The door was open, and by lantern light, everyone saw Ji Yingying lying asleep on the ground.

“My lady! Oh heavens, how could you be so foolish!” When Nanny Ji saw the broken sash on the ground, her soul nearly left her body as she quickly gathered Ji Yingying into her arms.

Madam Yang was also alarmed: “How did this child end up here in the middle of the night?”

The First Madam noticed the broken sash and blurted out, “Could it be that sister-in-law felt wronged about marrying during the mourning period and attempted to end her life?”

“And you’re supposed to be the household manager. She was fine during the day—why would she run here from Mingyue Residence in the middle of the night to end her life? The courtyard gate was locked, did she fly in?”

In front of so many servants, the First Madam’s face burned with embarrassment. She stammered, “I was thoughtless. If the courtyard gate was locked, could there have been… a thief?”

If there was a thief, what about her lady’s reputation? Ling’er, standing nearby, became anxious at these words: “It must be Third Young Master who returned! His martial arts are excellent.”

“Third Young Master has returned!” Madam Yang also realized. She glared at the First Madam, then turned to look out the window. It must be Third Young Master. How much must he hate her to bring Ji Yingying to Concubine Liu’s room where she died? Madam Yang’s heart clenched, and she nearly collapsed. “Quick, wake up Third Madam, and ask her where Third Young Master went!”

“Madam, my lady is burning with fever and has fainted. We need to call for a physician,” said Nanny Ji as she lifted Ji Yingying.

“Go fetch the physician. Take Third Madam to my courtyard,” Madam Yang said, then let out a long sigh. “It’s fine now, everyone may leave.”

The group departed with the sedan chair, leaving First Madam Chen standing alone at the entrance of Lefeng Court, feeling stifled.

“First Madam.” A maidservant approached with a lantern.

The First Madam recognized her as Yang Jingshan’s maid and was startled: “Does the Master need something?”

The maidservant curtsied and said: “The commotion in the household woke First Young Master. He heard Third Madam was missing and became very worried. He sent me to inquire about the situation.”

Chen’s face darkened: “Go back and tell the Master that Third Madam merely lost her way and has been found. Nothing happened. Tell him to rest early.”

The Master was so concerned about Ji Yingying. The Yang family had won the Jin King competition for twenty years without Ji Yingying. Yet since her arrival, she had thrown the entire household into chaos. Chen was fuming when she was about to leave, just as a drunk maidservant was being carried over.

Smelling the strong alcohol, Chen covered her nose with a handkerchief and said coldly: “Throw her in the water to sober up, then make her kneel here to reflect.”

There was a water channel just outside the court. They immediately threw the maidservant in. The spring water was especially cold at night. Being soaked through and then made to kneel at Lefeng Court’s entrance would cost her half her life, if not kill her outright.

“First Madam, please have mercy! This servant won’t dare again!” The maidservant shivered in the water channel, wailing and begging for mercy.

Asking me for mercy? Go beg the newly arrived Third Madam to stop causing trouble! Chen sneered and strode away.

Ji Yingying hadn’t slept well to begin with, and after taking medicine, she slept for an entire day. Once her fever broke, she awoke.

Opening her eyes, she saw Madam Yang trimming bonsai with silver scissors nearby and was startled. Was this the Madam’s room? The room was spacious and bright, with over ten bonsai pots arranged under the window. The lush branches and leaves basked in sunlight, which also fell upon Madam Yang’s graying hair.

She was very focused, standing up slightly to admire her work after each cut before making the next.

After the Master favored Concubine Liu, he no longer lived here. Was this how the Madam passed her time?

Would she end up like the Madam, with Yang Jingyuan never returning?

Ji Yingying covered her face, holding back her tears in her palms.

“You’re awake. Are you feeling better?”

Madam Yang’s calm inquiry made Ji Yingying quickly wipe away her tears and put on her shoes: “I’m fine, nothing’s wrong.”

