The transportation Dowager Consort Xu sent to fetch Seventh Miss was much more imposing.
Sixth Miss held the rank of Imperial Concubine, which was only second rank, but Dowager Consort Xu enjoyed genuine supreme rank treatment. Compared to the small warm palanquin Sixth Miss had brought, what Dowager Consort Xu sent was a formal sedan chair. Seventh Miss felt somewhat apprehensive and dared not board it. Instead, she borrowed the warm palanquin from Sixth Miss and followed behind the sedan chair as before, slowly departing from the Eastern Six Palaces and entering the Western Six Palaces.
The Late Emperor had ruled for many years and had quite a few consorts, but not many sons. Aside from those dowager consorts who had sons and had left the palace to live at their fiefs, the remaining palace ladies of Imperial Concubine rank and above had all been sent to temples outside the city to cultivate the Way, or confined to the Cold Palace. Even so, the area of the Western Six Palaces where Ningshou Palace and Cishou Palace were located still had quite a population. Looking out through the palanquin curtain, Seventh Miss noticed that the Western Six Palaces were much livelier than the Eastern Six Palaces.
The small warm palanquin passed down a long street, turned a corner, and entered a palace compound with three courtyards. This was different from Chongkang Palace where Sixth Miss lived—the structure was grander. Though both were called “palaces,” Ningshou Palace had the imposing air of a main reception hall, as if it held the central position in the Western Six Palaces. Through the palanquin curtain, she could faintly see the eaves of Cishou Palace, which was located deep within the Western Six Palaces.
Just from seeing Dowager Consort Xu’s residence, one could tell His Majesty had worked hard to treat these two foster mothers impartially.
With the assistance of two palace ladies, Seventh Miss alighted from the palanquin. She took a deep breath, lightly patted her skirts, then ascended the steps and entered the main hall of Ningshou Palace.
An elderly female official was already waiting at the entrance with a face full of warm smiles. She led Seventh Miss into the warm chamber in the eastern side room, where Dowager Consort Xu sat by the heated platform, smiling at Seventh Miss. “It’s cold outside. Come sit by the platform.”
Seventh Miss dared not be remiss. She properly performed the courtesy to Dowager Consort Xu. “This one greets the Dowager Consort.”
Dowager Consort Xu resembled Grand Dowager Ni quite a bit—both had cheerful round faces that were advantageous in middle age, making them appear very kind. Yet because of this face, though she had been made Noble Consort upon entering the palace and her position had grown more secure over the years thanks to her father’s and brother’s achievements, she had never been favored. She only had one princess as support, who had died young before even marrying a few years ago. Perhaps because she had borne few children, she appeared younger than her peers. During New Year’s, standing beside the Empress Dowager, she even seemed a generation younger than the stern and rigid Empress Dowager. Seeing Seventh Miss’s proper etiquette, her smile naturally deepened, and she said warmly, “Rise. We’re family—why so formal!”
Naturally someone came to help Seventh Miss up and settled her on the opposite end of the heated platform from Dowager Consort Xu, so they sat facing each other to talk.
“Just now, the female official at my side said that although I sent a sedan chair to fetch you, you didn’t ride in it but borrowed Concubine Ning’s warm palanquin instead.” That Dowager Consort Xu chose this topic was beyond even Seventh Miss’s expectations. “I was very pleased to hear this. A Yang family daughter is a Yang family daughter. Like your Second Sister, you are a child who knows proper limits.”
Seventh Miss murmured modest demurrals. “Little Seven knows her own position…”
In her heart, she quickly assessed Dowager Consort Xu’s character.
Having lived long in great households, no one could possibly be as simple as they appeared. Though Dowager Consort Xu seemed kind, whether she was truly amiable was another matter entirely. At the very least, when Seventh Miss had entered the family, she hadn’t bestowed anything from the palace.
“Mm, I sent the sedan chair precisely to test you.” Dowager Consort Xu appeared quite satisfied with Seventh Miss. “If you were the frivolous type who, gaining three parts of face, couldn’t wait to show off, I would have had to ask Mother and Sister-in-law to discipline you more strictly. Fortunately, you’re a sensible child—how old are you this year?”
What followed was a thorough interrogation.
Seventh Miss couldn’t help feeling that although Dowager Consort Xu had been married for many years, judging from her attitude and words, she still seemed as concerned about the Xu family’s internal affairs as when she was unmarried.
Never mind that she herself was merely a nephew’s wife—even if it were the genuine sister-in-law Quan Ruiyun, Seventh Miss hadn’t imagined interrogating her with such an attitude, much less Ninth Brother’s future daughter-in-law.
She briefly sized up Dowager Consort Xu a few times and responded to her inquiries with appropriate weight.
“Yes… my younger brother and I are twins. He’ll take the examinations this spring.”
“My birth mother is buried in the Northwest. She received an imperial title a few years ago—a ninth-rank patent…”
“After the Heir returned… mm, we’ve shared a bed several times…”
Dowager Consort Xu smiled and patted Seventh Miss’s hand. “What’s there to be embarrassed about! I was worried the Heir was seriously injured—last time Fengjia came in, I sent someone to check on him, and they came back saying he was wounded! How terrible!”
