Chapter 13 is not someone she can get close to...
As the sun rises, wisps of smoke slowly drift upwards.
The usually quiet Ning Le Street was filled with the sounds of conversation. People who had come specifically for the event or passersby who came after hearing the noise gathered on both sides of the street, occasionally gazing at the huge mansion not far away.
A group of people waited at the entrance of the mansion. The lady at the head of the group would occasionally tiptoe and look towards the southwest side of the street. The woman standing next to her patted her hand, lowered her eyes and said something. A smile appeared in the lady's slightly uneasy eyes.
"What are you all looking at?" A cook carrying a load stopped in his hurry and, seeing Madam Qin and her daughter standing at the door, looked around the crowd with suspicion: "Why are there so many people?"
"You didn't know?" The man beside the cook looked at him in surprise for a moment, then said mysteriously, "I heard that the Qin family had a daughter who had been missing for many years. She was only found a few days ago, so we immediately sent someone to bring her back to the capital."
"Daughter!?" The cook's eyes widened. Although he didn't work for the Qin family, his master and the Qin family were old acquaintances. How come there was no word of it in the household? "Why haven't I heard anyone mention her all these years?"
“Who says otherwise?” The man clicked his tongue and shook his head, looking meaningfully toward the Qin family’s gate. “It is said that Madam Qin gave birth prematurely when she was pregnant and leaving the capital many years ago. The midwife told her that it was a stillbirth. Madam Qin never set foot in that place of sorrow again until recently when she heard someone mention that she had met a little girl who looked very much like Madam Qin. So she hurriedly sent someone over to take a look.”
"I didn't know until I looked, but she really does look a lot like Madam Qin when she was young, especially in her eyebrows and eyes—" The man was speaking when he suddenly heard a commotion. He stopped paying attention to the cook and stood on tiptoe to look towards the Qin residence.
The clatter of hooves broke the noise, and the Qin family members waiting at the door all looked toward the approaching carriage.
Biezhi, who was sitting quietly in the carriage, yawned. She had been thinking for three or four days but still couldn't figure out what kind of expression to use when she met the Qin couple.
Weeping bitterly?
It seems a bit fake.
Excited and thrilled?
That doesn't seem quite right either.
In the end, Biezhi decided to play it by ear and let things take their course. The Qin family knew her identity, so why bother with all this? Her main task was to protect Xu Wenche, and nothing else was on her mind.
The cart tracks over the bricks gradually came to a stop, and Biezhi heard the sound of hurried footsteps. Her fingertips landed on the curtains under the window, and she lifted them slightly to see a gentle and graceful woman walking quickly towards her, lifting her skirt.
Not long after, the curtain in front of the carriage was lifted.
Zhang Mama, who went to greet her, said, "Second Miss, we've arrived."
After speaking, Granny Zhang stepped aside to make way for her mistress and young lady.
Madam Qin breathed a sigh of relief. Even though she had already prepared herself for how to lie through her teeth, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous. However, when her eyes met those of the woman who was leaning out of the carriage, she was taken aback.
The girl's almond-shaped eyes were like crystal-clear glass, clear and bright. Her nose was small and straight, and her fair skin had a faint pinkish tint. Even the peach blossoms that bloom in early spring could not compare to her beauty. Small dimples appeared on both sides of her mouth, and her gentle smile was faint and elusive, making her very endearing.
Even Qin Wan, who was full of doubts, was somewhat stunned.
She felt like she had seen it somewhere before.
Hearing her daughter's whisper, Madam Qin suddenly came to her senses, stepped forward and took Biezhi's hand, her eyes glistening with tears. "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back." She then said to Zhang Mama, "No wonder Wan'er felt like she had seen this before. This doesn't look like me when I was young at all, it looks more like Wan'er when she was little."
Having served her for many years, Zhang Mama knew the inside story and chimed in, "When I saw the Second Miss, I was also shocked. She looks exactly like the Second Miss when she was a child."
As Biezhi listened to the master and servant's back-and-forth banter, her slightly raised eyes quickly swept over everyone present. When her gaze met Qin Wan's, she blinked and smiled.
The girl's sudden smile was so pure it was unbelievable. Qin Wan put aside her distracting thoughts and stepped forward, saying, "Mother has been at home for many days, hoping that my sister will come back soon so that the family can be reunited."
