Chapter 60 : The Latest Clue, A Distinguished Guest Visits
60: The Latest Clue, A Distinguished Guest Visits
"Thank you, Ninth Younger Sister."
Qin Chen saw Qin Wan out. Qin Wan glanced back. Yao Xinlan lay on the bed with her eyes slightly closed, speaking less than yesterday. Withdrawing her gaze, Qin Wan walked out slowly.
Outside the main gate, Qin Chen stopped but still said, "Xinlan has a weak constitution and often indulges in wild thoughts. Ninth Younger Sister, when you have time, come keep her company more. She likes your temperament. In this manor, she only enjoys talking with you."
Qin Wan naturally nodded in agreement. "Then Qin Wan will come again this afternoon."
Qin Chen smiled. "That's excellent. There have been many messages from the capital these past few days. I spend a lot of time in the outer courtyard. It would be wonderful if you could come keep her company this afternoon."
A flicker passed through Qin Wan's eyes. "Is Eldest Brother preparing to go to the capital?"
Qin An held a sinecure and lived as a wealthy idler in Jinzhou. But Qin Chen was different after all. He was the eldest son of the Third Household. The Qin clan needed him; the Third Household needed him. So he was certainly going to the capital to seek a future.
Qin Chen felt Qin Wan wouldn't understand even if he explained, so he spoke directly. "Right now, the situation in the capital is unclear. Even if going to the capital, it must wait until next spring. By then, everything will be clear."
Qin Wan carefully considered Qin Chen's words, immediately thinking of the phrase "appointing the Crown Prince."
She said no more, turning and walking out of Linfeng Courtyard's gate.
Fuling followed beside her, beginning to sigh again. "Eldest Young Master's devotion to the young mistress is truly enviable. I only hope Young Miss also marries such a good husband soon."
As she walked, Qin Wan's eyes darkened. Even among deeply affectionate couples envied by all, there were secrets that couldn't be spoken aloud, let alone other ordinary couples. How many people in the world could be like her father and mother, recognizing each other in humble beginnings and accompanying each other until death?
Lost in thought, not long after, a clamor reached Qin Wan's ears. She looked up and saw Liu Chun not far away, leading seven or eight male servants carrying hoes and baskets heading east, quite a spectacle. "What are they doing?"
Fuling smiled. "Young Miss doesn't know? After spring and summer pass, the wells in the manor need to be cleared of silt. Kitchen Aunt Liu said the water used recently has a muddy smell, so the Old Madam ordered the wells cleaned."
Qin Wan's eyes deepened. "There's a well in the east?"
Fuling nodded. "There's a well outside the Purple Bamboo Grove, used by the concubines."
The inner residence's concubine courtyards were all in the east. Qin Wan naturally knew. A thought stirred in her mind, as if she suddenly became interested in well cleaning. She lifted her chin slightly. "Come, let's go see."
Fuling was slightly surprised. Seeing Qin Wan had already stepped forward, she had to follow.
"Young Miss, why do you suddenly want to watch them clean the well? That well is full of silt, so smelly. See the baskets they're carrying? The silt has to be carried out. Young Miss, stay farther away..."
"Shh…" Qin Wan made a silencing gesture. Passing through winding corridors, walking along the east side of Half‑Moon Lake, soon she saw the concubines' courtyards. Small yet exquisite pavilions stood one after another, showcasing the manor's wealth and luxury, fully satisfying Qin An's romantic and amorous nature. Qin Wan naturally didn't want to pry into the concubines' courtyards, only strolling along the outer corridor.
Soon, Liu Chun and his group stopped. That well was outside the Purple Bamboo Grove, under a flower shed near the concubines' courtyards, still some distance from the Purple Bamboo Grove. Upon arrival, Liu Chun directed people to draw water, tie ropes, quickly creating a clamor. Fuling watched helplessly. "Young Miss, there's really nothing interesting to see. To clean the silt, they first have to draw out all the water from the well. It'll probably take many days. This well can't be used for nearly half a month."
