Seventh Miss stared blankly at Xu Fengjia.

Fifth Young Madam’s words immediately rang in her mind.

“Even we who heard about the Young Master’s assignment were deeply worried—what if something went wrong…”

Though First Young Master had already fathered three sons, he himself had only purchased a minor title. He usually just revolved around household affairs and understood nothing about military matters.

If Xu Fengjia died at this moment, the beneficiaries could only be Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master.

Both were indeed working in the military. Fourth Young Master was said to be doing impressively at the frontier, and Fifth Young Master had always had good connections among the guard ranks.

Who would want to take advantage of the chaos to eliminate Xu Fengjia?

“Who’s scheming behind the scenes—that can’t be found out in a short time.” The corner of Xu Fengjia’s mouth carried cold mockery. “Whoever did this certainly did it without anyone knowing. But under these circumstances, I absolutely cannot leave for several years. Managing family, governing the nation, bringing peace to the realm—when your own household’s back courtyard is on fire… how can you handle national affairs properly?”

It seemed he had used precisely this reasoning to persuade Duke Pingguo.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help sighing deeply from the bottom of her heart.

Being the mistress of a capital household was truly too difficult. These intricate interpersonal relationships, these strategic battles of wits at every step… The little schemes at Hundred Fragrance Garden were nothing but child’s play in comparison.

Among the women, experts abounded—not one was a simple character. The men weren’t worry-free either.

“Do you have any suspicions?” Unexpectedly, she lowered her voice.

Now was not the time to quarrel with Xu Fengjia! With lives at stake, they first needed to join hands to settle the inner household. If they fought among themselves, it would only give others opportunities.

Seventh Miss also immediately understood why Xu Fengjia’s attitude had changed so drastically upon returning to the capital this time: He understood this principle even more clearly than she did.

“What suspicions could I have?” Xu Fengjia spread his hands, his face full of cold mockery. “Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother grew up by Grandmother’s side. Though we lived under the same roof, our age gap is large—from childhood to now, we’ve interacted very little. Seven or eight years ago I followed Father to the Northwest. Since then, campaigning everywhere, being able to stay in the capital two or three months a year was already rare. Never mind the inner household—even the outer household, I’m completely unfamiliar with.”

Being a young general was naturally infinitely glorious, but the things one had to give up were far more than ordinary people.

For a while, both Seventh Miss and Xu Fengjia fell silent.

After a long time, Seventh Miss finally spoke softly.

“Matters have priorities. I think we should first get past the Emperor. After you decline the Southern Seas assignment, then we can sit down and properly discuss family matters!”

Xu Fengjia couldn’t help glancing at Seventh Miss.

Inside and outside the family, vexing matters were as numerous as ox hairs. Yet her tone remained so crisp and serene, like a mountain spring in midsummer, bringing coolness with its tinkling.

“Good.” He exhaled a foul breath, agreeing without hesitation. “We’ll do as you say.”

Outside, lights had already been lit. In the distance, several matrons were walking about carrying lanterns. Seventh Miss glanced at the gold-trimmed chiming clock in the corner, then urged Xu Fengjia, “Other matters can wait until after dinner. First go see Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master!”

Only then did Xu Fengjia seem to remember he had a pair of sons. He hastily stood up, but appeared somewhat at a loss. He spread his hands and glanced at Seventh Miss, pursing his lips and standing still without moving. Instead he said, “Aren’t you coming along?”

Seventh Miss had already visited Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master in the mid-afternoon and hadn’t planned to go again. But seeing Xu Fengjia’s helpless expression, her heart softened.

“Going to see them together would be good.” She led Xu Fengjia out of the west third chamber, introducing as they went. “Not many people live in the east wing—just two wet nurses with Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master, plus several maids taking turns on night duty. I haven’t had Fifth Sister’s small living quarters locked. I set up a small Buddhist shrine there. Then there’s the east secondary chamber…”

All along giving Xu Fengjia a tour, she brought him into the east secondary chamber where Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master usually resided.

This had once been Fifth Miss’s bedroom. The space was naturally expansive. Now arranged as a nursery, it was like a small kindergarten, divided by Seventh Miss into areas for living, washing, and playing. Thick cotton rugs covered the floor—shoes had to be changed upon entering and leaving. Cotton padding protected all the sharp corners of furniture. Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master were chasing each other around the room. Fifth Young Master’s laughter was very loud. The two wet nurses along with Guyu and Chunfen were all smiling as they watched from the side, clapping to cheer on the two children. The atmosphere in the room was naturally warm.

