Real Empress from a noble family

In the back hall, Ruan Ciyi, who had got the news, was waiting in neat clothes.

Over the past two years, the hostility in her heart had gradually faded, and the gloom between her eyebrows was now gone, but the whole person was shrouded in sadness, and even when she smiled slightly, it seemed that she was crying. Qiu Yelan saluted obediently and sat next to her, saying, "You look good today."

She was clearly lying. Ruan Ciyi looked gray and tired against Qiu Yelan, who was bright and cheerful.

Although there was no mirror at hand, Ruan Ciyi still forced a smile from the corner of her mouth, "I am just like this, but you look more gorgeous."

"The two old ladies have been advising me to take nourishing foods since I was out of the mourning." Qiu Yelan said shamelessly, "That might be the reason. Though you are in the mourning period, I advise you to eat more nutritious foods in case you damage your health."

Ruan Ciyi was listless and said perfunctorily, "You are right."

The two chatted for a while. The more they talked, the more boring it became. So Qiu Yelan found a chance to leave.

In fact, Ruan Ciyi was also bored. She just didn't want to see anyone now, nor did she want to say anything. So she let her go after the ceremonial request for her to stay.

When Qiu Yelan left, Ling Zui was still talking to Ruan Qingyan, so she didn't say goodbye.

On the way back, Chunran remembered something, "Now that you are out of the mourning, why not go and buy some cosmetics? Otherwise you'll look too plain."

This reminded Xiaran, "Those are not much of use. The princess was born gorgeous. Wearing cosmetics or not makes no difference to her. But it is necessary to buy some new hairpins and earrings. The old silver and white jade are no longer suitable now. It is time to add color stuff."

Both maids said so and Su He also joined in, so Qiu Yelan told the driver to take them directly to a jewelry shop where ladies from noble families often went.

Unexpectedly, they met an acquaintance, He Shuijin, as soon as they got off the cart.

Both were surprised. After exchanging greetings, He Shuijin noticed that Qiu Yelan was wearing a pink blouse and a crimson fairy skirt today and asked, "Is Princess Ningyi out of the mourning?"

"Yes. The maids said I should buy some jewelry, so I come to have a look." Qiu Yelan nodded.

He Shuijin laughed as soon as she heard it, "No wonder! I have never seen you here." She was leaving the shop, but now she took Qiu Yelan by the arm and showed her inside, introducing the shop to her while walking, as if she had been very familiar. "I dare not say it is the best shop in Jing City, but when it comes to the freshness and delicacy of the style, I can assure you that none of those century-old brands can match it."

Qiu Yelan smiled and said, "I asked the driver to find a bigger shop. Hearing your introduction, I guess I am in the right place." She was now trying to catch up with the fashion of aristocratic girls, so the first choice was freshness and ingenuity. The antique hairpins and earrings were of no use for her. They were worn only when girls got married or were awarded with titles and were stowed away at the bottom of the chest on usual days.

"Come with me. I'm sure you'll be satisfied!" Hearing what she said, He Shuijin smiled more joyously and led her inside, coming directly to the back without looking at the counters around.

The woman in charge of the shop did not stop but instead paid a salute to them.

Seeing that, Qiu Yelan woke up, "Are you the boss of this shop?"

"Yes." He Shuijin said briskly, "But don't worry that I'll rip you off. It's your first time coming here. I will give you a set of headwear. Come again next time if you like it. Anyway, it will never be more expensive than elsewhere."

Seeing her acting as a professional female shopkeeper, Qiu Yelan felt a little awkward, "You misunderstood me, I just asked idly."

Although she was well-known for chasing profits and also interested in business, she obviously had the demeanor of doing big business. She knew the principle of long-term profits. Though she received Qiu Yelan in person, she did not overcharge her.

She insisted on giving her a set of gold headwear.

However, Qiu Yelan bought two large boxes of jewelry from her shop without bargaining. She would definitely make a profit even if she gave away that set of gold headwear as a gift.

He Shuijin sent her out with great enthusiasm, saying that if there were something good in the future, she would remind her. Besides, Qiu Yelan never cared about such small money. Yes, now she was eligible to say that the two big boxes of jewelry were only small money. She valued the relationship with He Shuijin more, so she gave a positive response to He Shuijin's desire that she would buy more in future.

This made He Shuijin happy and in return she told her some news, "Are the Lians who live in Furong Lane in the west of the city your relatives? There is a young widowed lady in the family who is said to be charming. I wonder if there would be any trouble for her recently?"

Hearing that, Qiu Yelan stopped and wondered, "You mean the one I call Aunt? But what trouble is she going to have?" It seemed she was coveted by someone.

This surprised Qiu Yelan. Lian Chen had already returned to his hometown. Now only Lian Jianhai's and Lian Jianhao's families were in the Jing City. Madame Lian also stayed. Although the brothers of the Lians had not been promoted these years, their relationship with the Qius and the Jiangs was no secret in the Jing City. Madame Lian was charming, but not to the point of extreme beauty. Who would dare harass her?

