When Qin Shuang'er came in from outside, her cheeks were flushed pink. As she passed by Jin Niang, the latter covered her nose and said, "Why do you smell so strange?"
"Don't even ask. I was trying to avoid the sun, but then I got called to help out, and now I'm drenched in sweat," Qin Shuang'er replied, biting her lower lip before calling for Little He to fetch water for her.
Jin Niang found it odd—it wasn’t the smell of sweat but something harder to describe, like rust mixed with a faint fishy odor. Could she have been asked to gut fish somewhere?
Putting the matter aside, the Zhou Family soon celebrated a joyous occasion: the Second Young Madam had gone into labor and given birth to a young master. As the firstborn legitimate son of the Zhou Family's fourth generation, the importance of this event was undeniable.
Madam Jiang intended to make grand preparations, while unmarried girls like Third Miss and Cousin Miss were more interested in which dignitaries would attend—after all, their own marital prospects might hinge on such connections.
Jin Niang, however, focused on the gifts presented by the Zhang Family for the baby's third-day celebration. There were silk handkerchiefs adorned with decorative flowers made of grass and gauze, symbolizing five sons and two daughters, as well as trays of pastries shaped like sleeping sheep and reclining deer. There were also buns distributed to guests to "share the pain," while the baby's bedding and clothes were sent by the mother's family.
No wonder Madam Jiang hadn’t assigned the sewing workshop to make the bedding and clothes—they were gifts from the mother’s side. The only reason they had been tasked with making items for Miao Xiaoniang before was because, as a concubine, her family wasn’t considered formal in-laws of the Zhou Family.
Even Madam Wu of the second branch had only asked Qin Shuang'er to embroider a "Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons" quilt, mainly to bring good fortune.
Fang Qiaolan nudged Jin Niang and whispered, "Have you noticed how the Second Young Madam’s attendants carry themselves differently now?"
"Of course! And it’s not just her—even Miao Xiaoniang has changed. Look, isn’t that her sister-in-law? You never used to see them at banquets like this," Jin Niang observed.
Qin Shuang'er, standing nearby, added, "I heard Miao Xiaoniang was just a maid once. Now she’s carved out a place for herself."
Jin Niang shook her head. Shouldn’t a servant’s goal be to work hard, earn their freedom, and make their own way in the world? But she kept such thoughts to herself.
"Let’s go back before Madam Chen sends someone looking for us. I still have so many powder puffs, oil prints, and fan cases to finish," Jin Niang urged.
At her words, Fang Qiaolian and Qin Shuang'er reluctantly followed her back.
The powder puffs, also called "fragrant cotton," were made of silk floss for applying powder. As embroiderers, their task was to decorate the backs with auspicious patterns. Jin Niang had twenty to complete and needed to sketch several new designs first.
Being the type to prepare thoroughly before starting, she drew a few "Double Happiness" motifs, followed by intricate patterns like butterflies among flowers, Buddha’s hand with butterflies, persimmons for good fortune, blooming narcissus, and magpies on plum branches—symbols of joy.
Since she had done so many, she now knew exactly where to place each stitch—a small comfort in her tedious work.
Meanwhile, Third Miss was being praised by Madam Jiang in front of everyone: "Her elder sisters aren’t as filial as she is."
With the Zhou Family’s two eldest daughters already betrothed, and Third Miss’s mother, Madam Lü, having recently assisted Madam Jiang in managing the household, it was only natural for Madam Jiang to show favor. Besides, Third Miss was exceptionally outstanding.
Madam Jiang also called Mei Pan'er forward. Now out of mourning, Mei Pan'er was at the prime of her youth, her beauty undeniable as she and Third Miss flanked Madam Jiang.
However, when inquiries were made, while Third Miss was considered a good match, Mei Pan'er—merely a cousin with a deceased father and a mother who had remarried far away—was politely dismissed.
