Chapter 49: Brother's Trouble

  Su saw Song nurse understood the weight, nodded in satisfaction, "Get up quickly, no need to kneel."

  Song Nainiang stood up and stood quietly on one side.

  Knowing that the nanny had taken her words to heart, Madame Su rubbed her brow, unable to conceal the gloom within. Song Nanny saw this and immediately asked cautiously: "Is there something troubling you, madam?"

  "I'm not worried about Mingxuan, it's just Ya'er. Now that Eldest Sister has arranged a marriage for Qingjin's niece, although your family doesn't have many people now, the prestige of your family in the past cannot be underestimated. Her nephew will definitely come to the capital. The late emperor did owe a debt to your family after all, and your family's children are not ordinary... Eldest Sister really found the best match for her daughter. In a few years, my Ya'er will also have to get engaged. Ya'er is so clever, but the position of the Anji Marquis Manor in the capital is awkward, and it just so happens that the one who inherited the title is from the main branch... I don't know what Ya'er's future will be like..." When Master returns, I must talk to him about this. I hope he can achieve some merits in the next two years, so when Ya'er gets married, she'll have a good choice of husband."

  "Madam, don't worry, although the title was bestowed upon the eldest branch of the family, but as for our master's servants, it goes without saying. On the contrary, our master is young and vigorous, and now he has been summoned back to the capital to take office. He is also following the Emperor on a campaign, who knows, maybe this time when he returns, he will achieve great merit and grant you a first-class title..." Song Nainai did not expect that her words would come true in the near future.

  "You, you're the only one who can comfort me. I don't expect Master to achieve anything this time. The news that came earlier scared me for several days and I couldn't sleep well. Besides, even if Master really achieves something, it's not like I would be the one to receive the imperial edict as a first-rank lady. Old Madam is still here!

  After being comforted by Nanny Song, Madame Su's mind was put at ease and she smiled as she spoke. But in her heart, she secretly made up her mind that her Ya'er must not marry someone lower than Gu Qingjun."

  Qingjin has finally relaxed after resolving her own marital issues that had been troubling her for some time.

  The weather at the end of September is warm and pleasant. Qing Jin's greatest pleasure during this time is to spend a day lounging in her own courtyard, planting flowers and grass. When she's not doing that, she'll pick up a book and have Yuanyang bring a recliner from the room to the eaves of the corridor, where she'll quietly lie down and read. As she reads, she'll slowly drift off to sleep, thinking to herself that she can spend all her future days like this, even smiling brightly in her dreams.

  Sometimes when I don't feel like sleeping and am too lazy to move, I lie on the chaise longue and listen to Yuanyang talk about the latest gossip in the capital. Apparently, the most talked-about thing in the capital recently is which family in the capital that mysterious person who rescued the emperor from the Mongolian army's siege belongs to.

  The capital and the border are far apart, and it's inconvenient to convey messages. There is no definite news about who exactly saved the emperor's life, but people in the capital have already racked their brains guessing who that person might be, which family they belong to, hoping to take a step ahead of others and establish a good relationship before the definite news arrives.

  It's said that a few days ago, someone got new information and said that the person who saved the emperor was originally just an unremarkable military general following Emperor Ming on his personal campaign. Then, there were people with connections who tried every means to find out more specific information, saying that the person was only a minor official of the 6th or 7th rank in the imperial army.

  Qing Jin lay on the chaise longue, listening to Yuanyang's words. After hearing this news, the aristocratic families of the capital began to pay attention to the collateral branches and younger sons of their own families who had been ignored before and had followed the emperor on this expedition. Having failed to find anyone suitable within their own clan, they turned their gaze outward. At the same time, their attitude towards some small families that were usually looked down upon but had members following the emperor's carriage became warmer. However, no matter how hard they searched, they still couldn't determine who was the one who might save them.

  Because nobody can confirm who saved the emperor, on the principle of not offending anyone, they also actively socialized with some small families that were looked down upon. The emperor's lifesaver, even if it was just an inconspicuous family, once they had this merit, there was no worry about rising to prominence and becoming a noble family. Therefore, Beijing can be said to have been unusually harmonious during this period of time.

  The aristocratic families became more humble, small families began to show off their wealth, and everyone came and went with a smile on their face.

  Qing Jin lay under the flowers she had planted, listening to the swan whisper in her ear that everyone was guessing which branch of a certain family the general who saved the emperor belonged to. Yesterday, they denied it was impossible for him to be from that family's branch because the young masters of that family were always incompetent and how could they have the courage and strategy to rescue the emperor under the siege of the Mongolian army. Today, they suspected another small family because their son happened to follow the emperor on his expedition and the sons of that family were always capable, so that family received many visiting cards and invitations within a day.

  Qing Jin couldn't help but feel a sense of delight in her heart - why didn't anyone suspect that it was her third uncle?

