Chapter 31: The Lantern Festival (3)

When Shen Xiling was brought to the main hall by the two young Qi family masters and Zhao Yao, Qi Ying was still conversing with Zhao Run and Zhao Qishi. Qingzhu, standing behind Qi Ying, noticed Shen Xiling’s arrival and his expression changed slightly. Qi Ying, sitting in the hall, glanced at her but showed no other reaction—his demeanor remained calm and composed.

Zhao Qishi was the first to notice Shen Xiling. Seeing a delicate and radiant girl suddenly appear beside her daughter, she was momentarily taken aback. However, she skillfully concealed her surprise, called Zhao Yao over, and affectionately tapped her nose, laughing, “Look at you, playing so hard you’ve broken into a sweat—have you caused any trouble for your brothers?”

Qi Ning and Qi Le had already returned to their seats, and upon hearing Zhao Qishi’s words, Qi Le responded, “Aunt, what are you saying? Yao’er has been very well-behaved.”

Everyone took their seats, and there were no remaining spots in the hall. Standing alone, Shen Xiling felt somewhat uneasy. At this moment, she saw Qi Ying casually wave her over, saying naturally, “Wenwen, come here.”

The expressions of those in the hall varied. Though Shen Xiling kept her head bowed, she still felt as if needles were pricking her back. But at that moment, her mind was preoccupied, her ears filled with Qi Ying calling her “Wenwen.” He hadn’t called her Fang Jun or Miss Fang but instead used her childhood name, Wenwen—did he do so because he knew she harbored some discomfort with her false identity? For some reason, her heart began to race, and she couldn’t help stealing a glance at Qi Ying. She saw him turn his face slightly to instruct Qingzhu to bring an extra seat.

Qingzhu bowed and went to arrange it, while Qi Ying glanced at Shen Xiling again. She quickly lowered her head, pursed her lips, and walked toward him. A chair had already been added next to Qi Ying, and after a brief hesitation, Shen Xiling slowly sat down beside him.

Zhao Yao watched as Second Brother seated this so-called Fang Jun beside him, her indignation and grievance almost unbearable. Her hands clenched tightly, her henna-painted nails digging into her palms. Zhao Qishi, seeing her daughter’s distress out of the corner of her eye, felt a pang of pity. She gently patted Zhao Yao’s hand and, with a smile, turned to Qi Ying, asking, “Jingchen, who might this be?”

Upon hearing this question, not only Zhao Yao but also Qi Ning and Qi Le perked up, especially Qi Ning, eagerly awaiting his second brother’s response.

Qi Ying remained composed and replied, “When I first entered the Secretariat, I owed my life to Minister Fang Yukai. Fang Gong died saving me, and Wenwen is his daughter. She recently arrived in Jiankang and is temporarily staying at Fenghe Garden.”

With these words, Zhao Yao’s heart calmed somewhat.

The incident where Qi Ying was attacked had caused quite a stir, even reaching the Emperor’s ears. They had heard about it in Linchuan, and it was said that Uncle had been enraged, killing many captured Gao Wei soldiers. She had indeed heard that an official had taken a sword for Second Brother, never expecting that this girl was the orphan of that Minister Fang. Her heart settled, finally understanding the connection between Second Brother and this girl. Keeping her at Fenghe Garden was merely to repay a debt, nothing more.

Still, Zhao Yao inwardly snorted, thinking how one plants a tree for another to enjoy its shade. Her father had taken a fatal blow to the chest, earning such a promising future for his daughter—it was worth it.

At this moment, she heard her father, Zhao Run, say, “So she is the daughter of Minister Fang—her father saved Jingchen, truly a man of high virtue.”

Shen Xiling, hearing these words, felt a bitter taste in her heart.

She couldn’t help but think of her own father, Shen Qian. As the head of a noble family, perhaps he was acquainted with everyone present. If they mentioned her father, what would they say about him? Would they praise him for his high virtue like they did this Minister Fang? Or would they curse him as a beast, like those people in prison?

Lowering her eyes to conceal her thoughts, she calmly and appropriately replied, “Thank you for your kind words, sir. If my father knew, he would surely be at peace.”

Qi Ying glanced at her briefly, said nothing, and quickly averted his gaze.

