Qiao Yuechan couldn’t quite remember how she left Luo Chengzhang’s study or how she stumbled back to her room in a daze.
Her daughter was waiting for her, rising in surprise to support her. “Mother, what happened? You look…”
Concubine Qiao sat on the couch, gazing out the window. She hadn’t noticed earlier, but it had begun to snow lightly outside. Of course, it was nearly November, the time for snow to fall.
“The snow has come early this year,” Qiao Yuechan said softly. Her hair was disheveled, her cheek swollen. She seemed still stunned from the slap she had received.
She recalled the first time she saw Luo Chengzhang in Yangzhou years ago. It was March, and the lake was a vibrant green, with bustling activity around the pleasure boats. Amid the laughter and the sound of oars, she spotted Luo Chengzhang entering with a group. He was young then, more handsome than the others. She noticed him immediately.
At the time, she only knew he was from a wealthy family, not that he was a newly appointed official and a successful candidate in the imperial examinations. He had been so tender with her, cherishing her like a precious thing. Qiao Yuechan never imagined that one day he would strike her so mercilessly.
Concubine Qiao touched her cheek gently and took a deep breath. “Call for a maid to bring water,” she said. She needed to wash up and fix her appearance.
The snow fell heavier. Nanny Xu finally returned from the kitchen with silver-threaded charcoal, and the room soon became warm and cozy.
Yining, sensitive to cold, still felt chilly even in her padded jacket. She huddled under the covers, watching the snow accumulate in the wide courtyard. The north wind scattered snowflakes like cotton fluff. A figure gradually approached through the snow. Yining saw he wore a black cloak, his shoulders covered in snow, his features handsome yet stern.
He closed his umbrella under the eaves, handed his cloak to a servant, and entered. Yining had already instructed Xuezhi to prepare hot tea for him.
Luo Shen Yuan, noticing the quiet in her room, frowned and asked, “Why aren’t you packing?” Weren’t you supposed to leave tomorrow?
Yining smiled, calling out to him, then shook her head and said softly, “No need to pack. I didn’t bring much when I left Mother’s place last time.” She suddenly straightened up and brushed the snow from his shoulders, which had begun to melt and dampen his clothes. Luo Shen Yuan looked up at Yining’s profile.
Yining suddenly met his gaze. At such proximity, he didn’t seem like the familiar Third Brother anymore. His features were clearer, and upon careful observation, quite handsome.
No wonder Miss Gao and Miss Sun were so eager to marry him.
Luo Yining sat back down, thinking that after leaving the Luo family, she and Luo Shen Yuan would no longer be siblings, and such intimate gestures would be inappropriate.
Seeing the young girl curl back under the covers, Luo Shen Yuan held the hot tea and said, “Never mind about packing then. I came to tell you about the situation at the Marquis of Ying’s mansion, so you won’t be completely in the dark when you arrive.” He handed her a small booklet. “This is from Wei Ling. Read it carefully.”
The booklet detailed the Marquis of Ying’s usual associates and the family members. The previous Marquis had only married Wei Ling’s mother, making Wei Ling the sole heir. Now, whether out of consideration for Gu Minglan or due to his busy military duties, Wei Ling remained unmarried. Initially, Old Lady Zheng had pressured the Marquis to marry, but after one of his concubines bore a son, she ceased her efforts. The household was quite simple: besides Old Lady Zheng and the Marquis, Yining had a five-year-old brother Zhao Mingzhu, who had been raised by the Old Lady since childhood.
Mentioning Zhao Mingzhu reminded Luo Yining of the girl’s impressive display of status, which had left a deep impression on her.
A few months ago, when she first saw Zhao Mingzhu, Yining couldn’t have imagined this day would come. Zhao Mingzhu had always been pampered in the Marquis’s household, treated as the only young miss. Now that the Marquis had found Yining and was bringing her back, it was hard to predict how Zhao Mingzhu would react.
