Before long, a maid came to report that Qin Yunyun’s words were indeed true—Madam Mao had agreed to let them go and had arranged for guards and matrons to accompany them. Madam Xu would also be going along.

The maid relayed Madam Mao’s words: “Madam says that if the young ladies wish to go out and enjoy themselves, they need only speak up. According to Sichuan customs, young ladies are perfectly free to go out. There is just one condition—they must be mindful of their status and not show their faces in public.”

Xu Peiwei laughed cheerfully: “Mother truly loves me most! In Sichuan, there aren’t so many restrictions. Young ladies can often go out to stroll the streets. My cousin and I would go out every few days. These past few days since returning, I’ve been terribly cooped up and bored. Mother really does love me most!”

Qin Yunyun said: “You! Your aunt doesn’t love you most—she’s still having your elder sister-in-law keep watch! She’s afraid you’ll get too carried away playing, so she’s having your elder sister-in-law keep you in line.”

“Cousin, you’re several months younger than me, so how is it that you sound like my older sister?”

The cousins chatted and laughed together, getting along so warmly and happily. Xu Peiwei then called for Nanny Yang to make arrangements—the young ladies who needed to bathe did so, and Xu Peiwei’s maids went to find her a veiled hat.

Since Qin Shuying and the other two were going out, they had brought veiled hats and didn’t need to prepare additional ones.

Everything was quickly ready, and Nanny Yang came to say that Madam Xu was already waiting at the second gate.

After leaving the house and boarding the carriages, the young ladies chattered excitedly, everyone in high spirits.

Madam Xu rode alone in one carriage, while Xu Peiwei and the three Qin sisters shared another.

Xu Peiwei said: “Cousin, in earlier years, Dongyin Temple had such flourishing incense offerings. Mother told me that back then, the imperial family would often invite eminent monks from Dongyin Temple into the palace to give lectures on Buddhist scriptures. Later, for some unknown reason, it gradually declined. Even so, it’s still considered a fine destination now, with countless high-ranking officials and nobles going to the temple to burn incense each year.”

Qin Yunyun continued: “Precisely because the incense offerings were so prosperous in the past, that’s why so many fine shops opened up in a row at the foot of the mountain. Not to mention anything else, the vegetarian meals at the temple are among the best of all the temples around the capital. Even at the foot of the mountain, some shops have opened vegetarian restaurants—those who can’t get vegetarian meals in the temple can eat nearby at these shops and still partake in some Buddhist blessing.”

As the two talked, Qin Lulu listened attentively, occasionally asking a question or two, and Qin Shuying did the same.

While chatting and laughing, they arrived at the prosperous street at the foot of Dongyin Temple’s mountain. Indeed, shops lined the street, most catering to official families and middle-class households.

Yesterday had been the first day of the lunar month, so today there were indeed few people on the streets. The carriages traveled steadily on the wide road, and the young ladies looked out through the thin gauze curtains, though people outside couldn’t see them.

This thin gauze had a similar effect to the veiled hat’s gauze. Many noble families’ women’s carriages in the capital had now switched to this type. Those inside could see clearly outside, but those outside couldn’t see in—it was very popular with the ladies.

Suddenly, Qin Shuying said: “Oh… Cousin Peiwei, is that banner ahead for Mu Family Walnut Cookies? Those are Grandmother’s favorite Mu Family walnut cookies! Stop the carriage—I want to buy some to take back to Grandmother.”

Xu Peiwei was startled and wanted to dissuade her, but couldn’t really do so—these were for Old Madam Qin, a granddaughter’s filial gesture.

Her eyes darted around as she said: “Don’t be hasty—I’ll have someone go buy them.”

“How could that work? When others buy them, it’s their filial devotion. When I buy them, it’s mine.”

With such reasoning, she couldn’t very well continue objecting. Moreover, with Xu Peiwei having something on her mind, she nodded in confusion. Qin Yunyun wanted to object but it was already too late.

