A handsome youth, no more than seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a sapphire-blue robe and wearing a jade crown, rose and presented a gift box.

This was Chang Yunqi, the third son of the Marquis of Dingxi.

He looked up, meeting the gaze of the Marquis of Dingxi, who was beaming from the main seat; father and son looked as if they had been molded from the same piece of clay.

The Marquis of Dingxi, nearing sixty but preserved by a life of comfort, did not look his age; his handsome features carried the patina of years, lending him an air of refined sincerity.

The Marquis of Dingxi looked at his son and smiled warmly.

"What treasure have you brought, open it up and let your old father see if you've been swindled?" he joked, a playful tone in his voice.

The Marquis considered himself a witty and good-natured man, fond of jesting, and when the mood struck him, he would joke regardless of formality or hierarchy. This habit greatly displeased the Old Madam, who often scolded him. The Marquis's good nature was evident in how he received her reprimands—he accepted them as required, yet continued on his way.

Chang Yunqi smiled, opened the box as he spoke, and nodded toward a boy of the same age seated nearby.

"Fourth brother, a hand, please," he requested.

The boy immediately stood—this was Chang Yunhong, another son born to a concubine.

The two brothers unrolled the scroll, revealing a horizontal painting of a reclining beauty. She was exquisitely charming, appearing as if she had just awakened from a spring slumber, her eyes languid and sensual, her robes slightly disarrayed. The artwork was rendered with such lifelike vibrancy it seemed the figure might breathe.

The Marquis of Dingxi burst into laughter, while Xie Shi’s face betrayed a flicker of disdain.

The other siblings gathered around to look. The young men chuckled at the portrait of the beauty, while the young women grew slightly shy.

"My, oh my, the gift from the Third Young Master... and it's for his own father..." whispered one of the concubines seated below to another. "What kind of son gives this to his father..."

This particular concubine was in her early twenties, pretty and lively, with a lush figure.

"Concubine Zhu is new here and doesn't know," replied the other concubine, around thirty, stirring her soup without looking up. "Our Marquis doesn't fuss over such things. The Marquis always says that within a true family, there are no 'can's or 'cannot's regarding genuine sentiment. Would it be filial piety to knowingly present a painting that admonishes a father who clearly enjoys flowers, art, and beautiful women, just to annoy him?"

The implication of being "new here" caused Concubine Zhu a moment of slight embarrassment, but she quickly recovered.

"Indeed, Sister, I am young and ignorant of custom. You, being older, must guide me often," she said with a smile.

The concubine stirring the soup moved her spoon with a bit more vigor; the sound of the ceramic bowl and spoon clinking together was sharp.

These minor exchanges went unnoticed, while the group admiring the painting grew animated.

"Brother Qi," a tall young man, about sixteen or seventeen, suddenly inquired, "This painting has something of Master Tang's style..."

Master Tang was a celebrated scholar of the current age; his surname was Tang, and his mastery of calligraphy and painting was profound. Over time, his given name had been forgotten, and everyone referred to him simply as 'Master.' His calligraphy and paintings commanded exorbitant prices, and he was known for his carefree, unrestrained nature—meeting him was rare, and soliciting a piece of art was even harder.

At these words, everyone turned to Chang Yunqi.

"Brother, have you become obsessed with Master Tang's work?" another young man pulled the speaker aside and murmured, "No one in all Yongqing Prefecture could procure a piece by Master Tang. Besides, Master Tang has grown increasingly elusive these past two years—they say he has ascended to immortality..."

He did not finish his sentence before Chang Yunqi, who seemed to have been waiting for this moment, let out a hearty laugh. He picked up the paper box that had held the first painting and retrieved a narrow strip from within, shaking it open.

"Father, this is a piece of art your son specifically sought out for you," he announced loudly.

The narrow strip unfurled. It was unframed, appearing to be a hastily torn sliver from a larger sheet, upon which several characters were inscribed:

“” (Marquis of Dingxi, Enduring Prosperity and Good Fortune)

Below it was a large seal and a signature inscribed in Seal Script.

"It's by Master Tang!" the first young man who had questioned the origin shouted, and if Chang Yunqi hadn't moved quickly, the strip would have been snatched from his grasp.

The Marquis of Dingxi also stood up, his face alight with pleasant surprise.

The Marquis had initially taken the painting as a charming trinket from his child—he enjoyed it, certainly, but it was just a beauty; he had seen many beautiful women. But the fact that it was by Master Tang elevated its significance far beyond a mere depiction of a beauty, especially with the accompanying strip bearing his personal inscription.

"Good, good! Bring it here quickly so I can see," the Marquis commanded loudly.

