After Second Miss was escorted out in the wedding procession, she went directly to the bridal boat at the canal dock.

The dowry servants from several households and eight maids all attended her, along with wedding attendants who had come all the way from the capital, skilled hair-dressing women, and southern cooks… They packed the red-cloth-draped bridal boat full to bursting.

Young Master Sun, leading the fetching party, also filled a boat. Together with two or three military escort boats in front and behind, they all headed for the capital.

The dowry had already been sent ahead by boat. These bridal boats carried only people, so being light, they traveled fast—in about half a month, they would probably catch up with the cargo boats loaded with the dowry.

The wedding ceremony had reached a semicolon of sorts. The remaining half would have to wait until the first day of the twelfth month, when the banquet would be held in the capital.

The more than month-long busyness from start to finish left the Great Madam excusing the yiniangs and children from paying respects for two or three consecutive days. She also had physicians from the Ouyang family come to prescribe calming formulas. After drinking two doses of tonic medicine, she finally recovered her energy.

Some matters that had been set aside because of Second Miss’s wedding had now reached the time for resolution.

Everyone knew this in their hearts.

“Winter Solstice comes early this year!” That morning, the Great Master discussed with the Great Madam. “I think we shouldn’t make a big fuss. Just peacefully worship the ancestors at the family shrine, and that will count as celebrating the festival.”

With Second Miss married off, Third Miss was now the eldest daughter in the household, taking her rightful seat below the Great Madam.

She tilted her head, listening attentively to the Great Master’s words, a trace of joy flowing in her eyes.

The Wang family had again sent someone yesterday to pay respects to the Great Madam.

Fourth Yiniang’s lips also curved with a smile.

Though she was dressed quite plainly, the smile on her lips and the radiance on her face could not be concealed by plain clothing.

The Great Madam looked at Third Miss.

She too revealed a faint smile. “Whatever Master says, that’s what we’ll do. Let’s also invite Second Sister-in-law over for a proper celebration.”

The Great Master nodded.

Second Madam hadn’t made any issue of Ninth Young Master’s injury. After visiting that day, the few times she entered the Yang household, she never asked to see Ninth Young Master.

The Great Madam was naturally much more at ease.

When mentioning Second Madam, her tone held an extra measure of intimacy.

The couple discussed a few more trivial matters, then the Great Master coughed once and slowly rose.

Fifth Miss couldn’t help but shrink back.

Regarding Ninth Young Master’s injury, apart from the chief culprit Xu Fengjia, there was also the victim and suspected mastermind Ninth Young Master, and the accomplice Fifth Miss.

The Great Master hadn’t punished the main culprit, but instead fixed his attention on Fifth Miss… Though considering Second Miss’s wedding, he had temporarily suppressed this matter.

But today, he might not let it pass so lightly.

The Great Master indeed looked toward Fifth Miss.

“Little Five, come with me.” He nodded at Fifth Miss.

Fifth Miss showed a shocked expression. She looked at the Great Madam as if seeking help, then followed behind the Great Master and left the room.

Everyone inevitably showed strange expressions.

Though Third Miss said nothing, the smile on her face was so thick it nearly overflowed.

The Great Madam glared fiercely at her, then also revealed a smile.

“Everyone may go! After Winter Solstice, you’ll begin school again—don’t neglect your studies.” She spoke kindly to her daughters.

Everyone withdrew from the main room in order.

“Fourth Yiniang, wait a moment.” The Great Madam smiled and nodded at Fourth Yiniang.

Fourth Yiniang’s steps faltered.

Third Miss and Fourth Miss also showed worried expressions.

Seventh Miss didn’t continue watching. She withdrew from the main room.

After exchanging a few words with Sixth Miss, Seventh Miss returned to the west side courtyard.

Ninth Young Master’s scar had almost completely faded. Only a tiny bit of red thread remained on his face, like the faint bloody mark of a fingernail scratch.

