Chapter 25: Everyone Shows Off Their Divine Powers

  After sitting on the horse-drawn carriage, Qin Dai's heart finally couldn't help but curve up the corners of her mouth, and she smiled silently.

  The Qin and Jia families were not far apart, so today's trip to the Jia residence only arranged for a few single-horse carriages for the female family members. Ruyi sat in the carriage with Qindi, seeing her mistress suddenly smile, she was somewhat puzzled, but even more dared not to make random guesses, Miss is now so profound and unpredictable, which one can she understand? However, although people have become incomprehensible, they themselves have become much closer to Miss, if it were in the past, Miss would never allow herself to sit with her in the carriage.

  Qin Dai Xin didn't have as deep thoughts as she imagined, she just smiled at Second Miss's outfit.

  A head full of golden hairpins, a body clad in magnificent attire, large red flowers paired with large peonies, as if afraid others wouldn't know she's the legitimate daughter. At just fifteen years old, when her complexion is at its best, this getup has actually ruined her looks.

  She recalled Fang Wanru's dark face at the time, and the curve of her mouth increased a bit. Not only Qin Qianxin, but also her mother-in-law in the house was scolded, it was a rare sight to see.

  "Miss, are you alright?" Ruyi always felt that something was off about his young mistress.

  "It's nothing. I've brought you the coffee you wanted?" She remembered the smell she had smelled that day in Lan Garden, and asked hastily.

  Ru Yi was taken aback and replied, "No. I went to get it, but that little girl said the perfume on her body wasn't good enough for you, so she told me to wait while she goes back to get some and sends it over to you."

  "What's her name?" He asked with concern.

  Ru Yi didn't understand her meaning at first and was stunned for a moment before realizing she was asking about that little girl: "Her name is Xiū Méi."

  Qin Dai Xin didn't say a word, she just stared blankly out of the window. The servant girl seemed unhappy and didn't dare to speak up, but actually she was curious - with the curtains blocking everything, what could their young mistress be looking at?

  The horse carriage moved at a very slow pace, swaying gently for more than half a day before finally coming to a stop.

  Everyone slightly adjusted their clothes and was helped down from the carriage by the maids one by one.

  At the entrance, two majestic stone lions stood guard with fierce eyes. Climbing up the steps, one saw high walls and a vermilion-painted gate, on which hung a pair of large characters "Jia Mansion" in flying dragon and dancing phoenix style, making Qin Dai involuntarily think of Dream of Red Mansions.

  The entrance of the Rongguo Mansion was bustling with activity, as carriages from various mansions arrived one after another. After the women alighted, the servants who had been waiting on the side stepped forward to escort them, leading them through two courtyards before arriving at the inner courtyard of the Rongguo Mansion.

  The family stopped at the entrance and was led to the inner courtyard by a group of maids in uniform. Along the way, there were countless artificial hills and strange rocks, and the carved corridors and painted buildings were breathtakingly beautiful. Although it was already deep winter, without seeing any red flowers or green trees, the cold wind and dark green cypress trees, and the faintly visible plum branches added a few touches of flavor to this bleak winter scene.

  The girls led the way through the winding corridors, and soon they came to a flower-decked gate. At this point, one could already hear the slightly disorderly sounds of conversation coming from inside the house.

  Fang Wanru and her entourage were led into the flower hall, where a group of women had already gathered, chatting in small clusters. When they saw Fang Wanru arrive, one of them, a woman of about 24 or 25 years old, dressed in luxurious attire, exuding an air of nobility with every gesture, came forward to greet her. Upon seeing Fang Wanru, her eyebrows and eyes involuntarily revealed a hint of joy, and her gaze kept darting towards the back of Fang Wanru's entourage.

  Qin Dai'er pretended not to see and honestly followed behind Fang Wanyu.

  "After waiting for half a day, the lady finally arrived." The young woman gave Fang Wanru a slight bow, but insisted on being stopped by her.

  "It's not worthy of me." Fang Wanru said: "I dealt with some trivial matters before I came, so I was late." It's not good to tell others that her own daughter was delayed because she changed clothes.

  Just then, Mrs. Jia received the news and rushed over. As soon as she saw Fang Wenru, she warmly grasped her hand: "You've finally arrived! I thought you were busy and had no time to spare!"

  Fang Wanru smiled and said: "Originally I couldn't get away from work, but since sister asked me, how could I not come?"

