After a night of heavy rain in the Capital City, the sky suddenly cleared at dawn. The courtyard was filled with the scent of soil and fresh grass, and crystal-clear rainwater clung to the branches and leaves of the crabapple trees.
ng Qianqian finished practicing with the Brocade Spring Saber for an entire hour. It was good, but she always felt... it was a bit too light.
She suddenly thought of the massive axe she had seen that bearded neighbor wield one night. She wondered what weapon she had once used—it must have been heavier than the Brocade Spring Saber.
As she was pondering, a soft, milk-like voice called out from outside the door: "Nine!"
ng Qianqian’s eyes lit up as she slid the Brocade Spring Saber back into its sheath.
Nanny Wan, bursting with joy, tottered to open the gate: "Oh my, oh my, look who’s co!"
Bao Shu sat in Qing Shuang’s arms, calling out, "Nanny, Nanny!"
"Yes, yes!" Nanny Wan bead, her face practically glowing with delight. "Miss Bao Shu, Miss Qing Shuang, please, co in!"
"Nanny Wan."
Qing Shuang nodded in greeting.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Bao Shu squird to get down from Qing Shuang’s arms. She wiggled her little bottom, reached out her tiny arms, and tottered unsteadily toward ng Qianqian.
ng Qianqian watched her with a smile, waiting until Bao Shu reached her on her own before bending over to scoop her up.
Since her engagent had been finalized, according to marriage customs, she was no longer allowed to visit the Governor’s Mansion. She would have to wait until the wedding to et her future husband.
Although Lu Yuan was rely a fake groom, Nanny Li didn’t know that. She watched over ng Qianqian like a hawk every day.
It had been so ti since she had tidied up the Book Pavilion, and the little one hadn’t co to visit either.
"Miss Little Nine," Bao Shu cooed in her soft baby voice.
ng Qianqian pinched her chubby cheeks. "If you missed , why didn’t you co to see ?"
Bao Shu, with the deanor of a little adult, let out a sigh. "Busy."
ng Qianqian couldn’t stop laughing. "Busy with what? Since when do you know the word ’busy’?"
Bao Shu babbled a string of incomprehensible baby talk, leaving ng Qianqian puzzled.
Fortunately, Qing Shuang knew the full story and explained: "Miss Bao Shu has made quite a few friends in the Capital City. The youngest is just one month old, and the oldest is three or four years old. She’s sent out invitations, asking them to attend the wedding banquet at the Governor’s Mansion. She even instructed them to bring gifts."
ng Qianqian’s lips twitched. Unsure, she asked, "And... how exactly did she instruct them?"
Could she really say that much?
Qing Shuang recalled how Bao Shu, with a serious expression, had gestured at a group of well-dressed toddlers while babbling and mimicking a red envelope. "I think... she managed to get her point across."
ng Qianqian: "..."
Lu Yuan had his wedding robe; ng Qianqian had her bridal gown; Bao Shu also needed her own little celebratory outfit. Today, Bao Shu had co to invite ng Qianqian to help her pick one out.
"At Yanyu Pavilion," Qing Shuang said.
Tan’er was still sound asleep, so ng Qianqian didn’t wake her. She brought Ban Xia, along with Bao Shu and Qing Shuang, and boarded the Governor’s Mansion carriage.
Today, Yanyu Pavilion was as bustling as ever. Despite the seamstresses repeatedly insisting that the owner had already accepted orders and wouldn’t take any more, the crowd of admirers didn’t dwindle.
ng Qianqian stepped off the carriage with Bao Shu in her arms. Both were montarily stunned by the throng of people.
At that mont, another carriage arrived at the entrance of Yanyu Pavilion.
Lin Wan’er stepped down, accompanied by Lu Luo.
ng Qianqian had never been interested in Lin Wan’er, but Lin Wan’er always seed to lock eyes with ng Qianqian the mont they appeared together.
However, Lin Wan’er’s state of mind was different this ti.
She arrogantly strolled up to ng Qianqian, her gaze drifting over the child in ng Qianqian’s arms. She naturally recognized the little one—after all, the clothes she wore were tailored by Lu Mother herself.
The child was Lu Yuan’s daughter.
Her own grandson received no such affection, yet soone else’s child was lavished with tailored garnts one after another.
Did they think fawning over ng Qianqian like this would curry favor with the Governor’s Mansion?
In the end, wasn’t Lu Yuan about to marry soone else?
"Hey, why are you standing so close to my lady?"
Ban Xia had noticed Lin Wan’er and imdiately extended her arm to block her from approaching her mistress.
Lu Luo sneered. "What’s there to be so proud about? Do you really think you can climb the ranks just because of a child?"
Ban Xia shot back, "Isn’t the one climbing the ranks because of a child your fox-spirit mistress? No proper matchmaker, pregnant out of wedlock, shalessly barging into the household—she’s disgraced won everywhere. If her father knew how shaless his daughter was, he’d probably crawl out of his coffin just to slap her silly!"
"You..."
"What ’you’? Can’t even talk properly—why don’t you stay ho and stop embarrassing yourself?"
Lu Luo turned beet red from the scolding. The retort sounded familiar, as if she’d been on the receiving end of it before. "Don’t get too smug!"
Ban Xia, channeling Tan’er’s haughty tone, replied, "What if I am? What can you do about it?"
Bao Shu turned her little face in confusion.
ng Qianqian quickly covered her ears. "Don’t listen."
Lin Wan’er gestured toward ng Qianqian with her hands, signing: ng Qianqian, the Grand Commander is getting married, and the Lu Family has received the invitation. If I were you, I’d slink back to You State with my tail between my legs. The Governor’s wife isn’t soone you can ss with—I’m afraid you might not survive.
