The outer courtyard was currently bustling with activity, with the faint sounds of opera singing drifting over. Servants hurried past near the pathways and artificial rockery.

Fearing she might offend Qin Huaiyuan’s distinguished guests, Qin Yining quickly took a secluded path through the moon gate, turned a corner, and arrived at the place Liu Ya had mentioned.

This area was also used for receiving guests in the outer courtyard, but it was cramped and out of the way—clearly meant for meeting people of lower status.

Entering the small courtyard, Qin Yining saw a tall, thin man standing with his back to her. The snow-white fox fur collared cloak he wore looked very familiar. A thirteen or fourteen-year-old servant boy beside him had already spotted her and hurried to bow.

When the man turned around, it was indeed the young man Qin Yining had seen at Prince Ning’s mansion.

She was somewhat surprised.

By her guess, this should be Prince Ning’s son who had once been adopted by the Emperor as a prince.

She hadn’t expected that Prince Ning would send him personally to deliver the painting and message.

Given his noble status, how could he be inconvenienced to wait in this remote little courtyard?

“So it’s Your Lordship,” Qin Yining curtsied: “The servants were presumptuous to have Your Lordship wait here. I’ll immediately have them prepare the main hall.”

The young man laughed softly upon hearing this. His brow, habitually creased into a川-shaped furrow, relaxed somewhat. His eyes looked brightly at Qin Yining, his voice gentle.

“Miss needn’t mind. I asked them to bring me to a secluded place. After all, my occasion is in three days. Today the Grand Tutor is hosting guests, and there are too many acquaintances—it wouldn’t be good if they saw me coming today.”

What did he mean by “my occasion is in three days”?

Qin Yining recalled that the Grand Dowager had just mentioned that the Crown Prince’s personal visit to pay respects to his teacher would be in three days.

Qin Yining was startled and knelt to perform a grand bow: “So you are His Highness the Crown Prince. This humble woman was rude and presumptuous. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

Upon hearing this was actually the Crown Prince, Qiu Lu was so frightened her hands went cold, and she fell to her knees with a thud.

“When we first met, neither of us paid attention to status. Why are you nervous now? My given name is Yuchi Yan, courtesy name Qingyan. Just think of me as a friend you’ve met, or as your father’s student.” Yuchi Yan gestured as if to help her up.

“This subject’s daughter dares not.” Qin Yining stood up and stepped back two paces politely: “I mistook Your Highness’s identity before. If there was any disrespect in my words, please forgive me, Your Highness.”

“Oh? Who did you guess I was?” Yuchi Yan’s focus was clearly different from what Qin Yining had said.

Qin Yining lowered her head: “I thought you were the one Prince Ning had adopted out.”

Yuchi Yan laughed softly: “Why did you think I was him? We don’t look alike at all, and he’s older than me.”

Qin Yining respectfully replied: “I guessed from your behavior, how you addressed Prince Ning, and your conduct at Prince Ning’s mansion. I never imagined you were His Highness the Crown Prince. I even spoke nonsense about your painting—I’m truly ashamed.”

“No, what you said that day was very helpful to me. It was like a awakening, making me understand that a good painting isn’t about technical skill, but truly understanding this world and depicting things in their most authentic form—that’s what gives a painting soul.” Speaking of painting, Yuchi Yan became eloquent, his eyes lighting up: “If I weren’t the Crown Prince, I’d really like to travel everywhere and see this vast land with my own eyes. Surely then I could paint works with soul.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining lowered her eyes, hiding the emotions within them.

It seemed His Highness the Crown Prince was indeed devoted to calligraphy and painting.

But as the Crown Prince and heir to the throne, with Great Yan in such turbulent times, was it appropriate for him to have such leisure?

“Your Highness, why did you send me that Eight Steeds painting?” Qin Yining steered the conversation back on track.

Yuchi Yan came back to his senses and smiled: “Oh, that painting was inappropriate hanging in Prince Ning’s mansion. Giving it to you to hang is harmless. Besides, as thanks for making this affair successful.”

Qin Yining understood immediately.

In that painting, the lead horse wasn’t leading, which could be interpreted several ways.

It could suggest the Emperor sits in the primary position but doesn’t handle proper business.

It could also be interpreted as the “lead horse” that should be leading being relegated to the rear.

Hanging such a painting in the home of someone qualified to inherit the throne would allow ill-intentioned people to claim Prince Ning had mocking intentions toward the Son of Heaven, or even suggest treasonous thoughts. But hanging it in a young lady’s room wouldn’t make anyone think twice.

As for the thanks for success, it was probably about Prince Ning’s successful impeachment causing Grand Tutor Cao to lose his position.

But Qin Yining still didn’t want this painting.

“A gift from the Crown Prince shouldn’t normally be refused. But given the difference between men and women, please take back this painting, Your Highness.” She told Qiu Lu to fetch the painting.

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Yan frowned, and his attendant immediately moved to stop Qiu Lu.

“Why must you be so distant with me? Even if you did nothing, your father is already Grand Tutor, bound to the Eastern Palace. Perhaps even your future will be bound to the Eastern Palace. What’s the point of refusing now?”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining’s heart shook, and she looked up at Yuchi Yan uncertainly.

Yuchi Yan was gazing intently at her, his eyes full of meaning, and the Crown Prince’s fair skin was slowly turning red, even his neck near the snow-white fox fur collar had reddened.

Meeting Qin Yining’s clear, water-like gaze, Yuchi Yan couldn’t maintain it for more than two breaths before his face grew hot and his heart raced. He looked away, coughed twice to cover his embarrassment, then said: “Just keep that painting. If you don’t want it, burn it. I have other matters to attend to and won’t delay you further. Farewell.”

