"Knowing the entrustment of his orphan in the past?" Qin Weixi's mind suddenly went blank...
"Entrusting an orphan?" Qin Weixi's mind went completely blank.
Seeing her pale face, Zhao Shuhan asked worriedly, "What's wrong?"
She met Zhao Shuhan's bright eyes, shook her head, and forced a smile, saying, "Shuhan, I just remembered I have some things to attend to and must leave the palace first. If you have some free time another day, you can come to the Luo family to find me. I've just returned to the capital, and many places have changed. If you'd like..."
She hadn't finished speaking.
“Yes, I am. My great-aunt told me some time ago that I must visit you more often.”
She asked in surprise, "Grandmother Zhao?"
Zhao Shuhan nodded and said, "I took Ping An to Xiaguang Peak a while ago. If you have anything to do at home, go and take care of it. If anyone asks you, I will answer them."
Qin Weixi smiled from the bottom of her heart: "Alright, the Luo family is not being polite. If you want to go, you can bring Ping An with you anytime."
Footsteps seemed to echo along the narrow path, followed by laughter, as if several court ladies, drunk, had come out to enjoy the breeze by the Jinshui River.
Just as she was about to dodge, someone over there recognized her and was quite surprised.
"Is she a daughter of the Luo family?"
She was Yang, the wife of Xia Tian, the Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review. She and my mother were only nodding acquaintances back then. When my mother committed suicide at the Dengwen Drum, Yang's carriage, which was returning to her parents' home, happened to pass by. Perhaps she was too shocked by her mother's resolute death, because she had the Xia family's carriages lined up one after another to form a wall, firmly protecting her mother inside and stopping the gossip among the people.
She respectfully curtsied to Yang.
Thank you.
Walking beside her was Liang Lang's mother, Madam Qian.
This woman, now middle-aged, has not softened her once harsh appearance with age. She was once headstrong and domineering, always eager to outdo her mother, frequently clashing with her at banquets. Her mother, for the sake of the large Qin family, had endured it all. The marriage of Liang Xu, the eldest son of the Liang family, was often fraught with difficulties for most daughters because of this extremely controlling mother-in-law.
Behind Qian, she saw the memorial submitted to the current emperor in the winter of the third year of the Kangxi reign, impeaching her father. It was written by Kang, the wife of Zhou Quan, the Vice Minister of Revenue.
Madam Yang smiled brightly and confided in the noble ladies, "I told you I have good eyesight, but you didn't believe me. Before entering the palace today, I saw the Luo family's carriage on Gulou Street, and I saw this girl just as I entered the palace gate."
Madam Qian blinked, stared intently at her, and asked Madam Yang, "Whose daughter is she?"
Holding a handkerchief, Madam Yang covered her lips and laughed, "Look at you, are you confused? A few days ago, your Liang family's young master's coming-of-age ceremony was held, and you even sent an invitation to the Luo family!"
Madam Qian looked on with surprise: "Ah? You mean this is Luo Yifang's granddaughter? How would I know! My youngest daughter arranged it herself."
Madam Yang covered her lips with a handkerchief and laughed, "Your youngest daughter is really decisive in her actions. Is she still as protective of Hanyu as before? Is she betrothed yet? But as an older sister, once the new bride is married, you can't always be the one in charge. Otherwise, it might cause discord between you. A little girl from a collateral branch of my family is a very well-behaved person. Last early spring, she married a high-ranking official in the Censorate. This older sister is a real handful. While the young couple is enjoying their own quiet life behind closed doors, she bosses her younger brother around in every big and small matter at home. Relying on being the eldest sister, she arranges everything perfectly for the young couple with just a few words. You see, how can the young couple not drift apart after a while?"
Madam Yang patted Madam Qian's hand: "Axi is so beautiful, she will definitely marry very well in the future."
Yang is known for her straightforward and outspoken manner, and everyone in her inner circle knows about her.
Madam Qian chuckled dryly twice and said stiffly, "Aren't you also someone's sister-in-law?"
Yang was taken aback, then laughed and said, "Me? I just live my own little life behind closed doors. As the eldest sister, I do my best to help our parents if they need anything. I don't have the ability to bully others."
Madam Qian kept a straight face and secretly glared at Madam Yang. She then began to scrutinize Qin Weixi from head to toe. Qin Weixi, however, let her scrutinize him with a forced smile.
Ms. Qian felt a chill run down her spine from that gaze.
Kang, the wife of the Vice Minister of Revenue, suddenly stepped out from the crowd and walked towards the small pavilion by the Jinshui River. She joked, "Didn't you want to get some fresh air? Drinking too much wine can make you drunk. Be careful not to fall in and feed the fish."
