Return of the Swallow c1-644

by Edited by Deyna up to chapter ~100.

  Jin-mama was quite subtle with her words. If Qin Huining went along, she’d probably only cause more heartache for the duchess. How would her presence be a comfort at all?

  But née Sun shook her head mulishly. “It’s no matter if she tags along. Daughter Hui will be sad if we went out and didn’t bring her.” She waved her hand at Caiju. “Go on now.”

  The discussion now at an end, the maid finally trotted off with her message. Bingtang and Songlan helped Qin Yining into a pale-green cape as she picked up the newly made fox fur neck warmer as well as a pair of hand warmers that had a ruby embedded into them. The rest of her outfit was plain, so the snow-white fur made her fair, taut skin look even more flawless. As she glanced over the girl, née Sun was reminded of Qin Huaiyuan’s brilliant looks in his youth. He was much older now, of course, and had a beard which added an ethereal air to his bearing, but he’d lost that breathtaking, handsome charm. Looking at Qin Yining seemed to take her back to the most perfect days of yesteryear. She adjusted her daughter’s hand warmers with a smile. “When I look closely at you, you do look like your father, but your face shape and nose are definitely mine.”

  Qin Yining smiled faintly in response. Jin-mama joined in as well. “Of course. The fourth miss is your daughter with the lord, so it’s only natural that she takes after the two of you. I feel that Fourth Miss has a bearing very similar to you in your youth, mistress, and especially those dimples when she smiles.”

  Née Sun nodded and even lovingly tapped the tip of Qin Yining’s nose. Qin Huining happened to enter right then, just in time to glimpse this heartwarming scene with Fugui and Caiju. She saw mother and daughter wearing the same style fur accessories and intimately holding hands. She felt like an outsider, someone who would never truly be accepted into this family.

  “Miss Huining is here!” Jin-mama smiled and curtsied, but she paused when she saw that Qin Huining was wearing only a pale pink, brocade cape. “I remember that the fox fur neck and hand warmers have been delivered already. Why aren’t you wearing them, miss?”

  Qin Huining coughed lightly. “I was thinking of saving those items for the new year since they looked so precious. I hadn’t thought that mother and Miss Yining would be using them already.”

  “There’s no need to save them,” née Sun chuckled in response. “Wear them if you have them, we’ll have more new clothing for the new year.”

  Qin Yining walked up with a smile and looked Qin Huining over with twinkling eyes. She reached to grab Qin Huining’s hand, putting the brass hand warmer into it. She smiled down at the foster girl, saying gently, “Now this is Fugui’s fault. Why didn’t you bring a brass hand warmer for your miss in this cold weather? And this cape, I remember there being a hat that completes this set. Why is your miss not wearing it either? Mother will be sad if Miss Huining catches a cold.”

  “It’s cold, why aren’t you keeping an eye out for what you’re wearing?” Née Sun frowned. “Didn’t Caiju tell you that we’re going to the Ding Manor? Your maternal grandmother will think I’m mistreating you when she sees you like this.” She turned towards Jin-mama, “Go fetch my hat, the one with the similar color, for daughter Hui.”

  “Understood.” Jin-mama left, but turned to look at Qin Huining meaningfully before she left the room.

  Although the warmth from the brass hand warmer was filling her hand, ice gripped Qin Huining’s body. She felt a ball of fire start to burn in her heart. Qin Yining definitely did that on purpose! Why hadn’t she discovered before just how scheming Qin Yining was? Those words filled with seeming care also made others think that she was purposefully playing the victim! And no one would think Qin Yining had any other ulterior motives in mind! Qin Huining squeezed out a stiff smile. “Thank you, mother.”

  She’d learned her lesson thoroughly. She well knew that Qin Yining was the sort to do anything. But Qin Huining didn’t dare have a falling out with the newly minted fourth miss. Meanwhile, Jin-mama had come back with the hat and helped Qin Huining put it in, and the serving girl also reported that the carriage was ready. The group paid a visit to the old dowager and set off together.

  A gloomy and fretful atmosphere pervaded the Ding Manor, just as Qin Yining had thought. Although her senior and second aunts were smiling at their arrival, they couldn’t conceal the anxiety deep in their eyes. As for the duchess, her expression gave nothing away. The only indication of her uneasiness were the slightly deepened furrows between her brows.

