Inside the Yongchang Marquis Estate in the capital, chaos reigned supreme at that moment.
Madam Qin’s precious legitimate son, Gu Tingwei, had gotten into a brawl with Grand Tutor Yu’s legitimate grandson, Yu Erlang, over a courtesan singer at Guangyun Terrace.
Gu Tingwei, endowed with brute strength, had casually grabbed a Jun kiln vase and smashed it over the head of the unprepared Yu Erlang, leaving him bloodied and unconscious on the spot.
In a fit of shock and fury, the Yu family servants swarmed forward, while the few arrogant servants Gu Tingwei had brought along refused to back down. Together, they reduced the elegant venue to a scene of utter devastation.
The news flew into the Marquis Estate as if on wings, and was swiftly delivered by fast horse to Madam Qin, who had not yet returned to the capital.
Unfolding the letter, Madam Qin felt her vision darken again and again…
The letter not only detailed Gu Tingwei’s outrageous behavior but also mentioned that Grand Tutor Yu, upon hearing the news, was furious and had already prepared a memorial to argue the matter before the emperor. With the Yu family’s disciples and old connections spread throughout the court and beyond, if this escalated, not only would Gu Tingwei’s future be at stake, but even the Marquis’s official reputation would be implicated.
“That wretched creature! Useless thing!”
Madam Qin angrily crumpled the letter into a ball. Compared to her second son, Gu Tingye, who was already making a name for himself in the Bai family’s business ventures in Jiangnan, her own legitimate son was simply mud that couldn’t be plastered onto a wall!
A surge of anger at his failure to live up to her expectations welled up within her, making her head buzz…
Forcing down her rage, Madam Qin immediately calmed herself and ordered the carriage procession to speed up their return to the capital.
Upon returning to the estate, without even changing her clothes, she opened the storeroom and carefully selected lavish gifts—a pair of white jade Ruyi scepters from the previous dynasty, a set of gold hair ornaments inlaid with gemstones, and several bolts of exquisite Shu brocade Su embroidery. She then sent a request for an audience with Princess Pingning.
In the carriage, Madam Qin massaged her temples and sighed to Mama Xiang, “If we go directly like this, I’m afraid even the Yu family’s gatekeepers might not properly announce us. If we’re turned away at the door, or if conflicts arise in our words, wouldn’t that only add fuel to the fire? For this matter, we absolutely must find an intermediary who can speak to Old Madam Yu and whose status is sufficiently respectable.”
And Princess Pingning was precisely the most suitable candidate. Born into the imperial clan, she had frequently entered and left the palace since childhood and shared a mentor-disciple bond with Grand Tutor Yu’s wife. Moreover, as she was also considered a relative of the Gu family, it would be difficult for her to outright refuse.
The Ningyuan Marquis Estate’s carriage stopped before the imposing yet elegant gates of the Duke of Qi’s mansion.
Madam Qin, accompanied by Ming Lan, was led by well-dressed maidservants into a flower hall arranged with exceptional elegance and brightness.
Princess Pingning was already waiting there. Seeing Madam Qin enter, she rose to greet her, her smile proper yet distant: “Marquise, you’ve come in such haste. Is it about the young master of your estate?”
Madam Qin hurried forward, her tone earnest: “Oh, Your Highness sees clearly! That wretched creature in my household has acted lawlessly and caused such a colossal disaster. I truly… I am utterly ashamed! Now, I beg Your Highness, in light of the past affection between our two families and the ancestral ties, could you possibly mediate on our behalf before Old Madam Yu? The entire Marquis Estate would be eternally grateful for Your Highness’s great kindness!”
As she spoke, she presented the list of generous gifts.
Princess Pingning took the gift list, glanced over it briefly, and replied in a gentle yet not overly warm tone:
“Marquise, please don’t be anxious. Young people are impulsive; clashes happen. As for the Yu family… I will naturally write to explain the situation and do my best to try. However, the Grand Tutor has a stern and upright temperament. As for the final outcome, I dare not make any promises.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Qin felt somewhat reassured and repeatedly expressed her gratitude, "With Your Highness's words, I can rest assured for the most part! I am truly endlessly grateful!" She then pulled Ming Lan, who was beside her, forward and said, "Yi'er, come, pay your respects to Her Highness."
Ming Lan obediently stepped forward, performed a proper wanfu salute with poise, her voice soft yet clear, "Yi'er pays respects to Her Highness. May Your Highness enjoy boundless fortune and peace."
Princess Pingning, seeing her as lovely as jade and snow, with impeccable manners, softened her expression slightly and nodded, "Good child, rise. You do know your courtesies." However, she said no more.
Just as they were speaking, a clear and melodious sound of reading came from the corridor outside the hall. The curtain rustled lightly, and a youth dressed in a moon-white Hangzhou silk straight robe entered—it was Qi Heng, returning from school to pay his respects to his mother.
Noticing guests in the hall, he paused briefly, his cheeks flushing slightly, but he quickly composed himself and stepped forward to offer a proper salute, "Your son pays respects to Mother."
Princess Pingning then gently introduced, "Heng'er, you've come at just the right time. This is Marchioness Gu of the Ningyuan Marquis Estate."
Qi Heng immediately turned to Madam Qin and saluted earnestly, "Qi Heng pays his respects to Madam Gu."
Madam Qin looked at this outstanding son of another family, as flawless as jade, and then thought of her own troublesome child, feeling a pang of bitterness in her heart. She forced a smile and said, "Young Master truly possesses noble grace and bearing. One can tell at a glance that he is a well-read and sensible child."
Princess Pingning's gaze shifted to Ming Lan, who stood quietly to the side, as if recalling something, and she remarked lightly, "This is Sister Yi from the Gu household. In terms of seniority, Heng'er, you should address her as 'Little Aunt.'"
Qi Heng was visibly taken aback, his clear eyes filled with astonishment—he looked at the petite, exquisitely lovely girl who was half a head shorter than him and momentarily felt at a loss.
At that very moment, Ming Lan raised her head, her large, dark eyes calmly meeting his gaze.
Their eyes met.
Qi Heng felt his ears grow warm. Under his mother's prompting gaze, he had no choice but to follow etiquette. He cupped his hands toward Ming Lan, somewhat awkwardly, his voice lowering a notch, "Heng'er… p-pays respects to Aunt Gu."
The scene of a dignified young master addressing a girl who appeared even younger as "aunt" was indeed both awkward and amusing.
Ming Lan, seeing his flustered appearance with even the tips of his ears flushed red, felt inwardly amused. Yet, she maintained a serious expression on her face, like a little adult, and returned a slight nod in accordance with etiquette, her voice crisp, "Young Master is too courteous." Her demeanor was utterly composed.
This composure beyond her years made Princess Pingning take another glance at her.
After completing his salute, Qi Heng retreated behind his mother, trying his best to appear composed. However, the occasional glances he couldn't help but cast toward Ming Lan betrayed his inner turmoil. This suddenly appearing "aunt," who was younger than him, was unlike any girl he had ever met before.