He dismissed the servants and started his questioning when there were only the three of them left. “Daughter Yi, was the snuff bottle really broken today?”
The girl nodded docilely and described what had happened. “Anger probably got to the old dowager’s head, and she wanted to hit mother. She hadn’t thought that I’d try to stop her, and the snuff bottle was sent flying in the scuffle.”
“So that really was the dowager empress’ snuff bottle?” Qin Huaiyuan sighed heavily and knit his brows together.
“Well.” Qin Yining grinned mischievously. “It was certainly the same style as the dowager empress’ snuff bottle.”
Qin Huaiyuan looked at his daughter bringing out her best imitation of a fox’s expression and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Her answer had made the truth of the matter crystal clear, and he tapped Qin Yining’s forehead reprovingly. “You girl, you. You’re thoroughly wicked! You dare trick even your grandmother.”
Qin Yining rubbed her forehead, even though the tap didn’t hurt at all, and stuck out her tongue.
“Don’t be angry, father. I wasn’t intentionally targeting the old dowager. I’m sure the version of the snuff bottle incident you heard was different from the truth I just relayed. All I did was some harmless intimidation so that mother wouldn’t be worse for the wear when you’re not at home.”
Qin Huaiyuan looked warmly at née Sun, who’d long been shocked silly by the way father and daughter were interacting. She smiled awkwardly as Qin Huaiyuan looked at her. “Um… don’t grow angry, my lord. This was all my awful idea.”
“Oh, I know that this must’ve been daughter Yi’s work.” Qin Huaiyuan waved his hand smilingly. “You don’t need to try to keep her out of trouble. You’re an honest person, not like this imp of ours with a head full of tricks.”
Née Sun had no idea how to respond to that, but Qin Yining snorted. “Is that supposed to be a compliment, father?”
Qin Huaiyuan patted his daughter’s shoulder and broke into hearty laughter. Jin-mama, Caiju, and Cailan also joined in the merriment from off to the side.
The laughter and cheerful chatter from indoors travelled out to the exterior hallway where Cao Yuqing was standing. Her face was quite calm and she called out, “My lord, senior madame, this concubine is specially here to greet the madame.”
The laughter inside instantly stilled and Qin Huaiyuan responded blandly, “You may enter.”
Cao Yuqing adjusted her emotions and slowly made her way inside.
* * *
Chapter 135: Redeeming a Vow (I)
Chapter 135: Redeeming a Vow (I)
The inside was brightly lit by the intricate six-paneled lanterns hanging beneath the rafters. The vividly-lifelike images of the eight immortals crossing the seas rotated slowly on the panels, scattering soft illumination by Cao Yuqing’s feet. She unconsciously came to a stop for an appreciative moment. This was the main hall of the Garden of Tranquility, the place where Qin Huaiyuan spent the most amount of time apart from the outer study.
…with another woman.
Cao Yuqing’s long lashes fluttered down and she crossed through the openwork screen extending down to the ground to arrive in the side hall after a while.
Qin Huaiyuan and née Sun were respectively sitting on the left and right luohan beds next to the window. The furniture was decorated with stylized carvings of scepters. Qin Huaiyuan was leisurely sipping tea while née Sun idly toyed with stir-fried pumpkin seeds in a nearby dish. The jade bracelet adorning the snow-white wrist of her left hand clinked lightly against table as the madame poked and prodded at the seeds.
Qin Yining could tell that her mother wasn’t very happy and patted the madame’s shoulder comfortingly. She took her place next to her mother and began openly admiring the beautiful woman.
A pale-green, plain wrap dress cinched at the waist neatly outlined Cao Yuqing’s well proportioned body. Her jet black locks were pulled to the side in a style commonly called the horse’s mane and held in place by a singular golden hairpin with a jade butterfly dangle hanging off of it. She walked with a light step and sashay, the hem of her dress swaying elegantly. Her earrings swung in tempo and a smile played around her lips. Her watery eyes looked throbbingly forward, and she was simply as magnificent as captivating flowers reflected by the water’s surface.
