Having known she would visit today, she would certainly have to meet this Fourth Young Madam of the Xu family. However, even Seventh Miss hadn’t expected her to arrive so quickly. From her tone, it seemed she had personally waited outside for Seventh Miss to descend from her palanquin.

The capital was different from Suzhou. By November, winter had already set in. Snow had fallen some days ago, and the frailer womenfolk had already donned thick fur garments. Waiting outside in such weather was naturally no easy task.

It appeared that Fourth Young Madam was also a formidable person. When it came to making amends, her sincerity was truly impeccable.

Seventh Miss calmly descended from the palanquin, her face bearing a smile. “Fourth Young Madam, what are you saying…” She was about to perform a courtesy to this long-renowned Fourth Young Madam.

The Xu family had a large household. The male offspring alone numbered seven or eight, while daughters were fewer—not comparable to the Li family, which had over ten sons and over ten daughters. Xu Fengjia was sixth among his generation, with five older brothers above him. One had died young, another had perished on the battlefield, leaving only the First Young Master, Fourth Young Master, and Fifth Young Master alive today. Fifth Young Master Xu Yujing was a full seven years younger than Xu Fengjia, while First Young Master Xu Yufei was already past thirty this year. However, Xu Fengjia had married early, while his brothers had all married later, so the age differences among the sisters-in-law weren’t too great. This Fourth Young Madam, née Mo, was only twenty this year—just three years older than Fifth Miss.

She was born into a prominent capital family, the legitimate granddaughter of the Earl of Liaoyuan. She was actually related to Grand Madam Ni—Grand Madam Ni was her grand-aunt, though merely a secondary son’s wife. But the secondary sons of Duke Pingguo’s household were different from those of ordinary families. Duke Pingguo had led troops in battle for years. Before Xu Fengjia came of age, it had been father and sons on the battlefield together—all the secondary brothers served under his command. Over the years, they had all earned military merit. Fourth Young Master himself held the rank of Assistant Commander of a Thousand, genuinely earned through combat, unlike inherited sinecures that were essentially useless. Therefore, the air of nobility on Fourth Young Madam’s face hadn’t diminished despite being a secondary son’s wife.

She attempted to bow to Seventh Miss, but then stepped forward to support her before she could complete the gesture. “Ah, we’re of the same generation—no need for such formality.” Her speech was in perfectly articulated northern Mandarin with a subtle capital accent. “That day at the Tongzhou wharf, I was blind and offended my in-law. When we later verified everything, oh my, how mortified I was! That very evening I hid away in a temple, claiming to seek spiritual cultivation, but it wasn’t really cultivation at all—I was simply too ashamed! Today, hearing that my in-law master and in-law sister were coming to visit, I rushed back to apologize in person…”

With that, she moved to bow to Seventh Miss. “My behavior that day was reckless—I offended you!”

Seventh Miss quickly stepped forward to support her personally. She had barely exerted any force when Fourth Young Madam stood up on her own, which rather surprised Seventh Miss.

Their eyes met, and both felt somewhat awkward. Seventh Miss pressed her lips together slightly, then smiled. “Such a small matter—not worth mentioning…”

Fourth Young Madam also smiled, clasping her hands and breathing on them. “I’m so frozen my tongue can barely move straight!”

She then gestured for Seventh Miss to proceed, and the two walked side by side toward Grand Madam’s residence.

Duke Pingguo’s estate was, after all, a hundred-year noble household. The compound was no smaller than Baifang Garden. Earlier, Seventh Miss had changed palanquins at the carriage pavilion near the side gate. The path she had traveled was actually just from the side gate to the second gate—showing how deep the estate’s gates ran. Fourth Young Madam personally led Seventh Miss through the main courtyard—which was desolate and empty. Through the glass windows, one could faintly see the polished gold brick floors inside still gleaming, but the curio shelves were completely bare, as if no one had lived there for many years.

“Ever since mother-in-law entered Qingping Court to recuperate and stayed there for seven or eight years, and father-in-law moved to Menghua Pavilion, this main courtyard has been cold and quiet.” Fourth Young Madam glanced at Seventh Miss and explained with a smile, then led her through two more gates behind the main courtyard into the Xu family’s small garden. “We rarely leave Xiao Cuijin these days—we mostly stay within the garden.”

