Today, Qin Wan wore a moon-white pleated dress embroidered with orchid patterns, covered by a tea-white short jacket, and draped with a jade-white cloak adorned with flowing flower patterns and a white fox fur collar. As she emerged from behind the curtains, she drew everyone’s attention like an ethereal spirit embodying the essence of an orchid under cool moonlight.
Her ink-black hair shone with a blue-black luster, and her willow-shaped eyebrows were as delicate as painted lines. Her bright eyes were as clear as moonlight reflecting on shallow streams, their depths stirring with captivating brilliance. She first stood straight and glanced toward Qin Yan before allowing Fuling to help her descend from the carriage. Since her carriage was last in line, she walked forward several steps after alighting. Though it was only a distance of several zhang, her noble bearing and slender figure stood straight as bamboo and graceful as autumn orchids. The slight movement of her skirts as she walked resembled white lotus flowers swaying in the wind. Though her beauty was remarkably distinct, she gave no impression of arrogance or disdain. Instead, she possessed an otherworldly beauty that emanated from her very being, such that even Madam Hu could not find any reason to dislike her.
“Xiang pays respects to Elder Aunt,” said Qin Xiang.
“Shuang pays respects to Elder Aunt,” said Qin Shuang.
Both Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang stepped forward and curtsied, but received no response from Madam Hu. When they raised their eyes, they saw Madam Hu’s deep gaze fixed behind them. Not just Madam Hu, but all the servants and maids behind her were staring fixedly at something behind them, with expressions of amazement that were all too familiar to the sisters.
Qin Xiang frowned and Qin Shuang sighed helplessly. Neither needed to turn around to know what had captured Madam Hu’s attention.
Soon, Qin Wan came to stand beside Qin Shuang and curtsied as well.
“Qin Wan pays respects to Elder Aunt.”
Her voice fell clear, melodious, and composed, showing neither affected emotion at their reunion nor any hint of trying to curry favor or act coquettish. Madam Hu’s frozen smile suddenly widened, her lips curving high enough to mask the depths of her eyes.
“Good, good, good! Your aunt has been longing to see you three for so long. I was worried your Third Brother wouldn’t know how to take proper care of young ladies and might have made you suffer.” As she spoke, Madam Hu cast a loving, reproachful glance at Qin Yan. He merely smiled without speaking. She then stepped forward to grasp Qin Wan’s hand while drawing Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang close with her other arm. “This is Xiang’er and Shuang’er’s first visit, but Wan’er, your aunt watched you grow up. Since you left, I’ve thought of you constantly. At last, I’ve finally gotten to see you again.”
Qin Wan kept her eyes lowered. “How has Elder Aunt been these past years?”
Madam Hu had a round face like a silver plate and phoenix eyes that appeared very kindly. Today she was dressed in fine clothes with her black hair arranged in cloudy coils adorned with numerous pearl hairpins. Thanks to good care of her appearance, she looked younger than Madam Lin from Jinzhou. Though she usually wore a smile that gave people a sense of warmth, for some reason, Qin Wan always felt something lurking beneath those kindly eyes.
Seeing her docile greeting, Madam Hu’s smile deepened further. “Good, good, good. We’ve been apart for years and you’ve grown up, becoming so beautiful. When you first appeared earlier, your aunt almost didn’t recognize you. Seeing you so well puts my mind at ease.”
Speaking thus, Madam Hu looked Qin Wan up and down once more, growing increasingly pleased. “Very good indeed. The older you get, the more you resemble your parents. Your eyes are like your father’s, but everything else is as if carved from the same mold as your mother’s. Just looking at you makes one feel fond. We really should have brought you back earlier.”
Madam Hu kept directing her words to Qin Wan. Qin Shuang pursed her lips but didn’t mind, while Qin Xiang’s polite smile grew somewhat forced.
Qin Wan’s lips curved slightly, appearing rather reserved as she didn’t respond. Madam Hu patted her hand before turning to look at Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang. “This is Xiang’er and Shuang’er’s first time in the capital. Don’t worry, consider this your own home now. Your Elder Uncle has been looking forward to seeing all three of you too. Come, let’s go inside quickly.”
The winter wind was cold, and it wasn’t good to stand outside for long. As soon as Madam Hu finished speaking, Qin Xiang immediately took her arm to support her. Madam Hu lovingly patted Qin Xiang’s hand, then let Qin Yan support her while instructing a matron beside her, “A’Yu, you and Steward Zhou take the Young Ladies’ and Young Master’s belongings to their respective courtyards and help them get settled. Then tell the kitchen to prepare the meal and inform the Master. I’ll take them into the mansion first for a look around.”
