“I’ve also said before—I’ve never had a second choice.”
Seventh Miss’s voice was not loud at all, rarely revealing weakness.
Xu Fengjia’s breathing immediately grew heavy.
“Yang Qi, with your stubborn temper toward everyone, how did you make it to where you are today?” Yet when he spoke, he clearly suppressed his own anger. Though the mockery in his words was evident, it lacked that blade-sharp edge. “Can’t you soften toward me, say a few nice words?”
Seventh Miss suddenly relaxed.
Facing Xu Fengjia, she easily pushed herself too hard. She knew he was too aggressive, too demanding, so she was especially vigilant, not daring to give Xu Fengjia the slightest opening.
But he had just let her off… let her clear refusal simply pass.
If he were to threaten her with leaving, Seventh Miss had no second choice. She needed Xu Fengjia to stay. Even if it meant unwillingly facing herself, she had no choice but to do so.
Heaven knew how much she feared this… The mask worn too long, she almost couldn’t remember what it felt like to expose her true self before another person.
“But if I said nice words,” her voice took on a trace of amusement, “I’d be lying to you.”
Xu Fengjia irritably tightened his grip on the hair in his hand, bringing a subtle pulling pain. Seventh Miss cried out softly, unhappily swatting at his hand. “That hurts! Let go.”
“Beg me.”
“Childish!” Seventh Miss simply tried to pry Xu Fengjia’s fingers open, but how could she match a military officer’s strength? “You’re shameless!”
“Beg me.” Young Master Xu was not offended, continuing his demand.
Seventh Miss had to be the more mature one. “Shengluan, please let go…”
Only then did the Young Master willingly release his grip. She quickly grabbed all her hair, sweeping her tresses to the far side before relaxing and lying back down on the pillow.
“Were all these wounds from the naval battle?” She stared at the thin white gauze in the dim light, her hands quietly clenching into fists. “Are Western firearms really that formidable? Is Great Qin’s navy completely incomparable?”
Xu Fengjia fell silent.
“The truth?” His voice held a trace of bitterness. “Compared to thirty years ago during the maritime ban, Westerners have already changed their firearms several times over, while we’re still… This battle’s failure was certainly related to my lack of skill in naval warfare, but underestimating the firearms in Prince Lu’s hands was also a reason.”
Seventh Miss frowned, constantly telling herself in her heart: This is the march of history. No matter how capable she was, she couldn’t reverse the nation’s fortunes. Besides, she was just a small woman struggling desperately to survive—where did she get the ability to concern herself with national affairs?
She sighed deeply, murmuring, “Going to the Southern Seas, if you can bring firearms back to the country, that would at least be a good thing. But however you look at it, you’re the most suitable person for this—the navy was trained by you, the ships were built under your supervision. Even without Prince Lu’s matter, the Emperor probably would have put you with the fleet. Once you go, whether you can return is another matter entirely…”
Not to mention Great Qin—even in modern times, deaths during ocean voyages were commonplace. Though Xu Fengjia was young and valiant, at sea, many things were simply beyond his control. Compared to ocean voyages, she’d rather he go to war—at least on land, he fought the kind of warfare he excelled at.
Xu Fengjia made a low sound of agreement, then reminded Seventh Miss, “Never mind the Emperor—even with Father, without a passable reason, it would be very difficult to decline this assignment.”
Only then did Seventh Miss remember that Xu Fengjia was ultimately still the heir apparent. If one were strict about it, Duke Pingguo was the family head. Whether Xu Fengjia went to the Southern Seas or not—his own word counted for nothing.
Just from the information Xu Fengjia had provided, this Southern Seas voyage seemed inevitable.
“What exactly are you scheming?” She asked Xu Fengjia softly. “Things have reached this point—can you really not go?”
Xu Fengjia’s voice took on more amusement.
“Want to know?” The familiar teasing emerged again.
“Obviously.” Seventh Miss responded without thinking, blurting it out.
