Shi Ting held the person in his arms and said in a low voice, “Saving someone is one thing. Being jealous is another. When all is said and done, I did carry someone else, and your jealousy is perfectly warranted.”

“I am not that petty.” Yan Qing smiled.

“I love your pettiness. You can be even pettier.”

“Then would you not be in for a hard time?”

“I am willing.”

Yan Qing patted the face he had pressed close to hers. “All right. Put your clothes on.”

After Shi Ting changed, the two went to the front hall together.

By this time, what had happened in the rear courtyard of the Shi household had spread until everyone knew. Gossip has always been something people delight in, regardless of era.

The incident of the Qian family’s visiting young lady falling into the water was a minor matter. Shi Yutong’s affairs were what held everyone’s attention.

Yan Qing made a round of the hall and had already heard several different versions of events, the most widely circulated being that Shi Yutong, unable to bear the shock, had decided to go to Baiyun Nunnery and take her religious vows.

Yan Qing smiled with resigned amusement. With Shi Yutong’s temperament, a place like Baiyun Nunnery — let alone a month — even a single day would be enough to send her into a rage. But the Commander had made up his mind, and no one could change it.

Similarly, Qian Lan’s reputation among the upper-class families had only grown more resplendent. Everyone knew that Qian Lan had been thinking of Shi Yutong’s wellbeing all along — none of them knew that the person who had orchestrated everything behind the scenes was very likely this same virtuous and gracious First Madam they were all praising.

Amid all the commotion, Jing’er’s hundred-day banquet came to its conclusion. The guests departed with their gossip, while the Shi household was left to deal with a great deal of mess and debris.

Yan Qing had barely returned to her courtyard and had not yet changed out of her clothes when Xiang Xiu came hurrying over.

“Seventh Young Madam, the Second Madam is asking you to come to Guixiang Garden.”

Guixiang Garden was the small courtyard where Qian Lan had met with Madam Sun and the others earlier that day, and it was the finest guest courtyard in the Shi household.

“What has happened?” Yan Qing instinctively knit her brows.

“It is the young lady from the Qian household.”

Yan Qing had guessed it would be Yin Minghui. Even so, she remained composed. “What is the matter with her?”

“The young lady says she has taken a chill and is now so weak in her limbs that she cannot walk.”

“Has the physician come?”

“The physician came some time ago, and the medicine has already been prescribed.” Xiang Xiu said. “She drank the medicine and fell asleep. She only just woke up.”

“What is the Qian family’s position on the matter?”

“Madam Qian says that Miss Yin is not in a suitable condition to be moved right now, so she wishes to have her rest and recuperate in the Shi household for a few days before returning to the Qian family. Since the Madam is her great-aunt, having the Madam look after her puts Madam Qian’s heart at ease.” Xiang Xiu could not help letting out a quiet scoff. “Seventh Young Madam, when that young lady was pulled out of the water, she was fully conscious. After that, hot baths and ginger broth were poured into her one after another. Now that she has slept and woken up, she cannot even walk? Who would believe such a tale?”

“Did the Madam agree?”

“Naturally she agreed.” Xiang Xiu said. “So the Second Madam sent me to invite the Seventh Young Madam to come along and take a look.”

“I will go once I change. These clothes have absorbed all the smell from the banquet.”

Once Xiang Xiu had left, Jing Zhi and Murong came inside.

Jing Zhi had nothing but contempt for this Miss Yin. “I think she just wants an excuse to stay and not leave. She says she cannot walk — who would believe that?”

Murong agreed. “When I carried her to Guixiang Garden earlier, her spirits were perfectly lively. How has she become so delicate and frail after taking some medicine?”

“The drunkard’s heart lies not in the wine.” Yan Qing smiled. “Let us go and see what game she wishes to play.”

When Yan Qing arrived at Guixiang Garden, she found the room already filled with people. In addition to Madam Qian and Qian Lan, even the Old Madam was there.

