She immediately opened her cosmetics case and selected a South Sea pearl hairpin for Seventh Miss. The pearl at the hairpin’s head alone was the size of a thumb.
“You’re naturally fair and delicate, with such black and shining hair. Wearing this pearl hairpin makes your skin appear even whiter. When those big eyes glance about, they shine even brighter than the pearls.” The more the Grand Madam looked, the more satisfied she became. She beckoned Nanny Liang over. “This South Sea pearl hairpin is yours now. Tomorrow tell Medicine Nanny to bring out a box of South Sea pearls to make jewelry for you sisters.”
Seventh Miss could only let the Grand Madam dress her.
She had always maintained an appreciative attitude toward ancient adornment.
But when it came to wearing it all herself, she felt quite constrained. Over the years, she had merely pursued four words: appropriately dressed.
The Grand Madam truly did have excellent aesthetic taste though.
After being arranged by her, Seventh Miss felt she looked considerably more radiant.
The mother and daughter warmly took each other’s hands onto the heated sedan, exiting to change to a canopied carriage, heading together to the Zhu family.
Only then did the Grand Madam relay the Grand Master’s words to Seventh Miss in detail.
“Though not stated explicitly, that personage sent Fengjia to Jiangnan partly to drill the naval forces and plant hidden stakes in the future fleet. On the other hand, it’s also to sweep through the three Jiangnan provinces and clear out some positions to facilitate installing his own people.”
Even though she’d had vague suspicions, hearing the Grand Madam state it so clearly still startled Seventh Miss inwardly.
“Cousin is only seventeen this New Year…” She drew out her words. “Such a weighty responsibility… That personage is comfortable placing it in his hands?”
The Grand Madam’s expression was also grave.
“So your father and I initially assumed General Xiao was the one truly handling affairs.” She pensively propped up her chin. “General Xiao, Superintendent Liao, and your cousin all came by imperial order to drill the naval forces. Superintendent Liao is a palace eunuch—inconvenient for handling affairs and inappropriate to openly interfere in local government matters, so he’s always remained stationed at Xukou. We just didn’t expect that General Xiao wasn’t at Xukou before New Year… He actually only went to Xukou to drill troops after New Year… while your cousin’s whereabouts are unknown.”
Only these three came to handle affairs. Superintendent Liao couldn’t act, so if not General Xiao, it had to be Xu Fengjia handling matters.
After New Year was precisely when the Grand Master would exert effort and begin taking action through the Salt and Iron Bureau. Yet General Xiao went to Xukou to drill troops while Xu Fengjia’s whereabouts were unknown.
Who truly had the assignment was perfectly clear.
It seemed the Crown Prince placed considerable trust in his childhood companion.
The Grand Madam’s expression gradually grew deeper. “Most concerning is that along with him disappeared a personal guard battalion of three hundred men, allocated by the Emperor from the Imperial Guards to protect the flagship…”
Seventh Miss’s expression changed dramatically.
Where Xu Fengjia and the personal guard battalion went and what they would do wasn’t itself cause for the Yang family’s fear. After all, the two families were currently in the same boat—no matter what, the Xu family wouldn’t move against the Yang family.
But that the Crown Prince’s forces commanded the Imperial Guards as easily as their own limbs revealed that the Crown Prince’s actual power far exceeded what appeared on the surface.
What the Yang family knew might be only the tip of the iceberg.
The Yang family didn’t know the Crown Prince’s full resources, yet the Xu family could receive the Crown Prince’s重用 and have Xu Fengjia handle such major affairs for him.
The Grand Master and Grand Madam’s feelings were naturally not particularly pleasant.
“I truly don’t understand your father,” the Grand Madam couldn’t help venting slightly. “By all rights, we absolutely cannot let go of this marriage alliance with the Xu family. Yet he keeps wavering, dragging it out until now without settling it. Your Third Aunt and I have exchanged several letters, but her tone is also vague… Hmph, given the Xu family’s current momentum, never mind our family—even other ducal families probably scramble to marry their daughters in! Don’t look at how the Quan family’s divine physician is extremely favored by the Emperor and enjoys such prominence in the capital—that’s all illusory. Looking long-term, the Xu family’s wealth and honor is most reliable!”
