“She might also mislead us, deliberately eating things she doesn’t like when she actually doesn’t eat them.” Qin Yining recalled the process of getting along with Qiu Feishan earlier and couldn’t help but shake her head. “She’s a clever person, not as easy to deal with as our previous opponents.”

After hearing this, Ji Yun hesitated for a moment and smiled. “Princess, this servant is slow-witted and doesn’t understand your intention. Since you clearly know that Manager Qiu can see through things at a glance and might deliberately eat dishes she doesn’t like, why did you still use this method to test her background?”

Qin Yining slowed her pace and said in a low voice, “I always feel that this Miss Qiu has an unusual background. Although Sitong Trading Company has deep foundations, no matter how deep, it’s still a merchant enterprise. But the noble bearing on her and the refined speech I observed today – she’s definitely not a woman raised in a wealthy merchant family. Judging by her accent, she speaks standard official dialect without a trace of local accent, which is also not something that can be taught in an ordinary household… Although she schemed against the Prince, if you don’t look at her scheming but only at the results, it created a win-win situation.”

Walking to the covered walkway, Qin Yining pulled Ji Yun, Qian Yun, and Bingtang to sit on the beauty’s rest, borrowing the weak light from the lanterns. She continued, “I didn’t see that kind of determination to fight to the death from her. Of course, it’s also possible she hides it well and I misjudged, but I always feel that the confrontation between her Sitong Trading Company and the Pingnan Army has more significance than this – there must be other things we don’t know about.”

Several maids all nodded.

Qin Yining continued, “So today’s banquet wasn’t simply to determine where she’s from based on taste preferences, but to get a signal from her. If she has hostile intentions, she would definitely give false information, just like when the Prince went to investigate – you know the truth when you get there. If she’s not an enemy, she might take this opportunity to send me a signal. What exactly is going on with Sitong Trading Company – perhaps the answer lies in Shu region.”

The maids nodded again.

Ji Yun suddenly understood. “So from the beginning, the Princess wasn’t trying to test her origins through this method!”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded.

Just as Qin Yining was talking with her maids under the walkway, Qiu Feishan also boarded her carriage with her maid. The guards who hadn’t followed them into the mansion immediately surrounded the carriage in a disciplined manner.

As soon as she got into the carriage and lowered the curtain, Qiu Feishan hurriedly grabbed the water pouch and gulped down several mouthfuls. She stuck out her tongue, panting and fanning herself with her hand. She was careful not to make noise that those outside the carriage could hear, and after struggling for quite a while, she finally felt somewhat better. By this time, she was already sweating profusely from the spiciness.

Bi Ying watched with heartache and whispered, “Miss never eats spicy food, so why…”

Her unfinished words were glared back by Qiu Feishan’s stern look. Bi Ying immediately closed her mouth and didn’t dare say more.

Qiu Feishan thought about that table full of dishes and smiled while shaking her head. “She truly is a clever woman. I didn’t misjudge her.”

As she spoke, she took out a jade dress weight in the shape of a maple leaf with dark green tassels from her bosom and casually handed it to Bi Ying.

“Go deliver this to Prince Zhongshun’s consort and say it’s a return gift to thank her for the hospitality.”

Bi Ying looked at the jade pendant and opened her mouth in amazement. But knowing her mistress didn’t like her being talkative, she could only swallow all her curiosity and didn’t dare ask a single question. She found a brocade box from the small cabinet in the carriage, placed the jade pendant inside, then got off the carriage and headed straight for the Qin Mansion.

By the time Qin Yining had returned to Xueli Courtyard, a young maid came to report that someone from Qiu Feishan’s entourage was requesting an audience.

Qin Yining dressed properly and went to the front hall to meet Bi Ying.

Bi Ying respectfully bowed and presented the bright red brocade box with both hands. “Princess, this is what my mistress asked me to bring to you, to thank you for today’s generous hospitality.”

Qin Yining smiled. “Your mistress is too polite. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality. Bingtang.” She turned to look at Bingtang.

Bingtang immediately stepped forward, received the brocade box from Bi Ying with both hands, and gave her a pouch in return.

The pouch contained over ten silver ingots, heavy in the hand.

Qin Yining smiled. “It’s nothing valuable, just something to play with.”

Bi Ying bowed to thank Qin Yining, held the pouch, and withdrew. Qin Yining had Qian Yun personally escort her out.

After the person left, Qin Yining opened the brocade box.

On the bright red velvet cloth, an egg-sized maple leaf-shaped jade pendant emitted a soft, warm light. Dark green tassels adorned with white jade beads were coiled in an arc, embracing the azure jade maple leaf. Under the lamplight, the character “Qiu” (Autumn) carved in clerical script on the maple leaf was particularly prominent.

Qin Yining took out the jade pendant and held the tassel to arrange the fringe.

“This jade dress weight is quite unique,” Bingtang praised. “The maple leaf shape is difficult to carve – with one careless mistake, the fine details can easily have flaws. But this dress weight is made very exquisitely, and the jade quality is also superior. It seems she genuinely wants to express her gratitude to the Princess.”

Qin Yining looked thoughtfully at the jade pendant in her hand, examining it carefully from all angles before slowly nodding. “What you say makes sense.”

But in her heart, she was guessing at Qiu Feishan’s intention in sending her this item.

If it was just a return gift after the banquet, Qiu Feishan could have invited them as a couple in return, which would have given her more opportunities to interact with Pang Xiao.

But Qiu Feishan didn’t seize that opportunity.

Placing the jade pendant back in the box and tucking it close to her body, Qin Yining quickly walked toward Xueli Courtyard. She couldn’t figure it out now, but perhaps discussing it with Pang Xiao would provide some clarity.

Just as Qin Yining was puzzled, at the same time in the old capital’s imperial palace, Yuchi Yan and Gu Shixiong sat facing each other in a side hall, with only a single palace lamp lit before them.

The dim orange candlelight flickered occasionally when wind blew in, making this scene appear even more ominous.

“I don’t believe it. That woman has been staying at the Yang Mansion and is obviously Governor Yang’s relative. Didn’t our people already investigate this? We confirmed she’s Governor Yang’s niece. How could she possibly be connected to Sitong Trading Company?”

Seeing Yuchi Yan so certain, Gu Shixiong felt somewhat puzzled in his heart.

But through observations during this period, plus the previous incident when Sitong Trading Company’s manager went to see Pang Xiao at the military camp, although the other party didn’t clearly reveal their identity, any observant person could guess that the young lady staying at Governor Yang’s house was indeed likely the manager mentioned by Master Liu.

The reason Yuchi Yan refused to believe it was because he found it hard to accept that there was another extraordinary woman in the world. Qin Yining was like that, and now there was another Manager Qiu, and they both favored Pang Xiao.

How could Yuchi Yan, who had always been frustrated, endure this?

“If she really is Sitong Trading Company’s manager and she took the initiative to go to the Qin Mansion, doesn’t that mean their relationship is already very good?”

Most hoping for support that never came, yet having to watch opportunities fall into Pang Zhixi’s hands again, how could Yuchi Yan not hate it?

Gu Shixiong tried to persuade him. “Your Highness, please calm your anger. There’s no need to be upset over such a small matter. We still have more urgent things to do right now.”