Seventh Lady soon entered the main courtyard.

The weather had gradually turned cold. She wore new clothes from Xianxiu Workshop—a light brown brocade jacket with golden cloud patterns and auspicious knot buttons all over, paired with an eight-panel red silk skirt fully embroidered with silver flowers. On her hand, she wore the mutton-fat jade bracelet the Great Madam had given her. At her waist hung an exquisite Dushan jade ornament. In her hair, she wore a small golden fish and five blessings jade pearl flower.

Because the clothes were brightly colored, she only used jade as decoration, appearing both wealthy and refined—compared to the shabby look from half a year ago, she was like a completely different person.

Though she looked like Ninth Brother, gradually one could distinguish the differences.

This child was very quiet, and between her brows carried an indescribable grace.

The Great Madam showed a faint smile.

“Where are you coming from?”

She asked gently and kindly.

“I was just practicing calligraphy in my room,” Seventh Lady said, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

These past few days, Embroiderer Huang had been busy embroidering small items for Second Lady, so the afternoon lessons had stopped.

Fifth Lady still had times when she went to play with Xu Fengji in Baifang Garden, but Seventh Lady rarely left the courtyard, only practicing calligraphy and embroidery indoors.

She had the demeanor of a proper young lady from a great household.

The Great Madam began thinking absent-mindedly and didn’t respond to Seventh Lady’s answer for a moment.

Seventh Lady wasn’t anxious either. She sat down properly at the Great Madam’s lower seat, her back ramrod straight like a green bamboo stalk.

The Great Madam contemplated for a long while before coming back to herself.

For a moment, with a thousand threads tangled in her mind, she didn’t know where to begin.

Second Lady’s dowry, the Great Master’s temper, Shuangjiang beside Fourth Aunt, the three sisters in Huansha Cottage.

And these were just matters within Baifang Garden.

Outside Baifang Garden, there were still the Qin family, Wang family, Li family, Xu family…

“Lichun told me she saw Fengji bullying you on the boat.”

After much consideration, the Great Madam slowly spoke, but the topic was completely unrelated.

Seventh Lady was startled at first, then understood.

After all, it was just a pleasure boat, not a complex maze.

Xu Fengji and she had only been in a concealed spot by the cabin, in the shadows, which was why they hadn’t attracted everyone’s attention.

Lichun was the chief maid overseeing everything. She would naturally frequently survey the deck to confirm everyone’s safety. It wasn’t surprising that she had witnessed the awkward scene between her and Xu Fengji.

Given her status, she probably found it difficult to intervene… but informing the Great Madam was a way to please both sides.

She showed a trace of grievance.

This wasn’t actually feigned.

Seventh Lady wasn’t a saint. Being treated this way for no reason—no one would be happy about it.

Seeing this, the Great Madam couldn’t help but smile.

After all, still a child—no matter how composed, there were times when she couldn’t help herself.

“Fengji is of noble status,” she said, patting Seventh Lady comfortingly. “She’s also very favored by the noble personages in the palace. From a young age, she’s been in and out of the palace, developing an arrogant temperament that looks down on everyone.”

Given Xu Fengji’s status, looking down on the Yang family’s concubine-born daughters was understandable.

The Duke Pingguo Xu family, such imperial nobility—though not of the royal clan, they were as good as royalty. Since the founding of the dynasty, generation after generation had controlled significant military forces. Though the Great Qin had many powerful families, those who could compete with the Xu family were extremely few.

Xu Fengji was also the only legitimate son, an ironclad young lord. As long as he didn’t commit regicide or patricide, in the future this towering wealth and status would surely fall into his hands… His associates were all future dragons and phoenixes among men, with both status and talent.

How could he look favorably upon these few young ladies of the Yang family?

Seventh Lady lowered her head and said carefully, “Seventh Lady knows… With cousin’s status, if Ninth Brother can befriend him, he will surely benefit greatly in the future.”

The Yang family was different from the Xu family. The Xu family consisted of hereditary military officers—without major mistakes, their wealth was secure.

The Yang family, however, consisted of civil officials who had risen through examinations. Though the Great Master’s status might give Ninth Brother some assistance, in the future, navigating the political waters would still depend on Ninth Brother’s own connections.

Not to mention if Xu Fengji only made things slightly difficult for her—even if she greatly troubled Seventh Lady, the Great Madam would probably pretend not to see it.

The Great Madam nodded with satisfaction.

Seventh Lady understood the bigger picture.

