Real Empress from a noble family

The next day, Qiu Bo came to visit with her younger sister Qiu Qian.

Qiu Yelan greeted them in person at the second door, which made the two sisters feel very flattered. Today, Qiu Bo was not wearing the gorgeous dress as she did at the entrance to the examination compound, maybe for Qiu Yelan's reason that she was still in the mourning period. Instead, she was wearing a broad sleeved summer dress with lotus patterns in light green. Her hairstyle was the coil of a snake, on which there were not many beads. The hair looked even darker against the white jade hairpin that was in the pattern of a phoenix head with a bead in the mouth.

She was born a beauty. Although she was simply dressed and had a dignified look, she had a seductive charm all over.

The twelve-year-old Qiu Qian was innocent and artless. She followed Qiu Bo's steps with a restrained look. She looked around curiously as Qiu Yelan was not focusing on her, showing her childishness.

Qiu Yelan talked to Qiu Bo and glanced at Qiu Qian with the corner of her eyes. Her oval face was with a bit of childish roundness. The eyebrows were like two green feathers, the eyes were like two watery apricots and the skin was so tender that you could pinch water out of it. She was a selected beauty no matter where she was. No wonder her brother and sister had great hope for her.

"However, such an unmatched beauty may become either a queen or a prostitute. Whether the little girl will be married into a wealthy family in the future will be known when she enters the girls' school." Qiu Yelan thought.

The three laughed and walked towards Qiu Yelan's courtyard. When they turned around a gable wall covered with roses, they had a sudden encounter with Qiu Hongzhi, who was with a few others. He didn't look very well, as if he had just received a scolding.

Stunned, Qiu Bo subconsciously blocked Qiu Qian. Qiu Yelan frowned, "Why are you going from here? Isn't this the place for womenfolk?"

Qiu Hongzhi said in an angered tone, "Just now I was summoned by the Princess. I was in a hurry so I took a short cut!" At this point, he glanced at Qiu Bo casually and was stunned by her extraordinary charm. He almost forgot himself if it were not for the guy who pulled him in time from behind. He pretended to be calm, "How do I know you have female guests now? You didn't tell me!"

"Go immediately!" Qiu Yelan wanted to entertain Qiu Bo and her sister today. She did not want to quarrel with him.

Qiu Hongzhi also snorted and went away with his men. He whispered to the young servant who just pulled him, "Go and find out who the two girls are."

It was not difficult. An hour later, the servant put the information of the three siblings of the Qius on the desk of Qiu Hongzhi.

"They are newly moved to the capital?" Qiu Hongzhi felt at ease when he saw that, but then he frowned, "Newly selected Jinshi Qiu Nie? Also surnamed Qiu?" He was struck by the beauty of the girl just now. However, he had an official wife. Besides, it was impossible for him to marry a woman without a prestigious family background for the sake of the title of Young Prince. Moreover, marriage between people bearing the same surname was forbidden.

The problem was that ordinary people with backbones would not let their daughters be concubines, let alone the elder sister of a new Jinshi who was on his way up.

Seeing the deep frown on his face, Jin Chan knew he was caring about Qiu Bo and said tartly, "Young Master, you must be careful. This Qiu was greeted into the yard by that one in person and they just happened to run into you… I'm worried that she is making some other plans."

This reminded Qiu Hongzhi. He had to restrain his desire in front of power, closed the file on the three siblings of the Qius and handed it to Jin Chan, "Send it to the Princess, saying that that one suddenly invited the sisters to the school in our house… They must be up to something."

Qiu Hongzhi had restrained his desire. But Qiu Yelan was talking happily with the sisters like old friends.

Qiu Yelan talked with Qiu Bo alone almost throughout the process. Qiu Qian just sat there quietly in a dignified and respectful manner, the corners of her mouth slightly hooked with a faint smile.

Qiu Yelan had been observing her for a long time. She couldn't help asking Qiu Bo, "Has your sister ever been trained in bearing?"

"There was an old maid who had returned home from the palace in the village. We asked her to teach Qian'er for a few days. But she was slow at learning and didn't learn much." Since Qiu Bo came for help today, she was a bit uneasy and answered very modestly.

Qiu Yelan said with a smile, "You are too modest. In my opinion, Qiu Qian's bearing is already very good. Even if she entered the school, she would just need some adjustments."

The two talked for a little while and Qiu Yelan treated the two sisters to lunch. After the meal, Qiu Bo left, but Qiu Qian stayed following Qiu Yelan's suggestion to go to the class in the afternoon. There was a class in the morning, but Qiu Yelan took a leave to entertain them.

In the afternoon, Qiu Yelan took Qiu Qian to the school. Shao Yuemei and Sheng Shishui expressed their welcome more or less. Only Qiu Mingzhu sat there expressionlessly and ignored Qiu Qian.

Even when Qiu Qian took the initiative to salute her, she still ignored her and just asked Shao Yuemei, "Madam, will you continue the lecture?"

Qiu Yelan said lightly, "Don't care about this person, Qian'er. She has a problem with her hearing."

"You!" Qiu Mingzhu turned around and glared at her.

