The moment Shi Ting entered the room, he saw Yan Qing sitting on the soft couch by the window, utterly absorbed in a book.

Sunlight fell across the beautiful line of her profile, as if gilding it with a layer of warm, golden light.

He walked quickly toward her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. His warm breath brushed against her ear. “What are you reading?”

Yan Qing had been deeply engrossed and hadn’t noticed when he came in. Being suddenly embraced like this gave her quite a start.

“Finished so soon?” She set down the book and patted the hand that was wound around her waist.

“Nothing urgent came up,” Shi Ting said. “Where is everyone in the courtyard?”

“Over there.” Yan Qing raised her hand and pointed out the window. Sure enough, not far off, in an open patch of ground, several people were standing in the sunlight.

Jing Zhi stood with her hands on her hips, directing two young women who were digging holes with small spades to plant the flowers. The two women who had arrived so neatly dressed no longer had a shred of their earlier composure — they looked thoroughly disheveled and covered in dirt.

Shi Ting laughed. “Planting the flowers there isn’t a bad idea at all. You’ll be able to see them at a glance from where you sit reading.”

“Those two maids are quite attractive,” Yan Qing said with a smile. “I hear they’re accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting — quite refined and elegant. I wonder if Director Shi finds them to his liking?”

Shi Ting could easily hear the teasing in her words. He buried his face against the curve of her neck and nuzzled her. “I have no interest in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. The only thing I like is someone who holds a scalpel.”

As he spoke, his hand began to wander toward her waist. “My wife, your husband hasn’t had his fill yet.”

Yan Qing quickly pressed down his restless hand, frowning and laughing at the same time. “Director Shi certainly has peculiar tastes.”

“If my wife says peculiar, then peculiar it is.” His lips pressed a kiss to the curve of her neck. Then he tilted up her chin and leaned in to kiss her on the lips.

The taste of her lips was far too sweet, and the scent drifting from her hair far too beguiling.

“Shi Ting!” Yan Qing gently pushed him away. Only then did their tangled lips part, hers still glistening with the moisture he had left behind. “It’s the middle of the day.”

“I know.” He moved as if to continue where he had left off.

“The windows aren’t closed. Neither is the door.”

If someone walked in and saw them, the embarrassment would be unbearable.

“I’ll go close them now.” Shi Ting had barely risen to his feet when Yan Qing caught his arm with exasperated resignation and pulled him back down.

Knowing she was a little flustered, he decided not to tease her further and settled down beside her instead.

“Mother seems to be… avoiding me.” Yan Qing thought back to Luo Huaimeng’s behavior that morning and couldn’t help but feel a shadow of sadness.

Shi Ting gently clasped her hand. “Later this evening, I’ll take you to see her.”

“Then tell me about her first — what kind of person is she?”

Yan Qing was not the type who was good at winning people over. But Luo Huaimeng was Shi Ting’s birth mother, and Shi Ting was deeply filial. If her relationship with Luo Huaimeng became too strained, Shi Ting would inevitably be caught in the middle, torn between them. For his sake, she had to find a way to get along with Luo Huaimeng.

The difficulty was that Luo Huaimeng seemed to hold something against her. Bridging that gap would be no easy matter.

“My mother is not a complicated person. She was once First Madam’s personal maid, and later became a concubine…”

Yan Qing listened as Shi Ting told her the story of Luo Huaimeng’s life. By the end of it, she had a fairly clear sense of the woman’s character — a simple mother who devoted her whole heart to securing a good future for her son.

“Miss.” Murong knocked softly on the door from outside. “The flowers have been planted.”

Yan Qing brightened. “The flowers are done — let’s go take a look.”

“Mm.” Shi Ting took her hand, and the two of them went to the back courtyard together.

Yang Liu and Yang Zhi saw Shi Ting arrive and immediately curtseyed. “Good morning, Seventh Young Master.”

Shi Ting’s eyes didn’t fall on their faces at all. He walked with Yan Qing along the flower bed, taking in the view. The chances of the flowers surviving the move from their pots were uncertain, but for the moment they looked lovely enough.

Yang Liu and Yang Zhi watched Shi Ting pay them no attention whatsoever and felt a flash of annoyance. They assumed it was their current disheveled state — grimy and unkempt — that had made him want to avoid them. Inwardly, they began to harbor resentment toward Yan Qing. This Seventh Young Mistress looked perfectly harmless on the surface, yet she had quietly put them in their place without a word.

“You two can go wash up,” Murong said cheerfully. “You’ve really worked hard today.”

Yang Liu and Yang Zhi heard this and hurried off to wash their faces and change.

Once the two were gone, Murong let out a cold laugh and picked up a small trowel to tend to the newly planted flowers.

As Shi Ting and Yan Qing strolled through the flower bed, Yan Qing suddenly stepped on a small clod of earth and lost her balance, lurching to one side. Fortunately, Shi Ting was right beside her and caught her arm in time.

“The path here is uneven. Best not walk any further.” As he spoke, he suddenly bent down and swept her up into his arms.

