After eating Laba porridge at Guangfu, the Grand Madam organized taking her children and their entire households back to Suzhou.

Great families celebrating New Year had many rules and many guests. In the twelfth month alone, there were many bringing New Year gifts to the door. The Grand Madam, as the household’s mistress, naturally needed to hold fort at the Yang residence.

“If it weren’t for Shuxia being able to help these past years, I couldn’t manage everything at once. Mother is growing older—I can’t bear the heavy responsibility of mistress anymore.”

The Grand Madam personally brought Seventh Miss in the emerald-canopied oil carriage, resting with closed eyes while chatting idly with Seventh Miss.

Fifth Miss had an impatient temperament—the mother and daughter often couldn’t see eye to eye.

These past years, the Grand Madam had become more willing to keep Seventh Miss by her side.

“Mother is clearly getting younger year by year. If you sigh about aging, then Grand Aunt would truly have no place to hide—she’s several years younger than you, isn’t she? Last time she came to pay respects, her hair was already half gray…”

Seventh Miss’s mouth was naturally sweet.

The Grand Madam’s heart warmed, and she smiled in mock reproach: “You have such a glib tongue. Grand Aunt has premature graying—you know that perfectly well.”

The mother and daughter chatted idly all the way.

The Grand Madam brought up Xu Fengjia again.

“This child Fengjia truly puts his heart into his duties—no wonder he obtained fourth-rank merit at such a young age.”

Xu Fengjia had also frequently come to Guangfu recently to see the Grand Old Master.

Naturally, he would come in to pay respects to the Grand Madam.

Speaking of him, the Grand Madam’s tone was full of affection.

“I see he’s completely different from when he was small—he has the bearing of a young hero now. That composure, that ease—it’s quite rare to see peers who can compare.”

Seventh Miss paused.

She slowly lowered her eyes, smiling in agreement with the Grand Madam: “Yes, though I haven’t witnessed it personally, judging from Mother’s tone, Cousin has apparently been completely transformed…”

In her heart, she couldn’t help recalling Xu Fengjia’s smile.

The Grand Madam’s eyes must be clouded by something.

Just from his smile alone, one could tell he had absolutely nothing to do with being proper or composed.

She thought again of that low, mellow voice.

“You must think carefully—do you have a conscience or not…”

Her fingertips felt slightly numb and tingling.

Her heartbeat, unknowingly, had quickened several beats.

“I think Shuxia alone really can’t handle everything.” The Grand Madam rambled on. “You siblings will both be fourteen after New Year. Ninth Brother is the only son—arranging his marriage before his three older cousins is understandable…”

The Grand Madam’s gentle voice falling into Seventh Miss’s ears was like a basin of ice water poured from the crown of her head.

She snapped back to reality in an instant.

The kesi silk embroidered lotus and crane cloak before her eyes became clear once more.

“Only your father worries rightly—Ninth Brother has only xiucai merit, so there’s not much confidence in arranging marriage. These years I don’t know where this trend came from—scholars who haven’t passed the juren examination are practically ashamed to discuss marriage!” The Grand Madam grew worried again. “Besides, the families I favor are all far away in the capital. What kind of character the daughters have—I’m not clear in my heart…”

“Father knows what he’s doing.” Seventh Miss gently consoled the Grand Madam. “Besides, Eldest Cousin is currently arranging marriage—it wouldn’t be good for us to compete with him for prospects.”

Families rarely arranged marriages for two brothers simultaneously.

The Grand Madam had always been fond of Min Brother. Hearing Seventh Miss mention him, she slapped her thigh: “I forgot—your three cousins have also studied diligently at Shantang Academy this year. We really should bring them to Guangfu to stay together for a few days.”

“Shantang Academy doesn’t go on holiday until Laba, remember?” Seventh Miss smiled and poured the Grand Madam a cup of tea. “Working hard at the academy all year—in the twelfth month, we should let Brothers relax. Make some of their favorite dishes… so Brothers won’t feel aggrieved even when returning home.”

The Grand Madam’s gaze toward Seventh Miss grew increasingly tender.

