Seventh Miss quickly changed into Ninth Young Master’s clothes.

She and Ninth Young Master looked almost identical to begin with. At their young age, gender was indistinguishable. Wearing Ninth Young Master’s usual sapphire blue bamboo-leaf straight robe and donning a small silver crown, she looked like a second Ninth Young Master standing before everyone. Lichun’s eyes couldn’t help but brighten.

Seventh Miss had some vague guesses in her heart but didn’t voice them. She smiled at Bailu and was pulled out of the courtyard by Lichun.

“Second Lady is in the main hall talking with the Grand Lady.” Lichun said to Seventh Miss as they walked. “When you meet, don’t bow first. The Grand Lady is joking with Second Lady—she’s found two Ninth Young Masters and is having Second Lady tell them apart.”

Seventh Miss now understood.

Second Master Yang Haixi’s parents had died when he was still in swaddling clothes. He grew up following First Master. In the first years after the Grand Lady married in, she raised Second Master as her own son. Second Master was quite unruly in his youth—who knew how many times the Grand Lady had beaten him with a bamboo rod. Only after First Master passed the imperial examinations and entered officialdom did Second Master settle down and study earnestly behind closed doors. After ten years of diligent study, he passed the imperial examination and was now serving at the Hanlin Academy.

Second Lady was the match the Grand Lady had arranged for Second Master. She was technically the Grand Lady’s cousin once removed. Though her family wasn’t as wealthy as the Grand Lady’s, they too were scholarly for generations.

Unfortunately, the first branch had always struggled with heirs. First Master was nearly fifty with only Ninth Young Master as his sole son. In the second branch, Second Lady had given Second Master three sons in succession right after marrying in. Before Ninth Young Master was born years ago, First Master had considered adopting one to be registered under the Grand Lady’s name.

When the Yang family first prospered, they had only a small two-courtyard home and a few hundred acres of land. Now the first branch possessed vast wealth. First Master had sat in the Jiangnan Governor-General position for seven years. Seven years ago, he was Jiangsu’s Regional Administrator—also an extremely lucrative post. Second Master, however, was still just a poor Hanlin scholar in the capital. The first branch had always provided financial support to the second branch.

How could the second branch not want this?

Just at this time, Ninth Young Master was born. From then on, a rift formed between Second Lady and the Grand Lady.

Though Seventh Miss lived in the south side courtyard, she knew that Ninth Young Master’s few illnesses had all occurred after Second Lady’s visits.

Too coincidental indeed.

Seventh Miss suddenly felt calm—she wasn’t afraid of the Grand Lady wanting something from her; what she feared was precisely the Grand Lady wanting nothing.

If there was want, there was room to perform, room to negotiate, possibility to rise.

She showed a brilliant smile and followed Lichun into the main building.

Lichun looked at her with both surprise and admiration, pursing her lips as she led her to the west secondary room.

The west secondary room was where the Grand Lady received guests—outside guests, not family members. This showed how estranged the Grand Lady and Second Lady had become.

Seeing Seventh Miss arrive, the Grand Lady’s face lit up with joy.

“Ninth Young Master, come here!” She extended her hand, calling warmly.

Seventh Miss cheerfully trotted over and nestled into the Grand Lady’s embrace. The Grand Lady carried a faint scent of sparrow tongue tea. The brilliant brocade treasure flower pattern swayed before her eyes.

“Ninth Young Master.” The middle-aged woman seated below the Grand Lady called out with a smile.

This was a refined-looking woman, appearing to be in her early thirties. She wore a ginger-yellow tribute satin jacket trimmed with grey squirrel fur at the edges. A light blue horse-face skirt gracefully spread across her knees, faintly revealing her shoe tops. She looked dignified, noble, and somewhat approachable.

Seventh Miss only smiled without responding.

Satisfaction gleamed in the Grand Lady’s eyes. She beckoned to Lichun.

Lichun smiled with pursed lips and went down. Soon she brought Ninth Young Master in.

Ninth Young Master wore clothes identical to Seventh Miss’s. Upon entering, he rushed into the Grand Lady’s arms, nearly colliding with Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss quickly made room for him. The two small figures nestled beside the Grand Lady, gazing at each other face to face.

“Oh my, these siblings truly look alike.” Second Lady laughed, patting the armrest of her grand chair. “Which one is really Ninth Young Master?”

Ninth Young Master couldn’t hold out first and turned to call Second Lady. “Second Aunt!”

