The Yang family’s New Year was simple yet not simplistic.

Though the Second Master couldn’t return to Suzhou, he diligently sent many New Year goods back. In previous years, he had never been so generous.

The goods sent back included not only specialties from the capital, but also valuable furniture and expensive decorative items…

“Second Brother is being overly cautious.” The Elder Master didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

The Second Master didn’t have much confidence in his prospects in the capital.

He worried that if the Elder Master fell from grace and he was implicated and demoted back home, these valuable large items would be difficult to deal with.

News from the capital grew more urgent by the day. The struggle between Imperial Concubine Hui and the Empress seemed to have reached a critical moment, and at this juncture, news emerged that the Emperor was unwell.

Everyone spent the entire New Year in anxiety.

The First Madam had to busy herself arranging household New Year goods, entertaining numerous noble ladies, and worrying about the Second Miss whose due date was approaching—she doubled the gifts sent over. Only five days into the new year, she felt dizzy and nauseous, coughing and wheezing unbearably. After struggling through a few more days, she finally couldn’t get out of bed and had to entrust the Second Madam to represent the Yang family in social calls.

Everyone knew the First Madam was ill and didn’t dare disturb her, so the Yang family’s children actually had a quiet New Year.

The Seventh Miss requested the First Madam’s permission to give the courtyard servants rotating holidays. “It’s not easy all year round. There was no way during the busy twelfth month, but this first month is leisurely—everyone can take three days of rotating leave.”

The western side courtyard servants were naturally all smiles. Ninth Young Master and the Fifth Miss weren’t to be outdone and also gave their maids holidays. For a time, everyone in the household praised the Seventh Miss as a kindhearted person.

The Seventh Miss privately instructed Bailu, “Go visit Xiaoxue and Chushu… You all came out together as young maids. It wouldn’t do to have people say that now you’ve succeeded, you have no regard for others.”

Besides the new clothes and reward money distributed by the household as usual, both Bailu and Lixia received two new outfits from the Seventh Miss, several hairpins and bracelets, plus five taels of silver as a “holiday bonus.” This treatment could only be matched by Guyu and Chunfen in the Fifth Miss’s quarters among all the young misses.

Bailu understood implicitly and agreed.

The Seventh Miss also comforted Lixia. “Once Bailu returns, I’ll immediately let you rest.”

Lixia had no objections. “Sister Bailu is older and came from Madam’s quarters—naturally everything should accommodate her first.”

The Seventh Miss was full of approval, nearly wanting to pat Lixia’s head and praise her diligence and progress.

That this girl could see this clearly showed she had improved.

She opened her money box again, found a small two-tael silver ingot, and pressed it into Lixia’s hand. “Don’t think it’s too little.”

Lixia wouldn’t accept it. “You’ve already given rewards.”

The Seventh Miss had given the four third-rank maids and two rough-work matrons in the courtyard one tael of silver each, and though the two supervising matrons usually didn’t manage much, they also received four taels—all equivalent to two months’ wages. The two second-rank maids originally only earned four taels—receiving five taels as a reward was already exceptional.

If the Seventh Miss privately slipped her another month’s wages and Bailu found out, how embarrassing would that be?

“When I tell you to take it, take it.” The Seventh Miss’s face darkened. “I’m not short of your two taels… Take it back to buy wine for Uncle Zhou.”

Lixia could only silently put the silver in her purse.

The Seventh Miss’s financial situation now was completely different from before.

She had always been frugal. These past two years, aside from regularly helping the Feng family during festivals, she had no other expenses.

After Feng Jin won first place in the prefectural examination, the Feng family’s fields had good harvests these two years. This year, Madam Feng specifically had Sister-in-law Zhou deliver several exquisite small garments, asking the Seventh Miss to stop sending silver—the Feng family could now be self-sufficient.

The First Madam was truly not stingy with money. Usually, here and there, she would give ten taels of silver at a time.

Now the Seventh Miss’s private savings actually amounted to three hundred taels of silver.

This was a modest fortune!

Among common people, some killed for two taels of silver. Three hundred taels was already quite a substantial family fortune.

Among the Yang family daughters, the Sixth Miss had the least resources.

The Third Miss and Fourth Miss naturally had the Fourth Concubine’s care, and the Fourth Concubine naturally had the Elder Master’s favor. Only the Seventh Concubine had been out of favor for years, so the Sixth Miss only had her regular monthly allowance. Though not quite hand-to-mouth, it was tight. Her food, clothing, and expenses all depended on that small official stipend.

