ng Qianqian wore a wide-sleeved, cinched-waist dress in blue and white, resembling a clear sky after the rain, with blue skies and white clouds. She was a striking sight, refreshing both to the eyes and the soul.
A gentle breeze blew past, lifting her ink-black hair. She sat quietly and serenely, her deanor tranquil. In every way, she looked like the daughter of an aristocratic family.
Yu Shi suddenly froze for a mont.
But when she looked again, she recognized ng Qianqian.
That day in the alley, she had actually recognized her. Yu Shi knew that this daughter wouldn’t let go of her determination. She just hadn’t expected her to find her way here.
"Sister ng! Tell Tan’er to let have a turn!"
Zhou Nanyan pouted and said.
ng Qianqian curved her lips slightly: "Tan’er."
Tan’er reached out and handed the captured butterfly to Zhou Nanyan, "Alright then, this one’s for N! Sister, does N want it?"
ng Qianqian smiled and said, "I’ll pass."
Tan’er tightened her catch net and went back to chasing butterflies.
Yu Shi turned her gaze and saw three maids chasing butterflies in the garden.
This was the Minister’s Mansion. How could she allow her maids to frolic so openly in their host’s ho? Had the ng Family taught them no manners?
"Madam."
The accompanying nanny asked, "Why aren’t we moving along?"
Yu Shi replied calmly, "Riding in the carriage made a bit dizzy. I’ll rest here for a mont. You go ahead and find Yu Li."
"Has the young master already entered?" The nanny looked surprised.
It had been agreed Yu Shi would bring him into the Minister’s Mansion herself. How could he have gone in before her?
Yu Shi glanced at the pavilion, where ng Qianqian was sitting: "He’s probably here already. Go find him, and be careful not to offend the nobles of the mansion."
She wasn’t sure how Yu Li had managed to enter the Minister’s Mansion. Perhaps the na of the Marquis Mansion carried more influence than she had imagined.
The nanny left to find Yu Li, while Yu Shi hesitated briefly, then ascended the steps and entered the pavilion.
The pavilion held only a stone table and four stone stools. The table was adorned with several delicate and appetizing snacks, and the teapot contained premium Longjing tea—delivered to the hosts by Yu Shi herself.
ng Qianqian didn’t acknowledge her, continuing to watch the three others frolicking.
Yu Shi took a seat across from ng Qianqian, inadvertently blocking her view.
ng Qianqian furrowed her brows slightly.
Yu Shi no longer danced around the topic and spoke directly, "Did you co here with Yu Li?"
ng Qianqian: "Yes."
Her suspicion was confird. It was indeed Yu Li who had brought her here. ng Qianqian’s response further cented Yu Shi’s understanding that ng Qianqian already knew her identity.
Yu Shi said, "If you wanted to see , you could have chosen another location. You shouldn’t have co here."
ng Qianqian remained silent.
This wasn’t what Yu Shi had anticipated. She had assud ng Qianqian would weep, lash out, or confront her sharply.
Yu Shi reflected for a mont and concluded that ng Qianqian must be quietly sulking. She spoke again: "After your father passed away, I remarried. I did not wrong your father."
ng Qianqian still said nothing.
Yu Shi continued, "I don’t know what the ng Family has told you, but it likely wasn’t anything good. If you harbor resentnt against , I don’t bla you. If you ever encounter trouble in the Capital City, you can co to , but do not let the Marquis Mansion know of our relationship. That would be better for both you and ."
ng Qianqian said, "There’s no need."
Yu Shi thought she had misheard: "What did you say?"
ng Qianqian gazed at her: "I said, there’s no need."
Yu Shi frowned slightly.
ng Qianqian chuckled coldly: "You’re afraid I’ll cause a scene here at the Minister’s Mansion, embarrassing you, so you’ve said these words to placate , haven’t you? You’re overthinking it. I’ve never intended to acknowledge you, nor cling to you like an unwanted burden. Rest assured, I won’t go to the Marquis Mansion looking for you, Marchioness of the Marquis Mansion."
With that, ng Qianqian left, neither tasting the tea nor eating the snacks, walking away decisively.
The mont ng Qianqian brushed past her, an inexplicable surge of emotion welled up within Yu Shi.
