Return of the Swallow

Chapter 27: Maternal Grandmother

“Sister-in-law, your hands are freezing. Why didn’t you take a hand warmer with you?” Née Sun’s tone was lighthearted, her eyes creasing into smiles. She gave her own brass hand warmer etched with flowers to Senior Madame née Yan and then took Second Madame née Kong’s hands into her own, rubbing them to impart warmth.

Both sisters-in-law were older than née Sun. The Duke of Ding practiced a strict household culture, and her two elder brothers doted on née Sun greatly. She hadn’t had a single argument with her sisters-in-law before coming of age and leaving the manor. The elder women were extremely close, closer than even the daughters of the official wife and concubines.

The girls all started laughing when they saw this. A fifteen-year-old girl wearing a turquoise cloak topped with gray rabbit fur smiled.

“Don’t listen to senior aunt’s words, auntie! She talks like she wasn’t in a hurry. She checked the hour four times after only just arriving at grandmother’s. My mother said that we all might as well head outside since senior aunt was so anxious. ‘Perhaps a watched kettle will boil!’ That’s why we all came out.” The girl’s voice was clear and crisp, giving rise to more laughter from the crowd.

Qin Yining was watching silently off to the side, sensing the sheer welcome bubbling from this household. Another young girl, wearing the same crimson cloak as her, had been curiously watching Qin Yining with large eyes for quite some time now. The girl finally couldn’t contain her curiosity and shuffled over to Qin Yining’s side like a little animal, asking softly after a curtsey,

“Hello big sister, I’m Sun Ling. Are you big sister Yining?”

“Hello big sister Ling, I’m Yining.” Qin Yining quickly returned the curtsey.

“Look at me, I’m caught up in chatting with my sisters-in-law and forgot introductions.” Née Sun turned back when she heard the exchange. “Daughter Yi, come greet your senior aunt, second aunt, and cousins.”

Qin Yining smiled at Sun Ling and made her curtsey to the senior and second madame like Zhan-mama had taught her. “Greetings to senior and second aunt.”

“Aiyaya!” Second Madame née Kong grabbed both of Qin Yining’s hands and looked at the girl closely, clucking her tongue. “She’s a beautiful little doll alright! They all say that your seventh cousin in our Ding Manor is the most beautiful, but I think you win out over her!”

“Second aunt is praising me far too highly. It’s just that mother dotes on me and puts me in pretty outfits.” Qin Yining smiled with her eyes lowered, her voice soft and gentle. She presented a docile and pleasing image.

Née Sun was quite pleased by these words and patted Qin Yining’s hand, the very image of a benevolent mother. There was none of the cold distance she’d exhibited beforehand. Abandoned off to the side for a long while, it felt like a ladle of hot oil had been poured over Qin Huining’s heart. It took her a moment to adjust her resentful and angry feelings.

“Greetings to senior and second aunt.” She also curtsied.

The senior madame seemed to notice her only now. The madame took in Qin Huining’s reserved outfit and striking makeup. She nodded with a supercilious smile and said nothing.

The second madame openly assessed the girl’s outfit and smiled. “Niece Hui is becoming prettier by the day.”

Qin Huining was delighted and responded primly, “Don’t laugh at me second aunt. With such pearls like seventh cousin and younger sister Little Creek present, aren’t the rest of us just pigs rolling around in the mud?” She covered her mouth to laugh delicately at this.