“Actually,” she said, frowning thoughtfully, “though Fengji usually has an arrogant temperament, in front of relatives, she’s always been quite passable. I don’t know what happened—this child has actually changed her ways since coming to Suzhou.”

Seventh Lady raised her eyebrows and waited quietly for the Great Madam to continue.

“Speaking of which, her coming to Suzhou this time carries three parts strangeness,” the Great Madam said, as if talking to herself or conversing with Seventh Lady. “Given her status, being away from the capital for months on end would alarm His Majesty and the Empress.”

Seventh Lady had indeed heard that Xu Fengji served as the Crown Prince’s study companion.

Though Xu Fengji was unruly and rebellious, normally she obviously wouldn’t be too outrageous.

Otherwise, the Emperor and Empress wouldn’t feel confident letting her be the Crown Prince’s companion.

Knowing that Madam Xu would stay in Jiangnan for several months, she still sneaked out to follow her mother.

Madam Xu only scolded her a few times, then went with the flow and brought her son to Jiangnan.

She could have easily disembarked Xu Fengji at a nearby port, then sent someone back to the capital to report and fetch Xu Fengji back.

Upon arriving in Jiangnan, she immediately sought prayers at temples everywhere…

Ancient times differed from modern times. In this ignorant era, belief in gods and Buddhas ran deep. Many people, when troubled, were willing to pray before deities.

Madam Xu clearly had something weighing on her mind.

Combined with Fifth Lady’s few words, this trouble probably had some connection to Xu Fengji.

Seventh Lady knew how she should respond.

“The Xu family has a large household and great estate,” she said softly. “Duke Pingguo has also been campaigning abroad in recent years… I imagine the Xu family is also a tangled mess.”

A hint of a smile involuntarily appeared between the Great Madam’s brows.

People were like this.

The Great Madam herself had many worries. Though she didn’t say so, hearing that Madam Xu also had difficulties naturally made her feel better.

Seventh Lady pretended not to notice.

“However, Mother has been in the capital for several months and probably knows much more than Seventh Lady,” she said tactfully.

No matter how capable Seventh Lady was, she was still a child who had lived in Suzhou year-round. She certainly didn’t understand matters in the capital relatives’ households.

“I’ve only visited Duke Pingguo’s residence once,” the Great Madam shook her head. “With a family of such standing, even if everything underneath has rotted into a mess, the surface still appears acceptable.”

Not to mention others—even in the Yang family, normally everyone appeared harmonious on the surface. The real conflicts all happened in secret.

Seventh Lady nodded and smiled without speaking.

The Great Madam felt somewhat awkward.

Summoning Seventh Lady just to ask two questions about the Xu family—when Seventh Lady couldn’t even answer them—made it seem like making a mountain out of a molehill.

“Your Third Aunt has always wanted to match Fifth Lady with Fengji,” she couldn’t help but reveal insider information. “However…”

If Madam Xu and Xu Fengji’s mother-son status within the Xu family wasn’t stable, the Great Madam naturally didn’t want to send her daughter to suffer.

Seventh Lady raised her eyebrows in surprise.

Then she composed herself again.

Though there was no precedent for discussing such matters with unmarried daughters, the Great Madam had few people she could rely on, and the Great Master was estranged from her—probably she truly had no one else to consult with.

However, this wasn’t something she could casually comment on.

“Fifth Sister is only ten!” she said with a smile. “Who arranges marriages so early?”

In the Great Qin, daughters were generally betrothed at fourteen or fifteen and married at seventeen or eighteen.

The Great Madam hadn’t expected Seventh Lady to give her any better advice on this matter. She just nodded and echoed absent-mindedly, “They’re both too young.”

After thinking for a moment, she still couldn’t help but sigh.

“Your father has been seriously estranging himself from the main courtyard recently.”

Seventh Lady detected the dejection in the Great Madam’s tone.

This was the real reason the Great Madam had summoned her.

Given the Great Madam’s temperament, she probably found it difficult to lower herself to seek counsel from this small concubine-born daughter.

Just looking at how the Great Madam had flown into a rage because Second Lady hid Ninth Brother, causing her to lose face before Madam Xu, revealed her character.

Unless recognized as truly one of her own people, she wouldn’t be willing to show weakness before Seventh Lady.

Seventh Lady couldn’t help but sigh along with her.

First Lady had been personally raised by the Great Madam, so naturally there would be no estrangement between them. She was the first child the Great Madam had raised. In terms of affection, she was no different from her own biological daughter.

