The Grand Old Master needed to discuss the imperial edict with Xu Fengjia—naturally, this required lengthy analysis of the situation… and no shortage of instructions on how Xu Fengjia should conduct himself going forward.

After all, he was an elder, and Xu Fengjia was training troops in Jiangnan, which was the Grand Old Master’s territory. The two families naturally needed to support each other like branches of the same tree, speaking with one voice.

Seventh Miss calculated that the Grand Old Master wouldn’t have time for her to read letters today, so she simply returned to her room to pay respects to the Grand Madam.

In her heart, she felt some relief.

Speaking of it, throughout the Yang household, she had previously only been wary of Second Miss. Now, she actually feared the Grand Old Master more.

After all, he was a pillar minister with sharp eyes—there were probably few secrets he couldn’t see through.

Seventh Miss only feared that her heart full of concerns, once the Grand Old Master looked at her, would reveal themselves by at least thirty percent without reason.

The Grand Madam had just risen from her afternoon nap and was chatting idly with Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss.

Seeing Seventh Miss enter, she showed some surprise.

“I thought you’d be sitting in the small study all afternoon.”

Seventh Miss explained the reasons with a smile: “…Once this imperial edict came down, Father became busy. Many matters aren’t convenient for us daughters to get involved in.”

“Even Master Nian was summoned.” The Grand Madam’s expression also grew mysterious.

She fell into contemplation.

Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss also showed thoughtful expressions.

They were all young ladies from official families who had grown up in such an environment—naturally, they could taste the flavor of this matter through osmosis.

His Majesty’s move was truly too subtle, almost seeming like a foolish one.

On one hand, he gave military authority over naval forces to the Crown Prince; on the other, he had Prince Lu build the ships.

Prince Lu had been enfeoffed for several years now. With his capabilities, he’d long regarded Shandong as his own territory, with thousands of skilled craftsmen under his command.

Entrusting ship fleet construction to Prince Lu seemed like making the best use of talents.

But what if Prince Lu tampered with the ships? In the future on the vast ocean, if something happened to the fleet, who could say clearly whether it was natural disaster or man-made calamity?

But naval forces were truly flesh and blood—if one group died and had to be replaced, it wouldn’t be so easy.

His Majesty’s actions were truly shrouded in mist and clouds, making things unclear.

Prince Lu already had a record of withholding military provisions for his own selfish desires…

This way, the variables in the Southern Seas voyage had clearly increased several degrees.

The Grand Madam couldn’t help sighing: “The Sacred Heart is truly difficult to fathom.”

Between her brows, unknowingly, several threads of worry had already appeared.

How could Seventh Miss not understand the Grand Madam’s meaning?

The Yang family had already sided with the Crown Prince—naturally, they didn’t want Prince Lu to make a comeback, adding more variables to the succession.

But His Majesty’s health had recovered, and inevitably he would play power games again, suppressing the Crown Prince, pulling Prince Lu up a bit, making the two sons into opposing forces again—only then could he sit secure on the throne.

She couldn’t help frowning lightly.

Though she had never encountered imperial family existence, just looking at His Majesty’s actions, Seventh Miss instinctively disliked this so-called enlightened ruler of a prosperous age.

State affairs were state affairs; palace private matters were palace private matters. For the sake of his own secure throne, he created so many twists and turns—where did that place the common people of the realm?

However, such matters weren’t for a small daughter like her to comment on.

She exchanged glances with Sixth Miss.

Sixth Miss was still pondering when, receiving Seventh Miss’s hint, she hastily bloomed into smiles.

“Mother!” She laughed and stepped forward to grasp the Grand Madam’s hand. “The story was only half-told, and you’ve already wandered off! These outside matters—Father will naturally worry about them. We women can’t manage them anyway. Let’s just peacefully live our little lives!”

Sixth Miss was beautifully made and had a sweet tongue.

These few coquettish, soft words made the Grand Madam’s brow relax.

“Good, good.” She smiled and patted Sixth Miss’s hand. “Little Six is right. These matters—we women can’t control them. It all depends on how the men strive outside.”

But she didn’t continue the story. Instead, she asked Seventh Miss with concern: “Did you encounter Young Master Cousin at the front?”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but pause.

