The main event of the lake excursion was actually at night.

After the sun set, sounds of flutes, pipes, and stringed instruments came from the other pleasure boat, along with young voices warbling as they practiced their vocals. Carried across the water, the sounds became even clearer and more crystalline.

The Great Madam smiled as she introduced it to Madam Xu. “Speaking of Beijing opera, naturally all the good troupes are in the capital. In Suzhou, we can only listen to southern opera.”

Madam Xu said with a smile, “Now in the capital, when good Kunqu troupes take an engagement outside, they’re given rewards of several hundred taels. Even so, the Jiqing Troupe rarely gets a day of rest.”

Coming to Suzhou, naturally one listened to Kunqu opera.

A middle-aged troupe master, dressed neatly and cleanly, came to ask the Great Madam to select plays.

Several children sat around the round table. Serving maids brought up Taihu’s Three Whites and Liangxi crispy delicacies… all freshly caught and freshly killed, light-flavored boat dishes.

Among those present, only the Xu family mother and son had always lived in the north and had few opportunities to taste southern cuisine.

Madam Xu then praised the Great Madam. “At home, you always lived in pampered comfort. I never expected that after marriage you would be so capable, arranging everything so properly.”

The Great Madam smiled and told Madam Xu stories from before she left her maiden home.

Melodious and graceful singing drifted across the water.

Children had always found it difficult to appreciate the beauty of opera.

After Fifth Lady and Sixth Lady ate a few bites, they set down their bowls, excused themselves, and went to play on the stern deck.

Ninth Brother looked at Twelfth Lang. The two exchanged knowing smiles, quickly shoveled down the rice in their bowls, and hand in hand went out the cabin door.

Seventh Lady had just come out from the washroom to find only Eleventh Lang and Xu Fengji remaining at the table.

She couldn’t help but sigh. After eating a few more bites of rice, she also excused herself.

The stern deck was large. Fifth Lady and Sixth Lady leaned against the railing, pointing at the stars filling the sky.

Ninth Brother and Twelfth Lang had actually started fishing. Their childish laughter carried far.

Ninth Brother usually had very few playmates his own age.

She herself, who was closest in age, was rather precociously mature.

His laughter with Twelfth Lang softened Seventh Lady’s heart.

She leaned against the cabin doorway, listening to the splashing of oars, watching the ever-changing lamp reflections in the water, savoring the autumn wind that carried a slight chill.

Memories of her past life suddenly returned before her eyes.

Seventh Lady’s eyes misted over.

No matter where I am, I must live well—she repeated over and over in her heart the declaration that belonged to the past.

No matter where I go, I can live well.

Her past life became like a scroll, gradually unfolding again in her heart.

For a moment, she immersed herself in her own world.

The sounds of strings and woodwinds drifted faintly from across the water.

The laughter of Ninth Brother and Twelfth Lang, the murmuring whispers of Fifth Lady and Sixth Lady scattered in the wind.

Seventh Lady smiled.

The next moment, she was suddenly yanked roughly away from the cabin doorway.

Seventh Lady snapped back to awareness, shaking her hand in shock, but couldn’t shake off Xu Fengji’s grip.

In the Yang household, besides Xu Fengji, who else would be so rude?

“Are you afraid of water?” Xu Fengji asked with great interest.

The cabin doorway wasn’t far from the railing.

Only then did Seventh Lady realize she was at the edge of the boat, and she broke out in a cold sweat.

This was nothing like the time at the artificial mountain.

The adults were nearby—they need only stand up to see her and Xu Fengji together.

On the stern deck hung only a single swaying windproof lantern. The dim yellow light could only illuminate people’s shadows. The few serving maids were all distributed around Ninth Brother and Fifth Lady.

Xu Fengji might really push her into the water.

Ancient medical conditions were poor, and it was already deep autumn… Once in the water, she would very likely catch a chill. A chill could potentially develop into lung disease, leaving lasting effects.

For the first time, Seventh Lady felt afraid.

Like facing an immature beast in the darkness, she suddenly felt the disparity in strength between them.

