Chapter Twenty-Four: The First Exchange of Moves

  As soon as such an idea popped up in her mind, Qin Dai suddenly felt bored. She waved her hand and let everyone disperse. She herself turned around and entered the house.

  Passing by the flower hall and walking through the corridor, Qin Dai's heart finally arrived at the inner chamber.

  The room was almost the same as when she left, except that it was now winter and the bed had thick quilts and a thick cotton blanket. Although there was a heating pipe in the room, Chunli still put a brazier under the bed early in the morning.

  "Miss, shall I help you with your hair?" Yu asked softly.

  It's still early, Qin Dai suddenly wanted to take a bath.

  "Tell the servant to go boil some hot water."

  She quietly retreated, leaving only Qin Dai alone in a daze. Her gaze suddenly fell on the jewelry box given to her by Su, and a small warmth flowed through her heart that even she herself didn't notice.

  What was lying in the box was Su's dowry, although not much, but each one was a fine product. Among them, a string of jade bracelets was surprisingly similar to the one that Fang often held in her hand. Whether it was the quality or the water head, they were all top-notch products, and it's no wonder that they would be treated as family heirlooms.

  Qin Dai Xin did not have much desire for wealth, and when faced with these valuable treasures, what she valued most was the thought behind Su's gift. After hastily scanning the jewelry in the box, Qin Dai Xin's gaze suddenly fell on a pendant.

  This thing is really inconspicuous, if it wasn't put in this box by the Su family, it's hard to imagine that this thing would be a treasure. It's a teardrop-shaped jade pendant, half of which is milky white jade, looking more like goose egg stone, and the other half is black, neither jade nor stone, completely unable to see the material. The place where the two are combined is as smooth as natural formation, without any signs of splicing or adhesion. The entire jade pendant is tied with an inconspicuous white cord, which cannot be seen at all.

  It may not be something valuable, just Su's favorite object. Qin Dai took it and hung it around her neck, looking at the jade pendant on her chest, she seemed to see Su's smiling face, subtle yet extremely satisfied. She thought she would definitely be happy!

  As the servant came to deliver the bath water, she had the coarse maid servants arrange the wooden tub and screen, and then had the little maids sprinkle dried flower petals into the tub. It wasn't until she saw several people standing still, unmoving like thunder, that Qin Dai's mind finally caught up, realizing everyone was waiting on her to take a bath.

  A murder of crows flying overhead in increasing numbers, did those detestable ancients even understand what "privacy" means?

  "Everyone get out!" There was a hint of awkwardness in his tone that he didn't seem to notice.

  The two little maids didn't dare move, and their eyes darted back and forth at Ruyi.

  She had long been aware of it, and since the young lady's accident, her personality had changed a lot. Her previous hobbies had all changed, and she was not very used to it at first, but fortunately, she knew now.

  "Let's go!" Ruyi took the lead and walked out first, setting a good example.

  "Yes." The two little maidservants followed closely behind, turning around and exiting the inner chamber.

  When Qin Dai Xin was the only one left in the house, she was the most relaxed. As long as there was someone around, even if it was Yu Yi, it would make her feel a little guarded and remind herself of her identity at all times. Now that she was alone in the house, she could leisurely soak in the hot water, wash away her worries, relax her mind and body, and it seemed like nothing could be more beautiful than this.

  Mei Mei took a hot bath, and Qin Dai Xin's mood seemed to have improved. She called someone to move the wooden barrels and other things out of the house, and shouted for Chun Li to come and help her dry her hair.

  Ru Yi began to prepare the clothes and accessories for tomorrow's trip to Jia Mansion, with the help of a small maid about the same age as Chun Lian. It was then that Qin Dai suddenly remembered that she had another second-class maid named Ai Lian.

  "Miss, how is this set of clothes?"

  Qin Dai's heart looked at it and didn't look at it: "About clothes, won't mother send mom over?"

  It was a pleasant surprise, but the momentum weakened, and the brief joy disappeared in an instant. Yes, even if Miss was dressed up like a fairy, what's the use? If Madam sent someone over, saying that her color was too bright and her skin was shallow, Miss would have to change back into plain clothes. If so, it's feared that she wouldn't have the chance to gain Madam Wang's favor even after entering the Jia Mansion.

  Qin Dai Xin saw Ruyi looking like a deflated balloon, and her heart softened. She instructed: "Find a few sets of plain-colored clothes, let Mom take a look tomorrow before wearing them."

  "Yes." Ruyi responded with a somewhat reluctant tone.

  Like this, Qin Dai Xin's hair was finally dry after a busy spell.

  "Chun Li will stay outside and keep watch for the night, you two go back and rest!"

  The three men nodded in agreement and each went their separate ways.

  The first night back at the mansion was quiet, with no words spoken. The next morning, before dawn broke, Yiyi had someone wake her up, and Qin Dai's heart was pressed by the maids to sit in front of the dressing table, starting a round of washing and dressing.

  She only combed a double braid and wore two pearl flowers. She lightly powdered her face, simply trimmed her eyebrows, slightly applied some lip gloss, and didn't even wear rouge.

