Fifth Miss was fortunate to accompany the Grand Madam to the capital for the birthday celebration, yet she wasn’t particularly happy.

Though the Grand Madam doted on her, she was ultimately a young lady of a great family. Upon reaching the capital, she couldn’t be as willful as at home—she had to be careful at every step to avoid being looked down upon by those cousins she’d never met.

The Qin family was full of distinguished relatives. Two sons and three daughters had all established their own households. Even a Jiangnan great family like the Yangs wasn’t considered particularly illustrious in the Qin family.

But to be brought along by the Grand Madam was ultimately something worth being happy about. Though Ninth Brother was the Grand Madam’s precious treasure, not being legitimate-born, he could only obediently stay home.

Fortunately, Ninth Brother had a good temper. His eyes were merely red from reluctance to part with the Grand Madam and Fifth Miss, yet he didn’t make a fuss about wanting to go too.

They played in the eastern side room while the Grand Madam took Seventh Miss to stroll in the rear garden.

Though the Yang estate occupied a vast area, the Grand Madam’s daily activities were all in the main courtyard, so she rarely visited the scenically beautiful rear garden.

Several branches of early peach blossoms could no longer restrain themselves and bloomed exuberantly in the spring. Outside Qinghong Pavilion was a mass of pink.

The Grand Madam stopped and gazed at the peach blossoms with a smile.

“When we bought this garden years ago, these peach trees were on their last breath. Master wanted to uproot them, but I insisted on keeping them and had people water and fertilize them. Surprisingly, they came back to life.”

Moreover, they flourished with flowers and leaves, radiating exceptional vitality.

“Flowers are like people,” Seventh Miss carefully chose her words. What the Grand Madam spoke of was naturally not just flowers. “When the household living in the garden prospers, the flowers and trees also flourish.”

The Grand Madam looked at her with a smile.

What a pity—not a birth daughter. Such an endearing temperament—if only Fifth Miss had it… Ah, but Fifth Miss could never develop such a temperament.

“Right now the Yang family is like oil cooking over flames—a proud time of adding flowers to brocade,” she sat down sideways on a rock. “You sit too.”

Seventh Miss quickly sat beside the Grand Madam, leaning slightly against her. Lichun stood not far away, smiling beneath the peach blossoms.

The Grand Madam glanced at Lichun and couldn’t help staring for a long moment before collecting her thoughts and sighing with a smile, “However, the Yang family only has Ninth Brother as its single seedling… If anything should happen to Ninth Brother, the current splendor would, in ten or twenty years, all fall to the ground.”

Seventh Miss understood perfectly: if she hadn’t been brought to the main courtyard and shown herself capable everywhere, the Grand Madam might not have dared leave Ninth Brother at home to go to the capital for the birthday celebration.

This was a warning before entrusting Ninth Brother to her.

She responded solemnly, “Mother speaks truly.” Not one superfluous word.

The Grand Madam was somewhat dissatisfied, but thinking carefully, she couldn’t say what was wrong.

Seventh Miss wasn’t naturally talkative—not like Third Miss who always smiled ingratiatingly to elders while having another face in private.

Seventh Miss was the same inside and out, to old and young alike—calm and composed, speaking little, yet handling everything properly.

Such a person gave her peace of mind!

“I’m entrusting Ninth Brother to you,” she said, unconsciously treating Seventh Miss as an adult, completely forgetting she was only seven years old. “As for Second Madam… I’m sure you’ve also detected the clues.”

“I won’t disappoint Mother,” Seventh Miss answered, her tone light but firm.

The Grand Madam smiled and patted Seventh Miss’s hand. “Good. Do your best, and Mother won’t treat you poorly.”

“Daughter will certainly do her utmost.” Seventh Miss dared not say more.

The more one spoke, the more mistakes one made. She hadn’t yet reached the point where she could afford mistakes before the Grand Madam.

The Grand Madam’s attitude toward her became somewhat warmer. With Seventh Miss’s support, she stood up. Lichun hurried to the Grand Madam’s side to steady her.

“You standing beneath the peach blossoms look very beautiful,” the Grand Madam rarely praised.

