In Lefeng Court, Concubine Liu was serving breakfast to the Yang family’s Master Yang when the news arrived.
Concubine Liu steadily placed a chopstick full of stir-fried bean sprouts into his dish: “Third Young Master has caused trouble again. This time, Madam should enforce family discipline. How wonderful.”
Master Yang, who typically stayed out of household affairs, put down his chopsticks and smiled at Concubine Liu’s words: “Look at you, with Third Young Master being your only son, yet you can bear to let Madam discipline him.”
Only Concubine Liu was serving in the room. She placed a steamed dumpling in his dish and chided gently: “Master, focusing on your meal is what’s important.”
Concubine Liu was a classic Sichuan beauty. Delicately boned with porcelain-like skin. She had given birth to Yang Jingyuan at seventeen, yet her figure remained unchanged. With her slender waist, she looked like a woman in her early twenties. Her crystal-clear eyes seemed to speak, exuding endless charm.
Master Yang, in his forties when he took the flower-like Concubine Liu, had lived in Lefeng Court for over a decade, his affection unwavering. When Liu gently scolded him, Master Yang fell silent and lowered his head to eat.
Still concerned about his young son Yang Jingyuan, Master Yang had no interest in tea after the meal: “This time is different. The Zhou family is connected to the Second Branch through marriage. The second Sister-in-law brought the Zhou family over early this morning. I should go take a look. If Madam disciplines him out of consideration for Second Sister-in-law and the Zhou family’s face, Third Young Master might suffer.”
Liu blocked his path, adjusting the pouch at his waist while speaking softly: “Master, Third Young Master has caused endless trouble since childhood, yet when has he ever faced the discipline rod? The First Young Master and the Second Young Master are his elder brothers and must be tolerant. The Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master from the Second and Third Branches are his younger brothers and must yield to him. He’s become like a little tyrant in the Yang family. This time, let Madam teach him a lesson. He’s already eighteen—how can he manage in the future if we keep spoiling him?”
Speaking of the future, Liu couldn’t help but worry.
Born into poverty and blessed with beauty, if she hadn’t entered the Yang family, who knows which street ruffian might have claimed her. When she entered the Yang household, Madam Shi had been managing for over twenty years. The First and Second Young Masters were already grown and capable of managing family affairs. She neither had the ability nor the position to interfere with the Yang family business. She would be content just serving Master Yang until old age and raising Yang Jingyuan well.
Madam Shi had been clear with her from the start—as long as she didn’t meddle in family affairs, whether Master Yang took one concubine or ten made no difference. If she lived quietly and properly, Madam Shi would not make things difficult for her.
Liu remembered this well and never overstepped. But seeing Yang Jingyuan constantly causing trouble, she couldn’t help but worry as his mother about him growing up wrong.
Master Yang was now sixty, with three grandchildren. He had already stepped back from family affairs these past few years. Having managed the household before, he understood Liu’s concerns. If Third Young Master couldn’t manage family affairs, Madam Shi would be all too happy to let him continue his carefree life, spoiling him even more than he and Liu did. He deeply loved this gentle and beautiful woman before him. Being older, he would likely pass before Liu. It was time to make arrangements for Liu and the Third Young Master.
“I understand,” Master Yang squeezed Liu’s hand, speaking tenderly.
“Master.” Though this man was over twenty years her senior, Liu felt blessed to have met him.
Time had flown; the once elegant middle-aged man now had graying hair. Her nose tingled as she embraced Master Yang’s waist, pressing her face against his chest.
If possible, Liu hoped Master Yang would live to a hundred. By then, she too would be old, living with memories for not many more years before following him.
The morning sun streamed into the front hall of the Yang family’s main courtyard, flooding it with brightness.
The hall’s huanghuali wood furniture had aged well, developing a patina over the years. The wood grain flowed like clouds and water, golden and lustrous in the sunlight, elegant and classical.
Every time Second Madam Zou visited the main courtyard, she felt a pang of envy. She couldn’t help imagining herself as the mistress of this courtyard.
The two celadon vases on the central table were also antiques. If it were her, she certainly wouldn’t use peacock feathers. In spring she would arrange large peonies, in autumn chrysanthemums. In winter, she would switch to plum blossoms or winter begonias. And this chair covers—she would use the Yang family’s most brilliant brocade.
