In the end, the Grand Madam couldn’t persist in her illness for much longer.

Perhaps because Feng Jin wasn’t actually in Suzhou, the old lady finally deigned to recover a few days before the Dragon Boat Festival.

The Dragon Boat Festival was a major holiday. Households with regular social connections would send festival gifts to each other’s homes. How the family’s internal conflicts played out was one thing, but how outsiders perceived things was quite another matter.

After being ill for several more days, the Grand Madam gradually recovered.

Once the Grand Madam recovered, all her children had to put on expressions of joy and celebration, visiting to pay their respects and express concern.

The old lady had indeed grown considerably thinner. She looked more haggard, and even the white hair at her temples had visibly increased in several patches.

Counting on her fingers, the Grand Madam had been ill for over half a month. Except for Fifth Miss who was still convalescing in Moon Arrival Pavilion, all her children performed formal bows before rising to sit at her side, with Sixth Miss taking the lead in telling jokes to amuse the Grand Madam.

Though the Grand Madam’s face smiled, she kept glancing at Seventh Miss and looking at Ninth Brother from time to time. Her distracted state was obvious to everyone.

Ninth Brother and Seventh Miss also coincidentally scrutinized the Grand Madam’s expression with exploratory gazes.

Today’s Yang family was no longer the Grand Madam’s private domain. She could no longer dictate everything with absolute authority.

But after all, this mistress held connections to multiple powerful and noble families. The Qin family, the Xu family… and various other aristocratic households—all these connections extended through the Grand Madam. In matters of her children’s marriages, she still carried significant weight. Even the Old Master sometimes couldn’t go against the Grand Madam’s wishes. Otherwise, given the Old Master’s temperament, why would he have betrothed Fifth Miss to the Xu family?

But now Feng Jin was no longer the powerless, insignificant young Accomplished Scholar who could be kneaded and shaped at will. He had the backing of Eunuch Lian, the Crown Prince’s chief companion and such a prominent figure… In many cases, he wielded far more influence than the Yang family. If the Grand Madam still treated him as the unaccomplished youth from Wu he once was, it would undoubtedly be very unwise.

Seeing everyone lost in thought, Sixth Miss simply stopped talking and lowered her head to drink tea. The room fell quiet for a time.

After a long while, the Grand Madam sighed and patted Ninth Brother’s shoulder. “Go study. The academy coursework is getting heavier. Don’t let family matters distract you.”

Once she dismissed Ninth Brother, Sixth Miss rose to take her leave, smiling as she exited the room.

Both were perceptive people who knew the Grand Madam wanted to speak privately with Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss didn’t play dumb either. She sat in her place, quietly looking toward the Grand Madam.

But the Grand Madam hesitated, seemingly about to speak but holding back. After wavering for a while, she surprisingly dismissed Seventh Miss as well. “If there’s nothing else, go rest. Study your etiquette properly—it will be observed during the selection!”

Seventh Miss’s heart stirred. She wanted to say something, hesitated for a moment, then rose and left the room.

Since this matter involved herself, no matter how magnanimous the Grand Madam was, she wouldn’t discuss countermeasures with her.

Sure enough, that very evening, Bailu came to chat with Lixia: the Grand Madam had after all sent someone to the outer courtyard to invite the Old Master into the main hall. The lamp in the east secondary room burned until late into the night… The Old Master slept in the main hall that night.

How long had it been since the Old Master had spent the night in the main courtyard?

How late into the night had the couple deliberated…

Seventh Miss remained calm and composed. Early the next morning she rose to wash and dress, entering the main courtyard early to pay her respects to her parents.

The Old Master unexpectedly kept Ninth Brother as well. The family ate breakfast together.

When she said “family,” it actually meant just the married couple and this pair of twin siblings. Fifth Miss was ill for the time being, setting her aside. Sixth Miss had also sent someone this morning to report illness and hadn’t come to pay respects to the Grand Madam.

The two siblings had already eaten before coming. This meal was eaten absentmindedly—they were merely accompanying the Old Master and Grand Madam, fulfilling their filial duty.

While eating, Seventh Miss observed the Old Master’s and Grand Madam’s expressions.

Though the couple exchanged few words with each other, their demeanors had greatly softened.

It seemed the Grand Madam’s illness hadn’t been in vain… She had ultimately produced a solution that could move the Old Master.

After the meal, when the cups and dishes were changed, the Old Master picked up his tea bowl and coughed lightly.

“Ninth Brother, has the academy been busy lately?”

