Yan Qing had not expected him to pull her into the washroom so suddenly. Before she could even let out a startled gasp, his lips had already come down to meet hers. Above their heads, the shower head rained a steady stream of warm water, winding down her fair cheeks in rivulets, quickly soaking the hem of her skirt.

Whether it was his kiss that burned so intensely, or the warmth of the washroom that had climbed so high, when the water cascaded over her body, her skin ignited as though caught in a flame.

She had meant to reproach him for his impulsiveness, but swept along by him, she found herself unable to resist twining her arms around his neck and offering her own kiss back.

After being subjected to Shi Ting’s impromptu schemes, Yan Qing ended up bathing all over again, and when she finally sat on the bed, her hair was still dripping wet.

The man was holding a towel with careful hands, pressing it gently against her hair.

“Don’t you dare do that again.” Yan Qing gave a huff. “Who knows how long this hair is going to take to dry.”

“I won’t sleep until it’s dry,” someone swore with great conviction.

Yan Qing laughed and leaned naturally into his arms, quite at ease in accepting his uncompensated service.

Only when both of them were dry did the young couple lie down together.

After all the commotion of earlier, Yan Qing was tired. Her soft hair was buried against his chest, and her right hand rested at his waist, lightly tracing the firm texture of his muscles.

“Next month there’s a dance, for the Marshal and the First Madam’s pearl wedding anniversary.” Shi Ting’s voice came from above her head. “The Military Police Division has been assigned to handle security.”

“If the Military Police Division is handling security, there must be some very important figures attending?”

“The ball is hosted by the Marshal, and the guests will include senior government officials as well as several Dian nationals currently in Shun Cheng. Among them is a man named Huicun — the chairman of the Dian National Chamber of Commerce.”

“No wonder they’re using the Military Police Division. The real purpose must be to ensure that Dian national’s safety.”

Shi Ting gently smoothed her hair. “Dian’s technology is advanced, and they’ve brought a great deal of cutting-edge knowledge with them. The Marshal currently has no desire to alienate them — more precisely, he wants their support. The domestic political landscape is murky and tangled, with factions of all stripes watching from every direction. Before long, there will be another round of warfare between the warlords. And so, gaining the support of the Dian nationals is seen by all sides as a decisive advantage.”

“And what do you think — is securing Dian’s support truly necessary?”

Shi Ting took her hand and lifted it to his lips, brushing them lightly against it. “The Dian nationals only want to install a puppet. What they truly want is this vast and fertile land.”

Yan Qing listened, and reached up to gently touch his face. “I always knew you were different from the rest of them.”

She pillowed her head against his chest and softly closed her eyes. “Good night.”

“Good night.” He bowed his head and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Yan Qing said nothing to him about what had happened that day and had told Jing Zhi and the others to keep it quiet as well. He was occupied with official duties all the time — she had no wish to add the troubles of the inner household to his burdens.

Besides, this sort of small matter hardly required him to intervene. She was perfectly capable of handling it herself.

The following morning, Yangliu was summoned to help serve breakfast.

Normally, the task of serving meals fell to Murong and Jing Zhi. Today was an exception.

Yangliu had assumed Yan Qing would go to Shi Ting with complaints about what happened the previous day, but Shi Ting’s manner was utterly undisturbed — which delighted Yangliu greatly.

Returning to the servants’ quarters, she declared to Yangzhi with great self-satisfaction: “I told you the Young Mistress is afraid of the First Madam. Look — we plotted against her thoroughly yesterday and she hasn’t said a single thing. No punishment, not even a word, and she even had me come help serve breakfast.”

“Lucky you.” Yangzhi envied her enormously. “Getting to stand close to the Seventh Young Master.”

At the mention of Shi Ting, a flush rose to Yangliu’s cheeks unbidden. She thought of his handsome features, his imposing build — even the air around him was intoxicating.

She could not help imagining what it would be like to be with a man like that.

The thought only intensified her envy and resentment toward the Seventh Young Mistress.

“You’re daydreaming again.” Yangzhi gave her a nudge.

Yangliu snapped out of her wandering thoughts, blinking her eyes. “I’ll have you serve breakfast tomorrow. You’ll get your chance too.”

Yangzhi was just about to reply when a smell of herbal medicine reached her nose. She let out a cold snort. “The Seventh Young Mistress still thinks that trick will get her back in Er Yitai’s good graces. I’d say she won’t even make it through the door this time.”

Yan Qing sat beside the small stove, one hand holding a palm-leaf fan, the other a book. The medicine pot on the flame let out a steady series of soft, bubbling sounds.

She had studied medicine — these dense, abstruse medical texts held no difficulty for her. What she lacked was clinical experience, so the knowledge she absorbed now would have to be stored away in her mind for the time being.

After a little while, the medicine was done. Yan Qing poured it into a small bowl and set it on a tray.

“Miss, Er Yitai probably won’t see you.” Jing Zhi carried the tray and followed carefully at her side.

“It doesn’t matter.” Yan Qing smiled. “As long as Mother is willing to take her medicine.”

“I saw Yangzhi slip out again just now. She must have gone to the First Madam’s quarters.”

