Seventh Miss’s dowry list had already been sent to the Ducal Residence by the third day of the eighth month.

Though only half a legitimate daughter, the Grand Madam was very generous. The dowry of land, fields, and silver was not at all less than when Fifth Miss married. The Grand Master’s relationship with Seventh Miss had become somewhat distant this past year, but regarding the dowry he was also quite decent. Beyond the Grand Madam’s personal dowry contribution—a treatment reserved for legitimate daughters—and the official family allocation, he privately gave Seventh Miss several deeds for fields and shops. When Seventh Miss examined them, most were properties and shops gradually purchased in the capital over this past year.

When the several concubine-born elder sisters married, the Yang family had only been a Governor-General household, yet their dowries were still thirty to forty thousand taels. Fifth Miss left with over a hundred thousand taels in dowry. Seventh Miss was no saint—naturally she had privately speculated about how much salary she could take from the Yang family. She never expected that when this day truly came, her treatment would be even higher than she’d imagined.

The clothing and jewelry had been prepared early. The Grand Madam had been careful to purchase them while in Jiangnan—now it was merely a matter of transportation. At the time this item cost only around ten thousand taels. After the Grand Madam completed mourning for Fifth Miss, she rushed to supplement another batch for Seventh Miss in the capital. The clothing and jewelry alone amounted to over twenty thousand taels. Compared to Second Miss and Fifth Miss in their day, this was not at all inferior.

Beyond the ten Xianxiu Ward shops the Grand Madam gifted from her own dowry, the official family also provided land deeds worth approximately thirty thousand taels. Though located far away—all in Jiangnan—Seventh Miss would never need to personally farm. Each year she could simply send people to collect rent. When Ninth Brother managed the family business in the future, he would naturally allocate staff to help her oversee it.

Adding the deeds for fields and shops the Grand Master privately gave to anchor the dowry chest, plus the Grand Madam’s five thousand taels of silver for the dowry chest, her dowry already stood shoulder to shoulder with Second Miss and Fifth Miss. Even in the entire capital, such a lavish dowry would be difficult to find.

Seventh Miss accepted it all with composure—this investment was, at its root, to help her quickly establish firm footing in the Xu family. It was her parents’ sentiment, but also their calculation.

What she cared more about were her dowry servants.

Marrying into the Xu family, she could eat and live off the Xu family’s provisions, but to make the Xu family’s servants easy to command—who knew how much effort that would require? How could she manage without several capable maids at her side?

Fortunately, the maids in Seventh Miss’s courtyard were all young. She simply kept them all intact, bringing the six capable managing maids Lixia, Shangyuan, Qiqiao, Zhongyuan, Xiayuan, and Duanwu with her. The Grand Madam additionally gave two maids with pretty faces for Seventh Miss to keep in the courtyard doing miscellaneous work.

The dowry servants—the Zhou family had been reserved early on. Seventh Miss valued how Uncle Zhou and Aunt Zhou had been cautious and careful in their conduct over the years. Planning to have the couple serve as managers, she had already informed the Grand Madam long ago. The Grand Madam added three more dowry households to make up the auspicious number of four. As for the estate managers and such, since they were employment relationships, after being transferred under Seventh Miss’s name, their staying or leaving would follow her wishes.

First Miss, Second Miss, Third Miss, Fourth Miss, and Eldest Sister-in-law Min all sent small items to add to Seventh Miss’s trousseau. Several daughters from the Li family and various other families also sent gifts through intermediaries. Even Sixth Miss in the palace bestowed a pair of exquisite pouches. Seventh Miss carefully received them all one by one, simply waiting peacefully to be married.

Perhaps because this future was uncertain, or perhaps because this marriage was ultimately not to her liking, she had not a trace of a new bride’s shyness or joy. As if what was being arranged was merely the most ordinary family matter, just grander in scale. Watching this, the Grand Madam was instead somewhat pleased, treating Seventh Miss with even more warmth and pleasant countenance. All day she simply educated her about the origins of the Xu family’s several sisters-in-law and the backgrounds of several branches of relatives, to enable her to manage the household immediately upon entering.

When even the new bride herself didn’t take it seriously, naturally the household’s upper and lower ranks wouldn’t show their joy either. Ninth Brother pouted all day. Coming and going, not only did he show no happiness, sometimes he even showed three parts anger. Seventh Miss saw this and couldn’t help but feel moved.

