Amid the exclamations, Xu Fengjia executed a carp jump, then several figures crossed. The situation instantly reversed—that gray-clothed man fell to the ground and was kicked by Xu Fengjia into a corner of the pavilion, apparently having fainted.
Only then did everyone relax. Shuxia hurriedly helped up the Grand Madam, arranging for tea and water, using a hot towel to press against her forehead, and pinching her philtrum. After much commotion, when the men all went out to check on Xu Fengjia, Shuxia also requested snuff to apply to the Grand Madam’s philtrum. Only then did the Grand Madam sneeze several times and slowly regain consciousness.
Upon waking, she urgently asked, “Fengjia—Fengjia—”
She was so panicked she couldn’t even speak properly.
Only after learning that Xu Fengjia’s fall was feigned defeat to lure the enemy and he himself seemed uninjured did she completely relax, pressing her chest and gasping continuously. “Never again will I dare keep him at home—truly frightening people to illness!”
She also showed concern for Seventh Miss. “Look, look—your face is white from fright. Poor Little Seven, raised in comfort—where would you have seen such scenes!”
Never mind the children—even Madam Li was frightened pale. After several rounds of tea, they slowly recovered.
“This heir’s courage is really too great!” Madam Li, her terror barely settled, still patted her chest.
The Grand Madam slowly explained to Madam Li. “It was unavoidable… This person was watching like a tiger, lurking in Suzhou for who knows how long. If not for Fengjia taking this risk, when living at home there’s no principle of guarding against thieves for a thousand days.”
Speaking of it, the logic was understood, but concerning family, the Grand Madam couldn’t help but care.
The young ladies were also brought over. Upon entering they exclaimed continuously, inquiring what had happened.
Only after everyone was reseated as guests and hosts and served tea did the scene become somewhat calmer.
Sixth Miss showed Seventh Miss the pinch marks on her hand. “Seventh Sister keeps such long nails!”
On her fair soft hand were already three or four crescent-shaped blood marks.
Seventh Miss was also startled. “I’m sorry, Sixth Sister! I—I was frightened for a moment—”
Sixth Miss was about to say something with a smile when Fifth Miss already leaned over. “What happened?”
Sixth Miss had to tell Fifth Miss the whole story again.
Fifth Miss glanced at Seventh Miss, smiling without speaking. She only patted Sixth Miss’s hand, then straightened to ask the Grand Madam, “Cousin is unharmed?”
The concern in her words came from sincerity, yet also carried a flavor of taking things for granted.
Madam Li couldn’t help but show an ambiguous smile, rushing to answer, “He’s fine, fine—very spirited! In a few moves he dislocated that bandit’s jaw, saying he feared he’d take poison to commit suicide. He never struck ruthlessly, only toyed with him!”
Seventh Miss couldn’t help feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
Forget it. Fifth Miss entered her role early, which was always better than entering it late.
She stood up and walked behind the Grand Madam, softly and gently asking after her health.
“Mother must be careful—you’re getting on in years, what you most avoid is emotional upheaval…”
Even with her back to her sisters, she could feel Fifth Miss’s gaze hovering on her shoulder.
Though Madam Li had been somewhat improper, after all she was an alarmed guest. After resting briefly, the Grand Madam repeatedly apologized and politely escorted Madam Li out of Hundred Fragrance Garden.
Only then did she return to the main courtyard, lying sideways on the bed feeling unwell, repeatedly calling for people to boil medicine and massage her legs, wanting this and that.
“Your cousin really—though young in years, how can his ideas be so bold! They say a person of great worth does not expose himself to danger, yet he’s fine using himself as bait, running around everywhere without even bringing guards… Truly reckless youth!” She complained to the children. “This is his good fortune—the mission succeeded. But what if it hadn’t, and he’d been injured? How would I face your Third Aunt? Really… Little Five, in the future you—”
Looking at Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss, she stopped without continuing.
Sixth Miss’s expression flickered. She glanced at Seventh Miss and smiled. “Speaking of which, who exactly is this person? It seems he’s had his eye on Cousin for some time?”
Perhaps from being frightened repeatedly today, making the Grand Madam somewhat abnormal—this noblewoman who usually most loved being mysterious, most particular about “refined ladies, see no impropriety, hear no impropriety,” also rarely loosened her tongue.
“This person was once a famous bandit in the Jiangxi area. Apparently his reputation in the outlaw world wasn’t small—he had a nickname I’ve forgotten, but I remember this person seems to be surnamed Liao.” She slowly told the backstory to her daughters. “At that time the Eastern Palace was still young, and your father was only Jiangsu Provincial Administration Commissioner. The eldest prince was ordered to provide disaster relief in Jiangxi. Apparently he exchanged several moves with this bandit, and back and forth, came to greatly admire Bandit Liao’s skills, recruiting him to work under his command.”
