The Xu family’s banquet was actually set for ten days later. During these ten days, Grand Madam’s thoughts were entirely on Lady Xu’s illness. Unfortunately, Fifth Miss was pregnant and couldn’t be disturbed too much. Second Miss was in heavy mourning and as the principal wife with funeral matters unfinished, she herself was busy beyond measure. Grand Old Master only focused on discussing court affairs with Mr. Nian. With a bellyful of concerns, she could only confide in Seventh Miss alone.

Speaking of it, since transmigrating, Seventh Miss had never made a social call alone. This first time entering an inner residence by herself would be to Duke Pingguo’s residence, a first-rate wealthy family. Grand Madam inevitably gave her several extra instructions.

“A family like the Xu’s has thresholds made of gold. Even the servants inside all have snobbish eyes, let alone the masters. The capital’s nobility are all established families of many years—their eyes are high and hearts ambitious. There are none better at gossiping and stirring up trouble than them. Especially the Xu family’s several young madams and cousin young madams—all come from first-rate families… and they’re legitimate daughters too, all very capable… Your Fifth Sister has written home several times saying the sisters-in-law are difficult to deal with—don’t weaken our Yang family’s prestige and instead implicate your Fifth Sister, making things harder for her.”

If the sister couldn’t hold her own, Fifth Miss would naturally be mocked. How could Seventh Miss not understand this?

Just thinking about how Fifth Miss, in the year since marrying out with her husband not by her side, had lived such an anxious existence made Grand Madam’s heart ache. She couldn’t help but sigh to Seventh Miss again: “I only thought your Fifth Brother-in-law was a capable young general, but didn’t expect to regret teaching my husband to seek titles. What good is a young general? Running all over the country year-round—truly only home ten days a year. The mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law keep rewarding people to serve him, eager for him to produce an heir tomorrow to continue the family line…”

After Fifth Miss married into the Xu family, though she wrote letters home, the letters naturally reported good news but not bad. She only said Lady Xu treated her very well and mother-in-law and daughter-in-law got along. As for difficulties, she naturally never mentioned a word. It was Second Miss’s letters that hinted at a few things, saying that when the heir returned to the residence in May, Old Madam had bestowed a pair of sister flowers as concubines. Though Xu Fengjia sent one away, he ultimately had to save his grandmother’s face and kept one in the courtyard.

Fifth Miss simply also asked Lady Xu for a concubine to make a pair, but unexpectedly Xu Fengjia only stayed a few days before departing south. This pair of concubines were now both locked by Fifth Miss in the side courtyard, not permitted to step outside…

Though Second Miss spoke as lightly as possible, Grand Madam was someone who’d rolled around deep inner residences—how could she not hear the infinite murderous intent within?

“A fifteen-year-old heir’s wife…” Seventh Miss could only vaguely comfort Grand Madam. “Among the sisters, who has such honor? Even Second Sister, after suffering all these years, now in terms of official rank is only equal to Fifth Sister.”

Grand Madam immediately cheered up. “Seventh Miss still knows how to talk!”

She immediately instructed Lidong: “Tell Medicine Nanny to open the trunks and bring over the pearl headdress we got before New Year’s.”

She also personally opened her own makeup case and solemnly took out a pair of Hetian jade bracelets to slip onto Seventh Miss’s hands. “Visiting the Xu family, without these things you can’t hold your ground. Among my three sets of jade bracelets, the pair Third Yiniang gave I gave to Little Five to take back to the Xu family. The pair your father gave I gave to Little Six to take into the palace for support. This ancestral pair I’ll give to you. They’re ancestral heirlooms—treasure them carefully and don’t be careless.”

Seventh Miss only felt her wrists heavy and hurried to decline. “Such precious things—besides, Little Seven isn’t without…”

“Ah, the bracelets Lady Quan gave are fine, but the marriage isn’t settled yet—how can you wear them casually?” Grand Madam disagreed, grasping Seventh Miss’s wrist and looking left and right with infinite satisfaction. “You’re naturally fair-skinned. Wearing these mutton-fat jade bracelets, truly like the moon-pale beauty whose bright wrists condense frost and snow. An old lady like me wearing them only makes my skin look sallow and yellow—not good-looking.”

