Madam Xu also sent an old nanny to visit Second Madam three times a day together with Nanny Wang.

She even sent medicinal supplements. “Close cousins—when Cousin comes and she’s so ill she can’t even rise from bed, it’s truly pitiful.”

Second Madam had no choice. After dragging it out for two days, she finally sent someone to say she would host a banquet at Second Master’s residence to welcome Madam Xu.

Now it was Madam Xu’s turn to put on airs.

“I’ll just stay at Yu Rong Garden and not go anywhere!” she discussed with the First Madam. “Cousin has come to Jiangnan. She doesn’t come to pay respects, yet expects me to visit her as a guest—what kind of logic is that?”

With Madam Xu’s status, Second Madam, as the wife of an academician’s household, should come to pay respects first before inviting her cousin to visit Second Master’s residence—that would accord with propriety.

Her words naturally spread, creating such a commotion that even the women in the southern side courtyard knew about it.

The two branches were relatives after all. Though they had somewhat divided the household, many servants maintained close connections with each other. Before half a day passed, the entire Second Master’s residence had heard the story.

Yet everything Madam Xu said was perfectly reasonable.

Second Madam had no choice but to swallow her shame and come pay respects to Madam Xu.

It just happened to be the day before Mid-Autumn Festival. The family school had no classes, so everyone came to pay respects to the First Madam. Because of the heat, they all came after breakfast and thus sat later than usual.

Actually, they just wanted to see Second Madam’s embarrassment.

Second Madam was escorted into the courtyard by Nanny Wang and Nanny Liang. She wore very plain clothes, not at all like meeting guests—a dark brown brocade jacket with front buttons and a dark blue Hangzhou gauze skirt. Against Second Madam’s pale complexion, she truly looked somewhat like someone just recovering from serious illness.

“Greetings, Cousin.” Upon seeing Madam Xu, she revealed a trace of smile, then tugged at Eighth Miss beside her. “Pay respects.”

“Third Cousin-Aunt.” Eighth Miss timidly bowed, then paid respects to Xu Fengjia. “Greetings, Cousin.”

Thus Second Madam also sat down to talk with Madam Xu and the First Madam.

Xu Fengjia stood beside Second Madam, eyes half-closed, boredly surveying the room.

All the daughters tensed their backs, looking as if facing a formidable enemy.

After several days, this young master cousin’s mischievousness had become well known to everyone in the Yang household.

Putting spiders in Third Miss’s drawer was no longer considered a major incident.

When Sixth Miss was swinging on the swing outside Little Fragrant Snow, he saw her, came forward and pushed hard. Sixth Miss nearly swung over the wall and was so frightened she burst into tears on the spot.

When Fourth Miss walked through Bai Fang Garden with her maids, he blocked her path with a vicious dog. She was too frightened to move and also burst into tears immediately. Only when Xu Fengjia found it boring did he pull the mastiff away.

When Madam Xu learned of these incidents, she only scolded him a few times without saying much more, still tacitly allowing him to come and go in Bai Fang Garden.

Now only Fifth Miss, Seventh Miss, and Ninth Young Master had not experienced his cruelty.

As Xu Fengjia looked around, his gaze fixed on Seventh Miss.

With Seventh Miss’s acuity, how could she not sense Xu Fengjia’s gaze?

She maintained her composure with effort.

Truthfully, these tricks for frightening little girls were not enough to intimidate Seventh Miss.

But Xu Fengjia himself made her feel very uneasy.

In his demeanor, Seventh Miss had never seen goodwill.

If this were modern times, Xu Fengjia would probably be that type of schoolyard bully!

“Second Miss, take your younger siblings out to play!” The First Madam spoke. “Since Second Madam has come over, today you need not attend school.”

Madam Xu smiled and said to the First Madam, “I’ve long heard that the teacher at the family school is a nephew of Zhang Weiting’s clan. The Zhang family has generations of scholarly tradition—I imagine this clan nephew is also learned?”

