The Grand Madam was so enraged that she suffered an asthma attack that very evening. They hastily summoned the skilled physician from the Ouyang family to treat her. After administering medicine and several acupuncture treatments, it took several days of such torment before she finally began to recover.

There are no walls that don’t let wind through in this world, especially since this time, the two masters of the household had rarely raised their voices so loudly that the commotion carried outside their rooms… Naturally, the news spread like wildfire throughout the Garden of Hundred Fragrances.

Fifth Miss also fell gravely ill shortly after. It was said that the illness came without warning—she had been sitting perfectly fine one moment, then the next she vomited a mouthful of fresh blood, collapsed in weakness, and developed a high fever that very night.

The Old Master was so furious that he moved directly into the outer side courtyard and refused to even enter the main courtyard gates, let alone visit Fifth Miss in the Garden of Hundred Fragrances. Even Twelfth Concubine was confined to the outer side courtyard and not permitted to enter the main courtyard to help the Grand Madam manage household affairs.

With both the Grand Madam and Fifth Miss bedridden as patients, and Twelfth Concubine—who had helped manage affairs these past few years—unable to even leave the outer courtyard gates, Nanny Liang and Nanny Wang had to set aside their differences and work together. After supporting things for only a few days, they were clearly overwhelmed, and the household visibly descended into chaos.

They had no choice but to come together to seek Seventh Miss’s help. “The household currently doesn’t even have anyone who can make decisions. We beg Seventh Miss to step forward and plead with the Old Master…”

Seventh Miss showed a troubled expression. “Both nannies surely know why Father and Mother are quarreling… At a time like this, how can Little Seventh step forward to take charge?”

In the dispute between two powerful figures, the most awkward person was Seventh Miss herself. Whether she wanted to marry or not, she would inevitably offend one party. At this moment, what Seventh Miss feared most was probably attracting the attention of both the Grand Madam and the Old Master, forcing her to take a stance on this marriage match…

Nanny Liang was very troubled. “But you see, with two patients inside and out, and Sixth Miss never managing anything, only you who follows by Madam’s side and are always careful and competent—”

Nanny Liang’s meaning was quite clear. With the Grand Madam and Old Master quarreling and the Grand Madam falling ill, the household indeed lacked someone who could take charge. Since Seventh Miss usually enjoyed the glory and wealth of being a legitimate daughter, she should naturally step forward now to shoulder the burden of caring for her legitimate mother and legitimate sister.

In the past, Seventh Miss would have jumped at such an opportunity to curry favor with the Grand Madam and show her diligence…

But Seventh Miss only smiled. “Nanny Liang flatters me too much. I’m an unmarried young lady—how would I understand the trivial matters inside and outside the household… Since Father has confined Twelfth Concubine to the outer courtyard, I think you two nannies should be looking for Fourth Concubine, not Little Seventh.”

The two nannies looked at each other, both somewhat unable to accept this.

After all, they had fought against Fourth Concubine for over ten years. This role reversal was difficult to adapt to immediately.

Seventh Miss gave Lixia a meaningful look.

“Fourth Concubine has been well-behaved and obedient these years, quite lonely in the Small Garden for a while…” Lixia drew out her words meaningfully. “If Madam learns she’s managing the household, she might be so delighted her asthma will clear up!”

In recent years, though Fourth Concubine’s relationship with the Grand Madam had somewhat thawed, how could the Grand Madam be happy to see this noble concubine—who had borne children and had a powerful natal family—take up the reins of household management again?

Once this news got out, the old lady’s illness brought on by anger would probably be cured by anger instead.

Nanny Liang and Nanny Wang suddenly understood, though both felt somewhat embarrassed.

This move of Seventh Miss’s was calculated based on the Grand Madam’s pettiness. Though clever, it was somewhat cruel, and fundamentally showed contempt for the Grand Madam.

Nanny Wang’s lips twitched. She very much wanted to subtly rebuke Seventh Miss, to let her know that the Grand Madam was her legitimate mother, and no matter how petty, as a daughter, she should maintain only respectful thoughts.

But seeing the smile on Seventh Miss’s face, her heart tightened.

