Through the pitch-black night, a jade-white cloak cut through the lamp light, coming over at a brisk pace. Assisted by a steward mama, she boarded the ship, where Han Shengyu and Han Huiyu were waiting on the deck.
The moment Han Qingning stepped onto the ship and saw the two, she could not help quickening her pace toward them. “Sister Huiyu, Sister Shengyu.”
Han Huiyu stepped forward to take Han Qingning’s hands, only to knit her brows immediately. “Why are they so cold? The wind outside is strong—let us go inside the cabin first before talking.”
Han Qingning’s complexion was truly far from good, appearing deathly pale under the night sky.
Han Shengyu did not follow them inside right away. Turning her gaze to Mama Zeng, she said, “Mama, please take Mama Qian, Ruicao, and Jiegeng to settle in first.”
Although it had been over a year since the three sisters last met, they naturally recognized the servants attending one another.
Mama Qian hurriedly said, “Many thanks, Third Miss.”
Han Shengyu nodded without saying another word, turning around to enter the cabin.
Leading Mama Qian and her group of three toward the quarters, Mama Zeng asked in a low voice, “How is it that you arrived this very night? Wasn’t the plan to pick Miss Qingning up at the next ferry tomorrow?”
Mama Zeng shook her head. “I don’t know the specifics either. All I know is that Master had Miss rush here ahead of schedule.”
Hearing this, Mama Zeng tactfully asked no further, leading the three away to rest and get something to eat.
On the other side, Han Shengyu went to Han Huiyu’s room. Sure enough, Han Qingning was there, her cloak taken off, sitting in a chair like a small bundle, looking utterly exhausted.
Han Shengyu pulled a frown. “Sister Qingning, did you rush all the way here without resting on the road?”
Han Qingning nodded, pulling a letter from her sleeve pocket. “This is what my father asked me to deliver to you, Little Sister.”
Han Shengyu froze for a moment, raising her head to glance at Han Huiyu.
Her expression unchanged, Han Huiyu said softly, “Why are you looking at me? Second Uncle gave it to you, so just take it.”
Han Shengyu took the letter and opened it right in front of them, asking as she unsealed it, “Did Second Uncle give any other instructions?”
Shihua brought up hot tea, followed by Shicui carrying pastries.
Han Qingning was freezing and famished. Holding the warm teacup in her hands, the heat spread through her palms, and her complexion gradually improved. Hearing Han Shengyu’s words, she composed herself before speaking: “Father said you would understand once you read the letter. I do not know what is written inside, but my father repeatedly exhorted me to obey your words all along the way.”
That was quite a bit of pressure.
Han Shengyu let out a sigh, opening the letter first to read it carefully.
Han Huiyu pushed the pastry plate closer to Han Qingning. “You must be starving. Have some pastries first to pad your stomach. The kitchen will serve food very soon; I’ve instructed them to make a bowl of hot noodle soup so you can warm your stomach first.”
Han Qingning was thoroughly chilled. Traveling outside naturally could not compare to staying at home; though there were charcoal braziers for warmth when they first set off, because of their rushed journey, they would not enter larger cities along the way to lodge, and no one in countryside villages was luxurious enough to burn Silver Frost Charcoal.
Traveling light with minimal luggage, she certainly had not brought charcoal along, so their charcoal fire had run out by last night.
With a cup of hot tea and a few pastries down her stomach, Han Qingning’s complexion turned much better. She let out a long breath and conversed with Han Huiyu in hushed tones, doing her best not to disturb Han Shengyu, who was reading the letter.
After a long while, seeing Han Shengyu hold the letter directly over the candle flame to ignite it, reducing it to ashes in an instant, the room fell silent.
Han Huiyu and Han Qingning both turned their gazes to Han Shengyu.
Meeting their astonished eyes, Han Shengyu finally said, “Second Uncle instructed me to burn the letter immediately after reading it.”
Though Han Huiyu was not particularly clever, she knew that a letter requiring immediate destruction after reading meant its contents could not be known by outsiders.
Setting her aside, Qingning was Second Uncle’s own daughter—was she to be considered an outsider as well?
Their expressions were far too obvious. Han Shengyu felt a surge of annoyance and sighed. “Regarding the matter Second Uncle mentioned in the letter, I still need to verify its truth. Once I am certain, I will tell you both.” After a pause, she added, “This is also Second Uncle’s intention.”