“The Marquis’s household has few members, which means fewer complications,” Luo Shen Yuan continued. “I’ve heard Old Lady Zheng is good-natured, and you’re her granddaughter, so she shouldn’t give you a hard time. Yining, have you decided which servants to take with you?”
Xuezhi was getting married and couldn’t accompany her. Nanny Xu was old and frail; Yining wanted to send her back to her hometown for a comfortable retirement. Thinking it over, she realized there weren’t many maids she could bring.
Luo Shen Yuan glanced at the maids in her room and suggested, “Take Songzhi with you. She’s cautious and has served you for many years.”
Songzhi, standing behind Luo Yining, looked up in surprise at these words. She saw the young master’s expression was as calm and composed as usual. She slowly lowered her head again.
Of course, she would take Songzhi, Yining thought to herself. She only needed two people. One would be Songzhi, and the other would be Qingqu. Qingqu had no particular loyalty to the Luo family and hadn’t signed a contract. She would follow Yining wherever she went. Originally serving under Nanny Zheng, she had devoted herself entirely to following Yining. Picked up by Nanny Zheng, she was stubborn in her loyalty and determined to stay with Yining no matter where she went.
“Yining, I’ll come to see you when I take the metropolitan examination,” Luo Shen Yuan told her, noticing her deep in thought.
From today on, he could no longer protect this young girl. Even though the Marquis of Ying’s household was nobility, it wouldn’t be much easier than life in the Luo family.
Luo Shen Yuan was about to take the metropolitan examination, which meant he would soon be an official. Feeling the somber atmosphere in the room, Yining smiled and said, “If you achieve the highest rank, I’ll be able to boast about having such an impressive brother.”
Luo Shen Yuan smiled and replied softly, “Alright.”
He would gladly let Yining boast, as long as it made her happy.
Meanwhile, Lin Hairu, who had just learned about Luo Yining’s complicated background, was shocked and wanted to visit her. The maids and servants, seeing the heavy snow, dared not let her come, fearing she might slip and fall on the way. Instead, they sent someone to relay a message to Luo Yining. Thinking that she would be leaving the Luo family tomorrow and might rarely see her stepmother afterward, Yining had a maid hold an umbrella for her as she went to the main house.
Lin Hairu welcomed Yining in, looking at her with a gaze full of reluctance to part.
Yining felt uncomfortable under her stare, but Lin Hairu took her hands and said, “I was so worried when you were punished and sent to Luming Hall! But now it’s all good. You’re a young lady of the Marquis of Ying’s household. You don’t know how things have changed. No one in the Luo family would dare to slight you now. Your eldest uncle has even sent over a thousand taels of silver for you.”
Yining looked at her and asked, “You… don’t mind my background?”
Lin Hairu had her sit down and embraced the girl she had watched grow up. She sighed, “I’ve lived for so many years, don’t I understand by now? What does background matter? Worrying about such things only brings suffering. As long as you’re doing well and someone loves you, I’m happy for you. We once had a housekeeper’s wife whose husband wanted to divorce her after visiting brothels. Later, she married a farmer a few years younger than her, and people gossiped. But that woman was tough and never cared what others said. She had a son and a daughter and lived happily.”
Coming from a merchant family, she hadn’t grown up with so many rules and had seen all sorts of people from different walks of life.
“As for your mother…” Lin Hairu stroked Yining’s hair and said, “She’s also a pitiful person.”
Lin Hairu very much wanted Yining to take the golden nanmu couch and ivory-inlaid dressing table she had given her, but this was impractical. In the end, she gave Yining some banknotes. Yining was shocked by the amount. Even if her stepmother was wealthy, she shouldn’t give her so much! She quickly tried to refuse, “You must take this back. You already gave me three thousand taels earlier today, which is more than enough.”
“I don’t know when I’ll see you again…” Lin Hairu said, her voice choked with emotion and her eyes reddening. “I have nothing else to give you. Compared to your eldest aunt, I don’t understand all that Confucius and Mencius stuff. I only know how to give you worldly things. It’s better to have more money than less. I don’t use much at home anyway.”
