"Ninth Miss, you'll be leaving early tomorrow morning. This is a personal notebook I've been carrying with me, and I'd like to give it to you as a parting gift." Early in the morning, Sun Muqing arrived at Qin Guan's courtyard.
Qin Guan looked at the notebook in Sun Muqing's hands and smiled slightly. She recognized this booklet—it had been with Sun Muqing for many years, a compilation of his medical knowledge and insights. "A notebook... May I take a look?"
Sun Muqing handed her the booklet and said, "Of course you may. It was meant for you, Ninth Miss. Feel free to browse through it, though my handwriting is poor, and I'm not sure if the contents will be of any use to you."
Qin Guan glanced at the sky outside and, seeing it was still early, replied, "I see this contains the essence of Young Master Sun's studies. It wouldn't be right for me to accept it outright, yet I truly appreciate your kindness and would like to learn from you. So... how about lending me your notebook for half a day?"
Sun Muqing was taken aback, never expecting Qin Guan to propose such an arrangement. He hesitated briefly—he had genuinely intended to give her the notebook—but seeing her earnest expression, Qin Guan insisted firmly, "I absolutely cannot accept this notebook. Let it be as though you're simply guiding me. Since I have nothing to do today, reading your notes would be perfect."
Sun Muqing gave a wry smile. "Ninth Miss, you truly are..."
He couldn't quite find the words to describe her, but seeing her resolute expression, he knew he couldn't change her mind. Reluctantly, he conceded, "Very well. If there's anything else you'd like to know, feel free to ask me."
Qin Guan nodded, and Sun Muqing, realizing she genuinely just wanted to read, took his leave for the time being.
Once Sun Muqing was gone, Fuling chuckled. "Young Master Sun is so sincere. Even I know how valuable that notebook is, yet he wanted to give it to you outright, miss..."
"The Medicine King Valley has never been secretive with knowledge, and he has a pure, straightforward nature."
Fuling nodded and, seeing Qin Guan settle into reading, went to prepare tea for her. Meanwhile, since they were leaving the next day, Qin Shuang had Wan Qing tidy up their belongings. However, as they were merely guests, they hadn't brought much from the carriage, so there wasn't much to organize.
Qin Shuang sat across from Qin Guan, leaning on the windowsill to gaze outside. "I heard Constable Song and his men left early this morning. Dong Shu sent two men to accompany them, taking the corpse along too. Now that the case is settled, I almost don't feel like leaving."
Wan Qing chimed in, "But miss, didn't you say you disliked how empty this house felt?"
Qin Shuang sighed. "True, but the thought of riding in a carriage again is giving me a headache."
As she spoke, she glanced at Qin Guan, who remained calm and composed. In Qin Shuang's memory, Qin Guan always carried herself with such poise, no matter the circumstances. This reminded her of the previous night.
A mischievous smile crept into her eyes—after all, even Qin Guan had been startled last night.Qin Guan flipped through Sun Muqing's notebook, which mostly contained his daily notes on diagnosing and treating illnesses. Over half of it she had already read before, so she didn’t linger on the earlier pages and instead focused on the last few. These pages documented the various ailments Sun Muqing had encountered during his journey south and west after leaving Medicine King Valley. Since each entry detailed the condition of a specific patient, it differed significantly from other medical texts.
Qin Guan read with great interest for a while. After finishing Sun Muqing’s notes, her thoughts turned to Sun Haoyue. By now, she had largely set aside the idea of seeking medical advice from him—not only because she could see that his heart was almost entirely devoted to Bai Feiyan, but also because the strange occurrences in this residence left her with an eerie feeling.
She shook her head. Though something felt off, they would be leaving early the next morning, so she no longer had the desire to investigate further. Besides, she wanted to return to the capital as soon as possible—matters there were far more important than anything else here.
After sitting for a while longer, Qin Guan decided to return the notebook. Seeing her about to leave, Qin Shuang naturally followed. Fuling, watching Qin Shuang practically turn into Qin Guan’s little shadow, couldn’t help but laugh helplessly. The two of them draped their capes over their shoulders and had just stepped outside when Bai Feiyu entered the courtyard with two attendants. Spotting Qin Guan and Qin Shuang, Bai Feiyu paused in surprise before promptly cupping his hands in greeting.
Qin Shuang and Qin Guan quickly curtsied in return, after which Qin Shuang asked with a smile, “Young Master Bai, what brings you here?”