Her waist-length hair hung loose as she stood awkwardly by the bed in her undergarments. Still just a child—how could Third Young Master bear to bring her to Concubine Liu’s death chamber in the middle of the night? Madam Yang pulled a nearby bell: “Go wash up and get dressed, then join me for breakfast.”

She turned back to trimming her plants after speaking.

Ji Yingying relaxed and obediently followed the arriving servants to the washroom.

When she returned properly dressed, breakfast was already laid out on the table. There was a basket of pine needle-steamed vegetarian buns, a stack of white rice cakes, sugar-filled pastries cut into triangles with syrup oozing out, a plate of stir-fried cabbage, a dish of pickled radish, and lily bulb porridge as the main course.

“I know you like sugar-filled pastries. These were made in our kitchen—try them,” Madam Yang said only this during breakfast.

Ji Yingying was indeed hungry. Though she ate gracefully, by the time Madam Yang put down her chopsticks, she had already finished two vegetarian buns, one rice cake, half a pastry, and two bowls of porridge.

“A healthy appetite is a blessing,” Madam Yang smiled and said to Chen Nanny, “I ate even more than her when I was young.”

Chen Nanny agreed with a few words, making Madam Yang laugh heartily.

Ji Yingying glanced at Chen Nanny. She was the one who had privately wanted to kill the Third Young Master. Yet the Madam still kept her close, chatting and laughing with her. Was Yang Jingyuan telling the truth? Was it the Madam’s intention, with Chen Nanny taking the blame for her master?

“Yingying, did Third Young Master return?” Madam Yang asked casually after her laughter subsided.

“Yes,” Ji Yingying answered honestly. “After all the crying and fighting and hanging threats, he still wouldn’t stay.”

So the broken sash was cut by the Third Young Master. She had already seen the dagger on the ground.

“Well, he couldn’t just watch you hang yourself,” Madam Yang smiled. Now that Ji Yingying was married into the family, Third Young Master wouldn’t completely sever ties with them.

Yes, despite his harsh words, he didn’t watch her get strangled. No, that’s not right—she had been standing on a stool. If he hadn’t thrown a stone at her leg, she wouldn’t have kicked away the stool. Would he have needed to cut the sash then? He didn’t want her. Ji Yingying bit her lip as tears welled up in her eyes again.

Madam Yang spoke gently: “I raised him, I know him well. Let him resent me if he must. This is still his home, and I hope one day to see him return. One must live well, live with spirit, to have something to look forward to. Yingying, in three years, when Third Young Master’s mourning period ends, if you wish to leave the mansion with him, I won’t stop you.”

In three years, Chengyu would be sixteen. The First Young Master’s health would also gradually improve. If Ji Yingying could help the Yang family win the Jin King competition for three consecutive years, the First Branch would recover. It wouldn’t be so easy to take away the First Branch’s inherited position as family head.

What good would following Yang Jingyuan do now? He was in mourning and stationed at the military camp. Even away from the Yang family, he still had to serve their interests. And she could… use the Yang family’s influence to protect her mother and brother’s family. Ji Yingying immediately agreed: “Alright.”

Madam Yang smiled: “Since you’ve taken Xueping with you, if you need anything, just tell Xueping to handle it.”

She needed something to do to keep her mind off Yang Jingyuan. Ji Yingying said seriously: “Madam, researching brocade patterns requires people who can keep secrets at Mingyue Residence. I’d also like to hear First Brother’s opinion about what kind of brocade the Yang family wants to enter in this year’s competition. Only when I know what brocade we’re making can I think about how to match the silk threads.”

Madam Yang was pleased that she could think about brocade work so quickly: “When First Young Master’s health improves further, I’ll send someone to escort you to Mingyue Residence. Oh yes, for the third-day return visit, I’ll arrange a carriage to take you home.”

She needed to go back, or her mother and brother’s family would worry. Ji Yingying nodded: “Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Madam.”