Soft laughter immediately echoed through the quiet room.
“Beg me.”
Seventh Miss was instantly speechless. She turned her eyes away, grinding her teeth, ultimately humbling herself and compromising. “Shengluan, please tell me?” If this matter weren’t truly intimately related to her… she absolutely wouldn’t beg Xu Fengjia!
Being away on official business for a few months versus going abroad for several years were ultimately two completely different matters. Just for the sake of the twins, he shouldn’t be away from the family for so long… In the deepest corner of her heart, she sneered coldly at the excuses she was finding: No matter how many excuses, they were ultimately just excuses.
Seventh Miss shook her head again, shaking off inappropriate wild thoughts.
“Even if you beg me, I won’t tell you yet.” Xu Fengjia laughed genuinely, ruffling Seventh Miss’s head. “Sleep! Tomorrow after discussing with Father, I’ll give you an answer.”
Creating mystery!
Seventh Miss turned over, glaring at Xu Fengjia’s profile. Seeing that after speaking, he turned on his side and seemingly truly didn’t plan to discuss this topic further, she could only reluctantly accept this reality: Regarding the question of whether Xu Fengjia would leave the capital, she was truly completely passive.
Countless thoughts churned in her mind. After consummating the marriage, there were many matters waiting for her to handle… She calculated for a while, couldn’t help yawning slightly, thinking only that with someone sharing this bed, it was so cramped—she’d need to change to a larger bed another day… Then Seventh Miss fell into deep sleep.
The next day when she rose to pay respects to Grand Madam Ni, her dark circles were so heavy that even powder couldn’t conceal them, and her movements showed obvious stiffness.
Grand Madam Ni laughed when she saw this, her attitude toward Seventh Miss softening slightly. The old lady teasingly pointed at Seventh Miss’s neck. “That child Fengjia is just too impatient… still carrying wounds on his body!”
Seventh Miss’s face immediately reddened. She bit her lip without speaking.
Last night Xu Fengjia had left two or three red marks by her ear—ones that collars or face powder equally couldn’t hide.
Fortunately, the men had all gone to Menghua Pavilion and hadn’t come in, otherwise the scene would certainly have been more awkward—last night the two had talked until the latter half of the night. Seventh Miss had also slept restlessly. No matter how much she maintained composure, showing discomfort in her movements was unavoidable.
First Young Madam also couldn’t help showing a trace of teasing, smiling as she glanced at Seventh Miss, pursing her lips in a slight smile. Fifth Young Madam was even more enthusiastic, covering her mouth in continuous laughter, as if Grand Madam Ni had told an extremely funny joke.
Only Fourth Young Madam’s face showed embarrassment. She just pursed her lips, then clung to Grand Madam Ni, asking where she planned to burn incense on the second day of the second month this year.
Though Seventh Miss acted shy, the reactions of her several sisters-in-law didn’t escape her eyes.
Her finally consummating the marriage with Xu Fengjia was good news for the sixth household. After all, now she, the Sixth Young Madam, could truly be said to have both name and substance. With her husband in the capital, she could boldly undertake many matters.
First Young Madam’s gaze merely circled the marks on her neck that couldn’t be concealed, then she smiled and looked away. The reaction was both proper and detached, fully expressing her attitude as an outsider.
Fourth Young Master campaigned at the frontier year-round. Fourth Young Madam was inevitably lonely. Her avoidance of this topic and trace of jealousy were entirely normal—though this Young Madam wasn’t lacking in scheming, most of the time she never hesitated to display her willfulness and delicate nature. She wasn’t incapable of managing appearances—she was simply too lazy to bother.
Fifth Young Madam was most affected: She herself had been married three months and consummated the marriage—there were many excuses to take on household management. Yet this Young Madam’s reaction was completely opposite to her true feelings. The surface pleasantness was performed as if genuine. A method actor, wearing her mask very securely. Seventh Miss thought to herself—when encountering matters, habitually using overly false responses to conceal genuine emotions.