Ziteng had been serving Jin Niang for her final year in Wu County, and it had now been four or five years. She had long been receiving the allowance of a second-rank maid. However, with Qingrong around, it was difficult for her to rise to prominence, much like Xi Qiu's situation in the past. Now that she had gone to serve the Second Young Master, she could become a senior maid.
At Jin Niang's place, two new maids were arranged. Ying and Qingrong were teaching them the rules together. Both maids were only hired for five years. After five years, they would be returned to their families. Having just a few trusted servants from the family's own household was enough; it saved a lot of trouble.
The second son had already been taken to the east side-room, where Wet Nurse Bai was feeding him. Nanny Fang quietly said to Ziteng, "You must be vigilant in this room. These wet nurses and the new maids are different from us; they are hired from outside and are just going through the motions."
"Don't worry, Nanny, I understand," Ziteng replied.
Outside, Luo Da was already making arrangements. Jiang Xian gaining a son was one cause for celebration, and his promotion in office was another.
The Jiang family received the news first. Upon hearing he had a grandson, Master Jiang the Sixth instructed Madam Zheng to prepare a pair of foot bracelets and a necklace to be sent for the Third-Day Bathing Ceremony. Madam Xu, however, felt another wave of resentment on top of her existing discontent. "Well, now they truly have double happiness at their door."
Seeing her mother-in-law pause, Young Madam Wu prompted, "What are you waiting for? Hurry and prepare. We must go and see."
"Yes," Young Madam Wu replied.
However, when the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair arrived, they happened to encounter the news of Jiang Xian's promotion. Madam Xu thought of her own husband's promotion last year to Director of the Imperial Academy, also a sixth-rank position, and hadn't expected her younger brother-in-law to catch up so quickly.
Seeing the change in Madam Xu's expression, Ying stifled her laughter for a long time, feeling her face was about to twitch, before saying, "Madam Xu, it's so late to trouble you to come. It's just that our mistress is quite exhausted after giving birth to the young master and has already fallen asleep."
"How is your mistress's health?" Madam Xu asked.
Ying smiled, "After the birth, the midwife prepared a bowl of medicinal broth for her to drink. She said there's no cause for concern."
Madam Xu uttered an "Oh," then noticed the third courtyard was quiet and still, completely different from the firecrackers and gongs at the front courtyard. Madam Xu looked towards the west wing: "I'll go sit with Sister Jun for a bit, to see if there's anything to help with later at the front."
"Of course," Ying prepared to follow.
But Madam Xu said, "You must be busy with matters at the front. You should go attend to them first."
Ying gave a meaningful look to Xi Qiu who had just come out, and Xi Qiu welcomed Madam Xu and her daughter-in-law inside. To be honest, Madam Xu wasn't very familiar with Sister Jun and Brother Ning, as the children were sensible by the time their parents were posted outside. But Sister Jun was very courteous. Seeing Madam Xu and Young Madam Wu enter, she quickly rose to greet them.
"Good child, don't trouble yourself. We just thought since your mother has given birth and can't manage affairs, and the household is busy, we'd come see how you are," Madam Xu said, putting on the air of a kindly elder.
Unfortunately, Sister Jun had learned about the family's grudges long ago. After their grandmother passed away, this very aunt had driven her parents out. But she showed nothing on her face and instructed Jiaoxing, "Bring some tea."
Madam Xu surveyed the west wing. There were three main rooms in total. The central room held a desk and bookshelves. The side room was for daily living, with a dressing table holding a cosmetics box and a set of gold hairpins not yet put away. Next to the mother-of-pearl inlaid bed stood a large and a small embroidery frame. Not far away, on a fine-toothed table, sat a Ding kiln tripod incense burner with raised string patterns. The incense pills burning inside gave off a sweet fragrance.
"They all say your mother is blessed, giving you two younger brothers. Where is your youngest brother staying?" Madam Xu asked.
Sister Jun replied, "He's settled in the east side-room."
Madam Xu nodded, "That arrangement is quite proper. However, when he grows older, I'm afraid your courtyard won't have enough space?"
"Mother says when Brother Ning is older, he won't live in the inner courtyard anymore. He'll move to the east wing of the second courtyard. Then my younger brother will have room," Sister Jun vaguely sensed this aunt was trying to sow discord.
Young Madam Wu listened to their conversation from behind Madam Xu, thinking Sister Jun seemed quite different from her parents. Her father was sociable and got along easily with everyone, while her mother was someone who strove to be the best in everything. Yet Sister Jun's manner was gentle and peaceful, speaking and smiling pleasantly.