After Madam Hu gave these instructions, an elderly woman in a deep purple jacket and skirt acknowledged with a sound.
Thus, Madam Hu led Qin Wan and the others through the mansion gates.
It was now sunset, and the last rays of the sun had gilded the Loyal and Brave Marquis’s mansion with a golden glow. Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang looked up to see the mansion’s high and broad entrance, where the plaque reading “Loyal and Brave Marquis’s Mansion” was written in powerful strokes highlighted in gold paint. The vermillion gates stood wide open, revealing endless connected buildings and pavilions within. Though Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang didn’t know the name of this district, the broad roads they had traveled and the grand mansions they had seen told them this must be where the powerful and noble resided.
The two maintained proper bearing and graceful posture as they followed Madam Hu’s steps forward.
Besides Madam Hu, several matrons of A’Yu’s age had come out to receive them, along with over ten young servants. The matron called “A’Yu” took seven or eight servants to unload the trunks from the carriages, while fully half the servants followed Madam Hu. In front of all these people, Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang didn’t dare be careless. Moreover, Wanhe, Wanqing, and the other servants also kept straight backs and proper gazes, not daring to show any timidity that might embarrass their masters.
Stepping through the gates, Qin Shuang and the others finally saw the interior of the marquis’s mansion. At first glance, though luxurious and noble, the mansion’s layout wasn’t as spacious as the Qin residence in Jinzhou. This was understandable given how precious every inch of land was in the capital.
Though the property wasn’t as large as the Jinzhou residence, every item used in this mansion seemed to be five degrees finer. As Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang glanced around, they found the marquis’s mansion impressive, luxurious, and noble in every way.
Meanwhile, Qin Yan asked Madam Hu, “Why is only Mother here? Where is Father? Where is Yu’er? Where is Fourth Brother?”
Madam Hu smiled at his questions. “Your father is meeting guests in his study. He’s already said you don’t need to see him now – he’ll come find us himself after he’s done with his guests. Your sister has gone to the palace—”
Qin Yan raised his eyebrows immediately. Not just him, but Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang’s expressions also changed slightly. Having grown up in Jinzhou, if not for the changes in the Qin family circumstances, they would not have been brought to the capital. Thus, the capital was a distant place to them, and the imperial palace within it was something they didn’t dare even imagine. Now, upon just entering the marquis’s mansion, they heard that Eighth Sister Qin Chaoyu had gone to the palace, naturally causing them a great surprise.
“What did she go to the palace for?” Qin Yan asked hurriedly.
Madam Hu replied very casually, “The Empress summoned her.”
Qin Yan frowned slightly, then nodded. “I see.”
Madam Hu wore a somewhat proud smile. Meanwhile, Qin Xiang’s heart was nearly beating out of her chest. This afternoon felt like a dream – entering the capital, seeing unprecedented prosperity, entering the marquis’s mansion, and now hearing talk of the palace and Empress. So… the mansion’s Eighth Sister was someone who could casually enter the palace to accompany the Empress…
“What about Fourth Brother?” Qin Yan asked again.
The smile on Madam Hu’s face diminished by half. “Your father gave him a task, so he went north.”
Qin Yan nodded. “I see. It’s almost New Year’s – when will he return?”
“Should be in the next few days.” Madam Hu seemed to have little interest in discussing this fourth young master of the marquis’s mansion. She turned her gaze to look at Qin Xiang and said, “Are you tired? Hungry? Do you want to rest in your courtyard first?”
Qin Xiang quickly shook her head. “Third Brother took excellent care of us on the journey. We’re neither hungry nor tired now, Elder Aunt need not worry.”
Madam Hu smiled and led Qin Xiang deeper into the compound. “Good. Then I’ll take you to the main hall first and show you around along the way. The mansion isn’t very big – your three courtyards are in the Western Garden. They’ve all been prepared for you, though I’m afraid they’re not as large as where you lived in Jinzhou. I hope you won’t mind…”
“How could we? We’re sure to love whatever Elder Aunt has prepared for us,” Qin Xiang said in a gentle and obedient voice.
Madam Hu smiled with satisfaction. “As long as you like them. You’ll be living here long-term, so take a look later and tell me early if there’s anything you don’t like.”
Qin Xiang quickly agreed, and Madam Hu led the group onto the covered corridor.
Though it was winter, the scenery within the marquis’s mansion showed no desolation. Madam Hu only took them to a few main areas before leading the three sisters to where they would have dinner. The last rays of sunset had sunk below the horizon, and by the time Qin Wan and the others reached Renshou Hall, it was growing dark. Madam Hu had another matron order the lamps lit, and soon the main hall was brightly illuminated.
