The Grand Master and Grand Madam did not raise the matter of the Feng family again between themselves.

Compared to the treacherous winds and clouds in the imperial court, a minor jieyuan was hardly worth dwelling on in the couple’s hearts for long.

They could hardly separate over such a minor unpleasantness, could they?

That very evening, they sat down to discuss future countermeasures.

The Grand Master felt great regret. “How is it that this incident had to occur precisely when Second Brother was away from the capital!”

Between the Grand Master and Second Master, there naturally existed channels for transmitting messages unknown to outsiders.

Having one’s own younger brother in the capital meant greater attentiveness than having relatives from other families, and messages could be transmitted more swiftly.

Unlike the present situation—the Emperor had fallen ill seven or eight days ago, yet the news had only just reached Suzhou.

The Second Master immediately abandoned the Second Madam along with all their valuables, and the very next day rode swiftly back to the capital to cancel his leave and return to work.

He also requested that the first branch look after the Second Madam and send her, along with these several carts of gold, silver, and treasures, back to their northwestern ancestral home.

The Grand Master conveniently arranged for several experienced stewards to accompany them on the journey, carrying word to Chief Steward Niu to do some work around the clan patriarch and have the second branch registered in the genealogy, with the clan fields and houses the clan had previously swallowed under various pretexts all allocated to the Second Master as his share.

Having just been promoted to Left Pillar of State before the new year, the Grand Master’s involvement naturally carried more weight than if the Second Master’s own household members had gone themselves.

In the third month, the Second Madam tearfully bid farewell to her relatives and friends in Suzhou, taking a cart of money and heading northwest beyond the passes.

Min’ge, Da’ge, and Hong’ge merely returned to see their mother off. They rested one night at the first branch before all returning to Shantang Academy.

It was said they studied with tremendous diligence, showing signs of the determination to suspend one’s hair from a beam or pierce one’s thigh with an awl.

The Grand Master felt quite gratified.

“Although Second Sister-in-law truly lacks understanding, if we can help achieve success for these few nephews, that would still be good.” He discussed this with the Grand Madam.

What great families and noble clans feared most were dissolute sons.

If the three young nephew masters understood how to transform shame into motivation, then regardless of circumstances, they would at least not grow into wastrels who would drag down the reputation of both branches.

The Grand Madam, however, wore a worried frown.

Duke Pingguo was still at war in the northwest, the border conflicts remained unsettled, yet such a major incident had occurred in court—the Emperor gravely ill and unable to rise from his sickbed, to the point where Quan Zhongbai, who was serving at the front lines, had to be urgently recalled to the capital…

With Quan Zhongbai in the northwest, even riding swiftly the entire way would require seven or eight days to reach the capital. In that much time, even a minor illness could have completely resolved itself.

This clearly showed that the Emperor had indeed contracted a troublesome serious illness this time, one the imperial physicians in court had no way to guarantee treating, which was why they had thought of Quan Zhongbai.

Or perhaps the Emperor no longer trusted the imperial physicians…

If he fell into permanent illness, the realm would truly descend into chaos.

Entering the fourth month, the news grew even more frightening.

Quan Zhongbai’s fiancée, Third Miss of the Da family, had suffered from a lung illness since before the new year that lingered and persisted, and this year her condition had grown increasingly severe.

Originally, they had planned to take advantage of her fiancé’s return to the capital to have Quan Zhongbai prescribe a formula and perform acupuncture and moxibustion to reduce the severity of her illness.

Who would have expected that Quan Zhongbai had barely entered the capital city when palace attendants took him inside, never to be released from the palace again.

The Da family naturally worried anxiously, but few people cared about the life or death of Third Miss Da.

Rather, it was the implications behind this incident that left countless officials in court unable to eat or sleep peacefully.

Could the Emperor’s condition have already reached such an urgent state?

Come to think of it, court had not been held for over two months now.

Three months without court assembly—that was an absurd occurrence only seen during times of great chaos!

It was at this moment that Imperial Tutor Qin finally made his move.

The venerable elder, with his status as Imperial Tutor, submitted a memorial urging the three cabinet ministers to follow the precedent of the previous dynasty and have the Crown Prince assume regency.

Since he was the Crown Prince, he naturally possessed many privileges that other princes could not compare to.

