News that Seventh Miss and Ninth Brother were to be written under the Great Lady’s name quickly spread without effort throughout the Yang residence.

Though they hadn’t yet selected the servants to accompany Second Uncle from the main branch back to the ancestral home, nor officially announced that Seventh Miss and her brother would be entered under the Great Lady’s name, everyone’s attitude toward Seventh Miss had already dramatically changed.

Regardless of whether Ninth Brother was legitimate or not, his position in the Yang family wouldn’t change. Being written under the Great Lady’s name was merely icing on the cake.

But Seventh Miss was different now.

At such a young age, having entered the main courtyard only four or five years ago, she was being written under the Great Lady’s name, becoming the third legitimate daughter…

When First Aunt and Fifth Aunt saw Seventh Miss, the smiles on their faces practically leaped out.

Even Nanny Li, who usually had her nose in the air, showed several measures more caution before Seventh Miss.

These past few days, whenever servants from the West Side Courtyard went out, they were intercepted. Even ordinary steward matrons would grasp their hands to inquire carefully after their health, then ask after Seventh Miss’s health, before letting them go about their business.

The more this happened, the more strictly Seventh Miss disciplined the maids and matrons in her courtyard.

“If anyone makes even the slightest mistake and makes people think that being elevated under the Lady’s name has made me arrogant and overbearing, I won’t tolerate it,” she frowned as she instructed Lixia and Bailu. “I’ll have no choice but to report to the Lady and have them expelled.”

Lixia and Bailu understood completely.

Given Seventh Miss’s temperament, the more favored she became, the naturally more cautious she would be.

“The several young maids are entrusted to your discipline,” Seventh Miss also summoned two steward matrons to speak with them. “This matter hasn’t yet come to fruition after all. If at this juncture anything unpleasant happens that causes the Lady to lose face…”

Both matrons were honest, straightforward people. Frightened by Seventh Miss’s words, they wished they could remain behind closed doors for all twelve hours of the day to avoid causing trouble and ruining Seventh Miss’s great advancement.

Seventh Miss herself naturally became even more cautious in word and deed. She even endured the subtle mockery from Third Miss and Fourth Miss without responding.

Ninth Brother also showed no joy, studying diligently at the family school every day as if unaware of the swirling rumors in the residence. He had not one superfluous word for Seventh Miss. Though the two were both in the main courtyard, their comings and goings grew increasingly distant.

Seeing this, the Great Lady couldn’t help but sigh: “Ninth Brother is truly quite cautious.”

First Miss could only smile in accompaniment. “Ninth Brother’s studies have been too demanding lately. He’s probably focused entirely on his books and hasn’t given much thought to the gains and losses involved.”

The Master had recently increased Ninth Brother’s coursework, hoping he could enter Shantang Academy this year together with the Twelfth Young Master. Though the Great Lady was reluctant, she didn’t want Ninth Brother to fall behind his peers.

“Yes,” the Great Lady smiled. “That’s his temperament—he can only focus on one thing at a time. The rights and wrongs of the inner household can’t enter his eyes now.”

First Miss’s gaze gradually deepened.

This was the Great Lady’s nature.

Having believed that the incident before the Silk-Washing Pavilion was someone casting curses, even if Ninth Brother spoke well of Ninth Aunt before her, the Great Lady would find reasons to praise Ninth Brother’s filial devotion.

Seventh Miss truly had good fortune.

Originally, she probably only wanted to have Ninth Brother written under her own name.

But then came this illness.

Just as the Great Lady had cleared up suspicions about Ninth Brother, she also experienced Seventh Miss’s virtue…

With such fortune, the inner household in the future would probably belong to this pair of siblings!

Given Seventh Miss’s temperament, even before being promoted, she was already thinking of pulling out Second Lady’s claws.

Now that she’d been promoted, she probably wasn’t thinking of sparing Second Lady, but rather of eliminating the root entirely…

Though the Great Lady was writing Ninth Brother under her own name and the matter of adoption wouldn’t be raised again, if Second Lady wanted to cause trouble, there were still plenty of methods.

With a single blink, First Miss could think of six or seven ideas to create problems for Ninth Brother.

