The next day.
Shanxi brought news, saying that they had already inquired about it, and the house was indeed as Ruan Dong had described, with no issues.
Lanyin didn’t say much else. After having someone pay the money, she instructed Ting Yun to take people into the city to tidy up the mansion first, while she remained at the estate. She either reviewed account books or took Shi Yu for walks around the estate, living a leisurely and carefree life.
That afternoon.
She had just woken up from her nap.
No one was in the room. She called out for Shi Yu, but it was Hong Xing who entered.
“Master, you’re awake?” Hong Xing lifted the bed curtain for her and thoughtfully brought over a cup of warm water.
After drinking it, Lanyin asked, “Where’s Shi Yu?”
Hong Xing replied in a low voice, “Someone from the Earl’s Mansion has come, and Sister Shi Yu went out to receive them.”
Lanyin thought for a moment, “Someone from Chengbi’s side?” If it were someone sent by Xiao Ye, Hong Xing would definitely not be acting like this. She would have already been urging her to dress up.
Although the maids around her never spoke of it, they secretly hoped that she and Xiao Ye would reconcile.
Hong Xing bit her lip and nodded. Just as she was about to speak, Shi Yu’s voice came from outside, seemingly asking if she was awake. Upon receiving confirmation, Shi Yu lifted the curtain and entered.
Seeing her unhappy expression, Lanyin chuckled, “Who upset you?”
Shi Yu pursed her lips, unwilling to speak.
Seeing her like this, Lanyin roughly understood what had happened. She didn’t ask further, only looking at the bundle in Shi Yu’s hands and saying, “What did Chengbi send over?”
Shi Yu finally spoke, “Lady Xu made a pair of shoes for you.”
Hearing this, Lanyin became quite interested. “Let me take a look.” When Shi Yu brought the shoes over, Lanyin examined them and then stood up to try them on. They fit perfectly. She took a few steps and smiled, “Chengbi’s hands are truly skillful, and the design is lovely.”
Seeing that Lanyin’s joy was genuine, the anger in Shi Yu’s heart gradually dissipated.
Oh well.
As long as the master is happy.
As for that Earl’s Mansion, even if the heir himself comes with a grand procession to invite her back, she doesn’t want the master to return!
Lanyin sat back on the bed, took off the shoes, and had Hong Xing put them aside. Seeing that Shi Yu’s expression had returned to normal, she smiled and asked, “Can you tell me now?”
“It’s all because of the Second Miss.”
Shi Yu was still somewhat angry as she spoke, “I asked Lianxin what happened between the heir and the Second Miss that day. Lianxin said that the Second Miss left the Earl’s Mansion early in the morning, and the heir, fearing something might happen to her, chased after her. That’s why they ended up arguing at the foot of the mountain.”
Hearing this, Lanyin raised an eyebrow.
In her past life, nothing like this had happened. How come now that she had left, these two were instead arguing? She understood Gu Qing’s temperament—if Xiao Ye hadn’t said something, she would never have left the Marquis Manor.
So—
What exactly did Xiao Ye say to Gu Qing to force her into such a state? Leaning against her pillow, she pondered. Suddenly, she heard Shi Yu say, “This servant will never again try to persuade you to reconcile with the Heir.”
“Hm?”
Lanyin was a bit surprised upon hearing this. She lifted her face and smiled as she asked, “What’s wrong?”
Biting her lip, Shi Yu spoke about Gu Qing’s illness. Seeing Lanyin’s slightly dazed expression, she huffed angrily, “This servant just thinks that with Second Miss around, you and the Heir will never be well together for the rest of your lives!”
What excessive worries? What chronic weakness? What signs of early death?
She thought Gu Qing was simply idle! With nothing better to do all day than steal her own sister’s fiancé! She even wished that Heaven would strike her down with a bolt of lightning right then and there!
She had finally figured it out—so long as Second Miss existed, even if her mistress returned, there would be no good days to live.
The Heir clearly had no way of handling Second Miss. Wouldn’t that mean that in the future, at the slightest mention of a headache or fever from her, the Heir would have to run to her side? And wouldn’t her mistress then be blamed? Just the thought of such a situation made Shi Yu’s vision go black. At the same time, she felt fortunate that her mistress had been decisive and had jumped out of that cage from the very beginning. Otherwise, if things dragged on, her mistress might have also been consumed by worries.
