The Feng family’s main gate naturally couldn’t compare to the glory of the Yang or Xu families’ vermilion lacquered gates, but passing through the small auspicious gate, one immediately saw flowers and trees providing shade with winding corridors—the estate occupied surprisingly vast grounds, not inferior to the large residence the Yang family had purchased near the Confucian Temple in Chongjing Ward, perhaps even exceeding it.

Both Lixia and the young servant driving the carriage were the couple’s confidants, so naturally showed no unusual reaction. Once the carriage entered the carriage hall, they came forward from left and right to help Xu Fengjia alight. Lixia then helped Seventh Miss down from the carriage shaft. By this time, low voices could already be heard outside. Shortly after, Feng Jin personally entered the hall wearing a slight smile.

This person’s appearance always brightened people’s eyes, having a radiant illuminating effect.

“Young General,” he cupped his hands toward Xu Fengjia. “Troubling the Young General to grace us with your presence.”

The previous few encounters with Feng Jin had always been somewhat awkward. This was Seventh Miss’s first time meeting Feng Jin in a normal social setting.

His temperament was naturally refined. Though years had passed and a few traces of weathering had appeared between his brows, his bearing remained clear and measured, his speech elegant. Combined with those absolutely stunning features, gazing at him truly gave the impression of an immortal. Even Lixia, a head maid accustomed to grand occasions, couldn’t help but stare entranced.

Xu Fengjia remained impassive, merely returning the cupped-hand salute and courteously nodding to Feng Jin. “Commander Feng is too kind. After all, this matter concerns the common people—we must sit down to discuss a response.”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but shoot Xu Fengjia a glare before curtsying to Feng Jin. “Xiao Qi greets Elder Cousin.”

Ninth Concubine was properly from the Yang family’s second branch with an official rank. The Feng and Yang families naturally counted as relatives. Feng Jin addressing Xu Fengjia as Great General showed his unwillingness to curry favor, maintaining polite modesty. But Xu Fengjia accepting it without question appeared excessively arrogant.

Feng Jin then smiled warmly at Seventh Miss. “Haven’t seen Younger Cousin in many years.”

His attitude toward Seventh Miss was naturally much more cordial. As the group walked and talked, the elegance of Feng Jin’s smile actually caused Lixia, following behind Seventh Miss, to stumble slightly in her steps.

“Mother originally intended to come out to greet you personally,” Feng Jin seemed long accustomed to people’s loss of composure around him. Walking while slowly explaining to Seventh Miss, “But the elderly lady’s eyesight has deteriorated over the years, nearly blind. The weather is also cold, making movement inconvenient. My younger sister is also an unmarried young lady, improper to meet with outside men. This is rather discourteous—please don’t take offense, Younger Cousin and Cousin-in-law.”

Xu Fengjia rubbed his nose, his expression odd. Before he could speak, Seventh Miss had already glared at him fiercely, so he forcibly changed course. “The visit was quite sudden, already troubling Elder Cousin…”

The group exchanged pleasantries while entering the Feng family’s main hall. Sure enough, they saw Madam Feng dressed in brocade sitting properly in the hall’s center, surrounded by several quietly standing maids—she now had some air of a wealthy family.

Probably hearing Feng Jin and company’s footsteps, Seventh Miss’s group had just entered without speaking when Madam Feng rose, blinking her cloudy yellow eyes, laboriously aligning herself toward Seventh Miss’s direction, asking tremulously, “Has Seventh Miss arrived?”

She had aged considerably since their first meeting years ago. Though dressed in fine clothes, with silver hair at her temples and wrinkles on her face, she had long lost that indomitable spirit maintained even in adversity. A woman of forty or fifty, yet like an elderly matron past sixty, her entire being enveloped in declining twilight. Though Madam Feng now enjoyed wealth and honor, she clearly wasn’t a happy old woman.

Seventh Miss and Xu Fengjia naturally had to pay respects to their elder. Since they hadn’t met in years and this was the first time paying respects to his maternal aunt, Xu Fengjia properly performed two kneeling bows with six kowtows, delighting Madam Feng into a face full of smiles, repeatedly demurring, “I dare not, dare not! The Young General’s status is noble—this old woman is but a commoner, how could I deserve this!” Even Feng Jin’s expression softened considerably.

After both sides exchanged courtesies, Feng Jin invited Xu Fengjia, “The household is small—Young General, don’t mind the quiet. Shall I accompany you for a walk in the rear garden?”

Xu Fengjia smiled knowingly. “However Elder Cousin arranges things is fine—younger brother only has the duty to comply.”

Apart from that brief initial discourtesy, he’d behaved quite politely thus far.