However, to be safe, the Great Madam still wouldn’t let him go out in the wind. The matter of moving back to the main room had thus been postponed.

“Seventh Sister!” Seeing Seventh Miss return, Ninth Young Master was very happy. “Is there anything fun?”

Seventh Miss smiled and shook her head. “Just the same old talk.”

Ninth Young Master immediately showed disappointment.

Several senior maids laughingly teased Ninth Young Master about his inability to bear boredom.

While joking and laughing, Seventh Miss took the opportunity to give Bailu a meaningful look.

Bailu’s eyes turned, and she smiled brightly as she pulled Guyu along. “Come, let’s go to the east side courtyard and find some things for Ninth Young Master to play with.”

In Fifth Miss’s room, wooden carved cats, Tianjin clay figurines, backgammon sets, jade-carved go pieces… everything was available.

Guyu smiled and left with Bailu. She was a maid serving Fifth Miss, so naturally she would lead the way to the east side courtyard.

Lidong had been on night duty and was now resting in her own room.

Seventh Miss and Ninth Young Master looked toward Lichun in unison.

Since taking on the duty of caring for Ninth Young Master, Lichun had been very conscientious.

This past month she had devoted herself entirely to Ninth Young Master, losing considerable weight. She personally oversaw everything Ninth Young Master ate or used.

Because of this, her tacit understanding with Seventh Miss had grown deeper and deeper.

Without waiting for Seventh Miss to say anything, Lichun smiled and left the east inner chamber, tending to the flowers and plants in the main hall.

Times had changed from before. Even before Winter Solstice, early-blooming red plum blossoms had been sent to the west side courtyard.

Seventh Miss quietly informed Ninth Young Master about the Great Master’s actions.

The Great Master taking Fifth Miss to the outer courtyard surely wasn’t just to laugh and chat with her, enjoying family happiness, right?

The farce before Huansha Wu had been forcibly suppressed for over a month. Now it was time to bring it out and settle accounts.

After hearing this, Ninth Young Master showed no alarm.

His eyes even flickered with hidden excitement. “I thought it was something else… Father will definitely question me thoroughly!”

This child was truly frighteningly precocious. Seventh Miss couldn’t help but mentally facepalm.

In ancient times, people indeed generally matured earlier than in modern times.

They married at fifteen or sixteen, could become grandparents or maternal grandparents in their thirties… Before even reaching twenty, their parents might have already passed away.

The brief life span accelerated the maturation speed of ancient people. Especially in wealthy households, few children past age four would still roll on the ground throwing tantrums.

From the moment of understanding, etiquette education was instilled in their minds. In such scheming environments, few remained naive until fifteen or sixteen—that was almost marriage age.

Even so, Ninth Young Master was still too precocious.

A child of seven or eight, like Sixth Miss, was already considered clever—knowing to hide her little schemes, laughing and joking to disguise her inner thoughts.

But even so, Sixth Miss’s thoughts before adults were like clear shallow water—transparent at a glance.

Third Miss, a thirteen or fourteen year old girl, still often showed her hand. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so disliked by everyone.

But Ninth Young Master?

Probably no one could see through him!

Always laughing and joking, just like a child… You couldn’t know if he was truly this childish, or hiding his depth, lying dormant and undeveloped.

But after all, still young, unable to contain himself.

Just because she had been made difficult by Xu Fengjia a few times, this child had struck out.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but sigh.

“You should at least guide me, tell me what to say, shouldn’t you?”

Ninth Young Master was nonchalant. “Doesn’t Seventh Sister know nothing?”

Just maintaining the state of knowing nothing wouldn’t be wrong either. After all, Seventh Miss truly knew nothing originally.

But with Ninth Young Master’s tender age, could he really deceive shrewd people like the Great Madam and Great Master?

Seventh Miss was still somewhat uneasy.

But she didn’t say much more.

Ninth Young Master clearly had great confidence in himself…

So what if it was to oppose Xu Fengjia on her behalf? Xu Fengjia was unreasonable first.

