When the full-month celebration arrived, Yun Shuyao saw her colleague whom she hadn’t seen for a long time and couldn’t help but furrow her brow.

Since Concubine Mei’s morning sickness began, Yun Shuyao hadn’t seen her, who had been confined to bed rest. Her physical condition… was truly not good.

The makeup on her face was thick, making her complexion appear decent, but from her unsteady steps and breathing, as well as the maid constantly supporting her, one could tell her condition was poor.

In such circumstances, she still wore so many heavy pieces of jewelry on her head, adding to her burden. What was she thinking?

Did she really think she was made of iron?

Concubine Mei also saw Yun Shuyao at the same time. Looking at the healthy color on the other woman’s face, Concubine Mei couldn’t help but show a hostile gaze.

After her mother’s explanation, she knew switching the children was impossible, but this Concubine Yun was born to curse her!

She had barely stepped through the Lin residence’s doors before Yun Shi came too.

She had barely gotten pregnant before Yun Shi also conceived, and even surpassed her by carrying twins.

Not only had she painstakingly given birth to a daughter, she had also damaged her body and would need several years of recuperation before she could conceive again. But what about Yun Shi? Despite the great burden of twins, she not only gave birth to them safely but also bore the Lin residence’s eldest son!

If there were no Yun Shi, her child would be the Lin residence’s only bloodline.

But now, all this limelight had been stolen by Yun Shi!

How could Concubine Mei not see how many ladies and misses were observing Yun Shi, who had given birth to dragon-phoenix twins?

How could this not make her grind her teeth in hatred?

Yun Shuyao reminded her: “Concubine Mei, have your mother and the others arrived? Looking at the time, it should be about right.”

In a public setting, don’t display your emotions so openly and become a laughingstock. Some people are already watching the spectacle.

Only then did Concubine Mei withdraw her gaze and look toward the door.

Guests were divided by gender.

Male guests went to the outer courtyard, hosted by Lin Ruhai and the Lin family clan members whose relationship had thawed.

Female guests came to the inner courtyard, hosted by the Old Madam and Jia Min. The main hosting force was Jia Min. With the Old Madam’s status and position, there were few people in Xingtai Prefecture who required her personal attention.

Today the Mei family had also received an invitation. If nothing unexpected happened, those coming to the inner courtyard would be her legal mother, eldest sister-in-law, and her mother.

As a result, she also saw her sixth younger sister, the legal mother’s only daughter, thirteen years old this year. She was currently of marriageable age, precisely the time to seek a husband’s family.

Concubine Mei: “…”

She snorted coldly through her nose. She was taking advantage!

Then Concubine Mei saw her mother’s meaningful glance and lowered her eyelids.

Fine, fine. She knew what to do. She wouldn’t do anything to this legitimate younger sister.

At this moment, Yun Shuyao also looked over… There was a very intense gaze. Whose was it?

When she looked over, the owner of that gaze had already withdrawn. Yun Shuyao could only confirm it came from the direction of the Mei family.

The observational intent was very strong. The Mei family—what did they want to do?

Yun Shuyao made a mental note of it.

Then, led by Nanny Wang, she began receiving guests.

She and Concubine Mei weren’t without tasks. Some officials on assignment didn’t have their legal wives by their sides but rather with their parents, so only concubines could call. These fell under their responsibility to receive.

The Prefectural Magistrate’s household didn’t hold many banquets. Occasionally they held small ones, but this time was a grand banquet, very formal.

Which meant everyone wore Manchu-style clothing.

Jia Min usually wore Han-style clothing, but today she wore a bright red Manchu dress that made her complexion look vibrant. If someone didn’t know better, seeing her outfit, they might think it was her child’s full-month celebration.

Though speaking of which, this wasn’t wrong either.

She was the legal mother, the only person the children could call mother.

Yun Shuyao spent most of her time with her colleague.

So she also saw that when a young woman of similar age entered following an elder, her colleague clearly raised her head and charged over with an aggressive air, giving Yun Shuyao a phantom vision of a rooster with raised red comb ready to fight upon seeing an invader.

Yun Shuyao: “…”

What kind of mystical illusion was this?

She looked over. Those two people’s dress didn’t seem like official families. She looked questioningly at Nanny Wang.

Nanny Wang, the walking encyclopedia, glanced over: “That’s the wife of Scholar Zhou and her second daughter-in-law, Fang Shi.”

An unfamiliar name.

