After all, there were few people. Though there were many things, fortunately Grand Madam had many capable people around her. Medicine Nanny, Nanny Wang, Nanny Liang, plus Shuxia—all were good helpers who could settle down to work. Within just a few days, the Yang family had settled into the residence in Lesser Shiyong Ward. A plaque reading “Baoxin Hall Yang” was hung at the gate. Grand Madam dispatched people to report their safe arrival to Jiangnan while also sending people to pay respects to her eldest Qin uncle. Second Miss, Fifth Miss, and even Sixth Miss in the palace all had people sent to their doors with greetings.

Relatives and friends in the capital naturally also sent greeting cards. It was only because Grand Madam was still in mourning and couldn’t attend banquets or entertainment that no one came to call in person. Grand Old Master, however, had already received quite a few banquet invitations and greeting cards. But on his second day in the capital, he’d already sent people to register at the Ministry of Personnel, and His Majesty immediately summoned him. These past days he’d been busy and had no time to meet with relatives and friends.

For men handling affairs outside to have no time was quite natural. Often at such times women had to step forward for social exchanges. However, Grand Madam had just finished deep mourning, and many relatives and friends were also somewhat in mourning due to Imperial Tutor Qin’s funeral and found it inconvenient to meet. Elder Uncle Qin was also a rigid person. Though he often sent his steward over to inquire and help, aside from official business, the whole family never stepped out even once. Grand Madam knew his temperament well and even less dared to casually go out calling. The Yang family’s inner residence became unusually quiet.

“We rarely come to the capital, yet who would have thought Second Sister would be in mourning, Fifth Sister is five or six months pregnant and can’t move about easily, and we’re a household in mourning—we can only receive guests at home, there’s no principle of us going out calling.” Grand Madam complained to Seventh Miss. “Instead it feels cold and deserted, as if we had no one to turn to in the capital!”

Actually, given Grand Madam’s status as a married daughter, though she also had to observe one year of齐衰mourning, she ultimately prioritized her husband’s family. Often after the first half year of mourning passed, she could go out and about—though the rites were the rites, no one had seen which filial child didn’t bathe during the first year of mourning. If they were truly that particular, Grand Madam should still be in Suzhou observing mourning. After all, with society’s needs, there were always various flexible methods. It was only that Elder Uncle Qin was nearby, so Grand Madam didn’t dare be presumptuous. Otherwise, Seventh Miss privately speculated, with her temperament, upon barely arriving in the capital she’d probably be impatient to visit Fifth Miss.

Though meetings weren’t appropriate, being in the capital after all, Second Miss and Fifth Miss constantly sent people back to pay respects. If not sending fresh fruit, then seasonal vegetables, plus helping Grand Madam settle household affairs, connecting shops and introducing reliable merchants… By late October, after the hundred days of deep mourning were complete, Liang Yiniang, who had gained favor in the second branch in recent years, came calling to pay respects.

“Knowing Madam was in heavy mourning, I didn’t dare come calling,” Liang Yiniang was a beauty Grand Madam had sent to the capital years ago. Speaking to Grand Madam, she naturally showed extra intimacy. “I counted the days calculating when Madam would be out of mourning, and rushed over as soon as possible.”

Grand Madam couldn’t help but exchange a glance with Seventh Miss.

Both showed some amusement. For servants to call, naturally there was no issue of mourning or not. For Liang Yiniang to say this meant she already considered herself a mistress.

Well, the second branch’s waters were murky. With that kind of principal wife, it was quite normal for a yiniang to have ideas. As Liang Yiniang’s former mistress, Grand Madam naturally wouldn’t pour cold water on her head.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Grand Madam asked Liang Yiniang: “Speaking of which, when Min Brother’s wife entered the household, we weren’t in the capital and couldn’t meet her. I thought today she’d come along with you—”

Liang Yiniang’s face showed slight embarrassment. “Eldest Young Madam has been attending her mother-in-law’s old madam at her natal family all this time. You also know, this in-law family’s several daughters all died young—only Eldest Young Madam is a single seedling. The old madam dotes on her like her heart’s flesh. Before I came I also sent word to the in-laws. Eldest Young Madam said her in-law old madam’s illness has worsened these days, so she won’t come out to pay respects to you. Another day, she’ll come apologize in person…”

Her actual uncle and aunt had come to the capital, moreover promoted to cabinet elder, yet Eldest Young Madam still had the nerve to make excuses not to come calling. How their marital relationship was could be known without asking.

