It was already the time of sunset, and the rain that had fallen at noon had left a lovely glow in the sky. The evening clouds were tinged with a deep red, like the rouge on a woman's cheeks, and half the sky was painted with this color. But Qin Miao did not have the good mood to appreciate this beautiful scene after the rain.

  She has been waiting for Xie Yun to return. Until the sunset faded and was covered by the dark night, Xie Yun still hasn't returned.

  "Madam, have dinner first." Li Ayi asked her with concern.

  After returning from Tingyu's study today, I felt that my own daughter was a bit unusual. Now the dinner has been warmed up several times, and if it were usual, my son-in-law would not be without late nights, but he wouldn't sit dry and wait like this either.

  Qin Miao still held the blue-green tea bowl in her hand, seemingly absent-mindedly fiddling with the tea lid, but her gaze was fixed intently on the courtyard gate.

  "And let the kitchen wait, he'll be back soon." She didn't know how cold her voice was, cold enough to dissipate the warmth of the entire courtyard.

  No sooner had he finished speaking than a tall figure emerged from the shadows near the doorway, gradually stepping into the light.

  Qin Miao's hand involuntarily tightened around the teacup before seemingly effortlessly placing it on the table.

  "Are you back?"

  "Uh-huh."

  Xie Xuan gazed at Qin Miao, slowly walking down to the corridor. The summer night was sweltering indoors, and Qin Miao had placed the dinner table under the corridor. With the gentle evening breeze, a strand of loose hair fluttered beside her ear, stirring up a wave of melancholy in Xie Xuan's heart.

  He instinctively wanted to go forward and help her with her hair, but before he could move, Qin Miao's thin lips slightly opened, and she was smiling at him: "The dishes have been heated up several times already, I just asked the kitchen to heat them up again, you've arrived just in time. Why don't... we have a drink first?"

  She smiled and entered the house, immediately picking up a small cup of wine. The servants had already been dismissed, and now only Qin Miao and Xie Yan were left in the room.

  She personally poured him a cup, tilted her head and smiled: "This is what I newly acquired last time when strolling on the street, it's called 'Autumn Dew White'. Want to try?"

  From the moment she entered, Xie Yun didn't know that her gaze had been following Qin Miao all along, not missing a single moment, even when she went into the house, she still stared blankly at the place where he disappeared.

  He lowered his head to glance at the wine in his cup, then raised it and took a swig. The clear liquid slid down his throat like silk, moistening his heart. But the aftertaste of the next moment was somewhat sour.

  "Are you outside? Is someone there?" Qin Miao had waited for more than half a day, and the patience she should have had was long gone. She wasn't used to hiding and beating around the bush; since she wanted to ask, she might as well be straightforward.

  Xie Xuan obviously didn't expect the topic to be brought up so suddenly, and the taste of autumn dew made people feel uncomfortable.

  "It doesn't count."

  She knew that Xie Yan was a man of few words, and she didn't care about the length of his response. However, at first glance, it seemed like a direct denial. But upon closer inspection, there was still some reserve left. It's just like the water in a pond that has been stirred up with a bit of mud and sand - if you scoop some up and ask if it's clear water, you can't say no.

  Qin Miao poured herself another cup and didn't wait for Xie Yun before downing it.

  "I trust you."

  The wine in the empty cup is still waiting for someone to pour it, but the one pouring the wine has already spoken these words.

  "Don't you have anything else to ask?"

  The person opposite him did not react, but instead poured himself another drink.

  "She... I saved her before, and later to take care of the aftermath, I ransomed her and settled her in Ziwei Lane. Recently those scoundrels came to harass again, so..."

  The woman opposite him didn't move, so Xie Lin poured himself a full cup.

  "Ziwei Lane is no longer habitable, so we can only temporarily relocate to the government office." After downing a cup, today's wandering and hesitation on the road finally came out with the help of wine.

  "In what capacity?"

  "Guest."

  "Alright, I'll arrange it."

  “……”

  Xie Xuan raised his head in some disbelief, lingering outside the door for a long time, not daring to enter. Who would have thought that with just a few words and a few cups of wine, this difficult matter was resolved.

  It was night, and Xie Yun still rested in the Chao Lu Yuan. The mosquito net fell down, the candlelight was warm and gentle, and the whole room was filled with warmth. Such a good atmosphere is always suitable for doing something.

  He lay on his side, gazing at the person beside him who was also lying on their side. Usually he would hug her and chat with her before they both fell asleep. But today...

  The woman lay on her side, wrapping herself deeply in the quilt. A head of black hair was spread flat on the mandarin duck pillow, only the eyes of the mandarin duck under the pillow were pressed into a mess, losing a bit of vitality.

