Qin Yining kept her head lowered, not wanting to argue with the Old Madam, and simply replied, “Yes.”

Seeing Qin Yining so obedient, the Old Madam felt much better and continued, “Though I say this, don’t forget to study what you should learn as quickly as possible. In a couple of days, Jia Jie’er will have her coming-of-age ceremony, and next year both you and Hui Jie’er will also come of age. During this time, I’ll be looking out for suitable families for you to marry into. If you’re hopeless and despised by others, resulting in poor marriage prospects, I won’t bother managing your affairs.”

Qin Yining pressed her lips together, and when she lifted her head, her face already bore an obedient smile. “Old Madam’s instruction is correct. I will definitely study earnestly and not disappoint your expectations.”

Her face was naturally sculpted like a work of art. Though her appearance was heart-stirringly beautiful, her eyes were pure and clear as a spring of water. When she smiled, the small dimples on her cheeks made her especially adorable. The Old Madam was almost softened by her charming smile and compliant attitude.

Keeping a stern face, she waved her hand, “You may go.”

“Yes, granddaughter takes her leave.” Qin Yining bowed and stepped back.

The Old Madam awkwardly added, “If you need anything, go find Nanny Qin.”

Qin Yining immediately showed an appropriately flattered smile, “Yes, thank you, Old Madam.”

Watching Qin Yining obediently exit, the Old Madam said, “Lu Juan, what do you think of this child?”

Lu Juan was Nanny Qin’s given name.

Nanny Qin smiled and stepped forward to hand the Old Madam a brass carved hand warmer of appropriate temperature, smiling as she said, “Old Madam has a discerning eye to think of polishing this piece of raw jade, doesn’t she? However it may be, she is still First Master’s biological daughter, so her natural qualities cannot be wrong. Moreover, this old servant feels that to have endured so much hardship and persevered to today, she must be someone with resilient character and intelligence.”

Without resilience, it would be impossible to survive alone for six years at such a young age. Without intelligence, it would also be impossible to live to today in the crisis-filled marketplace and wilderness.

The Old Madam sighed, “My feelings toward her are also complex. Perhaps it’s due to blood relations… Are Hui Jie’er’s affairs all settled? You must be careful not to wrong my Hui Jie’er.”

Seeing that the Old Madam hadn’t taken her words to heart, Nanny Qin couldn’t say more and just smiled in agreement.

After Qin Yining left the main building and walked into the courtyard, she felt a venomous gaze fall on her back. She turned around sharply but only saw a half-open window of a side room without seeing who it was.

Anyway, when there are many mosquitoes, one doesn’t fear the bites. There were plenty of people in this mansion who disliked her, so it didn’t matter who it was. Thus, she paid no attention and quickly passed through the main hall to leave Cixiao Garden.

Only after Qin Yining had gone far did Qin Huining throw down her handkerchief, which had been twisted like a pretzel. Her head maid Bi Tong immediately offered a cup of warm honey water, “Miss, don’t get angry. She’s just a wild girl with no stable foundation.”

Qin Huining drank the honey water in one gulp. The sweet taste made her feel much better. She steadied herself and said, “Wet nurse.”

Cai Shi immediately smiled and said, “What are Miss’s instructions?”

“I remember you can speak a few words with Nanny Jin at Mother’s side.”

Cai Shi was Nanny Jin’s niece.

“Naturally. What are Miss’s instructions?”

“Come here.” Qin Huining called Cai Shi closer and whispered a few words in her ear.

After leaving Cixiao Garden, before Qin Yining could clearly see her surroundings, the girl who had helped her earlier proactively approached to bow, smiling as she said, “Hello, Fourth Sister. I’m Baoning, eighth in the clan ranking. My father is Third Master. Oh, and the one who was just scolded away by the Old Madam was my elder brother.”

Qin Baoning had just helped her, plus Qin Han’s care and protection along the way and just now, as well as her cheerful and straightforward words, all made Qin Yining very fond of her.

Qin Yining imitated Qin Baoning’s manner and returned the bow, “Hello, Baoning sister.”

Qin Baoning laughed cheerfully, “Fourth Sister has just returned and doesn’t understand everything in the manor yet. If you need anything, you can come find me. I live in Cuiwei Tower with Third Sister.” She then pulled over Qin Jianing, who was nearby, and introduced her, “This is Third Sister.”

Qin Jianing withdrew her hand from Qin Baoning’s grasp and spat out “little monkey,” then said, “You’re so talkative, aren’t you afraid of annoying your Fourth Sister?”

Qin Baoning stuck out her tongue but didn’t say more.

Qin Jianing smiled and said, “This girl insisted on dragging me here to wait for you to come out. I told her we should wait until you’re settled before bothering you, wouldn’t that be better? But she wouldn’t listen. Speaking so hurriedly like this, don’t we still have to say goodbye for now? Nanny Jin is still waiting. Once Fourth Sister is settled, we sisters can gather again?”

“Third Sister speaks truly. Once I’m settled, I’ll surely come to bother you.” Because she needed to think, Qin Yining spoke somewhat slowly, her melodious voice having a special charm when heard.

“Fourth Sister, why be so polite? Perhaps I won’t be able to resist coming to bother you first!” Qin Baoning laughingly grasped her hand.

Hearing this, Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile too.

Qin Jianing and Qin Baoning both bid farewell to Qin Yining.

Seeing those two had left, Nanny Jin smiled and approached, “Miss, shall we go?”

