That very day, Xu Fengjia only came in to apologize to the Grand Madam before immediately escorting the prisoner back to Xukou military camp.
Over the following days, messenger soldiers traveling between Xukou military camp and the Governor-General’s manor suddenly increased.
The wife of the Commander-in-Chief and several madams from the Salt and Iron Bureau all coincidentally came to speak with the Grand Madam, but where did she have the mind to deal with them?
“The connection between this person and Prince Lu is something even His Majesty is aware of. At the time, how many people in Jiangxi knew he followed Prince Lu back to the capital…” While having Lidong open a chest to show the Grand Madam fabric samples, she chatted idly with Seventh Miss. “And he committed the great crime of attempted assassination right in front of your Uncle Li. When he’s sent to the capital, even if His Majesty values Prince Lu greatly, he’ll inevitably have to make a statement.”
Compared to half a month ago, her attitude was relaxed by more than just a little!
Seventh Miss also understood the Grand Madam’s meaning.
Political struggles were inherently about ebb and flow. The Grand Master’s side displayed wholehearted dedication to public service while auditing the salt tax. Regardless of whether the officials who ultimately fell were mostly Prince Lu’s direct subordinates, at least on the surface it was acceptable—people from the Crown Prince’s faction and neutral factions were also implicated, and they could tally up additional salt tax silver for His Majesty. Just for the sake of that silver, His Majesty wouldn’t make things too difficult for the Grand Master.
As for Prince Lu, on one hand arranging people to attack the Grand Master, while on the other actually sending people to carry out such base methods as assassination—there was much that could be made of this. Wanting to condemn someone, one never lacks for charges. Even Seventh Miss could think of more than ten ways to connect the assassination with the salt tax, leading His Majesty to think more deeply about Prince Lu’s intentions.
Even if the Grand Master behaved himself and said not one extra word, sending subordinate generals to assassinate court officials—such methods were ultimately too bold and reckless. His Majesty’s impression of Prince Lu would certainly decrease greatly. How the Crown Prince’s side worked on this was merely a question of decreasing more or less.
“This is called luck.” While flipping through the colorful silks and satins in the chest, Seventh Miss chatted with the Grand Madam. “You say, if this person hadn’t successfully escaped, how could such a big commotion have been caused? If his heart had been smaller, if he’d peacefully returned to Shandong, that person wouldn’t be as passive as today.”
“Luck, luck—it’s all accumulated from small matters. If that person from Shandong treated his subordinates generously in normal times, his people wouldn’t have thought of seeking merit to offset crimes.” The Grand Madam had a different view. She picked up a bolt of spring silk with fashionable flowering branch patterns, looked at it, then tossed it back in the chest. “Though the pattern is good, it’s still spring silk after all, not suitable for formal occasions. Even Siqiaoshang can’t produce any fresh patterns this year.”
The Grand Madam rarely patronized Siqiaoshang’s business, but this year she changed her style. Setting aside the household’s Delicate Beauty Workshop, she ordered a chest of fashionable silks from Siqiaoshang to pick and choose from.
“Look, this color is quite good.” Seventh Miss selected a bolt of apricot damask from Songjiang. “Though it looks plain, making an eight-panel Xiang skirt like a fan, embroidering a different flower on each panel—elegant and unconventional.”
Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss both entered the west inner room together. “The several outfits Siqiaoshang brought over aren’t very good—the colors are old, the styles are old too.”
Fifth Miss complained while taking her seat. “They say it’s the largest embroidery house in the south, yet it doesn’t look as novel and clever as Delicate Beauty Workshop’s clothes.”
Nanny Liang and Lidong were busy opening and locking chests, working themselves to exhaustion. Hearing Fifth Miss’s words, she straightened up to wipe her sweat. “Fifth Miss doesn’t understand. Delicate Beauty Workshop has always done business with upper-class families. For ordinary middle-class families to buy our Delicate Beauty Workshop’s clothes, they have to steel themselves and grit their teeth before they can bring themselves to do it. Though Siqiaoshang is large, it does business with middle-class and ordinary families. Naturally when you look, everything seems inferior.”
Sixth Miss also laughed. “The goods are quite complete though. How many years has it been since they did business with our family? They can’t wait to pile up several years’ worth of fabric? They’ve sent in several chests—we can’t even finish looking.”
Everyone looking at the west secondary room packed full of chests couldn’t help but find it amusing.
Only then did the Grand Madam continue her earlier topic with Seventh Miss. “However, it’s also that your cousin handled matters properly, able to advance or retreat, cutting off all his escape routes, blocking information channels so tightly not even wind or rain could get through. He wanted to send messages to Shandong, but his people were all eliminated. Unable to get word out, like a blind and deaf man—wouldn’t this stir up the spirit of an outlaw hero? When capable people act, they’re extraordinary from the start. Even your father greatly admires Fengjia’s conduct.”