Zhao Yao, however, noticed Second Brother’s glance, and her heart burned with an unnameable fire. A surge of resentment choked her, making her uncomfortable. She quietly composed herself, putting on a cheerful and delighted expression, and smiled at Shen Xiling, saying, “Since Miss Fang’s father saved Second Brother, he is also my benefactor! Today being the Lantern Festival, does Miss Fang have any intention of joining us to view the lanterns on the street? I have no sisters at home, and upon meeting you, I feel a connection. Spending the day together will surely bring much joy.”

Shen Xiling didn’t respond immediately. Being naturally sensitive and observant, she could sense Zhao Yao’s change in attitude. Just moments ago in the plum grove, Zhao Yao had clearly shown hostility, yet now she was being friendly, which naturally puzzled Shen Xiling. She didn’t want to go, but refusing would seem inappropriate. Most importantly, she didn’t know what Qi Ying thought—whether he allowed her to go or not. So, she looked at him inquiringly.

Before Qi Ying could speak, Qi Ning interjected, encouraging her, “Yes, yes, Miss Fang should join us. More people make it merrier.”

Not knowing how to respond, Shen Xiling looked at Qi Ying again. He gave a faint smile and said to her, “If you’re free, then join us.”

During dinner, Qi Yun arrived with his wife, Han Ruohui, and their child, Hui’er.

Qi Yun had already paid respects to his uncle earlier, so this time he was more familiar. After exchanging pleasantries, he took a seat in the flower hall, and everyone shared the table, preparing to dine before heading out to view the lanterns.

Shen Xiling was also present. Upon seeing her, Qi Yun raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised. After a moment’s thought, he appeared enlightened and politely asked, “Is this Miss Fang?”

Qi Ning and Qi Le were astonished, exclaiming in unison, “Big Brother, how did you know?”

“Jingchen had already told me earlier,” Qi Yun smiled and turned to Shen Xiling, his demeanor gentle and polite. “It seems we from the Qi family haven’t considered this thoroughly. Your father saved Jingchen, a great favor to the Qi family. Now that Miss Fang has come to Jiankang, the Qi family should take good care of you.”

Qi Yun, as the eldest son of the Qi family, carried an air of refined elegance in his speech, distinct from Qi Ying’s demeanor. His warmth made people feel comfortable and at ease upon meeting him.

Shen Xiling naturally expressed her gratitude. Then, she saw Qi Yun turn to Zhao Run, saying, “There is a matter Mother discussed with me earlier. Since Uncle, Aunt, and Yao’er are all here today, let’s ask for your opinions.”

Zhao Run, unsure of what he meant, felt uneasy and asked, “What is it, Jingyuan?”

“It’s nothing major,” Qi Yun smiled. “Mr. Wang, who teaches Jing’an and Jingkang, was once a scholar in the Hanlin Academy. Uncle should recognize him. He has now retired from court and spends his days teaching the young. Recently, coinciding with Uncle’s promotion and Cousin Yao’er’s return to Jiankang, Mother adores Yao’er and wishes to invite her to study at the Qi family school. What do Uncle, Aunt, and Yao’er think?”

Zhao Run and Zhao Qishi exchanged glances, both extremely surprised—but while Zhao Run was merely astonished, Zhao Qishi was overjoyed. Looking at Zhao Yao, she was ecstatic.

Zhao Run hesitated, saying, “This… wouldn’t it be too much trouble…”

Hearing her father’s words, Zhao Yao grew anxious, fearing he might reject such a golden opportunity. Attending the Qi family school was an immense honor. If she could frequently visit the Qi family estate, she would not only see Second Brother more often but also establish herself firmly among the noble daughters of Jiankang. Regardless of who it was, they would all look up to her.

Zhao Qishi, fearing her somewhat timid husband might hinder her daughter’s prospects, was about to intervene when Qi Yun spoke, “Uncle need not worry. Jing’an and Jingkang are already studying, and it’s simply a matter of adding another seat. There’s nothing improper about it. If Yao’er is willing, she can start attending soon.”

Hearing this, Zhao Yao was overjoyed. She stole a shy glance at Qi Ying and heard Qi Le foolishly exclaim, “That’s wonderful! This way, we can see Yao’er every day!”

