The next day, First Miss indeed led her sisters to the Hanlin Manor at the other end of Eryang Street.

Second Madam invited her nephews and nieces to tour the Hanlin Manor together—though the Hanlin Manor wasn’t as spacious as the Governor’s Manor, it equally had gardens and artificial mountains, lacking nothing. However, these past years the two families had been cordial on the surface but not in heart, so the Grand Madam rarely visited. Consequently, her children had also reduced their visits.

Ninth Brother and the eldest son-in-law had been taken by the Grand Master early in the morning to visit Master Zhang Weiting at the Zhang family residence, so naturally they didn’t go.

Seventh Miss was also too lazy to visit the Hanlin Manor.

She simply feigned illness. “When I woke this morning, I felt chest tightness and nausea. It must be that the heat came early this year—I have heatstroke.”

The Grand Madam took it seriously and decided not to go to the Hanlin Manor herself. “Seeking medical care and medicine—how can we have no one at home to look after things? I might as well stay home to attend to matters.”

Everyone then went to the Hanlin Manor led by First Miss.

Seventh Miss obediently lay down on the bed, facing the bed curtains in a daze.

Before long, a disciple from the Ouyang family came to check Seventh Miss’s pulse.

Though the Ouyang family had practiced medicine for generations, their airs were no smaller than the Yang family’s. Not to mention Old Master Ouyang—even the masters and young masters wouldn’t be easily summoned for such minor ailments.

“It’s probably just heatstroke. I’ll prescribe a few doses of medicine. If Miss is willing to take them, take a few doses. If not, then just forget it.” The disciple was also tactful and perceptive.

Seventh Miss leaned by the bedside chatting idly with Lixia and Bailu, then had them open her makeup case to admire the jewelry the Grand Madam had given her.

After lunch, Second Madam sent word: the nieces would eat dinner before returning to the Governor’s Manor.

When Seventh Miss woke from her afternoon nap, not seeing Bailu, she remembered that Nanny Yao had taken her home.

She felt somewhat regretful for the moment: she hadn’t been able to probe for more information when Nanny Yao came to fetch her.

“Forget it,” she muttered to Lixia. “When coming to fetch someone, she was eager to hurry home and gather with relatives—who would have the mood for idle chat?”

Lixia only smiled. Seventh Miss exclaimed again, “I really should have given Bailu some festival money.”

“Festival money—that’s a novel term.” Lixia repeated it several times. “Festival rewards are already given by the household. Your bit of silver—better save it for yourself… Only Miss could think up such a pleasant-sounding name!”

“Now you’re showing your ignorance, aren’t you?” Seventh Miss giggled. “There are many more such terms—festival money, summer allowance, travel allowance, phone allowance… Whatever name you can think of, they can give you subsidies and distribute silver!”

“What travel allowance, phone allowance—there’s silver for talking too?” Lixia innocently widened her eyes.

Seventh Miss laughed heartily. “Exactly! The more you talk, the more silver you get!”

Speaking of this, she felt somewhat melancholy. “Took so much effort to get into such a good place, but alas, only stayed a few years…”

Lixia couldn’t understand at all.

She didn’t inquire further either.

Someone like Miss—how could she thoroughly investigate?

“I wonder if the Hanlin Manor is large.” She chatted with Seventh Miss.

“Don’t you have an aunt working at the Hanlin Manor?” Seventh Miss asked. “After the Dragon Boat Festival, I’ll give you half a day’s leave too. Go home and ask your aunt to take you to tour the Hanlin Manor—then you’ll know.”

She had always been fair with these two senior maids.

Lixia smiled and declined. “I went home last month. Besides, Sister Bailu isn’t going home purely to visit relatives either.”

Nanny Yao had gone through such effort to gain permission to take Bailu home—she must have her purpose. Bailu also had a bit of the flavor of being on official business.

Seventh Miss glared at Lixia, rarely displaying a young girl’s willfulness. “Silly girl, when I tell you to tour the Hanlin Manor, isn’t that official business too?”

Lixia’s face suddenly showed understanding as she murmured agreement.

Curiously, she asked, “If Miss wants to know about the Hanlin Manor’s layout, why not go tour it yourself?”

Seventh Miss sighed.

Lixia was a good child and very clever, but unfortunately, sometimes her thinking was just slightly lacking.

“What could I see if I went?” She sighed. “Once people see I’m a young lady from this manor, what would they dare say? Only if you go will you see the real Hanlin Manor.”

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat.

If it weren’t for Nanny Yao taking Bailu home this time, Seventh Miss wouldn’t have thought to have Lixia enter the Hanlin Manor to observe the situation.

In household schemes, her experience was still shallow. Many things she only dealt with passively, without the concept of taking initiative.

Lixia suddenly understood.