Lu Yuan, what are you doing? Sending invitations to the Lu Family?
She didn’t mind; after all, the embarrassing one would be Lu Lingxiao.
Lin Wan’er: Are you scared?
ng Qianqian nodded. "There’s one thing you’re absolutely right about: the Governor’s wife isn’t soone to be trifled with. Guards."
Several Jinyi Guards stepped forward imdiately.
ng Qianqian glanced at Lin Wan’er and said calmly, "In the future, as long as I’m here, she’s not allowed to co in."
"Yes!"
The Jinyi Guards responded in unison, lining up and forming a barrier to block Lin Wan’er and her maid.
Lu Luo gritted her teeth. "ng Qianqian, stop abusing your power!"
ng Qianqian didn’t even turn her head. "Slap her."
A Jinyi Guard delivered a swift slap to Lu Luo, knocking a tooth loose.
Lu Luo held her bleeding mouth, no longer daring to shout.
The crowd turned toward the commotion.
Lin Wan’er felt an imnse humiliation. She clenched her fists, her eyes filled with venom as she glared at ng Qianqian’s retreating figure.
The shopkeeper from Yanyu Pavilion personally ca out to greet ng Qianqian and her party with the utmost deference.
ng Qianqian, what’s so special about you?
Do you really think these people respect you? They’re only fawning over Bao Shu. Wait until Bao Shu gets a formal mother—I’ll see how arrogant you are then!
The way you’ve been seducing the Grand Commander—I’ll make sure the Governor’s wife knows on the wedding day!
The shopkeeper guided ng Qianqian’s group to the third floor with great care.
He knelt before ng Qianqian, personally serving her tea. "The owner is busy working on garnts and couldn’t co to greet you and Miss Bao Shu personally. Please forgive us."
ng Qianqian smiled and nodded. "You’re too kind, Shopkeeper."
Bao Shu was rolling around on the clean wooden floor, flipping sorsaults and having the ti of her life.
The shopkeeper chuckled and said, "To be honest, Miss ng, this is our first ti making celebratory clothes for such a small child. We’re a bit unsure. Perhaps you could tell us what Miss Bao Shu likes? We’ll create a few designs for you to choose from."
ng Qianqian glanced at the little tiger cub rolling around on the ground and thought for a mont. "It’s hard to put into words. Do you have a pen?"
The shopkeeper quickly brought out paper, ink, and brush.
Images of Bao Shu’s many adorable, spirited expressions flashed through ng Qianqian’s mind. One brushstroke at a ti, they ca to life on paper.
She set the brush down. "Sothing like this, I think."
...
"Owner! Owner!"
Yun Xiyao was in the middle of cutting fabric when the frantic sound of pounding on her door interrupted her. She opened the door with a frosty expression. "Didn’t I say I wasn’t to be disturbed this month? Do you want to lose your position as shopkeeper?"
The shopkeeper handed over ng Qianqian’s design, barely able to contain his excitent. "Owner, look!"
Yun Xiyao gasped audibly.
...
Leaving Yanyu Pavilion, ng Qianqian decided to stop by her tea shop.
Ban Xia suddenly pointed ahead. "Miss, look! Isn’t that the young master? Huh? Why did he go into the gold shop? Is he here to buy gold? And where’s Brother Wu?"
In recent days, Steward Cen had arranged for several family mbers—Seventh Uncle, Third Uncle, and Uncle ng—to tour the Capital City. Yu Li, however, had declined the invitation, expressing a desire to visit the local academies. ng Qianqian had assigned Brother Wu as his driver.
Ban Xia added, "And now he’s leaving the gold shop and heading into our tea shop."
ng Qianqian said, "Let’s go greet my cousin."
Bao Shu pointed at Yu Li. "Cousin."
ng Qianqian smiled. "You should call him Uncle."
Bao Shu struggled to pronounce "Uncle" and pouted in frustration.
ng Qianqian entered the tea shop with Bao Shu in her arms.
Inside, Liu Changsheng was entertaining guests. A clerk escorted them in. "Proprietress!"
ng Qianqian looked around but didn’t see Yu Li. She asked the clerk, "Where’s the young man in the blue long robe? Where did he go?"
The clerk replied, "Ah, that gentleman? I rember him. He was asking for directions and then left through the back door."
ng Qianqian felt sothing was off about Yu Li. "Where was he asking directions to?"
The clerk said, "The gambling den."
Ban Xia almost dropped her jaw. "Young master is going to a gambling den?"
The clerk hesitated. "That gentleman... is he your cousin, Proprietress?"
ng Qianqian said to Bao Shu, "Stay here with Qing Shuang."
Bao Shu pointed to herself. "Want, go."
ng Qianqian ruffled her little head. "I’ll take you when you’re older."
Ban Xia said, "Miss."
ng Qianqian said, "You stay here too."
The gambling den was no place for them.
ng Qianqian left the tea shop, following the directions the clerk had given her toward the gambling den.
Soon, she spotted Yu Li’s figure. But instead of entering the gambling den, he turned into an alley next to it.
ng Qianqian followed.
At the alley entrance, she overheard Yu Li speaking to soone.
"You’ve finally agreed to et with ."
"Didn’t I tell you not to seek out? I’ll take care of arranging your entry into the Imperial College. Just wait for news."
"That’s not why I ca to see you."
"Then what is it?"
"Aren’t you really... going to et your cousin?"
ng Qianqian mulled over this. Cousin? They must an . Could this woman really be connected to ?
"I have nothing to do with the ng Family anymore. Why do you all keep trying to force to see her?"
The woman’s emotions seed agitated, and without another word, she stord out of the alley—only to co face-to-face with ng Qianqian at the entrance.
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