With First Miss at home managing household affairs and attending to their mother, the several Yang family children all had leisure time.

Ninth Brother’s studies had never been interrupted—he had simply moved into the Moon Pavilion to keep Fifth Miss company for a while. Now that the Great Lady had recovered, he naturally moved back to the East Side Courtyard.

The girls’ studies had been interrupted for over a month due to the two illnesses, but were now gradually returning to their previous routine.

Fourth Miss finally was willing to emerge from the Jasmine Garden.

Honestly speaking, the Master had indeed treated the two daughters born to Fourth Aunt quite well.

During this period, precious and rare beauty-preserving medicinal herbs were sent to the Jasmine Garden daily as if they cost nothing… Young Master Ouyang was also busy in both places, taking the Great Lady’s pulse on one hand while caring for Fourth Miss’s face on the other.

Even after such painstaking efforts, Fourth Miss’s face still bore some faint scars…

Though from a distance they resembled freckles, up close one could detect something amiss.

Fourth Aunt these days was like an eggplant struck by frost—wilted even before the Great Lady, and the misty moisture that used to linger in her eyes had unknowingly dried up completely.

The Great Lady also felt quite vexed.

“I only hope the Master doesn’t lose all sense of right and wrong. Fourth Miss is in such a state, yet still fantasizes about matching her to some good family,” she complained privately to First Miss. “She was already just a concubine’s daughter from a secondary branch—now with scars on her face, even the secondary sons of first-tier families probably wouldn’t look at her!”

When great households married wives, they married for face—no one was willing to bring in a daughter with scars on her face.

First Miss laughed. “This is also Fourth Branch’s own negligence. Speaking of it, when adults contract smallpox, it’s much itchier than when children get it. Seventh Miss is still just a child, yet she could care for you so properly—how did Fourth Branch end up with such an outcome?”

Seeing Seventh Miss beautifully serve the Great Lady through her illness and gaining favor before the Great Lady, this kind of convenient favor was naturally not to be passed up.

The Great Lady touched her smooth face with some pride. “Do you think everyone is like your Seventh Sister? Both cautious and attentive?”

First Miss acted coquettishly. “In your eyes there’s only Seventh Sister! You only see Seventh Sister’s good points!”

The Great Lady chuckled. “I know you’ve also worked hard! Without our Elder Sister managing everything inside and out, who could have handled it all?”

But First Miss was married out after all. Even if the Great Lady wanted to provide for her, she could only give more private money.

To truly promote First Miss from the root, one still had to rely on the Master…

Or wait until Ninth Brother entered officialdom in the future to then promote Elder Son-in-law.

First Miss chatted with the Great Lady about trivial matters for a while longer before casually mentioning the abbot of Guanyin Mountain. “Master Tongshou has also sent word that whenever convenient for us, he can come anytime to perform rites.”

The Great Lady’s gaze was distant. “Tell me, what is your father’s intention in having you privately find someone to perform rites?”

First Miss paused.

Third Aunt’s death was a secret the several women understood in their hearts.

At such a young age, Seventh Miss saw through this matter so clearly—not only understanding the Master’s intentions, but also guessing the Great Lady’s reaction, and making such seamless arrangements…

Truly, the younger generation was formidable!

“I was thinking, perhaps he still feels Third Aunt poses a threat to the Yang family’s descendants,” she said with a smile while adding tea for the Great Lady. “Fourth Sister just scratched her face, and he immediately ordered rites to be performed…”

The Great Lady breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yes, probably doesn’t want to make a big fuss, doesn’t want to add more chaos,” she murmured to herself.

But First Miss sighed. “To be honest with you, I find it somewhat strange!”

“Oh?” The Great Lady’s spirits lifted.

After all, it was First Miss who had grown up by her side who was truly considerate.

Many things that couldn’t be said plainly to Seventh Miss could be discussed with First Miss.

“Look, if Third Aunt were truly haunting, she might fool others, but not us,” First Miss spoke candidly. “Whether she had descendants when she died, and whether she was beaten to death by the Master—aren’t we clear on these matters… If she were to haunt, she should target… target Mother and Fourth Branch! At most, there’s also me and my Little Nuannuan!”

Though the Great Lady felt somewhat displeased, it was all dispersed by First Miss’s frankness.

In the deep inner chambers of great households, there were plenty of unspeakable matters. Killing off one or two concubines—in the hearts of these household mistresses, what did it amount to?

