Shuangxi and Yingtao, standing behind Madam Shi, exchanged a glance upon hearing this.

They had always assumed that the Seventh Young Mistress was the quiet, unassuming sort who wouldn’t accomplish much. They never expected her to be one who bit without showing her teeth. From the moment she had walked in, Madam Shi had been cut off at every turn and had only managed to say a single word.

“Insolent wretch.” Madam Shi looked at the maid before her and delivered a kick.

The maid was sent stumbling sideways but continued to wail and beg for mercy. “First Madam, I am your person! You cannot send me off to the military!”

“Get out of here.” Shuangxi stepped forward at that moment and dealt the maid a sharp slap across the face. “Even now you dare to try to frame the Madam. Who gave you the gall? Someone come—drag her out of here.”

The words had barely fallen before two matrons entered from outside and hauled the maid away, one on each side.

Yan Qing watched this and could not help but show an expression of admiration. “First Madam is wise. Yan Qing will surely take First Madam as her model and apply herself diligently to learning the way of managing the household.”

Madam Shi looked at her obedient, well-behaved expression and felt fury explode inside her chest. But with the other party repeatedly calling her a model, she could hardly turn her nose up at her. That would truly disgrace the dignity of the principal wife.

“Enough. You may go.” Madam Shi had no desire to keep looking at Yan Qing. She feared she might lose control of her temper and make a scene, which would be the real blow to her standing as the proper wife.

After Yan Qing withdrew, the sound of a teacup shattering could be heard from inside the room. She could not help but curl the corner of her lips and shake her head with a quiet smile.

Judging by that maid’s behavior just now, she was undoubtedly one of First Madam’s people. Yet after all this commotion, First Madam not only dared not claim her but personally had to punish her. She could not even protect her own people. Those who did her bidding were bound to feel a chill in their hearts. Lose the loyalty of those around you, and you will find it hard to take even a single step.

As for the matter of Yan Qing disciplining the servants in the kitchen today—once word spread, those who still dared to circulate rumors would have to weigh the consequences carefully. After all, no one wanted to witness someone dissecting a sheep’s heart on the spot.

The kitchen had passages that connected to every inner courtyard, so this matter would soon be known throughout the entire mansion.

When Xiang Xiu told Luo Huaimeng about it, she was first startled, then relaxed.

“This is the kind of thing she would do.”

Xiang Xiu smiled. “Second Yitai was worried that the young mistress might be driven to conflict with Seventh Young Master over the rumors and tipped her off in advance, telling her not to take it to heart. Who would have thought that the young mistress would take it all the way and straightforwardly deal with those spreading the rumors? I doubt anyone will dare to gossip about the Seventh Young Mistress again.”

Luo Huaimeng sipped her tea. “Looking at her soft and frail appearance, her way of handling things is fiercer and more ruthless than anyone’s, leaving no way out.”

Madam Shi had hoped to exploit the situation to stir up trouble between Shi Ting and Yan Qing, with the scheming aim of turning the couple against each other. That plan had clearly come to nothing.

“What ordinary woman could subdue a man like Seventh Young Master? Not only can the Seventh Young Mistress help Seventh Young Master in his career, but with her here, he need not worry about turmoil in the inner courtyard. There’s a saying, isn’t there—a stable rear secures the victory at the front.”

Luo Huaimeng gave a helpless glance at Xiang Xiu, who was speaking without pause. “The way I see it, she’s given you some benefit, and now you speak up for her at every turn.”

Xiang Xiu giggled. “I am simply won over by the Seventh Young Mistress’s way of doing things, and I speak up for her willingly.”

“This is fine. First Madam has targeted us at every step, and it’s time she understood that the Shi Mansion is not a place where she can do as she pleases unchecked. Even with the Meng Family behind her, as long as the Marshal has not named a Young Marshal, she will have one more day’s worth of anxiety and fear.” Luo Huaimeng had once held great respect for Madam Shi, but after Madam Shi’s repeated efforts to entrap and make things difficult for Shi Ting, whatever affection had remained between them had long since worn away.

She would not remain blindly loyal to someone who had never regarded her as a person of consequence. The one she devoted all her effort and care to would always be only her son.

~

Shi Ting took the investigation report that Bai Jin handed him, read it carefully, and his eyes gradually darkened. “Don’t startle them yet. Let’s see what they’re capable of first.”

He picked up the name list beside him. “Huimura holds the position of Commerce Chairman for the Dik Kingdom’s operations in Xin Guo. He has the entire Dik Kingdom behind him. Nearly every warlord wants to win him over—he controls resources, technology, and the backing of the Dik Kingdom’s government seal.”

Though the Marshal was well aware of the Dik Kingdom people’s ambitions, he had no intention of selling his land or authority. He simply wanted to use the Dik Kingdom people to grow his own power, in preparation for the warlord conflicts to come. That was the main reason he was courting them now.

“If something were to happen to this Huimura on our territory, what do you think would happen?”

Bai Jin rubbed his nose. “It would likely enrage the entire Dik Kingdom. Forget discussing any cooperation—they would probably oppose us at every turn.”

“Huimura’s safety falls to me.” To be prudent, Shi Ting had to take personal charge of this.

“What about Qin Peipei?”

“Have someone watch her closely. She must not be left unwatched for even a moment.”

“Understood.”

Shi Ting glanced at his watch. “Where is she?”

“In the next room. Seventh Brother, don’t worry—someone is keeping an eye on her.”

Bai Jin suddenly thought of something and said with an air of mystery: “Seventh Brother, the mansion sent word today. There are rumors flying all over the Shi estate.”

“What rumors?”

