The inner courtyard now had Bitao Courtyard and Lanxin Courtyard evenly matched. With Lin Ruhai visiting Lanxin Courtyard more frequently, setting aside other matters, the kitchen’s attitude was very obvious.

Her meals had sufficient portions and would include good items beyond her usual allowance. When fetching pastries, the service was both quick and excellent.

In contrast, Meixiang Courtyard’s meals, without extra payment, would be placed last.

Concubine Mei frequently lost her temper.

Previously, her meals had arrived earlier than Lanxin Courtyard’s.

Songbai Courtyard naturally knew about these happenings in the inner courtyard. Nanny Wang would report everything to her.

Although the Old Madam had little interaction with the two concubines, she always had people watch over them both, preventing anyone with ill intentions from sabotaging them so they couldn’t bear children.

Besides this, what else the Old Madam paid attention to was ensuring her son didn’t stay only at Bitao Courtyard.

She knew that it would take several years before Jia Shi would give birth to a frail daughter, and then over a decade later, she would die in her Jia family, leaving the Lin family completely without descendants.

To avoid this situation, the Old Madam absolutely had to ensure her son fathered a son. If that truly didn’t work, they could only adopt.

Anything was better than the Lin family’s last bloodline being completely severed.

Thinking of this, the Old Madam instructed: “Keep a closer watch over their situation.” As she spoke, she counted the prayer beads on her wrist one by one.

One after another, this action could calm her heart.

“Old Madam, please rest assured.” As Nanny Wang spoke, she lowered her eyelids, concealing the contemplation in her eyes.

Since arriving here to take up office, the Old Madam’s changes couldn’t be called insignificant.

Initially, the master didn’t want to take proper concubines. He thought of promoting two from household servants, or requesting people from the Jia family. But the Old Madam firmly disagreed, even fell ill, and the master, being filial, ultimately agreed. The madam also bore the pressure from the Jia family side and truly elevated two people into the household. Simultaneously, the Old Madam placed people in some key positions in the inner courtyard.

Different from before in the capital, back then the Old Madam basically gave all household management matters to the madam to oversee. Now she seemed uneasy.

Nanny Wang didn’t know what her mistress was thinking now.

It seemed that after the Old Madam came here, far from the capital, away from the Jiangnan region, she exposed the dissatisfaction with the madam that she had been suppressing.

Thinking of this, Nanny Wang’s body stiffened for an instant, then relaxed. No matter how much she thought about these things, it was useless. She just needed to follow her mistress’s instructions.

What Concubine Mei wanted was delivered not long after.

She had her maid watch the master’s movements. When he returned, she dressed up elaborately and blocked his path at an inevitable route.

Her eyes full of resentment and appeal: “Master, you haven’t come to see me in so long…”

Hong Xiu didn’t know what exactly they said, only knew the result—the master had just entered the inner courtyard when he was pulled away by Concubine Mei to Meixiang Courtyard.

If following the previous pattern, the master would most likely have come to their Lanxin Courtyard.

Hong Yi pouted in complaint: “Concubine Mei is truly unscrupulous.”

Yun Shuyao rose from the stool and walked around the room, stretching her body: “Ultimately, the master is the one in charge. Alright, the master went to Meixiang Courtyard, you all should go back and rest early. You don’t need to leave anyone here.”

One should be more carefree as a person.

If Lin Ruhai didn’t want to go, could he really be dragged along?

Having self-awareness was very important.

She believed she had it.

As for sending them back, everyone was already used to it.

She couldn’t adapt to having people rest on floor mats in her room.

Hong Xiu and Hong Yi exchanged glances, replenished the tea water in the room, tidied up miscellaneous items, and only then left.

Initially, they didn’t approve of leaving no one in the room, but after the concubine personally demonstrated the situation of being unable to sleep peacefully with people present, they could only leave. But it must be said, as long as the concubine said she was resting, they could return to their own rooms, which was indeed more relaxed.

