Although Fourth Young Madam had prepared as best she could to welcome Fourth Young Master’s return, settling such a large living person along with over ten personal attendants and young servants in the residence still involved many trivial matters requiring the household manager to handle. Fortunately, over these past days, Seventh Miss had trained these stewardess matrons into a set of working procedures. Most of these small matters were handled by the stewardess matrons themselves. They would report to Seventh Miss the next morning, submitting work reports that would naturally be filed by someone. Seventh Miss only needed to lend an ear to listen, and that was sufficient.

The suicide incident stirred up by Accountant Zhang’s family was completely suppressed by Duke Pingguo and Seventh Miss working together, without even a whisper getting out.

The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching. For such a major festival, the Emperor would always hold court to receive congratulations from all officials. In the evening, depending on the palace people’s pleasure, there might be grand banquets with summons for titled ladies to dine in the palace. Duke Pingguo and his sons received an edict early on—they were to enter the palace for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. Fifth Young Master happened to be scheduled for overnight duty on Mid-Autumn night, so after everyone discussed it, they simply decided to celebrate the full moon on the sixteenth instead of the fifteenth, moving the Xu family’s own reunion day to the sixteenth.

Fourth Young Master had returned to the capital to report on his work, with his imperial audience scheduled for half a month later. These past few days he’d been busy attending welcome banquets with friends and relatives, and had also made time to visit Madam Xu at Little Tang Mountain. Xu Fengjia happened to travel with him, and after much persuasion, actually brought Madam Xu back to the residence, agreeing that she would be sent back to recuperate after the Mid-Autumn Festival. Everyone was naturally delighted, all saying, “This year we finally have a true reunion!”

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, Consort Xu in the palace naturally sent rewards again. Relatives exchanged festival gifts, and Second Miss also sent personal seasonal delicacies to whet Seventh Miss’s appetite, inviting Seventh Miss to visit the Sun family. Seventh Miss naturally couldn’t neglect this—she not only personally visited, but also had the young heir stay at the Xu residence for two days to play with Si Lang and Wu Lang. She and Xu Fengjia together took the children back to her natal family to visit relatives. Even the sisters-in-law who had relatives in the capital all made their rounds. First Young Madam rarely dressed up properly to visit her elder brother’s family with First Young Master. The Qin family also sent festival gifts inviting Si Lang and Wu Lang to visit, the Ni family sent rare trinkets to honor the Grand Madam, and so on. In short, among noble houses, maintaining family connections meant that the busiest time during festivals wasn’t actually the celebration itself, but rather the exchange of social courtesies.

Unexpectedly, on the fourteenth of the eighth month, someone from the palace came with a message: this year there were many joyful occasions, and both the Emperor and Empress were in good spirits, so they’d arranged several tables for the Mid-Autumn Festival, inviting close titled ladies into the palace for entertainment. Given the Xu family’s relationship with the imperial family, naturally all the Xu family sisters-in-law were invited, even Madam Xu and the Grand Madam. However, the Empress also said that if anyone’s health wasn’t good, they needn’t attend.

Because the Grand Madam was elderly and couldn’t bear imperial protocol, and Madam Xu had to sleep early—imperial night banquets could easily last until dawn—she was unwilling to go. First Young Madam made excuses about looking after the children and didn’t want to go. Fourth Young Madam preferred to spend the actual festival day with Fourth Young Master. Fifth Young Madam claimed that a relative from her natal family had died and she was wearing minor mourning, inappropriate for entering the palace and offending the nobles. In the end, only Seventh Miss had to go. She actually wanted to enter the palace to see Sixth Miss anyway, so on the Mid-Autumn day itself, she gave special instructions to the stewardess matrons. “Although we’re not making a grand affair of it today, it’s still the actual festival day. The women in each household will likely want to worship the moon privately. You must be careful with incense and candles—don’t let anything happen on this major festival that would spoil things.”

With her methods, in less than half a month of managing household affairs, she had thoroughly embarrassed Fifth Young Madam, having her trusted Accountant Zhang’s entire family suffer misfortune and be driven out. How could everyone not fear her? Moreover, Seventh Miss was very sensible and didn’t exploit the servants too harshly. As long as things passed according to custom, she turned a blind eye to the stewardess matrons’ private shares. With this combination of favor and authority, even those still somewhat unconvinced in their hearts feared being the nail that stuck out, so hearing her instructions, they all smiled and said, “Young Madam, rest assured. We servants know how to handle things.”

Seventh Miss looked at these dozen or so stewards, nodded with a smile, and said, “I know you’re all good people. Same as before—whether rewards or punishments, everything must be filed and reported. Once we get through this year safely, I’m going to reform the household staff. If you do well, I’ll know how to arrange things after the New Year.”

With this carrot dangled before them, everyone’s spirits lifted. Only Lin Shan’s wife and Peng Hu’s wife exchanged glances, both looking somewhat dejected and sorrowful. Turning their heads, they both looked resentfully at Wu Xun’s wife. When Wu Xun’s wife seemed to sense this, Seventh Miss noticed and said, “Alright, what are you standing around for? Go do your work. For those who need authorization tokens, same old rules—tell Nanny Mao on my side, get her signature before taking them.”

