News that Seventh Miss would go to Hanshan Temple to burn incense quickly spread throughout the Governor’s residence.

The Grand Madam was somewhat surprised. “I didn’t know you were someone who prays to gods and Buddhas!”

Then she understood. “At such a young age, already worrying about household matters. Wanting to see what the gods and Buddhas think and seeking their blessings is quite natural. After entering the palace in the future, worshipping gods and Buddhas won’t be so easy!”

The Grand Madam’s greatest fault was wishful thinking.

Having decided that becoming the Crown Prince’s consort was the best path, she simply regarded Seventh Miss as the Crown Prince’s consort from then on. She had been the same way with Fifth Miss before.

Though one couldn’t say she had ill intentions, this type of person was often rather unlikeable.

Seventh Miss only smiled. “Father said that since I can’t make up my mind, going to burn incense and hearing the gods’ and Buddhas’ opinion would be good.”

She couldn’t let the Grand Madam just talk to herself and settle matters this way. Otherwise, when things changed, the Grand Madam would probably turn around and blame Seventh Miss for going back on her word.

The Grand Madam’s eyes flickered. “Oh?”

Her attitude imperceptibly grew several degrees colder. “That’s fine too. Go ahead, go ahead. You children are grown now with your own ideas… I can’t control you anymore!”

When had the Grand Madam ever controlled her?

Just looking at Fifth Miss under the Grand Madam’s control, one knew that not being controlled by the Grand Madam was truly the most fortunate thing.

Seventh Miss didn’t mind the Grand Madam’s coldness, but still said a few kind words, coaxing a smile back onto the Grand Madam’s face before leaving the main courtyard.

She had already walked ninety-nine steps. The last step absolutely couldn’t fall short. To find a path among the Grand Madam, Old Master, and Feng Jin that would let her escape the Garden of Hundred Fragrances—right now she couldn’t slack off in the slightest.

Fortunately, among these three giants, one should be on her side.

She returned to Jade Rain Pavilion. She hadn’t been sitting long when Yuban came to speak with Lixia.

“The message has been delivered to Young Master Feng.” Lixia quietly reported to Seventh Miss. “Ninth Brother happened to have arranged a few days ago to meet with Young Master Feng this afternoon to discuss literature and seek guidance on learning… Not a trace of anything unusual.”

Though the relationship between Feng Jin and the Yang family still carried some subtlety, his attitude toward Ninth Brother was undoubtedly quite warm. When Ninth Brother sent a visiting card, he frequently extended invitations—either taking Ninth Brother to meet former classmates who were now fellow Accomplished Scholars, or instructing Ninth Brother in his studies… These were all matters greatly beneficial to Ninth Brother’s future.

Though the Grand Madam disliked Feng Jin, she was happy to see this happen. The Old Master was busy with official duties, while the advisors around him and the academy professors were all unsuccessful provincial graduates. No matter how subtle Feng Jin’s relationship with the Eastern Palace, he was still a genuine Accomplished Scholar ranked third. Being able to receive an Accomplished Scholar’s guidance was naturally better than being left to one’s own devices at the academy.

Moreover, dislike aside, as news from the capital flew like snowflakes into the outer courtyard and then into the main courtyard, when the Grand Madam mentioned Feng Jin, her tone gradually lost its disdain and gained some respect.

“Though Young Master Feng hasn’t mentioned it to Ninth Brother, coming and going from his residence, there are indeed quite a few familiar faces from the Yanyun Guards.” When Steward Zhang reported this to the Old Master, Seventh Miss was at his side grinding ink. “Their attitude toward Young Master Feng and his two servants is very respectful. Yesterday afternoon when he went to discuss literature, he even encountered a young eunuch sent back by Eunuch Zhang to inquire after Young Master Feng.”

Seventh Miss’s hand involuntarily paused: so the Old Master had summoned her to serve in the outer courtyard at this time with this intention.