Qin Wan frowned slightly. She naturally wasn't interested in watching others clean silt. She had only become interested upon hearing the well was near the Purple Bamboo Grove. However, the scene truly held little appeal. She would have to find another opportunity.
After watching a while longer, Qin Wan sighed. "I've seen enough. Let's go back."
As her words fell, Qin Wan turned. But just as she turned halfway, her brows suddenly jumped. From the corner of her eye, she saw Liu Chun's figure walking out from under the flower shed, heading toward the Purple Bamboo Grove!
Qin Wan immediately frowned deeply. What was Liu Chun going to the Purple Bamboo Grove for?!
"Young Miss, aren't we leaving?"
Fuling had already taken two steps. Turning back, she saw Qin Wan had halted again. Not only that, she was frowning deeply, staring in the direction of the Purple Bamboo Grove with unprecedented gravity.
"Young Miss, what's wrong?"
Qin Wan's heart pounded wildly. Her feet itched to move; she almost wanted to follow Liu Chun immediately to see why he was going to the Purple Bamboo Grove. However, to go there, she would have to pass the flower shed, inevitably causing a stir...
"Young Miss?" Fuling grew somewhat worried. The reason for Qin Wan's previous trip to the Purple Bamboo Grove hadn't been explained. Now she was staring intently at the Purple Bamboo Grove again. It was truly strange. Rumors said there were ghosts in the Purple Bamboo Grove. Her young mistress mustn't have her soul bewitched!
"Young Miss! Don't look! There are unclean things in the Purple Bamboo Grove!"
Fuling tugged at Qin Wan. This tug strengthened Qin Wan's resolve to follow and see. She shook off Fuling's hand and was about to step toward the Purple Bamboo Grove…
"Finally found Ninth Young Miss!"
Just as Qin Wan took a step, a clear, bright voice rang out not far behind her.
Qin Wan turned and immediately saw Caihe, panting and out of breath. Caihe was with two maids in green robes. All three were sweating profusely. Qin Wan raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"
Caihe caught her breath. "Ninth Young Miss, please go to the front courtyard quickly."
Go to the front courtyard? Seeing Caihe like this, she thought something had happened to Yao Xinlan or Jiang‑shi...
"What's at the front courtyard?"
Caihe wiped sweat from her face. "A distinguished guest has come to see you. Right now, Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master have gone to the front courtyard." She added with another pant, helplessly, "How did you come here? We went to Tinglan Pavilion, to Linfeng Courtyard, almost went to the Western Back Courtyard looking for you. Hurry, please. We mustn't keep the distinguished guest waiting."
Qin Wan only wanted to ask who the distinguished guest was. Fuling beside her said helplessly, "Sister Caihe doesn't know. Young Miss wanted to watch people cleaning silt from the well bottom..."
Caihe looked slightly surprised, widening her eyes to glance at the flower shed area, utterly amused. "Ninth Young Miss, you really..." She stepped forward to urge her. "Ninth Young Miss, don't watch. It's just servants doing menial work. Please go to the front courtyard quickly."
Caihe was truly anxious, almost wanting to pull Qin Wan. Seeing this, Qin Wan reluctantly glanced toward the Purple Bamboo Grove, then had to turn and walk toward the front courtyard. "Who is the distinguished guest?"
Caihe shook her head. "I don't know. But Eldest Young Master's attendant came to urge several times. The little maids from Linfeng Courtyard were also looking for you. Who would have thought you'd come this way..."
Qin Wan pressed her lips together, trying to tell herself not to look back. She just needed to remember. Everyone said the Purple Bamboo Grove had ghosts and was a forbidden area of the manor. But why had Steward Liu gone just now? He hadn't noticed her. When he left, the other male servants were blocked by the flower shed and couldn't see. Sneaking to the Purple Bamboo Grove at this moment, what was he doing? Or whom was he meeting?
Qin Wan felt as if a hundred claws were scratching her heart. A perfectly good opportunity ruined. She pressed her lips together, already feeling some resentment toward that "distinguished guest." Why come now, of all times?!