That evening, Great Madam and Great Master had a falling out.

Great Master was so angry he directly moved into Huansha Cove. He didn’t emerge until the Lantern Festival to watch the lanterns together with Second Master and Second Madam. The couple sat facing each other across the room but didn’t exchange a single unnecessary word.

The atmosphere was inevitably somewhat awkward.

Though Ninth Brother and Seventh Miss were favored, on this matter they didn’t dare say an extra word.

Fifth Miss grew sad whenever this matter was mentioned. Her large eyes seemed like rain flower stones nurtured in clear water, carrying a moist luster at all times.

Fortunately there was still Third Miss, her face full of joy and satisfaction, flattering Great Madam and whispering with Great Master, barely maintaining a lively atmosphere.

Fourth Aunt also had smiling eyes, attentively and thoughtfully serving Great Madam. Previously these tasks had all been monopolized by Seventh Miss—she rarely had such an opportunity.

How could Seventh Miss not understand their mother-daughter calculations in her heart? Third Miss was about to start preparing her trousseau… At this juncture, naturally they would sell goodwill whenever they could.

Great Madam also rarely accepted Fourth Aunt’s attentiveness, not giving Fourth Aunt any slights openly or covertly.

Seventh Miss observed this with some surprise.

But didn’t pay it much mind.

After all, since Great Madam had written her and Ninth Brother under her own name, many things were different from before.

If it were the past, how could Great Master have sent Feng Jin in to pay respects to Great Madam? He probably would still have been concerned about Great Madam knowing he was privately promoting the Feng family.

Everyone harbored their own thoughts, making the Lantern Festival somewhat tasteless.

Even Sixth Miss, who usually had the fewest worries, felt bored seeing such a scene and just swung her goldfish lantern while whispering with Seventh Miss.

“Each year is even more desolate than the last!” Sixth Miss also seemed rather moved. “Once Second Uncle’s family goes to the capital, there will be fewer people at home. This year Third Sister is also getting married…”

The Zhang family had sent a matchmaker a few days ago to propose. Third Miss’s marriage was thus settled. All the wedding dates were agreed upon—this coming summer.

Second Master and Second Madam were guests residing in Suzhou. All their relatives and friends only socialized with them out of respect for Great Master. With low official rank and being a capital official position, they were much more leisurely in the first month than the First Branch.

The couple busied themselves checking accounts, selling off farmland they couldn’t properly manage for ready silver, making various arrangements. Some superior farmland was still solemnly entrusted to the First Branch for management, with the Second Branch sending people back to Suzhou annually to settle accounts with the First Branch.

Second Madam’s face showed no trace of abnormality. She sat affectionately shoulder to shoulder with Second Master below the Great Master and Great Madam, occasionally discussing something with Second Master in low voices.

Watching this, Seventh Miss raised her assessment of Second Madam by several points in her heart.

This type of person—give her a bit of sunshine and she’d shine brilliantly. Her vitality was comparable to dogtail grass, thick-skinned and deeply calculating…

If it weren’t for her bad luck running into Seventh Miss’s hands, she probably would have succeeded long ago.

Originally Seventh Miss thought she would surely become dispirited after this. Even if she could preserve her life, she’d be sent back to the Northwest hometown for house arrest…

Now it seemed that after the First Branch completely settled down, the Second Branch would likely have turmoil instead.

Second Madam had devoted herself wholeheartedly to working on the First Branch these past years, inevitably neglecting her own rear courtyard.

She truly could let go and move on. Since despairing over the adoption matter, she decisively changed targets and began cultivating Second Master’s affections.

She was a legitimate wife with a stain, having borne the Second Branch’s only three legitimate sons. Aunt Xiang was the favored noble concubine of many years, controlling the capital residence for years.

From now on, the Second Branch would have many troubles.

The banquet in Juxian Hall dispersed before the third watch.

Great Master and Great Madam walked Second Master and his wife out of the garden shoulder to shoulder. Turning back, they exchanged a few bland words before Great Master went straight into Huansha Cove.

The other children also dispersed.

Great Madam stood in place instructing Fifth Miss for a few sentences, telling her to watch her step. She stood watching Fifth Miss turn onto the long corridor before feeling relieved, then turned back with Seventh Miss and Ninth Brother to the main courtyard.

