When Seventh Miss emerged from the outer side courtyard, her brow carried considerably more worries.

She went directly to the main courtyard hall.

The Great Lady had just woken from her afternoon nap. Seeing Seventh Miss, she was somewhat surprised. “Why didn’t you go to Zhuying Terrace?”

By the time, it should have been when the daughters attended embroidery class.

Seventh Miss stated plainly: “Father originally wanted to see me, so I followed Steward Niu to the outer side courtyard. Unexpectedly, they received an urgent dispatch from Zhejiang, and quite a commotion ensued.”

The Great Lady immediately sat upright. “The Liu family? Has something gone wrong with the military grain?”

After all, she was an official’s wife—however unreliable she might normally be, at critical moments she could still get her bearings.

Seventh Miss didn’t hide her concern. “Yes, from what Steward Niu said, the Liu family submitted a memorial impeaching Father for arbitrary actions and accepting bribes…”

The Great Lady’s face instantly clouded with worry.

“Father was also furious and immediately issued orders for the commanders-in-chief to go to Hangzhou to arrest Commissioner Liu and escort him to the capital to await judgment. The charges are that Commissioner Liu put private interests above public duty, arbitrarily detained military grain… and privately colluded with factions.” Seventh Miss sighed deeply.

The Great Lady’s expression changed dramatically, and she fell into deep thought.

“Your father summoned you just for this matter?” After a long while, the Great Lady finally asked.

Yet her face was full of distraction.

Seventh Miss said lightly: “Father dismissed all the secretaries. He only asked me a few questions, all about whether Mother’s health had fully recovered.”

Presumably the Master also feared that if the Great Lady heard about the Liu family matter, her heart would carry several more burdens and she would fall ill again.

One could imagine that when he returned from Hangzhou with that casual manner, it was all to avoid upsetting the Great Lady on her sickbed.

Though the couple had numerous conflicts, after all, they had supported each other through these years.

How could the Great Lady not understand this reasoning?

“Even if I hadn’t fully recovered, hearing this, I would have to recover,” she said with a bitter smile. “What kind of family is the Liu family? Your father, in a fit of temper, wants to completely tear off all pretense with the Liu family and oppose them? Fortunately Second Uncle from the main branch hasn’t departed yet—our family must at least arrange some backup plans.”

Seventh Miss could only comfort the Great Lady: “Father knows what he’s doing…”

How could the Master, who had risen from a fallen xiucai to where he was today, lack cunning?

The Great Lady asked Seventh Miss a few more questions before dismissing her: “Go back to the West Side Courtyard to rest. Don’t attend class this afternoon. You probably didn’t even have a proper lunch at the outer side courtyard—quickly have some refreshments.”

She also called for Nanny Wang: “Invite First Miss over, and summon Steward Niu as well.”

Though Seventh Miss was clever, she was still young. Regarding court matters, she couldn’t explain much.

At a time like this, First Miss was more useful.

Seventh Miss didn’t say much more and silently returned to the West Side Courtyard.

All the way, she was lost in thought.

Back at the West Side Courtyard, she lay on the plum blossom table thinking. After a long while, she asked Bailu:

“Tell me, how should I speak to the Lady about this family register matter?”

Lixia and Bailu exchanged glances, both setting down their work.

“Father intends to elevate Ninth Aunt’s status and request an imperial mandate for her.” Seventh Miss had no intention of concealing anything. “However, he fears Mother will throw a tantrum and be stubborn, so he wants me to help persuade her…”

Lixia and Bailu couldn’t help but look at each other in dismay.

The Master truly made full use of everyone.

Seventh Miss had only just gained a bit of standing before the Great Lady, and already he wanted her to speak up, to advocate for elevating Ninth Aunt’s status.

He didn’t even consider whether this bit of standing could bear such a weighty matter!

But Ninth Aunt was after all Seventh Miss’s birth mother… How could Seventh Miss refuse?

Seventh Miss gave a bitter smile. “Fortunately, with the Liu family causing such a commotion, Second Uncle from the main branch won’t be able to depart for a while. We’ll see just how big this Liu family matter becomes.”

She forced herself to gather her spirits and instructed Lixia: “Come, let’s go into the garden. Fifth Sister should also know about this matter.”

The collapse of relations between the Liu and Yang families was big news for everyone in the Yang household. Fifth Miss certainly should know.

Lixia followed Seventh Miss into the Hundred Fragrance Garden.

As they passed below the hall, they could faintly hear Steward Niu speaking.

Presumably the Great Lady would naturally question Steward Niu carefully about the details of this matter.

