Embroidered Phoenix Chronicle

Xiangxiang grew increasingly dissatisfied. Gong Jianyun was distant in private, never actively seeking her bed. She was certain he was still thinking of someone else—and that "someone else" was none other than Liu Ye'er. The thought of him holding her while possibly thinking of someone else filled Xiangxiang with a burning hatred. She dared not hate Gong Jianyun, but she dared to hate Liu Ye'er!

Gong Jianyun didn't think about the Seventh Miss in private. He was too ashamed to even think about it. He was a grown man who had been tricked by someone else. He was so embarrassed that he almost died of shame, so he gave up on that idea.

Xiangxiang began to serve Gong Jianyun even more diligently, inquiring about his well-being and movements every day. Gong Jianyun was an official, and apprehending thieves was his duty; he went wherever there was trouble. Shiqiao was a bustling port, a place rife with petty theft and thievery, so he inevitably visited more often than other places—as was always the case. However, Xiangxiang harbored a deep-seated resentment towards Shiqiao Town, and her words were laced with sarcasm and intrigue. Gong Jianyun, unwilling to engage in cryptic banter, simply rebuked her. But Xiangxiang's suspicions couldn't be dispelled with mere words; jealousy gnawed at her heart, making her restless. She decided to take action to extinguish his hopes.

When Gong Jianyun went to Shiqiao on business again, Xiangxiang, dressed in full makeup, appeared in front of Liu Ye'er like a tree in full bloom, her eyes alluring and arrogant!

"Little Willow Leaf, I've missed you so much! Look at you, you've gotten so thin!" Xiangxiang's enthusiasm was exaggerated, leaving not only Liulian stunned, but also Sixth Sister and Aunt Jiang stunned.

"Sister Xiangxiang, please come inside!"

"No need, no need, it's cool outside. I've been feeling nauseous these past few days, constantly thinking about throwing up, and I can't stand any smells. I'll stay in the yard, it's cool there!"

"Willow Leaf, why didn't you go to my wedding? You have no idea how scared I was that day. Neither you nor Xiu Luan went. How heartless of you! Luckily, your brother-in-law knows how to care for people, otherwise I don't know how I would have gotten through it." She lowered her voice as she spoke, "You don't know, your brother-in-law is very greedy. Every night he has to..."

"Mrs. Gong, Xiao Qi is not married yet!" Sixth Sister said seriously.

"Oh dear! Look at me, I was so busy complaining to my sister that I forgot about this!" She turned to her sixth sister and said, "Sixth sister, you don't know, Jianyun has been wearing me down. I'm really afraid of him! He was worried that I would be lonely at home alone, so he brought me out to relax and also to have Uncle Huo take my pulse! Jianyun only trusts Uncle Huo and says that Uncle Huo's medical skills are unmatched within a hundred miles! Liu Ye'er, aren't you bored living alone in the countryside all day? Come back to the city with me for a few days and have some fun!" As she spoke, she took Liu Ye'er's hand and stroked it affectionately.

Liu Lian felt a chill and quickly declined a few times. Xiang Xiang then sighed, "Alas, I'm all alone and so lonely. Your brother-in-law is very busy. The magistrate of the county values ​​him highly. He gave Jian Yun and me twenty taels of silver as a wedding gift and even sent his head steward to congratulate us!..." Liu Lian and her sixth sister exchanged a wry smile. Xiang Xiang continued her rambling, and Liu Lian felt a slight pity in her heart.

Old Man Huo wasn't busy today. The past few days had been pleasantly cool and crisp, and he had far fewer patients. The old man was much quieter, no longer the cheerful man he always was. He wasn't fat to begin with, and after a long summer, he'd gotten even thinner! Xiangxiang had no ailments whatsoever, and she wasn't there for a medical checkup; she was there to assert her dominance.

Liu Lian went inside and took out the lotus hairpin that Xiangxiang had given her. She helped her insert it into her hair and said with a smile, "Sister Xiangxiang, I wish you a long and happy life together! Have dinner at home!"

Xiangxiang was embarrassed. Liu Ye'er returning the hairpin to her was clearly a sign of breaking off their friendship, and she was even starting to ask her to leave. Xiangxiang felt a little ashamed. Her sixth sister and her father watched coldly from the side, without offering any support or invitation to stay for dinner. Since things had come to this, she simply wiped her face and said with a smile, "No, Jianyun insisted on taking me to drink mutton soup, and I already agreed. I'm just sorry to disappoint you, sister! When you go into town, you must stop by my house for a rest. I'll cook you something delicious!" Liulian had no choice but to nod repeatedly and see this young lady out.

Old Man Huo kept his head down and remained silent. Sixth Sister couldn't help but say indignantly, "Jianyun! Jianyun! She's so saccharine! Does she want everyone to know she's cheated out of a man? She treats what others throw away as a treasure! It's laughable! What are she up to, coming into the house at night? They're truly a pair of despicable people, birds of a feather!"

"Sixth Sister, you and your husband are so loving, shouldn't we go around telling the whole world about it?"

"Am I stupid?! Going around telling the whole world? Even if a couple is very loving, it's a private matter. Let me tell you, it's a private matter, no gossip outside the home. Your brother-in-law and I sometimes bicker and argue, but when has Aunt Jiang ever gossiped? Anyone who dares to gossip will be kicked out immediately! Is Officer Gong's wife stupid? I'm amazed that she can be so loving with a woman like that!"

“Xiao Qi,” the old man Huo, who had been silent all along, spoke up, “I think it’s better for a girl to get married when she’s a little older. Gong Jianyun is strong and healthy, and I’m afraid… Actually, I didn’t mean to refuse. I made it very clear to my future father-in-law. Who knew I would delay you like this…”

"Godfather, you did nothing wrong. It's just that Officer Gong can't stand being alone. The two of them... Godfather, this marriage shouldn't happen. They're not meant to be!"

"Good child, it's good that you think this way. Don't make yourself miserable and become a laughing stock!"

"No, Godfather. It's just that I can't repay his life-saving grace!"

"Then we'll leave it at that for now. Little Seven, it's not that your godfather is being mean, but a virtuous wife keeps her husband out of trouble. I'm just afraid this Mrs. Gong... We'll talk about the future later! You shouldn't have returned the hairpin to her; it made her so embarrassed. People should be more honest and kind!"

"Father, that woman is going too far! If it were me, I would have chased her away long ago. Little Seven is still all smiles. She's honest enough. Any more honest and she'd be a heartless person!" Sixth Sister said, standing up for Liu Ye'er. "That woman has no good intentions. She's like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken. Our Little Seven hasn't been involved with Gong Jianyun. Why is she bullying us like this?"

"Alright, alright! It's enough to keep things in mind! If you start arguing, won't Xiao Qi be the one who suffers? Look at you, you have two children, and you're not as calm as Xiao Qi!" Old Man Huo said, getting a little agitated, and coughed. Sixth Sister quickly went over to pat the old man's back.

The courtyard returned to calm. Li Ma began carrying food to the stone table, and the two women busied themselves helping. The old man sighed, but ultimately said nothing more. He thought that Liu Ye'er, having no parents, was more sensible. His youngest daughter had never left home before; she needed to be given some experience, otherwise how would she manage the household in the future?