How rare that this child had such a broad heart—she harbored not a trace of resentment toward her three cousins.

“That’s why I had Yurong Pavilion cleaned out before the twelfth month.” She took the small magnetite cup and drank half a cup of warm tea. “Mm, this tea’s color and flavor have both emerged—you try it too. I think after this year, your three cousins will be living permanently at the residence. Having the children continue staying in the small garden at Hanlin Manor would be inappropriate and hard to avoid encounters. We might as well reorganize Yurong Pavilion, partition it into several small courtyards—one courtyard for each of the three brothers, both close and spacious… In the future when guests come, we’ll receive them all at Chuiyang Studio.”

These past years, the nephews only returned to the Governor-General’s residence for a month during New Year, usually confined to Shantang Academy studying.

Hard to say whether it was academy rules being strict or them not wanting to stay long…

“That’s a good idea.” Seventh Miss smiled and turned over another small magnetite cup, also pouring herself half a cup of hot tea. “With just these four brothers in the family, Ninth Brother will need his older brothers’ support in the future. Don’t let one family become estranged and give outsiders something to laugh at.”

A young girl who would only turn fourteen after New Year.

Sophisticated in human relations, magnanimous… Speaking and acting properly, never losing face before others.

The Grand Madam thought of the Grand Old Master’s words.

“Little Seven has a gentle temperament, understands propriety, and doesn’t lack calculation.” The Grand Old Master’s evaluation of Seventh Miss was much higher than Fifth Miss’s. “She’s also clever… I think she’d be worthy of even a son-in-law like Second Son-in-law. Having you bring her out to socialize also means keeping an eye out for prospects.”

“As for Little Five, her temperament is stubborn, and by nature she doesn’t like scheming or competing with others…”

Regarding the Xu family marriage, he surprisingly hadn’t completely made up his mind yet, hesitating as if the Xu family were a tiger’s den that would trap anyone who entered.

She drifted into thought for a moment.

After a long while, she slowly echoed in agreement.

“Yes, in the future, Ninth Brother will absolutely need his brothers’ support.”

#

Min Brother, Da Brother, and Hong Brother arrived at the Governor-General’s residence almost on the heels of the Grand Madam’s party.

The Grand Madam, not minding the travel fatigue, summoned the three nephews before her as soon as they settled in.

“Haven’t seen you in half a year—you’ve all grown even more!”

Shantang Academy had tight coursework. The last time the three nephews came home was when the Grand Old Master brought them back for Mid-Autumn Festival.

These three young masters had all grown into youths now—even the youngest, Hong Brother, was already fifteen.

Though they couldn’t be called jade trees in an orchid grove, they were all upright-featured youths with substantial bearing. Over the years, all three had successively obtained xiucai merit and were now studying intently, preparing for next year’s autumn provincial examination.

Seeing their aunt, they all properly performed their courtesies before rising to sit in the lower seats and converse with the Grand Madam.

“How was it? What did the academy teachers say?” The Grand Madam was especially cheerful today. “At this year’s year-end evaluation, you all received excellent ratings, didn’t you?”

Shantang Academy’s year-end examination had evaluations. If one could consecutively obtain excellent ratings for several years, passing the autumn provincial examination to become juren generally wasn’t problematic.

Min Brother nodded slightly: “Nephew and Second Brother both received excellent ratings. Third Brother was unwell those days with some diarrhea, so he only received a good rating.”

Hong Brother touched his nose, somewhat embarrassed: “If not for the diarrhea, excellent would have been a sure thing.”

Hong Brother had been mischievous since childhood—such things happening to him weren’t strange at all.

The Grand Madam found it amusing: “Fine, fine—one year-end evaluation, what’s the big deal? Just don’t have diarrhea during next year’s autumn examination.”

Everyone laughed appropriately.

“After New Year, don’t go back to Shantang Academy.” The Grand Madam took the opportunity to arrange for the nephews. “You’ll be sitting for the examination next year—you should settle down in Yurong Pavilion instead. Ordinarily, interact more with the gentlemen in the front courtyard—they’re all learned scholars with merit to their names. Consulting them would be best. Then head north in May when the roads are better.”