Poisoning, causing trouble in the clan, leading Ninth Brother astray…

The Great Lady was so suspicious and gullible—how could Seventh Miss allow such a great enemy to move freely in the inner household?

First Miss smiled as she mentioned Second Lady: “Second Aunt hasn’t come to the residence to pay respects these past few days.”

The Great Lady showed a somewhat disdainful smile.

“Your Second Aunt probably doesn’t have the heart for paying respects right now.”

Everything was like this—where there was gain, there was loss.

In previous years, Second Lady and the Great Lady had been as close as biological sisters, while Seventh Miss and Ninth Brother had gradually been distanced by the Great Lady.

Now the situation had reversed. As the Great Lady drew closer to Seventh Miss and her brother, naturally she would gradually distance herself from Second Lady.

First Miss stopped at the right point.

She only mentioned Second Lady once, letting the Great Lady see Second Lady’s opportunism clearly, then smiled and chatted with the Great Lady about family matters.

Inevitably they spoke of the Gui family’s Second Young Master.

“I hear he’s been frequently visiting lately. Would Mother like to invite him in to meet? By rights, the mistress of the Ninth Branch of Old Nine and you were in regular contact back in the day, and the two families are also related…”

The Great Lady was somewhat tempted but couldn’t help hesitating.

“Our family is currently opposing the Liu family. Meeting Second Young Master Gui at this time—if word gets out, people will inevitably think we’re being opportunistic.”

The Yang family should be cautious in word and deed, keeping a low profile. Discussing marriage arrangements with the Gui family at this time would inevitably make people think they were accepting a powerful ally in their struggle with the Liu family.

“How can it be the same?” First Miss smiled as she explained to the Great Lady. “The Liu family has now mortally offended both the Gui and Xu families. If these two families have any backbone at all, they must oppose the Liu family. We’re naturally breathing through the same nose…”

The Great Lady suddenly understood, praising First Miss repeatedly: “Our Little Chu is still the clever one.”

She then discussed with First Miss: “If this marriage arrangement with the Gui family can truly be made, our family’s foundation in the northwest will deepen by another measure. However, Second Young Master Gui and Third Miss differ quite significantly in age, and their births don’t match well.”

First Miss pondered the Great Lady’s thoughts.

That Third Miss and Fourth Miss weren’t favored by the Great Lady was evident. Fifth Miss was the Great Lady’s precious pearl, and her birth was too elevated for a legitimate second son. That left only Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss…

“Little Seven and Second Young Master Gui differ by a full four years!” She hesitated somewhat. “And there are still these elder sisters ahead…”

The Great Lady also hesitated. “Let’s first see Second Young Master’s character. If he matches up to the two sons-in-law before him, matching Little Seven to the Gui family wouldn’t be bad.”

The Gui family were military officers—they married later than civil official families to begin with. With major wars, marriage matters were delayed. Families where men didn’t have children until past thirty weren’t uncommon. The age difference wasn’t really an issue.

First Miss pondered for a moment before nodding, still reminding the Great Lady: “Little Seven has her own mind. I think this matter should only proceed with her agreement. Otherwise, your wholehearted intention to promote her—if she doesn’t appreciate it, it would be wasted.”

The Great Lady looked thoughtful. “It depends on what the Gui family thinks. I think this arrangement is quite good. Though the Gui family is poor, their character is upright. No matter who the eldest son marries in the future, there won’t be many with greater wealth and power than our family. If Little Seven can enter with a legitimate daughter’s dowry, with her capabilities…”

“That’s all for the future.” First Miss could only smile. “For now, let’s first observe Second Young Master’s character!”

#

Entering the eighth month, the first batch of military grain finally reached the northwest.

Duke Pingguo didn’t disappoint the Master’s goodwill. As soon as the grain arrived, he fought a hard-won small victory, beheading over a hundred enemies, sweeping away the doubts that had filled court and countryside during the previous stalemate.

The First Prince’s vigorous advocacy for changing generals on the battlefield naturally subsided.

The Liu family’s voice had weakened to the point of inaudibility.

Though the Emperor maintained silence regarding the dispute between the two great Jiangnan officials, Duke Pingguo’s victory had at least placed the Master in an unassailable position.

Perhaps precisely because of this, the influential families and officials in Jiangnan finally began their alignment activities.

