In the end, these were matters concerning relatives’ affairs. The Grand Master and Grand Madam could only speculate—as for what exactly was happening, it wasn’t proper to ask outright.

That evening, they hastily dispatched someone to deliver funeral gifts, fulfilling the etiquette due to in-laws.

The Zhang family expressed repeated thanks and had their steward convey word that they would take the entire household to attend the funeral and observe three years of mourning at their ancestral home. The Jiangnan estate would be looked after by the steward, and should any difficulties arise, they would certainly request the in-laws’ kind consideration.

With the Grand Master currently governing Jiangnan, and with the Zhang family being marriage relatives, how could the Zhang family encounter many difficulties in Jiangnan?

It was merely a perfunctory courtesy.

The Grand Master solemnly agreed.

He also asked when Master Zhang planned to depart and personally escorted the Zhang family party to Ten-Li Pavilion before returning.

Sure enough, entering the tenth month, the Emperor again promoted Prince Lu, permitting him to return to the capital for medical treatment, and also had Prince Lu bring his legitimate eldest son to the capital so the Emperor could enjoy familial happiness.

Once the old gentleman’s health improved, his thoughts turned not to training his successor but to balancing the situation…

Both the Grand Master and Grand Madam found this contemptible.

This suspicious streak of the Emperor’s could never be changed no matter what.

A reply from the Xu family also arrived accordingly.

However, it didn’t mention marriage matters but rather discussed commercial ventures.

Throughout history, golden ages always featured territorial expansion and tributary visits from all nations.

The Emperor had never imagined he could expand into the Western Regions during his lifetime. In his delight, after two or three years of planning, he was preparing to reopen oceanic trade routes and voyage to the Western Seas again, recreating the spectacle of tributary visits from all nations during the Yongle era of the previous dynasty.

Tributary visits from all nations would add to the Emperor’s achievements.

But buried within these oceanic commercial ventures were staggering profits.

Great Qin’s last large-scale official maritime voyage had occurred a hundred years ago.

That voyage a century ago had brought back rare gemstones and exotic Western beauties…

In recognition of Duke Pingguo and his son’s achievements, the Emperor had recently hinted at having the Xu family train a naval force that would provide escort when the voyage departed.

This was intentionally sending silver into Duke Pingguo’s household.

Though when the voyage departed, by regulation the person in charge would certainly be a palace eunuch with no share for meritorious nobles, the Xu family enjoyed favor and had connections to the assignment—they would inevitably arrange two or three large ships privately to accompany the official vessels south, with the naval force providing support all along the way.

The Southern Seas were not peaceful—pirates ran rampant. Throughout history, many merchant vessels at sea capsized with all hands lost, returning nothing on their investment. Thus, great households rarely involved themselves in maritime trade.

But this time with naval escort and special consideration, the risk would be greatly reduced.

Duke Pingguo’s household was inquiring whether the Yang family was interested in purchasing a share.

The Grand Master took the letter to discuss with the Grand Madam.

He didn’t particularly avoid the children.

Household management emphasized teaching by example and precept.

Facing such overwhelming wealth and invitation, how to weigh gains and losses, how to analyze the implications—these were lessons the matriarch and master of the household should learn.

The children were all old enough now—they should begin learning this simplest yet most profound course in worldly affairs.

“Maritime commerce is inherently like walking with your entire fortune clutched in hand. Oceanic voyages are high-risk—ships capsize, people die, very likely resulting in total loss.” The Grand Master gradually analyzed the risks of this business venture for the Grand Madam. “Maritime commerce is like this—highly speculative. If it returns safely, at minimum there’s tenfold profit, sometimes hundredfold, thousandfold, even ten-thousandfold profits are not impossible.”

The Grand Madam also listened very attentively.

The court hadn’t sent fleets to the Southern Seas for many years. Neither the Grand Madam nor the Grand Master had engaged in maritime trade.

“The capital investment is also enormous… Don’t assume that just because the Xu family recently won great victories and obtained considerable spoils, they necessarily dare to undertake this venture alone. After all, great families and noble clans always seek stability above all. They’re preparing to have us, the Qin family, and the Sun family each take a twenty-five percent share. When the time comes, aside from turnover and profit-sharing with employees, they’ll take one additional share of pure profit.”

