Mrs. Wang stood in the small, secluded courtyard of Qin Liuxi, looking around.
The courtyard was not very big and did not have many flowers or plants. It was simple and square, with a small artificial hill piled up in the northwest corner. Below the hill was a small pond with a few lotus plants. It was almost the end of July, yet there was still a trembling lotus flower blooming, with two odd little fish, one black and one white, swimming inside.
This scene made Mrs. Wang linger and forget to return. She then glanced toward the southeast corner where a pomegranate tree was planted. The pomegranate flowers were still blooming, bright and luxuriant, demonstrating a vibrant vitality.
A breeze came, carrying a mix of floral scents. Mrs. Wang was about to follow the fragrance when Qin Liuxi came out to greet her.
"Why are you here, mother?" Qin Liuxi greeted Mrs. Wang with a bow.
Mrs. Wang paused, her lips curving slightly: "It's not yet completely dark. I came to have a chat with you."
Qin Liuxi stepped aside, inviting her inside.
Mrs. Wang did not decline and stepped up into the house. Once inside, she looked around.
The interior was simple without any luxurious decorations or ornaments. Under the window, there was a table with the Four Treasures of the Study and several untidily stacked books. Beside the table was a beauty couch with a light cyan blanket on it.
In the center of the room, there was a round table with tea sets on it. Mrs. Wang sat down, and Qi Huang served the tea.
Mrs. Wang took a sip and looked at Qin Liuxi: "This residence is not small, there are many empty rooms. Over the years, why did you choose to live in this small courtyard?"
Qin Liuxi replied indifferently: "Convenient, quiet."
Mrs. Wang choked on these words. How could this be considered quiet? The courtyard was close to the back street, and it even had a corner gate opened for convenient access; some noise could still come through.
But she couldn't really mean the convenience of coming and going, could she?
Mrs. Wang forcefully suppressed this thought, looking at the too-light face in front of her, momentarily at a loss for words.
The natural mother of Qin Liuxi was extremely beautiful, and needless to say, her figure was also. However, Qin Liuxi didn't quite resemble her.
Qin Liuxi's features were not gentle, her cheeks slightly gaunt, her lips thin and crimson, but her eyes were extremely expressive. When her eye corners lifted, she looked invincible, contemptuous of everyone.
This look was quite captivating.
Mrs. Wang said: "All these years, you've been alone in the old house. It must have been hard for you."
Qin Liuxi lifted her eyelids and said: "It's not about hardship. It's quite fine. I'm used to it."
Mrs. Wang stiffened again, not saying much but pulling a small silver hairpin from her sleeve and handing it to her: "You should have had a ceremony for your coming of age. There was a sudden family issue, and nothing valuable could be brought out. This silver hairpin was only purchased yesterday; the gift is modest."
Qin Liuxi looked at the silver hairpin with a begonia pattern, hesitated a moment before taking it, and said: "Thank you, mother."
Mrs. Wang tugged at the corner of her mouth: "What thanks to speak of? This should have been given by the Qin family. If not for the mishap, you should have had a better hairpin, after all, you are the legitimate daughter of my Qin family, recognized if only nominally."
Qin Liuxi was silent for a moment, then clipped the silver hairpin into her hair and reached out to touch her mother's wrist, saying: "Don't worry."
The moment her hand touched the pulse, Qin Liuxi's eyebrows furrowed, and looking at Mrs. Wang's Children Palace, her expression darkened a bit, her lips pursing.
"Mother, your nights are restless, and your liver is congested with anger. If this continues for a long time, it harms the body and lifespan. Only with a broad heart, can there be hope."
Mrs. Wang's pupils shook, and she locked eyes with her.