Once the third day passed, the entire household was frantically busy.

Before the New Year, the Grand Master had received the Emperor’s favor with a plaque reading “Pillar of Support.” The bittersweet implications of this were naturally clear to him, but outsiders saw only the glory.

This year, the number of visitors coming to call was unprecedented.

The Grand Madam naturally had to take charge personally, and even the three unmarried young misses became highly sought after. Whenever any madam or lady came calling, they all wanted to see the Yang family’s young ladies with their own eyes. Whether Fifth Miss, Sixth Miss, or Seventh Miss, each had people holding their hands, praising them endlessly, reluctant to let go for ages.

Fifth Miss had a strong temperament and no patience for socializing with these madams and ladies who appeared out of nowhere. After just a few days, she claimed illness and recuperated at Moon Arrival Pavilion. Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss dared not imitate her willfulness.

Over time, the two inevitably grew weary of it.

Especially Sixth Miss—with her gentle, innocent temperament and beautiful appearance, being of concubine birth meant no concerns about being too lowly a match. This year she had just come of age and reached marriageable age…

She was actually even more popular than Seventh Miss.

Those fifth and sixth rank officials—how could their families not have several legitimate sons who hoped to make their mark in official careers? The Yang family was famous for their generosity, having made spectacular dowry arrangements for several daughters already. No wonder these madams and ladies found everything about Sixth Miss delightful.

In the latter days, Seventh Miss simply followed Fifth Miss’s example and claimed illness, leaving the entire stage for Sixth Miss to shine.

Rarely did so many people come this year, and the Grand Madam was willing to let Sixth Miss appear publicly. There was no need for her to compete with Sixth Miss.

Though the Grand Madam felt helpless, over the years she had indulged Fifth Miss to the point where she couldn’t bear to scold or strike her. As for Seventh Miss, she had been considerate, gentle, and virtuous year after year… For her to be willful just this once, even the Grand Madam couldn’t bring herself to reprimand her.

She could only pull Sixth Miss to deflect those passionately enthusiastic female guests, dressing her up beautifully and impeccably every day to receive compliments—which wasn’t without its pleasures at the year’s beginning.

After the Lantern Festival, the Governor’s Mansion finally quieted down again.

The Grand Master, however, had received over ten marriage proposal letters.

As Seventh Miss read them to the Grand Master, he smiled throughout.

“When one family has a daughter, a hundred families seek her hand. Sixth Miss has reached marriageable age indeed.”

Never mind Sixth Miss—even for Fifth Miss, letters had come from the capital inquiring about her situation. The Xu family wasn’t the only one interested in seeking a match.

However, though Xu Fengjia himself had come to Suzhou, though the Grand Madam had written to Lady Xu, and though Lady Xu had even sent several letters in reply, there had been no hint of requesting a match or proposing marriage. The Grand Madam couldn’t help feeling puzzled.

“What exactly are the Xu family’s intentions?” she grumbled to the Grand Master. “Fifth Miss is already sixteen. In a few more years she’ll be an old maid. Surely they’re not going to wait until Fengjia returns to the capital before proposing?”

Great households had many proprieties. If the two families began marriage negotiations, Xu Fengjia would indeed be unsuitable to continue residing at Chuiyang Studio.

The Grand Master was also helpless. “Such matters are hardly something we can press them about… If you truly can only favor the Xu family, then we’ll just have to wait.”

The Grand Madam shot the Grand Master a look and said no more.

After the Lantern Festival, the New Year celebrations were considered complete.

Aside from the young ladies, everyone had business to attend to.

Once court was in session, the Grand Master prepared to audit the salt and iron accounts, starting with Fujian. These past days, messengers had already departed, and the outer courtyard was packed daily, sometimes requiring overnight stays at the Governor’s Office.

The Grand Madam also began making rounds with Seventh Miss to attend spring wine banquets, especially accepting invitations from Zhejiang Province families most frequently.

Xu Fengjia went to stay briefly at Xukou and hadn’t returned to Chuiyang Studio for half a month. Minge, Dage, and Honge remained home studying behind closed doors.

Ninth Brother, however, had enrolled at Shantang Academy.

Though Shantang Academy was far away in Mudu, the Grand Madam insisted Ninth Brother commute daily rather than allowing him to lodge near the academy.

“He’s the only precious heir in this entire household. If anything happens to him, I won’t be able to eat or sleep well. If you let Ninth Brother stay at the academy, you’re deliberately tormenting me!” the Grand Madam fumed at the Grand Master.

The Grand Master had no choice but to agree, arranging five or six attendants to escort Ninth Brother to his studies daily and bring him back at the appointed time.

Even the three Minge brothers were extremely busy. They naturally had a group of classmates preparing for this year’s provincial examination. Every day they either attended literary gatherings or were summoned by the Grand Master to the outer courtyard to practice eight-legged essays with the secretaries and advisors. Sometimes when the Grand Master was free, he took them to tour Suzhou’s famous sites, composing poetry.

Surprisingly, the most idle was Fifth Miss.

This year the Grand Madam only brought Seventh Miss to spring wine banquets—not that she was unwilling to bring Fifth Miss, but after declining every invitation, it eventually became habit.