Seventh Miss quickly followed. “Second Aunt!”

Their tone, voice, and manner were identical.

The Grand Lady showed a slight satisfied smile and patted Seventh Miss’s shoulder approvingly. Seventh Miss forcibly suppressed the urge to shrink her shoulders. She raised her eyes to smile at the Grand Lady, treating herself as Ninth Young Master—smiling both adorably and boldly.

Ninth Young Master grew somewhat unhappy. His large eyes rolled as he looked at Seventh Miss, biting his lip without speaking.

Second Lady observed this and smiled, extending her hands toward Ninth Young Master. “Come, Ninth Young Master, come to Second Aunt. Second Aunt dotes on you.”

Fortunately, Ninth Young Master didn’t go over, nor did he respond to Second Lady’s words. Second Lady had to beckon to Seventh Miss instead. “Ninth Young Master, Second Aunt mistook you. It’s Second Aunt’s fault. Look, I brought you something nice.”

The Grand Lady could no longer contain herself and laughed proudly.

Seventh Miss also smiled and walked before Second Lady to bow. “Seventh Miss greets Second Aunt.”

Second Lady was dumbstruck. After a long while, she forced out a smile and took out a white jade twin-fish pendant from her waist, handing it to Seventh Miss. “Second Aunt’s meeting gift.”

Whatever the relationship between Second Lady and the Grand Lady, she had been kind to Seventh Miss, knowing she lacked good clothes and specially allocating some. Seventh Miss smiled with lowered eyes and accepted the jade pendant. “Thank you, Second Aunt.”

Ninth Young Master also stood beside the Grand Lady greeting, “Ninth Young Master greets Second Aunt,” but didn’t approach Second Lady.

The Grand Lady waved her hand. “You siblings go play. You don’t need to attend school this afternoon—it’s rare for Second Lady to visit.” Her words carried a hint of mockery, but Second Lady acted as if she hadn’t heard, simply sitting serenely with a smile.

Though told to go play, they only moved from the west secondary room to the east side room. This was where the Grand Lady usually resided. The bed in the east secondary room was where Ninth Young Master slept.

The east secondary room and east side room were separated only by a gauze cabinet. Any movement from Ninth Young Master, the Grand Lady would immediately know—the east side room’s furnishings were even more austere than the east secondary room’s.

Only now did Seventh Miss understand what it meant to be a treasured child.

At first, Ninth Young Master ignored Seventh Miss, only playing with building blocks on the window-side heated platform. Being young, he quickly warmed up, coming before Seventh Miss to look left and right, then invited her, “Come build blocks with me?”

Seventh Miss glanced at the young maid attending nearby. Ninth Young Master introduced, “This is Xiaoxue. Mother has her attend to me.”

Xiaoxue had a round head and face—not pretty but very cute. She bowed to Seventh Miss before saying, “Seventh Miss, please play with Ninth Young Master for a while. His sisters aren’t here, and he’s quite bored.”

Seventh Miss had no choice but to pick up blocks and build with Ninth Young Master. She was somewhat curious. “Why aren’t you attending school this afternoon?”

Ninth Young Master fell silent. Seventh Miss also stopped talking. Only then did she hear faint, small footsteps. Before long, Lichun entered carrying a plate of cherries, smiling as she handed it to Xiaoxue. “Precious things brought by Second Lady.”

She looked at the twin siblings with their heads together playing with blocks, her eyes full of smiles. “Truly can’t tell who’s Ninth Young Master and who’s Seventh Miss.”

Ninth Young Master suddenly winked at Seventh Miss, raised his head, and imitated Seventh Miss’s tone, saying softly, “Sister Lichun, I’m Seventh Miss.”

Seventh Miss could no longer contain herself and burst into laughter.

Lichun also laughed uncontrollably. Xiaoxue laughed while arranging the cherries and accidentally spilled the entire dish on the floor.

Her face went white with fear—it was just early spring; cherries were very precious.

But Lichun’s face showed a flash of relief.

“How careless!” She complained while bending down with Xiaoxue to pick up the cherries.

Xiaoxue stammered, “Sister, I… I didn’t mean to…”

“Forget it,” Lichun said irritably. “Wash them clean and take them down to distribute among the young maids.”

Xiaoxue agreed repeatedly and left the east side room with Lichun. The room suddenly quieted. Seventh Miss watched Lichun’s retreating figure, lost in thought.

