Fourth Madam had no idea that the young couple Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo had argued over her troubles.

After the guests left, Fourth Madam looked at the five bright red candied hawthorn skewers on the tray. Though she usually loved such treats, she had no appetite now.

“You can take them and share them,” Fourth Madam sighed, forcing a smile as she spoke to her two dowry maids.

“Madam, this is the heir and the young madam’s filial gesture. Even if you don’t want to eat them yourself, you should take them over to ask Fourth Master’s opinion,” maid Di Cui advised.

The other maid, Ying Quan, frowned with reddened eyes: “Send what? Fourth Master is like a stone—madam has been trying to warm him for eight years without success. She just cried her heart out because of anger, and now you want her to seek more cold looks?”

Di Cui clenched her hands. Thinking of the sobbing sounds from the madam’s room, she wanted to cry too.

With the New Year approaching, the madam had sewn a robe for the Fourth Master stitch by stitch. Just now, when Madam went to have Fourth Master try it on, they tactfully waited outside. It was quiet inside, but suddenly there was the sound of something falling, followed immediately by Madam covering her face and running out. Once back in the rear courtyard, she burst into tears.

Both Di Cui and Ying Quan felt their mistress was wronged. Eight years—only they knew what kind of life the madam truly lived.

“Take them and share them.”

Fourth Madam smiled bitterly and returned to her room alone.

The next day, when Wei Rao came to pay respects to Duchess Ying, she encountered Fourth Madam there.

Despite Fourth Madam’s efforts to hide it, Wei Rao still noticed the avoidance in Fourth Madam’s eyes when they met.

Wei Rao was somewhat hesitant, too. After all, she and Fourth Madam weren’t very familiar—rashly inquiring might indeed earn Fourth Madam’s disdain. But what if Fourth Madam needed someone to help her?

If successful, Wei Rao would count it as a good deed. If not, at worst, she’d be scorned by Fourth Madam—hardly any real loss.

However, broad daylight wasn’t suitable for heart-to-heart talks. Evening with night’s cover would be better for conversation.

Soon it was New Year’s Eve. Every household would keep vigil that night, and grand households like Duke Ying Mansion arranged rich and interesting vigil activities. Lu Zhuo was pushed by his cousins to join a pot-throwing game, while Lu Changning and He Weiyu went laughing to watch the excitement. Though Duchess Ying encouraged Wei Rao to go too, Wei Rao put on a dignified appearance and stayed firmly beside the elders.

“Then let’s play cards,” Duchess Ying decided. With two hours until midnight, just drinking tea and talking would mean countless trips to the washroom.

Whenever there was a card game, He Shi inevitably participated. Wei Rao harbored a small scheme, absolutely refusing to join and insisting that Second Madam and Third Madam play instead.

Thus, Duchess Ying played with her three daughters-in-law while Wei Rao and Fourth Madam sat on either side of her.

“Does Fourth Aunt know how to play chess?” After watching two rounds, Wei Rao smiled and asked Fourth Madam.

Fourth Madam was slightly surprised, then worried whether her nephew’s wife was looking for an opportunity to ask why she had cried that day.

Duchess Ying answered for her with a smile: “She does. Your Fourth Aunt is quite skilled at chess. Go on—we’ll play cards while you two play chess. What’s the fun in just watching?”

Hearing this, Wei Rao respectfully obeyed and happily stood up.

Fourth Madam had no choice but to leave her seat as well.

“Fourth Aunt, let’s play chess in the pavilion. We’ll hang lanterns and enjoy the nighttime snow scenery—it will clear our minds,” Wei Rao intimately linked arms with Fourth Madam, smiling as she invited.

Fourth Madam was now certain Wei Rao had something to ask her.

The young lady probably meant well. After thinking it over, Fourth Madam agreed. If they must go, she’d find an excuse to deflect.

Having decided on the chess location, Wei Rao and Fourth Madam each brought their maids to the Duke’s mansion garden.

As their group walked along the corridor, Lu Zhuo, who was accompanying his cousins at pot-throwing, looked up and glanced toward the corridor’s end.

Since they’d decided to come out for chess, both Wei Rao and Fourth Madam wore thick fox fur cloaks. Heaven cooperated, too—there was no wind tonight.

The maids brought teapots over. While the mistresses drank hot tea and held hand warmers, the white snow outside the pavilion reflected the red lantern light, creating a uniquely serene beauty.

Halfway through the game, Wei Rao sighed wistfully.