Feng Jin was only a few years older than Xu Fengjia. Speaking of it, he was far more imposing than Xu Fengjia—given Eunuch Zhang’s status and position, even Xu Fengjia had to be polite upon meeting him, let alone that even the Princess Consort of Minyue regarded Feng Jin with special favor. Though their power and position might be similar, Xu Fengjia had ancestral protection while Feng Jin had built everything from nothing. Regardless of his character, speaking of capability, he truly had his methods.

The Yanyun Guards were similar to the previous dynasty’s Brocade-Clad Guards. Though the department’s rank wasn’t high, each commander within could reach the Emperor’s ear with a single word. It seemed that during those years Feng Jin spent beside the Crown Prince, he had truly been doing intelligence work.

No wonder the Old Master valued him so highly. No matter the era, those who could speak before those in power were thorns in the hearts of powerful ministers like them…

The two giants competed for supremacy, both wanting to bring Seventh Miss’s thoughts to their side. Seventh Miss just pretended not to know. She attended Nanny Tai’s classes as usual and visited the Old Master’s outer courtyard, just waiting for the day to burn incense at Hanshan Temple.

#

When the Old Master gave the word to arrange for the young lady to burn incense at Hanshan Temple, the household naturally didn’t dare neglect it. They set the first day of the fifth month to visit Hanshan Temple. Greetings were given inside and out. The Grand Madam also sent Nanny Liang to ask Sixth Miss if she wanted to go burn incense together.

Fifth Miss was in poor health and had been ordered to recuperate in Moon Arrival Pavilion, so naturally she couldn’t go. She also had no interest.

Sixth Miss also crisply declined, saying the weather was hot and she was too lazy to move.

“Madam is truly…” After class, she walked with Seventh Miss to Moon Arrival Pavilion to visit Fifth Miss. As they walked, she shook her head and sighed. “Just burn incense—can you really make it into something special? If she agrees, she agrees. Why add to your troubles? Whoever wants to be her pawn can do it!”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but laugh.

“What’s there to fear? If you have any worries, go together. It’s just burning incense. Whether she sends people to follow or not makes no difference.”

Sixth Miss glanced at Seventh Miss and simply stopped walking. She smiled slightly, looking Seventh Miss up and down.

“I… what worries could I have? If by heaven’s grace I’m selected to serve the Crown Prince and Crown Princess in the palace, that’s my good fortune. If heaven doesn’t select me, it’s not like no one wants me… I’m quite carefree!”

She was somewhat shy but still raised her head and chest to speak these words—straightforward and decisive, yet containing Sixth Miss’s unique innocent cunning and probing. It made Seventh Miss quite comfortable to hear.

Recently, the household had been chaotic as a pot of porridge. Everyone had their own calculations. Whatever anyone said or did carried ambiguity. It had been a long time since anyone had spoken to her as crisply and clearly as Sixth Miss.

“Selecting you into the palace… is truly your good fortune?” She seized on Sixth Miss’s words and also stopped, half-smiling as she pressed, “I thought you were set on marrying into the Li family and didn’t care for this troublesome Eastern Palace position!”

Sixth Miss froze.

Rarely, her innocent and charming mask showed some cracks, revealing the shrewd calculation hidden beneath.

But it was only for a glimpse before she returned to normal.

“Looking at Fifth Sister’s half-dead appearance, I feel that people absolutely cannot force things! Becoming the Crown Prince’s consort is a blessing cultivated in a past life; marrying into the Li family is also a blessing cultivated in a past life… I think both are quite good!”

As the two talked, they had already approached Moon Arrival Pavilion.

Seventh Miss had to stop and ask no more.

Though Sixth Miss’s words sounded nice, there were certainly incomplete and untrue parts… She wasn’t a confused person. She certainly had her own measure in her heart. Whether marrying into the Li family or the imperial family, each had advantages and disadvantages. It just depended on what Sixth Miss valued more.