Madam Xu smiled, "Good child, your mother will need to rest for a while and probably won't be able to attend to you. Brother Ning will be busy with his studies. Why don't you come stay with us?"
"Aunt, your concern is touching, and I would love to play with my little cousin. However, Mother has asked me to finish embroidering that bird-and-flower painting, so I won't trouble you," Sister Jun had no desire to go live in someone else's home.
Seeing that Sister Jun was impervious to both soft and hard tactics, Madam Xu didn't let anything show on her face.
On the day of the Third-Day Bathing Ceremony, guests arrived like clouds. Madam Wei came in person. After all, this Jiang Xian was quite capable. Their recommendation was one thing, but for him to leap to a promotion directly was his own skill.
The basins of the midwives were filled with the "adding to the basin" gifts from the guests. Madam Wei tossed in a gold necklace inlaid with precious stones. Madam Zheng tossed in a silver-gilt necklace and bracelets. Madam Xu tossed in a silver necklace. Madam Zhang, thinking of her own daughter marrying into an official's family and being on good terms with Jin Niang, tossed in a longevity lock.
Many from the clan also gave gifts, like Jiang Yan's wife, Madam Zeng, who tossed in a jade pendant shaped like a child's pillow. Seventh Aunt tossed in a pair of gold rings...
After the bathing ceremony ended, the child was brought inside. Jin Niang looked at her youngest son and immediately had Wet Nurse Bai wrap him up well. Only after he was warm would she dress him.
The youngest son was given the single name "Ding" (steadfast). Jin Niang gazed at her little son. His skin seemed even fairer than hers or Jiang Xian's. She wondered what a snow-white child he would grow up to be.
Childbirth brings aging, an irreversible fact of life. The only thing Jin Niang could do was minimize it as much as possible, for the sake of her own physical and mental well-being. After all the guests had left, Ying collected all the gifts everyone had sent into a box, recording each item.
"Eldest sister-in-law only sent a silver necklace? Last time for Xuan'er's wedding, my husband and I sent six silver-gilt hairpins with flower motifs," Jin Niang thought Madam Xu was too stingy.
Ying said, "That's just how she is. You don't know, on the day you gave birth to the Second Young Master, while the master was entertaining guests outside, she was over here trying to stir up trouble with Sister Jun, even inviting Sister Jun to go live with them."
"She and I live in separate residences. Even if she has some scheme, it's likely to come to nothing. We won't be under her management either," Jin Niang leaned back and yawned.
Ying smiled, "You should rest first. I shouldn't bother you with these matters. It's just that these items are valuable and I needed to report to you."
"It's fine," Jin Niang replied. In the past, there were too many worries, so she feared being disturbed during her confinement. Now, with more smooth-sailing affairs and fewer troubles, it didn't matter much.
However, looking at the list, she said, "The County Mistress of Le'an from next door also sent a gift?"
Ying quickly nodded, "Yes. She's having a hard time too, still in mourning. Around the time you gave birth, her husband suddenly died on horseback. Now she's newly widowed."
"It's not easy for a widow without support. Has our family sent funeral condolences?" Jin Niang asked.
Ying smiled, "The master has already had my husband deliver them."
Jin Niang nodded: "That's good then."
It is also said that the County Mistress of Le'an is now about twenty-six years old. Her former husband was a playboy from the pleasure quarters, a spoiled young master who was never home. There was originally little marital affection between them. Now that he is dead, the brothers of her late husband from the Jinshen Marquis estate want to take the family wealth back. Her own father, the prince, and her legal mother have long passed away. Her birth mother is still alive, but she herself is in a precarious situation—who would stand up for her?
The neighbor, Junior Minister Jiang, however, is not only wealthy, but also of fine character, handsome, and, importantly, holds great power. If he could offer help, it would be excellent.
Only, she has sent gifts several times. Madam Jiang returns the courtesy with gifts, but does not invite her over, making further interaction impossible.
Naturally, Jin Niang was unaware of all this, as she was focused on her postpartum confinement. Minor troubles did not reach her. Inside matters were handled by Nanny Fang, Ying, and Qingrong; outside affairs were all managed by Jiang Xian, requiring no extra effort from her.
Jiang Xian was now riding high on success. Even Madam Jiang (née Jiang) back at the Zhou family knew about it. She had been waiting for Jiang Xian to visit, but didn't expect that for her son's third-day bathing ceremony, he only sent a servant with the invitation and didn't come in person.