She had merely glanced once at the main hall, and Fourth Young Madam had immediately offered an explanation—clearly this person was clever enough to read expressions and assess situations. From her bearing, dress, and speech, she was far more than just an ordinary secondary son’s wife. Even the proper wives of the most prestigious noble families in Jiangnan were only of this caliber.

Seventh Miss dared not be negligent. As they walked, she subtly observed this capable and forthright Fourth Young Madam.

This was a typical northern lady—tall with striking features, naturally exuding a bold spirit between her brows. She appeared guileless, wearing a brocade jacket with Eight Treasures cloud patterns and draped in a bright red woolen cape. From head to toe, she seemed wrapped in a ball of fire, sparks flying with every raised eyebrow. Yet Seventh Miss felt that these sparks ultimately carried a slight chill.

Fourth Young Madam was also sizing up Seventh Miss, examining her from the pearl hairpins in her hair to the embroidered cloud-pattern shoes on her feet, looking her over three or four times. Her eyes flickered repeatedly, yet she restrained herself and said nothing.

The two remained quiet for a stretch of the path. Upon entering the garden Xiao Cuijin through the garden gate, Fourth Young Madam introduced Seventh Miss to an artificial mountain standing before the gate. “This is a specially sought piece of Taihu rock—a single stone forming a mountain. It’s fortunate to have this artificial mountain as a screen; otherwise, upon entering, everything would be visible at once, which would be rather dull.”

The finest gardens under heaven were found in Suzhou. Though Baifang Garden couldn’t claim to be Suzhou’s very best garden, as the residence of the Viceroy of Liangjiang, it certainly met high standards. In the Yang household, if a rock wasn’t from Lake Taihu, that would be the novelty. Seventh Miss merely glanced at the peculiar stone and smiled casually. “Transporting it from Lake Taihu to the capital must have required considerable effort.”

Nanny Liang laughed. “Seventh Miss, this old servant thinks it looks quite similar to that large rock by the Gathering of Eight Immortals back in our Suzhou home!”

Both Seventh Miss and Fourth Young Madam simultaneously glanced at Nanny Liang.

Each understood the implication.

When the bride’s family visited, they were always honored guests. If both sides were noble families, private competition between them was quite natural. The bride’s family naturally wanted to show off their household’s strength in every way possible, while the groom’s family was equally eager to display their wealth. Put plainly, the bride’s family merely wanted to emphasize their daughter’s noble status, while the groom’s family wanted to make clear that the daughter-in-law marrying into their household was a blessing earned in a previous life.

Such overt and covert struggles had, over the years, become customary. When in-laws visited, there would usually be subtle competitions of wealth: you have Taihu rocks, I have Lingbi rocks; you have tianhuang stone, I have bloodstone; you have Hetian white jade, I have Fuping black jade… Especially during the bride’s family’s first visit, the groom’s family would certainly find ways to humble the bride’s family’s pride.

Of course, if it were the First Madam visiting, the situation would naturally be different. Since the two family matriarchs were sisters and had always been harmonious, such wealth competitions wouldn’t arise. But Seventh Miss’s status was awkward—called a legitimate daughter yet not quite one, called a secondary daughter yet registered as legitimate in the genealogy. Given the Xu family’s pride, they might not be willing to treat her as a legitimate daughter. From their first meeting, Fourth Young Madam had been weighing Seventh Miss’s worth.

No wonder First Madam was so anxious, not only personally selecting clothes for her but also bestowing upon Seventh Miss a complete set of red gold pearl hairpins embedded with over a hundred of the most uniform South Sea pearls—tribute from the Hepu County Magistrate last year—and instructing her to wear the inherited Hetian jade bracelets… All to tell the Xu family: even half a legitimate daughter is raised so preciously in our Yang household—Fifth Miss’s dignity goes without saying.

However, Fifth Miss’s dowry had already surpassed her sisters-in-law. Whether the several sisters-in-law would accept this was another matter. At today’s banquet, these three young madams would likely, overtly or covertly, try to humble her own spirits, and from this angle suppress Fifth Miss as well.

