The room was brightly lit, with an exquisite revolving lantern hanging beneath the ceiling. The vivid Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea pattern on it was lifelike, and the bright, lively figures slowly rotated, casting a gentle halo at Cao Yuqing’s feet, causing her to pause and look for a moment.

This was the main hall of Xingning Garden, the place where Qin Huaiyuan spent the most time aside from his study in the outer courtyard.

And with another woman.

Cao Yuqing lowered her long eyelashes and only after a long while passed through the floor screen to reach the side room.

Qin Huaiyuan and Sun Shi sat on either side of a ruyi-carved luohan bed by the window. Qin Huaiyuan leisurely sipped tea while Sun Shi, wearing a green jade bracelet on her left hand, played with roasted pumpkin seeds in a dish, her snow-white wrist with the jade ornament making soft sounds against the low table.

Qin Yining could see Sun Shi’s displeasure and consolingly patted her shoulder, then stood beside Sun Shi, openly admiring the beauty.

The light green plain jacket outlined Cao Yuqing’s well-proportioned figure. Her raven-black long hair was arranged in a drooping horse chignon fixed with a gold-inlaid jade butterfly hair ornament. As she walked, her lotus steps were light, her skirt hem graceful, her waist swaying gently, her earrings swaying, her vermillion lips smiling, and her watery eyes full of emotion – as bright and moving as delicate flowers reflected in water.

It was said she was already thirty years old.

Yet time seemed to treat her with special favor, leaving no traces of morning frost, only settling into the mature woman’s temperament. Her peak beauty combined with her tender feelings – Qin Yining believed few men could escape such a beauty’s gentleness.

Objectively speaking, Cao Yuqing looked like Qin Yining’s sister, while middle-aged Sun Shi and Cao Yuqing looked like mother and daughter.

Sun Shi naturally realized this point. She gripped the carved armrest of the luohan bed tightly and repeatedly told herself to stay calm, to have composure, to yield appropriately and not continue indulging her emotions. After admonishing herself several times, she finally forced herself to calm down.

Cao Yuqing gracefully bowed: “This concubine greets the Marquis and Madam. Hearing that Madam was unwell and recuperating outside, this concubine has been very concerned these days. Now seeing Madam is safe and sound, this concubine can finally set her mind at ease.”

One doesn’t strike a smiling face, and with Qin Huaiyuan presiding, plus Cao Yuqing’s etiquette and behavior being faultless, Sun Shi could only manage a reasonably gentle smile.

“Concubine Cao is thoughtful. Nanny Jin, arrange seating. Cai Ju, serve tea.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

Cao Yuqing performed another courtesy before being helped to stand by her personal maid.

“Please sit, Concubine Cao.” Nanny Jin brought an embroidered stool and spread a soft, thick light blue brocade cushion on it.

Cao Yuqing smiled and thanked Nanny Jin.

Born with natural charm, when she smiled her eyes curved charmingly, nearly causing Nanny Jin to lose focus.

Qin Yining unconsciously looked at Qin Huaiyuan’s expression, but saw him only holding his tea bowl and sipping slowly, eyes lowered observing the floating of a tender green leaf in the tea, as if there wasn’t such a stunning beauty before him at all.

Qin Yining couldn’t help but admire her father’s character and self-control.

But she became increasingly puzzled.

Qin Huaiyuan had previously had concubines and wasn’t one to avoid spending nights in concubines’ rooms. But why was Qin Huaiyuan completely indifferent to this great beauty he could rightfully possess?

Both Cao Yuqing and the demon empress had city-toppling beauty. Though Qin Yining didn’t think Qin Huaiyuan would be like the incompetent ruler who loved beauty over the kingdom, there was no reason not to enjoy meat delivered to one’s mouth.

Yet everyone knew that Qin Huaiyuan and Cao Yuqing had never consummated their relationship. Qin Huaiyuan merely provided Cao Yuqing with good food, clothing, and housing, giving her the greatest convenience for a comfortable life, but refused to touch even a finger of hers.

Was it only because Cao Yuqing’s father was Imperial Uncle Cao?