The Great Madam might become distant with Ninth Young Master over this, but the Great Master wouldn’t care about such things.

He only had Ninth Young Master as his son.

If Ninth Young Master could successfully deflect, naturally that would be good.

But if he couldn’t, it would still be a lesson. In the future, he would act more prudently.

Sometimes constantly protecting someone actually limited their growth.

Seventh Miss said nothing more.

By afternoon, the Great Madam sent Nanny Liang to bring maids to help Ninth Young Master move.

With Nanny Liang’s status, of course she didn’t need to do the work personally. She entered the east inner chamber to pay respects to Seventh Miss. “These past days with insufficient household staff, Seventh Miss’s quarters have been short-handed.”

Seventh Miss smiled and exchanged courtesies with Nanny Liang, then asked, “What did Madam say when she kept Fourth Yiniang behind this morning?”

With Nanny Liang’s status, she couldn’t be unaware of Seventh Miss’s relationship with the Great Madam.

Seventh Miss was treating Nanny Liang as an insider, so she openly asked her for information.

Nanny Liang glanced outside the room.

Bailu was reluctantly holding Lidong’s hand in conversation.

With Ninth Young Master moving back to the main room, the temporary convalescence arrangement would naturally disband. Bailu would return to serve under Seventh Miss.

She bent her eyes, lowered her voice, “Madam laid out the Wang family matter openly to Fourth Household.”

Seventh Miss wasn’t surprised at all.

It was time to speak plainly.

The Wang family had sent people to the door repeatedly, probably with thoughts of formally proposing marriage.

When they previously had someone come to act as matchmaker, the Great Madam, as mistress, wasn’t home. Now to formally come propose and exchange betrothal cards, naturally they needed to ask the Great Madam’s opinion on how to proceed properly.

No matter how grand the Yang family’s airs, they couldn’t wait until the Wang family had already sent a matchmaker with a birth date card to propose marriage before refusing.

Nanny Liang was quite interested in gossiping. “Fourth Household’s face went white upon hearing! Right then, she couldn’t hold the teacup steady—it clattered to the floor…”

Fourth Yiniang had never lost composure like this before!

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but imagine the scene.

“Madam was somewhat displeased, and criticized Fourth Household, saying her actions were crude… lacking upbringing.” Nanny Liang’s eyes curved.

The Great Madam’s pent-up frustration from so many days finally found release today.

“Fourth Yiniang probably said nothing at all!” Seventh Miss asked again.

Thinking of Fourth Yiniang’s obvious nervousness when testing her, she felt somewhat sympathetic.

All parents’ hearts are the same. Fourth Yiniang worked tirelessly, calculating endlessly—wasn’t it all to arrange a good match for Third Miss?

“Heh, Madam laid everything on the table from the start, and even Master felt the same way… What could she say?” Nanny Liang was dismissive.

If the Great Master and Great Madam joined forces as husband and wife, no matter how capable Fourth Yiniang was, how could she overturn heaven?

“She must have been devastated!” Seventh Miss could only say this.

“Exactly! After dropping that teacup, she could only agree… From start to finish, her soul seemed lost—she couldn’t even manage a smile.”

Nanny Liang also showed three parts of condescending pity. “Those who are yiniangs, in the end aren’t they all just servants…”

Halfway through, she quickly stopped, silently reproaching herself for speaking carelessly.

The young master and miss sitting in this room—weren’t they all born from yiniangs’ bellies?

But Seventh Miss didn’t much care.

Yiniangs, no matter their original status, once they entered the household, were half-servants. Nanny Liang spoke correctly.

“The rear courtyard should be peaceful for a while!” She let out a long breath.

Fourth Yiniang’s scheming always had clear targets.

Now… her calculations had come to nothing. She’d have to start from scratch again.

No matter how strong Fourth Yiniang’s character, she would probably be dispirited for quite a while.