But looking at her colleague’s attitude, they were acquaintances, and acquaintances with grudges.

She wouldn’t do anything at this occasion, would she?

Clearly Nanny Wu had the same worry.

She was afraid of this Concubine Mei.

She followed closely by her side, determined to stop her promptly if any unexpected situation arose.

Because the guests who came exceeded imagination, with some uninvited guests who nevertheless couldn’t be driven away, Jia Min added more staff but still couldn’t manage. Yun Shuyao and Nanny Wang were also counted in by her.

For a time, she was too busy to pay further attention to Concubine Mei.

By the time the full-month celebration successfully concluded, even Yun Shuyao with her constitution felt tired. Concubine Mei couldn’t persist midway through, but it seemed her battle was won—when she left, though tired, her spirits were good. Looking at Jia Min again, she too relied on the nanny by her side for support to continue standing.

Tomorrow there would be another occasion—the twins’ full-month celebration.

Yun Shuyao: “…”

Exhausted.

Concubine Mei, returning to rest, didn’t feel good inside.

Although today she had vented her anger by seeing Fang Liu’s alternately pale and flushed face, she hadn’t gained much attention this day.

The most eye-catching was still the Madam.

Then there was Yun Shi, who was observed openly and covertly by people.

Only then came her.

The Madam was the legal wife, Yun Shi had a son, while she only had a daughter.

She still needed to give birth to a son.

Thinking of this, Concubine Mei looked at her own thin hands and resentfully pounded the bed board.

By the second day, Concubine Mei was even more upset.

Yesterday had been her daughter’s full-month celebration. Today was the dragon-phoenix twins’ full-month celebration, and the guests’ gift lists and popularity were all a level above yesterday’s.

There were quite a few people who had come specifically for the dragon-phoenix twins.

Even though Concubine Mei considered herself wealthy, looking at that long gift list, her eyes turned red.

The Old Madam had previously announced that all these would be registered and catalogued for the children.

Those two children would get double portions, more abundant than the dowry she had brought in!

Today Yun Shuyao was asked by many people if she had any secret formula. Yesterday they could still maintain their reserve, but today they couldn’t care about that.

A considerable portion of those asking were legal wives without sons.

They were only better off than Jia Min in that their husbands had illegitimate sons, so they didn’t bear the reputation of being jealous and childless.

Who didn’t want to give birth themselves?

Yun Shuyao could only smile bitterly. She truly had no secret formula.

However, some people requested the twins’ clothing. Under Nanny Wang’s guidance, Yun Shuyao agreed.

This was just like when Song Shi had given her the small clothes of her two younger brothers to place under her pillow—seeking good fortune.

Afterward, seeing that long gift list, she was also taken aback.

The Old Madam had already had people inventory and catalogue these items.

Things that could be stored long-term were sealed in boxes, moved to the storeroom for safekeeping. When the children grew older, they could manage their own assets.

Yun Shuyao also had a copy of this list for her records. After browsing through it, Yun Shuyao silently drew in a breath.

This was with Lin Ruhai deliberately spreading word not to give expensive gifts. If he hadn’t said that, how much could they have received?

No wonder there was a saying that a three-year clean prefectural magistrate could earn one hundred thousand taels of silver.

A clean magistrate could get one hundred thousand taels—needless to say what an unclean one could get.

What was the concept of one hundred thousand taels?

An ordinary household’s annual expenses were only a few taels, a dozen or so!

After the two full-month celebrations ended, the Old Madam directly announced that everyone who had been busy could rest for a day to recover their energy.

Only the necessary staff remained on duty.

Yun Shuyao was tired, but after a night’s sleep she recovered.

Actually, the physical fatigue was manageable. The social interactions, conversations, and remembering people at the banquet were what was most exhausting. After one banquet, even having done some preparation, Yun Shuyao still felt dizzy and disoriented.

Meanwhile, Jia Min and Concubine Mei, whose health wasn’t as good, directly reported illness. Doctor Zhou became busy.

Jia Min’s health was somewhat better—two prescriptions would do. Concubine Mei was troublesome. Doctor Zhou hadn’t recommended she attend in the first place, but Concubine Mei wouldn’t listen… Doctor Zhou only felt his generous compensation was well-earned.

He was truly busy.

The Lin household from top to bottom was exhausted, only the three children who understood nothing yet nestled in their swaddling clothes, sleeping soundly without a care.