The very thought of that possibility made Shi Yu’s face go pale.
At this point, never mind persuading her mistress to go back—she wished she could carry a knife every day and guard her mistress personally! If anyone came to persuade her again, she would greet them with the blade! What kind of malicious intent was it to push her mistress back into the fire pit?
Lanyin didn’t look at Shi Yu. Instead, she was thinking about Gu Qing’s illness.
In her past life, although Gu Qing had always been weak, Lanyin had never heard of her having such an illness. However, she didn’t believe Gu Qing had conspired with a doctor to deceive Xiao Ye either. Her younger sister had a scheming mind but no real means to carry out her plans. Moreover, her entire support system now depended on Xiao Ye—if he found out she was faking illness, it would be more harm than gain.
Gu Qing wasn’t that foolish.
Shaking her head, Lanyin couldn’t be bothered to think about those two anymore. Now, their paths had already split—each should walk their own road.
Rather than worry about their affairs, she would rather focus her mind on her own businesses.
Currently, she owned ten shops. Aside from the six dowry shops given to her by the Gu family, there were four others that her maternal grandmother had privately gifted her. One was a spice shop, with moderate profits. Another was a rice shop, and another a bookstore—let alone profits, these were barely avoiding losses. Three were food shops, which had decent business, while the remaining four were silk shops.
These four silk shops were also gifts from her maternal grandmother. In the past, they had been highly profitable—after all, they were meant to provide her with financial security. If they weren’t profitable, her grandmother wouldn’t have given them to her. However, in recent years, trade between the north and south had flourished, and Shu brocade and Yun brocade were no longer rare commodities. Just within Bianjing, there were already many sellers of these fabrics. With more competition, business naturally declined. When Lanyin visited yesterday, several shopkeepers had been complaining about this issue.
Lanyin had a habit of pinching her fingers while thinking. Previously, she had been too busy handling affairs in the Earl Manor, so she hadn’t had time to manage these shops. But now that she had time, it was only right to reorganize them.
The most urgent matter was these four silk shops—how could she revive them?
Her gaze swept across a pair of shoes that Hong Xing had placed to the side, and her expression suddenly paused. Ready-made shoes were available for purchase, yet there were no ready-made clothes. Wealthy families had their own in-house embroiderers, while poor families bought fabric and sewed their own garments.
Bianjing, as the capital, saw fashion trends change every season. Lanyin might not have any other advantage, but she had lived two more years than others and had seen more.
A sudden excitement surged in her heart. She lifted her quilt and got up, instructing, “Grind ink for me.”
The two maids didn’t know what she was planning, but seeing her enthusiastic expression, they didn’t dare delay. They quickly responded, with Hong Xing running off to grind ink and Shi Yu fetching an outer robe for her to wear.
In the following days, Lanyin spent most of her time in her room, thinking about the clothing shop, except for meals. With four silk shops, fabric was naturally not an issue, but they were short on embroiderers. However, that wasn’t a big problem—they could hire some later. The most important things were the styles and patterns… For Lanyin, styles and patterns weren’t difficult. She had often attended banquets in the past, and among women, the most talked-about topics were always about attire. She was clever and meticulous, so even if she didn’t enjoy such gatherings, she always made sure to do her homework.
Shi Yu came in with tea and saw Lanyin still sitting at the desk, writing and sketching. She instinctively softened her footsteps.
Over the past few days, she had learned that her mistress was busy with the shop.
She didn’t understand business, nor was she particularly interested in making money, but being busy kept one from overthinking. So, she was happy to see her mistress occupied. Just as she was about to leave after setting down the tea, as she usually did, Lanyin called out to her, “Tell Shopkeeper Sun to recruit a group of embroiderers later. Don’t assign them any tasks yet—I’ll give them instructions when I go into the city.”
“Understood.”
“Also, make a trip to the Earl’s Mansion.”