It was said that she was thirty years old, but it seemed that the years had been extraordinarily kind to her. No traces of the passage of time had been left on her, only the refined bearing of a mature woman. When splendid looks were paired with boundless tenderness, Qin Yining believed that very few men would be able to shrug off such a beauty’s embrace.
Objectively speaking, Cao Yuqing looked like Qin Yining’s sister. The middle-aged née Sun actually looked like Cao Yuqing’s mother. This was a fact that the madame also perceived, and she tightened her hold on the intricately carved arm of the luohan bed.
Be calm. Have greater depths to myself. I need to hold it in when needed and not just vent my emotions whenever I feel like it. Her stern admonishments managed to barely calm herself down.
“This concubine greets the lord and madame.” Cao Yuqing swept a graceful curtsey. “I’ve heard that the madame’s health hasn’t been well and so recuperation outside has been in order. This concubine has sorely missed the madame, and can be at ease now that I’ve seen the madame hale and hearty.”
One didn’t slap a smiling face. Qin Huaiyuan was here holding down the fort and Cao Yuqing’s mannerisms and greeting were without fault. Née Sun could only tug her lips in a smile that could pass for gentle.
“Concubine Cao has gone to great thought. Jin-mama, show the lady to her seat. Caiju, serve tea.”
“Many thanks, madame.” Cao Yuqing curtsied again before her body servant helped her up.
“Please sit, Concubine Cao.” Jin-mama brought over a bowed-leg stool with a soft and thick baby-blue cushion atop it.
Cao Yuqing thanked the granny servant with a soft smile. The concubine was charm incarnate to begin with, so when her eyes creased in a smile, they almost made Jin-mama lose her train of thought.
Qin Yining subconsciously glanced at her father and saw that Qin Huaiyuan was busily taking small sips from a teacup, noting the buoyancy of the pale-green tea leaves with lowered eyes. It was as if the stunning beauty in front of him didn’t exist at all.
The girl couldn’t help but admire her father’s steady nature and concentration, but she was also increasingly puzzled. It wasn’t as if her father had never had concubines before, and he’d spent nights with them as well. But why was he so completely indifferent to a breathtaking woman who was rightfully his?
Cao Yuqing and the trampress were all beauties who could capitulate cities and nations with their looks alone. Although Qin Yining didn’t feel that her father was someone who’d rather a beautiful woman than his country, it didn’t make sense to reject a choice meat brought up to his mouth. Everyone knew that Qin Huaiyuan and Cao Yuqing hadn’t consummated their marriage yet, and that the lord was just putting up the concubine with the finest treatment, lodgings, and food. She was enjoying immense trappings of life, but he hadn’t so much as touched her finger.
Is it only because Cao Yuqing’s father is Elder Statesman Cao? While Qin Yining was deep in thought, Cao Yuqing engaged the madame in easy conversation and quickly explained her intentions.
“I made a wishing vow at the Celestial Nunnery a few days ago and asked that the great goddess Dou Mu watch over the lord and fourth miss for a safe return, and that everything go well. Now that all of our troubles have gone away, I would travel to the nunnery tomorrow to redeem my vow with gratitude. It would also be a good time to commission a few days of peaceful rites for our family. This concubine has come to ask the madame if you’d like to come with the fourth miss tomorrow?”
Née Sun almost eagerly agreed when she heard this. She hadn’t seen her mother or sisters-in-law for almost a month and didn’t know if they’d adjusted
to life in the nunnery well. However, she suddenly recalled that she was ‘sick’. If she immediately spritely travelled up the mountain, wasn’t that making it obvious to her husband that she’d been lying to the old dowager?
Although Qin Huaiyuan had forgiven Qin Yining, that was because the girl was too cute and his own flesh and blood. She was so similar to the lord in his youth and he had great hopes for her. The two had also weathered the trials of the peace talks together, so there was nothing that he couldn’t forgive of her.
But née Sun was different. She was his wife, and one who’d failed to give birth to a son at that. The beautiful concubine was already thoroughly trouncing her when it came to family background, for what else would Qin Huaiyuan be biased towards her if she couldn’t win with virtue as well?