Was it the Gus?

Qiu Yelan immediately thought of Gu Yan, "Is this for me? Or my cousin? Is it related to the old picture that Kang Lizhang mentioned?"

She thought of Gu Yan as the most suspicious, but the person He Shuijin was to mention was somebody else. "This is no secret. But you are just out of the mourning and haven't been around, so you don't know it. But please don't tell others that I told you when you ask about it."

Qiu Yelan promised at once. However, with the request of He Shuijin, she already knew it had something to do with the Jiangs.

Sure enough, He Shuijin said, "I heard it was the Eleventh of the Jiangs' first branch."

Qiu Yelan was at a loss. "Jiang the Eleventh?"

"Haven't you asked about the ranks of the Jiangs?" He Shuijin was a little surprised, but immediately said, "It was Jiang Yahong. His wife's younger sister is Jiang Yashuang's cousin. You saw her at Yunyi Restaurant that year. She is Zhuang Man, the youngest daughter of the Director of Studies."

How could I remember that after such a long time? That time, Qiu Yelan avoided a trap without knowing it. She was not impressed by a girl who had been introduced to her and had not talked much to her before the conflict. She thought hard and remembered that Zhuang Man was a little girl with black hair and fair skin and was the same age as her.

Well, this was not the point now. The point was that Jiang Yahong, who was coveting Madame Lian, already had a wife. Of course, even if he was single, it was estimated that his family wouldn't allow him to marry Madame Lian. And Madame Lian was obviously not willing to be a concubine. Even if she were willing to be a concubine, the Lians wouldn't agree.

Anyhow, the Lians were a noble family. If a girl of the family married someone as a concubine, it would be a shame for her brothers Lian Jianhai and Lian Jianhao. Any family with a bit of moral integrity, even if they were poor, would not marry their daughter as a concubine. Kang Lizhang was an exception. For one thing, she was afraid that she would get killed in the Prince's Mansion; for another, though she was a cousin of the family, her father was not so influential. Of course, ordinary people also cared about their reputation, but they did not feel as much pressure as the noble families even though they had to lose face.

So now Qiu Yelan had to solve this problem for Madame Lian. There was no other way. Wang Qingqian had been learning with her for nearly a year. Although this little cousin was not well-rounded enough, she was not bad except for being too competitive. She called her sister all day long. How could Qiu Yelan watch the widowed mother and her daughter get into trouble?

Qiu Yelan thanked He Shuijin for reminding her and went back home. She was wondering how to tell Jiang Yashuang about it when Wang Qingqian came.

Qiu Yelan felt a jump in her heart when she heard the news!

"Sister Lan!" Wang Qingqian came in, without making a salute, saying, "My mom is gone!"

"How did it happen?" Qiu Yelan asked calmly. She suspected it was Jiang Yahong who took her away by force. But she couldn't say that in front of Wang Qingqian in case the straight-tempered little girl would go to the Jiangs' residence to call names and get her mother back.

Wang Qingqian said anxiously, "This morning, when my mother went to visit my aunt who had a cold these days, my aunt remembered she owed some money to the cosmetics shop and asked her to pay the bills. As a result, my mother has not come back yet!"

Qiu Yelan frowned and said, "Second Aunt? Why didn't she send a servant to the shop? Why did she ask Aunt Lian to go there?"

"I asked too!" Wang Qingqian said hurriedly, "Second Aunt said she had sent servants for the cosmetics. But she was afraid the servants would line their own pockets, so she asked mother to pay the bills!"

This made sense. After all, the Lians were not as rich as before. They didn't have to cut down on food and clothing, but still did not dare to lead a wasteful life in the capital city. Naturally, they couldn't tolerate the graft of the servants. Qiu Yelan didn't care so much about such little money now. She would never go and check the accounts with the shopkeepers for fear that the servants would cheat her.

Qiu Yelan pondered for a while and asked, "Have you reported it to the government?"

"No!" Wang Qingqian was obviously upset, "I was going to, but First Aunt said people would talk about Mom if they knew about it. Mom hates the gossip most… But there are not enough people in the family to look for her. There's been no news so far. Sister Lan, do you have any idea?"

Qiu Yelan couldn't sit still. Something had to be done before it was too late!

Except for Jiang Yashuang, Qiu Yelan trusted nobody in his family!

So she quickly sent Wang Qingqian away, called Su He in and solemnly told her to go next door, "I remember there are pheasants from the farm in the kitchen. Take two to Princess Chunfu and tell her I thank her for her pastry."

In fact, the pastry was sent by Jiang Yashuang in the name of his elder sister.

Now Qiu Yelan said she would like to thank her for the pastry and, in return, sent the pheasants, which was homophonic to urgency.

After all, it was daytime and Qiu Yelan dared not climb over the wall to find Jiang Yashuang. She could only hope that he would understand the hint.