  What Qing Jin didn't know was that someone had also sent visiting cards and invitations to the Anji Hou Mansion. Of course, these people didn't think that the person who saved the imperial carriage was from the Anji Hou Mansion. Not to mention that the Anji Hou Mansion had already declined, Qing Jin's father, although he was the Marquis of Anji, held only a minor position in the court as a civil official. Qing Jin's third uncle had been away for many years and had just returned to the capital today. People thought that if he were truly capable, how could he have been sent away for so many years? Therefore, the Anji Hou Mansion was unconsciously neglected by others.

  On this day, Qingjin had the little maid place a reclining chair in the courtyard, preparing to take a light nap under the flowers. At that moment, she saw Yuanyang walking out of the house carrying a thin quilt. She thought back to when she was drowsy and falling asleep yesterday, and it seemed like Yuanyang had said something by her ear. At the time, Qingjin hadn't heard clearly, so upon seeing Yuanyang come out, she casually asked: "Yuanyang, I remember that last night while I was sleeping, you were chattering away in my ear about something, what was it?"

  Upon hearing Qingjin's question, Yuanyang let out a sigh and said, "Miss, what I told you before you fell asleep last night was that the old lady said everyone should stay in the mansion for now. But now the situation is great, every day we receive happy news from the border, who knows when we'll hear about a big victory? Let all the young ladies not be cooped up all day, today can go out and take a walk. When I told you last night, you didn't respond, I saw that you slept late, so this morning it's possible you wouldn't wake up early, so when Fourth Miss came to call you, Yuanyang took the liberty of pushing you."

  "Oh, so you're going out for a stroll. Although the weather is cooler now, I'd rather not go for a walk. You refused, and that's it. Anyway, I don't like going out either. Last time we went out for a stroll, something happened with Gu Ningxuan, almost...” Qingjin suddenly thought of something and quickly sat up from the recliner, anxiously asking: "What did you say? Is everyone going out for a stroll today?"

  Yingying didn't understand why her own young mistress, who had been carefree just a moment ago, suddenly changed her attitude and became anxious. However, she knew her young mistress well enough to realize that there must be something in between that she wasn't aware of. So, without asking further questions, she nodded immediately and said to Qingjin: "Yes, early this morning, the fourth, fifth, and sixth young ladies, as well as the young master, all went out. The fourth young lady even brought the young master over to call on you, but at that time, you hadn't gotten up yet. I told the fourth young lady and the young master that you had slept late last night, so they didn't go in. After hearing my words, the fourth young lady took the young master away..." Yingying repeated the events of the morning to Qingjin, observing her expression closely.

  "Are you saying Ning Xuan also went out with Gu Qingyao and them?" Qing Jin asked again.

  "Yes, the young master is with the fourth miss." Although Yuanyang didn't know why her mistress asked about the young master, could it be that she also thought the same way? Come to think of it, after what happened last time, although the young master no longer clashed with the miss, his relationship with the fourth miss remained as good as ever. Had the miss begun to notice their relationship? Yuanyang thought to herself.

  "Terrible..." Qing Jin said in a low voice upon hearing Yuanyang's words.

  Yuan heard Qingjin's words and nodded, "Isn't that terrible? If things continue like this, the relationship between the fourth young lady and the young master will definitely be better than that of the young lady and the young master. After all, the young lady is the young master's own sister!" How can the young master have a closer relationship with his cousin than with his own sister?

  Qing Jin didn't notice the chaotic thoughts in Yuanyang's mind, and she couldn't sit still anymore. She jumped up from the chaise longue and spoke to a nearby young maid: "You, quickly tell the servants in the mansion to prepare a horse for me, I'm going out." Then she hastily ran into the house, found a long whip she often used before, came out quickly, casually tied her hair back, and headed towards the gate.

  The swan beside Qingjin saw her swift movements and couldn't help but feel relieved in her heart. It's been a long time since she saw the young lady with such a fierce aura, it seems that the young lady has finally come to her senses and thought of snatching the young master from the fourth lady.

  Coming to herself, she saw Qingjin's figure about to disappear, and Yuanyang hurriedly caught up with her. "Miss, I'll go with you too!" Then she quickly followed.

  Qing Jin did not hear the sound of Yuanyang's heated voice behind her, her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Gu Ningxuan. If she remembered correctly, in her previous life, around this time, her younger brother Gu Ningxuan had somehow offended Li Botian, a notorious young master from the capital city.

  This Li family was not a prominent family, but they had a good daughter who is the current emperor's favorite concubine, Concubine Ying. The Li family quickly rose to prominence in the capital due to Concubine Ying's influence. Li Botian is Concubine Ying's younger brother, and he relies on his sister's favor to do as he pleases, spending his days fighting chickens and dogs, bullying men and women, and acting like a tyrant in the capital.