Since the channel was provided by the Xu family, taking only one additional share of profit wasn’t harsh.

These families were all blood relatives and marriage relatives with close relationships, all intimate associates of the Crown Prince. This business venture would certainly take a very long time.

It would bind these families even more tightly together.

The Grand Madam lowered her head in calculation.

After a long while, she asked, “How much silver per share?”

The Grand Master’s expression remained unchanged. “Two hundred thousand taels.”

Before the Grand Madam could react, the children all drew sharp breaths.

Although at that time civilian maritime transport was gradually flourishing and silver was gradually becoming cheaper, two hundred thousand taels remained a figure ordinary people dared not aspire to.

The Xu family’s plan called for two and a half shares—that meant an expenditure of five hundred thousand taels…

Yet the Grand Madam’s expression still didn’t change.

This showed how substantial the Yang family’s foundation was!

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but marvel inwardly at the Yang family’s wealth.

No wonder the Second Madam had desperately tried to push several cousin brothers into the first branch.

The second branch had separated early, when the Grand Master wasn’t yet Jiangnan Governor-General. The family property allocated to the second branch certainly wasn’t this abundant.

Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss desperately exchanged glances. Looking at Ninth Brother, their expressions were somewhat strange.

Though the realm had many wealthy and noble families, those both noble and wealthy like the Yang family were few.

Yet the daughters’ dowries were all limited. In the future, wouldn’t all this wealth rivaling a kingdom end up in Ninth Brother’s hands?

Ninth Brother remained composed, as if this tremendous wealth couldn’t move his heart.

Seeing this, the Grand Master felt gratified: in great households, what was valued was precisely this steadiness in the younger generation.

The Grand Madam contemplated and calculated for a long time before murmuring to the Grand Master, “How many years before this business venture can be settled?”

The Grand Master smiled. “At minimum three years, at most five years—it’s all uncertain.”

The Grand Madam fell into contemplation again.

The Grand Master took the opportunity to test Ninth Brother. “What do you think—should we do this business or not?”

Ninth Brother pondered for a moment, somewhat embarrassed. “Even with ten thousand strings of cash, one sleeps on no more than three feet, eats no more than two measures. For great families and noble clans, the priority is keeping to one’s station. Our household is also small. This son feels that no matter how large the family estate, if we cannot protect it, it’s all in vain…”

The Grand Master and Grand Madam’s eyes both brightened.

Even Seventh Miss looked at Ninth Brother with new respect.

Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss showed even more astonishment.

The Grand Master rarely laughed heartily, slapping the table in praise of the Grand Madam. “Xiufei, you’ve truly raised Ninth Brother well!”

His pride overflowed in his expression.

Only then did Ninth Brother smile slightly, still somewhat shy.

Against the dim candlelight, his face appeared increasingly refined as jade, his eyes like morning stars…

Unknowingly, Ninth Brother had already grown into an elegant young gentleman.

Seventh Miss took advantage of the Grand Master’s good mood to ask charmingly, “Father, though we won’t participate in shares of the large fleet, could we also casually purchase a small ship, outfit it with some playthings to send over—whether we profit or lose doesn’t matter, just for amusement?”

The Grand Master couldn’t help laughing. “Purchasing ships for business involves so many matters—just because of a few words from you daughters, the entire household should run themselves ragged?”

Even the Grand Madam was amused by Seventh Miss. “Our Little Seven rarely acts foolish.”

Everyone laughed. “Indeed, our Little Seven rarely acts foolish.”

Seventh Miss blushed, stamped her foot in protest, and turned. “I was just thinking of saving some private money…”

The Grand Madam lovingly pulled Seventh Miss into her embrace. “If you’re short of money to spend, just tell Mother—naturally I’ll send it to you.”

She turned and instructed Lidong, “Later give—” she glanced at Sixth Miss, “—send some money to all three young ladies! How can the Yang family’s daughters be short of money to spend?”

The Grand Master watched this harmonious scene between mother and daughters, his eyes full of tenderness.

