“Sister-in-law’s hands are so stiff from the cold, why didn’t you bring a hand warmer when you came out?” Sun Shi’s tone was light and cheerful, her eyes and brows containing smiles. She stuffed her own brass carved hand warmer into First Madam Yan Shi’s hands, then went to hold Second Madam Kong Shi’s hands and rubbed them, using her own warm hands to help warm hers.
Both sisters-in-law were somewhat older than Sun Shi. Duke Dingguo’s mansion had strict family traditions, and both brothers doted on Sun Shi extremely. Before Sun Shi married out, she had never even had a single argument with her two sisters-in-law. The relationship between the sisters-in-law was even closer than with those several concubine-born sisters. Seeing her now, they were naturally intimate.
Seeing her like this, the girls all began to laugh.
A fourteen or fifteen-year-old young lady wearing an azure-colored grey rabbit fur-collared cloak laughed and said: “Aunt, don’t believe First Mother’s words. She talks as if she wasn’t anxious at all. Just now at Grandmother’s place, we only sat for a short while, but First Mother looked at the clock three or four times. It was my mother who said ‘Elder Sister-in-law is so anxious, staying cooped up inside is unbearable. Why don’t we all come out together to welcome them, perhaps we’ll receive them right away,’ and only then did we come out.”
The young lady’s voice was clear and cheerful, causing everyone to laugh again.
Qin Yining stood quietly to the side, watching, as if she could feel this family’s welcoming affection toward them.
Another young lady wearing a crimson cloak like Qin Yining had been blinking her round, bright eyes and watching her for quite some time.
As if she really couldn’t contain her curiosity, she moved close to Qin Yining like a small animal, her voice somewhat timid. She curtsied and said: “Hello, elder sister. I’m Sun Ling. Are you Elder Sister Yining?”
Qin Yining quickly returned the courtesy. “Hello, Sister Ling. I’m Yining.”
Hearing this, Sun Shi turned around and smiled: “Look at me, seeing my sisters-in-law, I only cared about talking and forgot to make introductions. Yi Jie’er, why don’t you come greet your First Maternal Aunt, Second Maternal Aunt, and your female cousins?”
Qin Yining smiled at Sun Ling, then following the etiquette that Nanny Zhan had taught her these days, she paid respects to First Madam and Second Madam.
“First Maternal Aunt, Second Maternal Aunt, may you be well.”
“Oh my!” Second Maternal Aunt Kong Shi took hold of Qin Yining’s hands and examined her carefully, clicking her tongue: “She really is a jade beauty carved from water. Everyone says that your Seventh Female Cousin in our Duke’s mansion is born beautiful, but compared to this, wouldn’t she be outshone!”
“Second Maternal Aunt flatters me. It’s just that Mother cherishes me and is willing to dress me up nicely.” Qin Yining smiled with downcast eyes, her voice soft and gentle, appearing very well-behaved and pleasing.
Sun Shi felt very satisfied hearing this, so she took Qin Yining’s hand and patted it, presenting a picture of maternal kindness and filial piety, showing none of her previous coldness.
Qin Huining, who had been neglected for a long time, watched coldly as Sun Shi led Qin Yining to exchange pleasantries with the two maternal aunts. Her heart felt as if someone had poured a ladle of hot oil on it. It took her quite a while to adjust her resentful and angry mood.
“First Maternal Aunt, Second Maternal Aunt, may you be well.” Qin Huining also paid her respects.
First Maternal Aunt seemed to only notice her now, looking up and down at her plain dress and particularly bright makeup, nodding with what seemed like a smile but saying nothing more.
Second Maternal Aunt looked up and down at Qin Huining’s dress and appearance, smiling as she said: “Hui Jie’er is growing more and more beautiful.”
Qin Huining was secretly pleased and said dignifiedly: “Second Maternal Aunt, please don’t tease me. With Seventh Female Cousin and Little Xi by my side like pearls and jade, wouldn’t all of us be compared to mud pigs and mangy dogs?” She covered her mouth and laughed as she spoke.
