The back hall of Yuanyang Pavilion suddenly fell silent.

Xu Fengjia walked straight up to the Grand Madam, surveyed the room once, then knelt on both knees to pay his respects to the Grand Madam.

“I greet Fourth Aunt.” His low, mellow voice resonated through the back hall.

The young ladies began whispering to each other, discussing Xu Fengjia’s character.

To be honest, Xu Fengjia’s features weren’t like Feng Jin’s—naturally possessing that kind of beauty so extreme it seemed unreal.

But this didn’t mean he couldn’t compare with Feng Jin.

After all, he was a young man who had been to the battlefield. Like Gui Hanchun, he carried an indescribable martial bearing.

Compared to several years ago, that faint trace of dissolute manner had completely vanished.

Every movement carried a decisive quality; even when kneeling in greeting, he was crisp and efficient, without a single superfluous gesture.

However, compared to Gui Hanchun, Xu Fengjia had several degrees more noble bearing, an indescribable quality that only the sons of the capital possessed—a certain romantic flair.

Just that sweeping glance upon entering the room revealed his commanding presence: wherever this young man went, he placed himself in the position of master.

Seventh Miss focused intently, lowering her eyes to look at Xu Fengjia’s right arm.

Perhaps because he had official business today, he wore the fourth-rank Flying Fish robe, with a fierce tiger insignia adorning his chest, giving Xu Fengjia even more vigorous heroic bearing.

After greeting the Grand Madam, he rose and turned toward Madam Li, the other madams, and the accompanying wife of General Xiao, greeting each in turn.

His right hand moved freely, showing almost no sign of anything wrong…

Seventh Miss then looked up at Xu Fengjia’s face.

Several years of military life hadn’t left many scars on him.

His general features still followed his childhood appearance without much change, though he had gained more composure and martial bearing.

Only those upturned phoenix eyes ultimately carried the romantic flair characteristic of youth.

Combined with his low voice when speaking, he exuded an irrepressible allure.

Like Quan Zhongbai, he was one of the capital’s privileged sons.

They all possessed that characteristic nonchalance of capital youths.

Even when speaking with proper solemnity to the elders, the charm permeating his voice remained impossible to suppress.

When this person entered, it was as if he brought his own magnetic field—with his demeanor and voice… Saying he was handsome wouldn’t quite capture his striking beauty; saying he was decisive, there were still languid aspects; saying he was carefree, his behavior was also dignified.

Yet somehow, he drew all the young ladies’ gazes to himself.

Several of the Li family young ladies had already blushed.

Whenever the two families dined together, young men of marriageable age from related families often came to pay their respects.

These Li family young ladies had always carried themselves with dignity and propriety.

To peek from behind screens with flushed faces—this was a first.

The Yang family daughters, however, all behaved appropriately.

Fifth Miss merely glanced to see that Xu Fengjia had no scars on his body or face, then smiled with satisfaction, turned away, and spoke with Sixth Miss.

Sixth Miss was even more afraid of Xu Fengjia. She only looked once at her cousin, and when Xu Fengjia’s sharp eyes inadvertently swept toward the screen, she quickly looked away in fright, chattering with Fifth Miss about the fashionable jewelry on the madams.

Seventh Miss gazed deeply at Xu Fengjia a few more times, unable to resist looking at his right hand again.

Her gaze simply couldn’t move away from Xu Fengjia.

This person held too many mysteries.

Why did he practice left-handed sword techniques? Why did he protect her…?

Countless questions bubbled up in her heart by the thousands.

Yet Xu Fengjia couldn’t answer a single one.

After greeting the madams and accepting a few words of praise, he took his leave and went to the front hall to feast with the male guests.

The moment his figure disappeared, the rustling discussions among the young ladies suddenly erupted.

The two daughters of Madam Zhu’s family also joined the Li family daughters in quiet discussion of Xu Fengjia’s manner.

“Truly worthy of being a young hero! Such dragon-like strides and tiger-like bearing…”

Fortunately, the praise was all appropriate.

The madams exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.

Who hadn’t been young once?