She carefully instructed Seventh Miss with a few more words, nothing more than what the Xu family’s several young madams’ personalities were like, what kind of families they came from. Because Xu Fengjia’s three currently living elder brothers, even the youngest was seven years older than him, when Grand Madam last came to the capital to pay respects, Fifth Young Master was getting married, so she’d met all these young madams. How Eldest Young Madam was most timid, Fourth Young Madam most domineering, Fifth Young Madam though serene had concealed pride… She instructed Seventh Miss point by point, then personally selected clothes for Seventh Miss to wear to the Xu family. Only then satisfied, she let Seventh Miss return to her room to rest. Before leaving she still called her back to earnestly instruct: “If anyone bullies you, don’t be afraid. With our family’s current status and position, we’re completely equal to the Xu family. No matter which little wretch in the Xu family wants to give you grief, they must think twice. Otherwise, given Old Madam’s degree of favoritism toward the fourth branch, she wouldn’t have sent Fourth Young Madam to the temple for purification… Don’t be afraid, understand? You have Father, Mother, and your Fifth Sister backing you up!”

The look in Grand Madam’s eyes watching Seventh Miss finally also held a few degrees of sincere concern.

Seventh Miss felt a mix of emotions. She smiled and placated Grand Madam with a few words, promising she wouldn’t casually let people bully her and lose face for the Yang family. Only then could she escape to rest in her boudoir.

How many different faces could one person have? Looking at Grand Madam now, who could imagine she…

She shook her head while entering the room.

Lixia and Qiqiao immediately approached from left and right—one served Seventh Miss changing clothes while the other held a cup of clear water mixed with rose paste for Seventh Miss to drink a few sips. “The Beiping weather is very dry. Miss, drink some rose water to reduce internal heat.”

Though it was a small three-courtyard residence, the main hall in the courtyard was large—a row of five pocket rooms convenient for winter warmth. Seventh Miss set her bedroom in the eastern inner room, her study in the eastern side room, the two western suite rooms for storing her own trunks, and the eastern three rooms for dining and receiving guests. Though the space wasn’t as spacious as Jiangnan, it was tidy and elegant. The maids, led by Lixia and Shangyuan, lived in the eastern wing. The western wing housed several night-duty nannies. The inverted south rooms were locked full of Seventh Miss’s trunks accumulated over the years—unknowingly, her possessions could now fill an entire courtyard.

Shangyuan had been suffering from climate adjustment illness since arriving in the capital and hadn’t been on duty these days. Qiqiao smoothly substituted. She greatly cherished this opportunity and served Seventh Miss with all manner of flattery—she truly had a way about it, serving Seventh Miss so comfortably she wished to promote Qiqiao to be a first-rank chief maid.

After using the rose water and eating some fresh fruit, Seventh Miss lifted her eyelids at Qiqiao. Qiqiao immediately tactfully withdrew from the eastern side room, leaving the space to Lixia and Seventh Miss.

“Are Uncle Zhou and Aunt Zhou both well? Being southerners suddenly coming to the capital…” Seventh Miss chatted domestically with Lixia.

Lixia’s face was full of gratitude. “All very well. Father sent word in the other day saying Madam arranged for him to be a mid-level steward, currently following Steward Zhang outside looking for houses. Though tiring, he can go out and broaden his horizons constantly. This is all thanks to Miss…”

“What’s our relationship? You needn’t say such things.” Seventh Miss couldn’t help but smile.

When preparing to go to the capital in September, Seventh Miss had circuitously advised Grand Madam to bring the entire Zhou family to the capital as part of her dowry. Grand Madam was very understanding of her thoughts—Lixia was the maid who’d been by her side longest. Wanting to bring the Zhou household to her husband’s family was human nature.

The Zhou family had few children—Lixia only had one younger brother. That the whole family could remain together naturally made her grateful. She only became more dedicated to Seventh Miss’s instructions. Recently, before Seventh Miss even mentioned it, she’d already requested permission three or four times: “Since it’s convenient to go out, shouldn’t we pay respects at Parade Ground Alley?”

Over this past year and more, Feng Jin had never entered government service. It was as if taking this third-place degree was truly only to lure the Eldest Imperial Prince. Even the rule that third-place scholars should enter the Hanlin Academy seemed selectively forgotten by the Ministry of Personnel. However, this third-place scholar’s residence was more valuable than many Hanlin masters’—right in Parade Ground Alley beside West’an Gate. It was said to also be a three-courtyard, three-section residence, but occupying more land than the Yang family’s bestowed residence. This address was left by Feng Jin for Ninth Brother before leaving Suzhou last year. Living in such a residence at that time showed the Eastern Palace’s favor without needing to say more.