If she didn’t have Ninth Brother as a younger brother, would her life be somewhat smoother? It was truly unclear.

Yet she had never regretted having Ninth Brother. Despite any shortcomings, he still thought of her wholeheartedly. Even hundreds of years later, how many such brothers could there be?

Having reached this point, in the Yang family only Ninth Brother still thought about whether she was willing or not.

Second Miss came to see Seventh Miss the day before the wedding.

She wore mourning. Though she had passed the major mourning period and would soon remove the mourning clothes, it was still inappropriate to participate in joyous occasions, so she could only come the day before to talk with Seventh Miss. As customary, she had to see the Grand Madam first. After the mother and daughter spoke privately, Second Miss personally led the Young Heir in to visit Seventh Miss.

The Young Heir was four this year, yet already showed measured deportment. He properly paid respects to Seventh Miss, then sat beside her, hands placed on his knees, gaze straight ahead. Instead, this made Seventh Miss quite uncomfortable, uncertain what attitude to take toward him.

She could only find words to praise Second Miss. “Second Sister truly teaches well.”

Mentioning her son, Second Miss’s face took on more softness. “It’s all his father’s doing—a four or five-year-old child, restrained like one of fourteen or fifteen.”

She patted the Young Heir’s shoulder and smiled. “In your grandmother’s home, you needn’t act this way. Go down and play!”

The Young Heir’s small face was tightly drawn. He glanced at Seventh Miss, then looked at Second Miss with slight hesitation before jumping to the ground and looking around, taking on some childishness.

Seventh Miss let out a great breath of relief, hugging the Young Heir with a smile. “Give Seventh Aunt a kiss?” The Young Heir’s face showed helplessness. He kissed Seventh Miss once, then she smiled and had Lixia take him down. “Let him eat whatever he wants—it’s rare he comes to play at Seventh Aunt’s place!”

Though she was not enthusiastic about bearing children, she didn’t dislike children.

Second Miss watched her entertain the Young Heir, her eyes full of warmth yet also revealing a trace of sadness.

She lowered her head to sip tea, then slowly asked, “Have you seen Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master?”

Fifth Miss’s twin sons had been sent to Grand Uncle Qin’s residence when barely a month old. Grand Uncle Qin was a rigid man. Though he himself had been compelled to remain in service despite mourning, normally as soon as court ended he resided deeply within the residence observing mourning. He didn’t allow a single person from the household to go out. When the twins entered the Qin family, it was like entering a prison. Over more than a year, they had only been brought to the Yang residence to see the Grand Madam twice. Usually, only a few select female relatives from the Xu family visited them.

Seventh Miss had only accompanied the Grand Madam on visits and seen the twins a few times. Hearing Second Miss’s question, she shook her head. “Only saw them once in the seventh month. They’ve grown quite sturdy, both quite spirited.”

Second Miss’s features clouded over. “I heard from Uncle that Fourth Young Master is learning to speak somewhat slowly.”

The two children were already two sui this year—in actual age about one and a half. Clever children could speak quite long sentences by one year old. Seventh Miss had seen such cases. However, late developers who only learned to speak at two or three years old weren’t unheard of either.

She was about to speak when suddenly she realized and understood Second Miss’s concern.

“Second Sister means Fourth Young Master’s high fever—”

Second Miss sighed, then in turn comforted Seventh Miss. “Perhaps I’m overthinking it. It’s just that Fourth Young Master’s movements are also somewhat clumsy…”

Seventh Miss sucked in a sharp breath. “Does Mother know about this?”

“Uncle fears Mother knowing would make her sadder. But I think this matter can’t be hidden. Waiting until after you enter the household to speak of it would be even worse.” Second Miss pulled at her lips. “I’m just letting you know so you’re prepared. Fortunately they’re twins—who’s older and who’s younger is actually unclear… I just told Mother—she’s heartbroken now.”

Seventh Miss didn’t know what to say. After a long while she smiled bitterly. “Ai, who knows—perhaps Fourth Young Master is just slow to speak.”

Second Miss responded in a low voice. After keeping her brows lowered for a long time, she said, “Though Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master won’t be any different from your birth children, still, having your own son at your side would be better. Fengjia has been busy these years. In a few years when you’re older, childbirth will be more difficult. After entering the household, don’t be too shy—you must seize the opportunity.”

These words from Second Miss could be called heartfelt.