Yan Qing hadn’t expected him to do that and let out a low cry of surprise. “Shi Ting!”

“You’ve been on your feet too long. You need to rest.” Ignoring the small protests she was making in his arms, Shi Ting carried her in long strides out of the flower bed.

Murong and Jing Zhi could not help but cover their mouths to hide their smiles.

Realizing her maids were watching, Yan Qing burned with embarrassment and buried her face in his chest, beating his chest with her little fist. “What are you doing? Put me down.”

“I’ll put you down when we’re back inside.” Shi Ting carried her through the flower bed without the slightest hint of self-consciousness, striding toward the courtyard.

Yang Liu and Yang Zhi had just finished washing the dirt from their faces and hands, combed their hair and tidied up, and were stepping out the door when they came face to face with Shi Ting carrying Yan Qing through the entrance. Both of them were momentarily stunned.

Since they were standing right in his path, the two quickly stepped back to clear the way. They watched until the couple disappeared into the room, then turned to look at each other in silence.

“Shi Xing Zhi.” Yan Qing thumped him on the chest once they were inside. “People saw.”

“So what? You are my wife. Am I not allowed to carry you openly?”

Yan Qing was simultaneously vexed and amused, but there was nothing she could do. “Show a little restraint next time.”

Did she not care about having any dignity in front of her own maids?

Just then, Yang Liu and Yang Zhi stepped into the room together, and the smile on Yan Qing’s face gradually faded.

“Seventh Young Master,” Yang Liu said respectfully, “will you be having lunch in the sitting room?”

“Ask the Young Mistress about such things — there’s no need to ask me.” Shi Ting’s tone was calm and indifferent. “Everything in this courtyard is her decision.”

Yang Liu then turned to Yan Qing. “Seventh Young Mistress, will you be having lunch in the sitting room?”

Yan Qing studied the two maids. They appeared respectful on the surface, but their eyes held a stubborn, unresigned look. She felt a quiet laugh stir inside her. She couldn’t quite make out where their confidence came from — was it because they were First Madam’s people, or because they believed their mastery of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting would be enough to win a man’s heart?

“Jing Zhi is the head attendant of this courtyard,” Yan Qing said with a cool smile. “Since you’ve both just arrived, there are certain rules you’ll need to learn. As for how to handle matters like this, Jing Zhi will guide you on each one.”

She glanced at their feet. “I don’t know whether the First Madam has taught you proper etiquette, but can one simply walk into the master’s room without even knocking?”

Both women were taken aback, their expressions growing complicated as they looked at Yan Qing.

“Seeing as this is your first offense, I won’t pursue it this time.” Yan Qing picked up the teapot beside her and poured two cups. “You may go now.”

Yang Liu and Yang Zhi were about to say something more when Shi Ting cast them a sudden glance. His cold, piercing gaze appeared calm on the surface, but it sent a chill straight through them.

Neither dared utter another word. They withdrew quickly — and obediently pulled the door shut behind them.

“If you don’t like having them here, I’ll find a way to send them off,” Shi Ting said, taking her hand.

Yan Qing shook her head. “If you send away Yang Liu and Yang Zhi, there will only be more to replace them. First Madam is set on making things difficult for me — dismissing the women won’t solve the root problem.”

She paused, then smiled. “Did you see the way they looked at you? It was rather obvious.”

“Was it?” Shi Ting frowned. “I don’t even remember what they look like.”

He had an exceptional memory for faces, but only for people he chose to pay attention to. Those who were of no consequence to him weren’t even worth a single glance.

Yan Qing said, “I’ve heard that in the south, there’s a practice of raising what are called ‘thin horses.’ The people who raise them deliberately seek out girls of exceptional looks from a young age and have teachers train them in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Once they’ve grown up, these women are sold — and because of their origins, despite their beauty and their many skills, they can only become concubines or maids in wealthy households. I believe Yang Liu and Yang Zhi are exactly that — purchased by First Madam as trained ‘thin horses.'”

“So my wife knows quite a lot about the world,” Shi Ting said, lightly stroking her cheek. “Your husband has learned something today.”

Yan Qing shot him a look.

“So what does my wife intend to do about these two?”

Both Shi Ting and Yan Qing preferred peace and quiet. Their household had always run smoothly with the attendants they had. Having two elaborately dressed women suddenly thrust upon them was an eyesore, plain and simple.

Yan Qing thought for a moment. “Getting rid of them is necessary — but it has to be a lasting solution. Otherwise, First Madam will simply find another excuse to send more people our way.”

Shi Ting lay back on the couch, resting his head in her lap. He closed his eyes. “Handle it however you see fit, my wife. Both Jin Shan and Dihuai are at your disposal.”

Yan Qing’s fingers drummed a light rhythm on Shi Ting’s brow. Her bright eyes narrowed slightly. “Know your enemy before you know yourself, and you will win every battle. I’ll have Dihuai look into these two women’s backgrounds first.”

—