The naval forces group didn’t stay in Suzhou city long before heading to Xukou Town.

Xukou Town bordered Guangfu, directly faced Taihu Lake, and backed onto Suzhou—naturally, it was quite suitable for military training here.

The soldiers had already set up camp by the lake, felling trees and building houses. For days, craftsmen from Suzhou had been flocking to Xukou to take on work.

Although the Grand Madam wholeheartedly wanted Xu Fengjia to stay in Suzhou a few more days, official duties came first. Xu Fengjia, General Xiao, and Eunuch Liao had no intention of lingering. After eating the private welcoming banquet the Grand Old Master hosted, they hurried to Xukou to supervise the soldiers in building houses and constructing the camp, while also settling their own entourage.

The Grand Madam privately praised Xu Fengjia to the Grand Old Master.

“What do you think? This child Fengjia hasn’t brought shame to the Xu family, has he?” Her words were full of affection. “He’s truly grown into such a steady and magnanimous young man.”

The Grand Old Master also felt relieved.

“We must still wait for the Xu family to bring up marriage matters again before we can respond.”

For families of equal status like the Yang and Xu families, with the Xu family having previously expressed interest in marriage ties, it wouldn’t do for the woman’s side to speak first—it would lower Fifth Miss’s value.

The Grand Madam understood this principle in her heart.

She temporarily suppressed her concerns, simply passing her days in leisure, waiting for correspondence from the Xu family.

When idle, she inevitably worried about Xu Fengjia’s assignment.

Entering the eleventh month, as the weather gradually turned cold, the barracks were built first, but they still had to wait for craftsmen to gather completely before building docks and ships in Taihu Lake…

The Imperial Household Department had already ordered a search along the coast for shipwrights with excellent skills, but such talent wasn’t easy to find.

The Grand Old Master couldn’t help discussing with the Grand Madam: “Prince Lu is right there in Shandong. He runs salt fields and fishing operations, recruiting fishermen—there are over a hundred excellent shipbuilders at his disposal. He just refuses to hand them over. I don’t know if he’s truly unwilling to help the Xu family gain glory in this matter, or if he’s actually bargaining with His Majesty.”

Many things were like this. When Duke Pingguo was fighting fiercely at the front lines, the First Prince had instructed the frontier officials under him to take the lead in blocking military provisions—his intentions were murderous.

Naturally, the Xu family had formed irreconcilable deep enmities with the Liu family and Prince Lu.

Yet Duke Pingguo and his son were favorites beside His Majesty, having established great merit in expanding territory…

How could the First Prince not be wary of the Xu family?

However, to refuse to hand over talented personnel in his possession just because of a small grievance with the Xu family—wouldn’t that offend His Majesty’s interests?

Though Xu Fengjia was in Xukou, he indeed frequently returned to Suzhou to speak with the Grand Old Master, the various generals, and Minister Li.

For people like them holding golden tablet edicts, commanded to supervise the court’s most important affairs as acting imperial commissioners, these important figures dared not neglect them—giving money when money was needed, grain when grain was needed.

Just entering the twelfth month, the naval camp was already bustling with activity, beginning to look like a proper military camp.

Entering the twelfth month, the Grand Old Master also became more leisurely.

Rarely having the inclination, he brought the whole family to Xiangxue Sea for a vacation.

This year, Madam Li didn’t come along—the Li family’s Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Young Masters all had to hold wedding ceremonies in February next year, and she was busy beyond measure.

The family thoroughly enjoyed several days of peaceful leisure.

Mountain dwelling was boring. The Grand Old Master had grown older these past years and didn’t like moving about much, so he simply summoned his daughters to his side to read prose, read poetry, read lyrics…

This too counted as family happiness.

Fifth Miss had an impatient nature, Sixth Miss often mispronounced words—only Seventh Miss had a voice like a clear mountain spring, with tones as gentle as a spring breeze…

After calling them two or three times, he ended up requesting only Seventh Miss alone to come to the small study to read to the Grand Old Master.

The Grand Madam was pleased to see this happen. “Your father worries about countless matters year-round; he also needs to relax and enjoy himself.”

So Seventh Miss had no choice but to shut herself in the small study reading to the Grand Old Master while her sisters enjoyed viewing the plum blossoms.

The Grand Old Master was truly a busy man.

Even in the twelfth month, Steward Zhang had to return to Suzhou every few days to collect correspondence for the Grand Old Master.