The Seventh Miss had long wanted to help the Sixth Miss.

However, they were all sisters, and speaking of which, the Sixth Miss was actually the elder sister—how to help without making everyone uncomfortable required careful consideration.

#

While Bailu was home on holiday, the Seventh Miss could only move about with Lixia.

Though Lixia had two or three years of experience, she usually just quietly worked in the room. She rarely left the western side courtyard and even more rarely visited the main hall.

Inevitably she was somewhat timid.

The Seventh Miss didn’t point this out. During the days Bailu was away, she either brought Lixia to Moon Arrival Hall or Little Fragrant Snow to chat with her sisters, or brought her to the main hall to attend the First Madam’s illness.

Over time, Lixia gradually straightened her back.

After all, her temperament was steady—she wasn’t one of those frivolous types who couldn’t handle responsibility. Though her words and actions still carried some rawness, with Lidong and Lichun helping to look after her, she quickly learned the proper etiquette.

The Seventh Miss saw this and was very pleased.

If Lixia could never serve in formal settings, Bailu would never be freed up.

She still had many matters she wanted to entrust to Bailu…

Lixia should also learn to handle matters behind the scenes…

The Seventh Miss pondered while bringing Lixia into the main hall.

Nanny Wang and Nanny Liang were just lifting the curtain and coming out together.

“Seventh Miss!” Nanny Liang was all smiles.

Nanny Wang also rarely showed a smile. “Seventh Miss.”

The Seventh Miss took both matrons’ hands, first asking Nanny Wang about her family’s kitten, then inquiring after Nanny Liang’s family dog.

After entertaining the two matrons, she left Lixia outside to chat with several young maids while she entered the eastern side room.

The eastern side room had a heavy medicinal smell.

The First Madam’s coughing came through the bed curtains, somewhat muffled.

The Fifth Miss and Ninth Young Master sat shoulder to shoulder by the window, speaking in low voices.

The Seventh Miss stepped forward to greet the First Madam, then bowed to the Fifth Miss.

“Fifth Sister.”

The Fifth Miss nodded boldly. “You’re here?”

Ninth Young Master couldn’t wait to tell the Seventh Miss. “War broke out in the north!”

“Ah!” The Seventh Miss jumped in fright.

She immediately thought of Xu Fengjia.

Hadn’t she heard last time that he was training troops at the border with Duke Pingguo?

This so-called “training” actually meant preparing to provide assistance if needed… With hostilities at the border, Duke Pingguo would certainly remain to oversee the situation.

“How did it come to war?” She couldn’t help asking.

The First Madam weakly shook her head.

“The Northern Rong have always intended to invade the border. Though last year’s harvest in Jiangnan wasn’t good, it was still passable. But their northern desert is barren—how could they not attack…” Her words still carried the sound of coughing and wheezing. “Don’t speak carelessly about this when you return. This was an urgent eight-hundred-li express military report. If it weren’t for your father needing to mobilize grain supplies for transport to the northwest, we wouldn’t know either…”

Information traveled slowly in ancient times. The northwest and Jiangnan were thousands of miles apart. If officials intentionally blocked news, the people of Jiangnan might not know of northwestern unrest even half a year later.

“I hope nothing happens to our ancestral home!” Ninth Young Master muttered with some worry.

“Baoji is deep in the interior—nothing major will happen.” But the First Madam understood clearly.

Seeing the First Madam intending to rise, the Seventh Miss hurried forward to support her, then took the lidded cup Lidong brought over and attended the First Madam while she drank several sips of tea.

The Fifth Miss and Ninth Young Master both quieted down, waiting to hear the First Madam’s continuation.

The First Madam sighed inwardly.

When people were ill, it was their most vulnerable time.

A pair of children right before her, smiling and cheerful… yet not one knew to step forward to serve her.

Truly spoiled.

Her gaze at the Seventh Miss involuntarily warmed. “However… it’s hard to say. According to your father, this time the Northern Rong came with great force—they probably won’t be so easy to deal with.”

The Seventh Miss seemed unaware, set the lidded cup aside, then pulled out a handkerchief to carefully wipe the water stains from the corners of the First Madam’s mouth.

“The clan is probably used to it.” The Fifth Miss at least knew to follow suit. Seeing a matron bring in freshly decocted medicine, she stepped forward to receive the black porcelain bowl. “Careful it’s hot.”

