As soon as Jia She entered through the front door, word spread throughout the entire Lin residence.

Yun Shuyao was in her Lanxin Courtyard making clothes. She had specifically asked Cui Chan for advice on how to make clothes that were both form-fitting and comfortable. She wanted to personally make undergarments for the two little babies.

From this, one could see her double standards.

What she prepared for the Old Madam and Lin Ruhai were small, convenient items like sachets, handkerchiefs, and headbands, but for these two that she had given birth to, she didn’t fear trouble at all and wanted to achieve perfection.

Yun Shuyao didn’t feel she was wrong.

Her own bloodline was naturally different.

In this era, she wasn’t an independent person in the eyes of the Old Madam and the others either—just an accessory. Did they have genuine feelings for her?

They were just mutual tools for each other.

As for Jia She, he was a man, and moreover an outside man. If he came, so be it. Anyway, it was impossible for him to propose meeting her.

A chance encounter?

Yun Shuyao decided that during this period, she wouldn’t go out unless necessary. She had no need to walk into trouble. Obviously, the other party came to back up Jia Min. If she jumped out at this time, and the other party happened to need someone to establish authority, wouldn’t that be asking for suffering?

Wasn’t it pleasant to stay in her own little courtyard?

As for going out to broaden her horizons and such, honestly, she really wasn’t that interested.

What were men like under this era’s feudal bureaucratic background?

Lin Ruhai was the rare type who kept himself pure, but this Jia She—the fact that he had two concubines in the carriage behind him had already spread.

She also gave instructions for people in Lanxin Courtyard to go out less.

Although the possibility was small, what if Jia She really took a fancy to someone and opened his mouth saying he wanted them to serve him? In this era that didn’t regard servants as human, what if Jia Min loosened up and agreed?

Of course, if a maid herself wanted to climb the social ladder, that was another matter. They might even think the opportunity had arrived.

Hong Tao, only eleven years old, didn’t have this worry.

She found an opportunity to take a look, then secretly came to share with Yun Shuyao.

“The Grand Uncle is far inferior to our Master.” It wasn’t that Hong Tao was deliberately biased—it was simply the truth.

Never mind other things, just speaking of appearance, the Grand Uncle’s eyes were puffy with dark circles underneath, his steps were unsteady, and although his clothes were luxurious, he couldn’t support that imposing air. The two of them walking together looked like they were a generation apart.

The servants of the Lin residence were accustomed to seeing someone like their Master. How could they think highly of the Grand Uncle?

She didn’t say it outright, but that was her meaning.

Hearing this, Yun Shuyao couldn’t help but smile. After laughing, she became serious and reminded Hong Tao, “Don’t say such things again. Disaster comes from the mouth.”

Hong Tao stuck out her tongue. “Mistress, I’m only telling you. I won’t tell anyone else! I’m not stupid!”

After speaking, she looked left and right—no one else was there. “Mistress, I’m going to do my work.”

“Wait, do you want date cakes? Take two pieces with you. Go on.”

Hong Tao left. Watching her bouncing departing figure, Yun Shuyao felt her skill at gathering information was getting better and better. It was also because Hong Tao had a baby face and wasn’t tall. When she went places, others treated her like a child with no wariness, and wouldn’t deliberately guard against her when discussing matters.

On the morning of the second day after Jia She arrived, he went to pay his respects to the Old Madam.

The Old Madam’s attitude couldn’t be faulted—neither warm nor cold, showing nothing inappropriate. She asked him to stay at the Lin residence longer—all common courteous words.

Jia She didn’t feel anything was wrong. After a good night’s sleep, his spirits were much improved.

Today his sister and brother-in-law had even arranged a banquet. He happily agreed.

After the meal, Jia Min sat down properly with her elder brother to have a good talk.

She asked about Mother, Second Brother, and the nephews and nieces.

Elder Brother had Lian’er under his knee, Second Brother had Zhu’er and Yuanchun. When Jia Min was still in the capital, she would regularly invite the slightly older Zhu’er and Yuanchun to visit the Lin residence, or return to her maternal home to see them.

Having no children of her own, she was very fond of these three nephews and nieces. Just looking at their innocent smiling faces could satisfy some of her regrets.

Jia She, who had been living in drunken oblivion in his own courtyard and couldn’t remember when he last saw his son: “…”

Facing Mother and Second Brother, he could still say a few words about their recent situations, but as for the younger generation, facing his sister’s questions about what they liked to eat and what books they had read, he hemmed and hawed for a while, then pointed to the steward to answer for him.

The steward answered these questions fluently—he knew the recent situations of all the masters in the household. But watching this elder brother, Jia Min felt a deep sense of powerlessness and didn’t even want to turn her head to see the expression on her husband’s face.