Hearing the whispers, Mei Pan'er wiped away tears in secret. Her mother had initially promised to adopt an heir but later remarried, taking what little remained of the family’s wealth with her.
Even Fang Qiaolian pitied her. "Aunt left her no way out at all."
But Jin Niang disagreed. "You’re mistaken. Last time she returned to her maiden home, she caused such a scene that no one wanted her back. Now she’s remarried into wealth as an official’s widow. First, she’s secured her own future. Second, she’s cut ties with Cousin Miss completely. The Zhou ladies won’t associate them anymore—if anything, they’ll pity Cousin Miss even more. And the old madam? She’ll likely leave her entire fortune to her."
"Perhaps, but do you really think Aunt planned it that way?" Fang Qiaolian marveled inwardly at Jin Niang’s sharp mind—she’d never considered such layers.
Jin Niang smiled. "Then take it as me overthinking. But as they say, 'Parents who love their children plan for their future.'"
Just then, Dan Ruo arrived. "Jin Niang, Madam Lü wants to see you."
"Alright, I’ll go right away." Jin Niang guessed it was about making clothes.
Sure enough, Madam Lü handed her two bolts of silk. "I know you’re busy, so take your time."
Jin Niang smiled. "Thank you for your kindness, Madam. Third Miss is already so lovely—she’d look good even in a sack. But since you trust me, I’ll do my best."
"You’ve a silver tongue," Madam Lü said, pleased by the praise for her daughter.
At least she was better off than Yan Hong—having a child gave her hope.
Jin Niang ventured, "Madam, I do have a favor to ask. The pigments I’ve been getting are subpar. May I go out to buy better ones?"
Since Madam Lü was currently managing household affairs for Madam Jiang, she had the authority.
"Of course. I’ll have Cai Quan'er escort you," Madam Lü agreed readily.
"Many thanks, Madam!" Jin Niang bowed gratefully.
She needed to find Broker Cheng for updates—she couldn’t just wait passively. What if he forgot about her?
But as she was about to leave, Madam Wu of the second branch summoned her. Jin Niang hurried over and learned that Madam Wu was pregnant again. She wanted Jin Niang to copy scriptures for her, believing that the last time she did so, her son Brother Qin had been spared from misfortune. Since Jin Niang had also saved Brother Qin before, Madam Wu trusted her with this task once more.
Jin Niang agreed at once. "Rest assured, though with my current workload, it may take longer than before."
Madam Wu gave her ample time. "No rush. Just finish before I give birth."
"This servant thanks Second Madam!" Jin Niang replied joyfully.
Madam Wu also called Brother Qin over, and Jin Niang quickly stepped forward to greet him. Madam Wu said, "You two share a bond, no need for such formalities."
Brother Qin was just over a year old during last year's Double Ninth Festival, and now he was nearly two, walking much steadier. Jin Niang looked at him and silently wished, May you grow up safe and sound, living a long and healthy life.
When leaving the second household, Jin Niang saw that Cai Quan'er had already prepared the carriage. She quickly stepped onto the small footstool and said to Cai Quan'er, "Brother Cai, just take me to Sesame Street. Come back to fetch me in about an hour."
Sesame Street was where Broker Cheng's agency was located. Nearby, there were shops selling pigments, but Jin Niang wasn’t there to buy those. Still, she had to go in and pretend for appearances.
After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, she headed to Broker Cheng’s place. He was busy helping someone find a rental property, saying, "The house you’re looking to rent is in the suburbs and costs four strings of cash a month, but it comes completely unfurnished—you’ll have to buy everything yourself."
The tenant complained, "That’s too expensive! Back in my hometown, Cixi County, two and a half rooms with half a plot of land only cost two strings a month."
Broker Cheng laughed. "This is Kaifeng, the capital of our Great Song Dynasty—of course it’s different. Let me tell you, this place is in high demand even if it’s in the suburbs. If you don’t take it now, someone else will. Or you could try the government’s housing office, where a single room costs four and a half strings."
