The sun and moon had just arrived. It wasn't the eighth day of winter yet, but the weather was gradually getting colder. Even the pots of old madam's favorite chrysanthemums that were placed along the corridor of the Prime Minister's fu were slightly wilting. Something big had happened in the fu, so the servants had no time to take care of it. The chrysanthemums were left standing proudly alone.
Mammy Qin rubbed her hands and quickly walked into Ci Xiao Garden. She walked through the hall and stepped on the bluestone and square brick paved path. She hurriedly walked all the way to the main room. Her dark green cotton cloak spread out behind her in a fan shape because of her hurry.
When she reached the corridor, a young maidservant who hadn't yet grown her hair politely held a brass hand warmer with her hands. "Mammy Qin is back."
"En." Mammy Qin raised her eyes and glanced at the young maidservant. The young maidservant immediately withdrew.
Outside the main room, the dark green curtain embroidered with happiness and longevity was lifted. It was the head maidservant Ji Xiang who came out to greet them.
When she saw Mammy Qin, Ji Xiang hurriedly pulled her to the side and whispered, "Old madam is feeling better now. The maidservants are chatting with her."
Mammy Qin rubbed her cold hands on the hand warmer and asked in a low voice, "Is the first furen here right now?"
Ji Xiang shook her head and pointed in the direction of Xingning Garden with her fair finger, making a tearful gesture. "Second Madam and Third Madam are both in Xingning Garden trying to persuade her." She then asked seriously, "Has Lord brought her back?"
Mammy Qin nodded with a grave expression.
This time, even Ji Xiang's expression changed subtly.
The two lifted the curtain and entered the room. They put the hand warmer on the round mahogany table in the corner of the outer room.
Mammy Qin patted her cold and stiff face and squeezed out a moderate smile. Then, she quickly walked around the black screen with the words "Happiness on the Plum Tree" and went to the side hall.
Compared to the outdoor room, the side hall that old madam usually used for banquets was as warm as spring.
The sunlight shone in through the lattice window pasted with Gaoli paper, coating all the exquisite mahogany carvings and decorations in the room with a layer of soft light. The chairs were covered with light green brocade, and the floor was covered with a soft carpet from Persia with beautiful blooming flowers. There was a charcoal brazier placed in the middle of the floor. Inside the brazier, high-quality silver charcoal had been burned long ago. Two young married women were sitting beside the brazier to warm themselves. There were also five charming young girls standing or sitting around a mahogany Ru Yi carved Luohan bed placed by the window.
The old madam was wearing a tea-colored golden cloud brocade with a button-up collar. On her head, she was wearing a brocade headband inlaid with jadeite of the same color. A large hairpin inlaid with gold and jadeite was inserted diagonally. She was sitting cross-legged on the arhat bed. Behind her, she was leaning against a light green big pillow. She was talking to a delicate and pretty young girl who was wearing a light blue robe. Her expression was very loving, no different from the past.
Mammy Qin felt awestruck. Fourth Young Lady was really the most favored. Even after such a big thing happened, her weight in old madam's heart didn't decrease at all!
"Old Madam." Mammy Qin saluted.
Everyone in the room fell silent at the same time. They all looked at her with different expressions.
The old madam's face darkened. In a deep voice, she asked, "She has returned?"
Mammy Qin carefully lowered her head and bowed. "Yes, this servant was at the second gate when I heard someone pass on the message that Eldest Master, Second Master, Eldest Master, and Second Master had brought a new young lady into Yi Sect. This servant hurriedly came back to report to you."
The old madam's frown deepened. "Did you see what kind of person she was?" Without waiting for Mammy Qin's reply, she coldly said, "Why did you say that she was a young lady from our fu?! Our Sister Hui has been raised for fourteen years. I hold her in the palm of my hand and dote on her like a pearl or a treasure. How did she change from my biological granddaughter to a fake granddaughter?! "
As soon as she finished speaking, the blue-clothed young girl sitting next to the old madam sobbed again.
The old madam sighed. She pulled the blue-clothed young girl's hand and coaxed, "Sister Hui, don't cry. Your crying is breaking Grandmother's heart."
Qin Huining sobbed as she approached the old madam. Tears hung from her cheeks. Her pair of bright almond eyes had long swollen into walnuts from crying. "Grandmother, Granddaughter has received your love for so many years in vain. Granddaughter has wronged you and the Family Qin … How can Granddaughter be fake? How can Granddaughter be fake …"
With her crying complaint, the room became so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard. The young ladies all looked at the old madam in unison.
The old madam couldn't bear to see the only granddaughter of the eldest branch shed tears. She hugged Qin Huining and cried out, "Don't be sad. No one dares to call you out. You grew up under my watch. How can you not be your parents' biological child? There's no guarantee that you will bring back a bastard child who is scheming to climb up the ladder of riches and honor! No matter what, Grandmother wants you and likes you. "
"Grandmother!" Qin Huining knelt in front of the old madam emotionally. She hugged the old madam's legs and leaned her tear-stained face on the old madam's knees.
No matter what, as long as the old madam was willing to dote on her, she was still the di daughter of the eldest branch!
The old madam wore a jade ring. Her wrinkled hand stroked Qin Huining's head.
This scene was so heartwarming. How could the bystanders not understand? The young ladies of the second and third branches were all moved and shed a few tears.
"Old madam, First Old Master, Second Old Master, First Old Master, and Second Old Master have returned." Outside the door, the young girl's voice was very crisp.
As the warm curtains were lifted, a gust of cold wind poured in.
Everyone craned their necks to look outside. They saw First Old Master, Second Old Master, First Old Master, and Second Old Master come in one after another around the screen. Behind them was a tall young girl with beautiful eyes.
