Chapter Ninety-Two: Returning Troops

Chapter 92: Return in Triumph

After Lady Qin finished speaking, a few of the ladies present showed a flicker of interest in their eyes.

However, Lady Lu, who had asked the question, was taken aback. Her own mother had passed away years ago, and with Lady Qin’s daughter having died young, she had maintained a close relationship with the Marquis of Anyang’s household over the years. As her aunt, she was sweet-tongued and eloquent, and Lady Qin had always shown her kindness.

Lady Lu hadn’t expected Lady Qin to respond in such a manner. After all, they were relatives—wasn’t her question meant to highlight her close ties with the marquis’s household? Her husband was not particularly accomplished and relied on the marquis’s support, yet Lady Qin’s reply seemed distant, devoid of any warmth.

Lady Lu, now in her thirties, felt her face fall with embarrassment and discomfort. The others, however, quickly grasped that there was hidden meaning in Lady Qin’s words.

The person who made these delicacies was a Lady Lin, who had a genuine passion for her craft. Thus, one could not coerce her with power or status; instead, one had to cater to her interests. Empty promises would not suffice.

Small favors would never do. Moreover, since Lady Qin had invited her, she was not a servant of the Marquis’ household and deserved respectful treatment. Though it might be troublesome, if everyone could easily hire her, how would one distinguish their household from others?

This aligned with the ladies’ understanding of such skilled artisans. In the capital, there was a jewelry shop renowned for its exquisite pieces. However, to purchase items crafted by their master craftsmen, one first had to buy various useless trinkets and then wait—anywhere from half a month to six months. If the artisans were displeased, they might refuse to sell altogether.

Custom orders were not accepted either; the artisans had their own vision, and buyers had to take what was made. Imitations were out of the question, as it would be shameful if word got out.

Fortunately, the pieces were worth more than the price, so many noble ladies played along with it, even taking pride in owning items from that shop.

Of course, there were also those who didn't know their place—running small shops with mediocre skills yet acting pretentiously, hinting repeatedly at gifts or favors during visits. The quality of their work, however, was often subpar, which was simply intolerable.

Lady Qin’s words were not a refusal but rather guidance on how to proceed. No one pressed further, merely commenting, “That’s only right. If she enjoys this work and isn’t concerned about money, one must cater to her interests to enlist her help.”

After a few words of praise, the topic was dropped. The ladies planned to inquire privately with Lady Qin after the banquet.

Serving such delicacies at a banquet would undoubtedly be a mark of prestige, and no one wanted to miss out. One lady examined the pastry in her hand, marveling at the skill of this Lady Lin—her work was so lifelike it could easily be mistaken for the real thing.

It was beautiful. Some petals and leaves had a glossy, translucent sheen, and the fact that they were edible added to the charm. The only downside was that such delicacies couldn’t be stored for long, which was a pity.

Soon, the marquis’s maids brought out another dish—this time, carved radish roses arranged on a plate, indistinguishable from real flowers. But after the earlier incident, no one mistook them for real blooms.

Upon closer inspection, some noticed differences from the previous pastries—these were made from radishes. The petals were thin and translucent, with natural color gradients achieved by skillfully using the radish’s red and white hues. Even the radish skin was cleverly utilized to create curved edges. The cut radish beaded with moisture, resembling morning dew on petals—a truly ingenious touch.

This far surpassed what their own chefs could produce. Their radish carvings might resemble flowers but lacked such refinement.

Now, looking around the Marquis’ residence, the guests felt it exuded refinement everywhere—though refinement inevitably came with a price.

Rare winter blooms and the delicacies crafted by the invited artisan were all luxuries, and scarcity makes things precious, each requiring significant expenditure. The guests sampled the pastries, starting with steamed delicacies followed by sweets.

They were full of praise.

The shrimp dumplings were bursting with freshness, the skin springy and the filling tender. Each plate held just two, and they were gone in a few bites. There were also double-skin milk pudding and ginger milk curd—unfamiliar dishes but delightful to the palate.

Served in small dishes, they were both convenient to eat and visually appealing.

Lady Qin smiled warmly, with her daughter-in-law, Yun Shi, attending to her. Yun Shi didn’t know who had prepared the banquet—it was all her mother-in-law’s arrangement.

