While Li Gege was copying sutras, hoping to win back the Fourth Prince’s favor, Old Madam Tang fell ill.

At her age, falling ill was no small matter.

Because Chen Yu was currently in Yangzhou and not in the capital, Yun Shuyao went to the Tang family to visit. Otherwise, as the grandson-in-law who had already been betrothed, he should have gone to visit in person.

The Old Madam was also very anxious about this matter, mainly worried that if Old Madam Tang didn’t survive this illness, then this year’s wedding would face difficulties. Unless they married within the hundred-day period of intense mourning, otherwise the bride would need to observe mourning.

But marrying within the hundred days would inevitably involve suffering indignities.

The scale of the ceremony and the number of guests invited would all have to be reduced.

If such a situation could be avoided, it naturally should be. The Old Madam hoped that when her grandson married, everything would be smooth and splendid.

Yun Shuyao also didn’t want anything to happen to her.

She had dealt with Old Madam Tang several times—she was also someone who lived quite clear-sightedly.

The Tang family was also a household with deep foundations. They had already been officials in the previous dynasty, and in the new dynasty, they had also seized opportunities and continued on.

Currently, the highest-ranking official in the Tang family was Tang Wanxin’s second uncle, serving as a fourth-rank prefect in another region. So now in the capital were Old Madam Tang along with her third and fourth sons—the whole extended family living together.

Another thing worth mentioning was that this generation of the Tang family had no children born of concubines.

All of the Tang family’s young masters were personally born to Old Madam Tang.

The couples had very good feelings for each other. Moving to the next generation, there weren’t many children born of concubines either—only Tang Wanxin’s second uncle had one daughter born of a concubine.

Tang Wanxin’s courtyard was right next to Old Madam Tang’s. She was raised at her grandmother’s knee, and now that Old Madam Tang had fallen ill, she was the most heartbroken and anxious, having become quite haggard.

Tang Wanxin had a standard lady-style oval face—not the type that amazed people at first glance, but the longer you looked, the more beautiful you found her.

“I’m sorry to trouble Madam Yun to make this trip. Grandmother is not seriously ill.”

Yun Shuyao grasped Tang Wanxin’s hand. “What hardship is there in this short distance? What did the physician say?”

“The physician said Grandmother suffered from summer heat and caught a slight chill. The alternating hot and cold made her ill. Now that she’s taken medicine, she’s much better. In a few more days, she should recover completely.”

“That’s good then.”

For sick people, having visitors was actually quite troublesome, because when guests came, one couldn’t remain impolitely lying in bed wearing only inner garments, face unpowdered and looking haggard, could one?

To properly receive guests, one had to get up, wash, and change clothes. If many visitors came, going back and forth, the patient couldn’t even find time to rest.

That’s why some people, once ill, closed their doors and announced they were quietly recuperating—only then could they get sufficient rest.

When Yun Shuyao entered the room, she saw this situation. Old Madam Tang had already dressed up in advance. Except for her complexion being worse than usual, nothing else was too apparent.

After inquiring with concern about her health, both parties began chatting.

The biggest topic they could discuss was Chen Yu.

He was now in Yangzhou. Previously, he had sent letters and gifts from Yangzhou—the Lin family received some, and the Tang family did too.

Setting aside the letters, the gifts he sent weren’t worth much money but were quite rustic and interesting.

When Lin Daiyu received hers, she liked them very much. She selected her favorites and placed them on her desk, so she could see them when she looked up while reading or writing.

Yun Shuyao saw them here on a bamboo couch beside Old Madam Tang. Judging from the other items nearby, this should be where Tang Wanxin stayed close by to care for her grandmother as she slept, which is why some of her personal belongings were placed there.

Yun Shuyao smiled inwardly upon seeing this.

She also met Tang Wanxin’s younger brother. He was fourteen this year, still a young man, currently growing and thin as a bamboo pole, though his temperament didn’t quite match his age—he was rather composed.

Following proper etiquette, they met once, exchanged a few polite words, and then he left.