Seeing her, everyone's eyes couldn't help but light up.
The young girl was around thirteen or fourteen years old. She was wearing a new set of light yellow clothes with a plain face and floral makeup. Her gait was light and graceful as she walked. Although her figure was thin, there was a kind of temperament in her bones. Her raven black hair was combed into two flat buns and secured with two light yellow satin ribbons. She didn't wear any makeup on her face. Her cherry lips were slightly pale. Her willowy eyebrows reached her temples, and her almond-shaped eyes were sparkling.
Her appearance was seventy percent similar to the Family Qin's First Old Master, Qin Huaiyuan, when he was young!
Obviously, the young girl didn't often see the Family Qin. At this time, her head was slightly lowered. Although she was quiet and serene, she was also somewhat timid and uneasy. Looking at her, she made people feel even more pity for her.
Family Qin produced beauties. Qin Huaiyuan was an outstanding talent among his peers. When he was young, he was listed as the head of the "Four Gentlemen of the Capital". Many young ladies flocked to him. If he were to ride a carriage around the city, he would definitely fill the carriage with flowers and fruits.
He was knowledgeable and unparalleled in strategy. At the age of twenty-three, he used a scheme to drive a wedge between the enemy country's Protector General, Zong Zhongzheng, and caused the country of Beiji to fall into chaos and gradually perish. Since then, his official career had been meteoric. Today, he was already the Prime Minister of Dayan.
Although Beiji had changed its dynasty to Da Zhou, and the son of the Protector General, Zong Zhongzheng, had killed his way into Dayan and was about to enter the capital, Qin Huaiyuan's talent and appearance were still well-known. In the past few years, there had been a story in the teahouse about "Wise Pan An's clever scheme to get rid of evil generals".
The appearance and character of the young lady in front of them were remarkably similar to the "Wise Pan An" when he was young. They didn't need to investigate to confirm that this was definitely Qin Huaiyuan's biological daughter.
However, if she was Qin Huaiyuan's legitimate daughter, then who was Qin Huining, who had been raised by the eldest son's wife for fourteen years?
Everyone's gaze couldn't help but shift back and forth between Qin Huining and the young lady. Qin Huining's face turned purple.
Old madam curled her lips. While patting Qin Huining's hand to appease him, she sized up the young lady in front of her with a critical look.
Although she was dressed appropriately, she didn't even dare to raise her eyebrows. She looked like a country bumpkin who hadn't seen the world before entering the city … Other than looking like her eldest son, she really didn't have the demeanor that a legitimate daughter of an aristocratic family should have.
Sister Hui, who had been raised in front of her, was still better!
Old madam tightened her grip on Qin Huining's hand, bringing her infinite comfort.
"Mother (Old madam), greetings." Qin Huaiyuan, Second Master Qin Xiuyuan, Eldest Master Qin Yu, and Second Master Qin Han all saluted old madam.
Old madam waved her hand faintly, "Get up." Her eyes were still fixed on the young lady.
"Sister Yi, why haven't you kowtowed to your grandmother?" Qin Huaiyuan said coldly.
"Sister Yi?" Old madam raised her eyebrows.
"Yes, mother. These years, she only has a nickname outside. This son has given her a formal name, Yi Ning." After saying this, he glared at the young lady who was still foolishly staring at him.
After all, she had grown up in a wild mountain village. She had no knowledge, no rules, and was a blockhead.
The young lady pursed her cherry lips and recalled the etiquette that her cousin, Qin Han, had taught her at the inn. She obediently knelt down and saluted, "Granddaughter greets grandmother." Her voice was like a new oriole leaving the valley, very pleasant to the ears.
Old madam cast a sidelong glance at her, barely passing the test. She lightly snorted, "Now you're called Yi Ning? Then what was your previous name? "
"Grandmother, my previous name was Xiao Xi."
"Why did you have such a name?"
"Because my adoptive mother picked me up from Xiao Xi and brought me home, so I was called Xiao Xi."
Hearing this, everyone had different thoughts. Some were mocking her, while others were sighing.
Qin Huaiyuan tightly clenched his fists, but his expression showed that he couldn't bear to see her like this.
Qin Han sighed with pity. He really pitied this cousin of his who had been through a rough life since she was a child.
However, old madam laughed mockingly, "You call something you picked up by a stream 'little stream'? If you were picked up from a dog kennel, wouldn't you be called a dog? Ignorant people don't even know how to give a name. I think you shouldn't be called Yi Ning. You don't deserve to be called Yi Ning. You should still be called Xiao Xi. "
Everyone was silent.
Qin Yining raised his head and looked at Old madam in astonishment.
It seemed that this family didn't welcome her. This grandmother was especially displeased with her.
That's right. She heard that the concubines of the wealthy families in the city would secretly fight for a long time over a small hole in the winter. Now that she had been found by her biological father, she must have taken someone's position and been an eyesore to someone …
Actually, she felt that Xiao Xi was better.
However, she was originally the daughter of the Family Qin. Why should she give up what should belong to her to someone else? Was it her fault that she was swapped away by her father's political enemy? Shouldn't she go home after surviving so hard?
Old madam felt inexplicably uncomfortable under her clear and bright almond-shaped eyes. She said coldly, "I heard that you have been hiding alone in the deep mountains all these years?"
"Yes." Qin Yining lowered his eyes again.
"Why did you think of going up the mountains?"
"Because of the war, the people in the city had no way to make a living. Many people who profited from the country's disaster abducted people and sold them. After my adoptive mother died, I was afraid that I would be abducted and sold, so I went up the mountains alone."
Liang City was located at the border between the two countries. The flames of war had not stopped for more than ten years. Nine out of ten houses were already empty.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
