First Young Madam was indeed in high spirits for conversation today.

“Actually, entering the palace for formal congratulations is just a routine matter.” She took a sip of the tribute tea Seventh Miss had specially instructed Lixia to brew and opened up. “Though there are many titled ladies in the capital, the longer-established households value their reputations more and won’t casually socialize with others. When you meet, smile at each other and be nodding acquaintances—that’s good enough.”

“Our Xu family in the capital has always only associated with a limited number of relatives. Speaking of it, Sixth Sister-in-law is familiar with them all—nothing more than Grandmother’s natal Ni family, our several sisters-in-law’s natal families, along with the Qin family, Ouyang family and so forth. As for the other imperial relatives, we can’t reach that high and don’t wish to. When you meet them, exchange a few pleasantries. If you don’t want to engage, just don’t speak. As long as you don’t fail in major etiquette, no one will seriously make things difficult for you.”

First Young Madam’s explanation was concise and straightforward, revealing something of the northwestern woman’s efficiency.

“You’re entering the palace to congratulate the Empress on her birthday. This year is Her Majesty’s minor birthday, so it won’t be elaborate. Titled ladies enter the palace daily to kowtow to the Empress outside Kunning Palace, that’s all—no grand scenes necessarily. But for families of third rank and above like us, we can receive a palace banquet—though it’s just symbolic. Who has patience for that watery food from the big pots? Just follow Marchioness Dingguo. With her there, no one will dare look down on you.”

A vivid picture immediately formed in Seventh Miss’s mind following First Young Madam’s description. She had a general idea of tomorrow’s scene.

“Meeting the Dowager Consort for the first time…” Seventh Miss brought up another topic.

First Young Madam covered her mouth and laughed openly. She seemed like a completely different person, transformed from withered wood and dead ashes into a graceful and composed young married woman. “The Dowager Consort has a good temperament and absolutely won’t make things difficult for you. Sixth Sister-in-law must understand—for the Dowager Consort to have her current position in the palace, how could she be a simple character? To put it plainly, Sixth Sister-in-law, you have good birth, your sisters also married well, and the Dowager Consort is, after all, the Dowager Consort—saying this, do you understand?”

Between blood siblings, the principle is mutual support, being each other’s backing. Though Sixth Miss needed to rely on Second Miss and Seventh Miss outside the palace, didn’t Seventh Miss equally need to rely on Sixth Miss in the palace and Second Miss outside?

She just hadn’t expected First Young Madam to see the stakes so clearly and thoroughly in private.

Seventh Miss pondered inwardly but showed embarrassment on her face, lowering her head with a slight smile, tacitly accepting First Young Madam’s guidance. First Young Madam’s meaning was that with Seventh Miss’s natal family, even if the Dowager Consort was dissatisfied with her, she probably wouldn’t go too far.

“Eldest Sister-in-law is truly straightforward.” She praised sincerely. “Hearing your words, I feel much more at ease. I won’t need to steel myself to consult others… who knows, I might have taken the wrong path otherwise.”

First Young Madam’s eyes flashed as she picked up her teacup with a smile.

“The way I see it.” Her Shanxi accent grew stronger. “Though Sixth Sister-in-law is young, you’re clear about everything in your heart. I as your eldest sister-in-law merely occupy the position by birth order. After you gain another year or two of experience, I won’t be able to teach you anything! Not to mention the other sisters-in-law—those who are prominent now may not necessarily be prominent in the future.”

These words from First Young Madam could be said to cleanly and decisively reveal her own position.

She indeed had never competed with Seventh Miss for the limelight. Even when Fifth Miss was most destitute, First Young Madam had never said a single disparaging word about her.

Of course, she also hadn’t extended a helping hand.

For First Young Madam, if she had no further ambitions, the days of watching from across the river were indeed pleasant. First Young Master controlled the family’s businesses and lands, so naturally the profits were ample. If they divided the family property later, as the eldest son he would certainly get an extra share. At this age, her husband couldn’t take office either, posed no threat to the heir apparent position, her own position was stable, with two sons to support her… no wonder First Young Madam couldn’t be bothered to please either of the elders.

Naturally, this contentment also required indifference as a prerequisite.

Seventh Miss glanced at First Young Madam and revealed a bit of her deeply hidden curiosity.

