Yan Qing saw him standing in the doorway, seeming to hesitate, and said nothing. She simply tilted her head and watched him.

After a long moment, Shi Ting gave a light cough. Appearing faintly ill at ease, he looked away. “I’ll handle the matter of Long Yunxiao. You don’t need to go yourself.”

Yan Qing narrowed her eyes in a quiet smile.

Just how much did he fear her being alone with Long Yunxiao?

Having said his piece, Shi Ting felt slightly more at ease — but then he stopped once more and looked back to add, “I’ll take care of it properly. You have nothing to worry about.”

Yan Qing stifled a laugh. The Commissioner had very little confidence tonight, it seemed.

Still, since Shi Ting had taken the matter into his own hands, Yan Qing saw no reason to seek out Long Yunxiao herself. She was a woman about to be married. Unless absolutely necessary, she would not trouble Long Yunxiao. But he had helped her — and helped her generously. That debt of gratitude she held firmly in her heart.

Half a month passed. Wen Yan’s head injury had healed completely, though the impact had been hard enough to leave a faint scar. Yan Qing had expected her to be quietly distressed by it, but instead Wen Yan pointed to the mark on her forehead with an air of cool composure and declared that whenever she spoke of this scar in the future, it would be a tale worthy of a storyteller’s stage — a mark of honor, in her view.

Yan Qing winced inwardly. She genuinely could not fathom this particular cast of mind.

Murong remained in the hospital for the better part of the month. In accordance with the doctor’s recommendation that she stay an additional two weeks to avoid the risk of the wound worsening or becoming infected, Yan Qing agreed and assigned two maids to attend to her around the clock.

A few days later, once the New Year holiday had passed, Wen Xu took his children and returned to Taishan.

The Wen Family’s visit to Shun Cheng had been eventful — perilous, even — but in the end they had come through safely.

At the railway station, Wen Yan took Yan Qing’s hand and said with a grin: “Don’t look so sorry to see us go. In less than two months, I’ll be back.”

Yan Qing knew she meant the wedding — her own and Shi Ting’s.

“Speaking of which, I’ve heard that the first wife in the Shi household is not an easy woman to deal with, and one of the concubines is quite the cunning operator too. When you marry into the Shi Family, watch yourself at every turn.”

“Stop worrying about me and focus on yourself. When you come back next time, I hope you’ll bring Dr. Chen along.”

Wen Yan’s cheeks flushed. “You’re talking nonsense again.”

Over these past weeks, Yan Qing had observed what was clearly a meaningful development between Wen Yan and Dr. Chen. Wen Xu had found out as well and raised no objection.

Dr. Chen came from a modest family, but he was learned, forward-thinking, and capable. Wen Xu was not an ambitious man and had no intention of using his daughter’s marriage to further his own interests. A young man of education and good character like Dr. Chen was exactly the kind of son-in-law he would have chosen.

After the Wen Family’s departure, the weather gradually grew warmer. Spring came again, as it did every year, filling the world with blossoms.

One afternoon while Yan Qing was feeding the koi by the lake, she glanced over at the small bridge nearby and felt time blur. She seemed to be back in this same spot a year ago — seated here just as she was now, while a figure stood on the bridge in the distance. Too far away to see his face clearly, and yet — that had been their first meeting.

The thought made her smile softly to herself. Time moved so quickly. An entire year had already gone by.

“Miss! Miss!” Jing Zhi came running over with all the urgency of an announcement. “The Second Concubine says the wedding dress has been delivered and wants you to come and have a look!”

The embroiderers had spent months at their work — even the quickest hands needed two or three. By now, the timing was just about right.

When Yan Qing returned to her courtyard, the Second Concubine Guo Yanrong was already there with several maids, who stood holding two large, elegantly crafted boxes.

“Sixth Miss, the wedding dress is finally ready.” Guo Yanrong stepped forward with a warm smile. “It just arrived — please have a look and see whether it fits.”

The group filed inside. The two maids opened the boxes one after the other.

The moment the lids came off, a gleaming, golden light seemed to pour out — breathtaking and magnificent.

The wedding dress was edged with gold thread throughout, and the effect was undeniably opulent.

Yan Qing’s eyes lit up as well. She couldn’t help reaching out to run her fingers over the smooth fabric and the intricate golden embroidery that covered it in sweeping, interlocking patterns.

Workmanship like this was something she could never achieve even if she spent a hundred years practicing.

Seeing Yan Qing’s reaction, Guo Yanrong knew she was delighted, and inwardly released a quiet breath of relief.

She understood clearly what she needed to do. If she wanted to free Yan Ling from the old mistress’s courtyard, she had to keep this Sixth Miss happy. If the Sixth Miss was happy, the master would be satisfied. And if the master was satisfied, Yan Ling might finally see daylight again.

“I’m very pleased. Thank you, Second Concubine.” Yan Qing was aware of Guo Yanrong’s motivations, but her gratitude was genuine all the same.

Guo Yanrong smiled — and then, seemingly out of nowhere, began to dab at her eyes. “Ah, preparing these two wedding dresses is the most I can do for Sixth Miss. The rest of the arrangements are beyond my authority.”

Yan Qing feigned ignorance.

“The Madam’s period of confinement ends tomorrow. Once she comes back, the household affairs will return to her hands.”

The Madam had been confined to the ancestral hall by Yan’s father and had spent the past several months there — not a single day out in the open, subsisting on plain vegetarian meals and prayers. Today was her final day.

