"Old Madam, the Marquis sent a servant to tell Second Miss that he greatly enjoyed the crystal peach blossom cakes and jade rolls she made. He has important guests at the moment and asked if Second Miss would be convenient to make some and send them over to the flower hall."
The Old Madam immediately guessed where the important guests were from, as someone had been specifically sent to convey the message.
"You've been doing needlework for quite some time. If you stare at it any longer, your eyes will become sore and dry. Go make the pastries; consider it a way to relax. Your father rarely asks anything of you, so you mustn't disappoint him," the Old Madam said. "And bring me some cloud slices cake while you're at it."
Qi Zhenzhen found it strange. What kind of important guest had arrived that required her to personally make pastries and send them over?
It was in the flower hall, and her father was personally hosting, so it had to be a man.
A woman who was engaged should avoid impropriety and not see external men if possible. For them to summon her now, who else could it be but Gu Sinian?
The pastries were made quickly. Zi Ling took the cloud slices cake to the Old Madam, while Qi Zhenzhen carried the other two, accompanied by Fei Xu and Er Xi, towards the flower hall.
As expected, the blue figure on the armchair was none other than Gu Sinian.
"Come, come, taste my second daughter's handiwork. It's excellent, truly excellent. I'm not boasting, but even the cooks from the imperial kitchen in the Old Madam's courtyard can't match what she makes," Qi Tianming said with pride.
Qi Zhenzhen didn't linger. She only paid her respects to Qi Tianming and Gu Sinian before withdrawing.
She didn't even glance at Gu Sinian.
Gu Sinian was a little disappointed but knew she was adhering to the rules.
Qi Tianming observed Gu Sinian with a keen eye, feeling pleased. The young Marquis seemed to take an interest in his second daughter. When he spoke to him earlier, Gu Sinian had kept his gaze fixed forward, showing little interest. When his second daughter brought the pastries, the young Marquis had looked at her several times, even seeing her off with his gaze. He had also eaten several of the pastries.
"Marquis, the pastries are excellent, with unique flavors and exquisite presentation. My mother has always enjoyed such things. May I take some home?" Gu Sinian asked, looking directly at Qi Tianming and speaking in a clear voice.
"They are just a few pastries, of course, you may," Qi Tianming quickly nodded. "Are these pastries perhaps too few?"
"Not at all. I only ate two, and Marquis didn't eat any," Gu Sinian replied.
Qi Tianming, who had just raised his hand, silently retracted it. He had wanted to taste one, but since the young Marquis had spoken, how could he possibly ask for one?
"If the wife of the Duke's mansion enjoys them, she may simply send someone to ask Second Miss to make them and have them delivered," Qi Tianming said, trying to be accommodating.
Gu Sinian seriously refused, "It can damage a young lady's skin to spend too much time in the kitchen."
Until Gu Sinian left, Qi Tianming kept replaying his words in his mind. Was he unwilling for Zhenzhen to go into the kitchen?
Qi Tianming felt he hadn't misunderstood; that was precisely what he meant.
This was indeed interesting. The outside world rumored that Gu Sinian was fond of men and extremely averse to women, treating them with either beatings or scoldings. Details reveal the truth. If he truly disliked women, how could he have said such a thing?
The more Qi Tianming thought about it, the more he felt that the rumors outside might be largely untrue. If that were the case, it wouldn't be too unfair to Zhenzhen.
Gu Sinian had come to give him chess scores this time, but besides the chess scores, there were many other things. Upon looking through them, most were items favored by young ladies. What else could Qi Tianming not understand? He instructed his servants to send all the items to Longxiang Garden.
"Zhenzhen, did you see who your father's guest was? He must be special, otherwise, your father wouldn't have specifically sent someone to have pastries made and delivered," the Old Madam said with a smile.
Qi Zhenzhen pouted, "Grandmother must have guessed who the visitor was, yet you didn't give me any hints. At least you could have let me go back and change my clothes."
"Oh, is our Zhenzhen feeling shy?" the Old Madam chuckled even more heartily. "Did he speak to you?"
Qi Zhenzhen shook her head. "Your granddaughter has always been the most well-behaved. After delivering the items and paying my respects, I returned."
The Old Madam chided her, "You are the only one who can remain so calm when meeting your future husband. Well, after you go to the Duke's mansion in the future, you will see him every day and speak to him every day, so there's no rush."
After completing her needlework quota for the day, Qi Zhenzhen stood up to stretch her legs and gently rotated her neck. If she continued, her neck would become stiff.
"Grandmother, I'll take my leave now. I'll come back tomorrow to keep you company," Qi Zhenzhen said with a smile, tidying up her needlework basket.
In Longxiang Garden, someone Qi Zhenzhen did not expect was sitting there, fiddling with a pile of items on the table, her face filled with undisguised envy.
"Sister Zhenzhen, you're back. Uncle truly dotes on you, sending so many things," Li Qing said enviously. "Just these rouges and powders, it's as if the rouge shop's entire inventory has been brought here! The reds alone, there are water red, crimson, rosy red, peach red... And this eyebrow pencil, judging by its quality, it's not something ordinary goods can compare to."
Qi Zhenzhen calmly bowed to Li Qing, "Sister Qing, what is it you need me for?"
"Look at how you speak, Sister. Can I not come to talk to you without a reason?" Li Qing said somewhat awkwardly. "I just haven't spoken to you in a long time and missed you."
When had Li Qing ever spoken to Qi Zhenzhen so politely? It was truly unsettling.
When someone accustomed to being ostentatious suddenly restrains themselves, anyone would wonder why.
"Then, Sister, if you have something to say, please say it. I'm listening," Qi Zhenzhen sat beside her, looking intently at Li Qing, waiting for her to speak.
Li Qing found it difficult to proceed. Why was Qi Zhenzhen not following the usual script? Although she had come to visit, shouldn't she, as the mistress of Longxiang Garden, host her properly? Must the host make the guest initiate conversation?
"Why has Sister stopped speaking again?" Qi Zhenzhen asked, feigning confusion.
Li Qing opened her mouth but didn't know what to say. She didn't want to come to Qi Zhenzhen, but her grandmother had told her. The marriage to the Duke's mansion was now settled for Qi Zhenzhen, and she had to maintain a good relationship with her to gain favor, after all, the position of the young Marquis's wife was very high, and it was not something they could afford to offend. However, she truly couldn't bring herself to be humble towards a庶女 (daughter of a concubine) as a嫡女 (daughter of the main wife). Especially seeing how favored Qi Zhenzhen was by the Marquis of Changping now, Li Qing felt even more resentful. She, the嫡女, didn't even get to use those things, while Qi Zhenzhen had so many she couldn't use them all.
Even Bei Duan brought tea in, reluctantly placing a cup before Li Qing, and then turned to Qi Zhenzhen, saying, "Miss, these were sent by the Marquis. He said they are from our future son-in-law for Miss to play with."
Future son-in-law?
That would be the young Marquis!
Were all these things sent by the young Marquis?
Li Qing became even more furious. This marriage was originally hers. If Qi Zhenzhen hadn't interfered, wouldn't all these things have been hers? With the young Marquis being so thoughtful, wouldn't married life be sweet and blissful?