That last sentence was directed at Fifth Miss, pride overflowing in her expression.
Sixth Miss’s eyes flashed. She couldn’t help but glance at Seventh Miss.
Seventh Miss merely smiled slightly, having Lidong unfold a bolt of ink-washed pale blue Wuning silk. “This color is fresh—I’ve never seen such dyed gradations before. It’s like blobs of ink spreading, only the spread is too round, giving it a craftsman’s air.”
The Grand Madam’s eyes also lit up. “Let me see, let me see. If this were made into a short jacket, matched with colorful silk thread lover’s knots, hung with a gold tassel necklace, it would carry well!”
Lidong hurried to carry the roll of Wuning silk to the table.
Fifth Miss looked at Seventh Miss and smiled. “Cousin’s methods, need they be mentioned? A fourth-rank general at just over ten years old—there’s only one in the entire court!”
She further led the Grand Madam to praise Xu Fengjia.
Seventh Miss acted as if nothing had happened, pulling Sixth Miss to look at Ning silk from Nanjing. “This is a color pattern rarely seen at Delicate Beauty Workshop. Our family all wears Su silk—we haven’t seen Ning silk for several years.”
But the Grand Madam’s mind wasn’t on praising Xu Fengjia either.
After selecting for half a day, taking a liking to several types of fabric, she called Siqiaoshang’s steward in to personally instruct, “Make jackets from these, skirts from those. I’ve drawn the styles—just follow them. Your shop makes cords cleverly, make plenty more to bring in—these designs must not be circulated. If I see duplicates, I won’t forgive you.”
Siqiaoshang’s steward naturally bowed and scraped, full of “yes, yes, yes” and “of course, of course,” also promising delivery within ten days. Only then did the Grand Madam reward him with a superior envelope and send him off.
Then she called her three daughters to stand before her in turn for careful examination.
“Only because this matter has been peacefully concluded do I have the mind to dress you sisters up.”
She looked at Fifth Miss first but didn’t say much. “You’ve already received enough new jewelry and clothes ordinarily… Today let’s dress up your two younger sisters instead.”
Though Fifth Miss wasn’t angry, she was somewhat surprised. She glanced at the Grand Madam but didn’t make a sound, just sat silently beside her.
The Grand Madam looked carefully at Sixth Miss again.
Since childhood Sixth Miss had her own ideas about clothes. Bold reds and greens, unafraid of clashing colors—the more they clashed, the more they showed her fair face and charming temperament. Today too, she wore a water-red plain damask short jacket cinched at the waist as soft and slender as a willow branch, paired daringly with a dark blue satin skirt embroidered with butterflies among flowers, pointed toe embroidered gold cloud shoes, South Sea pearl earrings, a hairpin of gold, jade and peach blossoms from the Eight Immortals, filigree silver bracelets… Both wealthy and elegant, and born so beautiful—just standing there she was a sight to behold.
“You’ve worn that bracelet for several years now?” The Grand Madam felt a trace of guilt. These past years seeing her dress appropriately, she’d repeatedly forgotten to give this daughter more jewelry. “Nanny Liang, send Sixth Miss some hair ornaments and jewelry later. Don’t skimp on the miscellaneous accessories either. She’s a young lady of age now, she should be dressed to go out.”
Sixth Miss immediately beamed with joy. “Thank you for Mother’s reward!”
Though lacking some depth, interacting with such a person was most relaxing.
The Grand Madam couldn’t help but show a trace of smile. “Silly child, we’re family—what’s there to be polite about?”
Then she called Seventh Miss to stand before her for careful examination.
The more she looked, the more dissatisfied she became.
Since childhood, even in clothing Seventh Miss was cautious—nothing but the four words “appropriate and elegant.” Casually she wore only a pale blue plain silk short jacket, sky-blue cloud-pattern Xiang skirt, a single gold-set gemstone bracelet on her hand, a single rice pearl hairpin in her hair… Though one couldn’t find much fault, with Sixth Miss’s pearls and jade before her, no matter how you looked she didn’t stand out.
“If not for your good looks, dressed like this, people who don’t know would think you’re the daughter of some country landlord.” The Grand Madam couldn’t help but sigh deeply. “Also a daughter with willow-leaf eyes and plum-blossom cheeks—why don’t you know how to dress yourself?”
Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss deeply agreed. “Usually her dress reeks of perfunctoriness…”
They criticized Seventh Miss back and forth.
“So much jewelry locked in chests, just never worn out.”
“New clothes made every year, yet she wears the same few pieces casually. If not for Lixia being a conscientious person who knows to arrange for the mistress to rotate through them, she’d want to get through a whole season with just two or three outfits.”
“Mention grooming and she wants to cover her ears and run far away, won’t even listen!”
Seventh Miss rarely turned bright red in the face.