The news that the Prince would arrive home in July quickly spread throughout the Marquis Dingxi’s mansion, and the household immediately became as lively as during New Year.

“At this time he should already be on the road. If there are few social obligations along the way, he could arrive home in fifteen or sixteen days. If there are some entanglements and social obligations, it would be twenty days at the latest,” Nanny Su calculated aloud.

Madam Xie’s room was full of people. Two rows of chairs seated the three young ladies of the household on one side – the youngest appeared to be only four or five years old and needed to be supported by her wet nurse to sit steadily. On the other side sat two concubines, with old women standing below. Everyone’s eyes and brows were full of smiles.

“Given the Prince’s temperament, he’ll probably travel day and night, wishing he could fly back,” an old woman said with a laugh.

Hearing this, Madam Xie couldn’t help but feel her nose tingle with emotion.

“It’s been three years…” she said, gently dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.

“Indeed it has,” a concubine around thirty immediately said with tears streaming down, “I still remember when he left, we had just finished burning the seventh-day paper offerings for the Old Madam, and it was pouring rain…”

Several old women below also raised their hands to wipe away tears.

“Mother, don’t cry,” the little girl being supported by the wet nurse suddenly came down and wobbled toward Madam Xie seated in the center, saying in her childish voice while raising a small handkerchief in her hand.

This action made Madam Xie burst into laughter.

“Our Fourth Miss is so good,” she said with a smile.

Everyone else in the room also laughed, making the little child feel shy and run back into the wet nurse’s arms.

Second Miss and Third Miss sitting nearby also smiled, though a trace of disdain flashed in their eyes.

“This is great news. Great Madam, please don’t be sad,” Concubine Zhu said with a smile from the other side. “I’ve often heard the Marquis praise the Prince. I’ll finally get to meet him. The one in my belly has been very active these past few days – he must know his big brother is coming back and is happy about it.”

Second Miss was just sipping tea when she heard Concubine Zhu’s words. She choked on a mouthful of water and spilled it all over her dress.

Looking at the others in the room, they all had strange expressions, looking shocked while holding back laughter.

Concubine Zhu had meant to be ingratiating, but seeing everyone’s reaction, her face alternated between red and pale.

“Second Miss must also be happy – such a big reaction,” she said somewhat unhappily.

“Not as big a reaction as yours, Concubine,” Second Miss said with a smile.

The old women busily helped her clean up, making the room somewhat chaotic.

“Shulan, you and the others go with Nanny Su to see how many days it will take to make new clothes for everyone in the household,” Madam Xie said.

Second Miss and Third Miss were currently learning household management. Hearing this, they quickly responded and got up to go to the reception hall across with Nanny Su and several old women.

“Has Yalan been eating and sleeping well these days?” Madam Xie looked toward Fourth Miss hiding in the wet nurse’s arms and asked with a smile. Without waiting for the wet nurse to answer, she looked at a concubine nearby. “When you’re free, visit her courtyard more often. She just got her own courtyard and might not be used to it yet.”

The concubine stood up in delight and surprise.

“This, this… this servant doesn’t understand anything and might spoil the young lady,” she said in a trembling voice.

“You’re her mother – you don’t need to understand anything. Just watch over her. If you need to understand something, there are wet nurses and old women. When she grows up, there will be teachers to instruct her. What are you worrying about unnecessarily?” Madam Xie said with a smile.

The concubine also smiled, lowering her head.

“Thank you, Great Madam. This servant will definitely take good care of Fourth Miss,” she said.

The wet nurse tactfully smiled and pushed Fourth Miss toward the concubine.

“Go, call her Concubine Mother,” she said in a low voice.

The concubine also looked at Fourth Miss with some excitement.

But Fourth Miss hid behind the wet nurse. The wet nurse had to take her out first, and the concubine thanked Madam Xie again before leaving.

“Fourth Miss has been raised so properly under Great Madam’s guidance,” Concubine Zhu said to Madam Xie with a smile, her eyes darting about.

Madam Xie didn’t even lift her eyelids, holding her tea and taking a sip.

“When we proper people raise children, the children naturally turn out proper. It’s not any single person’s achievement. Children are still better off with their birth mothers,” she said.

“With Great Madam’s guidance, it really is different. The Prince is an example of this,” Concubine Zhu said with a smile.

“Alright, go back and rest quickly. This is the most crucial time for your health – don’t walk around carelessly,” Madam Xie said, putting down her tea.

Concubine Zhu quickly stood up, said yes, and withdrew.

Second Miss and Third Miss also came back. Second Miss reported how many people there were, what materials should be used according to different statuses, how much silver was needed, and how many days it would take to complete.

