It was the first month of the lunar year, and the chill of winter still lingered in the capital even though the New Year festivities had just ended. The residents living along the streets were busy sweeping the snow from their doorsteps.
“It’s so cold, yet there are still so many people out and about. The capital really is prosperous.” Yun Qiya leaned against the carriage window, looking left and right. Her face had been reddened by the cold, but she was reluctant to lower the curtain. Turning her head, she asked the woman beside her, “Mother, are we really going to stay in the capital for good?”
Wen Yuxiu reached out and stroked her daughter’s hair. Her gaze was somber, but when she saw her daughter looking at her, she put on a smile. “Yes.”
Sitting opposite the mother and daughter, Yun Zhongsheng leaned forward and wedged his head between them. With a sly expression, he lowered his voice and asked, “We’ll be home soon. Do you still remember what your mother and I told you before we entered the capital?”
At that, Yun Qiya lowered the curtain and nodded with a bright smile. “Don’t worry, Father. Once I make my appearance, I guarantee I won’t hold you back.”
She took out the small mirror she carried in her bosom and adjusted the hair ornaments at her temples. She had deliberately styled her hair that morning in a fashion elders were sure to like.
“Father, among our family of four, who could possibly be better at winning people over than Little Sister?” Yun Luoqing was sprawled in the corner of the carriage, his crown askew and his bearing utterly lacking in decorum. “Just put your mind at ease.”
“That’s true.” Yun Zhongsheng glanced at his daughter’s face, tucked both hands into his sleeves, and turned to look at the crooked crown on his son’s head. “And you—go tidy yourself up.”
“Say no more. The marquis’s residence is just ahead.” Wen Yuxiu cast a glance at father and son. “Pull yourselves together and don’t ruin anything.”
“Mhm.” Yun Qiya put away her little mirror. “We’re almost out of money!”
If they didn’t hurry home to win over their grandfather and grandmother and mooch a little food and spending money from them, their family of four would soon be reduced to drinking the northwest wind.
Inside the main hall of the Marquis Chengping’s residence, the Marquis Chengping and the old marchioness sat upright at the front. They appeared calm and composed, but their eyes kept drifting toward the main entrance, and they repeatedly lifted their teacups for sips.
First Madam sat below them, smiling faintly with impeccable poise and saying nothing. Only when she turned her head toward the entrance did her brows crease slightly.
Her second brother-in-law’s family had left the capital nearly ten years ago under the pretext of traveling. Usually, they sent a trifling gift or two back home, enough to make the old couple beam with delight. Now that they had returned, they would probably flatter the two elders so thoroughly that they wouldn’t know which way was up.
“They’re back!”
A delighted cry suddenly came from outside. The silent marquis’s residence instantly became as lively as a pond into which fresh water had been poured.
Rules of the marquis’s residence and family etiquette all became irrelevant. Even the usually aloof and dignified Marchioness rose to her feet with the help of a maid, her eyes fixed eagerly on the entrance.
“Madam.” Her personal nanny gently tugged at her sleeve. The Marchioness came back to herself, then walked over to the old marquis’s wife and supported her other arm.
She was just about to offer her mother-in-law a few words of comfort when a gray blur rushed in like a gale and dropped to its knees before the Marchioness.
“Father, Mother, your son has been unfilial and returned home far too late!”
The moment he knelt, the second sister-in-law who had followed him inside knelt as well.
First Madam lowered her eyes to the hem of her robes, which had been stirred by the wind, and forced out a stiff smile.
This family had finally returned.
She lifted her head toward the sky. Somehow, the heavens looked grayer than usual today.
“What are you doing? Get up.” The old marquis kept a stern face as he pulled his son up from the floor. Yun Zhongsheng wiped away his tears with his sleeve while helping his wife to her feet, choking out, “It has been so long since I last saw Father and Mother. I truly couldn’t contain my emotions.”
The Marchioness’s face filled with concern, and she hurriedly instructed the maids to prepare a meal.
“Where are Qiya and Luoqing?” The Marchioness was thinking of her granddaughter and grandson. She looked past the couple toward the people behind them.
“Grandmother, I’m here.” A girl in a goose-yellow dress and fox-fur cloak entered the main hall beside a graceful young man in a blue robe and jade crown. Their eyes were filled with affectionate longing as they gazed at the two elders.
The moment the girl removed her cloak, First Madam felt as though the entire room had brightened several shades.
Even before leaving the capital all those years ago, this niece had already been as lovely as carved jade and fresh snow, resembling an immortal child. Now, she had grown even more beautiful.
More than that, hers was the sort of beauty that made men and women, young and old, unable to help but feel fond of her at first sight.
Once she saw her granddaughter, the Marchioness could no longer spare a glance for anyone else. She took Yun Qiya’s hand and stopped her from curtsying. “You’ve endured a long journey, so don’t bother with these meaningless formalities. You were so young when you left the capital, and now look how much you’ve grown.”
Yun Qiya affectionately hugged the Marchioness’s arm and swayed it lightly, resting her head against her. “Mother and Father often told me that my eyes look like yours. Now I see they really are very similar.”
“Your parents are right. Your eyes do resemble your grandmother’s.” The old marquis nodded. Usually, his voice was loud and gruff, but now he raised it into an unusually gentle pitch, doing his best to look kindly at her. “When your grandmother was young, she was one of the most famous beauties in the capital.”
The Marchioness shot the old marquis a sidelong glance with a smile. Her gaze paused briefly on the golden-leaf hairpin at Yun Qiya’s temples, and the smile at the corners of her lips grew even warmer.
The pair of golden-leaf hairpins had been sent to her last year by the Marchioness. It seemed her granddaughter liked them very much.
