Neither the Great Madam nor the Great Master mentioned Ninth Young Master’s injury again.

Even Fourth Yiniang abnormally made no issue of this matter.

Having just returned from the Great Madam’s room, she fell ill.

Third Miss also took sick leave together with her.

Everyone knew in their hearts: Fourth Yiniang’s illness was certainly heart sickness.

The Great Madam sent people to Qinghong Pavilion to search through it, then afterward held dharma services at Guanyin Mountain for the deceased yiniangs to transcend their souls. Even Ninth Yiniang had a share, enjoying a full seven days of water and land rituals.

Seventh Miss was extremely puzzled.

“This Ninth Young Master, usually keeping such a low profile,” she privately discussed with Lixia. “He actually hides things so well!”

Bailu would eventually marry out in a few years, so she wasn’t usually very interested in these dark secrets.

But Lixia was Seventh Miss’s direct confidante, so speaking with her was naturally much safer.

“Who would have thought Ninth Young Master had such deep schemes.” Lixia also chimed in.

Recently, Ninth Young Master ate what he should eat, drank what he should drink, and played and frolicked as before—as if the previous upheaval had never happened. This composure, even Seventh Miss had to admire.

The Great Madam and Great Master frequently took action.

First, holding dharma services for several deceased yiniangs. Then, extensively renovating Qinghong Pavilion, cleaning it until spotless, and even repainting the walls.

Those with perception could all see: this was remembering the deceased Third Yiniang.

Seventh Miss again inquired of Bailu, “What taboo exactly did Third Yiniang violate?”

She recalled that a few months ago, when Eighth Yiniang and a pair of twin daughters died, the Great Master had also arranged dharma services for Third Yiniang at Guanyin Mountain.

Her heart gained some understanding.

Bailu was equally bewildered. “When I came to serve, Third Yiniang had already passed away. No one in the household dares mention this matter…”

Maids like them usually avoided such household secrets as much as possible.

Knowing too much made it difficult to extricate oneself.

It seemed she would get no information from Bailu.

Third Miss and Fourth Miss weren’t suitable candidates either…

Seventh Miss thought of Sixth Miss.

Entering the twelfth month, the daughters weren’t attending school, and the boudoirs didn’t do needlework.

Sixth Miss constantly pulled Seventh Miss to the east side courtyard to play, playing backgammon with Fifth Miss and painting miniatures.

After celebrating Laba Festival at the household, the Great Madam again brought Ninth Young Master and several daughters to stay briefly at Xiangxue Sea in Guangfu.

Because Fourth Yiniang and Third Miss were both “ill,” the Great Madam conveniently left Fourth Miss behind to attend to her birth mother and sister.

The Great Master was also quite spirited this year, accompanying the Great Madam and staying at Chonghán Pavilion in Xiangxue Sea for two or three days before entering Tongguan Yin Temple to discuss dharma and debate doctrine with the abbot.

This time, he also brought Ninth Young Master along.

By the twelfth month, Xiangxue Sea was filled with high officials and nobles. Even Li Wenqing’s Li family and Zhang Weiting’s Zhang family all came to stay briefly at Xiangxue Sea. The womenfolk idly visited each other, while the men could only go to Tongguan Yin Temple to exchange poetry with Abbot Xiuhe and discuss doctrine.

Bringing Ninth Young Master along was to let him become acquainted with these uncles and elders, so that when the Great Master retired in the future, Ninth Young Master could take over his connections. The Li and Zhang families also brought their heirs along to receive the Great Master’s instruction.

The Great Master was already treating Ninth Young Master as an adult.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but grow increasingly curious.

Her gaze at Ninth Young Master also became somewhat different.

Previously she only felt this child was unusually clever—young as he was, he knew everything he should know. He both knew to care for himself and knew the two of them shouldn’t be too close.

Ninth Young Master had grown up under the Great Madam’s doting love. Knowing these things was already commendable.

She never expected that such an incident, whether major or minor, would be handled so seamlessly by Ninth Young Master, not stirring even a ripple, passing peacefully by…

Even the Great Madam’s gaze at Ninth Young Master showed nothing amiss, still as loving as always.