Madam Tian explained with a smile, “The teacher is in class. He must return to continue.”

Yun Shuyao naturally praised him, “He’s a diligent good child. Such children will succeed sooner or later. The First Madam has raised him well.”

Madam Tian was praised until her face glowed, and she looked at Yun Shuyao with growing warmth.

For her daughter’s major life event, she had spent countless nights unable to sleep. She had been thinking that if they still couldn’t find someone, she would select from her natal family’s side. But if there had been someone from her natal family’s side with suitable status and age, who hadn’t been betrothed or married yet, she wouldn’t have been so troubled before.

She was very satisfied with this marriage alliance with the Lin family, so naturally now she was all smiles.

“How could he compare to Chen Yu—a talented youth. In this autumn examination, he’ll certainly succeed in one attempt…”

When Yun Shuyao left through the Tang family’s main gate, her face carried a smile.

While sitting in the carriage on the way back, through the slightly lifted curtain, she saw a familiar person.

She immediately changed her destination. “Wait, don’t go back yet. I want to buy some things. Stop the carriage up ahead.”

The person she saw was none other than Wang Xifeng’s servant she had seen before. Again she was carrying things into the pawnshop.

This time she had changed her appearance—her face was darkened and large moles added—but a person’s height, build, and walking posture weren’t things that could be easily changed.

This time what she carried was a small item, unlike last time when three people were needed to carry things in. Today she was holding a wooden box that reached her knees, carrying it in by herself.

Looking at this size, furniture options could be eliminated first.

What was it?

Yun Shuyao passed by that entrance. At such close distance, if there were treasures there would be a sensation. Regrettably, she discovered there was no sensation at all. From the corner of her eye she glimpsed—it appeared to be a vase.

The style was rather magnificent and ornate, not the type Yun Shuyao was interested in.

But now it was vases—the furniture had been sold off?

How much more did the Jia family have to sell?

She continued walking forward as if nothing had happened. Having already gotten off the carriage, she would buy something before returning.

Speaking of coincidences, there was a restaurant ahead, and she saw two acquaintances—one was Ying Yu’s husband Da Chun, the other was Jia Lian. They were coming out of the restaurant together, talking and laughing.

How would these two be together?

Looking at their faces revealed nothing. Yun Shuyao thought for a moment—aside from the Lin family as a connection point, they shouldn’t have any other way of knowing each other, should they?

The Jia family’s social interactions were basically limited to their old relatives, all within that one small circle.

The Silin Gioro family wasn’t in that circle.

She first noted this matter, then went to the shop ahead and casually bought some things. While riding the carriage back, Yun Shuyao suddenly found it somewhat amusing—if the timing had been earlier just now, Jia Lian would have run into the person going to the pawnshop. If he had recognized her, that scene would have been quite spectacular.

Regarding pawning household items, did he know about it or not?

In the evening, after Lin Ruhai returned, Yun Shuyao told him what she had seen on the street today.

Lin Ruhai was somewhat puzzled. “Da Chun was walking with him?”

Under what circumstances would the eldest son-in-law seek out Jia Lian?

“I’ll pay attention.”

Lin Ruhai thought for a moment. The coursework previously assigned to Da Chun should also be finished by now. “I’ll go press him about it.”

Hearing this, Yun Shuyao couldn’t help laughing. “The eldest son-in-law will probably have a headache for a while.”

Lin Ruhai chuckled. “I gave him plenty of time. If he had been diligent, he could have finished already.”

The problem was Da Chun hadn’t been diligent. Now he was in trouble.

Da Chun’s days had been very comfortable. Although his father-in-law assigned him coursework, and additionally he had to complete the progress his teacher arranged for him, plus there was some nagging from his grandmother—aside from these things, his days were peaceful and leisurely.

As a result, these leisurely good days had to come to an end.

Da Chun sighed to his wife, “Why did father-in-law specially send someone to ask me for my coursework? It hasn’t been that long.”

Ying Yu smiled with pursed lips. “I did remind you before.”