What a spacious hall! Three times larger than the front hall in her courtyard. If she lived here, she could display that twelve-panel carved screen from her dowry. She would wear newly woven brocade robes, and sit in the chair by the table, listening to the city madams compliment her. Instead, she sat at the lower end, accompanying this harsh-tongued Mrs. Zhou.
“Madam In-law, the sun is already up. The tea has been refilled once. Surely First Madam isn’t deliberately keeping us waiting?” Mrs. Zhou was single-mindedly focused on seeking justice for the Yang family. Though the hall was large, it felt empty with just a few people. The maids standing silently a zhang away gave Mrs. Zhou a sense of pressure as if the Yang family was showing their authority.
Mrs. Zhou deliberately raised her voice, ensuring the surrounding servants could hear.
“How could Elder Sister-in-law deliberately keep you waiting when our families are connected by marriage?” Let alone keeping you waiting, Shi’s gaze was always looking down on her. Madam Yang Zou felt another wave of bitterness. She could only smile apologetically and explain, “Elder Sister-in-law manages the household, she must be held up by some matter.”
Mrs. Zhou snorted, just lifting her teacup when she noticed it was nearly empty. The tea had already been refilled once—wouldn’t ask for another refill make her look uncultured in the Yang family’s eyes? She set down the cup, her expression darkening further.
Fortunately, Madam Shi had reached the front hall’s entrance, already smiling in greeting as she stepped over the foot-high threshold: “Oh, Mrs. Zhou, it’s been so long! Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Madam Yang Zou quickly stood up: “Elder Sister-in-law, sorry to disturb you so early.”
Madam Shi smiled warmly: “With Mrs. Zhou’s rare visit, I must make time no matter how busy I am, mustn’t I? Please, everyone sit.”
First Young Mistress curtsied, noting how her First Aunt seemed not to see her, knowing Madam Shi was annoyed at her being used by the Zhou family. Her heart added another layer of grievance. She didn’t dare sit, lowering her head and standing behind Mrs. Zhou.
After greetings, Madam Shi sat in the very chair Madam Yang Zou had been eyeing. As if pulled by strings, the serving maids in the hall sprang into motion, butterfly-like as they brought fresh fragrant tea and new plates of exquisite pastries.
Madam Yang Zou stole a glance.
Madam Shi had a prosperous appearance, well-maintained. In her fifties, she still had a ruddy complexion. She wore a date-red brocade robe with “fortune” character patterns, her hair in a high peony bun, adorned with a set of ruby accessories. The dark red rubies matched her clothes perfectly. She sat straight, hands naturally folded in her lap, emanating the wealthy elegance and dignified authority of a household matriarch.
Madam Yang Zou unconsciously straightened her back, sitting even more upright.
“First Madam, please look at my Seventh Son first!” Mrs. Zhou pushed her son forward.
Madam Shi had noticed Zhou Seventh Young Master’s shining blue-red-purple swollen face as soon as she entered the hall, nearly bursting into laughter. Looking at him again, she couldn’t suppress her amusement, though she changed it to a tone of surprise: “My goodness, Seventh Young Master… you gave Aunty quite a shock. Did you fall on your face? Or did someone hit you?”
Zhou Seventh Young Master blurted out: “Zhao Second Young Master from Three Culverts had people beat me!”
“Tsk tsk, this Zhao Second Young Master went too far!” Madam Shi exclaimed, sitting steadily in the master’s huanghuali armchair, speaking gently, “Don’t be angry, Madam In-law. Though the Zhao family is prestigious, we Yangs know people in the magistrate’s office too. I’ll send a note to my elder brother right away, and make sure those violent offenders are brought to justice.”
Seeing Mrs. Zhou’s stunned expression, Madam Shi continued with a smile: “This much help, I can certainly provide.”
Speaking as if the Zhou family were of such humble status that they needed to beg the Yang family even to file an official complaint. Just because they had a brother serving as Deputy Magistrate in the government office! Mrs. Zhou’s face turned purple, using all her strength to hold back from shouting out loud: Who asked for your help to file a complaint?!