Seeing strangers arrive, the two children reacted differently.

Fourth Young Master was shy with strangers. He timidly returned to the wet nurse’s side, hugging the middle-aged woman’s knee, stealing glances at Xu Fengjia with fear in his eyes. Fifth Young Master wasn’t shy at all. Laughing, he ran over and hugged Seventh Miss’s thigh, shouting loudly, “Seventh Aunt!”

Seventh Miss smiled and bent to pick up Fifth Young Master, then beckoned to Fourth Young Master, introducing, “Say ‘Father.'”

But both children were very uncooperative with Xu Fengjia. Fourth Young Master blinked his big eyes, looking at Xu Fengjia, then at Seventh Miss, then at the wet nurse, before mumbling and lowering his head to look at his toes.

As for Fifth Young Master, he played with his own fingers while curiously examining Xu Fengjia, but also showed no intention of calling him Father.

Rare embarrassment appeared on Xu Fengjia’s face. He sat down at the edge of the kang, reaching out to touch Fourth Young Master’s forehead—but Fourth Young Master shrank his neck, making his hand miss.

“You can tell Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master apart, right?” Seventh Miss had no choice but to break the awkward silence and smooth things over. She also gave the two wet nurses meaningful looks. In Xu Fengjia’s presence, these two middle-aged women were as obedient as cats, lowering their heads and silently leaving the room. “The one in my arms is Fifth Young Master. The one you’re holding is Fourth Young Master.”

“Mm-hmm.” Xu Fengjia responded vaguely, reaching out again to tickle Fourth Young Master’s cheek, smiling. “Fourth Young Master, it’s Father. Say ‘Father.'”

The two children had no reaction. Indeed, in their lives, their father occupied absolutely no position.

Seventh Miss quickly gave Guyu and Chunfen several meaningful looks, having them step forward to coax the two little ancestors to acknowledge their father. After much commotion, they finally got the two children to call him Father—Fourth Young Master basically just made a sound at random, and only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.

Seventh Miss took the opportunity to needle Xu Fengjia. “Children need to be raised by your side to be close to you…”

She set Fifth Young Master down on the floor, letting him play with Fourth Young Master to the side. However, the two children had now developed interest in Xu Fengjia. Fifth Young Master pulled Fourth Young Master along, toddling to Xu Fengjia’s side, laughing as they asked Xu Fengjia to hold them.

Looking at this pair of darling sons, Xu Fengjia’s face ultimately showed a trace of melancholy. He sighed, bending down to pick up both children, then casually taking two or three small toys to amuse Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master, saying softly.

“Close or not, they’re still my sons… Stern father, loving mother—that’s just for the next few years while they’re small. After they can remember things, they can’t be indulged anymore.”

Seventh Miss quite disagreed. She wanted to say something, but swallowed it back with a smile. She sat with them for a while. Seeing Fourth Young Master rubbing his eyes while climbing into her lap, she held him and asked with a smile, “What does Fourth Young Master want?”

Fourth Young Master waved his hands, shouting unclearly, “Food…”

Only then did Seventh Miss realize it was already dinner time.

In Great Qin’s aristocratic families, it was naturally impossible for the whole family to sit together and eat regardless of age, as they would in later times. Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master had their wet nurses and maids to feed them. Xu Fengjia sat a while longer, then rose and returned to the west secondary chamber with Seventh Miss for dinner.

No words at meals, no talk during sleep—this dinner was eaten in silence. But the former tension between them had finally disappeared. Seventh Miss’s rigid spine could also slowly relax.

Perhaps three months ago, Xu Fengjia’s official duties weren’t going smoothly and his mood was at a low point, so naturally his attitude toward her was much harsher. Or perhaps in these three months, he had experienced much more. Though the current Xu Fengjia was more profound, he no longer constantly expressed his demands outwardly, making Seventh Miss nervous all the time.

After dinner, the two changed to fresh tea and sat facing each other by the kang.

Seventh Miss always enjoyed reading. In the capital, this exemplary place, there were naturally countless essays and romances for her to read and relieve boredom. She read half a volume of a newly published installment of “The Tale of Golden Jade Children,” then looked up at Xu Fengjia.

But Xu Fengjia had already leaned against the edge of the kang. His left hand propped up his body while his right held a bound ink volume. Several strands of hair had slipped before his eyes, making him occasionally reach up to brush them back—he was reading the court gazette.