Although these words seemed modest, if any of the other sisters harbored jealousy, wouldn’t it be stirred up now?
First Maternal Aunt and Second Maternal Aunt exchanged glances but said nothing more.
The sisters nearby, however, didn’t seem as easily provoked as the young ladies of the Prime Minister’s mansion. They all lowered their eyes and pretended not to hear.
Qin Yining found it amusing in her heart. Knowing what kind of family traditions Duke Dingguo’s mansion had, Qin Huining still acted this way – truly not knowing what she was thinking.
Qin Huining, with the intention of showing sisterly harmony, linked arms with Qin Yining and smiled: “Little Xi, let me introduce you.”
Pointing to a young lady standing beside Second Maternal Aunt, wearing a tender pink white rabbit fur-collared cloak, she said: “This is Seventh Female Cousin. She’s three years older than us and has already been betrothed to the son of Grand Scholar Lü’s family. She’ll be married soon.”
“Hello, Seventh Female Cousin.” Qin Yining ignored how Qin Huining addressed her and smiled as she paid respects to Miss Sun the Seventh.
Seventh Female Cousin returned the courtesy: “Hello, Yining.”
Qin Huining then introduced the one who had just worn the azure cloak, the light blue cloak, and the one in red who had actively spoken to Qin Yining, saying in turn: “This is Ninth Female Cousin, Tenth Female Cousin, and Eleventh Female Cousin. Tenth Female Cousin and Eleventh Female Cousin are both fourteen this year too.”
Qin Yining paid respects to each in turn, and Ninth Female Cousin, Tenth Female Cousin, and Eleventh Female Cousin all returned the courtesies.
Eleventh Miss laughed and tugged at Qin Yining’s cloak, then looked at her own, smiling: “Female Cousin’s clothing fabric is the same as mine, which shows we’re destined to be connected.” She then turned her head, looking at Qin Huining with cat-like pupils, curiously tilting her head and asking: “Could it be that Huining Female Cousin doesn’t know Yining Female Cousin’s name? Why does she always call her ‘Little Xi,’ ‘Little Xi’?”
Hearing this, Qin Huining’s smile froze on her face. She silently cursed that Eleventh Miss was just a concubine-born daughter of the main branch, yet dared to embarrass her in public.
Sun Shi had been chatting idly with First Maternal Aunt and Second Maternal Aunt, but hearing the commotion here, she also became somewhat displeased.
Her maiden family’s atmosphere was different from her in-laws’ family. Although marrying Prime Minister Qin was a glorious good thing, the customs of her in-laws’ family had always been a source of heartache for her. Sometimes she felt there was nothing wrong with how her in-laws’ family conducted themselves, but she knew her maiden family indeed looked down on such behavior. Yet Qin Huining insisted on bringing out that set of practices from the Prime Minister’s mansion.
Previously at the Prime Minister’s mansion, Sun Shi hadn’t felt there was anything improper about Qin Huining calling Qin Yining “Little Xi.” But now, standing on the grounds of Duke Dingguo’s mansion, she felt angry.
However, she couldn’t directly scold Qin Huining in public.
Just then, Qin Yining smiled and linked arms with Qin Huining, gently explaining: “Eleventh Female Cousin doesn’t know – I was previously lost and wandering outside, and once received help from my adoptive mother. My adoptive mother found me by a stream, so she gave me a pet name called Little Xi. Huining is a person who knows how to repay kindness, which I greatly admire. We once privately agreed that she would often call me Little Xi, which could also constantly remind me not to forget my adoptive mother’s eight years of nurturing grace.”
Eleventh Female Cousin was deeply moved after hearing this, nodding with misty eyes: “Elder Sister Yining suffered outside.”
The other female cousins also gathered around. Although curious about Qin Yining’s experiences outside, they were moved by her words and felt their hearts soften.
No one remembered Qin Huining’s earlier attempt to sow discord.
Seeing this, Sun Shi breathed a sigh of relief, feeling particularly comforted by Qin Yining’s sensible behavior.
