The Brocade Embroidery Workshop in Jinzhou shared the same prestigious reputation as its counterpart in the capital. As the Qin Manor party stepped down from their carriage, a servant hurried forward to greet them with enthusiastic hospitality. No sooner had they entered the shop than the manager emerged from behind the counter.
“Ah, Madam Qin has arrived! Please, take a seat here—tea will be served at once!”
Lin Shi was ushered to a guest seat by the manager, who then lavished praise upon Qin Li and Qin Chen. Suddenly, the manager added, “Young Master, how did the Young Mistress find the sapphire headpiece you ordered here last time?”
A faint smile curved Qin Chen’s lips as he glanced at Qin Guan. “Yet I haven’t seen Ninth Miss wearing it.”
The manager looked momentarily puzzled. Qin Guan pressed her lips together and said, “It was far too precious, so I haven’t worn it yet.”
The manager, ever sharp, immediately grasped the situation. “Ah, so the Young Master and Mistress gifted it to another. That sapphire set is of exceptional quality—it would suit either the Young Mistress or Ninth Miss splendidly.”
Qin Chen chuckled. “Today, my siblings and I are here for new autumn attire. Please arrange for someone to assist us.”
The manager quickly assented and turned to instruct his staff.
Meanwhile, Lin Shi spoke up, “Once the measurements are done, Chen’er, make arrangements for tomorrow’s lake excursion.” She then turned to Qin Guan. “Tomorrow afternoon, Guan’er and Xiang’er will go to Lishui Lake together. This will be your first time celebrating the Autumn Festival.”
Qin Guan was taken aback that Lin Shi had included her in the outing with Qin Xiang this year. She hurriedly replied, “Third Aunt, yesterday at the Marquis Manor, the Marquis and his wife also invited me. At the time, I wasn’t aware of the family’s plans and had already accepted.”
Lin Shi looked surprised. “Guan’er, you’ll be joining the Marquis Anyang Manor’s boat?”
Qin Guan nodded. “Yes, they will come to fetch me tomorrow afternoon.”
Just as Lin Shi was about to agree, Qin Xiang interjected, “Mother, she’s already latched onto the Marquis Manor’s high branches. Why trouble yourself over her? With the Marquis Manor’s invitation, she’d naturally look down on our humble Qin Manor boat.”
“Xiang’er!” Lin Shi rebuked in a low voice. Qin Xiang snorted and turned away.
Lin Shi then smiled at Qin Guan. “Since you’ve already accepted the Marquis Manor’s invitation, you should naturally honor it. Prepare early tomorrow.”
Qin Guan nodded. “Yes, I understand.”
Lin Shi seemed satisfied and said no more.
Aware of the tension between Qin Xiang and Qin Guan, Lin Shi had Qin Xiang enter first for her measurements. Meanwhile, Qin Chen was escorted to the men’s fitting area. As Lin Shi sipped her tea, Qin Li slowly approached Qin Guan.
“Where did Ninth Miss go earlier?” Qin Li began, intent on pressing her.
Qin Guan remained composed. “I had to fetch medicine from the storage.”
Qin Li smirked, his narrow eyes glinting. “Really? Your maid left in quite a hurry, and you returned with a sheen of sweat. If both trips were made swiftly, there’s no way you could have kept us waiting so long.”
Unfazed, Qin Guan replied, “Second Brother notices such details? You’re right, but it wasn’t because I went elsewhere. After my maid came to inform me, I waited a while before heading to Orchid Isle Courtyard.”
Qin Li raised a brow, glancing toward Lin Shi. “You dared delay when summoned by an elder?”
A hint of indifference flickered in Qin Guan’s eyes. “I assumed it wasn’t urgent, so I prioritized fetching the medicine.”Qin Li raised his brows again, clearly not expecting Qin Guan to respond this way. He chuckled lightly, "I thought you were going to keep pretending to be obedient. So you do harbor some resentment after all."
Qin Guan lifted her chin slightly. "If it were you, Second Brother, would you feel no resentment at all?"
Qin Li shook his head. "No. Not only would I feel resentment, I might even seek revenge."
The corners of Qin Guan's lips curled up, but she remained silent.
When Qin Chen came out, he happened to see Qin Li and Qin Guan speaking. Frowning, he approached and said, "Second Brother, it's your turn now."
Qin Li didn’t seem particularly intimidated by Qin Chen. He glanced at Qin Guan for a moment before responding. As Qin Li walked toward the inner room, Qin Chen stepped closer to Qin Guan. "What was he saying to you just now?"
Qin Guan gave a bitter smile. "He asked why I arrived so late earlier."
Qin Chen blinked. "Earlier? Oh, we did wait for a while. Was he reprimanding you?"
Qin Guan shook her head, her tone somewhat lighter. "Not exactly. He just asked where I had been. I explained, saying I had waited for Doctor Qian after hearing news about Wan Xing before coming out." She then added with slight discomfort, "At the time, I didn’t know what Madam wanted with me, and I was eager to finish preparing the medicine."
Qin Chen’s smile widened. "You..." He glanced at Lin Shi and lowered his voice. "But I used to drag my feet too when Mother called for me."
Hearing this, Qin Guan felt a genuine warmth toward her elder brother.
Yet, the next moment, Qin Chen suddenly said with a serious expression, "Your Second Brother is usually quite improper. It’s best to keep your distance from him ordinarily."
A strange thought flickered through Qin Guan’s mind, but before she could grasp it, it vanished. A hollow feeling settled in her chest, and she recalled the Eighth Concubine she had seen emerging from the Purple Bamboo Forest that morning. Could that fleeting thought have been related to her?
"Ninth Sister, what’s wrong?"
Noticing Qin Guan’s pensive expression, Qin Chen asked again.
Qin Guan quickly snapped out of it and shook her head. "It’s nothing. Don’t worry, Eldest Brother. I understand."
Qin Chen looked satisfied. Meanwhile, Qin Xiang finished her measurements, and the attendant invited Lin Shi inside. Seeing Qin Guan and Qin Chen conversing, Lin Shi entered with Qin Xiang supporting her. As soon as Lin Shi stepped in, Qin Li emerged, fastening his outer robe.
As Qin Li dressed while walking toward Qin Guan, her gaze casually drifted over—until her brows suddenly furrowed.
Qin Li was wearing a high-collared, diagonal-buttoned men’s robe. When not fully fastened, his neck was completely covered. But as he approached while adjusting his clothes, Qin Guan caught a clear glimpse of a faint red swelling on his neck—one that seemed slightly ulcerated, strikingly similar to a disease she had studied before.
Her frown deepened as she watched Qin Li draw nearer.
But how could Qin Li have contracted such an illness?
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