Though Seventh Miss hadn’t yet been taken to live with the Great Madam, news of her impending move spread throughout the entire Yang Manor in less than a day.

“The Great Madam is kindhearted. She fears that without a mother, Seventh Miss will have no one to teach her. Without someone to teach her, then…” Ninth Concubine said meaningfully. “Seventh Miss has reached the age where she should understand things.”

Seventh Miss had only just turned six years old. Ninth Young Master and Eighth Miss from the second household were born on the same day as her. Ninth Young Master was still just a child, and Eighth Miss had never even touched a needle. Yet Seventh Miss’s hands already bore calluses from needlework.

Fourth Concubine looked away and smiled slightly, not picking up on Ninth Concubine’s conversational thread.

This was an extremely refined woman who appeared to be only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, yet she wore a lotus-blue jacket with hidden hibiscus pattern and high collar. On her entire person, she wore only a pair of earrings and a silver phoenix hairpin, making her temperament appear all the more noble and distinguished. Anyone who didn’t know better would say she had the bearing of a household mistress. Yet her fate was bitter—she had come to the Yang Manor to be Fourth Concubine.

Ninth Concubine maintained her smile. Seventh Miss stood before Ninth Concubine, looking at her, then at Fourth Concubine, saying nothing.

The atmosphere grew cold for a moment, until Third Miss walked in with a face full of smiles.

In her hands she held a beauty shoulder vase with a newly bloomed plum blossom branch, its flowers blooming sparsely. Immediately it added a delicate fragrance to this room that only smelled of medicine.

“How do you do, Ninth Concubine. It’s been so long since I came to visit Ninth Concubine.” Third Miss smiled before speaking, her round face with joy racing to escape. “Seventh Sister, look at this plum blossom branch Third Sister picked.”

Seventh Miss walked a few steps to stand before Third Miss, carefully examining the plum blossom branch.

Though Third Miss spoke politely, her footsteps stopped several yards before Ninth Concubine’s bed and refused to go any closer.

She must be afraid of catching the illness… After all, her age was still quite young. She hadn’t yet fully learned Fourth Concubine’s roundabout ways.

Seventh Miss raised her eyes and smiled innocently. “Third Sister, it smells so lovely.”

“Though plum blossoms lose to snow in whiteness by three parts, snow loses to plum blossoms in fragrance by one measure.” Third Miss turned around satisfied and placed the vase on the small side cabinet, tilting her head to admire it for a moment. “Mm, it looks just right. Ninth Concubine’s room was missing exactly this white plum branch! Now doesn’t the winter atmosphere come through?”

The beauty shoulder vase Third Miss brought looked like it might be from Zheng kiln, glazed with the clear-after-rain finish… This vase could sell for a full forty-some taels of silver outside. Not to mention it was only just November—where could one find white plum blossoms blooming this beautifully?

Fourth Concubine was ultimately somewhat displeased. Though she herself said nothing, she had her daughter come show off her wealth.

Ninth Concubine looked around at the yellowing walls, rust-covered locks, and moldy moth-eaten chests, then broke into a coughing fit. Seventh Miss hurried back to Ninth Concubine’s bedside to pat her back.

A trace of unnatural expression flashed across Fourth Concubine’s face and vanished.

“Seventh Miss is filial,” she praised.

Seventh Miss lowered her brows and eyes submissively. “Fourth Concubine is too kind.”

“However,” Fourth Concubine changed her tone, “though Ninth Concubine is the birth mother, she is ultimately just a servant. Seventh Miss must remember—there are distinctions between high and low status.”

She looked at Seventh Miss with a smile. Ninth Concubine’s coughing grew even more severe.

Fourth Concubine was like this—whenever she did anything, it was all shrouded in mist, making it impossible to see through her intentions. Seventh Miss didn’t know why she suddenly wanted to take her under her care, nor why she had come to show off her wealth this once and speak such an ambiguous phrase.

She lowered her eyes, about to speak.

Ninth Concubine suddenly gripped her hand.

Seventh Miss immediately changed what she was going to say.

“Mother, let me pour you a cup of water.” She nodded apologetically at Fourth Concubine and hurried to the outer room, staring at the bean-green coarse porcelain tea bowl. She couldn’t help but sigh.