  Mrs. Jia was slightly older, and Fang Wanru calling her sister wasn't wrong either.

  "This is my wife, I'm sure everyone knows her, so there's no need for me to introduce her." Fang Wanru pointed at Lin Qingyue, who stepped forward and paid respects to Madam Jia, then gave a half bow to the young woman, saying "Greetings, madam, sister, are you well?"

  "Good, good, good! Lin Daiyu, who doesn't know her? It's just that since she got married and became a woman, it's been hard to see my sister again. Today she came, so we must have a good chat." The young woman said to Lady Wang, "Mother, you say, isn't that right?"

  At this point, Qin Dai's heart suddenly realized why Fang Wanru didn't accept the courtesy of that young woman. It turned out that she was actually Zhang Shi, the eldest daughter-in-law of Madam Wang and the daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

  "It can't be." Madame Jia seemed to have another idea in mind, looking at the three girls behind Fang Wanru and saying: "These three must be the thousand pieces of gold in the mansion?"

  Fang Wanru pulled Qin Qianxin's hand and introduced her to Mrs. Jia, saying: "This is my little daughter Qianxin, who came over when she was a child."

  Qin Qianxin was now wearing a peach-colored small jacket, with an apricot-yellow small cloak outside, and a pink embroidered skirt below. The hairpin on her head had also been changed to a pearl flower knot, a carnelian hairpin flower, and the whole person looked much more pleasing to the eye.

  "My goodness, it's grown so big! I remember coming here once when I was a kid, what a huge change indeed!" Mrs. Jia obviously wasn't interested in the place, but just made some polite comments for the sake of appearances.

  "Ask Madam how she is." Qin Qian made a bow and then bowed to Zhang Shi saying: "Nice to meet you, sister-in-law."

  Zhang and Lin Yueqing were good friends in the past, so it was natural for them to address each other as sisters. However, since Zhang had married into another family, it was also proper for Qin Qianxin to refer to her that way. But when this remark reached the ears of the two other young ladies of the Qin family, it took on a different connotation.

  "This is Xiao Nv Dai Xin, this is Ruo Xin. The two of them are the same age." Fang Wanru's enthusiasm from earlier was clearly gone, her voice also sounding much more languid.

  Qin Dai Xin and Qin Ruo Xin came forward to pay their respects to Madame Jing and Zhang Shi, Qin Dai Xin clearly felt a scorching gaze lingering on her, almost burning a hole through the top of her head.

  It seems that Mrs. Jia is determined to get what she wants! No wonder Fang Wenru would use such extreme measures.

  Madam Jia took out three embroidered pouches and gave one to each of the three Qin girls, saying: "I didn't prepare anything special, just take them for fun!"

  The three of them took turns greeting each other, expressed their gratitude, and were introduced to the other ladies present. These women were either wealthy or of high social status, some being the wives of county magistrates, directors of education, while others were spouses of renowned merchants in Taizhou.

  After a round, Qin Dai's heart got several small gifts, although they were all packed in her bag, but the weight was not light, it seemed to be some jade pendants, gold plaques and other trinkets.

  The ladies chatted with each other, and Zhang also pulled Lin Qingyue to one side and asked in a low voice: "You've been married for some time now, why is there still no movement in your belly?"

  Lin was too embarrassed to say anything, and it wasn't good for her to talk about these private matters with Zhang. She said a few words with a red face, in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, which Zhang couldn't hear clearly, but she knew Lin was shy, so she didn't ask further.

  Fourth Miss saw no one around her and quietly pulled Qin Dai's sleeve to ask: "What did sister mean by what she said in mother's room?"

  Qin Dai Xin knew what she meant, but pretended not to understand and asked: "Sister, what are you saying?"

  Fourth Miss's eyes flashed with hatred and then changed to a weak expression, asking: "Sister said that the horse woman in the village gave you special care, I don't understand."

  Qin Daiying hooked up the corner of her mouth and asked happily: "Why doesn't little sister understand?"

  "How did I come to understand?" Fourth Miss was somewhat angry, and then felt that she had lost her composure, so she changed her words: "Sister really doesn't understand the meaning of sister's words, and hopes that sister will inform her."

  Don't play tricks in front of me, you're still a bit too tender.

  Qin Daijin put on an air of nonchalance and said, "Fourth sister, don't be modest. If you hadn't instructed Ma Pozi to tamper with the food, I wouldn't be in this situation today."