“So, she didn’t say a word even without being given clothes?” Aunt Zhou turned a page of the Buddhist scripture, asking.

A Jin nodded.

“And the maid even knelt when Old Woman Liu punished her?” Aunt Zhou looked up at her, smiling.

A Jin sighed, her face flushing slightly, a wry smile touching her lips.

“I truly never thought a maid who served by the Old Mistress’s side would actually kneel to a third-rank matron…” Aunt Zhou covered her mouth with her hand and laughed heartily. “If it were Old Mistress herself who sent her, I suspect she’d have dragged her away with one slap out of anger…”

“Perhaps she was trying to curry favor,” A Jin suggested.

“Curry favor? Is she foolish? Putting aside that she currently occupies the position of the eldest daughter-in-law, just based on the fact that Old Mistress brought her into the household, she will never gain favor from that shrew in this lifetime,” Aunt Zhou said, a faint smile playing on her lips. Then she gave a self-deprecating laugh. “How could I expect her to understand such things? Well, let everyone follow their own fate.”

Saying this, she glanced at A Jin.

“Do you still want to go visit her place?” she asked, her smile laced with ambiguity.

A Jin managed a bitter smile and quickly shook her head.

“I’ve told you before, mud is just mud; it can never be plastered onto a wall,” Aunt Zhou chuckled, then sighed again. “If Old Mistress had been as indifferent to me as she is to that girl back then, that shrew would never have had the chance to enter the main residence, and I would have…”

She stopped abruptly, her hand gripping the writing brush tightly, gazing at the Buddhist scripture before her for a long moment of silence.

A Jin, standing nearby, simply kept her head down, apparently having heard or seen nothing. After a moment, Aunt Zhou picked up her brush again and slowly resumed copying the sutra, and quiet returned to the room.

As dusk neared, one left the back door of the Marquis’s Rong'an Courtyard and walked west. Passing through a narrow alley led to the Marquisate’s storeroom. From a distance, several women could be seen approaching, and the gossiping matrons quickly stood upright.

“Mama Zhou, have you eaten?” everyone asked respectfully with smiles.

Mama Zhou nodded with a smile.

“It’s damp when it rains, and severely dry when it doesn’t. Be mindful of moisture-proofing and waterproofing, everyone,” she instructed.

“We will, Mama, rest assured,” the matrons replied in unison with smiles.

More women, young servants, and men who had received word rushed out from the gate, automatically lining up to greet Mama Zhou. Mama Zhou inspected them as she walked, finally stopping before a woman around forty years old.

This woman kept her head bowed, wearing the common jacket worn by matrons, utterly unremarkable.

“Feng, there is a banquet at home the day after tomorrow—the family of Duke Dong from the capital. Remember there is a gold and jade screen ornament in the Old Mistress’s storeroom; have someone move it out for display,” Mama Zhou said to her with a smile.

The woman bowed her head first.

“Yes,” she replied, “but do you have the tally?”

Mama Zhou smiled and produced a tally.

The woman glanced at it.

“Do you have the Young Master’s tally?” she asked, her eyes cast down.

Countless gazes surrounded them, yet the woman kept her head down, saying nothing more.

Mama Zhou continued to smile at her, said nothing, and withdrew her hand.

“The Young Master will be needing it soon. We’ve been using many things these past few days, and the Young Master’s courtyard is also under renovation. Be careful with all the comings and goings,” she stated.

Everyone responded in unison. After Mama Zhou left with her attendants, the group immediately surrounded the woman.

“Madam Dong, what’s going on with you?”

“What do you think? You’re still asking for the Young Master’s tally?”

Everyone chimed in with chatter, their expressions somewhat indignant.

“The Old Mistress stipulated back then that what she left behind was for the Young Master’s dowry, and it must be opened only with the Young Master’s tally,” the woman stated quietly, neither rushed nor annoyed, her head still bowed.

Another woman snorted in laughter.

“Madam Dong, I think you’re getting ambitious because you heard the Young Master’s illness has seemingly improved these past few days,” one woman said with a sarcastic smile. “But it’s also possible that when they made clothes for the household this time, they completely forgot the Young Master. Perhaps in a fit of pique, the Young Master will actually bring the tally to the storeroom to select fabric, clothes, and jewelry…”

Everyone laughed, but the woman remained silent with her head down, seemingly deaf and mute. After teasing her for a while with no reaction, the others dispersed, losing interest.

By the beginning of the seventh lunar month, definite news of the Young Master’s return arrived.

“Just as we thought, the Young Master pushed aside all the official entertainments along the way and is rushing back before the fifteenth,” Mama Su said, wiping away tears.

The young servant who carried the Young Master’s letter was generously rewarded by Madam Xie and sent away.

Madam Xie was visibly agitated and restless.

“I must go see how the rooms are being tidied up? Brother Cheng doesn’t like those flowers and plants, nor does he care for overly bright colors. I hope nothing clogs his eyes the moment he steps inside the house…” she said.

Mama Su smiled and helped her sit down.

“My Lady, please stop worrying. The people cleaning the Young Master’s rooms are those who watched him grow up; they certainly know his preferences,” she said with a smile.

Madam Xie finally let out a breath and sat still.

“I wonder if he’s gotten thinner or darker…” she couldn’t help but dab her eyes lightly with a handkerchief.

Mama Su offered comfort and soothing words until Madam Xie calmed down.

“And what about any recent activity?” Madam Xie asked, regaining her composure.

“Nothing to report. She’s been very well-behaved. Following your instructions, we invited a physician to check on her. When asked if she was better, she didn't leave her room, saying she was still unwell and didn’t wish to see anyone,” Mama Su reported.