“Every time Second Aunt visits, I play in the east side room.” Ninth Young Master murmured softly, seemingly casual yet deliberate.

Seventh Miss’s hand slipped and the blocks fell. Ninth Young Master immediately demanded loudly that Seventh Miss compensate for his demolished small cart.

Seventh Miss could only apologize repeatedly, smiling as she picked up the colorful blocks. “I’ll build you a house?”

Ninth Young Master raised his eyes to stare at her fixedly, then tilted his head before saying solemnly, “Alright.”

Seventh Miss then lowered her head to build with blocks.

Ninth Young Master toyed with a green rectangular block in his hands. After much hesitation, he asked softly, “Where is Ninth Concubine buried?”

Seventh Miss froze, then understood his question. Her emotions surged.

Blood was thicker than water after all—flesh and bone connected.

“They said she’d be buried at the family mountain.” Her voice was so soft it was like a whisper. “Right next to Old Seventh Branch’s Concubine Wang at the front mountain. I went when Concubine Wang was buried—the spot is quite forward.” Ninth Concubine’s coffin had already left for Baoji.

The Yang family was large and prosperous. Behind the ancestral hall was the burial mountain. For a concubine to be buried at the front mountain was great honor.

Ninth Young Master was stunned for a long while before nodding. His small face was full of preoccupations.

Seventh Miss wanted to say more when Ninth Young Master suddenly raised his head, saying repeatedly, “Is the house finished? This shouldn’t be placed like that.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Nanny Liang walked smiling into the east side room, serving tea to Seventh Miss and Ninth Young Master. “Everyone went to the Grand Lady’s side, leaving this old woman to pour tea for you.” She was the Grand Lady’s dowry servant and had always had status, so she spoke to the young master and mistresses with somewhat elder-like tone.

Seventh Miss quickly smiled apologetically. “Thank you, Nanny.” But Ninth Young Master cheekily grabbed the tea to drink, then ordered Seventh Miss, “Build faster.” His tone was rather impatient.

Seventh Miss then pretended to build blocks earnestly. The east side room quieted. Faintly she could hear Second Miss’s and Fifth Miss’s voices from over there, along with Second Lady’s laughter. Before long, light, quick footsteps came toward the east side room. Second Miss and Fifth Miss entered.

Seventh Miss quickly bowed to Second Miss and Fifth Miss. Ninth Young Master also jumped down from the heated platform, pulling Fifth Miss to see his blocks. “Fifth Sister, build with me.”

But Fifth Miss said, “I’m busy. I just came to pay respects to Second Aunt.” She didn’t acknowledge Seventh Miss’s bow.

Second Miss calmly returned Seventh Miss’s bow. “I heard the teacher praised your calligraphy.” Her tone held more warmth.

“A trivial skill,” Seventh Miss said somewhat sheepishly. “Just random practice.”

“Don’t say that.” Second Miss glanced at Fifth Miss. “Our Yang family has been scholarly for generations. Your ability to practice good calligraphy makes you a true daughter of the Yang family.”

Second Miss was always so serious, inspiring awe. Seventh Miss lowered her head and agreed meekly. Fifth Miss couldn’t withstand Ninth Young Master’s pleading and had already climbed onto the heated platform to sit cross-legged, fiddling with blocks with him. Seventh Miss glanced over there several times, feeling that facing the willful Fifth Miss would be more comfortable than standing before Second Miss.

Second Miss was actually amused.

“Go on,” she shook her head smiling, her words showing slight reproach for the first time. “After all, you’re young with less patience. Don’t be so careless when practicing calligraphy.” She rose to call Fifth Miss. “Yang Wu, aren’t you returning to your room?”

Fifth Miss was enjoying herself. Pouting reluctantly, she was about to say something when she glanced at Seventh Miss and fell silent, rising to follow Second Miss out of the east side room. Second Miss walked while scolding Fifth Miss all the way. “…Acting childish one day, grown-up the next. Seventh Miss knows to practice calligraphy. What about you? Just expressed determination to me, and you’re playing around again…”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help envying—though Second Miss showed Fifth Miss no pleasant face, she truly cared for this sister.

The east side room quieted again. Nanny Liang had been called out by a young maid to handle matters. She was the chief steward, always busy beyond measure. That she could spare time to curry favor showed Ninth Young Master’s great status. Seventh Miss wondered, “Where’s Xiaoxue? Why hasn’t she come in to serve?”