The Old Madam had attended Jing’er’s hundred-day banquet today — which was rare for her — and now that the gathering had concluded, she had not hurried back to the south courtyard.

It was said that Madam Qian had gifted the Old Madam a jade-carved Buddha figure, crystal clear and magnificently beautiful. Madam Qian had also promised the Old Madam that in the coming spring, on a day chosen for good fortune, she would go to Qingshan Temple to have a golden form cast for the Buddha.

The Qian family understood precisely how to cater to people’s tastes, and they had the resources to do so. That jade Buddha figure alone was worth a thousand in gold and nearly impossible to find. No wonder the Old Madam was delighted.

At this moment, the Old Madam was wearing an expression of tender concern as she looked at Yin Minghui, who was sitting upright in bed against the pillows.

“Minghui is truly not fit to be moved right now. Let her stay in the Shi household to recuperate properly. If anything, this was our Shi household’s responsibility.” The Old Madam sighed. “Such a good child to have to suffer like this.”

Madam Qian dabbed at her eyes, her voice filled with maternal ache. “I watched Minghui grow up. Seeing her suffer like this tears at my heart. I do not know how to explain it to her mother. Just now, Minghui said she wants to find an opportunity to thank the Seventh Young Master in person.”

“Madam Qian is too kind. Time, effort, and resources — our Shi household should offer them all.”

“That is right, that is right.” The Old Madam waved her hand. “I can see this child is bright and charming, a delightful sort. Only I worry that our Shi household may be too quiet and dreary for her.”

“Minghui is a person who loves peace and quiet. She will not find it hard to adjust.” Madam Qian said. “Then we shall be much in your debt. If Minghui does anything improper, please do not hesitate to correct her, Old Madam.”

“There is no need to be so formal, dear.” The Old Madam smiled. “With a jewel like Qian Lan before her as an example, how could Minghui turn out poorly? I must say, your Qian family truly has blessed soil — your daughters are each finer than the last.”

Madam Qian knew this was the Old Madam being polite, so she smiled along. “The Old Madam is the one with true fortune. Every young master of the Shi household — who can speak of them without giving a thumbs-up? And this young little Eight, who has just passed his hundredth day — that face is already full of fortune. He is destined for great things.”

Madam Qian patted Qian Lan’s hand as she spoke. “Lan’er, you must press on. The Commander’s children are all exceptional people. If you can give birth to one of your own, that would be your fortune.”

Qian Lan lowered her head, smiling with bashful reticence.

When Yan Qing walked in, this was the harmonious and warm scene she was met with.

“Yan Qing is here.” Qian Lan rose to greet her. “I also need to thank Shi Ting today. If not for him, Minghui’s life could not have been saved.”

Madam Qian also quickly took Yan Qing’s hand, tears welling in her eyes. “My deepest gratitude to the Seventh Young Master for saving her life. We came in such haste today — another day, we will certainly come to thank him in person. And just now, Minghui was saying she wants to find a chance to thank the Seventh Young Master face to face.”

Yan Qing faced the pair’s heartfelt emotion with a composed and appropriate smile. “Shi Ting happened to be passing by at the time. It was no more than a small gesture. Anyone would have stepped in to help.”

Yan Qing’s words were courteous on the surface, but a perceptive person would hear the message beneath: she did not take their gratitude particularly to heart; Shi Ting had simply been there by coincidence, and even if he had not been passing through, someone else would have saved her. A personal visit to express thanks was truly unnecessary.

“I have brought some medicines for warding off cold.” Yan Qing quietly withdrew her hand, and Jing Zhi behind her immediately presented a wooden box to Madam Qian. “They are merely some tonic medicines. If Madam Qian does not mind, please give them to Miss Yin to try.”

“Then we thank the Seventh Young Madam.” Madam Qian smiled and accepted the box, handing it to a maidservant at the side.

“How is Miss Yin feeling at present?” Yan Qing saw that Yin Minghui was half-reclining against the pillows, affecting an air of fragility.