“Was she even more famous than Grandmother’s calligraphy and paintings?” Yun Qiya raised her head, her face full of curiosity. “I only know that your calligraphy and paintings are worth a fortune. Once, my brother and I were strolling through the streets of Yunzhou when we heard that someone had remained in the capital for nearly a hundred days just to obtain one of your works.”
As she spoke, her face shone with pride.
Seeing this scene, Nanny Yao, First Madam’s personal nanny, cast her mistress a worried look. Her words had acknowledged the old marchioness’s beauty in her youth while placing even greater emphasis on her talent—and that proud little expression on her face…
If she were the old marchioness, she would probably take the girl straight into her heart.
Nanny Yao’s guess was right. The old marchioness was indeed delighted. A moment ago, she had still been calling the girl Qiya. Now she had already changed to the soft and affectionate “Qiya.”
“My darling, how are you so thoughtful? Leave the serving of tea and water to the servants.” The Marchioness held the tea Yun Qiya had poured for her as if it were celestial nectar. “What would you like for lunch? Just tell your grandmother, and I’ll have the kitchen make it for you.”
Nanny Yao was expressionless.
So she really had called her “my darling”?
“I’ll enjoy anything as long as I can eat with Grandfather and Grandmother.” Yun Qiya clung to the Marchioness’s side, transforming into a little sugar cake of sweetness.
Nanny Yao lowered her eyes. The entire marquis’s residence had only one granddaughter, and with such a talent for winning people over, the second branch would probably seize every advantage in the days to come.
Just as she was thinking this, she saw Miss Qiya lift her head and look toward First Madam. Nanny Yao immediately tensed.
Was the second branch already preparing to engage in a battle of household intrigue the moment they returned?
Nanny Yao was no pushover. She would certainly protect First Madam and keep her safe.
“Could you be Cousin Song, who has been staying here?” Yun Qiya rose and gave her a bow. “I was so overwhelmed with excitement when I saw Grandfather and Grandmother that I failed to greet you. Please forgive me, Cousin.”
First Madam was stunned.
“Miss Song? Is that who she is?”
“What nonsense.” Wen Yuxiu scolded her. “This is your First Aunt. When you were little, she took such good care of you, and you don’t even recognize her? Hurry and apologize to her!”
“I was terribly rude.” Yun Qiya stared at First Madam’s face in disbelief, her features full of panic as she bowed deeply. “Forgive me, First Aunt. You look so young that I mistook you for Miss Song. Please forgive me.”
Miss Song was First Madam’s niece from her maiden family, and was now only twenty-three.
“Sister-in-law, Qiya was only six or seven when she left the capital. We haven’t seen each other in so many years. What’s wrong with her not remembering my face? Why be so harsh?” First Madam said with a bright smile as she helped the repeatedly apologizing Yun Qiya to her feet. The stiff, distant smile on her face had gained a touch of warmth.
“I have only two good-for-nothing sons under my roof. Now that our family finally has a pretty, adorable little girl, I almost wish she were my own daughter.” First Madam stroked Yun Qiya’s hand and placed a hand warmer in her arms. “The capital is cold. Don’t let yourself catch a chill.”
Her younger brother-in-law and his wife might not be particularly pleasing to her, but their daughter was certainly a fine exception to the rule.
Perhaps she was simply born to like beautiful, adorable, and honest little girls.
A girl of sixteen or seventeen had mistaken her for her maternal aunt’s niece—what great offense was that? Why was Second Madam being so severe? Did she really think First Madam was the sort of person to quibble over every little thing?
“Thank you, First Aunt.” Yun Qiya cradled the hand warmer in both hands, her eyes shining with delight. She seemed to want to act spoiled with First Madam, yet was afraid her mother would scold her, so all she could do was gaze at First Madam with wide, beseeching eyes.
That look softened First Madam’s heart. Before lunch had even been served, the bracelet on her wrist and the gold hairpin in her hair had already found their way onto Yun Qiya.
When lunch was served, Nanny Yao gritted her teeth at the sight of Miss Qiya sitting beside the Marchioness to eat, having edged past her own First Madam.
Her mistress had even given up the bracelet and hairpin she loved just to make the old marchioness happy. How she endured such humiliation!
The meal was lively. The Marquis Chengping’s residence had always emphasized the rule of not speaking while eating or sleeping, but that rule had long since been swept aside by laughter and conversation. Yun Qiya regaled the elders with amusing stories from beyond the capital, while occasionally serving them food.
First Madam looked at the dishes Yun Qiya had placed in her bowl. Before Nanny Yao could remove them and replace them with something else, she put them straight into her mouth.
Nanny Yao took a deep breath.
Her mistress really was the more composed one. Nanny Yao was simply too impetuous.
After lunch, Second Branch’s family stayed in the main hall to chat with the two elders. Knowing they had much to say, First Madam took the initiative to find an excuse and leave.
“First Aunt.” Yun Qiya accompanied her all the way to the courtyard gate before stopping, reluctant to part. “Please take care on your way.”
“Go back inside. It’s cold out here.” First Madam noticed that she was not wearing a cloak and urged her to return to her room.
“All right, I’ll listen to you, First Aunt.” Yun Qiya took three steps for every one, turning her head again and again. It was a long while before she finally went back inside.
Only after Qiya’s figure had disappeared from sight did Nanny Yao lower her voice and say, “Mistress, I believe Miss Qiya is no simple girl. She has won the old marchioness’s favor so quickly. We must be on our guard.”
“Nanny.” First Madam clearly disagreed. “Qiya is sincere and pure of heart. Don’t make wild guesses.”
She was still only sixteen or seventeen, and she was so beautiful. How could there possibly be anything bad about her?
Nanny Yao: “…”
What?!
Just last night, you were saying that Second Branch’s family was always fond of sweet-talking people into doing what they wanted. How did you change your mind so quickly today?
