Seventh Miss immediately blushed.

When daughters heard about marriage matters, naturally this was the attitude.

“Father…” She reproached gently.

The admiration on Great Master’s face was already too thick to conceal.

Having Dani enter Yuyu Pavilion to serve was a mutually beneficial transaction.

Nanny Tong, being an old-timer of several generations, naturally held a different position in Great Master’s heart. She’d also witnessed Seventh Miss’s private matters… Great Master clearly knew but hadn’t taken any action against her.

For Seventh Miss to want to eliminate the Tong family would be somewhat overestimating her capabilities. Old-timers who’d served the master for several generations—how much influence they had privately was something no one could say clearly.

But while Great Master trusted Nanny Tong wouldn’t speak carelessly, Seventh Miss couldn’t necessarily trust Nanny Tong.

If she just let things take their course, paying no attention to this matter, that would seem rather incompetent.

Now having Dani enter Yuyu Pavilion to serve, Seventh Miss held a hostage in hand.

If she heard any unfavorable rumors about herself, beating to death a maid in the courtyard was an ordinary matter.

Nanny Tong could also understand that Seventh Miss had no intention of eradicating them completely.

Though this move was simple, it was extremely clever.

Seeing the small to know the large—with Great Master’s knowledge and experience, from just this one simple maneuver, he could figure out Seventh Miss’s depths.

“Ninth Brother is good in every way.” He couldn’t help but sigh. “Only from childhood he lived in silk and jade. Though intelligent, he’s too conceited and arrogant.”

“Like that day’s matter—he only advised me to deal with those two households but never thought about Nanny Tong’s feelings.”

Everyone was a possible witness. The other two servant women met such miserable ends—how could Nanny Tong not feel the chill of lips gone and teeth cold?

When people panicked, what they might do was unclear.

Ninth Brother was already smart enough and ruthless enough to suggest the muting drug idea, but after dwelling in high position too long, he didn’t know to put himself in others’ shoes and consider subordinates’ feelings.

Seventh Miss also showed shock.

She’d never imagined this idea was献ed by Ninth Brother…

Thinking briefly, she understood.

Ninth Brother wanting to facilitate matters between her and Xu Fengjia didn’t mean he was willing to see Chuiyang Studio’s incident leaked.

This child had truly grown up.

“After all still young… Give it another two years, suffer a few losses, and he’ll be better.”

Before Great Master, Seventh Miss absolutely didn’t dare pretend to be pure.

What great winds and waves hadn’t he seen? That he hadn’t previously skinned her alive was because he was too lazy to care about the inner household’s trivialities.

Now she’d already aroused Great Master’s interest. Probably all those past schemes might be dug out by Father to settle old accounts.

“Heh, still young.” Great Master was very moved. “You and Ninth Brother were born on the same day. Even you can say he’s still young—shows his immaturity.”

Seventh Miss had no response, could only smile slightly.

Great Master sighed a few more times before setting this matter aside.

Ninth Brother was already smart enough, precocious enough. Expecting him at this age to handle everything properly was truly demanding too much.

“The Chuiyang Studio matter—what do you think in your heart?” He smiled and looked at Seventh Miss asking.

The main dish finally arrived.

Seventh Miss’s heart suddenly beat faster.

“Just a coincidence!” Though her voice wasn’t loud, her tone was decisive. “Though both sides had incautious places, neither was deliberately intentional… Can’t be said to be anything dishonorable.”

Great Master couldn’t help but laugh mockingly.

Who’d have thought—Seventh Miss deeply understood the thick-skinned essence of bureaucratic smoothness.

“Since those who saw have all been dealt with.” The more Seventh Miss spoke the more composed she became, as if even she believed her own words. “This small misunderstanding should very much be allowed to pass like this… No need to instead treat it as something serious that must have an explanation.”

Making small matters disappear—not bad. Compared to Ninth Brother, much more mature. Even Second Miss at this age probably only had this level of scheming calculation.

Great Master turned his head in thought.

After a long while, instead asked: “Do you know where the Feng family relatives settled after going to the capital?”

This question came from left field—even Seventh Miss hadn’t anticipated it.

“Only sent two hundred taels of silver as travel gift before they went to the capital.” She simply told the truth. “After going to the capital, never received any news from Cousin again.”

Great Master became slightly irritable, clicking his tongue before falling into contemplation again.

Seventh Miss also nervously pondered Great Master’s intention in her heart.

Just finished discussing Xu Fengjia’s matter, then asking about Feng Jin… Could it be he wanted to match her to Cousin?

Seventh Miss felt it absurd.

The Feng family had gone to the capital together over three years ago. Speaking of it, this year he was probably at the age of manhood too.

Also the sole lineage heir… Perhaps he’d long since married and had children.

Moreover, these past years’ two spring examinations hadn’t shown Feng Jin’s name.

Not even a jinshi, and having such a stiff relationship with Great Madam… What qualifications did Feng Jin have to seek a Yang family daughter? Even Sixth Miss of lowest status was beyond his reach, never mind Fifth Miss…

Couldn’t understand.

