After a few days, the Grand Master indeed raised with the Grand Madam the matter of forming a marriage alliance with the Zhang family.

“I’ve thought it over carefully and feel this is quite a good match.” The Grand Master’s face showed contemplation. “Though our family currently has a lawsuit pending and it’s not very convenient to raise such matters with Brother Zhang, the Zhang family has substantial means and is uninvolved in court disputes. With deep roots in Guanlong, if Third Miss marries into their family, it would add a stable external ally for us.”

Measured by this reasoning, Third Miss marrying into the Zhang family was actually much better than the previously discussed Li or Wang families.

The Grand Madam also felt this marriage was excellent from every angle.

It could bring tangible benefits to the Yang family and add support for Ninth Brother’s future.

Several of Mr. Zhang’s students now held office at court, and there were many literary friends accumulated over the years—all valuable connections.

Zhang family’s eldest daughter-in-law had such an unforgiving temperament… It was said her background wasn’t particularly good, her dowry altogether only about three thousand taels of silver.

No matter how stingy the Grand Madam was, she would at least prepare a dowry of twenty thousand taels for Third Miss.

The Grand Madam smiled. “Good. Since Master has already approved, I’ll ask Mrs. Li to call on Mrs. Zhang tomorrow to inquire about her thoughts.—However, our family currently has a lawsuit pending. The Zhang family may not know the details. To send someone now to inquire—isn’t it somewhat improper?”

The Grand Master smiled slightly. “This is precisely why—we can tell with a single question whether Mr. Weiting truly wishes to associate with our family or merely intends to borrow our family’s influence.”

The Grand Madam suddenly understood.

In good spirits, she flattered him. “Master’s consideration is indeed thorough.”

The Grand Master stroked his beard without speaking, merely smiling.

The atmosphere in the room was completely harmonious.

The next day, the Grand Madam invited Mrs. Li to speak.

“Thinking of arranging Third Miss into the Zhang family…” She discussed the marriage matter with Mrs. Li in detail.

Mrs. Li was somewhat surprised but also pleased. “Good, good! If these two families form this marriage alliance, they’ll be even closer in future!”

She complained to the Grand Madam, “You’re showing favoritism, or do you look down on our Eleventh Young Master? Seventh Miss’s matter has been discussed for years without any news, yet you’re now actively raising Third Miss’s matter with the Zhang family!”

The Grand Madam felt somewhat awkward. “Shouldn’t we arrange the elder sister’s marriage before the younger sister’s?”

In great clans, marriage proposals had strict order of precedence. Many children had been delayed because their elder siblings’ marriages didn’t go smoothly.

Fifth Miss was also thirteen this year. When Second Miss was thirteen, the Marquis of Dingguo’s Sun family had already come to propose.

Mrs. Li’s eyes flashed. “You’re just showing favoritism!” She reproached the Grand Madam half-jokingly. “I’ve known all along you favor Seventh Miss. You must think our Eleventh Young Master is honest and dull, unworthy of Seventh Miss!”

The Grand Madam was at a loss for words. Just as she was about to smooth things over, Mrs. Li laughed and extricated herself. “It’s true—looking at Seventh Miss’s appearance and conduct, even I adore her, let alone you! But Sister, given our two families’ friendship, you must apportion at least one of your flower-like daughters to our Li family! If you can’t bear to part with Seventh Miss, surely you can bear to part with Sixth Miss?”

“This…” The Grand Madam was rather annoyed.

Wasn’t Mrs. Li being too obvious?

“I can’t bear to part with Sixth Miss either!” She smiled and played tai chi with Mrs. Li. “If you put it that way, I really can’t bear to part with any of them! Why don’t you take Fourth Miss home instead!”

Mrs. Li’s smile immediately froze.

A concubine’s common-born daughter—not to mention one disliked by her legitimate mother, with a gloomy personality and a ruined face…

“Ah, speaking of Fourth Miss, I truly worry for you.” She smiled like a spring breeze, immediately changing the subject. “If Third Miss can marry into the Zhang family, at least that’s resolved. But Fourth Miss’s face isn’t good… Finding a son-in-law among famous scholarly official families would truly be difficult.”

The Grand Madam didn’t push further.

The Li family was after all the Yang family’s most reliable support. Mrs. Li would immediately go call on the Zhang family to sound out their intentions.

“We can only take it step by step.” She let out a long breath. “This matter still depends on Master’s wishes.”