“Miss’s lesson is correct.” She nodded solemnly, then felt admiration. “Miss, you truly are… there’s nothing that can stump you!”

Seventh Miss smiled faintly but didn’t show much pride.

These ancient noble ladies and young misses had no life pressures, no normal male-female interactions, and every word and action was restricted by propriety and ritual.

They could only focus their thoughts on intrigue and scheming.

With her years of life experience, once transmigrated into this body, after years of cultivation, she could only barely hold her own.

Modern people’s schemes were nothing compared to ancient people.

This exquisite and elegant Baifang Garden was both home and workplace and battlefield for these madams, concubines, and young ladies.

One had to fight bloodily all the way to jump beyond the three realms like First Miss, no longer within the five elements.

She wondered what changes this elder sister, who seemed accomplished in her cultivation, would bring to the manor’s delicate situation.

#

After dinner, Bailu was sent back to the western side courtyard by Nanny Yao.

Seventh Miss quickly threw on her outer garment and rose, personally welcoming Nanny Yao to the western inner room where the two sat facing each other drinking tea.

“I was remiss today, unable to accompany Eldest Sister on the garden tour.” One couldn’t go wrong with excessive courtesy.

Nanny Yao’s attitude toward Seventh Miss became noticeably more respectful and solemn. “What are you saying? You mustn’t be so polite.”

She smiled as she looked at Seventh Miss. “Both being concubine-born daughters raised in the main courtyard… Though First Miss doesn’t show it on her face, in her heart she deeply cares for you! When she has leisure, she often mentions you to me, wondering whether you’re living well in the western side courtyard, whether you’ve suffered any slights!”

Seventh Miss wouldn’t disbelieve these words, but she wouldn’t take them seriously either.

The Yang family’s goodwill always came with conditions. When conditions weren’t met, they couldn’t be bothered with you.

Just like Great Aunt and Fifth Aunt back then—if she hadn’t been proper in conduct and stable in behavior, these two aunts probably wouldn’t have shown her goodwill either.

She smiled. “Eldest Sister is kind-hearted.” Then lowered her head to blow on her tea.

A flash of surprise passed through Nanny Yao’s eyes.

She hadn’t expected this Seventh Miss, so young in years, to be so airtight and flawless.

“Has Bailu caused you any trouble?” She changed the subject. “Her father and mother asked me to send their regards. Hearing that you love pickled bamboo shoots and pickled fish, they specially pickled a jar and had young Yao’er place it in Bailu’s room.”

Seventh Miss quickly thanked Nanny Yao.

Pickled items were best eaten fresh. They probably got permission for Bailu’s leave last night, and the Yao family rushed to pickle them fresh as gifts.

She thought of the rose fermented bean curd Lixia’s family had sent.

Who said the inner courtyard wasn’t a workplace?

The two chatted about other matters. Seventh Miss couldn’t help but ask about First Miss. “Is Eldest Sister doing well at the Li family? This time giving birth to a daughter, she didn’t suffer any…”

How could Nanny Yao not understand Seventh Miss’s meaning?

Country families placed even more emphasis on preferring sons to daughters. Having a daughter as the first child would inevitably invite criticism from the in-laws.

“Goodness!” She couldn’t help herself, her face full of spring breeze.

Just this one expression explained First Miss’s respectability at the Li family.

“Her parents-in-law practically regard First Miss as closer than their own daughter—how could they say any harsh words… They’re almost happier than if she’d given birth to a fat baby boy!” She rambled on describing how considerate the Li family was toward First Miss. “…Her younger sister-in-law specially knelt before Buddha for three days to obtain a safety amulet to tie around the baby girl’s neck, blessing her with peace and health…”

Seventh Miss listened very attentively.

Her face showed undisguised envy.

Watching this, Nanny Yao felt somewhat more warmth toward Seventh Miss.

For concubine-born daughters raised in the main courtyard, wasn’t it all about securing a good marriage match?

Despite her young age, Seventh Miss was quite perceptive.

She rose to take her leave. “I’ve been out all day. First Miss probably needs to coax the baby to sleep… My son-in-law studies hard. There isn’t a single official elder in the clan, and we’re so far from her natal family…”

Seventh Miss smiled as she saw her to the threshold.

Lixia had a completely bewildered expression.

Seeing this, Seventh Miss couldn’t help but laugh.

This conversation with Nanny Yao was aimed at mutual probing.

At first, Nanny Yao only wanted to probe her depths, not intending to reveal First Miss’s intentions.

In the end, she couldn’t help but hint at First Miss’s purpose.

Being far from her natal family made it somewhat difficult to borrow their influence. The Grand Madam managed ten thousand affairs daily. Over time, her love for First Miss would probably fade and be forgotten.

Didn’t Seventh Miss see through the Grand Madam’s character clearly enough?

