Neither the Great Madam nor the Great Master mentioned Ninth Young Master’s injury again.
Even Fourth Yiniang abnormally made no issue of this matter.
Having just returned from the Great Madam’s room, she fell ill.
Third Miss also took sick leave together with her.
Everyone knew in their hearts: Fourth Yiniang’s illness was certainly heart sickness.
The Great Madam sent people to Qinghong Pavilion to search through it, then afterward held dharma services at Guanyin Mountain for the deceased yiniangs to transcend their souls. Even Ninth Yiniang had a share, enjoying a full seven days of water and land rituals.
Seventh Miss was extremely puzzled.
“This Ninth Young Master, usually keeping such a low profile,” she privately discussed with Lixia. “He actually hides things so well!”
Bailu would eventually marry out in a few years, so she wasn’t usually very interested in these dark secrets.
But Lixia was Seventh Miss’s direct confidante, so speaking with her was naturally much safer.
“Who would have thought Ninth Young Master had such deep schemes.” Lixia also chimed in.
Recently, Ninth Young Master ate what he should eat, drank what he should drink, and played and frolicked as before—as if the previous upheaval had never happened. This composure, even Seventh Miss had to admire.
The Great Madam and Great Master frequently took action.
First, holding dharma services for several deceased yiniangs. Then, extensively renovating Qinghong Pavilion, cleaning it until spotless, and even repainting the walls.
Those with perception could all see: this was remembering the deceased Third Yiniang.
Seventh Miss again inquired of Bailu, “What taboo exactly did Third Yiniang violate?”
She recalled that a few months ago, when Eighth Yiniang and a pair of twin daughters died, the Great Master had also arranged dharma services for Third Yiniang at Guanyin Mountain.
Her heart gained some understanding.
Bailu was equally bewildered. “When I came to serve, Third Yiniang had already passed away. No one in the household dares mention this matter…”
Maids like them usually avoided such household secrets as much as possible.
Knowing too much made it difficult to extricate oneself.
It seemed she would get no information from Bailu.
Third Miss and Fourth Miss weren’t suitable candidates either…
Seventh Miss thought of Sixth Miss.
Entering the twelfth month, the daughters weren’t attending school, and the boudoirs didn’t do needlework.
Sixth Miss constantly pulled Seventh Miss to the east side courtyard to play, playing backgammon with Fifth Miss and painting miniatures.
After celebrating Laba Festival at the household, the Great Madam again brought Ninth Young Master and several daughters to stay briefly at Xiangxue Sea in Guangfu.
Because Fourth Yiniang and Third Miss were both “ill,” the Great Madam conveniently left Fourth Miss behind to attend to her birth mother and sister.
The Great Master was also quite spirited this year, accompanying the Great Madam and staying at Chonghán Pavilion in Xiangxue Sea for two or three days before entering Tongguan Yin Temple to discuss dharma and debate doctrine with the abbot.
This time, he also brought Ninth Young Master along.
By the twelfth month, Xiangxue Sea was filled with high officials and nobles. Even Li Wenqing’s Li family and Zhang Weiting’s Zhang family all came to stay briefly at Xiangxue Sea. The womenfolk idly visited each other, while the men could only go to Tongguan Yin Temple to exchange poetry with Abbot Xiuhe and discuss doctrine.
Bringing Ninth Young Master along was to let him become acquainted with these uncles and elders, so that when the Great Master retired in the future, Ninth Young Master could take over his connections. The Li and Zhang families also brought their heirs along to receive the Great Master’s instruction.
The Great Master was already treating Ninth Young Master as an adult.
Seventh Miss couldn’t help but grow increasingly curious.
Her gaze at Ninth Young Master also became somewhat different.
Previously she only felt this child was unusually clever—young as he was, he knew everything he should know. He both knew to care for himself and knew the two of them shouldn’t be too close.
Ninth Young Master had grown up under the Great Madam’s doting love. Knowing these things was already commendable.
She never expected that such an incident, whether major or minor, would be handled so seamlessly by Ninth Young Master, not stirring even a ripple, passing peacefully by…
Even the Great Madam’s gaze at Ninth Young Master showed nothing amiss, still as loving as always.
For the first time, Seventh Miss realized that curiosity was also a powerful force.
This matter was shrouded in clouds and mist, layer upon layer of mystery… which only made her want to investigate more thoroughly.
Chonghán Pavilion wasn’t large, just a three-courtyard compound. Housing the Great Master couple, three young ladies, one young master, plus attending maids and servants, the small courtyard was packed full.
Fifth Miss spent every day with Sixth Miss. Seventh Miss couldn’t find an opportunity to speak privately with Sixth Miss.
On the fifteenth of the twelfth month, Lady Li came to speak with the Great Madam, her expression very grave.
The two closed the door of the main hall, even dismissing the second-class serving maids, leaving only the most capable nannies inside to serve tea.
Eleventh Brother and Twelfth Brother were entrusted to Fifth Miss. “Take your brothers to tour the plum grove!”
Above Chonghán Pavilion, an entire small mountain belonged to the Yang family, planted with dozens of acres of plum trees. Though everyone had stayed at Xiangxue Sea for five or six days, they had only toured one or two places.
Fifth Miss consulted with Eleventh Brother. “Eleventh Cousin, shall we go see the green calyx plums?”
Eleventh Brother nodded with a smile, then caringly asked Seventh Miss, “It’s quite far—can Seventh Cousin walk that long?”
When children went out, especially walking on mountain paths, there was no reason to use carriages or horses. Even Yang family daughters could only trek on foot.