The blowing autumn wind was a little bit dry, but Xie Ruying outside felt so gloomy as rainy days. She felt very afflictive.
“Third Young Madam.” Xie Ruying stepped forward immediately after she saw Qin Yunuan came out.
Qin Yunuan just glimpsed at her without much attention, but she still stopped. She said nothing and waited for Xie Ruying to speak first. Qin Yunuan wanted to know what else bullshit Xie Ruying could say. The must in the flower sachet had made Qin Yunuan refreshed utterly. There were many spies in Prince Ning’s Mansion.
“Third Young Madam, could you listen to me for a while?” Xie Ruying stepped forward and gave a sign to Leng Shuang beside Qin Yunuan. Xie Ruying knew the ability of this maidservant well. The maidservant was rare to show up, but she could appear suddenly when there was an emergency. It seemed that the maidservant was so skilled.
“Leng Shuang, you quit first.” Qin Yunuan ordered, and then smiled to Xie Ruying, “What do you want to tell me?”
“Third Young Madam, I made a mistake this time. I was wrong and got the punishment,” Xie Ruying pretended to be so miserable with her tears dripping from her cheek, “But you misunderstood me, indeed. I just felt so grateful to Third Young Master. Many years ago, I came to the Royal City first and knew little about the city. I almost got hurt by some rogue in the street. It was the Third Young Master who saved me and protected my virginity. Thus, I can’t forget his generous aid.”
Qin Yunuan looked at Xie Ruying with pitiful eyes, but she sneered in her heart. The virginity of Xie Ruying must have been destroyed in some men’s beds.
“Actually, Third Young Madam, what you need to beware of is the Fourth Miss.” Xie Ruying wiped her tears and said solemnly.
Fourth Miss, Leng Suxin?
Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows slightly and said seriously, “Miss Xie. I don’t understand. The Fourth Miss is the sister of my husband, and my husband treats her well. It is so appropriate. Why should I be careful?”
“Although they are siblings,” Xie Ruying said in a very low voice, “But they are not kin siblings. The Fourth Miss and Third Young Master had an intense relationship in their childhood. But since you entered the life of Third Young Master, he had paid much attention to you and cared less about the Four Miss. The Fourth Miss was so jealous. She looks so elegant and unique in daily life, but she is very sensitive in her heart. She remembers all the resentment. Maybe one day, she will revenge you, my Third Young Madam….”
“Enough.” Qin Yunuan suddenly interrupted the report of Xie Ruying, “Miss Xie, I respect you because you have served my mother for so long. But you can’t judge others casually. The Fourth Miss is the legal daughter of Prince Ning’s Mansion, and she is the kin granddaughter of the Old Madam. Please pay attention to your position and the title of the Fourth Miss.”
“I…” Xie Ruying was speechless. She thought Qin Yunuan would become kinder to her due to the secret news revealed forwardly by her. After all, Qin Yunuan was the legal wife of Leng Changxi, and she was granted to be the Infanta. Qin Yunuan would destroy Xie Ruying so quickly if she wanted to do that.
“Leng Shuang, let’s go.” Qin Yunuan left decisively without leaving a chance for Xie Ruying to explain. Qin Yunuan said to Leng Shuang in a low voice when they passed the corner of the wall, “Thank you for reminding me, or I would not have noticed that someone was overhearing.”
Leng Shuang bowed her fists and said, “This is my responsibility. Third Young Master, you alerted me last time that there seemed to be two slim and high-skilled maidservants beside the Old Madam, so I used my genuine energy to check the circumstances around when you were talking with Miss Xie. As expected, I found that some high-skilled people hid behind the corner of the wall.”
“Right,” Qin Yunuan nodded. She was very satisfied with the carefulness and calm of Leng Shuang. Suddenly, she thought about another thing, “Well, I let you have a check about those followers around Sima Ray, so did you find anything?”
Leng Shuang frowned and added, “I could not make sure of the specific condition. But I found that the Third Prince had collected many talented people who were settled in a mansion in the eastern city. I did not figure out if there was someone you suspected.”
“Talented people?” Qin Yunuan turned her head and pondered for a while, “The birthday of the Queen Mother is coming a few days later. During these key days, Sima Ray does a lot. It seems that he will play a big trick. You still keep observing him.”
Leng Shuang promised by bowing her fists.
In the meanwhile, the Old Madam was in leisure time. Compared with her angry emotions outside just now, the Old Madam now was sitting on the rocking chair in a serene and kind mood. On her left hand, a maidservant was lighting the incense while on her right hand, Leng Suxin was massaging the legs of the Old Madam silently.
After a while, a slim maidservant entered along with the corridor. The Old Madam glimpsed at her and then waved her hands to let other maidservants quit. Leng Suxin was about to leave, but the Old Madam called her back.
“It’s OK. You stay here and listen to our words.”
“Yes.”