When she had a moment, a guest whispered to her, “Where did you find such a talented person?”

Yun Shi replied with a smile, “She’s a friend of my mother-in-law’s, here to help.”

In truth, Yun Shi didn’t know where Lady Lin had been found, but she followed her mother-in-law’s lead.

The Flower Viewing Banquet was a resounding success. As the guests departed, Lady Qin presented each with a pot of rose flowers. Although many households had greenhouses, not all could cultivate such blooms, and even if they did, the results varied.

Some plants grew leaves but no flowers; others produced blooms that were lackluster. The flowers displayed in the Marquis of Anyang’s residence required careful nurturing.

Thus, receiving such a gift was both precious and novel.

Those who had intended to ask Lady Qin about the artisan after the banquet now held back.

Today’s banquet was hosted by Lady Qin, and inviting Lady Lin was Lady Qin calling in a personal favor. Pressing the matter now would be presumptuous; it would be better to visit another time.

Truthfully, if Lady Qin had introduced Lady Lin when curiosity was at its peak, it would have been acceptable. However, once the guests saw her, they might judge her by her appearance and attire. If she seemed quite ordinary, they might dismiss her pastries as mediocre.

A sense of mystery was better. In the future, whoever could secure her services would do so by their own means.

After the guests had left, Lady Qin asked her maid, “Where is Lady Lin?”

Jinxiu replied, “After she finished the pastries, I escorted her to Songhe Hall.”

Songhe Hall was Lady Qin’s residence. Lin Qiuran, having completed her work, had been taken there by Jinxiu.

It was nearly noon, and the banquet was likely over, yet Lady Qin hadn’t summoned her. Lin Qiuran felt anxious, though this was only a small part of her worry. Her greater fear was that the Marquis’ guests might not have enjoyed her food, causing Lady Qin to lose face.

Though she had come for her own reasons, the banquet was ultimately hosted by Lady Qin. Lin Qiuran worried that Lady Qin had organized the Flower Viewing Banquet to repay a kindness, and if her performance fell short, it would reflect poorly on both of them.

She hoped for a win-win situation, not wanting the Marquis’ household to waste the kindness while she failed to seize the opportunity.

Her anxiety grew, but she refrained from questioning the maids in the courtyard. After waiting a while longer, she finally heard movement outside.

Lin Qiuran took a deep breath and watched as Lady Qin entered. She bowed respectfully, “Greetings, Madam.”

A smile warmed Lady Qin’s eyes. “You’ve worked hard today. Jinxiu, fetch the cat’s eye jewelry set from the treasury.”

Lin Qiuran was momentarily stunned, unsure if the gift was intended for her, so she remained silent.

Lady Qin removed her cloak and settled onto the daybed. She smiled at Lin Qiuran, who, despite her youth—appearing just over twenty—was dressed simply yet elegantly. “Please, have a seat.”

Lin Qiuran nodded and sat opposite Lady Qin, who asked, “Aren’t you going to ask why I didn’t summon you to the front courtyard?”

Lin Qiuran replied, “You must have your reasons, Madam. Moreover, a single banquet may not be enough. One shouldn’t focus solely on petty gains but look at the bigger picture.”

If her skills were truly valuable, they would prove useful in time. Whether she asked or not made little difference. If they were dismissed after one attempt, her efforts would be wasted.

Seeing the smile in Lady Qin’s eyes when she entered, Lin Qiuran deduced the banquet had gone well. As for her own concerns, she wasn’t so impatient as to broach the subject before Lady Qin had even settled down with a cup of tea.

Lady Qin nodded approvingly. Though she hadn’t spent much time with Tangyuan, she had met Lin Qiuran twice and found herself growing fonder of her with each encounter.

At over sixty, Lady Qin saw Lin Qiuran, in her early twenties, as little more than a child.

While they spoke, Jinxiu returned with a box.

Lady Qin gestured for Lin Qiuran to examine it. “See if you like it.”

Lin Qiuran immediately demurred, “Madam, this is too generous…”

Lady Qin insisted, “You’ve worked hard all morning. Please accept it. Earlier, when asked, I told them you were a friend who shares my interests and that I had to cater to your passions to invite you. But since I don’t know what you truly enjoy, I chose this set of jewelry for you. A gift from an elder should not be refused. Accept it.”