“Cousin, I will scream,” she said, maintaining her composure.

Xu Fengji’s face was hidden in shadow.

“You won’t,” she answered with certainty.

Seventh Lady had nothing to say.

She truly didn’t dare. With Xu Fengji’s status, even if she pushed Seventh Lady into the water, what could the Great Madam do to her? This was the future Duke Pingguo… while Seventh Lady was merely a small concubine-born daughter.

Making a scene would only make everyone uncomfortable.

Moreover, given Ninth Brother’s temperament… Xu Fengji had probably thoroughly understood the interests at play and thus bullied her so unscrupulously.

Seventh Lady had no choice but to soften her tone.

“…I know to be afraid now. Please, cousin, don’t throw me in the water,” she said pitifully.

Her voice trembled slightly.

Seventh Lady wasn’t particularly good at acting.

She hadn’t had many opportunities to act. For most of her life, Seventh Lady had simply endured.

This was all she could perform.

Yet Xu Fengji seemed somewhat satisfied.

She turned her head to scrutinize her expression carefully, and her grip gradually loosened.

“I knew it! You can be afraid too, can’t you? In my life, Xu Fengji has never failed to accomplish anything.”

The smugness in her voice pierced straight into Seventh Lady’s heart.

Who told you I’m afraid? I’m just humoring you!

She almost wanted to shout it out.

Someone like Xu Fengji, a favored child of heaven, must be very arrogant, believing there was nothing she couldn’t accomplish.

To deal with such people, one had to go along with them… provoking their pride would not be pleasant.

“I’m already afraid, cousin. Please put me down,” she softened her tone.

With a somewhat coquettish plea to Xu Fengji.

Xu Fengji seemed to find it very interesting.

“No,” she said with a smile. “Beg me and then I’ll let you go.”

Seventh Lady bit her lower lip and began struggling silently.

Being small and weak, after struggling only a few times, she could only obediently comply. Fortunately, Xu Fengji didn’t seem to intend to go too far. This time her feet touched the deck.

“So young, yet so stubborn!” Xu Fengji scolded Seventh Lady. “Is it so hard to yield? With others, I don’t see you being so disagreeable… You need to learn to be more pliant!”

“Yes… yes, I’ll definitely be more pliant in the future!” Seventh Lady had no choice but to soften her voice, coaxing this young cousin.

Yet Xu Fengji still seemed unsatisfied.

“Do you know that Li Eleventh Lang is somewhat interested in you?” Her voice contained low laughter, and instead she became quite talkative. “He’s quite interesting—with your family’s Sixth Lady right there, the same age and incomparably beautiful, he’s taken a fancy to you instead! Tell me, what’s so good about you?”

Seventh Lady wished she could push Xu Fengji into the lake!

She had never seen such a relentless pest. She had already yielded—what more did she want?

She struggled again. “You’re talking nonsense! Let me go!”

Her words already carried the meaning of being flustered and exasperated.

Xu Fengji instead seemed satisfied and loosened her grip to release Seventh Lady.

A wave came, Seventh Lady’s feet slipped, and half her body slid through the gap in the railing.

“Ah!” She cried out in alarm, her feet kicking wildly, unable to find purchase.

Xu Fengji’s face also went white with fright, and she grabbed Seventh Lady’s shoulder.

Seventh Lady could only clutch Xu Fengji’s neck.

“Don’t move!” Xu Fengji grabbed the railing with one hand and scolded in a low voice. “Don’t hold so tight!”

Seventh Lady was holding too tightly, making it difficult for her to exert force.

While speaking, Xu Fengji used the boat’s rocking motion to pull Seventh Lady back onto the deck.

She hastily pulled Seventh Lady back several large steps, far from the boat’s edge.

Seventh Lady’s heart was still pounding. Gasping several deep breaths, she couldn’t help but feel both angry and resentful.

“You think I was really afraid? I was tricking you!” Unable to think much, she blurted out the words in her mind. “Whatever concubine-born daughter from whatever family the young lord was rebuffed by and offended—go find that family. There’s no need to endlessly quarrel with me. What’s the point!”