“When the eldest prince extends an invitation, who but a fool would refuse? Since then, this person had no more voice in the outlaw world, until when you sisters were six or seven years old, when the Fujian Wang family fell. I heard he killed several people in Fujian, all ruffians and scoundrels who rolled in the outlaw world. Such underworld killings customarily go unprosecuted unless reported—though your father suspected he went to clean up loose ends for the Wang family, he didn’t pay much attention… Unexpectedly, after that he never left Jiangnan again. The year the Zhejiang Liu family fell, he appeared in Hangzhou and took the Liu family’s elderly, young, wives and children back to their hometown.”
The Grand Madam surveyed her three daughters and sighed. “You’re so accustomed to this life of fine clothes and food—you truly know nothing of the bloody storms outside. This time Fengjia came to Jiangnan ostensibly to train troops, but actually more to eliminate the hidden network Bandit Liao has been operating for Prince Lu in Jiangnan. He left in the first month, pursuing him for over a month—stubbornly the man escaped to Suzhou. Without removing this person, Prince Lu’s eyes and ears in Jiangnan aren’t fully plucked out. Fengjia guessed that being brave, fierce and vengeful, he would certainly want to achieve merit to offset his crimes, using our family’s lives as a greeting gift to meet Prince Lu in Shandong.”
Fifth Miss listened intently and couldn’t help but ask, “Why our Yang family—”
The Grand Madam glanced at Fifth Miss with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, not answering for the moment.
In less than a moment, Fifth Miss also understood on her own.
“Right, our Yang family auditing the salt tax is precisely to cleanly sever Prince Lu’s open network in Jiangnan—naturally we’re thorns in Prince Lu’s eyes and flesh.” She muttered to herself, then shivered.
“This person is really too audaciously bold!” Sixth Miss also couldn’t help interjecting. “The great crime of exterminating a family—he dares commit it? If it really came to that, Prince Lu would also not fare well. A high court official—can an outlaw kill at will? I’m afraid even if he succeeded and returned to his mountain lair, he couldn’t escape being silenced.”
The Grand Madam looked at Sixth Miss with appreciation and surprise, then looked toward Seventh Miss’s thoughtful expression, feeling a surge of comfort.
These three Yang family daughters truly were none of them ordinary. Facing great matters with such composure—other families’ daughters couldn’t compare—the Li family’s two young ladies had cried all the way out of the Yang residence.
“What day in this world doesn’t have strange events? In the previous dynasty, with the dignity of Crown Prince, there was still the unsolved mystery of the Cudgel Assault case.” She slowly taught her daughters. “Today you all behaved very properly. Ladies of great families—when Mount Tai collapses before you, when elk rise to your left, your color doesn’t change, your eyes don’t blink. Don’t learn Madam Li’s small-minded ways, crying and wailing when people are so far away. Such people arriving in the capital will only become laughingstock!”
After sufficiently criticizing Madam Li, she spoke again of Bandit Liao captured today. “Returning to Suzhou for over half a month—though this person showed traces and displayed intentions against our family, he never appeared. Fengjia has many matters, now is a time of rising storms and surging clouds. The Crown Prince’s side also can’t do without his support. Having no time to delay further, he could only use this risky strategy, deliberately inviting the Li family over for spring wine as a pretext to lure the enemy deep… Unexpectedly this Bandit Liao truly fell for the plan…”
The sisters also knew what happened next—nothing more than this Hero Liao fighting Xu Fengjia and losing, instead being knocked unconscious and unable to successfully commit suicide, now being escorted to Xukou military camp for proper handling. Any finer or deeper actions were men’s business—knowing more would be useless to them.
Fifth Miss finally breathed out after a long while. “Truly a credit to this Bandit Liao for thinking of it—also truly a credit to Cousin for being even bolder!”
Her words rather promoted Xu Fengjia’s risky move.
The Grand Madam couldn’t help but frown. “Though this move succeeded, it was still too risky. If not for your cousin having urgent matters requiring immediate return to the capital, I wouldn’t have agreed! Better to guard against thieves for a thousand days than expose oneself to danger—” She looked at Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss, ultimately still speaking out. “After you marry in, you must properly advise Fengjia not to be so reckless with his life anymore!”
Reviewing the Grand Madam’s performance in this matter, she could be called composed and understanding of the big picture, making several young ladies seem rather unsteady in contrast. Therefore though Fifth Miss was embarrassed, she still obediently responded, “Daughter understands…”
Glancing at Seventh Miss, she asked, “Has the Xu family already sent a matchmaker to propose? How… how did I not know…”
The Grand Madam showed a loving smile. “Your Third Aunt personally wrote back to me saying the letter is already on the way. The matchmaker is Commander Xiao… I imagine once this bandit is captured, the matchmaker can come anytime!”
Fifth Miss paused, somewhat unnaturally lowering her head for a moment before raising it with a smile. “That’s wonderful—if they dragged it out any longer, I’d truly be impatient!”
Seventh Miss also smiled along. “Fifth Sister, why so anxious? What’s yours is yours—it won’t run away!”