She was just complaining to Zhou Cunzhi about Jiang Xian: "Even relatives are so snobbish these days."
After returning from Jiangling, Zhou Cunzhi was appointed as a Proofreader of the Jixian Institute and an Examining Official in the Secretariat, also a sixth-rank position. However, the Chief Councillor he aligned with was the same as Jiang Yan's; he even worked directly for the Chief Councillor now. He just didn't expect Jiang Xian to gain the Chief Councillor's trust so quickly within a year of returning to the capital.
Well, it made sense. He had studied under Minister Liu since childhood, and the two had even compiled financial texts together. No wonder he was appointed as the Junior Minister of the Court of the Imperial Treasury so swiftly this time.
He didn't think Jiang Xian was being snobbish, but said: "His household has many affairs now, how could he possibly visit everyone in person?"
But Zhou Cunzhi also sensed Jiang Xian's distancing. Thinking of his mother's attitude, she probably blamed him over his second sister's matter. Now that Jiang Xian was no longer a nobody, it was natural for him to act this way. Therefore, he didn't go in person either, only sending a gift.
The confinement period lasted forty-two consecutive days before she emerged. Her figure was slightly fuller than before, and her complexion somewhat sallow from lack of activity.
The room began to have its windows opened wide, was cleaned, and rearranged. That evening, before Jin Niang could say anything, Jiang Xian moved his bedding back from the outer courtyard. He even complained pitifully: "My wife doesn't know, I've suffered from insomnia for several nights."
"What happened?" Jin Niang was drinking black chicken soup, not understanding.
Jiang Xian said: "Either too hot or too cold, or else my heart would pound wildly. Sleeping in the garden, I always felt I could hear footsteps, waking up startled several times in the middle of the night. Moving to sleep in the front courtyard, there always seemed to be mosquitoes."
Jin Niang saw the dark circles under his eyes and, looking closer, small bumps on his forehead, his eyelids slightly swollen. She quickly said: "You really have suffered. Don't worry, I've already had the room tidied up. It's fragrant now, with no mosquitoes. Have a bowl of black chicken soup too, to replenish your energy and blood, and get some proper rest."
Speaking of repelling mosquitoes, it was actually one of Jin Niang's clever ideas. She disliked burning mugwort because the smell was too strong. So, every night after dinner, she had the maids close the windows tightly, use a copper mosquito-catching lamp inside the bed curtains to suck them up, contain the mosquito-repellent incense, then light a short section of mosquito coil beside the bed. Once it burned out, they would switch to sweet, sleep-inducing scents like osmanthus or the "Pear in the Bed-curtain" incense. After that, they would place two basins of ice in the ice chest. By the time they returned from their stroll, the room would be sweet, cool, and refreshing. After washing up and re-entering, the bed would be remade with light-colored bedding, clean and tidy, making one want to sleep as soon as they lay down.
But Jiang Xian, having been cared for like this for so many years, had grown accustomed to it. Once he was outside, he simply couldn't sleep.
Sure enough, seeing the olive-green sheets, pale yellow pillows embroidered with two little white rabbits, and the thin quilt covered with osmanthus patterns, with a cool mat underneath the sheet, Jiang Xian immediately lay down, even forgetting the soup.
Jin Niang didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "You, you... I don't know what to say about you, still acting like a child."
"Wife, I'm going to sleep." Jiang Xian secretly tucked Jin Niang's silver perfume sachet from the pillow into his embrace and fell asleep.
Jin Niang, however, was full of energy. Finally free of the burden, she felt light as a swallow. Although she couldn't move vigorously, she was at last liberated. She had also heard that some women could experience severe bleeding even fifty days after childbirth, so she didn't dare be careless. She simply called all the children over to chat.
First, Wet Nurse Bai brought Ding'er over. Just over a month old, he was wearing clothes his older brother and sister wore as infants. This time it wasn't because Jin Niang feared waste, but because the pediatrician said a baby's skin is delicate and old clothes are softer and more comfortable. She checked the baby's navel. Seeing it was indeed wrapped first in a soft, comfortable four-inch square of white cloth, then the umbilical cord stump wrapped with new cotton half an inch thick, she breathed a sigh of relief.
In this era, infants were particularly susceptible to umbilical wind (tetanus), so Jin Niang had to check it daily.
Now, seeing it completely dry and the belly button deep, she helped her youngest son remove the wrapping.
Wet Nurse Bai thought that actually, the young master's umbilical cord fell off quickly, but the mistress was too meticulous, fearing it might get wet, so she kept it wrapped until now to remove it.
