The sisters returned to the outer room, and the Old Matriarch smiled, saying: “The time is about right today. You should all go to Xingning Garden to learn proper etiquette, shouldn’t you?”

“Yes.” The young ladies all nodded in unison.

Sun Shi said: “Old Matriarch, today we’ll continue with regular studies as usual. Tomorrow morning I need to take Yi Jie’er back to Duke Dingguo’s mansion for a visit. At that time, Nanny Zhan can continue leading the other young ladies in their studies at Xingning Garden as usual.”

The Old Matriarch smiled and nodded, as if she hadn’t heard anything amiss in Sun Shi’s words.

Qin Huining, who had been staring blankly from the side, finally couldn’t hold back. She tugged at Sun Shi’s sleeve timidly and said: “Mother, aren’t you taking your daughter? I also miss grandfather and grandmother a bit.”

Actually, Sun Shi had been somewhat hesitant originally.

Just now when Sun Yu came, he said that Duke Dingguo’s wife wanted to meet the precious daughter that Qin Huaiyuan had just found, but he hadn’t mentioned wanting to see the adopted daughter. However, upon further thought, they said they wanted to see their granddaughter, but didn’t specify which one. She might as well play dumb and bring Qin Huining along too.

“Of course I’m taking you.” Sun Shi gently smoothed Qin Huining’s hair at her temples: “Tomorrow morning we’ll go.”

Qin Huining linked arms with Sun Shi and laughed coquettishly.

Sixth Miss nearby said enviously: “Elder Aunt, if there’s a chance in the future, please take your nieces to visit your family home too. I heard that Duke Dingguo’s mansion has gardens even larger than ours, and the scenery is even more beautiful.”

Upon hearing this, Second Madam’s expression became rather unpleasant. She glared at Sixth Miss, but Sixth Miss didn’t act as obediently as usual. Instead, her face was flushed and her eyes bright as she looked at Sun Shi.

Sun Shi felt elated by Sixth Miss’s words and nodded: “In the future when there’s an opportunity, I’ll definitely take you all.”

“Yes, thank you Elder Aunt.” Sixth Miss smiled sweetly.

Seeing this, the Old Matriarch didn’t think much of it, simply taking it as children being playful and innocent.

“Among family relatives, frequent visits are good. This time it’s because Yi Jie’er just returned home, and I imagine she’ll have things to say when she meets her maternal grandfather and grandmother. Next time you can all go, everyone will have a chance.”

The young ladies all curtsied and agreed.

Qin Yining still spent this day very fulfillingly. However, perhaps because she was going to Duke Dingguo’s mansion tomorrow, Qin Huining seemed absent-minded during her studies. Nanny Zhan had to repeat the etiquette and postures several times before Qin Huining could remember them, so Nanny Zhan simply couldn’t be bothered to say more.

Moreover, Qin Yining noticed that Qin Huining kept looking at her with even more venomous eyes, as if she had some mortal enmity with her.

In the afternoon, she went as usual to the study in the outer courtyard to listen to the teacher’s lectures from behind a screen. By the time she returned to Xueli Courtyard in the evening, it was already dark.

Thinking about having to meet Duke Dingguo’s wife tomorrow, and not knowing what kind of temperament she had, Qin Yining felt somewhat apprehensive. She instructed Rui Lan to prepare what she would wear tomorrow, and also asked Nanny Zhan to help look it over. Only after confirming that the coordination was appropriate did she rest.

However, lying in her canopy bed, she still carefully recalled in her mind the Nanny Bao who had come that day.

They say “birds of a feather flock together, and people of similar character group together.” Nanny Bao was a capable person beside Duke Dingguo’s wife, so naturally she would carry some of Duke Dingguo’s wife’s bearing, and her speech and actions would be somewhat assimilated with her master’s.

After carefully thinking through all the possible difficulties that might arise and mentally preparing countermeasures, Qin Yining finally fell asleep with complete peace of mind.

Nothing eventful happened that night.