All along the way, her expression was uncertain.

Ninth Brother and Seventh Miss didn’t dare speak.

The atmosphere seemed very strange.

The maids and matrons were all so frightened they didn’t dare breathe loudly, carefully supporting Great Madam into the main courtyard. Only then did Great Madam come back to herself.

“Rest well!” She smiled as she settled this pair of children. “Ninth Brother must rise early tomorrow. After returning to your room, don’t make a fuss anymore. Sleep early to avoid losing propriety before Master Zhang.”

Starting tomorrow, Ninth Brother would study under Master Zhang.

Ninth Brother smiled and agreed, then pulled Great Madam’s neck and spoke head-to-head with her in whispers.

This made Great Madam’s face full of smiles. “Good, good. As long as you study diligently, Mother will comply with everything.”

Only then did he enter the east side courtyard.

After all, this was a son she’d raised with her own hands. This kind of intimacy was something Seventh Miss could never match.

Seventh Miss just steadily and properly asked Great Madam, “Please rest well too. There are many social obligations during the New Year, it’s exhausting. Mother must not shortchange your sleep.”

Great Madam also smiled and touched Seventh Miss’s forehead.

“Good, good. Sleep quickly.”

She stood in place, watching Seventh Miss’s small figure enter the side corridor before sighing deeply.

Nanny Liang came forward and carefully urged Great Madam, “It’s very cold outside. Madam should go inside first.”

Great Madam slowly closed her eyes and deeply exhaled again.

“Mm.” When she opened her eyes again, she’d recovered her usual grace and dignity. “It’s time to go inside.”

From the next day on, she also showed smiles to Great Master.

The little friction with Feng Jin was never mentioned again by anyone.

However, this was also because Feng Jin quickly packed his luggage and went to the capital for the examination.

In the end, he still asked Zhou Shu to relay a message to Seventh Miss.

“He said his rash words that day might bring trouble to Seventh Miss and Ninth Brother, and asked you not to take offense.” Lixia carefully repeated Feng Jin’s words. “He’s always kept Seventh Miss’s help over the years in his heart. The grievances with Lady Yang are another matter… If there’s opportunity in the future, he’ll certainly repay Seventh Miss.”

“He also said Lady Feng and Miss Feng are at home. Young Master Feng is uneasy about them. Right now he plans to sell the family property and move the whole family to the capital.”

Seventh Miss’s feelings were very complex.

It was impossible for the previous generation’s grievances not to affect the next generation.

For Seventh Miss, no matter how much Great Master and Great Madam were in the wrong, they were still her birth father and legitimate mother.

From Feng Jin’s meaning, if in the future he returned home in glory and raised his head high, repaying kindness and avenging wrongs… he didn’t intend to spare Great Madam.

But Seventh Miss and Ninth Brother were both children of the main courtyard. Though Great Madam couldn’t be said to treat Seventh Miss well, she had given her legitimate daughter status…

Seventh Miss could only comfort herself: Even if Feng Jin was extraordinarily talented and had great fortune, threatening the Yang family’s position within ten-plus years would be harder than reaching heaven.

These words were probably just talk in the end. Once he witnessed the treachery and darkness of official circles, he might turn around to curry favor with the Yang family and apologize to Great Madam…

In the end, she took out two hundred taels in banknotes from her private funds, instructing Lixia to slip them out and have Zhou Shu secretly deliver them to the Feng family.

Though Feng Jin had the provincial graduate degree, he ultimately wasn’t yet an official.

This era wasn’t like modern times. Without a competent man in the family, female relatives would be looked down upon everywhere. In ancient times with vast distances, if anything happened, by the time Feng Jin returned home the day lily would be cold.

Originally she could have entrusted the Zhang family to look after them, but Feng Jin had essentially broken with the Yang family this time, and the Zhang family was forming marriage ties with the Yang family…

With a young man’s pride, he probably wouldn’t necessarily accept the Zhang family’s goodwill.

Even the Yang family, such a great pillar, had been distanced by Feng Jin’s own family. He might not value the Zhang family’s master-disciple bond either. After all, the Zhang family had family ties with the Yang family—sometimes relatives were naturally closer than master and disciple.

Moreover, Feng Jin might not pass the metropolitan examination this time. If he failed, he’d still need to study three years at the Imperial Academy.