  “I’m touched that you’ve come to look in on me at this time.” The duchess smiled very happily.

  “It only occurred to me when daughter Yi worried that you were keeping all your worries in.” Née Sun was a straight shooter, especially in her own home, and said the first thing that popped into her head.

  The duchess smiled and beckoned Qin Yining over. The fourth miss was handing her cape to Bingtang and curtsied at the gesture. “Grandmother.”

  The Duchess of Ding looked at the girl up and down with a smile. “Not bad, this white fox fur is perfect for young girls. I feel that your color has gotten better than before, and that your skin has become more tender?”

  “This is all thanks to Bingtang. I’ve been living and eating well these days, so my waist has gotten thicker!” Qin Yining moved her face right up to the duchess. “Look grandmother, my face is getting round!”

  The Duchess of Ding burst out laughing at her granddaughter’s antics. Qin Yining’s senior aunt chuckled, “You exaggerate too much! There’s only a little bit more meat on your face. I still think you’re too skinny for a child.”

  Her second aunt nodded as well. “Indeed, niece Yi needs to eat and sleep more, and adjust her body. You should look to niece Hui as your benchmark.”

  Everyone turned to look at the quiet Qin Huining. She was wearing a turquoise cotton jacket paired with a bright red, eight panel skirt. She wasn’t fat, but in obviously rosy health. Qin Yining appeared much skinnier when the two stood beside each other. Qin Huining smiled stiffly, playing along with the joke. But in reality, she’d cursed her second aunt a thousand times over. What’s that old biddy dragging me into this for?! She’s making me out to be a fat pig! Isn’t this obliquely reminding everyone that I’ve stolen Qin Yining’s fortune for more than ten years!?

  Qin Yining laughed. “Second aunt speaks truly, I’ll do my best to eat a lot!”

  Everyone laughed along with her while Qin Huining almost ground her teeth down to the gums. And what does she mean by that?! Is she saying that I eat too much?

  Bao-mama happened to enter right then with a couple of snacks and caught the tail end of the conversation. “Since our miss has spoken so, you need to eat more of the green bean paste cake and candied osmanthus cakes.”

  “Right, your mother said that you like the candied osmanthus cakes, so have some!” The duchess picked up a faintly yellow, translucent piece of cake and fed it to Qin Yining. The girl didn’t put on airs and bit off a large mouthful, amusing everyone again. Even née Sun felt relieved of her many days of worry. Jin-mama was right, daughter Yi knows how to comfort people well.

  Just as all had gotten cheery within the house, urgent footsteps sounded from outside.

  “Elder Madame.” It was the duchess’ serving girl, Xiaoyao. “The duke and lord have returned and notified the kitchens to prepare lunch since they’ve heard about our guests. The family is to take lunch together later. For now, they’ve all gone to the study.

  The duchess nodded and thought for a moment. “How did they look?”

  Xiaoyao’s head lowered even further as she responded in a trembling voice, “In response to Elder Madame, I took a peek from within the inner doors. They… they didn’t seem too happy.” She snuck a quick glance up at her mistress when she was finished.

  The duchess understood that there were some things Xiaoyao didn’t dare speak of. She didn’t want to give the little girl a hard time. “Go tell Ming’er’s [1] follower to come here. I have some things I’d like to ask him.”


  “Understood.” Xiaoyao heaved a private sigh of relief and ran out.

  Not long thereafter, a young man wearing a navy blue cotton jacket and a small cap came by. He knelt in the outside room, being careful to stay behind the divider, and bowed. “This humble one greets the elder madame.”

  “Liu’an, you can rise to answer my questions.”

  “Thank you, Elder Madame.” Liu’an rose but remained bowing.

  “Did Ming’er say anything today? Why are the lords of the manor unhappy?”

  “This humble one doesn’t know the particulars either,” Liu’an responded. “I just heard the duke say to the senior master that the dowager empress of Great Zhou is suffering from severe headaches. They plague her everyday and she finds it difficult to sleep. They say that she’ll only be cured only after eating human brains. I also heard the senior master say that our emperor is searching for renowned doctors to send to Great Zhou to help their dowager empress.”

  The duchess nodded. “You may go.”

  “Understood.” Liu’an left after a bow, leaving behind a silent room.

