When Hu Shi returned to the manor with a grave expression, Qin Shu had already come out from the palace. Upon meeting, Hu Shi showed slight surprise, "How come you’ve returned so early, my lord? What did the Crown Prince and Her Majesty the Empress say?"
Qin Shu sighed, "The Crown Prince likely knows this is Prince Cheng’s doing, so he didn’t say much. However, I didn’t get to see Her Majesty the Empress and am still unaware of her stance."
As he spoke, Qin Shu recalled Yan Che’s cold, heavy gaze in those moments and sighed again, "In the end, this matter has humiliated His Highness the Crown Prince. But if they turn against our manor because of it, they would be falling right into Prince Cheng’s trap. The Crown Prince is essentially swallowing his anger for now—when and where he will vent it remains to be seen."
"Are you suggesting, my lord, that the Crown Prince might also take his anger out on us?"
Thinking of Qin Xiang, Qin Shu felt irritated. "Qin Xiang caused this trouble, and we share some oversight. If the Crown Prince blames us, it’s justified—it wouldn’t be misplaced anger. From now on, we cannot afford to make a single misstep."
Hu Shi nodded hurriedly. Qin Shu then asked her, "How did it go at the Xue residence?"
Though he posed the question, Qin Shu understood there couldn’t have been any issues at the Xue residence. Given their status, how would they dare show dissatisfaction? Besides, it was Prince Cheng who took someone—they had no choice but to accept this silent loss.
As Qin Shu mulled this over, he noticed Hu Shi’s hesitant expression and raised an eyebrow, "Did they say something unpleasant?"
Hu Shi quickly shook her head, "Not at all. I hadn’t met Master Xue or his wife before today. Upon meeting them, they both seemed honest and straightforward. Master Xue handled the situation quite properly—after learning what happened, he didn’t blame us, only said they lacked the fortune. While we were speaking in the hall, a servant came out and whispered a few words to Master Xue. I faintly heard the words ‘young master.’ After that, Master Xue said... he said the marriage had been settled, and their relatives and friends had already been informed. Then he asked if there was another young lady in the Qin family, implying that since it was never specified which young lady the marriage was with, and now that Qin Xiang has gone to Prince Cheng’s residence, perhaps Qin Shuang could be married over instead..."
A faint glint flashed in Qin Shuang’s eyes, "Are you suggesting... this was the idea of that Xue family young man?"
Hu Shi nodded, "I believe so. The servant used the pretext of serving tea to relay the message, and Master Xue looked somewhat troubled at the time."
Qin Shu showed surprise, fell silent in thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled, "That Xue family young man is quite clever. He serves in the Garrison Battalion with Ye’er. I’ll have Ye’er bring him to the manor—I want to see what kind of person he is."
A light sparked in Hu Shi’s eyes, "Do you mean you agree, my lord?"
Qin Shu chuckled, "Why not? This family was carefully chosen for Qin Xiang initially, and we would have sought a match for Qin Shuang later anyway—there’s no guarantee we’d find one as suitable. This idea of the Xue young man not only saves face for both families but also secures a good future for Qin Shuang. Moreover, the young man has his own plans in mind as well."The marriage alliance between the Xue family and the Marquis Manor would naturally bring Marquis Anyang Manor's support to Xue Qingshan's future achievements. Without the Marquis Manor, he would face considerable difficulties. Qin Shu didn't believe Xue Qingshan was merely seeking connections. "This arrangement benefits both families, but we shouldn't agree too hastily. I'll meet him first. If he truly has ambition and determination, it's better for me to learn more about him."
Hu Shi felt reassured. "Very well, then we won't reveal everything to Shuang'er for now—"
"I'll speak with Ye'er when I return tonight. You needn't worry about it for now."
After speaking, Qin Shu glanced at the sky outside. "Prepare yourselves. We'll bring Chao Yu and Shuang'er to Marquis Anyang Manor together."
After making preparations and bringing generous gifts, Qin Shu, Hu Shi, and the others arrived at Marquis Anyang Manor just before the hour of Wei.
Qin Guan had come to the Marquis Manor early in the morning. When Grand Princess and Marquis Anyang saw Qin Guan arriving alone, they were somewhat surprised. However, after Qin Guan finished speaking, Grand Princess understood immediately. Though Qin Guan didn't elaborate on all the details, both Grand Princess and Marquis Anyang grasped the situation at once. Since Grand Princess would eventually learn about this matter anyway, it was better to disclose it now.
