Dinner passed uneventfully.

Although Xu Fengjia had the nickname Little Devil King, he was actually quite proper, sitting across from Ninth Brother to eat, not even glancing sideways toward his cousins.

Though Madam Xu and the Grand Madam had much to say, most of it wasn’t suitable for the daughters to hear.

This welcoming family banquet was rather bland and tasteless. Because Madam Xu seemed somewhat fatigued, after eating, there were no additional entertainments, and everyone returned to their quarters to rest.

The next morning, all the children and concubines gathered again in the main house to pay respects to the Grand Madam. Even the Master exceptionally came from the outer courtyard to share breakfast with the Grand Madam.

Everyone was chatting and laughing around the Grand Madam when two matrons entered from the outer room, both close attendants of Second Madam.

“Hearing that Madam Xu has arrived, Second Madam sent us to pay respects to Third Cousin.” Both matrons wore faces full of smiles, holding two trays containing four types of courtesy gifts and gold and silver coins. “And to present a meeting gift to Young Master.”

How could someone have their third cousin come to Jiangnan without coming to pay respects in person? Moreover, she was staying at her own blood sister-in-law’s house.

Just sending two matrons… even beggars at the door wouldn’t be treated so meagerly.

The Master coughed, rose slowly and said, “There are still matters at the yamen. I’ll head out first.” He then withdrew from the main house.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but glance at Fourth Concubine.

Fourth Concubine’s eyes crinkled with smiles as she spoke with Seventh Concubine behind the Grand Madam, showing no sign of anything amiss.

The Grand Madam’s expression darkened.

The two matrons then explained, “Second Madam truly has fallen ill with her old ailment, feeling unwell and unable to get out of bed. Otherwise, she would certainly come to pay respects to Madam Xu in person.”

After all, they had come to pay respects to Madam Xu, so the Grand Madam said nothing more and had them go to Yurong Courtyard to speak.

After a while, the two matrons came to take their leave.

Both looked somewhat embarrassed.

Behind them followed an old matron brought by Madam Xu.

“Our Madam misses her cousin and sent me to visit Yang household’s Second Madam.” The old matron said to the Grand Madam with a beaming smile and paid her respects.

The old matron was part of Madam Xu’s dowry, surnamed Lao. When Madam Xu was an unmarried young lady, she had been the senior maid in her quarters and had met Second Madam before.

The Grand Madam’s brow immediately relaxed.

“Nanny Wang should also go along to visit!” She said with a smile, instructing Nanny Wang. “How unfortunate that just as Third Sister arrives, she falls ill. It’s truly worrying.”

The daughters all exchanged meaningful glances. Grand Concubine and Fifth Concubine already wore mocking smiles on their faces.

The two matrons’ faces became even more unbearable.

Second Madam’s methods were truly too clumsy.

She was simply relying on her own shamelessness to stubbornly avoid meeting Madam Xu.

She didn’t consider that Madam Xu had come precisely to humble her pride—how could she avoid it by just pretending to be ill?

“Our Madam also said that a disciple of the imperial physician, the famous miracle doctor Young Master Quan, happens to also be in Suzhou. Learning of her arrival in Suzhou, he sent his card this morning. If Second Madam’s illness persists without improvement, she could invite Young Master Quan to examine her. She has that much face.” Old Matron said to the two matrons with a smile, in front of everyone.

The Quan family was also a distinguished clan of Great Qin.

In terms of status, they were far more noble than the Xu family. Generations of their daughters had been imperial consorts, and they often married imperial sons-in-law. The miracle doctor Quan Zhongbai’s maternal grandmother was the previous generation’s most favored Grand Princess Yining. For Madam Xu to invite him to treat Second Madam would be an enormous honor.

However, if he diagnosed that Second Madam was faking illness, for Second Madam, that would be utterly humiliating.

The smiles on the two matrons’ faces looked like crying.

Seventh Miss silently admired: Madam Xu’s methods were far stronger than the Grand Madam’s.

After the Grand Madam dismissed these matrons, her mood appeared quite good.

“Everyone return to your quarters!” She dismissed the concubines. “Recently we have distinguished guests at home. Watch your words and actions carefully. Don’t make mistakes and disgrace the Yang family. Not just me—the Master won’t forgive it either.”

Vaguely, she stared at Fourth Concubine.

Fourth Concubine acted as if nothing had happened, smiling and taking her leave with the other concubines before withdrawing.

But Seventh Miss caught the moment when the fog in her eyes cleared, revealing a trace of worry.

In household compounds, this was often the case—the more shameless one was, the more advantage one could gain.

The Grand Madam valued face too much, which was why she had always been passively beaten.

But Madam Xu was different. If you had no shame, she could make you utterly shameless.

With such an expert entering the field, Second Madam being defeated was only a matter of time.

Would Second Madam implicate Fourth Concubine…

Seventh Miss became curious.

The weather was hot, so all the daughters ate breakfast first before paying respects to the Grand Madam, then instead of returning to their rooms, they went directly to the family school for lessons.

Fifth Miss also appeared in new clothes to meet her sisters.