She herself was different—having only entered the main courtyard at age seven… This innate mother-daughter affection was something she shouldn’t even dream about.

Then she could only build it up day by day, accumulating little by little!

But it wasn’t simply by showing her intelligence and worldliness that she could win the Great Madam’s favor.

She needed to strive to perform well, yet couldn’t go too far and be counterproductive…

Every time the Great Madam summoned her to talk, it felt like going through elimination rounds—having to figure out her opponent’s thoughts, and even more so the Great Madam’s thoughts.

So exhausting.

“It’s because of Second Sister’s dowry, isn’t it!”

She didn’t play dumb.

Since the Great Madam found it difficult to bring up, then she would say it.

The Great Madam indeed breathed a sigh of relief.

At least she didn’t have to personally admit this embarrassing fact. Talking with Seventh Lady was always relaxing.

“I’ve never seen such a base person!” She couldn’t help but complain a bit. “The money is my money, and the daughter is also his biological daughter. Giving more causes him to sulk. Those who don’t know would think he only knows how to scheme for the main courtyard’s dowry. It’s fortunate Third Sister isn’t home, otherwise I wouldn’t know where to hide my face.”

Without any effort, Seventh Lady’s face showed complete disdain.

Dowry was the Great Madam’s private property. Even if she loved throwing it in the water, the Great Master had no right to say anything.

He had simply gotten addicted to spending his wife’s money back then, spent it with righteous confidence, and forcibly treated the main courtyard’s private funds as his own.

“The Sun family isn’t an ordinary household!” She took a clear stance. “Besides, Second Sister doesn’t lack sisters-in-law either…”

The Sun family’s second and third sons had also married into superior families.

The Great Madam immediately felt she had found a kindred spirit.

“Exactly! My natal family is far away in Suzhou, and my several brothers are all busy people… If she doesn’t have some money at hand, how can she have any say in the Sun family?” She said with some agitation. “It’s not that I favor my own biological children. First Lady’s in-laws only have that much land. If I gave her too much more as dowry, would she be marrying into them, or would the Li family be marrying in? You can only eat as much as your stomach allows…”

From the Great Madam’s words, it seemed the Great Master had erupted in conflict with the Great Madam over Third Lady’s dowry.

Seventh Lady couldn’t help but frown in silence.

This matter seemed strange.

In large estates, walls had ears. The Great Madam had revealed to her that Third Lady’s marriage prospects had changed over a month ago.

Even if the Great Madam had only told her, the Great Master should have at least mentioned this to Fourth Aunt, shouldn’t he? How was it that even now, Fourth Aunt was still single-mindedly focused on the dowry?

She raised her question.

“Father’s favoritism toward the fourth household—we’ve all seen it… How is it that with such an important matter, he hasn’t privately given her a hint?”

The Great Madam laughed coldly.

“You think he truly dotes on the fourth household?”

After being married for so many years, when it came to the Great Master, the Great Madam was confident.

Seventh Lady showed some confusion.

Wasn’t the Great Master special enough toward the fourth household?

“All the major and minor matters of this inner courtyard—why is it always me, the mistress, managing them?” The Great Madam’s voice became somewhat ethereal. “If the inner courtyard is too peaceful, he feels uncomfortable.”

Though the Great Master had the Yang family as backing, their branch was thousands of miles from the main family, and their past relationship wasn’t particularly close.

The wife was stronger than the husband.

Without propping up Fourth Aunt to cause some trouble for the Great Madam, the Great Madam would inevitably become domineering and overbearing, bullying others with her position.

Seventh Lady was speechless for a moment.

The Great Master’s concerns were far from groundless. Just looking at the Great Madam’s attitude toward Ninth Aunt showed her unforgiving nature.

And she had brought a large dowry when they were still struggling…

In the world, there were people like Yan Song, and there were also people like the Great Master.

“However, when it comes to the children’s marriage matters, the one who decides is still me, the mistress,” the Great Madam said, stopping there.

Seventh Lady already showed understanding.

Fourth Aunt’s audacity to defy openly while complying superficially some time ago was only because she had calculated that the Great Madam would be away for birthday celebrations—her opportunity was coming.

Now the Great Master, for his own interests, had reset Third Lady’s marriage back to square one, but the Great Madam had no reason to leave home in the near term.

Fourth Aunt would naturally have to lower her airs and serve the Great Madam attentively… On the surface, she would definitely no longer oppose the Great Madam.

Then who would the Great Master find to poison the Great Madam’s ear? Surely not the three sisters of Huansha Cottage, who had no children and whose lives were as rootless as duckweed?