Thinking it over, it really wasn’t anything serious—with so many people watching, what kind of tricks could Qin Shuying possibly pull?

Xu Peiwei gave instructions, and Nanny Yang told the accompanying guards. That guard quickly went forward to speak with the guards ahead, and the matron with Madam Xu’s carriage learned of it and informed Madam Xu.

Madam Xu agreed and had the carriage pull over to the roadside. The three or four carriages behind also stopped.

Qin Shuying got out of the carriage wearing her veiled hat. Ziteng and Lu Ye also quickly got down from the carriage behind and followed Qin Shuying to the walnut cookie shop.

Cai Luan, Caiying, and Xu Peiwei’s maids also followed closely.

Qin Shuying, through her veiled hat, selected several types of pastries in the walnut cookie shop. The shop assistant nimbly packaged and weighed the items.

Qin Shuying thought for a moment and said: “Since we rarely get to come out, Ziteng, Lu Ye, you should also pick some things you like to eat. Whether for yourselves or to give as gifts when we return, the amount doesn’t matter.”

Ziteng smiled and went to make selections. Lu Ye said: “Thank you, Miss!”

Lu Ye picked quite a variety: “These red bean ones, give me two packages; the mung bean ones, two packages; the salty crispy ones, two packages; the chestnut-filled ones, two packages…”

Picking and choosing, she actually selected over ten packages!

Cai Luan’s eyes went wide. The walnut cookies here had good flavor and great reputation, so naturally they weren’t cheap—each package only contained a few pieces.

The Qin household wasn’t a particularly wealthy noble family, so usually they could only eat a piece or half-piece when the young ladies had leftovers to reward them with.

Ziteng also picked four or five packages, totaling nearly twenty packages. Each package cost two hundred wen in silver—all this came to no less than four taels of silver, equivalent to four months of her monthly wages.

With so many items, the two shop assistants naturally had to bustle about for quite a while, fetching, weighing, and packaging.

Qin Shuying stood gracefully before the counter.

While they were buying walnut cookies, some other customers also came in to shop—mostly female customers. Some were young ladies from small households who didn’t wear veiled hats, while others were wives or daughters from official families who also wore veiled hats.

Ziteng looked at a veiled woman who had entered partway through and watched her for a moment.

When that woman brushed past Ziteng, she said something to her in a low voice that the others didn’t notice.

After the woman stood still, Lu Ye started joking with Qin Shuying: “Miss, with so many delicious things, your servant will get fat from eating them all.”

Qin Shuying just smiled: “What’s there for you to get fat about? This is good.”

Lu Ye blinked and said: “If Miss thinks it’s good, then it’s good.”

Both Ziteng and Lu Ye laughed.

When everything was packaged, Qin Shuying paid the silver. Lu Ye spread her arms wide: “These are all mine—don’t be like the people from the Lu household, grabbing at good things when you see them!”

Cai Luan and Caiying, who had wanted to help, had to withdraw their hands.

Lu Ye and Ziteng couldn’t carry everything at once, so each took several packages at a time, making two trips to get everything loaded onto the carriage.

Once in the carriage, Ziteng said again: “Cai Luan, you all be careful—these walnut cookies are expensive! Don’t crush them!”

Cai Luan and Xu Peiwei’s maids felt a surge of anger.

Cai Luan snorted: “Really looking down on people! Just a few walnut cookies—acting like people have never eaten them before.”

But Lu Ye said: “These are things bought for Old Madam—how dare you show disdain?”

“You…”

Cai Luan was about to burst into angry curses when Caiying tugged at her sleeve. She could only glare fiercely at Lu Ye, turn her head away, and ignore her.

Lu Ye wouldn’t let her off, saying: “Speaking of which, that’s right—Cai Luan’s parents both have good positions, so naturally you wouldn’t think much of Old Madam’s walnut cookies.”

Cai Luan couldn’t hold back and retorted: “Who mentioned Old Madam’s walnut cookies? I was talking about your walnut cookies!”