The two madams exchanged a few more pleasantries before Mrs. Li rose to take her leave.

Gripping the Grand Madam’s hand, her tone sincere: “If you truly don’t favor Eleventh Young Master, our Twelfth Young Master is the same age as Seventh Miss—”

The Grand Madam truly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

She could only see Mrs. Li off, then complained to Nanny Wang afterward. “I’ve always heard she’s tedious, tedious, but never thought much of it. Today after experiencing it, I finally understand what truly tedious means.”

Nanny Liang also looked down on Mrs. Li’s manner.

“Great clans value keeping one’s word… From her meaning, it’s as if arranging children’s marriages is like conducting business—whoever’s value rises, the other side’s bid must rise accordingly.”

The Grand Madam sighed again.

“Ah, it’s not easy—those dozen-plus sons, not one an easy lamp to tend! Eldest Young Master and Third Young Master both sit for examinations this year. If they gain provincial graduate status, they’ll be even harder to control.”

She couldn’t help but think of the accounts in her own household.

“I wonder when our Ninth Brother will earn an official degree and return home!”

Nanny Liang couldn’t help but admire the Grand Madam’s decisiveness.

Ever since believing Ninth Brother’s actions before Yarn-Washing Cove were due to malicious spells, the Grand Madam acted as if she had never suspected Ninth Brother at all. Her care, compared to before, was only more meticulous.

She felt a chill in her heart.

Seventh Miss had thoroughly understood the Grand Madam’s nature!

She smiled and placated the Grand Madam. “With our Ninth Brother’s intelligence, he’ll probably sit for the imperial examinations within a couple years!”

She reminded the Grand Madam, “However, regarding Ninth Brother’s marriage…”

Ninth Brother would be eleven after New Year’s.

Such an only son who would continue the family line often married early.

His marriage was worth the Grand Madam’s careful consideration.

The Grand Madam was thoughtful. “This matter still requires consulting Master.” She laughed self-deprecatingly. “A wife obeys her husband—no matter how capable I am, I must follow Master’s instructions in such matters.”

She sighed again.

“This lifetime I’ve had no biological son… I only hope I haven’t misjudged Ninth Brother!”

Nanny Liang lowered her eyes to stare at her feet, not responding to the Grand Madam’s words.

Two days later, she sent another batch of precious medicinal ingredients to the west side courtyard without letting the Grand Madam know.

#

Mrs. Li quickly gave her response.

Reportedly Mrs. Zhang had grumbled a bit, merely saying she needed to consult the master.

Yet the moment Mrs. Li’s front foot left her doorstep, Mrs. Zhang’s back foot followed into the Li residence.

Even Mr. Zhang personally visited Minister Li. Madam to madam, master to master—both conveyed the same meaning: Third Miss came from a famous family and was noble and elegant. For the Zhang family to gain her as a match was their son’s good fortune.

Mrs. Li’s first time as matchmaker yielding such good results, she immediately returned joyfully to the Yang household’s door to report the good news to the Grand Madam.

Word that the Yang family and Zhang family intended to form a marriage alliance quickly spread throughout the estate.

“Who knows if it’s the legitimate Second Young Master or the common-born Third Young Master…”

Sixth Miss was very curious.

Seventh Miss just smiled, while Fifth Miss rolled her eyes at Sixth Miss. “What, are you eager to marry out? I’ll tell Mother to arrange you first before my marriage!”

Sixth Miss was greatly embarrassed. “Fifth Sister’s words make it seem you’re the one eager to marry!”

The two young ladies engaged in a war of words.

Since this news spread, Third Miss was too shy to leave Seven-Fragrance Lodge. Fourth Miss naturally stayed with her and didn’t attend family school.

Eighth Miss asked Seventh Miss timidly, “Seventh Sister, about Third Sister’s marriage… what’s happening?”

The small girl’s body was weak. Speaking these few words, she coughed several times.

Seventh Miss patiently and carefully explained to Eighth Miss. “Third Sister and the Zhang family’s Third Young Master…” She explained the matter thoroughly to Eighth Miss.

Eighth Miss’s face showed a genuine smile. “Then we must truly congratulate Third Sister!”

Seventh Miss felt somewhat embarrassed.