Guo Yanrong looked at Yan Qing with tear-reddened eyes. “Sixth Miss, from here on it will be Madam who handles things. Once she returns, I’ll transfer everything over to her, one matter at a time. But as for the wedding dress — when Fifth Miss was here, only one was made. If Sixth Miss happens to mention this to Madam, please be careful not to let it slip.”

The prospect of the Madam returning was hardly good news for Guo Yanrong. Nor was it good news for Yan Qing.

The Madam harbored resentment toward her. She would never allow Yan Qing’s marriage to proceed without interference. She was sure to find ways to meddle — with the dowry, with the preparations, with anything she could reach. The Madam was a woman who cared about appearances. She would not allow a daughter born of a concubine to outshine her own child at the wedding.

Rather than appearing to understand, Yan Qing smiled pleasantly and asked, “Second Concubine, is my father in the mansion?”

Guo Yanrong blinked. “Oh — I believe so.”

“Jing Zhi, go and ask my father to come for a moment. I’d like him to see my new wedding dress.”

Jing Zhi accepted the errand immediately and went off to find Yan’s father.

Guo Yanrong had no idea what Yan Qing was planning. Several times she tried to speak, and each time something stopped her.

Yan’s father happened to be home enjoying his tea at leisure and came over right away when he heard. Anything connected to Yan Qing’s marriage was his highest priority — every detail, large and small, had his full attention.

When he saw the wedding dress, he was equally delighted, his face glowing with reflected golden light. “My Qingqing in this outfit — every girl for ten miles around would be too embarrassed to show her face.”

Yan Qing laughed. “Father, you’re exaggerating terribly.”

Then she glanced over at Guo Yanrong and took her hand gently. “We owe Second Concubine a great deal for this. Not only did she engage the finest embroiderers in Shun Cheng, she went so far as to have two complete sets made.”

Yan’s father nodded — clearly acknowledging her contribution.

“Father, Second Concubine knows every detail of my wedding arrangements better than anyone. Handing things off to someone new midway through might create problems — and I’m not sure I could trust a stranger with it.”

Yan’s father said, “She was always the one handling it.”

Then he cast a sharp look at the Second Concubine. “Or are you thinking of abandoning your post?”

Guo Yanrong startled and quickly explained: “Master, that’s entirely unfair. I am devoted to making every arrangement for Sixth Miss. How could I possibly abandon anything?”

“Good, as long as you know your place.” Yan’s father was still displeased over the matter of Yan Ling, though his temper had cooled since then. “Yan Qing’s wedding is your responsibility from start to finish. If anything goes wrong, I will hold you accountable.”

Guo Yanrong immediately looked pained. “Master, it would be an honor to arrange things for Sixth Miss — but Madam returns tomorrow. I hardly think I can…”

“So what if she returns? She can’t even manage her own daughter properly, and she dares to interfere in Qingqing’s wedding? She’d do better to stay in her room and improve herself — read more, broaden her thinking, learn something worth knowing.”

“Then the household management…?”

“I’ll speak to the old mistress shortly. Let Jin Shi tend to her own moral cultivation for now and refrain from meddling in household affairs — I won’t have her selling out the Yan Family again.”

Jin Shi was the Madam’s family name.

Yan’s father looked at the Second Concubine briefly. “You’ll continue managing the household as you have been. If anyone gives you trouble, come straight to me. I’d like to see who dares.”

Guo Yanrong was overjoyed and immediately began pledging her loyalty. “Master, rest assured. I will make sure every detail of Sixth Miss’s wedding is handled perfectly.”

Once her father had gone, Guo Yanrong quickly offered Yan Qing a bow. “Sixth Miss, thank you for your help.”

Yan Qing smiled. “It was my father’s decision. I had nothing to do with it.”

Guo Yanrong caught on immediately and laughed along. “Yes, yes, quite right — it was entirely the Master’s decision. Nothing to do with Sixth Miss at all.”

The following day, the Madam finally walked out of the ancestral hall.

After months of confinement, seeing nothing but the dim interior of that room day after day, living on plain food and prayer, she had nearly gone out of her mind. Now that she was finally free, she longed for the open air with every fiber of her being.

During the months she had spent in the ancestral hall, the household had been managed in her stead by the Second Concubine. With the Madam now back, it was only natural that she expected to take those responsibilities back in hand.

When she learned that Yan Qing’s wedding dress had been made in two complete sets — one formal, one as a backup — both crafted from gold and silver thread at considerable expense, she was furious. “That Guo Yanrong — who gave her the nerve? When Yan Qin married, she had only one set made, at less than half the cost of a single one of these. And here she goes being extravagant.”

Unable to contain her anger, the Madam sent for the Second Concubine immediately.

The Second Concubine arrived and greeted her with the same impeccable courtesy as always — a proper bow before taking her seat.

Without preamble, the Madam flung several account ledgers across at her. “Look at this. Look at what you’ve done. The Master asked you to manage the household temporarily, and you thought you’d gone and become the lady of the house? Two wedding dresses — quite the generous hand, I must say! And these dowry items — when Yan Qin was married, nothing was done on this scale. On what grounds does a daughter born of a concubine deserve such treatment?”

The Madam delivered this tirade in full without once receiving a response, which only made her angrier. “Attendants — escort the Second Concubine back to her own courtyard. She is not to leave without my permission.”

Only when the two maids stepped inside did Guo Yanrong finally speak, in her unhurried way: “Madam’s commands are not for me to disobey. But if I am confined to my quarters, who, then, will oversee the preparations for Sixth Miss’s wedding?”

The Madam laughed in cold fury. “I used to think you clever — but apparently your head is empty. Now that I’m back, do you imagine you still have any standing to speak in this household?”