On the third day of the eleventh month, Seventh Miss deliberately rose early to pay respects to the Grand Madam and Madam Xu.
For Ninth Brother’s wedding, she as his sister naturally had to attend. Early in the morning, Seventh Miss changed into new clothes and donned gold and silver ornaments, bearing a head heavy with gold and silver pieces as she entered Leshan Residence to report to the Grand Madam.
“Oh, today is your brother’s great occasion.” The Grand Madam also seemed quite interested. “You should go, you should go.”
She squinted and looked Seventh Miss up and down a few times, then smiled at Fifth Young Madam: “Look, when this sixth granddaughter-in-law dresses up, she’s not inferior to daughters of ordinary legitimate families!”
Though Seventh Miss had arrived early, by the time she finished paying respects and sat down to exchange a few pleasantries, everyone had gathered.
The Grand Madam’s remark drew everyone’s gaze to Seventh Miss.
Seventh Miss remained composed.
During these days serving by the Grand Madam’s side, she had heard plenty of such barbed remarks.
“Actually, Xiao Qi doesn’t really know how to dress herself. Even this little bit of coordination was taught by Imperial Concubine Ning.” She smiled slightly, showing a trace of longing for Sixth Miss.
The room immediately fell into uncomfortable silence.
Fourth Young Madam’s eyes darted about, glancing at First Young Madam, then letting out a light snort before smiling and asking Seventh Miss: “Sixth Sister-in-law, you’ve been in the capital so long—why haven’t you entered the palace to see Imperial Concubine Ning?”
The Grand Madam’s eyes immediately showed a hint of amusement.
In the past, Seventh Miss might have responded with a few bland remarks and let it go.
But perhaps because she had matters on her mind, she was particularly weary of these needle-concealing conversations.
Even without Xu Fengjia here, even without consummating the marriage, she was still the heir’s wife of the Xu family. If she was willing to play word games with a few sisters-in-law, it was only because she had the leisure to condescend. When she lacked the interest, it was best not to provoke her.
The Xu family clearly needed to learn this lesson well.
“Since coming to the capital, I’ve been in continuous mourning.” She answered composedly. “Before marriage, Mother wore齐衰 mourning. Later there was Fifth Sister’s matter… neither was suitable for entering the palace to pay respects. Moreover, Her Majesty the Empress also wears 齐衰 mourning. Though the Empress is benevolent and filial, and for a married daughter, one year of 齐衰 mourning would suffice, I’ve heard that before the Sun family removes their mourning, she still frequently grieves…”
Without waiting for Fourth Young Madam to respond, she raised her hand to wipe tears: “Alas, speaking of it, in these years the older generation has gradually passed away. The Late Emperor, Grandfather, the old Marquis of the Sun family—all went one after another. Time truly flows like water! Before we know it, generational change is upon us.”
The Grand Madam’s expression immediately turned ugly.
Before the elderly, it was most taboo to mention deaths in other families, especially to speak of generational change—how could this not be inauspicious?
Yet Seventh Miss remained composed, as if completely unaware that every sentence was stabbing at the Grand Madam’s heart.
Even Fifth Young Madam’s face showed discomfort.
After all, the Grand Madam was already quite old. Her great-grandsons had already been studying for several years…
But Seventh Miss wasn’t done with the Grand Madam yet.
“Is Fifth Sister-in-law going to the Scholar’s Residence with Xiao Qi today?” She smiled and changed the subject, asking Fifth Young Madam.
Fifth Young Madam froze, glanced at the Grand Madam, then shook her head with a smile: “I wouldn’t dare travel with Sixth Sister-in-law. I’ll take my own carriage. We can meet again at the Yang residence.”
This was a naked mockery of Seventh Miss for being domineering and unpleasant to be around.
Seventh Miss then felt everyone’s eyes gather on her again.
She couldn’t help but smile inwardly.
Every time she came to Leshan Residence to pay respects, she had to perform a free show for the Xu family.
“That’s perfect.” Her face was full of smiles. “After all, Xiao Qi is newly arrived and doesn’t understand our family’s social customs. Fifth Sister-in-law must introduce people to me, lest when I take over household management in the future, I embarrass myself in social situations.”
This was the first time Seventh Miss had explicitly indicated that the sixth branch intended to take over household management.
Fifth Young Madam immediately had no response, only smiling faintly and casting her gaze toward the Grand Madam.
Though she concealed it well, she still couldn’t escape Seventh Miss’s eyes.
Upon hearing the words “household management,” the corner of Fifth Young Madam’s mouth twitched slightly. She looked unhurried, but rather showed a sense of relief that something long-awaited had finally occurred.
Yet her gesture of looking toward the Grand Madam was too obvious…
She couldn’t help but feel puzzled: This Fifth Young Madam was truly difficult to fathom.
After more than a month together, she had already grasped the temperaments of both sisters-in-law fairly well.
First Young Madam seemed to be a closed book both inside and outside. Aside from handling superficial matters well, once she left Xiao Cuijin, she had almost no contact with any sisters-in-law, spending all her time passing days within Zhishan Hall. She knew nothing about family affairs. Even the four grandchildren under her care rarely played in Xiao Cuijin. Though living in the Xu household, she kept to herself as a separate faction, with very obvious intentions of protecting herself wisely. Matters within Zhishan Hall were rarely spread outside.
Fourth Young Madam was different. With Fourth Young Master away from home, she spent her days either fawning by Grand Madam Ni’s side or attending to Madam Xu’s illness, occasionally returning to her natal family or going out to burn incense… She was a typical capital young matron with considerable social activity. Though very diligent before the Grand Madam, she also couldn’t speak ill before Madam Xu. Toward herself, she was neither warm nor cold—sometimes giving barbs, other times willing to chat when the mood struck. That air of a legitimate daughter’s pampered arrogance was identical to Fifth Miss’s, only with three parts more cunning than Fifth Miss.
Only Fifth Young Madam—not only were her thoughts convoluted, but her behavior toward herself alternated between hard and soft, making it truly impossible for Seventh Miss to read her emotions or hand. She only knew that Fifth Young Madam had a close relationship with the Grand Madam, while the fifth branch was severely estranged from Madam Xu. Unless necessary, Fifth Young Madam would never go before Madam Xu to be rebuffed, just as Seventh Miss herself avoided Leshan Residence when possible…
On just the third day after entering the household, she had sent someone to show off her authority, flaunting her grasp of household management. Yet when she fought back, Fifth Young Madam had been abnormally weak, as if afraid of something. This didn’t at all match Fifth Young Madam’s character.
Someone as still as water yet needle-concealing like her—if she wanted to hide something, she would most likely become even quieter. Why would she alternate between hard and soft, arousing suspicion?
Seventh Miss couldn’t help but feel somewhat irritated again.
Immediately, she let out a soft breath.
Ever since hearing about Ninth Concubine’s past from Nanny Liang that day, she had been restless and unable to calm her mind.
Without even establishing her footing in the Xu family, what use was excessive thinking? Without household management in her hands, she still couldn’t occupy an absolutely active position.
Without waiting for the Grand Madam to respond, Seventh Miss glanced at the self-chiming clock in the corner, as if wanting to speak but hesitating.
First Young Madam followed Seventh Miss’s gaze and couldn’t help but frown slightly.
Only then did the Grand Madam remember: “Is it time for you to go to Qingping Courtyard? Go ahead, go ahead. You two have social engagements today—it wouldn’t do to be late.”