“I brought back too many things and haven’t organized them yet. By this morning I should be able to sort out what I brought for my sisters.” She said to Sixth Miss with a smile, not even glancing at Third Miss or Fourth Miss.

The smile on Third Miss’s face couldn’t quite hold. Seventh Miss glanced at Second Miss and quickly spoke with a smile, “It’s almost time for school. Will Fifth Sister come with us, or rest another day?”

Fifth Miss looked toward the Grand Madam.

The Grand Madam pondered for a moment. “You should go. You’ve already missed nearly half a year of lessons.”

So everyone entered the corridor together. Fifth Miss pulled Sixth Miss along, talking about what she’d seen and heard in the capital—nothing more than which households she’d visited and which officials’ wives she’d met. Sixth Miss listened with yawn after yawn, already looking exhausted before class even began.

Entering the classroom, Guyu busily wiped Fifth Miss’s desk and arranged the four treasures of the study. Fifth Miss then leaned over to look at the half page of paper on Seventh Miss’s desk.

“This has Lady Wei’s style?” She asked Seventh Miss, a trace of surprise in her tone.

With calligraphy, laypeople saw the excitement while experts saw the technique.

Only someone with a certain understanding of calligraphy could see that Seventh Miss’s characters had Lady Wei’s style, and could appreciate the progress between the lines.

Seventh Miss’s eyes flashed. “Mm, Teacher had me practice Lady Wei’s style for this half year. Now I can finally write a few strokes.”

“It’s quite good!” Fifth Miss didn’t stint on praise.

Seventh Miss’s eyes curved with pleasure.

Third Miss suddenly screamed.

Everyone was startled.

Third Miss didn’t just scream—she actually jumped up, frantically swatting at her desk surface with the book in her hand.

Ancient books were all butterfly-bound and not very sturdy. Many pages had already scattered, making the whole room full of pale yellow paper scraps.

“What happened!” Sixth Miss was at a loss.

“Spider!” Third Miss shrieked hoarsely, already breaking out in a sweat all over her head. The joyful expression that had been on her face was completely gone. “Ah! It! It! It’s crawling on me!”

Which of these delicate young ladies wasn’t afraid of spiders? They all stood up immediately. The room became chaotic. Sixth Miss was so frightened she ran outside. Fourth Miss also retreated to the wall, trembling.

Seventh Miss’s heart stirred and she glanced at Fifth Miss.

The corners of Fifth Miss’s eyes flickered with barely perceptible amusement.

After one trip to the capital, Fifth Miss had learned quite a few new skills…

Third Miss was so agitated her face flushed red, tears rolling down her cheeks drop by drop. She beat at the desk surface while stamping her feet, terrified that the spider that had long since disappeared might crawl onto her.

The room was in complete disarray.

The maids had all returned to their quarters. There was no one left who could manage the situation… and Teacher was about to enter at any moment.

A face suddenly appeared at the window.

Xu Fengjia.

“Third Cousin, did you see my spider?” His voice was still low and hoarse, slow.

In the sunlight, his skin tone appeared even darker. One could vaguely see his hair had some curl. Though it was properly bound tight, some stray hairs still fell loose, illuminated by the sunlight until they were semi-transparent.

Fifth Miss could hold back no longer and bent over with laughter.

“Cousin, how did your spider run into Third Sister’s desk again and frighten her so badly!”

“That would be my fault then.” Xu Fengjia responded slowly.

He came around from the doorway into the room, walking openly to Third Miss’s desk.

Third Miss moved aside with sobs.

Xu Fengjia then reached his hand into the desk, feeling around.

Before long, he withdrew his hand, holding a fierce-looking multicolored spider.

“Cousin, you—” Third Miss sobbed while stamping her feet.

She wanted to say something but was too frightened to complete her words.

Fifth Miss watched Third Miss in such disarray, and triumph flashed across her face.

Seventh Miss shook her head slightly.

Truly a Little Devil King.

“Third Cousin need not be afraid.” Xu Fengjia remained unhurried. “Though the spider looks frightening, it’s actually not poisonous.”

The large spider waved its eight long legs in his hand, as if proving his point.

“Quick, quickly take it away…” Third Miss was so frightened she couldn’t even stamp her feet anymore.

Xu Fengjia then turned and left the room.

Passing by Fourth Miss, he suddenly thrust the spider toward her face.

Fourth Miss immediately screamed as well.

Outside, Sixth Miss’s frightened cries could also be heard.

Xu Fengjia burst into loud laughter.

His slightly hoarse, hearty laugh gradually faded into the distance.

The room was full of paper dust, tables and chairs in disarray. The inkstone from Third Miss’s desk had fallen to the ground, ink splattered everywhere, even Third Miss’s clothes were covered in spots.

A perfectly good study had been turned into this state by Xu Fengjia in an instant.

Third Miss stood frozen for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud wailing.

“You, you’re relying on…” She couldn’t continue. “Bullying people!”

Fifth Miss could hold back no longer, bending backward and forward with laughter.

Third Miss naturally didn’t continue with lessons.

She cried all the way out of the family school.

Now that Fifth Miss had returned, the three young ladies walked together after school dispersed. Sixth Miss complained, “Cousin Xu is too mischievous!”