Wanting to bring Lady Feng and Miss Feng to the capital showed his unease about the mother and daughter at home suffering neighborhood bullying.

Moving was exhausting even in modern times, let alone ancient times?

Though the Feng family had accumulated some modest property, they could certainly use these two hundred taels of silver.

But Zhou Shu was very troubled. He relayed through Lixia that Feng Jin insisted on not accepting it.

Seventh Miss had no solution. Zhou Shu had his own duties—he couldn’t run to the Feng house daily to persuade Feng Jin to accept the money.

She could only slip the banknote into her sleeve again and enter the east side courtyard.

She was a young lady—no matter how capable, she could only operate within the inner courtyard.

Outside, she was completely blind.

Ninth Brother was different.

Never mind anything else, he still had two trusted young servants.

Fifth Miss happened to be there too. Even outside the courtyard, she’d spotted Guyu.

“Yes, I heard they’ll depart after entering the second month. The whole family is going north, so they plan to charter a boat.”

Seventh Miss had just reached outside the door when she heard Ninth Brother say this.

How could she not know Fifth Miss’s purpose in coming?

She sighed softly, made her footsteps heavier, and entered the inner room with a smile.

Ninth Brother had just returned from studying at the Zhang house, looking exhausted. Yawning, he stood behind the screen changing clothes while still talking to Fifth Miss.

“Seventh Sister.” Seeing Seventh Miss, he quickly greeted her.

“Why did you come too?” Fifth Miss was somewhat surprised.

Seventh Miss didn’t plan to hide it from Fifth Miss.

Though Fifth Miss never explicitly stated her feelings for Feng Jin, at times they were abundantly clear.

Probably more than just Seventh Miss had noticed this.

“After all, he’s birth mother’s relative…” She produced that delicate, ornate banknote. “This is a two-hundred-tael silver note from Yichun Bank…”

Yichun Bank had the backing of several great clan families, with hints of the Quan and Da families among them. It had grown very large these years, gradually taking on the posture of the foremost bank.

Seeing Seventh Miss’s generosity, Fifth Miss’s gaze dimmed.

She bit her lip and stamped her foot lightly.

She also pulled a banknote from her bosom.

“Also from Yichun Bank. Five hundred taels—consider it my travel gift to Young Master Feng!”

She slapped the paper on the table, stood up, and walked out.

Seventh Miss and Ninth Brother couldn’t help but exchange glances.

Seventh Miss only hurriedly instructed Ninth Brother, “You must be careful. Young Master Feng has a very proud temperament and may not be willing to accept…”

Then she rose and chased after Fifth Miss.

“Fifth Sister, Fifth Sister.”

Fifth Miss led Guyu, walking urgently and quickly.

As if angry with Seventh Miss—clearly hearing Seventh Miss’s voice, she refused to stop.

Seventh Miss hurried and finally caught up with Fifth Miss in front of Huansha Cove.

“Fifth Sister!” She rarely showed a few degrees of emotion.

Fifth Miss had no choice but to stop, glancing at Seventh Miss before turning her head away.

“What?”

The wariness in her words was so thick it could congeal into a wall.

For a wealthy young lady like Fifth Miss to have tender thoughts about a young man was very improper.

Seventh Miss bit her lip.

She couldn’t quite explain why she was so curious about Fifth Miss’s feelings.

Living in deep courtyards for so long, she always felt this life lacked any vitality.

With the people around her, no matter how close, there always seemed to be a thin veil between them. Innermost thoughts could never be spoken plainly—only mutually guessed.

Only Fifth Miss, though willful, though stubborn, never bothered with artifice.

Perhaps because of this, she unconsciously cared more about Fifth Miss.

Who else besides herself could Fifth Miss confide such feelings to?

However, she had ultimately been too rash.

Seventh Miss naturally knew she could understand a young girl’s admiring heart.

But Fifth Miss might not know this.

Though many things were understood by all, they didn’t necessarily need to be spoken. Otherwise it might become ammunition against her in the future—that would be counterproductive.

She could only gently explain to Fifth Miss, “Thank you for Fifth Sister’s kind heart… knowing Ninth Aunt’s natal family is impoverished and kindly helping them! Fifth Sister’s care for me and Ninth Brother is truly meticulous.”

Immediately gilding Fifth Miss’s behavior.

