Master Zhuang just smiled: “You were too alluring today, making me think of you intensely. Your body was more passionate than usual. No servant would dare enter.” Suddenly remembering something, his expression darkened: “Why aren’t there any servants attending in this room?”

Madam Zhou replied in surprise: “Didn’t my two maids go to receive you? And Matron Li – I instructed her to rest after putting Young Miss Yu to sleep.”

Upon hearing this, Master Zhuang grew angry: “You’ve just entered the manor, yet you’re using only the maids you brought. My Zhuang Manor can certainly afford several maids. Tomorrow, I’ll have the steward bring some maids for you to choose from.”

Madam Zhou was overjoyed inside but hesitated: “Fourth Young Miss said all the concubines in the manor are assigned servants this way. I don’t wish to cause gossip.”

“Who’s in charge of this manor – me or her?” Master Zhuang’s face filled with rage at the mention: “I am her father! What right does she have to speak in this manor!”

Madam Zhou showed a fearful expression: “But I notice Fourth Young Miss dislikes us, and Young Miss Yu has mentioned it too. Master, I see this Fourth Young Miss has strong opinions – she’s not as obedient as you’ve described.”

Madam Zhou’s words carried hidden meaning – while seemingly complaining, she was actually warning him. She implied that this daughter was two-faced, and her usual filial obedience might be an act. Just from observing her behavior these past two days since entering the manor, it was clear this Fourth Young Miss’s scheming couldn’t be underestimated. Regardless of her future moves, such tactics didn’t seem possible for a twelve-year-old girl.

Master Zhuang couldn’t help but grow suspicious. Han Yan had been close to Madam Wang since childhood, showing little affection toward him as a father, even fearing him greatly. Fortunately, Madam Wang had raised her well – regardless of his attitude, Han Yan always maintained proper boundaries, appearing obedient before him.

But since Madam Wang’s death, he had paid little attention to this daughter. Only after Madam Zhou’s arrival did he notice Han Yan had changed. From extreme fear to now subtle confrontation, her gaze toward him no longer showed respect and compliance, but instead carried a hint of confidence and something indescribable. That kind of look made him feel uneasy.

This daughter had become unfamiliar to him without his notice, giving him a sense of losing control. Given his strong desire for control, Han Yan’s unexpected change angered him.

Madam Zhou leaned softly against Master Zhuang’s chest, saying: “Fourth Young Miss lost her mother, so her rejection of me is understandable. But you’re her father – children should always give a face to their father. The other day, she spoke that way in front of the servants – wasn’t that slapping your face?”

Master Zhuang started, recalling how Han Yan had lectured Madam Zhou about not wearing bright-colored clothes. He hadn’t known when Han Yan had developed such eloquence. His expression immediately darkened.

Seeing her goal achieved, Madam Zhou quickly smiled and said: “I went to see Fifth Young Master today.”

Master Zhuang hadn’t expected this sudden topic change and casually asked: “How was it?”

Madam Zhou buried her face in his chest, her voice both plaintive and deep with emotion: “Shi Yang, I want to bear you a son.”

Hearing these words, Master Zhuang figured she must have been slighted by Han Ming. His displeasure toward the sister and brother grew. Hearing his woman’s soft longing, his male ego was satisfied. Unable to control himself, he embraced Madam Zhou and they tumbled together again.

While passion burned in this chamber on this alluring night, someone in Furong Yuan would find no sleep tonight.

“Crash!” A celadon bowl decorated with butterflies shattered on the ground, spilling precious bird’s nest soup everywhere. A nearby maid looked painfully at the mess – this was the bird’s nest porridge that had been specially simmered for three full hours on her mistress’s orders, now wasted.

The woman on the couch glared at her: “When the person is gone, what use is this stuff?” She gritted her teeth again: “Is Master staying in Gong Tong Yuan tonight?”

The little maid timidly replied: “This servant heard others say so.”

The young woman on the couch was Concubine Mei. Seeing Master Zhuang’s extreme intimacy with Madam Zhou and her daughter today gave her an inexplicable sense of threat. Without a son, her position in the manor relied solely on the Master’s favor. Madam Zhou had Yu Shan, their daughter giving her an extra advantage. Moreover, although Madam Zhou wasn’t as beautiful as herself, she was quite attractive, with a gentle temperament she couldn’t imitate. Master Zhuang had grown used to her fiery beauty over the years – with someone of gentle disposition entering the manor, he would naturally show some interest. Men always craved novelty. She was already twenty, and if she lost favor now, it would be difficult to regain her position.

So tonight she had carefully dressed up, planning to attend well to Master Zhuang and keep his heart firmly captured. Unexpectedly, Master Zhuang’s attendant suddenly informed her that he would stay in Gong Tong Yuan tonight. Her careful preparation and specially ordered dishes were all wasted – how could she not be jealous and hateful!

“Vixen!” Concubine Mei said through gritted teeth: “Just entered the manor and already causing trouble – does she think everyone in Furong Yuan is dead? Just an old woman, yet thinks she can stir up waves!”

The little maid observed her expression and finally spoke: “Mistress when this servant went out earlier, I met Fourth Young Miss’s personal maid Ji Lan and chatted with her for a while.”

Concubine Mei knew she wouldn’t mention this without reason and glared at her: “What did you talk about?”

“In reply to Mistress, Ji Lan said Madam Zhou has been very attentive to Fourth Young Miss lately. Today she even went to see Young Master and brought many gifts – she seems eager to curry favor.”

Concubine Mei raged: “She’s just an unfavored young miss, curry favor – hmpf, she’s willing to find herself allies!”

After drinking some tea to calm down, she looked up and asked: “What did Fourth Young Miss’s side say?”

The little maid moved closer and said: “Ji Lan said Fourth Young Miss is naive – seeing Madam Zhou treat her well, she seemed somewhat happy.”

Concubine Mei fell silent, only fingering the patterns on her skirt hem. After a while, she stood and said: “Jiao Meng, from today on, get closer to Fourth Young Miss’s maids. She wants to win over Fourth Young Miss – dream on!”

Though unflavored, she still had a voice in the clan. If Master Zhuang wanted to elevate Madam Zhou to primary wife, having Han Yan say some good words before the clan leader would accomplish half the task. She couldn’t let this happen – she needed to find a way to bring Fourth Young Miss to her side.

The weather gradually turned cold. In winter, even the sun began to lose its warmth. However, at the east gate of the capital, the steaming aroma from food vendors’ morning baskets remained pleasantly fragrant.

In the capital, there had long been a saying: “East poor, West rich, South noble, North chaotic.” It meant the East was where poor people gathered, the North had poor security, the South had many officials and nobles, and the West was prosperous. It was said to come from a traveling Daoist during the previous emperor’s reign. It wasn’t that extreme – it was simply because the northeast was closer to the outskirts, bordering a large stretch of wasteland and mountains, naturally making it less populated.