Upon hearing this, Madam Yang burst into laughter, grabbed Madam Qian, and tried to lead her into the small pavilion. She then said to Madam Kang, "You've drunk the most wine, so what? Once we get back to the manor, your husband won't give you a moment's peace and will torment you as he pleases?"
Kang gave her a reproachful look and said, "My husband and I have a good relationship, so why do you seem a little upset?"
After taking her seat, Madam Yang said generously, "How many talented men like Lord Zhou can there be in this world? And how many married couples truly love each other? I can only envy them!"
Kang Shi leaned on the balustrade, enjoying the river breeze, her eyes full of drunkenness. She said, "That's not entirely true. Don't you know how deep A-Wan's feelings for her husband were back then?"
Yang was taken aback by these words. She turned and glanced at the two girls watching the boy feed the fish by the Jinshui River, and hurriedly said, "Are you really drunk? You can't say things like that. The palace is not like your home. What? You two didn't seem to be very close friends to me before?"
Qin Weixi was only a few steps away from them under the small pavilion, so she could hear the conversation inside the pavilion clearly.
Awan?
She looks somewhat familiar.
A-Wan? A-Wan? Qin Weixi recalled the past, searching his mind for the name of this person.
Kang Shi disagreed and laughed, "Who knows? I guess I ran into her father on the street a few days ago, and I was just thinking about things for no reason. I dreamed about Lu Yu. She said that her husband died nine years ago at this time, and she was all alone with her daughter. She was even burning paper money for her husband."
Upon hearing this, Madam Yang shuddered and quickly said, "Stop talking, it's terrifying!"
Lu Yu? Her husband died, her daughter, and it was spring nine years ago.
Qin Weixi gazed at the surface of the Jinshui River, lost in thought.
She suddenly remembered Li Mou. In the spring of the fourth year of the Kang Le era, Li Mou, drunk, accidentally killed a poor scholar who had just entered the imperial examinations. He was thrown into the Dali Temple prison and committed suicide the next day out of fear of punishment. Li Mou's wife, Lu Shi, had already fled with their family property and daughter before Li Mou was even imprisoned.
But now, the Lu family that Kang mentioned had a very close relationship with Li Mou, which was different from what was rumored by the outside world back then and what she knew. Her hands gradually clenched into fists, and her fingertips involuntarily dug into her palms.
Zhao Shuhan whispered a reminder to her, "Xiaoxing, Madam Qian has been watching us the whole time. Shall we leave?"
Qin Weixi immediately snapped out of her thoughts, turned around and glanced at Qian Shi, her eyes filled with frost.
This woman, whether ten years ago or ten years later, always looked at others with those critical, scrutinizing eyes. She recalled how, back when the Qin family was at the height of its power, she had repeatedly sought the Empress Dowager Zhao's decree to arrange a marriage between her and her eldest son, a betrothal made since childhood. But Empress Dowager Zhao had refused on the spot.
Back then, she led the two men, Zhiqi and Zhibi, who had rather "fierce" expressions, to a banquet and confronted Madam Qian directly, saying, "Madam Qian, I am not talented enough to bear the arrogant eyes of your eldest son, Liang. If he grows up and wants to find a good husband, there are the Chu, Tao, and Luo families, or at the very least, the young man from the Li family, the Prefect. I have heard that he studies diligently at a young age and is expected to pass the imperial examination and become famous soon."
A prefectural governor of the fifth rank—
The Grand Secretary of the current dynasty—
Madam Qian was furious, her face turning ashen. Suddenly, a thunderclap struck, and a torrential downpour soaked her to the bone.
Thinking about it, she felt as if she had eaten spoiled food from the previous day, which made her feel nauseous, but also made her want to laugh.
Qin Weixi's eyes suddenly curved into a smile, seemingly in a very pleasant mood. Just a moment ago, she had been as cold as frost. Zhao Shuhan was puzzled, but she also pursed her lips, wanting to smile. Meanwhile, Madam Qian suddenly stood up, about to walk down the stone steps.
Qin Weixi hurriedly whispered to Zhao Shu, "Quickly, take Ping An and let's go."
The two bowed to the Kang and Yang families inside the pavilion and then fled.
The three of them left the banks of the Jinshui River, looked at each other, and smiled knowingly.
Ping An, not understanding why, chuckled along.
Zhao Shuhan said, "I never dared to look her in the eye before. Her staring gaze was frightening. When Ping An was young, she scared him to tears a lot."
Qin Weixi said, "It's alright, don't be afraid of her. She also has two arms and two legs. Everyone is equal under heaven, how could she possibly turn the world upside down?"