Lin Qiuran hadn’t expected Lady Qin to go to such lengths. They were neither relatives nor close friends, having met only twice. If it were her, she would still be wary of someone she’d met only twice—like Lv Zheng, whom she still didn’t fully trust, fearing ulterior motives.

She looked at Lady Qin, whose eyes held a deep, affectionate warmth. “Thank you, Madam,” Lin Qiuran said gratefully.

Lady Qin smiled. “Your skills are exceptional. The guests were very pleased.”

Lin Qiuran replied, “I’m glad they enjoyed it.”

Earlier, Lady Qin had told the guests that they shared a rapport and that she had catered to Lin Qiuran’s interests to secure her services. In the future, if others wished to hire her, they would not find it easy.

Lin Qiuran couldn't just accept everything.

Even considering all this for her—Tāngyuán was just a small child, and all she did was just steadied him; why would it require so much?

Lady Qin seemed to notice Lin Qiuran’s concern and said, "At first, the old Marquis kept thinking about this matter, so I simply seized the opportunity to do a small favor. But today, you really helped me out—other households don’t have these things."

This was also true. If Lin Qiuran hadn’t done well, no one would have asked. Even families with higher status than the Marquis of Anyang, if they wanted to use these items for banquets, would have to go through Lady Qin. With this connection, it creates an opportunity. If Lin Qiuran hadn’t truly excelled, Lady Qin, feeling bad about Lin Qiuran visiting twice, wouldn’t have opened doors for her or given her gifts.

Lin Qiuran smiled and said, "I'm glad you like them, Madam."

Lady Qin loved flowers and plants, and she also enjoyed what Lin Qiuran had made. She said, "Your skills are excellent; more people will come to like your work... I heard you mention you came from Xuzhou and are newly arrived in the capital. Be cautious in your words and actions, take your time with things, and don’t rush..."

Lady Qin offered many words of advice, all of which Lin Qiuran took to heart. Thinking that Lady Qin must be tired from managing the banquet and now speaking with her, her energy low, Lin Qiuran suggested taking her leave.

Lady Qin said, "No need to hurry. It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone I click with so well. Stay and chat with me for a while."

Lin Qiuran replied, "I also feel a strong connection speaking with you. Sometimes I even forget you’re my elder."

Lady Qin smiled. "I heard from the Marquis that you have a child. How old is he?"

Hearing this, Lin Qiuran became more cautious. She said, "He’s four years old this year."

Lady Qin asked further, "What about the child’s father? I haven’t heard you mention him."

Lin Qiuran had a sudden thought, but she couldn’t grasp it. Seeing that Lady Qin’s expression remained unchanged, as if it were just a simple question, she said, "The child’s father went off to war and never returned."

Lady Qin’s heart tightened. Off to war? Wasn’t this following the same path as the Shen family? With the northwest border conflicts intensifying, was he even still alive...? She had finally found someone who resembled her daughter—if she were to learn he was gone, how could Lady Qin face her daughter in the future?

She immediately asked, "How many years has it been? Have there been any messages?"

Lin Qiuran felt that Lady Qin was overly concerned about her family background, yet it also seemed like the care of an elder for a younger person. She said, "It’s been over a year now. He sent one letter during that time, but there’s been no news since."

Even though she knew Lady Qin was kind, Lin Qiuran didn’t dare mention that her husband was Xiao Xun, nor did she dare ask more.

Lady Qin’s face paled slightly, and she murmured distantly, "Defending the country is honorable."

Lin Qiuran said, "Even though the child’s father isn’t home, and Tāngyuán often asks about him, someone has to defend the country. Otherwise, our lives wouldn’t be secure. If you hear anything about when the army will return to the capital, please let me know."

Lady Qin tightened her grip on the couch armrests. "Alright, alright... I’m feeling rather tired now. You may go."

Lin Qiuran took her leave and had Lin Chun take the items.

The jewelry box was simple and elegant, but Lin Qiuran, preoccupied with her thoughts, didn’t examine it closely.

On the way back, she couldn’t help but wonder: Lady Qin had been very kind to her, yet something felt off. It was precisely this kindness that felt strange.

She had met the old Marquis twice, both times because of Tāngyuán. At his age, the old Marquis surely had children and grandchildren around. She had thought it odd that he felt the need to repay her just for steadying him, and then there was their later encounter... Could it be because of Tāngyuán?