For the first time, Seventh Miss realized that curiosity was also a powerful force.

This matter was shrouded in clouds and mist, layer upon layer of mystery… which only made her want to investigate more thoroughly.

Chonghán Pavilion wasn’t large, just a three-courtyard compound. Housing the Great Master couple, three young ladies, one young master, plus attending maids and servants, the small courtyard was packed full.

Fifth Miss spent every day with Sixth Miss. Seventh Miss couldn’t find an opportunity to speak privately with Sixth Miss.

On the fifteenth of the twelfth month, Lady Li came to speak with the Great Madam, her expression very grave.

The two closed the door of the main hall, even dismissing the second-class serving maids, leaving only the most capable nannies inside to serve tea.

Eleventh Brother and Twelfth Brother were entrusted to Fifth Miss. “Take your brothers to tour the plum grove!”

Above Chonghán Pavilion, an entire small mountain belonged to the Yang family, planted with dozens of acres of plum trees. Though everyone had stayed at Xiangxue Sea for five or six days, they had only toured one or two places.

Fifth Miss consulted with Eleventh Brother. “Eleventh Cousin, shall we go see the green calyx plums?”

Eleventh Brother nodded with a smile, then caringly asked Seventh Miss, “It’s quite far—can Seventh Cousin walk that long?”

When children went out, especially walking on mountain paths, there was no reason to use carriages or horses. Even Yang family daughters could only trek on foot.

Seventh Miss glanced at Sixth Miss.

Sixth Miss’s face was full of excitement.

Seventh Miss didn’t voice her polite refusal: even if she made an excuse to stay behind, Sixth Miss would definitely go.

“If I can’t walk anymore, I’ll have Sixth Sister carry me.” She said with a smile.

Sixth Miss rolled her eyes. “You’re heavy! I won’t carry you—have Fifth Sister carry you.”

Everyone laughed.

Only Twelfth Brother still looked dejected—he had been this way since learning Ninth Young Master had gone to Tongguan Yin Temple with the Great Master.

“I specially found a cricket gourd mold for Ninth Young Master!” He pulled a purple-red small square gourd from his chest to show the Yang daughters. “Which one is Ninth Young Master’s personal maid? Take good care of this—it’s top-quality goods from the north, usually supplied exclusively to the palace! I went to great trouble to hunt this down…”

Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss both grabbed to open the gourd and look at the little cricket inside. “What an exquisite gourd mold!”

Twelfth Brother showed a smug smile. “Don’t look at it outside. First warm it on the heated bed. This thing is precious—it dies at the slightest breeze.”

The group slowly strolled toward the mountain, followed by over ten maids.

Fifth Miss pulled Twelfth Brother and ran ahead, calling and shouting all the way, decorating the forest with exceptional liveliness.

Eleventh Brother apologized to Seventh Miss. “Last time I said I’d get rubbings to give to Seventh Cousin, but I never found the opportunity.”

Although rubbings weren’t rare items, they also weren’t sold in shops. Eleventh Brother would need to send someone to ask the guest monk at Situ Temple for them. Probably during this time he hadn’t had a chance to go to Guangfu.

“It doesn’t matter. It was just something Fifth Sister wanted. I can’t even copy Lady Wei’s calligraphy properly—getting them would be useless anyway.” Seventh Miss politely thanked Eleventh Brother. “Eleventh Cousin troubled himself!”

Sixth Miss raised her hand to cover a tiny yawn. “This year’s green calyx plums are blooming well.”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but exchange smiles with Eleventh Brother.

Sixth Miss was truly like a sheet of rice paper, written from head to toe with the word “adorable.”

Eleventh Brother softened his voice to ask Sixth Miss, “Sixth Cousin’s embroidery skills must have improved further?”

Sixth Miss’s eyes curved as she gestured about the random stitch technique newly taught by Embroiderer Huang.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief: talking with Eleventh Brother always gave her a faint discomfort.

