While holding up a water-blue silk sash behind Qin Yining to measure it, Bingtang said: “I also heard this from a little maid at Cixiao Garden. She only overheard it vaguely this morning when she went in to serve hot water. What she said wasn’t very clear either—only that the Old Madam intends to take the whole family on a spring outing, nothing else beyond that.”
“I see. No need to alter the clothes either, they’re fine as they are.” Qin Yining looked at the moon-white jacket she was wearing in the bronze mirror, casually took it off and had Song Lan put it away, then sat down on the embroidered stool before her dressing table. Seeing Song Lan bring over another light pink short jacket, still intending to have her try it on, she quickly waved her hand: “No need to try them all. Whether they’re loose or tight doesn’t matter.”
“You should try it on—what if some part doesn’t fit properly?”
“What could possibly not fit? As long as it can be worn, that’s enough.” Qin Yining was thoroughly sick of trying on clothes back and forth and admiring herself in the mirror.
Song Lan burst into laughter: “Miss, you really are something! You mustn’t let the other young ladies in the family know about this. You were born with a beauty’s appearance, yet you pay no attention to your looks at all. Others who don’t have what you have try every means possible—Sixth Miss doesn’t dare eat her fill every day to maintain her figure, and Seventh Miss even washes her face with flower juice daily. But you’re actually indifferent to it all.” As she spoke, she neatly arranged all the clothes in the redwood cabinet nearby.
Bingtang handed over the sash, sashes, and other accessories as well, laughing: “Miss has natural beauty, and besides, everyone pursues different things. Why do you think Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss act that way? Women adorn themselves for those who appreciate them—isn’t it all for their own future? Our miss is different.”
“That’s right, I don’t have anyone I’m fond of, and I don’t care about these things.” Qin Yining deeply agreed.
Bingtang smiled: “Not so! When I say our miss is different, that’s not what I mean. Setting aside that our miss has natural good looks and doesn’t need to worry about such things, even if our miss were plain as a willow, doesn’t Young Prince Pang have wholehearted devotion to you?”
Qin Yining’s face immediately flushed red, and she glared at Bingtang: “You’re too wicked.”
Bingtang laughed heartily.
Just then Er’Bai wiggled his little bottom and hopped over to Qin Yining’s feet. Seeing Er’Bai’s adorable little appearance, Qin Yining’s heart melted, and she picked him up to place on her lap, lovingly stroking his head.
Bingtang covered her mouth and laughed: “Young Prince Pang is also thoughtful, leaving Er’Bai with you—doesn’t seeing Er’Bai make you think of him? At the very least, this counts as a love token, doesn’t it?” She pointed at the plum blossom cord around Er’Bai’s neck.
Er’Bai seemed to understand Bingtang’s words and twisted about on Qin Yining’s lap, finding a comfortable position to sit, placing his two little paws on Qin Yining’s hands and gazing steadily at her with his bright black eyes blinking.
“Don’t talk nonsense. He and I haven’t exchanged any vows, much less love tokens.”
Qin Yining scolded with a smile, looking down at Er’Bai with affection. The snow-white little rabbit had a circle of black fur around his left eye, as if someone had punched him—truly both adorable and comical.
Qin Yining couldn’t help but giggle and picked up the palm-sized little creature.
“Miss, are you still going to hold Er’Bai? You should go pay respects to the Old Madam now. If we’re late, those at Xueli Garden will have something to say again.”
Song Lan finished organizing the wardrobe and took a light blue thin cloak to drape over Qin Yining, pulling her smooth long hair out from the collar.
Qin Yining had to hand Er’Bai over to Qiu Lu beside her, saying: “Alright, let’s go pay respects to the Old Madam first. Later we should also think of ways to improve Er’Bai’s condition—how is it that after raising him for over a month, he hasn’t grown a bit?”
“Perhaps he’s just the type that doesn’t grow big.” Bingtang laughed as she helped Qin Yining up, and together with Song Lan, they attended her on either side as they left, heading all the way to Cixiao Garden.