Lichun’s face reddened as she mumbled, not knowing what to say.

The Grand Madam gazed at the peach blossoms and said with another smile, “Years ago when Third Aunt lived here, she also liked to sunbathe under the peach blossoms.”

Lichun’s face instantly turned pale, and Seventh Miss also became uncomfortable. But the Grand Madam acted as if nothing was amiss and teased Lichun, “Your face merely resembles peach blossoms. At that time, Third Aunt was truly more delicate than flowers.”

Lichun didn’t respond, biting her lip and staring down in a daze.

Seventh Miss had to smooth things over. “Sister Lichun resembles winter jasmine flowers, not really peach blossoms.”

Lichun liked wearing yellow—wasn’t she just like clusters of winter jasmine flowers?

The Grand Madam laughed softly. Lichun came to her senses and twisted her body in protest. “Seventh Miss is teasing me.”

That evening, Lichun personally brought a plate of palace-made peach blossom cakes to the western side courtyard to thank Seventh Miss. “Thank you, Seventh Miss, for coming to my aid during the day.”

Seventh Miss smiled and had Bai Lu put away the peach blossom cakes. “Sister Lichun just knows I’m a foodie and is being considerate, deliberately finding an excuse to bring me delicious things.”

The two smiled at each other.

Perhaps the Grand Madam’s words during the day were truly unintentional.

Lichun was the most prestigious senior maid under her command. Whom she would disparage, she would never disparage Lichun. Nor did she need to—if Lichun did something wrong, she would say so directly.

But Lichun couldn’t ignore what others might think.

The capital trip was imminent, yet Lichun had to stay behind to look after the main courtyard and Ninth Brother. At such a time, for the Grand Madam to compare her to Third Aunt…

Third Aunt had been beaten to death and afterward, wrapped in a tattered straw mat and thrown into a mass grave.

Among the Yang family’s aunts, her end was the most miserable. Even now, mentioning her made the Master darken his face and lose his temper for ages.

What would other maids think hearing the Grand Madam make such a comparison? Could it be that Lichun had developed some improper thoughts, to be compared to such a person?

Public opinion was fearsome.

Seventh Miss’s few words were merely idle chat to her and to the Grand Madam, but to Lichun, they prevented a potential trouble.

Seventh Miss accepted the peach blossom cakes but didn’t keep Lichun long to sit. “Mother still needs Sister’s attendance. There’ll be plenty of time to talk in the coming months.”

Lichun’s expression brightened. She chatted with Bai Lu for a few moments with a smile, then returned to the main courtyard.

Bai Lu was somewhat flattered. “When in the main courtyard, Sister Lichun never treated me this warmly.”

Sometimes, releasing a bit of goodwill toward certain people brought richer rewards than imagined.

Though Lichun had much prestige in the main courtyard, which of the young masters and misses who regularly came and went would deliberately befriend her?

Only Seventh Miss treated her with sincere respect from the heart… Lichun wasn’t a fool—how could she not know to repay kindness with kindness?

Lixia smiled. “A good thing. From now on, Seventh Miss will have another person speaking up for her in the main courtyard.”

Seventh Miss revealed a faint smile. “Slowly, step by step, things will get better and better.”

The Grand Madam set out north in early March. Suzhou’s waterways were well-developed. From the Yang estate, it took less than half an hour to reach the dock. Boarding here, one would disembark at Tongzhou where people would meet them. Taking two households of family servants, plus over ten maids and four or five matrons, the grand procession filled an entire large boat.

Before leaving, Fifth Miss gave Seventh Miss a hard glare before reluctantly instructing, “Take good care of Ninth Brother!”

Seventh Miss curved her eyes, finding it quite interesting. “Fifth Sister, rest assured.”

Fifth Miss snorted before walking to the Grand Madam’s side.

Everyone saw the Grand Madam off to the second gate, then returned to their quarters. Lichun and Nanny Wang each held one of Ninth Brother’s hands to pack his things.

Though merely moving to the western side courtyard, the undertaking was nonetheless considerable.

