Chapter 60: Maneuvering (4)

If someone had told Qi Jingchen three months ago that he would take in a young girl he’d never met, plan for her future, search for her when she was missing, and even consider raising her himself one day, he would have dismissed it as absurd.

Yet here he was, contemplating just such an outlandish idea—he had even begun to entertain thoughts of taking care of her for the rest of his life.

This notion had first emerged faintly on the day he left Jiankang, when Shen Xiling ran to the western gate to see him off. It had been as light and fleeting as the misty rain of March in Jiangnan. As he became preoccupied with other matters, the thought gradually faded, almost forgotten. But last night, when she had suddenly rushed into his arms amidst the rain, the idea resurfaced unexpectedly. He began to seriously consider it. Though he had initially wavered, the sight of her curled up like a cat asleep in the chair by his desk solidified the thought in his mind.

In that moment, he even thought to himself: Only I can truly take care of her. Entrusting her to anyone else wouldn’t suffice—it wouldn’t be good enough.

He needed to stay by her side and look after her until the day came when she no longer needed him.

Qi Zhang was momentarily taken aback by his son’s words, not expecting Jingchen to say such a thing.

He knew his son to be calm and self-possessed, rarely making promises lightly. Once he made a decision, it was almost impossible to change. Now that he had said this, it was clear he had already given it careful thought and made up his mind.

Qi Zhang felt a slight sense of astonishment but didn’t strongly oppose the idea. He didn’t believe Jingchen harbored any special feelings for the Fang family’s young lady, so he wasn’t as wary as the matriarch. Moreover, Qi Zhang thought that even if Jingchen did develop such feelings, it wouldn’t matter much. His marriage had already become a pawn in the imperial court’s game with the aristocratic families, and Princess Liu was persistently pursuing him. Did Qi Zhang really think his son would allow such matters to consume him for years?

The Fang family’s girl was still young now, but when she grew older, if Jingchen liked her, bringing her into the household wouldn’t be a big deal—it wasn’t a significant issue.

Qi Zhang didn’t dwell on it and simply nodded faintly, saying, “Do as you wish—just remember not to draw too much attention.”

Qi Yin glanced at his father and lowered his head, replying, “Yes.”

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Lunch was served in the flower hall with everyone gathered together.

Qi Zhang, Lady Yao, Qi Yun, Han Ruohui, Qi San, and Qi Si were all present—a rare occasion since the Lunar New Year’s Eve feast. Today, coinciding with Qi Yin’s return, the entire family had managed to gather.

Qi Yin looked around and asked, “Where is Grandmother?”

Qi Le, who had been quietly eating, eagerly replied, “How doesn’t Second Brother know? Grandmother… Grandmother was angered by Master Wang and fell ill.”

Qi Yin was naturally surprised by this news. He raised his eyes to glance at his father and eldest brother. Qi Zhang remained silent, while Qi Yun sighed, nodding at Qi Yin and saying, “…It’s true. Jingkang, explain it to your second brother.”

Qi Le, who loved to talk, immediately set down his chopsticks upon hearing this and began recounting the story to his second brother.

On the day the matriarch took both Zhao Yao and Shen Xiling away for punishment, Wang Qing hadn’t initially intervened, assuming it was about reprimanding them for cheating. However, he soon realized it wasn’t as simple as that. To his surprise, the matriarch handled the situation poorly—she kept Zhao Yao, the student who had cheated, but expelled the Fang family’s young lady from the estate.

Wang Qing was a man of principle and integrity. Back when he disagreed with the emperor’s decision to only grant Qi Yin the rank of bangyan, he dared to submit a lengthy petition to argue the matter. A mere matriarch of the Qi family was no match for him.

Deeply dissatisfied, Wang Qing stormed into Rongrui Hall and argued fiercely with the matriarch. He defended Miss Fang, praising her academic excellence and potential, insisting that though she had indeed erred in cheating, she had already been punished by him. Further chastisement was unjustified. He even declared to the matriarch: If Miss Fang wasn’t brought back, he wouldn’t accept Zhao Yao either!

After delivering his ultimatum, Wang Qing stormed out of Rongrui Hall. Halfway through, he realized the matriarch probably didn’t care much for Zhao Yao but rather favored her nephew’s granddaughter, Fu Rong. So he turned back and added: “I won’t accept Fu Rong either! Qi San and Qi Si might as well stop studying altogether!”

This thoroughly enraged the matriarch.

Though furious, there was little she could do to Wang Qing. Instead, she vented her frustration on her son, ordering Qi Zhang to personally bring Wang Qing back so as not to disrupt the education of the other children. Qi Zhang was helpless; Wang Qing was steadfast and would act on his convictions regardless of pressure. Even the authority of the Left Chancellor wouldn’t sway him if he felt wronged.

The matriarch, exasperated, began feigning illness, complaining of headaches, chest pains, and general discomfort.

The family was familiar with her antics and knew she was pretending. However, Qi Zhang, despite seeing through her ruse, couldn’t disregard filial piety and promised to address the matter once Master Wang cooled down.

But Qi Zhang merely paid lip service to the idea, knowing full well that Wang Qing likely wouldn’t heed his authority. In fact, sending Jingchen might prove more effective than going himself. Thus, he had set the matter aside, intending to discuss it with his younger son once he returned to Jiankang. He had forgotten about it during their earlier conversation in Jiāxǐ Hall but now recalled it. Clearing his throat, Qi Zhang said to Qi Yin, “When you have time in a few days, go speak with Master Wang. He has always admired you and may listen to your advice.”

