Chapter 28: Family – A Golden Jade Union

Wang Jinlan picked up the teacup from the low table, and with just a glance, Yu Qiu, who stood behind her, stepped forward holding a tray.

On the tray sat a golden ruyi and a jade ruyi.

Regardless of their exquisite craftsmanship, the raw materials alone were worth a fortune.

“A golden jade union,” Wang Jinlan said softly after sipping her tea. “May this symbolism mean that you two will support each other in the future and grow old together.”

“Heir Consort.” Yu Qiu offered it forward.

It looked substantial even at a glance.

Once melted down, it would yield at least a hundred taels of gold.

From the moment the golden ruyi appeared, Yan Yiqing’s gaze had not left it. “Thank you, Mother.”

She called her “Mother” with sincere affection.

It was worlds apart from her earlier listless tone.

“I’ve been waiting forever—you’re finally here, Sister-in-Law!”

A delicate voice came from the side. Yan Yiqing turned to see a girl of fourteen or fifteen bounding in, stopping by the taishi chair on the right side of the main hall.

“Qingyue, mind your manners. Come greet your sister-in-law properly.” Zhou Zhenzhen scolded lightly, though her eyes brimmed with indulgence. Seeing Yan Yiqing look over, she introduced herself, “I’m Huai Jin’s third aunt. Just follow her lead when addressing people.”

The middle-aged man in a scarlet official robe sat sternly beside Zhou Zhenzhen, his expression unsmiling. Yan Yiqing knew without thinking that this was Zhao Huaijin’s third uncle, Vice Minister of Personnel Zhao Guiting.

“Yiqing pays respects to Aunt,” Yan Yiqing said with a slight bow, then added, “And to Uncle.”

Zhou Zhenzhen’s face lit up with smiles. She took the Jadeite Peace Bracelet from a maidservant and personally stood to slip it onto Yan Yiqing’s wrist. “Good child, from now on, we’re family.”

The second branch hadn’t even spoken yet.

Her third aunt was still so fond of stealing the show. Zhao Qingyue stood behind her mother, muttering softly, “She still knows she’s the third aunt. People from Duke Rui’s Mansion… they can’t even tell seniority.”

The elegant and serene beauty tugged at Zhao Qingyue’s sleeve, and once she stopped her rambling, she spoke up. “I’m Huai Jin’s second aunt. This is the meeting gift we prepared for you.”

“Yiqing pays respects to Second Aunt.”

Wei Ya beckoned gently, and the maid beside her stepped forward with a tray. On it rested an ink jade inkstone, its texture warm and smooth as congealed fat.

Compared to the jadeite bracelet from the third branch, the inkstone from the second branch seemed somewhat inferior. Though it was also fine quality, its value couldn’t compare.

The man seated beside Wei Ya wore a green robe with a nine-rank silver belt at his waist. This was Zhao Huairen’s second uncle, Zhao Guicheng, the sixth-rank Grand Academician of the Guozijian.

“It’s getting late. We’ll have plenty of chances to meet now that we’re under the same roof.” Zhao Guicheng smiled at the two newcomers in the center and said, “The Guozijian has been busy lately, so I won’t join you for the meal.”

“Take care, Second Uncle,” Zhao Huairen said with a salute.

Take a gift, lose face—Yan Yiqing offered him a perfunctory bow as well.

“Brother, I’ll head out with you.” Zhao Guiting set down his teacup and stood. “Huai Jin, you two arrived at the main hall a full quarter-hour late today.”

Knowing that Zhao Huaijin had delayed because of waiting for her, and seeing Zhao Guiting reprimand her publicly, Yan Yiqing pursed her lips discreetly.

There were no court sessions these past few days anyway.

It was just a family recognition—what was a quarter-hour delay?

Her sword brows furrowed slightly as Zhao Huairen stepped sideways to block Yan Yiqing, saying softly, “This nephew overindulged last night and rose late this morning.”

“A gentleman must restrain himself and act with caution.” Zhao Guiting’s brows knitted tightly as he flicked his sleeve. “The hopes of Duke Rui’s Mansion rest on you alone. Such conduct is deeply disappointing.”

Who needed Zhao Huaijin’s help to take the blame?

He might fear this stodgy old man, but she didn’t.

A flash of mockery crossed her eyes as Yan Yiqing stepped forward, about to speak—

“Third Brother, you’re being too harsh. It’s normal for newlyweds to rise late. Come on, let’s go—don’t miss your court duty.” Zhao Guicheng smoothed things over and led away Zhao Guiting, who had been ready to continue lecturing Zhao Huairen.

The two brothers left the main hall side by side.

“Huai Jin, your third uncle is just like that,” Zhou Zhenzhen said with a playful glare at Zhao Guiting’s retreating back. She turned to Zhao Huairen with gentle comfort. “Don’t take his words to heart.”

“They should be taken to heart. Your third uncle was right to reprimand her.” Wang Jinlan turned her prayer beads, saying flatly, “Huai Jin, come with me to the yard.”

Seeing Wang Jinlan side with Zhao Guiting.

Yan Yiqing lowered her head in thought, finding the Zhao family utterly bizarre.

A mother not standing by her own child? The second branch, as elders, subtly overshadowed by the third.

Duke Rui’s Mansion.

It wasn’t as harmonious among brothers as the rumors claimed.

By the time Yan Yiqing looked up again, Zhao Huairen had already followed Wang Jinlan out, leaving her alone in the main hall with the other two pairs of mother and daughter.

