The clouds drifted slowly in the wind, gradually revealing a crescent moon that had been hiding behind them. The weather was clear, and the crescent moon’s silver light sparkled, illuminating the layers of buildings and courtyards below. Yang Jingting, who was just leaving through the side door of the rear courtyard, was visible in the moonlight.

He closed the door behind him and lifted his sleeve to his nose. Detecting the strong smell of alcohol, he smiled.

If Jin Yingying made a fuss, he would claim he had gotten drunk at the welcome banquet and wandered into the wrong courtyard.

He walked quickly along the narrow passages between the buildings.

There were two moon gates connecting the third courtyard and the rear courtyard on both sides, which should both be locked from the inside. However, there was a stairway from the rear courtyard leading to the second-floor wing room near the third courtyard. This wing room was connected to the corner tower of the third courtyard. By climbing through the window to the next building and down the stairs, one would reach the main house where the master lived. Jin Yingying had brought two maids, and the manor lord would arrange for two servant women to work in the courtyard. No one would be staying on the second floor.

Fourth Young Master Yang achieved his goal with ease.

He had arrived early, using the excuse of checking on his brother and sister-in-law’s quarters. Finding the back window he had tampered with earlier, he gently pushed it open.

First glancing at the bed, there was no one sleeping on the reed mat! Probably tired from traveling, Jin Yingying had been considerate of her maids and let them sleep in the outer room. What a heaven-sent opportunity! Yang Fourth could hardly contain his joy. In the dim night light, he could see someone sleeping behind the white curtain. Unable to contain himself any longer, he climbed through the window.

He quickly approached the bed, lifted the curtain, and pounced.

He grabbed the person on the bed firmly, one hand covering their mouth, his movements swift and clean.

…Something was wrong!

Yang Fourth felt a beard.

A strength that didn’t belong to Jin Yingying suddenly flipped him over. Yang Jingyan’s angry roar filled the room: “Who’s there?!”

Damn! Yang Fourth tilted his head, pretending to be drunk: “Who… who’s in master’s bed?”

Yang Jingyan grabbed his collar: “Fourth Brother?”

His voice startled the servant in the outer room, who entered with an oil lamp. Shocked to find a man on his master’s bed, the servant exclaimed: “My lord, how did he get in?”

“Don’t… don’t disturb me!” Yang Fourth mumbled, shrugging off Yang Jingyan’s hand and collapsing onto the bed, starting to snore.

Yang Jingyan got off the bed, put on his clothes, and gave Yang Fourth a meaningful look: “It’s nothing. Fourth Young Master got drunk and went to the wrong courtyard. Let him sleep here, prepare another wing room for me.”

Hearing footsteps leave and the door creak shut, Yang Fourth sat up and punched the blanket hard: “Damn it!”

Did Yang Jingyan really believe him? Even if he didn’t, what could he do? He had recognized him, could he beat him like a thief for entering this room? The eldest branch’s position was already precarious after the eldest brother offended the Military Commissioner and was criticized by the clan. The second branch wasn’t pressing their advantage, which was already merciful enough – the first branch couldn’t afford to offend the second branch. Yang Fourth’s thoughts turned, and he lay back down contentedly. If not this time, there would be other opportunities.

Outside the main room, Yang Jingyan quietly instructed his servant: “Keep a close eye on Fourth Young Master.”

He wasn’t familiar with Jin Ye, but he was the general manager of the Yang family’s hundred shops. How could Yang Fourth, drunk and lost, avoid the servant sleeping in the outer room? He had climbed in through the window. Remembering how his wife said after the banquet that Jin Yingying was timid and wanted to sleep together for courage, which brought him here, Yang Jingyan understood everything.

“The second branch goes too far!” Sitting in a side room, Yang Jingyan figured out the whole thing and ground his teeth in anger. If anything happened to Jin Yingying, Third Brother wouldn’t just come home – he’d come with a sword to kill.

Should they swallow this insult? Did the first branch look like a pushover? Yang Jingyan sneered: “You little brat, your second brother has eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice!”