Ninth Young Master also expressed concern at the right moment. “This can’t go on. The Ouyang family’s brothers aren’t very capable yet… Once Master Quan returns to Suzhou, we’ll send someone to invite him over.”

Second Young Master Quan had been so annoyed by people seeking consultations before the New Year that he simply ran away from home again, whereabouts unknown. He still hadn’t returned to Suzhou.

The First Madam nodded with satisfaction. “Good, good… Our Ninth Young Master still cares for his mother.”

The Fifth Miss’s eyes flickered. She looked at the First Madam and silently let out a breath.

They discussed northwestern military matters again. “This year is also when the clan audits accounts. I’m afraid the auditors this year will stay quite a while.”

As a great clan family, the Yang family’s property wasn’t limited to those few acres in the northwest. The fur and livestock business in the northwest region had always been monopolized by the Yang family. Taking advantage of the Elder Master’s years as Governor-General of Jiangnan, they had gradually opened branches in Suzhou. Though the Elder Master’s relationship with the clan was distant, he still had to give them this much face. However, clan members coming to audit accounts rarely entered the inner hall to meet the First Madam.

Ninth Young Master’s face flashed with a strange expression.

The Seventh Miss was somewhat puzzled.

Why would clan members coming to audit accounts have anything to do with the First Madam?

Seeing the Seventh Miss’s bewildered expression, the First Madam couldn’t help smiling.

“When they come this time, they’ll conveniently report your sisters’ names back to the clan to be entered in the family register.”

The Seventh Miss suddenly understood.

With the Yang family serving as officials in Jiangnan and having distant contact with the main clan, these younger generation members naturally couldn’t be entered in the clan register immediately upon birth.

Generally, they had to wait until the Elder Master remembered to send someone home with the news before they could be entered.

However, since clan members were coming to audit accounts, naturally sending a servant back home would be more convenient.

“The clan rule has always been to register children after they turn ten.”

After age ten, children weren’t so likely to die young.

The First Madam counted on her fingers. “Starting with Little Five, then Little Six, Little Seven, Little Eight, and our Ninth Young Master—all have reached the age for clan registration. Might as well send them all back together to be registered—that’s more efficient.”

The Seventh Miss couldn’t help glancing at Ninth Young Master.

Ninth Young Master wore an expression of innocent cheerfulness, showing no sign of anything unusual.

Outside there was a commotion. Lidong smiled as she led Da and Hong into the room.

“Auntie!” The two young men had sweet mouths. After greeting the First Madam, they crowded around her. “Auntie, are you thirsty?”

“Auntie, after taking medicine your mouth must taste bitter… I brought you rose candy.”

The First Madam was flattered by Da and Hong until her face was full of smiles.

For a moment, the Seventh Miss was actually neglected.

She could only sit below the Fifth Miss by the window. The three of them watched Da and Hong perform a family harmony play together.

“Why haven’t they gone to school yet?” The Fifth Miss asked the Seventh Miss softly.

“Shantang Academy doesn’t start classes until after the Lantern Festival.” The Seventh Miss also replied softly to the Fifth Miss.

Though the Elder Master had skillfully maneuvered the three nephews into the academy, he couldn’t make the academy open early.

During the first month, the two nephews came daily to greet the First Madam, nominally visiting the sick, but what they were really after—that was Sima Zhao’s intent, known to all.

But even if Sima Zhao’s intent was known to all, the children of the main courtyard could do nothing about it.

They were visiting the sick—if you interfered and pushed them aside, you’d only appear petty.

Now they could only sit and watch the two cousins curry favor… The Seventh Miss signaled Ninth Young Master several times, but he never went forward to compete with his cousins for attention.

The three young masters and misses of the main courtyard could only watch a family harmony play.

Even after dinner, the Seventh Miss was still gloomy.

“Has Bailu returned?” Only after the first night watch did she remember to ask.

After the first watch, the main courtyard was locked—entering wouldn’t be so easy.

Lixia hurried out to look.

After a while, hurried footsteps and voices came straight into the western side courtyard.

“She’s back, she’s back. Nanny Hang brought her back.” Lixia breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly entered to tell the Seventh Miss.

Though the Seventh Miss had a good temperament, when the master was unhappy, the maids inevitably felt somewhat anxious.

The Seventh Miss also let out a long breath.