These blooming young ladies, suddenly seeing a figure like Xu Fengjia—even if they didn’t discuss it now, they would certainly discuss it in private later.

This was only human nature.

They changed the subject to discuss the southern theatrical troupe invited to the house today.

The Grand Old Master also sent someone in with playbills, asking Madam Xiao to select a performance.

Madam Xiao demurred modestly, “I don’t understand such things. In the capital, the finest southern troupes are too proud; I’ve only heard kunqu opera once or twice.”

Madam Zhu took charge and selected “The Lotus Treasure Raft.”

The graceful, melodious southern music then drifted from the front hall into the back hall.

Front and back halls bustled with maids coming and going, serving dishes and pouring wine… naturally presenting a scene of wealthy leisure.

After drinking wine, the male guests went to Baiyu Jin to drink tea and enjoy autumn; the Grand Madam then invited the female guests to Dachunfeng to converse.

Male guests went first, female guests followed behind. Though it was a single banquet, they moved in procession without any impropriety.

Madam Xiao praised the Grand Madam: “Everything is managed with such strict propriety… Of course, local estates are spacious. In the capital, dwellings are cramped—even if one wanted to maintain such rules, it wouldn’t be possible.”

The Grand Madam then spoke with Madam Xiao about affairs in the capital: “…Without enormous wealth, who has idle money to purchase property in the capital? Truly, every inch of land is worth its weight in gold…”

“These past years prices have soared, and the capital grows ever more difficult to live in! Our family also spent years accompanying Duke Pingguo on campaigns, receiving some imperial rewards—otherwise, surviving on salary alone would be truly impossible!” Madam Xiao sighed deeply. “Everyone speaks of prosperous times, prosperous times, but ordinary people’s lives aren’t prosperous at all. Even at the foot of the Son of Heaven, every winter people starve to death.”

“Ever since Prince Lu went to Shandong, that region has grown chaotic.” Madam Zhu sighed deeply—her natal family was a prominent clan in Shandong. “Prince Lu seized the coastal salt fields, making it impossible for fishermen to make a living… The unrest has been severe; I heard last year alone there were three or four uprisings. Yet His Majesty pretends not to know. These years, only we in Jiangnan can be considered peaceful. You’ve come to the right place, Madam Xiao…”

“Indeed! From Taihu to Suzhou, all along the way the lake and mountain scenery—I watched until my eyes nearly fell out, never in eight generations have I seen such beautiful scenery. No wonder they say ‘Above is heaven, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou.’ Living in the capital for so long and being able to come out and wander—what fortune!”

They then discussed Suzhou’s famous shops, passing on Suzhou living wisdom to Madam Xiao.

“For making clothes, go to either Siqiaoshang or Xianxiufang.” Madam Li became animated. “For jewelry, Baoqing Silver is definitely the place. For arranging household banquets, Deyuelou’s feast arrangements are the finest…”

Madam Xiao listened with rapt attention.

Training naval forces was men’s business, but Madam Xiao would certainly establish a household in Suzhou. With guidance from these madams, she wouldn’t be completely lost when situations arose.

The daughters grew impatient listening to the madams’ long-winded chitchat. Fifth Miss took the lead in setting up a tea table on the second floor of Dachunfeng, then had someone open all the windows to catch the osmanthus fragrance drifting from Qili Xiang.

As soon as they left their mothers’ watchful eyes, the young ladies couldn’t wait to discuss Xu Fengjia.

“Oh my, just those eyes alone truly surpass all the young gentlemen in the world…”

The Li family young ladies spoke most enthusiastically.

“Our most dashing Fourth Brother—isn’t he here today too? Compared to Young Master Xu, one is heaven, one is earth…”

Even the Zhu family’s young misses laughed: “Before, I only knew of his reputation from the Silver Flower Competition; today I finally understand that a military officer’s heroic bearing cannot be matched by scholars!”

These young ladies usually visited back and forth with their parents and were all familiar with each other. When laughing and speaking, they inevitably became uninhibited, speaking more boldly.

Fifth Miss was quite puzzled: “Is he really that good? I didn’t see it.”

