She looked at the twin siblings with their heads together playing with blocks, her eyes full of smiles. “Truly can’t tell who’s Ninth Young Master and who’s Seventh Miss.”
Ninth Young Master suddenly winked at Seventh Miss, raised his head, and imitated Seventh Miss’s tone, saying softly, “Sister Lichun, I’m Seventh Miss.”
Seventh Miss could no longer contain herself and burst into laughter.
Lichun also laughed uncontrollably. Xiaoxue laughed while arranging the cherries and accidentally spilled the entire dish on the floor.
Her face went white with fear—it was just early spring; cherries were very precious.
But Lichun’s face showed a flash of relief.
“How careless!” She complained while bending down with Xiaoxue to pick up the cherries.
Xiaoxue stammered, “Sister, I… I didn’t mean to…”
“Forget it,” Lichun said irritably. “Wash them clean and take them down to distribute among the young maids.”
Xiaoxue agreed repeatedly and left the east side room with Lichun. The room suddenly quieted. Seventh Miss watched Lichun’s retreating figure, lost in thought.
“Every time Second Aunt visits, I play in the east side room.” Ninth Young Master murmured softly, seemingly casual yet deliberate.
Seventh Miss’s hand slipped and the blocks fell. Ninth Young Master immediately demanded loudly that Seventh Miss compensate for his demolished small cart.
Seventh Miss could only apologize repeatedly, smiling as she picked up the colorful blocks. “I’ll build you a house?”
Ninth Young Master raised his eyes to stare at her fixedly, then tilted his head before saying solemnly, “Alright.”
Seventh Miss then lowered her head to build with blocks.
Ninth Young Master toyed with a green rectangular block in his hands. After much hesitation, he asked softly, “Where is Ninth Concubine buried?”
Seventh Miss froze, then understood his question. Her emotions surged.
Blood was thicker than water after all—flesh and bone connected.
“They said she’d be buried at the family mountain.” Her voice was so soft it was like a whisper. “Right next to Old Seventh Branch’s Concubine Wang at the front mountain. I went when Concubine Wang was buried—the spot is quite forward.” Ninth Concubine’s coffin had already left for Baoji.
The Yang family was large and prosperous. Behind the ancestral hall was the burial mountain. For a concubine to be buried at the front mountain was great honor.
Ninth Young Master was stunned for a long while before nodding. His small face was full of preoccupations.
Seventh Miss wanted to say more when Ninth Young Master suddenly raised his head, saying repeatedly, “Is the house finished? This shouldn’t be placed like that.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Nanny Liang walked smiling into the east side room, serving tea to Seventh Miss and Ninth Young Master. “Everyone went to the Grand Lady’s side, leaving this old woman to pour tea for you.” She was the Grand Lady’s dowry servant and had always had status, so she spoke to the young master and mistresses with somewhat elder-like tone.
Seventh Miss quickly smiled apologetically. “Thank you, Nanny.” But Ninth Young Master cheekily grabbed the tea to drink, then ordered Seventh Miss, “Build faster.” His tone was rather impatient.
Seventh Miss then pretended to build blocks earnestly. The east side room quieted. Faintly she could hear Second Miss’s and Fifth Miss’s voices from over there, along with Second Lady’s laughter. Before long, light, quick footsteps came toward the east side room. Second Miss and Fifth Miss entered.
Seventh Miss quickly bowed to Second Miss and Fifth Miss. Ninth Young Master also jumped down from the heated platform, pulling Fifth Miss to see his blocks. “Fifth Sister, build with me.”
But Fifth Miss said, “I’m busy. I just came to pay respects to Second Aunt.” She didn’t acknowledge Seventh Miss’s bow.
Second Miss calmly returned Seventh Miss’s bow. “I heard the teacher praised your calligraphy.” Her tone held more warmth.
“A trivial skill,” Seventh Miss said somewhat sheepishly. “Just random practice.”
“Don’t say that.” Second Miss glanced at Fifth Miss. “Our Yang family has been scholarly for generations. Your ability to practice good calligraphy makes you a true daughter of the Yang family.”
Second Miss was always so serious, inspiring awe. Seventh Miss lowered her head and agreed meekly. Fifth Miss couldn’t withstand Ninth Young Master’s pleading and had already climbed onto the heated platform to sit cross-legged, fiddling with blocks with him. Seventh Miss glanced over there several times, feeling that facing the willful Fifth Miss would be more comfortable than standing before Second Miss.
Second Miss was actually amused.
“Go on,” she shook her head smiling, her words showing slight reproach for the first time. “After all, you’re young with less patience. Don’t be so careless when practicing calligraphy.” She rose to call Fifth Miss. “Yang Wu, aren’t you returning to your room?”
Fifth Miss was enjoying herself. Pouting reluctantly, she was about to say something when she glanced at Seventh Miss and fell silent, rising to follow Second Miss out of the east side room. Second Miss walked while scolding Fifth Miss all the way. “…Acting childish one day, grown-up the next. Seventh Miss knows to practice calligraphy. What about you? Just expressed determination to me, and you’re playing around again…”
Seventh Miss couldn’t help envying—though Second Miss showed Fifth Miss no pleasant face, she truly cared for this sister.
