After Mid-Autumn, several days passed peacefully.
Xu Fengjia seemed to have exhausted his mischief and obediently entered the family school together with Ninth Young Master.
Third Miss’s illness also recovered. Children constantly coming and going inevitably met, and when she saw Xu Fengjia, she showed no excessive fear.
The large spider in Xu Fengjia’s hands, after being returned by Seventh Miss, had starved to death.
“Things given away cannot be taken back.” The young master cousin had considerable pride.
Lichun had no choice but to hand it to a maid beside Madam Xu. No one knew what it used to eat. After more than half a month like this, Third Miss finally no longer needed to fear pulling a spider from her drawer.
Madam Xu, the First Madam, and Second Madam spent their days socializing with prominent families around Jiangnan—today your house, tomorrow my house, the day after her house—so busy their feet didn’t touch the ground.
Years ago, Duke Pingguo had been stationed in Jiangnan and had countless connections with local military commanders.
Imperial Tutor Qin was a civil official, imperial tutor for many years—how could he not have his own network?
Both civil and military figures could somehow connect to Madam Xu, so they came calling in a revolving stream, none daring or willing to lag behind.
Madam Xu also visited frequently. The First Madam had to accompany her out every day without break.
Over time, she inevitably complained to the Old Master. “Aunt-Madam seems possessed—accepting every invitation, rather impolite.”
The Old Master’s gaze dimmed slightly.
“The Crown Prince is ten years old this year.” He said in a low voice, looking somewhat aged. “Yet he still hasn’t left the palace to study.”
Not leaving the palace to study meant being kept in the deep palace, making it difficult to interact with court officials.
Which also meant no way to cultivate his own power base.
The First Madam’s heart tightened.
The First Prince was eighteen this year and had already begun handling affairs for the Emperor. Though never enfeoffed as a prince, precisely because of this, he hadn’t left the capital.
Madam Xu’s aunt had no children of her own and was half a foster mother to the Crown Prince. The Xu family naturally could only stand with the Crown Prince.
“Could she be planning a petition by thousands?” The First Madam murmured softly.
The Old Master sighed.
Though Fourth Concubine had countless virtues, being from a small household, she couldn’t match the First Madam’s acuity in such matters.
“The previous dynasty had precedents.” He said quietly. “When the Emperor himself was invested, it relied on Imperial Tutor Qin forcefully advocating…”
History repeated itself. Years ago, the Emperor also had an extremely favored younger brother. Though he was the eldest son and the Empress had no children, the harem’s winds and clouds were treacherous—the Crown Prince position nearly changed hands several times.
Had it not been for Imperial Tutor Qin’s unwavering support as Imperial Tutor…
Now history was repeating. The First Prince was powerful, yet the Crown Prince held the legitimate birth advantage. The Empress and Consort Hui—one the first wife, one the current favorite—were deadlocked. Not content with fighting in the capital, they wanted to spread the conflict to the provinces.
Master Yang held dual positions as a northwestern clan leader and Jiangnan Governor-General. He was a trusted minister in the Emperor’s eyes. His opinion naturally carried great weight.
Madam Xu being so conspicuous probably partly meant to drag the Yang family into the fray!
Though the Yang and Xu families had been on good terms these years, they had always remained noncommittal toward the Crown Prince’s overtures.
The First Madam sighed deeply.
“When an official reaches this level, every step is like walking on thin ice…” She seemed to be muttering to herself yet also reminding the Old Master. “The Wang family just embarrassed the Crown Prince’s Chief of Staff, then we arranged a marriage match with the Wang family. I’m afraid the Empress won’t have no other thoughts.”
The Old Master began to feel alarmed.
Was this marriage with the Wang family arranged too hastily?
At the time, he only thought that Fourth Concubine finding such a family showed a birth mother’s devoted efforts.
The Wang family had substantial means. Though the other party was also a concubine-born son, Third Miss wouldn’t suffer much marrying in.
But he hadn’t expected that the Wang family had clashed with the Crown Prince’s Chief of Staff in Fujian.
When this news arrived, the Old Master felt something was off.
Now with Madam Xu’s behavior…
He couldn’t help but think more deeply.
Could the Empress suspect he intended to align with the First Prince?
Thinking of Second Master Yang’s actions in the capital, the Old Master broke out in cold sweat.
All coincidences, all unintentional, but in these unintended moments, one link led to another. Now even Madam Xu had personally come to Jiangnan to test the Yang family!
“This Wang family marriage must be delayed!” He decided immediately.
A trace of satisfaction flashed in the First Madam’s eyes.
She hadn’t said a single extra word.
Second Madam and Fourth Concubine lacked foresight in choosing such a family.
Though the Old Master didn’t say it aloud, he deeply valued Imperial Tutor Qin’s opinion. The old man’s willingness to come out of retirement to serve another term as Imperial Tutor must have moved the Old Master. At this juncture, first Second Brother took the wrong side, then Second Sister-in-law introduced an inappropriate family. Second Master was far away in the capital where the Old Master couldn’t control him directly, but the marriage was in their hands.
“If we had waited until I returned to Suzhou, it wouldn’t be so awkward now.” The First Madam’s tone carried reproach. “They’ve already consulted fortunes at Hanshan Temple. The Wang family is just short of sending betrothal cards. When they truly arrive, how will you respond?”
Both families had reached tacit understanding on the marriage. Without a proper reason, the Old Master truly couldn’t refuse the Wang family.
“Just say we thought the marriage proposal was for a legitimate son!” The Old Master pondered slowly. “Though Third Miss is concubine-born, she’s very dear to me, so I want to match her with a legitimate son.”