“You!” Xu Fengji was so angry she tried to grab her. “Don’t you run! You wretched girl, you—”

But she was too late to chase.

Seventh Lady had already run to Fifth Lady’s side, carefully smoothing the wrinkles from her clothes.

The pleasure boat had changed to singing “Shuang Die Cui.” The lilting southern melody sounded even more crystalline across the water.

“Walking is hard to forbid, sitting is hard to forbid, the more I say not to think, the more it’s on my mind…”

#

The next day, the boat traveled to Lingshan, and everyone disembarked to worship the Great Buddha of Lingshan.

On the morning of the third day, the boat returned to Guangfu Town.

Madam Xu was reluctant to leave.

“I want to worship the Bronze Guanyin for a few more days,” she discussed with the Great Madam. “You have many matters, so return home first. I’ll stay here—it’s all the same.”

The Great Madam could only smile. “Let younger sister-in-law come keep third sister company. Second Lady is going out, and our household indeed has many matters.”

How could Madam Xu not understand the complexity of wedding affairs? “You just go back first.”

She then instructed Xu Fengji, “After returning to Yurong Court, listen to Fourth Aunt’s words. Don’t be too mischievous. When you have free time, play with your cousin. Don’t go out casually.”

Xu Fengji composed herself and agreed.

When no one was paying attention, she turned her head to glance at Seventh Lady and gave a soft snort.

Seventh Lady’s heart tightened.

Without Madam Xu’s restraint, Xu Fengji would probably be even more lawless.

Wanting to avoid trouble, to resolve trouble—in the end, she still hadn’t held back and failed to solve the trouble.

Fifth Lady acted coquettishly toward Madam Xu. “I’ll miss Third Aunt!”

Madam Xu smiled and tapped her nose. “What a silly girl.”

With that, aunt and niece laughed together.

The Great Madam’s eyes flashed, but she said nothing more.

The Great Master had returned to Suzhou the night before last. Not having to accompany the womenfolk, he traveled fast alone on horseback.

After autumn was the busiest time for the Weaving Bureau. That the Great Master could spare a few days already showed great sincerity.

Madam Li specially came to collect her sons and thanked the Great Madam. “My sons have caused you trouble.”

“Not at all,” the Great Madam said politely, smiling as she praised. “Twelfth Lang is innocent and carefree, Eleventh Lang is steady and generous—both are good children.”

Madam Li smiled and looked at Eleventh Lang and Twelfth Lang, giving Eleventh Lang a questioning look.

Eleventh Lang pressed his lips together and ignored Madam Li.

Madam Li then invited the Yang family young ladies to visit the Li household when they had free time to play with the Li daughters.

“Thirteenth Lady misses you all!”

Fifth Lady smiled and thanked Madam Li for the invitation on behalf of Sixth Lady and Seventh Lady.

Madam Li and Madam Xu walked arm in arm to see everyone off at the mountain gate.

The Great Madam personally shared a sedan chair with Xu Fengji.

Fifth Lady shared a carriage with Ninth Brother, Sixth Lady and Seventh Lady shared one. Two additional small covered carriages were left at Guangfu for the use of Madam Xu’s personal servants.

On the way back, Sixth Lady and Seventh Lady discussed the scenery of Taihu Lake.

“Though we come to Guangfu every year, it’s always after the twelfth month, and in recent years we only stay for half a month before going back for New Year,” she said excitedly. “It’s rare to actually go out on the lake by boat.”

Whether or not to reveal the Li family’s intentions to Sixth Lady—Seventh Lady hadn’t decided yet.

Properly speaking, unmarried daughters shouldn’t hear about their own marriage prospects.

Sixth Lady indeed had no power to decide her own marriage.

Whether she knew or not would have no effect on how things developed.

However, even so… Sixth Lady would surely want to know who her future husband would be.

When Madam Li came calling again, she would see.

Even if Madam Li had such intentions, the Great Madam might not agree.