Forget it. No matter how clearly she asked now, if she couldn’t handle Feng Jin, it would all be for nothing.

She gathered her thoughts and entered Moon Arrival Pavilion’s main hall with Sixth Miss.

After being confined to bed by the Grand Madam for intensive recuperation for over half a month, Fifth Miss’s spirits had finally improved somewhat. That air of gray despair and dejection on her face had also lessened. Seeing her two younger sisters, though she still didn’t show a particularly warm face, she did get out of bed to sit with them by the window and chat.

But as she talked, she became distracted, often contemplating and scrutinizing Seventh Miss. This made Sixth Miss both laugh and sigh. She hadn’t sat long before making an excuse to rise and leave.

During the previous period when Fifth Miss was seriously ill, the people in Moon Arrival Pavilion had been disciplined by Seventh Miss into complete obedience, not daring to bring a single word from outside into the room. Fifth Miss knew nothing and focused entirely on recuperation… It seemed she had now learned of the Old Master’s intention to form a marriage alliance with the Feng family.

Seventh Miss was truly somewhat afraid of Fifth Miss.

This temperamental, obsessive, stubborn young lady was like a ticking time bomb, and particularly powerful… Facing her versus facing Sixth Miss was truly like ice and fire. Sixth Miss was too perceptive; Fifth Miss was too impossible to read.

“I’ve heard about the household matters.” Sure enough, Fifth Miss got straight to the point, immediately bringing up the marriage with Feng Jin. “I heard Young Master Feng is doing very well now, a close associate beside the Crown Prince… Father intends to betroth you to Young Master Feng, is that right?”

Seventh Miss looked directly at Fifth Miss and nodded. “Yes.”

Fifth Miss lowered her head in thought for a long while before instructing Seventh Miss, “This marriage match with Young Master Feng—I imagine you don’t favor it. The Crown Prince’s consort position—you don’t think much of it either… Yang Qi, with Father and Mother quarreling like this, one of them must prevail. You can only choose between these two marriage matches. You must be clear about this in your heart.”

It was purely concern.

Seventh Miss was truly somewhat moved—when Fifth Miss cared about someone, she truly didn’t hold back.

“I know what to do,” she said softly. “What I said to Fifth Sister then applies to me as well. Young Master Feng’s relationship with our family is awkward, and his wealth is sudden. I won’t marry into the Feng family. Fifth Sister… don’t worry about me.”

Fifth Miss was clearly relieved but didn’t follow up on Seventh Miss’s words. Instead, she turned her gaze away, staring blankly at the tea cup on the table.

After a long while, she asked quietly, “Do you think if I had persisted then and quarreled with Mother, refusing to marry into the Xu family, today… Ah, forget it. Mother won’t even permit your marriage to Feng Zixiu, let alone mine!”

It seemed she had finally seen reality clearly.

Seventh Miss felt quite gratified and only smiled without responding.

Fifth Miss looked at Seventh Miss. Her expression changed several times. She seemed to have words on the tip of her tongue but was unwilling, didn’t want to, didn’t dare ask them. Finally, gritting her teeth, she asked anyway.

“It’s just that now in Jiangnan official circles, I hear it said that with Young Master Feng’s status as this year’s Accomplished Scholar ranked third, he gained such rapid favor because… because… They also say that before he even became an Accomplished Scholar, he frequently visited the Eastern Palace…”

What kind of status did the Crown Prince have?

Not to mention when Feng Jin had no credentials—even with his Accomplished Scholar status, to curry favor beside the Crown Prince would take at least five or six years of effort.

Anyone with a brain, thinking about Feng Jin’s meteoric rise and considering his appearance, could imagine a vivid story. This was human nature, and Fifth Miss naturally couldn’t avoid it either.

Just as Seventh Miss was about to speak, Fifth Miss turned her head away. “Don’t say it, don’t say it, just pretend I didn’t ask!” She repeatedly denied her own question.

