When Seventh Miss emerged from the outer side courtyard, her brow carried considerably more worries.
She went directly to the main courtyard hall.
The Great Lady had just woken from her afternoon nap. Seeing Seventh Miss, she was somewhat surprised. “Why didn’t you go to Zhuying Terrace?”
By the time, it should have been when the daughters attended embroidery class.
Seventh Miss stated plainly: “Father originally wanted to see me, so I followed Steward Niu to the outer side courtyard. Unexpectedly, they received an urgent dispatch from Zhejiang, and quite a commotion ensued.”
The Great Lady immediately sat upright. “The Liu family? Has something gone wrong with the military grain?”
After all, she was an official’s wife—however unreliable she might normally be, at critical moments she could still get her bearings.
Seventh Miss didn’t hide her concern. “Yes, from what Steward Niu said, the Liu family submitted a memorial impeaching Father for arbitrary actions and accepting bribes…”
The Great Lady’s face instantly clouded with worry.
“Father was also furious and immediately issued orders for the commanders-in-chief to go to Hangzhou to arrest Commissioner Liu and escort him to the capital to await judgment. The charges are that Commissioner Liu put private interests above public duty, arbitrarily detained military grain… and privately colluded with factions.” Seventh Miss sighed deeply.
The Great Lady’s expression changed dramatically, and she fell into deep thought.
“Your father summoned you just for this matter?” After a long while, the Great Lady finally asked.
Yet her face was full of distraction.
Seventh Miss said lightly: “Father dismissed all the secretaries. He only asked me a few questions, all about whether Mother’s health had fully recovered.”
Presumably the Master also feared that if the Great Lady heard about the Liu family matter, her heart would carry several more burdens and she would fall ill again.
One could imagine that when he returned from Hangzhou with that casual manner, it was all to avoid upsetting the Great Lady on her sickbed.
Though the couple had numerous conflicts, after all, they had supported each other through these years.
How could the Great Lady not understand this reasoning?
“Even if I hadn’t fully recovered, hearing this, I would have to recover,” she said with a bitter smile. “What kind of family is the Liu family? Your father, in a fit of temper, wants to completely tear off all pretense with the Liu family and oppose them? Fortunately Second Uncle from the main branch hasn’t departed yet—our family must at least arrange some backup plans.”
Seventh Miss could only comfort the Great Lady: “Father knows what he’s doing…”
How could the Master, who had risen from a fallen xiucai to where he was today, lack cunning?
The Great Lady asked Seventh Miss a few more questions before dismissing her: “Go back to the West Side Courtyard to rest. Don’t attend class this afternoon. You probably didn’t even have a proper lunch at the outer side courtyard—quickly have some refreshments.”
She also called for Nanny Wang: “Invite First Miss over, and summon Steward Niu as well.”
Though Seventh Miss was clever, she was still young. Regarding court matters, she couldn’t explain much.
At a time like this, First Miss was more useful.
Seventh Miss didn’t say much more and silently returned to the West Side Courtyard.
All the way, she was lost in thought.
Back at the West Side Courtyard, she lay on the plum blossom table thinking. After a long while, she asked Bailu:
“Tell me, how should I speak to the Lady about this family register matter?”
Lixia and Bailu exchanged glances, both setting down their work.
“Father intends to elevate Ninth Aunt’s status and request an imperial mandate for her.” Seventh Miss had no intention of concealing anything. “However, he fears Mother will throw a tantrum and be stubborn, so he wants me to help persuade her…”
Lixia and Bailu couldn’t help but look at each other in dismay.
The Master truly made full use of everyone.
Seventh Miss had only just gained a bit of standing before the Great Lady, and already he wanted her to speak up, to advocate for elevating Ninth Aunt’s status.
He didn’t even consider whether this bit of standing could bear such a weighty matter!
But Ninth Aunt was after all Seventh Miss’s birth mother… How could Seventh Miss refuse?
Seventh Miss gave a bitter smile. “Fortunately, with the Liu family causing such a commotion, Second Uncle from the main branch won’t be able to depart for a while. We’ll see just how big this Liu family matter becomes.”
She forced herself to gather her spirits and instructed Lixia: “Come, let’s go into the garden. Fifth Sister should also know about this matter.”
The collapse of relations between the Liu and Yang families was big news for everyone in the Yang household. Fifth Miss certainly should know.
Lixia followed Seventh Miss into the Hundred Fragrance Garden.
As they passed below the hall, they could faintly hear Steward Niu speaking.
Presumably the Great Lady would naturally question Steward Niu carefully about the details of this matter.
Seventh Miss didn’t linger.
Leading Lixia into the Hundred Fragrance Garden, she didn’t walk toward the Moon Pavilion but instead led her directly to the side of Ten Thousand Flowers Falling.
In recent years, the Ten Thousand Flowers Falling area had only housed Fourth Aunt along with Third Miss and Fourth Miss.
Lixia had some understanding.
It was just past noon, the sunlight still fierce, with not many people in the garden.
Seventh Miss quietly instructed Lixia: “Go to the Creek Guest Studio and pass a message—say I’m cooling off at the Understanding Pavilion… and would momentarily like some tea, asking the Creek Guest Studio to help prepare it.”
Near the Understanding Pavilion, only the Creek Guest Studio had a permanent small tea room. Though Seventh Miss’s excuse was simple, it was precisely because of this that it wasn’t easily exposed.
If Fourth Aunt still intended to work on Third Miss’s marriage prospects, she naturally wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to speak with Seventh Miss.