Shi Yu’s expression immediately soured at the mention of the Earl’s Mansion. Seeing her pout so much that it looked like she could hang an oil jug from her lips, Lanyin couldn’t help but laugh. “Have someone deliver this letter to Chengbi.”
Hearing that it was for Lady Xu, Shi Yu’s expression improved slightly, though…
She frowned, “Are you planning to ask Lady Xu for help?”
Lanyin didn’t deny it, only saying, “Chengbi’s birth mother was a famous embroiderer from Suzhou. She knows more about certain patterns and techniques than I do.”
Shi Yu didn’t say more. As she was about to take the letter and leave, she added, “By the way, Ting Yun sent a letter this morning. She said the mansion is almost ready, and you can move in anytime.”
“So soon?”
Lanyin was surprised. After a moment of thought, she said, “Then let’s head down the mountain tomorrow.”
It was inconvenient to handle affairs at the estate, especially now that she had to deal with the shop. “Oh, has there been any word from Madam Sheng?”
“Yes.”
“She sent a letter three days ago. She should be arriving in a few days.”
Lanyin nodded, “Then send someone to wait for her at the estate. When she arrives, bring her back to the mansion. She’s getting on in years, and the journey is taxing—make sure to prepare a carriage for her.”
After giving these instructions, she felt a bit tired once Shi Yu left. She took a sip of hot tea to refresh herself and stood by the window to look at the scenery outside.
It was almost May.
More than ten days had passed since she woke up.
Time had flown by so quickly. Lanyin thought back to when she had just woken up, feeling somewhat dazed. Back then, she didn’t know what to do, only that she wanted to leave the Earl’s Mansion, to get as far away from Xiao Ye and Gu Qing as possible. She hadn’t expected that she would gradually find a path forward.
She still didn’t know what the future held.
But she would not be afraid, nor would she continue living in a daze.
Lanyin’s lips curled slightly. Her face was full of hope and longing for the future. Looking out at the beautiful, sunny day, she squinted her eyes comfortably, allowing the warm summer breeze to gently caress her face. Then, she lightly broke off a peach blossom branch that was in full bloom by the window and lowered her eyes to take in its fragrance.
—
Qi Residence.
Qi Yubai also plucked a peach blossom branch from the wall’s edge.
Today was his day off, and after glancing at the high wall next door, he planned to accompany his grandmother for a meal. As he carried the flower over, he happened to hear his grandmother chatting with Nanny Wei.
“I’ve noticed quite a bit of movement from next door lately. Did someone move in?”
“They moved in a few days ago,” Nanny Wei replied while peeling an orange. “But this old servant has only seen the servants coming and going, never the masters of the house.”
“At least they seem well-mannered. That day, I happened to step out and saw them moving things in, so I watched for a moment. A clever-looking maid noticed me and even asked if they had made too much noise and disturbed us.”
“They say the servants reflect their master. If the maid is so polite, then the master’s temperament must not be bad either,” Old Madam Qi remarked as she ate an orange segment. “Since we are neighbors, keep an eye on them. If they need anything, let someone lend a hand.”
Nanny Wei smiled and responded with a quick “Yes, madam.”
Just then, Yanhuan lifted the curtain, and their young master entered, holding a peach blossom in full bloom. She quickly stood up to greet him. “Young Master has arrived.”
Hearing this, Old Madam Qi immediately turned her head. When she saw Qi Yubai, her smile deepened. She glanced at the flower in his hand and chuckled. “What’s got you in such a good mood today?”
“I thought it looked nice, so I picked it,” Qi Yubai replied casually, handing the flower to Nanny Wei to put in a vase.
Since when did her grandson develop such refined tastes? He had always been indifferent to flowers and plants! Old Madam Qi eyed him suspiciously. However, the young man’s expression remained calm, betraying no other emotions. So, she didn’t press the matter and simply continued eating her orange while remarking, “I’m old now and have lost interest in flowers and plants. You should focus more on that sweetheart of yours.”
As she spoke, she cast another glance at her own grandson. “Qi Yubai, you wouldn’t be fooling me, would you? I see you going nowhere but to court and the Court of Judicial Review every day. On your days off, you stay at home reading.”
The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
She smacked his arm with a stern face and scolded, “You rascal, you’ve even learned to deceive your grandmother now?!”
