Chapter Fifty-Three

  On the second day of February, in Xianyi's place, it was not only a festival but also Jin Fenghua's birthday. At the Jin Mansion, Xianyi only knew that Jin Fenghua was about one or two years older than herself until they exchanged betrothal gifts before their wedding, when she learned Jin Fenghua's exact birthdate. In this era, people loved to celebrate virtual ages; last year, Xianyi had just turned fifteen and celebrated her coming-of-age birthday, so it seemed that this should be Jin Fenghua's sixteenth birthday.

  Sixteen years old was not considered an adult in Xianyi's impression, but in Pei country, many families already had children, and they were considered young people who could support the family. Now that they lived separately, the oldest at home was Jin Fenghua, so Xianyi attached great importance to the birthday of the head of the household, even if it wasn't a milestone birthday; she prepared very carefully.

  Jinfenghua was well-connected in the academy, and often spent time with Zhang Xuezhi, Qiuxuezi (the young master of a oil and salt shop), Liangxuezi (the son of the county's chief clerk) and others. Among these four people, Zhang Xuezhi had a close relationship with Liangxuezi, as his wife, Liangshi, was Liangxuezi's cousin. The person who brought news to Liangshi last time was their aunt from the Liang family in Beijing. On Jinfenghua's birthday, even if others from the academy didn't attend, these four would still be invited over for a drink and to strengthen their relationships. This wouldn't only avoid offending anyone but also lay the groundwork for future connections in official circles, where having friends was essential.

  Xian Yi, apart from preparing the dowry and invitation cards, also made time to prepare clothes for Jin Fenghua from inside out. Although she didn't have the skill to make hairpins, she personally embroidered a hairband, and added shoes and socks, not missing a single item. It's actually quite amusing, which wealthy family has a husband preparing clothes for his wife? Even when wives prepare clothes for their husbands, it's usually just undergarments, and outer garments are only made as a gesture, with the rest being prepared by outside tailors or the family's sewing room. Only Jin Fenghua, that shameless and overbearing one, would do such a thing, and Xian Yi couldn't bear to slack off either. Not to mention clothes, she even made several purses and sachets.

  Xian Yi thought that Jin Fenghua would be overjoyed, but unexpectedly, although he put on the clothes, his face didn't look very happy. He directly said to Xian Yi: "From now on, just make me sachets and perfume pouches, for clothing, except for undergarments, it's better to have outsiders make them."

  Xian Yi still thought that Jin Fenghua despised her craftsmanship, but she didn't dare to complain about Jin Fenghua.

  Unexpectedly, Jin Fenghua seemed to notice her awkwardness and directly pulled her into his arms, kissing her until she almost fainted. Only then did he say: "Needlework is easy on the eyes for ordinary people, but these bright eyes of yours are mine. If they get ruined, I'll be unhappy."

  Xian Yi suddenly realized that when she was taking care of Mrs. Han, she had already known that because Mrs. Han didn't take good care of herself during her postpartum period and spent all day embroidering things to make ends meet, normally as long as she stood a little far away, she couldn't see people very clearly, and facing the candlelight, it was easy for her eyes to turn red and tear up, the luster in her eyes had been decreasing more and more.

  As she watched Jin Fenghua leave, a thought suddenly occurred to Xian Yi: what is love after all? She didn't know if Jin Fenghua loved her or not, he had never said so. Yet in the days that followed, even his male chauvinism was all for her good. For a moment, Xian Yi was at a loss.

  Jinfenghua's birthday happened to be before the county test, so it was only natural that his friends came to celebrate instead of their teacher. On this day, he invited Jinfenghua's several good friends, and they brought their families with them into the Jin mansion, entering the flower hall prepared by Xianyi for women.

  The weather in February was still cold, Xian Yi wore a pale pink jacket and skirt, with a set of spring-welcoming hair accessories made by Jin Fenghua, from the hairpin to the earrings, not one was missing. Even the pair of delicate gold hollow bangles on her wrist were given to her by Jin Fenghua this morning, the craftsmanship was completely consistent, Xian Yi only needed one glance to know that it was also made by Jin Fenghua. Especially the inner wall of the ornament, Jin Fenghua liked to leave a symbol, which only Xian Yi knew, it was the silhouette of a peony, similar to the tattoo on her collarbone.

  The daughters-in-law were not strangers, only Guan Shi, the wife of Qiu Xuezhi, had been serving her parents-in-law in the county town before, so this was the second time she saw Xian Yi. The three scholars were all older than Jin Fenghua, and their wives would naturally not be younger than Xian Yi. However, Xian Yi was originally not a little loli, and with the guidance of Mrs. Jiang, most of the time everyone chatted happily. Since they were not outsiders, Liang Shi sat next to Xian Yi and asked: "Do you know that the county magistrate's wife is ill?"

  Xian Yi nodded, and a while ago, the county magistrate's family even sent an aunt over to explain.

  "I heard that it's not the county magistrate's wife who is ill, but their eldest daughter." Liang Shi was a strange person, she liked to listen to gossip and chat with people everywhere, but interestingly, when outsiders were present, she only listened and didn't speak. She would save all these gossips and pour them out like beans spilling out when she was alone with Xian Yi and others. This was also one of the reasons why Xian Yi loved to play with her, as she never spoke ill of others in front of those close to her.

  Xian Yi was shocked and covered her mouth, saying: "It can't be."

  "Could it be... I've also heard." Liang Xuezhi's wife, Huo Shi, due to her relationship with the Liang family, often came and went with Xian Yi. "They said someone died in Niu Dagu's courtyard."

  "Is someone dead?" Gan's courage was small, and upon hearing this her face turned white.