Seventh Miss shook her head. “From Father’s tone, Cousin Zixiu isn’t currently in the capital. With the men not home, us calling to pay respects would be too inconvenient. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

“With Mr. Huang there, we needn’t worry the message won’t reach Lady Feng’s ears…” But Lixia was eager to achieve merit and urged in Seventh Miss’s ear. “Better to pay respects—it shows we keep the Feng family relatives in our hearts.”

Huang Xiuniang had resigned from the Li family before New Year’s and had been in the capital over a year. She’d been engaged by the Feng family upon arrival to be the female tutor for the Feng family’s young miss.

“You don’t understand.” Seventh Miss sighed and instructed Lixia. “Interactions with the Feng family should be minimized. If there’s nothing requiring help, don’t go calling.”

Lixia couldn’t help but feel bewildered, and her rare excitement also diminished.

“The beneficiary is now prominent, but it’s not prominence that can be publicized. Meeting would inevitably be awkward, let alone sending servants to pay private respects… If they’re courteous to us, that’s their business. We absolutely cannot presume on past favors and think the two sides still have the old relationship, casually sending a male steward to call. This not only disrespects the Feng family but also greatly disrespects the Yang family. Father just arrived in the capital not long ago, his foothold isn’t stable yet, and the Yang family’s steward goes to cozy up with Yanyun Guard people… How bad would that sound if it got out?” Seventh Miss had to speak plainly. Many times, inner and outer residence matters couldn’t be explained clearly. Previously in Suzhou, the emperor was far away—naturally it didn’t matter. But now in Beiping, when Grand Old Master’s position wasn’t stable, Seventh Miss naturally wouldn’t create any trouble to bring him problems.

Lixia’s expression immediately became serious as she bowed her head to receive instruction. “This servant was rash.”

Though this maid’s level in household struggles was still considerable, when it came to court matters, she had no concept at all.

Well, having grown up in a residence compound, to have current insight was already rare. Seventh Miss breathed out and dispatched Lixia: “There is something to trouble Uncle Zhou with though. Recently Uncle Zhou has been going out frequently. Presumably he can often pass by Second Sister’s several Xianxiu Workshops. When passing by, ask Uncle Zhou to go in and pay respects, inquire about these branch shops’ situations. However, don’t make it too obvious…”

When Second Miss took over, it was thirteen Xianxiu Workshops in Jiangbei. Two branch shops were in the capital. Of the remaining twenty-plus Xianxiu Workshops in Jiangnan, thirteen were similarly given by Grand Madam to Fifth Miss as dowry. The remaining ten, Grand Madam had never revealed their destination—with her temperament, she probably wanted to keep them for retirement.

Surely they couldn’t wait until Grand Madam’s death to discuss returning the Xianxiu Workshops to Feng Jin?

Feng Jin didn’t lack silver—he only wanted a memento. He definitely couldn’t completely absorb the Xianxiu Workshops—even for him, to demand such face from a cabinet elder would still be too presumptuous. If they could exchange one or two branch shops from Second Miss, it presumably wouldn’t be difficult. Though they’d had little contact these years, Second Miss’s temperament had left a deep impression on Seventh Miss’s heart. This fair and strict Second Sister was actually the easiest to talk to among the three current Xianxiu Workshop shareholders.

#

Though Grand Old Master had entered the cabinet, his foothold remained unstable. Daily affairs weren’t numerous. Though after Grand Madam finished deep mourning, gradually some former examination classmates, fellow provincials and schoolmates came calling, capital people ultimately had a bit more restraint. The bustling scene Seventh Miss imagined didn’t appear. Though Grand Madam wasn’t idle, she was far from the feet-not-touching-ground busyness of Jiangnan days.

When the late emperor lived, Great Qin’s court sessions were very irregular. Emperor Zhaoming constantly didn’t attend court for years on end, leaving everything to the cabinet to handle. Whatever he thought of, he’d send the ministers a note. Imperial Tutor Qin, Cabinet Elder Jiao and others repeatedly remonstrated but he wouldn’t change. Now with the new emperor, in other matters he was enterprising, but regarding court sessions he was also unenthusiastic. Grand Old Master, as a cabinet minister, merely rose at the fifth watch daily to enter the Forbidden City’s East Hua Gate and work in a row of small rooms near the Yangxin Hall—only the first two days of starting the job were busier and later. Once familiar with the situation, the four cabinet elders arranged rotation days. Sometimes aside from going in for rotation, they could go three or four days without working.