  After a while, Qin Yining’s senior aunt finally managed to squeeze out, “Great Zhou is a barbarous place alright. Eating human brains to cure migraines? Then wouldn’t cripples be healed after eating a leg?”

  Her second aunt had started to worry. “I wonder how the battle is going against those savages at Xihua. If I’d known that this would become such a cause of worry, we shouldn’t have let our sons and nephews join the army as well…”

  Qin Yining’s senior and second uncle were defending Xihua, and even her second and fourth elder cousin were stationed there with their family. Her second cousin was second aunt’s own son, while fourth cousin was a concubine-born son to the second aunt. Both of them had a son each as well, also at Xihua. There were many more from the second branch of the family on the front lines. Her senior aunt only needed to worry about her husband, but second aunt needed to worry about her husband, son, and grandson. Needless to say, the passage of days had not been easy.

  The duchess naturally knew of her second daughter-in-law’s concerns. The matriarch reached out to pat her hand. “Don’t worry, our family’s never gone against our conscience. Our ancestors have accumulated much fortune so our children and grandchildren will surely be blessed as well. They’ll be able to turn disaster into a good outcome.”

  The second aunt nodded with a smile. “Mother’s right. I may be worried about them, but you are even more so. It’s my fault for making you unhappy.”

  “You have a mother’s kind heart, so what fault is there in that?” The duchess gave instructions with a smile. “Have the kitchen begin their preparations. When the duke and the others return, summon all the girls so that we can all enjoy lunch together.”

  Bao-mama assented merrily and had serving girls deliver the plans to each branch, requesting all the misses and young masters to Bright Spring Hall.

  * * *

  The duke’s secondary name.

  Chapter 69: Refusal Unto Death

  Chapter 69: Refusal Unto Death

  It didn’t take long for all the misses to arrive. Qin Yining and Qin Huining followed the crowd to the receiving hall, quickly mingling among them. Even though Qin Huining wasn’t the most popular, the scene wasn’t too awkward. A granny servant arrived around noon to ask the duchess, “Senior Madame, lunch is ready. Should we set it out in the warmed room?”

  “Set it out there. Make sure to fetch the lords from the outer residence.”

  “Understood.”

  The ladies of the house chatted and laughed their way to lunch, bumping into the duke and his grandsons at the courtyard door. The girls curtsied while eldest cousin Sun Yu, fifth cousin Sun Jie, and eighth cousin Sun Qin made their bows to the women. They greeted their sisters and female cousins as well before heading inside.

  It was as warm as spring inside the house and a full spread was laid out. The delicious fragrance of food wafted towards their noses and teased everyone’s appetites. The duchess smiled. “Let’s take down the divider. There are no outsiders here. Is the duke to eat a lonely meal with just three of his grandsons? Aren't you jealous that we have so many people on our side?”

  “You know me best,” the duke chuckled. “I am jealous, but you’ve already given your orders without me having to say anything.”

  Everyone started laughing. The duke and duchess took the head seats, while née Sun took her place at the duchess’ side, leaving two seats next to her for her sisters-in-law. The male cousins took their seats at the duke’s right hand. The young girls naturally sat at another table. Senior and second aunt picked up serving chopsticks, but the duchess smiled. “It’s a kind of reunion lunch today. I don’t want you two to stand on ceremony. Take your seats as well.”

  The two wanted to protest, but the duke smiled as well. “Just listen to your mother.”

  Although the duke was gentle, he was the man of the household. No one would gainsay him after he spoke, so the two madames took their seats as well. Noble households had the rule of no speech during meals and bed, so the only sound in the room was that of chopsticks clinking against bowls and plates. But once everyone had finished their meals and moved back to the receiving hall, the atmosphere once again grew lively.

  The duke stroked his beard, in quite a good mood. “Are you used to things yet, granddaughter Yi?”

  “In response to grandfather, all is well. Mother thinks greatly of me in all matters and take very good care of me. Huining’s also taught me much that I didn’t know before, so I’m used to life here now.” Qin Yining responded docilely. Née Sun was immensely touched by this response, while Qin Huining flung a startled look at Qin Yining. What is she up to now?

  The duke smiled. “That’s good. It’s your mother’s fortune that you and granddaughter Hui are so friendly with each other. If you need anything or run into any difficulties, send a message to your maternal grandmother.”