Though the Master remained in Suzhou, no one in Zhejiang dared show disrespect anymore. By the end of the eighth month, Zhejiang’s military grain had been collected and set out for Xi’an. Second Young Master Gui’s assignment finally concluded. As the northwest situation gradually eased, Second Uncle from the main branch also requested leave from the Master to depart for home, planning to travel with Second Young Master Gui’s military escort, taking along the valuables that the Master’s and Second Master’s two branches were sending back to the ancestral home for safekeeping.

The Master felt quite embarrassed.

“Second cousin brother could have departed much earlier, but because our family had too many things, he was delayed a full two months.” He discussed with the Great Lady: “We should still hold a banquet in the Hundred Fragrance Garden to properly send off Second Cousin Brother!”

The Great Lady took the opportunity to mention Second Young Master Gui: “…he’ll also be traveling together with Second Young Master Gui. Speaking of it, he’s also descended from old friends. Because of my illness, I’ve never met him face to face. This time, no matter what, I must invite him in to meet.”

The Master understood completely. He immediately invited Captain Jiang and Second Young Master Gui to hold a banquet at the Eight Immortals Gathering Hall in the Hundred Fragrance Garden, also inviting Li Wenqing and Zhang Weiting as company—balancing public and private matters, seeing everyone off.

Second Young Master Gui came to pay respects to the Great Lady.

“My mother has instructed me many times that I must personally pay respects to Aunt-in-law. After so many years without meeting, she truly misses Aunt-in-law.” He properly knelt on both knees, performing full ritual respects to the Great Lady. “Hearing that Aunt-in-law suffered a minor ailment, Hanchun’s heart was quite anxious…”

These were all conventional pleasantries for paying respects, but Second Young Master Gui spoke them earnestly, with proper cadence.

The several daughters behind the screen secretly laughed.

Except for Seventh Miss, who at ten this year could sit beside the Great Lady like the married First Miss, even Sixth Miss had to avoid him behind the screen, unable to meet Second Young Master Gui face to face.

After Second Young Master Gui paid respects to the Great Lady, he rose and stood with hands clasped, his manner open and generous—neither constrained nor presumptuous.

Few fourteen-year-old youths possessed Second Young Master Gui’s composure and poise.

“You’re called Hanchun, correct? Sit—sit!” The Great Lady smiled as she made small talk with Second Young Master Gui. “I recall your elder brother Hanxin is already a deputy general?”

Gui Hanchun sat in the guest seat below the Great Lady and sipped the fresh tea Lidong had brewed.

“Yes, two years ago elder brother was promoted to deputy general for his merit in pursuing the Northern Rong.”

“I thought they would send Hanxin to escort the grain supplies. You’re still so young—can you endure the long journey?” The Great Lady grew more satisfied the more she looked.

Though this young man was not old, he had an air of composure and generosity not inferior to adults.

Gui Hanchun answered frankly: “At the beginning of this year, Hanchun also achieved some small merit in a blocking action, beheading several barbarian heads, and was promoted to captain. Transporting grain is my duty—it’s what I should do. One can’t speak of endurance or not.”

Already killed enemies at just fourteen years old!

Even though Seventh Miss had lived in the northwest for a time, she couldn’t help but gasp.

She hadn’t expected the Gui family to be so strict in teaching their sons. Two years ago, Gui Hanchun would have been only twelve—already going into battle to kill enemies…

With the Ninth Branch of Old Nine having such household discipline, no wonder they could rise in the Gui family!

The Great Lady was also somewhat surprised and couldn’t help examining Gui Hanchun carefully.

This was a very handsome youth, wearing a black robe with gold-patterned flowers. Though only fourteen and not yet fully grown, his spine was straight as a ramrod. A pair of phoenix eyes looked about alertly, both eyes bright and piercing, like a small tiger poised to strike, ready at any moment to charge into battle.

Though his lips held a smile and he was courteous and refined, this gentleness couldn’t conceal his military bearing that showed through.

She hadn’t expected he’d already gone into battle, had combat experience.

If Third Miss were matched to him, it would actually wrong this youth! The delicate creature raised in the watery villages of Jiangnan, and the iron-blooded resilience forged under the desert’s scorching sun—clearly they didn’t match at all.

She couldn’t help glancing at Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss was currently looking down intently at her toes.