It was said that Zhang Weiting was the author of “The Tale of Golden Jade Children.”

“The Tale of Golden Jade Children” was wildly popular in Great Qin. Even people in the palace competed to read it. Even the Emperor applauded and read it with such absorption that he forgot to eat and sleep, and consequently summoned Zhang Weiting to court based on his literary talent.

This was of course just hearsay. However, Zhang Weiting truly was a great Jiangnan scholar, and the Emperor truly did summon him to serve as an official, but Zhang Weiting declined, preferring to live out his days with poetry and wine in Jiangnan, vaguely positioning himself as a standard-bearer for Jiangnan literati.

The Zhang family was also a famous scholarly family in Jiangnan.

“The Old Master personally examined him and said his learning is good, only regrettably he has no interest in an official career.” The First Madam seemed to have anticipated Madam Xu’s meaning.

“Then let Fengjia also idle away days at the family school.” Madam Xu glanced at Xu Fengjia. “At least he won’t spend all day thieving and causing mischief, troubling Fourth Sister.”

Having caused such a great commotion, when Madam Xu spoke of it, it was merely described as “troubling.”

“It’s no trouble at all!” The First Madam looked at Xu Fengjia lovingly. “They’re all family children. However, if Fengjia is to stay in Jiangnan for a while, it truly wouldn’t do to neglect his studies. I’ll have the Old Master speak with Teacher Zhang. Starting tomorrow, he can attend school together with Ninth Young Master!”

Second Miss then took Eighth Miss’s hand and led the group of daughters out of the main residence.

“The weather is terribly hot!” Third Miss spoke first, her round face holding a smile stretched so tight it seemed about to snap. “Fourth Miss and I will return to rest first.” With that, she pulled Fourth Miss, and the two hastily left the crowd.

Sixth Miss glanced at Xu Fengjia and tugged at Seventh Miss.

“Come play at Little Fragrant Snow?” She timidly hid herself behind Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss received Xu Fengjia’s vague gaze.

It seemed her turn had come?

“You take Eighth Miss to Little Fragrant Snow to swing.” She had no intention of entering Bai Fang Garden with Sixth Miss.

Sixth Miss was originally afraid of Xu Fengjia.

If the young master cousin followed behind them and caused some incident, frightening her would not be good.

Sixth Miss truly beckoned to Eighth Miss. “Come with Sixth Sister to Little Fragrant Snow to eat plums.”

Eighth Miss was timidly led by a maid to Sixth Miss’s side.

Fifth Miss pulled Second Miss and Ninth Young Master to play in the eastern side courtyard.

“Seventh Sister, come too!” Second Miss beckoned to Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss had no choice but to smile apologetically at Fifth Miss and stand beside Second Miss.

Fifth Miss did not show obvious displeasure.

Disliking someone like Seventh Miss was not easy.

“Cousin, come too!” She tugged at Xu Fengjia’s sleeve.

Xu Fengjia had already turned to walk away but could only turn back with a helpless expression and follow behind everyone.

The eastern side courtyard had many small playthings. Fifth Miss pulled Ninth Young Master to build with blocks and asked Xu Fengjia, “Will Cousin play too?”

Xu Fengjia actually did pick up blocks to fiddle with, though every movement revealed boredom.

Watching this, Seventh Miss found it curious.

Xu Fengjia truly treated Fifth Miss well.

#

After the children all dispersed, only the three sisters remained in the room.

The smile on Madam Xu’s face slowly faded.

The old nanny and Nanny Wang exchanged several glances, then stepped forward to close the main residence doors.

The room immediately darkened.

Madam Xu stood up and with a backhand slap, struck Second Madam’s face.

Second Madam was struck so hard she turned half around and collapsed against the chair back, unable to make a sound for a moment.

A clear handprint immediately appeared on her face.

A distinct trace of joy and satisfaction flowed through the First Madam’s eyes. She lowered her head to sip tea. Only then did Second Madam recover, touching her face without making a sound.