Today’s meeting involved contact between military generals and intelligence agencies—likely both Grand Secretary Jiao and Eunuch Lian were involved. Naturally arranged in secrecy, even Seventh Miss didn’t know who the attendees were, let alone Madam Feng. She looked completely bewildered at the two juniors’ conversation.

The old lady wasn’t curious about Xu Fengjia’s reason for visiting. As soon as the two men’s footsteps left the door, she impatiently instructed the maids, “Bring the young miss out to meet her cousin!” Then grasping Seventh Miss’s hand, sighing deeply, “If Little Aunt knew underground, she’d surely be happy for you—Young Madam of a first-rank Duke’s household, that’s tremendous face. Our Seventh Miss truly has good karma rewarding virtue…”

Her thoughts dwelt obsessively on those few times Seventh Miss had helped them years ago, making Seventh Miss quite uncomfortable. After a few polite words, she asked Madam Feng, “I heard Master Huang is teaching Elder Cousin Sister embroidery techniques at Maternal Aunt’s residence…”

Madam Feng slapped her thigh, her face showing shame. “Precisely that matter—wasn’t it also your secret arrangement? Alas, unfortunately our Feng Ling is quite dull. After two years of Master Huang’s teaching, she seemed somewhat disheartened. Last autumn she took leave to visit relatives back home—who knows when she’ll return to the capital.”

Seventh Miss’s expression immediately changed.

Embroiderer Huang was leaving without even greeting her? No matter what, as someone experienced in society, she should know this basic courtesy, shouldn’t she?

She still wanted to personally ask Embroiderer Huang about many things from years ago!

She absentmindedly smiled at Madam Feng. “Returning to her Yuhang hometown? Our Fourth Sister actually lives locally—with her looking after things, Master Huang’s days should be quite comfortable.”

“Probably went back to Yuhang!” Madam Feng thought for a moment before answering Seventh Miss with certainty. “When taking leave then, she didn’t speak definitively—quite possibly after a few months if she tires of home, she’ll return to the capital to relax.”

With Embroiderer Huang’s skills, even retiring at the Feng household would be perfectly appropriate. If she was willing to teach her pearl-stitch embroidery to Feng Ling, the Feng family would essentially gain a family heirloom. That’s why her movements could be so free—coming and going as she pleased.

Seventh Miss took the opportunity to ask Madam Feng, “I’ve long wanted to ask Elder Cousin about this, but he keeps a low profile—only these past days did Xiao Qi learn he’d returned to the capital. About Qianxiu Workshop…”

Back then when she received Qianxiu Workshop as dowry, she’d wanted to gift the Feng family several branch stores, fulfilling Feng Jin’s wish and allowing profits from the relief embroidery technique to flow into Feng family hands. But Madam Feng firmly declined. Only after Seventh Miss’s repeated insistence did she reluctantly demur, saying Feng Jin wasn’t present and they should discuss it after his return to the capital. This dragged on for half a year. Seventh Miss raising this matter on her first visit showed her sincerity clearly.

Madam Feng’s expression immediately turned serious.

In that instant, that middle-aged woman who maintained grace despite fallen circumstances seemed to revive in her. She squinted her lifeless cloudy eyes toward Seventh Miss, earnestly shaking her head.

“Seventh Miss, listen to me on this matter.” Madam Feng’s tone was resolute as iron. “Qianxiu Workshop did build its fortune on Little Aunt’s skills, yes, but without the Yang family’s capital and connections, it couldn’t have reached this scale. These years, our Feng family has received your exceptional grace several times—it’s this old woman’s presumption not to have knelt in thanks—”

She shook her head, cutting off Seventh Miss’s emerging polite words, then continued, “But Qianxiu Workshop truly has little connection with our Feng family anymore. Being fortunate enough to have Seventh Miss arrange for the relief embroidery technique to be taught back to Feng Ling is already heaven’s blessing. If we still covet those few dowry shops of yours, what kind of people would that make us?”

Madam Feng’s words were genuine and sincere, seemingly allowing no room for discussion. Seventh Miss could only swallow her persuasive words.

Money wasn’t the issue—the Feng family didn’t lack money now, and she wouldn’t mind accepting the Feng family’s money to “sell” Qianxiu Workshop to Feng Jin. Proposing this transaction was actually only to fulfill the regret Feng Jin had revealed years ago, thanking him for his help with her marriage.

But Madam Feng’s attitude differing so greatly from Feng Jin’s was beyond Seventh Miss’s expectations.