Seventh Miss didn’t linger.

Leading Lixia into the Hundred Fragrance Garden, she didn’t walk toward the Moon Pavilion but instead led her directly to the side of Ten Thousand Flowers Falling.

In recent years, the Ten Thousand Flowers Falling area had only housed Fourth Aunt along with Third Miss and Fourth Miss.

Lixia had some understanding.

It was just past noon, the sunlight still fierce, with not many people in the garden.

Seventh Miss quietly instructed Lixia: “Go to the Creek Guest Studio and pass a message—say I’m cooling off at the Understanding Pavilion… and would momentarily like some tea, asking the Creek Guest Studio to help prepare it.”

Near the Understanding Pavilion, only the Creek Guest Studio had a permanent small tea room. Though Seventh Miss’s excuse was simple, it was precisely because of this that it wasn’t easily exposed.

If Fourth Aunt still intended to work on Third Miss’s marriage prospects, she naturally wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to speak with Seventh Miss.

Regardless of the outcome of the Yang-Liu family confrontation, Seventh Miss had no intention of shelving her plans.

Even if she couldn’t deliver a fatal blow, she would make Second Lady feel piercing pain.

She quickly entered the Understanding Pavilion, pushing open the window to let the afternoon breeze blow gently into the pavilion.

She also pondered the gains and losses of being entered into the family register.

“You’re someone who lived in Yang Family Village—regarding clan matters, no one understands better than you mother and daughter.” The Master’s attitude remained composed, but without the uncontainable fury he had shown toward the Liu family. “When our family is successful, naturally no one will come out to oppose us. But once something goes wrong, people will be ready to move, plotting to seize the family property that you and your mother have worked so hard to build over the years.”

“Elevating Ninth Aunt’s status is still to elevate Ninth Brother’s birth. Your mother couldn’t fail to understand this, but though I raised this matter over a month or two ago, she has never given me a response.”

“Even when arranging posthumous matters at the sickbed, she never mentioned elevating Ninth Aunt’s status.”

“Though your elder sister is reasonable, regarding Ninth Aunt’s matter, it’s still more proper for you, her biological daughter, to come forward. It also provides a reason and avoids undermining your mother’s dignity, preventing people from thinking she’s narrow-minded and unwilling to elevate the concubine who bore a son.” The Master’s lips seemed to carry some sarcasm. “Given how diligent and filial you’ve been recently, I imagine your mother will give you this dignity.”

Just seeing how the Master could be furious with the Liu family one moment, then calmly arrange inner household matters with her the next, one could know how deep his composure ran.

Seventh Miss instead felt relieved: the Master certainly had a plan. His fury toward the Liu family was a decision made after careful consideration.

The Yang family’s power and position should not be affected.

However, requesting an imperial mandate for Ninth Aunt left Seventh Miss with unspeakable bitterness.

The person was already dead—was posthumous honor really that important?

Even if Ninth Aunt received a first or second-rank imperial mandate, it couldn’t bring her back to life.

Speaking up for Ninth Aunt’s mandate would very likely cause the fragile bond just cultivated with the Great Lady to change again.

Having just established merit, immediately advocating for Ninth Aunt’s mandate would make her appear impure in motive, seeking favor in return.

As long as Second Lady could be suppressed, wouldn’t Ninth Brother’s position be as stable as Mount Tai? Compared to the threat of Second Lady, Ninth Aunt’s mandate was an utterly insignificant bargaining chip…

But if she didn’t request the mandate for Ninth Aunt, it was truly indefensible regarding filial piety.

Probably even Ninth Brother wouldn’t forgive her, would he?

Seventh Miss thought of those few words Ninth Brother had said at the sickbed.

“I thought she could wait until I grew up…”

How could Ninth Brother not care about his birth mother’s mandate?

Seventh Miss became somewhat irritable.

There was no path that could satisfy everyone.

Fourth Aunt’s light, delicate footsteps sounded on the small bamboo bridge.

Seventh Miss quickly armed herself with a full smile, taking a deep breath.

“Fourth Aunt,” she greeted with a smile. “What a coincidence—also here to view the scenery?”

“Seventh Miss.” Fourth Aunt’s eyes flickered, filled with inscrutable thoughts. “Yes… also here to view the scenery.”

The two sat down facing each other.

#

News of the Yang-Liu family rupture quickly spread throughout Suzhou.

Even the capital received word within just a few days.

The Qin and Xu families both sent servants with express letters. Second Master sent three or four letters in succession inquiring about the details.