Her attitude toward Xu Fengjia was much more affectionate than the Grand Dowager’s attitude toward her grandson.
After a moment’s thought, Seventh Miss understood: from childhood, only Xu Fengjia had come and gone from the palace. He was young then and must have often played at the Dowager Consort’s side, so naturally their relationship would be deeper—this was only reasonable.
It seemed that though the Dowager Consort and the Grand Dowager were birth mother and daughter, their perceptions of the Xu family’s internal personnel might not be the same.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the Dowager Consort was clearly very satisfied with Seventh Miss’s conversation. She leaned comfortably against the partition and sighed contentedly, then called to the female official, “Bring the meeting gift I prepared for my nephew’s wife!”
It seemed that if Seventh Miss hadn’t satisfied the Dowager Consort, this meeting gift might not have materialized. Being of concubine birth, her starting point was inherently lower. The golden self-chiming clock in Fifth Miss’s quarters had been a meeting gift bestowed by Dowager Consort Xu.
Seventh Miss accepted the ruby pocket watch bestowed by Dowager Consort Xu with thanks, then removed the pure gold pocket watch she wore and pinned the newly received gift inside her formal dress—this was customary etiquette. When receiving an elder’s gift, one should wear it on the spot to show gratitude.
Dowager Consort Xu’s eyes flashed. Pocket watches and self-chiming clocks were rare items throughout all of Great Qin. That Seventh Miss could casually produce one showed her family wealth was not necessarily meager.
She took the pocket watch into her hands and examined it carefully. “This is a Western import, isn’t it?”
Seventh Miss hadn’t expected Dowager Consort Xu to scrutinize even such minor details.
“Yes, Father bestowed it as a coming-of-age gift when he was in Suzhou.” She answered in a soft voice. Dowager Consort Xu seemed to have quite a controlling temperament.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Dowager Consort Xu became pleased. “Mm, it seems your parents dote on you!”
As if the Yang family had casually sent off their last unfavored daughter to marry into the Xu family.
Next, Dowager Consort Xu began to interrogate Seventh Miss in great detail about when she planned to take over household management, what she thought she should do after taking charge… exactly like the most long-winded human resources manager in a future job interview.
Seventh Miss dared not be the slightest bit presumptuous. She still answered carefully, deflecting left and dodging right. Anything she didn’t want to answer, she met with tai chi, claiming she needed to see the Heir’s opinion. No matter how often Dowager Consort Xu emphasized “you must have your own ideas,” she deflected with “Little Seven is still young. Managing the household is really just nominal—many things still require Grandmother and Mother to make decisions.”
“Very well.” Though Dowager Consort Xu’s face showed some regret, she also felt somewhat relieved. “That you have this self-awareness is not bad. Household matters should still be handled according to the two elders’ wishes. The Sixth Branch’s affairs are what you should focus on carefully. I hear Fengjia has two concubines…”
“They’re currently living at Mingde Hall.” Seventh Miss answered with a smile.
Dowager Consort Xu’s face showed contemplation, then she immediately asked, “So regarding your Fifth Sister’s death, will you investigate or not?”
Seventh Miss answered too smoothly and nearly blurted out her response. Fortunately, her self-control was strong and her concentration good. She immediately grasped the Dowager Consort’s meaning: this string of questions had all been serving this one question.
“Little Seven is young and knows nothing.” She brought out her old excuse again. “This matter still depends on Grandmother’s and Mother’s opinion.”
Dowager Consort Xu gave Seventh Miss a meaningful smile, clearly hearing the evasiveness in this answer.
“Listen to one thing I say, Nephew’s Wife.” She shifted her posture and assumed a heart-to-heart expression. “In running a household, the key word is forbearance. Many things, once past, are past. Insisting on uncovering the truth only damages sinews and bones and hurts the family’s feelings. In the future, Duke Pingguo’s household will be handed over to you and Fengjia. You must have the breadth of mind befitting the clan’s matriarch and stop dwelling on past matters.”
Her words, judging from both tone and demeanor, were quite serious and conveyed utmost sincerity. Even from Seventh Miss’s perspective, she could detect no false sentiment.
Indeed, the matriarchs of ancient great families were expected to consider the bigger picture. If investigating Fifth Miss’s death would cause the family to fragment internally, then as the clan matriarch, Seventh Miss would indeed be derelict in her duties.
Watching Dowager Consort Xu’s earnest expression, she suddenly understood what kind of Heir’s wife she wanted.
Dowager Consort Xu was fundamentally different from Grand Dowager Ni.
The Grand Dowager favored the Fourth and Fifth Branches wholeheartedly. Because of conflicts with her daughter-in-law, she had no fondness at all for the Sixth Branch.
But Dowager Consort Xu’s relationship with Madam Xu was not bad. What she wanted was a clan matriarch who could manage the Xu family’s inner court well and prevent fires in the rear. Only the Xu family’s stability could maximize her confidence in the rear palace.
