Suddenly, Qin Yunyun seemed to think of something and said: “There’s no need for such trouble. I know of a craftsman with exceptional skills who could repair it—he might well be able to fix it. Wouldn’t that be perfect for everyone?”

Xu Peiwei was extremely delighted: “Really?”

“Of course it’s true. I heard Mother mention once that outside Dongyin Temple in the south of the city, there’s a carpenter’s shop with remarkable craftsmanship that also makes ingenious contraptions. I didn’t pay attention before, but speaking of it now, it probably shares the same principles as these birds and cats. Cousin, why don’t you have someone ask Aunt?”

Xu Peiwei immediately called someone in: “Did you hear what my cousin said? Go ask Mother. If it’s feasible, arrange the carriage and horses—I want to go personally.”

After the maid left, Qin Yunyun said: “Cousin, you want to go personally?”

Xu Peiwei said: “I want to personally watch the craftsman repair it. If he doesn’t truly understand and breaks it, there’s nowhere to buy another. Such items are still very rare now—I’m afraid they haven’t seen anything like this before either.”

Qin Yunyun clapped her hands and said joyfully: “That’s wonderful! If Cousin is going, I’ll go too. I’m usually bored at home, and with such fine weather today, going out for some fresh air would be perfect! I had no idea that visiting Uncle’s house today would bring such good fortune!”

Qin Yunyun began counting on her fingers: “Today is the second day of the fourth month—what an auspicious day! Having missed yesterday’s first day, there won’t be many people at Dongyin Temple either. A few old women and guards from Aunt’s household would be quite sufficient. Fifth Sister, Seventh Sister, you’ve never been there—they sell many wonderful things, all sorts of trinkets, and countless delicious foods.”

Qin Shuying played with the wooden bird, her heart stirring.

Dongyin Temple was halfway up a mountain south of the city. Many shops had opened at the foot of the mountain selling various incense-related items, and on the first and fifteenth of each month there were temple fairs—quite lively indeed.

Besides this, Dongyin Temple wasn’t far from the city district, so many shops clustered around the mountain’s base—clothing, household items, food… all manner of things were available.

Qin Yunyun spoke truthfully.

Qin Lulu also showed delight—such an opportunity was truly rare.

Although she usually went out two or three times each month, she always had to bring a crowd of maids and old women, could only move within the area Zou Shi designated, and could only buy rouge, face powder, and snacks.

Knowing they might go out, the maids serving in the inner and outer chambers were also excited, chattering amongst themselves.

Ziteng and Lu Ye exchanged glances, seeing wariness in each other’s eyes.

Lu Ye took advantage of an unguarded moment to whisper to Ziteng: “You stay close to Miss. I’ll act as the situation demands.”

Ziteng nodded: “Exactly so. You should do this and that…”

Lu Ye listened carefully.

Cai Luan interjected: “What are you two talking about?”

Ziteng said: “Discussing what good food there might be around the temple.”

Cai Luan was quite beautiful, fourteen years old this year. After Cai Yan left, her mother had pulled strings to get this good position. Miss also valued her, and compared to Caiying, she was now the most favored person beside Miss.

Rising from behind, this made her very proud.

Miss had specially instructed her today to stick close to Ziteng and Lu Ye, especially Ziteng—never leaving her side and listening to whatever Ziteng said.

Cai Luan pursed her lips and said nothing more. Just now she had only been slightly distracted, and Ziteng and Lu Ye had started whispering together.

Though she knew Ziteng’s words weren’t truthful, she believed that in such a brief moment, Ziteng and Lu Ye couldn’t have said anything useful.

“Sister Cai Luan, your pouch is truly beautiful!”

Lu Ye looked at the pouch at Cai Luan’s waist and praised it.

Cai Luan’s face showed a disdainful expression, and she couldn’t help but step back—the scars on Lu Ye’s face made her feel disgusted.

When other families’ misses went out, they chose beautiful maids, which also brought honor to the miss herself. She didn’t know what Seventh Miss was thinking, actually bringing such an ugly maid out.

Thinking this in her heart, Cai Luan spoke it aloud: “Stay where you are—don’t come closer!”

Lu Ye withdrew the right hand she had extended to touch Cai Luan’s pouch, gently shook it twice, and the bracelet hidden in her sleeve slipped down to her wrist—a bright, translucent green jade bracelet that was clearly valuable, requiring at least eight or nine hundred taels of silver. It practically dazzled Cai Luan’s eyes.

Lu Ye’s right hand then smoothed her left sleeve, and another jade bracelet from inside the sleeve also slipped down—exactly a matching pair.

“Miss has always had good taste. This pair of bracelets she chose for me is truly beautiful—look at the clarity, feel this lustrous texture. I’m wearing them secretly today without Miss knowing, or she’d say I don’t understand proper dress—who wears two bracelets at once? If you ask me, Miss shouldn’t have given me both. But since she did, I have to wear them. Cai Luan, don’t you think so?”

Cai Luan had been holding back anger all along the way about the bright jade ornaments on Ziteng and Lu Ye’s heads. Now hearing Lu Ye’s nouveau riche-like showing off, she felt nothing but disgust and wanted to slap her.

Lu Ye completely ignored the colorful expressions on Cai Luan’s face and continued talking to herself: “Before, after Hui Qin went to the laundry, she was especially envious of me having so many good things. Later, Cai Yan also envied me—every time she saw me, she wanted to snatch mine away. Oh my, Cai Luan, you must be filling Cai Yan’s position, right?”

Cai Luan suddenly shivered. Hui Qin… Cai Yan…

Hui Qin was said to have been sold off, naturally not to anywhere good; Cai Yan’s legs were broken—no different from being dead.

She looked at Lu Ye with alarm and uncertainty. Lu Ye smiled as she admired her bracelets. She then looked at Ziteng, who smiled pleasantly but with eyes cold as ice.

Regarding Ziteng, they rarely spoke—rather, it was Ziteng who rarely spoke. Every time they met, Ziteng would smile pleasantly, but trying to get close always felt chillingly cold.

Caiying stood to the side listening to their conversation, not knowing what she was thinking.

Hui Qin, Cai Yan… both had suffered because they harmed Seventh Miss!

Eighth Miss was also because of Seventh Miss that she was ultimately married into such a household as a concubine. For the rest of her life, she could rarely even return home…

It was said that after the novelty wore off, that Young Master Sun cast Eighth Miss aside. Eighth Miss recently sent word back that the earl’s residence had strict rules—before the legitimate wife entered the household, it was improper for a concubine to have children, so a bowl of medicine made her miscarry.

Everyone had known Eighth Miss was pregnant, but now they spoke of rules—what could one say about this Zhuangmu Earl’s residence?

After this ordeal, Eighth Miss’s health declined, yet she had only one small maid to care for her. As a concubine, she could only bring two maids, and one of them was taken by Young Master Sun, so naturally couldn’t serve Eighth Miss anymore.

Concubine Li begged Master, and sent two more maids over. That very night, one of them was taken by Young Master Sun.

Such a man, such a household… even as a noble concubine, what of it?

Could it really be retribution for Eighth Miss trying to harm Seventh Miss?

Caiying’s thoughts made her scalp tingle and her spine run cold.