Just looking at Ninth Brother’s injury showed that toward concubine-born daughters, it was ultimately just for appearances.

To maintain the Grand Madam’s love for her, First Miss couldn’t rely solely on sending things to her natal family.

The Li family wasn’t a wealthy household—how many rare treasures could they send to her natal family?

Naturally, she could only find someone by the Grand Madam’s side to frequently mention her name, preventing herself from being forgotten.

In the main courtyard, only Seventh Miss could help her with this favor—both being concubine-born daughters, she could understand a concubine-born daughter’s difficulties.

Nanny Yao’s several visits were probably more about gauging Seventh Miss’s worth than visiting Bailu. Otherwise, why hadn’t she reminisced with Bailu last year during the Dragon Boat Festival?

However, transactions always involved give and take.

It remained to be seen what bargaining chips First Miss intended to offer.

#

First Miss also listened with great interest to Nanny Yao’s report by lamplight.

“This Seventh Miss truly isn’t a simple character.” She disassembled the eight-treasure bun on her head before the bright glass mirror. “Remember to remind me later to ask Mother for a few more mirrors. Once the baby was born, these mirrors weren’t enough.”

Nanny Yao nodded with a face full of smiles, agreeing. “At such a young age, she’s as clever as you were back then.”

“I think she’s cleverer than me!” First Miss paused, examining her appearance in the mirror. “It’s precisely because she’s too clever that she doesn’t appear clever.”

She laughed at herself. “Living in the countryside too long, even looking at this child seems somewhat unfathomable!”

Nanny Yao laughed along with First Miss.

In her heart though, she mulled over her several conversations with Seventh Miss.

She truly did seem somewhat bottomless…

“She’s a smart person—naturally that’s best.” First Miss selected fine powder and carefully rubbed it on her duck-egg white cheeks. “The manor certainly won’t be peaceful these next few years. Without some capability, she truly couldn’t control this situation!”

These past days rolling among the servants, Nanny Yao had heard plenty of gossip, but remained completely ignorant of upper-level thinking. She humbly sought guidance. “What do you mean by that? The servants all say the manor is more peaceful than before.”

First Miss showed a mocking smile in the mirror.

“承蒙Our Master thinks highly of our eldest son-in-law and privately hinted to him that he wants to introduce him to Master Zhang Weiting… He also instructed him not to announce Feng family’s top scholar status when he returns home.” She unscrewed the flower dew bottle and lazily sprinkled a few drops into her collar. “The outer courtyard is entirely the Master’s people, keeping news sealed tight. Madam is like a dead person, knowing nothing at all.”

The Master had already begun promoting the Feng family!

Nanny Yao drew in a sharp breath.

“How can this be kept secret!” She was also somewhat puzzled. “Madam hasn’t heard anything about this county examination top scholar?”

“It’s only been spread for a few months. Madam’s mind isn’t on this matter.” First Miss laughed at herself again. “I don’t know what enchanting potion Second Aunt fed her. She’s revived the idea of adoption again, saying in the second half of this year she wants to bring back two nephews to coldly observe them. If their character is more honest than Ninth Brother, perhaps she’ll adopt them to be Ninth Brother’s companions…”

Nanny Yao was so frightened she could barely stand steady.

Either of these two pieces of news could stir up bloody storms in the manor.

Neither could be kept secret long-term.

Since the Feng family had entered Master Zhang Weiting’s tutelage and was the young top scholar, passing the provincial examination was only a matter of time.

Given the Grand Master’s and Zhang Weiting’s influence, his ranking wouldn’t be low either—perhaps even provincial top scholar.

A county examination top scholar wasn’t particularly rare.

But surely the Grand Madam would hear the name of a provincial top scholar?

Once she heard the surname Feng and traced it back, what couldn’t she discover?

Even not knowing, she already found Ninth Brother not aligned with her and wanted to adopt a nephew halfway for discipline.

If she found out, how could it be? The manor would probably be turned upside down by the Grand Madam.

As for the adoption matter…

Unless the Grand Master had gone mad, he would never adopt a nephew into the family.

Before Ninth Brother was born, the Grand Madam tried several times to broach the subject, but was rebuffed by the Grand Master each time.

Pressed urgently, he even contacted the main family clan, wanting to secretly watch for some unfortunate orphans in the clan…

How could Nanny Yao not know clearly the grievances between the Grand Master and the main family clan?

Even if Ninth Brother died young, the Grand Master would never adopt his own nephew!

If the Grand Master even guessed a shadow of the Grand Madam’s intention, it would immediately cause another storm.

“Fourth Aunt will probably rise again!” Nanny Yao blurted out.

When snipe and clam fight, the fisherman benefits.