The full-month celebration had ended, but a wave of searching for Master Zhiliao was rapidly spreading outward.

Lin Ruhai had been without sons for many years, and this time he got three children in one go. Who wouldn’t marvel at this when mentioning it?

Was he the only one with heir troubles?

Absolutely not.

They asked for secret formulas and were told there were none.

But many people had been paying attention since the Lin family’s Old Madam took concubines. After the full-month celebration, word spread rapidly.

Everyone knew there was a master named Zhiliao with real ability who could help people solve heir difficulties.

More and more people searched for his whereabouts.

Not only did his fame spread throughout Xingtai Prefecture, it was also spreading to wider areas.

But with so many people looking for him, still no one knew his whereabouts or location.

Precisely because of this, everyone’s trust in this master’s abilities deepened. An ordinary person would have been found long ago.

But where exactly was the master?

—

After the full-month celebration, not all the Lin family clan members who had come left—some remained.

Those who stayed were all outstanding young adults from within the Lin clan.

Some were still studying, preparing to take the imperial examinations. They came here hoping to occasionally receive Lin Ruhai’s guidance. Additionally, this counted as part of their educational travels, beneficial to their studies.

Some had already given up on the imperial examinations. They came out seeking prospects.

If they could obtain Lin Ruhai’s letter of recommendation, or be accepted by him as advisors or secretaries, that would also be a very good position.

When they came, Lin Ruhai had already given instructions to reserve separate courtyards for them in the outer courtyard, so even for long stays they wouldn’t need to change locations.

After a period of observation, finding no problems, for those already with families, Lin Ruhai suggested they could bring their wives and children over.

The Lin clan members, upon hearing this, naturally wouldn’t object.

Lin Ruhai was thinking that when his children grew up, they would only have maids and servants around them, with no friends for companionship.

And for the Lin family clan members, bringing their wives and children over meant their own wives and children could also cultivate relationships with the Prefectural Magistrate’s family members.

If they had any difficulties to speak of, they could also express them indirectly through their wives’ or children’s mouths.

Moreover, if their children could truly grow up together with the Prefectural Magistrate’s young masters and misses, it would greatly benefit their futures.

Lin Ruhai was already a fourth-rank prefectural magistrate now. What about in another ten or twenty years?

What position would he climb to?

—

After reporting, Jia She left the capital, first going to Jinling, the Jia family’s home base.

He was a hands-off manager. Upon arriving, miscellaneous matters were naturally handled by stewards and servants. He only needed to show his face at some occasions and have meals with clan members, and his task was complete.

This First-Class General wasn’t worth much in the capital, but Jinling was different. Especially since the two most successful branches of the Jia family were Ningguo Manor and Rongguo Manor, when he, the head of Rongguo Manor, came, there were plenty of clan members wanting to curry favor with him.

He quickly became so happy he forgot to return.

The women here were different from those in the capital. By the time Jia She departed northward after being urged repeatedly by the old nanny, he had two delicate and charming concubines by his side.

When going south he had taken a boat. Now to go to Xingtai Prefecture, he had to take a boat first, then switch to a carriage, with most of the time spent in the carriage.

Traveling by land made Jia She complain bitterly. Even his two sweethearts couldn’t improve his mood. He wished he could immediately turn back and return home, resolving inwardly that next time, no matter what the Old Madam said, he would never put himself through such hardship again!

When his party was almost at Xingtai Prefecture, a senior attendant went ahead to report in advance.

Jia Min was overjoyed. The entire Lin residence also spread the news.

The Madam’s maternal family was sending people—this was a major matter.

Jia Min had begun preparing from when she received word that her elder brother was returning. Now knowing he would arrive in one more day, she checked everything again.

Fully demonstrating her regard for him.

The Old Madam didn’t care for the Jia family, but she wouldn’t say anything either. She simply let Jia Min arrange things.

This was her biological elder brother. How to host him was up to her.

The only thing she did was to tighten and reinforce the fences around Meixiang Courtyard and Lanxin Courtyard once more.

Many Jia Manor servants would be coming with Jia She. When the time came, with many hands and miscellaneous people, she needed to prepare countermeasures in advance to avoid panic when the moment arrived.

“This humble one greets Aunt. The Grand Master has already entered the city.” A senior attendant came ahead to report.

Jia Min immediately had someone give him a red envelope and had someone take him to rest. She also needed to depart to greet him at the second gate.