“You mean…” she was somewhat confused now.

First Miss was very honest. “I think Ninth Brother’s consecutive incidents do indeed have something supernatural behind them, but it may not be Third Aunt!”

The Great Lady couldn’t help but be moved.

She fell into deep thought.

“Even if Third Aunt had deep spiritual power, after so many rites, shouldn’t she have been reborn by now?” First Miss wore a worried expression. “Not to mention Master Tongshou from Guanyin Mountain—even the masters from Hanshan Temple, we’ve troubled them many times, and provide offerings privately every year… No matter how great her resentment, she couldn’t withstand these masters’ years of rituals and offerings…”

Not to mention anything else, even within the Yang household, Third Aunt wasn’t the one who died most wrongfully.

Moreover, who caused Third Aunt’s death—the Great Lady naturally knew best in her heart.

The Great Lady couldn’t hide her shock.

“You’re saying… someone is privately making offerings to malevolent spirits, cursing our family’s descendants?”

Her train of thought suddenly became clear.

From that mouthful of black blood in Ninth Brother’s room, she thought of Twelfth Aunt in the Silk-Washing Pavilion…

“But how do you explain the strange occurrences in Crimson Pavilion?” The Great Lady quickly seized upon the doubt. “If this isn’t Third Aunt…”

If this wasn’t Third Aunt’s haunting, then someone deliberately arranged things to frame Third Aunt for the curse!

The Great Lady’s gaze instantly turned icy.

“You’re still the perceptive one!” She praised First Miss word by word. “If Third Aunt were truly haunting, it would manifest in my calamity at most, and perhaps also in Fourth Miss’s calamity!”

The more she thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. “I think this smallpox outbreak was actually her doing evil!”

The atmosphere in the room seemed to suddenly turn cold with the Great Lady’s words.

First Miss also felt a chill in her heart.

“Given Mother’s temperament, you only need to mention a few things, and she’ll naturally understand the reasoning,” Seventh Miss had said when discussing this with her, with some slight embarrassment. “Precisely because she thought of the reasons herself, Mother will believe without doubt… I’ll have to trouble Elder Sister with this.”

This arrangement, though not seamlessly perfect, was something the Great Lady would never connect to Seventh Miss.

She truly was inferior to Seventh Miss!

Her cold sweat couldn’t help but flow down.

Fortunately, fortunately she had already married out—otherwise, she would inevitably block Seventh Miss’s path…

Fortunately she had been sensible and done a favor with the flow, yielding the Great Lady’s sickbed to Seventh Miss…

Having such an enemy truly wouldn’t be amusing at all.

Just seeing how she could patiently wait two full years for this opportunity, First Miss knew that Second Lady would definitely be cut down by Seventh Miss.

That Seventh Miss could progress step by step from a concubine’s daughter to today—there truly wasn’t a bit of luck involved.

#

First Miss left the main courtyard and sent Nanny Yao to deliver things to her several sisters.

“Fresh lotus roots newly sent from the estate—they’re at their most fresh and crisp,” Nanny Yao said with a smiling face as she made a round through the Hundred Fragrance Garden, first entering the Jasmine Garden, then the Moon Pavilion, passing by Little Fragrant Snow, before entering the West Side Courtyard.

Seventh Miss thanked Nanny Yao with a smile. “Elder Sister still cares for us sisters.”

She invited Nanny Yao and Bailu to have tea.

Afterward, Bailu reported to her: “First Miss said she has already conveyed the message, and the Lady has also thought it through…”

Though she didn’t understand what this meant, Bailu wasn’t curious at all.

Those in superior positions naturally had their own considerations. Probably even Lixia wouldn’t understand what Seventh Miss intended with this arrangement.

Seventh Miss nodded with a smile. “Good… I can rest assured with what Elder Sister handles.”

She then acted as if she’d forgotten this matter, doing whatever she should do.

Several days later, the Master summoned Seventh Miss to the outer courtyard to speak.

Seventh Miss had just finished school when she was startled by Steward Niu waiting at the family school entrance.

Though Steward Niu frequently entered and exited the inner courtyard to report matters, he usually came and went during the young ladies’ class time. This was Seventh Miss’s first time encountering Steward Niu at this time.

“Steward Niu,” several young ladies greeted with smiles.

Though the Master favored Steward Zhang more at his side, Steward Niu was married to one of the Great Lady’s dowry maids, and mostly coordinated with the Great Lady on inner household affairs. The several young ladies were all familiar with Steward Niu.

