Madam Shen spent over two months at her maternal home, feeling quite content.
As a married daughter returning home was considered a distinguished guest, even her own mother could no longer control her as she once did. With her father’s support and her sister-in-law’s backing, she truly felt more relaxed in her maternal home than she had during her unmarried days.
However, the leave for a newly appointed jinshi was limited, and after all, her maternal home was just that—a maternal home. She was now Madam Shen and had to return to her own home.
With tearful farewells to her father, brother, and sister-in-law, she boarded the boat back to the capital with her son, Shen Ti.
Also on board was another lady from the capital, Madam Zhao, who had returned to fulfill a vow on behalf of her mother-in-law. The two ladies had originally met in the capital, and Madam Zhao had known that Madam Shen had returned home earlier. When Madam Zhao arrived, she had informed her. The two ladies decided to travel back to the capital together.
One day, when the boat docked at a certain place for supplies, Madam Zhao sent someone to invite Madam Shen over to her boat.
“My lady has acquired a fine pot of flowers and specially invites you to admire it together.”
Boredom was the greatest fear during travel, so Madam Shen gladly accepted the invitation. Upon arriving at Madam Zhao’s boat and seeing the flowers, she lightly patted Madam Zhao’s arm and chided, “You made such a grand fuss to call me over, and I thought it was some rare flower. Isn’t this just a jade curtain plant? And where are the flowers? Did you call me over to look at buds?”
Madam Zhao smiled warmly. “Just tell me, is it well cared for or not?”
Madam Shen examined it closely. Though it was just a common jade curtain plant, its stems and leaves were lush, and its buds were plump. She nodded in approval. “It is indeed well cared for. Who did you get this for? Your mother-in-law? You truly are thoughtful.”
Both Madam Zhao’s husband’s family and her maternal family were from Huaixi, and Madam Shen’s maternal family was also from Huaixi. Because of this connection, Madam Shen and Madam Zhao had often socialized in the capital, and Madam Shen was very familiar with her family situation.
“It wasn’t intentional on my part; it was purely by chance,” Madam Zhao explained. “My sister-in-law accompanied me to Donglin Temple for a few days, where a young girl had come to observe mourning for her mother. My sister-in-law found her adorable and sent some pastries over. The girl was very courteous and sent this pot of flowers as a token of gratitude.”
“I was just thinking about what to bring back for my mother-in-law to ease her homesickness when my sister-in-law called me over to admire the flowers. I saw this pot of jade curtain and thought, isn’t this perfect? Before I left the capital, my mother-in-law had mentioned the jade curtain plants under the courtyard wall from her younger days.”
“It worked out perfectly. When I mentioned it to my sister-in-law, she gave the pot to me. Look at these buds and the new shoots. They should bloom once during the journey, and by the time we reach the capital, they should bloom again.”
Madam Shen laughed. “What luck you have! It was meant for you.”
Madam Zhao suddenly remembered something. “Oh, by the way, the young girl said her surname was Yin. I wonder if she’s from your maternal family, which branch or lineage? She looked delicate and frail, but my sister-in-law said she attended the master’s morning lessons every day without hurry or impatience. She seemed only about seven or eight years old. At that age, my own children are as restless as monkeys. If they could sit still like that, it would be like your Xi Ge.”
When Madam Shen heard this, she was about to say, “I don’t know either,” but the words caught in her throat as she suddenly remembered she had a niece who had gone to Donglin Temple.
During her visit to her maternal home, she had met so many relatives and old friends that nephews, nieces, and even grand-nephews and grand-nieces had come to see her. This particular niece, whom she hadn’t even met, had nearly slipped her mind.
Could it be her?
Upon asking, she learned it was indeed a girl observing mourning for her birth mother, a concubine.
"It's my niece," Madam Shen marveled. "I haven't even had the chance to see her myself, yet you've already met her."
Madam Zhao sighed regretfully, "If I had known she was your own niece, I should have paid her more attention. That child leaves right after listening to the scriptures every day, never lingering to play. Neither my sister-in-law nor I have ever managed to catch her. What a pity."
When Madam Shen returned to her own boat, Shen Ti was reading. He set his book down and asked, "How were the flowers at Aunt Zhao's?"