Perhaps the little girl was truly just concerned about her sisters…

“If this marriage comes to pass, it’s not bad.” She said tactfully. “However, the Zhang family has no official degrees after all…”

Eighth Miss seemed to understand something, fluttering her long lashes.

After a few more days, the results of Liu Zheng’s case also reached Suzhou.

That this case concluded so quickly, and the punishment for Liu Zheng was so severe—even the Grand Master couldn’t help but be shocked.

“Reportedly the Emperor personally inquired into it… without letting the Crown Prince’s people interfere.” He recounted to the Grand Madam in detail. “The Qin family and Xu family also didn’t get involved. It was all the Emperor’s people handling this matter.”

Arriving in Suzhou simultaneously was the reward for the Grand Master.

After a long string of meaningless commendations, the Grand Master obtained genuine tangible benefits: though no peerage was granted, the Emperor still generously elevated the Grand Master’s civil merit several ranks, promoting him to Left Pillar of State.

Suzhou city was immediately in an uproar, and even court and countryside trembled at the news.

Left Pillar of State was a first-rank honorary official position!

In Great Qin, first-rank positions were never lightly granted. Traditionally, only the cabinet’s leading Grand Secretaries could concurrently hold the first-rank Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince title. It could be said that those who could hold first-rank positions without exception were influential figures who could summon wind and rain at court, holding power over entire regions.

Even when Imperial Tutor Qin retired, he held only the second-rank Junior Preceptor of the Crown Prince title.

Though only an honorary title without salary, the Grand Master had now surpassed even Imperial Tutor Qin. In all of Great Qin, which regional official held both the second-rank substantive position of Jiangnan Governor-General and the first-rank civil merit of Left Pillar of State?

Even those first-tier old aristocratic nobility households probably couldn’t compete with the Yang family for prominence now!

In stark contrast was the disposition of Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commissioner Liu Zheng.

Liu Zheng, for greed, perversion of law, and neglecting public duty for personal reasons, was stripped of rank and status, permanently barred from office, to be sent from the capital back to his native place under supervision, all his property confiscated for the state, Zhejiang provincial affairs to be managed by the Jiangnan Governor-General.

House confiscation, deportation, supervised residence—these were nearly the most severe punishments for civil officials.

Great Qin had always treated civil officials favorably. In over a hundred years since founding, not one high official had been executed. Otherwise, Liu Zheng’s head might not have remained secure…

The results of this power struggle naturally needed no elaboration.

Those with keen eyes noticed another line in the edict: Zhejiang provincial affairs to be managed by the Jiangnan Governor-General, who should carefully attend to talent and recommend a successor.

This was nakedly delivering Zhejiang province into the Grand Master’s arms!

Recommending a successor—would the Grand Master not recommend his own people? Jiangsu Provincial Administration Commissioner Li Wenqing already only acted according to the Yang family’s direction. Now the Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commissioner would also become a Yang family person. Add the Zheng family of Fujian Provincial Administration, which also had some connection with the Yang family…

The three Jiangnan provinces had truly become the Grand Master’s private domain!

The Yang household immediately became lively again.

The Grand Master and Grand Madam opened the main hall doors of the outer main courtyard, lit incense candles and set up an altar. Leading the entire household of men, women, old and young, they received the reward edict, then everyone busily scattered: congratulatory carriages and horses calling at the door nearly blocked Second Yang Street from allowing anyone through.

Fortunately, these were all measured high officials who didn’t show unseemly greed. They politely sent congratulatory gift lists for the promotion, exchanged a few words of congratulations with the host, then all took their leave. Even so, the Grand Madam and Second Madam were busy for a good half month before they could rest. Even with Second Madam’s help, the Grand Madam was so exhausted she took several more doses of tonic before barely recovering her spirits.

Fourth Concubine entered the main courtyard at this time.

#

Inside and outside the main courtyard hall, an indescribable joyous atmosphere pervaded.

The altar table in the hall had gained several new precious implements. Unopened congratulatory gifts were casually piled in corners. Several young maids shuttled in and out, opening items while sorting and transporting silks and gold and silver.

Coming and going—the bustle of a great household encountering joyous occasions.

From the east secondary room, the Grand Madam’s laughter could faintly be heard.

Fourth Concubine’s eyes dimmed slightly. She stood at the bottom of the steps, lowered her head to carefully dust her skirt hem, took a deep breath, then smiled as she crossed the threshold, calling to Lidong at the east secondary room door: “—Come to pay respects to Madam!”

