Jin Niang adored her rabbit-patterned shoes so much that she couldn't bear to take them off even at night. She would peek them out from under her skirt, showing them off to Jiang Xian, who found her utterly endearing.
"Are you feeling well today? It's raining outside—next time, just send someone to fetch me from the study if you miss me. I'll come right away," Jiang Xian said, his voice tender as the drizzling rain outside, evoking an intimate warmth between them.
Jin Niang smiled. "I know. I just want to take care of you more while I’m at home. Besides, it’s already been three months, and the physician says I’m in good health. You don’t need to worry."
Between husband and wife, there were no secrets. Jiang Xian even shared news about the Zhou family: "Did you know the third young master of the Zhou family is in poor health? It started with leg pain, then spread throughout his body. He endured it silently for his studies, but recently, while escorting his family’s ancestral tablet back to Hangzhou, he collapsed. The physicians say his condition is grave."
Wasn’t the third young master the one who took Qin Shuang'er as a concubine? Jin Niang had guessed it might be her when she last heard the name "Qin Xiaoniang," but she hadn’t expected such misfortune.
"The Zhou family lacks capable heirs, much like our Jiang family, though at least we have more descendants. That’s why they’re trying to cozy up to us now," Jiang Xian remarked.
Jin Niang couldn’t help asking, "But what about the Zhou family’s son-in-law?"
"Sun Shichen is mediocre, and the He family isn’t much better," Jiang Xian said dismissively.
Despite his youth, he had sharp insights. Jin Niang pressed further, "You’ve always been close to the Zhou family’s matriarch. Won’t you need their support in the future?"
Jiang Xian chuckled. "Not necessarily. Before, I didn’t mind since we were connected by marriage. But after the way my aunt slighted you—if she truly valued me, would she have insulted you? It’s clear they don’t hold me in high regard."
At this time, Jiang Xian was preparing for the provincial examinations, his status rising with his prospects.
Jin Niang couldn’t bring herself to dampen his spirits—he was still young, after all. Instead, she teased, "Husband, you’re so good to me. But I’ve heard embroidered clothes aren’t allowed in the examination hall, so you’ll have to make do without."
"Wife, you should rest now—you’re carrying our child," Jiang Xian said, bending down to press his ear gently against her barely visible bump, as if hoping to hear something.
Jin Niang stroked his ear. "I just want you to come back safely."
Two days later, the skies cleared, and Jin Niang returned to her embroidery shop. Business had been slow for weeks, leaving even Juxiang sighing in frustration. But there was a pleasant surprise—the study’s windows and doors had been installed, and the walls inside were now smooth and polished.
With the sunshine came customers. A matchmaker arrived, requesting a purple jacket with embroidered collars, shoulders, hems, and cuffs. Jin Niang smiled. "It’ll take a month to finish. That’ll be three strings of cash."
The matchmaker protested, "Madam Wei, I need it sooner! How about this—once I arrange a marriage, I’ll send the bride and groom here for their wedding clothes?"
"It’s not that I don’t want to hurry, but at this price, no embroidery house could finish a fully embroidered piece in half a month," Jin Niang replied.
Truthfully, she could finish it in ten days if she worked day and night, but she wouldn’t strain herself for just three strings of cash.
Reluctantly, the matchmaker added two more strings, and Jin Niang agreed, "Very well, I’ll have it ready in half a month."
She refused to lower prices just because business was slow—it would disrupt the market. The two large orders from Young Master Shen and Madam Gao earlier had already covered most of her expenses. Though building renovations kept draining her funds, at least she hadn’t touched her principal.
She cut the fabric, sketched the patterns, and began stitching that afternoon.
Embroidery was second nature to her—once the needle was in hand, her fingers moved effortlessly. This piece had many motifs, but they were simple, using only two colors and basic stitches.
Nearby, Madame Zhu worked on Mid-Autumn Festival embroidery. "Madam, why not humor the matchmaker? If the bride orders clothes here later, wouldn’t that mean more business?"