Fifth Miss bit her lip, looked at Seventh Miss, and lightly hummed.

“We’re all people of the main courtyard.” But she also unceremoniously accepted this face-saving gesture. “Mother is a bit stingy. Previously when Second Sister was home, she looked after you. Now that Second Sister is married, naturally I won’t shortchange you either.”

Looking entirely righteous and stern.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but smile knowingly. “Yes, I’ll still need to rely on Fifth Sister’s care.”

She parted with Fifth Miss in front of Huansha Cove, watching her gracefully sway into Yuelai Hall.

Fifth Miss was already thirteen this year. In another two years, marriage proposals would be quite appropriate.

She didn’t know if there was such fate—could she truly marry into the Feng family…

Seventh Miss exhaled deeply and also turned to return to the main courtyard.

From family status, background, and property—in every respect, Fifth Miss’s tender feelings would probably truly remain only tender feelings.

She didn’t know what Feng Jin had done during that one meeting back then that made Fifth Miss fall in love at first sight and remain so devoted?

#

Entering the second month, Feng Jin indeed sold his family’s farmland, exchanged the silver for Yichun Bank notes, and brought his family north on the same route as Zhang Second Young Master to take the examination in the capital.

Second Master also finally organized his household affairs. The cumbersome items he didn’t want to bring on the road—some were sold in Suzhou, others directly given to the First Branch.

But for a while they couldn’t find anyone willing to purchase the residence.

After all, it was right next to the Jiangnan Governor’s residence. Ordinary families didn’t have the nerve to dare be neighbors with the Jiangnan Governor.

Great Master simply discussed with Great Madam and bought Hanlin Manor at twenty percent above market price. He planned to properly renovate the small garden, open a corridor between the two walls, have the concubines live in the separate residence, and leave Baifang Garden for the daughters and Ninth Brother to live in.

Ninth Brother was entering his eleventh year. It was no longer convenient for him to live in the east side courtyard. He would certainly move to Jidi Residence this year.

With the concubines still residing in Baifang Garden, it would be somewhat inconvenient.

Second Master and Second Madam naturally agreed. Second Master personally entered the inner courtyard to discuss with Great Madam, wanting to borrow the Qin family’s help to properly acquire a residence in the capital and settle the family.

Purchasing a house was a major matter of establishing oneself. Great Master and Great Madam didn’t neglect it. Great Madam personally found yellowed maps of the capital and studied with Second Master where would be best to acquire property.

Sixth Miss was very curious. “If they find a good location but that ward happens to have no houses for sale, what can be done?”

Great Madam and Second Master both laughed. Fifth Miss instructed Sixth Miss, “In the capital, as long as you have money, what can’t be bought?”

Sixth Miss blinked. “Fifth Sister only went to the capital once and already knows so well?”

The children began bantering.

Second Master seized the opportunity to invite Great Madam. “The children are grown. They should also go to the capital to visit and see the world. When will Sister-in-law bring the children to the capital to visit relatives?”

Great Madam also felt some homesickness. “It’s been five or six years since I returned to my natal home! I don’t know how Second Miss is really doing at Duke Dingguo’s residence.”

They discussed relatives and friends in the capital.

The Xu family was naturally busy and chaotic. Though the northern war was nearing its end, Duke Pingguo still couldn’t leave the frontier. Lady Xu had to worry about the marriages of several sons.

The Qin family’s several uncles all had concerns. Consecutive years of marriages, funerals, and weddings were endless social obligations.

Just as they were talking animatedly, Chief Steward Zhang suddenly hurried into the inner hall.

He made a deep bow to Great Madam. Not even bothering with greetings, he asked Second Master, “Master requests Second Master to come to the outer study to speak.”

The urgency in his tone couldn’t be concealed.

Great Madam and Second Master both straightened up immediately.

The daughters who’d been joking also all fell silent.

“What happened?” Great Madam’s brows furrowed slightly.

Chief Steward Zhang always kept his emotions hidden—he rarely showed such anxiety.

“In answer to Madam, it’s news from the capital. The Emperor suddenly fell ill and cannot attend to affairs.” Chief Steward Zhang’s few simple words made everyone’s expressions change. “The young divine physician Quan Zhongbai has been urgently summoned back to the capital with twelve golden tablets, but…”