Seventh Miss’s marriage was already considered late. In modern times, a woman’s life only begins at twenty. In Great Qin, most twenty-year-old women had already experienced childbirth once or twice—naturally, whether they could endure the suffering of childbirth or not was another matter. If Xu Fengjia remained this busy for the next several years, by the time he had leisure to have children, Seventh Miss would likely be nearly twenty-five—in Great Qin, already considered quite late.

She had always been upright and honorable. Even now when Seventh Miss and the Grand Madam’s relationship was already awkward, Second Miss’s words remained open and above board, carrying an air of righteous conviction.

Yet Seventh Miss unexpectedly thought of that package of body-strengthening medicinal ingredients the Grand Madam had sent.

She smiled self-deprecatingly again.

Living long in deep mansions and great courtyards truly made one lose some trust in human nature.

“Second Sister, I’m not unaware of this reasoning…” She let out a long sigh. “But Second Sister also knows Divine Physician Quan’s words. This kind of thing—better to leave it to fate. To force it when there’s no affinity is useless.”

Second Miss’s eyes darkened. She raised her head to look at Seventh Miss, sighed again, and patted her shoulder.

“You’ve been wronged!”

In over a year, this was the first time anyone had said such words to Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss’s eyes immediately heated up. She lowered them and smiled faintly. “Being wronged is useless… Life still must go on, doesn’t it? Besides, with parents’ arrangements being this way, what can not marrying accomplish?”

Second Miss’s eyes flashed with reluctance.

“After a few months,” she chose her words carefully, “after removing mourning, I will definitely enter the palace to see the Empress. At that time…”

She made no promises, but Seventh Miss already understood Second Miss’s meaning.

Regarding this marriage, she was unwilling.

Of course she had reasons to be unwilling. Marrying in as a stepmother, her first elder sister dying under unclear circumstances, the two families’ relationship ambiguous and not entirely friendly… No matter how illustrious this marriage, Seventh Miss wouldn’t enjoy much blessing from it.

Of course, she could bury this unwillingness deep, or she could publicize it until everyone knew. But Seventh Miss felt that just letting it show faintly like this was enough.

In the Xu family, she would need her natal family’s help. This help was also what her natal family owed her.

Perhaps also moved by this unwillingness, right after Second Miss left, the Grand Master summoned Seventh Miss to talk.

“Don’t worry about family matters.” His tone became gentle again, as if that discord between him and Seventh Miss had long since drifted away. “Whatever grievances you suffer in the Xu family, endure what should be endured. For what shouldn’t be endured, send word home… As for Uncle Lian, if it’s not troublesome, best not to trouble him.”

Seventh Miss of course understood the Grand Master’s concerns.

Great Qin was unlike the previous dynasty. Now with the Emperor being a sage ruler, for a Yang family daughter to associate with Eunuch Lian was truly an awkward and taboo matter.

Since learning of Eunuch Lian’s name, the Grand Master had surely done considerable work privately. Now that he could speak these words, clearly he had a grasp of Eunuch Lian’s background. That he would treat Seventh Miss with a few more parts courtesy was within reason.

After several reflections, Seventh Miss also adjusted her attitude toward the Grand Master.

Feeling hurt or angry were both because of expectations. Her expectations of the Grand Master had once been somewhat unrealistic. A politician, no matter how amiable and kind normally, at heart always prioritized his own political interests.

She had never been skilled at acting. Wanting to appear ashamed, she could only lower her head to look at her feet, showing a face of complete conviction. “Little Seven knows how to conduct herself and won’t add trouble for the family.”

Since she was willing to build the stage, how could the Grand Master not take the easy way down?

“Many things, once past, are past.” He pressed Seventh Miss’s shoulder, gently instructing, “Still must look forward more. Your Fifth Sister’s matter—investigate if you can. If you truly can’t find out, don’t force yourself too much either. Being more careful ourselves is stronger than anything.”

Seventh Miss forced a smile. “Little Seven understands in her heart.”

The Grand Master sighed inwardly: Seventh Miss was normally quite easy-going, rarely this stubborn. Why only regarding Little Five’s death…

In the end he swallowed back his unfinished words.

The Grand Madam’s attitude was completely different.

“You must be careful.” At least she remembered to warn Seventh Miss first. “The Xu family’s female relatives are each not simple characters. No matter who committed that crime, by now they certainly can’t sit idle waiting for death.”

Seventh Miss lowered her eyes without speaking, letting the Grand Madam continue.