Madam Hu took the main seat, and having already asked the three sisters about their likes and preferences during their walk, she now said, “Usually Yu’er is the only girl in this mansion. Now that you’ve all arrived, having four sisters together will be more interesting.”
Then looking at the darkening sky outside, she frowned. “Why hasn’t she returned yet?”
Qin Yan raised an eyebrow as well. “Could it be that the Empress kept her for dinner?”
Madam Hu’s lips curved slightly. “That’s quite possible.” She then turned to Qin Wan, “Wan’er, I read the letter your Third Brother sent. I heard you’ve learned medicine now. And what’s this about the An Yang Marquis and his wife adopting you as their goddaughter?”
Naturally, Qin Yan would have informed the family of these matters, so Qin Wan wasn’t surprised. Seeing Madam Hu ask, she briefly explained the circumstances. Madam Hu looked at Qin Wan with eyes full of amazement, “You truly are becoming more and more like your parents. I remember your Second Uncle also loved reading medical books from an early age. I never expected… you showed no sign of this during those years at the mansion.”
Qin Wan lowered her eyes. “At that time, Father and Mother had just passed away. I couldn’t adjust well and found no interest in anything.”
Madam Hu nodded. “Yes, you hardly even left your room then.”
Speaking thus, Madam Hu looked at Fuling behind Qin Wan. “Is this Fuling?”
Qin Wan nodded, and Fuling hurriedly came forward to kowtow to Madam Hu. Madam Hu smiled and nodded, “Very good, very good. Serve your mistress well, and you won’t be poorly treated here at the mansion.”
Fuling expressed profuse thanks, and Madam Hu then inquired about the maids accompanying Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang. Wanhe and the others came forward to kowtow, and Madam Hu said, “Yu’er has four senior maids and eight junior maids. You each only brought two servants, so tomorrow I’ll first assign four more to help you. Once we’ve purchased new servants, we’ll complete your household staff.”
Hearing this, Qin Shuang quickly said, “Elder Aunt is too kind. In Jinzhou, we only had six maids each, so we could continue with our previous arrangement. The four additional servants won’t be necessary.” After a pause, Qin Shuang added sheepishly, “Eighth Sister grew up precious and noble, naturally different from us. Elder Aunt needn’t make us equal to Eighth Sister.”
Madam Hu shook her head helplessly. “How could that be proper? You four sisters should of course be treated the same.”
As Qin Shuang was about to speak, Qin Xiang also said, “Elder Aunt is too thoughtful. Adding just four people would be more than enough. Otherwise, we’d feel uncomfortable. Coming to the capital has already caused Elder Aunt great trouble.”
Madam Hu looked at Qin Yan with a wry smile. “Your sisters are truly so considerate of me…”
While Qin Yan responded with a few agreeable words, and though Qin Wan also expressed agreement, she understood in her heart that bringing them to the capital had been decided long ago. If they had truly intended to give them the same number of servants as Qin Chaoyu, the staff would have been purchased already. These four prepared servants were what they had intended to give them all along.
Though Qin Wan didn’t like having many people around her, she felt somewhat helpless about Elder Aunt’s intentions.
With three Miss Qins suddenly added to the marquis’s household, this Elder Aunt still didn’t like others surpassing Qin Chaoyu. Whatever Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang might think, she preferred to avoid unnecessary complications, and having just Fuling and Baiying by her side was fine.
Just as this thought settled, a cheerful male voice rang out—
“How have my three nieces been considerate of you?”
The voice carried a laugh, and both Qin Yan and Madam Hu immediately stood up, with Qin Wan and the others quickly following suit.
They saw a figure in black robes flash through the main hall’s entrance, instantly changing the atmosphere in the room.
Over forty years old, Qin Shu was tall and handsome with an upright bearing. His face, somewhat similar to Qin An’s, was rather thin and long, with a pair of sword-like eyebrows carrying considerable authority. Combined with his cheerful laugh, though the whole person emanated nobility and dignity, he didn’t make others feel tense or afraid.
Qin Wan and her sisters immediately curtsied. Qin Shu laughed heartily, walking toward the main seat while examining them. From the start, his gaze fell on Qin Wan, quickly scanning her from head to toe before glancing at Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang. Beside him, Madam Hu noticed his attention, and her smile dimmed slightly.
“Quick, rise, rise. You must be tired from your journey to the capital. Don’t stand, sit down, and let’s talk.”
