Qin Shuying returned to her seat, and Qin Lulu’s worried expression relaxed as she quietly asked, “The princess didn’t make things difficult for you, did she?”
“Of course not.”
Qin Shuying answered with a smile, as if nothing had happened. Today’s seating arrangement was different from yesterday’s. Their conversation and Princess Yongjia’s tantrum just now could only be seen and heard by the few people present at the scene.
However, where Qin Shuying and the others were now sitting, people were seated close together all around. If one spoke even slightly loudly, others could hear the conversation.
Qin Shuying glanced at Ziteng, who leaned over to listen. Qin Shuying whispered a few words, and Ziteng’s expression changed slightly as she said quietly, “Miss, this servant has been negligent. I’ll go change your water immediately.”
With that, she took away the tea from Qin Shuying’s cup.
Qin Lulu asked, “Seventh Sister, what’s wrong?”
Qin Shuying said with some embarrassment, “My monthly courses have come. I just drank some tea and felt a bit uncomfortable.”
Before long, Ziteng returned with brown sugar water, saying, “The sisters at the princess’s residence had already prepared this for just such occasions—truly thoughtful consideration.”
Qin Shuying took a sip of the warm brown sugar water. At this moment, the horse racing in the field had already begun, with those spirited young ladies mounted on horses, lined up in formation.
Madam Ma announced the rules on the spot. On the opposite viewing platform were the male guests, basically all the men who had come to participate in the Hairpin Flower Banquet. As soon as Madam Ma finished speaking, they began cheering and shouting.
The young ladies here immediately blushed with embarrassment, but they also carried smiles.
Young men and spring boudoir maidens—who knew how many had caught each other’s eye after a day and a half, and how many madams had taken a liking to potential matches, hoping to arrange marriages between their children.
With a command, the horses in the field began running together, reaching the finish line, circling around a post, then running back. With so many participating, winners and losers gradually emerged.
Qin Lulu watched nervously and excitedly, because Qin Yue was skilled at horsemanship and was actually running in the lead. If she could maintain this pace, she would certainly place in the top ranks.
Though Qin Shuying’s eyes remained fixed on the field, she didn’t miss the movements around her.
She saw that Madam Yun and Yun Jingshu had left.
By rights, Qin Yongzhou and Lord Yun had a superior-subordinate relationship. Although Qin Yongzhou had died and Qin Shuying had returned to the capital, it would have been perfectly reasonable for Yun Jingshu, as a close friend, to send one or two letters.
Why had she never written to her?
Had she ever replied to any letters from her? She couldn’t remember.
From the various situations yesterday and today, something must have happened between Yun Jingshu and Qin Shuying. Then, Madam Yun had prevented her daughter from maintaining contact with Qin Shuying.
Regardless, Qin Shuying was still Imperial Concubine Lian’s cousin, and befriending Qin Shuying would have no disadvantages. Moreover, they had originally been acquainted. But even such a relationship couldn’t make Yun Jingshu write letters to her.
The lively horse racing in the field didn’t capture much more of Qin Shuying’s attention, nor did those emotionally excited young ladies and men draw her deeper involvement.
She was thinking about how Princess Fu’an, after returning to the palace, had managed to persuade Imperial Concubine Kang to have Princess Yongjia step forward to teach her a lesson. Princess Fu’an’s affairs were not honorable, and Imperial Concubine Kang should have weighed the matter carefully. They were afraid of her, this person with nothing to lose, so no news had leaked out.
But Imperial Concubine Kang had borrowed Princess Yongjia’s hand, wanting to deliver a fatal blow to her during today’s horse racing.
Although she had refused to participate, she could imagine that if she had competed, it would have been nothing more than the horse losing control, causing her to fall or crash into something. Even if she didn’t die, she would have broken legs or arms, or been disfigured.
She had seen such cases in some strange tales, so she refused without hesitation and struck hard at them in return. However, this matter wasn’t over yet.
Imperial Concubine Kang wasn’t finished, and neither was she, Qin Shuying!
In the distance, she saw Liu Junqing in white robes. Though she couldn’t make out his features clearly, his crane-among-chickens bearing was still easily recognizable.
What a source of trouble!
A mocking smile appeared at the corner of Qin Shuying’s lips. She took a sip of brown sugar water, feeling warm and comfortable in her belly.
Soon, the horse racing in the field was nearly decided.
Qin Shuying’s gaze involuntarily followed Qin Yue, who was currently in fifth place. Since there were far fewer participants than in the Peach Blossom Gathering and Calligraphy and Painting Assembly, far fewer places were awarded. Today’s horse racing only recognized the top five.
If Qin Yue could maintain her position, she would earn a ranking. If someone overtook her, she would lose her place. Right now, a woman was following closely behind her, nearly overtaking Qin Yue each time.
Fortunately, at the crucial final moment, Qin Yue spurred her horse and galloped, barely overtaking that woman to claim fifth place.
Qin Yue’s face was flushed red, sweat beading on her forehead, her smile brilliant—completely different from the impression she had given these past days.
Qin Shuying’s face showed an approving smile. Life was short, and one should gallop freely just like this.
Yet so many people insisted on scheming back and forth.
She had never thought of having any entanglement with enemies other than those who had harmed Feng’er, Qin Yaoyao, and Uncle Zhou’s family. She only wanted revenge, then to find a place where no one knew her and spend the rest of her life.
But these people thought she was easy to bully. One Liu family wasn’t enough—they had to drag in Princess Fu’an as well. And that wasn’t enough either—Princess Yongjia also had to join the fray.
Even Lord Yun’s family couldn’t escape involvement. Qin Yongzhou’s death wasn’t such a simple matter. It was closely related to this Lord Yun.
Originally, she had thought that as just a weak woman, Qin Yongzhou’s death involved too many people, and she probably wouldn’t be able to bring down those detestable people.
Moreover, what Qin Yongzhou had written in foreign script in his notes was vague and unclear, and there were even some parts she couldn’t understand.
But when people bullied her to this extent, should she still retreat?
Impossible.
Her eyes narrowed slightly: Come one and I’ll kill one, come two and I’ll kill both.
In this life, if one cannot act with swift vengeance, one is no better than a dog!
“Seventh Sister, Sister Yue is truly amazing! Coming to the Hairpin Flower Banquet, our family has finally won an award!”
Qin Lulu was overjoyed, continuously exclaiming in admiration.
Horse racing was different from the Peach Blossom Gathering and Calligraphy and Painting Assembly—rankings were determined on the spot, so prizes were distributed immediately.
Qin Yue held the pair of fine saddle accessories, so excited her small face was flushed red: “Mother, this red set is truly beautiful. It would be perfect for my horse!”
When she was in the south, she had kept a horse.
The Qin residence’s grounds weren’t spacious and had no stables, so naturally she had no horse now.
Madam Dong was naturally very happy. Madam Lin praised her thoroughly, and Lin Zilan, though she hadn’t won a place, came over excitedly to admire her saddle accessories, full of praise.
Lin Si snorted disdainfully, but no one cared about her expression or attitude.
It wasn’t yet time for the noon banquet, so the four of them—Qin Shuying and the others—began touring the garden again.
With Qin Yue winning an award and Qin Shuying being summoned by Princess Yongjia, Lin Zilan and Qin Lulu were both very happy. As everyone chatted and laughed, they became much more relaxed.
Just as they were enjoying their tour, Qin Shuying saw Yun Jingshu in the distance, walking over with two maidservants.
Yun Jingshu was actually quite beautiful—tall and graceful, with regular and delicate features, dressed elegantly and grandly. She was a first-class young lady from a noble family.