“Jianguo.” Yan Qing pushed open the door and called out.

The Yang sisters — Yangliu and Yangzhi — were huddled in the corner, while Jianguo stood before them with an air of arrogant triumph, baring its teeth and embodying every inch of a ferocious hound.

“Woof.” One moment Jianguo had been barking furiously at Yangliu and Yangzhi, and the next it had transformed into a docile lapdog, wagging its tail as it trotted over to Yan Qing’s side.

Yan Qing crouched down and gently stroked its head. “Good boy. Have you eaten yet?”

The moment Jianguo stopped chasing them, Yangliu and Yangzhi were just about to rise and straighten their disheveled skirts when Jianguo, as if it had eyes in the back of its head, suddenly spun around and let out a sharp bark, startling the two sisters back into their corner.

“Alright now.” Yan Qing ruffled its head.

Jianguo immediately settled into a docile pose, rubbing its snout against her palm with an expression that said: *look how well-behaved I am.*

“Oh, let me introduce you to a new friend.” Yan Qing lifted Erdan over. “This is Erdan.”

Erdan, upon seeing Jianguo — who was considerably larger — was so frightened it kept trying to scramble up Yan Qing’s legs.

Jianguo, however, took an interest in Erdan. It circled the little creature a few times, then pressed its nose in for a sniff. The smell seemed unfamiliar, so it sniffed again.

Jianguo had assumed Erdan was a cat, yet Erdan carried no feline scent whatsoever. Jianguo — who had always prided itself on being the most brilliant of dogs — found itself thoroughly puzzled.

“What are you two doing there?” Jing Zhi walked in, frowning as she looked at the Yang sisters.

The two of them hastily scrambled to their feet and shuffled over, looking dusty and unkempt.

“Miss, breakfast is ready.” Jing Zhi then turned to Yangliu and Yangzhi. “You two — go and turn over the soil in the flower bed that was planted yesterday.”

Yangliu was displeased and muttered quietly, “We came to serve the Seventh Young Master, not to do rough labor.”

Though she had spoken softly, Jing Zhi caught every word.

“Once you step foot inside Tiaolan Court, you are servants — nothing more. Does the Shi Family pay your wages so you can live like pampered ladies? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming. The Seventh Young Master and the Seventh Young Mistress are newly wed. If you’re still entertaining thoughts you shouldn’t be entertaining, don’t blame me for being unkind.” Jing Zhi stood tall, exercising every bit of authority a head attendant could muster.

“Woof! Woof!” Jianguo barked twice, as if adding its own warning for good measure.

Yangliu and Yangzhi now trembled at the mere sound of a dog bark and dared not utter a single word in rebuttal.

“If the flower bed isn’t turned over by the end of today, neither of you will be eating.”

Left with no choice, Yangliu and Yangzhi took up their hoes and headed out to work the soil. It was a pitiable sight — both were women with delicate, fair skin, accustomed to the refined pursuits of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Now they were reduced to wielding hoes, and it would not be long before those slender, graceful hands became rough and coarse.

“Miss, I’ve dealt with them.” Jing Zhi walked back over. “Those two insufferable women — they absolutely infuriate me.”

Yan Qing, however, was not angry. She reminded Jing Zhi in a calm tone, “Make sure to brew Mother’s medicine later and bring it to her. Let Murong come back with me today.”

She was not comfortable leaving only Yangliu and Yangzhi in the courtyard.

Jing Zhi agreed at once.

After the two of them finished eating, Jin Shan had already loaded everything needed for the return-visit ceremony into the carriage.

The return visit was a significant occasion for the Yan Family — especially for Master Yan, who had been up since early morning directing the servants back and forth. By the time Shi Ting and Yan Qing arrived at the entrance, he was already leading a group of people out to welcome them.

Although Master Yan had already known about Yan Qing’s legs being healed, the sight of her stepping out of the carriage on Shi Ting’s arm still moved him deeply — his eyes reddened with emotion.

“Father.” Yan Qing walked quickly toward him, smiling as she said, “I’m home.”

“Yes, you’re home.” Master Yan watched her walk with ease, and couldn’t help but grip his daughter’s hand. “Now that I’ve seen this, I can finally face your mother when I meet her in the afterlife.”

“Father, today is a joyful occasion.”

“Yes, yes, a joyful occasion.” Master Yan wiped away a tear. Shi Ting had already stepped forward to bow respectfully. “Greetings, Father-in-law.”

Master Yan quickly clasped his arm and laughed. “We are all family now — no need for such formality. Come, come, let’s go inside.”

Aside from Master Yan, who had been prepared, the rest of the Yan household stared at Yan Qing in undisguised astonishment.

Sixth Miss Yan’s wheelchair was gone. In its place were her own two legs. Her steps were not swift, but they were steady and sure.

And Shi Ting never once left her side — whenever she stepped over a threshold, he was there with an outstretched hand.

Master Yan had arranged a banquet in Nianlou Hall. In his joy, he shared quite a few cups of wine with his new son-in-law, and in the end, unable to hold his drink, he excused himself early.

In his place, Yan Qing’s eldest brother, Yan Qi, continued to host Shi Ting.

Shi Ting appeared to be in fine spirits. He traded toasts freely with the Yan brothers, carrying himself without the slightest air of superiority.

When the banquet finally concluded, Shi Ting had also drunk a considerable amount and went ahead to Yan Qing’s courtyard to rest.

Er Yitai was currently managing the inner household and had no shortage of matters to attend to. As for Yan Ling, she had been released after Yan Qing’s wedding and had been following Er Yitai to learn the ways of household management — behaving herself, for the most part.