Qi Yubai sighed helplessly. “When have I ever lied to you?”
This…
Old Madam Qi paused for a moment. “It seems… never.”
Afraid she would eat too many oranges and get heaty, Qi Yubai had Nanny Wei take the bowl away. Then, he started peeling walnuts for her while explaining, “She has things to attend to right now, and I don’t want to disturb her. It will be fine after some time.”
His expression was so serious that Old Madam Qi couldn’t tell whether he was speaking the truth or not. She could only huff in response. “If you dare lie to me, I’ll go complain to your grandfather and have him scold you in your dreams!”
Since he had given her his word, Old Madam Qi let the matter drop. The meal had yet to be served, so she nibbled on some walnut kernels while asking, “Have you seen the new neighbors who moved in?”
“No.”
Seeing his aloof demeanor, Old Madam Qi didn’t doubt him. Her grandson had always been indifferent to anything unrelated to him.
“Take a look when you get the chance. If they’re easy to get along with, it wouldn’t hurt to interact more.”
“In the past, when Yici wasn’t married yet, you had a companion. Now that he has a wife and child, he barely has time for anything else.” At the thought of the little one in the Tu family, Old Madam Qi couldn’t help but feel envious. She glanced at her own grandson, whose temperament was as cold and detached as ever, and the more she looked at him, the more dissatisfied she became. She continued criticizing him, “Yici is even a year younger than you, you know. Look at yourself, then look at him.”
Qi Yubai listened quietly, unfazed by her nagging.
Only when the servants outside announced that lunch had been served did he speak warmly, “Let me help you over.”
Old Lady Qi was exasperated but had no choice. She could only raise her hand and let him support her as they walked over. However, she couldn’t help but say, “When the new owner moves in next door, remember to go and greet them, understand?”
“Mm.”
—
The next day, Lanyin bid farewell to the people at the estate and took Shi Yu and the others to Tianshui Lane.
The carriage stopped at the entrance. Lanyin looked up at the plaque with the character “Gu” on it, and her usually calm heart suddenly felt a surge of warmth. In two lifetimes, except for her childhood, whether it was at her maternal grandparents’ home in Jinling, after returning to the Marquis’s residence, or even after marrying into the Chengbo Manor in Bianjing, she had never felt a strong sense of belonging.
It was as if these places were merely temporary shelters for her, never truly hers.
But now, she finally had a house of her own. It wasn’t large, but it was completely and entirely hers. No one could ever drive her out again.
“Mistress.”
Shi Yu seemed to sense her emotions. Normally loud and boisterous, she now unconsciously softened her voice.
Lanyin smiled, withdrawing her gaze from the plaque, and said, “Let’s go in.”
“Alright!”
Shi Yu helped her down from the carriage, and Hong Xing and the others quickly followed.
Ting Yun, having received the news, also came out immediately.
Compared to the last time she had seen it, the mansion, though still new, had been cold and lifeless. Now, after being tidied up by Ting Yun and the others, it gradually carried a familiar atmosphere.
The reception hall was visible as soon as one entered. A couplet hung on the wall, and the tables and chairs were made of rosewood. Each chair was adorned with a red felt cushion embroidered with auspicious patterns, with tassels hanging down the back, extending to the seat. A set of Ru kiln tea utensils was placed on the table, and a white porcelain vase with fish patterns stood on a high shelf against the wall. A freshly picked peach blossom branch was placed inside, bringing a strong sense of spring.
“Your study has also been prepared, not far from here. Would you like to take a look?” Ting Yun asked her.
Lanyin smiled and shook her head, “I’ll be spending time here every day from now on. There’s no rush to see it all at once.” She then said to Ting Yun, “You’ve done a great job with the arrangements. Thank you for your hard work.”
Ting Yun blushed, “This is what I’m supposed to do. It’s not worth such praise from you.”
Lanyin smiled and looked at the group of maids and servants behind her who were already restless with excitement. She chuckled and said, “Go and take a look at your rooms. If anything is missing, let Ting Yun know, and we’ll get it sorted out later.”
At her words, the group immediately followed Shi Yu to their rooms.