"What flowers? There were only a few buds. She just wanted me over for a chat," Madam Shen said with a laugh. "But there was one thing—you'd never guess—such a coincidence."
She then told Shen Ti about Madam Zhao's brief encounter with Yin Shi.
Shen Ti was also a bit surprised but nodded. "That does sound like Cousin."
Madam Shen chuckled. "You talk as if you know Little Fourth so well. You've only met her that one time."
Shen Ti said earnestly, "Some friendships feel new even after a lifetime; others feel like old friends from the first meeting."
Hearing such a young child speak so seriously about "old friends from the first meeting" left Madam Shen both amused and exasperated.
Shen Ti returned to his book, but his mind couldn't help drifting back to this fourth cousin from his maternal uncle's family.
Gentle—that he had experienced firsthand.
Filial—that everyone could see.
Serene, well-mannered, elegant, and detached—that was how Madam Zhao had described her.
That was roughly the impression he had.
But none of it really mattered. Shen Ti and this cousin had no idea when they might meet again, or if they ever would in this lifetime.
Sitting by the window in the pale golden sunlight, he turned a page of his book.
Cousins and such—they had their own parents to rely on. His mind was focused on his studies; everything else was like passing clouds, drifting out the window with a gentle breeze and scattering away.
Time passed in a flash, and before they knew it, the New Year was approaching.
If not for the steward coming to report every month, Third Madam would have almost forgotten she had a concubine-born daughter still up in the mountains.
"What's going on?" Third Madam asked in surprise after hearing the report. "A registered disciple?"
The old maidservant who had just returned from delivering supplies to the mountain replied, "Yes, the young lady told me herself and even took me to see the abbot. The abbot said our young lady has spiritual roots and accepted her as a registered disciple. He asked me to come back and inform the master and madam."
Third Madam was skeptical. "Little Fourth?"
That child had grown up under her care, and she had never noticed any particular spiritual roots.
The maidservant, having received a reward from Yin Shi, praised her enthusiastically. "They say our Fourth Young Lady worships Buddha daily and copies sutras every night, which moved the abbot."
"I knew it," Third Madam clicked her tongue. "I never saw any spiritual roots in her at home. How is it that she suddenly developed them at the temple?"
When Third Master returned, Third Madam told him with a hint of envy, "That silly child has a bit of silly luck."
"What luck?" Third Master nearly laughed in frustration. "It's just the monks finding another excuse to squeeze donations for incense oil."
Third Madam quickly scolded him, "Don't talk nonsense. Show some respect for Buddha."
"I'm not disrespecting Buddha; I'm talking about the monks. Buddha is Buddha; monks are monks."
"Then don't speak carelessly."
Third Master asked, "Isn't Little Fourth coming back for the New Year?"
Third Madam chided him, "Didn't I tell you last month? I said I'd bring her down this month, but she insisted that since she's already observed the rituals for so long, she might as well complete the full period."
Feelings between people can grow distant and thin with time and space.
Concubine Yan had passed away for ten months, and Third Master had already taken in a young new concubine. That bit of sorrow had long since faded. Seeing Yin Shi observe mourning now didn’t stir much emotion in him either; he merely thought, “The child is decent enough.”
“Fine, let her fulfill her filial piety,” Third Master said. “But what about this registered disciple matter? How should we handle it?”
Men who run businesses outside come into contact with all sorts of people and aren’t so trusting of “others.” Though they revere gods and buddhas, they still regard monks, nuns, and Taoist priests as ordinary people.
Women, however, stay at home all day, see few outsiders, and many have never even touched a book. They are more easily deceived by these figures from various sects and backgrounds.
Sure enough, Third Madam said, “Naturally, we should prepare some incense oil, money, and silk to send up.”
Third Madam’s generosity wasn’t for Yin Shi’s sake.
“Little Fourth is already a disciple now, she’s an insider,” Third Madam said. “During the Buddha’s birthday celebrations, surely they won’t let us miss out on booking a courtyard again. When no one else can secure one, and I alone manage to, I don’t believe the old madam won’t look upon me more favorably.”
After all, a concubine-born daughter-in-law lives a harder life under the thumb of the principal wife.
Third Master recalled how his younger sister Madam Shen had spoken frankly to him before leaving: “Sister-in-law has it tough, treat her better.” He nodded. “You handle it. Add a bit more.”
