The next morning, after breakfast, Jiang Fuyue sat under the veranda reading a book, with Jingzhe attending to her tea. But Guyu was nowhere to be seen.

  After a while, Jiang Fuyue, finding herself a bit bored, set the book aside and rubbed her temples. “It’s unusually quiet today. Where did Guyu run off to?”

  Jingzhe struggled to keep a straight face. “I heard that Madam Liu brought Schor Li to the storeroom, and Guyu rushed over to watch the excitement.”

  “That girl really does chase after anything lively,” Jiang Fuyue chuckled.

  “Isn’t that right,” Jingzhe ughed too. “Madam has been sitting for quite a while now. Why don’t I accompany you for a stroll in the courtyard?”

  Jiang Fuyue nodded and had barely taken a few steps when Guyu came running back, still grinning and calling for the main gate to be shut.

  “You look so pleased—what did you hear?” Jiang Fuyue asked with a smile.

  Guyu bounced over to her side, unable to hide her glee. “Madam, you wouldn’t believe it—Schor Li really has an eye! He picked out seven or eight items from the storeroom, and they were all rare treasures. Together, they’re worth even more than your dowry!”

  Jingzhe couldn’t help but ugh too. “The Old Madam must be fuming.”

  Guyu beamed even brighter, grinning from ear to ear. “Hmph! The more upset they are over at Songshou Court, the happier I am! Serves them right for eyeing your dowry—this is what they call ‘trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice’! Justice is served!”

  It wasn’t like the marquis manor cked valuable things, but the Old Madam insisted on picking from Jiang Fuyue’s dowry. Now that it’s all backfired—what satisfaction!

  Jiang Fuyue couldn’t help but ugh.

  Guyu might have a loose tongue, but somehow it never came off as annoying.

  The three of them were chatting and about to head to the study to paint when a maid came in, reporting that someone from Songshou Court had come with a message. The Old Madam was summoning Jiang Fuyue to discuss the upcoming apprenticeship banquet five days from now.

  Jingzhe and Guyu exchanged gnces. “Unbelievable—she just tore into Madam yesterday, and today she’s acting like nothing happened and asking for help again?”

  What was that old dy’s face made of?

  But Jiang Fuyue remained calm.

  The apprenticeship banquet was a significant affair, and it would only seem proper if the dy of the house presided over it. So it wasn’t surprising that the Old Madam came looking for her.

  Still, organizing that banquet was no small task.

  There was the ancestral homage, the formal apprenticeship ceremony, offering the teacher gifts and ceremonial rites, followed by a teacher’s address, and finally a family banquet that sted all day. It was exhausting.

  In her previous life, she had chosen the teacher herself and managed the banquet personally. But this time, the teacher wasn’t her choice, and she had no intention of involving herself in any of it.

  “Jingzhe.”

  “I’m here, Madam.”

  “Go tell them I’m not feeling well these days and cannot handle such a rge event,” Jiang Fuyue instructed. “Besides, I didn’t raise those children—if they want everything to look proper, the Old Madam is the family elder. It’s more fitting for her to take charge.”

  When she had married into the household, the youngest of those children was already over three years old. The Marquis himself had told her not to meddle in their upbringing.

  In her past life, she had tried wholeheartedly to help them build a better future, only to raise a pack of ungrateful wolves. This time around, she had no desire to involve herself at all.

  What did the manor’s honor or face have to do with her anymore?

  “Yes, Madam.”

  Jingzhe turned to deliver the message while Jiang Fuyue and Guyu headed to the study.

  As Guyu id out the paper and ground the ink, she voiced her confusion. “Madam, in the capital, it’s common for respected elders to oversee these apprenticeship banquets. The Old Madam surely knows that. If she wants things to look proper, why insist you be the one?”

  “In the end, she looks down on Schor Li,” Jiang Fuyue said, adjusting the orchid on the windowsill so its shadow would fall more beautifully onto the paper. “If we had invited some great Confucian schor of the age, do you think she’d still have me take the lead?”

  Guyu pouted. “That old dy’s thoughts are all over the pce. She scorns the man, yet still throws money at him and insists on honoring him. What’s the point of it all?”

  “Bringing in Schor Li is just because the marquis manor couldn’t get anyone more reputable. It’s a move made out of helplessness,” Jiang Fuyue said, dipping her brush in ink and tracing the orchid’s shadow on the paper with a single, confident stroke. “Pass the word around—I’m ill and won’t be seeing anyone in the next few days.”

  “Yes, Madam…” Guyu nodded. Seeing there wasn’t much else for her to do in the study, she turned and left to spread the message.

  When the messenger from Songshou Court returned with the reply, the Old Madam flew into a rage, smashing several things in her fury. Upon hearing the news, Guyu clutched her stomach and ughed for a long time.

  With the doors of Shaoguang Courtyard closed, the three of them finally enjoyed a few peaceful days.

  Eat, nap, repeat—with Guyu and Jingzhe goofing around beside her, Jiang Fuyue felt like she hadn’t been this carefree since her mother passed away.

  But good times never st.

  Right after the apprenticeship banquet, a message came from the Jiang household, requesting Jiang Fuyue return home at once.

  “A message from the Jiang family?” Jiang Fuyue was surprised.

  Ever since her marriage, the Jiang family had practically forgotten her. If she didn’t take the initiative to visit, they never reached out to her.

  “Yes,” Jingzhe nodded. “The personal maid of Madam Jiang came herself. She’s still waiting outside—looks like she’ll be accompanying you back.”

  “Oh! That’s right!” Guyu cpped her hands suddenly. “A few days ago, the Old Madam sent out two letters. Looks like they were for the Jiang family!”

  “In that case, let’s pack up and go.”

  “Yes, Madam.”

  —

  Jingzhe quickly prepared the carriage, and the three women, along with Madam Jiang’s personal maid, headed off to the Jiang residence.

  The Jiang patriarch was merely a sixth-rank official, so their estate was far less grand than the Marquis’s and located on the outskirts. It took half an hour to arrive by carriage.

  Upon arrival, Jiang Fuyue didn’t even get a proper look at her childhood home before Nanny Qin hurried her straight to the main hall.

  There, Jiang Baisheng and Madam Jiang were sitting leisurely side by side, sipping tea and chatting, seemingly enjoying themselves.

  Jiang Baisheng had a proper, upright face, tall stature, and carried himself with authority. Though middle-aged, he had none of the paunch common in other men his age and appeared particurly well-groomed and composed.

  Madam Jiang was all soft charm, her peach blossom eyes seemingly capable of stealing a soul with just a gnce. When she smiled, it was even more alluring. Dressed in a bright pink gown with a few soft strands of hair falling by her cheeks, she looked youthful and gentle—one could hardly believe she was the mother of three children.

  Jiang Fuyue entered and curtsied. “Greetings, Father. Madam.”

  “Fuyue, you’re back! Come, let me look at you!” Madam Jiang stood up, warmly coming forward and circling around her. “Oh my, just look at you! So elegant now, nothing like the past. No wonder—you’re the dy of a marquis household now!”

  “But with that title comes responsibilities,” she continued, taking Jiang Fuyue’s hand in hers and speaking earnestly. “You must show filial piety to your elders, raise the children well—these are your duties and not to be neglected. I heard your mother-in-w wanted you to manage the apprenticeship banquet, but you refused. What happened there, hmm?”