Chapter 3

After the idle chat, Yuzan took the bowls and chopsticks away to wash. Ying Yue had suffered through the morning, but fortunately, the rest of the day was hers to enjoy. She found the new travelogue she had been wanting to read, kicked off her embroidered shoes, and climbed onto the kang, leaning entirely against the window. Inhaling the scent of ink, she happily turned to the first page.  

The book had been bought for her by Shinan’s brother, who worked in the outer courtyard. Unable to leave the house, Ying Yue loved reading these travelogues that depicted the diverse landscapes across the country. Every month, her meager allowance was entirely spent on them. Shinan had once tried to persuade her to buy some fresh rouge and hairpins to dress up, but then she thought—since Ying Yue couldn’t even go out, who would see her anyway? So she gave up the idea dejectedly.  

With no need to visit Madam Xu at noon, Ying Yue’s plan for the day was simple: read for half the day, take an afternoon nap, get up and stroll around to check if the flowers she tended had any new changes, then return to her room to cut some rice paper into bookmarks—since all her money went to books, she couldn’t afford to buy these little trinkets. After that, she would continue reading until evening, when she would endure another visit to Madam Xu’s place.  

Life in the inner chambers was monotonous, lonely, and dull, but Ying Yue had long grown accustomed to it. She had been assigned her own courtyard early on. Initially, Madam Xu had assigned her a wet nurse as per custom, but the wet nurse, having more connections than Shinan and Yuzan, endured two years in this forgotten, profitless little courtyard before transferring out on the pretext that Ying Yue had grown up. Since then, Ying Yue had only been left with two maidservants not much older than herself.  

With no one to guide her, she stumbled through her growth, figuring out how to arrange her own life and finding ways to pass the long, idle days. As for whether her choices were right—no one was there to advise her. For instance, spending her limited silver on books was hardly the most practical use for a girl of marriageable age.  

Shinan sat on a small stool by the heated basket at the foot of the kang, embroidering a handkerchief. When her eyes grew tired from staring, she would lift her head to glance at Ying Yue, checking if she needed anything while giving her own eyes a rest.  

Ying Yue was absorbed in her book, needing nothing. Her delicate, fair face was slightly tilted down, soft and docile, with an air of innocence.  

After watching for a moment, Shinan inexplicably felt a surge of pride from the depths of her heart: The eldest young lady was raised with such pampered luxury, the money spent on her could have molded a golden figurine in her likeness—yet she was nothing special. Meanwhile, she and Yuzan had scrimped and saved every penny, yet the young lady they raised was no less refined. Look at her—skin fair with a hint of pink, a straight and elegant nose, lips as tender as flower petals. A light bite would only add to her charm—ah.  

Snapping out of her thoughts, Shinan spoke up, “Young lady, don’t bite your lips. If they’re dry, you should use lip rouge.”  

As she spoke, she set aside her needlework, stood up, and fetched a small round box. Opening it, she prepared to apply it for Ying Yue.  

Ying Yue was a little embarrassed. “I know, I’ll do it myself.”  

The lack of meticulous care had left some shortcomings. Ying Yue’s little habit wasn’t ideal—she disliked using lip rouge. In the dry spring weather, when her lips chapped, she would moisten them by biting them lightly. Shinan and Yuzan hadn’t noticed at first, but by the time they did, the habit was already ingrained. No matter how much the maids reminded her, it had little effect.  

Shinan half-complained, half-teased, “Our young lady never listens to us. Seems like only her future husband’s words will do the trick.”

Ying Yue didn’t catch the teasing tone in her words and defended herself, “I did listen.”

She puckered her freshly rouged lips to show her.

Shinan softened at once and laughed. “Yes, yes, I was wrong.”

Ying Yue handed the small round box back to her. When Shinan looked inside, only a thin layer remained at the bottom. She did a quick mental calculation—Ying Yue used it sparingly and never thought to apply it unless reminded. This little bit should last another two months, by which time the weather would be warmer and she wouldn’t need it anymore. That would save them the trouble of figuring out how to get a new one.