The next day, after paying respects to the Old Matriarch, Qin Yining returned to Xueli Courtyard to wash and dress.

She selected a water-pink plain satin wide-sleeved brocade jacket, paired with a goose-yellow eight-panel skirt, and topped with that crimson white rabbit fur-collared cloak. The entire ensemble of fresh colors made Qin Yining both retain the delicate charm of a young lady while not losing the brightness of a maiden. From the fabric and workmanship, it also wouldn’t diminish the grandeur befitting a daughter of a prominent family.

As for hair ornaments, Qin Yining chose from the jade green hair accessory set that Third Madam had given her – a pair of small, delicate lilac hairpins and a crabapple blossom hair ornament.

Qin Yining’s hair was raven-black. The cloud-styled hair bun paired with the crabapple blossom ornament made her hair appear lustrous black and the hairpin exquisite and precious.

“Nanny, at my age I don’t need rouge and powder, do I?” Qin Yining looked at the various bottles and jars on the vanity table, their fragrances wafting up and making her feel somewhat overwhelmed.

Nanny Zhan smiled as she tidied the loose strands at Qin Yining’s temples, saying: “Miss, you look perfect just like this. You’re naturally beautiful, and young ladies like yourself don’t need those goose-yellow powders and slate cosmetics. However, since it’s cold outside, you should just apply a light layer of jasmine fragrant balm to your face to prevent your skin from being chapped by the wind.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded: “I’ll listen to Nanny completely.”

For the trip to Duke Dingguo’s mansion, Qin Yining only brought Rui Lan with her. She could have brought a nanny as well, but after observation, Qin Yining found that Nanny Zhu was a simple-minded, silent old good person who simply couldn’t take charge, and Nanny Zhan wasn’t her personal servant, so she gave up on the idea.

For the outing, Rui Lan had also changed into an emerald green jacket today, topped with a bright red fur-collared long vest. Despite wearing such bright red and green, with her youth and composure, she looked quite pleasing.

“Miss, the sedan chair is ready. The First Madam said the carriage is stopped outside the second gate. We’ll exit through the west side gate, so we should first go to the second gate to change to the carriage.”

Qin Yining got into the sedan chair, holding an exquisite hand warmer in her hands. Rui Lan followed alongside the chair. Soon they exited the second gate.

They changed to a small oil-walled carriage for transportation, and after a while more, they reached the west side gate.

A long procession of vehicles was already stopped in front of the west side gate.

The Prime Minister’s wife was returning to her maiden home, and this time she was openly bringing her daughter along, so naturally it couldn’t be like last time when she left with just one carriage. This time, just for the masters’ use, they had prepared two canopy-topped tasseled carriages, followed by flat-topped small carriages for the respected elderly nannies, and behind those were two carriages carrying gifts. Including the accompanying servants, maids, and guards, there were at least several dozen people in total.

Qin Yining stepped on the red lacquered stepping stool and boarded the first carriage. When she lifted the curtain, she saw Sun Shi and Qin Huining already sitting intimately together on the main seat, while Nanny Jin sat on the lower side. Seeing Qin Yining enter, she quickly paid her respects and greeted her.

Qin Yining returned the courtesy and paid respects to Sun Shi.

Today Sun Shi wore deep and light shades of purple, with an exceptionally luxurious silk tapestry cloak draped over her shoulders. Her exquisitely made-up face showed almost no traces of time’s passage, only her dignified beauty could be seen.

Qin Huining’s dress was bright but unexpectedly so to Qin Yining.

Qin Yining sat across from Nanny Jin and began to openly observe Qin Huining.

An azure silk tapestry cloak, a cloud brocade water-blue jacket – all the colors were quite elegant, but she had put effort into her makeup. Her willow eyebrows were slightly raised, rouge and powder applied just right, especially those rose petal-like red lips that echoed with the red jade beads on her earrings, brightening her entire complexion by several degrees.

Dressed like this, she indeed looked beautiful, surpassing her original dignity to show some freshly emerging glamour.