The Yongle Emperor of the previous dynasty had been a man fond of movement, spending year after year either on inspection tours or travels.

Whenever he was not in the capital, the Crown Prince served as regent—this was an established precedent clear for all to see.

Now with three cabinet ministers managing affairs, strictly speaking, the Crown Prince was merely a human seal, managing only the work of stamping memorials. But without this human seal, many matters could not be smoothly handled.

For instance, if the decree to transfer grain was not issued soon, the border regions would face shortages again.

This might give the Northern Rong a chance to catch their breath.

The old gentleman’s memorial was actually delivered into Qianqing Palace.

Although the Emperor had been wavering between the Crown Prince and the First Prince for many years, at this juncture he remained quite lucid. Before long, he transmitted an oral decree: due to the dragon body’s indisposition, the Crown Prince would serve as regent. He also urgently summoned the Prince of Minyue to the capital to take charge of Qianqing Palace’s defenses.

When the news reached Suzhou, though it was no longer fresh, all who heard it felt a deep chill.

The imperial family was the imperial family indeed—father and son suspecting each other had reached such a degree.

After all, the Prince of Minyue’s fiefdom was in Fujian. Although he resided year-round in Hangzhou, he had always been tactful, rarely extending his reach beyond Hangzhou city.

This time, summoned by imperial decree to the capital, the lodging and provisions for him and his dozen or so guards would require official support.

This was all personally managed by the Grand Master, who made arrangements along the entire route and prepared the fastest horses, determined to reach the capital in the shortest time possible.

After seeing off the Prince of Minyue, worry lines appeared between the Grand Master’s brows.

“It all depends on whether His Majesty can successfully weather this crisis!” he privately discussed with the Grand Madam. “We should still arrange a marriage for Fourth Miss!”

The Grand Madam started. “It’s come to that?”

Fourth Miss was already fourteen years old this year.

She had reached marriageable age and could not endure too long a delay.

If the Emperor should pass away, first, marriages could not be arranged during the year of national mourning, and second, whoever the successor might be would certainly install their own people in such a desirable position as Jiangnan Governor-General.

The Yang family’s position would suddenly become precarious.

If something went wrong, it would be difficult to guarantee they could retreat intact…

In such chaotic times, Fourth Miss could easily be delayed into becoming an old maid.

When the Grand Madam thought of having to face Fourth Miss’s gloomy expression year after year, she too felt a sense of urgency.

She hurriedly wrote a letter to First Miss.

Before long, First Miss replied, having identified a prosperous household for Fourth Miss in Yuhang Town.

Though the family held no official position, they were related to the Yuhang County Magistrate. With deep roots and flourishing branches in Yuhang, they counted as a local distinguished clan.

Although Fourth Miss’s face bore faint scars, the Gu family were ultimately not a great noble household and did not mind such things.

They merely sent someone to view her once, then came joyfully to the door to arrange the betrothal, as if any delay would wake them from this beautiful dream.

With the Grand Master and Grand Madam both determined, no matter how Fourth Concubine made a fuss, she could not stir up trouble.

Moreover, though this match was somewhat beneath them, the Gu family’s young man was an only son who would inherit all the family’s vast wealth in the future, and he was well-built and dignified… Though Fourth Concubine had some dissatisfaction, she had to admit that for Fourth Miss to obtain such a destination was already good fortune.

Though both sisters’ betrothals were fraught with complications, their marriages occurred in quick succession. In the eighth month, Second Young Master Zhang returned from the capital to marry Third Miss, and in the ninth month, the Gu family of Yuhang also joyfully came to receive Fourth Miss.

The Yang household suddenly grew much quieter.

The Grand Madam had busily spent half a year preparing dowries of forty to fifty thousand taels of silver each for Third Miss and Fourth Miss. Though Fourth Concubine helped, she was still exhausted beyond breath.

She had no energy left to worry about court matters.

After her two daughters married out, she found leisure time and lay in bed for several days recovering her vitality.

Then she summoned several younger ones for idle conversation, including even Sixth Miss.

Families with many daughters were like this.

When the daughters were still at home, chattering away, it seemed like raising countless sparrows—all day long either finding this one displeasing or that one irritating.

Once the four eldest daughters had married out, leaving only three daughters and one son at home, it felt cold and quiet again.

Fifth Miss was also thirteen now, would soon need to discuss marriage, and then there were Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss…

In the end, only Ninth Brother would remain at home.