She was not bad-looking, and in this delicate, ailing manner she had taken on a certain soft, helpless beauty. If a man were to see her like this, he would likely be moved to pity.

“Thank you for your concern, Seventh Young Madam.” Yin Minghui gave Yan Qing a faint smile. “My hands and feet are weak, my body is still cold, and my head feels heavy and dull.”

“In that case, Miss Yin should rest well and recuperate. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to speak up.”

“Thank you, Seventh Young Madam.” Yin Minghui lowered her head slightly, and two patches of pink crept up her cheeks. “I wonder if the Seventh Young Master is at home. I would like to thank him in person for saving my life.”

Yan Qing saw Yin Minghui’s coy and seemingly reluctant manner, and inwardly let out a quiet scoff. What she had in mind was plain enough for everyone in the room to see, if their eyes were clear.

“Miss Yin is too kind. I had in fact intended to bring Xingzhi along to come and see you, but he said that the rear courtyard is full of female family members and that it would not be proper for him, as a man, to enter. Moreover, saving Miss Yin was simply what any person would do. Given the connection between the Shi and Qian families, Miss Yin need not stand on such ceremony. Miss Yin’s hands and feet are presently too weak for her to walk about. This gesture of gratitude — I will accept it on Xingzhi’s behalf.”

Yan Qing’s words were neither humble nor overbearing. They made Shi Ting’s position clear and, at the same time, gently declined Yin Minghui.

Yin Minghui heard this, and her expression turned somewhat unpleasant. Yet she still managed to press a faint smile of frailty to her lips. “The kindness of a lifesaving rescue is a grace unlike any ordinary debt of gratitude. Such a personal word of thanks must still be said face to face. The Seventh Young Madam is not the Seventh Young Master himself. Accepting gratitude on his behalf — would that not be improper?”

“What is improper about it?” Luo Huaimeng had just stepped through the door, her fine brows drawing together slightly. “Yan Qing is Xingzhi’s wife, wedded to him through proper rites and ceremony. When she goes out, she represents Xingzhi. If Miss Yin says she is not fit for this purpose, then who would be? What about me, his mother?”

Yin Minghui had not anticipated that Luo Huaimeng would speak up for Yan Qing the moment she walked in. In her understanding, the relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was always like fire and water. Yet this Luo Huaimeng stood on Yan Qing’s side at every turn.

She could not help but look at Yan Qing more carefully. She saw a face like a new moon, eyes like clear deep water, a faint smile that revealed not a single emotion beneath.

“The Second Madam is here.” Madam Qian rose swiftly, full of warmth. “The Second Madam has truly given birth to a fine son. The Seventh Young Master has both talent and looks — a true man among men.”

Luo Huaimeng smiled lightly. “Madam Qian flatters him. It is Madam Qian who has given birth to a fine daughter.”

“Not at all, not at all.”

At this point the Old Madam spoke up. “There is no need for everyone to keep standing. Sit and talk.”

Once everyone had settled, Yin Minghui used her all-over weakness as an excuse to lie down again, evidently not wishing to speak further.

Seeing her exhausted appearance, Qian Lan thoughtfully suggested, “Minghui is tired. Let us not disturb her any further. Let her rest well.”

The Old Madam said, “Look at me — so caught up in conversation that I forgot she is an invalid.”

“I heard that the Old Madam has collected a number of rare and precious sutras. I wonder whether we might have the honor of feasting our eyes upon them.” Madam Qian helped the Old Madam to her feet.

“Then come to my south courtyard.” The Old Madam was especially delighted whenever someone brought up her collection of Buddhist sutras — it pleased her even more than a direct compliment.

The whole party swept off noisily to the south courtyard. Yan Qing had no particular interest in Buddhist sutras, and found an excuse to return to her own Tiao Lan Garden.

When she got back, she saw Shi Ting feeding Er Dan and Jian Guo.

“Er Dan, come here.” Yan Qing gave a little huff and called Er Dan to her side.