When Bailu left and when she returned had been reported to the main hall—she couldn’t just be absent without explanation.

She rose to wash up, changed into a loose long jacket with symmetrical front closures, and prepared to get into bed to cultivate drowsiness.

Ancient lighting conditions were poor, incomparable to modern times. Before bed, she couldn’t even read. Once night fell, the Seventh Miss couldn’t wait to avoid anything that strained the eyes.

All activities that required good eyesight were avoided.

The Ninth Concubine and Madam Feng both developed eye diseases from doing needlework day and night when they were young.

After a while, Bailu quietly entered the eastern inner room.

She exchanged glances with Lixia and they nodded at each other.

Then she poured half a cup of water and brought it to the Seventh Miss.

“Seventh Miss, drink some water.” The Seventh Miss didn’t drink tea before bed.

“What delayed you?” The Seventh Miss couldn’t help asking with concern and a smile.

Bailu glanced at Lixia and lowered her voice.

“Chushu is gone!” She carried a trace of sadness yet hidden excitement.

The Seventh Miss immediately sat up straight.

“A perfectly fine person—how could she just be gone?”

“I heard last September that she was so ill she couldn’t speak.” Bailu sighed and sat on the edge of the Seventh Miss’s bed. “When I went over this time, the first two times I didn’t encounter her parents. I asked neighbors who only said they’d gone to the estate to recuperate… So I kept an eye out. This evening at dinner time I went over and finally saw her parents.”

Lixia also put down her needlework and unknowingly walked to Bailu’s side, listening intently to Bailu’s account.

“The first two times I couldn’t enter their home. Once I got in, I noticed something strange. By rights, with their household now only having Chushu’s father working and a sick person… however you looked at it, there should be an air of poverty. Yet unexpectedly, Chushu’s parents were dressed quite neatly! I grew suspicious…” Bailu’s voice grew softer and softer. “After asking a few questions, I learned Chushu passed away before the New Year. Apparently she died on the estate. Because it was during the twelfth month, everything was kept simple, and they hadn’t yet dared inform Madam!”

The meaning in Bailu’s words was already obvious.

The Seventh Miss couldn’t help falling into thought.

After a moment, she asked again, “Did you go see Xiaoxue?”

Bailu sighed.

“Xiaoxue is also ill!” She was rather sorrowful. “But she hasn’t gone to the estate. The family is struggling and has no money for physicians or medicine… Just getting by day to day. Her spirits are still fairly good though!”

Though in this era death was unpredictable and young people dying was common, for both senior maids who left Ninth Young Master’s service to successively fall ill, with Chushu even dying within two years…

Wasn’t that too suspicious…

Neither senior maid spoke.

Lixia was somewhat better off—she ultimately had no relationship with Xiaoxue and Chushu, merely showing a thoughtful expression, searching for what was wrong.

But Bailu was both sad and somewhat fearful.

The mouthful of black blood in Ninth Young Master’s quarters had never found its owner.

Now Chushu was dead and Xiaoxue was ill… The Seventh Miss was revisiting this matter again.

Chushu and Xiaoxue’s families would probably be implicated.

The Seventh Miss didn’t bring up this topic again for the moment.

“Tonight I’ll give you another night off—you don’t need to keep night watch.” She smiled as she settled Bailu. “Go rest. Did you bring back anything good to eat?”

Bailu smiled. “I know you love pickled fish! I brought back two jars!”

“How thoughtful. Thank Uncle Yao and Aunt Yao for me later.”

The Seventh Miss chatted a bit more with Bailu about home matters, then let Bailu return to her quarters to rest.

Lixia stepped forward to attend the Seventh Miss’s washing, settled her half-reclining, then busied herself closing windows and doors, tidying and sweeping inside and out.

The Seventh Miss deliberated for a long while and finally bit her lip.

“Lixia, can you go home for your rotating leave in a few days? These next days, say you’re not feeling well and don’t feel like going out…” She softened her voice to negotiate with Lixia.

Lixia didn’t hesitate. “I’ll follow Miss’s instructions! Whenever you tell me to go home, I’ll go home then.”

The Seventh Miss nodded gently.

As if asking Lixia, yet also asking herself, “Do you think this matter was done by Chushu or by Xiaoxue?”

Lixia paused before saying, “That… this servant can’t figure out…”

“We won’t know until we ask.” The Seventh Miss answered her own question. “Only by asking will it be clear…”