Chapter 125: Qin Jianyu Sends a Gift

Xue Jiaoyue’s face stiffened. Looking down at her own attire, she realized that the sweet pink indeed looked frivolous and abrupt, and those obnoxious ruffles lacked all dignity. It was hardly how a mature young lady should dress, yet today she was coming of age!

Prompted by Minglan’s remark, quite a few newly arrived guests in the courtyard turned to look. Their gazes were less of curious appraisal and more of mockery, compounded by the Princess’s derision.

Overwhelmed with shame, vexation, and anger, Xue Jiaoyue wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

What made it even more infuriating was that it was now too late to go back and change.

Covering her face with her sleeve, Xue Jiaoyue hurried past Xue Fanzhi and Minglan, rushing straight into Old Madam Xue’s quarters.

Inside, some of Old Madam Xue’s long-standing relatives were present. Without looking closely, Xue Jiaoyue knew that among them were guests the family usually had to beg to visit. Under normal circumstances, she would have eagerly and charmingly sought to distinguish herself, but today she had no such mood. After paying her respects to Old Madam Xue, she retreated into the warm chamber, and presently summoned Luyi to fetch her a change of clothes.

Old Madam Xue was conversing with Lady Wen, a younger sister-in-law of her generation. Although Lady Wen was not the head matriarch of the Shen family, she hailed from a prominent clan in Shu, and her son currently held an official post in the Censorate. Blessed with both sons and daughters and enjoying longevity, Lady Wen had been specifically invited by Old Madam Xue to serve as the *zan*—the sponsor who would pin the hair for Xue Fanzhi during her coming-of-age ceremony.

Noticing that Xue Fanzhi was acting somewhat out of the ordinary, Old Madam Xue gave a subtle nod to Mother Jiang standing nearby. A moment later, while serving pastries, Mother Jiang leaned over to murmur in Old Madam Xue’s ear, "It’s because of the dress!"

Old Madam Xue gave a slight nod. It was a trivial matter, and since the Eighth Miss had not come out the loser, she let the matter rest.

She resumed her conversation with Lady Wen. Just then, Xue Fanzhi and Minglan arrived together.

Recognizing Minglan, Old Madam Xue hurriedly stood up and greeted, "This old subject pays her respects to Your Highness!"

Hearing that royalty was present, the rest of the company hastily stood to curtsy.

Minglan said, "Old Madam, please don't stand on ceremony. I came today to share in the festive joy, so everyone needn't be overly formal. Please rise!" Her demeanor was poised and graceful, entirely devoid of the tyranny attributed to her in rumors. Everyone felt immensely relieved and exchanged knowing smiles.

They all knew that while associating with the imperial family certainly had its advantages, it was also a nerve-wracking affair.

After receiving greetings from Minglan, Old Madam Xue, acting as the hostess, introduced the seated guests to her.

In truth, the introductions were meant for Xue Fanzhi, for despite her advanced years, Old Madam Xue would never presume to claim kinship with a royal princess.

Minglan understood this naturally; she found a seat, listened quietly, and nodded without a trace of mischief. Led by Old Madam Xue, Xue Fanzhi then paid her respects one by one to the elderly relatives.

Old Madam Xue had never bestowed such high regard upon any granddaughter before—this was a first.

The company instantly grasped the implications: the Eighth Miss had won the favor of the Old Madam and was no longer the overlooked little girl of the past.

When Lady Wen was introduced, the more she looked at Xue Fanzhi, the more affectionate she grew. Slipping an emerald bangle from her own wrist onto Xue Fanzhi’s, she smiled and said, "Consider this a token for our first meeting—I am not offering perfunctory scraps, for this is a piece I habitually wear. Keep it well!"

Judging by the luminous luster of the jade, Xue Fanzhi knew Lady Wen was not exaggerating. She hastily declined, "Your granddaughter dares not accept this; it is far too precious."

Lady Wen replied, "Your formal coming-of-age gift will come later; I won't renege on that. Hurry and take it!"

Her words left Xue Fanzhi blushing, while Old Madam Xue chuckled beside them, "Accept it, A-zhi. It's not every day you get to fleece her—make her bleed a little!"