Lidong nodded imperceptibly without expression, then turned to announce her inside.

Even if surprised, she showed nothing.

How long had it been since Fourth Concubine came alone to the main courtyard to pay respects?

She stood in the hall, surveying these familiar yet strange furnishings, staring blankly in a daze.

Once upon a time, this hall was filled with suffocating silence and suffocating gloom.

Though she came daily to pay respects then, when had she ever taken the Grand Madam lurking in the hall seriously…

Her world was in the east side courtyard—that was the center of the inner residence. The countless threads of household affairs had all been collected in her hands those years.

—Why hadn’t she arranged marriages for her two daughters then!

Ah yes, at that time, First Miss and Second Miss from the main courtyard hadn’t been betrothed yet.

She had ultimately underestimated this narrow-minded, extreme-acting legitimate wife…

A legitimate wife was still a legitimate wife. As long as her position remained, when the time came, she could overturn clouds and rain.

A concubine, whether good or base, was ultimately just an insignificant small star unfit for public view.

Even wanting to arrange marriages for her biological daughters required concealment and countless detours…

Light footsteps slowly sounded from the east secondary room.

Fourth Concubine hurriedly raised her head.

Already she wore a face full of smiles again.

Lidong nodded to Fourth Concubine, silently lifted the crystal curtain, and watched her sway gracefully into the east secondary room.

“Paying respects to Madam.” Fourth Concubine’s etiquette was thorough. She knelt to perform the ceremony.

“Rise.” But the Grand Madam’s face was full of smiles.

Fourth Concubine was about to pay respects to the seated Second Madam, who also hurriedly imitated the Grand Madam. “Don’t stand on ceremony.”

“Fourth Concubine.” Seventh Miss at the Grand Madam’s side also rose to greet Fourth Concubine.

After some commotion, the Grand Madam ultimately granted Fourth Concubine a seat.

“Why come to pay respects at this time?” She was direct. “If you have something to say, speak plainly.”

It seemed the Grand Madam’s mood wasn’t bad.

Fourth Concubine also slowly let out a long breath.

“I wish to ask Madam for some dignity to go burn incense at Huiqing Temple.” She lowered her head, playing with the jade pendant on her skirt hem. “To pray and make wishes for Third Miss and Fourth Miss…”

Her words ultimately revealed a faint trace of resentment.

The Grand Madam appreciated the threads of unwillingness on Fourth Concubine’s face, nearly laughing aloud again.

Affairs truly changed in an instant.

Just half a month ago, Fourth Concubine had desperately wanted to immediately finalize the marriage arrangement.

Now she desperately wanted to break the engagement and arrange a better marriage for Third Miss!

How could it be so easy?

However, letting her go once to Huiqing Temple probably wouldn’t cause much trouble.

The Grand Madam was about to grant permission.

A legitimate wife naturally had this cat-toying-with-mouse superiority over a concubine—even if she went to Huiqing Temple, what trouble could she possibly stir up?

But Seventh Miss lightly coughed.

“Fourth Concubine is familiar with the eminent monks of Huiqing Temple?” She was amiable, her face showing a trace of curiosity. “I’ve heard that Master Tongguang of Huiqing Temple has the most profound spiritual powers and can also match birth charts…”

If Master Tongguang determined that Third Miss and the Zhang family young master were incompatible, Fourth Concubine would have an excuse to slander before the Grand Master…

“Right now our family and the Zhang family are in marriage discussions.” The Grand Madam showed some displeasure. “How can you as the birth mother leave without authorization? Wait until the marriage is settled, then go burn incense!”

Fourth Concubine couldn’t help but glance at Second Madam.

Second Madam was also looking at Fourth Concubine.

She moved her lips, then sighed.

How could Second Madam not know the past between Fourth Concubine and the Grand Madam? If the Grand Madam wanted to block Fourth Concubine, no one could intercede.

Fourth Concubine glanced at Seventh Miss again.

The venomous hatred in her eyes was faintly visible.

Second Madam let out a long breath.

“Seventh Miss will be eleven after New Year’s, won’t she?” She changed the subject, asking Seventh Miss amiably.

Seventh Miss smiled brilliantly at Second Madam. “Yes, Second Aunt forgot—Eighth Sister and I share the same birthday.”

Several people began chatting about family matters.

By unspoken agreement, they all seemed to forget Fourth Concubine sitting at the small table.