“When I think of all the shameful, disgraceful, wicked things you’ve done in Jiangnan these past years—things that would end your family line—I can’t sleep!” Madam Xu’s face was cold, her tone like ice.

Nanny Wang and Nanny Liang exchanged a glance, both feeling fear in their hearts.

The old nanny maintained a solemn expression. Standing behind Madam Xu with eyes on nose, nose on heart, she became a door guardian.

Nanny Wang and Nanny Liang quickly imitated her.

“Third Cousin…” As soon as Second Madam opened her mouth, her face received another slap from Madam Xu.

The burning pain mixed with humiliation transformed into tears in her eyes.

“You still know I’m your cousin?” Madam Xu shouted. “Kneel!”

Even the First Madam couldn’t help but be startled.

Years of habit made her about to speak to smooth things over.

“Third Sister…”

Madam Xu shot a sideways glance at her.

Her gaze was colder than ice.

The First Madam swallowed the words she was about to say…

“If you don’t kneel now, are you waiting until I report to the clan elder, open the ancestral hall, and have your name removed from the genealogy before kneeling?” Madam Xu laughed in extreme anger. “Fine, fine, Wang Xing’ai, your courage has never been small. Even in front of me, you dare to deceive and show off your shamelessness. I’ll let you know what pain means!”

If matters escalated to reporting to the clan elder, opening the ancestral hall, and removing Second Madam’s name from the genealogy, the Yang family would certainly lose face, but Second Madam and her children would have no place to stand in the Yang household thereafter.

Second Madam’s tears streamed down her face as she slowly knelt.

The blue brick floor was hard and cold.

“Since childhood, I treated you like my own sister. Seeing you lose your mother at such a young age and not being close to your stepmother, whatever Fourth Sister had, you never lacked.” The more Madam Xu spoke, the angrier she became. “At nineteen still without a marriage match, I swallowed my pride to write Fourth Sister, asking her to act as matchmaker and marry you into the Yang family. With your sister-in-law as chief matchmaker, even without natal family backing, your days at your husband’s family wouldn’t be difficult… All my painstaking efforts—even if spent on a dog, that dog would know to wag its tail at me and show some gratitude!”

“Third Cousin!” Second Madam choked out.

“In the early years, I told your Fourth Cousin we were fortunate to have married you into the Yang family… all close family who know each other well, a younger uncle I raised myself, a dear cousin—the two families would surely work together harmoniously… Look at what’s happening now! Wang Xing’ai, search your own conscience—do you still have one? Can you still be considered human?” Madam Xu grabbed the teacup and threw it at Second Madam. Amid everyone’s cries of alarm, the teacup grazed past Second Madam’s hair and fell to the ground, only splashing tea water over Second Madam’s face.

Even the First Madam could sit still no longer.

“Third Sister…”

Madam Xu snorted coldly and slowly sat back down.

“Your Fourth Cousin is a kind person.” She blew on her delicate jade hands, her tone gradually calming. “Burdened with an ungrateful younger uncle and such a foolish sister-in-law like you, yet over the years she hasn’t harbored resentment… Yet you were stupid to this degree! Wasting your efforts working for others!”

Second Madam showed some confusion.

From earlier until now, she had not spoken.

She didn’t want to admit to the crime of plotting against her nephew.

Once she acknowledged this, she would be controlled by the First Madam for life.

She could endure Madam Xu’s anger—after all, she would eventually return to the capital. Humiliation was nothing.

But this statement made Second Madam panic from her core.

“Third Cousin, what do you mean…”

The First Madam smiled faintly and said softly, “Does Sister-in-law not know that Concubine Xiang beside Little Uncle has been greatly favored these past years? When Tenth Miss came to see me, she was surrounded by over a dozen maids and women. The three nephews don’t have such grand displays.”

Second Madam immediately lost her composure.

“Yang Haixi dares!” She half-raised herself, about to roar.

