Ye Yunniang hurried into the inner room, her pupils dilating as she rushed toward the bed.
Jiang Tingjun slid down along the edge of the bed.
As Ye Yunniang reached the bedside, she tried to scoop him up in her arms.
But Jiang Tingjun resisted, flopping onto the floor and crawling swiftly past her legs, making a quick escape toward the door.
"Little master, stop!" Ye Yunniang twisted around to grab him.
Jiang Tingjun dodged nimbly and kept crawling, only to collide with Hong Cai, who was entering with a tray of pastries.
Afraid of stepping on him, Hong Cai threw herself backward, landing sprawled on the threshold.
"Ah—!" Hong Cai couldn’t hold back a scream as the tray in her hands fell, shattering on the ground.
Startled by her cry, Jiang Tingjun burst into loud wails.
Ye Yunniang rushed over and picked him up.
Maids and matrons stationed nearby quickly arrived.
Two of them helped Hong Cai up while another fetched a broom to sweep away the broken shards and pastries.
Zi Yuan, who had been keeping watch in a nearby room, came over at the noise. "What happened?"
Fortunately, the thick winter clothing had cushioned Hong Cai’s fall, leaving her with only a twisted waist and no serious injury. After dusting herself off, Hong Cai explained the situation, with Ye Yunniang adding details as she soothed the still-crying Jiang Tingjun.
Zi Yuan listened and beamed. "Our little master is crawling so skillfully at just eight months! How wonderful!"
Zi Yuan then went to report the incident to Fourth Madam Jiang, who rewarded them generously.
Every person in the small courtyard received a gift afterward.
As the wet nurse, Ye Yunniang was given an exquisitely crafted ring studded with gemstones—clearly of considerable value.
She tucked it away carefully, already planning to give it to her daughter-in-law when her son, Pan’er, eventually married.
From that day on, Jiang Tingjun spent every waking moment crawling around, except when he was sleeping or nursing.
Eventually, tired of crawling, he began pulling himself up with the help of furniture or people, attempting to walk.
During this time, Fourth Madam Jiang never came to see him. She was too busy preparing for Jiang Mingyue’s betrothal banquet, originally scheduled for the sixth day of the new year but postponed to the twenty-eighth after an accident befell the groom-to-be.
While horseback riding before the new year, he had not only broken his leg but also suffered a long, disfiguring gash across his face.
"They say the young master found himself too ugly like this and insisted on changing the date," Chunyao whispered to Ye Yunniang, sharing the gossip she’d heard.
Since Chunyao lived outside the Jiang Mansion and returned home daily, she was privy to more outside news.
"What kind of family is Fifth Miss’s future in-laws, to just change the date like that?" Ye Yunniang marveled. Invitations had already been sent out, and Jiang Mingzhe had even gone north to purchase dowry items.
Chunyao glanced outside before lowering her voice further.
"The Lin Family of Jiangcheng."
Seeing Ye Yunniang’s blank look, Chunyao explained.
In Jiangcheng, the Jiang Family was the wealthiest, but as merchants, their status was low—making them easy prey for the powerful.
It was only after Eldest Master Jiang became an official that the influential families eased their harassment—though only slightly. The Jiangs still spent vast sums every year on bribes and favors.
In stark contrast, the Lin Family was the most powerful household in Jiangcheng.
Their patriarch was a grand councilor in the imperial court, while his third son, Lin Chaosheng—though not an official himself—held the prestigious title of imperial scholar.
Lin Chaosheng managed the Lin Family’s ancestral properties in Jiangcheng and kept their branch relatives in line.
He had three sons and a daughter. The eldest two were already married, while the youngest, Lin Yanping, was a late-born child doted upon by his parents.
Lin Yanping had grown up spoiled and arrogant, spending his days gallivanting with a gang of followers.
During a hunting trip outside the mountains, he happened upon the Jiang Family’s carriage returning from a temple visit and caught sight of Jiang Mingyue’s face.