In a wealthy household like the Yang family, young masters and mistresses had attendants around the clock. Even if distributing cherries took some time, Xiaoxue shouldn’t be absent this long.

Ninth Young Master also found it strange, then shook his head. “It’s fine she’s not here—she chatters endlessly, so annoying.” He beckoned to Seventh Miss. “Come continue building the house!”

Seventh Miss had no choice but to continue sitting cross-legged on the heated platform building a house with Ninth Young Master. He asked, “You know many characters now?”

Seventh Miss smiled. Ninth Young Master muttered, “How could you learn characters in the northwest?” His implication showed considerable doubt about Seventh Miss’s words.

“Ninth Concubine’s father was a scholar who ran a private school.” Seventh Miss had to explain. Ninth Young Master made an “oh” sound, his small face showing some melancholy. The two fell quiet for a time. Soon Lichun entered to attend, so Seventh Miss could only make inconsequential conversation with Ninth Young Master—this one blaming that one for taking blocks, that one saying this one built something fun.

Second Lady stayed half the afternoon before leaving. Third Miss, Fourth Miss, and Sixth Miss all came to see her but didn’t enter the east side room. After she left, the Grand Lady brought Nanny Liang into the east side room to change clothes and rest. Seeing the twins sitting cross-legged on the heated platform, she couldn’t help laughing. “Born identical—truly a pair of jade figures.” Her tone held more pride and less suspicion.

Ninth Young Master laughed adorably. The Grand Lady walked over and patted Seventh Miss’s shoulder. “Your brother is willful—you must indulge him more.” Her affection had increased considerably.

Nanny Liang smiled beside them. “She even invited you to burn incense at Hanshan Temple… if you ask me, you shouldn’t go.”

The Grand Lady waved her hand. “I go every year on the second day of the second month. How could I not go this year?” She paused, then asked Ninth Young Master, “Mother’s going to burn incense. Will you come along?”

Ninth Young Master’s face immediately lit up. “You’ll let me go this year?”

The Grand Lady glanced at Seventh Miss and smiled. “Why wouldn’t I let you go?” Ninth Young Master immediately grew happy, hugging the Grand Lady and acting spoiled.

Nanny Wang suddenly entered the room with hurried steps, whispering a few words in the Grand Lady’s ear. The Grand Lady’s expression changed.

Lichun came to pull Ninth Young Master and Seventh Miss. “Go play outside—it’s stuffy inside.”

Ninth Young Master and Seventh Miss went to the courtyard. Seventh Miss looked at the sky—nearly dinnertime. She didn’t think the Grand Lady would want Fourth Concubine to see her current attire. Some things everyone understood, but it was best to maintain appearances. “I need to go back and change clothes.”

Ninth Young Master looked reluctant, lowering his head without speaking. Seventh Miss looked at him, feeling a sharp pain in her heart. She bit her lip and said softly, “You go play at Fifth Sister’s…”

Ninth Young Master acknowledged dejectedly and ran into the corridor leading to the east side courtyard. Seventh Miss slowly walked back to the west side courtyard. Bailu came up and said in surprise, “I thought Ninth Young Master would come visit.” Several types of pastries were arranged on the table in the main hall.

Seventh Miss looked puzzled. Bailu explained, “Ninth Young Master loves wandering about. The Grand Lady restricts him from Baifang Garden. He’s tired of the east side courtyard. Hearing the west side courtyard was being prepared, he’d clamored several times to come see. I thought this afternoon since Seventh Miss was playing with him…” She didn’t continue. Seventh Miss already understood the meaning.

She slowly shook her head and said softly, “I’m a concubine’s daughter… it’s no good for Ninth Young Master to be too close to me.”

If Bailu was loyal to the Grand Lady, hearing these words would reassure the Grand Lady further.

If Bailu was loyal to her, hearing these words would only make her feel sorry.

Bailu indeed looked sympathetic and changed the subject. “It’s nearly time to pay respects. Best to change clothes.” She was an extremely perceptive maid.

Seventh Miss looked at her appreciatively. “Remarkable that even staying in your quarters, you stay so well-informed.”

Though Lixia stood right beside them, she was completely confused, not understanding their verbal sparring at all. Bailu smiled brilliantly and helped Seventh Miss change clothes with Lixia.

Just as they were about to go pay respects at the main quarters, several servants came to instruct Bailu. “Madam is feeling unwell. Evening respects are cancelled tonight. Each courtyard will have dinner separately.” With that, they hurried away, looking as if a storm was approaching.