Moreover, given Grand Princess's affection for Qin Guan, she would naturally extend her care to the Marquis Manor as well.
After Qin Guan finished speaking, Grand Princess indeed reprimanded Prince Cheng a few words. Delving deeper, this matter involved the struggle for the heir apparent. Grand Princess sighed deeply for a while before taking Qin Guan aside for a private conversation. By midday, Qin Shu and his wife arrived.
When Grand Princess left the capital, Qin Chaoyu was still a child, so she naturally didn't recognize her. Nor was she very familiar with Qin Shuang from their time in Jinzhou. Thus, this was their first formal meeting. Qin Shu and Marquis Anyang belonged to the same generation in their youth, but the old Marquis Anyang was a military officer while the old Loyal Marquis was a civil official, so their interactions had been limited. Now, because of Qin Guan, Marquis Anyang received Loyal Marquis with great enthusiasm, and the two went to the outer study to talk. Meanwhile, Jiang Shi accompanied Hu Shi to stay with Grand Princess.
Hu Shi, being socially adept, quickly adapted and felt at ease. Although Qin Chaoyu didn't think much of Qin Guan, she didn't dare show any disrespect to Grand Princess. In the palace, aside from the Empress Dowager, Grand Princess held the highest status among the royal bloodline. The Empress Dowager was the Empress's birth mother, while Grand Princess was the highest-ranking elder in the royal family!
During their conversation, the topic naturally turned to Qin Xiang's situation. Hu Shi said, "We never expected things to turn out this way. This morning, I went to the Xue residence to apologize. Fortunately, Master Xue was very understanding and didn't blame us. Otherwise, our Marquis Manor has never before broken a promise like this."
Grand Princess sighed softly. "That child Yan Qi truly acts too recklessly!"
As a senior member of the royal family, Grand Princess could speak freely, but no matter how much Hu Shi resented Prince Cheng, she couldn't openly criticize him. Hu Shi smiled and said, "It simply wasn't meant to be. Qin Xiang made her own choice, so we can't say much about it."
Understanding the difficulties faced by Loyal Marquis Manor, Grand Princess said, "You're in a difficult position, but the fault doesn't lie with you. I believe the Empress and Crown Prince understand this. The Eighth Young Miss is about to become Crown Princess. At this time, maintaining stability is paramount. As they say, everyone has their own destiny. The Fifth Young Miss made this choice, and it is her fate."The Grand Princess was already in her sixties and saw things very clearly. Hu Shi quickly agreed and changed the subject, while Yue Ning pulled Qin Guan aside to chat. Noticing Qin Shuang appeared somewhat reserved yet very close to Qin Guan, she also drew Qin Shuang into the conversation. Though Qin Chaoyu showed great respect toward the Grand Princess and Jiang Shi, she carried an air of aloofness among her peers.
Having sat with the Grand Princess for some time, Yue Ning tugged at Qin Guan’s sleeve and said, “Oh, by the way, Young Master Wei sent gifts yesterday, including a young pony. Come with me to take a look—”
Wei Qizhi? Qin Guan was slightly surprised and rose to her feet. Seeing Qin Guan about to leave, Qin Shuang instinctively stood up as well. Qin Chaoyu, however, remained indifferent. As someone destined to become the Crown Princess, she usually only took interest in refined arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. A pony? She had no interest whatsoever. Yue Ning then led Qin Guan and Qin Shuang out. The Grand Princess smiled and remarked, “The Eighth Miss is truly demure and serene. My granddaughter, however, has picked up so much from her two elder brothers that she’s practically become a tomboy…”
Hu Shi dared not agree with this. “The young lady takes after you in your youth—heroic and spirited, no less impressive than any man. Where can one find such boldness among young girls these days? They’re all so delicate and frail…”
Meanwhile, Yue Ning observed Qin Guan and commented, “That Eighth Miss from the Marquis Manor doesn’t seem very approachable, does she?”
Qin Guan smiled lightly. “That’s just her nature. It’s fine.”
Qin Shuang added, “Eighth Sister is rather proud and aloof. Besides, she’s going to be the Crown Princess.”