The Grand Madam looked at Ninth Brother with eyes full of tender warmth.

Even toward Sixth Miss, she was somewhat more favorably disposed.

After discussing some household trivialities, she asked Ninth Brother, “Have you organized everything?”

The small garden at Hanlin Residence had already been tidied up.

First Concubine, Fifth Concubine, and Seventh Concubine had all already moved into the small garden.

There were also several household servants who ordinarily held some standing… all had moved there.

Only the three sisters of Huansha Wu, because the Grand Master had spoken and granted them special privilege, need not reside in Hanlin Residence.

Fourth Concubine, on the second day after Fourth Miss married out, cheerfully packed her belongings and also entered Hanlin Residence.

It was said she had already begun fasting and reciting Buddhist scriptures, praying for blessings for Third Miss and Fourth Miss.

She withdrew quite cleanly and decisively.

The Grand Madam no longer had the heart to torment this old rival. Not only did she readily arrange a spacious courtyard for Fourth Concubine, sometimes she even urged the Grand Master to speak with her, displaying her own virtue.

Seventh Miss greatly admired Fourth Concubine: she too was someone who could take up and let go, retiring after success without a trace of lingering attachment.

Baifang Garden grew quiet.

It was just right for arranging Seventh Miss and Ninth Brother to move into the garden.

With Seventh Concubine having entered Hanlin Residence, Sixth Miss occupied Xiao Xiangxue and was unwilling to move elsewhere.

“It’s only because she’s attached to Xiao Xiangxue’s swing,” Fifth Miss couldn’t help but mock Sixth Miss.

Sixth Miss made a face, full of charming innocence. “Hasn’t Fifth Sister also swung on it?”

Seventh Miss then joined in rebuking Fifth Miss. “That’s just how Fifth Sister is—when she’s on the swing, she doesn’t mention her own love of play, but as soon as she gets off, she starts criticizing how Sixth Sister is too old to still love swinging.”

Fifth Miss was so angry she called out to Seventh Miss directly. “Master Huang kept you after class, go embroider flowers at Zhuying Terrace, and definitely don’t add to the chaos here.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Ninth Brother then replied to the Grand Madam, “Everything is packed, but… Jidi Residence has two floors, Mother, what do you think…”

He revealed a look of mouth-watering desire.

The Grand Madam laughed. “Fine, fine, tomorrow I’ll have Nanny Yao take you to the small storeroom. Whatever you fancy, just pick it, all right?”

Only then was Ninth Brother satisfied, merely grinning foolishly.

The Grand Madam asked Seventh Miss again, “Though Yuyu Pavilion is small, it’s still larger than the west side courtyard. If you’re short any furnishings, just ask Nanny Yao.”

Though several pavilions had been vacated within Baifang Garden, Seventh Miss hadn’t taken a liking to any of them. Instead, she favored Yuyu Pavilion opposite Yuelai Hall, liking it for being in a corner of the garden where few people usually passed by, making it relatively peaceful.

Seventh Miss smiled. “Good, I certainly won’t be polite with Mother.”

After some more family conversation, the Grand Master also came in to check on the Grand Madam.

“Father.” The children all rose to pay their respects.

The Grand Master waved his hand. “All sit.”

Only then did the four children slowly return to their seats.

The Grand Master had also aged considerably this half year, with much more white hair at his temples.

After inquiring about the Grand Madam’s well-being, he too sat leaning against the bed post beside her, chatting with the children.

With the Grand Master present, no matter how the conversation wandered, it eventually always settled on court matters.

Over this half year, the Emperor’s condition had somewhat improved, and the court and country gradually felt reassured.

Duke Pingguo had won several more battles on the northern border, showing great momentum toward opening new territories and driving the Northern Rong far into the Western Regions.

Last month, the Crown Prince had further enfeoffed the First Prince as Prince of Lu, planning a princely mansion for the First Prince in Linzhou, Shandong.

“Construction is also proceeding quickly,” the Grand Master’s face showed derision. “Now they’re already urging Prince Lu to go assume his position…”

The Great Qin’s princes had no military authority. All provisions and institutional arrangements were the same as the previous dynasty. Once in Linzhou, the First Prince nominally could no longer participate in court politics.

How could the First Prince willingly submit?