“Young girls of age really do have so many thoughts,” the Grand Madam could only complain to Seventh Miss. “Usually when I mention Fengjia to her, it’s all ‘won’t marry, won’t marry, wouldn’t marry him no matter who.’ But look—Fengjia reduces his visits and she becomes unable to eat or drink… Ah, she’s reached that age!”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help marveling at the Grand Madam’s wishful thinking.

However, regarding this matter, from any angle, it wasn’t appropriate for her to speak.

She could only smile subtly. “Fifth Sister’s thoughts—even I can’t guess them now…”

The Grand Madam looked at Seventh Miss with a smile. “Don’t learn from your Fifth Sister! All that awkwardness only hurts herself! Once your Fifth Sister’s match is settled, we’ll immediately arrange Sixth Sister’s engagement to the Li family. After that, it’ll be your turn. Whether the Gui family or another, Mother only cares that you’re happy!”

Seventh Miss’s face flushed. “Mother only knows how to tease Little Seven!”

This made the Grand Madam laugh heartily. Only then did Seventh Miss lower her head and sigh quietly to herself.

She looked up and asked the Grand Madam, “Mother is in such fine spirits this year. How is it you’re willing to accept invitations even from various madams?”

In previous years, the Grand Madam only attended spring wine banquets at limited households like the Li and Zhang families. No matter how high their rank, she wouldn’t attend homes with whom she didn’t regularly socialize.

The Grand Madam first stepped back, examining herself in the glass mirror from all angles, and asked Seventh Miss, “This ensemble looks good, doesn’t it?”

For her first visit to various madams’ homes, the Grand Madam had dressed rather richly, even wearing a complete set of red gold and pearl ornaments.

Seventh Miss tactfully suggested, “It’s lovely, but these ornaments look heavy. In Little Seven’s opinion, wearing just a coronet would suffice. Even with fewer pearls and kingfisher feathers, it wouldn’t diminish your status.”

“You don’t understand,” the Grand Madam instructed Seventh Miss. “Many guests at the Zhu family’s spring banquet haven’t met us before. If we don’t display sufficient grandeur at this first meeting, it might diminish the Governor’s Mansion’s standing.”

Seventh Miss nodded, accepting the lesson.

The Grand Madam then pulled her before the mirror. “Let me see, let me see… Mm… one more pearl hairpin would look even better!”

She immediately opened her cosmetics case and selected a South Sea pearl hairpin for Seventh Miss. The pearl at the hairpin’s head alone was the size of a thumb.

“You’re naturally fair and delicate, with such black and shining hair. Wearing this pearl hairpin makes your skin appear even whiter. When those big eyes glance about, they shine even brighter than the pearls.” The more the Grand Madam looked, the more satisfied she became. She beckoned Nanny Liang over. “This South Sea pearl hairpin is yours now. Tomorrow tell Medicine Nanny to bring out a box of South Sea pearls to make jewelry for you sisters.”

Seventh Miss could only let the Grand Madam dress her.

She had always maintained an appreciative attitude toward ancient adornment.

But when it came to wearing it all herself, she felt quite constrained. Over the years, she had merely pursued four words: appropriately dressed.

The Grand Madam truly did have excellent aesthetic taste though.

After being arranged by her, Seventh Miss felt she looked considerably more radiant.

The mother and daughter warmly took each other’s hands onto the heated sedan, exiting to change to a canopied carriage, heading together to the Zhu family.

Only then did the Grand Madam relay the Grand Master’s words to Seventh Miss in detail.

“Though not stated explicitly, that personage sent Fengjia to Jiangnan partly to drill the naval forces and plant hidden stakes in the future fleet. On the other hand, it’s also to sweep through the three Jiangnan provinces and clear out some positions to facilitate installing his own people.”

Even though she’d had vague suspicions, hearing the Grand Madam state it so clearly still startled Seventh Miss inwardly.

“Cousin is only seventeen this New Year…” She drew out her words. “Such a weighty responsibility… That personage is comfortable placing it in his hands?”

The Grand Madam’s expression was also grave.

“So your father and I initially assumed General Xiao was the one truly handling affairs.” She pensively propped up her chin. “General Xiao, Superintendent Liao, and your cousin all came by imperial order to drill the naval forces. Superintendent Liao is a palace eunuch—inconvenient for handling affairs and inappropriate to openly interfere in local government matters, so he’s always remained stationed at Xukou. We just didn’t expect that General Xiao wasn’t at Xukou before New Year… He actually only went to Xukou to drill troops after New Year… while your cousin’s whereabouts are unknown.”

Only these three came to handle affairs. Superintendent Liao couldn’t act, so if not General Xiao, it had to be Xu Fengjia handling matters.

After New Year was precisely when the Grand Master would exert effort and begin taking action through the Salt and Iron Bureau. Yet General Xiao went to Xukou to drill troops while Xu Fengjia’s whereabouts were unknown.

Who truly had the assignment was perfectly clear.

It seemed the Crown Prince placed considerable trust in his childhood companion.