Second Lady was so frightened she lost her composure. Upon entering the main courtyard, she began wiping tears, complaining that the Master was far too reckless and impulsive.

The Great Lady had to settle Second Lady in the east side room and brought several Yang family daughters in to comfort Second Aunt.

“The court has been unsettled to begin with, clamoring about changing generals on the battlefield, wanting to send the First Prince to the front to replace Duke Pingguo.” The Great Lady explained carefully to Second Lady. “Your elder brother-in-law’s making a fuss has actually intimidated the First Prince’s faction. Saying the Liu family arbitrarily detained military grain is even more damning…”

Without grain, no matter how capable Duke Pingguo was, how could he win battles?

Arbitrarily detaining military grain at this time was certainly to pave the way for changing generals on the battlefield.

The Master’s commotion had laid bare the First Prince faction’s intentions on the table.

Second Lady’s face was full of anxious worry. “Then won’t the Liu family… won’t they turn against our Yang family?”

The Great Lady couldn’t help showing some impatience.

The Master had already had Liu Zheng arrested and sent to the capital. Even if the Liu family had no intention of turning against the Yang family, surely the Yang family didn’t plan to let the Liu family off so easily?

“This matter can’t be blamed on your elder brother-in-law,” the Great Lady said in a steady tone. “The northwest is in crisis. For his own selfish desires, the First Prince hinted for the Liu family to detain military grain—that was a foolish move to begin with. Our Yang family’s roots are in Baoji. If your elder brother-in-law can’t bring down the Liu family, and the defense line is breached with the Northern Rong entering the passes, what face will we have to return to Yang Family Village in the future?”

This was the dual pressure of clan and national circumstances—the Master had no way to retreat.

Not to mention Duke Pingguo’s kinship with the Yang family…

No matter the cost, the Master was determined to get the military grain moving.

Second Lady finally managed a slight smile. “Fortunately the children are all nearby. If anything happens… we can make arrangements early.”

No wonder she was so anxious.

The First Prince had always been trusted by the Emperor. Though not exactly commanding wind and rain at court, he wasn’t someone the Yang family could easily bring down. Otherwise, how could he have confronted the Crown Prince for so many years?

By arresting Liu Zheng, the Yang family was essentially breaking openly with the First Prince. Who knew how this noble personage would deal with the Yang family?

The Great Lady sighed. “Don’t overthink it. Just go back and pack up valuables. If anything goes wrong, we’ll return to Shaanxi overnight.”

Once in Shaanxi, that was Yang family territory. The main branch’s influence could at least protect the womenfolk of the two branches.

She gave meaningful looks to First Miss, Fifth Miss, and Seventh Miss sitting beside her.

Fifth Miss boldly comforted Second Lady: “Father is still holding up the front. If that fails, there are still First Uncle, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Third Aunt. To oppose one family is to ally with another!”

The enemy of my enemy is my friend—Fifth Miss actually saw through this principle so clearly.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but look at Fifth Miss with new eyes.

Second Lady indeed fell into thought.

After a while, she rose to take her leave. “There are still many matters to arrange.”

With the Yang family having made such a powerful enemy in the First Prince, there were indeed many things to attend to.

The Great Lady didn’t press Second Lady to stay.

Afterward, she sighed to her several daughters: “Smallpox for over a month, not a single word of concern, let alone personally nursing the sick… Now that something might implicate her, she suddenly rushes over with tears.”

Fifth Miss moved her mouth, wanting to speak but stopping.

Seventh Miss had to step in personally. “Actually, it’s not that there were no inquiries. She also sent Nanny Lü from her side to ask after your health.” She sighed. “She said Second Aunt’s health wasn’t good, suffering from summer ailment, so she couldn’t come in person.”

Though Second Lady hadn’t come personally during that period, she had sent people to inquire every few days. Her trusted dowry maid Nanny Lü had come to pay respects every two or three days.

It was just that with Seventh Miss right by the Great Lady’s sickbed, of ten inquiries, perhaps only two reached the Great Lady’s ears.

Adding this statement now firmly established Second Lady’s crime of choosing easy tasks over hard ones, unwilling to nurse the Great Lady while still trying to curry favor.

“Summer ailment?” The Great Lady indeed sneered. “We grew up together—I’ve never heard your Second Aunt suffered from summer ailment!”

She looked at Seventh Miss with affection. “But you do lose your appetite every year once July arrives. We should invite a physician to properly treat you!”

Seventh Miss pressed her lips in thanks to the Great Lady. “It’s still Mother who cares for Little Seven.”