“Eldest Sister-in-law…” She showed some genuine hesitation. “To speak honestly, when Fifth Sister was managing Mingde Hall before, she was legitimate-born, a proper first wife… yet I didn’t see you guide her like this!”

First Young Madam immediately showed a knowing smile.

She lowered her head to close her cup lid, thought for a moment, then smiled. “This matter of status, when you get down to it, is just a facade. The previous Sixth Sister-in-law was good, just a bit too proud. Her birth was too noble, so she couldn’t care about the three words ‘know the times.’ For people, living happily is also simple—who doesn’t understand the words ‘willful indulgence’? But living fast also means leaving fast—”

Speaking of Fifth Miss, First Young Madam’s tone held little emotion.

Seventh Miss had now discussed Fifth Miss with two people from the Xu family. Yu An’s reaction was very simple—she felt gratitude and awe toward Fifth Miss, and some vague melancholy about her death.

First Young Madam’s expression was more complex. Being older and accustomed to life and death, her attitude toward Fifth Miss as a person seemed very subtle. There was some faint regret, as if regretting that she hadn’t survived despite such favorable circumstances, but also some faint satisfaction.

Seventh Miss’s pupils contracted. She casually inserted herself into First Young Madam’s words.

“Quick gratification and willful indulgence ultimately cannot last. Five generations under one roof relies on endurance, on enduring hardship for future success, on endurance… To accomplish even the smallest thing in this world, without the skill of endurance, it absolutely cannot be done well. Fifth Sister just didn’t understand the word ‘endure,’ and in the end still…”

These words, she indeed spoke with sincere feeling.

First Young Madam looked up at her for a long while before smiling slightly.

“That Sixth Sister-in-law can say such words shows you’re naturally destined for achievement.” Her emotions faded again. “But unfortunately, no matter how much you can endure, no matter how long you can persist, there are always many things in this world beyond human power to redeem.”

In this latter sentence, her expression was scattered, as if her thoughts had been pulled away by Seventh Miss’s words to somewhere else.

In that instant, an extremely human expression appeared on First Young Madam’s face.

She had always been a rather refined young married woman, but before the elders her expression was invariably wooden. Even knowing this was a mask, one couldn’t help but wonder if her true personality was really so dull.

But in this moment of sentiment, the melancholy and helplessness revealed on First Young Madam’s face gave her the emotional sorrow of “If you ask how much idle sorrow there is—through splendid years, who will pass them with me?”

It was light sorrow, also romantic sorrow. The grief someone reveals when reflecting on emotional wounds can be said to be unique—after all, even if these past events were bitter, recalling them still held a touch of sweetness.

But it was only this instant before First Young Madam circled back to the topic of Fifth Miss. “Many things, once they happen, they happen. There may not necessarily be an explanation.”

She returned to that proper image of a great household’s young married woman. Though the mask had been lifted considerably, there was no longer the genuine emotional revelation from just now.

“The deceased has gone. We who remain alive can only pray for her peace below.”

Seventh Miss was stunned for a moment before picking up First Young Madam’s words. “Yes, those who remain alive must always find ways to continue forward.”

In this sentence, she also couldn’t help but reveal some genuine bitterness.

First Young Madam looked at the time and stood to take her leave. “Dalang has an upset stomach again today. I should return.”

Seventh Miss saw her out of the courtyard with profuse thanks. The two held hands and smiled in the courtyard before parting ways.

Seventh Miss returned to the room. Lixia had already changed the tea for her and attended to Seventh Miss removing her outer garments. After seeing off First Young Madam, she wouldn’t leave the main quarters of Mingde Hall again. It was warm inside, so the outer jacket could be removed.

“Capital people speak with even more indirection than us Jiangnan people.” Lixia chatted with Seventh Miss as she tidied the kang table. “You have to listen with full attention to make out the meaning.”

“Oh, so what meaning did you make out?” Seventh Miss drank a few mouthfuls of clear water, then wrinkled her nose and complained softly to Lixia. “This capital water just can’t compare to Suzhou well water’s sweetness! Even though it’s brought in from outside the city, it always has a dusty taste.”

