Since the fifth of July, there had been a constant flow of people rushing to and from the Residence of the Marquis of Dingxi, bringing tidings—now that the Heir Apparent had entered Zhuolu City, now that he had left it. By the tenth, news arrived that he had crossed into the borders of Yong'an Prefecture. From that moment on, there was hardly any distinction between day and night in the entire residence; people moved ceaselessly, lamps burned long into the hours of darkness, and Lady Xie’s courtyard was particularly lively.

As Sumei entered with the younger maids, Concubine Zhou and Concubine Song were taking their leave from Lady Xie.

“Concubine Zhou, Concubine Song.” Sumei stepped aside, bowing low.

Concubine Zhou didn't spare her a glance, but Concubine Song shot her a sidelong look.

“Where is your mistress? She shouldn't be missing at a time like this,” she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

“Our mistress is suffering terribly from morning sickness these days. Madam insists she remain inside to rest well,” Sumei replied.

Concubine Song then made an "oh" sound.

“Then you must be working very hard, Miss Mei,” she remarked with a knowing, suggestive laugh.

“It is my duty,” Sumei replied, keeping her head lowered.

“Enough talk with her. Let’s go,” Concubine Zhou said coolly.

Concubine Song followed her with a smile.

Only then did Sumei raise her head, pursing her lips and showing a flash of disdain as she watched the two departing figures. Meanwhile, the maids inside the room had already announced her arrival.

“What are you doing here, instead of staying to mind your mistress?” Lady Xie asked without looking up from the account book she was scrutinizing.

Sumei noticed that besides a few managing matrons, four girls of sixteen or seventeen stood in the room, their heads bowed but their faces unable to hide their sheer delight.

She cast a quick glance around, bowed, and answered with a smile.

“Mistress brewed some tea broth. Thinking of how much Madam has labored these past few days, she specifically sent this over.” She quickly took the food box from the small maid’s hands.

“She can barely eat herself, yet she brews tea broth for me,” Lady Xie murmured, finally lifting her gaze slightly toward Sumei.

Because Lady Xie hadn't given any command, no one dared to take the box, leaving Sumei holding it awkwardly.

“The Marquis has arrived!” the maids cried out from beyond the door.

Before the voices had fully faded, the Marquis of Dingxi strode in.

Sumei, forgetting the box in her hands, stepped forward with a delighted smile to receive it. Lady Xie remained seated on the kang, a faint, mocking smile playing on her lips.

“Why are you here?” the Marquis asked Sumei with a genial smile upon seeing her.

“Our mistress brewed tea broth and sent me to deliver it,” Sumei said sweetly, looking at the Marquis with liquid, affectionate eyes.

“Why is she still doing such things? Didn't you say she wasn't feeling well?” the Marquis said, sitting down on the kang and gesturing, “Bring it here, let me taste.”

Sumei was overjoyed and hurried forward, using the act of presenting the cup to lean almost entirely against the Marquis.

The Marquis merely smiled, took the cup, and sipped.

“Ping'er’s tea broth is famous in the streets,” he remarked to Lady Xie with a smile.

Lady Xie glanced up at him, and the Marquis immediately realized he had trod on dangerous ground by mentioning Concubine Zhu’s former background, quickly stopping himself.

“Our mistress taught me, and I made it,” Sumei interjected swiftly, seizing the opening.

“You made it?” The Marquis seemed surprised, nodding. “Good, good.”

Lady Xie chuckled.

“With such a capable mistress as Concubine Zhu, of course, one learns quickly,” she commented.

Sumei pretended not to grasp the implication, focusing only on offering the Marquis a smile that was both shy and expectant. She shared a courtyard with Concubine Zhu, and if the Marquis didn't visit them, she would never see him, let alone receive his attentions. Lately, Concubine Zhu's morning sickness had been severe, and the Marquis, being somewhat particular about cleanliness, hadn't visited in quite some time.

The sight of a young woman, newly adorned as a wife after her coming-of-age ritual, openly pouring out her heart to him made the Marquis’s heart stir.

“Tell your mistress I will come by to see her shortly,” he said, gently squeezing Sumei’s hand as he passed back the bowl.

Sumei’s face flushed like the dawn, and she bowed thankfully, filled with joy.

“The people for Cheng Ge’er’s quarters have been chosen. Take a look and see what you think?” Lady Xie asked coolly.

The four maids in the room immediately bowed to the Marquis.

The Marquis examined them closely.