The night passed dreamlessly, and the next morning, Jin Yingying recovered her spirits. Two tall banana trees grew in the courtyard, their nearly ten-foot green leaves exuding a fresh fragrance. She took a deep breath and stretched comfortably.

The two sisters-in-law had both changed into cross-collared, large-sleeved dresses. One in jade green, one in cyan, both made of brocade with subtle patterns. After the hundred days of mourning for Elder Master Yang, and with the upcoming Silkworm Goddess Festival, both women wore accessories. Second Madam Yang wore a set of beryl hairpins. Jin Yingying wore a pearl headband. They were dressed simply yet dignified.

Second Madam Yang had already heard about last night’s events and, following Yang Jingyan’s instructions held Jin Yingying’s hand and said softly: “Sister-in-law, please stay with me again tonight.”

So something had happened last night?

Second Madam Yang whispered in her ear and gave her some advice. Jin Yingying thought for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

After getting ready, the two women went out together.

An incense altar and prayer mats had already been set up in the courtyard space. The manor lord led over four hundred people from the entire estate, standing in neat rows.

With two hundred guards surrounding the area, it was quite an impressive scene.

When Yang Jingyan was leading the ceremony and offering incense, Jin Yingying secretly glanced at Yang Fourth standing behind him. To her surprise, Yang Fourth was also looking at her. Jin Yingying smiled at him.

Had Second Brother not suspected anything? This smile confused Yang Fourth. He absent-mindedly followed along with the bows and ceremonies. He watched as Second Madam Yang and Jin Yingying were escorted to the silkworm room door of the manor lord’s residence.

The door opened, and Second Madam Yang and Jin Yingying entered.

This was the silkworm room, made up of three connected wing rooms. Tall wheat stalks were piled up to form the cocoon mounds. Oval white cocoons were everywhere.

Jin Yingying followed Second Madam Yang’s example and picked a full, firm white cocoon.

Leaving the room, Second Madam Yang held up her cocoon and smiled: “A bountiful year!”

Thunderous cheers filled the entire estate. Women and young ladies started entering with baskets to collect the cocoons.

The Ji family didn’t produce silk. Jin Yingying had only seen finished silk in bundles before. She knew that to extract silk, one had to find the first thread of the cocoon and unravel the shell of the cocoon. Would the color be consistent if they dyed the whole cocoon before extracting the silk? Would the color change after degumming?

She had the manor lord’s people select a basket of the best cocoons. They needed to dye and extract the silk before the silkworms turned into moths, or they would break through the cocoon shell and break the thread. Time was of the essence, and Jin Yingying could hardly wait to go to the dye house to prepare the materials. Remembering Second Madam Yang’s words, she held back. One more day’s delay would be fine. When she noticed Yang Fourth nearby, she deliberately spoke loudly to Xiangyou: “Bring some people, I want to go up the mountain for fun.”

The mountain? He knew all the mountains around here well. Perhaps there would be another opportunity. Yang Fourth’s interest was rekindled, and he quickly approached: “Third Sister-in-law wants to go to the mountain for fun, let me guide you.”

“That would be wonderful, thank you, Fourth Brother,” Jin Yingying smiled sweetly in gratitude.

After lunch, Yang Jingyan called for a team of guards to escort them, instructing them not to linger too long enjoying the mountain scenery and to return early. He also formally entrusted Jin Yingying to Yang Fourth’s care.

“Second Brother, don’t worry. I’ll bring Third Sister-in-law back safely.” He didn’t want to kill Jin Yingying, he just wanted to make Yang Jingyuan a cuckold and vent the resentment he had held for over ten years. In terms of looks, he wasn’t much worse than Yang Jingyuan. A young lady like Jin Yingying from a small merchant family, married and left alone – with some sweet talk, how could she not be tempted…

Once in the mountains, Yang Fourth ignored any game that might have passed by, focusing only on staying by Jin Yingying’s side. He carefully reminded her to watch for rocks underfoot and eagerly offered her water.

The head guard was from the first branch and, following instructions, proceeded along the predetermined route.

Reaching their destination, he glanced at Jin Yingying, giving her a subtle signal.

So you lust after your third sister-in-law? Let’s see just how bold you dare to be.