“What place in the world can compare to Suzhou?” Lixia was from Jiangnan, so naturally when Suzhou was mentioned, she straightened her back. “This servant heard that First Young Madam’s meaning was she favors you more than she favored Fifth Young Madam, and also has some intention of befriending you. And you were wondering why she’s only coming over to your side now. First Young Madam explained, feeling that… feeling Fifth Miss’s temperament was too proud and didn’t get close to people…”

“About right.” Seventh Miss smiled softly. “People like Yu An and Eldest Sister-in-law who just want to live honestly will more or less gravitate toward me. But to pry open their mouths, I still need to be stronger.”

Whether First Young Madam or Yu An, their goodwill toward her naturally came from seeing that Seventh Miss would ultimately prevail in household struggles. But before Seventh Miss further proved her capabilities, this goodwill would only go this far. This friendship built on strategic interests also needed time to transform into true friendship.

Footsteps thudded outside. Soon Xu Fengjia opened the door and entered the west three rooms.

“Almost spring and it’s still snowing!” Xu Fengjia complained while rubbing his hands. Lixia quickly slipped nimbly past him and out, closing the door behind her. Through the door, her voice could still be heard calling for people to prepare Xu Fengjia’s bath water.

Lixia had long been proud serving beside Seventh Miss, usually carrying some commanding presence. Only after being yelled at by Xu Fengjia a few times did she now want to hide far away whenever she saw him.

Seeing Xu Fengjia staring at the door with some slight surprise, Seventh Miss couldn’t help but smile knowingly as she poured him a cup of strong tea.

Living together, people always adapted. Seventh Miss usually didn’t like drinking tea, preferring clear water flavored with flower essence, while Xu Fengjia loved Pu’er brewed more than twice. The personality differences between the two could be seen just in their beverages.

“Who told you to be so fierce.” She pushed the teacup before Xu Fengjia. “When you see the maids, all you do is yell. Of course they run when they see you.”

Xu Fengjia had already come back to himself, standing in the corner to remove his outer garment and hanging it himself on a round-backed chair by the door. “Then why don’t you run?”

The clear tone already carried threads of laughter.

“I’d like to run—where could I run to?” Seventh Miss rolled her eyes at Xu Fengjia, then said, “Go play with Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master. Don’t just see them once in the morning and call it done. I need to call the steward’s wife in to talk.”

Xu Fengjia had already sat on the kang edge with obvious intention to lie down. At Seventh Miss’s words, he seemed to feel somewhat guilty. He could only sigh and get up to leave the room, calling for Nanny Xin to add water for washing—he was actually more fastidious about cleanliness than Seventh Miss, wanting to bathe three or four times a day if possible.

The weather was cold. Seventh Miss wanted to wash her hair today, so she took advantage of his absence to bathe in the west three rooms’ bathing chamber. She soaked her fingertips until they were soft before Lixia attended her out of the bath. Half-reclining on the kang edge, she called Bailu in to talk and instructed Shangyuan, “Go apologize to Leshan Residence and Qingping Courtyard, saying I’m not feeling well and won’t be paying respects today.”

Thinking of how internally injured Ni Grand Madam would be by her outward compliance and inner defiance, a rare playful smile floated to her lips.

Bailu soon entered the room, paid respects to Seventh Miss, and sat on an embroidered stool by the kang edge, speaking softly with Seventh Miss.

“I heard from Yang Mama’s daughter-in-law who serves First Young Madam that First Young Master and First Young Madam are usually ice-cold to each other. First Young Madam is also virtuous, saying since she has two sons and is getting older, it’s not proper to continue serving First Young Master. These past years she’s even proactively taken in two chamber maids for First Young Master. But First Young Master also restrains himself well, rarely touching women ordinarily, only calling someone in to serve on the first and fifteenth. The two don’t even live together—one lives in the east section, one in the west.”

“I haven’t heard First Young Madam is Buddhist. Aside from raising children and reading, First Young Madam has no other pastimes. Occasionally she writes letters to exchange greetings with a few relatives and friends outside, but rarely goes out. She’s incredibly chaste and quiet. Both the Madam and Grand Madam say this is the proper demeanor of a great family’s eldest daughter-in-law. So though First Young Madam is wooden, the household servants don’t dare slight her.”

“I heard very few of First Young Madam’s friends come to visit… right, as if she has no friends at all. Only her blood siblings and brothers send people to pay respects. Because they live far away, it’s not frequent.”

