Return of the Swallow c1-644

by Edited by Deyna up to chapter ~100.

  Qin Huining maintained a frozen smile on her face as her eyes stabbed continuously towards Qin Yining. What a sly, crafty person! She puts on that piteous act and pretends to be a fool. She does everything to get the old dowager’s favor! How completely shameless! Qin Huining cursed loudly in her mind, trying valiantly to keep her smile on her face.

  Née Sun happened to look backwards and saw Qin Huining’s stiff expression. She inwardly sighed with resignation. She knew that Qin Huining couldn’t accept Qin Yining, and could also see the former’s insecurity. What’s more, the madame understood the reason for it as well. As a mother, she didn’t know what else she could do other than comfort her daughter. She had to acknowledge Qin Yining in the end after all. She’d digested the duchess’ words over the past two days and was just treating it like she’d given birth to another daughter. What, would Qin Huining still act like this if she’d actually given birth to another? The more née Sun thought about this, the darker her expression became.

  Qin Huining was deep in the throes of her anger and didn’t notice the expressions of née Sun and the others. She thought she was smiling as perfectly as usual. However, who in the house wasn’t well skilled in the art of manners and subtleties? They fully took in the mother-daughter duo’s expressions and formed their own thoughts about the situation.

  But at the end of the day, they all acknowledged Qin Yining’s skills. They had all seen how the old dowager had rejected her when she entered the manor, but now? It’d only been a few days, and here the old dowager was laughing heartily, hugging her, and wanting her to eat bird’s nest everyday. Had the old dowager forgotten how Qin Yining had beaten up darling Huining, and that several maids and grannies combined couldn’t subdue the new fourth miss?

  But, the old dowager was in great spirits and no one wanted to rouse her ire again. Qin-mama’s smile deepened when she saw how fairly the old dowager was handling matters and how close she was with Qin Yining at the moment.

  “Old Dowager.” Just as chatter and laughter rang throughout the room, a fetching maid entered and made her greetings. “Old Dowager, the Duke of Ding’s grandson has come. He’s speaking outside with the lord and says he wishes to come and greet you. Might you have the time to see him?”

  “Absolutely, quite. Have him come in!” The old dowager was delighted.

  “Understood.” The maid exited to relay the message.

  Wreathed in smiles, the old dowager turned to née Sun. “What brings your nephew by today? Is it Meng’er’s day off today?” [2]

  “In response to Old Dowager, my lord is indeed off today. It looks like Yuanming [3] has come visiting because he knows his uncle-in-law is off today. I mentioned it to mother before. Yuanming admires his uncle’s talents the most, and he’ll certainly have a great deal of questions from court he’d like to ask the lord.”

  Advance chapters on Patreon!

  * * *

  The officials of ancient times had weekends as well!”

  Looks like Sun Yu’s gained an entirely new personal name, I’ll correct later if this is a typo

  Chapter 25: A Great Talent

  Chapter 25: A Great Talent

  Née Sun had spoken quite well in her joy. Not only had she complimented a nephew from her mother’s side, she’d also lauded her husband as well. The old dowager doted on her firstborn son the most, so how would she not be pleased by this? She immediately basked in shared glory. “Meng’er’s talent in matters of court is indeed without parallel, to say nothing of anything else.”

  “And isn’t that due to Old Dowager’s upbringing?” The third madame quipped.

  The old dowager smiled so widely at this that her eyes were barely visible creases. Those present were thus inspired and all began favorably remarking on Qin Huaiyuan and the duke’s grandson. Née Sun also felt quite proud when she listened to the veritable flood of compliments.

  The merrily smiling old dowager summoned Jixiang. “Prepare the best tea. This is an honored guest, we must treat him well.”

  “Understood.” A beaming Jixiang went off to make her preparations.

  Since a foreign male was about to enter the inner residence, Qin Yining rose. “Old Dowager, since guests are about to arrive, why don’t we all take our leave for now?” She looked questioningly back at her sisters. The third, seventh, and eighth miss all nodded, but the sixth miss and Qin Huining were actually a bit reluctant. A deep flush had crept to Qin Huining’s ears.

  Qin Yining had been learning from Zhan-mama during this time and her observation of behavior had grown more perceptive. She immediately noted their odd behavior and couldn’t help but wonder why.