Yue Ning understood then and snorted softly. “Proud and aloof? Who isn’t? Even if she’s known as the top talented lady in the capital, she’s far too self-important. Standing aloof and detached even in front of Grandmother—it’s clear she doesn’t fit in. One can only imagine she hardly spares a word for any of you in daily life.”
Yue Ning had hit the mark. Qin Guan gave a wry smile. “We didn’t grow up together, after all. Besides, she won’t be staying at the Marquis Manor much longer. There’s no need to worry about me.”
Yue Ning looked at her. “You didn’t grow up with her either?”
Qin Guan’s heart skipped a beat—she had momentarily forgotten the Ninth Miss’s childhood memories. Clearing her throat, she asked, “Where is the pony? Why did Wei Qizhi send gifts to Marquis Anyang Manor?”
Realizing Qin Guan preferred not to discuss Qin Chaoyu behind her back, Yue Ning let the matter drop. “Not only did the Wei family send gifts, but the Duke Song’s household did as well. The Duke Song’s family was supposed to form a marriage alliance with us, but who could have expected such a thing to happen? Unlike the sudden upheaval at Loyal Marquis Manor, they came to apologize early on. Yet their actions were utterly despicable—concealing their own daughter’s scandal and marrying her off to us as if nothing happened. What do they take us for?”
Yue Ning sighed. “Song Rou may be innocent, but Duke Song is no honorable man. Though the matter of their apology is in the past, Grandmother, Father, and Mother won’t let it go so easily. They probably thought it would blow over if we never returned, but now that we’re back, they naturally seek reconciliation. We accepted their gifts, but Grandmother didn’t send any in return.”Yue Jia was originally supposed to get married last year, but because of the incident with Song Rou, the wedding didn't happen. Instead, it led to a violent case. Yue Jia probably lost all interest in marriage, which is why he joined the Northwest Frontier Army. Back then, Duke Song insisted on marrying Song Rou off to Jinzhou even though he clearly knew she had been violated. This was clearly a sign of disrespect toward the Grand Princess. Although this couldn't be called a feud, the Grand Princess would not tolerate the Duke Song Manor insulting the Marquis Anyang Manor like this!
"This is indeed the fault of the Duke Song Manor."
Qin Guan's voice deepened. Yue Ning added, "Grandmother is not one to be easily appeased. They were the ones who committed that act back then, and now they think sending some gifts and lowering their heads will make us forget? There's no such good thing in this world! My eldest brother has been away for two or three years now, and his marriage will definitely be delayed."
Qin Guan sighed inwardly, feeling even more disgusted by the shamelessness of the Duke Song Manor. She then asked, "What about Wei Qizhi?"
Yue Ning replied, "Wei Qizhi's mother comes from the Duke of Wei Manor. I heard that after this incident, his mother also blamed the Duke Song Manor. This time, he sent gifts to express his gratitude for the care we provided in Jinzhou. However, his parents didn't have the face to come to our manor themselves. These gifts are a gesture of his sincerity. My second brother has been going to the government office these past few days and apparently ran into him once. He's been dealing with many government offices lately, though I'm not sure what he's up to."
Thinking of Wei Qizhi, Qin Guan recalled his role as a royal merchant supplying horses. "Could he be planning to venture into other businesses?"
Wei Qizhi had no interest in court affairs, but he still had to support his family. Since the Wei family had built their fortune through commerce, he seemed to be following that path again. Yue Ning straightforwardly said she didn't know, and soon they arrived at the manor's stables. Qin Guan's eyes immediately lit up when she spotted a particularly glossy chestnut-colored pony, and she laughed, "This Wei Qizhi—when I saw him last time, why didn't he give me a horse!"
Her tone was teasing. Yue Ning raised an eyebrow. "If he gave you a horse, you wouldn't ride it anyway…"
Yue Ning often rode horses when she went out, so a horse would be more useful to her. Ignoring Qin Guan's teasing gaze, Yue Ning walked to the stable and led the pony out. Qin Shuang didn't know much about horses, but she still exclaimed, "What a beautiful horse! So small and adorable."