The Grand Madam thought Seventh Miss didn’t know and explained again: “Your Cousin Xu came to Guangfu today to speak with your father. He sent someone in earlier to pay respects, saying he’ll come see us at dinner time.”

She looked at Fifth Miss affectionately.

“You’re all blood cousins, and it’s just family—we won’t bother with all those empty formalities. Let’s host guests in the small warm pavilion of the east wing tonight. Your cousin has labored for over a month and still can’t rest in the twelfth month—it’s truly hard work.”

Fifth Miss also smiled: “Yes, I never knew Cousin was so earnestly devoted to his duties. I thought this time the one in charge was General Xiao, and Cousin was just lending his name—who knew it was actually reversed!”

“Regarding naval affairs, it’s indeed your Uncle Xiao who worries more.”

The Grand Madam instead denied Fifth Miss’s praise.

Between her expression, she faintly carried pride.

“After the new year, your cousin probably has other assignments.”

Sixth Miss glanced at Seventh Miss, then yawned slightly and lowered her head to play with the tassels on her skirt hem.

Seventh Miss also smiled with lowered eyes, letting Fifth Miss and the Grand Madam discuss Xu Fengjia’s matters.

But in her heart, she couldn’t help recalling Xu Fengjia’s words.

“Below the surface, it’s to carry out the Crown Prince’s assignment, to win over a few of our own people in Jiangnan military circles.”

Could it be to win over General Zhu?

But judging from their discord, it didn’t seem like it. Besides, with General Zhu’s status, the Grand Old Master would need to act personally to show sincerity.

Moreover, Jiangnan’s political sphere was the Grand Old Master’s territory. Though the Xu and Yang families were close, extending hands into Jiangnan was still taboo…

Could it be that the Crown Prince didn’t trust the Yang family enough in his heart and wanted to plant his own people in Jiangnan? When the dynasty changed in the future, he’d remove the Grand Old Master and install his own confidant?

Truly worthy of being father and son—both had equally unfathomable hearts. His Majesty’s actions made people anxious and uneasy; even the Crown Prince’s methods were hard to trust.

Seventh Miss’s eyes couldn’t help dimming slightly.

The Yang family had reached this stage—naturally, it was like cooking oil over a roaring fire, flowers blooming in brocade, wealth and honor nearly at their peak.

But precisely because of this, they had to be even more careful everywhere. Otherwise, one misstep could lead to eternal damnation.

Yet court politics were so murky and unclear, and the Grand Old Master had been drawn into the succession struggle these past years…

She wholeheartedly began calculating the Yang family’s retreat paths.

Instead, she cast Xu Fengjia’s matters to the back of her mind.

#

Xu Fengjia ultimately didn’t stay for dinner.

After speaking with the Grand Old Master for only half a period, he returned to Xukou.

“Eunuch Liao’s health isn’t good, and the central military camp is at its busiest right now. Without someone in charge, it really doesn’t make sense.”

He sent a young servant in again to apologize to the Grand Madam.

At the dinner table, the Grand Madam clicked her tongue: “From Guangfu to Xukou, even on a fast horse takes one or two hours. He really can endure such hardship!”

“After all, he’s a young man—strong and vigorous. Returning to camp in the evening, he can still handle two or three hours of official business.”

The Grand Old Master’s words also carried more praise for Xu Fengjia.

He then scolded Ninth Brother: “Your cousin is only a few years older than you, yet he can already handle all manner of duties inside and out. You’ve always been proud of your cleverness—you should think about whether, when you reach his age, you can match his achievements and obtain fourth-rank merit!”

Ninth Brother had no choice but to set down his rice bowl and rise to listen to the reprimand with a solemn expression.

The Grand Madam hastily smoothed things over: “Enough, enough—you’re still thinking about scolding your son at the dinner table? Eat peacefully, eat.”

These past years, the Grand Old Master had become increasingly strict with Ninth Brother. Before him, Ninth Brother could do nothing right.

However, ancient times emphasized strict fathers and loving mothers. Ninth Brother was also the family’s only son—the Grand Old Master’s expectations were high, inevitably making him overly harsh.

Ninth Brother had been eating happily when this interruption occurred. After managing only half a small bowl more of rice, he rose to take his leave and go to his room to study.

