When Qin Wan returned to Songfeng Courtyard, her brows remained tightly furrowed.
Seeing Qin Wan’s expression, Fuling felt uneasy. She glanced at Bai Ying, who shook her head. Earlier, when Qin Wan was speaking with Qin Shu inside the room, Bai Ying had been standing guard outside and knew nothing of what transpired within. However, with her keen intuition, Bai Ying was certain that Qin Shu must have expressed dissatisfaction with Qin Wan’s recent actions.
Bai Ying understood court politics better than Fuling. The recent case Qin Wan investigated involved the Empress, and Bai Ying knew this must have triggered Qin Shu’s displeasure. However, Bai Ying also knew Qin Wan’s character well – though outwardly gentle and beautiful, inside she was like resilient bamboo, preferring to break rather than bend.
But this would make Qin Wan’s future position in the Marquis’s mansion very awkward.
As Bai Ying contemplated this, Qin Wan was thinking about the same thing. Qin Shu’s words today had been very clear. For now, he was only asking her to follow his orders, and this matter wasn’t yet life or death. But if the mastermind behind Prince Jin’s case was the Empress and the Eastern Palace, and if her father had been framed by them, she would never let them off. When that time came, what would Qin Shu do?
To preserve the Marquis household’s wealth and glory, Qin Wan did not doubt that Qin Shu would kill her without hesitation!
Before it came to that, she needed to take some precautions.
Having made up her mind, Qin Wan quickly sought paper and brush. With a serious expression, she wrote rapidly for a moment. After reviewing the brief letter, she breathed a sigh of relief. Once the ink dried, she folded the letter. Though it was pitch dark outside, she called Bai Ying in, “Take this letter to the house in the west and deliver it personally to Elder Uncle Han.”
Though surprised internally, Bai Ying was pleased that Qin Wan had acted so quickly. She nodded and left.
Fuling looked anxiously at Qin Wan, “Miss, what’s wrong?”
Qin Wan smiled slightly, “Nothing, don’t worry.”
Fuling pressed her lips together, unconvinced. Qin Wan turned and opened the window, seeing the bright moon hanging high. It was a clear night – the clouds had dispersed, leaving the autumn moon suspended in the sky. Though the autumn breeze was harsh, it helped Qin Wan think more clearly. She asked, “Do you think the Marquis’s mansion is good?”
Fuling was startled, unsure of Qin Wan’s meaning. She hesitantly nodded, “Of course… of course it’s good.”
Qin Wan’s lips curved upward, “If it’s so good, why the hesitation?!”
Fuling giggled, “Compared to the former Qin residence, it’s certainly better.”
Qin Wan turned to look at Fuling, “But can you consider this place your home?”
Fuling’s eyes darted around, realizing this question was quite unusual. Such a casual inquiry wouldn’t have carried this tone. The smile gradually faded from Fuling’s face, and she soon replied calmly, “Although it’s very good here, still… it can’t be considered home…”
Qin Wan exhaled – this was Fuling’s honest answer. She had long noticed that although Fuling appeared content and happy, she rarely left Songfeng Courtyard. She usually only played with a few young maids in the courtyard, seldom venturing even into the garden outside Songfeng Courtyard’s gate. When facing the mansion’s servants, she had some confidence with the lowest-ranking cleaning maids, but with the old servants of the household, Fuling instinctively lacked confidence, often swallowing her pride and going to great lengths to curry favor. Qin Wan had observed all this but never mentioned it.
Though Fuling didn’t follow her around daily like Bai Ying, she wasn’t living peacefully in the mansion.
She wanted her “Ninth Young Lady” to establish a firm foothold in the Marquis’s mansion, but how easy was that?!
If not for her title as Princess, her current situation would be even more precarious. The Marquis’s mansion would never become her home, never. This feeling wasn’t so obvious before, but now with her father’s case before her, and the Eastern Palace and Empress hanging like two great swords over her head, she had to face this reality.
However, her wedding date with Yan Chi wasn’t far off. At this point, how should she choose?
Qin Wan sighed, and Fuling quickly asked again, “Miss, what’s wrong?”
Qin Wan looked at Fuling with a perfectly calm expression, “Nothing, just wondering where our true home might be.”
Fuling blinked, “When Miss marries His Highness the Prince, won’t that be our true home?!”