“Sister-in-Law, why aren’t you wearing the Lover’s Knot Pendant? Don’t you like the style?” Having long been curious about Great Yong’s First Female General, Zhao Qingyue seized the chance to stick close.

“What Lover’s Knot Pendant?”

Seeing her confusion, Zhao Qingyue tilted her head. “Huh? Isn’t Brother wearing it today?”

Hearing this, Yan Yiqing recalled it. “You mean the cyan jade pendant at his waist?”

“Mm.” Zhao Qingyue nodded.

“Is it fashionable in Yanjing to wear Lover’s Knot Pendants? I just returned from Youzhou, so I’m not—”

“Eh? That’s the wedding gift I made with my own hands?” A hint of doubt colored her almond eyes as Zhao Qingyue murmured, “I gave it to Brother last night. Could it be… he hasn’t given it to you yet?”

“You two were together last night?” Yan Yiqing quickly latched onto the key point.

“Mm.” Zhao Qingyue nodded, then shook her head. “Not really, just for a little while…”

That made sense. Staying with her all night would leave no time to harm anyone.

“We were talking fine when Brother Huai Jin suddenly acted like he’d been possessed. He asked how I knew he was at Listening Wind Pavilion.” Here, Zhao Qingyue puffed her cheeks in anger. “After asking, he just ran off.”

Yan Yiqing’s brows furrowed slightly as she instinctively asked, “What time was that?”

“It was… right as the front courtyard banquet was ending, around xu hour?”

If Zhao Huaijin had plotted to harm her.

With time so tight, why would she have the leisure to chat with her cousin?

Could she really have misunderstood her?

The moment this thought surfaced, the wound under Zhao Huairen’s eye reappeared vividly in Yan Yiqing’s mind.

She had rushed to save her.

Only to be wounded by her own blade in return.

Her hands clenched unconsciously at her sides. Yan Yiqing raised her gaze toward the direction Zhao Huairen had left, lost in thought.

“Sister-in-Law, no need to look. Brother won’t be out for a few hours.”

“What do you mean?” Yan Yiqing frowned.

“Grand Aunt is especially strict with Brother Huai Jin—terrifyingly so…” Zhao Qingyue shivered, stroking the goosebumps on her hand. “Brother Huai Jin is so pitiful.”

Though she had lost her mother young, Yan Yiqing still felt warmth whenever she recalled her.

“Perhaps she has her own difficulties.”

“What difficulties?” Zhao Qingyue wrinkled her nose. “Brother Huai Jin is the finest young lord in Yanjing—talented, handsome, virtuous in every way. Who wouldn’t envy Grand Aunt for having such a child? You couldn’t nitpick a single flaw even if you tried.”

“Then why—”

“Why else?” The girl pouted, answering herself. “Because of a dead person, obviously. I don’t get it—Sister Huairen is dead…”

“You speak of her like that?”

“Who?” Seeing Yan Yiqing’s expression darken, Zhao Qingyue stepped back timidly. “Sister-in-Law… what’s wrong?”

Suppressing the surge of emotions within, Yan Yiqing closed her eyes briefly and said coldly, “She died saving Zhao Huairen. If your brother heard… he surely wouldn’t want you speaking of her that way.”

“Sister Huairen was the best to me when I was little. I miss her too,” the girl admitted, knowing she’d spoken wrongly. She drooped her head dispiritedly. “I was just too quick-tongued earlier. I shouldn’t have said that about Sister Huairen.”

Seeing her recognize her mistake, Yan Yiqing’s expression softened slightly.

The blade at her neck suddenly vanished, and Zhao Qingyue felt her whole body relax. Looking at Yan Yiqing again, her eyes held newfound awe.

Sister-in-Law had been so scary just now.

She thought she was about to join Sister Huairen.

“Let’s go. I’m hungry.” Yan Yiqing headed toward the screen.

Unfazed like a newborn calf, Zhao Qingyue quickly perked up and followed. Casually, she asked, “Sister-in-Law, you got so angry earlier. Did you know Sister Huairen before?”

Waves rippled through her heart.

But in an instant, they stilled once more.

“Just met her once.” Her lashes trembled lightly as Yan Yiqing dismissed her obsession with five faint words.

—

Meanwhile, as the sky cleared from overcast elsewhere in the mansion, one place remained perpetually storm-tossed.

After entering the room, Wang Jinlan dismissed everyone. “Kneel.”

Unlike before, when she would have yielded silently, Zhao Huairen pursed her lips and lowered her gaze. “Please make it clear, Mother.”

“The person is still in your hands. What more clarity do I need?”

Yue San, the shadow guard from the Wang family for her daughter.

Her eyes flickered as she guessed his whereabouts, but without naming Yan Yiqing, Zhao Huairen countered, “How did Mother’s shadow guard end up in my hands?”

“Do you think I’d do such a thing for no reason?”

“Please make it clear, Mother.”

With her daughter’s intelligence, how could she not see the truth? She was deliberately playing dumb to embarrass her own mother.

Anger flared in her heart, and Wang Jinlan raised her voice. “I’m doing this for you! Married but not consummating—if your identity is exposed—”

“Deceiving the sovereign: extermination of the clan.”

“If you know that, then last night, why did you interfere?”

“I know.” Her sword brows furrowed slightly as Zhao Huairen met her gaze. “But Mother does not.”