The struggles in court were growing increasingly tense, showing clear signs of the concealed dagger being revealed.

“It all depends on when His Majesty can fully recover!” The Grand Madam’s face was full of worried concern.

As long as the Emperor had not breathed his last, the Yang family could sit secure as Mount Tai. If the Emperor did expire, this tremendous wealth and honor would be difficult to preserve.

The Grand Master’s expression was grave.

“His Majesty’s illness came on fiercely this time, several times nearly letting go,” he revealed palace secrets in a low voice.

The children’s faces couldn’t help but change drastically.

The Grand Madam showed no surprise, clearly having known already.

“If not for the Young Divine Physician working together with several disciples of the Ouyang family, applying acupuncture day and night, His Majesty likely could not have endured through this crisis.” The Grand Master sighed lightly again. “However, it’s said that even if he can recover, his spirits won’t be very good in the future. Court affairs will ultimately have to be handed over to his sons…”

Managing a country involved countless threads. With the Emperor’s spirits insufficient, it stood to reason he would need to train his successor and begin considering posthumous arrangements.

Though over many years the Emperor had always prided himself on being in his prime and had greatly restricted his two sons, now facing a shortened lifespan, he must begin deliberating in his heart whom to have inherit such a vast enterprise.

Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss both wore bewildered expressions.

Ninth Brother and the Grand Madam both fell into contemplation.

Seventh Miss half understood and half didn’t, vaguely able to capture some meaning in the Grand Master’s words.

What kind of person was the Grand Master?

With one sweep of his gaze, everyone’s reactions had all fallen into his eyes.

That Ninth Brother, at such a young age, already had his own views on court matters was gratifying to him.

As for Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss’s confusion, that was nothing.

After all, they were still young and had always been sheltered young ladies—not understanding was within reason. After marrying in the future, needing to support their families, gradually they would come to understand eventually.

But Seventh Miss…

The Grand Master’s heart stirred, and he began carefully observing Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss bit her lower lip, infinite thoughts swirling in her eyes, as if somewhat enlightened but not fully comprehending.

Concubine Feng herself was ordinary in every respect, yet this pair of twins she had produced were truly spiritually gifted and outstanding…

The Grand Master couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

Ninth Brother aside, if Seventh Miss had been born male, he could close his eyes in peace.

He moved imperceptibly, instructing his two daughters. “Who in this world waits until they’re thirsty to dig a well? The Yang family has reached the time to choose sides through preparation for contingencies.”

Waiting until victory and defeat were determined to choose sides would be no better than not choosing at all.

Court affairs were like this—what the Grand Master and Grand Madam could do amounted to nothing more than making the best choice under the circumstances at the time. Though declaring allegiance now might already seem late, it was still better than remaining aloof to the end.

The Grand Madam was struck with alarm, though not overly surprised.

“All of you, withdraw!” She composed her expression and instructed the children.

“Ninth Brother stays.” The Grand Master stopped Ninth Brother again.

Though still young, concerning matters of the Yang family’s future direction, it was time to let his son listen in as well.

The young misses filed out of the east side room.

All wore heavy concerns on their faces.

With the court situation dark and unclear, every choice the Yang family made was intimately connected to them.

Fifth Miss forced herself to rally her spirits, calling to Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss. “Shall we go to the small storeroom to select some furnishings for Seventh Sister?”

Looking at Sixth Miss, she smiled again. “And for Sixth Sister too—when Seventh Concubine went to Xiao Xiangxue, she surely took some things. I’ll select a few more playthings for you! Who told you to be so fond of play!”

Sixth Miss also broke into smiles, casting aside what had just happened.

“How annoying!” she complained to Fifth Miss. “Fifth Sister only knows how to tease me!”

Seventh Miss shook her head, setting her concerns aside.

Sixth Miss had always been obedient and well-behaved. If Fifth Miss wanted to overstep her bounds and select some furnishings for her from the small storeroom, the Grand Madam most likely wouldn’t say anything.

“Let’s go, let’s go.” She smiled together with Fifth Miss, forcibly pulling Sixth Miss out of the main hall. “If you ask me, you should just move to Zhuying Terrace. We three sisters huddled in one corner would be much livelier…”

Major matters had the adults to worry about. What young ladies needed to concern themselves with amounted to nothing more than these trivial household matters.

Days flowed by like water.