“I heard this is actually better—before First Miss was born, First Young Madam was like a wooden person, staying cooped up in her room all day. Aside from paying respects and social obligations, she didn’t say an extra word. Only after First Miss was born would First Young Madam occasionally go out to offer incense or enjoy autumn scenery, dispersing her melancholy. When she returned, there would be some smile on her face.”

“First Miss was born in the twenty-fourth year of Zhaoming, just four years old this year.”

Bailu’s social skills were indeed good. In just over two months at the Xu household, she’d opened up quite a territory. She could answer seven or eight out of ten questions about these private trivial matters.

The best point was she wouldn’t guess at Seventh Miss’s intentions like the old nanny would.

Seventh Miss pondered for a long while. After some time, she murmured to herself, “Four years ago Fifth Sister hadn’t even entered the household yet…”

Since Bailu didn’t respond, she quickly changed topics. “Do you have a clear idea of Fifth Sister-in-law’s trusted confidants?”

Bailu reported a long string of names—about a dozen matrons and maids, plus some male stewards’ names. Most impressively, she’d even conducted basic background checks on them all.

The Xu household was after all a Duke’s mansion. Regardless of who managed it, the personnel structure wouldn’t differ too greatly—like a company divided into HR, Finance, Procurement, PR, Food Service, Cleaning, and Residential departments. Unlike modern companies though, the Duke’s mansion’s entire structure could only be considered the parent company, while every courtyard in the inner quarters was a small subsidiary. The Cleaning and Residential departments’ personnel systems were relatively independent. Operating the entire Duke’s mansion required skills no less than a modern general manager’s.

Of course, not everyone had the ability to manage such a massive organization smoothly. The assistance of trusted senior attendants was indispensable. After managing for several years, Fifth Young Madam had naturally cultivated a group of loyalists. But Seventh Miss wasn’t without chips either—after all, most of the foundation had been built under Lady Xu’s use. If she as the legitimate mistress’s faction performed impressively enough, she could still win some veteran officials’ loyalty.

Seventh Miss thoughtfully hummed and wrote down the information Bailu provided. As she wrote, she seemed to murmur to herself, “Do you think if I had you manage personnel, would you still lack some confidence?”

Bailu immediately flushed with excitement, pressing her lips together. But she didn’t immediately make promises. Instead she lowered her head to ponder for a moment before answering Seventh Miss decisively, “If I had the old nanny’s guidance, this servant would still have confidence!”

Even a thoroughbred needs someone to recognize its worth.

Seventh Miss looked at Bailu with a slight smile. She was about to speak when she noticed the door had opened at some point. Xu Fengjia stood in the doorway with folded arms, looking at her with an ambiguous smile.

“What?” Seeing Xu Fengjia, her tone carried three parts of displeasure. “If you’re back, come in. What are you doing standing in the doorway getting blown by cold wind?”

Xu Fengjia smiled while turning to close the door—Bailu also slipped out of the room like Lixia with a whoosh.

“Watching you strategize, I realize that struggles in the inner quarters also require doing homework like fighting wars.” His voice lazily rose with obvious teasing.

Seventh Miss busily wrote down the last few lines in her mind, replying absentmindedly, “What did you think? The inner quarters battleground is small, but the situation is only more complex…”

She set down her brush with satisfaction, propping her chin to look at Xu Fengjia. She shook her hand and laughed softly. “Speaking of which, I haven’t asked you yet, General—when do you think our Sixth Branch should launch a direct assault?”

Xu Fengjia laughed heartily, sat on the kang edge, also propped his chin, and pretended to think hard for a long while before throwing the question back to Seventh Miss. “The General is magnanimous and receptive to advice. What ideas does Vanguard Yang have? Speak freely.”

Seventh Miss rarely bantered with anyone. She herself laughed for a while before biting her lip and asking Xu Fengjia, “Grandmother’s birthday is in April. This year she turns seventy, so it will certainly be celebrated grandly. What if we wait until May to take over household affairs? What do you think?”

“If you say it’s good, then it’s good!” Xu Fengjia nodded without consideration, then turned the topic to the next day’s palace visit. “If we can make progress with Eunuch Lian’s connection, I won’t be away for too long in the coming years. Many things, we can take slowly.”

Speaking to the end, he lowered his voice. His words conveyed vague hints, as if infinite implications lay hidden within.