Relieved, she also felt a pang of sadness. Sigh. The other three young ladies never used such allotted goods. The eldest was a given, but even the second and fourth had their own concubine mothers who thoughtfully bought them finer things. Only her young mistress had to ration hers.

By the time Shinan put away the lip rouge and turned back, the emotion had already faded. Such thoughts were just part of daily life—acknowledged and then let go.

She returned to her seat by the heated basket, keeping Ying Yue company while continuing to embroider a handkerchief.

A peaceful half-day slipped by unnoticed. When the brilliant hues of sunset became visible through the window, Ying Yue had dressed again and was stepping out with a slightly heavy heart.

This time, Shinan insisted on accompanying her. Ying Yue coaxed her, “It’s fine. Last night, Madam didn’t do anything to me. She only punished me this morning.”

Shinan replied, “That’s exactly why I’m not afraid to go with you.”

Yuzan had to stay behind. With only the three of them left in the small courtyard now, someone had to remain to tend to the candles, prepare tea and hot water, and other chores. Seeing them off at the gate, she chimed in, “We know you care for us, young mistress, but if we never go with you and let you come and go alone, what will Madam think we’re good for? The punishment then would be much worse.”

Ying Yue’s expression changed as she instantly imagined the words Madam Xu might say. She could only nod in agreement.

Once outside the courtyard, the closer they got to the main house, the slower Ying Yue’s steps became. Leaving her little courtyard was like a snail being pulled from its shell—the smile on her lips and the liveliness in her eyes gradually faded. By the time the main house’s upper rooms finally came into view, only a wooden, vacant expression remained.

She truly feared Madam Xu. Though everyone said Madam Xu was her legal mother, she had never felt a shred of maternal warmth from her. Madam Xu controlled her, moving her from one courtyard to another. Though it was all within the same household, it had instilled in her young, fragile heart an early understanding of displacement. For someone who held such power over her life, she could only feel fear—so much so that she didn’t even dare try to curry favor.

She acted unfazed in front of her maids, even urging Shinan not to come, but the shadows of her childhood still loomed over her. When Madam Xu usually forgot about her like a passing shadow, it was bearable. But now, with Madam Xu in a foul mood, erratic and looking for someone to vent her anger on, those shadows surged back.

Madam Xu hadn’t targeted her last night, but who knew about today—

Today, she didn’t either.

Ying Yue’s luck held. When she finally shuffled into the main courtyard, only Jinling came out to dismiss her: “Madam is occupied. The young ladies are to dine in their own courtyards tonight.”

Overjoyed, Ying Yue blurted out, “Yes!”

Yet it was Xi Yue, who had arrived slightly later, who stepped forward and asked with concern, “I heard Eldest Sister has returned and seems unwell. Should we visit her? I wonder if it’s convenient now.”

Jinling replied, “It’s precisely because of the young mistress. She’s caught a chill, and Madam is busy summoning a physician and preparing medicine. Young mistresses should return for now; visiting can wait until tomorrow.”

With that said, there was nothing more to add. Xi Yue retreated, leading her maid away as she turned.

Ying Yue felt as if granted a reprieve, barely containing her excitement as she turned to follow, whispering to Shinan, “Let’s take this chance to detour to the kitchen and bring our meals back.”

Shinan, equally delighted, nodded with a grin.

Compared to the simple-minded pair, Xi Yue, walking ahead, carried herself with far more poise. Tall and straight-backed, she slowed her steps slightly, waiting for Ying Yue to catch up before parting her red lips to remark, “Such low ambitions.”

Ying Yue: “…” She responded cautiously, “Second Sister.”

Seeing her like this, Xi Yue couldn’t stay annoyed. She reached out to poke Ying Yue’s forehead. “If you’re this happy now, what will you do tomorrow morning? Let me tell you, with Eldest Sister ill, Madam’s mood will only worsen.”

Ying Yue’s face fell. “—Oh.”

After a few steps, she turned listlessly to Shinan. “Go fetch my dark blue cloak when we return. I’ll wear an extra layer tomorrow.”

Shinan nodded with a pained expression.