Although serving in Lanxin Courtyard didn’t bring as much reward money as Meixiang Courtyard, there was also no pressure.

The concubine was an easy mistress to serve—she didn’t beat or scold servants and spoke gently to them.

When the master didn’t come and she was in a bad mood, she didn’t vent her anger on them either, still quietly practicing calligraphy and reading.

After being assigned here, how their future days would be basically depended on their mistress. If the mistress lived well, only then could these servants live well. From the current situation, following Lanxin Courtyard gained more of the master’s favor than Meixiang Courtyard.

This made them all happy as well.

The next day, when going to pay respects, Concubine Mei, who usually left later than her, this time was radiant and arrived at Bitao Courtyard a step before Yun Shuyao.

She had changed from her previous glittering gold style to a peach-pink outfit. The jewelry on her head was changed to a pearl crown. At first glance, it wasn’t as eye-catching, but upon closer inspection, it remained expensive.

The complexion on her face was even more prominent, her face like blooming peach blossoms. Looking at Lin Ruhai seated above, her eyes… occasionally sent flirtatious glances at him while paying respects: “Greetings, Master. Greetings, Madam.”

Yun Shuyao performed the courtesy without looking sideways.

Flirting itself wasn’t wrong, but colleague, couldn’t you at least consider the occasion?

Jia Min was already a very easy superior to get along with. Did you really want to provoke her to turn dark?

Yun Shuyao looked up. Jia Min’s expression… for an instant reminded Yun Shuyao of a Buddha statue on a jade throne, seemingly compassionate, but actually with empty, vacant eyes.

And Lin Ruhai was drinking tea, his gaze on the tea bowl before him, seemingly unaware of the undercurrents between his wife and concubine.

Lin Ruhai and Jia Min went together to Songbai Courtyard to pay respects to the Old Madam.

Leaving the two of them behind.

On the way back, Concubine Mei’s eyes changed to a contemptuous expression. “Sister Yun, as the saying goes, fortune turns in cycles.”

Yun Shuyao nodded: “Yes, these words make sense.”

Concubine Mei’s cheek twitched.

What kind of response was this?

She looked at Yun Shuyao with eyes like she’d seen a ghost, scanning her up and down: “Sister Yun, it’s best that you understand. Elder sister worked hard last night. My body is quite tired now, so I won’t chat with you any longer.”

Finished speaking, she turned and left.

The one accompanying today wasn’t Hong Xiu—her mother was ill, and she had requested leave early in the morning to visit her. It was Hong Yi who came.

She wasn’t as steady as Hong Xiu. Seeing Concubine Mei act this way, she stamped her foot in anger: “Concubine, the way Concubine Mei spoke is really too, too…” She couldn’t come up with an appropriate adjective.

Previously, when the master came to their Lanxin Courtyard, he didn’t speak like this about working hard. And what about Concubine Mei’s place? Recently, the master only went there once yesterday—what was there to be proud of?

Shouldn’t it be their concubine who should be proud?

This evening, Concubine Mei used the same trick again. Using who knows what method, she blocked Lin Ruhai and got him to Meixiang Courtyard again.

Hong Yi came in with furrowed brows to report the news. “Concubine, today the master was also pulled by Concubine Mei to Meixiang Courtyard. Originally… I saw that the master was most likely going to the main courtyard.” Her face showed some worry.

This way, the madam would be angry, right?

Yun Shuyao grabbed a handful of peanuts for her: “I know about this matter. Go attend to your duties, and don’t mention this matter again.”

Concubine Mei’s actions would obviously offend Bitao Courtyard. Didn’t she understand this?

Previously, her attitude toward Jia Min wasn’t very respectful, but she also hadn’t stepped on Jia Min’s bottom line, so Jia Min was willing to give the Old Madam face and not do anything to them. But if Lin Ruhai was forcibly intercepted by Concubine Mei en route to Bitao Courtyard, it would shake Jia Min’s authority.