Remembering Yin Shi, he added, “Prepare gifts for Little Fourth as well.”
Third Madam replied, “Leave it to me, you can rest assured.”
On the mountain, Yin Shi waited eagerly, and after a few days, the Yin family’s offerings indeed arrived. The incense oil, money, and silk were for the temple, but brand-new monk’s robes, kasayas, straw sandals, and several stacks of fine paper were prepared as gifts for the master on Yin Shi’s behalf.
Yin Shi personally delivered them to the abbot.
Kneeling—once you do it often enough, you really do get used to it. Yin Shi no longer even needed to brace herself mentally. Upon seeing the abbot, she knelt directly and presented the gifts: “Master, a small token of your disciple’s respect.”
She was already deeply immersed in her role.
The abbot accepted them with a smile, instructing a young novice to take them away. He told Yin Shi, “Your family seems to treat you quite well.”
He added, “You really don’t need to worry so much. After all, they are family members.”
The matter of becoming a registered disciple was entirely orchestrated by Yin Shi.
While chatting idly with Nanny Gao, she learned that Third Madam, the old madam, and other female relatives were extremely superstitious. Seizing on this, she set her sights on the senior monk who delivered sermons and began putting on various displays.
The senior monk had seen plenty of worldly scheming. When adults engaged in such acts, he would merely open his eyes slowly and take a glance. But when a young girl like Yin Shi did so, it stirred his compassion and pity.
Moreover, Yin Shi, wearing the guise of a child, studied Buddhist teachings with him while actually wielding the cheat codes of an adult. She deceived the senior monk into genuinely believing she was a child with innate wisdom, earning even more of his sympathy.
If she were a boy, he might have hesitated more, as boys grow up to involve themselves in many interests and gains. But girls were different.
A girl grows up to be married off—there’s no other path for her. What excessive demands could she possibly have?
He asked directly, “What do you want?”
Yin Shi hadn’t expected a monastic to be so straightforward. In front of such a person, she dared not beat around the bush and spoke candidly: “This child has no mother. I don’t know who to rely on in the future.”
The senior monk said, “I am but a monastic, detached from worldly affairs.”
Yin Shi replied, “The principal wife and grandmother in my household both devoutly believe in the Buddha’s teachings. The words of a great master carry some weight.”
The senior monk asked, “On what matters could my words have influence?”
Yin Shi began fabricating a story: "I have an elder sister who married poorly and lives a miserable life."
The senior monk shook his head: "I cannot interfere with your marriage."
Yin Shi looked up: "Of course, Great Master cannot let me marry whomever I wish, but you can ensure I don’t have to marry someone I don’t want to, right?"
Over the past few months, Yin Shi had come to realize that the fate of marriage was likely unavoidable in this era.
But the fact that Madam Shen, who married above her station, was treated as an honored guest in her maiden home exposed the Yin family’s wealth but low social status.
Yin Shi was clearly a budding beauty and born as a concubine’s daughter. She worried that when she grew up, her family might use her as a tool to climb the social ladder.
If it were a marriage of equal status, like Third Master and Third Madam, where families of similar standing matched their legitimate children with legitimate ones and concubine-born with concubine-born, that would be acceptable. Or even if they prepared some bridal dowry for her to marry down to a promising scholar favored by the family, that would also be fine.
What she feared most was being married off as a remarriage to some powerful old man.
Even worse was being offered as a concubine to someone.
Amidst a life of comfort, Yin Shi could choose not to compete, but she couldn’t afford not to think about a fallback plan.
The young girl’s eyes sparkled with cunning.
The senior monk smiled: "Such a little child, thinking so far ahead. How old are you?"
"No matter how old I am," Yin Shi said solemnly, "without a mother, one must grow up immediately."
"Amitabha, well said, well said." These words softened the senior monk’s heart. "Then I’ll take you as a registered disciple."
And so, Yin Shi became the chief monk’s registered disciple.
The chief monk reported this to the abbot, who smiled and shook his head: "What a clever little imp."
Now, hearing the chief monk say this, Yin Shi’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled: "There are still many years ahead. Who knows?"
"If I never need my master’s help, that’s the Buddha’s blessing."
"If I ever do need my master’s help, it will all depend on my master’s protection."