In Cixiao Garden during spring, green-leafed potted plants that had been moved out from the greenhouse were already placed under the corridors. The white porcelain with blue patterns flower pots and green leaves lent some gentle vitality to what had originally seemed a somewhat cold and hard courtyard.
They quickly walked along the bluestone brick path and up the steps, where maids lifted the door curtain and reported inside.
Qin Yining removed her cloak in the outer room and handed it to Bingtang, already hearing the lively laughter and chatter from the inner room.
Qin Yining smiled and asked Ji Xiang: “Is the Old Madam happy today? Did she enjoy her morning meal?”
Ji Xiang smiled and replied: “The Old Madam is indeed delighted! Her Majesty the Empress has been granted Changchun Garden and has invited many noble ladies from distinguished families to tour the garden together for a spring outing. Our family also received an invitation, and the Old Madam is inside discussing whom to bring along.”
Qin Yining nodded, thinking to herself that what the little maid had heard was indeed incomplete. She walked around the screen into the inner room and paid her respects to the Old Madam.
The Old Madam still resented Qin Yining for taking Sun Shi to live outside, but having seen Qin Huaiyuan’s attitude, she couldn’t continue making a fuss. Moreover, there was still the matter of the snuff bottle—the Old Madam’s heart had been hanging by a thread, fearing that someday the truth would be exposed.
Therefore, even though she was angry with Qin Yining and felt she was turning her elbow outward, she had restrained herself somewhat.
“Yi’er has arrived, we were just talking about you.” The Old Madam smiled: “Her Majesty the Empress is celebrating the peace of Great Yan by inviting noble ladies to tour Changchun Garden together—this is a tremendous honor. Our family has three people with imperial honors, and each person may bring companions. Naturally you can go with your mother.”
Qin Yining smiled and nodded: “Your granddaughter has never seen such grand occasions. But I wonder where this Changchun Garden is located?”
Qin Huining laughed, respectfully placing the freshly served pastries beside Cao Yuqing, saying with slight pride: “You don’t even know about Changchun Garden? Changchun Garden is an estate in Changchun Mountain, forty li south of the capital. Because there are hot springs in the mountain, and it’s surrounded by mountains on all sides where cold winds can’t penetrate, Changchun Garden is warm all year round. It’s said that even in winter you can see flowers blooming there.”
Speaking of this, Qin Huining couldn’t help but sigh in admiration: “His Majesty truly dotes on Her Majesty the Empress!”
The Old Madam immediately nodded, looking at Cao Yuqing with a smile: “Her Majesty the Empress naturally enjoys abundant imperial favor. Tomorrow when we go out for the spring outing in the garden, Yuqing should come with me as well.”
Cao Yuqing quickly put down the half-eaten pastry in her hand and gracefully rose to curtsy to the Old Madam: “Thank you, Old Madam.”
“Oh my, good child, why be so formal with me?” The Old Madam took the opportunity to pull Cao Yuqing to sit close beside her.
Seeing this, Qin Huining couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows proudly at Qin Yining.
Qin Yining meanwhile stood quietly beside Sun Shi, who was sitting silently on an embroidered stool without saying a word, consolingly patting Sun Shi’s shoulder.
The Old Madam then said: “I’ll give you time to go back and prepare properly. Yuqing will naturally come with me. First daughter-in-law, second daughter-in-law, you should both go back and discuss whom to bring. This trip to Changchun Garden will include ladies from all the prominent families in the capital, so you must be careful.”
Being careful naturally referred to marriage matters for their children.
Even though it was a ladies’ outing, being able to observe future mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law in advance would be beneficial.
Seeing the young ladies’ faces full of anticipation and undercurrents surging between Second Aunt and Third Aunt, everyone present became lively with excitement. Qin Yining couldn’t help but sigh—truly, spring had arrived!
Author’s Note: Late update orz, the home internet suddenly stopped working, spent ages trying to fix it with no success, finally had to use phone data as a hotspot to upload TAT