Lin Ruhai, by logic, shouldn’t follow her to Meixiang Courtyard either.

Yun Shuyao thought it through but couldn’t figure it out. She could only keep this doubt in her heart, temporarily set it aside, and continue cultivating.

She could feel that she wasn’t far from breaking through to level one.

Going from level one to level two with abilities was the simplest. As long as one had the talent and was diligent, they could achieve it.

Yun Shuyao wanted to level up as quickly as possible. This way, after reaching level four, perhaps she could supply abilities to the spirit mirror, helping it recover vitality faster.

In Bitao Courtyard, Jia Min held a cup of tea. After hearing the news, she stopped moving while holding it. The cup tilted slightly, and tea water flowed out.

Nanny Qian quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe, taking the teacup: “Madam!” She looked at Jia Min with distress: “Madam, don’t panic. That fox spirit in Meixiang Courtyard has only temporarily aroused the master’s interest. It won’t last long.”

Jia Min laughed bitterly, watching her slender fingers being wiped clean one by one by the nanny, as if seeing something else through this: “Previously, the master liked Yun Shi. Now the master likes Mei Shi. In a while, will the master’s inner courtyard have even more people?”

Nanny Qian pursed her lips: “Madam, don’t worry. The master isn’t that kind of person. Moreover, Nanny is here. That Meixiang Courtyard should have been taught a lesson long ago. However, teaching her now isn’t too late either.”

Jia Min very much wanted to nod, but in the end still shook her head: “Nanny, there’s no need.”

After speaking, she suddenly felt very pathetic.

Since when did she have to consider everything carefully even to discipline a concubine?

Nanny Qian’s heart ached unbearably: “Madam, you are the legitimate daughter of our Rongguo Mansion, the person the master and madam hold dear in their palms. No one can make you suffer grievances.”

Jia Min’s eyelashes trembled. “Father, Mother…”

Father had already passed away, and Mother had also been ill. She didn’t even dare write to inform her about the master taking concubines at the residence.

Nanny Qian disregarded status differences and held the madam in her arms. She knew her young lady just lacked confidence.

If the young lady had a son, why would she need to worry so much!

This evening, Jia Min went to bed early to rest, but tossed and turned through the night, finally closing her eyes only as dawn approached.

The next day, after Lin Ruhai left Meixiang Courtyard, he came alone to the main courtyard.

“Mei Shi is unwell. She won’t come to pay respects today.”

Jia Min was stunned. Unwell?

Could it be she was afraid?

A flash of mockery passed through Jia Min’s eyes: “If that’s the case, we should call a physician.”

Lin Ruhai nodded: “Call one then.”

Jia Min: “…”

Could she really be ill?

Yun Shuyao had this same question, and moreover, for several consecutive days afterward, Concubine Mei claimed illness and stayed behind closed doors in Meixiang Courtyard.

Jia Min specifically looked at the prescription the physician wrote. It was all peaceful formulas for calming the heart and settling the mind.

This was clearly feigning illness!

Worth mentioning was that from when Concubine Mei claimed illness, whenever Lin Ruhai entered the inner courtyard afterward, he basically always stayed at Bitao Courtyard.

It wasn’t until half a month later that he came to Lanxin Courtyard again.

It was also at this time that Concubine Mei finally walked out of Meixiang Courtyard’s main gate again.

Just upon meeting, both Jia Min and Yun Shuyao were somewhat shocked. Concubine Mei really looked like she had been ill—her complexion wasn’t very good, and she had also lost several pounds.

Only her eyes burned brightly.

Yun Shuyao keenly sensed the emotion she was suppressing.

Like excitement, yet also like anxiety.

What had she done?

One month later, Yun Shuyao found out.

Because Hong Xiu, who always displayed composure, was greatly alarmed. Walking in from outside, she tripped over the threshold and nearly kissed the ground.

She scrambled up in a fluster, her face flushed bright red: “Concubine! Concubine Mei’s side called for a physician. The physician, the physician said she’s pregnant!”