“Not exceptionally beautiful,” he judged with a sharp eye.

The four maids lowered their heads, looking slightly ashamed.

Lady Xie smiled.

“These are all honest and dull sorts. You know Cheng Ge’er’s temperament,” she explained.

“What man doesn’t like beauty?” the Marquis shook his head.

Lady Xie’s expression tightened, but before she could speak, the Marquis nodded again.

“But, you are right. With Yue Niang here, no one in our household is more beautiful than her. One girl is enough for Cheng Ge’er.” he chuckled.

Lady Xie felt a jolt.

“Yue Niang? Why bring her up now? I sent someone to inquire a few days ago, and they said she still wasn't well enough to see people,” Lady Xie asked casually.

“Oh, I happened to run into Ah Hao on the road just now…” the Marquis said, smiling as he adjusted his robes and settled onto the kang. “Ah Hao, that little maid, has two dimples when she smiles…”

Whenever he encountered someone, the Marquis always focused on their appearance, and Lady Xie offered a cold laugh inwardly.

At this point, Mama Su, showing good sense, waved her hand, signaling the few maids to withdraw. Sumei hesitated until Lady Xie swept her a cold glance, then quickly bowed her head and left.

“She was fishing by the lake—so naughty. When I called out, she bolted away like a startled rabbit,” the Marquis was saying, seemingly still recalling the sight of the young woman fleeing.

Lady Xie didn't find it amusing in the least. She gave a noncommittal "hmph" and pushed the account book toward the Marquis, redirecting the conversation to expenditures.

The Marquis rarely concerned himself with household finances; after a few cursory words, he grew restless and left. As soon as he was gone, Mama Su brought the maids back into the room. Lady Xie, who had been smiling, abruptly dropped her pleasant expression. Without a word, she swept the account book from her hands and flung it scattering across the floor, startling every maid in the room into kneeling.

“Are you all dead? You dare extend your hands toward the Marquis, and yet you stand here grinning at me! Use that energy to smile at your new mistress!”

This was harsh language; even Mama Su half-knelt.

“This old servant will investigate immediately. I will investigate at once,” she declared, bowing low.

She rose and hurried toward the door, but just as she reached it, a clamor erupted from outside.

“Madam! Madam! The Heir Apparent has returned!” Wet nurses and maids rushed in, laughing and shouting.

Lady Xie shot up from the kang so violently she nearly fell. Mama Su had already turned back and caught her just in time.

“Madam, the Heir Apparent is back,” she cried out tearfully.

“Quickly, quickly…” Lady Xie, weeping with joy, grasped Mama Su’s arm and hurried out.

The entire Residence of the Marquis of Dingxi erupted into excitement.

“What are you all doing?” Ah Hao asked, turning from behind a flowering tree with two small fish in her hands as she heard the commotion and saw a rough maidservant sprinting past nearby.

The maid didn't look back.

“Hurry up! The Heir Apparent is back! They are handing out rewards!” she called, then vanished in a blur.

Ah Hao gasped, forgetting the fish entirely, and bolted toward Qiutong Courtyard.

In Qiutong Courtyard, Qi Yue and A’ru were sitting and talking. Ah Hao burst in with a crash, startling both of them.

“Who bullied you?”

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing Ah Hao looking as if she were fleeing a pack of dogs, they both rushed to ask.

“It’s not that…” Ah Hao leaned over, clutching her knees and gasping for breath. “The He… Heir Apparent… has returned.”

Qi Yue and A’ru’s expressions changed simultaneously; Qi Yue’s was one of alarm, while A’ru’s was one of pure delight.

“The Heir Apparent is back?” A’ru ran down in disbelief, grabbing Ah Hao’s arm. “You saw him?”

“No, everyone is running toward Madam’s courtyard. The whole residence is in an uproar; they say rewards are being handed out,” Ah Hao wheezed, patting her chest, before exclaiming, “My fish…”

Fish? A’ru temporarily forgot to ask where the fish came from, instead turning with joy to look at Qi Yue, about to speak.

“Lock the doors! Lock them tight! No one is to go out these few days, and no visitors,” Qi Yue stated with a severe expression. “Say I am ill. Accept any rewards, acknowledge any congratulations, but absolutely no one goes out, especially not to join the excitement around Madam and the Heir Apparent.”

A’ru and Ah Hao paused, stunned, but quickly nodded in agreement.

The slightly ajar main door of Qiutong Courtyard clicked shut and was bolted, isolating them from the clamor of the household.