In a secluded spot, Xin's father whispered, "Where is your sister?"
Xin Jiuwei pointed helplessly towards the backyard: "She said she had a headache and went back to her room."
"This girl..." Father Xin shook his head, but showed little anger. Instead, he patted his daughter's shoulder, "You did a great job. Lord Wang just praised you for managing the household well, saying you're better than all the stewards in his household."
Xin Jiuwei smiled and said, "Father, you flatter me. It's just..."
"Just what?"
"My daughter thinks that her sister seems to have someone in mind." She hesitated for a moment before telling her about Qi Huaihe's gift.
Father Xin frowned slightly: "Huaihe? He is a good child, but..." He lowered his voice, "Your maternal grandfather has high hopes for Huaihe, and Xiyao is a stubborn person... I'm afraid it's not appropriate."
Just as Xin Jiuwei was about to try to persuade him again, the steward rushed over: "Master, the accounts from the silk shop in the south of the city have arrived."
"Go on with your work," Mr. Xin said, handing the portrait back to her. "This matter... let me think about it some more."
Watching her father's departing figure, Xin Jiuwei sighed softly. Turning around, she overheard two stewards whispering behind the artificial hill:
"...Second Miss is truly capable; she organized this chrysanthemum appreciation event so elegantly."
"Yes, since she took over the household affairs, everything in the mansion has been in perfect order. The master was just saying yesterday, 'It's a pity she wasn't born a man...'"
Xin Jiuwei lowered her eyelashes and quietly took a detour to leave. In her past life, she was only concerned with chasing after Qi Huaiyu; she had never received such a evaluation. Now that she was reborn, she was determined to protect this family.
Deep in the bamboo forest on the outskirts of the city, Jueming, dressed in white, stood with his hands behind his back. Liu Ya knelt on one knee, presenting a secret letter with both hands.
"Your Highness, we just received news. The Second Prince's men have arrived in Qingzhou and will reach Yingzhou in three days."
Jueming unfolded the letter, his handsome face, bathed in moonlight, appearing as cold as frost: "As expected, it's ahead of schedule."
"I suspect they're after you." Liu Ya looked up, her eyes filled with worry. "The Princess is accompanying us this time, I'm afraid..."
"What's meant to happen will happen." Xiao Xun's fingertips ignited, burning the secret letter to ashes. "How's the investigation going?"
"The connection between Elder Bai and the Xin family is indeed as the Third Miss said; she wasn't lying, but..." Liu Ya hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself.
Xiao Xun said, "Speak frankly."
"The Third Miss's thoughts are unfathomable."
Xiao Xun gazed at the lights of the Xin residence in the distance, a slight smile playing on his lips: "She's much more interesting than you think."
A gust of wind rustled through the bamboo grove. Suddenly, Liu Ya gripped the hilt of her knife alertly: "Someone's there!"
"It's alright." Xiao Xun raised his hand to stop him. "Go and prepare. Proceed according to plan in three days."
Meanwhile, in a dark alley in the south of the city, Qi Huaiyu was pinned down by three burly men next to a stinking ditch.
"Young Master Qi, it's only right to pay back debts," the scarred man at the head sneered. "Five hundred taels of silver, if you don't pay it back today..."
"Give me a few more days!" Qi Huaiyu's face was covered in blood, but he still forced a smile. "I'm going back to the Xin family soon, and then..."
"Slap!" A slap knocked him to the ground.
"Still dreaming?" Scarface spat. "The Third Miss Xin is now someone with a connection to Buddhism. Would she even look at a stray dog like you?"
Qi Huaiyu struggled to his feet, a glint of malice flashing in his eyes: "You don't understand... I have a way..."
"A solution?" Scarface laughed, kicking him into the nearby river. "Go ask the King of Hell for a solution!"
The icy river water instantly submerged his head. Qi Huaiyu struggled desperately, but due to his severe injuries, he gradually became exhausted. Just as his consciousness was fading, a strong hand pulled him ashore.
"Giving up like this?" A cold voice rang in my ears.
Qi Huaiyu coughed up a few mouthfuls of dirty water and barely opened his eyes. In the moonlight, a man wearing a bronze mask was looking down at him, and those eyes... seemed familiar.
"Who...who are you..."
"I could tell you were an interesting person the day at the gambling den," the man chuckled. "Now, a distinguished guest wishes to see you."
Qi Huaiyu's heart skipped a beat: "What important person?"
"Three days later, Lingyin Temple." The man tossed him a dry set of clothes. "Put yourself together properly, don't embarrass yourself."
Watching the man's departing figure, Qi Huaiyu suddenly remembered—that day when he went to the gambling den to look for Madam Feng, this man sat in the corner, watching coldly the whole time...
A few days later.
Xin Jiuwei was checking the silk shop's accounts in her study when Wang Qing rushed in in a panic.
"Miss, Qi Huaiyu is here again! This time he... he's carrying a brocade box, saying it's a keepsake from Madam..."
The brush left a blot of ink on the ledger. Xin Jiuwei slowly raised her head: "What keepsake?"
"I didn't see clearly, but he said..." Wang Qing stammered, "that if Miss doesn't see it, take the things to the pawnshop."
Xin Jiuwei's fingertips trembled slightly. Most of the items her mother left behind in her previous life had been lost, a painful memory in both her lives. Qi Huaiyu's mention of it now must have some ulterior motive, but she had to be wary.
"Have him wait in the side hall."
In the side hall, Qi Huaiyu, no longer looking as disheveled as before, had changed into a clean indigo robe and was savoring his tea. Upon seeing Xin Jiuwei enter, he immediately stood up, his face plastered with a fawning smile.
"Jiuwei..."
"Young Master Qi, watch your words." Xin Jiuwei looked at him coldly. "Where are the things?"
Qi Huaiyu took out a faded brocade box from his bosom and carefully opened it—inside was a jade hairpin broken in two, with delicate orchid patterns carved on the head.
Xin Jiuwei's breath hitched. She recognized the pattern; it was a mark on her mother's favorite jewelry.
"Where did you get it?" she asked, her voice tense.
"Mrs. Feng gave it to me." A sly glint flashed in Qi Huaiyu's eyes. "She said...this hairpin is related to a big secret."
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