Seventh Miss nearly failed to hold steady the teacup in her hand. She was stunned for a full two or three breaths before stammering, “Really, really such a thing?”

Though she didn’t make it too obvious, Second Miss had been sisters with her before and wasn’t some confused person—how could she not see her abnormality? She glanced at Seventh Miss and said softly, “Mm, however, I didn’t see very clearly either. Seventh Sister knows that this Second Miss from your residence rarely appears before people. I’m afraid few relatives would recognize her. If not for passing face-to-face through the window, I wouldn’t have recognized her either.”

“She…” Seventh Miss began, then felt something was improper. After thinking, she said, “That young lady was dressed as a commoner?”

Second Miss took a sip of tea and said thoughtfully, “Her clothing was actually quite presentable, but she was walking on the street with her face uncovered and no cap. Behind her was a small maid. She came out from Wanshou Temple, turned into Donkey Meat Alley and disappeared. She didn’t see me though.”

Though the forty-nine wards weren’t large, the Xu family’s network of informants definitely couldn’t cover the entire city. Donkey Meat Alley was in eastern Beijing, separated from Coal Alley where the Xu family was located by an entire Forbidden City. If Yu Qiao had been living there quietly all along, the possibility of not being discovered by Duke Pingguo was quite high. Seventh Miss couldn’t help frowning. After a long while, she said hesitantly, “Second Sister, Yu Qiao died suddenly. The relatives already had some suspicions…”

“It’s precisely because I know this that I didn’t come to the Xu residence to mention this matter.” Second Miss’s tone was full of sympathy. “You can rest assured—this matter stops with me, it stops with me. As for the rest, I don’t want to know anything at all.”

To conduct oneself like Second Miss truly left others unable to find any fault. Seventh Miss showed gratitude on her face and accepted. “Second Sister is still most considerate of me.”

She couldn’t help asking again, “Did that young lady look well? Between her expressions, did she seem happy?”

Second Miss nodded slightly. “There were quite a few smiles on her face. The little maid beside her also looked neat and tidy—she seemed like a daughter from an ordinary middle-to-lower-class family.”

Seventh Miss let out a long breath and didn’t mention this matter further, only asking Second Miss, “Has brother-in-law sent back any letters?”

She then told Second Miss, “Fifth Sister’s matter will probably finally have some clarity.”

Second Miss’s expression shifted. She immediately asked urgently, “Who exactly was so conscienceless as to commit such a monstrous crime? Is there evidence?”

After all, this matter hadn’t yet erupted in the Xu family. Seventh Miss didn’t go into detail, only selectively telling Second Miss some of what Fifth Younger Madam had done. Even so, it was enough to make Second Miss shudder with emotion, her face unable to conceal her hatred.

“For the Zhang family to have such audacity, whatever end they meet, they can’t blame others.” A layer of frost suddenly appeared on her delicate face. “This Zhang Shi is really too bold and reckless. Isn’t she afraid that one day she’ll be utterly disgraced and bring disaster upon her natal family?”

Seventh Miss really didn’t want to explore Fifth Younger Madam’s psychology. She said lightly, “Probably in her heart, she doesn’t think anyone can catch her mistakes. If not for that one wrong move she made back then, even if subordinates were implicated now, it would be very difficult to trace the line back to her.”

After exchanging a few more words, Second Miss instructed Seventh Miss, “Whatever matters I can speak on, just tell me. As long as we ourselves are clear in our hearts, whether there’s evidence is another matter.”

Saying this, she clearly intended to use the Sun and Yang families’ power and influence to pressure the Zhang family. Seventh Miss didn’t know what to feel, but thinking that if the Xu family were convicted, she and Xu Fengjia would also be implicated and fall, she collected her emotions and solemnly agreed. Only then did Second Miss discuss further with Seventh Miss.

