Before Du Linghua could say a word, Shi Yutong had already pushed forward. “San Yitai, if you lack the nerve to speak up yourself, that is your affair. But now you are blocking my mother too — are you in league with that Qian Lan?”

Luo Huaimeng gave her a cool, indifferent glance. “If you truly wish to go to the Commander, I will not stop you. Do as you please.”

She had never been one for thankless gestures. Had she not promised the Commander she would look after San Yitai, she would not even have said those words just now. What San Yitai chose to do was no concern of hers.

“Yan Qing, let us go.” Luo Huaimeng turned to leave.

“Wait.” Du Linghua quickly called out to her. “Er Yitai, how much do you know about that Qian Lan?”

“This marriage was arranged entirely by my hand.” Luo Huaimeng paused. “Qian Lan is a daughter the Qian family lost more than twenty years ago. She is accomplished in music and exceptionally beautiful — said to have fallen in love with the Commander at first sight.”

Du Linghua gave a cold laugh. “She is barely in her twenties. How could she possibly have taken a liking to the Commander? He is old enough to be her father.”

“Who can say how such things come about?” Luo Huaimeng’s expression remained impassive. “Whatever the nature of their feelings, Qian Lan will be the Shi family’s new bride before long, and the mistress of this inner courtyard. San Yitai, what is the use of agonizing over this now? Do you truly believe you have the power to win back the Commander’s heart on your own? I will say something you may not wish to hear: if the Commander had ever truly intended to elevate you, why would he have waited this long? The moment the late Madam met her end, he could have given you that position — but he did not. Have you still not worked out why?”

Luo Huaimeng’s words left Du Linghua’s face drained of color, and she was momentarily unable to respond.

Luo Huaimeng gave Du Linghua’s reaction no further attention, and walked back toward her own courtyard with Yan Qing.

“Mother.” Shi Yutong tugged at Du Linghua’s arm. “Let us hurry. The Commander will be going to sleep soon.”

“I am not going.” Du Linghua had changed her mind. She felt Luo Huaimeng’s words made a great deal of sense. Even if she went to the Commander now and made a scene, would he give up Qian Lan for her sake?

The answer was certain. She had simply let her blood run hot a moment ago and had not thought it through.

“Mother, are you really not going to try? Perhaps it would work?” Shi Yutong refused to relent.

Du Linghua shook her head. “From beginning to end, the Commander never once asked my opinion. Clearly, my views are of no importance to him. Things have come to this point already. Going now would only be beating an egg against a stone — there is nothing to be gained.”

“So we are simply going to let that Qian Lan enter the household and do as she pleases? Mother, even when the late Madam was alive, you managed most of the inner courtyard’s affairs — who was there that did not defer to you? If you truly let this Qian Lan come in, a scheming enchantress like her will bewitch the Commander entirely. Where will there be any place left for the two of us? We would have to defer to her in everything.” Shi Yutong fixed her gaze on Du Linghua’s belly. “Mother, if you will not think for yourself, at least think for your unborn brother.”

Du Linghua instinctively covered her belly with her hand. “There is nothing we can do to stop Qian Lan from entering this household. Even if she is peerless in beauty and brilliance, she is still a young girl barely past twenty. There will be plenty of opportunity to bring her to heel in this courtyard later.”

Seeing that she could not move Du Linghua, Shi Yutong let the matter reluctantly drop, for Du Linghua did have a point. Qian Lan might be the principal wife, but compared to Du Linghua, who had struggled and maneuvered in this inner courtyard for so many years, she was still inexperienced.

The days crept by in restless unease, until one auspicious morning, the long-awaited day finally arrived when the Commander welcomed his new wife into the household.

Early that morning, the entire Shi household was festooned with lanterns and decorations, joy filling every corner.

For the Commander’s wedding, nearly every person of standing in Shun Cheng had come.

Luo Huaimeng and Yan Qing were occupied receiving guests while keeping watch over the banquet, barely a moment to breathe.

The bride was escorted into the house with great ceremony, and the wedding rites were completed. Throughout it all, the Commander wore a broad smile, his face so radiant he seemed to have shed ten years.

After the bride was led to the bridal chamber, the Commander came out to host his guests, with Shi Ting and Shi Guang flanking him on either side.

The Commander was in exceedingly good spirits and greeted everyone warmly. The assembled guests were perceptive enough to see that he was thoroughly pleased with this match, which only deepened their curiosity about the new Madam.

Yan Qing made her way into the bridal chamber to find it already crowded with people — some from the bride’s family, some from the Shi household.

The moment she entered, she sensed something odd in the atmosphere. When she spotted Shi Yutong there as well, she understood at once.

Shi Yutong could not wait to give the new bride a difficult welcome.

“I have heard the Qian family is enormously wealthy. How is it then that your wedding dress is not even as fine as my Seventh Sister-in-law’s?” Shi Yutong’s sharp and cutting voice rang out, and the expressions of those in the room shifted in various ways.

The Shi household members knew her temperament and thought little of it, but the Qian family members changed color at the remark.