Qin Wan’s eyes quickly swept over Qin Shu for an instant before she docilely lowered her gaze and sat down. Qin Shu looked at them again, then suddenly turned to Qin Wan, “Wan’er has grown up, taking after her mother in appearance, though her eyes are like Second Brother’s.”
Madam Hu smiled and said, “The Marquis speaks truly, I just said the same thing.”
Qin Wan stood up again and individually addressed him as “Elder Uncle.”
Qin Shu nodded but didn’t deliberately engage in conversation with Qin Wan, turning instead to Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang, “These must be Xiang’er and Shuang’er?”
“Xiang pays respects to Elder Uncle.”
“Shuang pays respects to Elder Uncle.”
Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang rose in turn to pay their respects. Qin Shu thus recognized them, “Good, good, good. You both take after your mother. Speaking of which, I did see you once when you were little, though you couldn’t even walk then, so you probably don’t remember. In the blink of an eye, more than ten years have passed, and now you’re all grown young ladies.”
While speaking, Qin Shu observed the three’s expressions. After a few more words about making themselves at home, he waved his hand, “Well then, you must be tired from your journey. Let’s serve the meal. Yan’er has worked hard this time too.”
Qin Yan, who had been standing beside Qin Shu since paying his respects when he entered, clearly showed great respect for him. Now as Qin Shu patted his shoulder, Qin Yan quickly said, “It was my duty, the child wasn’t troubled.”
Qin Shu laughed heartily and had everyone sit down. Perhaps because of Qin Shu’s many smiles while speaking, before long Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang weren’t so nervous anymore. Qin Wan was also slightly surprised; previously she had only occasionally heard her father speak of various princes and court officials, and in her impression, her father’s evaluation of this Loyal and Brave Marquis hadn’t been high. She particularly remembered the words “scheming” and “ambitious,” and later when she learned the Loyal and Brave Marquis wanted to enter the Ministry of Personnel, she understood a bit more. But now this Loyal and Brave Marquis appeared to have an upright and cheerful disposition.
As this thought arose, Qin Wan suddenly noticed that the Marquis’s gaze seemed to linger on her more frequently and for longer periods. She immediately discarded her earlier notion. No, she shouldn’t be careless – a person like Qin Shu could not only change his expression at will, but his true thoughts would never be something one could truly fathom.
Everyone took their seats in turn, and soon the table was filled with dishes.
The three sisters sat next to Madam Hu, who very warmly served food for the three. “Earlier we didn’t know what you liked to eat. These are made by the mansion’s cooks, with both southern and northern dishes. Please eat more.”
The three sisters responded, with Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang eating even more gracefully than usual. Madam Hu watched with satisfaction, “Your Third Sister-in-law taught you very well. Your every movement would outshine even those in the capital.”
Hearing this, Qin Shuang took it to heart, her face brightening with pleasure. Qin Shu also nodded, “Indeed. Third Brother may be improper, but Third Sister-in-law is excellent. Tomorrow you should personally write a letter to send back to your Third Sister-in-law in Jinzhou, to set her mind at ease.”
Though true, the words “Third Brother may be improper” still made Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang’s faces burn – yes, they had a father who had committed crimes and brought them shame.
Qin Xiang lowered her head even more, while Madam Hu glanced at the three and changed the subject, “New Year’s is approaching in a few days. Since you’ve come to Elder Aunt’s home this year, we’ll have a proper celebration. Rest for a few days first. In about four or five days, various New Year’s markets will open in the capital. Then your Third Brother can take you around to explore. Since you’ll be living in the capital long-term, you should first familiarize yourselves with different places. If you need anything in your courtyards these days or have anything you want to buy, just tell Elder Aunt.”
Qin Yan acknowledged, and Qin Wan and her sisters also expressed their thanks.
Regardless of Qin Shu and his wife’s true intentions, at least on the surface both were full of smiles and showed great care for Qin Wan and her sisters at the table. Gradually, Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang relaxed considerably, and Qin Wan also let go of her earlier vigilance. Although she was now very different from when she was Ninth Miss, she had always been quiet, so Lord and Lady Qin probably didn’t find it too unusual.
This first meal at the marquis’s mansion was quite harmonious.
After dinner, just as Madam Hu was ordering people to clear the table and bring out desserts and tea, a woman suddenly walked in from outside, “My Lord, My Lady, Young Miss has returned—”
At these words, the joy on Madam Hu’s face grew even brighter. She had just stood up when five or six graceful figures walked through the dimly lit courtyard outside, and then a clear, proud voice rang out, “Have my two sisters from Jinzhou and Ninth Sister arrived?”