With those words, he actually turned and left.

Watching his hurried departure with his entourage, Qin Yining thought of one phrase—”fleeing in panic.”

Her thoughts grew heavy.

The Crown Prince’s words had been quite clear. Could her future really be bound to the Eastern Palace as everyone speculated?

From the Crown Prince’s manner, he seemed to have such intentions.

And now, as the Grand Tutor’s daughter, her status and position were sufficient.

But for some reason, Qin Yining felt no joy at the prospect of great wealth and honor, or perhaps one day becoming Empress.

This kind of life wasn’t what she wanted.

She just wanted her family to live peacefully together, leading simple, ordinary lives—not seeking great wealth but only stability and security.

Being the Crown Prince’s woman, being the Emperor’s woman—neither would bring stability.

But if such a thing really happened, could she refuse?

Now that her father had become Grand Tutor, it meant he had already chosen sides and was no longer neutral. To consolidate his position, marriage alliance was the best method. If father truly wanted to form a marriage alliance with the imperial family, she was the only candidate to marry the Crown Prince.

As a daughter of the Qin family, she couldn’t refuse such an arrangement. Moreover, in others’ eyes, such a future was supreme honor that countless people would envy.

All the way back to Xueli Courtyard, Qin Yining remained silent.

Having witnessed the earlier scene, Qiu Lu’s face was still red, but seeing Qin Yining’s silence, she didn’t dare speak much either.

Looking at that painting again in her room, Qin Yining suddenly felt irritated.

“Put this painting away properly.”

“Yes.” Just as Qiu Lu was about to reach for it, a little maid’s voice came from outside: “Miss Huining and Sixth Miss are here.”

Before the words had finished and before Qin Yining could respond, the door curtain lifted and Qin Huining and Sixth Miss Qin Shuangning entered arm in arm, each followed by their senior maids.

“Having nothing to do, we came to sit with Fourth Sister. Fourth Sister won’t mind, will you?” Sixth Miss said while already seating herself at the Eight Immortals table.

Qin Huining also sat down gracefully.

Qin Yining raised an eyebrow: “Naturally I don’t mind, though I’m curious why Sixth Sister and Miss Huining, who clearly dislike me, would come here to make themselves uncomfortable. Qiu Lu, put away the painting. Liu Ya, serve tea.”

Sixth Miss and Qin Huining hadn’t expected Qin Yining to forgo even surface politeness and speak so directly. Both their faces stiffened momentarily.

Qiu Lu and Liu Ya went to carry out the instructions.

But Sixth Miss saw Qiu Lu holding the Eight Steeds painting about to roll it up, so she stepped forward and snatched it away, saying: “I didn’t expect you’d have paintings here. Do you appreciate such things?”

Unrolling the painting, the signature “Qingyan Hermit” came into view.

Seeing it, Sixth Miss burst out laughing, threw the painting on the ground, and laughed breathlessly: “We call you a savage and you still won’t admit it. A fake painting and you treasure it so much, having someone put it away carefully.”

Qin Huining looked down and also saw the painting’s signature. Her heart jumped—this was a painting by the Crown Prince?

Qiu Lu hurriedly gathered up the painting, afraid Sixth Miss might maliciously step on it.

Qin Yining was already angry: “I naturally don’t understand these things, but I grew up in the countryside. Could it be Sixth Sister also grew up in the mountains? Don’t you know what politeness means? Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister are clearly born of the same mother—how can their temperaments differ so greatly? It seems those raised by the legitimate mother are indeed more refined and proper. These principles truly don’t deceive.”

Sixth Miss’s laughter stopped abruptly. She sneered: “Don’t get too proud! It’s just a fake painting. His Highness the Crown Prince never gives his paintings away lightly. You’re just a young lady—don’t treat a chicken feather like an imperial arrow!”

“What do I have to be proud of? Everything I possess is rightfully mine. Why should I be proud?” Qin Yining automatically ignored the latter part of her words.

But listening to this, Qin Huining’s heart rang with alarm bells: Could that painting really be from the Crown Prince? How had Qin Yining gotten involved with the Crown Prince? Would Qin Yining really become Crown Princess in the future?

Qin Huining felt unwilling, her expression becoming strained, her smile stiff, her eyes venomous as she said:

“Looking at Little Xi’s room now missing two senior maids, it’s become quite improper. How is it there isn’t even a cup of hot tea for us?”

“Missing people—isn’t that because the upper beam is crooked and the lower beam follows? Wild sluts raising thieves who even steal from the Grand Dowager!” Sixth Miss actually laughed loudly: “You can only show off with a fake painting.”

Qin Yining clenched her fists.

What to do? She wanted to hit someone again!

Just then, a commotion of footsteps suddenly came from the courtyard. Qin Yining got up to look and saw two beautiful maids aged fifteen or sixteen leading a group of sturdy women into the courtyard.

Seeing Qin Yining standing in the corridor, the two maids performed deep bows.

“Servants Yao Qin (Yu Qi) pay respects to Fourth Miss. The Grand Tutor is hosting guests up front, and the ladies among the guests sent many gifts for you. The Grand Tutor instructed us to bring them along since we were coming this way.”

The two maids stepped aside, and the working women behind them began carrying various gift boxes into the room one by one.

Seeing so many gifts, Qin Huining and Sixth Miss’ eyes nearly weren’t enough to take it all in, and their faces immediately darkened.

What did this mean? Just after mocking her, someone brings so many gifts to slap their faces?