“Paying respects to the young ladies,” Steward Niu respectfully knelt to perform salutations to the young women.

Fifth Miss, Sixth Miss, and Seventh Miss all quickly stepped aside, only accepting half of Steward Niu’s courtesy.

But Third Miss and Fourth Miss only paused briefly.

Fourth Miss didn’t even return the courtesy, directly turning into the corridor.

Since the scars appeared on her face, Fourth Miss had become increasingly gloomy.

Third Miss hurriedly followed her into the corridor, only giving Steward Niu a slight nod as a return courtesy.

The several young ladies couldn’t help but watch Steward Niu attentively.

In great clans and families, proper conduct was emphasized. For major servants like Steward Niu and Nanny Wang who had standing before the masters, even legitimate daughters treated them courteously.

Steward Niu’s face still wore a smile. “The Master requests Seventh Miss to speak with him in the small study.”

Everyone was startled.

Even Seventh Miss began pondering.

The Master never said an extra word about inner courtyard matters.

His several daughters were merely tools to keep him company when he was happy, to enjoy family happiness.

Seventh Miss didn’t even qualify as such a tool. Though her calligraphy was good, she had no talent for composing poetry—she couldn’t even compare to Third Miss.

Though father and daughter lived under the same roof, after several years they remained like strangers.

Following behind Steward Niu, Seventh Miss pondered the Master’s intentions as she walked.

Surely it wasn’t about the family register…

This was Seventh Miss’s first time entering the Yang family’s outer courtyard.

Compared to the delicate charm of the inner courtyard’s Hundred Fragrance Garden, the outer courtyard was much more solemn. Like the main courtyard, the three-hall structure sat in the center of the courtyard, with a plaque reading “Illuminating Sun and Moon” hanging above. Faintly visible inside was a small golden tripod on the altar table.

But Steward Niu led Seventh Miss directly into the outer side courtyard.

The outer courtyard’s main hall was always set up but unused, only opened for receiving imperial edicts, ancestral rites, and wedding ceremonies. The Master’s daily activities mostly took place in the small study of the outer side courtyard.

In the entire inner courtyard, only Second Miss and Third Miss were qualified to frequently accompany the Master in the small study.

“Steward Niu.”

“Elder Fan!”

Several secretaries coming and going in the outer side courtyard smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Steward Niu.

Seventh Miss quickly fixed her gaze on her toes, looking straight ahead.

Daughters of great families required precisely this kind of reserve.

Seeing this, Steward Niu gained several measures more respect for Seventh Miss.

“Please wait a moment, Seventh Miss.” Leading Seventh Miss into the outer room of the small study, he apologized before entering the inner room to report.

As the curtain lifted, she faintly heard the Master’s voice.

“Is the Liu family really going to completely tear off all pretense?”

The Master always had deep composure, rarely showing emotions outwardly.

Yet this sentence was filled with fury.

“Good, if he can submit memorials, can’t I? I’ve left him some leeway, yet he takes it as fear on my part!”

Someone said something in a low voice.

“I, Yang Haidong, am not so incompetent!” The Master raised his voice. “This matter serves the nation and the people—I have no shame before heaven and earth! It’s that person who should think carefully—putting private interests above public duty, harboring treacherous intentions… Once my memorial goes up, we’ll see who falls!”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but listen intently.

The Liu family referred to the Liu family of the Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commissioner…

She had thought that when the Master personally went to Hangzhou to expedite grain, it would be easily accomplished. But hearing his words now, this official duty seemed not to have gone so smoothly.

Before long, Steward Niu emerged from the room.

“Please wait in the west wing for a bit,” he said with a smile as he settled Seventh Miss. “The Master still has some people to see.”

Seventh Miss had no choice but to follow Steward Niu out.

She ran directly into an old man and a youth.

Both were dressed as military officers. The old one had a full head of white hair and wore a black changshan. The young one was only thirteen or fourteen years old, wearing a pale yellow flying fish robe that made his features appear even more clear and bright. Seventh Miss couldn’t help stealing a few glances.

“Captain Jiang, Young General Gui,” Steward Niu quickly saluted.

Seventh Miss also had to curtsy in greeting to the two military officers.

“Steward Niu,” Captain Jiang’s face was full of worry. “Is the Governor-General—”

Steward Niu gestured to two servants: “Please escort these two to the west wing for tea!” While also apologetically signaling to Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss understood Steward Niu’s meaning.