“No matter who it is, you just give Mother a name—no evidence needed at all! Leave the rest to Mother… to your Grand Uncle!” The Grand Madam rarely showed such a murderous expression.

One could imagine that the suspect’s entire family would have difficult days ahead. The Grand Madam would certainly seize every opportunity to launch attacks against her natal family. Presumably even the Grand Master wouldn’t mind teaching this suspect a lesson.

To simultaneously antagonize the Yang family plus most of the Qin family and half the Sun family was no pleasant matter.

If she was willing, going through the three sisters-in-law one by one, the Grand Madam would probably willingly become the blade in her hand.

Perhaps she was simply waiting for an excuse to strike, waiting for the day when all those suspected of killing Fifth Miss could be struck down.

“Little Seven knows what to do.” She again brought out her catchphrase. “Mother can rest assured…”

After dealing with the Grand Madam, she could finally return to the rear courtyard to rest.

The vast rear courtyard was empty and desolate. Most trunks and boxes had been sent ahead to the Xu residence to display the rooms and show off the Yang family’s wealth.

Seventh Miss entered the main hall, swept her eyes over this empty room, and rarely let out a sigh.

To say she wasn’t nervous inside would be false.

An unknown murderer, several difficult sisters-in-law, a grand mother-in-law evenly matched with the mother-in-law, several elder and younger brothers-in-law each with their own divine powers.

And that husband whose thoughts were hard to fathom.

This was more than just divergent from her ideal life—it was completely opposite.

But… to realize her ideals wasn’t without methods. As long as she sincerely wanted to accomplish something, methods were always more numerous than difficulties.

Outside the room came Ninth Brother’s laughter again. Seventh Miss hurriedly collected her emotions and put on a slight smile.

Precisely because Ninth Brother was the only one in this residence who cared about her happiness and sorrow, she didn’t want to show her unwillingness before him.

“Ninth Brother has come.” Zhongyuan smiled as she lifted the curtain for Ninth Brother. “Have another bowl of tea this servant brewed—in the future I fear you won’t get to drink it!”

Ninth Brother waved his hand with a grin. “As if I can never enter the Xu family’s door!”

The maids served tea, then naturally withdrew from the room knowingly. Ninth Brother sat down and drank several mouthfuls of tea, looking left and right. After a long while, he carefully looked toward Seventh Miss.

The two siblings had grown to today with clear differences. Seventh Miss was refined and graceful, like a thread of silk and bamboo music beside a Jiangnan water town. Ninth Brother was dense and steady—in his gentleness, he held some of Feng Jin’s spirit.

He lowered his thick lashes to look at several stars of candle drippings beside the candlestick.

“Tomorrow Seventh Sister will marry.”

Seventh Miss also propped her hand to look at Ninth Brother. Hearing this, she smiled and nodded. “Yes, tomorrow I’ll leave the household. After that, I won’t be able to look after Ninth Brother anymore.”

She didn’t know why, but her throat suddenly felt somewhat choked.

“You must study well. Don’t get too involved in the family’s rotten filth.” She softly instructed. “After the Quan family miss enters the household… think of our late mother… you must treat her well. Even if you don’t like her, show her more respect. Don’t favor concubines over the wife or have wife and concubines competing. The Quan miss’s lifetime of joy is controlled in your hands. If you treat her well, she’ll treat you well. Two people in harmony and beauty—that’s what married life should be.”

Ninth Brother’s eyes also reddened. He responded in a low voice, “Good!”

He asked Seventh Miss in a low voice again, “The Xu family—does Seventh Sister truly want to marry there?”

This question, Ninth Brother had asked Seventh Miss on that night when he arrived in the capital.

Seventh Miss also knew she couldn’t have a second answer.

Given Ninth Brother’s regard for her, if she answered with a single “no,” immediately there would be another bloody storm of family revolution. Besides creating more discord between father and son, mother and son, what other path was there?

This wasn’t a storybook novel. Without parental command and matchmaker’s word, even if she wanted to seek another marriage, she couldn’t obtain it. Elopement was purely a dream. Without household registration, no matter how much silver, a weak woman would still be at others’ mercy. Besides, where would she find someone to elope with?

The path was truly a dead end, without a trace of life.

Since this was so, why make Ninth Brother suffer along with her?

Seventh Miss forced herself to show a smile.

“You know… Cousin and I have long…” She worked hard to perform joy. “Fate is this way…”

Ninth Brother sighed again.

Seventh Miss knew she ultimately still hadn’t fooled this clever twin brother.

