Embroidered Phoenix Chronicle

For the first time, Gong Jianyun lost his temper. Xiangxiang had actually gone to the Huo family's house; it was obvious what she was up to. Xiangxiang refused to admit it, insisting she was just catching up with old friends. Gong Jianyun, already feeling guilty, was now utterly humiliated.

Xiangxiang was filled with jealousy and hatred. Sure enough, he still harbored feelings for her. In a fit of anger, she went back to her parents' home. She had to teach him a lesson! She stormed out, found a sedan chair, and went home.

Zheng Tu's newlywed wife, surnamed Wang, was busy in the courtyard when she suddenly saw Xiangxiang. She was startled, and Xiangxiang was also surprised. When Wang was with Waimao, she was thin, sallow, short, and timid. Now, although she was still short, her hair was oiled and combed slicked back, casually tied in a bun with a velvet flower at the back and a silver hairpin. A silk begonia flower adorned her temple. Her face was much brighter, lightly powdered. Although she wore casual clothes and no undergarment, they were all new and neat. She looked like a completely different person, refreshed and radiant. Wang was very satisfied with her current life. Zheng Tu doted on her. She was well-fed and warmly dressed, had meat at every meal, had hair oil to comb her hair, and face powder to apply. She didn't have to worry about household expenses or have any distractions. Wang felt that she was happier every day.

After listening to Xiangxiang's tearful complaints, Zheng Tu lowered his head and remained silent. Wang Shi, not knowing what to say, got up to make tea. Zheng Tu had been living a happy and content life lately. Wang Shi was diligent and gentle, offering tender care. When he returned from a long day's work, she would bring him hot water to wash his face, allowing him to wash thoroughly and drink a bowl of tea. A constant stream of food, both dry and soupy, meat and vegetables, was brought to him. The woman would sit beside him, sharing a couple of small drinks. This life was like paradise. He even wondered if his decision not to remarry was right. Perhaps not all women in the world were like Xiangxiang's mother. Because of his own happiness, Zheng Tu found it difficult to empathize with Xiangxiang's situation. Or rather, Zheng Tu had discovered a new world through this seemingly insignificant woman, beginning a new kind of life, and regaining his interest in family life. He believed his daughter's life would likely be similar. All along, Zheng Tu had been both father and mother, but in reality, he hadn't been a good father, much worse a mother. He naturally assumed that the young couple's quarrel was because their daughter was being too nosy and meddling too much.

“Look at her,” Zheng Tu said, nodding towards the kitchen. “She never asks me how much I spent or how much I made. She just accepts what I give her, and if she runs out, she asks me for more. She tells me what she needs. She’s so easy to manage. Jianyun is an official, and the county magistrate values ​​him. How could he not try to curry favor with him? When a man is away from home, you should worry less and focus on taking care of things at home. As for that little girl, even if Gong Jianyun still has feelings for her, Doctor Huo probably won’t allow it. How could he allow them to meet and have any private affairs? It’s all so ambiguous. If something happens between them, what will people think? Even if Jianyun has proposed to the Huo family, so what? Can an unmarried man and woman be allowed to propose to each other? Just because of that, we can’t let him go to Shiqiao. Aren’t we in the right? You should stop bringing this up. These next few days, be careful to appease him and keep an eye on things. If something really happens, you can find something to hold against him. It’s not too late to make a scene then, and your father can stand up for you. Got it?”

Xiangxiang nodded in agreement, and Zheng Tu nodded in satisfaction as well. Just then, Wang Shi brought in tea and sat down beside her. Zheng Tu said to her, "Xiangxiang loves fennel, go make dumplings. Xiangxiang, go help your mother, don't just wait for things to be done. Learn from your mother, she's quite skilled. Teach her some things." Wang Shi agreed readily, but inwardly she was quite disapproving, though she didn't show it on her face.

Gong Jianyun stood hesitating at the Huo family's gate for a long time, unsure how to get through. Last time, he had pounded his chest, speaking with absolute conviction; this time, he was a married man. Qian Xuewen came out and invited him in.

In the courtyard, Old Man Huo reclined in his chair, his eyes half-closed. A figure was hidden behind a tree, only the hem of a light green skirt visible. Gong Jianyun hurriedly stepped forward to bow, but the old man waved him down, cleared his throat, and said, “Officer Gong, please speak plainly! From now on, let's go our separate ways. You and your wife can no longer bring up Xiao Qi. Xiao Qi has already returned the hairpin to your wife and doesn't want to see her again. Please, your wife, take care of yourself!”

Gong Jianyun was dumbfounded. He never expected that his reunion with the Seventh Miss would be under such circumstances. After stammering for a long time, he awkwardly said, "Zheng Shi has been neglected since childhood and does not know manners. She has offended the Seventh Miss. Please forgive her!" As he spoke, he stood up and bowed to the dress with his fists clasped.

"Officer Gong, you flatter me. Xiangxiang and I are practically best friends, how could I not know her temperament! I just don't want to bear this false reputation, and I hope Officer Gong will restrain his family and not let me suffer this undeserved disaster."

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Miss Seven, I'll go back..."

"Officer Gong, Xiangxiang has risked her reputation to marry you, Officer Gong, out of pure and sincere love. I hope you will have compassion for her!" Gong Jianyun was truly speechless. Liu Ye'er clearly knew he was forced to marry Xiangxiang, yet she showed no understanding whatsoever, clearly hating him intensely, yet she spoke of it so openly. Gong Jianyun was filled with bitterness but couldn't express it. Knowing the situation was beyond repair, he felt utterly hopeless and reluctantly took his leave.

Gong Jianyun, looking utterly lost, got drunk and wandered the streets for a while before being carried home on his own two legs. Xiangxiang had returned earlier and, seeing him like this, quickly helped him up and diligently assisted him to bed. The next day, neither of them mentioned the incident, both carefully putting on a smiling face. Life continued peacefully like this, with Shiqiao Town becoming an unspoken taboo between them. Soon, Xiangxiang felt the dullness of married life. Gong Jianyun left early and returned late every day, and it seemed that the couple had no communication other than about what to eat. Gong Jianyun made no demands on her; he would eat whatever was salty or bland, wear whatever was dirty or clean, and didn't care whether the house was tidy or not. She had never seen him so lazy! He began to resemble a constable; the once sharp and ambitious Gong Jianyun had completely disappeared. The greasy constable in front of her was not the dream lover Xiangxiang had once had. Xiangxiang even wondered if they were the same person—how could he have such a belly? Could it be that all the effort I put into getting this person was for someone like this? What's going on?

Xiangxiang was completely baffled.

She soon discovered she was pregnant, and her thoughts began to turn to the child. Zheng Tu found an old woman surnamed Sun to take care of her, because Wang was also pregnant, and Zheng Tu couldn't attend to both at the same time, so he couldn't take care of her anymore.

For some reason, Xiangxiang felt a pang of sadness!