Han Qingning let out a soft sigh of relief and said gently, “Sister Shengyu, Sister Huiyu and I naturally trust you. Among us sisters, you are the cleverest. My father told me to listen to you, so rest assured—if you say one, it is one, and if you say two, it is two. My only wish is to return to Yining alive to see my parents.”
Hearing Han Qingning’s words, Han Shengyu’s mood indeed lightened a bit. She smiled and said, “Unverified matters cannot be spoken of, but there is one thing I can tell you both. Second Uncle intends for us not to stay at First Uncle’s house upon reaching Jindu; we have our own residence in Jindu.”
“We have a residence?”
Not to mention Han Shengyu’s initial surprise, both Han Huiyu and Han Qingning were stunned.
“How come the elders at home never mentioned this?” Han Huiyu asked, her brows knitted.
Han Qingning nodded in agreement. “For such a major matter, my father didn’t leak a single word to me either.”
“It’s only normal that we didn’t know.” Han Shengyu looked at Han Huiyu. “When First Uncle bought the residence in Jindu back then, the money came from the common family fund. Moreover, when he bought it, he deliberately bought the adjacent residence as well. It’s just that over all these years, neither of our two families has been to Jindu, so naturally no one brought it up.”
Keenly sensing a detail, Han Huiyu looked at Han Shengyu and said, “In whose hands is that residence right now?”
Han Shengyu pulled another slip of paper from the envelope and reached out to hand it over. “The deed is right here.”
Han Huiyu merely glanced at it without accepting it, falling silent for a moment before saying, “I fear it might be a hot potato.”
Neither of their families had gone to Jindu after the residence was bought, and with First Madam possessing such a temperament, it was likely that someone had long cuckooed the nest and occupied it.
Han Shengyu flicked the deed and said with a smile, “It doesn’t matter. Tonight, we’ll have Han Jing rush to Jindu overnight, taking the deed to reclaim the property.”
Han Huiyu and Han Qingning both stared at Han Shengyu. “This… would that be somewhat improper?”
“We are merely going to clear out our own house—what is improper about that? Anyone with an ounce of shame will have to clean it spotless before returning it to us.”
“Can meat that has been eaten be spit back out?” Han Huiyu didn’t believe it; with First Madam’s nature, she would never let go easily.
“As long as the house isn’t cleared out for a day, we won’t step through the city gates of Jindu for a day.” Han Shengyu’s voice gradually turned cold, her expression sharp as she looked at Han Huiyu and Han Qingning. “First Uncle has long grown distant from our two families. As for Cousin Jintang’s matter, we cannot rely solely on their one-sided story for the truth.”
Seeing the hesitation remaining in their eyes, Han Shengyu added, “In the imperial palace, among those who can give birth to a son and raise him to adulthood, how many are simple?”
“Shengyu, do you suspect First Uncle and First Madam?”
Han Shengyu shook her head. “We cannot easily trust either side. Since we have our own residence, we won’t be at a disadvantage or easily controlled when dealing with the First Branch.”
Second Uncle had Han Qingning personally deliver the property deed to her, showing that Second Uncle had also developed suspicions toward First Uncle.
Having them stay in their own residence was precisely to free them from the First Branch’s control.
With heavy thoughts weighing on the three sisters, their dinner was eaten in a deeply subdued atmosphere.
Han Qingning’s room was right next to theirs, so she went to rest right after eating.
Han Shengyu, however, had Han Jing summoned over, handed the deed to him, and said, “Take two extra men with you to reclaim the house, and then do your best to investigate the truth regarding what happened at the palace banquet that day.”
“If I leave, what about you all?” Han Jing refused.
The person in front of him was the absolute best at causing trouble; he had to keep a close eye on her.
With a flick of Han Shengyu’s wrist, the scimitar at Han Jing’s waist instantly ended up in her hand.
Han Jing: …
When Han Shengyu was young, she often went to the place where he practiced martial arts to play, frequently following him around to learn a move or two as if messing about. The master had said her skeletal structure was extraordinary and her natural talent outstanding, making her fine material for martial arts.
Regrettably, Han Shengyu was fond of play; every time she went looking for him, she would just make a few casual moves for fun.
Was this trick of disarming a blade really something one could learn just like that?