They all laughed at Fifth Miss: “If even he doesn’t satisfy you, then only the Silver Flower champion could please our Fifth Sister.”

Fifth Miss blushed and cursed at each of them in turn, immediately setting off another wave of swaying flowers and twittering voices throughout the room.

Sixth Miss became rather curious.

“I didn’t look carefully earlier. At first glance, he’s still the same mold as when he was small… still so frightening!” She whispered in Seventh Miss’s ear: “I noticed you staring at Cousin for quite a while… What do you think?”

Seventh Miss felt unusually guilty.

“I wasn’t staring at Cousin…” She quietly chided Sixth Miss, lowering her head to look at her toes. “Although he’s our blood cousin, at our age, we should learn to maintain proper distance…”

Sixth Miss was left speechless, glanced at Seventh Miss strangely, and said nothing more.

The young ladies then discussed Fourth Young Master Li’s marriage.

The concubine-born daughters Madam Li brought out for visits naturally weren’t close to their older legitimate brothers.

Speaking of how the newly married Fourth Madam Li quarreled with Fourth Young Master Li, and her natal brother brought people to Nanfeng Hall to beat Xiaoyu nearly to death—they all showed some schadenfreude.

Interestingly, though the three Yang daughters had different temperaments, they shared no great interest in gossiping about others.

But as hostesses, they had to smile and join in the fun.

Yet they were so bored they kept making faces at each other.

Seventh Miss simply stood by the window to view the scenery.

Inevitably, her gaze drifted toward Baiyu Jin.

The flower garden was situated low in a hollow of the artificial mountain. From this angle, she could only vaguely see the tops of a few male guests’ heads.

She shook her head again and paced back to her two sisters’ side.

She couldn’t help resenting Gui Hanchun.

It was all his talk of left-handed sword techniques…

Eighth Miss Li suddenly laughed: “Oh, isn’t that your family’s Fourth Young Master?”

A crowd of young ladies rushed to the window to look at Ninth Brother.

Only then did Seventh Miss realize: compared to Xu Fengjia, Ninth Brother was not inferior.

Perhaps his status was even several degrees higher.

#

Indeed, she saw Ninth Brother with a face full of smiles, chatting and laughing with Xu Fengjia while climbing the artificial mountain.

Dachunfeng was situated high; leaping out from the windows, one could directly climb onto the artificial mountain. The two young men were essentially face-to-face with the young ladies.

Only for the moment, neither was looking this way.

Ninth Miss Li, the most steady, quickly arranged for maids to partially close the windows on the artificial mountain side.

To avoid any improper collision that would embarrass both parties.

That said, it couldn’t stop the young ladies from peeking through the cracks of the half-closed windows at the two young men.

Even Fifth Miss showed some concern, occupying one window edge, gazing worriedly at Siyi Pavilion.

Seventh Miss also involuntarily paced behind Fifth Miss.

Since the incident before Huansha Wu, Ninth Brother and Xu Fengjia hadn’t been alone together…

Now, years later, were they going to revisit old matters?

Ninth Brother indeed sat down facing Xu Fengjia in Siyi Pavilion.

Just from their sitting postures, one could tell the difference in their personalities.

Ninth Brother leaned against the stone chair, one hand propping his cheek.

Having grown up in the inner courtyard for years, his movements inevitably carried some feminine quality.

Xu Fengjia, however, reclined comfortably in the stone chair, his long legs unapologetically propped up on the stone table.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help frowning secretly.

Performing steadily before the adults, yet in private, he still displayed such lazy behavior.

The Zhu family young ladies, however, blushed crimson, staring at Xu Fengjia for a long while without speaking.

Even Fifth Miss laughed: “Cousin is Cousin—when he makes such gestures, it somehow adds several degrees of panache.”

Seventh Miss’s elegant brows knitted tighter.

She could only be the unpopular little moralist: “Sisters… there are still maids present.”

But unexpectedly, even the Yang family maids were already staring in fascination.

These maids had all reached marriageable age; their reactions to a young man like Xu Fengjia were naturally much stronger than the young misses’.