Her slightly bowed neck was like newly grown green bamboo—tender yet with a faint trace of resilience.

If Third Miss was a ball of soft tofu pampered into being, crushed at the slightest touch, Seventh Miss was a stalk of green bamboo that, though appearing delicate, could withstand the winds and snows from all directions.

The Great Lady exchanged a few more words with Gui Hanchun before Lady Li and Lady Zhang arrived together.

Having invited Commissioner Li and Master Zhang, and with the womenfolk also holding a banquet, naturally they couldn’t forget Lady Li and Lady Zhang.

Both ladies were very curious about Second Young Master Gui. Speaking one after another, they inquired about conditions in the northwest, the Gui family’s household size, the marriage arrangements of Second Young Master Gui’s several brothers…

Gui Hanchun answered earnestly and methodically one by one. What he could speak of, he explained in detail. What he couldn’t speak of, he lightly deflected with a simple “I’m still young and don’t know much about such matters.”

Before this group of worldly-wise noble ladies, his manner was dignified without being rigid, respectful without being wooden. Though he couldn’t be called perfectly at ease, he was appropriate.

As soon as he took his leave to go to the Eight Immortals Gathering Hall, Lady Zhang and Lady Li began praising him.

“After all, they’re a northwestern family—with such household discipline, no wonder they can prosper without decline.”

“I wonder which family will have the fortune to gain Second Young Master as a son-in-law!”

Hearing the music, they knew the song. These several ladies were all experienced. How could they not know the Great Lady’s intention in specially summoning Gui Hanchun?

Most likely she was evaluating a prospective son-in-law, taking advantage of Gui Hanchun’s time in Suzhou to personally observe Second Young Master’s character, so that when discussing marriage arrangements in the future, she would have a clear idea.

The Great Lady glanced at Seventh Miss.

“There’s still an elder brother at the top who hasn’t been betrothed yet. Our family’s daughters—the older ones are older, the younger ones younger. It’s all a matter for several years hence.” Her answer was subtle.

How could Lady Zhang and Lady Li not understand?

They immediately all smiled at Seventh Miss.

“Seventh Miss is ten years old this year, correct?”

“She’s truly blossoming into elegance!”

“In a few more years, she’ll be of age for marriage discussions.”

Both ladies had fairly frequent contact with the Yang family—how could they not know about Seventh Miss being written under the Great Lady’s name?

Their attitude toward Seventh Miss became considerably warmer.

Seventh Miss could only lower her head even further, biting her lip without speaking.

First Miss smiled to smooth things over: “Greetings to both ladies!”

The several daughters also emerged from behind the screen to pay respects to the two ladies.

Third Miss seemed somewhat distracted. After performing her courtesy, she stood to one side with pressed lips, silent.

Seventh Miss observed this, feeling slightly relieved.

Third Miss was already sixteen this year. If she didn’t arrange a marriage soon, she’d truly become an old maid…

Such a good family, yet the Great Lady would rather wait several years to match her to Seventh Miss than consider Third Miss.

Without anyone to advocate for her, how could she smoothly marry out?

It seemed that even if Fourth Aunt hadn’t agreed to her conditions now, after some more time, she probably wouldn’t be able to hold out.

“Second Aunt is also here.” First Miss had sharp eyes. Seeing the sedan chair top in the corridor from afar, she smiled gracefully. “I didn’t expect Second Aunt, who lives closest, would arrive latest.”

As a Yang family female relative, Second Lady should have come to the residence earlier to receive guests together with the Great Lady.

The Great Lady’s smile became somewhat unnatural.

Seventh Miss and First Miss exchanged smiles.

She rose to sit beside the Great Lady, flanking her left and right with Fifth Miss, watching as Second Lady stepped over the threshold.

“Second Aunt!” Seventh Miss was especially three measures more attentive. “It’s been several days since I’ve seen you.”

Since news spread that the Great Lady would elevate Seventh Miss and her brother, Second Lady hadn’t visited for over a month.

Hearing her sweet voice, Second Lady stumbled in her steps.

She paused before raising her head with a smile: “It has been a while since I’ve visited!”

Though her expression seemed normal, the deep jealousy and hatred in her eyes couldn’t be concealed from anyone.