Entering November, the military provisions storm that had entangled Suzhou for nearly half a year seemed to finally gradually subside.
From Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commissioner Liu Zheng’s arrival in the capital to his downfall took only half a year. Subtracting the two or three months of travel, it essentially meant that as soon as he reached the capital, the Emperor began arranging to deal with this regional official. The various officials of Jiangnan gradually realized the Grand Master’s exceptional qualities: in this dispute, he had once again from the very beginning stood where the Emperor wanted him to be.
Thus no one in the three Jiangnan provinces dared oppose military provisions. This year’s harvest was fairly good. Rice collection and storage, transportation and shipping… all encountered no troublesome obstacles.
But the Grand Master didn’t become idle because of this.
Governing three provinces, his affairs were already numerous. Now having to personally supervise all matters large and small in Zhejiang province, he was even busier with his feet barely touching ground. He also had to face all manner of overtures, and obvious or subtle sabotage… so busy he rarely entered the inner courtyard.
The Grand Madam wasn’t much more idle either.
Though the Left Pillar of State reward the Grand Master received was glorious, it had little substantive benefit.
It merely proved his position in the Emperor’s heart.
The accompanying troubles could be described as endless…
The First Prince apparently hadn’t developed resentment toward the Grand Master because of Liu Zheng’s downfall. Several frontier officials under him continued as always to enthusiastically court the Grand Master’s favor.
The Crown Prince wanted to seize this opportunity to draw the Grand Master to his side, frequently pulling strings through the Xu and Qin families’ connections to win him over.
Both the Grand Master and Grand Madam had headaches.
After all, the Qin and Xu families were relatives—they couldn’t very well break off relations completely.
But the Grand Master clearly didn’t plan to take sides in the succession struggle… How to tactfully decline both sides without offending both to death had become the topic the Grand Master and Grand Madam most frequently discussed recently.
“Your grandfather and Third Aunt’s family also have no choice.” The Grand Madam couldn’t help complaining to Seventh Miss. “But who thinks of our family’s dilemma? If we show the slightest inclination toward either side, the Emperor will probably change expression and erupt!”
Seventh Miss could only smile apologetically.
However, entering late November, the Grand Madam ultimately managed to deflect both families of relatives and began concentrating on arranging the marriage between the Zhang and Yang families.
Though the two families were close, they didn’t have superior-subordinate official relationships like the Li or Wang families with the Yang family, so they couldn’t first obtain Young Master Zhang’s birth chart for the bride’s family to match horoscopes.
Everything followed standard procedure. Minister Li and Mrs. Li both acted as chief matchmakers, waiting for the Zhang family to prepare the six types of grand gifts before coming to perform the betrothal ceremony.
Third Miss was even more shy and refused to leave Seven-Fragrance Lodge. Fourth Concubine also stayed behind closed doors, rarely appearing in Hundred Fragrance Garden. This made the Grand Madam particularly energetic in handling these matters.
Even when Fifth Miss clamored to go to Hanshan Temple to worship and burn incense, she was rarely refused. “The entire household is busy with your Third Sister’s marriage. Going to burn incense at this time—isn’t that adding to the commotion?”
Fifth Miss came dejectedly to the west side courtyard to talk with Seventh Miss.
Seventh Miss amiably chatted with Fifth Miss about how Striped Tiger’s several kittens were gradually growing up, how the lark under her eaves sang ever more clearly, how spectacular Fifth Miss’s backgammon game the other day was…
But Fifth Miss responded absently, replying sporadically and carelessly, only staring into space.
How could Seventh Miss not know her thoughts?
After all, she was a young lady. Ordinarily in Hundred Fragrance Garden, she was subject to many restrictions.
Not to mention outside matters.
How much did Fifth Miss actually know?
Even less than Seventh Miss, who had Uncle Zhou and had some dealings with the Feng family, learning in the first half of the year that Feng Jin would take the examinations this year.
But Seventh Miss didn’t dare at all to stir up Fifth Miss’s thoughts.
Even knowing Fifth Miss came to linger at the west side courtyard with ulterior motives, she had to pretend not to know.
Fifth Miss would be thirteen after New Year’s.
In previous years when Great Qin’s national power was weak, if a thirteen-year-old girl wasn’t yet married with children, the government would forcibly arrange matches.
Only because the population had become more abundant in recent years had this marriage law gradually relaxed.
With ancient people’s early maturity, thirteen-year-old maidens mostly already had thoughts of spring romance.
If Fifth Miss never learned news of Feng Jin, this thread of affection would likely gradually fade with time.
But if she could receive news of the Feng family from Seventh Miss from time to time, things might truly blow up.
With the Feng family’s status, even if Feng Jin became the top scholar, he probably wouldn’t qualify to seek a Yang family daughter.
This romantic fancy—the earlier it was severed, the better.
Fifth Miss ultimately had a thin face. After coming several times and seeing Seventh Miss always seemed completely unaware, she gradually put away her distracted manner.
However, on the day results were posted, she was still restless, pacing back and forth, unable to listen to even the Tang poetry commentary the teacher lectured on.
Just leaving family school, she couldn’t wait to ask Seventh Miss.
“Do you know the provincial examination results are posted today?”
Seventh Miss sighed inwardly.
Yet she also felt slightly nervous, unsure if infected by Fifth Miss or out of concern for Feng Jin.
“I know.” Her expression was calm. “I wonder if the young masters of the Li and Zhang families can pass!”
Given the families’ relationships, Seventh Miss’s concern for the young masters was natural.
Fifth Miss’s eyes brightened. “Exactly! I think we should send someone to the front courtyard to find an advisor and copy back this examination’s roster to look!”
Sixth Miss listened with rolling eyes, saying nothing.
Seventh Miss was helpless. “We should still first inform Mother… Our inner courtyard maids shouldn’t casually go to the outer courtyard.”