If it weren’t for the Grand Madam’s powerful maternal family and the Grand Master’s falling out with the main clan, he wouldn’t desperately elevate Fourth Aunt.

If the couple fought like fire and water again, Fourth Aunt would probably become even more favored.

First Miss laughed heartily.

“Fourth Aunt has her own thoughts too.” Her tone was very relaxed. “She’s not stupid. As a mere concubine, could she really overturn heaven? If the Master wants to use her to anger Madam, that’s the Master’s business. She may not obey!”

Nanny Yao became quite confused.

“What she’s thinking about now is Third Sister’s and Fourth Sister’s marriage matches… But look at the Master and Madam in this manor—which one would fulfill her wishes and smoothly find them two good matches?”

The Grand Madam need not be mentioned; the Grand Master wasn’t any kind-hearted soul either.

Favoring the fourth household was to restrain the Grand Madam.

If Fourth Aunt didn’t obey, he would naturally use marriage matches to control her.

Moreover, in official families, children’s marriages were never simple… When the Grand Madam married into the Yang family back then, was it willingly?

Nanny Yao held her forehead. “Living in Yuhang so long, I’ve actually forgotten about the manor’s three-way standoff! Truly exhausting for the brain!”

“This exhausts your brain?” First Miss combed through her beautiful hair. “When eldest son-in-law and Ninth Brother met Top Scholar Feng at Master Zhang’s residence, the little ancestor showed not a trace of surprise…”

Nanny Yao had interacted with Ninth Brother before too.

This child wasn’t the type who could hide his surprise.

Seeing Young Master Feng without any surprise meant he’d already met him several times before, right?

Yet he concealed it from the Grand Madam together with the Grand Master…

At such a young age, he already knew to deceive his legitimate mother and support his birth mother’s natal family.

“With Fifth Sister being such a firecracker, and Seventh Sister being such a deep pool… How can the household not be lively these next few years? Not one of them is an easy lamp to deal with!” First Miss stood up, commenting casually. “There’s also Second Uncle and Second Aunt, that shameless old immortal pair watching like tigers eyeing prey. If it’s not lively, who would allow it!”

Nanny Yao was already dizzy from confusion.

Seeing First Miss about to head to the inner chamber, she hurriedly called after her with a question.

“Then you—are you really planning to follow Second Branch’s words and become close with Second Master?”

First Miss and Second Madam had always had a poor relationship.

During those years when the two branches were at odds, Second Madam had suffered many losses at First Miss’s hands.

Now upon returning, Second Madam was extraordinarily attentive… Anyone could tell something was amiss.

First Miss didn’t stop walking, talking to Nanny Yao while entering the bedroom.

“That’s why I’ve always admired Second Aunt—shameless yet brazenly so, and always so decisive.”

Li Yixing lay sprawled on the pillow, already snoring thunderously, still clutching half a book in his hand.

“Since Second Uncle is willing to promote the younger generation, how could I be so rude as to refuse?” First Miss gazed at her husband and lowered her voice. “She hopes to profit from me, but that’s impossible… Ninth Brother is clever and intelligent. I’m still counting on him to protect eldest son-in-law—how could I let her succeed?”

Nanny Yao asked painfully, “Then how should we… how should we…”

She couldn’t continue.

With so many tangled threads, Nanny Yao didn’t even have a clue how to sort out the advantages and disadvantages.

First Miss slowly sat beside Li Yixing and hummed absentmindedly.

“This depends on Seventh Sister.” She lowered her eyes, signaling Nanny Yao to leave the bedroom. “It can only depend on her… What can I do as a married daughter?”

Nanny Yao could only close her mouth and withdraw from the bedroom with hands hanging.

Li Yixing slowly opened his eyes, his honest face showing complete bewilderment.

“What are you talking about?” He yawned hugely, his tone drowsy.

First Miss’s eyes held only tenderness. “Things you wouldn’t understand!”

Li Yixing stopped asking, shifting inward to make room for First Miss on the bed.

“When are we going back to Yuhang?” His voice was muffled in the bedding, somewhat unclear, carrying faint grievance.

“Missing home?” First Miss leaned on Li Yixing’s solid arm.

“Mm!” He responded quickly and urgently.

Like a child, unable to hide his feelings at all…

“I miss Yuhang too.” First Miss quietly answered in Li Yixing’s ear. “And I miss you!”

Li Yixing turned over, looking at his wife in puzzlement. “Silly woman, aren’t I right beside you?”

First Miss bit her lip and slowly, one by one, unfastened the buttons on her collar.

Li Yixing gazed at her foolishly, unconsciously opening his mouth wide.

The surprise and admiration in his eyes were like the most powerful compliment, making First Miss instantly beautiful as a celestial being.

The shadow that could never be shaken off in the Governor’s Manor gradually retreated from the bedroom.