"Long-term gains are good, but matchmakers’ promises aren’t reliable. Purple jackets are for high-status matchmaking—those families either have their own seamstresses or go to big embroidery houses. A small shop like ours can’t handle such large orders," Jin Niang explained knowingly.
Madame Zhu smiled obsequiously. "Madam is so worldly-wise."
Jin Niang shook her head with a laugh.
Embroidery was tedious work, and after a few words, both women fell silent, focusing on their needles. Ying and Minzhi were busy too, sewing tiny clothes and shoes for Jin Niang’s unborn child—especially Minzhi, who had been transferred to Jiang Xian’s household for her exceptional needlework.
Rotating attendants like Minzhi and Xi Qiu served two purposes: to evaluate them and to prevent others from taking advantage of their absence.
By afternoon, Jin Niang had finished half the collar embroidery. She wiped her brow and noticed the side rooms of the building were nearly complete. The east wing, simpler in design, housed servants in three small chambers with an attic above. The west wing was a single large room, soon to be a storeroom.
Halfway through the matchmaker’s jacket, Jiang Xian’s aunt returned with her family, ostentatiously offering Madam Xu daily expenses. Madam Xu declined repeatedly before finally accepting.
With another family moving in, Sixth Madam Jiang was overjoyed to see her daughter and even ate an extra half-bowl of rice.
Jin Niang sent Ying with fashionable pastries and fruits for her sister-in-law. When Ying returned, she reported, "Madam, the young mistress seemed indifferent. She only asked me to thank you on her behalf."
"Don’t dwell on it. Madam Xu must have invited them back as allies," Jin Niang said. Her gestures were for her mother-in-law’s benefit—whether her sister-in-law liked her mattered little.
Once settled in, Miss Jiang the Seventh noticed Jin Niang still went to the embroidery shop despite her pregnancy, while Madam Xu attended to her mother daily. She couldn’t resist criticizing.
"Mother, they say long illness tests filial piety. She may be pregnant, but she’s clearly healthy. If she’s so strong, she should be tending to you instead of running outside. No wonder the clan gossips—what proper wife roams about like this?" Miss Jiang sighed dramatically while feeding her mother medicine.
Sixth Madam Jiang said, "You don’t know this, but your sister-in-law actually prefers staying at home. Just a few days ago, she was still sending things over frequently, bringing snacks and nourishing soups to your brother’s study every day. However, the work she takes on is for noble families—it’s not something she can easily refuse. Last time, she made a Luoyang brocade gown for the wife of Academician Huang, and in return, the man accepted your brother as his disciple. Later, she also made clothes for the daughter of the Song family. How could she possibly turn down requests from such people?"
After speaking, Sixth Madam Jiang coughed a few times.
At that moment, Jiang Xian entered. Miss Jiang the Seventh wasn’t sure if her brother had overheard her words, but she straightened her posture nonetheless.
Jiang Xian acted as if he hadn’t heard anything. He sat down and exchanged pleasantries with his sister for a while, then inquired after his mother’s health. Somehow, Jiang Xian noticed that Sixth Madam Jiang’s face looked even paler than before, and her speech seemed more labored.
"Mother, should I have someone buy you some cherries and sugar-fried curds?" Jiang Xian asked.
Sixth Madam Jiang quickly waved her hand. "Even if you buy them, I won’t have the appetite. My mouth has no taste for anything. You should hurry back to your studies. Look at your elder brother—he barely leaves his room these days, while you’re always running about."
Jiang Xian laughed. "Your son is still young. Besides, my brother-in-law and Eighth Brother are both more promising than I am. When the time comes, I’ll buy the biggest and finest firecrackers and have them set off at the gate."
"Sixteenth Young Master’s tongue grows sweeter by the day," Miss Jiang the Seventh teased.
That evening, Jin Niang returned with some gorgon nuts from the Li family. The small packet, wrapped in lotus leaves and tied with a red string, cost only ten coins and contained a hint of musk.
Having watched many palace dramas in her past life, Jin Niang only realized the musk was inside after purchasing them. She had no choice but to distribute them among the maids.