“This year is Father’s sixtieth birthday—his flower year. Eldest Sister’s idea is to celebrate properly. Just so happens Eldest Brother-in-law’s mourning period is complete and he needs to come to the capital to seek reinstatement. She plans to accompany brother-in-law to the capital together. Since you, me, and Sixth Sister are all in the capital, she wrote to ask Third Brother-in-law. This year Third Brother-in-law may not be able to come, but Third Sister also intends to come to the capital for the birthday celebration. Except for Fourth Sister, everyone can gather in the capital to arrange things for Father. What do you think?”

Seventh Miss was a daughter who married out from the capital—what else could she say? She nodded with a smile, then asked Second Miss, “Second Sister, what gift do you plan to send? Speaking of which, the family has everything. I don’t know what would be appropriate to send.”

Second Miss then advised Seventh Miss, “Sending a longevity character landscape screen—I think that would be quite good. After passing the flower year one can be called long-lived. Father’s room furnishings all need to be changed. This landscape screen is both skillful and respectable, and outsiders won’t find much fault with it.”

She winked at Seventh Miss with a smile. “You should also restrain yourself a bit—don’t create too much trouble for Eldest Sister and Third Sister.”

Seventh Miss immediately understood: the sisters each had their own circumstances. Though all were comfortable financially, Seventh Miss and Second Miss were the principal wives of ducal and marquis households. Their spending was naturally different from Chu Miss and Third Miss. If she was too extravagant, the two sisters would find it difficult to manage. Moreover, there was Sixth Miss in the palace. Right now, she held the most honorable position in the Yang family. If she herself raised the gift standard too high, it would instead put her in a difficult position.

After the two sisters settled this, Second Miss felt somewhat melancholic. “Sigh, speaking of it, this year still won’t have everyone. Your second brother-in-law will already be on his way to Southeast Asia by then. And Third Brother-in-law—July and August are peak flood season. He’s on river duty and can’t easily leave. When Father turns seventy, we’ll make it more lively.”

“Fourth Sister really won’t come?” Seventh Miss also felt some regret. “Back in Baifang Garden, we weren’t close. Now that we’ve left, sometimes I quite miss her. Actually speaking of it, Fourth Brother-in-law’s matter already passed three years ago…”

Second Miss shook her head. “I’ve written her several letters urging her to come to the capital, to have Father arrange for her to cultivate in a quiet nunnery. Nothing else—with Ninth Brother nearby, there would be someone to look after her. She wrote back saying she’ll spend her life aging in Jiangnan, keeping vigil at Fourth Brother-in-law’s grave. With Fourth Yiniang looking after her, there’s no one who can bully her.”

Thinking of Fourth Yiniang’s style, Seventh Miss couldn’t help smiling slightly. Second Miss continued, “Last time at someone’s house when drinking and meeting Mother, she also said she planned to move all the people from Baifang Garden back to the ancestral home and wanted to sell the garden. Otherwise it’s a waste having people manage it—it’s troublesome every year. I said that’s not necessary. With so many people in the family, we need to arrange things for them to do. Besides, there are still those properties in Jiangnan… Mother said in these past few years, Eldest Yiniang and Fifth Yiniang successively passed away. Only Boxia and Zhongxia remain in Baifang Garden. Twelfth Yiniang begs her daily to bring the sisters to the capital for a reunion—Mother has already agreed. Once these two leave, Baifang Garden truly won’t have anyone living there.”

As she spoke, she rarely showed a look of melancholy.

Thinking of the scenery within Baifang Garden, Seventh Miss also fell silent for a time. After a long while, she slowly said, “Sigh, after all, it’s the courtyard where we grew up from childhood… To sell it, there’s still some reluctance.”

Only even if it wasn’t sold, after the Grand Secretary retired, he would certainly return to the Northwest to spend his remaining years peacefully. None of the daughters were in Jiangnan either, and Ninth Brother’s future direction was still uncertain. Within the next decade or so, though Baifang Garden would still exist, it would probably be desolate. Even with servants diligently managing it, compared to when the garden was everywhere red and green with the sound of orioles and swallows bustling about, it would already be a different world.