Nanny Mao was precisely the capable person she had requested from Fifth Young Madam. Over these past months, the four matrons had witnessed Seventh Miss’s methods and scheming, and naturally had been thoroughly subdued without a trace of temper. Seventh Miss had promoted Nanny Mao to manage the authorization tokens. Anyone needing tokens to conduct business had to first provide their reasons, then get Nanny Mao’s signature in the register before taking them. Tokens not returned by the deadline would be dealt with according to circumstances. This rule was still quite new, and inevitably some old matrons relied on their seniority and didn’t take it seriously. So Seventh Miss emphasized it once more before slowly rising and leading the way out of the West Fifth Room, returning to the West Third Room to have tea and rest.

Ever since she’d realized Si Lang and Wu Lang lacked playmates, she’d been having First Household’s children come play with them. At this moment, because Madam Xu had rarely returned and missed her grandchildren, they’d all been sent to Qingping Garden together. Once the stewardess matrons left, the room quieted down. Seventh Miss rubbed her eyes, propped her chin, and zoned out for a while, feeling quite drowsy. She yawned and instructed Liyuan, “I’ll steal a quick nap. Keep your ears open—if the Heir returns for lunch, quickly wake me up so he won’t scold me again.”

Liyuan looked troubled. “But the Heir said not to let you sleep during the day, afraid you’ll have trouble sleeping at night. Even if you must sleep, it should be a proper midday nap…”

Seventh Miss shot her a look and darkened her face. “Are you my maid or Xu Fengjia’s maid? You’re clearly part of my dowry, yet every single one of you sides with the Heir—”

She was about to complain further when, through the window, she saw Xu Fengjia entering the main hall. Seventh Miss quickly stopped talking and didn’t dare continue. Liyuan rose with a slight smile. “I’ll go make you tea to refresh yourself.” She slipped out of the room like smoke.

“Wretched girl, always knows how to mock people!” Seventh Miss, unable to swallow her irritation, shouted after her retreating figure. Xu Fengjia had already passed Liyuan and entered the room, asking curiously, “What’s this? Raising your voice at your own maid—very impressive!”

Seventh Miss made a face. “I’m not telling you—these maids never used to contradict me even once! Isn’t it all because you incited them? Now every one of them is my superior! Won’t let me sleep, won’t let me eat—it’s all your fault!”

Xu Fengjia laughed heartily. “It’s because you don’t know how to take care of yourself. What use is blaming me? When you can eat at the right times and sleep at the right times, I guarantee your health will improve considerably.”

He sat down by the kang edge and pushed Seventh Miss to sit up properly. “Lying there listlessly, wanting to sleep again.”

Seventh Miss glared at Xu Fengjia but simply sat up halfway to ask him, “How come you have free time to come in today? Didn’t you enter the palace for morning court early this morning?”

“Festival court sessions are nothing but singing praises and recounting virtues.” Xu Fengjia curled his lip. “The Emperor couldn’t bear listening to all that talk. He seized an opportunity and dismissed court. What would we stay in the palace for? I came back. Fourth Brother went to visit some colleagues’ families. I was too lazy to go, so I came in to rest for a bit.”

Because Xu Fengjia strictly observed the rule of ‘after dinner, only romantic talk,’ and these past days he’d been busy receiving Madam Xu, drinking with Fourth Young Master, and having confidential discussions with Duke Pingguo and the other men in Menghua Pavilion, over these several days Seventh Miss actually hadn’t found an opportunity to ask about the northern frontier. Hearing Xu Fengjia bring it up now, she quickly sat up properly to ask, “What exactly is happening in the northern frontier? It won’t be war again, will it?”

Xu Fengjia shook his head. “There won’t be war, it’s just…”

He hesitated before lowering his voice. “It’s just that the Northern Rong themselves aren’t very peaceful internally. They’re split into two factions. One faction is led by the former Khan’s younger brother—this fellow is very young, only in his early twenties this year, but cunning as a ghost. Everyone calls him Ghost Prince-Uncle. He’s determined not to get along with his little nephew. According to Fourth Brother, he’s been in very frequent contact with the Gui family lately. He might want to submit to our Great Qin—though it’s hard to say.”

Seventh Miss was startled. Before she could speak, Xu Fengjia continued, “But Fourth Brother doesn’t see it that way, and I also think it’s very dubious. The Northern Rong are extremely proud—they’d rather die in battle than surrender to us. Compared to the Jurchen in the north, they’re even more fierce. Even if Ghost Prince-Uncle wants to submit, he’d have to see whether his subordinates are willing. More likely, Fourth Brother fears it’s an expedient scheme… Over this matter, he’s been quite unhappy with several of the Gui family young masters. This time back, he might not return to the northwest.”

“Fourth Brother is a clever man.” Before Seventh Miss could comment, Xu Fengjia added with lingering interest, “He seems rough and straightforward, but he understands everything in his heart. Since he’s so pessimistic about the northwest situation, I think if the Emperor trusts Ghost Prince-Uncle lightly, in a few years when they grow stronger, the northern frontier will truly become unsettled.”