Bai Feiyu curved his lips slightly. “I came to deliver some medicinal ointment for Fifth Miss—”
No sooner had he spoken than the door to the opposite wing opened, revealing Qin Xiang’s figure. Today, she wore a soft yellow dress that accentuated her graceful figure and delicate beauty. Qin Shuang chuckled. “Young Master Bai, please go ahead. We’ll take a stroll outside.”
Bai Feiyu cupped his hands toward the two of them again, and Qin Shuang and Qin Guan left the courtyard.
Once outside, Qin Shuang frowned. “That Young Master Bai—he doesn’t even try to be discreet.”
Qin Guan had the same thought, but since Bai Feiyu was, after all, one of the masters of this household, there wasn’t much they could say. “If Young Master Bai is truly sincere, that would be excellent.”
Qin Shuang gave a light snort. “Yes, wouldn’t it be excellent? Fifth Sister would then become the Young Mistress of the Bai family.”
Hearing the faintly sour note in Qin Shuang’s voice, Qin Guan merely smiled without comment.
The weather had cleared for two days now, and much of the snow in the residence had melted. The bluestone paths were visible again, though patches of white still clung to the rooftops and tall trees—still, it was a vast improvement over the previous days. Soon, Qin Guan and Qin Shuang arrived at the entrance to Sun Muqing’s courtyard. Fuling knocked on the gate, and Sun Muqing emerged shortly after. Seeing Qin Guan holding his notes, he raised his brows in surprise. “Ninth Miss, you finished reading so quickly? Or are you just being polite…?”
Qin Guan smiled faintly, her dimples appearing, which made Sun Muqing stare for a brief moment.
“Not at all. I’ve always been a fast reader. Today, I simply chose the parts that interested me—there’s no need for politeness.”
Even if Qin Guan were inclined to be polite, she would never do so when it came to medicine. If given the chance to learn more, she would eagerly seize it. Reassured by her words, Sun Muqing sighed. “Ninth Miss is heading to the capital… It makes me feel like going there myself.”
Qin Shuang arched a brow, then glanced at Qin Guan with a hint of amusement in her eyes.Qin Guan was also taken aback upon hearing this. "Young Master Sun is also going to the capital?"
A shadow flickered briefly in Sun Muqing's eyes, though his smile remained. "Yes, I'm going... to visit an old friend."
Qin Guan felt a slight stir in her heart, while Qin Shuang quickly asked, "What old friend is Young Master Sun going to see?"
Sun Muqing curved his lips. "To see someone from my sect."
Qin Shuang let out an "Oh" and didn't press further. Qin Guan only asked, "When are you leaving?"
Sun Muqing chuckled. "Probably in half a month. I've finally reunited with my senior brother, so I'll stay here for a while."
Qin Guan nodded. Since Sun Muqing was leaving in half a month, he wouldn't be traveling with them—which was just as well.
"Alright, when you arrive in the capital, please send word to the marquis's residence. We owe you much for your invitation this time—otherwise, my brother and I would have been in quite a predicament," Qin Guan said warmly.
Sun Muqing laughed heartily. "Naturally. I'll definitely meet with you all then."
Qin Guan nodded and didn't intend to say more. She and Qin Shuang bid farewell to Sun Muqing and turned to leave. Meanwhile, Sun Muqing's mood had darkened slightly during their brief exchange, and he didn't press them to stay either.
After walking a few steps, Qin Shuang suddenly giggled. "I thought Young Master Sun was going to the capital for Ninth Sister's sake."
"How could that be?" Qin Guan raised her chin slightly, her gaze drifting momentarily into the distance.
Qin Shuang grinned mischievously. "Young Master Sun treats Ninth Sister quite well. Maybe—"
"Meow—"
Qin Shuang was teasing when, before she could finish, a faint cat's cry suddenly reached their ears. Both Qin Guan and Qin Shuang halted abruptly, and Qin Guan, more alert, immediately walked toward the source of the sound.
The noise seemed to come from a dim alley to the east. The group had originally been heading back to their courtyard in the west, but now they were drawn eastward by the cat's call.
"Meow—"
Another cry sounded, and Qin Guan pinpointed the direction more accurately. After walking about a dozen steps, she finally spotted the entrance to the alley. As soon as she stood at the entrance, she saw a pair of glowing eyes in the dim light of the alley.