Seventh Miss lightly glared at her.

Xu Fengjia had just arrived and didn’t even know everyone yet, but he’d already placed a spider in Third Miss’s drawer.

What wouldn’t he dare to do?

Moreover, how did he know Third Miss and Fifth Miss didn’t get along?

Naturally Fifth Miss had told him.

With Xu Fengjia’s status, being a bit mischievous would earn him a few words from Madam Xu—nothing serious. But Third Miss had genuinely been frightened badly.

If Sixth Miss’s complaints reached Xu Fengjia’s ears and one day during lessons she found a spider in her drawer, wouldn’t that be an undeserved disaster?

Fifth Miss saw this and laughed triumphantly.

“Third Sister…”

Seventh Miss also glared at her.

Though Sixth Miss was adorable, ultimately she wasn’t from the main courtyard.

Even if Fifth Miss and Xu Fengjia were accomplices, she shouldn’t say it out loud. Otherwise, in Fourth Concubine’s mouth, these words would become distorted, as if Fifth Miss had instigated her cousin to torment her sister.

Fifth Miss fell silent.

Arriving at the main courtyard, the three parted ways before the hall: Sixth Miss entered Baifang Garden, while Seventh Miss and Fifth Miss returned separately to the eastern and western side courtyards.

Lixia was discussing with Bailu the incident of Third Miss being frightened. “Poor Third Miss! She cried all the way into Baifang Garden… with ink dripping from her hair! And she happened to run into people from the Li family paying respects to Madam Xu. The Grand Madam was quite angry.”

Third Miss’s breach of etiquette before others, regardless of the reason, ultimately affected her image.

The Grand Madam was probably angry, but angrier still at Fourth Concubine and Third Miss.

Official Li was her chief matchmaker after all…

Seventh Miss shook her head and sighed.

“You must watch your words and actions carefully. Don’t discuss the Xu family’s matters in public.” She admonished the two maids. “Cousin Xu has a mischievous temperament. Even when there’s nothing, he’ll create something. If we’re careless with our words and offend him, we’ll inevitably invite trouble as well.”

Both Bailu and Lixia rose with solemn expressions to agree.

After lunch, Guyu brought in two large boxes. “These are things Fifth Miss brought back.”

When Seventh Miss opened them, one large box contained a bolt of precious fabric, the other was packed full of clay figurines.

However, judging by the workmanship, they couldn’t compare to the exquisite ones Ninth Brother and Second Miss had received. Though the figures were lively, the details showed some clumsiness.

Seventh Miss smiled it off.

“Put them in the western inner room and display some of them.”

She needed to let Fifth Miss know she took her gift seriously.

Everyone lived in the main courtyard. If relationships weren’t good, making things too tense wouldn’t do.

Soon the Grand Madam sent Lichun with silver. “These past months while Madam wasn’t home, Ninth Brother stayed in the western side courtyard. Seventh Miss needed money in many places.”

Also fifty taels exactly.

Adding Nanny Wang’s fifty taels and Second Miss’s forty taels, Seventh Miss’s money box suddenly became quite substantial.

Silver ingots with frost patterns filled the small camphorwood box.

“Why did Mother suddenly think to send me silver?” She asked quietly as she saw Lichun out.

Lichun whispered in her ear, “Second Miss came to see Madam this morning. The two spoke for over an hour.”

Seventh Miss nodded thoughtfully.

Third Miss also didn’t go to Zhuying Terrace for lessons in the afternoon.

By evening, everyone knew about Third Miss’s incident.

“I heard Cousin put a spider in Third Sister’s drawer.” Ninth Brother whispered to Fifth Miss and Seventh Miss. “Third Sister was frightened into illness and is lying in Xike Workshop.”

Being frightened and being frightened into illness were two different concepts. Seventh Miss was somewhat surprised.

Given the Xu family’s status and Madam Xu’s purpose in coming, they were not people Fourth Concubine could afford to offend. Why was Fourth Concubine still trying to oppose the Xu family?

The Grand Madam had obviously also heard about this matter.

“I heard Third Sister is ill!” Before dinner when the family gathered together, she asked Fourth Concubine with authority. “Is it serious? If not, call a physician to prescribe some medicine. Young Master Quan happens to be in Suzhou—don’t delay the illness.”

Even Fifth Miss could hear the sharpness in those words.

Fourth Concubine wore a naturally smiling expression.

“She just caught a chill last night. Nothing serious.” Her eyes remained clouded and foggy as always, impossible to read. “Thank you for your concern, Madam.”

The Grand Madam nodded. “Then rest well for a few days. Don’t come out to move about.”

The Grand Madam both refused to acknowledge Xu Fengjia’s frightening behavior and wanted to be harsh about Third Miss’s breach of etiquette.

Wasn’t this going a bit too far?

Fourth Concubine lowered her head and deferentially agreed.

Seventh Miss felt a faint chill in the room.

Fifth Miss smugly gave Second Miss a meaningful look.

Second Miss sighed.

The Grand Madam then sent Nanny Wang off. “Tomorrow morning you go visit Second Madam and ask how she’s doing. No matter what, Third Sister has arrived—how can she not show her face?”