“Mother.” The Seventh Miss considered carefully, then slowly spoke.

Lichun had served in the main courtyard for many years. Though always cautious in daily matters, she naturally had her connections.

Her temperament was good, and she was trustworthy.

Placing her beside Ninth Brother couldn’t be more appropriate. In the future when Ninth Brother had his own courtyard, if there were matters inconvenient for the First Madam to handle directly, Lichun could manage them… Entrusting them to someone else, she truly feared Ninth Brother might be led astray.

“Rather than hastily preparing at the last minute, we might as well bring those three girls currently here under our main courtyard’s wing.” She said tactfully.

The First Madam’s heart stirred involuntarily.

Speaking of which, the Master Elder’s exclusive favor toward the three sisters had already lasted over half a year.

She didn’t know what exceptional qualities these sisters possessed to make the Master Elder regard them so highly.

They were gifts sent out by the Prince of Minyue. Though their status differed from other bed-warming maids and concubines, these girls who had been transferred here and there like objects were like rootless duckweed—their life and death rested entirely on the First Madam’s whim.

Would the Prince of Minyue really quibble with the First Madam over the life and death of a few bed-warming maids?

As the legitimate wife, some advantages were inherent. Not to utilize them—wouldn’t that be too wasteful?

A trace of approval appeared in the First Madam’s eyes as she looked at the Seventh Miss.

She herself might not be unable to think of these matters.

But the Seventh Miss was still so young, yet already this perceptive. When she grew older, even Fourth Yiniang might not be her match.

However, when a person was too perfect, they inevitably aroused suspicion.

Since entering the main courtyard, the Seventh Miss hadn’t said a wrong word or done a wrong thing, nor had she clashed with anyone.

Even someone as harsh and critical as Nanny Wang had only good words when mentioning the Seventh Miss…

The First Madam then composed her expression and nodded casually.

“What you say is correct.” She said lightly, “However, the timing of this matter still needs careful handling.”

They couldn’t elevate Shuangjiang on one side and immediately summon the three sisters for a talk on the other—that would be too hasty.

The Seventh Miss also detected the First Madam’s reservation.

She could only respond with a smile.

To gain the First Madam’s trust, there was still a long road ahead. She couldn’t rush it.

She could only endure.

After leaving the room, before long, Lichun came to speak with her.

Recently, what Lichun concerned herself with was naturally just that matter.

The Seventh Miss remained impassive, “I’ve passed the word up for you… However, it still depends on those three sisters.”

If the three sisters were truly beyond hope, the First Madam would be disappointed and could only turn her attention to Lichun.

Lichun couldn’t hide her nervousness.

“Thank you for taking this to heart, Seventh Miss.” She forced out a smile.

The Seventh Miss grasped her hand, only smiled, and said nothing.

This favor—Lichun truly owed quite a large debt.

After a few days, the First Madam casually found a pretext and summoned the three sisters to speak.

The Second Miss and Seventh Miss attended on the First Madam’s left and right. Lichun and two nannies were all in the room assisting.

It had quite the flavor of a promotion evaluation.

The three sister flowers filed into the west side room, properly restraining their brows and lowering their eyes. They kowtowed to the First Madam, then rose and paid respects to the Second Miss and Seventh Miss.

Their etiquette was impeccable.

“You look very similar.” The First Madam said with a smile, “At a glance, I truly can’t tell which is which.”

The three sisters then exchanged glances and introduced themselves with smiles.

These three were respectively called Boxia, Zhongxia, and Shuxia—easy to remember. It was said the Master Elder usually just called them One, Two, and Three.

After performing the rites, they knelt properly on the ground with lowered heads, waiting to be questioned.

They appeared completely docile. Their three slightly bent necks curved identically, and the back of their collars revealed skin white and smooth as cream.

The First Madam’s eyes narrowed. She noticed that all three sisters had birthmarks on their shoulders and necks. Shuxia had three tear moles as red as fresh blood, Zhongxia had two…

The sensual allure within could be imagined by the First Madam.

No wonder the Master Elder was lost in pleasure, thoroughly ensnared by the tender web the three sisters wove.

This time the Prince of Minyue had truly invested capital.

The First Madam then signaled to the Seventh Miss with her eyes.

The Seventh Miss was helpless.

Nanny Liang’s face also showed an unusual expression.

Nanny Wang coughed lightly and gave Nanny Liang a look. Nanny Liang quickly composed the unusual expression on her face, holding her breath again and staring solemnly ahead.

As their father’s bed-warming maids, these three originally shouldn’t have much to say to the Seventh Miss. After all, their status was what it was. Bed-warming maids sometimes had even less dignity than young maids who hadn’t come of age and couldn’t joke freely with the young misses.

“You’ve been in the household for over half a year now, haven’t you?” The Seventh Miss asked gently.

Boxia nodded bashfully, two rosy clouds flying across her face.

