Chapter 61: News

Chapter 61: News

During the family banquet, neither Mei Fangzhu nor Madam Luo acted strangely. Presumably, Mei Fangru had persuaded them to drop the matter.

But after that night, Qiu Shuiyi did not see Mei Fangzhu again.

Mei Fangru and Mei Fangqing, however, came by as often as before and brought the latest news.

For instance, after the family banquet, Second Aunt Luo was furious upon hearing Mei Fangzhu's announcement that she didn't want to get married. She fell silent after Mei Fangzhu explained her reasons and then sent her back to think things over carefully.

According to Mei Fangqing, that very night, her mother had a huge argument with her father and even kicked him out to the study.

After butting heads with Mei Fangzhu for several days, Madam Luo ultimately compromised, promising not to arrange any marriage prospects for her in the next two years.

Upon receiving this news, Mei Fangqing immediately set about planning a celebration for Mei Fangzhu.

Shortly after Qiu Shuiyi left her courtyard, Xin Liu hurriedly caught up, "Miss, a message from Liu Cheng."

Qiu Shuiyi took the envelope, opened it, and her casual expression turned serious.

"Miss, what's wrong?"

Seeing her serious expression, Xin Tao asked, puzzled.

Qiu Shuiyi closed her eyes for a moment. "Xin Tao, go tell Cousin Fangqing that something urgent came up and I won't be able to join her today."

With that, she turned around and headed towards the outer compound. "Let's go find Eldest Uncle."

Eldest Uncle happened to be at the residence today. After the servant announced her, Qiu Shuiyi stepped into the study.

At a glance, she saw him seated behind the desk, holding a letter. His usually stern brows carried a hint of joy.

Qiu Shuiyi smiled. "It seems Eldest Uncle has also received the news."

Eldest Uncle set down the letter. "Yi'er, you're here. Please, sit."

He sighed. "After such a long time, we finally have news of your sister."

The letter Liu Cheng delivered was from the Marquis of Yun'an.

It stated that he had gotten word about Qiu Lianying and asked Qiu Shuiyi to stay in Hongliang a while longer. Once the Marquis's men found Qiu Lianying, they would reunite and return to the capital together.

Qiu Shuiyi said, "No wonder Father couldn't find Sister. Who would have thought she was traveling with a security escort?"

Traveling all over the place, no wonder he couldn't find her.

Eldest Uncle sighed. "That girl... if she hadn't wandered into one of the Marquis's businesses and been recognized, who knows when she would have surfaced."

Qiu Shuiyi asked tentatively, "Could it be... that Sister herself doesn't want to return home?"

Eldest Uncle replied, "Your sister has always been strong-willed. If she doesn't want to go back, no one can force her."

So, it really might be the case?

Qiu Shuiyi asked, "If Sister herself is unwilling, even if the Marquis's men find her, will she obediently return?"

"Hard to say." Eldest Uncle shook his head.

"Uncle." Qiu Shuiyi suddenly spoke solemnly.

Eldest Uncle looked up, meeting her bright, sparkling eyes. "Let me go bring Sister back."

"Nonsense." Eldest Uncle's brow furrowed. "The journey is long and dangerous. You're a young lady. If anything were to happen to you, how could I face your mother?"

"Uncle."

Qiu Shuiyi sat down beside Eldest Uncle and explained carefully, "Sister is probably unwilling to return solely because of that marriage arrangement. Now that the marriage has been transferred to me, she naturally has no reason not to come back."

Seeing Eldest Uncle frown, Qiu Shuiyi understood his thoughts and spoke before he could. "Uncle must be thinking we could just send a servant to tell her. But what if Sister doesn't believe it and thinks it's just a story by Father and Mother to coax her back?"

"The servants wouldn't dare to use force on her. What if she takes the chance to run away again?"

These two questions made Eldest Uncle's expression darken.

Lian Ying was indeed willful enough to do such things.

Qiu Shuiyi continued, "But if I go, it's different. With me there, Sister can believe the marriage arrangement has been transferred."

Eldest Uncle was still uneasy. "No, the journey is too far. It's too dangerous for you to go alone."

"What's so dangerous about it?" Qiu Shuiyi countered. "The world is peaceful now; incidents of robbery and violence are rare. Even if trouble arises, wouldn't the Marquis's guards protect me?"

