Embroidered Phoenix Chronicle

Dr. Huo carefully examined Gong Jianyun's ankle. The condition was good. He splinted his foot, instructed Qian Xuewen to wash it, changed him into shorts and a t-shirt, and settled him in the west room of the north wing of the main courtyard. Exhausted, Gong Jianyun ate something and then fell asleep. Old Mrs. Huo and Xiu Luan watched over him with tears in their eyes. The Huo family held a grand feast to thank everyone. Having worked all night, everyone felt a strange excitement. After all, saving someone was a respectable thing to do, especially since he had saved him! After a few drinks, they began to talk animatedly.

Old Master Huo instructed Liu Ye'er to come out and offer toasts to everyone. She lingered for a while, saying some flattering words to express her gratitude. That's how people are; if you treat me well, I'll treat you even better. Everyone praised the Seventh Miss for her good fortune and long life, and some even praised Dr. Huo for his virtuous deeds that benefit future generations—truly, good people are rewarded. Old Master Huo, being only a mortal, couldn't resist such sweet talk and grinned from ear to ear.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Sixth Sister plucked a willow leaf and went back into the room, whispering to her, "Where's the hairpin? Where's the chain on your wrist?"

Liu Lian was puzzled: This girl is too greedy! "Sixth Sister, I almost drowned, and you're still asking me about hairpins, you..."

"Stop trying to bluff your way out of this. Did you give it to that guy surnamed Gong?"

"No, no!" Indeed, there was nothing there, so Liu Lian protested righteously, "If you don't believe me, ask my brother-in-law. He changed the clothes for him! See if there's anything there!"

"I'll ask her in a bit! Silly girl, don't be foolish and exchange things secretly! What about the handkerchief? It's gone too?"

Liu Lian was speechless; the thought processes of the ancients were just too bizarre. "Sixth Sister, that hairpin is silver, it trembles with every step, it's all flashy and gaudy, it's obviously a girl's thing, not a hairpin. What man would wear something like that? And isn't that chain a slipknot? It's all been thrown into the water."

"What a waste of those beads on the string! You're so careless, how did you fall in? Were you pushed or were you pushed off?"

"It wasn't crowded at all back then..."

"It really was that old hag! Are you stupid? Why did you stand with her? How could you be so careless? You're lucky you came back alive. If you had drowned, wouldn't it have been a waste of your life!"

"Sixth Sister, Sixth Sister, I had no idea she was standing behind me. It was all thanks to Officer Gong that I didn't drown," Liu Lian explained.

"Sigh, you can't be on guard against thieves for a thousand days, you were too careless! Your brother-in-law said that if we can't find any evidence against Widow Yang, we can't do anything to her. Thinking of you, Dad was so angry he almost took people to smash up Widow Yang's house, but luckily Second Master Liu stopped him. Mom was almost worried to death all night, afraid of the taboo, she didn't dare shed a single tear! You just wait and see, if you dare to take another step out of the second gate, I'll break your legs!"

Lingering speechlessly, still feeling lingering fear, he said ingratiatingly to his sixth sister, "Sixth sister, I'll never dare to do it again!"

"Hmph! Good that you know fear!"

After a short pause, Qian Xuewen and Gong Jianyun were chatting happily in the north room, their laughter carrying over. Sixth Sister said, "Seventh Sister, even if you want to repay Gong Jianyun's life-saving grace, you mustn't have any thoughts of repaying him with your body. If you're willing, have your brother-in-law pass on a message to him, and have him ask a matchmaker. Our family will have no objections and will marry you off in a grand and honorable manner. Don't lower yourself to marry someone of higher status, understand?"

Liu Lian could only nod. Looking at her pitiful little eyes, Sixth Sister softened and whispered with a smile, "Make some soup or snacks and have the old maid take them over. Give her a few coins, and she'll surely speak well of you. You can also help wash his clothes, but you absolutely mustn't go into that room, and you definitely can't do any needlework for him. Forget it, your needlework is terrible, and people will laugh at you. The wife in front of Constable Gong's house is a master at it!"

Liu Lian was dumbfounded. He had always thought that if someone touched his arm, they would cut off his arm; if someone touched his face, they would cut off his head; if someone harassed him, he would jump into a well; and if he was not allowed to remain a widow, he would be disfigured. Who knew that people were so secretly lewd!

Gong Jianyun and Qian Xuewen had known each other since childhood, having been classmates in a private school. One of them entered the government, while the other went into business, so they naturally hit it off immediately and were very happy to see each other again. Seeing that Qian Xuewen was half-drunk, Gong Jianyun tentatively said, "I'm afraid that Miss Qi's reputation will be damaged, and she might suffer when it comes to marriage in the future. I deserve to die! To be honest, Miss Qi is a good person. It would be a real shame for her to marry me as a second wife. Otherwise, it would be a win-win situation."

“That’s right. Xiaoqi’s father entrusted her to my father-in-law, so her marriage is naturally decided by the old man. I shouldn’t interfere. As for Brother Gong’s character and appearance, they are not a bad match for Xiaoqi. I’m just afraid that my father-in-law will not be willing to let her be his second wife!”

Gong Jianyun grabbed his teacup and took a sip, unable to hide his excitement. "I still need Brother Qian to put in a good word for me!" A huge weight was lifted from his heart, and the pain lessened somewhat.

Liulian finally experienced firsthand the strict rules of the ancients, truly a case of never leaving the inner courtyard. She was strictly forbidden from going out, and her sixth sister began to rigorously supervise her needlework, causing Liulian endless suffering. Confined to the backyard in the sweltering heat, it was inconvenient because Chang Gong and Xue Wen took turns looking after Gong Jianyun in the main courtyard. The old lady also became much stricter with her—Liu Ye'er's carefree and unruly nature was largely due to her leniency, which was why she suffered such a great injustice. Poor Liulian, with nowhere to turn, under the strict supervision of this mother and daughter, sat obediently in the backyard every day learning needlework, more pitiful than a school student: at least students have breaks between classes and can have physical education lessons.

As usual, the other girls from the Huo family came to visit, taking turns offering advice to their mother. Liulian then realized that it wasn't that the ancients lacked manners, but that Old Madam Huo hadn't set any rules for her. This kind old lady had turned around and told her that the pot was made of iron. Even more pitiful was Xiuluan, who was also confined to the backyard because of her.

After Fengxian finished her postpartum confinement and lit the lanterns, all taboos were lifted, so she took a carriage to pick up Xiuluan. Ostensibly, she was there to pick up Xiuluan, but in reality, she was there to see her father. When Fengxian married, she was utterly disappointed in the Jiang family and refused to consider them her family anymore, leaving her truly alone and helpless. Gradually, as she experienced more, she realized she had actually wronged her own father, but after years of cold treatment, she couldn't bring herself to do it again. She wasn't a fool; although she didn't know what Liulian had said to her father, she was certain he had helped her. When Liuye was leaving, she wanted to ask her to tell her father that she would return to her parents' home after her confinement, but after hesitating for a long time, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to say it.

Old Huo almost burst into tears when he saw her. He had been fair to everyone in his life, but he felt he had wronged his eldest daughter the most, and he was convinced that her misfortune was due to his negligence.

Father and daughter had little to say to each other; the past was too painful to recall, so it was best left unmentioned. As for the future, there seemed to be nothing more to discuss.