  The old dowager thought for a moment and exchanged a few hushed words with her daughters-in-law. “No need, your cousin isn’t an outsider. It’s rare that one as talented as he is visiting, so you all should stay and broaden your horizons.”

  Qin Yining assented with a smile, but was quite mystified. Just how amazing is this cousin? The old dowager treats him so differently.

  “Lujuan, go have someone see if grandsons Yu, Han, and Xian are in the outer residence. Tell them that their cousin from the Duke of Ding has come, and bid them come greet him.”

  She’s summoning even her own grandsons!

  Qin-mama took her leave with a smile, sneaking a glance at the senior madame when she left. The old dowager’s enthusiastic welcome was quite some face for her. Qin Yining remained standing by the old dowager’s side with a faint smile, revealing nothing, but growing more and more mystified. As she surreptitiously scanned the room, she saw Qin Huining playing with the ribbon around her dress with a lowered head. Even her neck was flushed by now. Qin Yining couldn’t help but arch an eyebrow in question. What’s wrong with her?

  The old dowager wasn’t allowing them to leave, but there had to be a separation between boy and girl, so they couldn’t just remain where they were. The third madame made the call for all the girls to head into the inner room and had the maids set up a redwood divider carved with carp frolicking amongst the lotuses. If one tried to look inside the room from the outer room, they would only be able to vaguely make out through the divider and intricately carved floor screen that there were people inside the room. But if the girls inside picked a good angle, they would be able to see clearly outside.

  Although Qin Yining was curious, she wasn’t in a hurry to see who the visitor was. She sat down at a moderate distance and conversed quietly with the third, seventh, and eighth miss. It was Qin Huining who instantly claimed the position closest to the outside as soon as she entered, able to see everyone in the outer room with a tilt of her head. The sixth miss sat down next to Qin Huining. The two talked softly, flicking glances at Qin Yining every now and then and immediately snickering after.

  When she saw the two thus, Qin Yining naturally knew they were deriding her. But she’d never cared about the words of others. It wasn’t any skin off her nose, so she lowered her lashes indifferently and played with the teacups on the short table.

  But even though she didn’t care, others did. “Fourth sister, look at how they are!” Qin Baoning was annoyed and glared maliciously at Qin Huining. The latter looked back coolly, not angry at all and smiling even more brightly. The more she was thus, the angrier the eighth miss became. She leapt to her feet and was about to erupt when Qin Yining pulled on her hand.

  “Eighth sister, do you remember everything Zhan-mama said yesterday?” There was a cheerful lilt to her tone, but the force behind her pull was as strong as ever.

  The third miss heaved a sigh of relief at Qin Yining’s fast reactions and tugged on the eighth miss’ other arm, having the young girl sit down next to her. She urged softly, “Be at peace little sister. This is Old Dowager’s inner room and guests are coming in shortly. If you really did stir up something, it’d be your fault in the end. It’s one thing to be punished by our grandmother, but you’d lose face in front of the guest as well. And what if word got out about this?”

  Qin Baoning
had a short temper that burned hotly, and was an impulsive one at that. But she wasn’t stupid. When she carefully thought back to what’d just happened, she grew angry again and bit off her words. “She was doing that on purpose!”

  “Since you know that, why be angry?” Qin Yining offered a bit of fruit to the young girl with a silver fork. The eighth miss accepted it, but was unable to eat anything in the heat of the moment.

  “There is only one ‘Qin’ character in writing,” the third miss continued. “We’re still one family in the end. When we go our own ways in the future, it’ll still be family that helps each other in time of need.”

  The eighth miss had always respected the third miss and so would listen to her older sister. But she was still angry, so she muttered, “Who wants their help? That kind of petty, base character! Fourth sister isn’t in their way at all after she returned, but they’re always poking and prodding at her. Get over it!”

  “Don’t be angry, eighth sister. I know you mean well for me.” Qin Yining held the eighth miss’ hand and shook it slightly, trying to shake the irritation out of the girl. When Qin Baoning looked into her fourth sister’s expressive eyes, she felt her raging mood calm a little.