The Grand Madam thus watched her pair of daughters banter, her face full of comfort.
Sixth Miss looked back and forth between Seventh Miss and Fifth Miss, biting her lip and pondering for a moment, her eyes flickering repeatedly. “Mother told the daughters quite a bit about adult matters today!”
Only then did the Grand Madam come back to herself, looking at Sixth Miss once.
Also with unstoppable appreciation. “Yes, you’re all grown now. Many things, you should also know.”
She called Sixth Miss to her side to speak intimately. “You’re good in everything, just sometimes your actions are too carefree. Inevitably you’ll have occasions to witness scenes in the future. Mother has found you two steward nannies—you’ll learn propriety with them, so you’ll know what to do later… Have you used the Western ointment? Let Mother see your hand—tsk tsk, your Seventh Sister was really willing—such beautiful hands, pinched like this…”
Fifth Miss rested her chin watching the mother-daughter harmony before her, her eyes full of thoughts.
She couldn’t help but glance at Seventh Miss again, lightly humming once.
The provocation was self-evident.
Seventh Miss took it all in.
Suddenly she felt deep exhaustion.
Clearly they were family, yet still playing mind games. Why couldn’t they speak plainly—laying groundwork, setting traps, false sentiment and empty posturing… It was thoroughly tiresome.
She lowered her face in a self-deprecating smile, slowly shaking her head.
Fifth Miss’s eyes flickered. She couldn’t help but want to speak.
But Ninth Brother entered the east inner room at this moment to show concern for the Grand Madam.
“Everything over there is finished—the bandit has been sent away.” He sat beside the Grand Madam asking with concern. “Is Mother all right? Today’s matter at Understanding Words Pavilion was nothing, but your fainting frightened your son terribly…”
Mother and son showed filial affection again.
Seventh Miss simply tugged Fifth Miss’s sleeve, standing to take leave of the Grand Madam.
Fifth Miss didn’t move at all, instead also sitting beside the Grand Madam. Three children surrounded her firmly. “Exactly—I was truly frightened. When I entered and saw Mother’s complexion, I knew something was wrong…”
Seventh Miss could only exit the main hall alone, entering Hundred Fragrance Garden.
Nanny Li guarding the gate also wore a rare smile. “The bandit has been executed—going in and out will be much more peaceful from now on!”
Everyone was joyful, making Seventh Miss seem rather lost and distracted.
She only casually deflected. “Yes, truly much more peaceful.” Seeing Nanny Li startled, she hurriedly added, “Just badly frightened today—even now my head aches.”
Only then was Nanny Li relieved. She even walked a few steps with Seventh Miss, her face unable to contain her joy, walking while chanting Buddha. “At least this matter has passed safely and peacefully.”
Seventh Miss only felt nauseated to the extreme. After walking a few steps, she casually stopped on the bluestone path before Answering Spring Breeze to toy with flower branches.
Feng Jingzhong, Quan Zhongbai, Gui Hanchun, the Li family’s two sons… Various men she’d encountered since transmigrating passed through her mind like a revolving lantern. Ninth Concubine’s deathbed instructions, Embroiderer Huang’s few words, Eunuch Lian in the small study’s letter, Crown Prince consort, Ninth Brother, Xu Fengjia falling thunderously to the ground face-up, Fifth Miss’s deliberate showing off, Sixth Miss’s anxiety about gains and losses regarding marrying into the Li family…
She could stuff one matter that shouldn’t be thought about into her heart’s depths, two matters, three matters. But when her worries became over ten, over twenty matters, when the people she cared about grew more and more, when her ties to this era became increasingly tight—Seventh Miss discovered the depths of her mind were already so full she couldn’t stuff in new worries.
The more precisely she calculated, the less she valued. The simpler her pursuits, the more distant her hopes.
When she struggled to survive in her past life, each day besides calculating, she at least had places to vent her pressure, places to cast off all human relations and worldly affairs, to release her inner rebellion.
But current life was like stagnant water. All she could do was submerge, submerge, and submerge again.
Perhaps one day, she too would become a noblewoman like the Grand Madam, abandoning what little conscience remained, everything for herself alone.
Yet was the Grand Madam happy?
A gust of wind passed. The delicate buds on the branch tips swayed slightly. Seventh Miss stared blankly at these pink-white creations for a long time before taking a deep breath.
Carved railings and jade steps remained, only beauty had changed. Women who couldn’t forever maintain strength, maintain victory, had already silently vanished like Ninth Concubine, like Third Aunt. Being able to stand here alive lamenting spring and autumn was already her victory.
And only by living to marry out of Hundred Fragrance Garden, forever leaving this man-eating brocade coffin, could she be considered to have achieved enlightenment.
No matter how much heartache and helplessness, it could only be buried deep within.
Even if her heart was full, she must stuff it fuller still.
This wasn’t easy, especially when an easy smooth path lay before her—it was she herself who refused to walk it. This bit of heartache, in others’ eyes, was purely deserved.
However, survival had never been an easy proposition.