In those times, communication was inconvenient—letters were the only channel for maintaining feelings between relatives and friends.

The Grand Old Master was also the prominent favorite managing all of Jiangnan… One could imagine how many people wrote him letters.

Correspondence from the clan patriarch’s branch had to be read carefully.

The Gui family had also become quite prominent these years, with many years of friendship with the Yang family—their letters especially couldn’t be overlooked.

There were also old friends from before the Grand Old Master entered officialdom in the northwest region, many of whom had now achieved renown as distinguished scholars living freely in the mountains. These scholars had the strangest temperaments and couldn’t be neglected either.

Fellow examination candidates and fellow provincials serving as officials in various places had always supported each other like branches of the same tree, backing each other in court—naturally, correspondence was indispensable.

Then there were relatives on the Grand Madam’s side, local officials wanting to curry favor with the Grand Old Master, and officials at all levels in Jiangnan directly under the Grand Old Master’s authority…

If a day passed without more than ten letters, it must mean trouble at some postal station had delayed correspondence delivery.

Seventh Miss read letters to the Grand Old Master: “Your Honor’s perusal…” This was from an unfamiliar new friend, still revealing carefulness.

“Haidong, personal attention…” This was from a friend of many years, with more casualness in the words.

“Is Fourth Brother-in-law well?” This was a greeting from the Grand Madam’s natal family relatives.

A single court matter was often recounted from over ten different angles before arriving at the Grand Old Master’s desk.

The Grand Old Master’s study staged a daily Rashomon.

Just regarding His Majesty’s order for Xu Fengjia to train naval forces to prepare for next year’s voyage to the Southern Seas as advance escort—each person had their own interpretation.

Fellow examination candidates inquired, asking the Grand Old Master if His Majesty intended to have Xu Fengjia accompany the ships to the Southern Seas to accumulate merit, then grant the Xu family a higher title upon returning to the capital.

The main family asked the Grand Old Master to convey congratulations, and also asked if the Grand Old Master had any intention of organizing a small fleet to follow the court’s ships south for business—if so, don’t forget to count the main family in for a share.

Local officials at all levels in Jiangnan informed the Grand Old Master that naval forces had certain frictions and conflicts with local people in certain places, which had already been smoothed over through this subordinate’s efforts… selling favors.

Fortunately, the Grand Old Master could clearly understand all varieties of subtext and keep them in his heart.

Only then did Seventh Miss realize that today’s life of fine clothes and food wasn’t obtained by luck.

Without the Grand Old Master’s remarkably capable mind, even with the Qin family’s support, the Yang family absolutely couldn’t have reached today’s position.

Even though she herself had always been confident in her sharp mind, with such tangled threads of human affairs, Seventh Miss also felt truly unable to cope.

And this was only a small part of the Grand Old Master’s work, not even counting as his main job.

Ordinarily, he had to fathom the Sacred Will, stabilize Jiangnan, oversee various production activities, worry about natural disasters and man-made calamities, provide disaster relief, suppress bandits, collect taxes…

Matters the county magistrate couldn’t resolve went to the prefect; matters the prefect couldn’t decide went to the provincial administrator; when the provincial administrator couldn’t decide, he could find the governor-general—but when the governor-general couldn’t decide, he couldn’t very well go to His Majesty, could he?

No wonder the Grand Old Master usually couldn’t be bothered worrying about inner household matters.

Outer household affairs were far more troublesome than inner household matters.

Yet the Grand Old Master was truly a capable person.

Often, once Seventh Miss finished reading a letter, he had already thought through the main points of the reply.

He would instruct Seventh Miss to note them down.

“The language must be tactful, not too direct—say these two hundred taels of silver are payment for borrowed books from years ago.”

This was a benefactor who had helped the Grand Old Master during his impoverished days, who had now fallen on hard times and was tactfully borrowing money in his letter.

“Such benefits aren’t good to get involved with—it’s a hot potato… Keep distance from this person in the future, but don’t speak too discourteously either. Better to offend a gentleman than offend a petty person…”

This was a fawning minor official who brazenly flattered the Grand Old Master in his letter.

“Say the goodwill is appreciated, and remind him that the three-year performance review period is almost up—if he has his eye on any position, he absolutely mustn’t be polite. Speak directly. This elder brother can still decide on official promotions in all of Jiangnan.”

This was the Grand Old Master’s direct disciple.