Madam Xu and the First Madam exchanged a glance and both smiled.

Madam Xu calmly sipped her tea without speaking.

Cold sweat poured down Second Madam.

She had been stuck in a mental corner.

She only knew that Second Master also coveted the first branch’s family property but hadn’t thought about that slut Concubine Xiang!

This was while she had no son yet.

If there were a concubine-born son…

“If Concubine Xiang has a concubine-born son, won’t you have to guard against her just as Fourth Sister guards against you?” Madam Xu’s voice carried mockery.

She could still see through her thoughts at a glance…

Second Madam suddenly felt her kneeling was worthwhile!

“Elder Sister, I was possessed by demons!” She immediately crawled on her knees to the First Madam’s side and embraced her calves. “I was possessed by demons! Elder Sister, please don’t hold it against me!”

Both Nanny Wang and Nanny Liang felt a trace of surprise in their hearts.

Second Madam’s attitude changed far too quickly.

The First Madam’s heart was crystal clear.

The second branch’s Concubine Xiang had always been greatly favored. When Second Master went to the capital to serve as an official, he left Second Madam in Suzhou—on one hand to scheme for Ninth Young Master, on the other hand because he didn’t want Second Madam in his way.

Concubine Xiang’s womb simply wasn’t producing—she still had no son.

Otherwise, where would Second Madam have a place in the second branch?

Without her husband’s favor, a woman relied on her natal family—and Second Madam’s natal family was not close to her.

She should have been eagerly fawning over the First Madam.

Unexpectedly, she had been dazzled by the past years’ splendor, harboring adoption schemes, wanting to recreate the beautiful scene of several years ago when the First Madam came to curry favor with her…

Sometimes it required an outsider like Madam Xu to wake Second Madam from her beautiful dream.

Second Madam was quite capable of bending and stretching. Once she cleared her head, she immediately grasped the key issue.

Whether to help her now depended on the First Madam’s pleasure.

The look in Nanny Wang’s eyes as she regarded Madam Xu was filled with admiration.

A true master settled everything with one stroke.

“Only now do you know regret?” Madam Xu sneered again. “If Fourth Sister hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have believed it! Though you weren’t particularly clever or bright since childhood, you were honest and straightforward. How did you become like this? Only knowing how to cause trouble with your closest people. Having methods but not using them on the concubines in your own household—using them on your elder sister instead!”

Second Madam lowered her head in shame, her face full of regret.

Madam Xu softened her tone. “Xiufei, you decide.”

Xiufei was the First Madam’s given name.

The First Madam looked at Second Madam, almost wanting to laugh from her heart.

Third Sister was truly Third Sister—with one move, she untied this dead knot.

“We’re all sisters in the same family. There’s nothing to hold grudges over.” She said warmly. “Sister-in-law, please rise.”

Second Madam wiped her tears but did not rise. “I have no face to stand as your equal, Elder Sister.”

She truly could lower herself.

The First Madam smiled again. “Please rise.”

Watching this, Madam Xu shook her head and sighed inwardly.

Xiufei had been pampered and spoiled since childhood, never experiencing hardship, so she couldn’t let go of her pride or face.

In this regard, she was inferior to Second Madam.

In managing a household, sometimes one simply could not care about face!

To maintain face, one had to swell one’s face to appear fat and swallow bitterness in one’s heart!

Thinking of how the First Madam had kept her distance from the Qin family over the years, her gaze became even more misty.

Still holding a grudge against Imperial Tutor Qin, resenting him for marrying her into the Yang family…

Alas, no wonder she harbored hatred.

The Yang family in this state was truly too dissolute.

Appearing respectable on the surface, but privately starting with Yang Haidong, there wasn’t a single good person in the entire household!

She had thought sending her cousin as a sister-in-law would add support, but unexpectedly, it was precisely this cousin who constantly sabotaged her!

Madam Xu’s gaze toward Second Madam turned cold and severe once more.