“What Miss described sounds like Zhou San’s wife from the main kitchen and her sister-in-law.” After pondering a moment, Lixia gave a definite answer. “The sisters-in-law have a harmonious relationship and both work in the main kitchen. Usually they often come and go together…”

Seventh Miss responded thoughtfully, then asked: “Usually their temperament—are they outspoken or reserved? Do they talk much?”

“They’re both quite honest.” Lixia’s expression remained calm, not asking Seventh Miss’s intention. “This household seems to be several siblings purchased together. Their foundation in the residence isn’t deep. Zhou San’s wife comes from Madam’s dowry, but back then she was just a little maid sweeping courtyards. After marrying, she’s always managed the kitchen maids and rough servant women washing vegetables in the main kitchen. Usually very taciturn…”

She honestly laid everything out.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but press her forehead.

This was a most ordinary lower household. In the residence they couldn’t be said to have much dignity, just dutifully doing their insignificant work.

But precisely because of this, punishing them would actually be more difficult.

She couldn’t very well say their vegetable washing wasn’t clean enough, could she?

If her moves weren’t sharp, it would be easy for scheming people to seize on weak points and lodge complaints with Great Madam.

Just thinking of Great Madam’s fond gaze at Xu Fengjia made Seventh Miss’s heart run cold.

This was the fifth brother-in-law Great Madam had favored for seven or eight years… If this matter spread, she would absolutely have no good outcome.

She couldn’t help but secretly blame Xu Fengjia again.

In broad daylight, in the twelfth month—why remove your undergarments!

And those matrons happened to be standing and talking by the moon gate.

Though the two servant women had their backs to the moon gate, perhaps they truly couldn’t see Xu Fengjia’s unseemly state.

But they’d genuinely taken in her shocked expression.

And there was Nanny Tong diagonally opposite the moon gate at that time… This one couldn’t be dealt with by a few words from herself.

Seventh Miss closed her eyes and let out a pained groan, fiercely slapping the small Eight Immortals table of rosewood.

“Damn it, every time he comes there’s trouble!”

She rarely cursed.

Lixia was also startled.

This was the first time seeing Seventh Miss lose composure like this…

“Don’t panic.” She quickly picked up Seventh Miss’s jade-like hand and gently rubbed it. “Whatever the matter, panicking will only make it more chaotic…”

Seventh Miss immediately thought of Great Master’s words.

Composure—must still be composed.

But how could she be composed?!

This matter could be big or small. Big—it would be a shocking scandal with both families losing face.

Small—perhaps it would just silently pass like this.

In great households, who didn’t have a few shameful matters? It wasn’t like she’d actually done something disgraceful. Inadvertently seeing elder cousin’s upper body—speaking of it, it couldn’t be considered too serious.

Most crucial was whether Nanny Tong saw or didn’t see…

Seventh Miss didn’t sleep well all night.

Before her eyes swam colors—either Nanny Tong’s smiling face or Xu Fengjia’s eyes burning bright as melted glass.

When age arrived, no matter how mature the mind, there was no way to prevent bodily growth, hormonal changes.

A fourteen-year-old maiden inevitably had some budding romantic thoughts. That first awakening of love, the embarrassed and moody flavor—it wasn’t that Seventh Miss didn’t wish to experience it, but it would come regardless.

Waking the next morning, she felt dizzy and dull-eyed.

Seventh Miss struggled to rise. Just sitting halfway up, she felt utterly exhausted, lacking even the strength to sit up.

She quickly had them brew the Taiping formula Quan Zhongbai prescribed.

Lixia also arranged to brew the detoxifying prescription, but Seventh Miss felt it improper.

“Speaking of it, I’ve been continuously taking what that person prescribed. All greatly nourishing herbs—eating more would be excessive rather than insufficient.”

Just one night’s lack of sleep causing such trouble—Seventh Miss’s vital energy truly was somewhat weak.

Lixia hesitated, lips moving as if wanting to say something.

Looking at Seventh Miss, she held back.

She thought of Seventh Miss’s abnormal great anger last night.

Probably this wasn’t just lack of sleep but truly too heavy a worry on her mind.

She instructed Shangyuan to brew the Taiping formula. When Bailu entered the room—she wasn’t on night duty yesterday so came in late—she quickly consulted with Bailu for a few words, having Bailu report to Great Madam.

Only then did she return to Seventh Miss’s bedside to comfort her. “Didn’t Divine Physician Quan say your worries are too heavy? Your foundation was already weak from birth—you don’t even properly care for yourself, making people worry…”

Seventh Miss listened somewhat impatiently, turning her head half-listening, growing drowsy again.

In her heart she only pondered repeatedly how to handle this matter most properly.

#

After reluctantly washing and taking medicine and breakfast, people gradually came to visit the sick.

Naturally Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss arrived first.

“I thought you slept late today.” Sixth Miss smiled charmingly. “When I asked Mother, only then did I learn you were ill again.”

Seventh Miss’s constitution was somewhat fragile. Though not to the point of minor illness every three days and major illness every five, she was indeed more prone to headaches and chills than ordinary people.