  Qin Huining rolled her eyes. Qin Yining likes to play the good person huh! Calming other people down! The sixth miss snorted derisively and continued whispering with Qin Huining.

  Scattered footsteps sounded from outside at this moment. A group of maids greeted the newcomers, followed by the entrance of a bunch of young men. When Qin Huining heard this, she plastered herself to the floor screen and held her breath. Even the sixth miss craned her neck, trying to find a good angle. The sixth and eighth misses were also curious as they stood and silently padded over to the floor screen. Only third miss Qin Jianing and Qin Yining remained where they were, discussing matters of embroidery.

  The first through the door was a smiling Qin Huaiyuan in a flowing, silvery-gray house robe. [1. http://s13.sinaimg.cn/mw690/001q5Cn8zy6PGK1GheAcc&690] Hand-in-hand with him was a young man in deep blue flowing robes imprinted with patterns for good luck. The man was limber, had a cleanly shaven rectangular face, two jet-black eyes, thick brows and high nose bridge. He looked to be in good spirits. Senior Master Qin Yu, Second Master Qin Han, and Fifth Master Qin Xian followed behind him. Even the young Ninth Master Qin Xuan and six-year-old Tenth Master Qin Rong was in the group. It was the first complete assembly of the ‘bao radical’ generation that Qin Yining had witnessed since returning to the manor. [2]

  “Has Old Dowager Qin been well? Sun Yu greets the Qin matriarch.” Sun Yu gave a dapper bow, his posture elegant and at ease.

  “Rise, oh do rise.” The old dowager helped him up with both hands. “It’s been too long! Grandson Sun’s learning must have grown by leaps and bounds!”

  “Surely Old Dowager Qin jests.” Sun Yu’s laugh was as warm as the spring breeze. “I have come to benefit from uncle-in-law’s sage guidance.”

  “Come, sit.” The old dowager instructed servants to bring both a chair. “Serve the best tea!”

  Sun Yu turned to greet the senior, second, and the third madame. The senior madame smiled merrily. “You came directly from home? How is the old madame’s health?” [3]

  “In response to my aunt, grandmother’s health has taken a turn for the better.” Sun Yu smiled in response. “Don’t worry, grandmother’s specially tasked me to request a favor from the old dowager during my visit this time.”

  “The duchess is simply too polite.” The old dowager smiled. “We’re in-laws, there’s no need for such ceremony! Just tell me what it is. But for you, it’s rare that you’ve come to visit. Do come by more often in the future. Spread your influence to your cousins so that they may all be as studious and hardworking as you.”

  “Old Dowager Qin praises Yuanming too highly, I am ashamed.” Sun Yu gave the old dowager another bow and extracted an invitation from his sleeve. “My grandfather and grandmother sent me to make a request of the old dowager when they learned that Uncle Qin had regained his lost pearl, that my aunt be allowed to bring cousin Yining back for a visit. Our grandparents would like to see her as well.”

  Everyone was rather surprised. It was just a matter of having née Sun bring Qin Yining back home for a visit, it’d be enough to send an old granny with a message to née Sun. To think that the Duke of Ding would treat this matter with such gravity that he’d send the great scholar Sun Yu to extend the invitation!

  The second madame smiled gently. “The duke must dote on this granddaughter very much as well.”

  “Indeed, niece Yi is smart and adorable, gentle and polite. Even our Old Dowager dotes greatly on her, much less her maternal grandmother!” The third madame started laughing as well.

  When the old dowager recalled what had happened this morning, she too felt that Qin Yining was immensely adorable and joined in benevolently. “Ah, oh me, I love her to bits. I wouldn’t want her to leave my side at all. But since the duchess misses her granddaughter so and has sent even a great talent like Yuanming to be the messenger, how can I not let her go?” She turned to née Sun. “Eldest daughter-in-law, take your daughter back home for a visit tomorrow. Remember to bring the gifts I previously prepared as well.”

  What previously prepared gifts? It’s rather my house who sent you gifts! Née Sun snorted disdainfully inwardly, scoffing at the old dowager’s act. However, she responded with a respectful smile. “Of course, your daughter-in-law will do so.

  Sun Yu bowed at the old dowager with both hands folded in front of him. He was a male outsider after all, and wasn’t suited to stay long in the inner residence. He only sat for a little while longer before leaving with Qin Huaiyuan and the other Qin boys.

