Shuang Tao didn’t think much of it.

After all, they were guests in someone else’s home—it couldn’t compare to the ease of being in their own household.

After Yu Tang finished her morning ablutions, a servant woman from the Pei Manor brought over breakfast and asked for Yu Tang’s instructions: “Should we sweep the snow in the courtyard or leave it?”

The architecture of the Pei family’s villa wasn’t typical Jiangnan style but rather resembled northern design, with covered walkways connecting the buildings, so leaving the snow unswept wouldn’t hinder people from moving about.

“Do you usually sweep the snow in the courtyards or not?” Yu Tang instead consulted the Pei family’s servant woman.

The servant woman was around forty years old and very efficient and straightforward in her manner. Hearing this, she laughed heartily and said, “When no one is staying here, we certainly sweep the snow.”

“Then sweep it!” Yu Tang had no intention of being different from everyone else.

Shuang Tao couldn’t help feeling regretful: “Such beautiful snow!”

Yu Tang glanced at Shuang Tao.

Shuang Tao immediately fell silent.

A flash of surprise crossed the servant woman’s face. Her gaze toward Yu Tang grew more respectful, and she bowed deferentially before withdrawing.

After she and Shuang Tao had breakfast, they were just about to don their cloaks to pay their respects to Old Madam An when Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss came running in hand in hand.

“Elder Sister Yu! Elder Sister Yu!” The two young ladies called out to Yu Tang with cheerful laughter, but when they looked up and saw several servant women sweeping snow in the courtyard, disappointment immediately showed on their faces. “Elder Sister Yu, we came to call you to pay respects to Old Madam An together, and we were planning to build snowmen in your courtyard after returning from Old Madam An’s! Why did you have the snow swept away?”

Yu Tang hurriedly smiled and moved to welcome the two young ladies inside.

But the two young ladies stood at the entrance, unwilling to enter. Fourth Miss urged with a smile, “We won’t stand on such ceremony. Elder Sister, hurry and get ready—we figure Old Madam An should have finished breakfast by now too.”

Yu Tang didn’t stand on ceremony with them either. She threw on her cloak, and bringing Shuang Tao along, went out with them.

Fifth Miss was still lamenting over that courtyard full of snow.

Shuang Tao couldn’t help quietly asking Fifth Miss’s maid A’Shan, “Doesn’t your courtyard have snow?”

A’Shan glanced at Fifth Miss, who had been diverted from the topic of snow by Yu Tang and no longer mentioned it, then said in a low voice to Shuang Tao, “Fifth Miss’s monthly cycle isn’t sufficient—she can’t play in the snow. But she particularly loves playing in snow, and Second Madam has reminded us several times. It’s fortunate that the snow in your courtyard was also swept.”

Shuang Tao’s heart trembled with alarm.

She looked at Fourth Miss, who was speaking in a cheerful tone, and held back again and again, but ultimately couldn’t restrain herself and asked A’Shan in a small voice, “Then what about Fourth Miss’s side…”

“Fourth Miss’s head servant woman blocked Fifth Miss and didn’t dare let her play in the snow there.” As A’Shan spoke, she glanced at Bai Lan, Fourth Miss’s personal maid who was walking ahead of them.

Shuang Tao, who had been feeling warm all over, couldn’t help shivering.

No wonder Miss wouldn’t let her serve closely—with her poor judgment, who knew when she might cause trouble for Miss.

However, when did Miss become so astute…

Shuang Tao followed Yu Tang and the others in a daze to Old Madam An’s main residence.

Second Miss and Third Miss had already arrived. Both were wearing water-blue, plain gray squirrel fur cloaks and standing under the eaves watching several young maids build snowmen.

Fifth Miss and Fourth Miss let out cheerful cries, abandoned Yu Tang, and ran over.

Nanny Ji, guarding beside the snowmen, quickly called out, “Young Misses, watch your step! Old Madam An has given her word—if you only watch, she’ll have servant women lead you young ladies to play on the ice later. But if you touch it yourselves and get snow on you, you’ll have to stay confined indoors practicing your calligraphy every day for the next few days.”