She exchanged a glance with the Great Madam but didn’t discuss the Great Master’s motives further.

Matters between husband and wife weren’t for outsiders to comment on.

“Since Mother has a clear understanding, Seventh Lady has no other good solutions. Let the fourth household be smug for a while. When Third Aunt takes Second Aunt to the capital, spread the news, and Fourth Aunt will naturally know how to conduct herself,” she said, lowering her eyelids and steering the topic back to Fourth Aunt.

Mentioning Second Madam made the Great Madam irritated again.

Seventh Lady’s mention of Second Madam was naturally not without purpose.

Though Second Madam wore a repentant expression, how could the Great Madam rashly trust her?

The alliance of interests between her and Fourth Aunt had only recently collapsed, but because of Third Lady’s marriage, they had returned to a situation where they could join forces.

If Second Madam didn’t leave, the Great Madam truly didn’t dare shatter Fourth Aunt’s beautiful dream.

“Your second aunt sent word a few days ago saying that this year Second Uncle will return for New Year, so she’ll probably have to wait until after New Year to go to the capital!” she said with some irritation.

Seventh Lady frowned.

Concerning Ninth Brother, among these matters, Seventh Lady naturally cared most about Second Madam’s departure date for the capital.

Unexpectedly, Second Master had actually used the delaying tactic.

As a Hanlin scholar constantly attending the Emperor, how could he leave his post without permission to return to Suzhou for New Year?

Second Lady’s wedding would take place in the capital in the twelfth month, and she would certainly stay at Second Master’s residence… This would delay things further.

Moreover, the second household still had three young masters and several concubine-born daughters living in the capital. Would they return home for New Year or not? If they returned, would they go back after just celebrating New Year? That seemed too much trouble.

If the cousins were left in Suzhou, that would create countless more issues.

In that instant, she understood the Great Madam’s vexation.

Troubled both internally and externally, not a single day of peace.

Watching the shadow pass over Seventh Lady’s face, the Great Madam felt considerably better.

People were like this. Knowing there was a second person who was uncomfortable made one’s own discomfort seem like nothing.

“Never mind, I can only respond to moves as they come,” she sighed. “The important thing is to send Second Sister off safely. Other matters can be dealt with after New Year.”

Seventh Lady nodded and couldn’t help but show concern. “Was that the Sun family’s woman who came to pay respects just now?”

“Yes, she said that Young Master Sun will arrive in Suzhou in a few days,” the Great Madam said, knowing that Seventh Lady might not have received the news since the Sun family woman had only just left. “I handed over the dowry list.”

So she had submitted the list.

Seventh Lady understood.

The list included Xianxiu Workshop, which meant it would definitely be part of the dowry. On this matter, the Great Madam didn’t want to argue further with the Great Master.

She smiled cheerfully and stood up. “Then Seventh Lady takes her leave.”

The Great Madam nodded with a smile and instructed, “Don’t tell your second sister about this.”

Given Second Lady’s temperament, if she knew her dowry had caused conflict between her parents, she would probably rather forgo those shops.

Seventh Lady smiled gently. “Mother can rest assured. Though Seventh Lady is clumsy with words, she knows what should and shouldn’t be said.”

Their conversation had already taken on considerable ease.

The Great Madam was also amused. “You cheeky girl, why be modest with me?” She smiled as she watched Seventh Lady withdraw from the west inner room.

Nanny Wang had remained silent throughout. Only now did she step forward to change the Great Madam’s tea.

“This child…” the Great Madam murmured.

Nanny Wang’s heart tightened.

Among the children in the main courtyard, Seventh Lady had the closest relationship with her.

That day when she had helped speak on her behalf… Nanny Wang had always kept it in her heart.

Though with her status she couldn’t help Seventh Lady much, she still couldn’t help but care more.

“I think she’s quite good,” she said with a smile. “So young yet so perceptive. When she grows up a bit more, you’ll have much less to worry about.”

But the Great Madam wasn’t thinking about that.

“I was thinking,” she said thoughtfully, “This Xianxiu Workshop, properly speaking, should be property left for Ninth Brother… Does Seventh Lady not covet it at all?”

Nanny Wang didn’t answer. This wasn’t a question she should respond to.

“Even if Seventh Lady doesn’t covet it, can we be certain Ninth Brother won’t?…” After a while, the Great Madam slowly added another sentence. “The matter of Fengji being disrespectful to Seventh Lady… it was Ninth Brother who told Lichun.”