“Everyone’s saying that Seventh Brother hasn’t been home at night, that you’ve been fooling around with some dance girl, and that your wife has fallen out of favor.”

“And then?”

In Shi Ting’s dark, composed eyes, Bai Jin caught a flicker of anxiety. He laughed to himself inwardly—so Seventh Brother could get nervous after all. He must be worried that his sister-in-law won’t speak to him.

“Then the young mistress got angry and shut herself in the courtyard, refusing to eat or drink, and saying she’d never let Seventh Brother through the door again.” Bai Jin shook his head with exaggerated regret. “But Seventh Brother, don’t worry—I’ll explain things to the young mistress when I get the chance.”

Shi Ting gave him a cool look. “Tell me the truth.”

Bai Jin knew he could not fool Shi Ting, so he obediently told him: “The young mistress gave those spreading rumors a good thrashing, and while she was at it, she took a swipe at First Madam too. Those people had the nerve to try that in front of her—they had no idea what they were in for. The young mistress is someone who can dissect a person with a scalpel and neatly sew them back up afterward.”

“You talk too much.” Shi Ting waved him away with distaste. “Get out.”

After Bai Jin was sent off, Shi Ting gazed out the window. The night had grown deep, and even this lively dance hall had begun to quiet. The night stretched long and unhurried, and a kind of longing crept up from the depths of his heart, slowly seeping into every limb. He suddenly recalled a line of verse: *Does she know how deep into my bones this longing has grown?*

He had never been the sort to cultivate refined literary tastes, and when such words surfaced in his mind, even he felt a little embarrassed. Yet in this moment, in this place, only that line could capture what he felt.

He missed her. Deeply, profoundly. And so he longed for the sun to rise quickly—and for night to fall again.

On the day of the ball, the Hegde Dance Hall was closed to the public. At the entrance stood members of the Military Police Division and the Guard Office, conducting thorough searches of every guest who arrived. No sharp instruments were permitted—not even a nail clipper was allowed through.

The Marshal’s guests that evening were all prominent figures in society, and security was naturally of the utmost importance.

“Welcome, welcome.” The Marshal was dressed in a blue Marshal’s uniform trimmed with gold fringe, while Madam Shi at his side wore a deep red cross-collared qipao with a strand of lustrous pearl necklace at her throat. Carefully dressed, Madam Shi looked nothing like a woman of fifty—more like a distinguished lady in her forties. The two of them together made quite a striking pair.

“Congratulations to the Marshal and the Madam on your blessed union.” The arriving guests brought carefully prepared gifts, which were inspected and then recorded and kept by designated staff.

The two concubines of the Shi household stood behind the Marshal. On an occasion such as this, they had no standing to appear at his side.

Yan Qing, Yan Qin, and the two young ladies of the Shi mansion stood together. They had nothing in particular to do—smiling was sufficient.

Yan Qing’s smile had grown stiff at the corners from holding it so long. Just as she was beginning to feel bored, she noticed someone stepping in through the main entrance. She looked—and her eyes lit up at once. That rigid smile instantly softened into something warm and genuine, a sweet smile rising from the depths of her heart.

The person who had entered was none other than Shi Ting. He wore a black Western suit that made his tall, lean figure appear even more distinguished.

Yan Qing rarely saw him dressed so formally, but she could not deny it—Director Shi looked extraordinary in whatever he wore.

She swallowed, somewhat smitten, then turned her attention to the man at Shi Ting’s side.

This man was not quite 170 centimeters tall and had a slightly balding head. Standing next to Shi Ting, he cut rather a diminished figure.

But Yan Qing quickly guessed that this man must be someone of considerable standing. Shi Ting was at his side solely to ensure his safety. Among those attending the ball today who would command Shi Ting’s personal escort, there was likely only one: the Dik Kingdom man called Huimura.

Speaking of Huimura—Yan Qing looked him over carefully. A spark suddenly flared in her mind. That spark, at first faint, collided with questions she had not been able to make sense of earlier, and suddenly several puzzling knots came undone all at once.

“Welcome, Mr. Huimura.” The Marshal brought Madam Shi forward to meet him. “Your presence here, Mr. Huimura, truly honors us.”

“Congratulations, Marshal Shi.” Huimura laughed amiably. His speech was smooth and fluent, with no trace of a foreign accent. “A small token of my regards.”

A large, powerfully built man followed at his side—evidently his bodyguard.

The Marshal had someone receive the gift the bodyguard presented, and offered his thanks.

“This way, please, Mr. Huimura.” The Marshal accompanied Huimura into the main hall. The venue was resplendently decorated, with a stage gleaming in gold and jade. Below it stood several round tables draped in deep red tablecloths—each table modest in size, seating no more than six. Every table was set with an assortment of fruits and pastries; the main meal had yet to begin.

The Marshal and Madam Shi sat at the head table. Huimura was seated beside them—receiving treatment befitting an honored guest.

After Huimura was seated, Shi Ting moved aside to speak with the security personnel stationed throughout the hall.

“Marshal, your people have a saying—like father, like son. Your son Shi Ting is truly a remarkable man. I like him very much.” Huimura smiled cheerfully. “I wonder, is he married?”

“My son was just wed this past May.” The Marshal smiled. “You are too kind, Mr. Huimura.”

“What a pity.” Huimura shook his head. “I have a daughter—clever and well-behaved. I had thought that if she could marry Director Shi, it would have been a fine thing. But since he is already married, I cannot be the one to disrupt another’s happiness.”

Madam Shi, upon hearing this, immediately smiled and said: “Mr. Huimura, you carry yourself with such presence—your daughter must be equally outstanding. If you have the time, Mr. Huimura, please do bring her for a visit to the Shi Mansion.”

—