Moreover, ancient techniques were traditionally passed to sons not daughters, to children not daughters-in-law. Many daughters inheriting techniques could only adopt live-in husbands or remain unmarried for life. Even just for ancestral considerations, Madam Feng should try to keep the relief embroidery technique under Feng family control. That’s why Feng Jin had been so concerned about Grand Madam’s “appropriation of the family’s unique art”…

While mentally reproaching herself for being overly suspicious, Seventh Miss boldly observed Madam Feng’s expression, taking advantage of her poor vision.

If what Nanny Liang said about the past was seventy to eighty percent true, Madam Feng’s reaction wasn’t surprising. The doubled betrothal gifts Grand Madam gave back then actually included payment for the relief embroidery technique. Having already purchased it, it couldn’t be considered appropriating the technique.

But if what Nanny Liang said was correct, why had Feng Jin so intensely accused Grand Madam at the time…

Seventh Miss took a deep breath. The words reached her lips, then she swallowed them back.

The relationship between the Feng family and herself was delicate. One wrong step, and subsequent reactions might exceed even her control. Eunuch Lian alone was a variable. Many things still required patience.

“Since Maternal Aunt feels this way…” She exchanged more pleasantries, then stopped insisting on transferring Qianxiu Workshop. “Speaking of it, I’ve been married so long yet never visited Maternal Aunt—truly very discourteous. Please don’t take offense, Maternal Aunt.”

“With your Lady ahead of you,” Madam Feng seemed quite philosophical, “it’s difficult for you! And your mother-in-law is Third Aunt… Good child, knowing you remember us in your heart is enough! Besides… your cousin isn’t convenient for much contact with outsiders now either.”

Thinking of the rumors spreading everywhere outside, Seventh Miss felt the room’s atmosphere gained three parts awkwardness. Though Feng Jin and the Emperor might be completely innocent, as a presented scholar with improper standing, his reputation for life would probably never be good.

She hastily changed the subject, discussing trivial matters since coming to the capital with Madam Feng. Only then did she learn that when Feng Jin brought his dependents north years ago, he’d experienced considerable difficulties before settling in the capital. Within a few years his family business flourished, achieving modest prosperity. But the details of his interactions with the Crown Prince, even Madam Feng knew little about. Now with both eyes nearly completely blind, she merely listened to a few books daily and managed minor household matters like firewood, rice, oil, and salt. Household authority had completely transferred to Feng Jin’s hands.

When Feng Ling emerged, after both sides exchanged courtesies, Madam Feng and Feng Ling arranged to serve lunch. Three women sat together eating a somewhat awkward casual meal—after all, the Feng mother and daughter didn’t interact frequently with Seventh Miss. Though both sides held goodwill, they couldn’t immediately become familiar enough for uninhibited conversation.

After lunch, seeing Madam Feng growing drowsy, Seventh Miss made the excuse that she habitually napped at noon, allowing Madam Feng to comfortably excuse herself to rest. Feng Ling then led her to her small embroidery pavilion, having Seventh Miss rest on her bed. “My room is the quietest. Other places being suddenly unoccupied, I fear they can’t be properly tidied.”

Though the Feng household was large, the population was small—indeed lived in quite sparsely. Seventh Miss readily accepted Feng Ling’s kindness. Picking up a handkerchief from beside the embroidery frame and examining it, she praised, “Elder Cousin Sister has excellent skills.”

Feng Ling smiled and said softly, “The household has no other matters—idle time is spent embroidering, so the work is especially meticulous. If Younger Cousin finds it good, take it to play with.”

She was two years older than Seventh Miss, already twenty this year. In middle-class Qin families, she’d be considered an old maid, let alone upper-class families where unmarried twenty-year-olds found marriage difficult. Actually, Feng Ling’s features resembled Feng Jin’s—also a beautiful young lady. Now with her brother prosperous, she absolutely shouldn’t fail to marry. Examining the handkerchief, Seventh Miss couldn’t help but look up questioningly. “Elder Cousin Sister is nearly twenty this year?”

Feng Ling smiled calmly. “Mother didn’t tell you? Since age seventeen I’ve worshipped Jingwei Niangniang—won’t be marrying in this lifetime.”

In those times, some wealthy merchant families, unwilling to let daughters marry and suffer, pampered them at home for life—not uncommon. Among Shanxi’s great merchants, seven or eight in ten raised such chaste daughters. Over time this became a social phenomenon, with all chaste women worshipping Emperor Yan’s daughter Jingwei. The specific reasons, Seventh Miss didn’t fully understand.