Though the first and second branches had lived in Jiangnan for years and considered themselves Jiangnan gentry for many years, their ancestral home was in the northwest. The three nephews could only take the xiucai examination in Jiangnan, but for juren, they had to return to the northwest to test—that was required by Great Qin law.

The provincial examination was in September. Leaving in May, the three nephews could still visit Yang Family Village to see Second Madam after reaching the northwest. The Grand Madam’s arrangement couldn’t be called anything but thoughtful.

Min Brother showed gratitude but didn’t follow the Grand Madam’s arrangement: “Grand Aunt has considered everything thoroughly, but we three brothers have discussed it—we’d like to leave after the first month and stay at Yang Family Village for a while.”

Second Madam had gone to the northwest in the twenty-first year of Zhaoming—these three years she still hadn’t seen her sons.

The Grand Madam couldn’t help feeling awkward.

She glanced at the nephews—Min Brother appeared nonchalant, Da Brother showed embarrassment, but Hong Brother pressed his lips together without speaking.

In her heart, she understood somewhat.

Adult conflicts wouldn’t openly affect the children’s feelings.

But how could the children not understand in their hearts?

The more understanding ones knew their parents had done inappropriate things—they felt ashamed and instead became even more diligent, growing closer to the first branch with intentions of making amends.

The less understanding ones probably instead resented the first branch for acting too dictatorially, not leaving the second branch any face.

Human hearts were like this—a lamp illuminating others wouldn’t illuminate oneself.

What Da Brother and Hong Brother thought in their hearts was completely different.

Only Min Brother… this child’s scheming had grown deep—the Grand Madam couldn’t see through him.

Forget it—she hadn’t planned on relying on the second branch’s children to look after Ninth Brother anyway.

“Fine, if your hearts hold your mother, that’s filial piety.” The Grand Madam’s expression didn’t change.

After asking a few more questions about daily matters, she summoned the siblings to come meet their cousins.

Just then, stewards came to deliver New Year goods. The Grand Madam called Shuxia over to help tally accounts, then sent people to summon Nanny Yao and Nanny Liang to open the large and small storerooms to move goods. The main hall became chaotic with people coming and going.

She arranged the younger generation in the east side courtyard to talk and play.

At this age, young men and women naturally separated by gender. The young ladies sat by the window in grand armchairs, chattering excitedly with each other, too absorbed to pay attention to the boys.

Ninth Brother and his three cousins sat in silent confrontation, unable to find anything to say for a long while.

Finally, Fifth Miss remembered and asked Min Brother bluntly: “Eldest Cousin is arranging marriage, isn’t he? Has it been settled with which family?”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Hong Brother pursed his lips and teased Fifth Miss: “Such a big girl now, talking about marriages without knowing shame!”

Then he asked Sixth Miss: “Is your Fifth Sister also arranging marriage after New Year?”

Fifth Miss grew anxious and stamped her foot: “Where does Hong Brother squeeze people like this? I thought to ask a question, and you’ve spun so many words about it.”

Min Brother quickly smiled and stopped Hong Brother: “Yes, a letter just came in the twelfth month saying Maternal Aunt looked on my behalf and has settled on Third Miss of the Ouyang family for me.”

Min Brother was magnanimous. This seventeen-year-old youth spoke of everything with calm composure and confidence, never showing a trace of awkwardness.

“Is it the Ouyang family that Madam Ouyang of the Li family comes from?” Sixth Miss pressed with a question.

Seventh Miss’s heart stirred.

The Ouyang family was Eleventh Young Master Li’s maternal uncle’s family.

This meant the Yang family second branch had indirectly connected with the Li family.

She’d once heard the Grand Madam mention that the Wang family and Second Old Master had grown somewhat distant over the years. Who would have thought that after Second Madam was exiled to the northwest, the second branch instead reconnected with the Wang family?—Second Old Master entrusting Min Brother’s marriage to the Wang family’s hands should mean reconciliation with the Wang family.