“Concubine Cao is quite thoughtful.” Née Sun propped her forehead up weakly. “But although I have the desire to, I’m still not feeling well. If the ardors of traveling by carriage triggers my illness again, I’ll have to leave the manor to quarantine myself. Why not have daughter Yi go in my stead?”
She was looking at Qin Yining for the last sentence, who in turn was looking back at her mother with a look of anguish. That her mother’s personality had changed so much in such a short period of time spoke to the forced maturity she’d underwent after repeated tribulations. Née Sun was a forty year old child who still liked to throw temper tantrums to others, but she was just someone who’d been overly protected all her life to Qin Yining.
The girl was happy that her mother had changed, but was also pained by the reason that had caused the madame to change.
“Alright.” Qin Yining responded tenderly. “Don’t worry mother. I’ll give a proper kowtow to the great goddess Dou Mu and pray that her protection falls onto the entire family.”
“The fourth miss is the most thoughtful.” Cao Yuqing smiled at the girl. This reminded Qin Yining that Qin Huining was Cao Yuqing’s foster daughter. She didn’t want to fight with these people at all. She was worried that she wouldn’t be able to hold back her temper and beat up the foster girl outside. It was a small thing if Qin Huining came back black and blue, but it really was tiring to beat someone up.
“Then I’ll head out with Auntie Cao tomorrow. The nunnery is a tranquil place of serenity, so we should travel lightly and not bring anyone with us.” Qin Yining cut straight to the point and made her remarks a statement instead of a question.
Cao Yuqing instantly understood that the girl was referring to Qin Huining. “The fourth miss speaks rightly so. This was what I’d intended as well.” She nodded quickly and rose to bend her knee. “Since we’ve decided upon this, this concubine will no longer disturb the lord and madame. I will see you tomorrow morning.”
Qin Yining also returned a half curtsey. “Then it shall be as Auntie Cao says. See you tomorrow morning.”
“This concubine takes her leave.” Cao Yuqing slowly took her leave and took a look at Qin Huaiyuan before she exited the door. He was still sipping away at his tea and hadn’t even looked properly at her. Pain stabbed her heart when this registered.
When Qin Yining saw that her parents were remaining quiet, she felt that she shouldn’t linger and took her leave to return to the Venerable Study Hall. Qiulu and the others naturally helped her undress and bathe. At the end of her nightly preparations, the girl stretched out on the bed with a soft and furry Riceball, blearily drifting off to sleep.
She set out with Cao Yuqing and a few guards the next day after washing up, eating breakfast, and making her morning greeting to the old dowager.
* * *
Chapter 136: Redeeming A Vow (II)
Chapter 136: Redeeming A Vow (II)
Qin Yining and Cao Yuqing shared a carriage as they sped along the government-built roads to the nunnery. Bingtang accompanied the fourth miss, while the concubine had brought an old mama. The four occupied two different sides of the carriage, escorted by six house guards outside.
Qin Yining and Bingtang were both sitting prim and proper, their manners elegant and without fault. The mama that Cao Yuqing had brought was slightly more relaxed, while her mistress was lazily reclining against a round cushion. She was holding a small pouch filled with snacks and her pert lips were bunched together as she sucked on a plum, their owner casually reading a playbook.
She chuckled softly every now and then, her tones gentle and tender. Her laughter rang out like that of an oriole, particularly pleasant to the ear. The light peeking in through the cracks of the carriage curtains alighted on the pearl dangle of the gold hairpin stuck in her hair. The soft hue of the pearl cast its radiance over her skin, enhancing the concubine’s snow-white flesh and further illuminating her looks.
Bingtang was playing with a small wooden box the width of a thumb and three inches long. Her head was lowered and her hatred of the Caos well concealed. Meanwhile, Qin Yining was openly admiring the beauty in front of her.
Cao Yuqing elegantly spat out a pit and lifted her eyes to meet Qin Yining’s. She smiled in spite of herself. “Why is the fourth miss looking at this concubine this way?”
“Auntie Cao’s looks are enough to conquer cities. Everyone has a heart for beauty, so I naturally have to make full use of us riding the same carriage and take a good look.” Qin Yining smiled as she spoke with a completely serious tone. If a man had reeled off those words, it would’ve been nothing short of blatant flirtation. But given how solemn the girl seemed, one couldn’t feel distaste from those words.
