"Not familiar."

Tong Youyu’s fright was not severe and she soon recovered. However, Madam Yin arrived and scolded Yin Mingyan sharply: “When Modian was a puppy, it was tiny, but can you say the same now?”

The dog had only been raised for a little over two years, with an astonishing appetite at every meal. It was fat and strong; while it was gentle toward familiar people, being allowed to roam freely around the estate meant strangers would inevitably come in.

Tong Youyu hurriedly explained, “I was the one afraid of it. It came over, but it didn’t make any threatening moves.”

If her timidity caused an innocent dog to be blamed, it would be a sin—and it would also drag Modian’s owner into the scolding.

Madam Yin sighed, “Even so, you can’t just let it roam like this. Something will happen sooner or later.”

Perhaps the scent of that tiger unsettled Modian.

“A good dog wouldn’t bite!” Yin Mingyan retorted.

Only after confirming the dog would not be punished did Tong Youyu take her leave.

Once seated in the carriage, she exhaled softly and raised her hand to her forehead. “Jinkui, what if I regain my memories?”

“Miss, do you feel unwell in your head?” Jinkui asked anxiously.

Tong Youyu shook her head. “It’s nothing serious; just a brief pain earlier…”

It wasn’t intense, just slight discomfort.

Jinkui suggested, “Perhaps we should have the doctor check you when we get back?”

“No need. It’s getting late; no point in making a fuss.”

Whether or not she regained her memories, she was prepared to accept it calmly.

Even if everyone said her former self was flawed, that was still part of her.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, Old Madam Shen, having taken the prescriptions from Doctor Lu for consecutive days, finally recovered.

The illness had lingered for nearly half a year without improvement. Shen Cheng felt a vague anxiety but now was overjoyed and immediately had Madam Peng arrange a grand family banquet to celebrate.

Tong Youyu was happy too, sitting beside her grandmother at the large round table.

The Shen family was simple—Shen Cheng had no concubines, with one son and two daughters. The old madam had borne two children, but Tong Youyu’s mother passed away early, leaving only Shen Cheng.

In fact, the old master’s concubine had also given birth to a son, whom Tong Youyu called her uncle.

The third master Shen, born of a concubine, was appointed as a county magistrate and rarely returned after the old master’s death. The old madam had allowed his mother to live with her biological son to enjoy her remaining years.

Today’s banquet included Shen Cheng’s family, the old madam, and Tong Youyu.

With the elders in good health, Madam Peng planned to make this Mid-Autumn Festival livelier by inviting an opera troupe to perform for two days.

Building a stage and inviting performers was expensive. In previous years they had been frugal and rarely did so.

Old Madam Shen said, “We could just go to the Pear Garden’s private boxes; there’s no need to spend silver here.”

Madam Peng winked, “But aren’t we expecting honorable guests for tea?”

She was referring to having identified a suitable match and was looking for an excuse to arrange a meeting.

As the children grew older, it was necessary to socialize more to find good matches.

Shen Cheng respected his wife’s decision. “Your children’s filial piety must be accepted. After all, we don’t build stages every year.”

Shen Yumu muttered beside him, “Putting up a stage and performing magic tricks is no longer popular…”

“What do you think is popular then?” Shen Cheng turned to her.

“Of course, fierce beasts. Ever since the young general received the emperor’s gift of a white tiger, many envied it. No one had seen one before. Some shrewd merchant caravans sensed a business opportunity and quickly procured leopards to rent out.”

“Is that true?” Old Madam Shen was surprised. “I must have been ill for too long to know anything.”

Madam Peng shook her head, “Leopards and tigers sound terrifying. Why join such a spectacle?”

“Mother, they always come with cages and strong guards. They won’t let them run loose, so what’s so scary?” Shen Yumu said wistfully.

Madam Peng disapproved, “Not suitable for your grandmother to see. Stop fooling around.”

Unrelenting, Shen Yumu glanced at Tong Youyu and asked, “Cousin, have you seen them at the general’s mansion?”

Shen Lianyin smiled, “I heard the general’s wife treats you well. You must have seen it by now.”

Tong Youyu paused mid-bite when the topic turned to herself. “I glanced once. The steward fed the beasts chicken and mutton—quite bloody.”

Fierce beasts chew raw meat and snap bones loudly, with a distinct aroma lingering.

Such a scene might intrigue ordinary people, but what if it startled the elders?

Shen Yumu scoffed, “You saw it and called it bloody because you didn’t want to look.”

“Third cousin, that’s not what I meant,” Tong Youyu explained.

Beside them, Shen Shuzhang said, “This is all the young general’s doing. That spoiled rich boy set a bad example. The idle sons all want to imitate him, raising wild beasts to compete. Now even merchant caravans are involved.”

“Brother shouldn’t say that,” Shen Lianyin gently responded, “The white tiger was a gift from His Majesty, a blessing and a sign of favor.”

The young general had a bright future. No matter how grand the pets of those spoiled sons were, they couldn’t compare to Yin Zijian’s.

“That’s enough. His Majesty is not a topic for young ladies to discuss.”

Old Madam Shen stopped the chatter in time and turned to Madam Peng. “Building a stage is wasteful, and the children don’t even enjoy it. Why not use the money to book a private room at Starview Pavilion?”

Shen Yumu and Shen Lianyin’s eyes lit up and both agreed.

Starview Pavilion was famous in the capital, a seven-story tower resembling a pagoda.

Besides exquisite food and wine, the best part was the view, capturing the bustling night scene of Yongle Street.

Its private rooms were always in high demand, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival when many spent silver to enjoy the splendid lantern displays.

Shen Cheng thought it was a good idea. “We must book quickly, or no room will be available.”