It was clear that this property wouldn’t stay vacant for long, and sure enough, the tenant agreed.
While the two were drafting the contract, Jin Niang asked one of the shop assistants, "Is renting a place really this expensive?"
A month’s wages wouldn’t even cover the rent!
Living in the capital is no easy feat.
The assistant sighed. "Absolutely. If you can afford to buy property in Bianjing, you’re practically blessed by the heavens."
Jin Niang chuckled along but quickly composed herself. Once Broker Cheng was free, she approached him about her own matter: "Has the Embroidery Bureau not recruited any workers this year?"
"Not yet. But don’t worry—even if you don’t get in there, there are other places you could go," Broker Cheng reassured her.
Jin Niang felt disheartened. She only wanted to work at the Embroidery Bureau and hadn’t considered other options. Would she really have to return home empty-handed? She took a deep breath, trying to muster some optimism.
On her way back, her spirits were low—the gap between her dreams and reality was stark. She wasn’t one of those transmigrated heroines with golden fingers, and having studied humanities, she had no knowledge of inventions or innovations.
That night, she had to work on Third Miss’s dress. Yawning, she continued stitching.
Fang Qiaolian glanced at her. "You’re still working?"
"Aren’t you too?" Jin Niang smiled.
Fang Qiaolian held up a handkerchief she was embroidering. "I can’t keep up with you—you’re so fast."
"What choice do we have? We came all this way just to earn some silver to take back home. Otherwise, how would we face our families?" Jin Niang habitually lamented their hardships.
After a few more stitches, Fang Qiaolian went to bed. Noticing the outer room was dark, she remarked, "How come Qin Shuang'er went to bed so early today? She usually stays up later than us."
Jin Niang sighed. "She fell ill a while back—maybe she’s still not fully recovered."
Life is truly hard.
At least Jin Niang wasn’t one to give up easily. She reminded herself that the Embroidery Bureau provided lodging—for the next three years, at least, she wouldn’t have to worry about rent.
The next morning, she woke up refreshed and began twisting thread. Si'er wasn’t yet skilled enough to embroider, but she had progressed from mending clothes to cutting fabric. Jin Niang handed her a prepared handkerchief frame to practice on.
She was gradually teaching Si'er, though she didn’t have much time to spare—their workload was overwhelming, and Jin Niang herself was stretched thin.
Before she knew it, it was already lunchtime. Si'er and Little He went to fetch the meal. After eating, Jin Niang took a short nap, not noticing that Qin Shuang'er had disappeared again.
Youth, once tasting pleasure, becomes insatiable—even a bamboo wife couldn’t quench such thirst.
Qin Shuang'er was sensible, though. "This servant is but a lowly maid. If discovered, I’ll take all the blame—say I was shameless."
Having spent years in the Zhou Family, she understood the young masters well. The second young master might be handsome and talented, but he was ruthless—if Cuixian had been sent away, he wouldn’t have lifted a finger. The third young master, however, seemed obedient but was rebellious at heart.
Zhou Shenzhi adored Qin Shuang'er’s snow-white skin—far lovelier than his so-called fiancée, and far more devoted to him.
But since he wasn’t yet married, any scandal would mean Madam Wu would never tolerate Qin Shuang'er. His frequent visits were only possible because his mother was preoccupied with the affairs of the second and third households. If caught, neither of them would escape unscathed.
At this moment, he thought of someone.
Qin Shuang'er returned later than usual, but luckily, everyone had just woken up and didn’t seem to notice her absence—except for Si'er, who never napped. She sensed something odd but kept it to herself.
Later, she whispered to Jin Niang, "Sister Qin has been leaving for an hour at noon these past few days."
Jin Niang hadn’t paid much attention lately—they no longer had major conflicts, and everyone was too exhausted from work to care about anything else.