Nanny Liang also laughed.

Knowing the enemy would be struck was quite different from seeing the enemy struck and devastated—the satisfaction was vastly different.

“Madam is in a good mood right now, the smile hasn’t left her face!” She remarked to Seventh Miss with feeling. “In so many years, Madam has rarely been this happy!”

“Fifth Sister has returned, hasn’t she!” Seventh Miss thought of Fifth Miss.

Fifth Miss probably hadn’t suffered too much.

“Yes, she came back shortly after leaving. Apparently Master didn’t ask much, but instead offered warm consolation. Just then someone came from outside—some new top scholar coming to pay respects to Master, so Fifth Miss withdrew.” Nanny Liang looked toward the main hall.

Ninth Young Master was only staying temporarily, so he didn’t have many things. In this short time, packing was almost complete.

Seventh Miss rose to escort Nanny Liang and Ninth Young Master’s party out of the courtyard.

Ninth Young Master was held in his tall, sturdy wet nurse’s arms, his face wrapped up tightly, still waving to Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but smile.

Standing at the bottom of the steps, she watched as they gradually turned out of the west side courtyard before going back inside.

“This New Year should pass peacefully!”

She sighed to herself.

Bailu and Lixia exchanged glances and both smiled.

“Whether the New Year passes comfortably or not still depends on whether Ninth Young Master can successfully deflect things.” Lixia muttered while moving playthings and utensils to the west inner chamber.

Seventh Miss wasn’t too worried.

“Ninth Young Master’s status is what it is… How could he not deflect it? The Xu family’s young cousin managed to deflect it, didn’t he?”

She sat down at the desk, organizing the Four Treasures of the Study that had gone untouched for a long time.

“That young cousin is truly strange!” Bailu lifted a white porcelain Guanyin vase and placed it on the curio shelf. “Among all the young ladies in our household, Seventh Miss has the best temperament… yet he’s picked on you.”

“Those words make me blush.” Seventh Miss giggled. “People from the west side courtyard praising me means nothing—only when maids from other quarters say I have a good temperament is it truly good!”

“Guyu serving Fifth Miss and Daxue serving Sixth Miss—which one doesn’t say you have a good temperament?” Bailu was dismissive. She normally accompanied Seventh Miss out and had wide social connections.

Zhongyuan entered carrying a tiny chicken-heart gemstone cup. “Miss, I heard Second Miss used to collect dew from flower petals to make tea. Yesterday when it rained, I collected a small cupful too!”

This girl Zhongyuan was honest, but sometimes, like Sixth Miss, had wonderfully imaginative ideas.

Seventh Miss smiled and said, “Set it there. This little bit—what use is it? Next time it rains, take a basin to collect it.”

Zhongyuan immediately brightened. “I thought the same! That plum blossom bowl Madam rewarded last time would be just right for collecting rainwater…”

Everyone laughed in unison.

The atmosphere inside was harmonious.

Outside, Lichun’s voice sounded again.

“What’s making everyone so happy!” Lichun smiled and lifted the curtain, entering the west inner chamber. “The little ancestor left a few of his personal books on the bed frame. Now the bed has been dismantled and taken out, but who knows where the books went!”

Since he was only staying temporarily, Ninth Young Master had slept on an ordinary camphorwood-assembled bed frame. After returning to the main room, the bed frame was dismantled and stored in the small storeroom.

Everyone set down what they were doing to help Lichun search for the books.

Lichun quietly tugged Seventh Miss’s sleeve.

Seventh Miss rose and stood with Lichun in the corner of the room.

“I don’t know what Ninth Young Master said to the Great Madam… but Madam didn’t get angry! Instead, she had Nanny Wang lead several trusted women into Baifang Garden, and even asked for the key to Qinghong Pavilion!” Lichun was somewhat puzzled. “…Just wanted to let you know.”

Seventh Miss was also very surprised.

How did this involve the deceased Third Yiniang again?