Internal rebellion and unrest—even if this disturbance was quelled, there wouldn’t be much commendation, after all, it was internal fighting, and no one had any face to speak of. Since Fourth Young Master wasn’t optimistic that Ghost Prince-Uncle’s faction truly intended to submit and wanted to return to the capital, that was only natural. But Seventh Miss’s heart felt somewhat uncomfortable—having experienced modern military forces, she’d always felt that soldiers should take defending the nation as their purpose. Fourth Young Master doing this was certainly beneficial for him personally, but…

Her good impression of Fourth Young Master couldn’t help but quietly chip away a bit.

“It’s good that Fourth Brother wants to return to the capital.” She said thoughtfully, “Even if we don’t actively help make it happen, at least we needn’t pointlessly obstruct it. Fourth Sister-in-law was so anxious to go find Fourth Brother in the spring—I always felt uncomfortable about it. Then Fifth Sister-in-law stuck her oar in sideways and caused such a huge commotion. Some things will be more convenient to do after spring next year anyway. If she’s not leaving, that’s even better.”

Xu Fengjia glanced at Seventh Miss and suddenly sighed.

Seventh Miss asked curiously, “What? Did I say something wrong?”

“It’s not that…” Young Master Xu rarely showed embarrassment, a deep flush rising on his wheat-colored cheeks. After Seventh Miss pressed him further, he reluctantly admitted, “I was so naive before, thinking I could investigate Shanli’s case by myself.”

He must have witnessed the struggles in the inner quarters this past year to understand that his words back then were truly wishful thinking. What was most rare was that once he realized he was wrong, he frankly admitted it without making excuses. This candor was something even Seventh Miss herself didn’t possess.

Seventh Miss’s gaze warmed. She looked at Xu Fengjia with a smile and said nothing.

But Xu Fengjia zoned out again before frowning and sighing softly, “Looking back at the past now, there’s truly too much I didn’t understand, too many mysteries. I really don’t understand—Shanli herself was young at the time, so I won’t speak of that, but why did Fourth Aunt knowingly marry Shanli into our family when she knew the Xu household was completely unsettled… Given her temperament, even if…”

He didn’t continue.

Seventh Miss already understood what Xu Fengjia meant.

Xu Fengjia had been young then and didn’t know the dangers of great households, which was why he’d rashly spoken of wanting to marry Seventh Miss.

But the Grand Madam had not been young, had visited the Xu family, and was moreover Madam Xu’s biological sister. How complex the Xu household was internally—Madam Xu wouldn’t necessarily have hidden it from her or deceived Fifth Miss into marrying in. And given Fifth Miss’s temperament, how could she not encounter obstacles everywhere in such a place? Even if she hadn’t been murdered, her days probably wouldn’t have been very happy.

Why had the Grand Madam made such a decision?

Seventh Miss let out a short breath. “Different rice feeds a hundred different people. I think you’d better give up trying to fathom your Fourth Aunt’s thoughts. That woman… suffered her whole life from two words: pettiness.”

Xu Fengjia’s eyes darkened. After pondering for a long while, he also sighed along with Seventh Miss.

He didn’t continue this topic but brought up Ninth Brother and his wife. “Last time you returned to your natal family, did Ninth Brother’s wife mention her brother to you? Quan Ziyin only showed his face in Jiangnan this past summer. Since autumn began, who knows where he’s run off to again. Even the Emperor is anxiously looking for him.”

“Ruiyun herself is a new bride and can’t keep returning to her natal family. I was the one who told her that her brother appeared in Jiangnan this summer to provide disaster relief.” Seventh Miss found Quan Zhongbai amusing to think about. “There really are such immortal-like figures in this world, wandering the four seas, whereabouts unknown.”

“He’ll return to the capital soon. When he left the capital, the Emperor had him prescribe a year’s worth of peace-preserving medicine for the Crown Prince. Now that a year has nearly passed, if he doesn’t show himself, I’m afraid the Emperor will issue a warrant for his arrest.” Xu Fengjia suddenly smiled. “When he returns to the capital, the Emperor gets first taste, and the second household will be our Xu family. We’ll first invite him to examine Mother’s illness, then have him take your pulse. Ask whether this martial arts practice has any benefit for your health. If it does, I’ve thought it through—in the Cangzhou area, quite a few noble families have women who practice martial arts. We’ll find a Cangzhou household in the capital and send you to learn a few sets of body-strengthening boxing and kicking techniques for women. You can practice a few sets every morning—I’ve watched you practice boxing with me for almost a month now, and your complexion is visibly much better…”

Seventh Miss felt her head swelling like a drum. She covered her ears and groaned, “When did you become such a chatterbox, Xu Fengjia? Annoying, annoying! I don’t want to listen, I don’t want to practice boxing—”

Young Master Xu suddenly broke into a mischievous smile, his gaze gradually heating up. He lowered his voice teasingly, “If you don’t practice boxing, how will you keep up with me? Last night I only wanted a second round and you were already crying about being tired…”

“Don’t you dare mention that!”

The West Third Room echoed with Seventh Miss’s embarrassed complaints and the young man’s unrestrained laughter.