Chapter 40

After the palace banquet, there would be a break for the New Year’s festivities. The emperor would also reissue the imperial edict on the third day of the first month, six days later.

However, Su Mi still hadn’t seen much of Qin Yan. Ever since he had inexplicably lost his temper that day, he had been staying in the Eastern Bureau. Even his personal belongings were taken away by Feng Bao.

After lunch, Su Mi wrapped herself in a floral brocade jacket and lay in the courtyard, basking in the winter sun, feeling content and comfortable.

“Miss, is this the shopkeeper you chose?” Chun Mei glanced at the portrait roster that Su Mi had just handed her. The person in the picture seemed to be a kind and amiable old man.

“Yes,” Su Mi replied with her eyes closed.

Dealing with old books was somewhat boring and required patience. This old shopkeeper had once been a scholar in his youth, but he never passed the exams. So he became a shopkeeper instead. He was getting old, but Su Mi thought he was quite suitable.

Chun Mei nodded. She was just casually asking. Then she picked up a chestnut candy from the carved bluestone table and took a few sips.

“Miss, the candy that Young Master sent is really good. Why did Master throw it away?” Although it couldn’t compare to the ones made in the palace, it still tasted very good.

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“Ykpp, oblal kp vbl tkaz qasx?” Ubwd Ylk ypjle, nwakswp.

“It’s the daughter of Aunt Zhao’s sister, Zhou Caiwei.”

Chun Mei pondered for a moment. She had met Zhou Caiwei before because of Aunt Zhao’s relationship. She used to come to Su’s house often, but she came less frequently after she came of age. Chun Mei thought Zhou Caiwei had already had her marriage arranged.

“Miss, should we go back then?” Chun Mei suddenly realized this and became happy. She hadn’t seen her parents for a long time, and if Su Mi went back, she could visit them as well.

Su Mi put down the letter and made a sound of agreement. “Let me ask the Lord first.”

Chun Mei didn’t understand. Once a woman is married, she can’t just leave like that. If the chief is too busy to go, she herself wouldn’t be able to return to Jiaozhou.

In fact, Su Mi didn’t really want to attend this wedding either. It had been half a year since she last saw Mrs.Yu, and in her previous letters, Yu Qingniang had never mentioned Su Mingde. She had a feeling that something had happened, so she wanted to take this opportunity to go back and see.

Su Mi was still thinking about what to say to Qin Yan when the little servant at the gate turned back, sweating profusely.

“Madam, there is a Su Xian at the door. She claims to be your sister and wants to see you.”

Su Mi raised her head upon hearing this, furrowing her eyebrows lightly. Su Xian had arrived?

Su Mi had expected Su Xian to come, but she thought Su Xian would wait until the child was born before coming. How did she happen to come during the most difficult period of pregnancy?

“How many people are with her?”

The little servant scratched his head. “Madam, it’s just her alone, but she brought a maid.”

Chun Mei looked at Su Mi’s calm expression. She didn’t know what had happened in the past, but when they were still in the Su family courtyard, Su Mi often mentioned Miss Xian. But now she rarely sees her. Miss didn’t really hide her likes and dislikes, so Chun Mei felt that Miss’s relationship with Miss Xian had cooled off.

“Miss, should we still see her?”

“Yes, we’ll see her.” After that incident, she hadn’t seen Su Xian. If she came over while pregnant, perhaps it was to apologize for what happened before. Su Mi wouldn’t forgive her, but she would still meet her.

However, she couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy, thinking back to the day at the restaurant with Su Xian.

“Chun Mei, Feng Bao is in the residence, right?”

“He is. I just saw him earlier.”

“Then, tell him to come to the front hall with me.” It would be better to have someone else accompany her.

***

The main courtyard of the chief’s residence had already been renovated before the New Year, but moving things was too cumbersome, and Qin Yan only occasionally came back. So Su Mi had been staying in the current courtyard.

Su Xian still had a dignified and beautiful appearance, but her figure looked a bit bloated due to pregnancy. She was supported by Su Yue and followed the maidservant from the gate, crossing the three levels of stone steps to the hanging flower gate.

The brick walls on both sides were neatly aligned, and a few people walked slowly through the exquisite and magnificently narrow corridor. They then passed through the marble screen in the central hall, and the main hall appeared before them.

Su Mi had already been sitting inside, with Chun Mei and Feng Bao standing behind her on either side.

“Er Mi.” Su Xian called softly as she stepped inside.

She glanced at Su Mi, who was wearing a golden embroidered jacket with butterflies and flowers; her complexion was rosy. Compared to last year, she had grown even more beautiful, with her eyebrows and eyes becoming more delicate. Su Xian couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy in her heart.

“Sister, please have a seat.”

When Su Xian entered the doorway, Su Mi had already been looking at her. She was about six months pregnant, and her belly was visibly round. Despite the sisterly bond they had cultivated for over ten years, seeing her in her current condition made Su Mi feel a bit reluctant.

Su Xian didn’t refuse and was helped to sit in a guest seat by Su Yue.

She hesitated before speaking: “Your brother-in-law, he’s waiting at the corner outside and doesn’t dare to come in and see you.”

Hearing him mention Li Xiuyuan made Su Mi feel disgusted. She couldn’t suppress her anger, and her voice turned cold.

“If he’s here, I wouldn’t see you either.”