After hearing her report, Madam Xie looked at Nanny Su.

“Second Miss has covered everything completely, all according to previous years’ precedents,” Nanny Su immediately said with a smile.

“Well done. Indeed, those raised by the Old Madam are different – they understand with just a hint,” Madam Xie nodded and praised Second Miss with a smile. “Do as Second Miss said. Take the token and give the orders.”

A’Luan, the head maid standing behind her, immediately brought over the token. Second Miss bowed to receive it and left with Third Miss.

Everyone else in the room also withdrew in turn. They had two maids open windows and light incense, and A’Luan picked up a plate of freshly cut fruit and brought it over.

“Great Madam has been talking for a long time. Please moisten your throat,” she said.

Madam Xie made a sound of acknowledgment and tasted a small piece.

“Should we have an old woman teach Concubine Zhu?” A’Luan said.

Madam Xie laughed.

“Teach what? Isn’t she fine the way she is?” she said. “She’s been charming the Marquis for three or four years. Don’t look down on her for being crude – being crude is also a skill.”

Her smile grew deeper as she spoke. “I want that dignified, elegant bitch who excels at music, chess, calligraphy, and painting to see that such a woman can also win the Marquis’s favor – even more favor than her.”

A’Luan knew clearly who the “bitch” in her words referred to and said nothing more.

Here, Concubine Zhu was slowly walking to her room, supported by a young maid’s hand.

“After giving birth to Fourth Miss, Concubine Liu fell ill. Concubine Song had a grudge against Concubine Liu, and Concubine Zhou was close to Concubine Song, so Fourth Miss had to be raised by Great Madam. When Concubine Liu recovered, she claimed she and Fourth Miss were in conflict and refused to raise Fourth Miss no matter what…” the young maid explained in a low voice, explaining the background. “Concubine Liu was originally Concubine Song’s maid. She secretly climbed into the Marquis’s bed behind Concubine Song’s back. To avoid being killed by Concubine Song, she ran to Great Madam and gave birth to Fourth Miss. Great Madam decided to promote her to concubine.”

“Oh, like Su Mei in our courtyard?” Concubine Zhu said with a smile.

“That’s different. Su Mei was promoted by you, Concubine Madam. If not for your kindness, how would the Marquis have noticed her?” the young maid immediately said.

“It’s all thanks to Great Madam’s kindness,” Concubine Zhu sighed. “Great Madam is such a kind person – why hasn’t she had children of her own?”

“Great Madam did conceive before, but miscarried. It was even a male child,” the young maid said in a low voice. “They say it injured her health, so she never had children again.”

Concubine Zhu nodded and was silent for a moment.

“No wonder Great Madam treats the Prince so affectionately,” she said slowly. “But why did he have to marry such a person? Not only does it anger Great Madam, even I feel indignant.”

The young maid giggled.

“Except for the Old Madam, no one in the entire household felt it was fair,” she said with a laugh.

Concubine Zhu sighed again, frowning in a way that made her look even more charming.

“It’s just that I’m very foolish and don’t know how to speak properly. I can’t put Great Madam’s mind at ease and always make her worry instead,” she said wistfully. “Now that the Prince is returning, it should be a joyous occasion for the whole family, but I can see Great Madam isn’t comfortable. She must have heard about the Young Madam’s recent antics. Think about it – the Prince finally returns after so long, only to face such a person. How frustrated he must feel.”

The young maid nodded.

“Exactly. Never mind the Prince – even Miss Su Mei feels extremely frustrated,” she said casually.

Concubine Zhu’s eyes lit up, but she quickly concealed it.

“In my opinion, Su Mei is too honest. Never mind that she’s now at least half a master, even if she were still a maid, she shouldn’t be intimidated in front of that person…” she said with seeming casualness.

“Can’t blame Miss Su Mei. That Young Madam’s status is still…” the young maid said hesitantly.

Concubine Zhu just laughed.

“You all really don’t know how to think. Rules are made by people. Now that the masters in the household have changed, naturally the rules aren’t set in stone…” she said with a smile. “But I don’t understand these things. I’m from a humble background with no rules, and I don’t understand your household’s rules either. I’m just talking nonsense – if I’m wrong, don’t laugh at me.”

“Who would dare laugh at Concubine Madam?” the young maid said flatteringly.

“Whether they laugh or not, I don’t care. I just know that the Marquis and Great Madam gave me my good life now. I only want to make the Marquis and Great Madam comfortable. As long as they’re happy, I’d be willing to die,” Concubine Zhu said with a sigh.

“Concubine Madam having this sentiment is enough,” the young maid also sighed, her eyes flickering as if thinking about something.