Zhou Wang’s residence was hosting a spring outing banquet. Not only had the recently arrived Feng family received an invitation, but the currently high-profile Yongping Marquis Manor had also not been left out.
Old Madam Qi stared thoughtfully at the invitation. After a moment of reflection, she headed to the Mingyue Pavilion.
The recently renovated Mingyue Pavilion had been completely transformed—no trace of the previous fire remained.
Shen Jialang and Qi Yunzhi were in the courtyard playing with Ah Huang. Seeing Old Madam Qi approach, they both quickly rose to greet her.
Old Madam Qi smiled kindly and waved her hand. Qi Yuan liked Shen Jialang, but she also looked after Qi Yunzhi. Seeing the two of them close brought her joy—she treated them both with equal kindness.
At that moment, Baizhi also hurried out to greet her. Old Madam Qi casually waved her hand and said, “I just came by to speak with Ah Yuan about something. No need to make such a fuss.”
Baizhi respectfully complied and lifted the curtain to invite her inside.
Qi Yuan was sitting in a rocking chair reading a letter—one from Lai Chenglong.
In the letter, he wrote that, thanks to the great blessing of Miss Qi, he had finally come to understand what it meant to wish for death over life.
It turned out he got seasick. After drifting at sea for over twenty days, he vomited the entire time.
Reading this, Qi Yuan could practically picture Lai Chenglong baring his teeth in a grimace as he wrote it, and she couldn’t help but chuckle.
Old Madam Qi happened to see this and asked curiously, “What’s so funny?”
Qi Yuan smiled and shook her head, saying that Lai Chenglong had gotten seasick.
Old Madam Qi didn’t press further. She handed over the invitation in her hand and said, “This is from Zhou Wang’s residence. Your name is specifically highlighted, and it’s signed by Commandery Princess Luochuan. I thought I should ask whether you plan to go.”
If she was going, a reply needed to be sent.
If not, they’d still have to formally decline with a note.
Qi Yuan glanced at the invitation and answered without hesitation, “No need. Have someone write a polite refusal.”
Old Madam Qi didn’t try to persuade her otherwise. Since Qi Yuan had declined, that was the end of it.
She only added, “By the way, the Xie family has come to the capital too.”
The Xie family?
Qi Yuan froze for a moment before she processed what she’d heard.
Seeing her rare moment of surprise, Old Madam Qi smiled and said, “The Xie family sent a note saying they’ll be paying us a visit tomorrow.”
On the surface, the Xie and Qi families didn’t have much contact.
So this time, the Xie family had claimed to be acting on behalf of fellow townsmen who had asked them to express thanks to the Qi family—hence the visit.
Old Madam Qi understood the deeper meaning behind this and didn’t delay in telling Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan quickly figured out why the Xie family had arrived at this time—next spring was the imperial examination, and Xie Ying would certainly participate.
So the Xie family must have come because of matters related to Xie Ying and the exams.
She suddenly remembered something Xiao Yunting had said: Were the events of a past life truly unchangeable?
But that flicker of emotion only lasted a moment. She quickly gathered herself and said, “Then tomorrow, I’ll have to trouble Grandmother to host Madam Xie.”
Old Madam Qi had already anticipated that Qi Yuan would need to meet the Xie family and agreed immediately: “Very well, I’ll have your second aunt prepare the banquet for tomorrow.”
Qi Yuan nodded, but that night, she couldn’t fall asleep no matter how she tried.
In a daze, she finally closed her eyes, only for countless memories to surge up.
The flowers Xie Ying had brought, the gentle touch of Madam Xie brushing her cheek, tenderly changing her handkerchief when she had a fever—each image surfaced vividly in her mind.
So much so that when she woke up the next day, her temples were throbbing, and her eyes felt puffy.
Seeing this, Baiyin instantly knew she hadn’t slept well. She quickly had someone heat a towel to place over Qi Yuan’s eyes.
She couldn’t help but feel puzzled—her young lady was someone who wouldn’t bat an eye even if the sky were falling. Just what kind of people were the Xie family to trouble her so much?
The Xie family arrived very soon.
Knowing how much Qi Yuan valued the Xie family, Old Marquis Qi himself came out to greet Xie Ying.
Qi Zhen was away on duty. Given the Old Marquis’s age, he could’ve easily left this to the second or third lords of the house.
But he made the effort himself, which showed the importance he placed on the Xie family.
Xie Ying remained calm and composed. He didn’t get overly excited at being received personally by the Old Marquis, nor did he act arrogant or overly humble.
The Old Marquis admired this junior.
Most scholars had a certain prideful arrogance, but Xie Ying was a rare exception.
Not only was he modest, but also thoughtful and well-mannered—a rare jiyuan (provincial exam top scorer).
Meanwhile, in the inner courtyard, Madam Xie’s eyes turned red the moment she saw Qi Yuan. She held her hand tightly for a long while before finally composing herself: “Miss Qi, we truly owe you a great debt…”
The Imperial Grandson had later sent a letter to Xie Ying explaining everything clearly.
He had initially dispatched men to the Xie family in advance, but that group had run into Qi Wang’s confidants—Xu Tongzhou and the others—along the way and had been completely intercepted.
Madam Xie had been deeply moved by how timely Qi Yuan’s arrival had been. Had she arrived even a bit later, the Xie family might have been utterly destroyed. She often spoke of it at home.
Now, finally seeing Qi Yuan in person, she found herself momentarily speechless.
Qi Yuan smiled and softly said, “You’ve grown thinner, Madam.”
Madam Xie quickly wiped her tears. “Between caring for Qiniang and accompanying Ah Yuan to Mount Longhu, I ended up losing a bit of weight. But I’m in good spirits and health overall.”
Qi Yuan knew that Qiniang had been injured.
But Xie Yuan had gone to Mount Longhu?
She couldn’t help but ask, “He went to Mount Longhu?”
Madam Xie nodded: “With how Ah Yuan is, His Highness said it’d be better for him to spend some time at Mount Longhu, learn some martial arts, and have Celestial Master Zhang see if his condition could be treated…”
Xie Yuan had been dull-minded since childhood—was there really a treatment?
Qi Yuan truly hadn’t known about this. Then suddenly, she thought of Xiao Mo.
He, too, had suffered brain damage from a fever as a toddler. Could something be done in his case as well?
She furrowed her brow. “Did His Highness say such a condition could be cured?”
Madam Xie sighed: “Who can guarantee a cure? It was only because of His Highness’s influence—he wrote to Mount Longhu, and Celestial Master Zhang finally agreed to let Ah Yuan go, saying he could try.”
For the Xie family—and for Xie Yuan—just being able to try was already a great encouragement.
Qi Yuan felt her headache intensify.
She was surprised: “You had never considered seeking help from Mount Longhu before?”
Madam Xie was even more surprised: “Mount Longhu is Celestial Master Zhang’s sacred domain. For generations, Celestial Masters have been imperially appointed. Their status is exalted. How could we just request help as we pleased?”
…
Qi Yuan’s expression instantly changed.
That wasn’t right. In her previous life, hadn’t Xie Ying begged Mount Longhu for spiritual medicine to treat her injured leg?
Then why was Madam Xie saying they’d had no way of seeking help from Celestial Master Zhang?