Second Miss’s eyes also shot out a reminiscent light. She was lost in thought for quite a while before lowering her head. “Sigh, in these years since marrying out, sometimes in dreams I also go back to look. But now thinking about it, to revisit that old place again, I feel somewhat afraid.”

She paused, then sighed. “Also don’t know whose hands are hoeing the green grass on Fifth Sister’s grave each year.”

As heir’s wife, Fifth Miss was naturally buried in the Xu family ancestral cemetery located in Yangzhou. Over these years, though sacrifices continued, with family far away in the capital, no family member had personally gone to her grave to pay respects. Seventh Miss was silent again for a long time before saying, “Last time when the two accountants from Jiangnan wrote, they said when doing business in Yuhang, they stopped by to visit Fourth Sister. Fourth Sister also said that when they went to Yangzhou last year for a religious ceremony, they also paid respects at Fifth Sister’s grave.”

The room fell silent again. After a long while, Second Miss used her handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes and said in a low voice, “The hour is getting late. When you return, you’ll probably have many matters to arrange. I won’t keep you longer.”

Seventh Miss knew Second Miss was referring to the matter of Yu Qiao. She took the opportunity to rise and take her leave. “Once Fifth Sister’s matter has a result, I’ll come disturb Second Sister again.”

Second Miss tightly grasped Seventh Miss’s hand and nodded again, but was speechless with words left unsaid. She personally saw Seventh Miss out of the room and watched her board the small sedan chair.

All the way back, Seventh Miss had many more concerns on her mind. She pondered for a long time, truly with surging emotions. When she returned to her room and learned that Xu Fengjia had been called out in the afternoon, she became even more restless. Sometimes worrying about Yu Qiao, sometimes about the genealogy, she rarely showed such agitation. Even when Fourth Lang and Fifth Lang came back from school and came to beg her, “Mother, play tangram puzzles with us, write characters and draw pictures,” she declined with the excuse of feeling unwell.

The two children were quite sensible. Seeing traces of irritation in Seventh Miss’s expression, they didn’t pester her. Fifth Lang earnestly sought a promise of “playing with you for a whole day in the future,” then pulled Fourth Lang. “Elder Brother, let’s go play with Big Brother and Second Brother.”

After both children went down, Lixia changed Seventh Miss’s tea while saying, “It’s rare to see you so troubled…”

Of course there was nothing to hide from Lixia, but whenever Seventh Miss thought of how Yu Qiao’s matter coming out had cost three people from Xiao Liujiang their lives, her heart felt uncomfortable and blocked. After thinking, she still shook her head. “It’s nothing much. Second Sister mentioned Fifth Sister again. Thinking that Fifth Sister passed away three years ago, my heart feels somewhat emotional.”

She shared some news about the sisters with Lixia. As they were talking, Xu Fengjia returned.

This young general always traveled light and simple. Ordinary servants were definitely not brought into Mingde Hall. Today was rare in that he brought Xiao Fuquan into the room. As soon as this fellow entered, he furtively looked around, making everyone secretly laugh.

Only then did Xu Fengjia notice Xiao Fuquan’s little movements. He knocked Xiao Fuquan’s forehead once and scolded, “You rascal, you actually managed to sneak in! Why don’t you get lost?”

Xiao Fuquan grinned and pulled two yellowed booklets from his bosom, placing them on the table. He bowed to Seventh Miss. “Mingde Hall is Young Madam’s territory. If Young Madam wants Fuquan to get lost, Fuquan will get lost. Young Madam hasn’t spoken yet—”

He glanced at Xu Fengjia but didn’t continue. Seventh Miss and Lixia were already laughing at his antics. Seventh Miss glanced at the hidden door and said with a smile, “Since you rarely come in once, have Zhongyuan pour you a bowl of tea to drink. It won’t be too late to get lost after drinking.”

Xu Fengjia gave Xiao Fuquan a light kick and dismissed him. “Go outside to drink your tea. Stop being an eyesore before your lord.” He then moved close to Seventh Miss and opened both genealogies to a certain page to show Seventh Miss. Indeed, they clearly stated: certain branch, second daughter, one married into the Wu family, one married into the Qiu family. Another genealogy clearly stated Qiu Zhi’s mother’s surname and background.

