When Qin Guan returned to Pine Breeze Courtyard, her brows remained tightly furrowed.
Fuling observed Qin Guan's expression and felt somewhat uneasy. She glanced at Baiying, who shook her head slightly. While Qin Guan had been speaking with Qin Shu inside the room earlier, Baiying had been standing guard outside and had no idea what had transpired within. Yet, with her keen intuition, Baiying understood perfectly well that Qin Shu must have expressed dissatisfaction with Qin Guan's recent actions.
Baiying understood court intrigues better than Fuling. Qin Guan's recent investigation involved the Empress, and Baiying knew this was precisely what had provoked Qin Shu's displeasure. However, Baiying also knew Qin Guan's character deeply - though outwardly gentle and beautiful, inwardly she was as unyielding as resilient bamboo.
This meant Qin Guan's position in the manor would become increasingly awkward.
As Baiying pondered this, Qin Guan was also contemplating the matter. Qin Shu's words today had been perfectly clear. For now, he was only demanding her compliance in matters not yet life-threatening. But if the mastermind behind Prince Jin's case proved to be the Empress and the Eastern Palace, and if her own father had been framed and killed by them, she could never let them go unpunished. What would Qin Shu do then?
To preserve the manor's wealth and status, Qin Guan had no doubt Qin Shu would not hesitate to kill her directly!
Before things reached that point, she needed to take action.
Having made up her mind, Qin Guan quickly fetched paper and brush. With a stern expression, she wrote swiftly for a moment before examining the brief letter with relief. Waiting for the ink to dry, she folded the letter carefully. Though darkness had fallen outside, she called Baiying in. "Deliver this letter to the western residence and hand it personally to Han Laobo."
Baiying felt surprised but pleased that Qin Guan had acted so quickly. She nodded and turned to leave.
Fuling looked at Qin Guan uneasily. "Miss, what's wrong?"
Qin Guan smiled faintly. "Nothing, don't worry."
Fuling pressed her lips together - these words did little to ease her doubts. Qin Guan turned and pushed open the window, her gaze falling upon the bright moon hanging high outside. It was a clear night with scattered clouds, the autumn wind carried a biting chill, yet it made Qin Guan feel increasingly calm. "Do you think the manor is good?" Qin Guan asked.
Fuling was taken aback, unsure what Qin Guan meant. Hesitantly, she nodded. "Of course... of course it's good."
Qin Guan's lips curved. "If it's so good, why hesitate?!"
Fuling chuckled awkwardly. "Well, compared to the previous Qin Manor, it's certainly better."
Qin Guan turned to look at Fuling. "Can you consider this your home?"
Fuling's eyes shifted as she realized the unusual nature of Qin Guan's question - such tone wouldn't be used for casual inquiry. The smile slowly faded from Fuling's face as she calmly replied, "Although it's quite good already... I still can't quite consider it my home..."Qin Guan let out a sigh. This was Fuling’s true feelings. She had noticed it long ago—though Fuling appeared calm and cheerful, she rarely left Pine Breeze Courtyard. Usually, she only played in the courtyard with a few young maids, seldom even stepping beyond the garden at the entrance of Pine Breeze Courtyard. When facing the servants in the estate, she showed some confidence toward the lowest-ranking cleaning women, but with the older, more established servants, she instinctively lacked assertiveness. Not only did she often swallow her pride, but she also went out of her way to win them over and please them. Qin Guan saw all of this clearly but had never mentioned it.
Though Fuling didn’t follow her out daily like Baiying, her life in the estate was far from peaceful.
Fuling wanted her, the Ninth Miss, to secure a firm footing in the marquis’ estate, but how could that be easy?!
If not for her status as a princess, her situation today would be even more precarious, as if living under someone else’s roof. The marquis’ estate would never truly become her home—never. This feeling hadn’t been so obvious before, but now, with her father’s case looming before her and the Eastern Palace and the Empress hanging over her head like two sharp blades, she had no choice but to face this issue head-on.
Yet, her wedding date with Yan Chi was not far off. At this moment, how should she choose?
Qin Guan sighed. Fuling quickly asked again, “Miss, what’s really the matter?”
Qin Guan looked at Fuling with a calm expression. “Nothing. I was just thinking about where we can truly call home.”