“Now that it’s the autumn examination season, the senior students are all returning to their hometowns to take the exams. The professors have been kept busy attending farewell banquets for days. The academy actually doesn’t have much going on. We just write some examination essays ourselves and review each other’s work daily.” Ninth Brother hastily gave a detailed account. “I’ve recently written several examination essays, but seeing how busy Teacher Nian is, I didn’t dare present them and soil the teacher’s eyes…”

With all the household chaos recently, the Old Master hadn’t examined Ninth Brother’s studies for quite some time.

The Old Master nodded but didn’t dwell on Ninth Brother’s coursework. Instead, he instructed, “You know that after your Cousin Feng passed the examinations, he came south of the Yangtze to handle matters for the Eastern Palace.”

He paused, then glanced at the Grand Madam before continuing, “He holds no official position, only an Accomplished Scholar title. If we took the initiative to invite him as a guest, it would seem like we’re curious about the Eastern Palace’s arrangements, appearing guilty with something to hide.”

Simultaneous flashes of understanding crossed Ninth Brother’s and Seventh Miss’s faces.

It seemed that when Feng Jin came, he truly did have a mission—one inconvenient for socializing with official circles.

Seventh Miss immediately thought of the Prince of Lu’s hidden agents that Xu Fengjia had rooted out in the south.

The Crown Prince’s steps were truly urgent and ruthless, as if he couldn’t wait to swallow the south whole…

However, matters below the surface were beyond the Old Master’s jurisdiction. Whether they were the Prince of Lu’s agents or the Crown Prince’s agents had nothing to do with the Yang family. Managing everything would instead easily invite the suspicion of those in power.

“However, we are relatives after all, and friction occurred between us in the past. If we pay no attention and ask no questions, it would seem too petty.” The Old Master coughed lightly before continuing, “You should send an invitation to your cousin. Two young men can drink at a restaurant together… and warm up the relationship between our two families again.”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but glance at the Grand Madam. Seeing the Grand Madam’s expression natural and even showing signs of approval, she inwardly had to admire the Grand Madam’s scheming mind: in politics, this noblewoman truly had exceptional skill. The thickness of this face was absolutely not inferior to the Old Master’s.

Ninth Brother was slightly stunned. He looked at Seventh Miss, but seeing her expression natural as if she hadn’t heard the Old Master’s words, he quickly suppressed the joy in his heart and answered solemnly, “Young Ninth knows how to handle this matter.”

His tone bore a subtle similarity to Seventh Miss’s whenever she promised something.

The Old Master couldn’t help but laugh. “You know how to handle it? You know where your cousin lives, how to contact him? You know how to handle it!”

With a touch of disdain, he instructed Ninth Brother, “You just concentrate on your studies for now. When it’s time to visit, someone will naturally come find you.”

With a few words, he led Ninth Brother to the outer courtyard to examine his examination essays.

The Grand Madam also led Seventh Miss into the east secondary room.

After pondering for quite a while, she asked Seventh Miss, “Little Seventh, speak honestly with Mother. What do you truly think of this marriage match?”

Seventh Miss pondered for a moment before lowering her head in a show of shyness. “Little Seventh will comply entirely with Father’s and Mother’s arrangements.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to speak frankly with the Grand Madam and make things clear: in this matter, their interests actually aligned—neither wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Feng family… Unfortunately, regarding the Crown Prince’s consort matter, the Grand Madam’s hopes differed from Seventh Miss’s.

This response naturally couldn’t satisfy the Grand Madam.

Since childhood, Seventh Miss had been full of clever schemes, always having opinions about other people’s matters. Why was it that when it came to her own marriage, she suddenly had no opinion?

She slowly scrutinized Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss also gazed back at the Grand Madam, her brow showing some expectation…

The Grand Madam understood.

This child was truly too shrewd. She had seen through the fact that she didn’t want to form a marriage alliance with the Feng family and was using this to leverage her, wanting to exchange it for more promises.

Indeed, with her calculating nature, how could she possibly pass up such an excellent opportunity? Originally the Crown Prince’s consort matter had been all but certain, but the Old Master’s interference had vaguely put Sixth Miss in line for the position instead. How could Seventh Miss be willing to accept this?

After all, she was still young. Though clever and quick-witted, fundamentally she still wasn’t as seasoned as her elders.

“Just rest assured!” The Grand Madam laughed and sighed. “The Crown Prince’s consort position was practically made for you—tailor-made! I don’t know what your father was thinking. When I first heard that Young Master Feng was so close to Eunuch Zhang and held such prestige before the Crown Prince, my mind immediately started working! No matter how beautiful Sixth Miss is, what connections would she have after entering the palace? The Crown Princess will inevitably use both pressure and coaxing with the Crown Prince’s consort… If the young lady of the Xu family is willing to look after her, that’s her good fortune; if not, there’s nothing to say—after all, we’re not proper relatives!”