Though the Old Master had never doted on Seventh Miss the way he had on Third Miss, what Seventh Miss wore and the jewelry she possessed were no less fine than what Third Miss had worn in her day… and these were all willingly bestowed by the Grand Madam!

Not to mention that even Second Miss and Third Miss in their time had never been like Seventh Miss, constantly visiting the outer courtyard to comfort the Old Master.

Though the matter of becoming the Crown Prince’s consort now faced obstacles, Seventh Miss’s wings had clearly grown full. She was no longer the shabbily dressed little girl who had to be respectful even toward herself!

She deeply bowed her head and thanked Seventh Miss. “If not for Seventh Miss’s guidance, we two old ones would have truly lost our bearings.”

Nanny Liang was even more grateful. “Isn’t that so? Without this word from Seventh Miss, the household would truly descend into chaos.”

Seventh Miss waved her hand and exchanged a few more courtesies with the two nannies before lowering her head to sip her tea.

The two nannies hurriedly thanked her profusely and took their leave, escorted by Lixia to the gates of Jade Rain Pavilion.

Shangyuan came forward to clear the tea bowls, glancing at Seventh Miss from time to time, hesitant to speak.

Seventh Miss just smiled. “If you have something to say, speak. Why be formal with me?”

“I thought Miss would take this opportunity to visit the outer courtyard and request Twelfth Concubine come out to manage affairs…” Shangyuan honestly revealed her question.

Logically, this thought wasn’t wrong either.

To bring out Fourth Concubine at this time would undoubtedly add another source of trouble to the household.

The Grand Madam would inevitably become suspicious and paranoid, thinking the Old Master was using her illness to seize the authority from her hands. This move was actually quite poor strategy.

Moreover, with the Old Master’s capabilities, he naturally knew that Seventh Miss had overheard his argument with the Grand Madam.

Falling from Crown Prince’s consort to an Accomplished Scholar’s wife—even if the Old Master was dictatorial, he couldn’t ignore Seventh Miss’s feelings. At this time, acceding to the two nannies’ request and visiting the outer courtyard to see the Old Master for a heart-to-heart father-daughter talk, whether she wanted to agree or not, would clarify the situation.

Otherwise, these two nannies wouldn’t have sought out anyone else but specifically come to Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss only smiled. “You don’t understand this.”

She paused and gave Shangyuan a particularly scrutinizing look before casually instructing, “Only when the waters are muddied can the show become interesting, and many things can be handled smoothly in private…”

Shangyuan seemed to grasp something.

She immediately thought of Lixia, who had been frequently taking leave recently.

Her heart turned cold.

After all these years serving by Seventh Miss’s side, the things she should and shouldn’t know about—she had more or less a vague understanding of them all.

Fourth Concubine, Second Madam… Those who stood in Seventh Miss’s way, one after another, had either disappeared from sight or been suppressed so thoroughly they could never rise again…

If not for serving by Seventh Miss’s side all these years, who would believe that this delicate, timid young lady who fell ill every few days could have such capabilities in private?

Capable people naturally thought differently from ordinary people like herself. What she saw as a chaotic crisis might well be an excellent opportunity for Seventh Miss to act… Since Lixia had followed Seventh Miss into the western side courtyard, the Zhou family had visibly prospered, even acquiring a small plot of land outside Suzhou city a few years ago…

“Whatever Miss says is right. How much insight could this servant have? I’ve truly made Miss laugh!” She immediately adjusted her expression, showing complete conviction. “This servant only knows to follow Miss’s instructions—that’s enough!”

Seventh Miss gave Shangyuan a particular look before nodding. “When you have time, talk more with your sister Lixia and learn from her speech and manners… There will be many occasions to use you in the future.”

Shangyuan was immediately delighted, though her face showed nothing. She steadily cleared the bowls and dishes, turned to leave the room, returned to her quarters, and only then did she laugh under her quilt for the duration of a stick of incense.

#

However, Nanny Liang and Nanny Wang did not go to the Small Garden to ask Fourth Concubine to come out of retirement.

Both old veterans could tell that Seventh Miss was deflecting, yet neither dared comment. Returning to the Grand Madam, they only said that Seventh Miss was also troubled by the marriage matter and had no heart to manage household affairs.