"You've worked hard too," Jin Niang said with a smile.
The first month, infants are actually easier to care for; they don't cry much and sleep a lot. But they need to be fed almost every half hour or hour. By the second month, crying increases severely, and they are prone to gas. So after each feeding, one must burp them.
Wet Nurse Bai said: "Wherever does the mistress say such things, this is my duty."
"After the young master drinks milk each time, you must burp him. If you can't get a burp out, hold him upright for a while before laying him down. When he's awake, let him lie on his tummy more often. Remember?" Jin Niang instructed.
Wet Nurse Bai nodded in agreement.
Jin Niang also rewarded her with a pair of silver hairpins. "Take good care of the young master, and I will certainly not treat you unfairly."
This time, she learned from experience: talk less about personal matters with these wet nurses and maids, focus more on their duties, ensure rewards are appropriate, have people supervise, and just be attentive herself.
Compared to the little one, the two older children, Brother Ning and Sister Jun, were much less trouble. They both brought their schoolwork to show Jin Niang, and the three of them, mother and children, chatted quietly.
By the time Jiang Xian woke up, it was already dusk. His wife was reading on the daybed and just smiled when she saw him awake: "Look at how you were sleeping, the children couldn't even come in."
His clothes were all rumpled from sleep, and he looked utterly drowsy, almost rivaling that sleep-lover, Younger Brother Yang.
"Wife, this is the best sleep I've had in months." Jiang Xian felt immensely happy.
Jin Niang got up: "Then I'll have dinner served. You get up first."
Jiang Xian wanted to pull her close again, his intentions obvious. Jin Niang stopped him: "Not now, I'm afraid." She mentioned her fear of heavy bleeding. Jiang Xian immediately halted and said, "I'll ask the gynecologist, Physician Jiang, to come take a look. You are my dearest love; you must be well."
"You're acting so strange lately. You never used to say such mushy things before. This kind of confession is too much for me to take," Jin Niang chided him with a glance.
Back when Sister Jun and Brother Ning were born, he was still very young, obsessed with fame and scholarly pursuits. Exhausted from daily studies, he would just fall asleep. This time, during his wife's postpartum confinement, he would often gaze at the moonlight, even missing her so much he couldn't help but shed tears. But such words were hard to say to her.
Jiang Xian then said, "Oh, I'm hungry."
Seeing he was dressed, Jin Niang promptly called for dinner. The evening meal was quite light: steamed perch, stir-fried lettuce, and steamed egg custard. Even with just these dishes, the couple nearly finished them all.
It was now mid-September. After dinner, Jin Niang tallied the Mid-Autumn Festival gifts. Every year, it was about how much they gave and received, but they always had to front the money first.
After recuperating for about another ten days, Jin Niang heard that official silt lands were now being sold in Jingxi. First-grade red silt land was priced at two and a half to three strings of cash per mu, and second-grade variegated silt land at two to two and a half strings. Jingxi referred to Luoyang, not far from Kaifeng. Jin Niang discussed with Jiang Xian sending someone to Luoyang to purchase two qing of land as a dowry for their daughter.
Learning from Sixth Madam Jiang's experience, Jin Niang was determined not to touch the family's capital, because as people age, opportunities to earn money become fewer. Just like Jiang Xian, although his official career was flourishing now, the seas of officialdom were unpredictable.
Luo Da had always been sent out before, but now he needed to stay in the capital to manage affairs. So, Jin Niang dispatched Liu Dou'er, giving him a total of four hundred strings in cash, plus added cloth, gold, and silver. These cloths were gifts received over the past two years during Mid-Autumn, Dragon Boat Festival, and New Year, as well as items from Ding'er's third-day bath ceremony. The more valuable ones were kept, but things like the necklace sent by Madam Xu were all taken along.
These were all high-quality brocades and silks, some worth five or six strings per bolt, some even ten strings.
Of course, what her own family gifted out were of similar quality.
The total value of the cash and goods given was around six hundred strings, enough to buy first-grade land and build some sheds for storing grain.
Ying, meanwhile, helped her husband pack his luggage: "You must go quickly and handle this matter well for Madam. Take a few estate managers from our Kaifeng to oversee things. That way, Madam can feel assured entrusting other matters to you."
Liu Dou'er nodded: "Don't worry, I'll definitely get this done properly for Madam."
As the couple discussed, Jin Niang also said to Jiang Xian: "The rent from Sweet Water Alley has come in. We've been spending money like water recently; we need to start being more frugal now."