Fifth Miss smiled like a sunflower, nodding repeatedly and promising, “I’ll only look!”

Then she pulled Fourth Miss around the not-yet-completed snowman, circling round and round.

Second Miss and Third Miss both covered their mouths and laughed.

Nanny Ji and the others, having successfully restrained Fifth Miss, all showed expressions of relief.

Only Yu Tang inwardly marveled—Old Madam An truly doted on the younger generation!

After accompanying Fifth Miss in the courtyard for a while, everyone went inside to pay their respects to Old Madam An.

Before long, Gu Xi, Madam Shen, and Second Madam also came over.

Everyone then decided to go to the courtyard to watch the young maids and servant women build snowmen.

After standing outside for a while, Old Madam An and Second Madam felt somewhat cold and returned indoors.

Madam Shen took the opportunity to take her leave and returned to the courtyard where she was staying.

But Gu Xi remained behind, playing in the snow together with the Pei family’s young ladies.

The courtyard was filled with cheerful voices and laughter—very lively indeed.

Old Madam An, with Second Madam supporting her lightly, stood behind the half-opened window lattice watching for a while. She saw Gu Xi very spiritedly leading the Pei family’s young ladies in using a red radish for the snowman’s nose and broken tree branches for its arms, while Yu Tang merely attended to Fifth Miss as she ran about, or smiled and exchanged a few quiet words with Third Miss, who stood to the side without speaking much. The corners of her mouth curved slightly upward as she asked Second Madam, “After Miss Yu returned to her room, did she inquire about what happened with the Gu family?”

“No!” Second Madam said with a smile. “This young lady really knows when to advance and retreat—she hasn’t asked a single question about things she shouldn’t ask about.”

Old Madam An nodded and said slowly, “In one’s lifetime, the most difficult thing is knowing what to do at what time.”

Second Madam smiled very sincerely in agreement: “You’re absolutely right.”

Old Madam An’s gaze fell on Yu Tang again as she said, “This is what an elder sister should be like.”

Second Madam smiled and responded with a “yes,” but after hesitating for a long moment, she quietly asked, “Mother, what exactly happened with the Gu family?”

Old Madam An scoffed, rather disdainfully saying, “In the inner quarters of a great household, what could possibly happen? Over and over, it’s just those few matters.”

Second Madam was astonished. Her gaze fell on Gu Xi as she said, “Then Miss Gu…”

“See through but don’t speak through!” Old Madam An said with a smile. “It’s merely a pretext. Since she wants to be a guest at our home, we should simply treat her well. There’s no reason for people to say we’re making things difficult for a young person.”

Second Madam smiled with pressed lips.

Old Madam An stopped paying attention to what was happening in the courtyard. Lightly supported by Second Madam, she turned and walked toward the interior of the room while saying, “What about the eldest son’s side? Did Madam Shen make any moves last night?”

Second Madam’s face showed difficulty.

Old Madam An snorted coldly with displeasure and said, “I think you’re not as good as that Miss Yu! She says whatever she can say, but you’re being coy—when I ask you to speak, you don’t even dare. Even the court’s employment of officials emphasizes ‘recommending the worthy without avoiding relatives’—do you think I can’t distinguish right from wrong in such matters?”

Second Madam’s face turned red with embarrassment. She repeatedly apologized, saying, “Last night, Madam Shen had her personal servant woman bring some food over to Elder Sister-in-law. Elder Sister-in-law accepted it and even had the small kitchen prepare some vegetarian pastries as a return gift, which were sent to Madam Shen early this morning.”