When Jiang Xian returned and saw the maids eating the gorgon nuts while he had none, he rushed over. "Wife, why did you buy these today?"
"Isn’t it customary to eat gorgon nuts at the start of autumn? I asked the young servant to get them for me, but then I noticed the musk inside, so I gave them to the maids instead," Jin Niang explained, a little regretful that she hadn’t gotten to taste them herself.
Then, glancing at Jiang Xian, she added, "These are just little snacks I enjoy now and then—only ten coins a packet. I figured a refined gentleman like you wouldn’t care for such common fare, so I didn’t save any for you."
Jiang Xian immediately protested, "Am I not just a common man myself? Why must you speak like that?"
"Fine, I misspoke, alright? By the way, your study is being papered today," Jin Niang said with a smile.
Jiang Xian thought to himself that his wife never seemed burdened by great worries. She never stirred up trouble, always sharing what she had done, what books she had read, or occasionally mentioning how much money she had earned.
The two slept soundly that night. The next morning, news arrived that the third son of the Zhou family, Zhou Shenzhi, had passed away. Jiang Xian hurried over to offer condolences—no one had expected such a robust young man to die so suddenly.
Jin Niang naturally prepared the mourning gifts: a bolt of white silk, a jar of wine, and half a side of dried meat. These were customary offerings for a recent death. She sent someone to purchase them first, then personally selected a plain mourning robe for Jiang Xian, had the maids press it, and helped him into it.
Nanny Luo chuckled. "Our Sixteenth Young Master used to dress finely on the outside but sometimes wore mismatched socks. Now, he’s impeccable from head to toe—all thanks to you, madam."
"Don’t flatter me, Nanny. It’s just that our Sixteenth Young Master is so endearing—I’m happy to do things for him," Jin Niang said, adjusting Jiang Xian’s robe at the shoulders as she smiled at Nanny Luo.
Though Jiang Xian stood with his arms outstretched, letting Jin Niang dress him, his ears were perked up. Hearing this, they turned faintly pink. Once Nanny Luo and the others had left with the items, he leaned close to Jin Niang’s ear and whispered, "I love my wife the most."
Jin Niang gave him a light shove. "Hurry now, don’t dawdle."
"Mm." Jiang Xian reached the door but turned back for one last glance. "Wife, Uncle Luo will take me there today. You should rest at home. I’ll return early, and we can talk then."
Jin Niang, who had nearly finished embroidering a vest the day before, nodded. "Alright, I’ll wait for you."
When Jiang Xian arrived at the Zhou residence, the family was in mourning. The third branch of the Zhou family had always been inconspicuous, and Jiang Xian wouldn’t have visited if not for his past friendship with some of the Zhou sons.
Though dressed in plain mourning attire, Jiang Xian looked exceptionally neat. His natural elegance, combined with the proper funeral preparations, made him stand out. The third branch of the Zhou family was devastated—Zhou Shenzhi had been diligent and studious, ten times the man his father was, and the family’s great hope. His untimely death was a crushing blow.
At least he had left behind two sons and a daughter, all born of concubines, ensuring the family line continued.
Jiang Xian sat in the front hall for a while, conversing with Zhou Cunzhi, Sun Shichen, and others who had come to help. From inside, the sound of a woman’s heart-wrenching sobs reached them, and he sighed.
The one weeping so bitterly was Qin Shuang'er. She still couldn’t believe her husband was gone. After becoming Zhou Shenzhi’s concubine, she had risen from a maid to a favored secondary wife. The primary wife had a gentle temperament and never begrudged her status, especially since she herself had borne no children and treated the concubine’s offspring as her own.
Qin Shuang'er had even given birth to a son, and mother and child had been deeply cherished. Now, with her husband gone, she was barely twenty and doomed to a lifetime of widowhood.
"Madam, please don’t grieve so—there are many guests outside," someone urged.
