"Madam, preparing a dowry for Qingmo so early? Our Qingxin is actually a year older than Qingmo, and no one has even mentioned it. Oh well, how could I possibly compare to you, Madam? You manage such a large household; you must not be lacking in silver. You can prepare whatever you wish for Qingmo whenever you like." Aunt Luo's voice began with surprise, but gradually diminished, sounding utterly wronged by the end.

Lin He smiled faintly. If this Aunt Luo were in her previous life, her acting skills would surely earn her an award—the tone of voice and gestures were executed perfectly.

The Old Madam, after hearing Madam Wen and Aunt Luo speak, seemed lost in thought, letting the matter of the cat's-eye stone drop. After a brief pause, she spoke with a tone of deep concern: "Eldest daughter-in-law, you have always managed the household. All income and expenditures are accounted for; there are not only ledgers in plain sight, but I hope you also keep a mental ledger. After all, with such a large family, it is best to keep some accounts clearly separated."

"Yes, Elder Sister-in-law, we know your mother's family used to be wealthy, but it seems they haven't been as prosperous these past two years. Elder Sister-in-law, perhaps you should be more cautious. Otherwise, don't end up using the family funds to support your maternal home; we simply cannot afford to subsidize that," the Second Madam remarked, as if making a light joke.

Madam Wen first responded to the Old Madam, "Yes, Mother, your daughter-in-law will certainly keep your teachings in mind." Then she turned to the Second Madam, saying, "Second Sister-in-law is absolutely right. My maternal family has indeed seen better days these past two years, but I still have enough silver to purchase such jewelry. No matter how bad things get, it wouldn't come to the point where I need to send money back home for subsidies. You can rest assured about that."

As soon as Madam Wen finished speaking, Lin He noticed a flicker of change in the Second Madam’s expression, though it quickly smoothed over. She smiled, picked up her teacup, and remained silent.

The Fourth Madam remained seated to the side, a slight smile gracing her lips, not participating in anyone's conversation. She sat quietly, as if none of these matters concerned her, nor did these people have anything to do with her. However, when she noticed the Fourth Madam's gaze drift toward her, she offered a friendly smile.

Once the jewelry issue concluded, the conversation drifted to ordinary, everyday topics before everyone retired to their respective courtyards. Back in her room, Lin He reflected on the day's events, feeling she finally had a slight grasp on things. From the surface interactions, she could generally analyze the relationships among the women of the Wen family.

First, the Old Madam: although she appeared aged, her mind was exceptionally sharp. She likely knew everything happening within the household. Judging by today's scene, the Old Madam was not as satisfied with Madam Wen as she pretended to be; she probably held reservations about her. Furthermore, she seemed displeased that Madam Wen managed the entire household single-handedly.

Lin He could understand the Old Madam's position. Without delving deeper, any large clan requires checks and balances among its members for equilibrium. If a single person held all the power in the family, it would inevitably lead to underhanded trouble.

Coupled with the fact that Lin He had learned from Wen Ningxuan that Aunt Luo was the Old Madam’s cousin and was brought into the residence by the Old Madam herself—and considering that Aunt Luo often enjoyed Master Wen's favor—the Old Madam surely intended to elevate Aunt Luo’s status. This move would naturally shake Madam Wen’s position, suggesting the relationship between Madam Wen and the Old Madam was likely strained.

As for the Second Madam, Lin He had heard from Wen Ningxuan that her maternal family's finances were not strong, requiring periodic assistance over the years. While it might not have reached the point of outright bullying from her in-laws, her family’s struggling circumstances undoubtedly affected her standing within the household.

Moreover, aside from Master Wen, the Second Master had always diligently managed his own shops, contributing significantly to the family fortune. In terms of status among the men, the Second Master held some standing within the residence. Yet, within the family structure, the Second Madam was consistently overshadowed by Madam Wen, leading to an inherent imbalance, which over time must have caused some friction between them. The previous two interactions made this clear, but for now, the Second Madam dared not thoroughly offend Madam Wen, limiting her actions to veiled sarcasm.

As for the Third Madam and Li Yuzhen, Lin He couldn't yet determine which faction they belonged to. On the surface, they seemed carefree, spending their days discussing jewelry. They did not involve themselves directly in the power struggles, nor did they seem particularly interested in household authority. It was difficult to discern their true intentions.

Regarding the Fourth Madam, Lin He knew she genuinely placed little value on power or wealth. Otherwise, the Fourth Master wouldn't have remained uninvolved in household affairs for so many years. Perhaps she was the only one in the Wen residence who had truly come to terms with things.

When Ziyu entered carrying tea, she saw Lin He sitting nearby, lost in thought. She remained silent, brewed a cup of tea, placed it on the table, and stood quietly by the desk.

Lin He had pondered for a long time, only to find her thoughts growing more tangled. She sighed involuntarily. She truly wasn't skilled at dissecting these scheming power plays; the deeper she thought, the more enigmatic everyone seemed. In the end, Lin He chose the simplest path: to think of nothing and let things unfold naturally.

Lin He had initially only wished to live a simple, happy life—like now, doing things she enjoyed in her free time, and sharing quiet evenings talking with Wen Ningxuan after he finished his work. It was to be a very simple existence, but the current circumstances suggested that path might not be available.

Snapping back to reality, Lin He noticed Ziyu standing beside her, her large eyes fixed on her, looking as if she had something to say but was hesitant to interrupt. Seeing Ziyu’s strained expression lightened Lin He’s mood slightly. She smiled and said, "Why are you serving me today? Where is Ziqing? Don't you have practice?"

Hearing Lin He ask this, Ziyu immediately rushed closer and pleaded, "Young Mistress, I will serve you personally every day from now on. Please don't send me back to practice, okay? I promise I won't disturb you and Young Master again."

Ziyu’s words made Lin He blush. She shot her a glance and asked, "What happened? Did Lingxiao do something to you again?"

Ziyu had been standing there for so long, fearing Lin He wouldn't ask this very question. Finally able to speak, Ziyu immediately burst out, "That person is simply a demon! He devises endless ways to torture me—holding a horse stance, balancing buckets of water—whatever he can think of! And the routine changes every day! I am so sore and aching every night now that if this continues for a few more days, Miss might not even see me; I'll surely have been tormented to death by him." Ziyu's voice cracked with a sob as she spoke.

Lin He looked closely at Ziyu. The girl did appear visibly tired over the past few days; her complexion wasn't as bright, and her spirit seemed low. It seemed Lingxiao truly understood nothing of tenderness toward women, treating Ziyu as a genuine junior disciple in training. Was he actually trying to mold Ziyu into a martial arts master?

Lin He had no desire for her maid to become a martial arts expert; she only wanted the girl to be happy. Seeing the little maid who used to smile so much now constantly wearing a sorrowful face made Lin He’s heart ache.