Chapter 117: Turned Upside Down in Disorder

Chapter 117: Thrown Into Chaos

After the Qin family members each set up their own households, Steward Wen followed Qin Jiao to the new residence and managed the household affairs together with Cong Shuang. The more Steward Wen spoke, the more flustered he grew—the flower seedlings he had just planted in the courtyard had barely sprouted when they were trampled to death by that clumsy, brutish goose, and the old steward's brow furrowed in distress.

Realizing his gift had caused this mess, Ning Zhong also felt somewhat embarrassed. "Ah, I've really caused you trouble. I'll help round them up!"

With that, Ning Zhong rolled up his sleeves and dashed into the yard. Steward Wen, eager to catch the crabs and the runaway chickens and geese, gave Xie Nai a quick bow before hurrying in after him.

The crabs Ning Zhong had brought were not only fresh but also fiercely lively. Desperate to "make a run for it," they swung their sharp pincers like crazy, and those wild, unruly pheasants were even worse—you couldn't get within a foot of them.

A Bai, who had grown bigger, was also adding to the chaos, darting around and snapping at everything. It was a total madhouse, and Qin Jiao watched, caught between laughter and exasperation. "I... I suppose I'll go catch them too."

Xie Nai smiled as well. "No need. You might end up getting pinched by those crabs, young master."

"Let me handle it instead." Normally, Luo Yue would've been all over this kind of chaos, but since he wasn't around at the moment, Luo Bei had no choice but to volunteer himself.

With someone willing to step up, Qin Jiao was quick to "pass the torch." "Mm! Thank you, excellent. Then you do it."

It had to be said—having someone with Lightness Skill join the "fray" made a world of difference. Before long, all the chickens, geese, and crabs running wild in the yard had been "captured."

"Cousin, I caught one!"

Ning Zhong, panting hard, held up a chicken and turned to look at Qin Jiao. His eyes lit up with excitement, but when he saw what was in front of him, his gaze dimmed a little.

Since he was at home and not receiving visitors, Qin Jiao wore only a thin robe of crimson gauze. The young master's slender frame stood beside the tall Xie Nai, like a fragile spring blossom kissed with dew.

The young man leaned in slightly, and their shoulders brushed together. There was nothing overtly intimate about the gesture, yet the unspoken understanding and intimacy between them made the vague, hidden affection obvious to anyone.

"Master Ning, don't hold onto it—hand it over!"

Steward Wen came over and took the flapping chicken from Ning Zhong's hands, while Cong Shuang casually handed him a handkerchief.

"Cousin, wipe your hands and go sit inside." Qin Jiao smiled, then called to Steward Wen, "Let's stew this chicken for lunch, and throw in the spring bamboo shoots too."

"Alright, young master—just wait and see!" Steward Wen smiled warmly, grabbed the chicken, and headed to the kitchen. Cong Shuang followed with a basin of crabs waving their pincers, and A Bai trailing behind, barking up a storm.

After wiping his hands, Ning Zhong headed inside first, while Xie Nai and Qin Jiao walked side by side behind him. The courtyard was full of blooming flowers, with the faint chirping of birds in the air. A string of glass wind chimes hung in the yard, and as Ning Zhong looked up, he saw the reflections of the two behind him, their figures lingering tenderly in the glass.

At that moment, a line surfaced in his mind unbidden: *Spring meets the breeze, and I meet you.*

The tall young man stood beside the young master, and noticing Ning Zhong's sneaky looks, a flicker of impatience crossed Xie Nai's eyes. But he didn't act on it—he just gave Qin Jiao's shoulder a light squeeze and steered him away.

Ning Zhong, left standing there, clenched his fists, a flash of resentment and anger in his eyes. But he hid it fast—by the time Qin Jiao looked back, he had already put on his usual warm, friendly face...

—

As the apricot blossoms bloomed in clusters in Qin Jiao's courtyard and the winter jasmine by the capital's moat swayed in the breeze, an overnight spring wind swept over mountain ridges and wilds, streams and fresh willows, tiled roofs and rain-soaked alleys... The gentle breeze swayed and brought in the most beautiful spring of the year.

Along with spring came the birthday banquet for Prince Jiang, the son of the Marquis of Pingning.

In past years, Jiang Qingrong's birthday banquet was always a big, lavish affair. But this year, due to the influence of the Second Prince's incident, the Marquis of Pingning didn't want to be too ostentatious, so he only invited close relatives and friends to celebrate his beloved son.

Though invitations weren't widely sent, given the status of the Marquis of Pingning's household, plenty of people still came.

Colorful silk ribbons fluttered, the opera troupe's gongs and drums clamored, and the lively performance drew rounds of applause from the audience below!

When Qin Jiao arrived with his gift, Jiang Qingrong was surrounded by a few young noblemen in conversation. The moment he saw Qin Jiao, he immediately abandoned them and rushed over, beaming with joy.

"Happy birthday! This is my gift for you." Qin Jiao handed over the brocade box, and Jiang Qingrong took it before asking, "Did you come alone?"

Qin Jiao replied calmly, "No, I didn't."

Jiang Qingrong asked somewhat eagerly, "Is Qin Han too embarrassed to come in? Afraid of being talked about? I'll go fetch her..."

Qin Jiao interrupted him with an amused look. "Second sister? She didn't come?"

Jiang Qingrong: "..."

Qin Jiao said with easygoing smugness, "The prince came with me."

Jiang Qingrong couldn't hold it in anymore and leaned in close to Qin Jiao, gritting his teeth. "Qin Jiao, you little sneak—are you messing with me for fun?!"

Stepping aside to put distance between them, Qin Jiao wore an expression of pure amusement. "Your Highness, please calm down—how would I dare!"

Jiang Qingrong reached out to tickle him. "I think you dare plenty! Xie Nai has spoiled you rotten!"

"Hey, stop, stop, stop—Your Highness, use words, not hands!" Having been made a fool of for no reason, Jiang Qingrong wasn't about to let Qin Jiao off easily. He grabbed him and gave him a thorough roughing-up before letting go.

Qin Jiao pretended to beg for mercy. "I'm wrong, I'm wrong, I know I was wrong." He naturally knew Jiang Qingrong had been asking about Qin Han. He lifted his chin, his gaze falling on the brocade box, and said, "There's a wolf-hair brush in that box—it's a gift Second Sister asked me to give you. She said she wouldn't come today."

Qin Han's original words were: "Now that the Qin household affairs have just settled down a bit, I won't go to the capital to cause my brother trouble, lest I stir up more gossip."

Qin Han's consideration was for Qin Jiao's sake—it was just unfortunate for Jiang Qingrong, who had been waiting day after day to see her.

"Fine, fine—if she's not coming, she's not coming!" Jiang Qingrong irritably ran a hand through his hair. Just then, the young noblemen who had been talking with him earlier came over. Those who could associate and converse with Jiang Qingrong were mostly of good character, and upon seeing Qin Jiao, they all greeted him warmly with a "Young Master Qin."

Qin Jiao had just exchanged greetings with each of them when the Marquis of Pingning welcomed Xie Nai inside.

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