Only then did Seventh Miss suddenly understand.
If other families’ sons still relied on their fathers’ protection, Xu Fengjia had already established a solid connection with the Crown Prince through his own abilities. Marrying others carried the risk of an incompetent husband, but marrying Xu Fengjia—as long as the Crown Prince ascended the throne, wealth and honor for this lifetime would be absolutely secure.
From the Yang family’s perspective, they indeed needed this marriage alliance to strengthen their connection with the Crown Prince… The Grand Madam’s determination to facilitate Fifth Miss and Xu Fengjia’s match wasn’t solely because she valued Lady Xu and Fifth Miss’s kinship, but more because she was optimistic about Xu Fengjia’s performance as a high-performing stock.
“Please don’t worry. This matter will certainly proceed smoothly. Both sides are willing—it’s a perfect match… Though there are many families in the capital, not many can match our family’s wealth and status…” She suppressed the inexpressible bitterness in her heart and smiled to comfort the Grand Madam. “But after all this talk, you still haven’t explained your purpose in visiting the Zhu family…”
The Grand Madam rarely revealed her innermost thoughts and couldn’t stop herself for a moment.
“Though some capital families can’t match the Yang family’s current glory, there are still many old established nobles. Our Yang family in the capital inevitably carries the suspicion of being nouveau riche. I fear…”
She paused, then turned to smile. “But that’s all future matters. With your Fifth Sister’s status, marrying into the Xu family wouldn’t be marrying up!”
Seventh Miss opened her mouth, then closed it, smiling gently without speaking.
Only then did the Grand Madam recover herself, laughing self-consciously.
“Among notable Jiangnan families, there are only so many. General Zhu ranks first in Jiangnan military circles. These years, though he seems to align with no side, your father has tested him several times and feels his ambitions are great. Previously he was content being a pure minister, not calculating gains. But now… it’s time to probe the Zhu family’s cards.”
Seventh Miss now understood.
“I’ve heard Uncle Zhu is quite slippery… Lady Zhu is much more straightforward by comparison…”
The Grand Madam smiled at Seventh Miss.
“Little Seven is still clever.”
She then advised Seventh Miss, “Lady Zhu is determined to cultivate her two daughters as refined young ladies and dotes on the two young misses greatly. Many matters reach the two young misses’ ears… You might probe and see if you can discover General Zhu’s true thoughts—whether he favors the First Prince more, or favors the Eastern Palace more…”
Seventh Miss naturally understood. “Little Seven knows how to proceed.”
The carriage wheels rumbled, soon arriving at the Zhu residence.
Though General Zhu was a military officer, he couldn’t escape convention and had acquired a garden estate in the city as his residence. Seventh Miss helped the Grand Madam down from the carriage, and they each mounted two-person sedan chairs, entering the garden one after the other.
Seventh Miss couldn’t help curiously lifting the thick cotton curtain, peering outside through a corner.
Today was the day the Zhu family hosted spring wine banquets. Inside and outside the garden, servants naturally streamed constantly, all dressed brightly with refined bearing… Making clear at a glance this was an established wealthy household. Many young ladies of age chatted and laughed at the base of the steps, converging toward the main courtyard.
Seventh Miss spotted the two Zhu family young misses and several Li family daughters.
She smiled silently, about to lower the curtain.
Suddenly her movement froze.
She examined carefully a new face in the crowd.
This was quite an elegant young lady, wearing a lotus-blue silver-threaded cloak, standing out particularly among a group of girls in bright red scarlet wool cloaks.
Though not tall, her bearing conveyed a sense of slender elegance. Not to mention the graceful demeanor flowing through her every movement…
Seventh Miss lowered the curtain, deeply puzzled.
Though this young lady resembled no one in particular, she reminded Seventh Miss of someone.