Eldest Uncle looked hesitant.

Seeing this, Qiu Shuiyi had no choice but to use her final argument.

She lowered her eyes slightly, her voice very soft. "Uncle, I haven't been back for long. Although I've heard stories about Sister, I've never actually spent time with her. What if... she doesn't like this sister who came back out of nowhere?"

"I also... want to get on good terms with her sooner. Once we return to the capital, perhaps, for her sake, the Young Master and the others... won't make things difficult for me anymore."

Eldest Uncle was aware of the affairs in the capital. Hearing this, his heart ached.

Seeing Qiu Shuiyi's dejected expression, he remained silent for a long while before finally nodding. "Alright, fine. Go if you wish."

"Uncle agrees?" Qiu Shuiyi's face lit up with surprise.

Eldest Uncle nodded helplessly.

Qiu Shuiyi smiled, her eyes curving like a cat that had stolen something tasty.

"In that case, regarding Father and Mother, please help persuade them a little, Uncle."

Eldest Uncle was both amused and exasperated. "Why don't you do it yourself?"

Pouring a cup of tea and respectfully offering it, Qiu Shuiyi adopted a docile attitude, her voice clear and sweet. "Of course, because Eldest Uncle carries more weight than I do."

Eldest Uncle gave a light humph and accepted the cup.

Qiu Shuiyi smiled even more obediently.

With Eldest Uncle mediating, matters progressed extremely smoothly.

Back when the letter was sent, the Marquis of Yun'an had already dispatched people to fetch Qiu Lianying.

But she had gone off escorting goods with the security escort and her whereabouts were temporarily unknown.

Qiu Shuiyi stared at the letter spread flat on the desk. "After finishing the escort job, she'll have to return eventually."

"Let's go here first."

The fingertip pointed to four words written there.

Mu Family Escort Agency.

...

Patriarch Mei spread the news, saying the Mei family missed their daughter so much they couldn't eat and had noticeably lost weight in just a few days.

The Marquis of Yun'an, worried about his wife, specially wrote urging Qiu Shuiyi to come home.

Upon receiving the letter, Madam Fang immediately had a nanny summon Qiu Shuiyi. She held her granddaughter in her arms, calling her "my darling" over and over, her voice filled with reluctance.

"Grandmother, please don't be sad."

Qiu Shuiyi gently wiped the tears from the corner of Madam Fang's eye, comforting her softly. "Once Mother is feeling better, my sister and I will bring her to stay with you for a few days."

Seeing how thoughtful her granddaughter was made Madam Fang even more reluctant to let her go. With reddened eyes, she scolded, "That wretched daughter of mine was perfectly healthy as a girl. How did she get so frail after marrying and becoming a mother? Did your father not treat her well?"

Qiu Shuiyi quickly reassured her. "Yes, yes, it's all my father's fault. Grandmother, please don't cry. When I go back, I'll definitely give him a good talking-to."

Madam Fang laughed through her tears. "As a daughter, how can you speak of your father like that?"

Qiu Shuiyi said with conviction, "I'm not just Father's daughter, I'm Mother's daughter too. If he doesn't treat Mother well, why can't I say something?"

Madam Fang wiped away her tears, a gratified smile on her face. "Good, your mother gave birth to a fine daughter."

Qiu Shuiyi puffed out her chest proudly, that proud little look of hers making Madam Fang both amused and exasperated.

After finally comforting her grandmother, Qiu Shuiyi stayed with her in Shou'an Hall that night and returned the next day.

She instructed Xin Liu and Xin Tao to go ahead and pack the luggage, while she herself went to the guest courtyard.

Before she left, she should say goodbye to Shen Yuchao.

When she arrived, Shen Yuchao was sitting in the courtyard drinking tea.

Qiu Shuiyi glanced around but didn't see Shang Ze or Zuo Yi anywhere.

Looking at Shen Yuchao again, she noticed his expression was calm and his complexion ruddy, indicating his injuries had likely healed.

"You've come, Second Miss?"

Shen Yuchao set down his teacup, a gentle smile on his face.

"Your Highness."

Qiu Shuiyi smiled. "I have something to say to Your Highness."

"Coincidentally, I also have something to say to Second Miss."

