When Seventh Miss emerged to eat dinner, Xu Fengjia had already been waiting for quite some time. Upon seeing her, he immediately complained impatiently, “Why did that take so long? I was about to go in and drag you out myself.”

“The two mamas had urgent business, otherwise how would they dare deliberately provoke your irritation?” Seventh Miss sat down at the table with a beaming smile, proactively picking up some Stewed Three Delicacies with her chopsticks for him and pleading, “All right, do you want to scold me or eat dinner?”

Xu Fengjia fell silent, venting his frustration by biting into a steamed bun. Seventh Miss showed a slight smile and delicately ate a mouthful of rice.

The two of them, one from the south and one from the north, had vastly different tastes. Ever since they consummated their marriage and reconciled, Seventh Miss had searched diligently and finally hired at great expense a renowned chef from the Lu School to prepare noodles and stewed dishes for Xu Fengjia, while she herself ate Jiangnan cuisine. Though they dined at the same table, they didn’t need to accommodate each other’s preferences. However, after eating several months of Jiangnan home cooking, Xu Fengjia had developed a taste for it and often ordered several small dishes. If not for his habit of regular physical exercise, his waistline would likely have expanded over these months.

After the two finished eating, Seventh Miss called Lixia over and casually gave her some quiet instructions, then arranged to bring a book to read. Xu Fengjia also found some story manuscripts to peruse, glancing over the top edge of the pages to steal looks at Seventh Miss’s face.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but laugh for quite a while. “What’s this? The two mamas just came to talk with me, and it’s so rare to see you this anxious.”

Xu Fengjia put down his book and sat up straight, counting on his fingers. “Tomorrow I have to accompany the Emperor to Nanyuan. I must leave early in the morning, and who knows when I’ll return. If I come back after dinner, it will drag on until the day after tomorrow before I can know. And you’re right here before my eyes now—”

He looked at Seventh Miss expectantly without speaking further.

Though this person sometimes had exceptional cunning, at other times he could be childishly adorable.

“The rule was set by you, Young Master,” Seventh Miss couldn’t help but feel somewhat triumphant herself. “What did you say to me back then? Now look at how you’re behaving—if you’re not ashamed, I’m ashamed for you!”

Xu Fengjia snorted through his nose but actually managed to restrain himself from pestering Seventh Miss about this matter. He put down his manuscript and asked, “When Doctor Zhong came this afternoon, what did he say about your health?”

Seventh Miss suddenly wished Xu Fengjia would continue pestering her instead. She averted her eyes to avoid meeting his gaze and mumbled, “He just said everything is fine.”

Master Xu’s sharp eyes immediately fixed on Seventh Miss. “Did you ask about the boxing practice?”

Sigh, this man never knew how to show tender consideration or give her any leeway.

Seventh Miss rolled her eyes and said irritably, “Seeing how I’m dodging and evading, do you even need to ask? Doctor Zhong said that in these past months my vital energy has stabilized considerably, and that this set of boxing exercises can definitely continue.”

Xu Fengjia immediately laughed loudly. “Looking at your expression, I knew this set of boxing must be effective!”

Seventh Miss grabbed her book to throw at him. “What are you so pleased about? It’s just a set of boxing exercises. Once I’ve learned it, I’ll use it to beat you up.”

“Flowery fists and embroidered legs—go ahead and beat me all you want,” Xu Fengjia scoffed. “Even if you used all your strength, it would only tickle me.”

Seventh Miss rolled her eyes at him and actually kicked out with one foot, but Xu Fengjia caught it in mid-air and began tickling the sole of her foot.

As the two were playing around, Zhongyuan suddenly called out from outside the concealed door connecting the west second room and west third room with a laugh, “Young Madam, Lixia asked me to relay that everything has been handled, and the items that needed to be sent have been delivered to the alley.”

Seventh Miss immediately smiled slightly, rarely allowing her happiness to show on her face. She called out clearly, “Good, you’ve all worked hard. Go rest now.”

Xu Fengjia gave her a puzzled glance, wanting to ask something but forcefully restraining himself from speaking. Seventh Miss, thinking of how he was exercising such patience solely for her sake, felt her heart soften. She leaned close to Xu Fengjia’s ear and smiled, “Actually, though this matter only benefits us, I didn’t use much cunning—it’s merely going with the flow. It’s just household business—”

She then told Xu Fengjia, in brief and detailed turns, about how the two mamas planned to scheme against Wu Xun’s wife and wanted to pull her in to share responsibility.

Xu Fengjia’s eyes lit up as he listened. He wanted to say something but forcefully swallowed it down, only saying, “It’s enough that you know. Look how late it’s getting—hurry and rest. We can still do a few things before sleeping.”

Seventh Miss smiled with pursed lips, lowered her head without speaking, and simply stood up to stretch lazily before walking toward the bed first.