This emotion was less embarrassment than disappointment.

Originally, when Father’s title descended by hereditary succession, it should have been a marquis title.

If it weren’t for Elder Brother making that mistake…

After that, Elder Brother rarely went out anymore. He basically stayed in his courtyard, didn’t care about anything, didn’t even care about his legitimate son.

This inevitably made Jia Min hate that he didn’t strive for excellence.

Although he had offended a noble person and been taught a lesson, if Elder Brother were capable and achieved merit and established a career, the title could potentially be raised back.

Seeing him like this, while Lin Ruhai showed no abnormality on his face, he was also sighing inwardly about how unconcerned this elder brother-in-law was about his son.

Although his own children weren’t born of the legitimate wife, after not seeing them for a long time, he would miss them in his heart.

Elder brother-in-law was good—looking at him like this, who knew how long it had been since he’d cared.

Moreover, he had an older son before, but he died in an accident. Could it be that because the master didn’t pay attention, the people below followed suit, which led to that?

Lin Ruhai had no intention of deeply investigating his in-laws’ family affairs. He just clearly remembered his astonishment when he received news that Hu’er had died in an accident at their residence.

Lin Ruhai wouldn’t let guests feel awkward. When the topic reached a pause, he took the initiative to bring up antiques.

This was one of the few areas where Jia She could hold a conversation, and he immediately became eloquent.

As long as Lin Ruhai was willing, there would be no awkward silences when anyone conversed with him.

Moreover, although Jia She had many shortcomings, his accomplishments in antiques were genuine.

Watching the two of them chatting pleasantly, Jia Min’s helpless mood improved somewhat. Forget it, forget it. Mother had no solution for Elder Brother—what could she, as a younger sister, do? She only hoped her nephew wouldn’t learn from Elder Brother and become neither literary nor martial.

Afterward, Lin Ruhai took Jia She to the outer study. He had quite a few things there that interested Jia She.

Lin Ruhai’s antiques and implements kept Jia She from stepping outside the Lin family gates for three days.

If Jia She hadn’t still wanted to go out and look at other antiques, he wouldn’t have wanted to leave.

As for going to brothels, Jia She didn’t have that hobby.

It was true that he loved beautiful women.

But he rarely went to brothels, finding them unclean.

The women around him were either of maid background or women raised from childhood that others had given him.

When Jia She went out, he headed straight for the places his brother-in-law recommended and found quite a few good items.

Well-informed people, even if they hadn’t met him, knew his identity and naturally brought out good items for him to choose from.

After going out a few more times, when Jia She returned to the Lin residence, there were two delicate and charming new maids by his side.

The two he took in at his hometown, he gave the title of concubine, but these two—one sold herself to bury her father, one was given by a merchant—he gave no title, planning to just take them back as maids.

When Jia Min learned of this, she inquired about their backgrounds. After confirming they were clean, she didn’t interfere.

This wasn’t anything significant.

The one who sold herself to bury her father had some scheming, seeing clearly that Elder Brother would pass by before staging her act. Elder Brother’s courtyard really didn’t lack such a scheming person.

Jia She also saw his brother-in-law’s three little sprouts.

Before seeing them, he felt there was nothing worth seeing—all children looked the same. But once he actually saw them, he discovered they were worth a look after all.

His brother-in-law’s two daughters were truly peculiar. One was thin and small, one was round and plump. Placed together for comparison, it looked like they were mistreating the thin one.

Jia She was puzzled. “Is this child’s health not very good?”

Jia Min nodded. “There is some congenital deficiency, but she’ll be fine with care.”

Jia She said carelessly, “Then it’s nothing. For families like ours, we don’t lack that bit of medicine. Sister, you need to hurry up. Even if you give birth to a thin one, we can afford to raise it.”

Jia Min was speechless.

Elder Brother, is it that I don’t want to hurry up?

Jia Min’s heart was so tired.

Jia She couldn’t see the two concubines. Lady Jia hadn’t given him the task of probing.

The one bearing the important responsibility was Nanny Shi.

Because Concubine Mei’s health wasn’t good, and Concubine Yun’s side had twins, the Old Madam had previously said not to carry the children around before three months. Jia Min took advantage of this to say they would resume morning greetings after three months following the concubines’ childbirth.

In Nanny Shi’s view, this was too lenient toward the two concubines, but the words had already been said, and there was still a mother-in-law overhead, so she couldn’t take back her words. Never mind then.

Daily morning greetings were waived, but there were always other ways to contact the two concubines.

Nanny Shi quickly discovered a problem.

Concubine Mei was easy—they had “chance encounters” in the garden several times.

As for the other one, Concubine Yun, unless she entered Lanxin Courtyard herself, there was no other way to see her.