Shen Yuchao stood up. "After imposing for so long, it's time I took my leave."

Qiu Shuiyi was surprised for a moment, then smiled. "It seems Your Highness and I are quite in sync."

Raising an eyebrow slightly, Shen Yuchao asked, "You're not leaving too, are you?"

Qiu Shuiyi nodded. "When are you leaving, Your Highness?"

"When are you planning to leave, Second Miss?"

They asked simultaneously.

After a moment of silence, they spoke in unison again.

"Tomorrow."

After speaking, both were stunned, looking at each other with subtle expressions.

A moment later, Qiu Shuiyi snapped out of it first. "Then I wish Your Highness a smooth journey."

A smile played on Shen Yuchao's lips. "Second Miss as well."

...

The gifts she had brought were all given away, and Qiu Shuiyi didn't have many belongings of her own, so packing wasn't much trouble.

However, when they found out she was leaving, her two aunts sent over quite a few things, which again amounted to quite a lot.

Just as she was feeling a headache coming on, her three cousins arrived.

"Cousin, are you leaving?"

Mei Fangqing got straight to the point.

Qiu Shuiyi put down the clothes in her hands and nodded with a smile. "My mother was already weak when I left. After all this time, I'm worried about her."

Hearing that it was because her aunt was unwell, Mei Fangqing deflated, her eyes showing reluctance.

"Once you leave, who knows when we'll see each other again."

Mei Fangru sighed with emotion.

"I heard Eldest Aunt is arranging matches for Second Cousin. If Second Cousin chooses a good match in the capital, won't we be able to see each other often?" Qiu Shuiyi teased.

Mei Fangru's face flushed with shyness, and she shot Qiu Shuiyi a reproachful look.

Rarely seeing her like this, Mei Fangqing snapped out of her sadness and pestered Mei Fangru for details.

"Well! Do you have someone in mind? You didn't even tell me!"

Mei Fangqing wrapped an arm around Mei Fangru's shoulder.

"There's no one in mind!"

Mei Fangru retorted, flustered and annoyed.

As the two of them playfully bickered, Qiu Shuiyi shook her head with a smile.

Shifting her gaze, she met the quiet eyes of Mei Fangzhu.

"Third Cousin."

"Cousin."

Mei Fangzhu smiled. "I haven't yet thanked you for last time."

"Cousin seems to have thought things through."

Mei Fangzhu nodded gently. "I was stuck in a dead end before. Mother has agreed not to arrange any matches for me for the next couple of years. I want to take this opportunity to do things I've never done before."

Qiu Shuiyi asked curiously, "What are you thinking of doing, cousin?"

Mei Fangzhu pondered for a moment. "What about going into business?"

"Ah?"

Qiu Shuiyi was surprised.

Third Cousin appeared fragile and slender, having shed some of her timidity, her features now carried a touch of cool composure, reminiscent of Daiyu's charm.

But she actually wanted to go into business?

The contrast was striking.

Mei Fangzhu smiled shyly, "I'm actually pretty good at making rouge."

"You should do whatever you want, cousin." After the initial surprise, Qiu Shuiyi encouraged her, "Who knows, maybe one day your rouge shop will open in the capital?"

Encouraged, Mei Fangzhu seemed to gain immense confidence. "Alright, then, cousin, I'll wait for you in the capital on that day."

With the sounds of Mei Fangru and Mei Fangqing's laughter in her ears, and Mei Fangzhu's lovely face before her, Qiu Shuiyi felt a wave of tenderness in her heart and whispered, "That day will come."

In the evening, the Mei family held a farewell banquet for Shen Yuchao and Qiu Shuiyi.

The next day, Qiu Shuiyi bid farewell to the elders of the Mei family.

After coaxing the tearful Madam Fang to return, and saying goodbye to her uncles, aunts, and cousins, Qiu Shuiyi turned and boarded the carriage.

The carriage moved slowly, gradually pulling away from Hongliang City.

After they had gone a good ways, the sound of a horse's neigh came from outside. Qiu Shuiyi lifted the carriage curtain and was caught by a pair of dazzling star-like eyes.

The person's smile was blurred and ethereal by the forest mist.

His voice, like a gentle breeze, drifted into her ears, bringing a hint of coolness.

"Second Miss Qiu, a pleasure to meet you."