"Si'er, let’s not meddle. If she harms us, we’ll teach her a lesson. But if it’s something else, sneaking around could get you in trouble," Jin Niang cautioned.
Some things are better left unknown. Curiosity kills the cat.
Si'er obeyed Jin Niang’s words and dropped the matter.
Jin Niang then instructed, "Hurry up with your embroidery—follow the pattern and don’t leave too many loose threads. This handkerchief is the only one from my dowry I can spare for you to practice on, so make it count."
"Yes," Si'er replied earnestly.
Third Miss’s dress was finished in about eight days. Jin Niang was more skilled at women’s clothing, but when she went to deliver it, she sensed tension in the air.
One of Third Miss’s maids, Que'er, explained, "Sister Jin Niang, it’s nothing—Third Miss and Fourth Miss Zhou have been punished."
"What's the matter?" Jin Niang noticed that these young ladies usually stayed in their rooms doing needlework, rarely gathering for playful activities or poetry gatherings as often depicted in novels. They mostly assembled for morning greetings or banquets.
Que'er immediately fell silent.
Jin Niang didn’t press further, but Fourth Miss Zhou found the situation baffling. Being mentally older than the others, she seldom engaged in disputes with them—there was simply no need.
But today, her father had suddenly suggested that her birth mother, Miao Xiaoniang, assist in managing the household. Instead of blaming their neglectful father, Third Miss and her mother turned their resentment toward Miao Xiaoniang, accusing her of scheming.
Was it only Madam Lü who could manage the household, while Miao Xiaoniang was barred from helping?
Miao Xiaoniang wasn’t desperate for power—she knew her position as a concubine made her authority illegitimate. But she needed to stir the waters. Madam Jiang would never willingly hand over control to her, so the responsibility might fall to Lady Zhang, the daughter-in-law. Unlike her gentle elder sister, this Lady Zhang was jealous and hot-tempered. Madam Jiang, too, was fiercely strong-willed. Let the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law clash over it.
She had endured years of humiliation and sidelong glances—this wasn’t just a game to her. She wouldn’t let it slide.
Originally, Madam Lü had assisted Madam Jiang in household affairs, but Miao Xiaoniang’s interference disrupted that arrangement. Now, with a son and her master’s favor, she was even vying for authority.
Lv Ying remarked, "The Elder Master Zhou never involved himself in domestic matters before. Today, he suddenly said that since you’re busy, more hands should manage things—clearly hinting at you."
"Exactly. Though unspoken, everyone understood. The Elder Master fears I’ll mistreat Fifth Brother, so he wants Miao Xiaoniang to have some leverage." Madam Jiang saw through it but couldn’t ignore the encroachment. In her youth, she would have raised a storm, forcing her husband to apologize.
After all, she was the first wife, mother of the eldest son, and came from a prestigious family.
But at her age, quarreling with her husband would only invite ridicule, even from her daughter-in-law.
She was growing weary of these inner-household struggles, yet now the old madam had stepped in. The old madam had likely guessed that her daughter’s absence was due to discord with Madam Jiang. Seeing Madam Jiang’s indifference toward Mei Pan'er, suspicions festered.
So, when the household paid their respects, the old madam clasped Lady Zhang’s hands and praised her lavishly: "You’re such a good child, coming to see me daily even after giving birth to little Brother Cun."
Lady Zhang was flustered—the old madam usually favored the widowed Eldest Madam. She quickly curtsied. "Serving you is only natural, Grandmother."
"Time flies. Brother Cun’s wife is already here. Your mother was about your age when she bore him, and I entrusted the household to her. Now she has a daughter-in-law of her own—how quickly the years pass." The old madam’s words were deliberate.
Madam Jiang understood the implication. She hadn’t expected the usually silent old madam to side with her daughter-in-law. Though Lady Zhang was part of the main branch, once authority shifted, control would slip from Madam Jiang’s grasp.
Just like in officialdom—without power, one was utterly defeated.