Seventh Miss could only silently meet Fifth Miss’s gaze.

Fifth Miss’s beautiful brows furrowed tightly. After a long while, she stamped her foot hard and murmured to Seventh Miss, as if making a declaration yet also talking to herself. “You’re right. A Yang family daughter must ultimately bear the Yang family’s status. I’ve made up my mind to be a good wife to Cousin, to be the mistress of Duke Pingguo’s household. Everything else was foolish fantasy… I cannot and will not think of it again!”

She raised her head. Her eyes held a firmness and resolution long unseen. “From today on, I’ll treat Young Master Feng as if he’s already dead. I won’t inquire about his news anymore. Whether he’s well or not has nothing to do with me! Don’t mention him to me either. I refuse to believe that if seeking news of him is difficult, not listening to matters about him can’t be easy, right?”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but want to cheer for Fifth Miss.

This was the temperament Fifth Miss as a young lady should have. She was willful, she was stubborn, but she was also brave and decisive. As long as she could emerge from her own dead end, she could immediately wash away her dejection!

However… claiming not to care was still somewhat self-deception.

Well, she would need some time to wash away the marks in her heart.

Seventh Miss solemnly nodded. “Good.” She answered clearly and definitively. “From today on, I will never mention him to you again. Young Master Feng was never part of our world anyway!”

The two sisters coincidentally smiled at each other.

But there was some bitterness in these smiles after all.

#

The next day, Fifth Miss left Moon Arrival Pavilion to pay respects to the Old Master and Grand Madam.

Though her complexion couldn’t be called rosy, her mind was clear and her spirits robust. It was as if the sharp-tongued, proud little girl from years ago had returned. The Grand Madam was so delighted she kept praising the effectiveness of the Ouyang family’s tonics.

In her satisfaction, she was too lazy to quibble with Seventh Miss, focusing entirely on discussing the wedding date and dowry with Fifth Miss… The Duke and Duchess of Pingguo’s health had not been robust in recent years. Xu Fengjia was already seventeen, of marriageable age, and Fifth Miss couldn’t wait much longer—after all, she was already sixteen. Therefore, Lady Xu had sent a letter. The two families consulted and set the wedding date for October this year. Speaking of it, that was only a few months away.

Thus Seventh Miss was able to leave the residence alone, with only Ninth Brother accompanying her for protection, and Nanny Dong and Lixia attending her left and right. All the servants who normally accompanied the ladies when going out had already gone to Hanshan Temple to make arrangements. By the time Seventh Miss entered the mountain gate, inside and outside Hanshan Temple, those who should avoid had already avoided completely. Even the low-ranking old women and maids had withdrawn from within the temple, lest they disturb Seventh Miss.

Though burning incense was just a pretext, since she had entered the temple, Seventh Miss still first entered the Great Hero Hall to burn incense, then walked around the temple, bowing before the portraits of the two great masters Hanshan and Shide, before being led by Ninth Brother into the bell tower to see the Hanshan Temple bell from “Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night.”

The bell tower, except early morning and evening when it summoned worshippers and monks for services, was usually deserted. The top floor was also very small. Nanny Dong was advanced in years and couldn’t climb the stairs. Lixia simply stayed below to keep her company. Ninth Brother followed Seventh Miss halfway up, then leaned against the window frame claiming exhaustion.

“Seventh Sister, go up by yourself.” He winked at Seventh Miss. “Don’t worry. If anything happens, just call and I’ll come up!”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but laugh.

“Call what? What kind of person do you think Cousin Feng is?” She lightly scolded Ninth Brother. Seeing him just grinning, she could only shoot him a reproachful glance before turning to climb the stairs.

From far outside Hanshan Temple came the clear drum sound marking the hour. Seventh Miss walked ten-odd steps in time with the drum beats. Her view suddenly opened up, and she saw Feng Jin standing beside the bronze bell, smiling warmly at her.