She had been in Xingtai Prefecture for over a year now. This year-plus had been extraordinarily long.

Although the one coming now was her elder brother, not her second brother with whom she had better feelings, which made her somewhat regretful, she was still satisfied.

Lin Ruhai received word and also returned from the yamen.

This was his elder brother-in-law, the head of this generation of the Jia family. Having traveled thousands of miles to come, naturally he needed to show his regard.

Seeing both of them present, Jia She was also satisfied. He waved the fan in his hand and showed a toothy smile. “Little sister, brother-in-law, it’s been a long time. How have you been lately?”

His face showed heavy fatigue.

Jia Min noticed his exhaustion and immediately felt distressed. “Elder brother, please come in quickly. The journey was hard. Will you wash up first or eat something first? I’ve prepared everything for you, elder brother.”

“I’ll wash up first.” He had eaten some pastries and wasn’t hungry now. He just felt stiff all over and wanted to take a bath, then have a good sleep.

As for other matters, he glanced at his sister and brother-in-law. Mother was really overthinking things. Weren’t they just fine? She was just thinking too much.

Thinking of this, Jia She felt somewhat irritated.

Forget it, forget it. Since he’d already come, though brother-in-law’s place couldn’t compare to Jiangnan’s prosperity, it wasn’t bad either.

Moreover, he was the prefectural magistrate. In this territory, he was most familiar. Playing around here thoroughly wouldn’t be bad.

Upon entering, one should first pay respects to the elders—this was proper etiquette. However, Lin Ruhai said: “Mother knows elder brother is tired. She said tomorrow would be fine to meet. Elder brother should rest first.”

Hearing his brother-in-law say this, Jia She went with the flow to rest.

In fact, Lady Jia had never expected this eldest son to help with anything.

Nanny Shi, who had come last time with Manager Lai’s wife, was also among the traveling personnel this time.

The Grand Master went to wash up and sleep. She settled everyone in, then went to pay respects to their Fourth Aunt.

Incidentally delivering Lady Jia’s letter.

Jia Min had someone move a stool for Nanny Shi and impatiently opened the letter.

In Lady Jia’s letter, she said she had expended much effort inquiring about that Master Zhiliao but unfortunately found no trace. Jia Min also sighed about this, then saw good news.

Mother’s letter said a retired imperial physician was preparing to return to his hometown to retire. He would make a detour to Xingtai Prefecture, and Lady Jia had requested he examine her. She asked her to receive him well.

Following that, Lady Jia taught her daughter in the letter what was called checks and balances.

Now the two concubines below her had children by their sides and were riding high. The rear courtyard was either the east wind overpowering the west wind or the west wind overpowering the east wind. She herself didn’t need to personally compete with two concubines. She could elevate someone to let them fight while she sat comfortably in the viewing stands.

Reading this, Jia Min found it glaring.

What did Mother mean by this?

Did she want her to push forward maids from her own side to compete for favor?

She couldn’t do it.

Earlier she had been moved because Mother didn’t know what price and favors she had paid to get the retired imperial physician willing to make this trip. Now she was doused with cold water because of this passage.

Seeing this, Nanny Shi quickly spoke the prepared words: “Aunt, that’s naturally not pushing someone useful from your side. The Old Madam’s meaning is someone else. I’ve already brought her—specially trained, just a plaything, no need to take to heart.” Already drugged, with the indenture contract and leverage in hand, unable to make waves no matter what, most suitable to be pushed out as a blade.

Jia Min flatly refused: “Nanny, you needn’t say more. I won’t agree!”

Thinking that both elder and second brothers at home had concubines Mother had sent over, and both elder and second brothers had gladly accepted them, she softened her tone: “Nanny, my husband’s temperament is different. He doesn’t like these things.”

Nanny Shi didn’t believe it. Which man in the world didn’t stray?

Saying he didn’t was just that his standards were too high, with a gem before him, and he temporarily hadn’t seen fish that moved his heart.

However, she didn’t expose this verbally: “Aunt, the Old Madam’s meaning isn’t necessarily to do this. She’s just thinking of you, thinking ahead. The person has already been brought. How to arrange her is naturally for you to decide, Aunt.”

Keep the person first. As for the rest, they could discuss later.

Jia Min’s face showed a smile: “If that’s the case, then have her work at the needlework room.”

First confine her to the room for a while. After some time, find a household with sons to match her with, and that would be that.

Mother’s good intentions—she appreciated them.