This certainly didn’t mean Grand Old Master didn’t work. Court gazettes and memorials should by principle all be copied and sent to cabinet ministers’ residences. Just these materials alone numbered how many daily, not counting when the new emperor had sudden inspirations and sent people to summon them into the palace anytime… Though work hours were flexible, Grand Old Master was actually much busier than in Jiangnan. On the morning of the fifth of the eleventh month, he was again summoned by a young eunuch into the Forbidden City.

With the Emperor’s summons, naturally it didn’t matter whether you had a dinner engagement today. Helplessly, Grand Madam could only assign extra household guards to escort Seventh Miss to Duke Pingguo’s residence. Watching Seventh Miss board the heated sedan, she still grasped her hand to instruct: “If anyone bullies you, just come back and tell Mother. Don’t upset your Fifth Sister…”

Duke Pingguo’s residence was located at the end of Coal Alley in Chengqing Ward, separated from the Yang family by exactly one imperial city. Seventh Miss brought along two governess nannies, Nanny Liang and Nanny Tai, plus Lixia and Shangyuan for personal attendance. With attendants before and behind, she descended from the heated sedan to change to a silk carriage, turning from Inner Chongwu Gate Street and Zhengyang Gate Street onto Inner Chongwen Gate Street. Looking out from the curtain corner all along the way, every pedestrian wore clean clothes and had ruddy complexions. Zhengyang Gate Street was especially crowded with dense flowing crowds. From time to time one could see palace-dressed young eunuchs carrying food boxes and holding cases weaving through the crowds. There were also richly dressed ladies wearing veiled hats stepping out of shops, supported by maids onto carriages. Guards pressed waist sabers patrolling back and forth, though their manner was rather languid… Not to mention Seventh Miss—even Nanny Tai and Nanny Liang watched with smiles at the corners of their mouths.

Unknowingly they turned from Inner Chongwen Gate Street into Coal Alley.

Compared to the street’s liveliness, this ducal residence alley was different. Great Qin’s rules: once enfeoffed, princes must go to their fiefs; imperial sons without enfeoffment couldn’t establish residences. Dukes were already the most noble rank outside the imperial city. West of Coal Alley had no intersecting small paths. All residents on the east side of the alley were required to walk out via Inner Chongwen Gate Street—so Coal Alley was naturally cold and quiet. The east side used the alley as boundary, dividing out several households. Looking at the door decorations, they all seemed to be low-ranking civil officials.

At the end of Coal Alley, eight doors with seven rows of door studs crisscrossing gleamed brilliantly. Stone lions on both sides bared teeth and claws. Seven pairs of roof beasts on the eaves showed various postures—Seventh Miss only had time for one glance before muffled sounds of laughter and greetings came from outside. Then with several creaking sounds, the west side gate opened and the carriage slowly entered Duke Pingguo’s residence.

“Duke Pingguo has great rules. Male guests enter the east gate, female guests the west gate. Miss must be careful in the residence.” Nanny Tai seized the moment to quietly remind in Seventh Miss’s ear.

It seemed Duke Pingguo’s residence truly had considerable rules.

Seventh Miss nodded slightly, took a deep breath, and steadied her heartbeat somewhat. The first time going out alone to boldly enter a dragon’s den and tiger’s lair like the Xu family—even composed as she was, she couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

The carriage trembled slightly. After a moment it moved again, though the speed was noticeably slower. Through the curtain, she could clearly sense changes in light—the carriage seemed to be passing through several passage halls. Shortly, someone respectfully requested Seventh Miss to change sedan chairs. Seventh Miss didn’t dare look around much. Eyes straight ahead, she changed to a two-person bamboo sedan. Nanny Tai and Nanny Liang attended left and right. Lixia and Shangyuan followed behind the sedan. After proceeding thus for a while, someone laughed outside.

“Ah, this is the younger sister from the Yang family? I didn’t wait out here so long for nothing—my hands are frozen stiff! Come, come, quickly ask the Yang family younger sister to descend from the sedan—I must personally apologize to her!”

Seventh Miss raised her brows. Before she could speak, sure enough she heard Nanny Liang laugh: “So it’s Fourth Young Madam…”