Qin Shuang'er glanced out. From her vantage point, she could see Jiang Xian and Sun Shichen. Though both wore plain mourning clothes, they were handsome young gentlemen—especially Jiang Xian, who was Jin Niang’s husband.
She had heard of Jin Niang before and had felt a twinge of envy. That plump woman, once a servant like herself, now owned property in the capital, was stunningly beautiful, and had even married into an official’s family.
But Qin Shuang'er had once had a husband and a son, so her envy had been fleeting.
Now, her husband was dead, and all her hopes had vanished.
Her son was still so young—even if she waited for him to grow up, it would take decades. Who knew what misfortunes might befall them in the meantime? The thought made Qin Shuang'er weep even harder.
It was as if she were reliving her mother’s fate—her mother, too, had been cast out by the primary wife after her husband’s death.
......
When Jiang Xian returned, he told Jin Niang about Zhou Shenzhi’s widow. "The third branch of the Zhou family is finished."
Jin Niang sighed. "When I was at the Zhou residence before, I heard that the third master and his wife didn’t get along, but at least the wife had Third Young Master—a diligent scholar. Now that he’s gone, the widow and orphans will have a hard time of it."
Though they had the Third Master, he was utterly useless—more of a burden than anything else. He spent his days idling with concubines, only ever asking for money from the family.
"Exactly. Since their old matriarch passed, each branch of the family has gone their own way. Only the second branch still has wealth, but over the years, they’ve discreetly sold off many of their shops to avoid drawing attention. They’re not as lavish as they used to be," Jiang Xian remarked.
Jin Niang nodded. "That’s true. The second branch has sons and even a granddaughter—they have their own household to provide for. How could they keep giving money away?"
Truthfully, she had noticed the Zhou family’s declining fortunes. The first sign was their clothing—no longer as fine as before. Xiang Ming used to visit often, but the last time Jin Niang went to the Zhou residence, she complained bitterly. Even Madam Jiang’s temper had worsened, clear signs of their reduced circumstances.
Like Jin Niang, though busy, she found life satisfying now. She could earn money, and though she worked hard, it didn’t weigh on her heart. There was no room for resentment.
The two chatted for a long while. Now that her pregnancy was stable, the physician said it was safe to resume intimacy. Jiang Xian was eager, and seeing Jin Niang equally willing, he proceeded gently to relieve her tension.
Who knew the next day she would spot blood? Thankfully, the physician assured them it was nothing serious, and the young couple sighed in relief.
Jin Niang had always suffered from weak blood and irregular cycles, but after marriage, with no more late nights, her health had improved—even her periods became regular. This incident was unexpected.
Fortunately, after a few drops of blood, everything returned to normal. Still, Jiang Xian was terribly anxious. Though such matters couldn’t be discussed openly, he insisted she rest at home for a few more days.
"I’ve been to your embroidery shop. It’s so hot even ants won’t come out, let alone customers. Don’t worry—Chen Xiaolang and Ying are quite capable. You can rest easy."
Jin Niang had no choice but to agree.
By the eighth month, she had recovered well.
But Sixth Madam Jiang’s health took a sharp decline. When Jin Niang visited, she found the old woman shivering despite the heat, reduced to skin and bones, barely able to speak.
Yet she clung to life—Jin Niang knew it was for her two sons.
With this, the Jiang household’s Mid-Autumn festivities were subdued. Jin Niang visited the shop once and received many gift boxes. Her presence alone lifted the shop’s spirits.
Many customers only decided to order clothes after seeing her. Wearing her moon-and-rabbit-patterned dress, she drew attention even to her shoes.
"Bring the shoe design, and we’ll craft them carefully," Jin Niang said with a smile.
A single pair sold for five hundred coins. After the customer left, Jin Niang began embroidering the shoe tops while instructing Minzhi on stitching the soles—these were different from ordinary shoes and required special guidance.
The design wasn’t extraordinary—just an adorable rabbit that charmed at a glance.
"Madam, the Qu family silk shop sent festival gifts," Chen Xiaolang announced.