The atmosphere in the room grew somber.

The daughters also lost their appetites, hastily eating a few bites of rice before successively rising to take their leave.

The Grand Madam was even more heartbroken and couldn’t eat. After reluctantly sitting with the Grand Old Master for a while, she shooed him to the small study: “I know you have matters on your mind, busy with official duties… Don’t take your anger out on your son. Now that you’re here, he doesn’t even dare eat the late-night snacks sent to his room. I think you should go to your small study and worry about your important matters.”

The Grand Madam rarely acted coquettish, and it was out of concern for Ninth Brother. Hearing this in his ears, the Grand Old Master found it even more pleasing than flattering words.

Instead, he joked with the Grand Madam: “What if I don’t leave? Can that little beast really endure hunger all night? Ninth Brother is after all an only son who will inherit the family business in the future. Too much indulgence means he’ll suffer more in the future.”

Though these words made sense, the Grand Madam still showed heartache: “Doesn’t this child push himself hard enough normally?”

The couple bickered a few more times before the Grand Old Master mentioned the imperial edict with a heavy tone.

“Little Seven probably already told you a few words about this matter.”

Mentioning the edict, shadows fell across the Grand Old Master’s brow.

The Grand Madam inevitably pressed: “Could what Little Seven heard actually be true? His Majesty really wants to promote Prince Lu again, having him supervise ship construction…”

“That one grows older and his suspicious nature grows heavier. In the blink of an eye, he’s promoted Prince Lu again…” The Grand Old Master also wore a bitter smile.

He elaborated on the imperial edict’s details to the Grand Madam.

The edict His Majesty issued was simple enough—mostly empty platitudes about peaceful seas and clear rivers. Regarding specific affairs, there were only a few sparse sentences.

But within these few sentences, the only two clearly defined matters were giving naval forces to the Crown Prince and giving ships to Prince Lu.

The First Prince was truly going to make a comeback.

“His Majesty is old and naturally suspicious. A few years ago when we needed to go to the Western Regions for medicine, those murderers in the Western Regions were indeed excessive, stalling for half a year. When one is ill, one tends to overthink.” The Grand Old Master’s face was half-hidden in shadow, rendered unpredictable by the wavering candlelight. “Moreover, in my view, it may not be overthinking… The Quan family has grown close to the First Prince these years. His Majesty knows clearly who sent Quan Zhongbai into the palace. I think this assignment is the true reward to the First Prince.”

To build ships—and specifically for naval forces—meant the First Prince obtained the exact same golden tablet and arrows as Xu Fengjia.

With this grand, imposing banner, he could hang a sheep’s head while selling dog meat… The tentacles that had been severed could now extend to various regions again.

The more the Grand Madam thought about it, the more alarmed she became.

In the end, she broke out in a cold sweat.

“No wonder even Master Nian was summoned.” She murmured to herself. “I’m afraid the thorn in Prince Lu’s side right now isn’t that person in the Eastern Palace, but our Yang family!”

The reason the Yang family had enjoyed undiminished favor these years was probably largely because the Grand Old Master had decisively captured Liu Zheng to open the grain route, earning favor in His Majesty’s heart.

But this favor was obtained by stepping on the First Prince and the Liu family.

Zhejiang, which had originally been the First Prince’s possession, also fell into the Grand Old Master’s hands…

When the First Prince rose again, he would definitely need to establish foundations locally.

If not the Yang family, then who?

“Zhejiang Province hasn’t even been fully digested by us yet.” She grew somewhat anxious, rising to pace back and forth in the room. “Obviously, we can’t push away this business with the Xu family. Such large silver transactions—it’s impossible there won’t be movement. Master, these are all visible vulnerabilities!”

The Grand Old Master also let out a long breath.

This refined middle-aged man seemed to age ten years in an instant, the exhaustion on his face no longer concealable.

“Step by step, unable to help ourselves, we’ve walked to this state of affairs.” He rubbed his face, his tone growing steady again. “In His Majesty’s heart, I’m already not a pure minister. In the Eastern Palace’s heart, my roots aren’t yet deep. In Prince Lu’s heart, I’m the number one great enemy… Difficult, truly difficult!”

The Grand Madam couldn’t help choking up slightly.