Jiang Xian said, "The household relies entirely on your planning and management." So quickly, their daughter's dowry funds, land, shops, and residence were all arranged, even half the jewelry was prepared. This wasn't something just anyone could accomplish.
Dowry funds of three thousand strings, a residence divided into a two-courtyard compound with good business, worth two thousand strings, land worth nearly six hundred strings, plus jewelry—that came to roughly six thousand strings.
Perhaps because his wife was like this, he had not the slightest desire to embezzle any money. The family would always have funds anyway.
However, his current post at the Court of the Imperial Treasury was truly a lucrative position among lucrative positions.
Jiang Xian smiled: "You now earn ninety strings a month. Our family could live on your salary alone."
His official salary was thirty strings, but he received many additional allowances and subsidies, even a considerable amount of cloth, which was why Jin Niang wasn't worried. The couple went over their finances again before finally relaxing.
By the tenth month, Jin Niang was finally able to go out. It had been two months since she gave birth to Ding'er. Coincidentally, it was Madam Wei's birthday, and she had to go offer congratulations.
People might not attend their own birthday celebrations, but they must attend others'.
Jin Niang prepared two bolts of purple ground crane-pattern brocade, one load of longevity peaches, one load of longevity noodles, two boxes of crispy butter pastries, two crystal geese, a jar of tangerine wine, a box of "Jade Maiden Peach Blossom" face powder, two boxes of lip rouge, and a longevity screen.
This longevity screen was embroidered by Sister Jun under Jin Niang's instruction. A white peacock perched among lush peonies, symbolizing blooming wealth and prosperity. For a girl of Sister Jun's age to embroider such intricate, double-sided patterns was exceedingly rare.
Thus, Madam Wei was delighted upon seeing it: "You clever girl! Your needlework is this excellent?"
Sister Jun smiled shyly.
"Please don't praise her too much. She kept telling me she was too embarrassed to bring it, afraid people would laugh," Jin Niang said, though she was actually very proud.
Seeing Jin Niang elegantly and richly dressed, and being the Wei family's paternal aunt with a husband from the Jiang family of the two Jinshi brothers, Jiang Yan and Jiang Xian, many people became interested.
This was also the effect Jin Niang wanted. Young Master Wei the Seventh was good, but they needed alternatives; there was no need to fixate on a single prospect.
Therefore, on the very evening they returned home from the birthday banquet, someone went to Madam Wei to inquire: "I saw that the eldest daughter of the Jiang family is exceptionally beautiful. Though young, she seems very capable. I wonder if she is betrothed?"
Madam Wei smiled: "Not yet, of course. Why? Are you interested in their daughter?"
That person said: "To be frank, my eldest son is fifteen this year, not yet capped, and studies diligently. I was just thinking of arranging a marriage for him."
Madam Wei said: "You could send someone to their home to inquire."
Jin Niang also successively received invitations from several families, inviting them to flower banquets or polo matches. She and Jiang Xian were analyzing the invitations together.
"Look, this Infantry Commander seems to be a military officer. Should we decline?" Jin Niang asked.
"Hmm, decline directly. We civil officials shouldn't associate too frequently with military officers," Jiang Xian dismissed it completely, even feeling that Infantry Commander shouldn't have sent the invitation in the first place.
Jin Niang picked up another invitation: "What about this one?"
Jiang Xian took it and looked: "The Chancellor of the National Academy, a fourth-rank official in charge of the Imperial Academy. This one is acceptable. We can go take a look, but we don't have to agree immediately."
Another one was from an Academician of the Tianzhang Pavilion, a senior official.
The couple first screened by social status, then planned to inquire about the young men's situations, observe for a year or two before settling on a betrothal. During this time, they would also help their daughter accumulate more dowry.
On another side, Madam Xu also brought up her nephew to Jiang Yan: "You know Kang'er from the fifth uncle's family. My eldest sister says he is handsome and talented and wants to be a matchmaker for him. I just think 'fertile water shouldn't flow to outsiders' fields.' Our niece Sister Jun is three years younger than him. They know each other's roots, unlike outsiders who might hide things. If they married, you and I would have done right by your brother."
"This..." Jiang Yan seemed lost in thought.
Madam Xu pressed her advantage while the iron was hot: "Our Kang'er's scholarship has been praised by many, even the Chancellor of the Jixian Hall called him the 'thousand-li colt' of the Xu family. Your own younger brother was of such humble means, yet the Zhang family took a liking to him at first glance. I believe the Sixteenth Young Master and his mother would surely feel the same way."