But Fifth Miss first tested Seventh Miss’s forehead temperature, then pursed her lips and flicked her smooth forehead. “Did you lose sleep again last night?”

If Seventh Miss didn’t sleep well one night, the next day she’d easily feel unwell.

“Yes, somehow I tossed and turned all night without sleeping.” Seventh Miss acted weak, covering her forehead. “Fifth Sister still teases me.”

“Such a tiny little miss with such heavy thoughts!” Fifth Miss clicked her tongue. “After entering the twelfth month, your face hasn’t cleared once! Day and night, either frowning or frowning—don’t know where you get so many worries!”

That was just Fifth Miss’s way.

Clearly concerned about you, yet speaking so unpleasantly.

Seventh Miss’s heart warmed.

She smiled faintly. “Yes, Fifth Sister has no worries. Fifth Sister’s face is eternally sunny.”

Sixth Miss burst into giggles.

She naturally sat by Seventh Miss’s bed, also testing Seventh Miss’s forehead temperature.

“Still good, nothing wrong.” She smiled with relief, tucking in Seventh Miss’s blanket corner. “According to me, don’t sleep much during the day lest you can’t sleep at night again.”

Only then did she turn to tease Fifth Miss. “Fifth Sister’s face truly never has worries, right?”

This openly mocked Fifth Miss for having drastically changed her attitude toward Xu Fengjia over Hongge’s few words, suddenly growing cold.

Fifth Miss’s expression was uncertain. After hesitating a good while, she finally sighed.

“Too lazy to talk with you all.”

She propped her chin sitting by the window, staring blankly at the pear grove outside.

Sixth Miss smiled and exchanged meaningful looks with Seventh Miss, quietly teasing Seventh Miss: “These two years her temper grows increasingly strange, rather similar to Fourth Sister. Could it be daughters this age without marriage prospects all have this temper…”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but laugh. “Yang Liu, where did you learn this sharp tongue!”

Fifth Miss also came over to pinch Sixth Miss’s mouth. “Watch me not tear it apart!”

The little misses laughed and played, actually rousing Seventh Miss’s spirits.

Thinking about it, Sixth Miss was right—better not disrupt her biological clock.

She simply put on clothes and sat properly, joking with her sisters, then took out cards to play.

Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss sat for over an hour. Guyu brought in fresh lotus root.

“Just delivered this morning, still has mud on it… Though I know you have some too, you’re still a patient so I’m giving you extra.” Fifth Miss was straightforward.

Sixth Miss showed envious color.

Though now there were only three girls at home and her food, clothing, and expenses weren’t poor.

But compared to legitimate daughters, still somewhat inferior.

Seventh Miss saw this, sighing slightly in her heart.

Fifth Miss’s temperament could only be appreciated after becoming familiar.

If she married into the Xu family in the future, she’d probably suffer losses.

“Then many thanks, Fifth Sister.” But her expression remained composed.

The two sisters took their leave. “We’ve disturbed you over an hour. Time to let you rest!”

At noon, Great Madam sent someone to deliver private kitchen dishes made by Little Kitchen’s Auntie Cao.

“All your favorites.” Nanny Liang conveyed Great Madam’s message. “If you’re still uncomfortable tonight, quickly call a good physician. Don’t try to save trouble only to leave lasting illness.”

“Ai, please thank Mother for Little Seven’s care.” Seventh Miss leaned on her pillow and was courteous with Nanny Liang. “It’s also hard on you to personally deliver…”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Nanny Liang, Lixia saw Nanny Liang out before Bailu helped her get down to eat.

The Yang family’s young ladies had their rules. Even if gravely ill, as long as they could get out of bed, they must eat at the table.

Auntie Cao truly put in effort, making several stewed dishes Seventh Miss usually loved eating.

But Seventh Miss ate half a bowl of rice before she couldn’t eat more. The two head maids pleaded bitterly before she ate a few more bites.

Her appetite had never been good since childhood. Perhaps truly because her thoughts were too heavy, or perhaps because she’d spent too long eating at the same table with Great Madam—during meals, her mind was never on eating.

Putting down bowl and chopsticks, after taking medicine, drowsiness came.

Not until low voices sounded by her ear did Seventh Miss slowly open her eyes.

Still sleepy.

“Lower your voice.” She complained coquettishly.

A man’s low husky voice chuckled.

Seventh Miss was genuinely startled.

Opening her eyes, it was Ninth Brother.

“Why did you come?” She rubbed her eyes and made to rise. Ninth Brother quickly came forward supporting her back, helping her up.

“This morning went out with Elder Cousin to hunt birds.” He smiled and poured Seventh Miss a cup of tea, passing it to her hand. “Returning, only then learned you were ill. Went back to wash and change clothes before coming to see you.”

“Being naughty again.” Seventh Miss rinsed her mouth with tea. Lixia brought hot water. Ninth Brother personally wrung a towel and brought it before her. She accepted it and wiped her face while scolding. “Weren’t you frozen?”

Ninth Brother just grinned. “How would I freeze? It’s not like Elder Cousin, in such cold weather…”

“Do you want to die?” Seventh Miss’s expression instantly changed. She glanced at Ninth Brother, cutting off his remaining words.

