Chapter 312: Deep Affection Between Aunt and Niece

Chapter 312: Deep Affection Between Aunt and Niece

"Why is Shaojing back?" Lu Lingyun greeted her with a smile, her face adorned with her signature polite smile.

"I heard that my uncle has gone off to war. My aunt and uncle have been deeply devoted to each other for decades and have never been apart. I figured she must be really worried right now, so I came back to keep her company," Qin Shaojing said with genuine sincerity.

Lady Qin, seated on the divan, smiled with relief, "Shaojing, you’re so considerate."

Seeing this, Lu Lingyun’s smile was insincere.

She hadn’t returned once in the six years since she got married, as if she’d married off to some distant place. Yet, they are both in the Imperial City; she could have come back anytime she wanted.

Moreover, the old Marquis had been away at war for nearly half a month. Her late arrival made the excuse seem pretty weak.

This time, she probably came back to the Ningyang Marquisate to dodge the scandal after killing the pregnant maid in her courtyard!

It’s a shame that her aunt, Lady Qin, who’s usually sharp in other matters, gets all muddled when it comes to Qin Shaojing and Cheng Yunshuo. She genuinely adores them and can’t see any wrong in them.

Seeing this, Lu Lingyun didn’t bother to stir the pot between the doting aunt and niece, lest she get an earful behind her back.

She looked at the beaming Qin Shaojing and said, "It’s good you’re back. Mother’s missed you terribly. You should stay longer this time."

Hearing Lu Lingyun’s words, Qin Shaojing assumed she knew nothing about the incident at the Duke of Liu’s residence. She smiled even wider and seized the chance to say, "Yes, that’s what I thought too. I’ll stay longer this time."

After a few more pleasantries with Lady Qin, making her happy, Lu Lingyun took Sù Yīng along, leaving the aunt and niece to talk in the room.

She took Sù Yīng back to her own courtyard. On the way, Cheng Suying asked, curious, "Mother, who is that cousin aunt?"

"She’s your grandmother’s niece, married into the Duke of Liu’s household."

"Oh," Cheng Suying nodded, only half understanding. After all, she had never met Qin Shaojing and had no idea who she was or what she had done.

Lu Lingyun’s explanation made her think of Qin Shaojing as just another family relative.

Just then, a graceful figure appeared at the end of the corridor.

A young girl of about thirteen or fourteen stood there, looking charming.

"Aunt Hui Hui!" Cheng Suying, seeing her, excitedly let go of Lu Lingyun’s hand and ran towards her.

"Sù Yīng," the young girl turned around, revealing a face that bore a slight resemblance to Cheng Yunshuo. She caught Cheng Suying as she ran towards her, her youthful face full of smiles.

This was the young Cheng Hui from years ago.

Six years had passed, and Cheng Hui had grown into a young lady. In a few more years, she would be of marriageable age.

Over these years, Cheng Hui had been under Lu Lingyun’s care. After Cheng Qi went to the border, he never returned, and Lu Lingyun had raised her like her own sister.

In recent years, it had become fashionable in the Imperial City for noble girls to attend girls' schools. Several families would hire a few female teachers to teach embroidery, account management, and household management in private residences. Lu Lingyun had sent Cheng Hui to one of these schools.

Today was her day off.

"Aunt Hui Hui, is it fun at the girls' school?"

"It’s very fun. The teacher took us to the outskirts a few days ago to make and fly kites. It was so interesting."

"You even learn how to make kites?" Cheng Suying’s eyes lit up immediately. "Is it difficult?"

"It’s not difficult at all. If you want to play, I can teach you how to make one."

"Awesome!" Cheng Suying exclaimed with excitement.

Lu Lingyun came over just then.

"Sister-in-law!" Cheng Hui greeted Lu Lingyun with a big smile, her voice much warmer than Qin Shaojing's.

"How long is the break this time?" Lu Lingyun asked softly.

"Two weeks. The teacher said we'll return to class after the spring exams."

"Then take it easy at home," Lu Lingyun said, guiding her back to her courtyard.

The next day, Cheng Suying, excited to make the kite, dragged Cheng Hui into the yard bright and early.

Cheng Hui used a brush to sketch one kite face after another, while the maids helped sand the frames and trim the edges. Finally, with everyone pitching in, they assembled a stunning butterfly kite.

"So pretty, so pretty, absolutely gorgeous!" Cheng Suying was thrilled with her new kite.

As the young miss of the Marquis's Mansion, she had no shortage of kites; she could buy as many as she pleased.

But this one was special.

Now, having made it herself, Cheng Suying put all her worries behind her.

"We can't touch it now; it needs to dry here. We can only fly it once it's dry."

"Got it," Cheng Suying nodded eagerly.

She found a shady, breezy spot and hung the freshly made kite there.

"Hey, are the lotuses in the backyard about to bloom?"

"Yeah, there are lots of buds."

"Let's check out the flowers first, and come back later."

"Sure."

Cheng Suying left her personal maid, Cai Lian, to keep an eye on the kite, and headed with Cheng Hui to the nearby pond to check out the lotuses.

No sooner had they left than a few figures appeared.

"Second Miss, look, what's that!" A young girl, about five or six years old and dressed like a maid, pointed to a corner of a butterfly-shaped kite sticking out from the wall.

The girl in front looked up and spotted the beautiful kite.

"Get that down for me! I want it!" Cheng Lanying pointed at the kite, her eyes gleaming.

As soon as she spoke, Cai Lian stepped out from behind the archway, "Second Miss, that's our Miss's kite, you can't have it!"

Cai Lian was Shuang Hong's daughter, five years old, and had been Cheng Suying's personal maid since she was three.

Seeing Cheng Suying's personal maid, Cheng Lanying sneered, "Who do you think you are, blocking my way!"

"Second Miss, I didn't, that's our Miss's stuff," Cai Lian insisted.

"If you're not in the way, then get out of here!" Cui Ying, Cheng Lanying's personal maid, barked at her.

Everyone in the Marquis's Mansion knows that their second Miss is the most beloved by the Crown Prince.

What does she matter? They say she's the legitimate Miss of the mansion, but in reality, everyone knows she's also of a secondary birth.

Why are they acting so high and mighty in front of us!

Cailian wasn't very brave either. Seeing the other girl so fierce, she took a step back, murmuring, "That's the kite the young miss just made, just don't touch it, and we'll be fine."

Don't touch it?

Not a chance!

Cheng Lanying gave her nanny a look, and her nanny stepped forward and snatched the kite away.

Seeing this, Cailian panicked, "Put that down! You can't touch it!"

But how could she stand up to a nanny? The nanny shoved her to the ground.

Cheng Hui and Cheng Suying, who had just gone to the lotus pond, heard Cailian crying.

"Not good!"

Hearing the crying, Cheng Suying hurried back with Cheng Hui. As soon as they arrived, they saw Cailian, pushed to the ground, wailing.

Beside Cailian were Cheng Lanying and her maid and nanny.

And in her hand was the kite she had just made!

"What are you doing!" Cheng Suying shouted angrily.