Yan Qing had barely stepped inside when she heard herself mentioned, and could not help an inward smile. It was only in moments like this that Shi Yutong would deign to call her Seventh Sister-in-law.

“Eighth Sister’s words are quite mistaken. I have heard that the Madam’s wedding dress was sewn by her own hand, stitch by stitch.” Yan Qing’s clear, refined voice carried through the room, and everyone turned toward her.

Yan Qing was busy today, yet she entered with her usual composed grace, without a trace of haste. The moment she appeared, the richly adorned bridal chamber seemed somehow to pale beside her.

“That’s right — this dress was made by my eldest sister herself. She pricked her fingers countless times with the needle, and they are still sore to the touch.” The third Qian daughter, Qian Ling, quickly followed Yan Qing’s lead and smoothed things over.

“A wedding dress need not be costly; what matters is the sentiment it carries. May my eldest sister and the Commander be blissfully happy together.” The second Qian daughter also quickly stepped forward.

Shi Yutong’s teeth were set on edge with irritation and she shot a fierce glare at Yan Qing. Yan Qing appeared not to notice, and walked directly toward Qian Lan. She had no desire to be pulled into one of Shi Yutong’s scenes.

Qian Lan sat upright on the bridal bed, watching her with a warm smile.

This was Yan Qing’s first true opportunity to take in the presence of the Shi family’s new Madam. She wore a brilliant red wedding gown embroidered with gold. Her skin was white as snow, her features as fine as a painting, and her bearing was otherworldly and pure. Each expression, each slight movement carried an inexhaustible charm.

A beauty such as this — small wonder the Commander was captivated. Even as a woman, one could not help feeling envy.

Yan Qing stepped forward and offered a bow. “Madam.”

Qian Lan quickly rose and steadied her. “Please do not stand on ceremony, Seventh Young Madam.”

“I could not accept being called Seventh Young Madam.” Yan Qing smiled. “Please, just call me Yan Qing.”

“I have long heard that the Shi family has a Seventh Young Madam of rare beauty and talent. Seeing you today, the reputation falls short.” Qian Lan’s voice was gentle as flowing water. Though the words were a compliment, they carried no trace of flattery — they sounded entirely sincere.

Yan Qing gave a slight smile. “I dare not claim such things in your presence, Madam.”

The two exchanged polite pleasantries before Yan Qing asked, “Is there anything you require, Madam?”

“Er Yitai and Yan Qing have arranged everything so thoughtfully — what could possibly be lacking? I should be thanking you.”

Shi Yutong cut in from the side. “Oh, already rushing to flatter and fawn? Such a shameless weathervane.”

Qian Lan’s brow furrowed lightly at the words, but she did not respond.

Yan Qing had no wish to engage with Shi Yutong on such an occasion and acted as though she had not heard. “If you need anything, please send a maid to find me.”

“You have gone to such trouble.” Qian Lan took Yan Qing’s hand, her manner entirely warm.

“I must go attend to things.” Yan Qing smiled, unobtrusively withdrew her hand, offered a light bow to those in the room, and quietly departed.

The courtyard where Qian Lan now resided was Zhuo Xin Courtyard, where the late Madam had once lived. When the late Madam was alive, the Commander had rarely rested there — his daily life was centered in his own study.

As Yan Qing stepped out of Zhuo Xin Courtyard, Jing Zhi beside her could not help saying, “Miss, somehow I feel this new Madam is very warm and easy to get along with — and quite beautiful too.”

“That is how it appears on the surface.” Yan Qing smiled faintly.

Jing Zhi asked in surprise, “Is it not so?”

“This was my first dealing with her. On the surface, she is gracious and poised in a way that makes her easy to like. But when she took my hand just now, she grasped my wrist.”

“Does that signify something?”

“Someone who truly wishes to be close to you will take your hand warmly. Grasping the wrist signals a desire to maintain a certain distance — she was not willing to make full contact.”

“I see.”

“When the Qian family arranged for Qian Lan to encounter the Commander by chance,” Yan Qing said, “Qian Lan must have been part of that plan. I do not believe she is simple or guileless. Whatever Qian Lan has truly come to the Shi household to accomplish, we need only watch and wait.”

Yan Qing and Jing Zhi had not gone far when someone came toward them along the path. It was the only road and there was no time to avoid a meeting — not that Yan Qing had any such intention. She said quite openly, “Second Elder Brother, what brings you here?”

Shi Guang had not expected to run into Yan Qing. Several days had passed since he last saw her, and she seemed somehow even more polished than before. Even with her face entirely expressionless, he could not look away.

“I was just walking about. It is too noisy up ahead.”

Yan Qing curved her lips slightly. “This path leads to Zhuo Xin Courtyard. Second Elder Brother had best not wander there carelessly.”

Shi Guang seemed not to detect the irony in her words. In truth, from the day he first met Yan Qing, she had never given him a pleasant look.

To this day he could not understand what he had done to offend her.

“Please go on ahead, Second Elder Brother.” With that, Yan Qing stepped around him and walked away without a backward glance.

Shi Guang watched her retreating figure, his gaze gradually deepening.

—