Madam Peng agreed and said she’d have the steward arrange it the next day. Then she turned to Shen Yumu. “Focus before the holiday. Isn’t the Green Robe Assembly about to start at the academy?”

The Green Robe Assembly was a traditional event co-hosted by Fengli Academy and Yinshan Academy, where both sides exchanged poetry, rites, music, and also practiced archery and cuju (ancient football).

The academies encouraged everyone to participate in at least one category—not for competition, but to deepen friendship.

Shen Lianyin loved poetry and was part of the poetry club, so she chose that. Shen Yumu was skilled in painting and didn’t want to choose anything else.

Tong Youyu attended Yinshan Academy. She originally wanted to choose calligraphy, but several classmates had already done so, so she settled on playing the zither.

Her skill was mediocre; participation was the point. After all, she wasn’t afraid of losing.

Madam Peng inquired about each and was quite pleased. The children had pursuits in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—proof that their elders’ efforts were not in vain.

After dinner, Old Madam Shen called Tong Youyu to the Bamboo Hall to lend her the treasured guqin she often used.

Tong Youyu quickly declined, “Grandmother’s beloved instrument—please don’t let me damage it.”

The guqin was precious; she wouldn’t dare play it recklessly.

The old madam sighed, “I hate to give it to you, but if I don’t, I’d have to sacrifice my dignity.”

“Hm?” Tong Youyu felt uneasy and puffed her cheeks.

The old lady held the guqin worryingly. “The Green Robe Assembly gathers scholars from both academies. If someone asks who taught your playing, wouldn’t that expose me?”

Tong Youyu reflected briefly, “It’s not that bad…”

“Do you expect anyone to praise your playing?” Old Madam Shen thought for a moment. “Those would be mere flattering words. Don’t take them seriously.”

“...” Tong Youyu covered her eyes. “Grandmother, you never told me this before. I already signed up.”

No one praised her playing, probably except Lin Jinzhù...

Though Lin Jinzhù learned the piccolo, she couldn’t tell good from bad. That day on the boat, when young Master Wenren played heavenly music, she didn’t react much at first.

“Enough, enough,” the old lady resigned. “I’ll sacrifice my dignity. I’m old anyway; what use is pride at my age?”

“Grandmother…”

“I’m tired. You may go.”

******

The Green Robe Assembly soon arrived, with the two academies competing together. Though meant as friendly exchange, secretly everyone wanted to prove superiority.

Especially the students—youthful and energetic, all eager to compete.

This year, Yinshan Academy had some strong contenders. Yin Zijian, the young general, was skilled in riding and archery—like using a sledgehammer to kill a chicken.

Then there was Princess Changhui and the Third Prince, both trained by renowned teachers since childhood, each with their own talents.

After scanning the scene, only Tong Youyu and Lin Jinzhù seemed destined to lose.

They both faced a formidable opponent—the capital’s talented lady Lu Runing.

Lin Jinzhù lamented, “She plays the zither and the piccolo. We’re doomed…”

“We’re both going to lose, woe is us…”

“You can’t be called talented if you only know one thing,” Tong Youyu smiled. “She’s been learning music since age three. Our loss is only natural.”

Besides, talent requires innate understanding; not everyone can master it.

Lin Jinzhù held her cheeks. “Fang Feiai will surely tease me for days!”

Thinking she couldn’t just give up, Lin Jinzhù grabbed Tong Youyu’s hand. “Let’s go watch their cuju match first. Maybe he’ll lose.”

“Um...” Tong Youyu hesitated. She thought it unlikely.

Yin Zijian didn’t sign up for archery but joined the cuju team.

Though their practice was limited, his skills and agility made it hard for anyone to stop him.

As expected, they arrived just in time to witness Yin Zijian’s solo performance.

He was tall and imposing, a battle-hardened warrior whose prowess left others far behind.

His eyes shone like bright stars, with a high nose and thin lips. Every movement was graceful and decisive.

He impressed all the students, who admired strength. Fang Feiai ceased his previous grumbling and sincerely apologized.

The watching girls blushed, hearts aflutter.

Lin Jinzhù exclaimed, “The young general is so handsome and extraordinary. If he were a girl, suitors would trample the doorstep!”

Though daughters in Dayong Dynasty were bold, it wasn’t to the extent of men proposing to women.

Yinshan Academy won this round, and everyone was pleased. Fang Feiai turned and spotted Tong Youyu and Lin Jinzhù.

He smiled, “I heard Miss Tong and the young general were childhood sweethearts?”

His tone was not offensive, but a trace of teasing was unmistakable.

“We’re not close,” Tong Youyu shook her head, unaware how widely the childhood sweethearts rumor had spread.

Yin Mingyan stood beside them and immediately stopped the gossip. “Young Master Fang, don’t speak nonsense. Their childhood relationship was nothing special.”

“What do you mean by that?” Fang Feiai was puzzled.

“Why ask so much?” Yin Mingyan glared. “Don’t drag unrelated people together.”

The onlookers murmured:

“That sounds more like hostility than unfamiliarity…”

“The young general seems never to have spoken to Miss Tong at the academy…”

“But in Suishan, they seemed quite familiar.”

“Miss Yin is the sister; she knows best. What she says must be true.”

Yin Zijian’s dark eyes fixed on Tong Youyu. She claimed they weren’t close?

“We really aren’t,” he said, lips pressed tight. “She just calls me uncle.”

“Isn’t that childhood sweethearts?” Lin Jinzhù grinned and linked arms with Tong Youyu. “Why deny it?”

“I…” Tong Youyu’s eyes widened as everyone’s gaze shifted.

They’d known each other since childhood but deliberately avoided each other at the academy, as if hiding something.

Yin Zijian was truly cunning, placing her in an unfair position…!