She strenuously suppressed her surprise, not showing her confusion too obviously. Perhaps precisely this polite restraint pleased Feng Ling, for she explained further, “Now with Elder Brother’s status, great households look down on me while humble families mostly harbor thoughts of social climbing… Mother is in this condition—how can she lack someone to care for her? I’m also tired of enduring in-laws’ petty grievances. Simply living at home freely and comfortably is actually cleaner—though Younger Cousin is a new bride, I shouldn’t say this. But I grew up in Suzhou seeing much. New brides enter households trembling with fear. Internally they must serve parents-in-law and attend to husbands; externally they must manage household affairs. All good food and entertainment deferred to family, occupying last place themselves. After years of toil, once pregnant, moderately wealthy families elevate bed-warming maids. A lifetime of wife-concubine rivalry brings constant unrest. Better to simply live at home for life—”

As she was about to continue, footsteps suddenly sounded outside. A maid from Madam Feng’s side announced herself and entered. “Master Lian requests Young Madam come speak with him.”

Mentioning Eunuch Lian, this maid’s attitude was very familiar—clearly the two households frequently interacted, probably not merely colleagues. Feng Ling hastily rose to invite Seventh Miss. “Uncle Lian summons you—probably important matters. I’ll accompany Younger Cousin.”

She personally accompanied Seventh Miss into the rear residence’s small garden, circling through a deserted small path, seemingly casually selecting one room from a row of empty south-facing quarters along the wall. After Seventh Miss entered, she saw a small door in the corner stood half-open. Passing through this small door and walking briefly through a low doorway, then pushing open a sliding door—brightness flooded her eyes as another garden appeared before her.

Great households commonly had various secret mechanisms and passages. Baifang Garden naturally had them too. Though Seventh Miss knew this, she rarely used them. This was her first time witnessing the Yanyin Guards’ secretive methods. Her heart gained deeper understanding of Eunuch Lian and the Feng family’s relationship. Eunuch Lian lived year-round in the deep palace, rarely even spending nights outside. Though several prominent eunuchs had purchased properties in the capital, he seemed the only exception. Who knew his true property was actually next to the Feng household.

Feng Ling seemed like an old hand at this route. The garden inside and out was deserted. Only upon entering a building within the garden could one see two solemn-faced young men guarding the door. Seeing Feng Ling accompanying Seventh Miss, one stepped forward to speak quietly with Feng Ling.

Feng Ling smiled at Seventh Miss. “Uncle Lian’s mood isn’t great right now—I won’t go in.”

Her attitude was relaxed and casual, actually making Seventh Miss relax too. Last time outside Kunning Palace, she’d only exchanged a few words with Eunuch Lian, hinting that Xu Fengjia wished to contact him privately. She wasn’t actually very familiar with this person. Now rashly requesting a private meeting, she naturally harbored some concerns.

Forget it—with Eunuch Lian’s status, if he wanted to harm her, he wouldn’t wait until now.

Seventh Miss pushed remaining concerns aside, smiled at Feng Ling, ascended the steps, and pushed open the door to enter this tightly closed small room.

Upon entering, Seventh Miss’s eyes brightened.

The room had skylights. Though windows and doors were tightly closed, gentle light filtered through red and yellow glass. The entire room lacked tables and chairs. All four walls were enclosed in glass. Through the glass, countless clusters of embroidered works radiated cloud-like, mist-like brilliance toward Seventh Miss—all precious items embroidered with gold and silver threads. Even on the room’s only long table, behind a glass frame, an embroidered screen displayed a five-clawed golden dragon roaring proudly, seemingly about to break through the screen, whiskers and tail flowing. Even part of the dragon’s head seemed to have emerged from the screen.

This embroidered screen embodied the vivid lifelike quality of relief embroidery to perfection. Though Seventh Miss was seeing it for the first time, she knew this was the ebony wood golden dragon breaking through the sea great screen that made Qianxiu Workshop famous in Jiangbei over a decade ago. From then on, relief embroidery became known to northerners, giving Ninth Concubine the reputation of ‘Suzhou’s First Embroiderer.’ This screen could be called Ninth Concubine’s sole representative work in life.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but stare entranced for a moment.

When she kept Ninth Concubine company in the Northwest, Ninth Concubine could only do common household work, commissioned for outside sale. Naturally the fabric and thread used couldn’t be this magnificent.

Yet the style and temperament flowing from this great screen matched her Northwest embroidery from years ago—both possessing Ninth Concubine’s unique delicacy, and beneath that delicacy, a trace of restrained flamboyance.

In this era without images, the few mementos left by departed ancestors could often trigger memories from years past.

Memories moistened Seventh Miss’s eyes, making her recall long-forgotten years.

In this world, someone had once loved her so selflessly. Even after many years, this love continued endlessly, never seeking return. This was also the only familial affection she could enjoy across both lifetimes.

Light footsteps sounded from the corner. Seventh Miss suddenly turned her head, watching a middle-aged man with hands clasped behind his back slowly emerge from the inner room.

Eunuch Lian.