He smiled and asked Sixth Miss, “Do you have enough money to spend?”

The Grand Madam couldn’t help but glance at Sixth Miss again.

Sixth Miss quickly smiled. “Enough—I don’t have anywhere to spend money. My money box is so full it almost won’t close. I’ve been thinking of discussing with Daxue about making offerings when we go to Hanshan Temple to burn incense and accumulate merit!”

The Grand Master nodded with satisfaction and instructed the children further, “Wealth comes quickly and goes easily. Only families that practice charity and accumulate merit and blessings can prosper long-term. The four characters ‘benevolent heart and kind nature’ must be kept in mind at all times and never forgotten. If today our Yang family bullies others with our power, tomorrow when we lose power, who knows how many feet will trample us… Do you all understand?”

The children rose again to receive instruction.

After dinner, the children returned to their respective rooms. In the Grand Master’s presence, the Grand Madam handed her token to Nanny Liang, having her go to the small storeroom to find Nanny Yao to collect money.

“Don’t give too much—send fifty taels to each person. Tomorrow also summon people from Qianxiu Workshop and Baoqing Silver to come make colored garments for them and craft some fashionable jewelry.”

In other words, these fifty taels were merely for the daughters’ leisure spending, to buy rouge and face powder they fancied.

At Suzhou prices, fifty taels of silver could support an ordinary household comfortably for a year. Used to buy powder and cosmetics, who knew how many lifetimes it would take to spend it all.

The Grand Master teased the Grand Madam. “You’re becoming increasingly generous toward the daughters.”

Previously, the Grand Madam had been strict in educating her daughters. Though generous with money, she rarely summoned Qianxiu Workshop to tailor clothes.

But these past years, her spending had become increasingly lavish—constantly summoning masters from Baoqing Silver to craft jewelry and embroiderers from Qianxiu Workshop to tailor clothes… renovating the small garden, emphasizing daily food, clothing, and household quality…

The Grand Madam sighed. “It was fine when I was young, but now that I’m old, looking at three daughters beautiful as flowers and jade, I truly don’t want to shortchange them. In the bloom of youth, they shouldn’t have to scheme over a bit of clothing and jewelry.”

She brought up the Li family’s affairs.

“Last time at Madam Li’s house, Thirteenth Miss was dressed up like a jade doll, but several concubine-born daughters still wore those same few colored garments. Later Little Seven told me I learned they’d worn them last year, and this year they altered them larger and wore them again.” The Grand Madam clicked her tongue repeatedly. “The Li family has also served as Jiangsu Provincial Administration Commissioner for so many years, yet look how harshly Madam Li treats the concubine-born daughters. Even I felt it unbearable to watch.”

People were like this—once settled, they easily aged, and once old, easily grew soft-hearted.

The Grand Madam was also gradually showing signs of age. Nearly fifty years old, white hairs also appeared at her temples.

She was much kinder than before.

The Grand Master looked at the Grand Madam and smiled, patting her hand. “With many sons comes the troubles of many sons. Though the Li family has some income yearly, it can’t keep up with all the sons reaching marriageable age. Madam Li also has it difficult.”

The Grand Madam showed some sourness. “Having only one isn’t bad either. No matter how much family wealth, divided among a dozen sons, it becomes insignificant.”

Unable to eat the grapes, one calls them sour.

The Grand Master’s heart stirred.

“Regarding the Xu family matter,” he discussed with the Grand Madam, “their earnest sincerity being what it is, we can’t rashly refuse. I think we should still participate in a share.”

Otherwise, having just postponed the marriage proposal between the two families and then refusing the Xu family’s goodwill, the Xu family would inevitably harbor doubts.

Ninth Brother was young after all and hadn’t seen this aspect.

The Grand Madam also nodded. “However, taking on a full twenty-five percent share would strain us somewhat…”

“What I’m thinking is,” the Grand Master said slowly, “Wenqing and we have associated for many years—we can see clearly what kind of person he is. Didn’t you tell me that Madam Li wanted to match Little Seven with Eleventh Young Master, but later when Little Seven was registered under your name, they switched to Little Six?”

The Grand Madam’s expression shifted.