Though only moderately pretty, these three sisters possessed their own charm.

“From the first month until now, it’s been eight months.”

Their voices were also pleasant. Though not quite like orioles singing from valleys, they were still pleasing to the ear.

The Seventh Miss found more to say, “…You haven’t been elevated to yiniang status yet, have you?”

Over this past half year, the three sisters had been quite favored. By rights, they should have long ago urged the Master Elder to elevate them to yiniang status. Even if the Master Elder hadn’t agreed, Huansha Hollow could normally ask for this and that, causing some commotion.

But these three sisters remained quiet. Most of the time, they didn’t even leave Huansha Hollow’s doors.

To endure to this extent—they were either too honest or too calculating.

However, whichever it was, they posed no threat to the First Madam or the main courtyard.

Though they all served the Master Elder, the First Madam and these three sister flowers existed in completely different worlds.

However, before elevating them, they inevitably needed some admonishment, lest having a patron made them forget themselves and instead bite back at the main courtyard.

A trace of fear flashed simultaneously across all three faces.

“Our household’s rules… without pregnancy, one cannot be elevated to yiniang.” Boxia’s voice contained some shame.

The First Madam then took over the conversation.

“That’s what’s said, but there are exceptions.” She paused.

Surprise and joy simultaneously swept across all three faces.

These three sisters’ emotions were like a clear stream—nothing could be hidden.

The Seventh Miss couldn’t help feeling somewhat anxious.

If they were truly as pure as a stream, they probably wouldn’t be sufficient to compete with Shuangjiang.

Being favored or not was one thing; inner household struggles were another. What the First Madam needed was a weapon sharp enough to suppress Fourth Yiniang’s prestige in the inner household. This weapon must be sharp enough, yet not cut the master’s hand.

When the time came, they would inevitably turn their attention to Lichun again.

She glanced at Lichun.

Lichun smiled, her expression revealing nothing unusual.

This composure alone was rare among the Yang household’s servants!

The First Madam was also somewhat disappointed and changed her tone, “You three sisters come from the Prince of Minyue’s household, so naturally you cannot be viewed as ordinary bed-warming maids. However, without pregnancy, it’s also difficult to elevate you to yiniang…”

The three sisters pursed their lips but didn’t show disappointment.

They still had some composure after all.

“From now on, don’t always stay cooped up in Huansha Hollow. When you have leisure, come more often to the main courtyard to pay respects.” The First Madam’s words carried deep meaning.

Ordinary bed-warming maids had no standing to serve in the main courtyard. When favored, they were given a courtyard building to live in. When out of favor, they gradually disappeared. That the three sisters could move about in the main courtyard was dignity granted by the First Madam.

Having given this dignity while hinting they should capture the Master Elder’s heart—who this targeted was probably already self-evident.

The Seventh Miss carefully observed the three sisters’ expressions.

Shuxia looked somewhat enlightened.

Boxia and Zhongxia’s eyes flashed with ambiguous light.

She felt relieved.

These three sisters were not honest.

Since they weren’t honest, they should know such opportunities were rare.

To establish connections with the main courtyard… If they could successfully align with the First Madam, after becoming pregnant and being elevated to yiniang, their future would be secure.

The Second Miss also showed a satisfied expression.

The Seventh Miss exchanged a glance with her.

The First Madam then impassively dismissed the three sisters.

“They’re still clever people.” She exhaled a long breath tiredly. “It’s good if they can add some trouble for the Fourth House.”

The First Madam wasn’t stupid, just lacking in schemes for inner household struggles.

The Second Miss then hesitated, glancing at the Seventh Miss.

The Seventh Miss sighed inwardly.

The Second Miss had a lofty nature. She only knew that the household mistress should act impartially. Though schemes were inevitable, they must never be displayed, lest it look unseemly.

But people fight for their pride, Buddhas for their incense. The First Madam’s desire to compete with the Fourth House—the Seventh Miss could understand that sentiment.

This kind of mother-daughter conflict wasn’t something she, a concubine-born daughter, could intervene in.

She stood up smiling and found an excuse, “…Teacher instructed me to practice calligraphy diligently.”

The First Madam thought of how the Fifth Miss had also been practicing calligraphy diligently this past half year. Looking at the Seventh Miss, her gaze became somewhat more intimate.

It was good for the Seventh Miss to be diligent—it could inspire the Fifth Miss to strive harder.

“Go ahead.” She affectionately patted the Seventh Miss’s hand, “Apply yourself to writing, and our family might produce another Wei Furen or Guan Daosheng.”

The Seventh Miss smiled with pursed lips and withdrew from the west side room.

Soon the Second Miss’s voice could be heard from the west side room.

Lichun, Nanny Wang, and Nanny Liang also all withdrew.

Nanny Liang smiled and grasped the Seventh Miss’s hand, “Is Bailu serving diligently in the west side courtyard?”