It was a black cat. Qin Guan looked closely and realized it was the same black cat she had seen by the pile of cat corpses that day. It crouched in the dark alley, unafraid of Qin Guan's presence, and even let out another "Meow."
Qin Guan frowned and instinctively glanced around the black cat, fearing another pile of cat corpses might appear nearby. But this time, she saw nothing—only scattered dry leaves on the ground. The alley was so sheltered by the overhanging rooftops that even the ground wasn't damp. Qin Guan stared at the black cat for a moment, puzzled by its presence there.
Just as she thought the cat would stay put, it suddenly darted toward the back exit of the alley. Qin Guan wasn't surprised when it ran off, but moments later, the cat stopped at the rear exit.
"Meow—"
"Meow—"
Once it reached the exit, the black cat didn't move further. Instead, it paused and looked back at Qin Guan. When she neither followed nor approached, it continued meowing persistently. Qin Guan's frown deepened.
Qin Shuang and Fuling stood behind Qin Guan. Fuling whispered, "What... what is it doing? Is it calling us over?"Qin Shuang shook her head, "This must be the same cat from last time. No, this one is entirely black—it's a bit eerie... I remember someone saying that cats, like dogs, can see things humans can't."
Her words sent a chill down Fuling's spine, "Miss Six, don't believe such things. It's just a little pet, nothing more."
Qin Shuang snorted and was about to speak when her eyes suddenly widened. She saw Qin Guan walking forward. "Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing? Are you really going over there...?"
Fuling wasn't afraid of cats, but she was wary of the black cat leading Qin Guan to the cat corpse again. She hesitated, but just then, Wan Xing followed Qin Guan. When Qin Guan turned and saw it was Wan Xing, her eyes gleamed faintly.
As Qin Guan approached, the black cat remained still. Only when she was about five or six steps away did it move again. It darted around the corner, seemingly running off, but when Qin Guan turned the same corner, the cat was already sitting at the next bend, waiting. Qin Guan's eyes flickered with a mix of absurdity and intrigue. "This cat is quite clever."
Seeing Wan Xing follow, Fuling also joined them. Qin Shuang, left with no choice, came forward as well. When she saw the black cat waiting at yet another corner, she exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be leading us somewhere?"
"A cat with such intelligence?" Fuling murmured in astonishment.
Qin Guan glanced at the people around her. "There are enough of us—no need to be afraid. Let's follow it and see where it takes us."
With that, Qin Guan continued forward. Each time she neared the black cat, it would vanish, only to reappear waiting at the next turn. After a while, Qin Shuang clicked her tongue in amazement. Unbeknownst to them, the group was being led eastward...
After the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, the black cat stopped in a pavilion in the central courtyard.
Qin Guan surveyed the courtyard, catching the faint scent of red plum blossoms in the air. She had never been to this part of the estate before and didn't recognize it. Moreover, the household was sparsely staffed, and they hadn't encountered any servants along the way.
A trace of suspicion flickered in Qin Guan's mind. The potted plants in the courtyard still bore remnants of snow, and the pavilion stood starkly in the middle, making the winter garden seem particularly desolate. Lost in thought, she stepped onto the pebbled path toward the pavilion.
Just as Qin Guan reached the pavilion, the black cat stopped again. Then, inexplicably, it leaped onto the roof. Qin Shuang couldn't help but laugh. "Is it trying to take us up there?"
Fuling ran outside first. "There's nothing up here—"
The black cat paced restlessly on the roof, letting out low, uneasy mews. Qin Guan was momentarily baffled. She scanned the courtyard again but found nothing unusual. As the group stood in confusion, a figure suddenly appeared from around the corner.
"Oh, Miss Qin? What are you all doing here...?"
Aunt Lin approached, carrying a food box. She looked surprised to see Qin Guan and Qin Shuang there.
Exchanging a glance with Qin Guan, Qin Shuang quickly said, "Aunt Lin... have you made something delicious again?" She pointed at the pavilion roof. "We were just taking a stroll when we came across this little cat. We tried to play with it, but it kept running away..."Aunt Lin immediately smiled upon hearing this, patting the food box as she said, "I was just about to make plum blossom cakes. That black cat you mentioned is quite the glutton. Not just you—even the men in our household can't catch it. At first, when we saw it stealing food, we wanted to catch it to teach it a lesson or chase it away. But after realizing it was impossible to catch, I gave up. It’s a regular visitor in my kitchen."
