The twelfth month passed peacefully without incident.
After the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, the Grand Master treated his secretaries to year-end wine, released them to go home for New Year, and returned to Baifang Garden to stay at Huansha Wu. Each day he either enjoyed soft fragrant embraces, or read and wrote, or called his children to chat and laugh, or discussed this year’s harvest with the Grand Madam—rarely passing several leisurely days.
Seventh Miss no longer needed to attend at the outer side courtyard, so she stayed behind closed doors, fearing that going anywhere she might encounter someone she shouldn’t and invite trouble upon herself.
Xu Fengjia also rarely stayed at the Governor-General’s residence.
By now, the naval camp had over ten thousand sailors rotating through training. With so many people gathered together, there were over a hundred matters to handle daily. With New Year approaching, camp business multiplied. Commander Xiao couldn’t manage alone—even Eunuch Liao had to personally handle affairs. As a fourth-rank general, how could Xu Fengjia have the face to idle about in Suzhou?
Thus, though he still returned to Chuiyang Studio to sleep at night these days, during the day he was at Xukou Camp, sometimes only returning to Suzhou in the middle of the night.
The Grand Madam felt quite distressed. “Having you stay in Suzhou was originally because we worried you wouldn’t eat or sleep well in the military camp. With things this exhausting, when you’re too busy in the future, you might as well sleep at Xukou. When you have leisure, come back to Suzhou to visit us.”
Xu Fengjia smiled. “It’s fine—not too exhausting.”
The several males present all showed admiration. Even Fifth Miss’s coldness showed slight cracks. She quietly discussed with Sixth Miss, “Though Xukou is close, it’s still an hour’s journey. Fortunate that Cousin has such capability.”
Seventh Miss couldn’t help but raise her eyes to briefly glance at Xu Fengjia.
He was family after all. When he came to pay respects daily, the Grand Madam didn’t particularly require the daughters to withdraw.
Fortunately, Xu Fengjia never showed anything improper, always dignified and proper, never deliberately examining his cousin sisters.
The Grand Madam increasingly liked Xu Fengjia the more she saw him.
Noble birth, proper conduct, plus a young fourth-rank general and ducal heir… With so many matters at Xukou Camp daily, fortunate he had the patience to handle them conscientiously, yet remained so vigorous and energetic, showing not a trace of fatigue.
“Though you young people all have endless energy, you must still be careful to maintain your health.” She was increasingly amiable. “Don’t rely on youth to toil day and night without regard for exhausting yourself.”
She smiled and instructed the nephews, “This applies to you all as well. Though studies are important, don’t be too rigid.”
Min’ge quickly led Da’ge and Hong’ge in agreeing.
The Grand Madam asked Min’ge again, “Has there been word from home about when the wedding will be?”
“Probably this autumn.” Min’ge calmly informed the Grand Madam, then smiled. “Father told us not to head northwest until after the fourth month, saying last year’s official road to the northwest was damaged in many places by heavy rain. They’re currently organizing laborers to repair roads—the journey from Jiangnan is quite difficult.”
The Grand Madam nodded thoughtfully.
“Second Uncle’s letter said the same.”
Such household trivialities naturally couldn’t stir the younger generation’s interest.
The daughters were fine, but Ninth Brother could no longer restrain himself, repeatedly signaling Xu Fengjia with his eyes.
Xu Fengjia rose to take his leave. “There are still many matters…”
The Grand Madam quickly said, “Go to your business, go to your business.”
She smiled as she released Xu Fengjia and Ninth Brother, then kept the nephews by her side to inquire about their studies.
Fifth Miss sat awhile longer before also growing bored. She tugged at Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss’s sleeves, rising to take her leave. “The plum blossoms in Sixth Sister’s courtyard are blooming so beautifully… With fewer matters these days, I plan to paint several plum blossom pictures.”
The Grand Madam surprisingly didn’t stop Fifth Miss. Instead, she also sent Da’ge and Hong’ge out, keeping only Min’ge. “You two brothers study all year—go with your sisters to the courtyard for some fresh air.”
The siblings had no choice but to leave the east side room together.
Through the glass curtain, they could still hear the Grand Madam’s low conversation with Min’ge.
Min’ge said something that made the Grand Madam laugh.
Seventh Miss couldn’t help but wonder about it.
After thinking, she felt that since the succession rights had been settled, even if Min’ge wanted to overturn the Huiqing Temple matter, he couldn’t stir up much.
That stratagem from years ago was her masterpiece. Min’ge could attack motives, could slander Fourth Concubine and herself, but however he slandered, he couldn’t exonerate the Second Madam.
Besides, he’d also witnessed Father’s affection for herself… Any intelligent person wouldn’t speak carelessly.
Seventh Miss was genuinely quite curious: if it wasn’t about Huiqing Temple, then what was the Grand Madam keeping Min’ge in the east side room to discuss?
#
Since that day’s quarrel, Hong’ge and Fifth Miss had remained at odds with each other.
Having just entered Baifang Garden and walked a few steps, several times their words nearly clashed directly. One said winter green plum blossoms bloomed best, the other countered that Xiao Xiangxue’s white plum blossoms were prettier.
With Min’ge absent… Da’ge was comparatively weaker and couldn’t control Hong’ge at all.
The atmosphere grew increasingly awkward.
Sixth Miss was nearly jumping with anxiety: these sisters and brothers were all heading to Xiao Xiangxue to play. If they quarreled, she as hostess would inevitably be implicated.
She could only desperately signal Seventh Miss with her eyes.
How could Seventh Miss not know Sixth Miss’s anxiety?
It was just that Fifth Miss these days was probably deeply troubled by her marriage prospects. Though Hong’ge’s words that day were unintentional, they had struck precisely at this young lady’s wound.
Just seeing how she’d even distanced herself from Xu Fengjia recently showed Fifth Miss’s heart was probably being fried in oil and roasted over fire.
Yet Hong’ge felt wronged from that day, finding it inexplicable. Recently whenever he faced Fifth Miss, his eyes and brows particularly carried three parts stubbornness…
She could only keep changing topics along the way. At the end, she even proactively proposed, “I’d actually like to walk around Juba Pavilion and play on the artificial mountain. Will Fifth Sister accompany me?”
This clearly meant to separate Hong’ge and Fifth Miss.
Before Fifth Miss could answer, Sixth Miss’s eyes already brightened as if receiving an imperial edict.