Chapter 12 : The Invitation
12: The Invitation
"Young Miss, do you remember? Sister Caihe is the Old Madam's personal maidservant. Though a servant, she is actually the inner courtyard's stewardess. Even the Mistress gives her some respect. When you enter the Buddha hall later, if there's anything you don't understand, ask her…"
Though Caihe had said it was good news, Fuling was still extremely uneasy. As they walked, she whispered reminders to Qin Wan.
Qin Wan looked at Caihe leading the way ahead, her gaze deepening.
Caihe was tall and slender, with fair skin, red lips, and delicate features. Her simple, plain yellow robe fluttered gracefully. Her entire bearing didn't resemble a servant's but rather had the air of a mistress. Moreover, even Qin Li seemed somewhat afraid of her.
But she looked only seventeen or eighteen. So young, how had she been entrusted with such responsibility by Jiang‑shi?
The Qin Manor was large and prosperous. What Qin Wan had seen in these few days was merely the tip of the iceberg. Even a stewardess‑maidservant was not simple. One could imagine how profound and inscrutable Jiang‑shi, the matriarch of this Third Household, must be.
Remembering Jiang‑shi from that day, Qin Wan's heart grew tense.
"The Ninth Young Miss last came to the Buddha hall when you first arrived in Jinzhou years ago. You probably don't remember the way. We're almost there."
Not long after, Caihe suddenly turned to speak. Her demeanor was friendly, her tone gentle and soft, her smiling face like that of a girl next door. Facing her, Qin Wan also felt her guard lowering involuntarily. But Qin Wan hadn't forgotten the slight sharpness in Caihe's clear shout at the bamboo grove entrance earlier.
Qin Wan didn't let down her guard, nodding. "Thank you."
"This servant doesn't dare accept thanks." She paused slightly, then suddenly added, "Second Young Master's nature is rather unrestrained. The Old Madam is also quite vexed with him. Ninth Young Miss, in the future, don't get too close to him."
Hearing this, Qin Wan felt a touch of warmth in her heart. Qin Li's behavior was frivolous; she would naturally be wary.
The path to the Buddha hall was longer than Qin Wan had imagined. Starting from the purple bamboo grove, passing the lotus pond heading south, then reaching Half‑Moon Lake, then turning southeast. Along the way, they passed dozens of pavilions and towers, all exquisitely carved and painted.
Walking from the remote area toward the front courtyard, they inevitably encountered many servants. Seeing Caihe leading Qin Wan, everyone looked surprised. Qin Wan could tell that most people likely never expected Jiang‑shi to summon her.
"We're here. Fuling, wait outside. Ninth Young Miss, please come with me."
Following a quiet path to its end, several towering ancient pines appeared before Qin Wan. Beneath the pines, a small courtyard, solemn as an ancient temple and carrying the scent of incense, stood quietly.
Fuling acknowledged. Qin Wan followed Caihe through the courtyard gate.
From the outside, it resembled an ancient temple. Entering, however, she saw orchids, osmanthus, and water‑lilies, with an entire wall covered in elegant, vibrant green vines on one side, dispersing some of the solemn, rigid atmosphere.
It was a two‑courtyard residence. The front was for receiving guests, the back housed the Buddha hall and Jiang‑shi's resting quarters.
Seeing Caihe return, the young maidservant at the main room's door hurriedly lifted the curtain. But before they got close, Qin Wan heard Qin Shuang's voice from inside.
"Why take her? At such an occasion, she'll only embarrass our Qin Manor!"
"Shuang'er, don't talk nonsense. The invitation has been sent. How can we not go?"
"Grandmother, Mother, can't we just make up some excuse? For no reason, why would the Anyang Marquis's household specifically invite her? Could that incident have spread, and the Anyang Marquis's household wants to laugh at us?"
"Nonsense. What kind of family is the Anyang Marquis's household? How could they have such thoughts?"
Qin Wan caught the gist, frowning. An invitation? The Anyang Marquis's household?
"Old Madam, the Ninth Young Miss is here."
Caihe announced with a smile. Inside, silence fell abruptly.
A moment later, Qin Wan heard Jiang‑shi's ancient, somber voice.
"Let her in."
Caihe stood at the doorway. "Ninth Young Miss, please enter."
Qin Wan took a shallow breath, stepped forward, and entered the room. As she crossed the threshold, the rich scent of high‑quality sandalwood incense greeted her. With a sweeping glance, she took in the people in the room.
Four people were inside. Jiang‑shi, wearing a deep purple jacket and skirt, sat cross‑legged on the upper couch. She held a string of prayer beads, her eyes half‑closed as if in meditation. Lin‑shi, in a raven‑black gown, stood respectfully beside Jiang‑shi. On this side, Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang sat separately on open‑backed chairs. Seeing Qin Wan enter, Qin Xiang's expression was normal. Qin Shuang's eyes clearly held some wariness, but she still snorted coldly.