"Yes." Madam Qin raised her handkerchief to wipe away the tears that had squeezed out of the corners of her eyes. "Your father and brother have gone to court. They'll be back later."
"Sister, you must be tired from your journey. Let's go inside first," Qin Wan reminded her.
Madam Qin nodded hurriedly and led Biezhi inside.
Biezhi, who was following along, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought it was all just a show, but she still couldn't help feeling nervous when she actually went on stage. Fortunately, Madam Qin and the Qin family's daughter kept talking, so she didn't have to say a word.
Biezhi followed the two women back to the Qin residence. She listened to Madam Qin introduce the layout of the Qin family home, and then followed them to the small courtyard that had been arranged for her. In the blink of an eye, the morning had passed.
Just as Qin Wan was asking about Biezhi's previous life, Zhang Mama suddenly walked in, interrupting their conversation. She bent down and whispered a few words in Madam Qin's ear. Madam Qin's expression changed slightly, and she stood up and asked, "Are we at the door yet?"
Granny Zhang nodded: "We've arrived."
Madam Qin's expression hardened. Her gaze swept over the bewildered Biezhi, then turned to Qin Wan, who had stood up with her, and said, "Your father and brother have returned." She glanced at Biezhi, "His Highness Prince Su heard of the joyous occasion at home and came to visit."
Biezhi instantly understood the meaning behind her words and pursed her lips slightly.
I wonder if the Qin family informed Prince Su about their cooperation with Lou Zhong. If they didn't, Prince Su, as the Qin family's future son-in-law, probably came with a congratulatory purpose. If they did inform him... then he came specifically to see what Xianyun Lou wanted to do and what she wanted to do.
"It's alright." Qin Wan noticed the fleeting tension in Bie Zhi's eyes and assumed that she, like the others, harbored fear of Fu Huaiqing. She patted her palm to reassure her, "The Prince and my family often have dealings, and our relationship with him is quite good. There's no need to worry too much."
Upon hearing this, Biezhi smiled.
She only worries because they have a pretty good relationship.
If one is not careful and becomes a villain in his eyes who is hindering the Qin family, even if one escapes into the mountains, he may still send people to search for him and lock him up in jail.
However, Biezhi certainly couldn't tell Qin Wan, so she obediently nodded: "Okay."
The courtyard where Biezhi lived was not very close to the main hall. Just as she approached the main hall, she heard Qin Xiao's voice.
"Yesterday, someone came to the Dali Temple to accuse Xianyunlou of indiscriminate killing of innocent people and demanded that the court thoroughly investigate Xianyunlou."
Upon hearing this, Fu Huaiqing's eyes darkened slightly.
Just as he was about to speak, he caught a glimpse of a light green skirt fluttering at the corner of the room and gave Jiang Yue a look.
Jiang Yue nodded and whispered to the other guards.
Lady Qin entered the main hall with her two daughters and bowed to the man in front of her, saying, "This humble woman and her daughters greet Your Highness Prince Su."
Biezhi had never learned to bow, but she had eyes and imitated Qin Wan's movements in a very convincing way.
She lowered her eyes slightly, but could feel the sharp gaze sweeping over her head for a moment, seemingly probing, yet also puzzled. The heavy gaze was fixed on her, and an overwhelming pressure gradually fell upon her.
Bie Zhi's fingertips trembled slightly without her noticing.
It was with that tremor that the gaze suddenly shifted away, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Fu Huaiqing withdrew his gaze and nodded slightly to Madam Qin.
Madam Qin stood up.
Biezhi got up as well, clenching her sweaty palms.
Only then did she get a clear look at the man in the hall. He was even more striking than she had seen him by chance some time ago. His expression was aloof and distant, keeping people at arm's length.
cold.
It's so cold.
They are not people she can get close to.
If you offend such a powerful person, you will surely die without a burial place.
Biezhi silently drew a circle in her mind, deciding who she could and could not approach during the three months she was disguised as the second daughter of the Qin family.
She doesn't know much about the others yet, but she definitely wants to stay far away from Prince Su.
Fu Huaiqing glanced at Biezhi, whose eyes were darting around, out of the corner of his eye. He could tell at a glance that she was up to something again, and it didn't look like anything good.
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