“You’re joking, Fourth Miss.” Cao Yuqing chuckled. “I’m already a middle-aged woman, what cities could my looks conquer? But the fourth miss has spoken truly. When a beauty is in front of us, we must make full use of the opportunity to take in our fill.”
She tossed the playbook to the side and indolently supported her upper body with an arm, turning to admire Qin Yining instead. There was no enmity in her eyes. Her gaze upon the Qin fourth miss was simply that one would find if they admired a valuable antique.
If Qin Yining had been any regular girl, she would’ve quickly felt embarrassed by the stare. But she wasn’t any such regular girl, and felt that Cao Yuqing could look as much as she wanted to. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been admiring the concubine either. They were both women, so what did it matter?
Cao Yuqing’s eyes on Qin Yining gradually softened until they became as warm as spring. However, her look soon grew distant, as if she was looking through Qin Yining to see someone else.
The girl was quick to pick up on the change, and after she remembered how others usually described her, she could understand why. Qin Huaiyuan had a beard now and his demeanor had changed over the years. He must differ greatly from his youth, from when he’d taken the capital by the storm. The Qin Huaiyuan of now was a genteel, handsome middle-aged man with hints of an ethereal bearing. Née Cao was likely picturing a young, clean shaven ‘Wise Pan An’, born from her perusal of his daughter.
“How long have you known my father, Auntie Cao?” Qin Yining’s question brought Cao Yuqing back to reality.
She blinked and smiled. “We were only acquainted with each other, so we actually haven’t really known each other for long. But I once saw the lord and madame in a palace banquet before I was married.”
Qin Yining nodded with comprehension. She could tell that Cao Yuqing liked Qin Huaiyuan. No matter whose daughter she was or for what reasons she’d lured née Sun into the palace for, it was undeniable that the concubine stayed firmly within the lines of propriety in front of the lord. She even seemed to want to get into his good graces. This show of goodwill wasn’t to fight over favor, but genuine love.
Father should’ve already been thirty when she was married. That was a man in his prime. They would’ve shed the shy awkwardness of a boy by then and fully grown into themselves. It was an age when men were the most mature and dependable.
Such a pity that my lord was already aged when I was born.
Qin Yining smiled faintly in response. “Auntie Cao,
have you…” Just at that moment, the carriage rocked and shook violently!
Horses whinnied and screamed as the guards yelled, “Who are you?!”
A cold hand tightened around Qin Yining’s heart and she quickly lifted a corner of the carriage door curtains, while Cao Yuqing yanked up the window curtains.
A band of civilian men dressed in ragged, tattered clothing had surrounded the carriage. They numbered twenty in total and were using scraps of cloth to cover their faces. Most were wielding clubs, but a few had knives as well.
The Qin family carriage was currently in the remotest of locations. There were no villages or way stations in sight. The road was bordered by trees on both sides. While the road to the nunnery was straight and smooth, no one was was traveling on it!
Qin Yining shrank back into the carriage with fright and quickly pulled the concubine back when she saw Cao Yuqing peering curiously outside. “Auntie Cao, be careful not to show your face!”
Is she trying to cause trouble!? With her looks, malicious thoughts will arise in the bandits if they see her face, even if they don’t have any in the first place!
“What do we do, what should we do?” Bingtang tugged on Qin Yining anxiously. Cao Yuqing was also being supported by old Lu-mama. The two were curled up into a shivering ball.
The bandits had charged the carriage and were now locked in brawling, twisted knots with the guards. As clubs, knives, and swords crossed paths, Qin Yining even heard a crude man shout, “That woman was dem fine! Let’s git her and take her back to be the boss’ wife!”
Qin Yining and Cao Yuqing looked at each other, horror dawning in each other’s faces.
“At this rate, we can only fight ourselves!” Qin Yining pulled out a silver hairpin from her hair and held it ready. “Hurry and see what can be used as a weapon and prepare yourselves!”
“But, but they have knives!” Cao Yuqing imitated the girl and was clenching a hairpin tightly.
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