The Son Fell Short of the Father, the Second Estate's Fourth Young Lady!

[After many twists and turns, you finally stepped into the secluded rear courtyard.]

[Along the way, maids kept casting curious glances your way. You were alone, without a servant, and plainly dressed.]

[Yet your looks and bearing were outstanding, no less impressive than those of the young masters in the courtyard.]

[At the rear courtyard gate, a steward stopped you. Surprise flickered in his eyes.]

["Xie Guan of the Main Estate. I've come to pay my respects to my mother," you said calmly.]

[The steward hurriedly checked the list of young ladies and masters invited to the banquet that the madam had given him. He could not find the name "Xie Guan."]

[He wondered when the Main Estate had acquired a young master by that name. The man had not even brought a servant. As doubts crowded his mind, someone leaned close and whispered a few words in his ear.]

[The steward's faint show of respect slowly turned cold. So this was the unfavored young master who had offended Madam Yuan.]

[Today's affair was important. Letting you in rashly might bring him needless trouble, and you were only a concubine-born son. He need not fear offending you.]

[Just as he was about to refuse, a clear voice rang out in pleasant surprise:]

["Why, Young Master Guan is here!"]

[The stout steward turned. Two women were walking gracefully along the winding path from the pavilion behind him, followed by four or five servants.]

[He hurriedly bowed. "Miss Yue!"]

[You looked toward them. One was someone you knew: Xie Yuan's fourth cousin, Zhang Yuzhi.]

[She was sixteen, with a graceful figure. On her feet were little red lambskin boots embroidered with gold clouds. Over her clothes she wore a scarlet feather-gauze cloak lined with white fox fur, and an azure-and-gold, green-flecked sash