This was Qin Wan’s first visit to the front court.
Just as she reached the courtyard entrance, she saw Qin Chen anxiously pacing inside. Upon seeing Qin Wan, he immediately walked over, “Why did it take so long?”
Qin Chen was usually gentle and warm in speech, but his tone now carried some severity.
Caihe quickly lowered her head and said, “Ninth Young Miss went to the east side, so it took longer to find her.”
Qin Chen frowned deeply, wanting to ask why Qin Wan had gone there, but mindful of the distinguished guest, he dared not delay. He glanced at Qin Wan and turned toward the main hall, “Quick, follow me…”
The moment she stepped into the courtyard, Qin Wan felt an oppressive atmosphere hit her.
Instantly, her heart tensed.
Lowering her head and eyes, Qin Wan’s sweeping gaze caught all the Qin household servants with heads bowed, holding their breath like cicadas in winter. Looking up toward the main hall, she saw several nervous, cowering figures standing at the entrance.
One of them was the usually informal Qin Li.
Qin Chen walked very quickly, clearly showing great respect for this distinguished guest. Soon, Qin Chen had climbed the steps, “Your Highness, sorry to keep you waiting. My younger sister has arrived—”
Your Highness? Qin Wan’s heart jumped, and she instinctively looked up.
Looking over, she saw Yan Chi sitting imposingly in the main seat of the Qin family’s main hall, wearing a magnificent black robe. He leaned back, his face cold and stern, brows slightly furrowed, his sideways glance carrying an overwhelming, commanding presence.
She had wondered who it might be, but it was Yan Chi…
While everyone inside and outside the hall dared not breathe, Qin Wan’s suspended heart settled down.
“Qin Wan, why don’t you greet His Highness?”
Qin Wan had entered the main hall and was slightly stunned to see Yan Chi. In this brief moment, a weak voice suddenly rang out. Qin Wan looked up to see a richly dressed middle-aged man standing above Qin Li.
Although Qin Wan had no memories, she recognized this man’s identity at a glance.
He was of medium height, wearing a standing-collar formal robe today. His facial features somewhat resembled Qin Chen’s, but his eyes were narrow, giving him a somewhat treacherous appearance. He had dark circles under his eyes, cloudy pupils, and sallow skin with lifeless eyes. When standing, he hunched with weak breath and feeble qi. Though barely forty, his temples were already white with frost. He clearly showed signs of a body emptied by wine and women. In the Qin household, who else could this be but Third Master Qin An?
Thanks to Yan Chi, she finally met this Third Uncle.
“Qin Wan pays respects to Your High—”
“Ninth Young Miss, no need for formalities!”
Before Qin Wan could finish speaking, before her graceful bow could complete, Yan Chi’s words cut off her greeting.
Qin Wan looked up, immediately meeting his deep, dark eyes.
“Ninth Young Miss treated the Grand Princess’s illness, making her already a benefactor to both the Marquis’s household and the Yan family. How could I dare accept Ninth Young Miss’s formal greeting?”
At these words, Qin Wan slowly straightened up, while Qin An and the others’ expressions changed several times.
Earlier when this Crown Prince’s son had arrived at the Qin residence on horseback with sword drawn, his aura had been so domineering and pressing. He had not only accepted their greetings but had them kneel for a while before allowing them to rise. After entering and taking his seat, he hadn’t even exchanged pleasantries, just sitting there expressionlessly without a word. The empty air seemed to hold a thousand-pound net, pressing them into extreme anxiety.
How had things changed so much with Qin Wan…?
“Your Highness’s words are too kind. Qin Wan doesn’t deserve such praise.”
Lowering her eyes and head, Qin Wan felt somewhat uneasy. Were Yan Chi’s words meant to help establish her position in the Qin family?
“The Grand Princess took your medicine and has awakened. Yesterday she was only awake briefly before falling asleep again, but today she can speak. As soon as she woke, she kept mentioning your name. I had no choice but to come fetch you.”
Yan Chi’s voice was gentle, even carrying a note of helpless fondness reserved for close acquaintances.
Qin An glanced at Qin Chen, whose eyes tightened slightly.
Qin Wan hadn’t noticed so much. Her bright eyes lit up as she raised her head, “The Grand Princess can speak now?”
Yan Chi’s lips curved into a genuine smile. His chiseled features brightened with this smile, making his whole person radiate a spring-like brilliance, “Yes, she’s waiting for you right now.”
His tone grew even more familiar and intimate. Seeing the smile on his face, everyone noticed even more clearly how differently he treated Qin Wan.
Qin An’s lips twitched as he scrutinized his niece with particular gravity.
Qin Wan only felt Yan Chi’s tone was somewhat strange but didn’t think much of it. She had been back at the manor for two days, and since the Grand Princess could now speak, her condition must have greatly improved. Qin Wan felt sincere joy—she had saved another person.
