As Xiyun and Yeon returned to their courtyard, Gaokang tailed behind them. Before the gate, Xiyun frowned.

Yeon didn’t know why he wasn’t opening the gate, so she did so instead. As the door opened, two rows of men and women lined up along the courtyard.

"Welcome home, Ninth Master Xiao!"

"Welcome home, Ninth Master Xiao!"

"Welcome home, Ninth Master Xiao!"

The shouts were loud enough as if to intentionally echo it throughout the entire estate.

"Who are they?" Xiyun said.

"They are obviously the servants assigned to take care of your courtyard. Every day, they will clean the buildings, pull the water, carry groceries to the kitchen, prepare the meals, and complete other tasks you require," Gaokang said. Instead of how many spies, he wondered if any of them weren’t spies of the other masters.

Xiyun walked inside and swept a glance at the two dozen people. "Kick them all out."

"The reason why the courtyard is habitable today is that people were already maintaining upkeep when it was empty," Gaokang clarified.

"From now on, I want those people out too."

Qiu Gaokang shrugged and waved his hand. "You all heard the Ninth Master."

Everyone made disappointed noises but complied. As the crowd thinned, only three aged women remained. In one of their hands was a measuring rope.

The oldest one smiled. "Ninth Master Xiao, we are the family seamstresses. We will take measurements today and deliver a supply of clothes tomorrow."

As Xiyun was about to speak, Gaokang placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. "This is Madam Qiu," he said slowly.

The woman began measuring and Xiyun didn’t stop her. It only took a moment, and Yeon was given the same treatment next. As the three seamstresses were leaving, Madam Qiu reached out her hand and pinched Gaokang’s cheek. Finally, they left along with everyone else.

Yeon immediately cracked and laughed. "That’s your mother!"

Gaokang didn’t bother retorting. He immediately turned around and began leaving, but Xiyun was sure he was gritting his teeth.

"Wait! Yeon said.

"What?" Gaokang said.

"We want to see the Lantern Festival."

Qiu Gaokang smirked and said one word. "No."

"You said Xiyun would have basic autonomy."

"On the condition that he follows the Clan Laws and Xiao Business Regulations. Without servants to properly run this courtyard or a business to manage, he won’t be allowed to leave."

"Business to manage?"

"Each Master and Lady hold at least one primary Xiao Family business. For example, the Fifth Lady manages the family's textile and handicraft industry. The Second Master manages the shipping industry. The First Master manages the West Market in Taiping. The family employs managers that oversee many other businesses. You will need to choose one of these businesses to take on. If not-" Gaokang walked out and slammed the gate shut.

Xiyun sighed and went to his room.

Yeon raised her fist in the air. "I’m glad we moved the table or else I would have definitely broken it right now." Her eyes shot open. "Wait. There’s still someone here."

Xiyun took a glance around. As far as anyone could tell, there was no one else in the courtyard. "Ignore them. They’ll leave eventually." He stepped inside.

She shrugged and followed him inside. "We need to figure out a way to see the Lantern Festival."

"You can easily jump over the wall or use the gate."

"Together. There’s no point if we don’t see it together. We can’t just pick some random servants and business to ignore?"

"They are not people we can trust."

"Maybe we can break you out temporarily."

"No."

Yeon froze. She stopped and faced the boy with her arms falling by her side.

"Another idea?" Xiyun said.

"No, more of a revelation."

Xiyun tilted his head.

"I remember now. I know where I saw the Old Script of ‘Xiao’." She proceeded to tell Xiyun the answer.

When Xiyun heard the answer, he went rigid as well. His mouth creased, as did his brows.

"We can," Yeon said.

"Should we?"

"We should," Yeon affirmed.

"Is this cause and effect? Is this karma?"

Yeon spun around. "Who knows, but we are going to the Lantern Festival!"

Xiyun craned his neck towards the sky. It was still wide, clear, and blue. I don’t want to be a part of the cause and effect of the world. I don’t want karma between people.

"Wait!" a high pitched voice cried out. From the kitchen, the Fourth Miss stepped out into the courtyard. She was still in her white-sleeved and blue-gowned dress.

Neither Xiyun or Yeon was surprised.

Yeon quirked her lips up. "What do you want?"