So Madam Jiang smiled. "Indeed, I hadn’t realized so much time had passed. Once my daughters are married, my heart will finally be at ease."
She was signaling to Lady Zhang: after the girls’ weddings, the household would still be hers.
Lady Zhang kept her composure. Though spirited, she wasn’t foolish—she wouldn’t interfere in the power struggle between her mother-in-law and grandmother. But managing the household would be preferable to idling in the front courtyard, where servants showed surface respect but no real fear.
The tension between the women simmered. Madam Jiang returned fuming and sought solace with Madam Wu.
"I didn’t want to trouble you with this, especially now that you’re with child. But I’ve no one else to confide in."
Madam Wu hesitated—this was the main branch’s affair. Still, she and Madam Jiang were close. "Everyone guards their own interests. Don’t worry, Sister. Your daughters’ marriages will still be in your hands. Staying steady is what matters."
Madam Jiang brightened. "I hadn’t thought of that."
"One sees clearer from the outside," Madam Wu chuckled.
Madam Jiang studied her. In their youth, the Elder Master Zhou had no concubines, and they’d enjoyed years of harmony. Madam Wu, however, had entered a household teeming with scheming wives and concubines. Now their roles had reversed—Madam Jiang, aging and distant from her husband, faced restless young concubines. Though they couldn’t threaten her position, their antics grated. Meanwhile, Madam Wu’s husband, the Second Master Zhou, had transformed, devoting himself solely to her.
Life was unpredictable. Madam Jiang felt her resentment ease.
Letting Lady Zhang assist was still better than yielding to Miao Xiaoniang.
At least Second Miss Zhou’s dowry was nearly ready. If managing the household invited scorn, she’d rather pass it to her daughter-in-law than be manipulated further.
As Madam Jiang left, Madam Wu shook her head. "Sister-in-law remains unwilling to bow to anyone."
That evening, Madam Jiang summoned Lady Zhang and offered her a role in household management. Lady Zhang feigned reluctance but was secretly thrilled.
Even Jin Niang and the others heard. Madam Chen warned them, "The new mistress will assert her authority now. From today, we in the needlework room must stay out of sight—don’t become targets and risk expulsion. After enduring so long, don’t ruin it at the last step."
Jin Niang and the others agreed. Qin Shuang'er, even more cautious than Jin Niang, knew that if caught, she’d be doomed. She had to wait for Third Young Master’s arrangements.
Yet, amid the transition, Miao Xiaoniang’s long-placed spies infiltrated, uncovering a critical secret.
"You’re saying Eldest Miss’s dowry has drained both Madam Jiang’s personal assets and the family’s wealth?" Miao Xiaoniang was stunned.
The visitor nodded earnestly. "How would I dare deceive you about this matter? The Eldest Miss has prepared twenty thousand strings of cash for her dowry chest, while the Second Miss Zhou was given a shop, two hundred acres of paddy fields, and three hundred acres of woodland. Though her dowry money is less than the Eldest Miss's, it still amounts to ten thousand strings. Recently, Madam Lü has also received tributes along with her accumulated savings—roughly over two thousand strings, and it might reach five thousand in time... Only our young lady here is at a disadvantage. You must plan ahead..."
Miao Xiaoniang hadn’t expected Madam Jiang to act so ruthlessly. The second young master had already established his own household, and the Elder Master Zhou often admitted that his own judgment paled in comparison to his son’s. The family fortune was undoubtedly destined for the second young master, and Madam Jiang’s dowry had already been divided. There seemed to be no future left for her own children.
Had all her scheming come to nothing in the end?
No—she couldn’t accept this. Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck her.
If she could no longer gain any advantage in the main branch, what if Madam Wu of the second branch remained childless? Then, wouldn’t the entire wealth of the second branch fall to her own son...
Madam Wu was currently with child, her body fragile, and unlike before, she couldn’t guard herself as tightly. This was the perfect opportunity.