She was Bailu’s godmother—the Seventh Miss had known this for some time.

The Seventh Miss showed some confusion, “Very diligently!”

Nanny Liang said to the Seventh Miss with a beaming smile, “To tell the truth, Seventh Miss, I’m Bailu’s godmother… Her mother and I were little sisters who swept floors together back in the day…”

The Seventh Miss smiled radiantly, suddenly understanding, “So that’s how it is.”

She became somewhat warmer toward Nanny Liang.

Nanny Liang also became somewhat warmer toward her, her curved eyes containing only smiles.

The two stood talking for a few sentences. The Seventh Miss asked Nanny Liang to visit Bailu more often, then left the hall.

She happened to meet Xu Fenghai head-on in the courtyard.

The Seventh Miss couldn’t help inwardly cursing her bad luck.

Today was a rest day. Xu Fenghai was probably here to find the Fifth Miss.

“Cousin.” She curtsied in greeting, smiling without warmth.

Xu Fenghai swept a glance at her, the corners of his lips curling up.

“Cousin.” He responded languidly.

The two brushed past each other.

#

After Shuangjiang came of age, the Master Elder mostly rested at Xike Pavilion these past few days.

He inevitably complained the quarters were cramped and he couldn’t fully enjoy himself.

He discussed with the First Madam moving the Third Miss and Fourth Miss out of Xike Pavilion to find them other lodgings in the garden.

The First Madam declined, saying that with guests present, it wasn’t very convenient to break walls and move earth. After seeing the Second Miss off to marriage, they could then settle the Third Miss and Fourth Miss when the quarters would also be more spacious.

Only then did the Master Elder desist. After a few days, somehow he became enamored with Huansha Hollow again.

For over ten consecutive days he slept in Huansha Hollow, or else in the outer courtyard.

He actually rarely went to Xike Pavilion anymore.

Fourth Yiniang’s complexion darkened day by day. Though the radiant smile on her face never ceased, someone as skilled at reading expressions as the Seventh Miss could see the dimness in the corners of her eyes and brows.

Elevating Shuangjiang at this time naturally wasn’t without purpose.

It probably related to the Third Miss’s dowry…

The Seventh Miss felt something was amiss.

Regarding the Third Miss’s marriage, the First Madam’s explanation had been unclear, never stating clearly who had proposed calling it off.

If the Master Elder had first decided to renege, after so many days passing, he should have privately explained to Fourth Yiniang first, shouldn’t he?

Otherwise, facing Fourth Yiniang’s tender affection, how could the Master Elder bear it?

Yet from Fourth Yiniang’s various behaviors, she didn’t seem to know the Third Miss’s marriage had already fallen through.

Elevating Shuangjiang was simply for the Third Miss’s dowry, wanting to compete for the Master Elder’s favor within Xike Pavilion.

…She hesitated somewhat, unsure whether she should reveal her doubts to the First Madam.

After living in the main courtyard for nearly half a year, the Seventh Miss had figured it out.

Though the Master Elder outwardly respected the First Madam greatly, whom he truly favored was the Fourth House.

Whether to oppose the First Madam or from genuine affection, regarding the Third Miss’s marriage, the Master Elder was determined to go against the First Madam.

In front of Madam Xu, if the two erupted into some conflict, the First Madam would probably be doubly angered.

The Seventh Miss remained vigilant, carefully observing the Third Miss and Fourth Miss’s expressions.

For a time, the household remained peaceful. Even the most troublesome Xu Fenghai disappeared without a trace, his voice diminished.

The Seventh Miss also gradually forgot the unpleasantness on the artificial mountain.

After all, he was just a young boy. How bad could he really be… Knowing she wasn’t to be trifled with, he had probably gradually let go.

Life seemed to return to its normal track. Compared to half a year ago, there were only slight differences.

The Seventh Miss’s calligraphy improved increasingly. The Fifth Miss secretly competed with her and practiced even more diligently.

Her embroidery also gradually took shape.

Bailu served even more devotedly.

When Nanny Liang and Nanny Wang saw the Seventh Miss, they smiled and treated her politely like a proper young miss of the main courtyard…

Though there were more words between Ninth Brother and the Seventh Miss, their relationship remained lukewarm.

The Second Miss busied herself preparing her dowry. Madam Xu went out daily to pray at temples and pay respects to Buddha…

The Second Madam came every few days to speak with her two older sisters. Sometimes the First Madam received her, sometimes she couldn’t be bothered and claimed illness. The Second Madam didn’t mind and came even more frequently.

Counting the days, the Seventh Miss again had Lixia’s mother, Sister-in-law Zhou, bring ten taels of silver to visit the Feng family. Madam Feng was profusely grateful—this year’s harvest was poor, and the newly acquired land of the Feng family hadn’t produced much.

Days flowed by peacefully.

Entering the tenth month, the Master Elder organized taking the whole family to Lake Tai to appreciate autumn.