The Grand Madam deeply sympathized, resentfully slapping the bedframe. “If Little Seventh has any sense at all, she knows not to marry into the Feng family! Whether it’s becoming the Crown Prince’s consort or the Gui family—which would be worse than the Feng family? Improper origins and sudden wealth… If the Yang family dares form this alliance, even First Miss would laugh herself to death!”

As she spoke, she began coughing and wheezing again. The two nannies looked at each other, then rushed forward with attentiveness. “That’s enough now, please don’t get angry…”

After finally calming the Grand Madam’s temper somewhat, Nanny Wang was called out of the room to delegate some trivial tasks. Only then did Nanny Liang find an opportunity to ask the Grand Madam in a low voice, “Seventh Miss is after all a young lady. From her appearance, though she’s unwilling to marry into the Feng family, she may not dare openly oppose the Old Master… What do you think—how should this matter be settled to save face?”

Just thinking of those words Feng Jin had said years ago made the Grand Madam’s nameless rage flare up. She slapped the black sandalwood bed board carved with magnolias representing wealth and honor before settling down to think carefully. “The difficulty is that the Old Master has clearly made up his mind to use this marriage to bind Feng Jin to the Yang family’s side. As long as Feng Jin isn’t a fool, he naturally knows how to respond. It’s just that the Old Master still has some sense of shame…”

Nanny Liang already understood the Grand Madam’s meaning.

With Accomplished Scholar Feng’s personality—when he was merely a provincial graduate years ago, he dared break with the Yang family. This courage, this disposition, struck fear into one’s very heart.

Information gathered through various channels further proved that this person was a first-class favorite before the Crown Prince… The Yang family’s relationship with the Crown Prince was in a delicate phase of being neither close nor distant. To say nothing else, Feng Jin could easily make the Yang family suffer in the selection process.

The Old Master wanting to marry Seventh Miss to Feng Jin was sacrificing a pawn to save the chariot—to ensure Sixth Miss could enter the Eastern Palace. It must be said this was a bold and good move. As long as Feng Jin didn’t want to bear the name of ingrate, the Yang family proposing this marriage meant he would certainly agree. Seventh Miss was also his blood cousin, and over the years the family had provided some support to the Feng household… This marriage would accomplish three things at once: first, pave the way for Sixth Miss to be selected for the Eastern Palace; second, forge a strong alliance for the Yang family beside the Eastern Palace; third, elevate Ninth Brother’s status a bit. Thinking it through carefully, there were endless benefits waiting ahead… No wonder the Old Master made his decision as soon as he learned the news and couldn’t wait to discuss it with the Grand Madam.

But how could Nanny Liang not know the Grand Madam’s temperament? Even if Feng Jin had always been humble and submissive, treating himself as a concubine’s relative, this mistress still might not favor him, let alone this newly prominent figure who had once publicly humiliated the Grand Madam before the Li family and other families. For the Grand Madam to agree to this marriage—the heavens would split!

Moreover, the Grand Madam’s concerns weren’t without reason. No matter how extraordinary the second household was, that status was still that of a concubine. Years ago, when Concubine Cui of the Li family’s nephew wanted to marry Third Miss, the Grand Madam had frowned deeply, saying “forming marriage ties with concubine relatives would invite ridicule in the capital. Even if the Old Master doesn’t think of me, he should think of Ninth Brother’s future.” Feng Jin was not only a concubine’s relative, but his current wealth and status came from improper origins. Using him and forming alliances with him was one thing; forming a marriage alliance with the Feng family was another. To avoid becoming a laughingstock among the scholarly circles, this marriage absolutely could not proceed!

Not to mention that Seventh Miss herself might not want to marry into the Feng family and grow old with such an awkwardly positioned Accomplished Scholar… This was why she had agreed to Nanny Wang’s suggestion to ask Seventh Miss to step forward and oppose this marriage, to ease the relationship between the Old Master and Madam somewhat.

Who knew Seventh Miss had become more slippery with age—even suggesting such an unreliable idea as bringing out Fourth Concubine, refusing to say whether she would or wouldn’t marry…

The affection between husband and wife was already thin. If they continued to torment each other this way… Nanny Liang couldn’t help but feel worried.