Good—though the two branches had already divided, they were ultimately branches of the same tree. If the second branch knew how to manage themselves, in the future the sons wouldn’t need to live off the first branch’s blood.

“Yes, the Qishan Ouyang.” Min Brother remained impassive. “The wedding will probably be held next year—otherwise, the younger brothers and sisters below also can’t arrange marriages.”

Fifth Miss laughed heartily and made a teasing gesture at Hong Brother: “Did you hear? He’s anxious to arrange marriage for you! Otherwise, why would there be such a rush to marry!”

Among these three brothers, Hong Brother was the most playful. Fifth Miss was most familiar with him.

Young men were thin-skinned. Teased by Fifth Miss, he flushed red: “Yang Shanli, oh Yang Shanli—don’t you need to arrange marriage yourself? If you don’t need marriage arrangements, what is Cousin Xu doing coming to Suzhou? You only know how to laugh at others. Hmph, and here we thought we were at the academy with limited information!”

Yang Shanli was Fifth Miss’s formal name.

Fifth Miss also blushed, standing up and stamping her foot hard: “Yang Shanhong, what nonsense are you spouting! Making up things out of thin air! Just wait till I tell Mother…”

“Fifth Sister!” Seventh Miss’s elegant brows furrowed slightly as she called out softly: “Everyone’s joking—why take it so seriously!”

Hong Brother’s face grew redder, about to retort, but at one glance from Min Brother, he forcibly swallowed the words at his lips.

Da Brother also laughed to smooth things over: “It’s all baseless talk—just a joke, and you two are taking it seriously.”

Sixth Miss was even more anxious: “Exactly! Brothers and sisters rarely see each other—Fifth Sister, why take it so seriously…”

Everyone made efforts, and with difficulty, they smoothed Fifth Miss’s ruffled feathers.

But Hong Brother still felt somewhat aggrieved, crossing his arms and looking out the window, huffing without speaking.

The atmosphere in the room grew awkward.

Seventh Miss looked at Hong Brother, then at Min Brother’s calm face.

She sighed deeply in her heart.

The three cousins’ positions were inherently awkward.

Rather than saying they studied in Suzhou, it was more accurate to say they were hostages in Suzhou.

Though they spent year after year at Shantang Academy, only occasionally returning to the Governor-General’s residence, separated from their parents—how could these youths not feel pain in their hearts?

And Fifth Miss wanted to complain to the Grand Madam… Did she think the three cousins weren’t aggrieved enough, weren’t dependent enough on others’ charity?

Even though Sixth Miss and Ninth Brother fired off witty remarks like pearls, with Min Brother and Da Brother quite obliging, neither Hong Brother nor Fifth Miss showed happy expressions again.

At dusk after paying respects to the Grand Old Master, everyone dispersed unhappily.

Entering Baifang Garden, Sixth Miss went straight through Ju Baxian back to Little Xiangxue, leaving only Fifth Miss and Seventh Miss to walk together toward the eastern side returning to their courtyards.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help reproaching Fifth Miss.

“Fifth Sister should also sympathize with Brothers—when parents aren’t worthy, the children suffer most… Being separated from parents these years, the pain in their hearts—how can we imagine…”

Fifth Miss’s anger hadn’t subsided. She snorted and turned her head away without responding.

Seventh Miss also stopped speaking.

The two walked silently past Huansha Wu and climbed the small bamboo bridge.

Fifth Miss hung her head, looking at the creaking bamboo planks beneath her feet, and only then spoke in a thin voice: “If Hong Brother hadn’t teased me about Cousin, I wouldn’t have gotten angry with him. Such matters require the most discretion—yet he spoke as if it were real! I—I don’t want to marry into the Xu family at all!”

When daughters spoke of marriage, it always carried three parts shyness.

No matter how straightforward Fifth Miss was, she couldn’t escape convention.

The words had barely left her mouth before she lowered her head and quickened her pace, leaving Seventh Miss behind as she turned into Yuelai Pavilion.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but stop.

After contemplating for a long while, she shook her head with a bitter smile and strode toward Yuyu Pavilion.