Was it just because they clicked? But there were so many children on the streets—not all of them received help just because of a connection. As a mother, Lin Qiuran naturally thought her child was wonderful, but not to the extent that outsiders would find them exceptionally endearing.

Lin Qiuran was glad she hadn’t asked the Marquis’s household to help find a school for Tāngyuán. She had earned her keep through her work, so taking their gifts felt proper.

Returning to the Xiao residence, Sun Shi and Tāngyuán had been waiting.

Lin Qiuran returned late that day, and Tāngyuán kept asking repeatedly, "Grandma, why isn’t Mom back yet?"

Sun Shi was also worried. "Let’s wait a bit longer. She should be back soon."

After a while, Tāngyuán asked again, "Grandma, why isn’t Mom back yet?"

Sun Shi put him off, but the child persisted, determined to keep asking until she returned. She finally understood why Qiu Ran sometimes found the child bothersome.

So many questions.

Sun Shi was already anxious, and Tāngyuán kept pestering her. "Grandma doesn’t know either. Your mother said to wait at home—you can’t go out. Wait a little longer; she’ll be back soon."

Tāngyuán whined, and just as he was about to ask again, the sound of cart wheels rolling over the ground came from outside.

Sun Shi held Tāngyuán back from rushing out. Soon, Lin Ying got down from the carriage and pushed the gate open, allowing the carriage to enter.

Lin Qiuran lifted the curtain, and Sun Shi asked, "Why so late today?"

Lin Qiuran replied, "There were many guests, so it took extra time."

Judging by the amount of food, there must have been over a dozen guests. With eating and conversation, it naturally took time.

Lin Chun got off the carriage first, carrying the items, followed by Lin Qiuran, who took Lin Ying's arm as she stepped down. Tāngyuán rushed forward. "Mom, you were gone so long today! I missed you so much."

He couldn’t resist subtly tattling, "Every time I asked Grandma when you’d be back, she got impatient."

Lin Qiuran said, "You must have asked too many times and annoyed your grandma."

Sun Shi sighed. It was good that Lin Qiuran understood—Tāngyuán was too young to reason with.

Sun Shi asked, "Did everything go smoothly?"

Lin Qiuran replied, "It went quite well. I just ended up chatting with the Lady of the Marquis of Anyang for a while, which took extra time."

The conversation had felt like casual small talk.

Sun Shi said, "You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Let’s go inside and have dinner."

Lin Qiuran nodded. At the Marquis’s residence, Jinxiu had offered her some food, but since she was there to work and it was someone else’s home, she hadn’t touched it.

The kitchen had kept food for her: sweet and sour pork ribs, pigeon soup, vinegar-fried cabbage, and steamed scallop egg custard, which Lin Qiuran prepared after returning.

At lunchtime, when Lin Qiuran wasn’t home, Tāngyuán had been fussy and hadn’t eaten much. Now he wanted food too. "Mom, I want some ribs too."

Lin Qiuran said, "Weren’t they available at lunch? Now you want them? Since you didn’t eat properly then, you can have them at dinner."

Sun Shi appreciated this about Lin Qiuran—most of the time, she didn’t indulge the child. When Lin Qiuran wasn’t home, and Tāngyuán didn’t eat well, it wasn’t her fault.

After a couple of instances like this, Tāngyuán learned to eat properly even when Lin Qiuran wasn’t around. Sun Shi now understood why this worked and didn’t give him food behind Lin Qiuran's back, saying he hadn’t eaten enough.

In the past, she might have done exactly that.

After dinner, Lin Qiuran took Tāngyuán to bed. After some fussing, he eventually settled down and fell asleep.

Lin Qiuran came out of the room and found Sun Shi sitting in the hall. She told Sun Shi about her time at the Marquis’s residence. "In the coming days, someone might come to ask me to cook for them."

Sun Shi asked in surprise, "Ask you to cook?"

Lin Qiuran nodded and summarized, "Lady Qin helped out a bit. We’ll still open the restaurant, but there’s no rush. Scarcity adds value—I’ll take on fewer jobs. Lin Chun and the others can handle most of the restaurant’s dishes. I’ll only occasionally showcase my skills. Those who like it will come even if I don’t cook often."