As for doing something to call the person out? Nanny Shi thought about it but couldn’t think of any good ideas. Too obvious, and that would somewhat violate her original intent.

Nanny Shi asked Nanny Qian: “Has she always been like this?”

Nanny Qian thought about it. “She hasn’t liked going out much since she entered the household.”

Nanny Shi felt it was reversed—the one who bore a son kept a low profile, while the one who bore a daughter walked with her head held high.

But a biting dog doesn’t bark. After just a few meetings, she could see through the shallow Concubine Mei completely, but this one was hard to say—who knew what big move she was holding back.

Nanny Shi exchanged views with Nanny Qian. Nanny Qian slapped her thigh vigorously. “I also think this one is scheming!” She turned to advise Jia Min: “My good Madam, you cannot be careless. She already has a son and is also calculating. If the calculating side surprises the unsuspecting side, one careless moment and you’ll suffer a great loss. You cannot be careless.”

This left Jia Min somewhat helpless. When Concubine Mei was ostentatious, they said she was arrogant. When Concubine Yun didn’t like coming out, they said she was deeply scheming.

So what kind would be a qualified concubine?

Nanny Shi answered without hesitation: “Of course one who lifts curtains and fans for you, Aunt, holds chopsticks and carries bowls, obeys every command—that would be good.”

Back then, the old Duke’s obedient concubines were like that. The Old Madam reciprocated their favors by letting them bear daughters. When the old Duke passed, she sent them to temples to pray for him, provided for their food and clothing, and gave them an outcome.

As for those who weren’t obedient, they were long gone.

How relaxed was the Old Madam’s life now?

This point, Aunt hadn’t learned the Old Madam’s skills.

Too soft.

Jia Min: “…”

Wasn’t that what maids should do? It wasn’t that she couldn’t do this—it was just that doing so would definitely leave her with a harsh reputation.

No need.

Nanny Qian sighed.

Nanny Shi also sighed, silently forming a plan in her heart. If the master didn’t care, the servants couldn’t not care. They had to think of a way to suppress the arrogance.

—

Yun Shuyao stayed in Lanxin Courtyard without going out. Concubine Mei was different.

With her physical condition, Doctor Zhou said maintaining appropriate daily exercise was necessary.

So every day she would take a turn around the garden.

Originally, most of the time only she was in the garden. Although the Madam would also come to the garden to stroll, Concubine Mei would deliberately stagger their times.

However, now Concubine Mei frequently saw Jia family servants here. With more people around, Concubine Mei’s interest also waned. She didn’t want to go out and be observed, nor did she want to cause any incidents with the Jia family people present. She wasn’t stupid.

She did want to see what Yun Shi’s reaction would be facing such observation, but… Speaking of which, Concubine Mei was depressed.

Before Mother returned to the Mei family, she told her that Yun Shi was a deeply hidden person, telling her to be careful in dealing with her, not to be impulsive. If Jia Min wanted to move against them, she should watch how Yun Shi handled it and learn from her.

She believed it.

But after observing for so long, Concubine Mei began to doubt.

How was Yun Shi deeply hidden?

She only saw her like a turtle retreating into its shell, motionless in Lanxin Courtyard.

Wasn’t she bored staying in that tiny piece of land?

If someone from Lanxin Courtyard were asked this question, they could very certainly say: Of course not bored!

Their mistress’s days were quite fulfilling—accompanying the Second Miss and Young Master in play, reading to them, and also making clothes for them, making sachets and handkerchiefs for the Old Madam and Master, studying with Nanny Wang…

Their mistress had recently become obsessed with painting. When the Master came, he would give some guidance. The two would chat and laugh, and the Master had even praised their mistress’s talent in painting.

In summary, their mistress had so many things to do—how could she be bored?

Concubine Mei couldn’t understand Yun Shuyao.

Speaking of which, Yun Shuyao also didn’t know what was going on with this colleague of hers.

Going to the garden for a stroll—that wasn’t anything. Even if Jia She came, continuing to go as usual wouldn’t be a problem either.

But what had she done?

She actually angered Lin Ruhai enough that he directly took away Eldest Miss Ying Yu along with her wet nurse and others, and moreover took her to… Bitao Courtyard?!

Hadn’t it been said that children of concubines wouldn’t be raised and given to Jia Min?

Yun Shuyao looked at Hong Xiu curiously.

Hong Xiu shook her head helplessly. “Mistress, no one knows the reason for this matter. They only say they saw the Master leave Meixiang Courtyard with anger. This was the Master’s order. If I hadn’t happened to see them pass by on the road, I wouldn’t know about this either.”

What exactly had her colleague done? Yun Shuyao wanted to know even more.

Speak of the devil and he appears.

Concubine Mei burst in wiping away tears—