The slim maidservant raised her eyes to glance at Leng Suxin, and then reported the specific dialogue she heard just now between Qin Yunuan and Xie Ruying to the Old Madam. When she mentioned Leng Suxin, she felt a little bit worried. But when she looked at the calm face of Leng Suxin, she got calm too.
The Old Madam squinted after she heard the whole dialogue. She knew that though Qin Yunuan came from a menial status, the new bride was very prudent about the status hierarchy and did not do anything beyond the manners. The Old Madam nodded and then closed her eyes. She asked Leng Suxin, “What do you think about it?”
Leng Suxin answered indifferently, “I dislike the two people, so I don’t care.”
The Old Madam opened her eyes slowly and knocked the arms of the rocking chair lightly. Suddenly she said in a slightly sincere mood, “You should restrain your affection. After all, you are the sister of Leng Changxi nominally.”
Leng Suxin said nothing and just lowered her head to continue massaging the legs of the Old Madam.
At dusk, after Leng Changxi returned, the horse carriage of Qin Baochuan went back at the gate of the mansion. Qin Yunuan was busy in tidying for Leng Changxi. She helped him take off the complicated court dress and then covered a piece of white long shirt for him. When she heard that Baochuan was back, she rushed at the gate of the mansion to welcome Baochuan.
“Sister.” Though Qin Baochuan felt a little bit tired, he got refreshed and cheered at once when he saw Qin Yunuan.
“Come on. You’ve had a long day. Look at you. So sweaty on your head.” Qin Yunuan hugged Baochuan affectionately and then took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat for him. She did not ask the result of the examination today. In her heart, the result was not comparable with her lovely brother.
“Sister, guess who comes with me?” Qin Baochuan pointed at the horse marriage behind excitedly. At this moment, Qin Yunuan saw the white hemline of the clothes outside the carriage. And then, an old man in white stepped down. He was Shangguan Yi.
Qin Yunuan felt a little bit surprised when she saw Shangguan Yi came. But Qin Baochuan was so proud and said happily, “The invigilator today was Mr. Shangguan. After the examination, he said we had a happy talk last time, and expected more communications with me. This time, he wanted to drop in on Prince Ning, who he hadn’t met for a long time, so he came with me.”
Qin Yunuan just smiled. She felt relaxed with Shangguan Yi after they met with each other secretly last time. Now she felt grateful to him when she saw Shangguan Yi treated Baochuan so kindly.
“Sister, do you want to know the result today?”
Looking at Qin Baochuan who was confident and ambitious, Qin Yunuan had guessed the result. But she still nodded.
Before Qin Baochuan said, Shangguan Yi laughed, “Qin Baochuan, now becomes the youngest student in the Imperial College throughout the history of Qi. He can start to study at college one month later. Third Young Master, I have to say that you teach your brother well, and he is so diligent and well-mannered.”
“Really? That’s so great.” Qin Yunuan crouched excitedly and praised Baochuan, “I know it. I know you are the best.”
Leng Changxi stood aside. Having seen that Qin Yunuan was so happy and Qin Baochuan was very excellent, and the underground grandfather cared much about these two people, Leng Changxi thought all were so perfect. Just in a flash, Leng Changxi showed a very bright smile in front of others for the first time.
“Mr. Shangguan, please. My father is waiting for you in the study.” Someone had reported inside, and Leng Chang’an went out to welcome Shangguan Yi immediately after he knew that.
Leng Chang’an rushed out at his top speed but only found that Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi had already been there. He got serious, but in a flash turned to be humble with a smile as the eldest son in the mansion, “Third Brother, you came out to welcome Mr. Shangguan especially. It is the great honor of me as a younger generation and the Prince Ning’s Manson for the visit of Mr. Shangguan.”
“No, I came out to welcome Baochuan but found that Baochuan went back together with Shangguan Yi who admired my talented brother-in-law.” Leng Changxi’s words were like a basin of cold water, quenching the enthusiasm of Leng Chang’an. Leng Changxi wanted to tell Leng Chang’an that there was always someone who was not like him.
“Third Brother. You are so humorous.” In the view of Leng Chang’an, no, in everyone’s view, Qin Baochuan was just an ordinary kid, and he was not as talented as Leng Changxi mentioned indeed.
Suddenly, Shangguan Yi added, “Yes, what General Leng said is true.”
The words of Shangguan Yi was like another basin of cold water pouring to Leng Chang’an.
Shangguan Yi glimpsed at Leng Chang’an lightly and then looked at Qin Baochuan kindly. He believed that Qin Baochuan was as smart as him when he was in his school days. But it was pitiful that he could not show more affection toward Baochuan in front of other irrelevant people.
Shangguan Yi entered under the guidance of a guiding servant. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were about to enter the mansion too, but when Qin Yunuan was about to leave, holding the arm of Qin Baochuan, Leng Chang’an suddenly said, “Third Sister-in-law, wait. I have something to tell you.”