Who knows where he’d obtained such a thick court gazette. Seventh Miss glanced and discovered this volume contained the past two months’ gazettes, already bound by date. Xu Fengjia had obviously already read part of it. Now he was studying court developments from late September.

“Speaking of which,” she spoke softly, “since Young… since you’re going to live at home regularly now, Mingde Hall should have your own maids and matrons.”

Xu Fengjia was half a beat slow before raising his eyes to look at Seventh Miss.

“I’m away from home year-round—I don’t have any trusted people at home. For outside matters, I have a few trusted pages who can help. Inside, I’m truly completely in the dark. You decide.” He casually tugged at his collar, revealing his wheat-colored neck. “Why is it so hot in here?”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help frowning, awkwardly turning her gaze away. “Fine. Since you usually reside in the west third chamber, I’ll have the maids by my side attend to your daily needs. No need to add more staff—that would just be troublesome. Just select two honest, reliable matrons to manage your clothing and organize documents. They’re all people brought from my natal family—very dependable.”

Xu Fengjia seemed to be half-listening, slowly making a sound of agreement before returning to the gazette. Seventh Miss grew somewhat annoyed. She simply reached over and closed the volume, forcing Xu Fengjia to raise his eyes to look at her before asking softly, “Explaining the Southern Seas matter to the Emperor… how confident are you?”

Xu Fengjia’s eyes immediately grew profound.

He studied Seventh Miss, as if weighing her importance, guessing her depths. In his chocolate-colored eyes, countless thoughts flowed brilliantly, flashing past in an instant.

After a long while, he finally spoke slowly.

“When I was in the Northwest, I inquired about some matters concerning you.”

Seventh Miss immediately sat up straight, looking at Xu Fengjia in astonishment.

Her spine straightened again, showing some rigidity in the lamplight…

Yes, how had she forgotten—Xu Fengjia had spent his entire youth in the Northwest! By all rights and reason, he would naturally have had contact with Second Madam!

“Even after arriving in Jiangnan, I kept inquiring about news of you. Yang Qi… you’re like a pool whose bottom cannot be seen. Even I can’t fathom your depths.”

He seemed to be talking to himself, yet also explaining to Seventh Miss. “Even Fourth Uncle-in-law is willing to let you attend him in the outer study… What could I not tell you? No matter how unwilling you are, you’re now a member of my Xu family.”

Seventh Miss’s spine snapped straight. She narrowed her eyes.

Though unwilling to admit it to herself, she truly hated being simply divided into camps. Just as if, merely because of her identity, Xu Fengjia could take for granted enjoying all the services she could provide.

However, even unwilling to admit it to herself, she knew that everything Xu Fengjia said was as true as could be: In Great Qin, having married into the Xu gates, she was a member of the Xu family and naturally should consider Xu Fengjia’s interests. If even his wife couldn’t be trusted, Xu Fengjia would have very few people he could trust.

Stiffly, unwillingly, slowly, she relaxed her spine and forced out a smile.

“Let’s not mention past matters for now.” Her tone contained genuine awkwardness. “It’s more important to look at future matters first.”

Xu Fengjia propped his cheek, gazing at Seventh Miss thoughtfully, his fingers slowly wandering over the deep red small kang table. His long fingers curled, lightly tapping the tabletop—once, twice, again.

“Prince Lu is not a showy person.” He suddenly spoke, his eyes still locked on Seventh Miss’s. “Back in the capital, few people knew him. Having suffered great upheavals, his appearance and bearing have changed greatly. Unless one was formerly close to him, it would be very difficult to recognize him in the chaos of battle.”

Seventh Miss’s heart immediately leapt to her throat.

She had always known she wasn’t a timid person, but when talking with Xu Fengjia, she always felt her courage was truly insufficient. From the beginning of this marriage, this person had never once done anything reassuring!

Someone as perceptive and calculating as the Emperor—wasn’t he afraid? Even the Grand Master had been cowed into losing some courage and gaining unwarranted guilt… Yet Xu Fengjia dared to openly manipulate the Emperor?

“You… are certain that besides you, no one else could recognize him?” She swallowed, asking hoarsely. “If this matter gets out, it won’t be funny.”

“At the time, we were bombarding each other across water at night. Without a telescope, one couldn’t see the scene on the opposite ship at all. We didn’t even know if this group was Southern Seas pirates or Prince Lu’s forces.” Xu Fengjia answered calmly. “The only telescope in the entire military was in my hands. I’m confident that besides me, on the whole ship only Lieutenant Liao could have recognized Prince Lu. However, given his performance throughout, perhaps in the darkness he didn’t recognize him either—that’s also hard to say.”