Qin Guan stepped forward. "Was this black cat originally from this household?"
Aunt Lin nodded. "I don’t know about that. I just remember suddenly seeing the cat stealing food in the kitchen one day. At the time, I thought it was just a stray from somewhere... Later, I saw it more often, but I still don’t know where it came from. The estate is so large, and we don’t have that many servants to tend to everything. It’s normal to have a few stray cats around."
Qin Guan glanced around the central courtyard, still unsure why the black cat had led them here. She asked, "Where is this place? We chased the cat here and aren’t sure if we’ve wandered somewhere we shouldn’t be."
Aunt Lin waved her hand. "No, no, this place is quite ordinary. The southern courtyard is uninhabited. To the northeast is a plum grove, and directly north is a small flower garden. Further north is the Benevolence Courtyard."
Qin Guan suddenly understood and instinctively looked toward the north. So they were closer to the Benevolence Courtyard again.
The person who killed Xiao Songzi and Da Cheng had come near the Benevolence Courtyard to seek revenge for their daughter. But what was this black cat’s purpose?
"The two Miss Qins will be leaving soon. Once I’ve finished making the plum blossom cakes, I’ll be sure to send some for you to try. I won’t disturb you any longer—I’ll go pick some fresh plum blossoms now."
Qin Guan nodded, and Aunt Lin walked toward the plum grove, scolding the black cat a couple of times as she went.
The black cat let out a low meow, glanced at Qin Guan and Qin Shuang, then leaped down to the ground. Before Qin Guan could even get a clear look, it had vanished into the dense potted plants.
"It just ran off like that?" Qin Shuang was slightly stunned. "That little thing was just playing with us!"
Qin Guan was also puzzled. She had thought the black cat brought them here because there was something unusual, but it turned out to be just this somewhat empty central courtyard. Qin Guan sighed. "Maybe it really was just teasing us. Let’s go back."
Qin Guan and Qin Shuang returned to their courtyard together. Qin Shuang glanced at Qin Xiang’s room and saw the doors and windows closed, with no sign of Bai Feiyu’s attendants in the courtyard. It was clear Bai Feiyu had already left.
Qin Shuang snorted lightly. "Probably came to say goodbye..."
The Qin party was heading to the capital, while Bai Feiyu was returning to Yizhou—one north, the other east. Naturally, they wouldn’t be traveling together.
After reading for a while and being led around the estate by the black cat, it was already quite late. They were leaving the next day, and though the Qin group had been in the household for several days, they hadn’t developed a deep friendship with the master, Sun Haoyue. In the afternoon, only Qin Yan went to the Benevolence Courtyard to bid farewell to Sun Haoyue. When he returned, Aunt Lin came along, bringing two boxes of plum blossom cakes as promised.
"These are for the young ladies to take with you. I hope you won’t mind my humble cooking. The household doesn’t have many fancy delicacies—the only other thing is Tea Cake, which is already packed and can be loaded directly onto the carriage."
Qin Shuang’s eyes lit up. "Aunt Lin’s Tea Cake is the best! Thank you, Aunt Lin!"
Qin Guan also said, "Thank you for your hard work, Aunt Lin."
Aunt Lin waved her hands repeatedly, offering a few more words about wishing them a safe journey before finally taking her leave.Aunt Lin had just left when Dong Shu arrived, bringing several small gifts—mostly medicinal herbs and tea. "These are all produced in our own courtyard, along with some commonly used pills and ointments made by the young master. They can serve as emergency supplies on your journey. As you've seen, this residence is rather humble, so we truly don't have anything particularly valuable..."
Qin Yan had someone accept the gifts. Although they were in a hurry on this trip, they had still brought some items with them. Having stayed here for a few days, Qin Yan also instructed Zhou Huai to prepare a modest gift in return. He repeatedly emphasized that if Sun Haoyue and his companions ever came to the capital, they must be informed, and so on. This exchange of courtesies was thorough. By the time Dong Shu left, it was nearly dark.
After Qin Yan reminded Qin Guan and Qin Shuang not to forget anything and to rest early, he departed. Once he was gone, knowing they had to rise early the next day to continue their journey, Qin Guan and Qin Shuang also went to bed.