Qin Yining quickly smiled and said, “I’ve troubled Nanny to wait so long.”

“Serving Miss is this servant’s duty. Miss needn’t be polite.”

Nanny Jin led Qin Yining toward Xueli Courtyard.

The Prime Minister’s manor was a large four-courtyard compound. The Old Madam’s Cixiao Garden was located in the southwest, occupying the largest courtyard in the inner residence. Exiting Cixiao Garden’s gate and turning left, walking straight along the lane paved with azure stone bricks, the hanging flower gate was on the right side.

Nanny Jin pointed to that gate and said, “Usually Miss is not allowed to leave the second gate. If there’s anything to be done, assign the maids around you to do it. The second gate is locked at the xu hour and opened at the first quarter of the mao hour. For buying things or finding people, Miss must be careful about the timing.”

“Thank you for Nanny Jin’s guidance.”

Nanny Jin smiled and led Qin Yining along the long azure brick road, pointing out Third Branch’s Guangbo Courtyard and Second Branch’s Changning Garden along the way.

They passed through the back garden, where there was a large pond with a white stone arched bridge spanning over it. In the pond, withered lotus swayed, making one inevitably think of summer when the drooping willows, clear waves, and endless green would create such beautiful scenery. Looking carefully, there was flowing water, actually drawn from outside the manor. In the distance were vermillion railings and white stones with high-reaching eaves, while nearby were scattered flowers and trees with dancing light spread on the ground. Just this one garden’s exquisite luxury was something Qin Yining had never seen in her life.

The fondness on Qin Yining’s face caught Nanny Jin’s attention. After passing the back garden, Nanny Jin casually pointed, “That’s Cuiwei Tower. Turn around there and you’ll find Xingning Garden where First Master and First Madam live.” But she led Qin Yining in the opposite direction.

The further they walked, the more remote it became. They walked along a lane to its very end, where ahead lay the back wall of the Prime Minister’s manor, before pushing open a vermillion lacquered gate, saying, “This is Xueli Courtyard.”

Behind the vermillion gate was a small single-courtyard compound. A pebble path wound to the corridor, with several bamboo plots in the courtyard, a few pear trees, and an old, thick, tall scholar tree. The main building had three rooms, with two rooms each in the east and west side buildings, and three rooms in the reverse building. The courtyard was small and tidy but looked somewhat desolate.

“This courtyard is fresh and elegant, most suitable for Miss. Because the Old Madam arranged it suddenly, there hasn’t been time to have it cleaned. This servant will immediately arrange for people to come and bring the maids First Madam arranged for you. Please rest here for a moment.”

Nanny Jin spoke very politely.

Qin Yining only nodded her thanks.

But she understood in her heart that if they truly valued her, they wouldn’t have an unmarried young lady live in a courtyard right next to the outer wall, nor would they bring her here without cleaning it first, with even the doors locked.

This was just to give her a show of force.

Even so, having such a courtyard to live in was much better than the caves and grass huts she had lived in on the mountain.

Qin Yining found a stone stool by the bamboo and sat down to wait.

Who would have known that this wait would last a full hour, with the sky approaching midday. Qin Yining wanted to call someone, but in this vast mansion, she didn’t know whom she could find. Fortunately, her years of hunting had trained excellent patience in her, so she just sat quietly on the stone stool.

Cold wind blew past, scattered bamboo leaves fluttered down. The girl’s goose-yellow dress and the green bamboo behind her blended into a soft painting under the bright midday sun, while the girl’s lowered head with raven-azure long hair hanging by her neck made her neck appear even more fair and slender, her profile exquisite.

This scene was entirely captured by two people crouching silently on the rooftop.

The leader wore azure robes, his face flawlessly refined. Two long eyebrows swept diagonally into his temples, and a pair of phoenix eyes were cold, sharp, and profound, shining like stars in a cold night. His thin lips were lightly pressed together, his expression emotionless, his bearing noble and reserved, like an unsheathed blade that made people want to lower their heads after just one glance, not daring to meet his gaze.

He quietly watched Qin Yining in the courtyard for a moment, then silently left the Qin residence with his accompanying guard.

His guard was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth with a tiger-like head and bright spirit, wearing dark blue fitted clothing with his long hair tied in a bundle behind his head, appearing very energetic.

After leaving Qin family territory, the youth immediately asked curiously, “Master, was that girl just now the person you were looking for?”

“Mm.”

“She actually managed to survive – what great luck! Scholar Zheng said when you last saw her, she was only seven years old.”

“Mm.”

“The Qin family are really not decent people, making her wait outside in such cold weather without even giving her warm clothes. What patience she has!”

“Mm.”

“But since she’s Qin Meng’s daughter, she deserves it! Scholar Zheng said that year you even gave her silver to have her adoptive mother’s illness treated? Master, not to criticize, but you’re too kindhearted. Why care whether the enemy’s child lives or dies? Her death would just be compensation for her despicable father’s crimes. Why still care about her so much?”

The man’s steps paused as he looked at the youth expressionlessly, staring until the youth’s hair stood on end and he dared not speak further.

His prince was good in every way, just too cold. He had followed his master for several years but had never seen him truly smile. Even last year when His Majesty rehabilitated General Pang and posthumously granted the title “Prince Zhongshun,” when his master inherited the princely title, he hadn’t seemed particularly happy.

Perhaps only when his great revenge was thoroughly achieved would he truly be able to relax?

“Hey, Master, wait for me! Where are we going?”