Yue Ning smiled. "This horse is named Red Luan. I heard he hunted it in the northwest. It has a fierce temperament…"
As soon as she finished speaking, the pony snorted loudly, kicked its hooves, and neighed. Yue Ning shouted sharply, quickly tightened the reins, and stepped forward to pat the pony's head, calming it down.
"When it was delivered yesterday, several servants couldn't even get it into the stable. It took me a long time to train it to obey me. I suppose we have some fate together."
After admiring the pony, the sun had already begun to set. The Grand Princess ordered dinner to be served, and everyone gathered for the meal. Although the Anyang Marquis led troops, he was also adept in official circles. Qin Shu was already accustomed to such occasions, and because of Qin Guan, the two men chatted very happily. During the meal, they even shared a few drinks. After dinner, Qin Shu finally took his leave with Hu Shi.
Jiang Shi and Yue Qiong saw Qin Guan and her party off. When they returned, they overheard Yue Ning speaking with the Grand Princess. "Granddaughter thinks that the Eighth Young Lady is too arrogant. I wonder if she will make things difficult for Fourth Sister."
The Grand Princess tapped Yue Ning's forehead. "You never cared about these matters before. Why the sudden interest now?"Yue Ning let out a light hum, "In the past, Jinzhou didn’t have these people who act as if their eyes are about to roll up to the heavens..."
The Grand Princess smiled, "Being proud and aloof has its advantages. Some people may think too highly of themselves and be difficult to get along with, but they won’t stoop to despicable actions. Rest assured, she won’t be able to bully Xi girl."
On the carriage ride back, Hu Shi was also advising Qin Chaoyu, "Yu'er, when they went out today, you should have followed along. In front of the Grand Princess, you should at least pretend to be close to Wan'er."
Qin Chaoyu pursed her lips, "What’s the point of pretending? We’re not sisters from the same branch of the family. It’s only natural that we’re not close. If I were overly friendly, that would truly be strange."
Hu Shi sighed bitterly, "That may be true, but you need to be more tactful. You can’t let everything show on your face. In the future, when you enter the Eastern Palace and become the Empress, with three thousand women in the harem, you must embody virtue and grace to serve as a model for the nation."
Qin Chaoyu’s expression darkened instantly, but she did not refute Hu Shi. That day had once seemed distant, but now it was drawing near. Yet, she still hadn’t fully grasped what it meant. If she didn’t figure it out, she would surely suffer in the future.
"Mother, I understand. I know the importance of not showing one’s emotions."
Hu Shi sighed again, "Your father says the Empress and the Crown Prince both want to set your wedding date earlier. It’s likely the grand ceremony will take place before July. I truly can’t bear to part with you..."
Qin Chaoyu said nothing, only tightening her grip on Hu Shi’s hand.
Upon returning to the Marquis’s residence, Qin Shu, upon learning of Qin Ye’s return, immediately summoned him to the study. After a series of instructions, Qin Ye noted the late hour and said, "Why don’t I make a trip to the Xue residence now? Although I’m not familiar with Brother Xue, knowing he’ll soon be my brother-in-law, I’ve exchanged a few words with him. In my opinion, this man is not simple."
Qin Shu grew intrigued, "How so?"
Qin Ye thought for a moment, then replied, "I can’t quite put my finger on it, but these past few years, while handling family affairs and traveling extensively, I’ve rarely encountered someone my age whom I can’t read. Brother Xue is one of them. He’s only a year older than me, yet he carries himself with far more composure."
Qin Shu’s interest deepened, "Good. Then go to the Xue residence now. Ask him to come tomorrow and drop a hint that the matter he’s considering has a high chance of my approval."
Qin Ye acknowledged the order, took two guards, and left the Marquis’s residence under the cover of night. Turning left upon exiting, he headed straight for the southern part of the city.
The night pressed down like a net of ink. The Xue residence was located in Mingde Ward, south of Xing’an Ward, an area inhabited by nobles and the wealthy. Qin Ye took the side road, urging his horse forward with a whip. The sound of hooves echoed from Xingle Ward all the way to Xing’an Ward. In a dark alley at the border of Xing’an and Mingde Wards, a dying figure suddenly widened his eyes at the sound of approaching hooves. A rasping noise escaped his throat, but as the hoofbeats faded into the distance, he remained utterly immobilized. Soon, his trembling eyes fixed on the pitch-black sky, never to blink again.
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