“We’ve been taking things step by step… Who could have thought the young divine physician could pull His Majesty back!”

The couple both fell silent.

The twists and turns within—both understood tacitly.

His Majesty’s grave illness in the twenty-first year of Zhaoming came fiercely. Several times he nearly departed this world. By normal reasoning, even if saved, his health would probably decline from then on.

The Yang family’s decision to ally with the Crown Prince at that time could be considered decisive and natural.

The Great Qin was a nation of ritual and propriety. Everything sought naturalness. Pillar ministers most feared seeming opportunistic, acting like fence-sitters.

Speaking of it, the Crown Prince had expressed interest in recruiting the Yang family multiple times. The Yang family drawing close to the Crown Prince at that time also meant upholding orthodoxy and allowing smooth transition of court affairs.

Who knew the Quan family would intervene halfway? The young divine physician worked miraculous healing, actually pulling His Majesty back from death’s door.

Then personally traveling to the Western Regions to seek medicine, truly making His Majesty vigorous as a dragon and tiger again, recovering his spirit…

How could human calculation match Heaven’s calculation?

This time, the Yang family had completely lost to Quan Zhongbai alone.

Several candle flowers formed and fell. Only then did the Grand Old Master speak heavily.

“When a great man acts, he can face heaven and earth without shame. Though we have private motives in allying with the Crown Prince, at that time we also considered the overall situation. Otherwise, with His Majesty gravely ill, Northern Rong pressing at the borders, and Jiangnan in chaos again—who knows if the realm would have descended into chaos.”

He seemed to be comforting the Grand Madam, yet also seemed to be comforting himself: “His Majesty’s heart also won’t be unclear about what kind of person I, Yang Haidong, am. Otherwise, why would he only lightly reprimand me…”

The Grand Madam also let out a long sigh.

“So difficult. Being a treacherous minister is difficult; being a pure minister is also difficult. Having reached this step, rowing upstream—not advancing means retreating. There’s no turning back.”

A trace of ruthlessness flashed across her face.

“Look—should we cooperate with the Xu family and use the opportunity of the Southern Seas voyage to seek a few more prescriptions…”

The Grand Old Master’s expression stirred.

After a long while, he slowly shook his head.

“That was all over a hundred years ago. Whether we can find such medicine again is another matter. Besides, the Eastern Palace won’t fail to consider this—there’s no need for us to bring it up.”

He smiled slightly.

“However, we naturally can’t sit and wait for doom.”

He lowered his eyes in contemplation for a moment before saying: “Little Seven is a clever child. In the future, take her out often to walk around, sit with several of Jiangnan’s great families. Often, matters we can’t investigate in the outer household, you women can easily hear about in the inner household.”

Inner household women spent their whole lives turning in tiny confines—many had shallow knowledge and couldn’t withstand probing. A mistress like the Grand Madam who handled matters with such measured grace couldn’t be raised without a first-rate great family.

Probing them for information was naturally easier than probing the old foxes and hardened rogues of officialdom.

But the Grand Madam still didn’t quite understand.

“Master, what are you thinking…”

“These years, fearing unseemly appearances, I haven’t properly organized Jiangnan’s talent pool.” A trace of coldness crossed the Grand Old Master’s face. “Taking advantage of this child Fengjia creating opposition with General Zhu in Jiangnan—I think it’s time to clean house.”

The Grand Madam’s face showed sudden understanding as she slowly nodded.

She also remembered Fifth Miss’s marriage.

“The earlier this marriage is settled, the earlier my heart can rest… The Crown Prince and this child Fengjia are close as brothers. When I went to the capital that year, I did meet the Eastern Palace once at Duke Pingguo’s manor. I imagine that forming this marriage alliance with the Xu family will also put the Eastern Palace’s heart at ease. This marriage—looking at things now—absolutely must be made.”

His Majesty’s heart already held dissatisfaction with the Grand Old Master, but having already chosen sides, there was no reason to betray and leave.

What the Yang family needed to do now was marry into the Xu family, making the relationship between the two families tighter, indirectly becoming the Crown Prince’s own people, to gain more benefits from the Eastern Palace.

The Grand Old Master coughed lightly but didn’t respond.

He stroked his chin, thoughtfully tapping the table, falling into contemplation.