Volume One, Chapter 16: It Comes Back to Me

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As soon as Qin Xianxian and Zhao Wanwan returned to the estate, Qin An and Chu Ying came to find them in the courtyard. The couple pushed and shoved one another outside the gate for quite some time, neither daring to enter, until Qin Xianxian finally dragged them inside.

Qin Xianxian sipped her tea leisurely, waiting for the show to begin. Qin An shot her a pleading glance, hoping she would help break the awkward silence.

Qin Xianxian merely tilted her head aside, pretending not to notice.

They had created this mess themselves, yet they expected her to clean it up for them? Not a chance!

Nearby, both Chu Ying and Zhao Wanwan kept their heads lowered, too embarrassed to look at each other.

After a long silence, Chu Ying secretly reached beneath the table and pinched Qin An hard on the thigh.

“Ow!”

Qin An grimaced and rubbed his leg before slowly saying, “Cousin Wanwan, we said some things this morning that we should not have said. We are truly sorry. I hope you will not take them to heart.”

Only then did Zhao Wanwan raise her head. Smiling, she replied, “You are too serious, Cousin. I have already forgotten what happened this morning.”

Chu Ying felt deeply ashamed. Beneath the table, she gripped her clothes tightly and began blaming herself for her thoughtless words.

She bit her lip, then looked up at Zhao Wanwan. “Cousin Wanwan, regardless of anything else, it was my loose tongue that hurt you today. If you still feel upset, then curse me to your heart’s content. I will not hold it against you.”

After hearing this, Zhao Wanwan felt the knot in her heart loosen.

She reached out and gently patted Chu Ying’s hand. “Cousin-in-law, I was also at fault. I was too rash and failed to have the servants announce my arrival. I only hope you will not be angry with me either.”

Chu Ying was touched. Gratitude and admiration appeared in her eyes as she looked at Zhao Wanwan. “In that case, then what happened today…”

“We shall simply pretend it never happened!” Zhao Wanwan declared with a bright laugh.

The two women immediately began chatting animatedly, discussing everything from Chu Ying’s complaints about Qin An to all manner of chaotic household affairs.

Qin Xianxian and Qin An exchanged a glance, both rendered speechless.

Qin Xianxian curled her lips and sighed inwardly.

That was women for you! As long as they could gossip together, they became sworn sisters!

No one knew how long they had been talking until Nanny Li entered, finally bringing their conversation to an end.

“Young Madam, Second Young Miss, Madam sent me to inform you that tomorrow you will be visiting the temple to pray for blessings. Please make the necessary preparations in advance.”

“Pray for blessings?” Qin Xianxian began searching her memory for the relevant plot once more. “Is Cousin not coming with us?”

“Second Young Miss, tomorrow’s visitors will all be female members of clans belonging to the same lineage as the Qin household. It would not be convenient for Miss Zhao to accompany you.”

“In that case, Xianxian, your elder brother and I will return first to prepare the things we need for tomorrow’s prayers.” Qin An turned to Zhao Wanwan. “Cousin Wanwan, we shall continue our conversation another time.”

“Take care, Brother and Sister-in-law.”

“Take care, Cousin and Cousin-in-law.”

The couple rose and left the courtyard together with Nanny Li.

“Cousin, I shall return to my room as well. I will not disturb you any longer.” After saying this, Zhao Wanwan also departed.

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Once everyone had left, Qin Xianxian suddenly seemed to lose her soul. She collapsed onto the table, eyes closed, and called out weakly, “Luqi, Luqi…”

“Second Young Miss, what are your orders?” Luqi entered upon hearing her mistress call.

Qin Xianxian opened her eyes and tugged at Luqi’s arm. “Come here. I have a task for you. Bring your ear closer.”

Luqi bent down and leaned toward her. Qin Xianxian whispered several words into her ear, and Luqi’s eyes darted around.

“Do you understand?”

“I understand, Second Young Miss.”

The following day.

Qin Xianxian was roused early in the morning. Together with Su Yiqiu and Chu Ying, she boarded a carriage bound for a temple outside the city to pray for blessings.

Not long after climbing into the carriage, Qin Xianxian leaned against the side and began to nod off. Inwardly, she grumbled:

Up earlier than a rooster and living more miserably than a dog. Every day is spent dealing with trivial matters. Could they not give me a plot about defending the country or protecting the people for once?