“Yan Ling, the kitchen has prepared a sobering soup. Have someone bring it to the Sixth Miss’s courtyard — I noticed the Sixth Young Master-in-law drank quite a bit.” Er Yitai directed the servants clearing the banquet tables while issuing orders to Yan Ling. “Also, have some sent to the Master’s quarters and to the other courtyards as well.”

Yan Ling acknowledged the instruction and headed to the kitchen with her maid.

The kitchen had prepared a generous amount of sobering soup. Yan Ling had the maid portion it into small bowls and dispatched people to deliver them to each courtyard.

“For Sixth Sister’s portion — I’ll take it myself.” Yan Ling volunteered for the task.

Since the rift had formed between her and Yan Qing, the two had not had a single private conversation. Er Yitai had been urging her repeatedly to mend their relationship. Yan Ling thought to seize this opportunity to repair the bond between them — after all, her own marriage prospects still depended on Yan Qing putting in a good word for her among those prominent households.

When Yan Ling arrived at Yan Qing’s courtyard, she found no one at the gate. She pushed the door open and walked in, but there was still no one to greet her.

“Is the Sixth Miss perhaps at the First Madam’s quarters?” her maid Zhi’er murmured softly. “I heard the First Madam wanted to speak with her about a few matters.”

Yan Ling lowered her gaze, her thoughts unreadable.

“Miss,” Zhi’er said softly, “since the Sixth Miss isn’t here, shouldn’t we head back?” The courtyard was so quiet — almost unnervingly so.

“We came to deliver the sobering soup, didn’t we? We can leave after dropping it off.” Yan Ling stepped forward and pushed open the door to Yan Qing’s room. Yan Qing was, indeed, not inside.

But on the bed lay a figure — a man dressed in black, with a lean and well-built frame. His face was turned slightly to one side, revealing a profile of deep, sculpted features.

Yan Ling had seen Shi Ting a handful of times before, but being this close, with just the two of them present — that was a first.

She had once envied Yan Qin for her marriage. The moment Yan Qin wed into the Shi Family, she became the Second Young Mistress. When Shi Guang eventually inherited the Marshal’s position, she would be the Marshal’s wife.

She had always thought only Yan Qin was the fortunate one — yet here was Yan Qing, also born of a concubine, who had managed to marry equally well. The two of them were both concubine-born daughters, and Yan Qing had even been crippled. Even if she had leveraged Master Yan’s affections to secure a respectable match, it should never have been a household like the Shi Family — and certainly never a man like Shi Ting.

Yet this man — with his distinguished background and lineage — showed Yan Qing a tenderness and attentiveness that was impossible to conceal. From the moment he had stepped through the door today, his gaze had scarcely left her. The open indulgence in his eyes was something that could not be disguised.

As for what kind of man she herself would marry, Yan Ling cared little. What she cared about was power and wealth. She had no intention of being looked down upon by her sisters someday.

Zhi’er noticed that Yan Ling had gone still, her eyes fixed unblinking on Shi Ting as he slept, and felt a creeping unease.

Last time, she had helped Yan Ling steal the scarf, and they had both been punished with confinement to the Southern Courtyard. The memory of those tedious days of fasting and chanting sutras still gave her chills — she had no desire to be locked up in there again.

“Miss.” Zhi’er lowered her voice. “Let’s go. The Sixth Miss will be back soon.”

Yan Ling did not move. She kept her gaze fixed on Shi Ting, still deep in sleep, and the expression in her eyes gradually darkened.

“Zhi’er, go outside.”

“What?” Zhi’er was stunned. “Miss, what are you going to do?”

“Whatever I do — just make sure you shout as loudly as you can and draw as many people here as possible.”

Zhi’er had a rough idea of what Yan Ling was thinking, and a shudder ran through her. “Miss…”

“Enough. I know what I’m doing. Go outside now.”

Zhi’er pressed her lips together. She knew Yan Ling was taking a reckless gamble, but she was only a maid — she had no power to stop her. With resignation, she turned and stepped out.

Yan Ling drew a slow, deep breath and began walking toward the bed.

Meanwhile, in the First Madam’s chamber, the First Madam was sipping her tea at a leisurely pace. “Now that you are a Shi Family daughter-in-law, you and your Fifth Sister must look out for each other. No matter where life takes you, always remember — you are sisters, and family.”

Yan Qing inclined her head slightly. “The First Madam is right.”

“Your Fifth Sister has a sharp temper, but she means no ill.”

Hearing this, Murong, standing behind Yan Qing, inwardly scoffed. If Yan Qin had no ill intent toward Yan Qing, then every villain in the world must be guilty of nothing more than good intentions gone wrong.

“Very well — I have said what needed to be said. Remember this: in the Shi Family, you represent the Yan Family’s reputation. You and Yan Qin are bound together. If one falls, the other falls with her. If one rises, the other rises too.”

“I understand.” Yan Qing’s manner of lowered eyes and quiet deference gave the First Madam no opening for fault. This had been little more than a formality from the start, and now that it was done, the First Madam had lost interest. She waved a dismissive hand. “All right, you may go.”

After Yan Qing left the First Madam’s quarters, Murong spat under her breath, “All talk and no substance. Why doesn’t she discipline her own daughter instead — tell her to stop stirring up trouble?”

Yan Qing smiled. “It was nothing but going through the motions. Whatever she said, I didn’t hold a single word of it to heart.”

The mistress and her attendant exchanged an amused glance and walked back toward their own courtyard.

—