“But you’re different. A legitimate daughter registered under my name, with a birth mother whose cousin is a favorite beside the Crown Prince, and with such an accommodating temperament—who knows, you might bear a son in a few years. Then everything would be different. A Noble Consort position would be secure. And who knows how many opportunities there would be after that—the Crown Princess is in poor health. She gave birth to one precious child and there’s been no news since. Even that precious child is so delicate, constantly suffering from headaches and fevers, requiring Divine Physician Quan to come administer acupuncture.” The Grand Madam grew increasingly enthusiastic as she spoke. “Your father just can’t see reason. He only sees that your cousin enjoys the Crown Prince’s favor and assumes he’s also someone who chases fame and profit. Those little frictions between him and our Yang family—we can just talk it over and it will pass. In the future, with you cousins working together from inside and outside, who the Eastern Palace truly belongs to will be hard to say!”

Seventh Miss smiled and listened attentively, but inwardly she was already calculating.

She hadn’t guessed wrong. The Grand Madam, after much deliberation, had finally compromised and acknowledged Feng Jin as a relative.

If she weren’t one of the parties involved, she would also praise the Grand Madam’s line of thinking as balanced and restrained, embodying the subtlety of a century-old noble family… The Yang family’s connection to Feng Jin appeared tenuous on the surface, but privately maintained the thread through Ninth Concubine. As long as Feng Jin still remembered some gratitude—given his temperament, he would certainly repay Seventh Miss a hundredfold. People like him, proud yet compromising with reality, after achieving success often repaid past benefactors ten or a hundred times over while ruthlessly suppressing former enemies.

Sending Seventh Miss into the palace, Feng Jin would naturally look after her. But stepping on the Grand Madam wouldn’t be so easy. Ninth Brother was right here, also a blood cousin. If Feng Jin took revenge, not to mention court and public opinion, he wouldn’t be able to explain it to Seventh Miss first.

No wonder the Grand Madam hadn’t worried at all about Feng Jin’s malice in the past… With this move, she had calculated Feng Jin thoroughly and completely. He had no choice but to take the bait!

“When the time comes, we’ll find a talented and beautiful young lady from the Yang family clan to marry into the Feng family. Then our two families will be inseparable in-laws. You’ll rely on the Feng family in the palace, and the Feng family will rely on our Yang family outside the palace… This is much better than you marrying into the Feng family and enduring criticism—your sisters all married into prosperous, upright families. Even though Fourth Brother-in-law’s mind isn’t very sharp, his character is proper and can withstand public scrutiny. Little Seventh, you must understand—Mother’s plan is truly for your own good!”

#

That afternoon, the Old Master also summoned Seventh Miss to the outer courtyard to talk.

On her way there, Seventh Miss even encountered Ninth Brother, who was heading to the main courtyard… This couple seemed to have coordinated, taking turns receiving these twin siblings, using words to bombard these young teenagers until they were both somewhat dizzy and confused.

“Your mother probably said many bad things about the Feng family this morning, didn’t she?” Compared to the Grand Madam’s excitement, the Old Master was much calmer, also more preoccupied. His lean, refined face was filled with contemplation, appearing as if even the Old Master himself hadn’t made up his mind.

With the Old Master, Seventh Miss didn’t adopt the same attitude of watching a show as she did with the Grand Madam.

“Mother has strong opinions and indeed has her own views on this marriage match.” She admitted lightly.

The Old Master wearily rubbed his face, pinching the corner of a miscellaneous book on his desk, looking Seventh Miss up and down several times before asking, “What does Seventh Miss herself think of this marriage match?”

Seventh Miss hesitated for a moment.

Talking with the Old Master was like fighting a battle. With the Grand Madam, she could just deflect and be done with it. But before the Old Master, she not only had to deflect but also perform the reaction he expected her to have in his mind.

She lowered her face without speaking.

The Old Master was indeed not surprised at all.

“Mm, your reluctance is quite natural.” His tone carried some thoughtfulness. “Compared to the glory of becoming the Crown Prince’s consort, marrying into the Feng family doesn’t seem like a good choice at first hearing.”

He paused, then beckoned to Seventh Miss with a smile. “Come sit closer to Father.”

Seventh Miss had no choice but to sit beside the Old Master, allowing him to look her up and down.

“Entering the palace as the Crown Prince’s consort is certainly a rare honor.” The Old Master looked at Seventh Miss and spoke slowly. “Unfortunately, though your appearance is lovely, it cannot be considered particularly outstanding in the palace, and your birth is even less noble… In all respects, while there are no obvious flaws, nothing is particularly remarkable either.”