Yan Chi stood up, “The carriage is ready outside. Come with me.”
If there was such improvement, the prescription would need to be changed, and she should visit the Marquis’s mansion anyway.
Qin Wan nodded, about to turn around when Qin An suddenly stepped forward, “Wait—”
“Hmm?” The faint smile instantly vanished from Yan Chi’s face as he turned to give Qin An a cold, murderous look.
Qin An had never seen anyone change expression so quickly. His heart immediately skipped a beat, “Y-Your High-Highness… since we’re going to visit the Grand Princess, we sh-should prepare some gifts. Please, Your Highness, wait a moment while I give instructions—”
“No need!” Yan Chi mercilessly cut off Qin An’s stammering words. “Ninth Young Miss’s presence alone is enough to make the Grand Princess happy. Besides, anything the Qin family could offer, the Marquis’s household doesn’t lack.”
Having said this, Yan Chi withdrew his gaze and strode out with large steps.
Qin Wan looked at Qin Chen, who nodded at her. Qin Wan curtsied and then followed Yan Chi.
After they left, Qin An stood dazed for a long while before coming to his senses, “What’s going on… how does my ninth niece know medicine… why don’t I know anything about this?!” He turned to Qin Chen with a trace of anger on his face.
Qin Chen kept his head lowered, but his face showed complete indifference, “Since Father never visits Mother in the inner court, naturally, you wouldn’t know.”
Outside the manor gates, Qin Wan remembered the matter of Liu Chun. Looking at Yan Chi’s back, her expression grew somewhat dejected. With Yan Chi’s keen perception, he almost immediately turned his head, “What’s wrong?”
At this point, even if Qin Wan complained it would be useless. She took a deep breath to calm herself, “Nothing. Your Highness came at quite an opportune moment.”
She meant it teasingly, but unexpectedly, Yan Chi suddenly turned a sharp gaze toward Fuling who was following them, “Why were you delayed so long earlier? What was your Young Miss doing?”
Since first seeing Yan Chi from afar, Fuling had been quite afraid of him. Now suddenly being questioned, she froze in fear, “Young Miss was just… just watching the servants clean the well…”
This was certainly the truth. Qin Wan had barely turned around before Fuling spilled everything.
Qin Wan frowned severely at the pale-faced Fuling—just who was the master here?
“Is that all?” Yan Chi asked again. Fuling’s eyes flickered several times as she hurriedly lowered her head.
“That’s… that’s all…”
Qin Wan sighed inwardly, thankfully Fuling hadn’t revealed everything.
“Why does Your Highness ask such things?”
Yan Chi curved his lips, “I thought perhaps I had interrupted something important Ninth Young Miss was doing at the manor.”
Qin Wan was almost certain this fellow was doing it on purpose. She laughed coldly inside while maintaining her composure as she walked toward the carriage, “Naturally, nothing is more important than seeing the Grand Princess.”
“That’s not quite true—”
Qin Wan’s steps halted as she turned to look at Yan Chi, “What does Your Highness mean?”
Yan Chi’s expression grew solemn, “Right now, there is indeed something more important than seeing the Grand Princess. The Marquis and the Prefect cannot make the request themselves, so I’ve come on their behalf to ask for your help.”
Qin Wan’s expression also grew serious. While visiting the Grand Princess was proper, if Yan Chi had tricked her out of other matters, it wouldn’t be right. When he mentioned Yue Qiong and Huo Huaixin, after brief consideration, Qin Wan understood.
“Were Your Highness’s words in the manor just a pretext?”
Seeing Yan Chi’s tacit admission, Qin Wan felt somewhat annoyed, “What makes Your Highness so sure I would help?”
Noticing Qin Wan’s irritation, Yan Chi stepped closer to her, “That day I heard some reverence in your words for former Minister of Justice Shen Yi. You have a kind heart and excellent medical skills, but most importantly… I just believe you will help.”
Looking into Yan Chi’s deep eyes, Qin Wan found herself at a loss for words, “I… am not a kind person…”
“You are.” Yan Chi took another step closer. “You only do what you believe is right, and that is kindness.”
Yan Chi had drawn extremely close. Qin Wan felt Yan Chi’s figure completely enveloping her, and his gaze, fixed unwaveringly upon her, was deep and pressing, fiercely invading her every breath. Qin Wan’s heart inexplicably quickened. She forced herself to stand straight and breathe steadily, only thus managing not to yield under his scrutiny.
After just moments, Qin Wan’s discomfort came quickly. She affected nonchalance as she turned and hurriedly climbed into the carriage, “Are we going to the mortuary or the Marquis’s mansion…”
Yan Chi’s phoenix eyes were filled with a faint smile, “The mortuary.”
After a pause, he added, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll accompany you.”
Inside the carriage, Qin Wan snorted. She moved in and out of mortuaries as easily as her backyard. Afraid? Who knew who was afraid…