Besides, Second Lady’s wedding was imminent. The Great Madam probably had no mind to think about other matters.

#

Seventh Lady guessed correctly.

Not long after returning home, the Sun family sent word.

The future second son-in-law, Sun Liquan, had passed Nanjing and would probably arrive in Suzhou in a few days.

The wedding was set for the twelfth month. The ceremony would naturally be held in the capital. If she were a daughter from a small household, she might marry from Second Master Yang’s house in the capital. However, given the Yang and Sun families’ status, the bride-fetching ceremony required Sun Liquan to personally come to Suzhou to escort Second Lady from her home.

That Sun Liquan would arrive in Suzhou in mid-October showed the Sun family’s regard for this marriage alliance.

The Great Madam was very satisfied.

“The bride-fetching ceremony is still set for the first day of the eleventh month,” she discussed with the steward woman sent by the Sun family. “A full month—that’s enough time no matter how we travel. However, the dowry must go earlier. I think we should send the boats in late October.”

On the bride-fetching boat, there would naturally only be the bridal sedan, the bride, and a few attendants. With a light boat traveling fast, a month would be easily enough to reach the capital.

Boats loaded with dowry traveled slowly in winter. If they also had to follow behind the bridal boat, they might not make the auspicious date.

When a bride married without a ten-li red dowry procession, it simply wouldn’t do.

The Sun family’s steward woman smiled until her eyes narrowed, agreeing repeatedly.

The Great Madam sighed and handed over a red list.

“This is our family’s dowry list,” she said slowly. “Since the in-law madam is not here, I can only ask the young master to review it.”

The steward woman hastily demurred. “Not at all, not at all. Madam Yang is an elder. There’s no need to be so courteous with our young master.”

As she spoke, she glanced at the list in her hand.

She was someone who had experienced wealth, but with one look, the list felt too heavy to hold.

The Yang family was actually so extravagant!

Not to mention the land and clothing, not to mention the silver for the bottom of the chest that never went on lists—the thirteen Xianxiu workshops north of the river were all being given as dowry to the future young mistress!

Though she concealed it repeatedly, her expression still changed.

A hint of a smile appeared at the corners of the Great Madam’s lips.

Whether a daughter could stand firm in her husband’s household depended first on her natal family’s status, and second on her own dowry.

With Second Lady’s dowry, even if several of the Sun family’s younger masters of lesser rank married wives of more noble birth, they would probably find it difficult to shake Second Lady’s position.

In the deep inner courtyards, a husband’s favor could only play a secondary role.

One needed dowry and natal family backing for a daughter-in-law to hold her head high.

The steward woman then put away her arrogance, respectfully kowtowed to the Great Madam, took the red card, and left.

Only after she left the main courtyard gate did the Great Madam let the smile fade from her lips.

Nanny Wang said carefully, “The master spent the night at Xike Workshop again.”

Ever since learning that the Great Madam was really giving Xianxiu Workshop as dowry to Second Lady, the Great Master had been sulking with the Great Madam.

Though these were the Great Madam’s own dowry properties that she could arrange as she wished, generally women who had biological sons would leave a portion of their dowry for their sons.

Though Ninth Brother hadn’t crawled out of the Great Madam’s belly, he had been brought to the main courtyard from birth and had barely seen his birth mother’s face a few times…

The Great Madam’s actions were indeed somewhat improper.

The Great Madam sighed.

“Raising Ninth Brother in the main courtyard wasn’t for the Yang family, but only for Second Young Lady and Fifth Young Lady,” she said, her gaze distant. “Only by being raised in the main courtyard would he know to be close to his sisters… Otherwise, why would I take on this trouble for the Yang family?”

Nanny Wang fell silent as a cicada in winter, not daring to say another word.

Inner household disputes were often like this.

The gentleman had his reasons, the lady had hers. Everyone was at fault, yet everyone had their difficulties.

Yet the Great Madam was wary of Fourth Aunt.

After bowing her head in thought for a while, she still asked faintly, “Where is Seventh Lady?”