“But your feigning illness can’t go on forever, and Fifth Miss truly fell ill at this juncture!” She sighed. “The Old Master is truly hardhearted, firmly keeping Twelfth Concubine confined to the outer courtyard—”

Seeing the Grand Madam’s expression grow even darker, she stopped mid-sentence.

Complaining about the Old Master now would only add fuel to the fire. Who knew—the Madam might truly burn her bridges and hastily betroth Seventh Miss to someone else, cutting off the Old Master’s plans…

The Grand Madam’s illness never improved. This only caused suffering for Nanny Liang and Nanny Wang, who worked in continuous shifts daily, tending to Fifth Miss’s illness and requesting physicians and medicine for the Grand Madam. The Yang family’s inner courtyard was truly overwhelmed.

The outer courtyard was unusually quiet: it was time for spring plowing, and the peach blossom floods were about to rise. Every year at this time, the Old Master was too busy to concern himself with rear courtyard matters.

Even the selection eunuchs and the party of the Princess Consort of Minyue were exceptionally quiet. The Princess Consort of Minyue had gone to Guangfu to worship at Buddhist temples, while the selection eunuchs’ party had gone south to Fujian to first select beauties locally in Fujian before finally returning to Suzhou for the final selection. Both Feng Jin and Eunuch Zhang had already gone south, which also gave the Yang family some breathing room.

Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss still attended classes with Nanny Tai. Nanny Tai had apparently given up on Seventh Miss and instead began minutely correcting every move of Sixth Miss. Though Sixth Miss suffered greatly, her words and actions were indeed becoming increasingly refined.

Seventh Miss was happy to slack off. After class, she would go with Sixth Miss to visit Fifth Miss.

Fifth Miss actually no longer had any serious ailment. It was just that those few mouthfuls of blood had come so suddenly. The Grand Madam worried she had damaged her vital energy and called several physicians to examine her. All said Fifth Miss had developed illness from pent-up emotions with stagnant blood inside. Upon inquiry, her monthly courses had indeed stopped for quite some time, but she hadn’t taken it seriously. This was genuine illness. The Grand Madam was so frightened her own illness worsened. She instructed Fifth Miss to rest in bed for recuperation. Fifth Miss was happy to avoid going out and about. Even facing her two younger sisters, she was listless, and many times beyond a few pleasantries, she had nothing else to say.

Now with the household’s situation so turbulent, the sisters seemed to have developed an indescribable barrier between them. Only Sixth Miss remained carefree—when Nanny Tai taught her, she studied diligently; when Nanny Tai couldn’t attend to her, she slacked off on the side.

Seventh Miss quite admired her ability to adapt to circumstances.

“With your temperament, if you enter the palace, I really don’t know how you’ll manage.” On the way to Moon Arrival Pavilion, she chatted idly with Sixth Miss. “You probably wouldn’t even know if someone bullied you, would you?”

Sixth Miss giggled. “With Seventh Sister here, how would it ever be my turn to enter the palace? Stop teasing me!”

Seventh Miss looked at the sky. “Who knows—I might actually marry into the Feng family… At that time, the position of Crown Prince’s consort could only fall to you to bravely represent our Yang family!”

Sixth Miss didn’t take it seriously at all. “You marrying into the Feng family? You’d marry the—marry the Emperor himself before you’d marry Accomplished Scholar Feng! Seventh Sister, stop pretending with me. I know exactly what you’re thinking!”

“Or perhaps I really will marry in?” Seventh Miss bantered with Sixth Miss as they walked.

Sixth Miss gave Seventh Miss a half-smiling glance.

Her voice was light and quick. “Knowing you as I do, you definitely won’t do such a thing. Even for Fifth Sister’s sake, you would never agree!”

Seventh Miss froze in place.

Sixth Miss giggled, completely unconcerned, and pinched Seventh Miss’s chin. “Let me tell you, don’t think I don’t notice things just because I don’t talk about them. There aren’t many things in this household that can escape my attention… I just choose not to speak of them!”

She gave Seventh Miss another meaningful smile.