Seventh Miss wasn’t someone who coveted wealth and luxury. She didn’t particularly love those cold, lifeless things to wear and carry. But in the Great Madam’s room, even a blade of grass had a pedigree, while Ninth Concubine could only use coarse porcelain tea bowls—if broken, they were worth only one or two coins at most.

At the root of it all, wasn’t it because Ninth Concubine had given birth to Ninth Young Master, and Ninth Young Master had been taken by the Great Madam to be raised in her room and treated as her own son?

The Great Madam’s heart was truly narrow. When Ninth Young Master grew up, if he knew Ninth Concubine had died in such destitution, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t harbor resentment.

Seventh Miss suddenly felt cold all over, no longer understanding what the Great Madam meant by taking her in.

She had originally thought that as Ninth Young Master’s twin sister, if not for her own sake then for his, the Great Madam should in both reason and emotion take her in to raise under her care. After all, the blood connection between her and Ninth Young Master was unbreakable—they looked almost identical… If she were randomly assigned to some concubine to raise, when Ninth Young Master grew up, it would inevitably be awkward. And the Great Madam should properly train her to be a refined young lady of good family who could hold her own, respectful and obedient, so that when she went to her husband’s family in the future, she wouldn’t bring shame to the Yang family’s future head.

But the Great Madam might also be truly too lazy to expend more effort cultivating a concubine-born daughter. Moreover, having been raised under Ninth Concubine’s care until age six, no matter how close she became to the Great Madam, her heart would always hold her birth mother first.

Perhaps the Great Madam never intended to take her from the start, which was why she hadn’t also brought her to the main house.

Taking her now was merely for the convenience of dealing with her.

But if that were the case, the Great Madam could easily go with the flow and push her toward Fourth Concubine. Next year she could find some way, wait until something happened to her, then say Fourth Concubine had failed in her upbringing. After all, she was Ninth Young Master’s twin sister and had some prestige. The Master would naturally be displeased…

But the moment Nanny Wang heard Fourth Concubine had come to sit for a while, she hurried over. Ninth Concubine only briefly mentioned that Fourth Concubine wanted to adopt her, and Nanny Wang brought her into the main house. The Great Madam most likely still intended to use her.

Or perhaps had some other thoughts—who could say?

Seventh Miss smiled bitterly at the teapot, poured a shallow cup of tea, and entered the inner room. Fourth Concubine was speaking with Ninth Concubine.

“…After all, he came from your belly. You’ve become like this, yet from over there, not even a word…”

Ninth Concubine countered move for move. “Fourth Concubine just said there are distinctions between high and low status.”

“But a birth mother is still a birth mother.” Fourth Concubine’s words always had two sides. She glanced at the beaming Third Miss. “From the moment he was born, you haven’t seen him, have you? Now he’s grown quite tall…”

“Mother, please have some tea.” Seventh Miss calmly offered the teacup. Ninth Concubine sat up straight, took the teacup, and sipped intermittently.

“Ah, he looks exactly like Seventh Miss!” Fourth Concubine acted as if she’d only learned today that they were twins, slapping her thigh and exclaiming.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but smile.

“What is Seventh Sister smiling about?” Third Miss asked coyly. “Are you feeling comfortable seeing this white plum blossom? I knew you couldn’t normally see such rare things.”

Master Yang had just been reappointed as Governor-General of Jiangnan this year. The Weaving Bureau and Salt and Iron Department under his command were both money-making places like treasure basins. Second Master Yang held office in the capital as a Hanlin Scholar of the most prestigious rank, with unlimited prospects. The two Yang manors together occupied an entire street, which was called Two Yang Street. The Yang family was one of the top renowned households in Jiangnan—how could they not have a single white plum blossom branch for Seventh Miss to see?

Moreover, every winter Master Yang took his wives and concubines to Xiangxue Sea to view plum blossoms, sometimes staying for half a month at a time—Xiangxue Sea’s white plum blossoms were the most famous.

Third Miss’s words were explicitly, brazenly stating to Seventh Miss’s face that she was not favored.

Seventh Miss raised her eyebrows.

“Third Sister is too kind… I’m usually occupied attending to Mother and indeed have no mind for such playthings. This beauty shoulder vase is also a fine piece, isn’t it?”

Third Miss’s face showed a trace of pride—she was still young after all and didn’t know how to restrain herself.

“Outside it would sell for over a hundred taels.”

