Chapter Twenty-Nine: Troubles

Jinghu circled the main hall but could not find the Xu family. It was Ganqing who came to bring her news: "Little County Princess, the Eighth Miss of the Xu family is waiting for you at Fangshi Pavilion. Would you like to go over now?"

Qingrou had not followed her family to the main hall, but had gone to Fangshi Pavilion instead.

She was usually the most observant of etiquette; Jinghu wondered what could be the matter today. As she walked, Jinghu asked Ganqing, "How does the Eighth Miss seem today? Why didn't she come straight to the main hall?"

Ganqing replied, "She seems a bit upset, almost as if she is about to cry. I don't know what has happened. You should offer her some comfort when you see her, Little County Princess."

"That goes without saying," Jinghu nodded.

When she entered Fangshi Pavilion, Qingrou was sitting by the window, staring blankly at the sky, lost in thought. She did not stir even as Jinghu walked into the courtyard.

A maid whom Jinghu did not recognize stood under the veranda and bowed. Jinghu had no time to ask about her; she glanced at the maid with suspicion before heading inside to find Qingrou.

Jinghu deliberately lightened her footsteps, carefully circled behind her, and covered Qingrou's eyes with her hands. "Guess who I am?"

Qingrou did not want to move at all. She gently tapped Jinghu’s hand, signaling for her to let go. "Jingling, stop fooling around."

Her tone was as calm as it usually was, but Jinghu could detect a trace of sorrow beneath it.

Jinghu released her hands and sat down beside her. "What is the matter now? Are you upset because you have a crush on my third brother, and today is his wedding day?"

Of course, Qingrou would never fancy a playboy like Jingxun. Jinghu was only teasing her, but Qingrou didn't even show a hint of a smile. She reached up to wipe away a tear and said, "Please, stop mocking me."

Jinghu stopped teasing her and asked in a gentle voice, "What is really wrong? Did something happen at home?"

Qingrou sighed. After a long pause, she said, "Last night, my mother suddenly came down with a fever. The doctor saw her, but it was nothing more than that. When she lived in Meizhen Hall, she was always busy with work, and yet she rarely fell ill throughout the year."

"It has only been a year since we moved to Hongji Hall, and she is frequently unwell. I stayed with her all night yesterday, but I had to be discreet so no one would know. In the night, I heard her muttering deliriously. I fear this matter truly cannot be separated from my Fifth Sister."

Qingrou clenched her hand into a fist and struck the window frame heavily. The sparrows that had been resting on the peach tree outside the window were startled and scattered at once.

"I just don't understand why not one of them is willing to tell me what really happened back then."

Qingrou’s usual demeanor was as quiet and graceful as Jinghu’s mother and grandmother had described. Such an outburst caught Jinghu by surprise.

She reached out and took Qingrou’s hand. "Qing-er, to be honest, I don't know how to comfort you. You have your troubles, and I have mine."

"But I clearly remember that years ago, we were completely free of worries. For me, the most annoying thing was just the homework assigned by the tutor. But you are so smart; you never worried about such things."

"How about this? We are at the Prince of Yongning's mansion today, and I am the one in charge. I will go and bring your sister here, and I won't let her leave until she explains everything to you. How does that sound?"

Qingrou was silent for a moment. She wiped away another tear, then began to smile instead. "Jinghu, actually, I envy you quite a bit."

"Although you were not born to the Princess Consort, the Prince loves your mother the most, and you have a brother of your own. You haven't suffered any real grievances since you were young."

She had certainly suffered grievances. Her own brother often went against her. She still remembered how he had locked her up for a month when he returned to Yanjing in March. Furthermore, her mother was not the primary wife, which made a difference after all.

"As for me, I have brothers and sisters by the same father, yet there are times I wish I didn't. If only everything in this world were black and white, just as you think."

"I want to ask her, but I am afraid to. I fear that my mother might have been at fault in this matter as well. If that were true, how could I face my family?"

She smiled again. "Even though this is the Prince of Yongning's mansion, there are many people here more powerful than you. If you were to detain my sister, my brother would be the first to object."

"My aunt is the mistress of this house, and in the end, you would be the one punished. This is my business, and I cannot think it through, but I shouldn't drag you down with me."

Jinghu wasn't afraid; at worst, she would just be grounded for a few more months. If Qingrou had agreed, she would have done it without hesitation. For a friend, a little punishment was nothing.

However, she knew Qingrou’s character—if she said it wasn't necessary, she truly meant it—so she did not persist.

"Then stop being sad. If you stay this miserable, I fear that when I finally see your sister, I won't be able to stop myself from tying her up and giving her a beating."

She hooked her finger under Qingrou’s chin. "Where did such a beautiful young lady come from, and why are you weeping so? Come on, give this County Princess a smile."

Qingrou swatted her hand away and really did break into a smile.

After Doulu brought water for Qingrou to wash her face, the two young ladies walked hand-in-hand toward the main hall of the Prince of Yongning’s Dowager Consort. As a guest, it would be rude for Qingrou not to pay her respects. She had never been one to be discourteous.

The maid who had been standing under the veranda followed them.

Jinghu whispered in Qingrou's ear, "Is this maid new to your service? I haven't seen her before."

Qingrou replied, "She is from my eldest sister-in-law's household... she is afraid I might cause trouble while out today."

Qingrou was never one to cause trouble; the one who caused trouble was the Little County Princess. Jinghu realized instantly that the maid was there to prevent her from leading Qingrou astray.

Today was the wedding of her third brother, Jingxun; even just for the sake of the five hundred taels of silver, she wouldn't cause any trouble, would she?

Though, she did have to find a way to see Magistrate Ke later. That didn't count as causing trouble, surely.

Jinghu teased Qingrou again, "Tell me, did your sister-in-law find out I wanted to tie up your Fifth Sister for interrogation, and that's why she sent her to watch you?"

Qingrou gave her a playful glare. "Stop it. No well-bred young lady behaves like a mountain bandit."

Jinghu laughed, then stepped into the main hall. Two young women were walking toward them. Both were of such peerless beauty that a single glance might leave one dazzled.

The one dressed more magnificently was the Fifth Miss of the Zhao family—the one whom Princess Zhenjing had said she resembled back in June. Now that she had married Qingrou’s fifth brother, she looked even more elegant and refined. As for the other one... it was the Lady of Huaiyi.

Jinghu narrowed her eyes. Truly, enemies often cross paths on a narrow road.