Fuling blinked. “Once Miss marries the Crown Prince, won’t that be our real home?!”
Qin Guan couldn’t help but laugh, and Yan Chi’s face surfaced in her mind once more.
The wedding date was indeed approaching, but for her and Yan Chi, how could having a true home be so simple!
…
Early the next morning, Qin Guan entered the palace. The Empress Dowager’s health had improved slightly, so Qin Guan accompanied her for a stroll in the rear garden. The Empress Dowager sighed as she looked at the yellow leaves covering the ground. “In the blink of an eye, it’s the Autumn Festival again. I still remember last year during the festival—Yan Li made such a huge Sky Lantern that flew up into the sky. It truly opened my eyes.”
At this time in the Great Zhou dynasty, Sky Lanterns were not yet popular. Yan Li’s sudden display of ingenuity had undoubtedly delighted the Empress Dowager. Qin Guan said, “This evening, let Prince Li release a few more Sky Lanterns for you and make a wish—”
The Empress Dowager chuckled. “Never mind, never mind. I won’t summon him. Let him stay with his mother.” As she said this, she seemed to recall something and added, “Yan Chi is still in the mourning period, or else I would have called for him.”
During the mourning period, no feasts or celebrations were permitted. Thinking of this year’s Autumn Festival, Qin Guan felt a pang of sorrow, realizing that Yan Chi had now lost both his parents. The Empress Dowager, sharing the same thought, tightly grasped Qin Guan’s hand. “You two… truly… Later, I’ll have someone prepare some pastries for you to bring to him.”
Hearing this, Qin Guan naturally agreed at once.
After accompanying the Empress Dowager a while longer until she grew tired, Qin Guan escorted her back to the main hall. The Empress Dowager was about to take her midday rest but suddenly clutched Qin Guan’s hand again. “Has that guard still not been found?”
Qin Guan paused for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, he hasn’t been found yet.”
The Empress Dowager uttered an “Oh,” said nothing more, and closed her eyes.Qin Guan vaguely seemed to catch a flicker of dark light in the Empress Dowager's eyes, but upon seeing her serene sleeping face, she doubted her own perception. Shaking her head inwardly, Qin Guan soon left the Longevity and Health Palace.
Just outside the palace gates, a grand procession with purple canopies and ornate banners approached imposingly. Squinting, Qin Guan saw the Empress seated gracefully in the Imperial Carriage. The guards at the entrance knelt in salute, and Qin Guan followed suit. Moments later, the carriage halted before her. Keeping her head bowed, she said, "Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress."
Zhao Shuhua looked down at Qin Guan, her beautiful eyes dark and unreadable like still water, yet she remained silent. Without her permission to rise, Qin Guan could only kneel. Lowering her gaze slightly, Qin Guan understood well why Zhao Shuhua acted this way.
After a long pause, Zhao Shuhia finally smiled faintly. "Has the County Princess come to see the Empress Dowager today?"
"Yes, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has already begun her noon rest—"
"Oh, what a pity! This Consort has arrived too late!" Zhao Shuhua's tone was full of regret as she glanced down at the crown of Qin Guan's head. "The Empress Dowager's health is frail. You should visit more often. Winter is approaching, and you must know how vulnerable the elderly become in cold weather. His Majesty and I trust you—the Empress Dowager's well-being is in your hands."
Qin Guan nodded. "Understood. Your Majesty need not worry."
Zhao Shuhua hummed in acknowledgment. "Good. Medical skills can save lives—focus your efforts there. Nothing is more important than tending to the Empress Dowager. Also, given her age and poor health, avoid troubling her with matters of the Longevity and Health Palace. If you have any concerns, you may bring them to this Consort."
Qin Guan frowned slightly before replying after a moment, "Yes—"
Zhao Shuhua smiled faintly and waved her hand, signaling the carriage to turn back.
Qin Guan remained kneeling throughout, only rising with Baiying's assistance after Zhao Shuhua had departed.
"Master, you—"
Qin Guan shook her head. "It's nothing. Let us proceed to Prince Rui's royal residence."
Accompanied by a maid from the Longevity and Health Palace carrying two food boxes filled with pastries, Qin Guan walked silently to the palace gates. The carriage then headed straight for Prince Rui's royal residence.
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