“Alas, such valuable items are all registered in the ledgers.” Ninth Concubine suddenly said. “Third Miss is young and doesn’t understand. She just casually brings it here to our place. If it breaks, whose fault will it be… Why doesn’t Fourth Concubine stop her?”

Fourth Concubine’s face was full of smiles as she looked at her daughter with indulgence.

“When I speak, where would she listen? Her heart is set on Seventh Sister, so she picked up a vase and brought it here.”

Ninth Concubine’s meaning was very clear: we’re all servants. Seventh Miss is born of a concubine, and so are you. The valuable items in your rooms are all accounted for—don’t put on airs beyond your means.

Fourth Concubine was even more direct: this vase is common as dirt. In our rooms, no one gives it a second thought.

Seventh Miss lightly curtsied to Third Miss. “Then I thank Third Sister for her thoughtfulness.”

Third Miss seemed rather indifferent. Fourth Concubine glared at her, and she bloomed into a sweet smile again. “Seventh Sister, don’t be so formal with Third Sister. You stay in the South Side Courtyard year after year and never go out. As your elder sister, it’s only right that I take care of you.”

No matter how good Seventh Miss’s upbringing was, she couldn’t help but feel secretly displeased.

Third Miss looked cheerful and agreeable, but actually…

Everyone chatted for a while longer before Fourth Concubine finally rose to take her leave.

In the end, she never said exactly why she had come.

Seventh Miss was quite curious.

After dinner, Ninth Concubine leaned against her pillow, half-asleep. Qiufeng had gone off somewhere, and only Lixia worked diligently, boiling medicine in the corridor.

Ever since Nanny Wang had come that day, she only boiled medicine in the corridor. Ninth Concubine said several times, “We’re short-handed here. We don’t have so many rules.”

Lixia only said, “I cannot let Ninth Concubine lose face.”

That day when Nanny Wang came, her eyes constantly carried a sense of superiority. This snobbery was something everyone in the Yang Manor could understand. A fallen-from-favor concubine like Ninth Concubine, compared to Nanny Wang, was mud beneath her feet.

Only when she saw the small brazier inside the room did her eyes reveal pity: how desperate must one be to move the brazier into the room? Otherwise, attending to one side meant neglecting the other.

Some people could grow accustomed to being looked down upon, but what they couldn’t bear was sympathy.

Seventh Miss was one such person, and so was Lixia.

Ninth Concubine sighed and didn’t insist further. She looked at the beauty shoulder vase on the small side cabinet, her eyes gradually showing doubt.

Seeing this, Seventh Miss hurried to humbly ask for guidance. “Mother, what exactly does Fourth Concubine want to do?”

Ninth Concubine coughed lightly a few times and looked at her daughter with loving eyes, her eyes slightly moist. If she weren’t still alive, the Great Madam would certainly have taken her daughter to the main house too… Alas, this worthless life—even dying wasn’t so easy.

“Fourth Concubine’s actions always have deep meaning.” She said contemplatively. “This time she brought Third Miss to say so much. Listening to it… it almost sounded like she was helping us.”

Seventh Miss was very confused.

That Ninth Concubine wouldn’t live much longer was a fact known to all. Seventh Miss even secretly suspected that once she moved into the main courtyard after New Year’s, Ninth Concubine would pass away. She’d been ill for six years now, sick constantly since after childbirth. Even the most robust body would be hollowed out. What kept her going now was concern for her daughter’s future.

By rights, the Yang family only had one male heir, Ninth Young Master. As Ninth Young Master’s twin sister, she had some special privileges. At least when the Great Madam considered her future, she wouldn’t casually assign her to just any concubine or chamber maid and be done with it. She had to consider Ninth Young Master’s feelings, as well as the Master’s feelings… After all, she was his twin sister. Love me, love my dog—there would always be some sentiment. Once Ninth Concubine closed her eyes, perhaps favor would come.

The Great Madam was so petty she wouldn’t even let Ninth Concubine die with peace of mind.

Seventh Miss curled her lips inwardly.

Speaking of which, if the Great Madam truly was this petty, it was understandable that she didn’t want to see her: her appearance might remind the Great Madam that she wasn’t Ninth Young Master’s real mother, leaving a thorn in the Great Madam’s heart.