The outer side courtyard only had so much space. If the two military officers were going to the west wing, she naturally had to avoid them.

She simply turned around and entered the inner room.

She could still hear Captain Jiang being courteous with Steward Niu: “Trouble you to announce us.”

Young General Gui remained silent throughout.

She hadn’t expected that the Young General Gui whom the Great Lady so wanted to meet would enter the outer courtyard first. Presumably for the military grain matter, Second Young Master Gui had frequently been in contact with the Master.

Just looking at his appearance, his features were clear and bright, his expression revealing the fortitude of northwestern men.

His complexion was much deeper than that of Jiangnan men, nearly wheat-colored.

The corners of his eyes and brows revealed a rare steadiness. With the Gui family’s strict household customs, he must have grown into a proper gentleman.

Seventh Miss gave a self-deprecating smile.

If Third Miss could marry Second Young Master Gui, it wouldn’t be unfair to her.

But seeing Fourth Aunt’s attitude, she probably looked down on the Gui family’s poverty and distance.

However, wanting to marry into the Zhang family also depended on whether she had that fortune. Zhang Weiting had always been indifferent to fame and profit, with nothing he needed from the Yang family. Such scholarly families always valued reputation—even if the Master wanted to match Third Miss into the Zhang family, the Zhang family might not take a concubine’s daughter as a legitimate daughter-in-law.

She didn’t know which of the Zhang family’s young masters Fourth Aunt had her eye on.

The Zhang family had three young masters in total. The eldest was already married, the second was devoted to the civil examinations and still unmarried at over twenty, and the third was seventeen but born to a concubine. With the older brother not yet betrothed, it wouldn’t be proper to arrange a marriage before him. If she was eyeing the third young master, she’d have to wait until the second young master passed the examinations. If she was eyeing the second young master, it was somewhat uncertain…

Just as she was thinking this, the Master’s voice came again from the inner room.

“Good! If Liu Zheng wants to play this game with me, what does Yang Haidong have to fear? I only hope they won’t regret it later!”

“My lord! My lord!” Someone urgently tried to persuade him. “You’re being too rash… Take it slowly, take it slowly… That side isn’t to be trifled with either—they’re just lacking a senior minister to take the lead in requesting a cabinet appointment!”

The conversation gradually lowered again.

Seventh Miss immediately cast aside thoughts of the Gui family.

Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commissioner Liu Zheng had always relied on the backing of the First Prince’s faction, maintaining surface harmony with the Master while harboring discord, several times showing intentions to replace him.

If not for the Master’s favor with the Emperor, he probably couldn’t have held onto the position of Jiangnan Governor-General long ago.

Hearing the Master’s meaning, was he going to completely tear off all pretense with the Liu family?

Just seeing that both the Fujian Provincial Administration Commissioner Wang family and the Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commissioner Liu family were key generals under the First Prince’s command, one knew the First Prince could command wind and rain, compete with the Crown Prince, and had his own advantages.

Yet the Yang family sided with neither… If they truly opposed the Liu family, they would face the fierce assault of the entire First Prince faction.

In this, one careless step could lead to the catastrophe of having the entire clan executed…

“I, Yang Haidong, have no shame before heaven and earth. Removing Liu Zheng’s official hat is because he put private interests above public duty, disregarded righteousness, and for the sake of minor court struggles, disregarded the welfare of the people!” The Master roared again. “Detaining military grain—that’s how great a crime! Can Liu Zheng bear it? If the Northern Rong break through the passes and the people suffer, can the Liu family bear this karmic burden?!”

“Don’t…” The secretary inside also showed helplessness. “But if you remove Liu Zheng’s hat, there’ll be no way to explain things to that side!”

“Explain? I want to see how he explains himself in the Golden Throne Hall! Convey my words: Liu Zheng is corrupt and lawless, detaining military grain for private profit—he has violated the thirteen grave laws of our Great Qin. I, Yang Haidong, by the Emperor’s decree as Governor-General of the Three Jiangnan Provinces overseeing military and civil affairs, guard against precisely such provincial administrators who put private interests above public duty and commit treasonous rebellion! Order all commanders-in-chief to go to Hangzhou to arrest Liu Zheng, shackle him, and send him to the capital for the Three Judicial Offices to handle. My memorial will naturally accompany him to the capital!”

The Master’s words resonated with the clang of metal and stone, instantly plunging both inside and outside the room into dead silence.