Though etiquette was also valued in Jiangnan, after arriving in the capital, Seventh Miss felt that the already rigid ritual teachings had been stuffed with even more content, to the point of overwhelming her. Even though First Master had risen again in rank, having climbed nearly to the pinnacle of civil officials with only the position of Grand Secretary yet unconquered, she felt that being a cabinet minister’s daughter in the capital was far less comfortable than being a viceroy’s daughter in Jiangnan.

She wondered how the pampered Fifth Miss had endured these days as a new bride. First Master had expressed intentions to resign due to illness in May this year, but the transfer order only came in July or August. During those two months, she must have suffered considerable grievances.

Though sighing inwardly, Seventh Miss was well-accustomed to such scenes, having emerged from bloody storms. When Nanny Liang threw out that conversational lead, she naturally knew how to pick it up. “Oh, how could they be the same? What’s precious isn’t the stone but the effort of transporting it to the capital… How could Fourth Young Madam take such a stone to heart?”

She and Fourth Young Madam exchanged smiles, but while Seventh Miss’s smile was genuine, Fourth Young Madam’s smile carried threads of falseness.

Rounding this Taihu stone artificial mountain, Grand Madam Ni’s daily residence, Leshan Residence, came into view. This small pavilion of three sections sat on the central axis, subtly dominating Xiao Cuijin. Seventh Miss couldn’t help but frown inwardly: such a residence should properly be occupied by Madam Xu herself.

Fourth Young Madam hastened her steps. “Miss Yang Seven, mind the steps—” As she spoke, she entered the house first. Naturally, neatly dressed maids with pleasant faces lifted the cotton door curtain for Seventh Miss.

The two maids couldn’t enter Leshan Residence and were naturally led away to be entertained. Nanny Liang and Nanny Tai accompanied Seventh Miss through the entrance hall. They removed their capes and brushed dust from their clothes—Beiping had much dust, and traveling this distance, they inevitably carried some grime.

In just this brief moment, laughter already rang from within. Fourth Young Madam emerged from behind the crystal beaded curtain with a broad smile, pulling Seventh Miss into the room.

“Grandmother, please spare me,” she half-jokingly pushed Seventh Miss before a white-haired, silver-tressed elderly lady. “Even Miss Yang personally said that her father is magnanimous and didn’t take my behavior seriously!”

How skilled at climbing up offered poles!

Seventh Miss glanced at Fourth Young Madam with a half-smile, then straightened her expression and knelt before Grand Madam. “Your humble daughter Yang Shanheng greets Grand Madam.”

Grand Madam Ni wore a peacock satin jacket and skirt with a blue sheen. Though elderly, her dress was in no way inferior to younger women—dignified yet splendid. From her clothing to her appearance, she resembled an auspicious deity from New Year prints. Though her forehead didn’t protrude, that air of beaming joy matched the painted figures exactly.

She had been sitting cross-legged on the kang but now lowered her feet, bending slightly as she said gently, “Oh? So this is Miss Yang Seven. I’ve heard so much about you. Come, raise your head and let this old one take a good look.”

Seventh Miss’s heart jumped. In that instant, countless thoughts flowed through her mind, but her face revealed nothing. She merely smiled slightly and raised her head, naturally allowing this grandmother-generation elder to scrutinize her.

Grand Madam Ni’s gaze was still sharp, without the common confusion of the elderly. She examined Seventh Miss carefully several times until a chill ran down Seventh Miss’s spine, then smiled faintly and praised lightly, “Truly fine character indeed.”

She then leaned back against the reclining pillow and chided Fourth Young Madam, “Miss Seven is being polite to you because she knows proper etiquette. Did you take it seriously? When her father arrives later, you must apologize to him in person, or I won’t let this matter rest!”

Not giving Fourth Young Madam any face at all.

Yet according to First Madam, Fifth Miss’s letters repeatedly mentioned that Grand Madam ordinarily favored Fourth Young Madam and Fifth Young Madam most.

Two nannies by Grand Madam Ni’s side came forward to help Seventh Miss up, then guided her to greet the three young madams.