Seventh Miss sorted them by category, wrote brief notes to attach to the incoming letters, and sent them out for the secretaries to compose into full documents based on the notes’ meaning. Then they were brought back for either the private seal, or the governor-general office’s small stamp, or just the Grand Old Master’s courtesy name signature…

Half of each day was spent busy with these matters.

However, Seventh Miss found it all quite fresh and interesting.

Previously, she only knew the Yang family’s status was high and they didn’t have many visiting relatives.

Only now did she understand—it wasn’t that there were few fawning and flattering people; rather, those without sufficient qualifications couldn’t even enter the Yang family’s second gate, let alone be known by young daughters like them.

The myriad aspects of court and society seemed to flow into Seventh Miss’s mind through these letters.

Society was no longer a distant world to her; these letters were windows allowing Seventh Miss to see the scenery outside.

Though she had to be careful in every way before the Grand Old Master, Seventh Miss found it sweet despite the hardship.

The Grand Old Master was also very satisfied with Seventh Miss.

He praised her several times to the Grand Madam: “Little Seven acts meticulously—she makes fewer errors than those secretaries. Since having her as my assistant, the small study hasn’t been so chaotic.”

The Grand Madam smiled at Seventh Miss. “I didn’t expect Little Seven to have talent in this area.”

Speaking of it, a daughter’s strengths were nothing more than virtue, speech, appearance, and work—skill in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—eight qualities.

The Yang family daughters either had beautiful calligraphy or excellent needlework. Only Seventh Miss’s calligraphy merely achieved the word “elegant,” her needlework was merely average, and she hadn’t even begun learning household management yet—who knew if she’d be meticulous?

Who would have thought she had great talent in document processing?

Only, with her status, if she married into an official family in the future, her husband would naturally have secretaries accompanying him. Seventh Miss’s fine abilities would most likely have to be shelved.

The Grand Madam privately instructed Seventh Miss: “For correspondence with the Qin and Xu families, pay attention and see what’s being said.”

Seventh Miss showed some hesitation but still agreed.

The Grand Madam was first surprised, then after a moment, understood.

Her heart immediately warmed.

Seventh Miss probably thought the couple had developed another rift, and her meaning was for Seventh Miss to spy on the front courtyard’s activities for her…

She explained with a smile: “It’s actually about your Cousin Xu and Fifth Sister’s marriage! Your father has never much liked this child Fengjia. Even having seen him in person and knowing he’s an extremely outstanding young man, he’s still not very enthusiastic about this marriage. I’m afraid he’ll privately reply with some unfavorable words, causing such an excellent marriage to be delayed…”

Only then did Seventh Miss relax.

She showed the Grand Madam a smile: “Mother can rest assured—Little Seven knows what to do.”

She then left the main hall and walked toward the small study where the Grand Old Master stayed.

Halfway there, she happened to run into Ninth Brother.

“Seventh Sister!” Ninth Brother wore a black fox cloak, appearing even more with rosy lips and white teeth—truly a jade-like elegant young gentleman.

He strolled to Seventh Miss’s side and raised his hand to measure the height difference between Seventh Miss and himself.

“I’m already a head taller than Seventh Sister.”

As he spoke, he broke into a smile, quite self-satisfied.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help pursing her lips: “Even if you’re taller than me, you’re still my younger brother. What do you have to be proud of?”

Since Ninth Brother had been dismissed from school, he’d actually become even more diligent, reading day and night in Jidi Residence. The two siblings rarely had opportunities for private conversation.

Fifth Miss and Seventh Miss had gone to Jidi Residence together several times to inquire about the conversation between Xu Fengjia and Ninth Brother, but this boy kept his lips sealed and refused to tell.

However, from his speech, he was already calling him “Cousin, Cousin” quite affectionately.

Clearly presenting an appearance of reconciliation.

Now having met by chance, they asked each other questions and learned they were both going to the small study to attend the Grand Old Master.

The buildings of Chonghan Hall were distributed rather sparsely. The small study wasn’t together with the main hall’s sleeping quarters but stood independently in a mountain hollow amid a sea of plum blossoms—a small open pavilion with three rooms.

The two siblings simply walked side by side, winding around to stroll over the hillside.

As Seventh Miss walked, she touched the white plum blossoms on the branches, her face showing threads of contemplation.

She couldn’t help asking Ninth Brother: “Looking at Cousin’s right hand, does it still move flexibly?”

Xu Fengjia’s previous visits to the Yang family had only lingered briefly in the outer courtyard. Only Ninth Brother had gone out to meet him; he hadn’t entered the inner hall.

