Yun Lu, with her hair in small braids, carried a basin of late autumn chrysanthemums into the courtyard. Upon seeing Xinyue, she burst into tears, because her basin of chrysanthemums had been ruined beyond recognition. The petals had been plucked off, leaving only a bare stem standing among the green leaves.

Xinyue held Yun Lu and comforted her continuously, promising that she would definitely properly discipline Yun Huan. Li Yanrong lay on the railing of the embroidery building with a face full of smiles, watching Xinyue fuming with rage below. She felt that such days were what a home should truly be like.

Yun Huan was still caught, captured by Yun Shou. Mother had been angered quite severely, so naturally Yun Shou would take action. Also caught was Yun Mu, who had long since changed out of her two-piece outfit. Now wearing a lake-blue bodice dress, the little girl appeared graceful and elegant. Though not yet of age, she already had the assets to topple kingdoms and ruin states.

“Children making a fuss shows the home has vitality. Mu’er and Huan’er are both good children. What’s wrong with dancing a bit? Don’t imperial princesses also have to learn to dance?”

Old Grandmother always favored her young great-grandchildren. No matter how big a mistake they made, she could always find reasons to excuse the children.

“Old Ancestor, the Great Lady won’t let Xiao Mu ride horses or shoot arrows. I don’t like doing needlework either. If I don’t dance, Xiao Mu will go crazy.” Yun Mu hugged Old Grandmother’s arm and kept twisting back and forth. Watching this, Yun Huan’s face was full of envy. Old Ancestor accepted the girls’ acting spoiled but would not accept boys acting spoiled. If he dared act spoiled, it would very likely bring a sound beating. Since Old Ancestor had already spoken on behalf of Big Sister, then next the fury would be vented on his own head.

“Huan’er, who gave you permission to stick your head into Yanrong’s room? That’s your eldest sister-in-law’s room. Are we still following rules or not? Shou’er, take Huan’er to the ancestral hall to kneel in punishment for two hours.”

Yun Shou, who had been looking up at the sky, immediately grabbed Yun Huan and strode toward the ancestral hall. As soon as they turned the corner, he put Yun Huan down and said irritably: “Can’t you settle down for a bit? You had to make Mother angry. If you want to run wild, at least wait until Father comes back. Also, why did you have to provoke Xiao Lu for no reason? She’s just a little crybaby. Touch her once and she can cry for half a day. She came to my place to complain and cried so much she soaked my clothes. Hurry up and compensate her with a basin of golden chrysanthemums, or sooner or later you’ll be in trouble.”

“Li Rong is about to enter the capital. Be careful he catches you and beats you to death, and no one will dare stop him.”

Yun Huan immediately cried out in injustice, swearing that he had never touched Yun Lu’s golden chrysanthemums. Yun Shou suddenly thought of Yun Xiang, who had been collecting various flower petals these past few days to make perfume. The more he thought about it, the more he felt Yun Huan might have been wrongly accused. After thinking left and right, he still felt it was better to continue wrongly accusing Yun Huan, so he continued dragging Yun Huan toward the ancestral hall.

The sky darkened. Yun Huan lay on the prayer cushion, sleeping with drool flowing freely. Yun Shou, who was supervising him, also leaned against the wall base, sleeping very comfortably. Helan leaned against the door, embroidering while helping keep watch for the two brothers.

When someone in the family was being punished, it was generally the children’s happiest time. Before long, Yun Mu came in carrying a food box containing two large bowls of wonton noodles. She kicked her two brothers awake and gave each of them a bowl.

Yun Huan ate the wonton noodles while complaining that Yun Mu shouldn’t have brought noodles but should have brought a few pork knuckles instead. As he was speaking, he saw Yun Xiang sneaking out through the moon gate. Her neatly combed hair had been disheveled by flower branches, and a fragrant wood hairpin hung loosely by her ear. She held a lotus leaf package in her hands. Seeing Yun Huan, she said happily: “Second Brother, I stole pork knuckles for you. The cook didn’t notice.”

Yun Huan was overjoyed. With pork knuckles, who would still eat wonton noodles? He decisively set aside the half-eaten wonton noodles, first hugged Yun Xiang and planted a kiss on her face with a smack. She was the youngest and had always been the most doted upon.

Inside the lotus leaf package were two pork knuckles. Yun Huan tossed one to Yun Shou and grabbed the other knuckle to chomp on it voraciously. Yun Lu also came over huffily, resentfully tossing over a chicken but ignoring Yun Huan, indicating she was still angry.

Old Grandmother, stooped and leaning on her cane, strolled in the courtyard accompanied by maids to exercise her legs. Seeing Xinyue inspecting the inner residence in preparation for locking up, she said to Xinyue: “Tonight we might as well lock up a bit later. Several children have gone to the outer residence. Although they can come back through the dog hole, it’s dark at night and there will always be bumps and bruises. Leave the door open for them.”

Xinyue supported Old Grandmother as they walked a couple steps in the garden, then found a chair to sit down before saying: “It’s all because this daughter-in-law is incompetent and always fails to properly discipline the children. If my husband were here it would be better. He can always divide things clearly and distinctly, unlike now when this daughter-in-law always makes muddled judgments.”

“Hmph! He’s the court’s great general. If he can’t even assign such matters clearly, what kind of great general would he be? I think this is quite good. Our family has few people, just these six children. It’s very good for them to love each other. There’s no need to divide right from wrong. In a couple days, Rong’er will come to Chang’an to report on his duties. Give him a residence in Xinghua Ward. Don’t favor one over another. They’re all of the Yun Family bloodline. What surname they have doesn’t matter. Money and wealth—you can’t bring them when you’re born or take them when you die. Accumulating them is quite meaningless. Being able to spend them on the children is very good.”

