Embroidered Phoenix Chronicle

After having breakfast with Fengxian, Liulian sent Ruihong out – he had been supervising land preparation in the countryside for the past few days, returning home every night and going out to the countryside early every morning, never finding it troublesome.

Cui Cui returned with the dark blue purse from yesterday, bowed, and said, "Miss, the Third Young Master refuses to take it back. I said my mistress said this purse is exquisitely crafted, clearly a Beijing product, and probably belongs to the Third Young Mistress. I wouldn't dare take what belongs to someone else, so please take it back. It was just a joke, the Third Young Master doesn't need to take it seriously! Who knew the Third Young Master would tell me to get lost, saying that returning this thing would be disgusting to whom? Is the Third Young Master's face not worth a purse? The Third Young Mistress remained silent throughout!"

Liulian glanced at Fengxian, who waved her away, sighing, "What a mess!" It turned out that Liulian had returned to find a jade openwork knot and a pair of gold mandarin duck pendants in her purse, and felt she shouldn't keep them, so she came to Fengxian for advice. Fengxian also advocated returning them, but seeing that he refused to accept them, she suspected it was intentional. She glanced at Liulian, sighed inwardly, and said nothing more. Cui Cui returned, sat down with her bottom askew, and leaned over the kang table, whispering, "There's something strange about this. I forgot to tell you earlier, so I'll tell you to cheer you up!" Liu Lian and Feng Xian, seeing her so mysterious, also bent down to listen. "I just saw Young Master Liang and the Third Young Mistress. When the Third Young Mistress saw Young Master Liang, she was like a mouse seeing a cat. She knelt down with a thud, and Cui Luo and Que She, who were with her, lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise their heads. They only exchanged a few words, and after Young Master Liang had walked about two zhang away, Cui Luo and Que She went to help the Third Young Mistress up. Isn't that strange?"

"Oh? Really? Alright, don't go spreading rumors. Go on downstairs, Yulan is doing needlework in the backyard, why don't you go play for a while too!" Fengxian said, taking a bag of candied dates from her dressing case and handing it to her. Cui Cui happily took the candied dates and left—she hadn't expected that such a casual remark would attract the attention of the young mistress, and a sense of pride welled up within her. She first put the candied dates away before taking her sewing basket to the backyard.

Liu Lian wanted to speak, but Feng Xian raised her hand to stop her, "Don't speak, let me think!" Feng Xian closed her eyes, rubbed her forehead, and leaned against the kang table, trying to piece together the various fragmented pieces of information: The Third Young Mistress was the only illegitimate daughter of the Feng family. Although the Feng family was a county magistrate, their ancestors were servants of the Fourth Prince in the capital. Feng Meiyin grew up in the capital. Although she was served by maids and mothers from a young age, it did not change her status as a servant until the prince secured a county magistrate position for her father, and only then did she become the daughter of the county magistrate's family. Cuiluo and Queshe were brought from the capital. The people who had served her since childhood were so trembling with fear when they saw Young Master Liang. There was only one explanation: Young Master Liang was their master. Liang, Liang, a surname derived from the country, could he be a member of the royal family? County Magistrate Feng was a disciple of the Fourth Prince. It was rumored that the Fourth Prince was in his early twenties and very handsome, which matched Young Master Liang. Even if it wasn't the Fourth Prince himself, they were very close to him, otherwise, Madam Feng wouldn't have acted that way! What connection could the Fourth Prince possibly have with the Liu family? Besides being cunning and good at making money, Master Liu has no other skills! Could it be that the Fourth Prince wants to win him over to make money for himself? That's quite a keen eye! That's why Magistrate Feng arranged a marriage with a merchant family! No, they're investing so much; they're definitely not after just a few tens of thousands of taels of silver. He needs so much more; he must have something much bigger in mind. Could it be…? Fengxian broke out in a cold sweat. If it succeeds, all will be well—immense wealth! But if it fails, it will mean the extermination of his entire family! …

Seeing Fengxian's increasingly grave expression and cold sweat dripping down her back, Liu Lian couldn't help but say, "Elder sister, what's wrong? Worrying is bad for your spleen! Don't overthink things!"

Fengxian wiped the cold sweat from his brow and nodded haphazardly. "Yezi, I'm so panicked! Get me a bowl of hot soup!" He hesitated, then asked, "Shouldn't we call a doctor?"

"No need, a sip of hot soup will do!"

Liu Lian slipped off the kang (heated brick bed), went to the small kitchen to fan the water, and quickly made a bowl of egg drop soup. She added a few dried shrimp, some chopped chives, a few drops of vinegar, a sprinkle of pepper, and a drizzle of sesame oil before bringing it over. Fengxian ate a few bites, composed himself, and laughed, "I don't know what's wrong with me today, I suddenly have a craving!"

Liu Lian didn't respond to her question. "Elder sister, is there something wrong with the Third Young Mistress?" Fengxian didn't want to voice her suspicions, firstly because she had no evidence, and secondly because she feared Liu Ye'er might harbor inappropriate thoughts. She sincerely hoped Liu Ye'er would live a peaceful and comfortable life for the rest of her days. After thinking for a moment, Fengxian said, "Since Madam Feng is the daughter of the county magistrate and is willing to lower herself, she's probably not someone to be trifled with! If she joins forces with Liang'er, how will the eldest branch of the family survive? I'm really afraid she's carrying a boy!"

"Didn't you say that the properties in the capital belong to the third branch of the family? Would she still care about these few things at home?" Liu Lian asked.

Fengxian sighed, "Who knows! We'll have to stay home for a few years! I'm really afraid the second and third branches will join forces against us! The family depends on the Feng family, so even if Feng does something, the family will turn a blind eye!" Liulian nodded, deeply agreeing, and advised, "We'll deal with whatever comes our way. There's no sign of trouble yet, so don't scare yourself! After you have your child, I'll help you take care of him for a few years, and you'll still have control of the household. Anyway, she'll be pregnant and giving birth for several years, so maybe you can separate the family by then! If not, try to get your father-in-law to divide the family affairs first, so everyone can manage their own affairs. After a few years, it'll be peaceful once the family is divided!"

Fengxian hadn't heard Liulian's words clearly at all; she was terrified by her own words. She had only spoken a few words to appease Liulian, but in the blink of an eye, she saw the accuracy and inevitability of those words and understood her future predicament. She paid no attention to Liulian's comforting words; only the words "separation of the family" filled her ears.

Seeing Fengxian restless and disoriented, Liulian was surprised by her sensitivity. Knowing that empty words of comfort would be useless, he insisted on taking her for a walk—a rule Liulian had set for her, and one that Fengxian resisted most. The spring sunshine outside was perfect, warm and pleasant. The peach and crabapple blossoms in the garden were in full bloom, bees buzzing busily in and out. Fengxian stood at a distance, letting the warm breeze caress her cheeks. Liulian stood with her, silent. Fengxian cradled her belly, inhaling the fragrance of the flowers, and a sudden clarity dawned on her. Why was she scaring herself like this? The most important thing now was to give birth safely; as for everything else, she could worry about that later! My husband and I, plus Liuye'er—couldn't the three of us protect one child?

Fengxian looked up, basking in the sunlight.