It was the seventh day of the seventh month again, the second Double Seventh Festival Xiao Chan had spent away from Qiantang. Last year, she had spent the festival at the foot of Phoenix Mountain in Gushu. That night, alone beside the back courtyard wall, she had prayed to the Heavenly Grandmother, pouring out her heart for a long time. Xiao Chan had asked nothing for herself, only sincerely wishing that young Master Caozhi and Young Lady Lu could soon become a happy couple. Yet a year had passed in the blink of an eye. Young Lady Lu now faced the danger of being forced into the palace, while young Master Caozhi had been carried off to distant Hebei. Although Xiao Chan firmly believed that young Master Caozhi would return safely, her anxiety grew with each passing day. Cheerful, laughter-loving Xiao Chan had never imagined the days could be so hard to endure, the long, restless nights so sleepless!
Early that morning, Xiao Chan sorted through the trunks and took out young Master Caozhi's winter clothes to air. These winter clothes had all been sewn by Lady Youwei and herself-
Xiao Chan stroked the warm winter clothes, lost in a daze. At the end of last month, Lady Youwei and the Old Clan Chief, Chen Xian, had even sent Lai Gui to Jiankang to ask whether any news had come from young Master Caozhi and when he could return to Jiangdong. At that time, those in Jiankang had not yet learned of his capture. Master Chen Shang had also instructed them not to tell Lai Gui about Young Lady Lu's troubles, lest their family at Chen Family Cove worry. Who could have imagined that scarcely had they seen Lai Gui off when such news would arrive? If Lady Youwei, far