Xinyue replied with a smile: “Isn’t that so? This daughter-in-law has already cleared out that residence near the inner river in Xinghua Ward. When Rong’er arrives at the capital, he’ll inevitably need to hold some family banquets to thank old friends and relatives. The scenery there is excellent, and it’s close to the Imperial City—a fine place to go. It’s just that the pears on the trees have already been picked, otherwise it would be even better.”

Old Grandmother laughed: “I know you’re a virtuous child. That residence is indeed good. Even though the pears are gone in autumn, aren’t there still leaves? Leaves that have been touched by frost are beautifully red—quite something to look at. It’s enough for his use.”

“That Rimu’s belly is disappointing—she gave birth to another daughter. Alas, our family’s descendants are never prosperous. I don’t know if Xiao Miao can bring us one or two more boys. In the end, it’s still your belly that’s dependable. If it weren’t for needing to guard the family business, it should have been you going to the Western Region. That Rimu and Lingdang are both useless.”

Mentioning this matter made Xinyue giggle with laughter. This was also her most prideful area. In just two births, she had given birth to two boys. In this matter, heaven was favoring her. Half the reason she held authority in the family was because she had two promising sons. Yun Shou need not be mentioned—he was personally educated by the Emperor and Empress. Good or bad, it was the imperial family’s responsibility. In the future, even if he brought ruin to the country, it couldn’t be blamed on the Yun Family. Although Yun Huan was a bit mischievous, the child was a standard scholar material. Photographic memory wasn’t too difficult for him. If not for his overly lively nature and spotty record of misdeeds, Xinyue would have long since taken him all around Chang’an to show off.

The grandmother and granddaughter-in-law chatted, discussing household matters. In just a few words, they arranged family affairs. Old Grandmother heard the clattering sounds coming from the western pavilion, and her brow immediately furrowed.

Pointing toward the western pavilion, she said to Xinyue: “Look at that—they’ve all become wastrels, knowing nothing but playing mahjong all day long. They don’t even settle down late at night. Poor grandson of mine is still fighting in those bitter cold lands, while these people who don’t know how to treasure their blessings will die at the mahjong table sooner or later.”

Xinyue comforted Old Grandmother: “Your expectations are too high. The aunts and sisters-in-law are only just now starting to live. Their daughters have all been married off, and to good families too. Our family has produced two princess consorts! Although Shishi isn’t our biological daughter, this child was personally raised by you, Old Ancestor, and has the most gentle nature. She already has two children, both boys. The older one has already been established as heir by Xiao An. This is a rare honor.”

“In the summer, the Empress specially issued an internal edict specifically praising Shishi’s courage. At that time, the Tubo people had attacked all the way to Songzhou. Xiao An and Shishi stubbornly held fast at Songzhou and wouldn’t leave, managing to hold on until Old Duke Cheng’s reinforcements arrived. I heard that when Old Duke Cheng arrived, Xiao An was already covered in wounds and unconscious. Shishi, fully armed, was still fighting the Tubo savages at the city head. According to the family retainer who brought the report, when Shishi came down, the maids poured warm water over her body to dissolve the congealed bloodstains before they could remove the armor from her body. Blood water pooled all over the ground.”

“The Empress raised Shishi’s rank by a full grade. This is a rare honor. Among the princess consorts, Shishi has the highest rank. Yang Fei was so happy her mouth couldn’t close. She pulled this daughter-in-law to eat at three banquets in the palace.”

After hearing this, Old Grandmother was silent for a long while, then tapped her cane on the ground and said: “This is a girl who came from a military family. That fierce energy is indispensable. When the husband falls, it’s the woman’s turn to go up. At that time, not to criticize you, but if they put armor on you, you could also go onto the battlefield. If you had Shishi’s skills, eighty percent of the time you’d also kill until you became a blood gourd. Military families cannot lose in battle. For the old and young in the family, they cannot lose. Once they lose, everything is finished. Shishi’s honor was exchanged for with her life—it’s not worth cherishing. Having no military conflicts is a woman’s greatest fortune.”

Xinyue clapped her hands happily and said: “Buddha be praised, my husband has already secured fifty years of peace for the Western Region with this battle. No matter what, there will be no military conflicts on the western front for fifty years. As long as my husband returns, our whole family will live well together.”

Old Grandmother gave Xinyue a sidelong glance: “You don’t even believe in Buddhism, so what are you saying about Buddha’s blessing? Speaking carelessly, be careful of the hell where tongues are pulled out. Your man is famous for reporting good news but not worries. He’ll only tell you good news and absolutely won’t say how much suffering he’s endured. To manage the Western Region strategically, Ye’er has already mobilized all the forces at his disposal. Master Liu Fang personally made a trip to the Western Region, Wu She also went, Xiao Miao, Gou Zi, Ren Xiong—these are all pillars of the family. You even sent Xiao Ying to the Western Region. Xi Tong and Han Zhe, those two who can’t distinguish friend from foe, were also enticed by you to go there. If it fails, the Yun Family will be unable to recover for many years. At that time, seeing you were about to collapse, I just didn’t say anything. You’re the head lady in charge. Whether the idea is right or wrong, having an idea come out is already good. As for the consequences produced by right or wrong, our family will just bear them.”

Xinyue shyly lowered her head. Indeed, as Old Grandmother said, she had already lost her composure at that time and had reached the point of seeking any remedy in desperation. Buddha be praised that no major mistakes had occurred.