Lin Qiuran had a child and other businesses to manage. Last year, she hadn’t even been at the Golden Tripod Restaurant often.

Sun Shi couldn’t help but think: back in Yu’an, they had to seek out work, but here in the capital, work came to them.

Seeing Sun Shi’s delighted expression, Lin Qiuran added, "I also asked Lady Qin to send word if the army returns to the capital."

Lin Qiuran didn't mention anything else. If she had shared her speculations, Sun Shi would surely worry and then forbid her from having anything more to do with the Marquis's household.

But for now, things were peaceful. The Marquis's household wasn't short of children, and the Xiao family had just arrived in the capital with nothing the Marquis's household could possibly covet. They could take things one step at a time and wait and see what happens.

Lin Qiuran was also philosophical about it. If there were truly ill intentions, her vigilance would be of little use.

Sun Shi paused for a moment, her eyes growing slightly moist. "Asking is good, asking is good."

Lin Qiuran said, "The capital is peaceful now. Don't overthink it. When Xiao Xun returns to the capital, he won't have to go back to Yu'an like before. We're bound to see him sooner."

Sun Shi nodded vigorously, wiping the corner of her eye. Lin Qiuran felt a twinge of discomfort; she hoped Xiao Xun was still alive.

Meanwhile, at the Marquis's household, Lady Qin claimed she was tired, but after Lin Qiuran left, she didn't rest. Instead, she sat on the luohan bed.

Lady Qin mused on life's unpredictability. If it were true, they had sent the child to Xuzhou, only for him to end up going off to war.

Lady Qin couldn't bear the thought. She had originally believed there would be a chance for reunion in this lifetime, but on the battlefield, swords and arrows are blind.

She and Lv Zheng were getting older. She wished she could have her son look into it right away to find out who Lin Qiuran's husband was.

When Lv Zheng returned, Lady Qin had all the maids leave and told him about it. "Go and investigate quickly..."

Lv Zheng said, "That's completely out of the question. Since we sent him away, and he's living a good life, as you've seen. Even if there was room for maneuver in the original case, why would he give up a good life to become the son of a disgraced official?"

Lv Zheng had also been thinking about this matter lately. Even if the case could be overturned, he had no plans to mention it. Harboring the son of a disgraced official was a crime, and this was a matter for the Marquis of Anyang's household.

To put it another way, if something were to happen after sending the child away, it would implicate that family. They raised the child, but now they should claim him back as their own?

The Shen family was gone. What would be the point?

Lv Zheng even regretted telling Lady Qin about it.

Lady Qin said, "If you won't go and inquire, then at least find out when the army is returning home!"

Once the army returns, we'll know whether he's alive or not.

Lv Zheng bowed his head and nodded a couple of times. "Alright, I'll go and ask."

Lv Zheng had already retired from government service and wasn't familiar with court affairs. When he asked his son, he learned that the army had already begun its return from victory and would arrive in a little over half a month.

They were resting and recuperating during the winter. Moreover, the Yue Dynasty had been winning battles continuously and had already driven the foreign tribes back beyond Lulan Pass, allowing for a period of recovery.

The Marquis of Anyang was curious why his father suddenly cared about court matters. "Weren't you only concerned with what to eat and drink every day?"

Lv Zheng glared at his son. "What's strange about asking a couple of questions? If there's any news about the army, just let me know."

The Marquis of Anyang said, "Alright."

Lin Qiuran received the news two days later. She had just gone out to purchase a shop and learned from the gatehouse servant upon returning that someone from the Marquis of Anyang's household had delivered a letter, which had already been taken to the main courtyard study.

Lin Qiuran's heart leaped. She returned to the main courtyard and found the letter placed on the table in the side room.

The furniture had all been recently acquired. Lin Qiuran sometimes read here during the day, teaching Tangyuan to recite poetry and recognize characters, while also preparing him for possibly attending school after the New Year.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on the envelope. Beside the table was a charcoal basin filled with silver-thread charcoal. It wasn't until coming to the capital that Lin Qiuran learned there were several types of charcoal.

The charcoal was running low, and the basin held a lot of ash.

Lin Qiuran had a faint premonition. She steadied herself on the chair, sat down, and opened the envelope. It was from Lady Qin.

The letter stated that the army would return home soon, in as little as half a month or as long as twenty days.