Grand Madam showed slight contemplation. “Before the marriage, I vaguely heard this young lady…”

Liang Yiniang smiled. “This—after all it’s the young master’s household affairs. We yiniangs aren’t good at prying too much. However, young madam has been in the household for nearly a year now, but she spends more days at her natal family and fewer at her husband’s. Young master also rarely enters her room and doesn’t much manage eldest madam’s affairs. The concubine Nanyin brought from Suzhou is more favored and has recently become pregnant. Looking at Eldest Young Madam’s attitude, she doesn’t seem to care much either.”

Married less than a year, and speaking of it, the young couple should be in their honeymoon phase, yet they’d grown distant to this degree…

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but recall Grand Madam’s assessment.

A minor star trying to fill a major role truly couldn’t take the stage. Whether marital estrangement or exclusive favor for a concubine, neither was a sustainable way to live. It seemed the second branch’s troubles were truly still ahead.

After asking about Min Brother’s marriage, Liang Yiniang earnestly consulted Grand Madam: “Though we’re still in mourning and shouldn’t speak of happy events, our master says this marriage must have you look it over, Madam. Master has taken a liking to the third daughter of Minister of War Vice Minister Wu’s family for Da Brother…”

Grand Madam responded coolly: “We’re still in mourning and it’s not good to move about casually. If Second Brother is interested, after mourning ends, invite Mrs. Wu to call and visit…”

Liang Yiniang immediately showed joy. “Whatever time is convenient for Madam works. Da Brother is still not that old after all—this matter isn’t urgent.”

Given the current status gap between the first and second branches, whatever face the first branch gave the second branch, the second branch had to accept. Let alone Grand Madam only wanting to delay this matter—even if she flatly refused, Liang Yiniang couldn’t say anything.

Seventh Miss sat comfortably on the side, watching Grand Madam display her authority, feeling that this past year and more, life had truly been too pleasant.

The outer residence surged with storms and clouds while the inner residence remained calm. Grand Madam had no opponents, so Seventh Miss also lost her role as strategist. Though Grand Old Master valued Seventh Miss, when it came to real matters, he naturally wouldn’t count on a daughter who’d barely had her coming-of-age ceremony. In the inner residence aside from the siblings, there were only the yiniangs focused on retirement… Since returning from the northwest to Suzhou, she truly hadn’t had many such smooth and satisfying days.

Now in the capital, with the status of a cabinet elder’s wife, it was only others seeking Grand Madam’s favor, never Grand Madam needing to ask favors… When Grand Madam’s days went smoothly, only then did Seventh Miss’s days go smoothly.

After sending off Liang Yiniang, before long Second Miss dispatched her dowry maid Qingming—now already a married woman—to pay respects to Grand Madam and send freshly hunted game from the estate plus newly harvested vegetables for Grand Old Master, Grand Madam, and Seventh Miss to vary their diet.

Grand Madam’s thoughts were stirred. After dinner, she discussed with Grand Old Master about acquiring estates in the capital.

Over the years the Yang family had always lived in Jiangnan, with most land holdings around Suzhou. Now they’d been promoted and left, but while people left, their influence didn’t cool. Grand Madam had no intention of selling the land. It was just that normally the Yang family’s food and necessities were all estate-produced and of superior quality. Now living in the capital, not to mention the high prices, Grand Madam also felt that buying everything as needed was truly inconvenient.