He turned to Zhao Yao, earnestly saying, “Sister, don’t refuse just because studying is hard! Mother loves you, and you mustn’t disregard her kindness!”

Qi Ning, observing this, thought his fourth brother was truly naive. Couldn’t he see the gleam in Yao’er’s eyes as she gazed at Second Brother? If not for the constraints of etiquette, she would have eagerly accepted by now, probably even planning to pack her books and leave immediately. Yet, Qi Le thought she might refuse.

Qi Le’s words unintentionally gave Zhao Yao the perfect excuse. Pretending to hesitate for a moment, she put on a troubled expression, and Qi Le fell for it, coaxing her further. Zhao Yao, feigning difficulty, looked toward her mother. Zhao Qishi, skilled at playing along with her daughter, pretended to persuade her, saying, “Since your brothers are urging you, don’t be afraid of hardship or difficulty. Go and study, broaden your horizons, and show filial piety to your aunt. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

At this point, Zhao Yao felt she had performed sufficiently. Glancing around, she reluctantly nodded, replying, “If that’s the case… then thank you, brothers, for your kindness.”

Qi Le was so delighted he nearly clapped his hands in joy. Zhao Yao stole another glance at Second Brother, seeing him calmly lift his teacup for a sip without looking at her. Yet, his noble demeanor still stirred her heart, making her wish she could visit the Qi family estate tomorrow morning and spend every day with her Second Brother.

Hearing Zhao Yao’s agreement, Qi Yun smiled contentedly, saying, “That’s excellent. Mother will surely be delighted to see Yao’er every day.”

With this, Zhao Run and his wife inevitably offered their thanks, and after much polite exchange, the matter was settled.

Unexpectedly, Qi Yun turned to Shen Xiling and politely asked, “I see Miss Fang is about the same age as Yao’er. May I ask if you have studied before?”

Shen Xiling, caught off guard by Qi Yun’s sudden question, hesitated before replying, “I’ve only skimmed through some simple texts; I wouldn’t say I’ve studied.”

Qi Yun smiled, saying, “Having a foundation would be best. Jingchen mentioned this to me the other day. If you’re interested, why not join Yao’er in our family school?”

These words shocked and angered Zhao Yao. She thought to herself that although she wasn’t a Qi family daughter, she was still related, so attending the Qi family school made sense. But what right did this Fang girl have? Had Big Brother lost his mind, allowing her to study alongside her? She was just a country bumpkin from Bazhou whose parents had died—how dare she presume to be worthy? Furthermore, a ridiculous thought suddenly crossed her mind: Could it be that Second Brother orchestrated this school arrangement just to bring this orphan into the Qi family?

Meanwhile, Shen Xiling was utterly bewildered.

She looked at Qi Ying in astonishment. Sensing her gaze, he turned to look at her, his expression calm, leaving Shen Xiling’s heart swirling with complex emotions she couldn’t quite place.

The Qi family school… a place even noble daughters like Zhao Yao, who were related to the Qi family, found difficult to enter—let alone her. Qi Ying had arranged this for her, and she was deeply apprehensive. Gratitude, naturally, was present, but at the same time, another thought crept into her mind: Did he not want her to stay at Fenghe Garden anymore? Did he… find her troublesome?

Qi Yun was still waiting for Shen Xiling’s response, but Qi Ying interjected, saying to Qi Yun, “Let her think about it. There’s no rush.”

Qi Yun nodded upon hearing this and said, “That’s true.”

He then turned to Shen Xiling with a warm smile and said, “Miss Fang, if you make up your mind, feel free to let me know.”

His wife, Han Ruohui, chuckled and tugged gently at Qi Yun’s arm, saying, “Why tell him? Jingchen is here.”

Qi Yun laughed at his own oversight, saying, “Indeed, indeed. My words were careless.”

With that, the matter was lightly brushed aside, and the group resumed discussing other topics. Shen Xiling sat silently in her seat, eating her meal, though the food tasted like ashes in her mouth.

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Author’s Note:

Seeing some of you comment that my chapters are short… Do you really expect me to double-update just because you say so?

Well, fine, I’ll prepare a double update right away—it’ll be up before eleven (humbly begging).

But seriously, no comments are really hard to bear. Promise me you’ll leave some encouraging reviews to motivate me to keep updating, okay? (Still humbly begging)