Madam Xie gave a cold laugh.

“She’s that sensible? Indeed, she’s become clever…” she murmured. “Send word down for them to watch her closely. If she gets any improper ideas…”

At this point, her expression darkened.

“…She’s been sick long enough…”

Mama Su involuntarily shivered and lowered her head in assent.

“My Lady, the landscaping stones have arrived and are being placed in the Young Master’s courtyard. My Lady, perhaps you’d like to take a look?” the head maid, A Luan, lifted the curtain and said cheerfully.

The atmosphere in the room instantly brightened.

“Let’s go take a look. The Marquis personally selected these for the Young Master…” Madam Xie said happily, rising with Mama Su’s support.

As she stepped out, a large retinue of matrons and maids followed. Servants were dispatched to notify the other secondary ladies, so along the way, they encountered many more people. By the time they reached the Young Master’s courtyard, it was packed, with even more people than the laborers.

A Ru stood outside the kitchen courtyard gate, feeling an unusual scarcity of people today. Aside from a few rough servants, there wasn't a single person of authority. She had been waiting for half the day and finally managed to stop a small girl rushing by.

“Where have all the matrons gone?” she asked.

The little girl rolled her eyes at her.

“They’re all busy. Come back another day,” she replied.

“I’ve come several times; how can they all be this busy? Not even seeing one person,” A Ru asked, restraining her temper.

“I don’t handle the distribution of provisions. If you’re angry, don’t take it out on me. You can only bully me,” the little girl retorted with a roll of her eyes, then wriggled free and ran off.

A Ru stamped her foot in frustration and continued to wait. Finally, she saw four or five matrons approaching, chatting and laughing.

“Mamas, can we get the rations for Qiutong Courtyard today…” she hurried to ask before she could finish her sentence.

One of the matrons cut her off.

“Wait a little longer, miss. We are truly busy today. We’ll send them over tomorrow when we have time,” she said.

Busy? Busy to the point of being unseen all day? A Ru took a deep breath.

“Could the Mamas find a spare moment…” she repeated in a low voice.

“Find time? How can we find time? They all just went to the Young Master’s courtyard; they’re so happy. They plan to hold a banquet in the Young Master’s courtyard—so many people! We still have to prepare the food! Why don’t you go tell your mistress to arrange the meals for your courtyard first? We mustn’t delay your important matters in Qiutong Courtyard?” the matron interrupted, her tone laced with mock concern.

A Ru lowered her head.

“Of course, your business is more important. I’ll… I’ll come back tomorrow,” she said, turning to leave.

“Tomorrow might not be free either, miss. Don't run here unnecessarily; we will remember. We’ll send them when we have time,” the matron called loudly from behind her.

“One day, two days… She won’t starve to death there…”

“Exactly… Haven’t they starved before… Given her background…”

The cacophony of mocking voices behind her urged A Ru to quicken her steps. She only slowed down when she neared Qiutong Courtyard, looking dejected, her empty basket feeling heavy, leaving her completely drained.

Just as the Young Master had said, the pressure against them was tightening, as if they were deliberately searching for a way to find fault, perhaps to find another reason to lock them up?

They had gone through the wedding ceremony but not entered the bridal chamber; they had been separated for three years. There was never much affection between husband and wife to begin with, and the mother-in-law disliked her so much. What would become of them in the future? If she remained this deferential and yielding, could it make the mistress slightly more agreeable, preventing them from being sent away on some pretext, perhaps banished to a distant estate to languish…?

She mused gloomily, walking distractedly, when suddenly someone ran up behind her.

“Caijuan asked me to give this to you,” a voice said.

A Ru jumped in fright. She saw the person had already run off—a small maid who had placed a basket filled with rice, flour, vegetables, and meat at her feet.

“Hey,” A Ru called out. “Who gave this to me?”

The little maid stopped far away and turned back, cupping her hands around her mouth to mouth a word.

The Third Young Master…

A Ru froze momentarily, then looked again, but the girl had already run far away.

She looked down at the basket, her expression complicated. After a moment of hesitation, she picked it up.

“We got it today!” A Hao rushed forward upon entering the door, delight evident in her voice when she saw what A Ru was carrying.

A Ru hesitated for a moment but did not mention the Third Young Master’s name, nodding and giving a vague hum in response.

A Hao had already taken the basket and was examining the contents.

“Young Mistress, there’s a bottle of wine too…” she happily called into the room.

Qi Yue smiled and came out.

“That’s wonderful. Let’s prepare some small dishes and have a drink tonight—marvelous,” she laughed.

“Stir-fry?” A Hao’s eyes lit up at the mention of food.

“Let me take a look,” Qi Yue said, examining the contents of the basket. “There’s chicken meat; let’s make a pot of Firepot Chicken. Since we have chili peppers this time, it’ll be authentic… and a small vegetable stir-fry…”

“Can Young Mistress cook it so it has less chili but is still that delicious?”

Watching the mistress and servant enthusiastically discuss food and drink, A Ru felt a mixture of amusement and frustration.

“Young Mistress, the Young Master arrives on the fifteenth…” she couldn’t help but mention.

“Oh… This wine smells like… Ah, what did you say?” Qi Yue asked.

“The Young Master arrives on the fifteenth,” A Ru repeated, looking at her.

Qi Yue gave an ‘oh.’

“That’s truly cause for celebration,” she said, then broke into a smile again. “Then we must add another dish tonight to celebrate.”

“Great, great! I want Candied Yam!” A Hao clapped her hands and exclaimed.