The very image of maternal kindness and filial devotion.

Fifth Miss glanced at Seventh Miss and slightly pursed her lips.

The Great Lady gave First Miss a few more instructions, then sighed wearily.

“I had wanted to let you return home for the Mid-Autumn Festival, but now that’s impossible.” She spoke with some apology. “With so many matters at home now, and my health being poor—”

“This is nothing! In any case, my husband isn’t home. Even if I stay at my natal home for several more years, no one can say anything!” First Miss hastily reassured the Great Lady.

Though she said this, there was a trace of discomfort.

Country folk loved gossip most. If First Miss stayed at her natal home for several months, she would probably attract considerable talk.

If it were Second Miss, even if she wanted to stay this long, the Great Lady probably wouldn’t allow it.

But the Great Lady had just recovered from smallpox and was at her weakest.

Second Lady looked utterly useless.

Third Miss and Fourth Miss were beyond hope. Fifth Miss was childishly immature… Seventh Miss was still too young.

Besides First Miss, who else could she rely on for help?

First Miss only showed helplessness for an instant before recovering her natural manner, laughing and chatting with the Great Lady, coaxing her into smiles.

As if the Liu family matter didn’t weigh on the Great Lady’s mind at all.

Seventh Miss felt slightly puzzled.

Given the Great Lady’s temperament, the Liu family matter should have upset her somewhat.

How…

But Fifth Miss asked directly: “Mother, though Second Aunt is timid, she does speak reasonably. Shouldn’t we also arrange some backup plans?”

The Great Lady and First Miss exchanged glances and both laughed.

“By the time you think to arrange things, it’ll be too late.” The Great Lady said casually. “Regarding the Liu family matter, your father has his own plans. Nine times out of ten, our family won’t suffer any losses.”

Seventh Miss and Fifth Miss both looked puzzled.

The Great Lady had to explain further to her daughters: “Your father has never allied with any faction. Though he’s close to the Qin and Xu families, he’s never spoken for the Crown Prince. The Emperor knows this in his heart—otherwise our Yang family’s position wouldn’t be so secure.”

“This outburst was because the border situation is critical, and the Liu family was too short-sighted, disregarding the big picture for factional struggles—they committed the Emperor’s greatest taboo. After transporting this batch of military grain from Zhejiang, the front lines won’t easily lack supplies, and Duke Pingguo can fully deploy his capabilities. As long as the situation stabilizes, why would the Emperor punish our Yang family? It’s the Liu family who will be in trouble this time.”

Hearing the Great Lady’s calm and assured tone, the several young ladies all relaxed.

Though they didn’t understand political matters, they knew it concerned their own vital interests. If the Yang family could safely weather this crisis, that was naturally best.

“However, some matters must be expedited.” The Great Lady’s words were cryptic. “We don’t fear the likely, only the unlikely. We must also plan for contingencies.”

First Miss exclaimed softly: “Mother, you mean…”

The Great Lady smiled and nodded. “First Miss was right. After thinking it over, I also feel this arrangement is quite suitable.”

First Miss immediately beamed, rising to grasp Seventh Miss’s hand. “Seventh Sister, truly congratulations!”

Seventh Miss was stunned.

This was the first time she had seen First Miss so openly delighted.

Fifth Miss was also somewhat shocked.

The Great Lady smiled at Seventh Miss. “I’ve been thinking—when we register in the family records this time, I’ll have you and Ninth Brother, this pair of twins, written under my name!”

Seventh Miss and Fifth Miss both gasped.

Written under the Great Lady’s name—that meant legitimate birth!

The difference between legitimate and concubine-born—what daughter living in the Great Qin didn’t understand?

Only the legitimate-born could marry into families of equivalent status as legitimate daughters-in-law, and only the legitimate-born had the right to inherit their legitimate mother’s dowry…

The Great Lady’s move was truly unexpected.

Countless thoughts flowed through Seventh Miss’s mind.

The Master’s and Ninth Brother’s reactions, the Feng family’s possible discomfort, the hostility from several concubine-born sisters, First Miss’s role in this matter…

Facing the smiling faces of the Great Lady and First Miss, she could only make one expression.

Seventh Miss slowly covered her mouth.

Her face full of disbelief and uncontrollable joy.

“Mother, this… this…”

The Great Lady smiled and patted her knee. “You should change how you address me!”

Tears welled in Seventh Miss’s eyes.

She knelt on the ground and obediently changed her address.

“Mother!”

As this word left her mouth, what floated through her mind was Ninth Aunt’s dim and faded face.