Qi Yin was surprised to learn that Master Wang had gotten involved in this matter, especially that he had stood up for Shen Xiling. He had originally thought Wang Qing disliked her, feeling somewhat displeased last night when he saw how harshly he had punished her. Never had he expected Wang Qing to argue with the matriarch on her behalf.

After a brief silence, Qi Yin nodded and said, “Alright.”

Qi Ning, who had been quietly listening, glanced at his second brother hesitantly and asked, “Then, Second Brother… will Wenwen come back?”

This question piqued the interest of many at the table. Besides Qi Ning, Lady Yao and Qi Yun’s couple also turned their gazes toward Qi Yin.

Qi Yin gave Qi Ning a cursory glance, his face expressionless, and calmly replied, “No, she won’t return. From now on, she’ll stay at Fenghe Garden. I’ll take care of her.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Han Ruohui exchanged a knowing glance with Qi Yun, silently conveying, “Didn’t I tell you?” Lady Yao, on the other hand, was visibly startled, her expression a mix of delight and concern. Qi Ning was momentarily stunned before lowering his head silently.

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After lunch, word came from the palace summoning Little Master Qi. Qi Yin prepared to leave but was stopped by Lady Yao in the corridor, who pulled him aside for a private conversation.

Lady Yao looked around to ensure no one was nearby before pulling Qi Yin close and whispering, “Did you see Wenwen?”

Qi Yin nodded, helping his mother sit down on the corridor bench. He then deliberately added, “This time, I owe much to Mother.”

Lady Yao noticed the sincerity in Qi Yin’s demeanor—a rarity since he had grown up—and her heart softened immensely.

She smiled and said, “It was nothing—just a small favor. How is Wenwen? That child seems reserved and quiet. After being treated so harshly by your grandmother, she didn’t even cry. It’s clear she bottles everything up inside, which isn’t healthy. Such suppression can lead to illness.”

Qi Yin thought about how she had cried uncontrollably in his arms last night and couldn’t help but smile faintly. “Mm, I’ll encourage her more.”

Though his smile was fleeting, Lady Yao caught it. Recalling his earlier declaration at lunch that he would personally take care of Wenwen, she became increasingly certain there was something between them. Filled with both joy and worry, she said, “Ah, I do like Wenwen very much. But I think about it—she’s still so young. And if you were to… what about Princess Liu? If she causes trouble again, this…”

Qi Yin didn’t think much of the first part, but as he listened further, he realized where this was heading. Understanding his mother’s implication, he sighed and said, “Mother, how old is Wenwen? How could I possibly harbor such thoughts about her? Please don’t say such things again—it could harm her reputation.”

Lady Yao inwardly thought, You’ve already taken her to live in your private residence. What reputation are you talking about now?

However, Lady Yao’s temper was reserved only for the Left Chancellor. She was always gentle with her children. Smiling, she quickly agreed, saying, “Alright, alright,” “Yes, yes,” and then added, “It’s certainly more secure for you to take care of her. But you’ve never raised a child before. Do you know how difficult it can be? For instance, has Wenwen fully recovered from her recent illness?”

Qi Yin knew Shen Xiling had been injured but was unaware she had fallen ill. Surprised, he paused.

Seeing his reaction, Lady Yao immediately understood he hadn’t known and sighed again, saying, “You see, this is the difficulty of raising a child. Wenwen is quiet, and you’re so busy. How can you ensure she’s properly cared for?”

Qi Yin listened to his mother’s concerns and asked, “When did she fall ill? What was the illness?”

Lady Yao replied, “It wasn’t serious. Perhaps Mr. Wang’s punishment was too severe, and her wounds weren’t treated well, so she developed a fever. When I sent her to Fenghe Garden, I had her medicated. She should be nearly recovered by now.”

Qi Yin fell silent for a moment before nodding.

Lady Yao looked at him and continued, “And what about your grandmother? She seems determined to marry you to Rong’er. If she hears about you keeping Wenwen, she certainly won’t approve.”

Qi Yin thought for a moment but didn’t reply immediately. A flicker of contemplation passed through his eyes, which Lady Yao noticed, realizing he already had a plan.

Just as she was about to press further, Qi Yin said, “Mother, the flower festival at Qingji Mountain will begin in March. Could you assist me this year as you have in previous years?”

Lady Yao remembered the flower festival.

Before Qingji Mountain became Qi Yin’s private residence, it had been a gathering place for scholars and poets during springtime flower-viewing events, renowned for its poetic traditions. Every March, when flowers bloomed profusely, Qingji Mountain hosted grand gatherings attended by noble youths, esteemed scholars, and sometimes even members of the royal family. It was a celebrated event in Jiangnan.

Lady Yao nodded repeatedly, saying, “Of course I’ll go. You’re so busy—how could you manage it alone?”

Qi Yin nodded and thanked Lady Yao, adding, “Then I’ll leave this matter to you. The emperor has summoned me—I must go.”

Lady Yao agreed. As Qi Yin took a few steps away, she called him back and asked, “After leaving the palace, will you return home for dinner?”

Qi Yin turned back, thinking of Shen Xiling. Though he had told her this morning to eat without waiting for him, he still wasn’t entirely sure of her temperament. Knowing her, she might end up waiting anxiously for him at the door of the Forget Room.

He needed to check on her to feel at ease.

So he replied to his mother, “No, I’ll return to Fenghe Garden to see Wenwen.”

After bidding Lady Yao farewell, he turned and left the estate.

Lady Yao watched her son’s departing figure and sighed softly, thinking: He says he doesn’t harbor such thoughts about her, yet he already treasures her so deeply. How could things remain pure once she grows up?

That would truly be a miracle.