Her tone rarely revealed sharpness.

Ninth Brother found this amusing.

“Is this how you curse your younger brother?” Seeing Lixia bring medicine, he reached out to accept the small sweet white porcelain bowl, scooping a spoonful of medicine and blowing on it to feed Seventh Miss. “Drink some medicine.”

Lixia also reminded: “Fourth Young Master, careful it’s hot.”

But Seventh Miss couldn’t bear such affectation. “Just didn’t sleep well—not some serious illness. I’ll drink it myself. Put it down.”

“It’ll be useless once cold.” But Ninth Brother was very insistent. “Either drink it now or let me serve you.”

He smiled and pointed at the desk by the window. “The small scroll Father wrote for you—I also brought it back for you. These two characters used real care. He even stamped his rarely-used private seal. Your face is considerable.”

Seventh Miss glanced at Ninth Brother again.

Just thinking how this scroll came about made her heart feel terribly blocked.

This matter was like a time bomb. Though the possibility of erupting now was small, it absolutely couldn’t be said to have no future trouble…

“You still mention it!” She couldn’t help but redirect her anger at Ninth Brother. “I told you to get close to Elder Cousin, not to fool around with him. In such cold weather you worked up a sweat all over. What if you catch a chill? What then?”

Ninth Brother grinned again. “Are you worried about me or worried about…”

“Yang Shanjiu!”

“Good, good, good. I won’t say it, won’t say it.” Ninth Brother had to give in. “Don’t be angry, you’re drinking medicine. Come, come, I’ll feed you, I’ll feed you…”

Seventh Miss couldn’t push Ninth Brother too hard. She could only reluctantly fall silent.

Under Ninth Brother’s care she finished a bowl of medicine.

Now sweating all over, the whole person finally had some energy.

She had Lixia bring a long home robe. After Ninth Brother turned away, she got down and dressed, sitting on the beauty couch by the window, hugging the clay-gold candied fruit jar picking and choosing, sweetening her mouth while chatting idly with Ninth Brother.

Half afternoon, the sky was overcast. North wind made the glass window bang. But inside was warmly comfortable. The southern sweets on the Eight Immortals table gave off faint sweet fragrance. Before the beauty couch lay thick long-hair carpet transmitting heat from the heating system. Ninth Brother simply removed his boots and sat on the floor, leaning against the beauty couch, raising his head chatting sporadically with Seventh Miss.

Bailu was getting married soon and naturally had much to busy herself with. Only Lixia remained in the room, leaning in the corner doing needlework.

The atmosphere was entirely peaceful.

Seventh Miss held half a piece of glutinous rice lotus root, picking out sour preserved cherries for Ninth Brother. “When you pay respects later, just say I’m also better but too lazy to go out. Tomorrow morning I’ll enter the main courtyard to pay respects. Also tell Auntie Cao—say I want a bowl of her personally cured fish tonight, steamed with two pieces of ginger… Send it hot, don’t forget. This thing isn’t good at all when cold.”

“Good, good, good.” Ninth Brother was exasperated. “Don’t eat much yet so picky.”

“Picky is picky. Can’t our family afford to support one picky person?” Seventh Miss was unconcerned. “Pot calling kettle black… As if Fourth Young Master you’re not picky yourself.”

The two joked while eating candied fruit.

Lixia rose to add tea for both before leaving the room, heading toward the privy.

Ninth Brother spoke softly.

“This morning Father used the pretext that the estate lacked people. He handed those two households from yesterday to the estate manager and sent them all to the estate.”

Seventh Miss’s movements involuntarily paused.

She nearly dropped the clay-gold jar on the ground.

For a long while she didn’t respond.

Ninth Brother turned his head and seriously looked up at Seventh Miss.

“Nanny Tong is an old-timer of several generations. She always handles matters properly. In the inner household, Father only trusts this one nanny.”

He lowered his eyes again. Long, thick, upturned lashes concealed the thoughts in his eyes. “Before those two matrons boarded the carriage, under pretext of cold weather they were each rewarded a bowl of wine to drive away chill. Chief Steward Zhang personally handled this—very secretly… Set your mind at ease.”

Seventh Miss could still only remain silent.

She no longer knew how to respond.

No matter what Great Master thought of her in his heart, as long as there was no possibility of it becoming a scandal, it was already the best outcome.

Only buried behind this outcome were two people’s voices for life…

The wine certainly contained muting drugs. These two matrons could never speak again.

She couldn’t help but close her eyes, bite her lip, and shake her head.

She’d been too rash. She shouldn’t have walked that corridor… But did she want to walk that corridor herself? The willow trees in Chuiyang Studio—did she want to look at them? But how could she have imagined Xu Fengjia would be at Chuiyang Studio at that moment, even removing his upper garment on a whim?

Who exactly should be blamed for this matter?

Ninth Brother’s face also showed profound mystery. This boy—refined to the point of even carrying a few parts beauty—turned his head and seriously studied Seventh Miss.

After a long while he slowly spoke.

“Only this matter can be concealed from others but cannot be concealed from yourself.”

“From the standpoint of reputation… you are already Elder Cousin’s person for this lifetime.”