First Young Madam, née Han, was the eldest among the sisters-in-law, appearing to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Though plain-looking, her complexion was fair and her manner gentle, with a very friendly demeanor. Fourth Young Madam, née Mo, naturally wore a face full of smiles, warmly greeting Seventh Miss before introducing Fifth Young Madam, née Zhang.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but observe this young madam carefully.

She wasn’t entirely ignorant of the situation within Duke Pingguo’s household. Fifth Miss frequently wrote home after her marriage. According to her letters, though Grand Madam Ni was also close to Fourth Young Master, her greatest affection was for Fifth Young Master, whom she had raised from childhood. The Fifth Young Madam she had chosen for Fifth Young Master was of even higher birth than the other sisters-in-law. This young madam came from the Zhang family of Henan—a distinguished clan with over five hundred years of continuous lineage, their genealogy traceable to the Tang and Song dynasties. Her particular branch was especially well-established, maintaining close ties with the capital’s power elite for many years. Fifth Young Madam was actually a distant grand-niece of Empress Dowager Niu…

Fifth Young Madam herself presented a picture of virtuous quietude. She had delicate brows and eyes, and when she assumed a submissive posture, she increasingly resembled a beauty stepped out of Song dynasty paintings. Seeing her didn’t inspire fondness—like viewing a painting, however beautiful, it wasn’t alive.

All were figures who rolled in brocade and embroidery. Naturally they were courteous to each other. Even if there were calculations and assessments, no one would display them openly. After the greetings, Grand Madam didn’t keep Seventh Miss for further conversation but smiled and instructed First Young Madam, “Han Shi, take Miss Yang to Qingping Court and Mingde Hall to see Madam and the Heir’s Wife.”

Grand Madam Ni’s forms of address for Madam Xu and Fifth Miss were somewhat more distant.

Though not entirely inappropriate, from the reading between the lines in Fifth Miss’s letters, perhaps…

Han Shi curtsied in acknowledgment, then turned with a smile to Seventh Miss. “Miss Yang, please come with me.”

Fifth Miss had previously mentioned that though Han Shi’s father was a prominent figure in the capital, she herself had remained in their Shanxi ancestral home attending to her grandfather. Just now, when she spoke, her provincial accent showed through.

Seventh Miss immediately noticed Fourth Young Madam and Fifth Young Madam exchange several glances, and Fourth Young Madam smiled slightly with pursed lips.

The noble ladies of the capital most loved to ostracize outsiders. An official’s wife who couldn’t speak proper northern Mandarin found it very difficult to enter the uppermost social circles.

Even Grand Madam Ni frowned slightly, though this displeasure was only barely caught by Seventh Miss before being quickly concealed.

The deeply scheming Grand Madam, the sickly yet troublesome Duke’s wife, sisters-in-law with different agendas and their own backing—and very solid backing at that… This inner courtyard of Duke Pingguo’s household truly contained too many formidable figures.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but worry for Fifth Miss: could her fifth sister navigate such a complex situation?

Though she hadn’t written home with complaints, just from Grand Madam’s sharp eyes and the bearing of Fourth and Fifth Young Madams, it was clear that in this prolonged mother-in-law and daughter-in-law war at the Xu household, Grand Madam Ni at least currently hadn’t fallen into disadvantage.

Living in Leshan Residence, the main house of Xiao Cuijin, keeping her secondary grandson by her side to raise, arranging an excellent match for him, and when the in-laws visited, not praising Fifth Miss at all, mentioning Madam Xu with such distant tone as if speaking of an outsider—even if Fifth Miss hadn’t mentioned any of this, with signs so obvious, if Seventh Miss still couldn’t see that Madam Xu and Grand Madam Ni had a cold relationship, she truly would have wasted all her experience.

First Young Madam was, after all, the eldest daughter-in-law, but her speech carried a provincial accent. With two sisters-in-law like this, could Fifth Miss—a young lady raised in the Jiangnan water towns and also a younger sister-in-law—manage these two troublesome elder sisters-in-law?

She glanced again at Grand Madam Ni.

Grand Madam Ni was also gazing thoughtfully at Seventh Miss.

Her gaze remained the same—neither cold nor warm, yet it made a chill rise from the bottom of Seventh Miss’s spine.

Perhaps it was intuition, but she always felt that Grand Madam Ni didn’t particularly like her.