After walking a few steps, they sat in a small pavilion halfway up the mountain. Twelfth Brother picked two or three budding plum branches. “We’re returning to Suzhou tomorrow, so we must pick unopened ones. When we reach Suzhou, they’ll bloom longer.”

Fifth Miss also picked several green calyx plum blossoms in full bloom, smiling as she adorned Twelfth Brother’s head. “What an elegant flower-adorned young gentleman!”

Twelfth Brother shook his head violently, scattering flowers everywhere. “Who still adorns themselves with flowers now! Fifth Cousin is just mocking me.”

“Why?” Sixth Miss was inevitably stunned.

In those times, adorning oneself with flowers wasn’t a female monopoly. The streets were full of swaggering flower-adorned young rogues. Even sons of ordinary families had the habit of adorning themselves with seasonal flowers.

“Now no young men in the whole city adorn themselves with flowers.” Eleventh Brother smiled as he answered. “They all say in all of Suzhou, only the Silver Flower Top Scholar deserves to wear flowers!”

The puzzlement on Sixth Miss’s face deepened. “What Silver Flower Top Scholar? Eleventh Cousin always leaves half his words unspoken.”

But Fifth Miss’s expression changed, urgently asking, “Are you speaking of this year’s scholar examination top position, Young Master Feng?”

Eleventh Brother looked at Fifth Miss with eyes showing a trace of surprise.

Seventh Miss also sensed something amiss.

Cloistered daughters could of course discuss young men outside.

However, showing such urgency before boys from other families was somewhat improper.

Fifth Miss also felt embarrassed and bit her lip without speaking.

Eleventh Brother laughed heartily but didn’t press further.

“Exactly this year’s top scholar, Young Master Feng… Originally, the academy examination top position isn’t much.” Eleventh Brother’s words naturally carried a trace of pride. “But this Young Master Feng is truly extraordinarily handsome. I heard that day when he came out of the prefectural school wearing silver flowers and new clothes, over a thousand people immediately surrounded him, all saying ‘thousands wear flowers, yet none compare to the top scholar’… After that, who would still dare wear flowers?”

Sixth Miss widened her eyes, exclaiming with wonder, “There’s actually someone so handsome? Wouldn’t he be like the legendary… that, that, that…”

“Exactly as handsome as Song Yu and Pan An.” Eleventh Brother smiled at Sixth Miss, his eyes revealing warmth. “He’s also very intelligent! Father values his essays highly and even specially invited Master Zhang to read them… Perhaps Master Zhang will take him as a formal disciple—who knows?”

Zhang Weiting rarely took disciples. His few disciples were all officials at court, having achieved respectable ranks in past imperial examinations.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but show an urgent expression too.

But she forcefully restrained herself from asking.

The connection between Feng Jin and herself wasn’t glorious.

Even if she couldn’t hide it from her own family… there was no need for the Li family to know.

But Fifth Miss had already asked, “Did Master Zhang agree?”

Alarm bells rang in Seventh Miss’s heart.

She suddenly recalled Nanny Liang’s words.

“Master didn’t ask much, but instead offered warm consolation. Just then someone came from outside—some new top scholar came to pay respects to Master, so Fifth Miss withdrew.”

The new top scholar—wasn’t that referring to Feng Jin?

Fifth Miss was also ten years old. At this age, even in modern times, some children would seriously begin “dating,” let alone precocious ancient children.

Could she have developed some improper thoughts about Feng Jin?

But speaking of which, Fifth Miss wasn’t inexperienced… Feng Jin and Ninth Young Master had a five-part resemblance. No matter how handsome, it was a familiar appearance. Besides, Fifth Miss had also come and gone with Xu Fengjia, and passed by Quan Zhongbai—these were just the few Seventh Miss knew about.

Whatever surprise Eleventh Brother felt, he didn’t show it.

“Master Zhang has never taken disciples lightly. He’s probably still hesitating.” He passed over it in one sentence.

Fifth Miss opened her mouth to ask more, but Seventh Miss smiled and changed the subject. “I wonder what urgent matter brought Lady Li to consult with Mother.”