Perhaps feeling uncomfortable under Qin Yining’s scrutiny, Qin Huining frowned slightly and said: “What is Little Xi looking at?” Her red lips parted lightly, revealing pearly white teeth.

Qin Yining smiled: “Huining looks extremely beautiful dressed like this, so I couldn’t help but stare.”

“I can’t compare to Little Xi’s natural beauty.” The sourness in her words was barely concealed.

She had already made every effort not to lose to Qin Yining in appearance, because she thought that since this was the first time going to Duke Dingguo’s mansion, Qin Yining would certainly dress up carefully.

Who would have expected that Qin Yining would wear no rouge or powder, and barely any jewelry?!

Most hateful was that the charm and brightness in Qin Yining’s appearance were natural – even without rouge and powder, they couldn’t be concealed.

Originally Qin Huining had felt somewhat proud, but now sitting across from Qin Yining, she felt her pride crumbling into pieces.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Nanny Jin coughed lightly, glanced at Sun Shi who was half-closing her eyes in pretense of rest, then smiled and said: “Fourth Miss, this is your first time going to Duke Dingguo’s mansion. Would you like this old servant to introduce you to Duke Dingguo’s mansion?” Her attitude was very respectful, no longer showing the impatience from their first meeting.

Qin Yining knew these people were accustomed to fawning over the high and stepping on the low. She wasn’t annoyed in her heart, but rather smiled gratefully: “Thank you, Nanny Jin. I was just hoping to ask for your guidance.”

Nanny Jin then began explaining to Qin Yining in low tones.

Although Duke Dingguo’s mansion held noble rank, it was a family that had passed down scholarly traditions. The household rules were extremely strict. Despite their high position and great power, among the children in the family, especially within the three generations under the current Duke Dingguo and his wife’s management and control, whether from the main family or branch families, none had ever committed any evil acts of bullying men or dominating women.

Moreover, what Qin Yining found most remarkable and admirable was that the sisters in Duke Dingguo’s mansion were all very united. Any scheming, plotting, or framing would result in severe punishment if caught by Duke Dingguo’s wife.

“Duke Dingguo’s wife says that if a family cannot unite, how can they resist external invasion? A flower may look good from the outside, but if its roots are rotten, it won’t live long either.” Nanny Jin spoke with pride.

Qin Yining deeply agreed.

By comparison, it made the Prime Minister’s mansion seem rather sordid…

Duke Dingguo’s main family had only two branches. Sun Shi was the eldest legitimate daughter, but ranked third in the clan, with two elder brothers above her who both doted on Sun Shi extremely.

“Miss’s eldest and second maternal uncles are both military generals fighting against Great Zhou. They should both not be in the mansion currently. However, both aunts by marriage are there. Among the clan sisters there are six, and five young masters. The eldest is the First Master who came to deliver the invitation yesterday…”

Nanny Jin explained Duke Dingguo’s mansion’s atmosphere, then talked about the people in Duke Dingguo’s main family. Qin Yining carefully noted everything down.

By the time their carriage reached Duke Dingguo’s mansion, Qin Yining had already understood the composition and atmosphere of Duke Dingguo’s mansion completely.

“Is it our Young Mistress returning!” came the joyful voice of a doorkeeper from outside the carriage, followed by someone running into the mansion to announce: “Quickly go tell the Old Madam that the First Young Mistress and the young miss have returned!”

The curtain was lifted, servants arranged the red lacquered wooden stepping stools, Nanny Jin jumped down first to assist Sun Shi from the carriage, while Nanny Cai and Bi Tong supported Qin Huining, and Rui Lan helped Qin Yining.

Ascending the steps, entering the side gate, the group had just passed the ceremonial gate when they saw two noble ladies leading a crowd of young ladies in a grand procession coming out to greet them.

“I said we should wait a bit before coming out, but your second sister-in-law insisted on coming out early to wait, saying you would arrive soon. Now we’re all so cold,” said the older woman, grasping Sun Shi’s hand intimately: “Oh my, your hands are so warm.”