However, at Seventh Miss’s urging, the young ladies all restrained themselves.

Sixth Miss made light of it: “We’re all curious—when there’s a bit of excitement, we can’t bear to miss it.”

Low laughter rippled through the room.

Laugh as they might, no one was willing to move away.

They all remained by the windows, watching Ninth Brother and Xu Fengjia converse cheerfully.

The two seemed to be talking harmoniously.

As they talked, Xu Fengjia even leaned forward to turn Ninth Brother’s face, his thumb rubbing the side of Ninth Brother’s lips, then lingering there, slowly caressing.

Fifth Miss couldn’t help but cast a worried glance at Seventh Miss.

The other young ladies, however, didn’t know the full story.

They all drew in sharp breaths.

The way they looked at the two carried several degrees more ambiguity.

In those times, southern customs prevailed, and these handsome cousins—one dashing, one delicate—having such a relationship wouldn’t be strange.

After a few more words, Ninth Brother rose and bowed to Xu Fengjia, who returned half the courtesy.

The two then patted each other’s shoulders and sat back down on the stone chairs.

But after speaking a few more words, they each sipped tea in contemplation.

Xu Fengjia half-lowered his eyes, his long fingers thoughtfully playing with the tea lid.

That small sweet white porcelain cup lid flipped smoothly between his fingers… then he tossed the disc into the air, and when it fell back, he easily caught it in one motion.

Seventh Miss narrowed her eyes.

Deep in her heart, she felt something was wrong.

Xu Fengjia was playing with the cup lid using his right hand.

Where was there any sign of sluggish movement?

It was completely fluid and effortless, tossing and catching at will…

Xu Fengjia gazed absently toward Baiyu Jin.

But Ninth Brother unconsciously glanced toward Dachunfeng.

Since the windows were half-closed, how could the colorful clothes behind the windows escape his eyes?

He genuinely choked on half a mouthful of tea, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth while saying a few words to Xu Fengjia.

Xu Fengjia then cast a glance toward Dachunfeng.

The young ladies all shyly shrank back, yet how could they hide from Xu Fengjia’s gaze?

Whether it was her imagination or not, Seventh Miss felt he looked particularly intently in her direction.

She couldn’t help shrinking further behind the window.

Xu Fengjia suddenly threw his head back in loud laughter.

While laughing, he shook his head and rose with Ninth Brother, descending the artificial mountain together.

Everyone’s breathing in the room halted.

Often a young man’s single laugh possessed such magic.

In that laugh, the fearless radiance that bloomed was a vitality that adults could never match.

But Xu Fengjia’s laugh was different still.

Every trace of charm on this youth was particularly vivid and intense.

Even his laughter penetrated directly into people’s hearts, making hearts itch, making young ladies feel “with willow eyes and plum cheeks, spring feelings already stirred.”

Feng Jin’s beauty was purely beautiful; Quan Zhongbai’s ease was unbridled ease.

Both were beautiful qualities that inspired admiration and appreciation.

But Xu Fengjia was different—his every movement was too captivating, too alluring, like a small insect that had already burrowed into one’s heart, tickling and teasing.

Seventh Miss trembled before coming to her senses.

She felt her cheeks grow warm.

She couldn’t help feeling secretly shy and somewhat ashamed, quickly turning around to cover her face and pat it twice before turning back as if nothing had happened.

Even Sixth Miss showed an expression of admiration, clearly not having expected the little tyrant of years past to have grown into such a charming young man.

Not to mention the Li and Zhu family daughters.

Only Fifth Miss still wore a face full of worry.

With no more excitement to watch, the young ladies returned to their seats, discussing embroidery, playing the qin, and other boudoir trifles.

But these trifles carried an air of falseness.

No one refrained from frequently glancing outside.

The attraction between sexes was an immutable truth. Though these young ladies in the flower of youth had good upbringing, how could they completely suppress human nature?

Seventh Miss drank a cup of tea before slowly realizing: the spot Xu Fengjia had rubbed and caressed was exactly where Ninth Brother had been injured years ago.