So Seventh Miss had never had another opportunity to observe Xu Fengjia’s right hand.

That statement about left-handed sword techniques from Gui Hanchun had truly left her with considerable concern.

How could Ninth Brother know the twists and turns in her heart?

He was rather surprised: “I didn’t notice anything wrong.”

He teased Seventh Miss again: “Previously, Seventh Sister never had a single young man’s name pass her lips, yet now she mentions Cousin alone… Could it be that after seeing Cousin’s heroic bearing in Siyi Pavilion that day, you…”

Seventh Miss didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “I’m talking to you about serious matters!”

If this matter were true, it couldn’t be hidden from Ninth Brother anyway.

She simply told Ninth Brother everything Gui Hanchun had said, word for word.

“If this matter is true and gets spread around, it will be your fault…” The gloom between Seventh Miss’s brows could no longer be concealed. “Although your position is now secure and you needn’t worry about anything, it’s still disappointing. With Mother’s temperament, having set her sights on Cousin as a son-in-law for many years, this would cause her to resent our childhood mistake, instead creating a rift between the two families…”

Ninth Brother also put away his joking expression.

He stroked his chin, lost in thought.

After a long while, he murmured: “I really didn’t notice anything…”

He looked at Seventh Miss, then suddenly pursed his lips in a smile.

“Even if it’s true, Cousin would probably conceal it himself.”

Seventh Miss felt Ninth Brother’s smile was quite strange.

“Is he that kindhearted?” She still felt something was amiss.

Ninth Brother leaned close to whisper in Seventh Miss’s ear: “Why was he so kindhearted back then to take the blame upon himself?”

The ambiguity in his tone made Seventh Miss blush instantly.

“Watch your words!”

Though the words were stern, somehow her tone was soft and gentle.

Ninth Brother laughed heartily.

“Yes, yes, yes—I’ll watch my words, I’ll watch my words.”

Both fell silent, walking quietly through the plum blossom grove.

After another while, Seventh Miss let out a long breath.

“When I tell you to watch your words, that’s no joke.”

She showed some shyness, some hesitation.

“A young man’s feelings are most unreliable…” Seventh Miss looked down at her toes, murmuring softly. “Not to mention the Xu family—just speaking of our Yang family, Mother has set her sights on him as your Fifth Sister’s husband. Even if he himself has some unspeakable intentions, what use are they? Third Aunt there will certainly be of the same mind as Mother.”

Marriage matters had always been determined by parents’ command and matchmakers’ words. Even if Xu Fengjia had felt some slight fondness for her back then—first, they were young at the time, and after many years, if this fondness remained even as a trace of concern, that would already be good. Second, such matters fundamentally weren’t his to decide anyway.

Speaking too much of ambiguous matters became even more meaningless.

Ninth Brother also grew solemn.

“I truly haven’t deceived you.”

His temperament bore some resemblance to Seventh Miss’s. When he became serious like this, there was an indescribable cool, detached quality within. “Do you know what we actually talked about in Siyi Pavilion?”

Seventh Miss stopped walking and stared at Ninth Brother in a daze.

“First I apologized to him, saying that back then I acted rashly and willfully, without thinking things through…” Ninth Brother also rarely showed a trace of self-mockery.

Sons of wealthy families who were also ice-and-snow clever, Ninth Brother had always been proud and haughty, rarely bowing his head to anyone.

“He kept saying it didn’t matter, and said he himself was young at the time and didn’t even understand what he was thinking.”

“He also asked if we’d been implicated by that incident…” Ninth Brother smiled slightly. “I played coy. I said I was fine, nothing happened to me.”

“Cousin’s expression changed, and he stared at me asking, ‘What about your sister…’ His words carried great concern…”

“Only then did I say that Sister was also fine, and these past years she’d even been registered under Mother’s name, becoming a legitimate daughter.”

“Upon hearing this, Cousin smiled and nodded, saying, ‘I already knew—otherwise, I might not have come to Suzhou.'”

Seventh Miss’s ears buzzed. For a moment she was dazed and confused, only hearing Ninth Brother continue: “Cousin also asked me, ‘Do you and your sister still look very alike now?’ I said we were only five or six parts similar now. Cousin looked at me, smiled again, and neither of us spoke.”

“At that moment we saw you all peeking from behind the windows. I hastily told Cousin that behind the easternmost window, the one in front was Fifth Sister, and the one beside her wearing a blue jacket was you…”