“Wasn’t it said that Eleventh Young Master had arranged a good match in the capital…” She couldn’t help but hesitate.

The Grand Master sighed. “It was arranged, but unfortunately, in the epidemic of the twenty-first year of Zhaomin, she passed away.”

In the twenty-first year of Zhaomin, there had been a minor epidemic in the capital. By coincidence, several young ladies from wealthy families died in this epidemic. Troublemakers fabricated the label “maiden’s plague” and spread it widely.

“It was also that epidemic?” The Grand Madam was quite shocked. “So she died the same year as Third Miss Da.”

The Grand Madam had always remained mindful of this Third Miss Da.

The Grand Master laughed. “What Third Miss Da—she was Second Madam Quan.”

He sighed again. “Speaking of it, the phrase ‘fate toys with people’ truly couldn’t be more apt. Young Master Quan’s medical skills are divinely inspired—even His Majesty, who reportedly had only one breath left and was about to die, he miraculously revived, allowing the sage to recover completely. Who could have imagined his own fiancée’s condition would be delayed beyond saving…”

Because Quan Zhongbai was serving in the military, he delayed Third Miss Da’s pneumonia treatment, causing the young miss’s lingering illness to develop complications. Later in the twenty-first year of Zhaomin, she contracted the epidemic and her condition worsened. At that time, Quan Zhongbai was actually in the capital, but unfortunately confined within Qianqing Palace, hearing nothing of affairs outside the palace, single-mindedly attending to the Emperor’s illness.

Later when the Emperor recovered, only then did he hurriedly take Third Miss Da’s pulse. But she had already deteriorated beyond recovery. Medicine and tonics alone could not restore her health, and as an unmarried lady, acupuncture techniques were inappropriate. With no alternative, the two families hastily married, but even with divine physician’s supreme skills, nothing could be done. Just three days after the wedding, the young miss fragrant jade perished.

This story was composed into ballads by troublemakers and sung throughout the realm. The Yang family all knew of it. Though the Yang family wasn’t close with the Quan family, the Grand Madam still greatly admired Quan Zhongbai’s character. Hearing this, she also sighed before contemplating, “Speaking of it, when the children were all still young, they did meet. Little Seven even mentioned to me that Eleventh Young Master showed considerable special regard for Sixth Miss…”

“For this kind of business, without being close relatives, it’s not proper to rashly invite people to invest—otherwise neither side can be at ease.” The Grand Master contemplated and guided the Grand Madam. “Tomorrow you should hint to Madam Li. If Eleventh Young Master hasn’t taken a liking to another family, we’ll agree to this match. That child Eleventh Young Master is steady and progressive—matching him with Little Six is sufficient.”

The Grand Madam thought for a while before agreeing, but her face showed difficulty.

“When declining before, we said we had to wait until the older sisters were all betrothed before it would be Sixth Miss’s turn…”

Right now there was Fifth Miss, already fifteen years old and still unbetrothed.

The Grand Madam was gently pressing about Fifth Miss’s marriage prospects.

The Grand Master had no intention of concealing from the Grand Madam. “Fifth Miss’s match will be soon too. Third Sister’s letter also mentioned that His Majesty intends to maintain annual trade after opening navigation routes. That child Fengjia will accompany palace eunuchs south to train troops—presumably to rebuild the naval training facility at Taihu Lake to prepare for annually replenishing and training troops. Speaking of it, he’ll be staying in the Suzhou-Hangzhou area for most of half a year.”

Only after tactfully declining the marriage proposal did they dispatch Xu Fengjia to the Suzhou-Hangzhou area. Clearly Madam Xu had seen through the Yang family’s concerns: worrying that Xu Fengjia’s temperament wasn’t sufficiently steady to be a good son-in-law.

This time, rather than saying the heir of Duke Pingguo was coming to train troops, it was more accurate to say he was coming for the Grand Master and Grand Madam to assess as a son-in-law.

The Grand Madam was stunned.

After a long while, her expression dazed, she murmured, “Third Sister, she… wants so much to form this marriage alliance with our family… likes Little Five so much?”

The Grand Master looked at the Grand Madam with a half-smile, saying nothing for a long time.