After Old Madam Zhao was dismissed, it felt as though an invisible rope had been quietly tightened around the main courtyard.
Tea was changed more frequently. Someone was always stationed by the medicine stove. When the time came, the medicine was brought promptly, without Bai Lan needing to remind them a second time. Even small details—hand warmers, cushions, bamboo blinds by the window—were attended to with care.
None of these were major matters.
But in a place like the main courtyard, it was often these small, seemingly insignificant details that revealed people’s true intentions.
Wen Yunyi sat on the couch in the main hall, a dowry ledger spread open beside her. She still couldn’t sit for long, so Bai Lan had placed an extra cushion behind her waist. The teacup on the table had just been refreshed, and the rising steam blurred the words before her eyes.
She rubbed her temples and closed the ledger instead of continuing.
Bai Lan said softly, “Your Ladyship should rest your eyes.”
Wen Yunyi gave a quiet “mm” and picked up her tea. When she didn’t speak, her face showed even more of that delicate post-illness beauty.
Qing Tao entered quietly from outside and spoke in a low voice, “Your Ladyship, it seems Listening Rain Pavilion has heard the news.”
Without lifting her head, Wen Yunyi set her teacup down. “Who spread it?”
“Not our people,” Qing Tao replied. “It likely leaked from the outer courtyard first. When I went to the kitchen just now, I heard people saying that Yin Zhu didn’t look too well when she returned.”
Wen Yunyi smiled faintly.
There was no need for the main courtyard to exert much effort in such matters. Old Madam Zhao had been ingratiating herself everywhere for so long that she had acquaintances both inside and outside the courtyard. Now that she had been dismissed, others would naturally start weighing their own positions, and their tongues would loosen.
“Let them hear,” Wen Yunyi said calmly.
Seeing her composure, Qing Tao’s curiosity about what would happen next subsided.
Meanwhile, Listening Rain Pavilion was far less steady.
Jiang Yunzhi sat by the window, doing needlework.
She wore a pale green blouse, the soft fabric trimmed with a fine white edge at the cuffs, accentuating her slender wrists. The peach blossom velvet flower still adorned her hair, its delicate pink petals layered gracefully, making her look like a blossom on a spring branch.
She had only embroidered a couple of stitches when Yin Zhu hurried in.
“Concubine.”
Jiang Yunzhi looked up, sensing something was wrong. “What is it?”
Yin Zhu glanced around and lowered her voice. “Old Madam Zhao has been dismissed from the main courtyard by the heir’s wife.”
Jiang Yunzhi froze. “Old Madam Zhao?”
Yin Zhu nodded and recounted the matter plainly—about the velvet flowers, the dismissal, and the rumors spreading outside—without embellishment.
She had expected her mistress to feel wronged, but instead, Jiang Yunzhi’s face turned pale. The embroidery needle slipped from her hand with a soft clink.
After a moment, she raised her hand to touch the peach blossom in her hair.
The soft velvet brushed lightly against her fingertips.
When she had worn it that day, she hadn’t thought much of it. Yin Zhu had brought it, and she simply liked the color. But yesterday, when Wen Yunyi’s gaze lingered on it briefly, unease had crept into her heart. Now, hearing that Old Madam Zhao had been dismissed because of it, that unease deepened.
After a long silence, she said softly, “I didn’t intend to wear it when I went to pay respects.”
The words sounded more like an explanation to herself.
Yin Zhu felt a pang and quickly comforted her. “Why think this way? This isn’t your fault. Old Madam Zhao was acting on behalf of the main courtyard. How she handled things was her own decision—how could it be blamed on you?”
Jiang Yunzhi shook her head slightly. “You don’t understand.”
She couldn’t quite explain what she feared. Only that the current heir’s wife was no longer like before. In the past, if she were upset, she would show it immediately. Now, she seemed to suppress everything, making her next move unpredictable.
Before Yin Zhu could say more, someone announced from outside, “The heir has arrived.”
Jiang Yunzhi looked up at once.
She had been uneasy already. Rising quickly, she nearly knocked over the sewing basket. Yin Zhu hurried to steady her.
Soon, Xu Jinzhi entered.