Da Chun said with a bitter face, “Next time—next time you must supervise me to finish early.”

Regrets aside, Da Chun had to pull himself together. Just like when he was rushing to complete coursework before, he stayed up late with lamps lit. He felt that if this happened one more time, his old habit of not wanting to work until the last moment would be cured.

He developed dark circles under his eyes and brought his coursework to the Lin family gate.

His father-in-law didn’t criticize him, but rather explained to him one by one where his expressions were mistaken or ambiguous, making Da Chun feel somewhat ashamed.

He had thought he had already considered everything, but it turned out there were still so many small problems.

Lin Ruhai said, “You were right not to take the examination this year. You still need more accumulation.”

Da Chun’s inner thoughts: I never planned to take the examination this year anyway.

If he went to take it, he would purely be tormenting himself—there was no hope of passing at all.

Then he heard his father-in-law ask, “Recently, have you had contact with Second Cousin Lian from the Jia family?”

Da Chun would never have imagined he had called him to submit coursework early just to ask this question. Thinking it was just a casual question, he answered, “Yes, his family has an estate in Fengtian. My father serves in Fengtian, so he wanted to ask us to investigate the situation there.”

After hesitating, Da Chun spoke up, “Father-in-law, I think those servants at his family’s estate aren’t very obedient.”

Second Cousin Lian said the estate’s income decreased year after year, with various problems every year—reduced yields.

Farming indeed wouldn’t have favorable weather every year, but Da Chun wasn’t someone whose ten fingers never touched spring water either. He had even done fieldwork himself. “These past two years, there haven’t been any disasters in the Fengtian area. The income from his family’s estate should only increase, not decrease.”

Hearing this, Lin Ruhai felt somewhat dismayed. As the legitimate eldest son of the title heir, he was only now realizing something was wrong with the family situation.

“Just tell the truth.”

It wasn’t too late. If someone was sent to manage it promptly, things could still be salvaged.

Lin Ruhai had no favorable feelings toward the Jia family, but if something major happened to the Jia family, the Lin family and Daiyu had no way to completely stay out of it. If one day the mansion that had been glorious for many years came crashing down, Daiyu was the Jia family’s own granddaughter—not extending aid would lead to people pointing fingers behind her back. Public opinion was fearsome.

Li Gege devoutly copied sutras before the Buddha statue. When the Fourth Prince learned of this, he frowned and pretended not to know.

He was still waiting.

Previously there had already been news that the person had fled south—a long journey that took considerable time.

Before long, good news arrived. They had finally found him. When the interrogation results came out, it was the outcome the Fourth Prince had expected.

The Fourth Prince was very disappointed.

Disappointed in Li Shi.

Also disappointed in the Li family who dared to interfere.

If not for the Li family helping to cover things up, he wouldn’t have taken so long to capture the person.

He wouldn’t take jealous rivalry to heart. A somewhat arrogant temperament was also a small matter. But daring to harm offspring—this was what the Fourth Prince could not tolerate.

The Fourth Prince had all of Li Gege’s special treatment revoked. Although her rank was Gege, in reality the treatment she enjoyed was basically according to the rank of Ce Fujin.

Then he had the three children summoned.

His daughter looked at him uneasily. The second prince was six years old, half-understanding. The youngest son was only three, his eyes pure and bright, understanding nothing.

He didn’t want the children to be tainted by these unseemly schemes.

He patted Ya Hui’s hand reassuringly. “Your Mother Song has a pure and kind nature. Do you like her?”

Ya Hui didn’t understand at first, then understood. Tears immediately welled up. “Father…”

The Fourth Prince said, “Be good.”

Ya Hui held back her tears. “But my brothers…”

The Fourth Prince said, “They are males. At this age, they’re not small anymore. They should go to the front courtyard.”

Ya Hui felt much more at ease.

This way… was also good, wasn’t it? If her brothers were raised by other mothers, Mother would go mad.

Now they would be before Father. Mother should be able to feel at ease.