“Though the household is somewhat short of funds right now, we don’t lack these few thousand taels of silver.” With just three people in the family, dinner was naturally livelier eaten together. After eating, Grand Madam didn’t have Seventh Miss withdraw. While patting Seventh Miss’s hand, she calculated with Grand Old Master: “Near Xiaoshan there are plenty of excellent hot spring estates. Buying one would let us stay there at leisure, and most importantly we’d have a supply of seasonal vegetables—even just for peace of mind it would be good.”

Though the Yang family had left the Jiangnan Governor position, years of savings meant substantial family wealth. To say they were short of silver was a huge joke. However, most of this family property wasn’t liquid cash. Half a year ago Grand Old Master had also invested two hundred thousand taels of silver in the Xu family’s maritime trade business currently being prepared. Plus some gold, silver, and jewels were far away in the northwest. Speaking of it, the silver Grand Madam carried with her truly wasn’t much.

Grand Old Master glanced at Seventh Miss and discussed with Grand Madam: “Why not write back and have the Jiangnan side contact Yichun Bank, sell one or two estates and transfer some silver over—Seventh Miss will be sixteen after New Year’s. This marriage can’t be delayed further. The money on hand is enough for daily life, but counting on it to prepare a dowry would be laughable.”

Grand Madam couldn’t help but start.

From Grand Old Master’s meaning, it seemed he was finally going to settle Seventh Miss’s marriage.

Over this past year and more, with court turmoil, the Quan and Gui families naturally wouldn’t rush to propose marriage during such chaotic times. When the late emperor passed, national mourning meant three months without discussing marriage. Following that were three months of minor mourning—naturally inappropriate to discuss marriage. They’d only been out of minor mourning briefly when the Yang family traveled north en masse and had only just now settled. Indeed, only now was there opportunity to discuss Seventh Miss’s marriage.

It was just unknown whether Grand Old Master favored the Quan or Gui family. By principle, to advance further one should naturally choose the Quan family. After the new emperor ascended, though there’d been no formal enfeoffment, he still periodically invited Quan Zhongbai into the palace to take pulses and prescribe formulas. The Quan family’s honor and favor showed no decline—this was visible. For Seventh Miss to become the second son’s second wife, in terms of status it was adequate. Moreover, Quan Zhongbai now constantly resided at his villa at the foot of Fragrant Hills. Seventh Miss could frequently return to pay respects without having to observe propriety before a mother-in-law… Fully enjoying wealth and ease while adding assistance to her natal family—this could be said to be a mutually beneficial good thing.

Taking a step back, the Gui family was also good. Though the household was somewhat poor, they weren’t to the point of going hungry. These years with much warfare on the northern border, those who fought naturally grew wealthy. The ninth branch’s foundation should gradually become solid. The second son’s first wife—Hanchun had accumulated merit over the years and been promoted to the position of deputy chiliarch of the fifth rank. A chiliarch’s wife couldn’t be considered insignificant either. The Gui family had always been impartial and unbiased, yet their official careers progressed steadily. Marrying into the Gui family wouldn’t be so glorious, but it paved the way for when the two elders returned to the northwest to retire in comfort…

Grand Madam sighed, momentarily only regretting she hadn’t borne two more daughters—calculating these two marriages carefully, neither was inferior to the sisters’ matches. With Seventh Miss’s temperament, whether in the capital or the northwest, she could surely make life flourish.

Well then, after years without achievement there was still hard work. This outcome was what Seventh Miss deserved!

“I’ll write to Nanny Tong shortly.” Grand Madam calmly agreed, glancing at Seventh Miss before smiling and asking Grand Old Master: “Master, both families’ sons are choices among choices, but our Little Seven is only one. Which family to promise her to still depends on your meaning.”

Grand Old Master’s gaze couldn’t help but turn toward Seventh Miss.

Looking at Seventh Miss’s calm countenance and the trace of bewilderment in her eyes, he couldn’t help but sigh faintly.

No matter how clever a daughter, at this moment most had no ideas—after all, unlike Fengjia who’d frequently visited the Yang family since childhood, Little Five already knew the child’s temperament before marrying out. Quan Zhongbai and Gui Hanchun’s last visit to Suzhou was four or five years ago. These years neither family had been peaceful—one widowed, one disfigured…

“Let’s still have Seventh Miss look them over first before deciding.” Grand Old Master patted Seventh Miss’s hand. “Father said your husband would be your own choice. Both families are good matches—it just depends on what Little Seven thinks.”