Zhao Shu nodded with a smile on her lips, and Ping An stepped forward and tugged at her sleeve: "Sister, sister, let's go!"
Qin Weixi smiled at Ping An and said to her, "Xiao Shu, we'll meet again someday."
Zhao Shuhan agreed.
She parted ways with Zhao Shuhan. Seeing that it was still early, she remembered what Zhao Shuhan had said during the day, the meaning of "entrusting the orphan." She felt a little uneasy. But her brother should not have returned to the manor yet. Before entering the palace in the morning, Tao Qingyun insisted that she wait for them at the palace gate.
She walked forward absentmindedly, surrounded by silence, and the aimless wandering made her feel somewhat listless. Suddenly, two elegantly dressed men approached her, and when she recognized them, her eyelids twitched.
Is this guy impossible to shake off?
She glanced at them coldly, thinking she might as well pretend to faint, but the people opposite her were not women, but two grown men, one who had just come of age and the other who was already twenty-five or twenty-six.
A few palace maids carrying food trays walked by in the corridor not far away. She hurriedly called out, "Sisters, please wait a moment."
Several palace maids stopped and looked at her. She leaped into the water like a fish. Liang Lang said, "Xiao Xing, I have been looking for you."
Qin Weixi acted as if he hadn't heard.
Liang Xu stood there with his hands behind his back, raising an eyebrow slightly. Watching her retreating figure, he recalled the scene he had witnessed that day beneath the Star Gazing Tower. She and the Crown Prince had both gone to rescue the child; they certainly had a lot of courage.
Upon seeing this, Liang Lang hurried forward and said, "Xiao Xing, I only have a few words to say. Please listen to me. I... I will leave immediately."
Liang Xu coldly reminded him from behind, "Third brother, this is the palace. Be careful in everything you do. She didn't bring any maids with her. What kind of behavior is this?"
Liang Lang's face was still flushed red, like a shrimp. He pursed his lips, turned around and glanced at Liang Xu, then looked at Qin Weixi, who was separated by the flower bushes, and said, "Please come closer, young lady."
Qin Weixi looked at the two of them expressionlessly, while several palace maids stood by with their heads bowed.
She asked, "What are you trying to say?" She sighed softly, "Haven't I told you that we actually have nothing to say to each other?"
Liang Lang gave a bitter smile. Seeing her still standing there, he spoke slowly after a long pause, "Xiao Xing, I just wanted to tell you that the Chu family and the Tao family are both good matches, and neither of them can protect you. But if it's the Tian family..."
Qin Weixi's lips curled slightly, but there was no real smile in them: "What is a good match? You?" She shook her head: "After you, all that will be after you will be monsters. Tell me when you can get rid of them." She looked directly at the person behind Liang Lang, without any fear.
Liang Xu noticed her gaze, and a hint of wickedness and inquiry crept into his eyes. He thought that most girls were afraid of him, especially with their mothers interfering, which was why he was almost thirty and still unmarried. But she looked at him quite openly, without the slightest fear.
Upon hearing this, Liang Lang took a slight breath, but the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat and he couldn't utter a single one.
Qin Weixi gave a cold laugh and tried to walk past them.
Liang Xu's face suddenly turned gloomy. Just as he was about to retort, a palace maid hurried past outside the corridor. Upon seeing Qin Weixi, she quickly curtsied and said, "Miss Luo, Young Master Tao has been looking for you. Please come with me."
Qin Weixi never looked at him again, and left with the palace maid without turning her head.
On the other side, Pei Qing was leading her maids across the artificial hill, her eyes blazing with anger: "Hurry up, follow me! I'm going to Kunning Palace today to confront my aunt. This is outrageous! Not only is Zhao Shuhan one thing, but now Luo..."
"Ah! Who is it!" Before he could finish speaking, Pei Qing cried out in surprise as a splash of icy cold river water fell on his head, along with several frolicking little fish.
The maid panicked and rushed forward to protect Pei Qing. Pei Qing was drenched in river water and couldn't open her eyes. She was also choked by the lingering fishy smell in the water and gagged several times. She could only shout at the top of her lungs, "Help! Someone!" Her hair was disheveled and she cried out, "Was it you, Luo Zhaoxing! Ah! Luo Zhaoxing, I'll fight you to the death!" She grabbed the maid and scratched her wildly.
The maid was being pulled and struggled in great pain, and hurriedly said, "Miss, it's me!"
Another splash of river water poured down, and Pei Qing trembled with rage. The maid went to look around blankly, then her eyes lit up: "There! Miss, there's someone there! Someone come quickly!" However, the two of them only saw a corner of the red dress, which quickly disappeared without a trace.
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