The junior maids would now live in one room together. Lixia and Bai Lu also moved in together, vacating two rooms—one for Ninth Brother’s maids Xiaoxue and Chushu, and one for Lichun alone. Nanny Wang would also come stay a few nights when free.

Seventh Miss’s western chamber, originally used as a study and embroidery room, now held Ninth Brother’s large rosewood bed. Between the twin siblings’ bedrooms hung several layers of glass bead curtains and a passage hall. Any movement from Ninth Brother’s side would immediately reach Seventh Miss—the arrangement was similar to the Grand Madam’s quarters.

Though there were distinctions between male and female, Ninth Brother and Seventh Miss were only seven this year. By Great Qin custom, boys and girls only needed to avoid each other after age ten. Besides, they were twin siblings—what harm in being closer?

The Master said nothing, and Fourth Aunt certainly wouldn’t make an issue of this point. She returned smiling to her Xikefang quarters, letting Nanny Wang and Lichun handle the moving.

Fourth Aunt was a clever person who wouldn’t do things that violated taboos. Ninth Brother was not only the Grand Madam’s precious treasure but also the Master’s pearl. Besides those from the main courtyard, anyone who got too close to Ninth Brother would simultaneously incur both their displeasure.

Second Miss also came to see Ninth Brother move.

“Living together with your Seventh Sister, you must be more obedient,” she said with a stern face. “If you still act spoiled and willful, though Seventh Sister won’t say much, when Mother returns, I’ll certainly report to her.”

Seventh Miss smiled gratefully at Second Miss.

Though Ninth Brother was very well-behaved and shouldn’t cause her trouble, he was still young. Second Miss’s words were telling Seventh Miss that if she encountered any difficulties, she could find her anytime.

Ninth Brother’s eyes curved with joy as he cheerfully responded, “I know! Second Sister! I won’t trouble Seventh Sister!”

He ran around the room happily. “Moving house, yay!” After making a commotion for quite a while, he went off to school.

Nanny Wang found it amusing. “This Ninth Brother is truly just a child.”

Seventh Miss smiled and watched for a while. Seeing Ninth Brother’s precious belongings all properly arranged, she returned to her own bedroom.

With Ninth Brother living in the western side courtyard these few months, naturally the rules needed some adjustment.

Without anyone saying anything, Sister Cao from the small kitchen came herself to find Nanny Wang. “These few months, Seventh Miss and Ninth Brother’s three meals will be prepared together!”

Originally, lunch, evening snacks, and daily treats from the small kitchen were all made separately. What Ninth Brother ate was naturally more refined than what Seventh Miss ate, following the Grand Madam’s allowance.

The main courtyard’s own expenses were managed by Lichun while Nanny Wang didn’t interfere. Sister Cao and Nanny Wang called Lichun over to discuss.

Lichun was very straightforward. “Ah, I’ll record it in the small accounts right away.”

The Grand Madam’s departure put the main accounts in Nanny Wang’s hands, but the main courtyard’s small accounts remained in Lichun’s hands. Seventh Miss’s standard had increased—of course it needed recording.

Sister Cao hesitated somewhat. “As for Second Miss…”

Lichun frowned. “Second Miss is currently taking meals at the main kitchen.”

Nanny Wang also said, “No need to curry favor with Second Miss and have Fourth Aunt find out.”

Sister Cao pursed her lips without speaking.

After seeing Sister Cao off, Lichun discussed night watch arrangements with Nanny Wang.

Besides Xiaoxue and Chushu taking turns keeping night watch in Ninth Brother’s room, Lichun and Nanny Wang would also take turns staying in the side room.

They absolutely must guard Ninth Brother without any gaps—not allowing the slightest mistake.

Nanny Wang emphasized, “During these months, Second Madam will definitely come… Never mind other matters, for major festivals like Qingming and Dragon Boat, Second Madam will certainly make an appearance.”

The Yang family had few members in Suzhou. For Qingming ancestral worship and Dragon Boat Festival celebrations, Second Madam had always come to the estate over the years.

Lichun tensed her back as if facing a great enemy. “There cannot be a moment without someone by Ninth Brother’s side!”