  At this time, the little girls lifted the curtain and said that Zheng Mama had arrived. This was Qin Dai Xin's first meeting with Zheng Mama after returning to the mansion. She saw her enter the room and her eyes kept lingering on several sets of clothes. Qin Dai Xin knew she had guessed correctly, Fang Wan Ru was indeed particular about this concubine's attire.

  Dressing too gorgeously would steal the spotlight from the legitimate daughter, so Fang Wanru naturally wouldn't like it.

  If she dresses too plainly, it will also make the Qin family lose face. Afraid that outsiders will gossip about Fang Shi being cruel to her stepdaughter, this approach won't work either. Only by sending a capable and experienced mother to take a look will everything be perfect.

  As expected, Zheng Mama saw the clothes placed aside, all of which were elegant and bright yet understated, her expression naturally relaxed a bit, and she helped Qin Dai choose a light yellow jacket with a standing collar, paired with a deeper golden-colored skirt, and on top, added a lotus-leaf green flower-patterned outer garment.

  Until Qin Dai Xin had no objection to her dress, she smiled and reminded a few more words before heading to the front yard.

  Ru Yi, Chun Li shot a glance at her back and helped Qin Dai Xin pack up the small items on her body. After messing around for a whole hour, until everything was ready, Qin Dai Xin let Ru Yi follow her, put on a fox-fur cloak, didn't take the hand warmer, and went to the front yard.

  Fang Wanru's courtyard was already crowded with people. Yu Yi stole a few glances, but didn't dare to look around anymore, and followed Fang Wanru into her warm pavilion with her head down.

  As soon as Qin Dai Xin entered the door, Fang Wan Ru noticed her attire and at first when she heard Zheng Mama say that it was a bit dull, she didn't quite believe it. Now that she saw it with her own eyes, she indeed felt that it was just like what she said, not only did it fail to bring out her beauty, but it also ruined her original spirit. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but reveal a smile.

  Qin Dai's heart pretended not to see, and politely asked for peace. Later, she saw a beautiful woman with a hairpin sitting beside her, who was only around twenty years old, although her face was painted with delicate makeup, but it couldn't hide the talent that radiated from inside out, giving off a scholarly air, and Qin Dai recognized her at once.

  When she first woke up, this person had come to visit her. It was Taizhou's talented woman, her elder sister-in-law Lin Qingyue.

  Qin Daiyun made a half bow and said in a soft voice: "Nice to meet you, sister-in-law."

  Lin Qingyue hastily got up and pulled her up, sizing her up before saying: "I only found out about your return last night too. I wanted to go see you, but was afraid of disturbing your rest. Yet today, you're completely fine?"

  "Alright, alright." I don't know what kind of person this sister is yet, so it's better to respond vaguely for now and wait and see how things develop later.

  Lin Qingyue pulled her hand and sat down intimately, asking: "Why didn't you bring a heater?"

  At this moment, the maids lifted the curtain and said that Fourth Miss had arrived.

  Qin Dai Xin, this was the second time she had seen Fourth Miss. The first time they met, she was still in a daze and couldn't tell who was who. Now, for the first time, she clearly saw the slightly shy girl in front of her.

  A moon-white cloud-patterned jacket, paired with a light green cross-collared blouse, and underneath, a lake-blue pleated skirt. Thick-soled embroidered shoes. Only two spiral buns were styled, with two silver plum blossom hairpins inserted, and on her ears hung a pair of ruby earrings the size of grains of rice, not showing off at all. She had a straight fringe, a plain face, originally a clean and elegant countenance, but because of a pair of peach-blossom eyes, suddenly there was a hint of worldly charm.

  She first paid her respects to Fang Wanru, then saw Lin Qingyue, and finally looked at Qin Dai with a happy face, shyly pulled her hand, and sat down beside her.

  At just thirteen years old, her acting skills are already so polished. The mansion is all abuzz with the news that Third Miss and Fourth Miss are extremely close, so I must put on a show too.

  Qin Dai Xin warmly pulled over Fourth Miss and whispered to her in her ear. Fang Wanru thought they were just two heartless people and didn't pay attention, but she didn't see the flash of surprise and confusion on Fourth Miss's face.

  The hour was already late, but Second Miss Qin Qian's heart had yet to appear. The four people in the house had different expressions, only Qin Dai's heart seemed a bit impatient and annoyed.

  Ru Yi stood behind Qin Dai's back, her heart clear and bright. Her own master was acting again. Before, she always thought that Miss was too simple, with all her likes and dislikes written on her face, not knowing how to hide or disguise herself. But since she recovered from her illness, it seemed like she had become a different person. Ru Yi had seen her lazily dismissing the two mothers; seen her fiercely intimidating Mrs. Feng; and even seen her calmly dealing with Qin Feng Song. It was said that the young lady was not easy to mess with, but Miss handled her with just a few words...

  Just then, the curtain was lifted and a beautiful woman walked in from outside. It was none other than Qin Erniang, who had arrived fashionably late.