Lady Wen smiled reproachfully, but her face was wreathed in smiles without a hint of genuine anger. Her quick, cheerful banter at her age set everyone to laughing heartily.

With no other choice, Xue Fanzhi accepted the gift.

Once Xue Fanzhi had completed the greetings and resumed her seat, Lady Wen leaned close to Old Madam Xue and lowered her voice to ask, "Is A-zhi betrothed to anyone yet? The child grows more lovely by the day!"

This was hardly the time to air grievances regarding the Qin family.

Detecting the genuine praise in Lady Wen's tone—and knowing it would be a pity if the girl were already taken—Old Madam Xue nodded and replied, "She is promised to the maternal grandson of my third younger brother's wife."

Given how the Third Branch’s family brawled and entangled themselves in endless troubles, just how good could their chosen groom possibly be?

Lady Wen inwardly sighed at the waste.

She continued, "I don't see anyone from the Third Branch here. Has anyone from the Qin family arrived? It is getting late, and the ceremony will begin shortly!"

Since it was a childhood betrothal established long ago, now that the young woman was holding her formal coming-of-age rite, surely someone ought to be present to witness it.

Old Madam Xue shook her head, "The invitations were already sent out."

Yet nobody had arrived. What did this mean? Was the Xue family holding the Qin family in low regard, or did the Qin family simply not care for the Xue family?

Regardless, could this marriage alliance possibly continue?

From the disdain on Old Madam Xue's face, Lady Wen caught a hint of the underlying reality. She nodded inwardly; perhaps this engagement would be annulled, leaving an opening for her to act as a matchmaker.

Just as Lady Wen was pondering this, a maidservant announced, "Young Master Qin has sent congratulatory gifts!"

Yet he himself had not come.

Today was a momentous day for Xue Fanzhi and Xue Jiaoyue, but not for Old Madam Xue. As a male outsider, Qin Jianyu was hardly in a position to enter and pay formal respects.

Lady Wen’s eyebrows arched slightly; Cao Cao really did arrive the moment he was spoken of.

Xue Fanzhi raised her eyes to look at the maidservant. Recalling the pastries Qin Jianyu had previously brought to the residence, the corners of Old Madam Xue’s mouth curved into a smile as she instructed, "Very well, bring the gifts forward!"

The maidservant bowed her head in assent...

………………

In the outer courtyard’s guest quarters, Qin Jianyu was listening to his personal attendant report on what had transpired in the inner courtyard of the Xue residence—naturally, only matters concerning himself, as he could not probe into anything else.

"What? It was unsealed in public?" Qin Jianyu asked in disbelief.

The attendant nodded, "Yes, by order of the Old Madam, and others joined in the clamor, saying they wanted to see what the Eighth Miss's prospective husband had sent her!"

Qin Jianyu’s face burned a fiery crimson. How dare the Xue family do such a thing!

The gift he had brought was simply unfit for public display; the box was somewhat large, but it was not something meant for others to behold. It had all been his mother's idea. At the time, he had argued that regardless of the state of the engagement, they ought to select a decent gift, if only to spare him humiliation.

And what had his mother replied? That since it was sealed in a box, only Xue Fanzhi would know, and she would never make a fuss about it.

Yet what was the reality now? Opened in front of everyone—could a single chicken leg pass for a coming-of-age gift? How would those people mock the Qin family? How would they laugh at him?

Worse still, they would ridicule Xue Fanzhi for having a match that was utterly unpresentable. Therefore, this was also a moment of public humiliation for Xue Fanzhi. How dared Old Madam Xue do this? How dared Xue Fanzhi allow it?

Qin Jianyu longed to flick his sleeves and storm off immediately, but he still had business to witness; he could not leave just yet.

He had to dissolve this engagement first, and then make everyone believe it was the fault of the Xue family, the fault of Xue Fanzhi. Only then would people stop ridiculing him, and instead conclude that he had brought two chicken legs as a congratulatory gift solely because Xue Fanzhi was worthless and undeserving.

"Go," Qin Jianyu told his attendant urgently, "go and keep watch on the Young Master of the Sun family, and report back to me at once!"