He wore a bamboo-green robe, simple yet refined, with a plain jade ornament at his waist. The color suited him, enhancing his composed and upright demeanor. The maids lowered their heads in greeting.
His gaze fell on Jiang Yunzhi immediately.
Her pale face, paired with the bright peach blossom, made her seem even more fragile, as though she might be blown away by the wind. He frowned slightly. “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Yunzhi hesitated, then said softly, “Nothing… I just heard something and thought too much.”
Xu Jinzhi glanced at her, then at Yin Zhu.
Yin Zhu carefully recounted the matter.
After hearing it, Xu Jinzhi’s expression barely changed. “Did the heir’s wife say anything else?”
“No,” Yin Zhu replied. “But Concubine has been uneasy since hearing about it.”
Jiang Yunzhi quickly added, “Please don’t blame Yin Zhu. It’s my own overthinking.” She paused, her voice softer. “If I had known Old Madam Zhao let us choose first, I wouldn’t have taken that peach blossom.”
Her fingers brushed the flower again, as if now finding it conspicuous.
Xu Jinzhi glanced at it briefly. “This has nothing to do with you.”
Yet her unease remained. She looked at him hesitantly. “Will the heir’s wife think… that I intended to overshadow her?”
After a pause, Xu Jinzhi said, “Old Madam Zhao was acting for the main courtyard. Since she failed in her duty, her punishment was justified.”
His tone was even, impartial.
Jiang Yunzhi remained silent.
Seeing her state, he added more gently, “Don’t take everything upon yourself. If she truly intended to blame you, she wouldn’t have stopped at dismissing one servant.”
This reassured her somewhat. She nodded softly.
The room fell quiet.
After a moment, Xu Jinzhi said, “For now, don’t go to the main courtyard. If you need anything, have Yin Zhu report it.”
Jiang Yunzhi nodded. “I wasn’t afraid of anything else… it’s just that the heir’s wife seems different this time.”
Xu Jinzhi paused slightly.
He had noticed it too.
But noticing was one thing—believing she had truly changed was another. Her recent composure was evident, but it wasn’t enough to erase her past behavior.
“She is recovering,” he said. “It’s normal for her to restrain herself. Don’t think too much.”
Jiang Yunzhi agreed quietly.
After giving a few instructions, Xu Jinzhi left.
Once he was gone, Jiang Yunzhi removed the peach blossom from her hair and set it aside. Though still vibrant, it now seemed out of place.
Yin Zhu said softly, “Why remove it? The heir said it wasn’t your fault.”
Jiang Yunzhi looked at it and replied, “Whether it’s my fault or not is one thing. Feeling at ease is another.”
Meanwhile, the main courtyard grew even quieter.
Wen Yunyi had no knowledge of this conversation—and no time to think about it.
After Old Madam Zhao’s departure, her duties had to be reassigned. Bai Lan listed them out, and Wen Yunyi reviewed them carefully, dividing them among different people rather than giving them all to one.
Qing Tao asked, “Why not assign everything to one capable person?”
Wen Yunyi paused, then said, “If one person holds too much responsibility, their ambitions will grow as well.”
Qing Tao immediately understood.
After assigning the tasks, Wen Yunyi had Bai Lan summon a few diligent maidservants.
They entered nervously, still remembering Madam Zhao’s dismissal.
Wen Yunyi gestured for the velvet flower box.
Inside were still the same plain designs.
The maids were stunned.
Wen Yunyi picked two willow-bud flowers and left the daisy aside. “I can’t wear them all. Take one each.”
They hesitated until Bai Lan said, “This is a reward. Accept it.”
The maids quickly thanked her and withdrew.
Wen Yunyi said calmly, “I don’t lack flowers.”
She paused, her gaze sweeping over them.
“As long as your loyalty is with the main courtyard, everything else can be discussed.”
They all bowed deeply.
Bai Lan finally felt at ease.
A balance of discipline and reward—Wen Yunyi had executed it perfectly. Before, they obeyed her out of status. Now, they obeyed because they knew she saw everything clearly.
Wen Yunyi leaned back after closing the last ledger.
If one’s heart wasn’t here, even treasures meant nothing. But if it was, even simple willow buds and daisies could shine.
At that thought, a faint smile curved her lips.