Grand Madam couldn’t help but be moved, looking at Seventh Miss before swallowing a trace of jealousy back into her heart. “But Hanchun is in the northwest—”

“General Gui’s letter arrived just this morning.” Grand Old Master’s expression was calm. “Hanchun is entering the capital to receive rewards—this should have happened last year, but at the time there was military urgency, so Hanchun missed that batch of commendations. It happens that next spring after the era name changes, His Majesty will reward a batch of meritorious young generals and select several naval generals for southern ocean escort duty. The Gui family intends to seek this position for Hanchun. However, General Gui also said if the Yang family feels the southern ocean is too distant and unstable, then this matter can be dropped without issue.”

It seemed the Gui family was truly sincere about this marriage.

Grand Madam thought of the letters Mrs. Gui had written over the years and couldn’t help but smile faintly. “The Gui family are people who keep their word. Good, then let’s wait until next spring and let Little Seven have a look at this child Hanchun before deciding.”

She then mischievously winked at Seventh Miss. “Whenever you want to fall ill, just tell Mother. Mother’s cough and wheeze also needs Divine Physician Quan to deliberate a new prescription!”

Seventh Miss’s heart stirred as she thought of the residual poison in her body…

“Yes.” She looked at Grand Madam, naturally nodded, and smiled lightly. “Even without illness, it would be best to start taking preventive formulas, prepare before trouble strikes…”

The three were speaking when suddenly light footsteps sounded outside.

Then came Nanny Liang’s announcement: “Reporting to Master and Madam, Duke Pingguo’s residence just sent over a card requesting Master and Madam to review it.”

Though curfew was now in effect, as nobility of the third rank and above, the Xu family naturally still had this privilege.

Everyone was somewhat surprised. At this hour, for the Xu family to suddenly send a card—wasn’t this making a mountain of a molehill?

Grand Madam’s face went white in an instant. “Is it Little Five—”

She abruptly stood up, snatched the letter from Nanny Liang’s hand, and immediately tore it open to read carefully.

But after just one glance, she immediately relaxed. “Ha, and I thought it was something serious… The Xu family learned about the Tongzhou dock incident and specially wrote to apologize.”

She tossed the letter to Grand Old Master and sat back in her original seat, rubbing her chest. “Just now that gave me such a fright my chest hurts… A six or seven month pregnancy—if something happened, it would be extremely dangerous—Lidong, bring me a calming licorice pill to hold in my mouth…”

Grand Old Master squinted as he read it, then passed it to Seventh Miss. Understanding, she read aloud for the two elders. “…Old Madam investigated this matter and was greatly enraged. Fourth Young Madam’s misconduct offended her elders, her manner was frivolous, damaging relations between relatives and acting arrogantly and domineeringly, harming the family’s reputation. She has been ordered to retreat to Great Protection Temple for ten days of purification. Please don’t hold it against the junior… Also because the heir’s wife misses her natal family and relatives but her pregnancy is heavy and inconvenient to move… Considering that in-law Madam is in mourning and inconvenient to go out, we specially request in-law Master and in-law young miss to grace us on the fifth of the eleventh month…”

The Xu family’s response truly came both urgently and heavily. The reaction could finally be considered proper. At least on the surface, Old Madam Ni strongly disapproved of Fourth Young Madam’s arrogance and domineering behavior.

But listening between the lines, this Xu family card wasn’t so simple either. Lady Xu, as the managing mistress, had no voice in this matter. Old Madam Ni monopolized power—the entire card carried her tone…

Worry had already crept into Grand Madam’s brow.

“The Xu family’s invitation must be accepted. Little Seven should follow Father to see your Fifth Sister—you’re all daughters, speaking will be more convenient…” Without asking Grand Old Master, she directly instructed Seventh Miss. “Don’t forget to check on your Third Yiniang and ask about her condition…”