#

Early the next morning, Madam Xu took Yu An and the others, boarding their carriages in sequence to go out. Seventh Miss naturally had to arrange everyone’s departure before returning to Mingde Hall to handle household affairs. She then summoned Wu Xun’s wife and Cai Le’s wife, saying, “The accounts from various places should all be compiled, creating overall income and expenditure ledgers. The bottom-line accounts also need to be verified. In any case, follow the usual yearly procedures—handle things as they should be handled.”

According to the Xu family’s established practice, though the female accountants were conveniently at the service of the madams and mistresses, their accounting abilities weren’t particularly strong. With the year-end bringing many matters and insufficient staff, they typically borrowed one or two stewards from the Xu family’s external accounting office. Cai Le’s wife therefore asked Seventh Miss, “Which chief accountant should we borrow this year?”

Seventh Miss said indifferently, “Whoever it is—just use whoever we borrowed in previous years. Remember to file it. Lei Xianqing’s wife has more contact with outside people, so you suggest someone.”

Lei Xianqing’s wife didn’t dare delay. After thinking for a moment, she proposed a name.

Seventh Miss had previously put some effort into learning about these external accountants and knew this particular accountant was the most impartial and strict, usually upright and uncompromising, managing accounts with great rigor. His family nicknamed him the Living King of Hell. She understood that Lei Xianqing’s wife was gauging her intentions—being the first year in this position, stricter standards would help establish authority among the household servants, which was why she recommended this person.

Those in positions of authority must always employ some strategy and couldn’t reveal their intentions with every casual flattery from subordinates. Seventh Miss remained noncommittal, nodding to settle the matter. After thinking a moment, she instructed Wu Xun’s wife, “Still, check things quickly. This year is short, and there’s much to do at home. Finishing the inventory early will free up people for other tasks.”

Wu Xun’s wife naturally agreed with a solemn expression, and the matter was thus settled.

Shortly after, someone came to report, “Year-end gifts from Grand Secretary Yang’s household have arrived, including gifts for Young Madam.”

Having entered the twelfth month, the capital had the custom of sending food and drink to married-out daughters. Seventh Miss hadn’t expected the Grand Madam to remember to send her gifts this year. After dismissing the mamas, she returned to the west second room and asked Lixia with a smile, “What did Madam unusually think to send me this year?”

When Lixia showed her, they were common food and drink items. Most precious were preserved fish made by Bai Lu’s natal family and rose fermented tofu personally made by Seventh Concubine. Though small items, they showed the thoughtfulness of the gift-giver. There were also several pieces of undergarments, along with several pairs of shoes made for Fourth Son and Fifth Son. Looking at the needlework, the embroidery was from the capital.

This batch of gifts, in terms of value, couldn’t compare to a single ring on Seventh Miss’s pinky finger, but the consideration and care they conveyed surpassed the most luxurious jewelry. Seventh Miss stared at that jar of rose fermented tofu in a daze, only smiling after a long while. “Ruiyun is truly thoughtful. I don’t know how she found out I love eating this.”

Whether intentional or not was fully revealed in such details. The Grand Madam had lived with Seventh Miss for over ten years yet probably didn’t know Seventh Miss loved rose fermented tofu.

Zhongyuan came in and, seeing this, also sighed. “Our Fourth Young Madam is quite a considerate person. It’s just a pity that Madam is difficult to serve… Fourth Young Madam suffers her torment day and night.”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but furrow her brow slightly, pondering in silence without speaking.

That afternoon, Second Young Madam sent someone to deliver food and useful items to the Yang family—mostly fine sugar made on her own estate, along with some toys for children. She also sent Seventh Miss a calling card with a message: “This is our young master’s first teacher. Since our young master is about to enter the family school, he has just resigned from his position and is staying in the southern city. Our madam says the teacher is excellent—very amiable and doesn’t excessively indulge students. If Young Madam approves, use this card to call on him. We’ve already given advance notice.”

After the New Year, Fourth Son and Fifth Son would reach the age for beginning their education. Seventh Miss had already prepared a small courtyard in the outer compound, planning to arrange for the children to begin studying after the Lantern Festival.

After rewarding the mama sent by Second Young Madam and chatting with her for a while, someone came from the palace: Imperial Concubine Xu and Sixth Miss jointly bestowed some palace pastries and delicate trinkets—all inexpensive items. What Seventh Miss received was naturally particularly generous.

The eunuch dispatched to deliver the imperial favor specially greeted Seventh Miss and produced two brocade boxes to present to her. “This is a small token from the palace attendants. Please don’t disdain it, Young Madam.”

Palace eunuchs had always been haughty and arrogant. Even out of consideration for the Xu family’s face, they wouldn’t go out of their way to put on airs. But this eunuch was being excessively polite to Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss didn’t dare be negligent. She stood to thank the eunuch, then asked with a smile, “Are both Their Ladyships well in the palace?”

This Eunuch Zhang smiled until his eyes became slits. “Very well, very well. As you know, Consort Ning’s position in the palace now is—”

He raised his thumb.