“Hard to say is ultimately not certain.” Seventh Miss frowned tightly. “Besides, Prince Lu’s side might not lack former close associates that Lieutenant Liao could recognize.”

Xu Fengjia thus raised his eyes, looking askance at Seventh Miss.

This glance carried a trace of cunning.

“But Lieutenant Liao is Eunuch Lian’s man.”

His voice lowered, like a hoarse invitation, yet also like a faint flirtation. That romantic Chang’an youth seemed to have awakened behind this mature politician.

Seventh Miss froze.

She looked Xu Fengjia up and down. After a long while, she grabbed the white jade back-scratcher by her hand and struck down in fury. Xu Fengjia immediately let out a slight cry of pain, withdrawing his reddened knuckles and demanding angrily, “If you won’t agree, just don’t agree—why hit people?!”

“If you want my help, say so earlier!” Seventh Miss was also quite angry, viciously striking Xu Fengjia several more times. “Making me go in circles asking you, playing at creating mystery, still hesitating about whether you should trust me? Is toying with people fun… You’re detestable!”

By the end, she couldn’t help laughing herself. She struck Xu Fengjia a few more times before tossing aside the back-scratcher and composing her expression.

“Expecting me to make Eunuch Lian conceal such an important matter with just one sentence—isn’t that too frivolous? Though the old gentleman might not mind giving me some consideration, with such major matters, caution should come first.”

Having said this much, if Seventh Miss still didn’t know who had bestowed that pair of golden jade ruyi, she would truly be too stupid. However, that Eunuch Lian would use his influence to encourage the Emperor to bestow the golden jade ruyi to support her didn’t necessarily mean he would deceive the Emperor for her sake over those ethereal past matters.

Xu Fengjia rubbed his hand while chuckling softly. “I’m not asking you to speak. You might not even be able to handle this kind of thing. Now the internal treasury has no money. Years of warfare, plus this business about going to the Southern Seas—the national treasury is also very depleted… Yet the Emperor keeps expending silver to pursue Prince Lu. Eunuch Lian’s heart might not be without opinions. It’s just the old gentleman is cautious in his conduct. Though he’s been successful for many years, he has no dealings whatsoever with us outer ministers. Asking you to come forward is just to ask you to make introductions.”

Seventh Miss looked at Xu Fengjia skeptically, raising her eyebrows.

“If this path doesn’t work—”

“Then I’ll have no choice but to tell the Emperor the truth—that my abilities are insufficient, I can’t fight naval battles well, and I can’t even handle family matters properly.” Xu Fengjia’s expression darkened. “From my understanding of the Emperor, he’ll most likely promote Fourth Brother instead: After all, he’s still a Xu family member—”

To deceive someone as clever as the Emperor, excuses were useless—one could only manipulate the facts. Rather than finding clumsy excuses, better to speak truthfully. Of course, this truth might lower the Emperor’s impression of Xu Fengjia, but it was also the only path.

Seventh Miss gritted her teeth. Her heart had already made the decision.

“Then let’s first try the path through Eunuch Lian and see if it works!”

Unexpectedly, Lixia’s words came to mind.

“When it was time to leave, Master Huang talked to himself, saying this person probably doesn’t even have a name now, just the character ‘Lian’… He owes the Feng family too many favors. If you can find him, whatever you ask, he’ll probably give…”

Nanny Liang’s words also drifted to her ears.

“The day Ninth Young Master was born, the Master carried him to Madam’s room for Madam to raise. Ninth Aunt was very reluctant. Madam feared she’d cause trouble again, so she simply wanted a dose of medicine…”

Seventh Miss lowered her eyes again and sighed.

“I still have many things I want to ask you.” Her tone had unconsciously taken on considerable weight. “You’re fighting battles outside, yet people are still scheming behind your back. Why doesn’t Father handle it? It’s gotten to the point where we seem to be fighting alone…”

Xu Fengjia also sighed.

“Father has his difficulties too.” His words carried deep mockery. “The Xu family’s household affairs have never been solely under the Xu family members’ control. Grandmother has Aunt backing her. In many matters, Father has no recourse.”

Seventh Miss unexpectedly also sighed along with Xu Fengjia.

“You have one night’s time to slowly tell me about family matters.” She forced herself to rally her spirits, smiling with effort.

The path the Xu family mistress had to walk was truly covered with thorns.