Smitten by her beauty, he threw a tantrum at home, demanding to marry her.
The Lin Family was exactly the kind of connection the Jiangs longed for.
When the Lins sent a matchmaker, Old Master Jiang agreed without hesitation.
Old Madam Jiang, however, had reservations after learning of Lin Yanping’s wild behavior.
But with Old Master Jiang’s approval and Jiang Mingyue’s own willingness—after all, as a merchant’s daughter, marrying into a grand councilor’s family as the principal wife was an opportunity beyond dreams—she relented. Still, she felt guilty toward Jiang Mingyue, which was why she had sent Jiang Mingzhe away before the new year to procure dowry goods.
Ye Yunniang was impressed by how much Chunyao knew.
Chunyao smirked proudly—she made a point of befriending many in the Jiang Mansion.
She was privy to plenty of secrets.
Eagerly, she shared more gossip with Ye Yunniang.
For instance, Old Master Jiang was still vigorous enough that one of his chamber maids was pregnant—though the news hadn’t yet spread.
And Bai Xiuxiu might also be expecting, as the third household had stopped ordering spicy or seafood dishes for over half a month—despite Bai Xiuxiu’s love for both.
Growing more animated, Chunyao revealed something else.
"Second Madam might not be able to keep it."
"Really?"
"It’s true. She secretly summoned Immortal Lady Ma."
Ye Yunniang noticed the emphasis Chunyao placed on "Immortal Lady Ma."
"Who is she?"
"Immortal Lady Ma trained as a Daoist nun in her youth, learning some medical arts. After leaving the order, she married a traveling physician and picked up more skills while accompanying him.
Eventually, she settled in Jiangcheng. She specializes in preventing miscarriages—so much so that none of her patients ever lose a child. Her reputation earned her the nickname ‘Fertility Maiden,’ but since that sounded vulgar, people started calling her Immortal Lady Ma instead."
"That’s impressive."
"Impressive, my foot! She only takes cases she can handle. For the rest, she makes excuses and refuses, then claims the family didn’t want her help."
Chunyao’s voice dripped with anger.
"Did she wrong you somehow?"
"Not me—my sister. When she was pregnant and struggling, we hired Immortal Lady Ma. She demanded three hundred taels upfront.
Even after paying, she made outrageous demands—winter melons in the dead of winter, lotus flowers to admire, and a plate of fried chicken tongues. Do you know what that is?" Chunyao paused.
"What?" Ye Yunniang played along.
"Chicken tongues. A single chicken’s tongue is the size of a fingernail. A whole plate requires a hundred chickens. We couldn’t provide it, and after some sharp words, Immortal Lady Ma stormed off. Five days later, my sister miscarried. That woman had the gall to spread rumors that it was our fault—that we’d refused her help and doomed my sister to childlessness." Chunyao clenched her fists.
If Immortal Lady Ma were here now, Chunyao would have gladly punched her.
"Does your sister have children now?"
"Yes." Chunyao’s voice brightened. "Three years ago, she had a daughter. Last year, she gave birth to a son, just before me. Now she has both."
"Immortal Lady Ma was wrong—your sister’s fate is blessed." Ye Yunniang offered a few consoling words before steering the conversation back to Second Madam.
"If she hired Immortal Lady Ma, she should be fine."
"Hard to say. Old Jin mentioned Second Madam ordered many difficult dishes lately." Chunyao frowned. "It’s the same trick Immortal Lady Ma used before."
"Wouldn’t Second Madam see through it?"
"The reason Immortal Lady Ma has been able to establish herself in Jiangcheng is because she successfully helped the magistrate’s wife and Madam Lin, the Third, with their pregnancies. They are her backers." Chunyao sighed as she spoke—if not for this, her family would have dealt with Immortal Lady Ma long ago.
Chunyao then smiled. "This time, Immortal Lady Ma won’t escape so easily."