Since Grand Secretary Jiao retired to his hometown in October, the Great Master’s prestige had greatly increased. Especially with Sixth Miss regaining favor these past months—though not frequent attendances at the imperial bedchamber, when the Emperor had interest once or twice a month, he mostly summoned Sixth Miss to Qianqing Palace to attend him. Her recent prominence was unlike before. Moreover, the Imperial Concubine often called her for conversation and the Empress frequently promoted her. Though her rank still didn’t match Noble Consort Niu’s, she seemed to rival her in standing.

Seventh Miss smiled in understanding and saw off Eunuch Zhang. When she returned and opened the boxes, Feng Jin had sent her an exquisitely delicate jade ornament along with a short note thanking her for the small garments made for Madam Feng and conveying Feng Ling’s regards, inviting Seventh Miss to visit the Feng household when she had time to go out.

Eunuch Lian, on the other hand, sent an embroidered piece—though unstated, just from the craftsmanship, Seventh Miss knew it was Ninth Concubine’s work from years past.

This square piece, about a foot in size, depicted a Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons pattern. Though aged, the color palette was brilliant and bold in its use of color. The needlework showed unrestrained inspiration with graceful, flowing elegance—it must have been created during Ninth Concubine’s most triumphant period.

Seventh Miss gazed at this embroidered square as memories suddenly flooded back.

She left the west third room and walked to the innermost small room of Mingde Hall’s west wing. She personally searched her waist for the key, unlocked the door, and pushed it open.

This room, similar to the meditation room in the east wing, also contained a small altar table. Hanging above the altar was a small portrait of Ninth Concubine. When Seventh Miss had leisure, she often came to offer incense to Ninth Concubine.

Seventh Miss stood before the altar, motionless, staring at Ninth Concubine’s small portrait, lost in thought for a long while.

Many past events would gradually be buried deep in one’s heart with the passage of time. False equilibrium maintained too long would actually be taken as truth by some.

Fifth Miss’s death was like this. Ninth Concubine’s death—wasn’t it the same?

Once she thought revenge was a simple matter—it seemed only the Grand Madam had harmed Ninth Concubine. But when the threads became clear, the past grievances implicated people who now cared for and cherished her. Had she therefore retreated?

Had she therefore feared bringing up past events to avoid disturbing her current life?

If Eunuch Lian had repeatedly disappointed Ninth Concubine’s hopes, if Huang Xiuniang had betrayed Ninth Concubine to the Grand Madam, if the late eldest uncle of the Feng family had forced Ninth Concubine to the point where she had no choice but to become a concubine, if the Great Master had carried Ninth Brother to the Grand Madam’s courtyard, hinting she should keep the son and eliminate the mother… then who exactly had harmed her? Or had each person pushed forward the tragedy of her life?

She suddenly thought of Ninth Concubine’s favorite saying.

“This life of a person is all fate.”

Yet even gazing at Ninth Concubine’s small portrait, though the voice in her mind remained clear, Seventh Miss was startled to discover she could no longer clearly envision or draw Ninth Concubine’s features in her heart.

If even she was like this, what of Ninth Brother?

Would the last traces of Ninth Concubine’s existence in this world disappear along with her fading memories?

And had her life truly been as she said: “As long as you and Ninth Brother can grow up safely, I can die with my eyes closed”?

Could she truly close her eyes in peace?

Seventh Miss’s hand suddenly pressed against her lower abdomen.

Maternal love was an emotion she had never been able to understand. In her previous life, she was abandoned at an orphanage entrance. Though she briefly possessed it in this life, she still couldn’t comprehend why Ninth Concubine, in such circumstances, bore no resentment and still exhausted herself paving the way for her, preferring she not seek revenge.

Once she had lived very unhappily. Regarding childbirth, she had no desire whatsoever. Just thinking of the dangers possibly encountered during birth and the multiple precautions necessary before and after delivery made her feel it was better to avoid trouble. In the future, she could adopt a concubine-born son and treat him well—that would be sufficient.

But now, she gradually understood that the significance of bearing descendants far outweighed all possible dangers. She had never been able to rise above convention—she still wished to bear a child.

And at this moment, she finally understood how profoundly the Grand Madam’s actions toward Ninth Concubine had affected her entire life… yet she was already too exhausted, too exhausted to even think about revenge.

She had too many things to do. She had to regulate her health. She had to unravel the mystery of Fifth Miss’s case. She had to sit securely in the position of household mistress and suppress Fifth Young Madam to the point where she could no longer threaten her. She had so much to do that even Seventh Miss was already exhausted in body and mind.

Seventh Miss let out a long sigh.

She closed her eyes, lowering her head to bury her face wearily in her hands.

After a long while, she finally raised her head and silently left the room.

Things must be done one by one. No matter what, she could and would achieve results that satisfied her.

Entering the west second room, she called Lixia over for quiet instructions. “When the two teachers head south after New Year’s, have them take a letter and a verbal message from me to make a trip to Yuhang to talk with Huang Xiuniang. Tell her I absolutely have no intention of investigating past events. I can understand the teacher’s difficulties. But as a child, there are some matters I must clarify. If the teacher wishes to return to the capital, she shouldn’t have any reservations because of me. If she doesn’t wish to return, please at least send me a letter explaining… the events of those years.”