Grand Tutor Qin dressed as the birthday star today, clad in dark clothes with red trim, looking joyful and radiant as he sat at the head of the hall.
This was Yan Wanqing’s first ti eting Qin Jun.
Contrary to her expectations of a man who could change situations as easily as flipping his hand, he looked just like an ordinary elderly man.
At the age of sixty, all his teeth were intact, and his eyes were filled with wrinkles when he smiled, though his gaze was clear and his deanor very clean, without the usual old man odor.
He was a kind old man.
At least, he appeared so.
Today wasn’t just her attending; almost all the siblings of the Yan Family were present, including the injured Yan Hongzhao who also arrived at the scene, his pale face making him appear rather frail, yet his eyes were resolute.
"It’s a great honor indeed to have the Crown Prince, busy with official duties, and the Crown Princess Consort, pregnant as she is, attend my humble birthday celebration," Grand Tutor Qin said cheerfully.
"How could I not attend when my teacher celebrates his eightieth birthday?" Xiao Pingfeng replied with a smile.
Yan Wanqing also smiled and said, "Grand Tutor Qin has dedicated his life to Dawei, it is only right for His Highness the Crown Prince and I to co and celebrate your birthday."
After exchanging so pleasantries, Yan Wanqing felt tired and let the Crown Prince take over the conversation.
The elder ladies of the family wanted to entertain Yan Wanqing, but after a brief exchange of pleasantries, they had to attend to other guests.
Finally having a mont to themselves, she and Cong Ge walked towards the pond outside.
The design of the corridors and courtyards in the Qin Residence was quite unique, featuring a winding path that led through multiple scenic spots.
Though small, the charm was enduring.
"Miss, Miss Li has arrived," Cong Ge whispered into Yan Wanqing’s ear.
From afar, they saw Li Chengxiang approaching vigorously dressed in purple.
Upon seeing an acquaintance, Yan Wanqing then allowed a gentle smile to cross her face.
The two sat down in a pavilion by the pond, and Li Chengxiang recounted a recent incident, increasingly angered as she spoke: "I had visited the Qin Residence once before, where Grand Tutor Qin had treated people with genuine respect and strict adherence to etiquette. However, I hadn’t expected this young master of the Qin Family to be so reckless. Could it really be the result of his young age and lack of discipline?"
The more Li Chengxiang thought about it, the more convinced she beca.
Yan Wanqing and Cong Ge exchanged a smile.
"Miss Li may not be aware, but this young master Qin Huai of the Qin Family was the top scholar a couple of years ago, excelling in both the civil and military fields. He had been serving in another territory and it was only because the Crown Prince rembered Grand Tutor Qin’s eightieth birthday that he had him summoned back," Cong Ge said slowly.
Li Chengxiang was skeptical, "Really?"
"Absolutely true," Yan Wanqing chuckled lightly. "You ntioned that you had visited the Qin Residence a while ago, what was the occasion?"
"Grand Tutor Qin wanted to investigate the mastermind behind Money Leopard," Li Chengxiang recounted the details of that day.
Yan Wanqing calculated the dates, and it was indeed just two days after the incident involving Qin Xiao.
It seed, then, that Grand Tutor Qin indeed had a part in the matter concerning Qin Xiao.
The case of the missing girls that Hao Ren ntioned might have a lead.
She concealed the emotion in her eyes, maintaining a gentle and tender expression on her face.
At this mont, Yan Hongzhao and Yan Lingzhen were also walking towards them.
All the sisters were here except for Shen Shuyun, who disliked such bustling occasions and had gone to the temple early on to pray.
The sisters seldom gathered together, yet they managed to do so today, on the grand birthday celebration of Grand Tutor Qin.
"... Once my elder sister’s wedding is over, I’m going to the frontier," Yan Hongzhao slowly began, sighing softly. It was unexpected that she would follow in her father’s footsteps and choose the path of military service.
Thinking of fighting enemies at the frontier to defend the country, Yan Hongzhao still harbored many expectations.
"I also plan to travel. Staying always in the Capital City, my dical skills have reached a bottleneck," Yan Lingzhen also spoke up.
After her trip to the Northern Border, she had developed a reverence for the poisonous insect poison and other unknown affairs.
She could only keep exploring to improve herself, and to protect those she wanted to protect at critical monts.
Listening to both of them planning to travel far, Yan Wanqing’s expression did not change much.
"Take good care of yourself while abroad, and co back to visit your mother often," she said.
She guessed that when she and her brothers went to battle years ago, their mother, Sun Shi, must have felt the sa.
Unexpectedly, within a few years, she had also beco the one waiting at ho.
"Recently, I don’t know what Big Brother is busy with, always elusive," Yan Hongzhao couldn’t help but say.
She had been recuperating at ho and had seen her elder brother Yan Li’an only on the first day; after that, she had not seen him again.
Logically speaking, he should also have been present at Grand Tutor Qin’s eightieth birthday.
"Big Brother must be delayed by sothing, he will be here today," Yan Wanqing spoke, "He’s very cautious, and there must be a reason for his late arrival."
Thinking of Big Brother and Sun Lianyi’s affair also gave her a headache.
The two could not continue their previous relationship, but Big Brother, always staying in the Capital City, frequented night visits to the Imperial Palace, which sowhat also danced on the minds of the Xiao Family, causing displeasure.
If this continued for a long ti, people would eventually seize that as a handle, and then it’s unknown how it would be dealt with.
But recently, his frequency of entering the palace had decreased, perhaps he had also seen the light of it.
Sun Lianyi was completely focused on the little prince, too busy to concern herself with Big Brother anymore.
"Seen the Crown Princess Consort, seen the young ladies," a tranquil voice ca from outside the pavilion.
Yan Wanqing instantly looked over and saw a slender woman in a sky-blue long dress standing in the sunlight, as stunningly beautiful as the clear pond, irresistibly delightful to behold.
It was Qin Family’s eldest legitimate daughter, Qin Erya.
They had t previously during a military drill.
Today the Qin family was the host, and the eldest legitimate daughter was expected to mingle, so her appearance here was hardly surprising, likely under orders of the Qin madam.
Yan Wanqing nodded her head, "The sun is strong outside, co in."
Qin Erya stepped into the pavilion, her gentle smile blooming, "The Crown Prince asked this young lady to tell the Crown Princess Consort that there is still business in the palace, so he left first, and will co over for the dinner."
Yan Wanqing first paused upon hearing this.
This sort of ssage was usually delivered by Ding Dang; why would he instruct Qin Erya to co and inform her?
Wondering if she was overthinking it, she still felt a bit unsettled inside.
Yet she couldn’t show it outwardly, "I understand, the Qin Residence is bustling today, you’re all over the place. I will not bother you further, I will co with the Crown Prince for the dinner."
Xiao Pingfeng was so busy that he hardly touched the ground, having ntioned it on the way.
His hurry now must be due to so difficult matter he had encountered.
Thus, Yan Wanqing did not bla him.
"Is the Crown Princess Consort also leaving?" Qin Erya asked, sowhat surprised, "The ladies outside are all waiting for you to lead them on a boat trip in the afternoon."
"When did my sister ever say she would go boating?" Yan Lingzhen was not pleased.
Didn’t they see how big her belly was, and they still wanted to go boating?
Qin Erya was sharply rebuked by Yan Lingzhen, her eyes flickered, sowhat uncomfortable, "It was the young ladies outside who said there were no entertainnts in the residence, and with Mid-Autumn Festival coming up, they wanted to go boating. I just ntioned that you were also in the residence..."
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