Qin Liuxi hurried back to the Qin family just before the city gates closed, and the news of her return quickly spread throughout the entire Qin Family, from the eldest to the youngest, each with mixed feelings.
Old Mrs. Qin: Finally decided to come back.
Mrs. Wang: She’s finally back.
A few women from Mrs. Xie’s side: I need to settle accounts with her!
And Qin Mingchun: Where’s my calligraphy practice? Ahhh, still ghostly talismans, it’s all over!
Mrs. Wan: My son is too useless, should I pretend to be sick and not get up, to avoid being dragged down by him!
In Qin Liuxi’s courtyard, Qi Huang was busy checking her out from head to toe: "You’ve returned in one piece, but you’ve lost weight; I can feel your bones."
"Nonsense, when have I ever been fat?" Qin Liuxi laughed, "That Qi fellow, he’s the eldest grandson of Prince Ning Mansion, Prince Rui. This time the one I treated was Old Princess Consort Ning. They gave generous consultation fee, and also lots of gifts. Look, they even gave me a set of hairpins; take the pretty ones and wear them."
Qi Huang looked at the delicate box on the table and opened it to see a full set of ruby hairpins, masterfully crafted, and couldn’t help but sigh: "It’s really generous coming from the imperial family, very pretty."
She just complimented it and then closed it, showing no sign of appreciation of its value. In fact, according to her preferences, if Qin Liuxi wished for it, Qi Huang could easily possess jewelry that was even more valuable and rarer than this set of ruby hairpins.
"I won’t wear them; I’ll keep the full set as a dowry," Qi Huang said with a smile.
Qin Liuxi glanced over: "Is there even such a day coming?"
Qi Huang retorted: "Of course, I hope for it."
The people of the Qin Family are Qin Liuxi’s blood relatives, but that’s just it; she doesn’t feel particularly close to the Qin Family. However, the future could be different.
If Qin Liuxi has her own legitimate children, that would be her true family, her blood kin. Thus, she would no longer be alone.
Qin Liuxi neither agreed nor disagreed, and took off her coat, asking: "Has anything happened at home while I was away?"
Qi Huang was ready with her answer, summarizing the recent events. Speaking of the Ding family avoiding them, she sneered: "Back in the days when the Qin Family was prosperous, the Ding family never forgot to send gifts; didn’t Mrs. Ding always want to invite you to play? Now they’ve run off quickly."
Qin Liuxi sipped her tea, saying: "What a coincidence, I ran into Mrs. Ding in Ningzhou; so it was indeed a deliberate avoidance."
"That’s right. I don’t know what the Madam said, but the Old Lady stopped mentioning going out for visits. She did say she wanted to go to the Daoist Temple to find Master Chi Yuan, but was also stopped by the Madam."
Qin Liuxi nodded: "My legitimate mother is indeed tenaciously minded and quick-witted, truly a noble lady raised by Mrs. Wang."
"You don’t know, just a few days ago, the Second Madam tried to burst into your room, and the Madam spoke up for you," Qi Huang said with a smirk.
Qi Huang didn’t exaggerate, recounting the incident factually, adding: "I just wanted to give a small lesson to scare her, so she wouldn’t dare to keep looking for handouts. Of course, after that little punishment, I told the ghosts not to hassle her anymore."
Unnamed ghosts crouching outside the wall: They have names; they’re now called the Female and Male Double Killers!
Qin Liuxi was somewhat surprised that Mrs. Wang would defend her, her expression unchanged, she said: "Well done!"
"You must be aware, Second Madam will definitely come to demand an explanation from you!" Qi Huang reminded.
Just as she finished speaking, a servant girl came to pass on the message that Old Mrs. Qin was asking to speak with the young lady.