Nanny Wang pondered thoughtfully. “For Qingming ancestral worship, I wonder whom Master will have present the offerings.”

When the Grand Madam was here, it was naturally her duty. Now with the Grand Madam in the capital, would Second Madam present them, or would an aunt be promoted?

The two were talking when they heard commotion from the main courtyard.

Both Lichun and Nanny Wang emerged from the room. Across the hall, Bai Lu also poked out half her body.

“What’s all this noise about?” Nanny Wang darkened her face and raised her voice.

Shuangjiang from Fourth Aunt’s quarters rushed anxiously into the western side courtyard. “Nanny Wang, Eighth Aunt is having stomach pains! Fourth Aunt asks you to quickly summon a physician!”

The child in Eighth Aunt’s belly was of utmost importance. Without much thought, Nanny Wang was about to agree.

Seventh Miss suddenly called Bai Lu into her room. Before long, Bai Lu hurried out, smiling as she stepped forward to pull Nanny Wang back.

“Nanny, Ninth Brother is crying in his room!”

Lichun also tugged at Nanny Wang’s sleeve.

Nanny Wang smiled at Shuangjiang. “Wait a moment. I’ll go say a few words to Ninth Brother.” In reality, Ninth Brother was still at the family school and hadn’t returned.

With that, the three entered the room.

Seventh Miss sat in the hall, her fingers lightly tapping the blue-and-white auspicious beast pattern covered cup. Seeing Nanny Wang enter, she quickly stood up with a welcoming smile.

“Though Nanny Wang oversees all the household’s financial affairs and miscellaneous matters, Mother entrusted the aunts’ affairs to Fourth Aunt,” she smiled very innocently. “We’re all from the main courtyard. Though Mother isn’t here, we can’t let an aunt ride on our necks to defecate and urinate.”

Nanny Wang, worldly-wise as she was, understood immediately with just this hint from Seventh Miss.

The Grand Madam had just left. The rules established now could easily become fixed precedents for the coming months.

The Grand Madam had entrusted Eighth Aunt to Fourth Aunt. Eighth Aunt’s matters should be Fourth Aunt’s concern. For the main quarters to come forward and summon a physician for Eighth Aunt would be thankless labor and easily give Fourth Aunt an excuse to stir up trouble.

She couldn’t spare time to say more to Seventh Miss and hurried out of the room.

“When Fourth Aunt managed household affairs five or six years ago, she had quite a group of stewards under her command,” her expression turned stern. “Does she not know which physician in Suzhou city is the best, that she needs to ask me?”

Even with her sharp tongue, facing the stern-faced Nanny Wang, Shuangjiang didn’t dare make a scene.

“Why don’t you quickly report back to Fourth Aunt and have her find someone herself to go out and summon a physician?” Nanny Wang raised her eyebrows.

Shuangjiang turned and ran off.

Only then did Nanny Wang enter the room to thank Seventh Miss. “Thanks to Seventh Miss’s calm and careful thinking.”

Not a trace of satisfaction showed in Seventh Miss’s expression. “If Eighth Aunt’s belly keeps acting up, it gives Fourth Aunt an excuse to cause trouble.”

Nanny Wang snorted and instructed Lixia, “After dinner, have Dahan from Eighth Aunt’s quarters come.”

A trace of disdain also showed in Lichun’s eyes. “Madam entrusted the aunts’ affairs to Fourth Aunt, but not for her to use Eighth Aunt’s belly to lord over everyone.”

Seventh Miss finally relaxed halfway.

“Seventh Sister.” Having finished school, Ninth Brother happily ran into the room accompanied by Chushu. “Are all my things arranged?”

Seventh Miss glanced at Lichun and Nanny Wang, then revealed a smile to Ninth Brother. “Yes! Go see if it suits you! If not, we’ll change it!” Formal and courteous, as if entertaining an honored guest.

Ninth Brother also looked at Nanny Wang. “Thank you, Seventh Sister!” he said carefully, like a cautious little visitor newly arrived.

Nanny Wang couldn’t help revealing a satisfied smile.

Lichun took all this in, and an inexplicable melancholy bloomed in her heart.