“Sixth Miss is different. Palace people most favor innocent and charming types. The Princess Consort of Minyue and Lady Historian Jiao both regard Sixth Miss with special favor, proving that her appearance truly pleases the imperial family.” The Old Master’s tone was gentle. “Even without this matter involving your cousin, nine times out of ten, Sixth Miss would be selected… In the palace, she would indeed live more comfortably.”

Seventh Miss’s heart was crystal clear: the Old Master was afraid she coveted the glory and wealth of the Crown Prince’s consort position and might collude with Feng Jin to manipulate things from above and below to ensure her own selection.

She said nothing, only quietly waiting for the Old Master’s continuation.

The household’s two powerful figures and Feng Jin—all three had their own thoughts, and each had greater capabilities than Seventh Miss. At this time, if she were deceived by a few gentle words and revealed all her thoughts, she would only fall into a passive position. Every move had to be extremely cautious.

The Old Master just smiled. “Little Seventh has truly grown up. Even Father can’t see through your thoughts anymore… But enough idle talk. Feng Zixiu is your blood cousin. Since childhood you’ve frequently helped the Feng family. I heard that when the Feng family went to the capital, more than half of their travel expenses were funded by you young people. If you marry into the Feng family, you’re both a blood relative and a benefactor, with the Yang family backing you. Life won’t be difficult.”

Seventh Miss moved her lips. “But Cousin achieved Accomplished Scholar as the third-ranked graduate, his honor is excessive—”

The Old Master’s face quickly showed a flash of embarrassment. “I won’t hide it from you. Though Zixiu has the suspicion of advancing through beauty, what kind of person is the Crown Prince? Suspicion is ultimately just suspicion. I’m afraid he values his talents instead. This time sending him south of the Yangtze was to clean up after Fengjia and install the Crown Prince’s people among the hidden agents. Entrusting him with such a major responsibility—his brilliant future is already paved… However, compared to other families, the Feng family is indeed currently rather humble.”

He sighed lightly. “If you marry into the Feng family, there will inevitably be gossip among your sisters in the future… As your father, I can’t provide no compensation—I’ll give you those twenty Exquisite Workshop embroidery houses in the south to take to your husband’s family!”

Seventh Miss suddenly looked up at the Old Master.

A frontier official was truly skillful. This bargaining chip struck hard at her heart.

Exquisite Workshop had thrived because of Ninth Concubine’s convex embroidery technique. Its significance to Seventh Miss and Ninth Brother was beyond any ordinary property, and it was also the most profitable dowry under the Grand Madam’s control. But Seventh Miss knew in her heart that this property would certainly be given to Fifth Miss as dowry.

What belonged to the Feng family should be returned to the Feng family. If Ninth Concubine’s spirit in heaven knew, she would certainly hope for this. The Old Master’s condition was one Seventh Miss couldn’t help but be moved by!

Unfortunately…

“Little Seventh… Little Seventh’s heart is very confused.” She lowered her head, her voice like a mosquito’s buzz. “If Father permits it, Little Seventh would like to go to Hanshan Temple to burn incense and ask the Bodhisattva’s opinion.”

The Old Master’s pupils contracted, releasing sharp light, staring unblinkingly at Seventh Miss.

Though Seventh Miss showed hesitation, fundamentally she remained composed, letting the Old Master look.

Having maternal family backing made all the difference. Just because one Feng Jin had achieved success and returned in glory, both the Old Master and Grand Madam had completely changed their attitudes toward her, using gentle words and patient persuasion… They absolutely dared not use force. Now with the two giants in opposition, their thoughts clearly divergent, it gave Seventh Miss room to maneuver.

Otherwise, why would the Grand Madam of years past have been willing to marry into the Yang family? Wasn’t it because her birth mother died early, her maternal family couldn’t oppose Imperial Tutor Qin, so she reluctantly married down to a failed examination candidate?

“Good!” The Old Master made his decision. “I knew I hadn’t misjudged Little Seventh. This incense should be offered! But it must be offered carefully.”

Seventh Miss knew that her small arrangement ultimately hadn’t escaped the Old Master’s notice.

Fortunately, she had never intended to hide it from the Old Master in the first place.

“Father can rest assured. Little Seventh knows what to do.” She smiled slightly, bringing out her habitual phrase.

The Old Master stroked his beard with a faint smile, also appearing confident. “Indeed, even if Little Seventh has no plan, Zixiu… I imagine is also a child with plans!”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but furrow her brow inwardly.

It seemed the Old Master felt the marriage match he proposed was so tempting that Feng Jin simply couldn’t refuse…