Qin Wan couldn’t help but laugh, Yan Chi’s face appearing in her mind.
The wedding date was indeed approaching, but for both her and Yan Chi, having a true home would be no easy matter!
…
Early the next morning, Qin Wan entered the palace. The Empress Dowager’s health had improved somewhat, so Qin Wan accompanied her for a walk in the back garden. Looking at the yellow leaves covering the ground, the Empress Dowager sighed, “In the blink of an eye, it’s the Mid-Autumn Festival again. Last year during the festival, I remember Yan Li making such a huge sky lantern that flew up into the sky. It truly opened my eyes.”
Sky lanterns weren’t yet popular in Da Zhou during this season, so Yan Li’s sudden presentation must have delighted the Empress Dowager immensely. Qin Wan said, “Tonight, let Prince Li release a few more sky lanterns for you, and make another wish—”
The Empress Dowager laughed, “Never mind, I won’t summon him. Let him accompany his mother.” As she said this, the Empress Dowager seemed to remember something and added, “Yan Chi is still in mourning, otherwise I would have called for him.”
During the mourning period, no feasting or entertainment was allowed. Thinking of this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, when Yan Chi had become someone with no parents, Qin Wan felt a wave of melancholy. The Empress Dowager thought of this too and tightly gripped Qin Wan’s hand, “You two… really… I’ll have someone prepare some pastries, you can take them to him.”
At this suggestion, Qin Wan naturally agreed immediately.
After accompanying the Empress Dowager for a while longer, until she showed signs of fatigue, Qin Wan escorted her back to the main hall. As the Empress Dowager prepared for her afternoon rest, she quickly grabbed Qin Wan’s hand, “Has that guard still not been found?”
Qin Wan was startled but nodded, “No, not yet.”
The Empress Dowager made an “oh” sound and closed her eyes without further comment.
Qin Wan thought she glimpsed a flash of something dark in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, but seeing her peaceful sleeping face, she doubted what she’d seen. Qin Wan shook her head internally and quickly left Shoukang Palace.
Just as she exited Shoukang Palace’s gates, she encountered a magnificent procession of purple canopies approaching. Looking closer, Qin Wan saw the Empress seated in her imperial palanquin. The guards at Shoukang Palace’s gates all knelt in greeting, and Qin Wan knelt as well. Soon, the Empress’s palanquin stopped before Qin Wan. “Greeting to Her Majesty the Empress.”
Zhao Shuhua looked down at Qin Wan from her elevated position, her beautiful eyes dark as water, saying nothing. With the Empress silent, Qin Wan could only remain kneeling. Qin Wan lowered her gaze slightly, understanding why Zhao Shuhua was behaving this way.
After a long while, Zhao Shuhua finally smiled slightly, “Princess came to see the Empress Dowager today?”
“Yes, the Empress Dowager has begun her afternoon rest—”
“Oh, what a pity! I’ve come too late!” Zhao Shuhua’s voice was full of regret. She lowered her gaze to look at the top of Qin Wan’s head, “The Empress Dowager’s health is poor, you should visit more often. Winter is approaching, and you should know that in winter, the elderly are particularly fragile. Both His Majesty and I trust you – the Empress Dowager’s health is in your hands.”
Qin Wan bowed her head, “Yes, Your Majesty need not worry.”
Zhao Shuhua made a sound of acknowledgment, “That’s good. Medical skills can save lives – you’d do better to focus your attention on medicine. Other matters aren’t as important as treating the Empress Dowager. Also, given the Empress Dowager’s poor health and advancing age, try not to trouble her with matters concerning Shoukang Palace. If you have any questions, you can come to me.”
Qin Wan’s brows furrowed slightly, and after a while she replied, “Yes—”
Zhao Shuhua smiled and waved her hand, and the palanquin turned around to leave.
Qin Wan had remained kneeling throughout, and only after Zhao Shuhua had gone far did Bai Ying help her up.
“My Lady, you—”
Qin Wan shook her head, “It’s nothing. Let’s go to Prince Rui’s mansion.”
Behind Qin Wan stood a palace maid from Shoukang Palace, carrying two food boxes filled with pastries. Qin Wan traveled silently to the palace gates, where a carriage headed straight for Prince Rui’s mansion.