Madam Zhu watched Yan Sanhe leave before turning to look at Du Yiyun.

“Sister-in-law, look at her…”

Du Yiyun said aggrievedly, unable to continue, sobbing intermittently.

Knowing full well this person was putting on an act, Madam Zhu still spoke with gentle patience:

“How do you know she’s Third’s concubine? Who’s been whispering gossip in your ear?”

“Does anyone need to whisper?”

Du Yiyun pouted. “Who can just move into Tranquil Reflection Residence? What’s more, Third Brother even carried her!”

Internal Xie manor affairs had actually reached the ears of someone with a different surname?

Madam Zhu sneered inwardly, though her face revealed nothing.

“How did I not know about this?”

“Sister-in-law doesn’t even know this?”

Du Yiyun pretended to be shocked. “I also heard…”

“Heard what?”

Du Yiyun glanced at Madam Zhu and wiped her tears with a handkerchief. “Sister-in-law is better off not knowing, to avoid getting angry.”

Madam Zhu smiled indulgently. “You silly girl, keeping secrets even from your sister-in-law?”

Du Yiyun sniffled, looking helplessly compelled. “I also heard that person isn’t Third Brother’s concubine at all, but one Big Brother keeps outside—Third Brother is just a cover.”

Madam Zhu’s face remained calm. “Whether men take concubines or not isn’t something we women can control.”

“That may be so, but…”

Du Yiyun stamped her foot and said hatefully, “Big Brother has never been that kind of person. It’s all those shameless, thick-skinned cheap women throwing themselves at him.”

“Yiyun!”

“Fine, fine, I won’t say it, I won’t say it!”

Du Yiyun tugged at Madam Zhu’s sleeve, batting her eyes.

“Sister-in-law shouldn’t speak up for her anymore. If she really is Big Brother’s concubine, you must be extremely careful. Women from outside have wild hearts.”

How thoughtful these words seemed!

Madam Zhu’s face showed considerable emotion as she softened her voice. “Look at you—your eyes are all swollen from crying.”

“My leg is scraped too, Sister-in-law. It hurts so much!”

Du Yiyun had nothing else, but she certainly had perceptiveness—knowing when to sow discord and when to act coquettish. No one was better at it than her!

Sure enough, Madam Zhu’s expression changed.

“Are you all dead? Quickly help the young lady to my room and fetch a physician to examine her!”

“Yes!”

Two or three maids supported and coaxed Du Yiyun as they escorted her away.

The maid Ni’er got up and hastily bowed to Madam Zhu before following.

After everyone had left, Madam Zhu’s gentle face slowly darkened.

Seeing this, the servants and maids quickly knelt.

“Spread this message—whoever has been gossiping to Miss Du, come to me tonight to apologize and admit fault. I’ll let it pass this once. But if she doesn’t come…”

Madam Zhu smiled leisurely.

“Then we’ll see if I can find the person. At that point, don’t blame me for not showing mercy.”

“Yes!”

“All of you may go!”

Everyone scattered hastily, except for one person who didn’t leave.

This person was Madam Zhu’s dowry maid, Chuntao.

Chuntao said solemnly, “Eldest Mistress has managed the household for several years now. That someone still dares to boldly send information to Miss Du shows…”

“Shows that Du Yiyun’s rewards are generous enough. Otherwise, they wouldn’t treat my words as wind passing by their ears.”

Seeing she understood clearly, Chuntao’s heart settled back in place.

This Du Yiyun appeared sweet and lovable, but actually had more schemes than holes in a hornet’s nest.

At such a young age, she’d been steeped in inner household intrigue until she was smooth on all sides. Even the Eldest Mistress often suffered silent losses at her hands.

But that Miss Yan…

“Eldest Mistress, who exactly is she? Could she really be the Young Master’s…”

Madam Zhu glanced at Chuntao, frightening her into swallowing the rest of her words.

“Whether she is or isn’t, it’s not for us to discuss—that’s the first point. Second…”

Madam Zhu tilted her head slightly, gazing at the distant horizon.

