Every time Shi Ting returned home, he had to pass through the moon arch gate of the second courtyard — a gate that led only to his Shao Lan Yuan. Aside from those who lived in his courtyard, few others ever came and went through it.

Shi Ting had just stepped over the threshold when he spotted someone dolled up and walking toward him.

“Seventh Young Master, what a coincidence.” Yin Minghui stepped forward, her voice coy and bashful. “To think I’d run into you here.”

Shi Ting: ……

He was returning to his own courtyard — of course he had to take this path. He couldn’t see what was coincidental about it at all.

Still, in a single moment, several thoughts flickered through his mind.

His return time varied each day, yet Yin Minghui had managed to appear at precisely this moment. It was likely Yan Qing’s doing. Thinking of her and her earlier plan, he understood at once what was going on.

He gave a polite nod. “Miss Yin.”

“Seventh Young Master, I’ve been staying at the Shi Mansion for several days now, and I’m sure there are still many lovely spots I haven’t seen. I wonder if you might have time to show me around?”

Facing Miss Yin, Shi Ting found himself momentarily at a loss for words.

But thinking of Yan Qing’s instructions, he swallowed the complaint rising inside him and said nothing.

“Where would Miss Yin like to go?”

Seeing that Shi Ting hadn’t outright refused, Yin Minghui’s heart bloomed with joy — though she forced herself to appear calm and demure. “I’m not familiar with the Shi Mansion at all. Where does Seventh Young Master think the scenery is finest?”

“There happen to be beautiful sunset clouds tonight,” Shi Ting said. “Behind the mansion there’s a hillside — from the top, you can see a magnificent sunset over the Liao He.”

“Oh wonderful, wonderful!” Yin Minghui exclaimed happily. “Then let’s go watch the sunset!”

“This way.”

Shi Ting turned and walked back through the moon arch gate, with Yin Minghui cheerfully following behind. She shot a glance at her maidservant Xue Tao, who took the hint and pretended to fall behind, gradually disappearing from sight entirely.

Shi Ting said nothing throughout the walk, while Yin Minghui kept up a stream of curious questions.

“Seventh Young Master, what do you enjoy in your spare time? Do you have any particular hobbies?”

“Nothing in particular.”

“You’re so busy — even if you had hobbies, you’d have no time for them,” Yin Minghui said with a shy smile. “Men should focus on great ambitions. That’s perfectly natural.”

Shi Ting said nothing.

“Seventh Young Master, there really are sunset clouds here!” Yin Minghui cried out in delight. “How beautiful.”

She rushed forward eagerly — whether or not she actually tripped on a stone in her path was unclear, but suddenly she stumbled and pitched forward.

Shi Ting reached out a hand, then stopped just short of catching the hem of her sleeve, and waited until Yin Minghui tumbled to the ground before saying apologetically, “I’m sorry — I couldn’t catch you in time. Are you all right?”

Yin Minghui had calculated the timing and distance perfectly. She had assumed that a man of Shi Ting’s agility would surely catch her, and she could then take the opportunity to fall into his arms — all of it unfolding naturally and inevitably.

What she hadn’t anticipated was that Shi Ting wouldn’t catch her at all. Her scheme to throw herself into his arms had failed, and instead she’d planted her face in the dirt in front of the very man she fancied.

The embarrassment Yin Minghui felt at that moment was beyond words. Without waiting for Shi Ting to help her up, she scrambled to her feet on her own — she couldn’t bear to let herself appear so disheveled for even a second longer.

“Are you all right?” Shi Ting asked as a formality.

“Fine, fine — the sunset was so beautiful I wasn’t watching where I was going. How embarrassing.” Yin Minghui said, her face flushed. “Let’s keep moving.”

Although there were sunset clouds, the sky darkened before long. Yin Minghui had barely watched for a few minutes before the horizon was already pitch black.

But to Yin Minghui, those few minutes were enough to send her heart soaring.

On the way back, Yin Minghui couldn’t help asking, “Seventh Young Master, what do you like to eat?”

“I’m not particular about food.”

“I’ve made a few kinds of pastries,” Yin Minghui said. “If Seventh Young Master doesn’t mind, I’ll send some over tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Miss Yin.”

Seeing that Shi Ting hadn’t refused, Yin Minghui was elated.

They walked all the way back to the moon arch gate outside Shao Lan Yuan, where Yin Minghui said reluctantly, “Then I’ll bring the pastries tomorrow.”

“Please take care of yourself, Miss Yin.” He glanced at Xue Tao, who had appeared at Yin Minghui’s side at some point. “Look after your young mistress.”

Xue Tao quickly responded, “Yes, Seventh Young Master. Please don’t worry.”

Yin Minghui returned to her courtyard and spun around the yard in delight.

“Xue Tao, did you see? Seventh Young Master must have feelings for me too — otherwise, why would he walk with me to watch the sunset?”

Xue Tao laughed. “Miss is so lovely — there’s no reason Seventh Young Master wouldn’t be taken with you. Besides, I’ve heard that Seventh Young Master has been married for half a year now. No matter how beautiful the Seventh Young Mistress is, he must be growing tired of her by now. With a beauty like Miss suddenly appearing before him, how could he not be moved?”

Xue Tao’s words boosted Yin Minghui’s confidence considerably. “You make a fair point. As long as he hasn’t been avoiding me, it means he’s interested. Men always grow weary of looking at the same woman after a long time.”

