After a few pleasantries, Madam Lin was pulled away by other noble ladies to chat. Before leaving, she patted Lin Meijun's hand and told her to make herself at home.
Suddenly, only Qin Xianyue and Lin Meijun were left by the waterside pavilion.
Qin Xianyue intended to take the opportunity to excuse herself. Just as she took a step, Lin Meijun called out to her with a smile.
"Sister Qin, please stay."
She walked forward, the pearl flowers in her hair swaying with her movements. Her tone was enthusiastic and natural.
"The spring day is beautiful, and the lake and mountains are so elegant. I don't know many female relatives here, and it's rare to feel such a connection with you, Sister Qin. Why don't we go for a boat ride and enjoy the scenery together?"
With the invitation made, Qin Xianyue found it difficult to refuse and could only nod in agreement.
The two walked slowly along the lake shore. Beneath their feet was a path paved with bluestone slabs, with weeping willows swaying on either side. Occasionally, fallen blossoms would drift onto their shoulders, making the spring scenery even more enchanting.
Unfortunately, Qin Xianyue walked half a step behind Lin Meijun, her heart filled with desolation, with no interest in admiring the scenery at all.
The spring breeze blew, carrying the moist air from the lake and also dispersing the rich scent of Lin Meijun's perfume.
The scent was strong and luxurious, a rare item only noble ladies could afford. It formed a stark contrast with the light herbal fragrance on her person, like an invisible boundary clearly separating their statuses.
Lin Meijun, as if unintentionally, spoke with a sweet and gentle voice.
"I heard that you and Brother Yanchi grew up together, Sister Qin. You must be very familiar with him, right?"
Hearing her naturally utter the phrase "Brother Yanchi," Qin Xianyue's fingertips paused slightly, and she replied faintly.
"I merely stayed at the Marquis's Estate for many years and received his care."
"Care?" Lin Meijun chuckled, a hint of curiosity in the corner of her eyes. "I noticed Brother Yanchi treats you differently. All the servants in the estate say he cherishes you the most, always keeping you by his side wherever he goes. I heard he even took you to the border. Is that true?"
Qin Xianyue knew what she was trying to find out but pretended not to notice, lowering her head to brush flower petals off her skirt.
"The Young Master is kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see me without a home."
"I see." Lin Meijun nodded and pressed on, "What does Young Master Yanchi usually like? I heard he is skilled in military strategy. Does he enjoy reading military books in his spare time? And he has been practicing martial arts for many years; are there any foods he dislikes?"
A string of questions, each revolving around Gu Yanchi.
Qin Xianyue could only answer the trivial ones, maintaining a polite and distant tone that was beyond reproach.
Seeing that she was unwilling to talk more, Lin Meijun didn't press further and changed the subject to the scenery by the lake, though her words always circled back to the affairs of the Marquis's Estate.
As they reached a patch of pear blossoms, their white petals blooming profusely, the two were about to pass through the flower path when they suddenly heard two hushed female voices from behind the bushes. They were two familiar noble ladies from the Capital City.
"Did you hear? The Lin family is going to form a marriage alliance with the Gu family, the Marquis of Dingbei. The Lin family even brought their daughter, saying they are using this banquet to look for a match."
"I heard that too! But the Gu family seems to have another intention. I heard that before the Old Madam passed away, she betrothed that Miss Qin to Gu Shizi. Perhaps this time, the Marquis's Estate will have a marriage to take two brides, and Miss Qin will also be officially recognized."
"Isn't that right! Miss Qin is stunningly beautiful, and Gu Shizi has cherished her for so many years. How could he bear to give her away? Making her a secondary wife or a noble concubine would at least acknowledge their long-standing affection."
"Tsk tsk, Miss Lin is truly generous to be able to tolerate another person..."
The voices faded, but every word clearly reached their ears.
The smile on Lin Meijun's face faded slightly, and a fleeting, sharp glint flashed in her eyes before she quickly concealed it.
"Miss Lin, this is all baseless gossip. You shouldn't take it seriously."
Seeing this, Qin Xianyue quickly spoke up to explain.
"The Marquis's Estate has always had upright family principles and valued propriety and rules. Moreover, Young Master Yanchi... is a man of integrity. We only have a sibling-like relationship, and he would never do something as absurd as marrying two women."
"Of course, I don't believe such idle talk."
Lin Meijun suddenly smiled, her smile gentle and her tone soft.
"Sister Qin and I hit it off immediately. How could I bear to delay your youth? Besides, what truly good daughter would be willing to be a concubine and live at someone else's mercy?
You are so outstanding and intelligent; you will surely find a devoted husband in the future. Why stay at the Marquis's Estate and be someone who cannot see the light of day?"
Although these words seemed to be for her own good, upon closer examination, they carried a subtle sharpness.
Qin Xianyue suddenly realized clearly that in Lin Meijun's eyes, she was never a sister who had shared over a decade of affection with Gu Yanchi. She was merely someone living under another's roof, of humble status, and not even qualified to compete, an "outsider."
The companionship of those years, the loyalty of saving each other's lives, was so insignificant in the face of the status of "legitimate daughter of the Minister's Estate," not even worthy of being acknowledged.
Looking at the radiant young woman before her, Qin Xianyue's face turned as pale as the melting snow under the eaves. A sudden dull ache in her chest left her momentarily speechless.
Just then, a familiar figure walked out from beyond the pear blossoms – it was Gu Yanchi, who had been searching for them.
He walked with light steps and waved when he saw them from afar.
Lin Meijun's eyes lit up. She immediately put away her previous expression and quickly stepped forward, her tone laced with just the right amount of delight.
"Young Master, you're finally back. I was just admiring the pear blossoms with Sister Qin."
She chatted enthusiastically with Gu Yanchi about the scenery they had just seen.
As she spoke, she suddenly took out a jade pendant from her sleeve. The jade was warm and translucent, carved with an exquisite winding lotus pattern, clearly valuable at first glance.
Handing the jade pendant forward, Lin Meijun's voice was gentle.
"When you brought me here earlier, I saw the jade ornaments on your waist bump against the carriage railing, and the edges were a bit worn. This jade pendant was found by my father a few days ago. It's a fine Hetian jade, and the carving is exquisite. I think it suits you better."
Gu Yanchi looked down at the old jade pendant on his waist. Although not a top-grade item, it had accompanied him for many years.
He didn't immediately accept it, but Lin Meijun took the opportunity to place the jade pendant in his hand, her smile beaming.
"Please accept it. Consider it a token of my gratitude for your personal welcome today."
Qin Xianyue stood in place, looking at the brand-new jade pendant, then at the old one on Gu Yanchi's waist, worn smooth by the years. She felt the handkerchief in her hand crumple, an indescribable sourness spreading from the bottom of her heart, her eyes stinging slightly.
That old pendant was something she had saved up for three months' monthly allowance to find, searching through every jade shop in Yun Jing.
Now, in front of Lin Meijun's new jade, it seemed particularly insignificant.
Love, after all, was never about something precious.
✦✦✦