“Little Seven knows what to do.” She confidently brought out her habitual catchphrase. “Whatever the matter, everything will be handled properly without giving the capital’s people cause for mockery.”
Dowager Consort Xu’s eyes flashed. She nodded.
“You have much more presence of mind than your Fifth Sister.”
The warmth in these words actually faded. They didn’t sound like praise but rather carried faint regret, as if lamenting Fifth Miss’s early death.
Seventh Miss glanced at the sky and rose to take her leave of Dowager Consort Xu. “It’s about time to leave the palace!”
#
Upon leaving Ningshou Palace, Seventh Miss entered Kunning Palace to bid farewell to the Empress.
The Empress and Second Miss seemed to have much to discuss and were still talking in the inner hall. When Seventh Miss announced herself in the outer hall, the female official settled her first. “Heir’s Wife, please wait in the outer hall. When our Mistress talks with the Marquis’s Wife, she doesn’t like others interrupting.”
How could Seventh Miss not understand the intricacies involved? She quickly smiled. “No matter. I’ll just rest my legs.”
She sat in the outer hall, sipping tea while distractedly thinking about the day’s activities.
She wondered whether Eunuch Lian would come in today to pay respects to the Empress. Although Xu Fengjia very much wanted to speak with him, this old eunuch usually kept to himself and rarely left his palace quarters. Even when he occasionally came out to pay respects, he only circulated in the rear palace and rarely connected with proper court officials. With Feng Jin not in the capital, the only way to contact him was for Seventh Miss to try her luck by entering the palace.
She was, after all, Ninth Auntie’s blood and had grown up at her side. If Eunuch Lian’s heart still couldn’t let go of that past, surely he would come to see her no matter what, wouldn’t he?
Or perhaps, being near home made one more timid…
Just as she was lost in thought, light footsteps and obsequious greetings came from outside. “Eunuch Lian!—What an honored guest!”
Just from the female official’s tone, one could tell she regarded Eunuch Lian more highly than Seventh Miss.
Seventh Miss had just set down her tea bowl and turned to look when she saw a middle-aged man wearing a round-collared narrow-sleeved robe and a gold-traced curved-toe hat enter the room unhurriedly.
He was younger than Seventh Miss had expected. In her mind, this person had always been an elderly figure with chicken-skin and crane hair. Only upon meeting him face to face did Seventh Miss recall that Eunuch Lian had once been betrothed to Ninth Auntie, and if Ninth Auntie were still alive, she would only be approaching forty now.
This was a fair and handsome middle-aged eunuch whose back was perfectly straight. Setting aside his status, he looked no different from those successful scholar-officials in the outer court. The refined scholarly air between his brows was not inferior to external ministers. He was also distinctly different in bearing from the palace servants Seventh Miss was accustomed to seeing. Though he said nothing, one could easily perceive that this person possessed the aura of wielding great power—every movement and gesture not to be lightly insulted.
For a eunuch to have such bearing was indeed remarkable.
When their eyes met, his steps paused slightly. For an instant, his gaze seemed infinitely complex, but this passed in a flash before returning to normal.
“This is—”
The female official hurriedly made mutual introductions. Since he was a palace servant, there was no need for avoidance. Seventh Miss calmly nodded in greeting and called out, “Eunuch Lian.”
Though the eunuchs of Great Qin now wielded considerable power, compared to someone of her status as the Heir’s wife, their position on the surface was still notably different. A curtsy would be excessive.
Eunuch Lian returned a nod, his expression slightly reserved as if his dignity had been affronted by Seventh Miss. “Young Madam.”
The room fell silent again.
Seventh Miss glanced at the female official, then looked out the window and smiled. “It’s snowing. After being cooped up indoors all day, I feel somewhat stifled. Talking here, I’m also afraid of disturbing Her Majesty… I’d like to stand on the long corridor outside. Sister, would that be convenient?”
Though Kunning Palace was where the Empress resided and palace prohibitions were always strict, given Seventh Miss’s status, wanting to stand outside was no great matter. The female official quickly led her out and stood with her under the eaves, chatting and laughing. “The palace burns charcoal everywhere. Sitting indoors too long does make one feel stifled!”
After a few more exchanges, seeing Seventh Miss’s manner greatly relaxed, she excused herself to return and attend to Eunuch Lian. Seventh Miss stood outside, gazing at the fresh snow under the eaves, quietly waiting for a moment before hearing light footsteps.
It was mid-afternoon, and with snow falling outside, the area outside Kunning Palace was quite desolate—no one came out to freeze in the snowy weather. Seventh Miss exhaled a puff of white vapor, turned her head, and unsurprisingly met Eunuch Lian’s gaze.
She performed a shallow curtsy, lowered her eyes, and greeted him softly. “Uncle Lian.”
Several ripples of emotion flashed through Eunuch Lian’s eyes. He took a deep breath.
“In the blink of an eye, it’s been twenty years.”
From the ash-gray sky, crystalline snowflakes drifted down freely. This was a spring snow—though still cold, it carried a touch of winter’s approaching melancholy.