She truly feared Yining might be bullied out there and thought about how pitiful the child was. She wished she could go with her to the Marquis’s mansion.
Yining hugged her for a long time, breathing in her stepmother’s familiar scent and feeling utterly at ease. Hearing Lin Hairu’s sobs, she couldn’t help but cry too. After this farewell, it might be a long time before they could meet again.
In the Provincial Governor’s office, Wei Ling was still awake late at night, instructing his guards to prepare a comfortable carriage. Leaving Baoding early in the morning, they should arrive in the capital by dawn the next day, a journey of about a day and a night. He didn’t want the girl to be too tired. He had also sent his confidant back to the Marquis’s mansion to prepare everything, ensuring nothing would be lacking for her. “… Are the snacks and brazier ready?” he asked.
Thinking about bringing the girl back, he had brought two maids who usually served him to attend to Yining in the future. He was now questioning one of them.
The maid bowed and replied, “Don’t worry, My Lord. We’ve prepared everything. Ten kinds of vegetarian snacks, five meat snacks, and various dried fruits and preserved sweets.”
Wei Ling nodded, trying to think if anything was missing, but it seemed all was in order.
He called for a guard again: “… Send someone to notify the Commander of the Five Cheng Infantry. We may enter the city before dawn.”
After giving these instructions, Wei Ling thought about bringing the child home and having a daughter from now on. He let out a long breath, suddenly feeling excited. He decided he should ask those who had daughters how to properly care for one. The Marquis of Dingbei had several daughters; he would ask him to avoid any mistakes in raising the girl.
What kind of courtyard should he prepare for her? Who should serve her? What clothes should she wear daily, and what food should she eat? Girls needed to be pampered, not treated carelessly.
Wei Ling even thought about the girl’s future marriage.
Speaking of talented young men, no one could compare to his nephew, Cheng Lang. Many young ladies from prominent families in the capital wanted to marry him. At a young age, he was already a department director in the Ministry of Personnel and was known for his handsome appearance. He wondered if Yining would like someone like that… But Cheng Lang was known to be somewhat of a playboy, which might not be good!
After much contemplation, Wei Ling decided it was too early to think about marriage for the girl. He had just found her; he should raise her for a few years first.
Early the next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Wei Ling arrived with his entourage.
The eldest Mr. Luo and Luo Chengzhang, dressed in their official robes, were waiting for him by the screen wall.
Yining had also been woken up early by Xuezhi. She wore a water-red padded jacket with auspicious patterns, her hair in an elaborate style adorned with a golden lotus hairpin, looking impeccably dressed.
Xuezhi and Nanny Xu were very reluctant to part with her. If it weren’t for her upcoming marriage, Xuezhi would have left with her. Seeing Xuezhi start to cry again, Yining said to her, “I’ve already spoken with Third Brother. He will take care of your wedding arrangements.” She wiped Xuezhi’s tears, saying, “You’re about to be a bride, don’t cry anymore.”
She squeezed Nanny Xu’s hand before leaving Luming Hall with Songzhi and Qingqu. Xuezhi stood under the corridor for a moment, then ran after them, handing a box to Songzhi. “Young Miss loves these glutinous rice and sweet potato balls. I made them overnight. Take them for her to eat on the journey…”
Songzhi, also reluctant to part, was in tears. Only Qingqu showed no reaction. All her possessions—thirty-eight taels and five qian of silver—were already packed in her bundle. She had nothing else to be attached to, knowing she would follow Yining wherever she went.
Yining went to bid farewell to Lin Hairu, respectfully kowtowing to her.
Concubine Qiao looked up at Luo Yining, her emotions complex.
This was the hidden gem of the Luo family, a young lady of the Marquis of Ying’s household. She had always thought Yining was the child of a lowly servant. She had believed Luo Yining unworthy of the status of a Luo family legitimate daughter. She was right, in a way—Yining indeed didn’t match the Luo family, but it was the Luo family that was unworthy of her, not the other way around.