First Maternal Aunt raised an eyebrow, her perceptive eyes examining Qin Yining again, and smiled warmly.
Second Maternal Aunt then took Sun Shi’s hand and smiled: “Let’s go to Chunxi Hall first and continue our conversation there. Mother should be getting anxious waiting by now.”
Sun Shi quickly nodded: “Exactly. If we stand here much longer and Elder Sister catches cold or gets wind chill, when Elder Brother finds out, won’t he be angry with me?”
“You little monkey! You’re always making baseless accusations about me! The children are all here and you’re talking such nonsense!” First Maternal Aunt laughingly scolded.
The young ladies and servants also laughed seeing this.
Infected by the joyful atmosphere, Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile too. The group happily entered through the hanging flower gate.
Duke Dingguo’s mansion was a large estate with five rooms across the front and seven courtyards deep. It was said this estate was a royal mansion from the previous dynasty, later bestowed by the emperor because the Sun family ancestors had outstanding military achievements.
Although it was winter and all things were withered, the exquisite garden design in the mansion still dazzled Qin Yining. She couldn’t help but walk while imagining how beautiful the scenery here would be when summer came.
Seeing that Qin Yining liked it, the female cousins all surrounded her, each contributing descriptions with enthusiasm like welcoming honored guests, without the slightest hint of arrogance.
At this time, Qin Huining followed beside them, as if she had become a mere accompaniment. The smile on her face was about to stiffen, yet she still had to maintain her composure. It was only because Nanny Cai and Bi Tong beside her supported her and spoke with her in low voices to relieve her boredom that her depressed mood was somewhat alleviated.
All the way to Chunxi Hall where Duke Dingguo’s wife lived, from far away there were maids and old women coming out to greet them, and servant girls went in to report.
Just as Qin Yining stepped over the threshold of Chunxi Hall, she saw the sapphire bamboo brocade warm curtain of the main room being lifted. A plump woman over sixty years old, wearing a dark purple wide-sleeved plain embroidered jacket and a purple fox fur warm hat, walked out first, followed by a stream of maids and old women who accompanied her down the steps.
This woman was tall in stature, with nascent wrinkles on her face and a faint crease between her brows, making her appear somewhat stern. But Qin Yining knew that such people usually frowned frequently, which showed that this woman worried about many things daily. Her slender eyebrows and those eyes full of loving kindness held warmth, and when she walked, her bearing was dignified with her back straight, appearing to be a very shrewd lady.
Almost at first glance, Qin Yining could confirm that this was Duke Dingguo’s wife, her maternal grandmother. Seeing Nanny Bao following beside her made her even more certain that her guess was correct.
While Qin Yining was observing Duke Dingguo’s wife, Duke Dingguo’s wife was also observing her.
Among all the young ladies, although Qin Yining wore the same crimson cloak as Eleventh Female Cousin; although she wore no rouge or powder, unlike Qin Huining whose bright red lips were quite eye-catching; although Qin Yining was not as tall as Ninth Female Cousin.
Duke Dingguo’s wife still spotted her at first glance.
Not because she had an unfamiliar face, nor because of her beauty that could outshine all others, but because of the aura she carried – half-concealed sharpness yet gentle and restrained.
Looking at her bright eyes and brows, one could tell she was exceptionally intelligent. Looking at her posture, one could tell her propriety and moral character. She was like a sheathed precious sword – when she wanted to show her sharpness, she could be brilliant; when she wanted to be gentle and refined, she could also be gentle and refined.
Duke Dingguo’s wife was such a wise woman who had seen all manner of people – what kind of beautiful appearance hadn’t she seen?
She had long since stopped focusing on looks when judging people at first sight.
Seeing such a Qin Yining, her heart was very pleased. Moreover, unlike Sun Shi who doubted Qin Yining’s identity, she could be certain that this girl must have been born by Sun Shi.
How could Duke Dingguo’s wife not be delighted that her own granddaughter was so excellent?
“This must be Yi Jie’er! Come quickly to your maternal grandmother!” Duke Dingguo’s wife stretched out both hands and stepped forward quickly to greet her.