Chapter 162

Qin He did not go to Yan Guogong Prefecture herself; inviting Xue He Shizi would not work well, so after thinking it over, she asked Hou Fu's illegitimate daughter, Qin Yan, to accompany her.

Qin Yan was flattered and extremely nervous; in the carriage, she fawned over Fu Bao and said, "Sister Qin He, I have never been to Yan Guogong Prefecture. Is it appropriate for me to go?"

Having never visited before, arriving suddenly seemed presumptuous.

"It's fine," Qin He said, taking full responsibility, intending to show off in front of Qin Yan: "I'm here. Everyone knows my and Fu Bao's standing in Yan Guogong Prefecture; don't you, as my own sister, know that?"

Qin Yan naturally knew Qin He was He Yan's white moonlight, so she relaxed, looking forward to seeing this hereditary Yan Guogong Prefecture of Great Yan, for the He family was a great cultivation clan.

Rong Juan had met with his clan members these past few days, and the He family members with official duties were preparing to leave.

Fortunately, great cultivation clans did not lack various teleportation arrays; otherwise, clan members scattered across Great Yan could not have rushed to Jingcheng so quickly. In ancient times, travel for mortals was very time-consuming, and even low-level cultivators were reluctant to use teleportation arrays.

With all the clan members present, they tried to catch up on old times and discuss family affairs before departing.

Yan Guogong Prefecture was lively. When Qin He arrived, the steward said, "Young Lady Xue He Shizi, please wait a moment while I report this."

Fu Bao often came to Yan Guogong Prefecture; by now, she had already run inside. The steward wanted to stop her but it was too late. Qin He stepped forward to follow, while Qin Yan, upon arriving at Yan Guogong Prefecture, became as timid as a quail, sticking close to Qin He without daring to raise her head.

Qin He smiled at the steward and said, "No need to trouble yourself. Fu Bao and I are not outsiders."

The steward hesitated, then quickened his pace to walk ahead of Qin He.

With outsiders suddenly arriving in the mansion, some He family members glanced over. Qin Yan, frightened, followed closely, walking right beside Qin He. The fact that Qin He could enter without an announcement indeed showed she was a special presence in Yan Guogong Prefecture.

Fu Bao ran ahead while the steward gave instructions to a maid.

Qin He only wanted to see He He Shizi, so she spoke up: "I wish to see your He He Shizi."

He He Shizi was accompanying young master Rong Juan to meet the clan members; how could he have time to see outsiders? The steward hesitated: "Our young master is not available."

So, do you wish to leave?

Qin He would not return empty-handed; she closed her mouth and said nothing. Qin Yan dared not make a sound. The maid led Qin He to the main garden hall, where from afar she saw He family women admiring flowers outside the hall.

It was summer, and the garden was full of vibrant colors.

"Who is this?" one young lady asked.

"Reporting to the young lady, this is Young Lady Xue He Shizi," the maid said, bowing.

The He family young ladies did not recognize Young Lady Xue He Shizi. They said they might know Qin He, but the name Xue He Shizi did not immediately ring a bell. The young ladies glanced at Qin He, who offered a faint smile.

Qin Yan smiled along too. Oh my, she was so nervous. It had to be Sister Qin He, so calm and composed in the face of change.

In the largest garden hall, the He family ladies were chatting. A maid entered to report: "Lady, Young Lady Xue He Shizi has brought First-Rank Little Princess Fu Bao and her legitimate son to pay a visit."

The conversation in the hall paused. Coming to Yan Guogong Prefecture at this time meant either a genuine matter or sheer ignorance. With the He clan gathered, it was simply inconvenient to receive guests; anyone who understood the rules would not have come.

"Young Lady Xue He Shizi?" the He family's eldest lady asked, looking puzzledly at the Guogong's wife.

The Guogong's wife had not expected Qin He to bring Fu Bao on such a day. Times had changed; she did not look favorably on Qin He anymore. She replied, "Young Lady Xue He Shizi is Qin He, the illegitimate daughter of the second branch of Qin Yan Marquis Prefecture."

Qin He? The ladies exchanged glances; they had heard of her long ago.

Back then, this Qin He had almost been betrothed to He Yan, but she lacked the fate. Two betrothals failed. Later, He Yan arranged a marriage for Qin He, which was celebrated with great splendor.

None of the He family women had married with such splendor as Qin He. Now, Qin He came with her children, and the ladies found it interesting. Their expressions carried a subtle meaning; she truly lacked judgment.

"Let her come in," the Guogong's wife said, exchanging a glance with her sisters-in-law.

The maid went out. Shortly after, Qin He entered the garden hall carrying her legitimate son. Qin Yan dared not enter. Fu Bao ran in first, saw only strangers, and stopped her frantic running.

The ladies sat upright, some drinking tea, others observing with their eyes.

Qin He had not expected such a scene; it was like a three-judge tribunal. The several ladies seated at the head all held imperial titles and were cultivators; their gazes upon Qin He were scrutinizing.

The news that He He Shizi was meeting clan members in Yan Guogong Prefecture, a major event, had spread among civil and military officials in Jingcheng. The He family ladies did not believe Xue Wang Fu was unaware. Recently, Yan Guogong Prefecture had not been receiving guests.

They were not receiving guests, yet someone rushed to come at this time. Did Xue Wang Fu have no sensible person?

Great families valued rules above all. The ladies' expressions carried a faint mockery, not obvious, nor did they whisper, but Qin He felt as if thorns were pricking her back, extremely awkward under their scrutiny.

Where was He He Shizi? She was most impatient with dealing with these great family ladies.

No one asked Qin He anything, so she had to smooth things over herself. Smiling, she said to the Guogong's wife, "Lady, Fu Bao has not been to Yan Guogong Prefecture in a long time. She insisted on coming, so I brought her to disturb you."

"The mansion is busy," the Guogong's wife said with a polite smile, dismissing them: "You should take Fu Bao back first. I have no time to entertain you."

Qin He's smile froze; she did not want to leave immediately upon arrival. "Where is He He Shizi?"

The Guogong's wife looked at Qin He in confusion: "My son is with the clan members. Young Lady Xue He Shizi, if you wish to see my son, is it for something important? If not urgent, come another day, or tell me, and I will convey it to him."

The ladies frowned, showing their displeasure toward Qin He.

Qin He felt it; she was somewhat ashamed but still forced a smile: "I will not take long. I only wish to see He He Shizi for a moment, say a few words, and then leave."

Qin He never imagined that seeing He He Shizi would be so difficult.

It was also humiliating. The ladies suddenly chuckled lightly, making Qin He feel very uncomfortable, with nowhere to hide.

The demeanor of the head of the household could not be faked; it pressed down on Qin He until she could barely breathe. She had arrived confident, but now she felt a desire to retreat, forced to face them with a stiff neck.

She should have come another day, avoiding these He family members.

Seeing Qin He insist, the Guogong's wife's smile vanished. The ladies all glared at Qin He. Xue Wang Fu was truly ridiculous, marrying such a rule-breaking young lady, with no sense of propriety at all.

What kind of occasion is this? Is it a place for you to come?

"Go invite the young master," the Guogong's wife said.

The maid left the garden hall. About half an hour passed. Qin He, left waiting in the hall and coldly ignored, was about to collapse and flee in panic, when He He Shizi arrived at the hall carrying Rong Juan, followed by He family members.

Everyone sat down. He Yan, holding Rong Juan, asked Qin He, "What do you want from me?"

At this grand display, Qin He's face turned pale. Fu Bao, also frightened, ran to her and hugged her: "Mother."

Qin He opened her mouth but could not speak, her mind in panic; not a single one of those questioning words could she utter.