At the study of the east yard at the mansion of Grand Commandant, the debris of colored glazes and ceramics were scattered all over the floor.
Qin Zhi sat on the armchair and his face expressed his anger conspicuously and exhaustion after a long journey. Suddenly the house kept silent for nearly half an hour and even a falling hair sounded extreme loudly like a thunder.
"What you said just now was true?" Qin Zhi took a deep breath.
"My master, I dare not to tell a lie," Dou Qing'e said with love and tears, "It was said that I abused the concubine's daughter and made Qin Yunuan's hands get chilblain. That's not true. After the death of Yunuan's mother, you let me take care of Yunuan and Baochuan, and the whole family knows that Baochuan is spoiled. But this time… due to the mistake of Yunuan, I punished her to wash clothes for several days. To my surprise, Yunuan was too slender and got chilblain just after three days."
Arrogance, t
Unconsciously, Qin Zhi stroked his right arm that was sprained before and cast a look at Qin Yunuan. He was wavering, just like the fallen leaves in the pond."That's right. I prepared this medicine mash for you, father," Qin Yunuan said feelingly, "I know that you got hurt during the inspection tour to the regions south of the River. So, I grinded the medicine mash especially for you. It may not be so effective as the medicine prescribed by imperial doctors, but I made this with all my heart. Now, mother said that was Cold-Food Powder which... which was so filthy. I was wronged, father."After she said this, her eyes were filled with tears, which touched Qi Zhi's heart slightly. He had never paid any attention to this concubine's daughter, but what she did made him feel warm. At least, the medicine mash proved that she had put him in her heart.But Dou Qing'e did not give up. Gnashing her teeth, she said, "Master, even though it was not there,
Doctor Chen's voice was soft, but it bound Dou Qing'e’s heart tightly like a band. She found it hard to breath. Her face darkened as soon as she saw Qin Yunuan, who was waiting aside peacefully."It was you!" Dou Qing'e glared at her fiercely, "You set up the trap and waited for me to fall into your snare. Watching me being blamed, are you satisfied? You feel good, don't you?"Qin Yunuan turned around slowly. At this moment, it seemed to her that Dou Qing'e was acting like a shrew. "Did you hear what Dr. Chen said, mother? Father fainted suddenly because he was exhausted and needed some rest. If you want to make a noise and blame me, at least wait until father gets better.""You have grown up," Dou Qing'e said more loudly, "And you have better tricks. I had misjudged you.""Mother," Qin Yunuan tilted her head. Her face was as innocent as snow lotus compared with the fierce and hateful face of Dou Qing'e. "Father had just said it wa
Qin Yunzhuang glanced at the arrival of Qin Yunuan. Anger rose from her heart. Thinking of her mother's warnings last night, telling her that Qin Yunuan was trickier than they thought, she forced herself to swallow her anger. She didn't manage to stay calm until she pinched a purple crescent on the palm with her nails and said hello to Qin Yunuan. "Third Miss, you also came to see my father?"Since she could tolerate, Qin Yunuan would not reveal her actual self. She saluted to her gently and said, "Father wasn't in good health. I think that I should treat him with filial piety. Aren't you here for the same reason?"Qin Yunzhuang tried hard to calm down, but she felt sorry for her mother when she saw Qin Yunuan keeping herself out of the affairs. She gritted her teeth and didn't want to stay any longer, "Just go in and see Father, I should go."After finishing her words, she lifted her skirt and disappeared behind the wall. Qin Yunuan stared at