Since her marriage, Qu Fengying had taken her business more seriously, even sending richer gifts than before. Though Jin Niang wasn’t a major client, she was a steady one.
A wooden box of hairy crabs, a basket of pomegranates, two boxes of Guanghan cakes. The thread and yarn shopkeepers also sent gifts, as did the contractor who’d renovated her house.
The next day, all three moon-and-rabbit dresses made by Madame Zhu sold—three strings of cash each, totaling nine strings, a rare large order in weeks.
Jin Niang prepared gifts too: a jar of Meile wine from Fengle Tower, a box of grapes, two boxes of dates, and two boxes of pastries for her parents. To Ying Niang, she forwarded two pastry boxes she’d received, and in return got a basket of fruit. For Rongniang, the gifts were more lavish, delivered personally by Feng Sheng.
Seeing Feng Sheng this time, he seemed radiant.
"What’s Elder Sister doing at home?" Jin Niang asked.
Feng Sheng waved a hand. "Playing cards again. Both nephews are at school—she’s got nothing else to do."
Jin Niang frowned. Card games like these, similar to poker, were fine occasionally but could easily sap one’s will. "Doesn’t she go to the cosmetics shop anymore?"
Feng Sheng was indulgent. "If she doesn’t want to, she doesn’t have to. I earn enough now."
Jin Niang thought this unwise. If she advised Rongniang now, it might seem like envy. She said nothing more.
She brought the crabs and sweets home. Though she couldn’t eat them while pregnant, the family enjoyed them. Her father-in-law and Jiang Xian loved them, and Jiang Xian suggested sending some to Scholar Huang and Minister Liu.
Now visibly pregnant, Jin Niang’s appetite grew, but she restrained herself. Childbirth in ancient times was perilous—a baby too large could be fatal.
Even fruits too high in sugar she ate sparingly.
Watching Jiang Xian devour a bunch of grapes, she couldn’t resist having two herself.
"Darling, how’s my study coming along? I’ve hardly been to the shop since the Zhou family’s funeral," Jiang Xian asked.
Jin Niang teased, "Soon you’ll have two studies—might get confused where to read!"
Young as he was, Jiang Xian brightened at the news that the wallpaper was up. Once the furnishings were moved in, he vowed to visit after the imperial exams.
As they chatted happily, a servant came—Sixth Madam Jiang wanted him.
"You already paid your respects this morning. Why summon you now?" Jin Niang wondered.
Jiang Xian shook his head. "Usually she takes medicine and naps at this hour. I don’t know."
"Take some fruits and pastries for Nanny Fang, Meng Dong, and Guiyue—they care for Mother daily. It’s hard work," Jin Niang said.
Jiang Xian agreed cheerfully. "Don’t nap, or you won’t sleep tonight. Wait for me—I’ll wash your hair later."
With her belly so large, washing her hair was the hardest part. Of all who helped, Jiang Xian did it best, so she always waited for him.
He returned in less than fifteen minutes, carrying a small bundle. Inside were colorful threads, a piece of cloth, and decorations like rhinoceros horn and tassels.
"What’s this?" Jiang Xian asked, puzzled.
Jin Niang had just helped someone prepare one, so she knew well: "This is the silk thread tied to the swaddling blanket of a newborn child. Mother can barely speak anymore, yet she’s still preparing these things for us. Truly, it’s a blessing for us as her children."
Jiang Xian also understood that his mother likely didn’t have much time left. If only she could live to see either him or his brother pass the imperial examinations, then at least she could depart without regrets.
That night, after her hair had dried, Jin Niang lay down on the bed. Jiang Xian stayed by her side, fearing she might stay awake with her eyes wide open. As usual, he waited until his wife had fallen asleep before returning to his studies. But for some reason, his chest ached slightly today—had he drunk too much strong tea? He had intended to read another volume, but seeing his wife turn over in bed, sleeping soundly, he set the book aside and joined her.
Yet scarcely a moment after extinguishing the lamp, before he could even drift off, someone knocked urgently at the door: "Young Master Sixteenth, Sixth Madam Jiang has passed."