Lanyin watched their eager figures and called out, “Don’t run too fast!” before letting them go. She then turned back to Ting Yun and asked, “Has anything happened in the mansion these past few days?”
“At most, a few curious neighbors passing by came to inquire, but they didn’t ask much. However…” Ting Yun paused, “Old Lady Qi from next door sent someone over to say that since we’re new here, if we need anything, we should feel free to ask.”
“Old Lady Qi?”
Lanyin was momentarily stunned. She had never inquired about Qi Yubai’s circumstances before. Now, hearing Ting Yun mention it, she remembered that Qi Yubai’s parents had passed away early, and only his grandmother remained in the family.
She pondered for a moment before speaking, “Have someone prepare some pastries. I’ll take them over later.”
“You’ll go in person?” Ting Yun was a bit surprised.
Seeing Lanyin nod, she didn’t ask further and simply acknowledged the order before stepping out to make arrangements.
Meanwhile, Lanyin returned to her room and changed into attire suitable for receiving guests. Once Ting Yun had everything prepared, Lanyin took her along and headed to the Qi Residence next door.
—
“You are…?”
The young gatekeeper at the Qi Residence looked at her, a bit confused about her intentions.
Ting Yun explained, “We have just moved into the Gu Residence next door. My mistress has prepared some pastries to send to your old madam.”
Lanyin added warmly, “Please take them inside. If the old madam does not wish to receive visitors, I won’t intrude.”
Her tone was gentle. Though her attire was not particularly lavish, her composed demeanor clearly indicated a well-bred upbringing. The young servant dared not delay and quickly went inside to report after asking them to wait.
—
Inside the Qi Residence.
“Gu Residence?”
Old Madam Qi thought for a moment. “Are there any Gu families in Bianjing?”
Yanhuan shook her head. “I haven’t heard of any. They might be from outside the city. Would you like to meet them? If not, I can send someone to turn them away.”
“They have already come, and they are our neighbors. There’s no reason to drive them away,” Old Madam Qi said, sitting up from her Luohan couch. “Invite them in.”
Just as Yanhuan left to relay the order, the old madam seemed to recall something. “Speaking of the Gu family, I remember my old sister’s daughter married into the Gu family of Hangzhou. Oh right, that little girl who used to stay by my sister’s side was also surnamed Gu. What was her name again?”
Nanny Wei thought for a moment. “I don’t quite remember her full name, but I do recall her nickname—it was Mingyue. You even held her in your arms and said you wanted her to be your granddaughter-in-law, which made the little girl blush so much that she avoided you for days.”
“Yes, yes, it was Mingyue! That Little Yue was truly beautiful and well-mannered. My old sister suffered from headaches, and that child would massage her temples every day. One time, my sister dozed off, and the girl kept going. When she woke up, she just hugged the child and cried. The Wang family always said my sister was biased, but did they ever reflect on their own actions? What had that little girl done wrong? If I had such a granddaughter, I’d treasure her like my own heart.”
“Speaking of which—” Old Madam Qi suddenly asked, “When I last visited Jinling, my sister mentioned in passing that the girl also married in Bianjing. Do you know whom she married?”
She rarely attended social gatherings, so she had no way of knowing.
But Nanny Wei did. She promptly replied, “She married the heir of the Cheng Marquis Manor.”
“The Xiao family’s heir? That’s not a bad match.” Just as she finished speaking, she noticed Nanny Wei hesitating. She paused and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“This old servant heard some rumors… Apparently, the Heir of the Xiao family has an unclear relationship with this Miss Gu’s younger sister. I don’t know if it’s true, but some say he even brought the younger sister home, angering Miss Gu so much that she left.”
At this, Old Madam Qi’s brows immediately furrowed. Just as she was about to speak, a servant announced that the guest had arrived.
She and Nanny Wei said no more.
When the curtain lifted and Lanyin stepped in, Nanny Wei was about to greet her properly. However, upon seeing her face, she froze for a moment. She quickly whispered something to Old Madam Qi, and—
Old Madam Qi’s eyes widened in shock.
Just as Lanyin finished offering her junior’s salute and had yet to straighten up, Old Madam Qi had already called out—
“Little Yue?”