She quietly reached out and pinched Fifth Miss.

Sixth Miss saw this and smiled slightly, also helping to ask Eleventh Brother, “Yes, it’s rare to see Lady Li’s face so grave!”

Eleventh Brother hesitated, then looked at Twelfth Brother.

Twelfth Brother was drinking warm lingzhi beverage, seemingly not having heard Sixth Miss’s question.

Being pinched by Seventh Miss jolted Fifth Miss awake. Both grateful and annoyed, she glared at Seventh Miss.

Then she reached out to pinch Twelfth Brother’s forehead. “Why are you pretending to be an adult…” Laughing and joking, she chased Twelfth Brother out of the pavilion.

Eleventh Brother smiled and told Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss, “The capital hasn’t been very peaceful recently. Again dozens of ranking senior officials memorialized requesting the Emperor’s grace to allow the Crown Prince to begin formal studies… Who knew at this juncture, the Empress fell ill again. After over a month of turmoil, the Emperor flew into a great rage. Finding fault, he removed quite a few official hats—among them was the Fujian Provincial Administration Commissioner from the Wang family…”

Both Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss were startled.

These official family young ladies all cared about court affairs.

No matter how naive, they knew their glory and wealth were tied to these treacherous political winds.

A frontier official like the Fujian Provincial Administration Commissioner, once swept into succession struggles, could be dismissed at will…

Seventh Miss actually felt fortunate for Third Miss: as things stood now, the Wang family match falling through was actually her good fortune.

“Which side is the Wang family on?” Sixth Miss asked.

Eleventh Brother smiled bitterly. “Who knows? However, the messenger just arrived at Xiaodong Feng when Mother had someone prepare a sedan chair to come to Chonghán Pavilion…”

It seemed this matter had great relevance to both the Li and Yang families.

The children all fell silent for a moment, just lost in thought.

Fifth Miss returned to the pavilion with Twelfth Brother, talking and laughing. “Why is everyone silent?”

Her sweet, crisp voice brimmed with laughter.

Seventh Miss gazed at Fifth Miss’s rosy cheeks and felt an inexplicable urge to sigh.

#

The Great Madam was also sighing with the Great Master. “The Wang family had such a solid foundation, yet they fell just like that! How fortunate we hadn’t reached the betrothal stage…”

The Great Master’s expression was grave. Leaning on a small cloud brocade pillow, he slowly said, “It’s just killing the chicken to warn the monkey… But why was it the Wang family’s turn for misfortune?”

The Great Madam slowly let out a long breath. “However, the foundation still remains. In a few years, who knows, they might rise again.”

“Don’t say a few years—if the First Imperial Prince is willing to exert effort, they might rise again in the blink of an eye.” The Great Master murmured. “Although the Emperor dealt with several insignificant figures, he still hasn’t relented on the coming-of-age studies matter. The Emperor’s heart is difficult to fathom, truly difficult to fathom…”

The Great Madam involuntarily shivered.

“The higher one climbs, the farther one must see!” Her words carried a trace of resolution. “Better have Second Brother not return to Suzhou!”

Although the Xu and Qin families were Yang family relatives, ultimately they had their own positions.

Second Master was different.

One brush couldn’t write two Yang characters. No matter how great the family conflicts, externally they were still one family.

Ever since the Great Master personally wrote a letter severely reprimanding Second Master, Second Master had restrained himself considerably, gradually distancing himself from the First Imperial Prince’s faction.

Remaining in the capital now to gather intelligence wouldn’t bring any danger to the Yang family.

The Great Master looked at the Great Madam in surprise. “Didn’t you say Second Brother would return home after New Year and bring Second Sister-in-law to the capital?”

The Great Madam paused slightly, revealing a moment of unnaturalness.

“Household matters—how can they compare to the dangers outside?” She quickly frowned, assuming a righteous air.

The Great Master showed a contemplative expression, gazing toward the plum sea outside the window.

An endless fragrant snow was blooming furiously beneath the ash-gray clouds.