Qiu Yelan returned her a provocative and defiant look.

Qiu Mingzhu gritted her teeth and almost broke the writing brush. But she didn't dare to do anything to her, just snorted and turned her head to one side!

Shao Yuemei smiled gently, as if she didn't see it. It was Sheng Shishui who stepped out and explained with a smile, "Cousin Mingzhu is of such a nature. Just don't mind…."

Qiu Mingzhu was so annoyed by Qiu Yelan that she said coldly, "Who are you?! Did I ask you to apologize for me? Have you considered whether somebody is worth my apology?"

Sheng Shishui was disgraced but still not annoyed. She said with a smile, "We are here learning together and should help each other. Didn't Madam Shao teach us "harmony" the other day? Cousin Mingzhu's words were a bit too far."

"How cheeky!" Qiu Mingzhu yelled sullenly.

Sheng Shishui was still not annoyed and said with a smile, "Cousin Mingzhu is never forgiving. I surrender to you!"

At this time, Qiu Qian asked timidly "Is this my seat?"

"Yes, I sent for this set of desk and chair the other day. Do you like it? If you don't like it, I'll change for you." Qiu Yelan said lazily, holding her cheeks in both hands.

"Thank you, Sister Lan, I like it very much." Qiu Qian answered instantly.

Sheng Shishui's eyes flickered when she heard Qiu Qian call Qiu Yelan "Sister Lan," and she gazed at Qiu Qian admiringly.

"Well, this is the way I am helping you." Qiu Yelan pretended not to take notice of that. She thought, "Of the four people in the school, I show obvious preference for you. Even if there were no conflicts in the past, there would be in the future. What's more, you were brought in by me and will be regarded as enemies by them. If you can take that, you have the potential of being the future lady of a grand mansion. If you can't, you'd better go back and live a peaceful life. Girls get married early these days, so you'd better not waste your youth."

Anyway, everything was under her eyes. No matter how fierce the fight could be, she would be able to deal with it.

Qiu Qian came to school every day and had lunch with Qiu Yelan. The girl had learned a little before, but the teacher who taught her before was really not of the same level as Shao Yuemei. In addition, she did not have a prominent background, nor did she have much knowledge. There was so much to be made up.

Qiu Yelan had planned to prepare a yard next to the school for her to live in. Anyway, Shao Yuemei was living here. It made no difference to have one more person. However, Qiu Qian missed her family and chose to go to school daily. Qiu Yelan didn't care about that anymore.

So the days passed. Although there were occasional quarrels in the school, in general, there was nothing so serious as to distract the ladies from learning.

Qiu Qian was always a timid and standard-looking girl. She pretended to be confused when Qiu Mingzhu said something unpleasant so that it seemed that she was not really naive and ignorant.

When the Courtesan Competition was coming to an end, Qiu Yelan was called over by Ruan Qingyan again. Qiu Yelan said righteously immediately they met, "I have been very good recently! I haven't done anything! I study every day and do my homework! If you heard something bad, it must be slandering!"

Ruan Qingyan looked at her weirdly, "Did I call you over to scold you?"

"You are not going to scold me?" Qiu Yelan sighed with relief and said cheerfully, "Then I can set my mind at rest…."

"Wait!" Ruan Qingyan narrowed her eyes and looked at her suspiciously. "If you haven't done anything wrong, why are you so eager to explain?"

Qiu Yelan said angrily, "It's all because of your scoldings! How good you were when we first got to know each other. In just a few months, you have changed! Now I am afraid of seeing you!"

Ruan Qingyan's eyes suddenly sharpened. He said coldly, "Oh? Are you afraid of me?"

Watched by him, Qiu Yelan felt a bit guilty for no reason. She said awkwardly, "Good cousin, I'm just joking… You must have something for me. Let's get down to business…"

"If you are really afraid of me, have you ever done as I repeatedly told you? You make it clear to me!" Ruan Qingyan shouted sullenly!

Qiu Yelan immediately switched to the tearful mode, grabbed him on the sleeves and shook the arms, "I was wrong! I was kidding. Good cousin, don't be so mean. I was just joking!"

Ruan Qingyan said angrily, "Tell me with your conscience: did I scold you if it were not for your stupidity?! What's more, did you respond to me when I talked to you?!"

He couldn't believe that this cousin would not be bashful to complain that he was too fierce! The naughty girl would do anything if he were not fierce!

Qiu Yelan regretted that she had overacted. She made self-criticism tearfully and tried her best to play the coquetry until Ruan Qingyan cooled down a bit. She asked sobbingly, "Cousin, why did you call me here today?"

Ruan Qingyan snorted, "The Courtesan Competition is coming to an end in two days. After that, you go out of the city to sweep aunt's graveyard."

Qiu Yelan asked in surprise, "Why? I did it just the other day."

"Why can't you do it again? You just say you miss aunt!" Ruan Qingyan shouted despotically, "In short, you must leave the city on that day!"

"Why?" Qiu Yelan asked reluctantly.

Ruan Qingyan glared at her, "Xun Yuxi will also be out of town that day… You can take a look from the wagon and see whether you are satisfied or not!"