Fourth Madam couldn’t help but ask with concern: “Does Raorao have some worry?”

Wei Rao bit her lip and looked toward the attending maids.

Fourth Madam then dismissed Di Cui, Bitao, and the others.

When the maids had withdrawn far enough, Wei Rao hesitated a moment, then carried her warm cushion to the beauty’s rest on the pavilion’s north side, gesturing for Fourth Madam to come over: “Fourth Aunt, let’s sit close together to talk.”

Fourth Madam smiled and came over with her cushion.

Wei Rao looked at her, then lowered her head with an embarrassed expression.

Fourth Madam said gently, “Raorao, speak freely if you have something to say. When you’re done, let’s return early. Playing chess outside on a winter night—only you would think of such a thing.”

Her tone was indulgent as she saw through her new nephew’s wife’s little scheme.

Now Wei Rao was truly embarrassed. She hugged Fourth Madam’s arm and rubbed against it gently, face lowered: “Fourth Aunt, don’t blame me—blame the heir if anyone. That day when we delivered candied hawthorn, Fourth Aunt’s eyes were red. Both the heir and I noticed. The heir was very worried about you and has been urging me to ask these past two days.”

At this point, Wei Rao raised her head, looking at Fourth Madam with sincere eyes: “Fourth Aunt, you were the first elder I met after marrying in. Though I call you Fourth Aunt, in my heart, I’d rather see you as a sister. If Fourth Aunt has any troubles, please tell me. Don’t keep them bottled up—accumulated melancholy can easily cause illness.”

Through recent observation, Wei Rao had already seen that apart from paying respects and playing cards, He Shi spent most of her time with He Weiyu, with little interaction between the sisters-in-law. Second Madam and Third Madam were busy managing the household and teaching their respective children, walking closer together with compatible conversation. Fourth Madam differed from He Shi and had little communication with the busy Second and Third Madams, making her the quietest and most solitary of the four sisters-in-law.

Though Fourth Madam had prepared to be questioned by her nephew’s wife, she hadn’t expected even her nephew to notice her distress that day.

Fourth Madam felt very awkward and lied: “I’m afraid you’ll laugh—I was careless walking, tripped and fell, hit my arm on a table corner, and cried from the pain.”

Wei Rao hardly believed this—being hurt would cause brief tears at most, not bloodshot eyes.

“Fourth Aunt, did you quarrel with Fourth Uncle?” Wei Rao quietly voiced her guess. The Lu family’s four sisters-in-law got along very harmoniously. What could make Fourth Madam cry would be either her natal family’s affairs or Fourth Master. Fourth Madam had been fine just days before, suddenly crying—it seemed more like a sudden marital dispute.

Fourth Madam wasn’t skilled at lying. When Wei Rao mentioned Fourth Master, her heart grew chaotic, and her gaze began to waver.

Wei Rao asked carefully: “What did Fourth Uncle do to anger you?”

Fourth Madam recalled the situation from two afternoons ago.

She had made Fourth Master a new robe and went to have him try it on. He remained cold as always but didn’t refuse.

Fourth Master sat motionlessly in his chair while Fourth Madam busily helped him dress. Fourth Master rarely cooperated willingly, but he actively stood up, leaning on his crutch, for her to check if the robe fit properly. Everything was fine—the robe fit well and Fourth Master seemed pleased. But just as she was helping Fourth Master remove the robe, he suddenly wanted to turn around. Turning too hastily, his crutch didn’t steady him properly, and he fell to the ground.

She rushed to help him up, but Fourth Master, lying on the floor, coldly told her to leave.

Fourth Madam had cried then, unable to distinguish whether it was from heartache for him or herself.

But how could she discuss her affairs with Fourth Master to her nephew’s wife?

“Fourth Master is fine. Don’t misunderstand, Raorao. I just carelessly tripped and fell,” Fourth Madam steadied her emotions and smiled at Wei Rao.

Wei Rao wanted to ask more, but Fourth Madam pulled Wei Rao to her feet, smiling: “Time to go. If the heir asks later, just say I was admiring snow when snowflakes got in my eyes and I rubbed them red—so the heir won’t laugh at his Fourth Aunt for being clumsy.”

Both reasons were pretenses. The more Fourth Madam acted this way, the harder it became for Wei Rao to let this matter go: “Fourth Aunt, I…”

Fourth Madam suddenly embraced Wei Rao, saying softly against Wei Rao’s shoulder: “That Raorao and the heir care so much about Fourth Aunt warms my heart. Don’t worry—Fourth Aunt is truly fine.”