"Greetings to the Old Madam, to the Mistress."
Qin Wan curtsied to each, her eyes lowered, quietly waiting for Jiang‑shi to speak.
Jiang‑shi opened her slightly closed eyes. Her murky eyes still retained sharpness. She scrutinized Qin Wan, thinking of the words Lin‑shi had brought back from Divine Physician Huang.
Transient cessation of pulse and breath could indeed give the illusion of death. And there were many strange tales among the common folk of people dying and then reviving. As Divine Physician Huang said, these were cases of transient cessation, not true death.
Jiang‑shi turned her head, her gaze falling on the small table beside her. "Show it to her."
Qin Wan looked up and only then saw a booklet on the table. Hearing this, Lin‑shi walked over, picked up the booklet, and came forward. "Wan'er, take a look. This is the invitation sent by the Anyang Marquis's household this morning."
Qin Wan raised an eyebrow slightly and took the invitation, opening it.
Lin‑shi continued. "The Anyang Marquis's heir‑apparent is getting married two days from now. Their invitation to our Qin Manor was sent half a month ago. But today, they sent an additional one, specifically to invite you."
After speaking, Lin‑shi glanced at Jiang‑shi. Seeing Jiang‑shi had closed her eyes again, she asked Qin Wan herself.
"Calling you here today, first, is to inform you that two days from now, you will accompany us to the Anyang Marquis's household for the heir‑apparent's wedding banquet. Second, is to ask you: Do you have any connection with the Anyang Marquis's household?"
Closing the invitation, Qin Wan also frowned. She had indeed heard of the Anyang Marquis's household.
The Anyang Marquis's household rose through military achievements of their ancestors. Their main residence was in the capital. In the past decade, they had withdrawn from the capital's circles and returned to their ancestral lands in Jinzhou. Despite this, because the old Anyang Marquis married the Grand Princess Jiayi, the Anyang Marquis's household's status remained significant.
Having lived in the capital for years, Qin Wan had some understanding of the notable noble families. But how could the Ninth Young Miss have any connection with the Anyang Marquis's household?
Shaking her head, Qin Wan said directly, "Replying to the Mistress, Qin Wan does not know anyone from the Anyang Marquis's household."
Lin‑shi looked puzzled. Qin Shuang snorted coldly beside her. "I said so. How could she possibly know anyone from the Anyang Marquis's household? The Anyang Marquis's household has always been low‑key. Even we have very little contact with them, let alone her…"
Lin‑shi examined Qin Wan carefully for a moment. Seeing she didn't seem to be lying, she turned back to look at Jiang‑shi. Jiang‑shi had completely closed her eyes, as if not planning to speak further. Lin‑shi sighed. "Alright then. Regardless, we cannot refuse the Anyang Marquis's household's invitation. Go back and prepare. Two days from now, we'll attend the wedding banquet together."
Qin Wan nodded. "Yes, Qin Wan understands."
"Mhm. You may go back."
Lin‑shi's tone was still relatively gentle. Qin Wan nodded, curtsied politely again, then turned and walked out.
Once Qin Wan left, Lin‑shi said doubtfully, "Mother, that child didn't seem to be lying…"
Jiang‑shi turned her prayer beads, speaking slowly. "What exactly is going on, we'll know in two days. The Anyang Marquis's household wouldn't send an invitation for no reason. Go to the manor's treasury. Don't let her lose the Qin Manor's propriety."
This meant bestowing gifts. Lin‑shi hurriedly acknowledged.
Beside them, Qin Shuang still wanted to speak, but Lin‑shi gave her a warning look. Qin Shuang blinked her eyes aggrievedly, lowering her head with a stifled expression. The grudge of being pulled into the lake… she would avenge it no matter what!
"What! The Anyang Marquis's household?!"
Fuling cried out in delight. "Young Miss is invited to the Anyang Marquis's household's wedding banquet?!"
Qin Wan nodded. Fuling was already excitedly spinning in place. "The Anyang Marquis's household is a top‑tier noble family in Jinzhou! Young Miss, do you know? That elderly lady of the Anyang Marquis's household, that Grand Princess over sixty, is currently residing in Jinzhou!"
Qin Wan frowned, feeling as if some thought had surfaced in her mind, but before she could grasp it, it flashed away. Qin Wan felt somewhat suspicious about the reason for this invitation. Yet, undeniably, she wanted to attend this wedding banquet.
She wanted to return to the capital. She couldn't let slip any opportunity related to it.