Chapter 26: Showing Off One's Sharp Claws

  These words indeed frightened Fourth Miss's face pale, had she found out everything?

  "Sister, if it weren't for you, Aunt Ma would not have secretly made many delicious dishes for me." Qin Dai's words had just fallen when she saw the fourth young lady's surprised expression. She smiled secretly and continued: "Her fish porridge was so good that I couldn't even tell! If it wasn't for that, my illness wouldn't have recovered so quickly either. Look, haven't I grown a lot taller?"

  Fourth Miss glanced at her and indeed, in just three months, Qin Dai Xin, who was originally the same height as herself, had grown half a head taller than her.

  "I haven't even thanked my sister yet!" You think you can take me on? I'm afraid you still need to go back and cultivate for a few more years.

  Fourth Miss hated that she couldn't tear that horse-faced woman apart, her hands kept twisting her sleeves, and her face unnaturally said: "Thanks for what? We're sisters of the same family!"

  At this moment, Mrs. Zhang said loudly: "The ladies of the various fu, each madam, the flower garden warm pavilion has been arranged properly, please move to appreciate the plum blossoms."

  A group of people followed the Jia family to the Warming Pavilion in the garden, and soon they smelled the fragrance of plum blossoms. Inside the pavilion, someone had already prepared a brazier, charcoal basin, and other things to ward off the cold. After the ladies from various manors entered the pavilion and took their seats, others came up one after another with hot tea, pastries, dried fruit, and so on.

  When everyone was seated, Mrs. Jia ordered the doors and windows to be opened, saying it was for admiring the plum blossoms. Qin Dai only then realized that the entire warm pavilion was located within the garden, which was built on a hillside, with lush greenery and no signs of decay even in winter. The garden was laid out in a tasteful manner, with an artificial lake in the center, a pavilion on the lake, and a wooden bridge connecting it to the shore. The garden was surrounded by plum trees of various species, each with its unique charm, and the blossoms were competing to bloom, adding much poetic flair to the garden.

  "How beautiful! The plum blossoms seem to have bloomed a bit early this year!" A stylish and elegant noblewoman started chatting with someone nearby.

  "Exactly!" Another young woman chimed in.

  "This garden was specially built by Master Jia for Madame Jia, and Madame Jia is really blessed!" The tone sounded a bit sour.

  Qin Dai'er heard others say that originally, the character for "plum" was in Madame Jia's maiden name, so Master Jia built this plum garden. The scenery is naturally not to be mentioned, but it's said that there are tens of thousands of plum trees alone, and when winter comes, the entire mountain and garden are filled with plum blossoms.

  Fang Wanru has always been by Madame Jia's side, and the two of them seem to be chatting and laughing as usual, but in their hearts, they both know that today is a somewhat special day. Fang Wanru is thinking about how to settle the marriage between the second young lady, while Madame Jia is thinking about how to marry Qin Daiyu.

  The young ladies from each of the families were all lively and not afraid of the cold, so they couldn't help but run to the pavilion in the center of the lake to play. Only three sisters from the Qin family remained gathered inside the house.

  "It's probably been boring staying with an old woman like me! Why don't you all go out, take a walk, have a look around and get to know some young ladies?" Madam Jia teased the three Miss Qins, her eyes lingering on the Second Miss for a moment.

  "Madam is right, we are delighted and haven't had time to be bored," Qin Qian said with a flattering tone, showing a bit of the demeanor of a noble lady.

  "She's just a quiet and gentle soul." Fang Wanru smiled: "She's like that at home too."

  Qin Daijin said with a smile: "I'd like to take a stroll around and enjoy the scenery in the garden."

  Fang Wanru couldn't bear it and immediately said: "Go! Go take a look around, don't go far."

  Qin Dai Xin bowed and went into the garden by herself.

  "She's just restless, can't sit still for a moment." Fang Wanru saw Madame Jia's indifferent expression and continued: "Madame is blessed with good fortune, having given birth to three sons, who can be managed and scolded. But in our household, we have too many daughters, managing them would invite gossip, yet not managing them wouldn't work either."

  Mrs. Jia took a sip of tea and said, "You are blessed but don't know it, your daughter is good and considerate! Unlike me, I've had a hard life. Those who should get married won't, and marrying a wife is so difficult? They're picky and choosy without any standards."

  Fang Wanru's eyes lit up, and she finally got to the topic. The two families were discussing marriage, but they couldn't do it in front of the girl, could they? Fang Wanru thought for a moment, then said: "Why don't you girls go out for a walk too! Let the maid bring a brazier to keep warm."

  The two young ladies knew what was going on in their minds and quickly got up to pay their respects and walked out.

  Qin Qianxin was so preoccupied with thoughts of marriage that she unwittingly walked onto a small path, without even noticing when Qin Ruoxin disappeared from her side. It wasn't until she came back to herself that she realized she had inadvertently wandered into a rather secluded area. After circling around several times, she still couldn't find the way back, but fortunately, a young maid dressed in Jiafu's servant attire happened to pass by after a while.

  "I am the second young lady of the Qin Manor, I got lost, take me back." No matter where she went, she would never forget to show off her status as a legitimate daughter. As for this marriage with the Jia family, she was naturally delighted and determined that she would become the matriarch of the Jia family, her tone was also somewhat different. As for Qin Dai's threat to her, she didn't take it to heart at all.

  "Yes." The little girl led Qin Qianxin all the way back and forth, gradually arriving at the central area of the garden.

  The ladies from various households are gathering here, the maids holding warming pans surrounding their masters. Qin Xiang's personal maid, Cai Qing, saw her arrive and hastily came forward, handing over a hand warmer saying: "Second Miss, I've been looking for you everywhere, you're back, nothing's wrong?"