Yining noticed Concubine Qiao and said softly, “Aunt, you’re late today. Did you not rest well last night?”
Concubine Qiao, not daring to offend her now, smiled and said, “Not as peacefully as the Seventh Miss, I’m sure.”
Yining noticed her slightly swollen cheek and continued calmly, “That must be because you’ve been overworking yourself. In the future, you should be less preoccupied to avoid losing sleep again.” She smiled and added, “You understand my meaning best, don’t you, Aunt?”
After speaking, Yining and Concubine Qiao locked eyes for a moment before Concubine Qiao lowered her gaze first. Yining then took Lin Hairu’s hand and went to the screen wall.
From a distance, Yining saw Wei Ling sitting atop a tall horse, surrounded by guards and carriages.
Wei Ling smiled slightly. He dismounted and walked up to Yining, bending down to extend his hand, saying, “Meimei, Father has come to take you home.”
His smile was handsome, with the morning sun casting light on the sculpted screen wall and his tall figure. His profile seemed to glow.
Yining looked at his gentle face, suddenly curious about how he knew her childhood name. She took the Marquis’s hand briefly before letting go and walking to Luo Chengzhang. She curtsied to him, saying, “I thank you for raising me. From now on, we part ways. I wish you well.” Though she disliked Luo Chengzhang, he had raised her for many years, so she paid him this final respect, ending their connection.
Luo Chengzhang’s smile was somewhat stiff. Seeing the guards and maids surrounding the carriage, he suddenly remembered Concubine Qiao once calling Luo Yining a “false pearl” and “an imposter.” He had even said something about “a guard’s daughter not being worthy of the status of his legitimate daughter.” Now, it all seemed rather laughable. Wei Ling’s status was far beyond his reach, and even Yining’s status was now beyond his comparison.
He gave Yining a few words of advice and saw her off. Yining, of course, didn’t accept anything from him and was soon helped into the carriage by her maids. Before lowering the curtain, Yining looked back one last time… She wasn’t mistaken; Luo Shen Yuan indeed hadn’t come.
Yining took a deep breath and lowered the curtain. There was no more time to linger.
From this moment on, she would no longer be the seventh young lady of the Luo family. The capital awaited her with all its uncertainties, along with familiar and unfamiliar faces that would become part of her life. The person she dreaded facing the most was Lu Jiaxue. Wei Ling and Lu Jiaxue had been through life and death together numerous times, and they had a close, private friendship with frequent interactions.
Wei Ling, riding on horseback, pondered this as well. He was bringing his biological daughter back. The old lady should be delighted to see her real granddaughter, given her fondness for girls. If she doted on Zhao Mingzhu so much, how much more would she love her flesh and blood? Recently, her health hadn’t been good. Perhaps knowing that her long-lost granddaughter had been found and brought back might improve her spirits. Of course, he owed this to Lu Jiaxue, who had informed him about Yining. He would invite Lu Jiaxue over for a meal as thanks, assuming he wasn’t too busy.
The carriage gradually moved away.
Luo Shenyuan finally emerged from behind the screen wall, calmly watching the carriage disappear into the distance.
As Qiao Yuechan passed by Luo Shenyuan, she suddenly heard him call her softly, “Aunt Qiao.”
Luo Shenyuan rarely spoke to her. As the eldest son of the second branch, he naturally had little to say to her. So when she heard his gentle voice, she was momentarily stunned.
She paused and looked at Luo Shenyuan, noticing his gaze fixed ahead, his expression serene. His voice remained low, “You should be more careful in the future. I fear I won’t let you off easily.”
Without another glance at her, he turned and walked toward the front courtyard.
Aunt Qiao took a deep breath, suddenly recalling the bloodied maid who had died under the ferocious attack of vicious dogs when Luo Shenyuan was young.
She had always been aware of this illegitimate son’s ruthlessness and had always been wary of him. But now… it seemed she had truly provoked him.