Su Xian understood what Su Mi was thinking and awkwardly changed the subject: “Did Mi receive any letters from Jiaozhou? They said Big Brother is going to marry a girl from the Zhou family.”

“Yes, I received them.”

After Su Mi responded, silence fell between the sisters once again. Su Mi had nothing to say, while Su Xian seemed hesitant to speak.

“What brings you here?”

Seeing Su Mi ask, Su Xian clenched the handkerchief in her hand, as if she had made up her mind, and said, “Mi, I came here to ask you if you could let go of what happened last time. We really made a mistake back then… It’s a family shame, so it’s better not to let the chief know.”

The reason she came at this time was because of Li Xiuyuan’s suggestion.

With her visibly pregnant belly, Su Mi felt a slight pity for her own sister. She could let this matter go; after all, in Li Xiuyuan’s eyes, he hadn’t really done much to Su Mi in the end.

Otherwise, if Su Mi couldn’t bear it and told the chief, and the chief came to blame them, what would the Li family do? Although there hadn’t been any major incidents in the past six months, Li Xiuyuan still felt uneasy, hence his visit today.

Su Mi was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, seemingly not expecting Su Xian to say such things.

They hadn’t seen each other for six months, and Su Xian hadn’t even asked if she was doing well. Even her apology was based on Qin Yan’s influence.

Thinking back to what happened, if it hadn’t been Qin Yan, whom she encountered by chance, she didn’t even know what would have happened. The mere thought of it sent shivers down her spine.

Su Mi suddenly regretted seeing her. “I’m a bit tired; you can leave.”

“Mi, there are actually a few more things I haven’t finished saying.” Su Mi’s tone was cold, and Su Xian could sense it, but as a married woman, there was nothing she could do.

“What?” Su Mi frowned.

Su Xian hesitated and said, “You know that your brother-in-law’s family is in the jewelry business. If we could establish a connection with the Shangyi Jian in the palace…”

The Shangyi Jian was responsible for handling jewelry and garments in the imperial palace. Although the Li family was a wealthy second-class household in the capital, it would be different if they could establish a relationship with palace procurement. The Shangyi Jian was one of the Twelve Ministries, and Qin Yan was the supervisor of the Eastern Bureau. That would undoubtedly hold some weight.

Su Xian knew that this was a difficult topic to broach, but since Li Xiuyuan had given the order, she had no choice but to comply. If Su Xian could benefit from this, the main branch of the Li family would no longer dare to look down upon them.

Su Mi looked at Su Xian across the table. Although she spoke slowly, her words were a chain of persuasion, even mentioning the position of Mrs. Yu in the family. Su Mi suddenly found it somewhat ridiculous. This Su Xian, who was trying to reason with her, was not as straightforward as Su Zhen, who would openly argue with her.

While Su Xian continued to speak, Su Mi coldly interrupted, “No, Feng Bao, see our guest out.”

After saying that, she no longer looked at Su Xian.

Feng Bao stood silently on the side, listening. When Su Mi gave the order, he let out a cold snort, glanced at Su Xian, and led her towards the door.

“Mi-er!”

Su Xian called out while turning back, but Su Mi completely ignored her.

Su Xian also felt uncomfortable. It had been such a long time since that incident, and nothing significant had happened in the end. Why wouldn’t Su Mi forgive her?

Feng Bao escorted Su Xian to the door. Thinking about Su Mi’s dejected appearance when she sat down earlier, he called for a carriage and headed in the direction of the Eastern Bureau.

…

By the time the evening banquet arrived, Qin Yan still hadn’t returned. Su Mi glanced at the courtyard gate, feeling empty inside.

Her face looked tired, and she picked up a few chopsticks but lost her appetite. She buried her head and rested it on the table.

Today, because of Su Xian, Su Mi really wanted to see Qin Yan. It was as if even if he just stood there and let her look at him, she would feel completely at ease.

“It doesn’t suit your taste, huh?” A voice suddenly rang out.

Su Mi looked up in surprise—it was Qin Yan!

He stood before her with a faint smile, seemingly a bit rushed as he hadn’t even changed out of his official attire yet.

“Lord, why have you come back?” She thought he was still angry with her from last time and wouldn’t return these days.

“Don’t you want me to come back?”

“No,” Su Mi hurriedly replied.

Qin Yan chuckled and sat down beside Su Mi, lifting his robe. “If I didn’t come back, were you planning to run off to Jiaozhou yourself?”

“It’s not like that. I was planning to discuss it with you.” She just hadn’t had the chance to say it yet.

Feng Bao was present in the afternoon, so Su Mi figured he must have mentioned it to Qin Yan. It was for the best since she didn’t have to come up with excuses herself.

“Well, I have to go to Chenzhou at the end of the month.” Qin Yan picked up some extra chopsticks from the table and casually picked a few pieces of vegetarian meat into Su Mi’s bowl.

“Oh…” Su Mi responded, her chopsticks absentmindedly twirling the surplus dishes in her bowl.

It wouldn’t be easy to go back now. If Qin Yan wasn’t there, she couldn’t freely move around, even though she was married. Not to mention going back to Jiangling City alone.

She lowered her head, feeling bored. As she watched the dishes in her bowl gradually increase, almost filling it up, she suddenly heard Qin Yan’s voice from above.

“On the way to Chenzhou, we’ll pass by Jiaozhou. If you finish the food in your bowl, I’ll give you a ride.”