“It’s still my fault.” Ninth Brother’s voice was small as a mosquito’s buzz. “I told you to wait for me to grow up… but I didn’t expect I’d grow too slowly while you married too early…”

Seventh Miss’s tears fell one after another.

Ninth Brother sighed deeply again.

He pressed Seventh Miss’s head onto his shoulder.

“Are you afraid?” Ninth Brother’s question transmitted to Seventh Miss’s ears like a sigh.

Seventh Miss’s tears fell even more fiercely.

She wanted to say she wasn’t afraid. She didn’t know why she would be afraid. Yet she truly was fearful.

She feared Xu Fengjia’s unknown attitude, feared the war between Madam Xu and the Grand Madam, feared the unknown murderer, feared Duke Pingguo… The Xu family was like a giant beast with bloody jaws open waiting. To walk into its belly—no matter how brave Seventh Miss was, she was still afraid after all.

“No matter how afraid… I still must marry!” As she cried, she mocked herself. “Should I cling to the Yang family and not leave, watching parents’ expressions… Many things must always be faced!”

“If Cousin treats you badly, tell me.” The voice transmitting from Ninth Brother’s chest slowly vibrated Seventh Miss’s eardrums. “Whoever treats you badly, tell me. Though I’m still small, very soon I’ll be grown!”

Seventh Miss suddenly thought of Ninth Aunt again.

What Ninth Aunt most hoped for was for this pair of children to safely reach adulthood, marry and have children, living peacefully.

Though behind this peace lay countless bitter tears and blood, this day was finally almost here.

The next day at the auspicious hour, Xu Fengjia wore fourth-rank crimson official robes to welcome Seventh Miss.

Jiangnan customs required the new son-in-law to drink blocking wine. The capital never had such practice. Though lively during the ceremonies, they were also solemn. All proceedings were announced and arranged by the chief matchmaker with ceremonial praise.

Seventh Miss finished dressing early and waited in the rear hall. She only heard countless sounds of standing, kneeling, bowing, and ceremonial praise from the front hall, the Grand Madam and Grand Master speaking softly. When the chief matchmaker gave ceremonial praise, she was guided out by attendant maids, stood before the hall facing Xu Fengjia to exchange bows—wearing the veil, she could only see a pair of shoes.

The Grand Master cleared his throat lightly and instructed solemnly, “Going to the woman’s family, take obedience as correct, do not forget reverence and respect.”

These were all customary rituals. Seventh Miss bowed once to the Grand Master, then heard the Grand Madam by her ear softly instruct, “You must be reverent and careful, do not disobey your parents-in-law’s commands.” Seventh Aunt spoke in a small voice, “Listen sincerely to these instructive words, do not bring shame to your parents.”

This was the final family instruction before leaving the household. Seventh Miss nodded to accept them all. Someone handed over a red silk ribbon. In the sea of red, she held the red silk and walked slowly from the household.

The bridal sedan soon arrived at the Xu family. Through the veil and sedan curtains, she could faintly see red decorations hung inside and outside the alley entrance, full of joyous atmosphere. Outside the sedan, firecrackers shook the sky, congratulations could be heard everywhere. Before long, the wedding attendant helped Seventh Miss down from the sedan.

She wore the full regalia of a fourth-rank official’s wife, led forward by the groom, holding red silk with feet stepping on brocade felt, slowly entering the main hall. First she bowed to grandmother, then to parents-in-law. All along this path the brocade was layered thousands deep. Even though her vision wasn’t entirely clear, Seventh Miss could still vaguely sense the Xu family’s wealth.

With difficulty she entered the bridal chamber. A precious vase filled with five grains was pressed into her hands. Seventh Miss sat upright with lowered head. Before long, accompanied by the hall’s roaring laughter, someone called out, “The Great General has come!”

In the thunderous congratulations, a sword suddenly extended under the veil. Seventh Miss started in shock, only to hear the wedding attendant laugh. “When a military general marries, the sword hilt lifts the veil—the new wife need not be alarmed.”

Sure enough, this sword hilt inlaid with turquoise and beautifully ornate paused, then lifted upward, flicking away Seventh Miss’s veil. It then turned back to rest under her chin, lightly lifting, forcing Seventh Miss to raise her head.

Her water-like bright eyes thus met unprepared with a pair of eyes deep as the sea.

Xu Fengjia’s expression was still as calm water, showing neither sorrow nor joy.