  "It's nothing. What are they doing?" Qin Qian looked around for a few moments, but couldn't understand.

  The ladies are gathered around a table, discussing something in a lively manner.

  "The old lady of the Jia mansion said that our family's old lady owed her a plum blossom painting last year, and it must be returned this year. The old lady is making the painting right now! All the young ladies from various mansions are surrounding to watch, and the third young lady is also there."

  Oh! This is getting interesting.

  "Come on, let's go take a look." With that, he didn't wait for Qing to react and quickly walked forward.

  "Yes." Cai Qing hastened her pace and followed Second Miss to Lin Qingyue's painting place.

  Lin Qingxue painted a plum blossom and auspicious snow picture, the plum blossoms were slightly red, the auspicious snow was silver white, between the red and white was a girl appreciating the plum blossoms, only seeing the background, the brush and ink only felt a proud figure.

  "It's time for admiring plum blossoms." said a tall woman.

  "They say it's for appreciating the snow." Another slightly plumper woman seemed to have a different opinion and spoke out in denial.

  Qin Qianxin arrived just in time to see Lin Qingyue put down her brush, and the two young ladies from the other manor were arguing over whether the figure in the painting was admiring the snow or the plum blossoms.

  "Madam Qin, you tell us, is this person admiring the snow or the plum blossoms?" one of the young ladies asked.

  "Not bad." Another thousand gold also said: "The author of the painting has the most say, you say."

  Qin Qian took a step forward and accepted the painting: "Let me take a look!"

  The two young ladies looked at her simultaneously without saying a word.

  Qin Qianxin smiled and said, "My sister-in-law's brushwork is exceptional, as everyone knows. Now, the plum blossoms in this painting are excellent, and the snow is also perfect. Why argue about it?"

  Lin Qingyue was talented, and the ladies of Taizhou were all aware of it. Now that she had said this, they felt a bit embarrassed to continue arguing. Zhang Shi, who was standing aside, saw Qin Qianxin say this and suddenly became interested, thinking: "Qin Erniang's words have piqued my interest, tell me, which is better, plum blossoms or snow?"

  She knew about the affairs of Jia and Qin families, although she didn't understand why her mother-in-law insisted on marrying the third miss, but if it could be proven that this second miss had outstanding qualities, it would also be good. With the strength of the Jia family, why did they need to abandon their legitimate daughter for a concubine?

  Qin Qianxin pushed it away, saying: "No, no, I'm not as good as my sister-in-law. This is something I don't understand. Why don't you let my third sister say something? She's the one who's 'well-read in poetry and books'!"

  Qin Dai Xin didn't expect things to suddenly fall on her, looking at the gaze of the crowd looking at her, and then looking at Qin Qian Xin's complacent expression, she suddenly understood.

  Everyone in the Qin's household knows that Third Miss is a tomboy and has no talent. She said this, obviously wanting to humiliate herself in front of everyone.

  "I'm not as good as my second sister said, I've made everyone laugh." She smiled with a hint of embarrassment.

  "Third sister, don't be modest, just say it!" Second Miss wouldn't let up.

  She didn't care about the impression she gave to the Jia family, and if she lost the chance of marriage because of this, she would be happy. It's just that in front of so many people, her reputation would be ruined, and within three days, Qin Daihe's name would spread among the talented women of Taizhou.

  She Qin Dai's heart may not be good at poetry, but she has crossed over after all. There is no Li Bai or Du Fu here, could it be that she is still afraid?

  "So, my sister has made a fool of herself." Qin Dai took the painting and caught a glimpse of concern in Lin Qingyue's eyes. There are still good people in the Qin family, no matter what their motives are, at least Lin Qingyue didn't want her to lose face.

  "What a wonderful painting! I'll compose a poem on the spot. Please, dear sister-in-law, don't think it's strange." Qin Dai suddenly remembered one of Wang Anshi's poems, and her heart...

  Li Da Ding picked up a pen placed aside, dipped it in ink and started writing next to the painting:

  Plum blossoms and snow vie with spring, refusing to yield.

  The evaluation of the chapter on the cost of writing in the noisy house.

  Plum blossoms are three points whiter than snow.

  Snow loses to plum in fragrance.

  In her past life, Mo Li had learned calligraphy and wrote beautifully. Now, as she picks up the pen again, it brings back memories of both her past and present lives, filling her with endless nostalgia.

  "What a great poem! I didn't expect Third Miss not only to compose well, but also to write such beautiful calligraphy." Zhang picked up the painting and examined it carefully, feeling more and more that this Third Miss was extraordinary. If she weren't born out of wedlock, how wonderful would that be.

  The two beauties who had been arguing just now also said: "Miss Qin's last two sentences are probably for the two of us! With this poem, we're afraid we won't be able to argue anymore."

  As soon as Qin Dai Xin wrote the poem, there were people who recited it out loud. Qin Qian Xin never thought she could write such a good poem and was filled with regret. She had originally wanted to humiliate her in public, but instead, she ended up shining, which was really not worth it.

  Zhang smiled and said: "This painting I can take openly, it's something someone owes me. But now that I've taken Third Miss's poem for nothing, my heart is uneasy, what to do?"

  Everyone burst out laughing, knowing it was just a figure of speech.

  Just then, a maid suddenly rushed in and saw Zhang Shi, her face turned pale with fright.

  Zhang comforted the crowd and pulled Yaotou aside, asking in a low voice: "What's going on?"

  After hesitating for a long time, Ya Tou finally said: "The fourth miss of the Qin manor is in trouble."