Old Madam An sneered coldly, saying, “I knew it—Madam Shen loves causing trouble most of all. Today when she saw the young maids playing happily, instead of lecturing them, she rushed back to her room. This matter certainly has further schemes. Have people keep watch on both Madam Shen and the eldest son’s wife. If the eldest son’s wife thinks that we’re responsible for her current situation and wants to find unrelated people to send messages to her natal family’s brothers, then let her send them. I want to see exactly what her natal family’s brothers can do for her. Also, keep an eye on both young masters as well. Xiaguang is already overwhelmed with matters outside—regarding these household affairs, we should help where we can and spare him worry where we can.” After speaking, she sighed deeply and said, “I don’t know when we’ll be able to find him a capable wife so I can unload this burden from my shoulders.”

Second Madam glanced toward the window, thinking that wasn’t there a ready-made Miss Gu right before them? But she understood her mother-in-law even better—she wasn’t just a mistress of the household who only knew about managing domestic affairs. Even when the late master was alive, he didn’t dare speak loudly in front of this mother-in-law. She was even less able to guess her mother-in-law’s thoughts, and could only do whatever the old lady instructed, seeking no merit but only to avoid mistakes.

She comforted Old Madam An: “Good food isn’t afraid of being late. Third Uncle’s marriage fate might arrive very soon.”

Old Madam An sighed helplessly again, then asked Second Madam as if suddenly remembering something, “What was that Miss Yu’s given name again?”

“Yu Tang!” Second Madam said. “The character ‘tang’ from ‘luxuriant crabapple tree.'”

“It’s a good name.” After praising it, Old Madam An began discussing arrangements for the New Year: “The old relatives we regularly visit are easy to handle—just follow the old precedent from previous years for New Year gifts. The outer courtyard matters have the household stewards worrying about them, so we don’t need to manage those. It’s the Song family’s side—they’ve resumed relations with us and even sent lavish gifts during the Double Ninth Festival. They probably have some matter they want to ask of our family. You need to remind me to ask Xiaguang how the gifts between our two families should be sent. Also, the Yu family—since we’ve established friendly relations with them, remember to invite Madam Yu and Miss Yu to the spring banquet for drinks…”

Scattered bits and pieces—she gave instructions for no fewer than a dozen matters, leaving Second Madam’s head spinning.

When she was young, following her father and brothers in studying the Four Books and Five Classics and writing policy essays had never been this exhausting.

In the courtyard, after helping the Pei young ladies of all ages build five or six snowmen, Gu Xi felt somewhat tired. She and Second Miss leaned against the nearby red lacquered railing to rest, while Yu Tang continued playing in the snow with Third Miss, Fourth Miss, and Fifth Miss.

Gu Xi then asked Second Miss, “When will guests be coming to the villa?”

Upon hearing this, Second Miss’s face suddenly flushed so red it could drip blood. She shyly and coquettishly protested, “How would I know?”

Gu Xi smiled, her mood suddenly dropping as she said, “Don’t be angry! I used to think the same way you do. But look at me now…” As she spoke, she lifted her head to gaze at the azure sky, washed clean as jade, and smiled bitterly. “Sometimes, shyness can’t solve problems. When you can make decisions, it’s best to seize the opportunity while you can, lest you regret it later.”

Second Miss was startled. Looking at Fifth Miss, who was playing and frolicking with her sisters, she lowered her voice and said, “I, I don’t know either. Who can avoid listening to their family?”

Gu Xi laughed, and suddenly seemed to regain her spirits. She pointed toward the main residence where Old Madam An lived: “Isn’t there someone who can make decisions for you right there?”

Children’s marriages were primarily up to their parents. Moreover, Old Madam An was a paternal great-aunt from a different branch of the family—how could she interfere?

Second Miss had never considered this.

Gu Xi sighed with feeling, “Look at how much the old lady dotes on you younger generation. If you petition Old Madam An, she’ll certainly make decisions for you.”

Second Miss didn’t respond. After quite a while, when Gu Xi thought she wouldn’t answer at all, she gently nodded her head.

Gu Xi laughed heartily and invited Second Miss, “Let’s go play in the snow too! Look at Miss Yu and the others—how happy they are playing!”

Second Miss glanced at Gu Xi, and her manner toward her became much warmer. Smiling, she responded with a “yes.”