  The next morning, Xie Yan went on duty, and Qin Miao had not yet woken up. After Qin Miao finished washing up, she ordered Zi Xuan to send someone to clean up the Rain Suet Pavilion. Zi Xuan didn't understand what was going on, only knowing that guests would be coming to stay in a few days, so she was very diligent in having people sweep and dust inside and out. She also arranged for people to be assigned according to the rules of the young lady's residence.

  After Qin Miao gave the order, she didn't think about it again. As the mistress of the house, she had done what she should do, and there was nothing more to be done. Besides, there were other things that concerned her.

  That is, Qin Lang has arrived in Pingyang.

  "Second Brother!" A fragrant breeze rushed from the door of the shop like a whirlwind towards a young man standing at the counter.

  The man put down the object in his hand and bent his smiling eyes to look at the little figure rushing over from the twilight.

  "Second brother, when did you arrive?" Little brain poked out from the light and shadow, tilting his head to ask him.

  "Who was I talking about? Ah, oh dear, I didn't recognize you, Madame Hou. You're really something." Qin Lang had a mischievous grin on his face and deliberately ignored her question, pretending to want to bow to the Qin family's An Nuan instead.

  Qin Miao, naturally, climbed up the pole, proudly holding her neck: "Hmph. Given that you're making amends for your past mistakes, I'll give you a chance. Whatever is delicious or fun, no nonsense, all will be served to me, Madame."

  "Hey, you little brat, coming in here with your hand out for something. The whole Hou estate hasn't been able to wash the stench of copper off you yet."

  Qin Lang pulled her along, glancing left and right from time to time, making "tsk" noises occasionally.

  An warmed up and gave him a big white eye: "No matter how smelly you are, you're not as smelly as me."

  Green plums and bamboo horses have not been seen for a long time, naturally there are many intimate words to say. Although Qin Lang couldn't bear to see Ah Nuan get married and left early for Shu land, in the blink of an eye several months passed, but he gained a lot.

  Qin Miao looked at the colorful silk on the table and suddenly became spirited.

  "Anu, I bought all these on the way. You have a good eye, help me pick some out." Qin Lang pulled Qin Miao to look through them one by one.

  Shu is also a major sericulture area, and the brocades produced here are collectively known as "Shu brocade". However, like Jiangnan, different places in Shu have their own styles, and the quality of Shu brocade is also varied.

  Qin Miao may be mediocre in needlework, but that's because she neglected to practice since childhood. As for who has the most discerning eye among the Qin family members, it is undoubtedly Qin Miao.

  "Oh dear, Brother Lang, these few pieces of satin feel so good to the touch. Just like Xi Shi's face, fine and smooth. Most suitable for making a young lady's underskirt. However, after some time, autumn will arrive, and underskirts and spring shirts won't be in season. Changing them into close-fitting undergarments would certainly be very comfortable. It's just a bit of a pity..."

  Qin Miao carefully examined each item, selecting the good ones and categorizing them by usage. The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly, recording every detail. Before long, Qingfeng Shop in Beijing would be launching new products, and they wondered if they could create something with the new materials brought back by Second Young Master.

  The shopkeeper was still pondering his own affairs, while Qin Miao seemed to have discovered a treasure, and pulled out several fragments from under the colorful Shu brocade.

  "Second brother, is this also what you bought this time?" She arranged the fragments in her hand and spread them out in front of Qin Lang.

  Qin Lang looked away, his face a bit twisted, and muttered: "That... a friend gave it to me." After finishing, his face still flushed red.

  "Oh~~" Qin Miao deliberately dragged out a long tail tone.

  "This embroidery pattern is something I've never seen before. Such bold color clashes, yet it has a unique flavor to it." She paced back and forth in the room, seemingly lost in thought, muttering to herself, "If it were embroidered on luxurious clothing, it would probably bring out an even more extravagant feel."

  Qin Lang responded unnaturally with a sentence "Really? I didn't notice that..."

  Qin Miao gave him a white eye again, plus four words "Mu You Xi Mu".

  The fragments in Qin Miao's hands were actually the embroidery of Miao Xiu, which Qin Lang had obtained unintentionally. As for how "unintentional" it was, Qin Lang said it was extremely coincidental, so much so that it wasn't worth telling Hou Furen about. But Qin Miao insisted, hoping he could make a special trip to ask the embroiderer if she would be willing to go to Pingyang or Hangzhou next time. Such an extraordinary embroidery technique made Qin Miao wish that all of them could be gathered under the roof of Qingfengpu.

  Afterwards, Qin Lang repeatedly promised that he would definitely go visit and invite him next time. Qin Miao felt satisfied and was about to return to the mansion.

  Just as she stepped out of the store, she ran into someone she had been trying to avoid lately.

  This person is a beautiful gentleman, Xie Yun is also.