While Qin Yining pondered, Cao Yuqing had already chatted with Sun Shi for a few sentences before explaining her purpose.

“Some days ago, this concubine made a vow at the Immortal Maiden Temple, praying to Doumu Yuanjun to protect Master and Fourth Miss’s safe return and everything going smoothly. Now that all difficulties have been resolved, this concubine is thinking of going to the Immortal Maiden Temple tomorrow to fulfill the vow, and incidentally arrange several more days of peace ceremonies for the household. This concubine wanted to ask Madam whether you and Fourth Miss would like to go together?”

Upon hearing this, Sun Shi almost immediately agreed.

She hadn’t seen her mother and sister-in-law for over a month. She wondered if the women of Duke Dingguo’s household were settling in well at the Immortal Maiden Temple.

However, Sun Shi suddenly remembered that she was supposedly “ill.” If she immediately went bouncing around to the Immortal Maiden Temple, wouldn’t Qin Huaiyuan see at a glance that she had been feigning illness to fool the Old Madam?

Though Qin Huaiyuan had already forgiven Qin Yining, that was because Yining was too lovable, was Qin Huaiyuan’s biological daughter, and resembled Qin Huaiyuan so much when he was young. Qin Huaiyuan placed great hopes in Qin Yining and had shared hardships with her – naturally he could forgive his own flesh and blood anything.

But Sun Shi was different. She was a wife, and a legitimate wife without offspring. Before a beautiful concubine, she already had no advantage in family background – if she couldn’t win through virtue, how could she give Qin Huaiyuan reason to protect her?

Therefore, Sun Shi weakly supported her forehead: “Concubine Cao is truly thoughtful. Though I have the heart to go together, my health is still uncomfortable. I fear the travel might cause a relapse, and I’d have to leave the manor again to avoid contagion. Why don’t you let Yining represent me?” The last sentence was directed at Qin Yining.

Qin Yining looked at Sun Shi with heartache.

For Mother to change her nature in such a short time was equivalent to growing through the baptism of one disaster after another. In others’ eyes, Sun Shi was someone still domineering in her forties. But in Qin Yining’s eyes, she had simply been too well protected.

Qin Yining was happy about Sun Shi’s change but also pained by the reasons for it.

“Good.” Qin Yining said gently: “Mother, rest assured. Your daughter will certainly go and properly kowtow to Doumu Yuanjun, praying for Doumu Yuanjun to protect our entire family’s peace and safety.”

Cao Yuqing smiled at Qin Yining: “Fourth Miss is truly thoughtful.”

Qin Yining then remembered that Qin Huining was still Cao Yuqing’s adopted daughter. She didn’t want to deal with these people now – she feared she couldn’t control her temper. If she ended up hitting Qin Huining outside, Qin Huining’s black eyes and swollen face would be a small matter, but fighting would be quite tiring for her.

“Then tomorrow I’ll go with Auntie. Since the Immortal Maiden Temple is after all a pure place, we should travel light and simple, and not bring others along.” Qin Yining was straightforward – not inquiring, but stating.

Cao Yuqing understood in a blink that Qin Yining meant Qin Huining, and quickly nodded: “Fourth Miss is right – this concubine had exactly the same thought.”

Standing up, she curtsied: “Since that’s settled, this concubine won’t disturb the Marquis and Madam further. We’ll meet again early tomorrow morning.”

Qin Yining also returned a half-courtesy: “Then as Auntie says, we’ll meet tomorrow.”

“This concubine takes her leave.”

Cao Yuqing slowly withdrew.

Before leaving, she looked toward Qin Huaiyuan and saw him still drinking tea, not even glancing at her properly. Cao Yuqing felt a sharp pain in her heart.

Seeing both parents silent, Qin Yining thought she shouldn’t stay longer either, so she also took her leave and returned to Shuren Studio.

Meeting Qiu Lu and the others was naturally a joyful reunion. After bathing, Qin Yining held the soft, fluffy Er’Bai as she lay in bed and drowsily fell asleep.

The next morning, after breakfast and paying respects to the Old Madam, Qin Yining left the manor with Cao Yuqing and several guards.