The Fourth Miss patted the dust from her dress and stood as straight as she could. Her sleeves came together. "This humble lady is called Xiao Xuexu."

"Okay," Yeon remarked.

Xiyun simply hummed.

Xuexu curled her fists. Her face turned a tinge red. "No," she whispered. "No," she said louder. "No, that’s not how you are supposed to do it! You are supposed to connect your hands and return with your names!"

Yeon nudged Xiyun. "What’s she going on about?"

Xiyun knew the girl meant etiquette, but could he explain all that to Yeon?

"If you don’t follow the proper procedures, how can we continue any conversation?" Xuexu said.

"We are continuing the conversation right now. It’s not difficult. I’m Han Yeon, and this is your uncle."

Xuexu froze for a full breath. "He is not my uncle! You are not my uncle you hear!”

"Of course not," Xiyun said. "And we’re leaving, Yeon." He went to open the gate but Xuexu’s hands beat him to the handle.

"I’m coming along."

Both Yeon and Xiyun took another glance at the girl who had slipped in with the leaving servants and hid in the kitchen.

"Since when did mothers send their daughters as spies?" Yeon said.

"She is not our problem." He pushed open the door.

Outside, Qiu Gaokang and the driver were discussing at the stone table nearby. Gaokang pushed himself upright and raised his eyebrow.

"We’re going outside the estate," Yeon said.

"Let me guess, you solved both the problem of servants and business in such a short span of time?"

Yeon waved her hand. "Of course I did. This is called unparalleled competence, something you only wished you could have. We need to enter the city to retrieve both our business and servants."

Gaokang’s eyes narrowed but he turned to the Fourth Miss next, wondering why she was here.

"Mister Qiu, I will be accompanying them." Xuexu showed off a token inside her perfume pouch.

Qiu Gaokang did not understand what the First Madam was doing, but it was indeed the First Madam’s personal token. "Wei De, ready the large carriage at the east side exit. And where supposedly is this business and these servants?"

Xiyun stepped forward. "It is the Xiao Family Carriage Service operating at Changxia Gate."

…

Attendants and maids were all scouring the west wing of the manor.

The First Madam’s personal maid walked through the hall past everyone. "Why haven’t we found her yet! Search the entire manor! Search the compound! You will all see what the First Madam will do to you all if none of you can find her!"

The servants all paled.

A True Guard entered the hall.

The personal maid frowned. "Did you find her?"

"The Fourth Miss has left the estate along with the Qiu Gaokang and Ninth Master’s party."

Horror spread throughout the personal maid’s face. How am I going to explain this to Madam?

...

A slim bald man entered the narrow room. Inside the room, Chu Su was leaning against the wall on a bench and Chu Danlu was laying with his back on a crate staring at the dusty ceiling.

Danlu shot up. "Uncle Deng."

"What’s with that reaction? You used to smile every time you greeted me."

Danlu noticed that he was holding a broom. "You’re part of the cleaning staff now? That’s low even for you."

"Brat."

"Deng Bo, visiting?" Chu Su said.

"Of course I’m visiting, Boss Chu. I traded assignments to these quarters with a clueless newbie. The managers are too busy to notice."

"Don’t call me that anymore. Let’s make what we have to say quickly. Danlu, cover the door."

Danlu got up with a stern expression and stood at the door and kept an eye on the hallway.

"I thought they would want to get rid of you the most. New developments?" Chu Su asked.

Deng Bo smiled wearily. "Unlike the others, I’m still keeping all the routes for the southern expansion in my head. But, Tiao and Cao both folded. Idiots those two! Especially Tiao, his contract ends this year, he can’t wait that long for the benefits?"

"He had a newborn daughter when I left, right? If he needs better short term work, there’s no point in staying. Where is Cao? Since when did he have a home in the city?"

"Don’t worry, Boss, some of us already gave him a bag of coins to start out."

"I still want to check on him."

"He should have stayed too."

"Why should they have stayed?"

"Obviously they should have stayed for your return."

"I’m not returning."

"But you did return, Boss Chu. You’re here right now."

Chu Su spat. "A complete coincidence. You think I would be sleeping in this damp stall if me being here meant anything. Only a miracle could turn this around."

"Someone’s coming!" Danlu called.

A young man ran into the room. Deng Bo scrambled forward to meet him.