  “I will. Thank you for your concern, grandfather.” Qin Yining curtsied in gratitude. The duke waved a hand to bid her sit and do away with the formalities. She took a seat next to Qin Huining, her bearing so natural that it seemed like everything was fine between them. Qin Huining, on the other hand, was tensed up all over. She felt incredibly uncomfortable being in such close proximity, but had to force herself to maintain her composure.

  Although the duchess was worried about what was going on, she was able to keep her calm. But Qin Yining’s second aunt couldn’t help but speak up due to worry for her family. “Father, do we know how things at Xihua are going?”

  The duke thought for a moment before responding gravely, “The two armies are clashing at Xihua. Pang Zhixi [1] deploys his troops in peculiar ways. We haven’t gained the upper hand yet.”

  Hearts sank at these words while second aunt tried to comfort herself. “Although we haven’t gained the upper hand, at least our menfolk are still safe and sound.”

  Families residing in the rear could only wish for simple hopes like these. The duke sighed. “If only I wasn’t so old, I’d head to Xihua myself and take Pang Zhixi down a peg myself!”

  “Grandfather is hale and hearty. It’s only that we just don’t need you in the field yet,” fifth cousin Sun Jie smiled.

  Eighth cousin Sun Qin frowned. “The war is one thing, but what’s most infuriating is Great Zhou’s arrogance. They send us messengers that their dowager empress has headaches? What, they invade us and then expect us to look for doctors for them? Is the entire world theirs?! And our emperor is actually scurrying around looking for doctors? This…”

  “Eighth brother, watch your words.” Sun Yu admonished lightly, bringing his brother’s attention back to the presence of other sisters and cousins in the surroundings. Sun Qin smiled awkwardly. Qin Yining kept her eyes low as she quietly listened the conversation around her, feeling a boulder slowly settle on her heart. The emperor was decrepit and weak, only knowing how to immerse himself in pleasure with t
he trampress. He plotted against his subjects, but never thought of forging his court into a tight whole so that they could contend against outside enemies. It’d be easier for Great Yan citizens to hope for his death than expect him to stand proudly and lead them all with a firm hand!

  Just as the heavy atmosphere pervaded everyone’s thoughts, servants suddenly reported in from outside. “Your Grace, Grand Supervisor Wang from the palace has just arrived with an imperial decree! He’s in the front yard at the moment!”

  Another imperial decree!? The duke quickly gave orders to set up a table with new cloth and decorations to hold the imperial decree while the family went to kneel in the front yard to receive the emperor’s words.

  Grand Supervisor Wang’s face was solemn as he slowly unfurled the golden decree. Once it was fully unfurled, he spoke in a thin, high voice, “The Emperor, who governs with the mandate of Heaven, decrees the following: the dowager empress of Great Zhou, to the west of our great nation, is unwell and has received a method of treatment from a renowned doctor. Partaking of the brain of a wise person can cure her ailment. Sun Yu, eminent scholar of Hanlin Academy, possesses wisdom and strategy, is quick of wit and innovative, and is endowed with intelligence and courage alike. In recognition of his great talent, We hereby bestow the position of the Earl of An and award him one thousand gold taels. Sun Yu is to head to Great Zhou to cure the dowager empress. So it is decreed!”

  Deathly silence reigned in the yard…

  Grand Supervisor Wang’s shrill voice had cut across everyone’s heart like a rusty blade. Kneeling in the yard, the duke’s hand was trembling. After a long moment, he lifted his head and spoke, fighting to get every word out. “If I may ask the grand supervisor... what is all this?”

  The grand supervisor sighed softly. “Your Grace, please don’t blame this servant. I’m just following orders. But I can provide you with some information. I’m sure you’re aware that Great Zhou sent an envoy? He just met with the emperor and relayed that a Great Zhou doctor prescribed a treatment for their dowager empress. He said that in order for her headaches to be cured, she needs to eat the brain of the smartest person in the world.” Tears welled up in the old eunuch’s eyes, but he swallowed roughly to keep them from spilling over. His voice dropped an octave as he struggled to keep his tone even. “The envoy purposefully asked, ‘I’ve heard that there’s someone in your country who’s skilled at writing denunciations. He’s the smartest, so we’ll take him’. Then… the emperor agreed…”