Yu Shi stood up, gazing at her retreating figure. "Who are you putting on this act for? You are a child of the ng Family. Even if I wished to take you away, the ng Family wouldn’t permit it. Do you think they’d allow to transfer you to another household, to take another family’s surna?"
ng Qianqian paused mid-step: "Then tell , did you ever ask the ng Family for ?"
Yu Shi froze, her lashes quivering slightly as she replied, "Isn’t it obvious? No family would ever agree..."
Without a shred of hesitation, ng Qianqian departed.
At that mont, Yu Shi’s personal nanny climbed the pavilion steps. "Madam, the young master is playing pitch-pot with several gentlen. Madam, are you alright?"
Yu Shi turned and wiped away the tears on her face, her expression unchanging: "It’s just dust in my eyes. I’m fine. Take over to see him."
Zhou Nanyan and Tan’er, along with Ban Xia, had worked up quite a sweat playing.
Tan’er was brimming with energy, but Ban Xia looked worn out. Accompanying this young lady Zhou was far more taxing than tending to her own mistress—it was physical labor.
"Sister ng!"
Zhou Nanyan spotted ng Qianqian approaching and quickly hooked her arm. "I don’t want to chase butterflies anymore. Sister ng, let’s go fishing instead! There’s a big fish pond over there, filled with lots of fish!"
The Zhou Family and the Xing Family were longti friends. Since Madam Xing had no daughter, she doted on Zhou Nanyan endlessly. The servants in the household didn’t call her "Miss Zhou" but simply "Miss."
When Zhou Nanyan ca to the Xing Family’s estate, it felt as though she were returning to her own ho.
ng Qianqian smiled: "Alright."
Zhou Nanyan held ng Qianqian’s arm as they walked toward the fish pond. "Sister ng, do you know the Marchioness of the Marquis Mansion?"
She had seen the two talking earlier in the pavilion.
ng Qianqian didn’t answer directly but asked, "Do you know her?"
Zhou Nanyan replied, "She and the Marquis visited my house recently. I caught a glimpse of her from afar. Her son just ranked third in the imperial exam. He’s quite renowned in the Capital City now."
ng Qianqian said objectively: "A third-ranked scholar is—no doubt—capable."
"That’s what my parents said too. The Marquis Mansion used to be quite illustrious. Even though the Marquis spent five years stationed off-site, things changed when he returned to the Capital City. Fortunately, his son brought honor back to the family na."
Zhou Nanyan glanced around and whispered, "I’ve also heard that the current Marchioness isn’t the Marquis’s original wife, but his succeeding spouse. Yet she’s considered an exemplary stepmother. She treats the original wife’s two children as if they were her own. Even their birth mother wouldn’t have done as much. Everyone speaks highly of her."
ng Qianqian responded flatly: "I see."
Sothing occurred to Zhou Nanyan, and she said, "Ah, Sister ng, I rember you’re from You State. It seems she is too. Could you two actually know each other?"
ng Qianqian replied, "We’re just from the sa place. We exchanged a few words, that’s all. We’re not close."
On the grass field, Yu Li and several young n were enjoying themselves playing pitch-pot.
Initially, Yu Li had been quite anxious.
Back in You State, he had interacted with sons of officials before but never felt good about it. Their words were always laced with a sense of entitlent, reflective of their privileged backgrounds. Trying too hard to befriend them only earned their derision as if he were ingratiating himself.
Of course, not everyone behaved that way, but he had the misfortune of encountering those who did.
He had assud the sons of Capital City officials would be even harder to deal with, but to his surprise, they were affable, straightforward, and humble, completely devoid of pretentious airs.
In them, Yu Li could sense the genuine foundation and refinent of aristocratic families.
That said, there was one exception—a defiant young man who consistently gave him a cold shoulder. He seed to be called... Han Lin.
"Co with for a mont."
Zhou Ye pulled Han Lin aside.
"What are you doing?"
Han Lin shook off his arm with a frown.
Zhou Ye pointed to Yu Li: "Do you know who his cousin is?"
Han Lin sneered: "Who is it?"
Zhou Ye replied: "ng Xiaojiu."
Han Lin: "...!!"
Yu Li was contemplating whether he’d unwittingly offended soone when Han Lin walked over.
Han Lin clasped his hands and solemnly bowed: "Brother Yu, please accept as your little brother!"
Yu Li: "..."
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