The young man ignored Deng Bo and his heavy breath turned towards Chu Su instead. "Mister Qiu is visiting, he is asking for you, Chu Su, and your son."

The father and son both shared a glance. Not to mention the fact that it was the seldomly seen Mister Qiu who was calling them, Chu Danlu getting called along with Chu Su was an ominous premonition.

The father and son along with Deng Bo followed the young man throughout the halls of headquarters until they reached the front hall.

Chu Su saw the scene first. Surrounded by the many managers and head accountants was four people. Qiu Gaokang of the Xiao Family, a young girl in a silk dress, and the two youths that he and his son had traveled with for the last few weeks. Both the young girl and Xiyun sat on the two chairs against the wall. His hand immediately clutched Danlu’s shoulder.

Danlu's head turned to face his father with wide eyes from what he also saw.

"Stay quiet and wait," Chu Su said tersely.

Danlu didn’t know why but he complied.

The two sides met. Although no expression was on Xiyun’s face, there was a small smirk on Yeon’s.

A man in a brown gown, Manager Fei, stood next to Qiu Gaokang with connected sleeves. "Mister Qiu, I swear I didn’t allow Chu Su to come back here. He is also disparaging on the agreement. I was going to kick them out any day now. You are free to get rid of them however you like."

Gaokang ignored the man. "Are they it?"

Xiyun hummed.

"And you choose this business?"

Xiyun hummed again.

Qiu Gaokang nodded and stepped forward. "The rumors are true, the family has a new master. From now on, this service will be the primary business of Xiao Xiyun, the Ninth Master."

The surroundings raised in volume. Although everyone was surprised, no one had their mouths drop further than Chu Su and Danlu. Xiao Xiyun, the Ninth Master?

Manager Fei immediately came forward to bow to Xiyun with a plastered smile. "Ninth Master Xiao, I am Fei Qin, the head manager of headquarters and the administrator of the service. I will be humbly in your service. As your first order, will you finally fire those two wretches? If it is, I will personally handle the repercussion in their contracts for you, Young Master."

Xiyun leveled a gaze at the man. "You’re fired."

Fei Qin mind blanked. "What?"

"Will I always have to repeat myself from now on?" Xiyun genuinely thought this.

Gaokang shook his head. "Of course not. Since when does a master of the Xiao Family need to repeat themselves? Fei Qin, you’re fired," he said tonelessly.

Xiyun pointed at Chu Su. "He will be the replacement. He will also be my acting substitute. Treat his every word like mine."

A miracle. That was the only thought passing through both Danlu and Deng Bo’s mind.

Chu Su opened his mouth. Everyone waited to see what the man’s first words were. "Stop all money flow! No funds leave! All branch level administrative decisions are to be locked! Manager Chen, I want the backlog for the last two years! Manager Bao, I want the accounts of every branch for last year! Someone else, get me a record of all current assignments!" He was treated by silence that perpetuated the hall. "What are you all waiting for? These are orders!"

After a few quick eyes drifted past Gaokang and Xiyun, everyone scrambled to their stations. The entire headquarters became busy.

Gaokang placed his hand on the shoulder of the listless Fei Qin that had fallen onto the floor. In his mind, he thought about which open positions in other family businesses were available.

"Deng Bo," Chu Su called.

"Boss Chu!" He scrambled forward, still holding his broom.

"What are you doing still holding that thing?"

Deng Bo immediately threw the broom onto the floor. He internally swore that he would never touch that thing again. "What do I do?"

"Make a list."

"A list?"

"I want a list of where everyone is."

By ‘everyone’, Chu Su obviously meant their allies. Deng Bo curled his hands into fists. "Got it!"

Danlu slowly walked over to Yeon and Xiyun. "How did this all happen?"

"It just did." Yeon didn’t see time to properly explain everything, and she didn’t understand how these things were supposed to work anyway.

"We have the time to explain." Xiyun grasped the cup on the tea stand next to his chair.

Sitting adjacent to Xiyun was the Fourth Miss which Danlu didn’t recognize. "And her?" Danlu said.

"Spy," Xiyun said.

"A spy," Yeon said.

"Stop calling this lady a spy!" Xuexu called, but both Xiyun and Yeon didn’t even look in her direction.

Yeon placed a hand on Danlu’s shoulder. "Ignore her, Danlu. Now, let me tell you a story."