Qin Guan fell asleep quickly but slept restlessly. In her dreams, flickering lights and shadows appeared, and the faces of people she had met in the past surfaced one after another. Even the black cat she had seen during the day made an appearance. Just as she found the black cat terrifyingly vivid, Yan Chi's figure suddenly flashed into view. In the dream, Yan Chi stood tall and imposing before her, like a mountain capable of shielding her from wind and rain. Moments later, his face drew closer, and just as Qin Guan was about to speak, he pulled her into a tight embrace.
The dream was long and tender. When Qin Guan awoke, the sky outside was just beginning to lighten. Her body was warm, and her cheeks were flushed crimson. She touched her face, and her heartbeat suddenly quickened...
"What?! How could it be gone?!"
Qin Guan was still flustered by her racing heart and burning cheeks when Fuling's voice suddenly rang out from outside. Though the distance muffled the words somewhat, Fuling's loud exclamation made them audible.
Frowning, Qin Guan's attention was immediately drawn to the commotion outside—
"We must inform the young master quickly, lest something happen!"
Fuling urgently called out before rushing toward the inner chamber.
Her movements were loud enough to wake Qin Shuang, who mumbled groggily, "Is it time to get up?"
Qin Guan didn't answer, as Fuling had already hurried in. "Miss, it's terrible—Fifth Miss is missing!"
Qin Guan sat up abruptly. "Fifth Sister is missing?! What happened?"
Fuling sighed helplessly. "I woke up early, thinking it was time to rise, and noticed the opposite wing had also lit their lamps after seeing ours. But soon after, Wan He came running out in a panic, saying Fifth Miss was gone. A bundle of belongings is missing too—all the jewelry and gifts Young Master Bai gave her, along with some silver notes... Wan He said... her mistress must have run off with Young Master Bai..."
Qin Guan froze. Qin Shuang stared wide-eyed at Fuling. "You mean... she eloped with the Bai family's young master?!"
Fuling didn’t dare nod, only offering a bitter smile. "That’s what Wan He said."
Qin Shuang scrambled out of bed. "How outrageous! Qin Xiang has gone too far!"
......
Qin Xiang's audacity not only angered Qin Shuang but also provoked unprecedented fury from Qin Yan.
By the time the sky had fully brightened, Qin Xiang's disappearance had completely disrupted the Qin family's travel plans."The young lady was wearing the clothes I prepared for her last night, along with her cape. There was also a bundle containing her favorite pieces of jewelry and some banknotes, which I usually carry in case they're needed on the journey."
"Neither I nor Xiu Zhi heard any movement. When we woke up, she was already gone."
"Last night, the young lady seemed perfectly fine. She only asked me to prepare thicker clothes for her."
In Qin Xiang's chamber, Wan He and Xiu Zhi knelt on the floor weeping. Wan He spoke through her self-reproach, while Xiu Zhi already wore the expression of one condemned to death. At this point, Wan He suddenly said, "Ah, but last night the young miss only asked one question. She asked this servant whether we had taken the same main road all the way when we came. At the time, I thought about it and said yes, since it seemed so. The young miss showed no unusual reaction then—how could I have imagined she would..."
Qin Yan's brows were tightly furrowed. Normally composed and handsome, his face now burned with silent fury. Merely sitting there, he radiated such intensity that Wan He and Xiu Zhi trembled in terror—both from fear for Qin Xiang's safety and from knowing their negligence had caused this. They fully expected to be dragged out and beaten to death for such dereliction!
The room was thick with oppressive silence. Qin Guan and Qin Shuang stood to the side—Qin Shuang too frightened to speak, Qin Guan unsure what to say. Just then, footsteps sounded in the courtyard. Moments later, Zhou Huai pushed open the door. "Young Master, the west gate was found open. Our carriages and horses remain untouched. This humble one investigated beyond the west gate and discovered footprints along the path beside the Herb Garden. Also... I questioned the manor servants. They said Young Master Bai departed overnight last night."
The snow had nearly melted, leaving the path beside the Herb Garden a muddy mess where footprints would inevitably remain. Qin Yan immediately stood. "Pursue them. Immediately—"
Zhou Huai hesitated slightly. "Should we request assistance from the household staff?"
Qin Yan fixed him with a look. "Do you believe this was her willful act alone, or Bai's instigation?"
Frowning, Zhou Huai replied, "This behavior is utterly improper. Knowing our status, Young Master Bai would never dare entice Fifth Miss into eloping. Moreover, judging by his character, he doesn't seem the type to disregard propriety."