“Some people smile at you, some are cold to you—you can’t tell good from bad right away, but after a long time, the truth will emerge. What kind of person she is doesn’t require deliberate investigation. We’ll just keep our eyes wide open and watch!”

…

The prosperity of the capital’s forty-nine districts was difficult to describe in words.

Wine shops, teahouses, silk stores, jewelry shops… Yan Sanhe felt her eyes weren’t enough to take it all in.

No wonder officials throughout the realm racked their brains trying to squeeze their way in here.

“Miss, are you tired? Would you like to sit down and have a bowl of clear tea?”

“No need.”

“Over there is the capital’s most famous brocade clothing shop. Miss, shall we go in and look?”

“Not looking!”

“Surely you must see the Treasure Jade Pavilion!”

“Not seeing.”

Miss Tangyuan was out of options.

The things that high-born young ladies of the capital found most interesting—she wouldn’t look at any of them, wouldn’t see any of them. What did Miss Yan like?

“I want to look at that!”

Tangyuan followed Yan Sanhe’s pointing finger and nearly couldn’t catch her breath—

It was a funeral garment shop.

Yan Sanhe walked into the funeral garment shop, touching this and touching that. After staring at two coffins for a long while, she even struck up a conversation with the shopkeeper.

“Shopkeeper, what material is this?”

“Miss has a good eye. This is a premium golden thread nanmu coffin. A person lying in it won’t decay for three years or rot for five years.”

“May I touch it?”

“Miss, please touch as you like. Look at this carving work, this pattern, this material… absolutely superior quality.”

“It truly is superior quality. I just don’t know if it’s comfortable to lie in.”

Yan Sanhe raised an eyebrow. “Shopkeeper, may I try it?”

Shopkeeper: “…”

Tangyuan felt a cold wind whooshing at the back of her head. Her hands braced against the doorframe as she stepped over the threshold, then plopped down sitting on it.

Just then, Xie Zhifei, Commander of the Northern District of the Five Cities Military Command Bureau, was patrolling the streets on horseback. His peripheral vision caught sight of Tangyuan sitting at the entrance of the funeral garment shop, and his grip on the reins tightened.

This girl was bought from outside with no father or mother—why would she be visiting a funeral garment shop?

His heart stirred. He dismounted, tossed the reins to Zhu Qing, and strode over.

Tangyuan sensed someone standing before her. Looking up and seeing it was Third Master, she struggled to stand.

“Third Master?”

“Why are you here?”

“This servant is accompanying Miss Yan out for a stroll.”

Strolling at a place like this?

“You’re at least a senior servant in the manor. How could you…”

Xie Zhifei swallowed the latter half of his sentence.

Inside the shop, Yan Sanhe had one foot on a low stool and one foot in the coffin, about to lie down.

Thunder! On! A! Clear! Day!

Xie Zhifei rushed in and grabbed her. “Yan Sanhe, what are you doing?”

Seeing it was him, Yan Sanhe couldn’t help but show a hint of distaste on her face.

First “Third Madam Xie,” then Third Master Xie… she definitely didn’t check the almanac before going out today.

Heh!

She actually showed distaste?!

Xie Zhifei gritted his teeth. “Do you know what this thing is?”

“A coffin!”

“You know it’s a coffin and still try to get in—are you insane? Get out of there immediately!”

Xie Zhifei turned his head. “I say, Shopkeeper, she’s crazy and you’re crazy along with her? Is this thing something you let living people lie in at will?”

Seeing he was an official, the shopkeeper hastily stuffed the silver he hadn’t yet warmed into Yan Sanhe’s hands.

“Miss, please, I beg you to come down quickly. I won’t do this business.”

Xie Zhifei’s eyes widened. “What business?”

The shopkeeper froze.

Xie Zhifei barked, “Speak!”

“Sir!”

The shopkeeper wore a mournful face, waving his hands repeatedly to explain.

“Please don’t misunderstand. This young lady said she wanted to lie inside to feel whether the coffin was comfortable or not.”

Xie Zhifei: “…”