But the Great Madam would never let Fourth Concubine raise her… Her enemies were already powerful enough. If Fourth Concubine got her, she would certainly dress her up beautifully and take her around visiting, silently proclaiming how the Great Madam had previously mistreated their mother and daughter. Fourth Concubine had always been able to speak to the Master—if this alarmed the Master, the Great Madam would find it very difficult to explain.

That’s why Nanny Wang came so urgently, and why she accepted that gold bracelet so readily.

Seventh Miss had figured all this out herself. What she didn’t understand was why Fourth Concubine would invisibly help her like this, and why she came to sit today.

In these deep manor courtyards, there was no such thing as kindness without reason. Whatever Fourth Concubine did, it must be for her own benefit.

Ninth Concubine sighed.

“Thinking too much won’t help.” She coughed twice. “We can only let others manipulate us… But we should be manipulated by the Madam. Since the Madam raised Ninth Young Master, she won’t be too heartless to us. Didn’t she let you come back to stay with me until after New Year?”

The Great Madam had been decent about this matter. Originally in urgent haste to have her pack that very night, Seventh Miss had been quite reluctant. Now being able to stay until after New Year was good.

At least Ninth Concubine could live one more year…

Her heart ached.

Though Ninth Concubine had never been favored and never been well-off, she had always done her utmost for this daughter and was always extremely generous with her.

Looking at her daughter, Ninth Concubine felt extremely comforted.

“The Madam has spoken, so I can rest easy.” She said softly. “The Madam as a person… her heart is actually quite soft.” Which was why things always ended up in awkward, uncomfortable situations.

The Great Madam’s side was short of someone who could offer advice. When Eldest Miss was there, the Great Madam’s actions were very methodical. Now that Eldest Miss had just married out, things on the main house side had become somewhat chaotic. Her own daughters Second Miss and Fifth Miss couldn’t be relied upon. Ninth Young Master… was said to be innocent and naive.

This was exactly Little Seven’s chance to emerge!

Sell a few favors,献上几次忠诚 display loyalty a few times, and the Great Madam would naturally understand Little Seven’s worth. Without a mother, in these deep manor courtyards, Little Seven could only rely on Ninth Young Master, only on the Great Madam. If Ninth Concubine were the Great Madam, she would have taken her in long ago to raise with tender care, rather than having to expend effort winning her over.

But this way would also temper Little Seven’s character.

Ninth Concubine gazed at her daughter with a smile.

Little Seven had large eyes, dark and lustrous, extremely endearing. Though her face was still quite childish, one could already see she was a beauty in the making. Her features bore traces of Master Yang’s shadow, but also resembled Ninth Concubine very much.

Appealing. Ninth Concubine thought—it’s not that I’m being partial, but Little Seven’s appearance is truly appealing.

Her temperament was steady and calculating, not the frivolous type who would lose all sense of propriety at the slightest provocation… In the Great Madam’s room, she should be able to grow up safely. Then arrange a marriage for her—for Ninth Young Master’s sake, the Great Madam would find a decent match no matter what.

A woman’s whole life—wasn’t it just this?

“No matter what, being raised in the Great Madam’s room is your good fortune. In the future… you’ll have an additional status.” She said with some difficulty. “Look at Eldest Miss—the dowry she brought was worth over ten thousand taels of silver. The Madam isn’t stingy when it comes to money.”

Only toward their mother and daughter, over the years, cutting and pinching at every turn, deliberately making things difficult, determined to force Ninth Concubine to her death.

“Once you reach the main house, she’ll treat you well.” Ninth Concubine’s thoughts were crystal clear. “You must be obedient… listen to the Great Madam, and listen to… Ninth Young Master.”

Tears brimmed in Seventh Miss’s eyes.

“I’m a concubine-born daughter, and Ninth Young Master is a legitimate son… Of course I’ll listen to Ninth Young Master.” She said obediently.

Ninth Concubine felt relieved: though Little Seven wasn’t that type of person, hearing her say it with her own mouth provided an extra layer of assurance. Little Seven wouldn’t try to get close to Ninth Young Master, wouldn’t cause him trouble, and thus wouldn’t bring disaster upon herself.

“Be good, don’t争闲气 compete for trivial matters.” Her consciousness was gradually becoming foggy, yet she still instructed. “Endure for a time, and the storm will pass…”

How she wished she could see what Ninth Young Master looked like!