Concubine Chang appeared to be a little bit embarrassed, couldn't help but step back. Qin Yunuan spoke with a smile, "Yunuan had no other way. But there is a man in the Mansion that could help."Meeting the surprised eyes of Concubine Chang and the doubtful ones of Concubine Liu comprehendingly, Qin Yunuan continued, "My cousin Su in the east wing of the house. He has been in Beijing for more than half a month as a businessman. Maybe he knew someone or some plans that could help.They didn't have much time and Qin Zhi could never know about it. In this way, it was not a bad idea to seek help from Su Chenghai.Just as Concubine Chang head for the east wing along with Concubine Liu and Qin Yunuan, a blue shadow flew through the air above the quiet courtyard in the east wing. If you observed carefully enough, you could see the flapping cross straps and the bloodstain on his shoulder. Stepping on the ridge of the grey tile-roofed house, he jumped d
Li Qiqi seemed a little flattered, a concubine did not need to cover her head with a cloth when she got married. At this moment, her beautiful face became more and more dazzling under the candlelight, forming an ironic contrast with the wrinkles at the corner of Dou Qing'e's eyes.Li Qiqi was still hesitant while Qin Zhi, who was on the side, spoke first, "It's rare that my wife Qing'e is so courteous. It seems that worshipping the Buddha for half a month can really purify a soul."He called her "my wife Qing'e". It had been years since he last called her like that. Dou Qing'e forced a bitter smile. She had done so much for the Qin Family and yet Qin Zhi had never praised her for it. Now that she merely gave his new concubine a couple hairpins, he was full of tenderness. This was the man that she wanted so badly to keep to her own."Huh, it's all about her face." After the tea was finished, naturally Qin Zhi carried Li Qiqi back for the wedding
"Where is Concubine Liu? Why wasn't she here?" Dou Qing'e sipped the tea and pretended to worry her.Qin Yuwan's hands shook and the tea was almost spilled, "My mother is busy in the counting house."Qin Zhi felt unsatisfied and slapped the table, "What is happening now? The Hai Tang Courtyard now is on big fire, but why is she now busy in accounting, such little business?" What Qin Zhi really meant was that he and his lovely concubine got astonished and everyone should be here to comfort them.Half of the people present here disliked Concubine Liu, but they felt unhappy when they saw Qin Zhi took side in Li Qiqi very much."Maybe not," Qin Yunuan said calmly, "It's windy very much tonight and it's blowing east wind. The counting house is very close to Hai Tang Courtyard and now everybody focuses on saving Hai Tang Courtyard. I am afraid of the security of counting house…."Before Qin Yunuan finished, at the door, a hu
"The two people were likely to be afraid of their masters," Qin Yunzhuang just glimpsed at Concubine Liu kneeling on the ground, "Or, the two concubines threatened them, but they dared not to do that.""Sister, why are you so urgent to defend these two people?" Qin Yunuan smiled, and said to Nanny Qiao, "You mean it was the two concubines that forced you to purchase inferior goods. Apart from those wooden charcoals, is there any other evidence? Do you get the receipt?"Nanny Qiao was stunned, with her fingers rubbing her apron in her waist, "I… I forget. We mansion Qin is so familiar with those merchants of goods. We usually settle the accounts every three months if there is no other reason.""Then, that's weird," Qin Yunuan smiled with a handkerchief covering her face, "Just now my mother said that it was commonsense to do a backup when doing the accounting, and these two concubines were their first time to do the house management. They lacked
The first thing Qin Yunuan did after returning to the Fuxi Courtyard was to take a look at Baochuan. Nurse Liao was guarding outside his room, and when she saw Qin Yunuan coming, she said to her in a soft voice, "Second Master has not woken up yet. He must be very sleepy last night."Qin Yunuan gave her a smile and walked straight into the room. While a cold blast of air poured into the room, Qin Baochuan still curled himself up in the quilt and remained unmoved.Qin Yunuan took a seat beside Qin Baochuan's bed. With a faint smile, her face was as still as the surface of a lake."Having slept for a whole night, you should have had enough." Qin Yunuan tipped the bedside and continued speaking, "You are not a sleepyhead. So, tell me, why do you pretend to be sleeping in front of father?"The quilt moved slightly, but still, Qin Baochuan made no sound. After a while, a small head got out of the quilt and murmured, "Father? I don't wan