Ju Ying, the maid who had come with Xi Yue, couldn’t help but giggle.

Xi Yue stifled a laugh too. “Enough, silly girl. Couldn’t you read Jinling’s expression? Did she seem frantic or worried?”

The frightened pair exchanged glances, searching each other’s faces for confirmation. Ying Yue suddenly understood. “Ah—so Eldest Sister isn’t actually ill?”

A smile played at Xi Yue’s lips. “I wouldn’t know. But what I do know is that not only was Jinling acting odd, the servants who went out with Eldest Sister were even stranger. If their mistress had truly fallen ill, they’d have returned in fear and worry, not looking as if they’d just won a battle—all beaming with joy. Hah, what an indescribable illness.”

Ying Yue, with her limited connections, was often the last to hear news. Xi Yue, though also a concubine’s daughter, had an advantage—her birth mother’s presence made a difference. While Ying Yue hadn’t even heard of Wangyue’s return due to illness, Xi Yue had already uncovered the peculiarities behind it.

Ying Yue’s slowness here wasn’t due to stupidity but to her lack of information. Now, with Xi Yue’s hint, realization dawned, and her eyes widened in surprise. “So Eldest Sister—got her wish?”

With Young Master Fang hanging over their heads like a sword ready to drop at any moment, there was only one thing that could bring both Madam Xu and Xu Wangyue joy—though so far, only the servants’ reactions were visible. But often, servants mirrored their masters’ moods. If Wangyue were truly unwell, her attendants would be facing disaster, too terrified to even cry, let alone smile.

“Most likely,” Xi Yue said vaguely, though her expression was certain. Her lips curled with a hint of mockery. “This final gamble—she actually pulled it off.”

Ying Yue let out a sigh of relief. Without thinking much else, her first thought was that she might enjoy a period of ease for a while. Little did she know that her sigh was a bit too loud and reached Xi Yue’s ears in its entirety.

Xi Yue’s expression froze, her delicate face twisting slightly as she glared at Ying Yue: “—You foolish girl, talking to you is like playing the lute to a cow!”

Ying Yue knew she had come off as a little traitor and quickly offered an ingratiating smile: “Second Sister, that’s not what I meant. I’m just afraid of being punished by Madam again.”

After a pause, she added in a whisper, “I’m happy for you, Second Sister.”

Xi Yue was only a year older than her but far more mature, already a proper young lady. At these words, her cheeks flushed pink: “What’s there to be happy about for me? Hmph.”

Ju Ying, who had been following them, couldn’t help but chuckle softly: “Third Miss isn’t wrong. If Eldest Miss succeeds in her schemes, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for you, Miss.”

It was only because Eldest Miss had been dragging things out that it had become such a headache.

Xi Yue couldn’t resist another cold laugh: “It’s not that easy. Eldest Sister’s betrothal is still in place. When there was a chance to break it off earlier, she didn’t. Now, does she think the Pingjiang Count’s household is easy to bully? If this blows up, no matter how she managed to entangle herself with the Longchang Marquis’s family, would they still want her? Noble families like that can have any well-bred young lady they want—why would they insist on her?”

Because of Xu Wangyue’s greed, Xi Yue had been delayed until seventeen, and this alone was enough to breed endless resentment toward her elder sister.

But her words were all reasonable. Xu Wangyue was still far from getting her wish—the Pingjiang Count’s household was a mountain blocking her path. Whether it could be moved, and how, were all problems. The slightest misstep would ruin Xu Wangyue’s reputation.

Thinking of this, Xi Yue’s mood improved again, her smile tinged with schadenfreude. Ju Ying, however, grew worried: “Miss, if Eldest Miss’s reputation is ruined over this, you—”

They were all from the same family—none would escape unscathed. Not only Xi Yue but even Ying Yue would suffer, with only Jiao Yue being young enough to escape the worst of it.

Xi Yue clenched her teeth: “Then let hers be ruined first!” But then a trace of unwillingness flickered across her brow. “Madam and Eldest Sister must be feeling quite pleased with themselves now…”