Seventh Miss let out a long breath. Pressing the genealogies, watching Zhongyuan pull Xiao Fuquan out by the ear, she only then asked Xu Fengjia in a low voice, “When do you plan to go to Xiaoshan Mountain?”

Xu Fengjia’s eyes were cold and hard. Staring at the genealogies and pondering for a moment, he said decisively, “I can’t wait any longer. Tonight I’ll go to Xiaoshan Mountain under cover of night and bring Mother back. This matter still needs her present to speak with Father.”

Though Seventh Miss felt Xu Fengjia was somewhat hasty, this matter had dragged on for three full years. Now that it was finally coming to an end, even she couldn’t help feeling impatient. She nodded. “You need to prepare a good excuse for Father… If Mother doesn’t want this matter exposed in her heart, it will inevitably drag on for another period. If your behavior is strange and makes the Fifth Branch suspicious, the matter will be harder to handle.”

Xu Fengjia said in a heavy voice, “Don’t worry, I know what to say. Besides, Mother’s temperament—don’t I understand it? In this matter she’ll only be angrier than you. And it’s the Fifth Branch…”

True, Madam Xu probably hated Fifth Younger Madam even more than she did. With a chance to bring her down, how could she easily let it pass? Seventh Miss smiled and didn’t say much more. She rose to pack Xu Fengjia’s luggage, instructing him, “Leaving the city now, by the time you reach Xiaoshan Mountain it will probably be nightfall. Be careful on the night road—don’t startle the horse or catch a chill. Neither is a joke.”

By this time, dusk had already fallen. Shangyuan came in to light the lamps. Xu Fengjia looked out the window and grunted, muttering to himself, “That Xiao Fuquan brat… Forget it. Considering he has to run the night road with me, I won’t punish him this time.”

Seventh Miss followed Xu Fengjia’s line of sight and just happened to see Xiao Fuquan speaking to Zhongyuan with a fawning face. Zhongyuan, usually the most talkative person, instead acted indifferent, yet the corners of her eyes and brows revealed a trace of shyness—through the lamplight from inside the window, the demeanor of these two people was absolutely vivid in every detail.

She was about to say with a smile, “I think even the Qilin troupe’s opera isn’t as good as what these two are performing now,” when she suddenly thought of Yu Qiao and couldn’t help being stunned speechless. Xu Fengjia glanced at her and frowned again. “Why do I see some concern on your face?”

Seventh Miss snapped back to attention and covered up, “It’s nothing. I was thinking about all the matters still to handle ahead…”

Xu Fengjia examined her carefully several times before patting Seventh Miss’s shoulder and saying in a low voice, “Once this matter is finished, there won’t be much for you to worry about!”

He strode out of the room. At the door, he called Lixia over and instructed her, “Don’t let your mistress skip meals again. Watch her—after eating, she’s not allowed to worry either. Just play with the children. Get to bed promptly at the second watch, understand?”

Lixia smiled brightly. “Just set off without worry!” Together with Shangyuan, she pushed Xu Fengjia out the door, then turned back to ask Seventh Miss, “Where should these two books be stored?”

Seventh Miss hurried to say, “I’ll do it myself!” She rose and went to the table, personally storing the two genealogies in the compartment where she usually kept her loose-leaf notebook, then locked it.

Lixia, Shangyuan, Bailu, and other close attendants had a vague understanding of Fifth Miss’s case, but since Seventh Miss didn’t speak of it, they didn’t ask. Now seeing Seventh Miss put things away herself, Shangyuan said with a smile, “Young Madam should also eat dinner now—you must eat several more bowls today, lest the Heir think that when he’s not home, you can’t even eat!”

Seventh Miss forced out a faint smile. She said softly, “Coming, coming.”

She thought for a moment, then shook her head in self-deprecation and sighed before setting aside her concerns and leaving the lamplit western three rooms.