Before Great Master, she was like a child. Great Master was an unfathomably deep elder. He could see through her at a glance, but she couldn’t guess his thoughts at all.

Though both Ninth Brother and Great Master had successively lamented why she wasn’t a male heir, Seventh Miss had never been so grateful for her daughter status.

At least before Great Madam, she’d never felt this powerless.

Inner household women—their world was only as large as a wellhead. No matter how intense the household battles, it was just building temples in snail shells.

A pillar minister like Great Master had to participate in contests using the world as a chessboard. How deep the calculations and scheming there would be—just thinking about it made Seventh Miss dizzy.

Great Master also came back to himself.

Looking at Seventh Miss, he couldn’t help but sigh again in his heart: If only she were a legitimate daughter, everything would fall naturally into place—why would he need to worry about inner household matters?

“The Xu family’s letters these years have also frequently mentioned forming marriage ties with our family.” He spoke slowly.

Seventh Miss showed no surprise.

Great Madam had already impatiently shared this matter with her, greatly proud as if having one daughter meant a hundred families seeking her.

“Only…” Great Master half-lowered his eyes, examining Seventh Miss’s expression through his lashes. “There’s one thing I’ve always found strange. Though the Xu family keeps marriage talk on their lips, from start to finish they’ve never explicitly said they were seeking Little Five. The letters have never inquired about Little Five’s recent situation either.”

Great Qin’s official households acted with propriety. Speech was always subtle and indirect, roundabout.

Of course they wouldn’t brashly write in letters: Old brother, I’ve taken a liking to your so-and-so daughter, let’s form a marriage alliance.

Mostly they’d mention some son of appropriate age still unmarried at home, then inquire about a certain daughter at the other family—how is she recently, conveying the wife’s regards…

Both sides would understand each other.

But the Xu family only consistently mentioned Xu Fengjia while not asking about Fifth Miss…

The strangeness in this, thinking about it now, took on different meaning.

Seventh Miss pressed her lips, her gaze couldn’t help but become evasive.

Great Master saw this and naturally understood in his heart.

He turned his head thinking again before smiling slightly.

“This marriage still depends on what the Xu family says. Our family has many daughters—perhaps the Xu family has taken a liking to Little Six.” His words carried some teasing. “However, whoever they propose for—it’s all good for our Yang family. The arrow is on the string with no turning back. The Yang family is already bound together with the Crown Prince. Being able to form marriage ties with the Xu family means we’re circuitously connected as relatives with the Eastern Palace.”

Seventh Miss naturally understood Great Master’s meaning.

The arrow on the string had no turning back. Having already stood on the Crown Prince’s side, betraying back to be a pure subject—everyone in the world would look down on Great Master.

So what Great Master was thinking now wasn’t how to regain the Emperor’s absolute trust, but strengthening connections with the Crown Prince.

Noble Consort Xu was the Crown Prince’s adoptive mother. The Xu family was a core element of the Crown Prince’s faction.

This marriage thus changed from dispensable to Great Master’s focal consideration.

Only… how long the Emperor could live was ultimately unclear.

Within five or ten years, if his health grew increasingly better, the Yang family would inevitably face suspicion…

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but show worried expression.

This kind of political matter, though closely related to her fate, was precisely what Seventh Miss couldn’t participate in. Even wanting to help was beyond her power.

#

Seventh Miss read letters for Great Master another half afternoon before withdrawing from the outer side courtyard.

After entering the twelfth month, Great Master had fewer letters, but with matters on his mind, he inevitably had to pull out previously filed letters to reread, wanting to speculate the writers’ hearts from between the lines.

While listening he also made commentary.

“This kind of person—I’d rather he got closer to the Liu family. Fickle and ungrateful… Whichever family trusts him heavily would truly have terrible luck.”

“This person’s character is truly upright. His governance has always been lenient. Short hands. For Lin’an Prefecture’s common people to have such a prefect is considered fortune, only regrettably…”

Seventh Miss gradually heard the flavor.

Great Master was categorizing Zhejiang Province’s officials.

Some officials had good ability and fine character but walked close to the Liu family. Some officials though mediocre in ability had always been cautious and had no excessive dealings with the Liu family.

Great Master listened to letters one by one while casually sketching beside him.

However you looked at it, seemed like he was understanding Zhejiang Province’s personnel situation.

Looked like after spring, Zhejiang Province would have major personnel changes.

What about Jiangsu Province? Fujian Province?

Seventh Miss just briefly thought before casting this matter aside.

This was men’s business. Though related to the inner household, ultimately she couldn’t help at all.

She could only apply full attention to reading letters, her voice crisp and soft, making even Great Master more spirited listening.

Near evening, he finally dismissed Seventh Miss. “Go back first. I’ll invite the gentlemen in to speak shortly. Having you on the side would inevitably be inconvenient.”

“Then your daughter will take her leave first.” Seventh Miss quickly rose to depart.

