Embroidered Phoenix Chronicle

Night fell, obscuring everything. During the day, Rui Cai promised his grandmother he wouldn't cause any more trouble, and Old Madam Liu promised to properly handle Hong Xing'er's funeral and bury her in the ancestral grave. However, when he was alone with Liang Jie, he still revealed a ferocious face. No matter how careful Liang Jie was, it was no use, and the couple finally started fighting. The old lady was far away and hard of hearing, so she couldn't hear; Xu Shi was close, but she was fast asleep and couldn't hear; Rui Hong and his wife were even further away and couldn't hear; Old Master Liu slept in the study courtyard, the farthest away, and couldn't hear at all.

Rui Cai and Liang Jie'er, exhausted from their fight, exchanged the most vicious insults. Liang Jie'er was filled with hatred; even if everyone believed she was the mastermind, she would never admit it! What a joke! Even with evidence, one would still try to justify themselves. Without proof, why should she confess? Her attitude completely enraged Rui Cai. If she had admitted her jealousy and wrongdoing, perhaps Rui Cai would hate and resent her, but ultimately forgive her. But she was young and naive; her harshness drew a chasm, completely separating her from her husband.

Rui Cai went to the study and never stepped into the bedroom again.

In the courtyard of the study, Master Liu let Concubine Rong rest her head on his arm. Master Liu scolded his son for a long time, but Concubine Rong remained silent until his anger subsided. Then she said, "Actually, you can't blame the second young master entirely. If you had allowed him to take Miss Xing'er as a concubine earlier, giving her a proper status, this whole affair, though tragic, would have been bearable for him. Now, in this state, could you have endured it? Poor Miss Xing'er, she died worse than a dog!" Master Liu recalled his youthful insistence on marrying Madam Xu and fell silent.

Aunt Rong noticed his unusual behavior and got up, saying, "Are you angry? I just say whatever comes to mind. If I say something wrong, don't take it to heart. Just pretend I didn't say anything!"

Master Liu hurriedly helped her to sleep, "No, no, you're right! I do bear some responsibility. Rong'er, why did you run over there so foolishly? How can a pregnant woman go into the blood transfusion room? Look at Hong's wife, she didn't go over there!"

Aunt Rong nestled comfortably in Master Liu's arms. "Master, you're joking! She's the legitimate eldest daughter-in-law of the main wife, how could she possibly go to a maid's room? Besides, she had to keep order outside and manage the household, and with such a big belly, it wasn't easy for her! I was just thinking about things at home, and I wanted to help if I could. At that time, there wasn't even anyone in charge of the household, so we couldn't let Xiuluan handle everything! Actually, I was keeping an eye on things; I was just encouraging her through the window, without going inside. Poor thing, if it weren't for the gatekeeper's constant obstruction, the baby would definitely have been born! Master, you can't let that bastard get away with this!" Master Liu stroked her shoulder and gently twisted her cheek. "Go to sleep, aren't you sleepy?"

The next day, Rui Cai asked for a small courtyard to house Hong Xing'er's memorial tablet, saying he wanted to personally chant Buddhist prayers for her. Master Liu hesitated slightly, but Rui Cai then insisted on becoming a monk. Master Liu was at his wit's end and had no choice but to let him choose a small courtyard next to the back gate, instructing him to have it renovated and painted. Hong Xing'er was carried out through the back gate for burial. Rui Cai cried his heart out, his cries so heart-wrenching that all who saw and heard him wept. Those unaware of the true story thought it was his own mother who had died, and secretly gave him a thumbs-up: Filial son!

The house wasn't old, and it was quickly cleaned up. After Rui Cai moved in, he completely severed ties with Madam Du. When Madam Du was diagnosed with pregnancy, he coldly said, "Where did this bastard come from? Get rid of it as soon as possible to avoid a difficult birth!"

Liangjie wanted a divorce, but she couldn't bear to give up the title of the richest family in the Liu family. She secretly hoped that Qipan would be a son, and having a son would give her something to look forward to. The Du family was too ashamed to fight for their daughter's life, so they could only let her live a life of widowhood, hoping that this chapter would be over soon.

Master Liu secretly sent people to investigate everything. Everything at home was as everyone had said, basically without discrepancies. Fengxian's men arrived almost immediately with a midwife and Ruicai, and also a doctor. In the outer courtyard, however, things were much more complicated; no one bothered to call a midwife. Even when the gatekeeper and the women in the inner courtyard were arguing fiercely, no one came out to check. It would be strange if there wasn't something fishy going on! He ordered a search, and each person had at least three hundred taels of silver. Master Liu was secretly alarmed. Liangjie, who usually seemed carefree and thoughtless, how could she be so cunning! If it were Fengxian or Concubine Rong, she probably wouldn't have been able to give birth safely! Master Liu had always thought that his eldest son was protected by the old lady and no one dared to bully him, but now he realized that his eldest son wasn't weak and incompetent; he was afraid of being terrified by these people! Master Liu was no pushover either. He sold these men to work as miners in the deep mountains. He divided the silver he collected into two equal parts, giving half to Fengxian and Concubine Rong. The rest of the clothes and other belongings were distributed among the servants.

The third son's wedding was imminent, but it was easy to arrange. There was no shortage of people, things, or money. The bridal chamber was ready, and several prominent women from the Feng family came to scrutinize it. After a hearty meal, they left with heavy red envelopes. The Xu family delivered the larger pieces of furniture first. The Liu family, being in the fabric business, had no shortage of good materials, and they quickly provided all sorts of curtains and screens. Each servant was given a new jacket, and all sorts of odds and ends brought from the capital were displayed and hung up. Various new-style vases, incense burners, and ornaments were placed, decorated with lifelike flowers from the capital, and incense was lit. Everything was ready except for the bride!

As for tea, wine, dried vegetables, seafood, and the like, it's a simple matter of a word. Everything has been prepared, the restaurant has been booked, and everything is ready!

Ruiqian wasn't ready! He deceived himself, ignoring all of this. Ever since he learned that his grandmother wanted to marry Liu Ye'er to Xiao Wu'er, he couldn't stand the boy. He was country bumpkin, dark-skinned, thin and short, looking like a date pit. How was he worthy of the Seventh Miss? Luckily, she didn't have to go to school anymore, or she would have been disgusted to death by him!

Xiao Wu'er wasn't stupid; she quickly sensed her third brother's hostility. Coupled with the constant teasing from her second brother, she stubbornly refused to get close to either of them! But she cunningly came to pay her respects to the old lady, chat with the eldest young master, and bring the eldest young mistress some rustic charms. She even brought two snow-white rabbits, about the size of a fist, with red eyes, three-lobed mouths that kept twitching, and a few whiskers that flipped up and down. The three girls were overjoyed, almost driving Ruiqian crazy!

Ruiqian's mind was a complete mess. He didn't understand himself. What difference did it make whether he looked at Liu Ye'er one more time or one less time? He was stubbornly determined to look at her. If possible, he wouldn't even blink. Finally, because his eyes were too dry, he exploded with anger!

Master Liu and his mother sat facing each other in deep sorrow, not for their third son—conjunctivitis wouldn't kill him. Their worry was for Xiu Luan. A wonderful opportunity had fallen into her lap, but it was difficult to seize. Like a greedy man facing a mountain of gold, seemingly within reach, yet unable to grasp it, they were consumed by anxiety and restlessness.