The east side room quieted again. Nanny Liang had been called out by a young maid to handle matters. She was the chief steward, always busy beyond measure. That she could spare time to curry favor showed Ninth Young Master’s great status. Seventh Miss wondered, “Where’s Xiaoxue? Why hasn’t she come in to serve?”
In a wealthy household like the Yang family, young masters and mistresses had attendants around the clock. Even if distributing cherries took some time, Xiaoxue shouldn’t be absent this long.
Ninth Young Master also found it strange, then shook his head. “It’s fine she’s not here—she chatters endlessly, so annoying.” He beckoned to Seventh Miss. “Come continue building the house!”
Seventh Miss had no choice but to continue sitting cross-legged on the heated platform building a house with Ninth Young Master. He asked, “You know many characters now?”
Seventh Miss smiled. Ninth Young Master muttered, “How could you learn characters in the northwest?” His implication showed considerable doubt about Seventh Miss’s words.
“Ninth Concubine’s father was a scholar who ran a private school.” Seventh Miss had to explain. Ninth Young Master made an “oh” sound, his small face showing some melancholy. The two fell quiet for a time. Soon Lichun entered to attend, so Seventh Miss could only make inconsequential conversation with Ninth Young Master—this one blaming that one for taking blocks, that one saying this one built something fun.
Second Lady stayed half the afternoon before leaving. Third Miss, Fourth Miss, and Sixth Miss all came to see her but didn’t enter the east side room. After she left, the Grand Lady brought Nanny Liang into the east side room to change clothes and rest. Seeing the twins sitting cross-legged on the heated platform, she couldn’t help laughing. “Born identical—truly a pair of jade figures.” Her tone held more pride and less suspicion.
Ninth Young Master laughed adorably. The Grand Lady walked over and patted Seventh Miss’s shoulder. “Your brother is willful—you must indulge him more.” Her affection had increased considerably.
Nanny Liang smiled beside them. “She even invited you to burn incense at Hanshan Temple… if you ask me, you shouldn’t go.”
The Grand Lady waved her hand. “I go every year on the second day of the second month. How could I not go this year?” She paused, then asked Ninth Young Master, “Mother’s going to burn incense. Will you come along?”
Ninth Young Master’s face immediately lit up. “You’ll let me go this year?”
The Grand Lady glanced at Seventh Miss and smiled. “Why wouldn’t I let you go?” Ninth Young Master immediately grew happy, hugging the Grand Lady and acting spoiled.
Nanny Wang suddenly entered the room with hurried steps, whispering a few words in the Grand Lady’s ear. The Grand Lady’s expression changed.
Lichun came to pull Ninth Young Master and Seventh Miss. “Go play outside—it’s stuffy inside.”
Ninth Young Master and Seventh Miss went to the courtyard. Seventh Miss looked at the sky—nearly dinnertime. She didn’t think the Grand Lady would want Fourth Concubine to see her current attire. Some things everyone understood, but it was best to maintain appearances. “I need to go back and change clothes.”
Ninth Young Master looked reluctant, lowering his head without speaking. Seventh Miss looked at him, feeling a sharp pain in her heart. She bit her lip and said softly, “You go play at Fifth Sister’s…”
Ninth Young Master acknowledged dejectedly and ran into the corridor leading to the east side courtyard. Seventh Miss slowly walked back to the west side courtyard. Bailu came up and said in surprise, “I thought Ninth Young Master would come visit.” Several types of pastries were arranged on the table in the main hall.
Seventh Miss looked puzzled. Bailu explained, “Ninth Young Master loves wandering about. The Grand Lady restricts him from Baifang Garden. He’s tired of the east side courtyard. Hearing the west side courtyard was being prepared, he’d clamored several times to come see. I thought this afternoon since Seventh Miss was playing with him…” She didn’t continue. Seventh Miss already understood the meaning.
She slowly shook her head and said softly, “I’m a concubine’s daughter… it’s no good for Ninth Young Master to be too close to me.”
If Bailu was loyal to the Grand Lady, hearing these words would reassure the Grand Lady further.
If Bailu was loyal to her, hearing these words would only make her feel sorry.
Bailu indeed looked sympathetic and changed the subject. “It’s nearly time to pay respects. Best to change clothes.” She was an extremely perceptive maid.
Seventh Miss looked at her appreciatively. “Remarkable that even staying in your quarters, you stay so well-informed.”
Though Lixia stood right beside them, she was completely confused, not understanding their verbal sparring at all. Bailu smiled brilliantly and helped Seventh Miss change clothes with Lixia.
Just as they were about to go pay respects at the main quarters, several servants came to instruct Bailu. “Madam is feeling unwell. Evening respects are cancelled tonight. Each courtyard will have dinner separately.” With that, they hurried away, looking as if a storm was approaching.