When the painting was carefully brought over, the Marquis, unconcerned with the formality of the banquet, examined it thoroughly, his smile impossible to conceal.

"You’ve troubled yourself greatly to obtain this," he said to his son with a booming laugh.

"Your happiness is my reward, Father," Chang Yunqi declared loudly.

"Uncle, Uncle..." Before the scene of fatherly affection could fully unfold, the young man rushed forward to bow.

"Yunsheng, stop right there. Nothing you say will change things," the Marquis laughed, waving him off. "Art and calligraphy are never lent out..."

The young man's face instantly clouded over with despair.

"Uncle..." he pleaded.

"This young pup, the painting is fine, but the mounting is too crude. Once I have it properly mounted, you may come to my study and look at it for an entire day," the Marquis said with a smile.

"Uncle is too stingy, only one day!" the young man muttered.

"Stingy? Let me tell you a way, nephew," the Marquis chuckled.

"Tell me quickly, Uncle!" the young man's eyes lit up as he inquired.

"Hurry and marry a wife, then give birth to a big, healthy son, and wait another dozen years until your son is old enough to procure one for you. Then you can hug it to sleep and no one will dare object..." the Marquis joked.

At this, the entire hall erupted in laughter.

"Uncle, how can an elder tease a junior like that?" the young man replied, torn between laughter and tears, and realizing the topic was closed, he finally sat down.

"Brother Qi is very thoughtful," said Xie Shi, seated nearby, a faint smile on her lips as she surveyed the suddenly lively hall. Her gaze, however, drifted toward a woman seated on the opposite side.

The room was filled with beauties, but this woman, nearly forty, did not fade into the background.

This was the Marquis of Dingxi’s concubine, Zhou Shi, the niece of the Old Madam. Had the younger Xie Shi not married into the household, it would have been Zhou Shi who became the principal wife; she had borne the Marquis one son and one daughter.

However, these were only rumors whispered among the servants. To quell those rumors at the time, Zhou Shi had tearfully requested to return to her natal home, claiming the gossip was designed to drive a wedge between her and Madam Xie, leaving her no place in the Marquis’s residence. As a distant relative whose father had passed early, being permitted to serve the Marquis and Madam was a fortune earned over generations. She owed them service beyond measure. The rumors—suggesting an illicit affair with the Marquis before her formal marriage—were slander that threatened her reputation and her very presence here.

At that time, Young Madam Xie had only recently entered the household. The Old Madam, furious, had beaten several maids and servants to death. That was not the end; she also berided Young Madam Xie for lax management and revoked the stewardship she had just granted her. From that day forward, no one dared spread any further rumors. Nevertheless, a deep rift had formed between the principal wife and this concubine. But Zhou Shi had the Old Madam’s backing and the Marquis’s favor, so her influence was unstoppable until the Old Madam fell ill and gradually withdrew from household affairs, and the Marquis took a new favorite, only then did Zhou Shi recede. After the Old Madam died, she became even more discreet, taking up Buddhist scripture recitation and copying for over three years.

This Third Young Master was her son.

Hearing Xie Shi speak, Zhou Shi merely bowed her head and smiled faintly.

"It is due to Madam's excellent upbringing," she replied.

"I dare not accept the praise. Brother Qi grew up under the Old Madam’s care; her upbringing is why he is well-raised," Xie Shi responded coolly. "If you are grateful, perhaps you should have him kowtow to the Old Madam."

"Yes," Zhou Shi replied submissively, still looking down.

Because of the Third Young Master's astonishing gift, the presents from the other children lacked any element of surprise. However, the Marquis of Dingxi’s customary good nature ensured that no child felt overlooked, and the atmosphere remained harmonious. As they spoke, a servant woman rushed in breathlessly from outside.

"Marquis, Madam, the Heir Apparent has sent someone!" they called out loudly.

A smile immediately bloomed on Xie Shi’s face—a smile entirely different from the previous one, one that emanated from the depths of her eyes.

They must be sending congratulations, everyone thought. The Heir Apparent’s gift had arrived several days prior—an inkstone placed in the Marquis’s study. No one paid much attention, except for Xie Shi, who watched the doorway. Soon, they heard the faint, delicate sound of tinkling ornaments. With so many women in the household, such sounds were not unusual, but as the sound continued, they realized it possessed rhythm, as if music were being played. Consequently, everyone paused with chopsticks and wine cups, turning to look outside.

Several figures dressed in military attire were ushering four or five men and women into the hall. The leading woman among them was exceptionally striking.

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Delayed update due to the weekend, hehe. Happy weekend everyone. Is by ]. div> BAIDU_CLB_LT_ID = "519311";

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