow this time. And to make matters worse, none of their descendants stand out..." She then recalled the past. "I remember Cheng State Duke had a younger half-brother, about the same age as Fourth Master. When they were young, for some reason, he got into an argument with Fourth Master and set a trap with a few playmates, actually tricking Fourth Master into losing five taels of silver. He was extremely clever and sharp. Unfortunately, later, the old Madam Qiao sent someone to lure him into the brothels, and he was eventually cast out of the household over an actress. If he had been properly guided and sent to the military for training, he might have been useful now."

The matter was rather complicated, so Eleven Lady refrained from commenting.

"Indeed," she replied vaguely before turning the conversation to Xu Sizhun. "I wonder how the preparations at Humble Abstinence Studio are coming along? I should go check tomorrow."

"Don’t worry about that," the Grand Madame said with a smile. "I’ve asked Madam Du to oversee it. If anything comes up, she’ll inform me." Then she inquired about Yang Shi. "Have the incense offerings for Great Enlightenment Temple been prepared?"

Regarding sending Yang Shi to Great Enlightenment Temple, Eleven Lady didn’t elaborate, and Lord Xu didn’t ask much. After hearing a brief mention, he had Steward Bai arrange it.

However, sending someone to a temple required a customary donation.

"The donations have already been sent. It’s settled at thirty taels annually. She’ll be sent there on the ninth."

The Grand Madame nodded slightly and let Eleven Lady assist her to rest.

Eleven Lady returned to her chambers.

Gejin brought out the pair of coral sent by Madam Huang for her inspection.

They were pink, about a foot tall, shimmering brilliantly under the lamplight—truly exquisite.

The maids marveled. Qiuyu even reached out cautiously to touch one. "Madam, they say this is made from the horns of the Dragon King and can avert misfortune. Is that true?"

Eleven Lady didn’t believe it, but she didn’t debunk it either. "Perhaps," she said with a smile.

Though usually composed, Gejin, though merely fifteen or sixteen, couldn’t hide her excitement. "When I was little, I saw a family place one on their ancestral altar. It must be true!"

Just then, Lord Xu entered.

"Oh, who sent these?"

"Madam Huang sent them," Eleven Lady replied, rising to help him change.

Lord Xu examined them. "Both the same height and shape—quite rare." Then he added, "Place one on your windowsill with the goldfish for a nice touch. The other can go by Jin Geer’s bedside."

It seemed he, too, believed in the coral’s protective properties.

Eleven Lady agreed with a smile. Later, on the Eighth Day of the fourth month—Buddha’s birthday—she sent an ivory statuette set of Five Hundred Arhats as a return gift to Madam Huang. But that is a tale for another time.

The following day, she visited Humble Abstinence Studio.

Gejin had already moved in and accompanied Eleven Lady on a tour.

Though called a "studio," it was actually a three-courtyard compound with five rooms. The steps were flanked by thick Chinese cedar trees, the walls freshly whitewashed, the furniture freshly lacquered, and the curtains and cushions all new. Yet the vases and tea sets were antiques, lending an air of refined simplicity—perfectly suited to Xu Sizhun’s status.

Eleven Lady was satisfied. After spending a few days settling Xu Sizhun in, the Emperor’s verdict on the Yang family was finally handed down.

"Seizing all family assets and exiled to Lingnan?"

Lord Xu nodded: "His Majesty still values past ties and spared the Yang family's lives."

"What about those two grand secretaries?"

"They most likely won't survive!" Lord Xu said quietly, "But their families won't be implicated."

Miss Eleven sighed faintly.

That evening, upon hearing the news, Mother Yang came begging to see her.

"Madam, I wish to follow Lady Yang to Dajue Temple to become a nun. I beg for your permission!" As she spoke, she began kowtowing.

No wonder she came to me.

With the Yang family in such a state, returning would offer no security. She'd just be another dependent.

Miss Eleven signaled for someone to help her up: "Since Lady Yang has taken monastic vows, she's now removed from worldly matters. It wouldn't be suitable for you to follow. If you don't mind, I could arrange for you to be an overseer at one of our manors. What do you think?"

Mother Yang looked somewhat disappointed but saw the reason in Miss Eleven's words. She expressed her gratitude. On the evening of the eighth, she helped Yang Shi pack her belongings together with the attendant Miss Eleven had assigned to watch over her.

Zhuxiang entered with a solemn expression and whispered to Miss Eleven: "Ever since being escorted back to her room, she hasn't cried or made a fuss. She's packed everything properly and just now had Mother Yang take down the four hanging screens from her bedroom wall, saying she likes them very much and wants to take them to the temple."

Only someone with extraordinary willpower could remain so calm and methodical under such circumstances. No wonder Zhuxiang was concerned.

Miss Eleven's goal was simply to have her leave the Xu household.

Hearing this, she said quietly: "She only has those few belongings in her room. Let her take whatever she wants. As for the rest... I've already arranged with the temple administrators - the thirty taels for incense and oil will be given in three installments: during Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Spring Festival. Since someone from the family is going, it's only proper that they visit Lady Yang occasionally!"

Zhuxiang understood. After Yang Shi departed, she recorded all the items taken, made appropriate notes, sent some cleaning women to tidy the small courtyard, then locked the gate with a copper lock.

Mother Yang and some Xu family servants escorted Yang Shi to Dajue Temple. That same evening, after returning to kowtow to Miss Eleven, she shouldered her bundle and followed the Xu family steward to a manor in Shaanxi province to serve as a caretaker.