  "It's not like someone has died, and it's a man, to boot. He died in Niu Daguang's pure chamber, of all places." Liang Shi said with disdain, curling her lip.

  "That...that would ruin Niu Dagu's reputation." Gan Shi trembled and said in a low voice.

  "The county magistrate has always said that the man had been dead for a long time, and when the man died, the girl's boudoir was being swept by someone, and no one saw anyone. But who knows if it's just a cover-up, besides, no matter how long the man had been dead, he was found in the girl's boudoir, that's something that can't be explained away." Liang Shi sneered with her handkerchief.

  Huo Shi hastily nodded and pulled a few people aside, whispering: "Do you know who that man is?"

  Everyone shook their heads.

  "He is the younger brother of Liu's concubine in the prefectural city, and usually relies on being the cheap son-in-law of the Liu family to act recklessly in Linqing." Madam Ho continued in a lower voice, "My mother's relative is an undertaker, and this time he was summoned by the county magistrate. I'm telling you, that cheap son-in-law of the Liu family died suddenly from a stroke."

  "Oh no! How can this be!" Mrs. Gan covered her mouth, feeling nauseous, and said: "How will that Niu Dagu (ox-like girl) get married in the future?"

  "She's still married, and now she's involved in a lawsuit. Let's not mention how that scoundrel got into the county magistrate's mansion, just talking about the cause of death is enough to ruin Cow Big Sister completely. What's more, Liu's little concubine was quite favored by him on ordinary days, her only brother died, and she can't let it go? Even if it's the county magistrate, he'll be stirred up." Liang said coldly.

  The Xianyi is indeed an eye-opener, and it's unknown who hates Niu Dagu so much that they would resort to such a trick to frame her. As for Niu Dagu stealing someone, she doesn't believe it - after all, she's also the daughter of an official family, and with Jin Fenghua in mind, why would she go find some scoundrel to have an affair? If this matter were to come out, not only would their previous thoughts about Jin Fenghua be ruined, but even if they had some family wealth, it would still be impossible for them to marry Niu Dagu. After all, the county magistrate is just a small local official with no backing - who would sacrifice a son for this?

  "Just you wait and see, it won't just be the county magistrate's office, even the Liu family in the prefectural city will have to make a big fuss." Madam Huo cracked open some melon seeds and started eating them.

  Xian Yi suddenly remembered that she had asked Jin Fenghua before, why didn't he get along with those exceptionally talented students from the academy. At that time, Jin Fenghua told her that it was because those students' families were complicated, and their wives were foolish, as the saying goes "a virtuous wife can bring good fortune to her husband". Those exceptionally talented students, no matter how capable they were, would eventually encounter trouble if their family life was not peaceful. Therefore, regardless of how many concubines suffered, the legitimate wife's heart was cruel and ruthless, and the law in Pei Guo that protected the legitimate child was still very necessary. After all, men were brainless, and if the legitimate wife didn't have some protection, Pei Guo would have been chaotic long ago.

  However, regarding the tragic event at the county magistrate's residence, Xian Yi naturally thought of Jin Fenghua. After all, it was too coincidental that she had just received the invitation and almost on the second day, something happened to the county magistrate's family. But thinking again about Jin Fenghua's normal behavior over the past few days, she felt that she was overthinking, even if the county magistrate's wife was being overly aggressive, she hadn't caused any trouble for Jin Fenghua, and there was no need for Jin Fenghua to take risks to harm the reputation of the county magistrate's daughter.

  Jinfenghua's birthday can be said to have ended on a high note, as several people had agreed to go together to the county examination after the festivities. He then took his wife home. Xianyi even made Jinfenghua extremely comfortable that night, so much so that he was still feeling the effects the next day and almost didn't get up. It wasn't until after noon that he finally started eating, holding his waist with a tired expression.

  February 16th was the day set by the county for the exam, and Jin Fenghua had packed his things onto the horse cart early in the morning without any pressure. Xian Yi had specially made a backpack for him with a cloth bag that had a drawstring closure, which was quite unusual in style and couldn't be brought into the examination hall, but the cloth bags inside could be taken out, and he carried more than a package on his hands. Since the county exam didn't require staying overnight, Xian Yi hadn't packed much food for him, just some pastries and a set of spare clothes. Xian Yi had also made a pen holder for Jin Fenghua, not the kind that was popular in Pei Guo before, but one that Xian Yi had seen in her previous life, which could be unfolded and laid flat, with pens inserted into it, and when rolled up and tied with a string, it was convenient to store. Jin Fenghua seemed very satisfied, holding Xian Yi's hand for a while before letting go, and Xian Yi stood at the door, watching as her husband rode away slowly on the horse cart.

  "Master, the Zhong family from the city has sent over a silver note." Guan Qi took out the silver note from his pocket and handed it to Jin Fenghua for inspection.

  "Oh? It seems it's done?" Jin Fenghua said without even looking at the silver ticket.

  "The Liu family was plagued by infighting between the wife and concubine, and in the chaos, a son born out of wedlock broke the leg of the legitimate heir. This incident reached the ears of those above, and as a result, the imperial fabric selection was awarded to the Qian family."

  "Alright, let's withdraw our people." Jin Fenghua said with a hint of a smile.

  "Yes, it seems like the Wang family is intentionally seeking cooperation with our master." Guan Qi continued.

  "This time it's unnecessary, don't reveal your identity, just endure them for now, they'll be useful later."

  Solving troubles for his own woman is what he should do, but if it's just about solving troubles, then he wouldn't be the profit-driven Jin Fenghua. Look, isn't this a win-win situation?