Great Master looked at her and smiled. “Mm… Actually that scroll I gave you last time with ‘composure’—looking now, seems I wrote wrong.”

If Seventh Miss was only unsettled over ordinary trivialities, Great Master bestowing the composure scroll wasn’t wrong.

Encountering her half-naked cousin, just being distracted briefly counted—her conduct could be called proper.

For Seventh Miss’s age, she was already composed enough.

“Next time when free, I’ll write another scroll for you.” Great Master seemed quite interested. “After going in to see your mother, tell her I’m hosting the gentlemen for New Year wine tonight and won’t enter the inner courtyard.”

Seventh Miss obediently agreed in low voice, turned and withdrew from the small study.

In her heart still lingered some trembling.

When first serving before Great Master, she was like a taut string, fearing one careless move would offend Father’s reverse scale.

But over time, naturally she gradually relaxed. Great Master’s daily temperament was very good. Though deeply shrewd, he always greeted people with smiles. Toward his children, even more the appearance of a kind father…

Never imagined when sharp, he was actually this keenly perceptive. She didn’t dare play even small tricks, feeling stripped naked, only able to cower submissively.

Ai, without such ability, how could he support the whole family’s luxurious lifestyle?

Toward Great Master, Seventh Miss truly had nothing to complain about.

Only when he brought up her marriage and asked about Feng Jin… Though she couldn’t see through Great Master’s intention, Seventh Miss was truly somewhat uneasy because of his questioning.

Just entering the corridor, she met Minge head-on.

“Eldest Cousin.” Seventh Miss quickly put on a smile and curtsied.

Minge turned sideways accepting half the courtesy, looking at Seventh Miss thoughtfully. “Just came from the outer side courtyard?”

“Yes, all afternoon serving Father in the outer side courtyard.” Seventh Miss also asked Minge: “Why is Eldest Cousin still wearing formal clothes so late?”

Great Qin’s wealthy families strictly separated home wear from guest wear, especially male members. At home they could wear dao robes or straight robes, but receiving guests required strictly dressing according to rank. Like Xu Fengjia—at home he could wear straight robes, but receiving guests he absolutely must wear the flying fish robe worn by military officers.

“Oh.” Minge looked at his dark blue swimming fish pattern deep robe. “This morning several academy classmates visited, inviting me to view plum blossoms together. Just returned to the residence.”

“I see.” Seventh Miss had little more to say.

Being with Minge, often she felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Precisely because Minge was too calm, too comfortable, she didn’t know how to get along with this cousin.

The two walked shoulder to shoulder toward the main courtyard hall. Nanny Tong only guided ahead.

“This year Suzhou city’s plum blossoms are also good.” Minge was quite talkative. “The several green plum trees at Huiqing Temple are truly elegant. Viewers crowd like clouds. Wished I could break off a few branches to show filial piety to Uncle and Aunt.”

Though his tone was ordinary, hearing it Seventh Miss always felt special meaning.

Huiqing Temple’s Master Tongguang—back then he was precisely the fuse for the incident of Second Madam’s expulsion.

Yet Minge could still visit Huiqing Temple without any grudge.

Was it intentional, or magnanimous…

She lowered her eyes, imperceptibly glancing sideways at Minge.

But Minge was also watching her expression.

Seventh Miss’s thoughts flashed like lightning. She already had calculations.

She showed slight embarrassment. “So…” But didn’t pick up Minge’s thread.

With her relationship to Second Madam, with her status, mentioning Huiqing Temple and showing embarrassment was entirely normal.

Whether Minge just inadvertently visited Huiqing Temple once or intentionally went to investigate something, she had no need to fear.

Since that year’s matter was done, Seventh Miss had confidence she wouldn’t be caught by weak points.

Minge also remained composed. “Yes, only regrettably they’re all rare varieties worth a fortune. Even if Father personally went to request them, Huiqing Temple probably wouldn’t bear to give them.”

He turned the topic to Xiangxuehai’s plum blossoms.

Only the disappointment that flashed through his eyes ultimately revealed traces.

The two entered the room together, paid respects to Great Madam, then each left to return to their rooms.

Seventh Miss walked while smiling.

Fifth Miss walking with her couldn’t help but wonder: “What is it? Smiling all the way until now.”

“Just find it very interesting.” Seventh Miss placated her. “After several quiet years, the family suddenly has several cousins—much livelier.”

She couldn’t help but smile again.

Fighting with Great Master—she lacked that ability.

However, if Minge wanted to make things difficult for her, he was probably still slightly too green.

Fifth Miss also laughed along with Seventh Miss. “True, this year for New Year the family has more people—three cousins—and also Elder Cousin.”

Mentioning Xu Fengjia, she grew listless again, lowering her head looking at her toes, no longer speaking.

Seventh Miss was long accustomed to her moodiness and didn’t quibble with Fifth Miss.

Only mentioning Xu Fengjia, she thought again of Great Master’s few sentences.

For a moment, she also grew irritated.