"Then it was her own doing—" Qin Yan ground out through clenched teeth. "In that case, don't involve Dong Shu. Traveling alone, even if she left at midnight, she couldn't have gone far. We'll depart immediately and determine our search route after leaving the manor. She may only be a few li away."
At Qin Yan's command, Zhou Huai hurried to make arrangements. Though their departure was slightly delayed from the original plan, it remained exceptionally early by Herb Garden standards. As they gathered at the main gate, Sun Muqing arrived with Dong Shu, Aunt Lin, and others to see them off. Burning with urgency, Qin Yan swiftly led the entire party away from the Herb Garden.
Only after descending the mountain and reaching the main road did Qin Yan finally curse under his breath.
He had come to escort Qin Guan and her sisters to the capital. Elopement was unthinkable—he wouldn't even tolerate Qin Xiang suffering minor injuries. Yet now she had willfully fled. While he didn't oppose a Qin-Bai marriage alliance, Qin Xiang's shameless behavior would undoubtedly disgrace the Marquis's household. Whether among prominent noble families in the capital or minor wealthy households, no respectable family would condone a daughter engaging in such illicit relations...If this matter were to spread back to the capital, not only would Qin Xiang face a lifetime of disgrace, but even the Marquis's household would become the subject of public censure. With the current intensification of factional struggles in the court, even the slightest incident could be reported by the Censorate. Whether for personal or public reasons, Qin Yan had no choice but to bring Qin Xiang back—and not only that, he had to ensure the matter was downplayed and resolved quietly.
Having made up his mind, Qin Yan even kept the Qin Manor guards in the dark. Qin Xiang's carriage now only carried Wan He and Xiu Zhi. Yet after traveling nearly ten li along the main road, Qin Yan still saw no sign of Qin Xiang.
For someone of Qin Xiang's temperament, daring to leave before dawn was already astonishing enough—could she have taken a side path instead? Both Qin Yan and Zhou Huai wore anxious expressions. As they pressed forward, Zhou Huai suddenly frowned and said, "Young Master, could it be that the Fifth Miss knew we would take this route back and deliberately chose another path?"
He turned and added, "Do you recall, Young Master, we passed a side path earlier. I remember that if one continues along it for over ten li, it connects to a road leading to Huaixian County, which lies east of Jixian..."
To reach Yizhou, one must travel eastward, but most people would take the official route through Yuanzhou City. If Qin Xiang knew Huaixian was east of Jixian, she might have gotten the idea to head there first—after all, it was still eastward.
Qin Yan's grip on the horsewhip tightened. Their journey had already been delayed, and now they had to deal with Qin Xiang's recklessness! Though furious, he couldn't simply abandon her. If she had indeed fled to Huaixian, would they have to take a detour just to chase her down?
Taking a deep breath, Qin Yan said, "We'll split up. I'll take the side path with some men, while you continue forward with the others."
After a brief pause, he added, "Tonight, we'll rest at Guanyin Town. Stick to the route through Sanyuan Village heading north. If she took the main road, you'll likely catch up to her soon. If she took the side path, I can overtake her on horseback. Depending on the situation, if it's early, I'll double back to rejoin you. If it's late, I'll take another route to meet you in Guanyin Town."
Zhou Huai hesitated. "Young Master, perhaps I should—"
Qin Yan scoffed coldly. "If she dared to do this, she's already made up her mind. What will you do if you find her and she refuses to return? What if she threatens suicide?"
As a servant, Zhou Huai was at a loss. Qin Yan sneered again. "I'll go. I want to see just how far she's willing to go for that Bai Feiyu!"
Zhou Huai sighed. They couldn't abandon the search for Qin Xiang, but Qin Guan and Qin Shuang also needed proper care. Reluctantly, he nodded. "In that case, take a few men with you, Young Master, and return quickly."
Qin Yan agreed and soon led five or six guards back the way they came.
Inside the carriage, Qin Guan and Qin Shuang were puzzled by Qin Yan's sudden departure. Only after Zhou Huai quietly explained did they understand. Qin Shuang immediately fumed, "I never imagined she'd go this far. When we reach the capital, I’d like to see how she explains herself to Uncle and Aunt! This is utterly... humiliating for our Third Branch!"Qin Shuang's resentment was also Qin Yan's resentment. Qin Guan frowned slightly, equally disapproving of Qin Xiang's actions. Yet she couldn't help feeling surprised—Xiang had actually dared to leave the Herb Garden alone in the dark, heading east by herself... For a young girl who had never stepped beyond the courtyard gates and had been waited on hand and foot since childhood, this required tremendous courage.