Fourth Madam’s heart was bitter, a bitterness she couldn’t tell anyone. She couldn’t tell Wei Rao, but Wei Rao’s concern was like a bowl of warm tea on a winter night, warming her entire body comfortably.

When Wei Rao and Fourth Madam returned, Lu Zhuo and his cousins, plus Lu Changning and He Weiyu, were still playing pot-throwing. Duke Ying and Fourth Master were also in the courtyard watching—Duke Ying standing while Fourth Master sat in a wheelchair.

“Fourth Aunt, sister-in-law, come play too!” Lu Changning called with a smile.

Duke Ying glanced at his youngest daughter-in-law and eldest grandson’s wife, then went inside himself to avoid making the daughters-in-law feel awkward about playing.

Since the old master had yielded his position, Wei Rao linked arms with Fourth Madam and walked over.

“Push me inside,” Fourth Master also didn’t want his nephew’s wife to feel constrained because of him, looking at his wife.

Fourth Madam smiled and walked behind her husband, nodding to the younger generation and skillfully pushing Fourth Master inside.

Wei Rao’s gaze followed this couple throughout. What surprised her was that Fourth Madam seemed to have no intention of blaming or resenting Fourth Master at all. Fourth Master had merely said something briefly, yet Fourth Madam smiled as if he’d spoken sweet words, her eyes reflecting the lamplight, gentle and beautiful.

This left Wei Rao completely unable to guess the reason for Fourth Madam’s tears that day.

“Elder sister-in-law, Changning says you know martial arts. Are you also very skilled at pot-throwing?”

A young man suddenly tilted his head and approached Wei Rao’s side. When Wei Rao turned to look, it was the Third household’s Fourth Young Master Lu Ze, grinning mischievously.

Behind Lu Ze stood Lu Ya, Lu Cong, and Lu Che respectively. Lu Ya was steady, Lu Cong looked at Wei Rao curiously, and the youngest Lu Che had a red face, seemingly not daring to look at Wei Rao directly.

Was it because he had welcomed the bride in Lu Zhuo’s place and bowed in the hall holding a rooster with Wei Rao?

Wei Rao looked toward Lu Zhuo again.

Lu Zhuo wore his smiling mask, walking over to ask her gently: “Can you play? If so, join in.”

Wei Rao certainly could—pot-throwing tested eyesight and wrist strength, both of which Wei Rao possessed in full.

“How do we compete?” Wei Rao asked Lu Ze, who had first invited her.

Lu Ze scratched his head: “Elder brother, Changning, and Weiyu are one team. We four brothers are another team. If the elder sister-in-law is extremely skilled at pot-throwing, join our side, and we’ll move the fifth brother to the elder brother’s team. If the elder sister-in-law is just ordinarily skilled, team up directly with the elder brother’s group—four people on each side.”

Lu Che protested: “Why switch me? You’re not much better than I at throwing.”

Lu Ze: “Being stronger by even a point is still stronger. Shut up—you don’t get a say here.”

Lu Zhuo spoke up: “Enough. Let’s restart the scoring. I’ll team with your sister-in-law, you six form one team.”

Lu Changning objected: “You’re skilled, and sister-in-law is a master too. You two must be separated!”

Lu Zhuo asked Wei Rao: “What if you and I both use our left hands?”

Wei Rao smiled: “That works.”

The couple’s confidence stimulated several cousins. Lu Changning even rolled up her sleeves, looking determined to defeat her brother and sister-in-law.

The maids arranged the pot equipment. Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo stood before the left pot. Lu Zhuo held an arrow in his left hand, positioned himself, and threw gently—the short arrow entered the pot.

Lu Ya, positioned first on the other side, also hit the pot’s center.

Wei Rao’s turn came. She threw with a reverse grip, her movement crisp and decisive.

“Sister-in-law is amazing!” Lu Cong applauded.

Lu Zhuo looked over to see his four younger cousins and two younger female cousins all looking at Wei Rao admiringly.

When Lu Zhuo’s turn came again, he hit the left pot ear.

Wei Rao followed by hitting the right pot ear, with a hint of prideful refusal to fall behind Lu Zhuo.

With the couple’s abilities, except for Lu Ya, who felt confident continuing the competition, the others had already admitted defeat in their hearts.

Lu Cong suddenly stirred up trouble: “Why don’t elder brother and sister-in-law compete against each other?”