  Qin Huining immediately crawled onto the luohan bed when he left, cracking open the window to sneak a look outside. Cold air gusted into the room, drawing glances from several of the girls.

  As dense as Qin Yining might be in this area, she too had vaguely grasped the situation from Qin Huining’s untoward actions.

  Back in the outer room, the old dowager wondered, “Why is it so cold all of sudden? Is wind coming in from somewhere?”

  Qin Huining hastily shut the window.

  * * *

  Just like the girls of Qin Yining’s generation all have “ning” in their name, so do the boys of her generation share the same radical, the same part of a character in their name. Think of it as all the boys in the younger generation starting with the letter “b”, ie. Brian, Byron, Brandon, Barry, etc.

  This would be née Sun’s mother, the duchess.

  Chapter 26: Family Culture

  Chapter 26: Family Culture

  The old dowager smiled when the girls returned to the outer room. “It’s growing late. You all should be heading to Garden of Tranquility for lessons in manners, no?”

  “Yes, grandmother.” The girls nodded.

  “Old Dowager, we’ll have lessons as usual today,” said née Sun. “I’ll take daughter Yi for a visit back home tomorrow morning. Zhan-mama can teach the other girls as usual then.”

  The old dowager nodded with a smile, seemingly not detecting anything untoward in née Sun’s words. Qin Huining, staring at them, finally couldn’t help but tug on née Sun’s sleeve and ask apprehensively, “Mother, are you not bringing me? I also miss my maternal grandparents.”

  Née Sun had been hesitant. When Sun Yu had brought word just now, he’d said that the duchess had wanted to see the newly found pearl, but he hadn’t said that they wanted to see the foster daughter. But her thoughts took a spin in another direction. They want to see their granddaughter, but didn’t say which one. I’ll just pretend I got confused and bring Qin Huining as well.

  “Of course you’re coming.” Née Sun brushed at Qin Huining’s hair tenderly. “We’ll go together tomorrow morning.”

  Qin Huining smiled cutely as she clung to née Sun’s arm. The sixth miss spoke with admiration off to the side, “Senior aunt, please bring us with you if
you have the chance to in the future. I’ve heard that the Duke of Ding’s garden is even larger than ours, and that it’s quite beautiful!”

  The second madame’s expression underwent subtle changes at this, and she glared at the sixth miss. But the girl wasn’t as docile as usual and was looking at née Sun with blushing cheeks and sparkling eyes.

  Née Sun felt quite heady with the rush of compliments and nodded. “I’ll take you all with me if there’s a chance to in the future.”

  “Thank you, senior aunt!” The sixth miss smiled sweetly.

  “We’re all one family so it’s good to visit more often. Granddaughter Yi has just returned this time, she’ll have much to say to her grandparents. You girls can go next time. You’ll all have an opportunity.” The old dowager didn’t think much of this. Kids will be kids. They so love to play. The girls all responded affirmatively.

  Qin Yining had a very busy day, but perhaps because she was to visit her maternal grandparents on the morrow, she was a bit distracted during her studies. She couldn’t even remember the various rules and manners that Zhan-mama taught her, even after the mama repeated herself. The palace servant gave up for the day after a few tries. Qin Yining also discovered that Qin Huining’s looks at her had grown even more vengeful. It was as if there was a blood feud between the two.

  She still went to the study in the outer residence in the afternoon, listening to the teacher behind a screen. Night had already fallen by the time she returned to Snowpear Courtyard. Her emotions were a bit all over the place because she was to meet the Duchess of Ding tomorrow and had no idea how her maternal grandmother was. She had Ruilan prepare her outfit and then asked Zhan-mama to look it over, only resting when she was certain that everything was in order. But as she lay in bed, she carefully recalled the circumstances of Bao-mama’s visit. They all said that birds of a feather flock together. Bao-mama was a trusted confidante by the duchess’ side and would naturally have some insight into the duchess’ demeanor. Her style and way of speaking would inevitably be similar to her mistress. Qin Yining finally went to sleep peacefully when she thoroughly went over all the sticky situations that could develop and brainstormed strategies in response.