“Mm. Let her go.”

“What are you planning to do, Miss? Are you just going to keep those two around indefinitely?”

Yan Qing paused and looked at a magnolia tree beside Luo Huaimeng’s courtyard gate. The magnolia bloomed early — by now its flowers had fallen, scattered two and three at a time across the ground.

“What a pity.” Yan Qing gazed at the magnolias blanketing the earth and gave a quiet sigh. “If this magnolia tree were planted in a sunny spot, it could stay in bloom a few days longer. But here it grows in the shade — its flowering season was never going to last.”

“Why not suggest to Er Yitai to move it into the sunlight?”

“Never mind. Some things are born for the dark. Even if you move them into the light, the flowers they produce will only look pallid and dull.”

Jing Zhi seemed to catch her meaning and gave a quiet smile. “You’re right, Miss.”

As she spoke, she stepped forward and knocked on the courtyard gate. Before long, Xiang Xiu emerged, and upon seeing Yan Qing standing outside, she hesitated for a moment. “Seventh Young Mistress.”

“I’ve come to help Mother take her medicine.” Yan Qing smiled gently.

Xiang Xiu said with some difficulty, “Seventh Young Mistress, Er Yitai said — she doesn’t wish to see you.”

“In that case, I’ll trouble Xiang Xiu to carry the medicine inside. I’ll come back later.” Yan Qing turned to go.

“Seventh Young Mistress.” Xiang Xiu quickly called after her. “The Seventh Young Mistress’s filial devotion is plain for all to see, as clear as the sun and moon. It’s only that Er Yitai is a little upset over yesterday’s matter. She is not, at heart, a difficult person to get along with. I hope the Seventh Young Mistress will not take it to heart.”

“How could I?” Yan Qing smiled. “Mother is only guiding and reminding me. I hold nothing but gratitude for her.”

“Knowing the Seventh Young Mistress thinks this way, I am relieved.” Xiang Xiu broke into a warm smile and carried the medicine bowl back inside.

Jing Zhi, standing to one side, said with worry, “Miss, the relationship between you and Er Yitai had only just begun to thaw — and now, because of those two wretched girls, it’s gone cold again.”

“Mother is a perceptive woman. She won’t fail to see through the twists and turns of what happened.” Yan Qing glanced toward Lanxiang Court. “Have Di Huai come to Tiaolan Court. I have instructions for him.”

Once Yan Qing had gone, Luo Huaimeng finally frowned and asked, “Has she left?”

“She has.” Xiang Xiu brought the medicine bowl over. “Er Yitai, please take your medicine.”

Luo Huaimeng took the bowl and, with a furrowed brow, drained the bitter, astringent brew. When she finished, there was no candied fruit offered alongside it, and she paused involuntarily — a flicker of something unfamiliar crossing her face.

These past weeks, Yan Qing had come morning and evening to see her through her medicine. After each dose, she would always offer a piece of candied fruit to take away the bitter taste in her mouth. Whether it was the absence of that small gesture, Luo Huaimeng couldn’t say — but today, the medicine seemed more bitter than ever.

Xiang Xiu noticed the change in Er Yitai’s manner and carefully ventured, “Er Yitai, forgive me for speaking out of turn — but yesterday’s events were too coincidental. There must be something else at play.”

Luo Huaimeng’s brow creased slightly. The previous night, she had gone back over the whole sequence of events carefully, and indeed there were a great many things that did not add up — not least Shi Guang’s convenient “passing through,” nor the presence of Yangliu and Yangzhi.

She was no fool. Once she had calmed down, the picture became considerably clearer. And she had caught a few words of what Yan Qing had said at the time.

Seeing Luo Huaimeng say nothing, Xiang Xiu grew a little bolder. “Ever since Er Yitai fell out with the First Madam, the First Madam has been finding one way or another to make life difficult for Er Yitai. That business with the gift registry — the hand of the First Madam was clear.”

Luo Huaimeng picked up her cup and took a sip of water without speaking.

“The First Madam doesn’t want Er Yitai to build a good relationship with the new daughter-in-law, so stirring up trouble between them is exactly what she would do. Aren’t Yangliu and Yangzhi the First Madam’s people?”

“So what if they’re the First Madam’s people? Does she have the means to throw out the servants the First Madam has planted there? As long as those two remain, her every move will be watched. Who knows how many more times something like this will happen.” Luo Huaimeng gave a dismissive sound. “Xingzhi always says she is clever. I see only a foolish girl who can’t even manage two maids the First Madam has pushed into her courtyard. She’ll keep suffering setbacks in this household for the rest of her days.”

She herself had once been burned by the same fire, and ever since, she had been especially cautious in such matters.

“Er Yitai, what if we were to help the Seventh Young Mistress?”

“Help her with what? If she cannot handle even something this small on her own, she is not worthy of Xingzhi.” Luo Huaimeng gave another dismissive sound. “Let her manage on her own.”

Luo Huaimeng’s tone left Xiang Xiu with nothing more to say. She personally had a good impression of the Seventh Young Mistress. If Yan Qing wanted Luo Huaimeng to think better of her, she would first have to resolve the matter of those two maids.

—