Throughout the journey, Qin Shuang kept cursing Qin Xiang, but beneath her anger grew an increasing sense of urgency. Though their carriage moved slowly, it was still faster than walking, and Qin Yan's galloping horse was swifter still. Yet after more than two hours of travel, they had neither caught sight of Qin Xiang on the main road nor seen Qin Yan catching up from behind.
Pursing her lips, Qin Shuang said, "How far could she have gotten on foot? Even walking a little extra in the courtyard tires her out, let alone now. Either she borrowed a horse or carriage from the Bai family's young master, or something's happened to her. Who knows if she left at midnight? If some village ruffians took her, what then?"
The more Qin Shuang thought about it, the more worried she became. Qin Guan also grew anxious and lifted the carriage curtain to call, "Steward Zhou."
Zhou Huai approached at her summons. Qin Guan said, "We still haven't seen her. Either she's hiding somewhere, or she has a carriage or horse, or something's happened to her. Steward Zhou, if possible, perhaps we could ask some villagers along the way if they've seen her pass by. If not, we'll have to turn back and search—there's also the chance she's met with trouble..."
Zhou Huai found it equally puzzling and nodded. "Alright, let's head to Sanyuan Village then."
Qin Guan had no fond memories of Sanyuan Village, but today they were merely passing through—surely they could stop briefly. Her eyes flickered thoughtfully. "Then let's ask at the Laifu Inn first."
Knowing how unwelcoming the villagers were, Zhou Huai immediately agreed.
On the day they'd traveled through heavy snow to the Herb Garden, the journey had taken nearly half a day. Today, with the snow melted, they made better time. After their discussion, another half-hour brought them to Sanyuan Village.
Their procession entered the village as grandly as before. True to form, they soon encountered villagers casting unfriendly glances, some even recognizing them. Likely recalling Sun Haoyue's previous visit, the passersby only shot hostile looks but didn't interfere. Following the village's main street, the carriage soon halted before the Changfu Inn.
"While we inquire, you young ladies should eat something. We'll need to continue our journey soon," Zhou Huai suggested.
At this, Fuling and the others brought out the pastries prepared by Aunt Lin. As they entered the courtyard, Wei Changfu emerged from inside with an exclamation, "Ah! The young Miss Qins have arrived! Seeing the clear weather, I thought you might be heading north soon—and here you are! Hmm, but where are the others—"
"The young master and Fifth Miss had other matters to attend to," Zhou Huai explained as he stepped forward, exchanging pleasantries with Wei Changfu as they moved into the main hall.
Wei Changfu said warmly, "Though we lack fine wine or dishes, hot tea we can provide." With that, he instructed his staff to serve tea.
On such a cold day, hot tea was a welcome comfort. The previous incident hadn't been Wei Changfu's fault, so Qin Guan and Qin Shuang seated themselves in the hall while Fuling and the others unpacked the food boxes, treating this as their midday meal.Meanwhile, Zhou Huai had already begun asking questions. Wei Changfu waved his hand dismissively, "No, the roads are unusually quiet these days. I'd actually be glad to see someone passing by..."
Zhou Huai's inquiry was subtle, but Wei Changfu paid it no mind. His gaze shifted instead to Qin Shuang, who was eating a Tea Cake with a particularly distinctive aroma. Wei Changfu sniffed lightly, his eyes suddenly brightening, "Miss Qin, who made this Tea Cake?"
Zhou Huai was anxious, but with Wei Changfu present, he couldn't speak freely with Qin Guan and the others. Hearing the question, Qin Shuang replied, "We brought it from Divine Doctor Sun's place. Why do you ask?"
Wei Changfu inhaled the scent again, "This Tea Cake smells truly delightful..."
Qin Shuang smiled, about to praise Aunt Lin's culinary skills, when Wei Changfu continued, "This aroma reminds me of a young cook from our village—the Zhang family's girl from the east end. The Zhang family has grown tea for generations and makes a special family recipe of Tea Cakes. The scent is exactly like the one you're eating, Miss Qin. I've even bought some before..."
Qin Shuang's eyes sparkled slightly, "Oh? Exactly the same and still available? Where is her home? I'd like to buy some to take with me..."
At this, Wei Changfu sighed, "You can't buy them anymore. The Zhang family's girl passed away a few months ago."
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