“Miss.” Xue Tao recalled what Jin Shan had said to her that day, and offered a gentle reminder: “Seventh Young Master is already married, and Miss is still an unmarried young lady. Even if Miss has feelings for him, you shouldn’t make it too obvious — otherwise, if gossip starts, it would do your reputation no good whatsoever.”

Lost in her blissful reverie, Yin Minghui’s smile dimmed a little at Xue Tao’s words. “You’re right.”

“Miss is, after all, a daughter of the Qian Family. Surely Miss knows what a reputation the First Madam has in the Shi Mansion? She is known for her virtuous and gentle character, beloved by all. As First Madam’s niece, Miss ought to follow her example — to be kind and considerate to everyone — rather than be spoken of as a woman of loose conduct who actively pursues men.”

Yin Minghui couldn’t help but blush at that, for wasn’t the woman Xue Tao described none other than herself?

“Xue Tao, what do you think I should do?”

“Make a show of virtue while advancing in secret,” Xue Tao replied, repeating Jin Shan’s advice word for word. “Miss can spend time with Seventh Young Master, but not openly — not in a way that’s common knowledge to all. Once Seventh Young Master is thoroughly captivated by Miss, even without Miss saying a word, he will go to the First Madam himself and ask to take you as his wife.”

“You’re right.” Yin Minghui felt she had been too forward. If she kept taking the initiative, she would end up with a bad name.

Xue Tao inwardly gloated — this had all been Jin Shan’s idea, but she had claimed it entirely as her own. Miss would only feel more grateful and trusting toward her, and in the future, the money would flow into her pocket like water.

The next day, Yin Minghui came to Qian Lan’s Zhuo Xin Yuan for tea. As Qian Lan had nothing to do, she had someone summon Er Yitai and San Yitai for a chat.

After Shi Yutong had been sent to Baiyun Convent, San Yitai had been in a daze for quite some time. But she knew she couldn’t give up — if she surrendered now, Shi Yutong would never come back.

So San Yitai had made a complete about-face. Not only had she stopped giving Qian Lan cold looks and attitude, but she now sought her out daily for conversation, and addressed her constantly as “Madam” with every other breath.

Only by flattering Qian Lan could Shi Yutong return from Baiyun Convent sooner. Qian Lan’s word now carried more weight than even the Marshal’s. No matter how much resentment Du Linghua nursed inside, she had to face that reality.

“Minghui is here.” Qian Lan smiled and beckoned at the sight of her niece. “Are you feeling better today?”

“Thank you for your concern, Auntie — much better.” Yin Minghui greeted Er Yitai and San Yitai, then settled obediently at Qian Lan’s side.

Er Yitai thought to herself: this Miss Yin had merely fallen into the water — barely swallowed a mouthful — and yet she’d been lingering in the Shi household ever since.

But the Shi household did offer reasons worth her effort. The family had two sons: Shi Guang’s inner chambers had an opening, and although Shi Ting was married, it was perfectly ordinary for a man to take multiple wives and concubines.

Yin Minghui wanted to place her bets on one of these two men and secure a good future for herself. After all, she was only Qian Lan’s niece — not a daughter of the Qian Family in her own right.

“You’re looking quite well — has something good happened?” Qian Lan asked with a smile.

Yin Minghui immediately put on a bashful expression. “Auntie loves to tease. What good thing could have happened to me? I’m under your eye every day.”

Qian Lan turned to Luo Huaimeng and said, “Girls grow up and can’t hide what’s in their hearts. Look at that expression — it’s clearly written all over her face that something wonderful has happened.”

Luo Huaimeng smiled but said nothing. It was Du Linghua, sitting to one side, who spoke up: “Could it be that Miss Yin has found someone she fancies?”

Yin Minghui pouted. “San Yitai, please don’t tease me — there’s nothing like that.”

Du Linghua laughed. “If Miss Yin has found someone she likes, simply tell the First Madam — whether it’s the First Madam or the Old Madam, they would both make the decision for you.”

Thinking of Xue Tao’s advice, Yin Minghui knew she had to maintain the reserve befitting a young lady of good family. Even if she wished to marry Shi Ting, she had to let him speak first — she couldn’t keep throwing herself at him. Doing so would not only fail to earn her future husband’s respect, but would make her a laughingstock.

So Yin Minghui smiled shyly. “San Yitai, please don’t joke with me. I’ve only been staying at the Shi Mansion to recover from my illness — I barely go out. What good news could there possibly be?”

Both San Yitai and Er Yitai were sharp-eyed women. Seeing Yin Minghui’s expression, they had already guessed most of the truth — but since she wouldn’t say it outright, they wouldn’t press her.

The group had been talking for a while when Xue Tao appeared at the door and gave a soft cough — a clear signal that she had something to tell Yin Minghui.

Yin Minghui saw it at once and rose to her feet. “Auntie, Er Yitai, San Yitai — I’ll step out for a moment.”

Qian Lan patted her arm. “Go ahead.”

Watching Yin Minghui leave, Qian Lan turned to Luo Huaimeng and Du Linghua and said, “A grown girl is hard to keep at home. This child must have someone she fancies — always sneaking about so mysteriously.”

Though not old in years, Qian Lan had already mastered the role of Madam of the Shi household with complete authority. In others’ eyes, her youth in no way diminished the respect she commanded.

Du Linghua said, “If she truly does have someone in mind, she’ll need the Madam to act as matchmaker. The way you dote on this niece of yours — even we can’t help but envy her.”

Luo Huaimeng quietly sipped her tea without a word.

What Yin Minghui was plotting — Du Linghua might not know, but she saw it with perfect clarity.

—