Qin Xianxian did not know how long she had slept when, in her drowsy state, she suddenly remembered something. Her eyes flew open. She straightened at once, lifted the curtain, and thrust her head outside the carriage.

By then, they had already left the city and were traveling along a somewhat desolate road, several mounted attendants following behind them.

Su Yiqiu and Chu Ying were startled by her sudden movement.

“What is wrong, Xianxian?” Chu Ying asked.

“Where is my brother?” Qin Xianxian turned her head and asked urgently.

“Today is a prayer visit for the women of the household. Naturally, your brother did not need to come.” Su Yiqiu answered her question.

Qin Xianxian’s eyes suddenly widened. She drew in a sharp breath and clenched the curtain tightly.

She remembered now. She remembered everything. It was today!

Qin An and Zhao Wanwan had been discovered by the servants in the midst of their affair on the very day the women went to pray, and the scandal had immediately spread throughout the Qin estate. When a servant came to the temple to inform Su Yiqiu, she had fainted on the spot. Chu Ying did not learn of the matter until she returned to the estate, and that very night she had gone back to her mother’s family…

“I want to get off the carriage. I do not feel well. I want to go back.” Qin Xianxian pulled her head back inside, lifted her skirts, and tried to stand.

Su Yiqiu and Chu Ying immediately leaned toward her in alarm, pressing her back onto the bench and feeling her all over.

“My precious daughter, where does it hurt? Let Mother take a look.”

“What is wrong, Xianxian? Let your sister-in-law see.”

Seizing the opportunity, Qin Xianxian clutched her stomach and contorted her face in pain, acting as convincingly as she could.

“My stomach hurts. I want to get off the carriage. I need to see a doctor—bah! I mean, I need to find a physician.”

“Then have the driver turn around at once and take us back.” Su Yiqiu immediately panicked.

“Mother, that will not do. If we turn back today, the clansmen will accuse us once again of relying on Father’s high office and looking down on everyone else.” At this critical moment, Chu Ying was the only one who retained a measure of reason.

“It does not hurt that badly. I can return on my own. You may continue to the temple and pray.” Qin Xianxian straightened herself and pretended to feel somewhat better.

“I will accompany Xianxian back. With Mother at the temple, no one will dare say anything.”

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Qin Xianxian lowered her head and wiped the sweat from her brow.

If you went back, the entire Qin estate would explode.

“I am only feeling a little unwell. I can return by myself. Do not let me delay this important prayer visit.” Qin Xianxian patted the backs of their hands, which rested upon her thighs, with righteous solemnity.

“Stop the carriage! Stop!” Su Yiqiu hurriedly shouted toward the outside.

The driver answered by pulling hard on the reins. The carriage swayed several times before coming to a halt.

“We are not far from the temple. How about this? Mother will walk there, while Yingying takes Xianxian back.”

Qin Xianxian’s thoughts were already in complete chaos. She did not have time to keep arguing with them. In desperation, she decided to take the risk. While they were distracted, she wrenched her hands free, rose, and slipped out of the carriage.

The two women inside stared blankly for a moment before hurriedly sticking their heads outside.

“Xianxian—”

“Precious daughter—”

Then they fell silent at the sight before them.

Qin Xianxian had just dragged one of the attendants down from his horse. In a frantic hurry, she climbed onto its back, exchanged a few words with the attendant, and seized the reins. She wound them twice around her hand, gave them a tug to the side, and made the horse turn around. Then she kicked its flanks and flicked the reins.

“Giddy-up!”

The horse’s hooves pounded furiously against the road, while the figure on its back swayed precariously.

Only then did Su Yiqiu recover from her shock. She hurriedly pointed at two attendants.

“Quick, follow her! Quickly! Protect Second Young Miss!”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

The two attendants answered at once, turning their horses and galloping after her.

Su Yiqiu and Chu Ying exchanged bewildered looks.

Was this what someone who felt unwell looked like?

Qin Xianxian soon realized that she had made a terrible decision in the heat of the moment.

Once the horse began running, it was far beyond the ability of an inexperienced rider like her to control. Never mind managing its speed—even keeping her balance consumed most of her concentration.

The steed raced down the broad road. Cold wind rushed past her face with a fierce howl, as though it meant to penetrate her very bones.

She wanted to cry out, but discovered that her throat could no longer produce a sound. Instinctively, she held her breath. Her chest felt painfully tight, and the sweat from her palms had already soaked the reins.

Then, from somewhere ahead, came the thunder of another galloping horse—and it was drawing closer by the second…

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