The Grand Madam’s expression gradually grew deeper. “Most concerning is that along with him disappeared a personal guard battalion of three hundred men, allocated by the Emperor from the Imperial Guards to protect the flagship…”

Seventh Miss’s expression changed dramatically.

Where Xu Fengjia and the personal guard battalion went and what they would do wasn’t itself cause for the Yang family’s fear. After all, the two families were currently in the same boat—no matter what, the Xu family wouldn’t move against the Yang family.

But that the Crown Prince’s forces commanded the Imperial Guards as easily as their own limbs revealed that the Crown Prince’s actual power far exceeded what appeared on the surface.

What the Yang family knew might be only the tip of the iceberg.

The Yang family didn’t know the Crown Prince’s full resources, yet the Xu family could receive the Crown Prince’s重用 and have Xu Fengjia handle such major affairs for him.

The Grand Master and Grand Madam’s feelings were naturally not particularly pleasant.

“I truly don’t understand your father,” the Grand Madam couldn’t help venting slightly. “By all rights, we absolutely cannot let go of this marriage alliance with the Xu family. Yet he keeps wavering, dragging it out until now without settling it. Your Third Aunt and I have exchanged several letters, but her tone is also vague… Hmph, given the Xu family’s current momentum, never mind our family—even other ducal families probably scramble to marry their daughters in! Don’t look at how the Quan family’s divine physician is extremely favored by the Emperor and enjoys such prominence in the capital—that’s all illusory. Looking long-term, the Xu family’s wealth and honor is most reliable!”

Only then did Seventh Miss suddenly understand.

If other families’ sons still relied on their fathers’ protection, Xu Fengjia had already established a solid connection with the Crown Prince through his own abilities. Marrying others carried the risk of an incompetent husband, but marrying Xu Fengjia—as long as the Crown Prince ascended the throne, wealth and honor for this lifetime would be absolutely secure.

From the Yang family’s perspective, they indeed needed this marriage alliance to strengthen their connection with the Crown Prince… The Grand Madam’s determination to facilitate Fifth Miss and Xu Fengjia’s match wasn’t solely because she valued Lady Xu and Fifth Miss’s kinship, but more because she was optimistic about Xu Fengjia’s performance as a high-performing stock.

“Please don’t worry. This matter will certainly proceed smoothly. Both sides are willing—it’s a perfect match… Though there are many families in the capital, not many can match our family’s wealth and status…” She suppressed the inexpressible bitterness in her heart and smiled to comfort the Grand Madam. “But after all this talk, you still haven’t explained your purpose in visiting the Zhu family…”

The Grand Madam rarely revealed her innermost thoughts and couldn’t stop herself for a moment.

“Though some capital families can’t match the Yang family’s current glory, there are still many old established nobles. Our Yang family in the capital inevitably carries the suspicion of being nouveau riche. I fear…”

She paused, then turned to smile. “But that’s all future matters. With your Fifth Sister’s status, marrying into the Xu family wouldn’t be marrying up!”

Seventh Miss opened her mouth, then closed it, smiling gently without speaking.

Only then did the Grand Madam recover herself, laughing self-consciously.

“Among notable Jiangnan families, there are only so many. General Zhu ranks first in Jiangnan military circles. These years, though he seems to align with no side, your father has tested him several times and feels his ambitions are great. Previously he was content being a pure minister, not calculating gains. But now… it’s time to probe the Zhu family’s cards.”

Seventh Miss now understood.

“I’ve heard Uncle Zhu is quite slippery… Lady Zhu is much more straightforward by comparison…”

The Grand Madam smiled at Seventh Miss.

“Little Seven is still clever.”

She then advised Seventh Miss, “Lady Zhu is determined to cultivate her two daughters as refined young ladies and dotes on the two young misses greatly. Many matters reach the two young misses’ ears… You might probe and see if you can discover General Zhu’s true thoughts—whether he favors the First Prince more, or favors the Eastern Palace more…”

Seventh Miss naturally understood. “Little Seven knows how to proceed.”

The carriage wheels rumbled, soon arriving at the Zhu residence.

Though General Zhu was a military officer, he couldn’t escape convention and had acquired a garden estate in the city as his residence. Seventh Miss helped the Grand Madam down from the carriage, and they each mounted two-person sedan chairs, entering the garden one after the other.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help curiously lifting the thick cotton curtain, peering outside through a corner.

Today was the day the Zhu family hosted spring wine banquets. Inside and outside the garden, servants naturally streamed constantly, all dressed brightly with refined bearing… Making clear at a glance this was an established wealthy household. Many young ladies of age chatted and laughed at the base of the steps, converging toward the main courtyard.

Seventh Miss spotted the two Zhu family young misses and several Li family daughters.

She smiled silently, about to lower the curtain.

Suddenly her movement froze.

She examined carefully a new face in the crowd.

This was quite an elegant young lady, wearing a lotus-blue silver-threaded cloak, standing out particularly among a group of girls in bright red scarlet wool cloaks.

Though not tall, her bearing conveyed a sense of slender elegance. Not to mention the graceful demeanor flowing through her every movement…

Seventh Miss lowered the curtain, deeply puzzled.

Though this young lady resembled no one in particular, she reminded Seventh Miss of someone.